Most of the answers organizations are seeking today are lying dormant inside of their employees, their customers and their suppliers just waiting to be discovered and unleashed.
The articles below will help leverage the knowledge and passion of your employees, which will help you grow your organization and give you an uncommon edge.
A friend recently had an appointment with a doctor. The doctor started to prescribe medicine to treat the symptoms of a gut issue.
So the patient advocated for herself. She reminded the doctor that she has additional medical issues that are bigger than the gut issue. She has osteoporosis and needs a stronger skeletal system and this medicine will make her bones weaker.
The doctor heard her concern and thoughtfully responded, “Well, I guess you need to look at the whole picture.”
I recently visited a high school that has invested years teaching their students to be activists.
While that effort alone is impressive. The uncommon skill they are teaching, and modeling for the students is even more so.
Through instruction and experience, their students are learning that a healthy culture is a balanced culture. And that in a balanced culture it is possible to think critically and to be compassionate.
They are learning how to shine a bright light on truth with data and personal experiences. …While getting involved with, and loving people that have made choices they disagree with.
They are engaging people and growing their cause because of their unique approach. And the impact they are having on the students, families and the community is beyond impressive.
What those students and their families may not realize:
Leaders, can you relate to this?
Empowerment is one of your core values. It hangs on walls throughout your building.
You’ve hosted meetings, waved your magic empowerment wand and reminded people that they are encouraged to a take greater level of ownership in your business.
However, for the most part your employees aren’t responding.
This is a piece of a puzzle.
-A PIECE of something greater than itself.
This piece is important.
-Without it, the picture is INCOMPLETE.
This piece is filled with critical clues about the WHOLE picture.
-But it will never be able to tell the story alone.
Each piece must be heard.
-But must NOT be the only perspective we consider.
ONE piece emphasizes:
My team
My budget
My knowledge
My experiences
My perspectives
My goals
-ME!
I was raised in a tiny town in rural America with a population less of less than three thousand people. When I was first married, my husband and I met a couple that were raised in the second largest city in the U.S. with a population of almost four million.
The husband had been in street gangs and literally fought for his life.
When he asked what was dangerous in my hometown, he just about busted a gut when I said… “Gossip.”
Words were no threat to someone who had dodged bullets.
It seemed insensitive and pointless to try to argue that King Solomon really knew what he was talking about when he said, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
When bullets are flying – gossip won’t kill you.
But here’s the thing…
