In 2001 I was working as a human resources training director at a major credit card company. The company was expanding rapidly. As a result, hours were long, productivity numbers were down, and morale was suffering. The business managers and directors were launching sales contests, calls per hour charts, and financial bonuses for performance. Nothing worked. I knew it was the perfect time to make what is often the unpopular “soft skills” speech.
Many leaders, particularly in the production facility environment I was working, don’t want to hear about the “soft stuff”, but the “soft stuff” translates into hard numbers. The issue is when any person, group, or organization experiences rapid change whether it be growth, downsizing, or restructuring, the change has to be managed in a way that inspires the people experiencing it to adapt. If the hard numbers get all the attention, then people end up disillusioned, disoriented, and unmotivated.
The business needed a clear vision and an articulated set of values. The employees needed to be supported in their development, not just in their current role, but in their dreams for the future. It seems so simple but it is one of the hardest aspects of leadership because it takes courage to say, “Here is where we are going, here is what we stand for, and here are the people who we rely on to get us there.”
It takes conviction to bring the culture of a business to the forefront. A strong culture improves the quality of the lives of those who work together. That clarity inspires enhanced individual contribution which is, of course, the bottom line.
Many people have asked me “how” we are making this journey possible. I tell everyone who asks me that the key to our success has been in not looking at the “how.”
I believe we are living this life because our vision is clear, our values are shared, and we are inspired to get up every day. The times our courage and conviction are the weakest are the times when we start to manage the “how’s”. Sometimes we notice that we make decisions that are counterproductive to what we value, or that don’t support our vision. When we are in complete alignment with those things, the “how” never surfaces and somehow everything magically falls into place.
It takes faith to focus on the “soft stuff” and it isn’t often what people want to hear, but it works! The beauty of my answer is that it works for any dream, whether it is traveling the world, starting a business, or running for office. It is infallible to have clarity around vision and values no matter how overused the words have become. The process gets results and the results are astounding.
Out of a desire to guide all those that have asked, “But how?”, I designed a FREE course for you …
I have worn many hats over the course of my career, including teacher, public speaker, executive leadership coach, and published author. The common thread has always been growth and the inevitable success that comes from a growth orientation.
As our family continues to travel, I realize more and more how much gratitude I have for this adventure, but even more importantly, for the courage to follow a dream.
This course is my roadmap, my practice, my vision, and my reality. It is a personal journey laced with universal themes that connect us all. In only a few minutes a day, you can make small changes that deliver life-changing results.
In this course you will practice:
* APPRECIATION: Enhance your capacity to give and receive gratitude.
* ABUNDANCE: Experience an overwhelming flow of resources.
* ADVENTURE: Summon the courage to leave your comfort zone and enjoy it!
* PERSONAL GROWTH: Make positive, lasting changes effortlessly.
* SIMPLICITY: Simplify what matters most to you.
Your journey has already begun. Can you feel it?
