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I’m not sure how much you know about me, so I thought I’d share four simple steps you can take to ensure I will perform for you – day in and day out.
And there’s a secret about these steps: if you STIC to these four steps you will get the work performance you want from me and I will get the respect and motivation I want from you. Here’s the STIC:
Let me explain. I was talking with a CEO the other day who was brought in to handle a turnaround situation. As you can imagine, he is assertive, forthright, quick to make decisions, and has other characteristics of a change agent.
One of his new department heads could not be more different. She has 30+ years of service with the organization. She is new to a leadership role and promoted without the needed knowledge and skill set for success. She is thoughtful, calm, a slow decision maker, with low confidence in her new role. As a consultant brought in by the CEO to get this new leader up to speed on her department, I offered the CEO some observations and suggestions for how to support and encourage the new leader to ensure her success. Early into our discussion the CEO defended his current approach: “I don't treat her any different than I treat any other executive.” Have you ever been offended because someone made an assumption about what you meant or what you wanted or needed? Of course you have. Have you ever made an assumption about what someone meant or what someone wanted or needed? Of course you have.
By assuming you knew what someone wanted, did you ever deliver the wrong outcome? Of course you have. And, when our starting point is off, our response will also be off. There is another approach. There are many obstacles that get in the way of success – business success, personal success. Some obstacles are easier to deal with; some we have less control over. Some we are aware of; some sneak up on us. For sure, avoiding obstacles doesn’t make them go away and doesn’t minimize their impact.
Here’s a different approach to facing obstacles - think of obstacles as opportunities. Are you busy tracking down the status of projects and work that should have been done? Are you consistently disappointed with results taking longer than you thought? Are you chasing updates rather than being briefed on the status of projects? Do you wish your employees would take the lead?
How do you get to a place where your time is spent on strategic planning, motivating and guiding staff, building relationships with stakeholders… with time left for the gym and dinner before 9pm? It really isn’t as difficult as you would think. But, it does take a shift in focus and a conscious shift in how you spend your time. |
AuthorLoretta has over 25 years of operations management experience in a wide range of industries. She is an operations consultant, speaker, writer, teacher, trainer, and certified coach - ready to help you & your organization thrive. Archives |
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