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The sky will remain blue, water will remain wet and the sun will rise in the east. The air we breathe however, will not remain
clean, with a sufficiency of oxygen, our water will not continue to give life unless we change the way we treat our environment but most of
us will never have the opportunity to make a major impact. We must change what we can and encourage others to do the same.
Of all the traits of leadership the ability to produce lasting and meaningful change is so far out in first place that what ever is second
doesn't really matter!
Make change your slave, not your master
How do we take control of this "crisis of modernity" and make change our slave rather than our master?
Leo Tolstoy said, "Everyone wants to change the world but no one wants to change themselves." The truth is that all change must begin with me. If
I can not, will not, do not change - and demonstrate that change to all the world, I can not reasonably expect others to follow my advice to
change.
If the two are at odds people will follow my example while ignoring my words, no mater how eloquently they be phrased.. Only when
thought, word and deed are closely aligned can I truly hope to be followed. Only then can I hope to be a leader.
It starts and ends with "ME"
To begin the process of personal change I must examine my self. I must understand what I believe and why, what I want to accomplish and why "The
soul is dyed the color of its thoughts.
Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is
your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny - it is the light that guides your way."
Heraclitus 535-475BC, Greek Philosopher
Introspection
One of the greatest obstacles to progress can often be our awareness of past failures. If we tried something a couple of years ago and fell flat
on our faces (and especially if we were ridiculed or derided as a result) we tend to be reluctant to rock the boat again. When we believe that
history will repeat itself, we become paralyzed by fear.
Mentoring managers through a process that I sometimes refer to as "directed introspection" in order to expose attitudes and prejudices can often
produce startling results. Knowing where we are starting from does not in and of itself guarantee that we will arrive at our desired destination
(on time and within budget) but not knowing weights the odds heavily against us.
I believe that if we want to go somewhere we must first know who we are and where we are. When we know the starting point,
personally and professionally, in regard to ourselves, our people and our company we are more likely to have a clear picture of where we
want to go, how to get there and what must change en route.
I believe that as many people as possible in an organization should be involved in the process of creating statements of Vision, Mission,
Purpose, Values, and Goals. When people have had a hand in the creation, buy in to do what ever is necessary to get results is almost automatic.
When these guiding principles are understood by everyone from the "Ivory Tower" all the way to the Shop Floor everyone knows where we are going,
why we are going there and what we have to do to get there.
They also know the down side of not going there and of not participating in the process. Is not the search for heaven made more
intense by the awareness of hell? In addition, when everyone understands his or her WIIFM, (What's In It For Me) getting results is like
picking low hanging fruit.
Vision must be followed by a plan
Strategic planning can be an arduous (but exhilarating) process. Often a three day retreat with an outside facilitator is the only way to get the
concentrated focus, the brainstorming, necessary to initiate the process.
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