Getting What You Want

Over the weekend of July 15th, Georgine and I attended the International eWomenNetwork Conference in Dallas.  Among several great speakers was the incomparable and much beloved Zig Ziglar.  In spite of being 85 and having suffered some minor short term memory loss as a result of a fall in his home more than 3 years ago, he is still traveling the world spreading his message of inspiration and motivation.  With the help of his daughter (who interviews him and helps him remember things), he shared stories about his childhood, his long-term marriage, and the importance of family – something he refers to as the “home court advantage.”  His talk was heartwarming and poignant.

Of all the things he said, one thing had the greatest impact on me.  He said, “You can have anything you want if you help others get what they want.”  This idea is central to respect because it’s about doing for others, honoring the needs of others, and recognizing that there may be others who require support more immediately than you do.  Now, I admit . . . this can be hard at times.  I speak from experience when I say that sometimes when I’m in need, I’m convinced that it is indeed the most important thing happening.  It takes self-awareness and humility to recognize and internalize that the world doesn’t revolve solely around me (or you).

When Madd-Steiny works with clients to manage change, we encourage small acts of getting what you want through helping others get what they want.  This is especially important during times of change because just about everyone is dealing with some sense of loss or struggling through transition.  Everyone needs something.  So, by helping others, there is an energy shift that takes place and the result is more space for solutions.  Sometimes, by focusing on the needs of others, we learn that our needs are not as significant as we initially thought – we might even let go of something because it’s clear that it doesn’t matter as much as someone else’s need.  Here are some things you can do to get more of what you want, during times of change or any time:

·    Every day, ask at least one person: “How can I support you today?”
·    Offer to take something off a co-worker’s plate.
·    Take on some extra assignments to reduce someone else’s workload.
·    Listen with compassion (and without talking) when a colleague needs to “let off some steam.”
·    Recognize the successes of your teammates loudly and proudly.

When I’ve taken the time to extend a hand to help others, it has always helped me get what I want.  I hope the same is true for you.

Lynae

Respect and Extraordinary Groups

I attended a networking event where the speaker talked about his research on what makes groups and teams “extraordinary.” The information he shared was practical and helpful. And although he didn’t specifically say that respect matters in building extraordinary teams, he talked about what I consider to be respectful actions, such as accepting differences and listening to the contributions of others. His talk got me thinking about how respect can influence whether or not a group is extraordinary-meaning that the group gets great results, shares a sense of purpose, and is engaged. What would a group be without respect?

How can you instill respect into a group quickly and witness some pretty “extraordinary” results?
Here are some tips:

• Define shared values. Values serve as powerful guideposts to actions and attitudes. Get your team together and select 5 core values that guide everything you do.
• Establish behavior norms. Involve everyone in the group to agree on the standards of behavior that will guide everyone’s interactions. Examples include: come to meetings prepared; turn off cell phones during meetings; and question someone’s ideas, not their values.
• Explore and honor different perspectives. Next time your group is given a project or is expected to meet a specific goal, bring the group together and invite different ideas about how to go about it. Brainstorm freely and encourage the group to think creatively. See if you can come up with an entirely new approach to an ‘old’ situation.

Give it a try, and let us know what happens.

Respectfully,

Lynae

Count Your Blessings!

I returned home last night from a business trip completely exhausted.  The reception that I received from my two teenage boys and husband completely filled me with a life force that I can still feel today.  What did they do?  My husband made a delicious dinner for us to enjoy together and my boys each gave me a long and heartfelt hug!  Little things, I know.  They made a BIG difference for me.

Later, as I was attending to the large number of emails that had been delivered over the past several days, I posted a comment on Facebook about how much I LOVED my life.  Immediately, I received comments in return from a significant number of people.

Today I’m thinking about the incredible energy that is available to me when I take time out of my busy day to simple count my blessings – to give attention to all of the things that are “right” in my world.

Lynae and I are committed to the philosophy that “organizations move toward what they study” with our work in organizational development. We know the importance and power of focusing on “what’s working” and helping organizations plan to “do more of what works” rather than focus on “what’s wrong”.  We often bring the Appreciative Inquiry model into our strategic planning projects with organizations as well as our training and development work.

We can all apply this philosophy to our work and personal life and reap the benefits.  Here are three simple steps to put this into action in your life today.

Discover: When are you at your best?

Dream: What success do you want to celebrate in 1-3-5 years?

Design: What have you done before, that you could do again to get closer to your dream?

Respectfully yours,

Georgine