Tag: changes

Wired for Solutions

Posted on by Carl Weber

We have already talked about being wired for problems. We all have different styles, and some behavioral styles have this uncanny ability to scan the environment for problems.

At first this sounds negative.

Always pointing out what is wrong.

But there is a flip side to having a style or mind that is wired to discover problems.

That same mind or style is also wired for solutions.

The more I work with people about their style, the more they need to see these two sides.

Not everything about our style is positive.

Sometimes we don’t always like everything about our style.

But our styles have two sides.

You may be more prone to follow the rules, and that same style promotes excellence and accuracy.

You may be prone to be talkative and social, and that same style can move people to believe, and hope, and dream.

You may be prone to be a little scattered or distracted, and that same style breaks out of the status quo and moves organizations forward through change.

You may be prone to focus on the task or the process, and that same style will build organizations that can scale.

Knowing who you are, and your style is the first step. If you haven’t taken one of these assessments, contact me and let’s find how you are wired, and how you can make the most impact in your world, your business, and your journey.

Tell Them

Posted on by Carl Weber

I got to connect with an old friend the other day.

We drove, we talked, we got coffee, and we talked some more.

We talked about new starts and changes.

We talked about career paths and work.

We talked about good times and bad.

Then we talked about organizations.

My friend watched an organization try to move forward.

The moving forward required some changes.

The changes would impact employees.

The organization forgot to Tell Them (the employees, the staff, the people that would be impacted), and their top talent began to leave.

After many people left, the organization learned a valuable lesson.

Tell Them.

Tell Them why the changes are happening.

Tell Them the larger plan.

Tell Them why these moves are so important.

There are so many excuses not to Tell Them.

“We were waiting until everything was perfect.”

“We were not sure how the news would be received.”

“We think it will upset our customer.”

The longer you wait to Tell Them, the more other stories build.

Stories that erode trust.

Stories that assume the worst.

Stories that will undo the progress you are trying to make.

There are always reasons and excuses not to communicate.

But there is a simple solution: Tell Them.

Even bad news is more widely accepted when you are straightforward, open, and transparent.

Instead of being afraid of what they will do with the information, we should be more afraid of what they will do without it.

 

Noticing the Artwork

Posted on by Carl Weber

Painting by Iain Young

(Image Courtesy of Iain Young)

At work we are conducting an experiment.

By “we” I mean me and another coworker.

By “experiment” I mean we are messing with stuff and watching for results.

The Background

Throughout the building there are various framed photos, paintings, or prints: Artwork. This artwork appears in offices, hallways, and conference rooms. This artwork includes outdoor scenes, rivers, fields, and the occasional abstract image. For the most part, the artwork is pretty nice, and every person in the building has artwork within their view.

The Experiment

For the past 6 months on Friday afternoons we have been moving the artwork.

Seriously, every few weeks or month we take a minute or two when others have left for the weekend and we swap out the artwork.

When the first Monday arrived, we were beside ourselves, hardly containing the laughs thinking about what will happen when someone notices the change.

Months pass.  Artwork moves. No one notices.

That moment never came.

We even coached a few people while in a meeting where two breathtaking new images appear in a small conference room.

“Wow, this room has such a nice feel today.”

“Oh yeah, maybe the cleaners dusted recently.”

The Conclusion

We move through life and have things to do. We become familiar with our surroundings. We keep our heads down. We fall into routine.

When this happens, we fail to notice the artwork: the small beautiful changes around us.

It happens to all of us.

But we can try.

For the next few weeks, slow down. Lift your head and look around. You may just start noticing the artwork all around you.

Moon and Sun

(Image Courtesy of Another Daughter: Keep painting kiddo!)