Archive for February, 2008

How will you use today?

Published
by
gay
on February 29, 2008
in Changeologists Reflections
. 0 Comments

It is February 29th, 2008. Every four years we are given a gift of an entire 24 hours. How will you spend today’s gift of time?    In today’s complex world, time is the most precious commodity.

I don’t know about you, but there are so many moments I waste on either trival, non important actions or spending much time on trying to control what I have no control over, instead of knowing I have done my best and the outcome is not up to me.  This is true in business as well as our personal life.

How many times at the end of the day do we reflect on how we spent our time and think,   “If only I could take back some of that time and use it differently.” Well today is that day to do what is important because we only get February 29th every four years. Here are some thoughts about what might be a good use for the gift of today:

Your work:

For today:  Come to grips with the thought “We must be the change we want in the world” (Gandi)

For today: Accept… What we say we believe is only real when others see it in action

For today… Look and acknowledge colleagues for their contributions in your office

For today… Write a note(s) saying thank you to key customers, colleagues and professional friends who make a difference in your world.

For today… Reflect on who you are in the workplace. Are you an inspiration or do you cause others perspiration?

For today… Make this the day to give thanks for your own abilities, talents and your contributions to your organization. Sometimes we forget to thank ourselves for all of our efforts… and yes, sometimes that means just showing up.

Your Personal Life:

For today… Look up! Observe what you are seeing and be grateful… for whatever it is

For today… Give a compliment to a perfect stranger

For today… Reflect on what is truly important to you and why. If you don’t know…maybe its because your not on purpose yet with your own life.

For today… Just laugh,  because life is an adventure; that also means during the times you feel there is nothing to laugh about… however, findng joy in even the smallest of things allows you to feel the light within the darkness

 Today is February 29th, 2008…  May this day be your best day yet!! 

Change Capacity

Published
by
gay
on February 14, 2008
in Changeologists Recommends, Changeology 101, Changeology : Hospice/Healthcare, Changeology for Organizational Performance, Changeology of CHAOS and Changeology of leadership
. 0 Comments

Our tag line states “increasing your capacity for change.”  Well… what is that suppose to mean?  And, why would I want to do that?

Thanks for asking….  Increasing an organization’s capacity for change requires several elements for maximum success. For organizations to reach its maximum capacity it is best when all of these elements are playing nice in the sandbox. In fact, it is critical. I will not discuss today the full list of critical factors for success but will start with the first and most important one. This first foundational element is: embracing the idea that change is not an option for optimal organizational  performance.       (It is also needed for individual success.)

Most of us know this…however, even today, organizations/individuals still don’t want to accept it and embrace it. We (Organizations) say all the right words and think we have embraced change,  but when it comes to stepping up to the plate we are hesitate to swing the bat.  Why?

Most of the time organizations :

1.  do not possess the energy it takes to do, see and agree to what is needed

2.  do not have a full commitment to doing “what it takes”

 3. do not have an understanding of the importance of the change

4.  are comfortable in the status quo

5.  do not have the total capabilities to implement change initiatives to gain peak effectiveness 

This is not a criticism…it is just the facts;  at least some of the time, if not all of the time, it affects every organization.

The most important question before committing to a change effort, whether small or large within your organization is:  Are we ready… no really ready? and all that question means.    Do we know or have an idea of the impact this change will have internally and externally? Consider the “butterfly effect” when answering the last question, that is… the significance of small events and their potential for great impact.    Are we willing to “DO WHAT IT TAKES?”  

Let me leave you with a challenge before you answer the above questions… Are you aware of your own internal voice and are you being truthful as you ponder and answer these questions?

The First Critical Step in ALL change initiatives is to EMBRACE IT… and we can’t do that if we first don’t ask ourselves the tough questions (or have someone else ask us) with the willingness to take off our mask and face truth as it stares you coldly in the face.

Once you have taken off the mask and faced the truth about yourself and the organization then you are ready to start embracing change and all the questions we discussed.

Later I will discuss the points made earlier as to why organizations don’t always want to swing the bat when stepping up to the plate. Until later…

May this day,  be your best ever.

gay,  the “changeologists”