“If you want to create true change and have some type of meaning, you probably end up getting a lot of resistance.” True words from Jessica Alba at Bits & Pretzels!
Change might be uncomfortable at the first view. But it is worth fighting for your ideas and engaging others to step out of their “comfort zone”!
This is how you make a difference. This is how you create real impact.
I am impressed by the deep and clear sense of purpose I heard startup founders at bits19 expressing.
Founders start with the question: “What impact do I want to make, for whom/what do I want to make a difference?” and then try to find solutions. The organization they build is a “means for the purpose”. Their vision guides their work.
People like Elsa Bernadotte perfectly incorporate that spirit. She started by asking herself the question: “How can we stop food wastage?”. Her answer: by founding the startup Karma. https://new.karma.life/ to deliver on her mission.
It’s this clarity of purpose that gives founders their incredible energy, determination and courage to work day and night – with #passion and their ultimate goal in mind.
In many bigger corporations leaders have lost this focus. We stopped asking ourselves about the collective purpose of our work and may loose sight of the collective impact we are aiming at having.
Start to think like a founder. Ask yourself: What impact do I want to make?
IMPACT includes the word ACT, as the founders of Bits & Pretzels – Felix Haas, Bernd Storm van’s Gravesande and Andy Bruckschloegl – pointed out during their opening speech at Bits19
“ImpActing” includes two dimensions for me:
1. “Acting” as a LEADER: Actions speak louder than words. Truly, our actions make a difference and I encourage you to “walk the talk” and take bold decisions.
2. “Being” a leader: Your mood, your attitude, your (un)conscious behaviours – they impact your surroundings, whether in a positive or negative way. You communicate, even when you don’t intend to. Silence is communication, too. You are casting a shadow – the “shadow of a leader”.
Thus: Be conscious of how you ARE in the moment, check if you are sending the messages you want – and spreading the SPIRIT needed to make a difference.
I am so eager to hear and share Inspirational thoughts from Obama on leadership in the bold sense! The words I most heard in the first hours: courage, determination, impact, common purpose, values, energy and of course leaders for change. The underlying one was clearly passion.
The summary tip I would put on this article is as simple as this: BE EXPLICIT! What I mean by that is: SHARE EXPLICITELY.
Be explicit within your team about objectives and desired future state; be explicit on priorities within and for the team; be explicit about why you may say no or need to differ a task or challenge the deadlines.
Thank you @MAmusing for this midyear call to stop and ask these powerful questions to yourself. With curiosity and courage.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mid-year-musing-1-master-small-mary-alice-arthur/
Some weeks feel a little bit “straighter” and more focused. Projects are advancing, decisions made and implemented, meetings fruitful and constructive. And there are these others (many) weeks feeling disorganised, chaotic, with too many meetings back-to-back, not enough time to stop & think, decisions beeing postponed, interruptions beeing particularly frequent. In those weeks, you feel less in control and lacking impact.
It’s mid-week today, how does this week feel sofar? What can you do to ensure key priorities are adressed? To what do you need to say NO, to what do you need to express a stronger YES, so that Friday will feel like you’ve made a difference?
On how many occasions this year have you communicated, taught, educated, informed your organisation about big changes ahead?
Far too ofen I still observe that communication around future changes, strategic decisions made, is scarce. Yes, things may have been said and explained, once, twice. However keep in mind, you can’t do this enough, particularly in times of transition, before changes are implemented. Use every opportunity, every encounter.
You may not be able to share which area may be impacted precisely, yet it is absolutely vital to repeat, again and again, WHY particular strategic decisions have been made and to offer a picture of FUTURE SUCCESS once change is implemented (What do you hope to accomplish? what would be then possible ?)
And if your really want to know what has come accross, go and interview randomely your employees: “Why are we doing this? What do we hope then to accomplish once implemented?”
What is annoying/upsetting you, really, deep inside? 🙁
Notice how often this is discreetly taking hostage of your thoughts and energy.
Courage to face and take action
When is the last time you pro-actively look to exchange with someone who has an opposite view from yours?