Well the truth is not really.   I was holding my breath to see if this day was the day that my kitchen was finally done.   It’s been three months.   Three months of living with 2 plates, 2 forks and 1 pot.   Three months of take out and restaurant food.   Three months of stepping on saw dust, bruised hips from the piled up boxes, worrying about budget  and well, just general chaos.  And let me be clear.   I have been really good about it.   Taking everything in stride.   I have lived in the moment, never getting fussed or upset, not even when the guys locked me out of my own house because they left the chain on the door.   Sure it was raining and it was 8 at night but even then I was focused on the end game, a beautiful new kitchen that I have waited for my whole adult life. And I have to admit I am now out of steam.   I just want it done.   I am at the point where I have dug deep and I may have just hit bedrock!  And then it hit me.   This kitchen renovation is a metaphor for change within an organization.

As a leader, we create a vision, one we are passionate about and cannot wait to see implemented.  And we start demolition, taking down old ideas, old ways of doing things.   Then the construction starts, the new products, the new processes, sometimes even new people.   And it takes time.   Often there are setbacks, people who we believed were on board seemingly become the biggest detractors, or technology doesn’t work quite the way we thought it would, communication breaks down as people scramble to avoid blame or worse, place blame. And inside of organizations – this is where we, as leaders,  often get stopped.   Implementing the vision gets hard, we run out of steam and we just go back to the way we have always done things – right at the pivotal point of change! Because we lose sight of the Vision – that passion that ignited us in the first place!   We get caught up in all the details of what isn’t working instead of connecting to why we started the work in the first place.   Inside of hard, we lose our inspiration and the ability to inspire others, to see that the culmination of all the hard work is right around the corner.

It is like stopping the renovation just as all the beautiful touches are to be installed, those beautiful architectural drawer handles! So for me – it’s another deep breath and I close my eyes and picture my gleaming countertops, the sparkle of the glass tile and the vastness of space to store all of my treasures…in my beautifully renovated kitchen.

Some of us start out with a story. And we believe that this one story defines us and we hold tightly to that story and live that story our whole lives.

 Some of us start out with a story and then realize that as we grow we can add many chapters to the book of our lives. As we add the chapters we try to pretend that the very first chapter never existed. We distance ourselves from that first chapter because we want to be a character in a different book. As we disconnect from the beginning of our own story, it can cause the new chapters to appear disjointed, out of context and we become disconnected from ourselves.

 Some of us are lucky enough to add many many chapters to our Book and  ultimately realize that our first chapter was the beautiful story that started it all. And we  learn to honour our whole book. And thus we honour ourselves.

I can’t remember whether we were discussing the progress of the Haitian relief effort,   the death toll of the earthquake in China, the billions of dollars lost due to  volcanic ash or this weekend’s deadly tornadoes in Mississippi,  but suddenly it hit me…we are experiencing Disaster Fatigue.  Being someone umm…  er…over Forty (ok, Forty-five next month!), I still remember when disasters would happen, the world would collectively hold our breath, ache for the loss and frantically scramble to find some way to help. These days it feels like we look up, frown, whisper a word of gratitude that it’s not us, feel a pang of regret for those impacted, and get on with getting on, or worse, waiting for the next piece of bad news.   In other words… surviving not thriving.

I think that is a little of what is happening in the economy as well.   A couple of years of meltdown, relentless headlines of impending doom, cutbacks and budget-slashing and it feels like many of us are still just holding our breath.   Too wounded, too scared or just too gosh-darn tired to believe that the sun really is peeking out and that the economy really is rebounding.

There was an article in the Globe and Mail on Monday entitled, ”Are you suffering from post-recession workplace disorder?” and as I was reading it I yelled, “Yes, yes – that’s it!”  Ms. Wendy Leung writes that  “the economy may well be recovering, but those of us who have become accustomed to operating in survival mode are having a tough time adapting to a more upbeat climate…”

Well, I am not sure that we are having a tough time adapting ; I am just not so sure that most of us see or believe that the economy is in fact recovering.  When the economy was in the downturn you could not escape from the thunderous anthem of “the sky is falling, the sky is falling.”  While these days we have the odd story or anecdote of good news, the bandwagon does not seem as full or rowdy.  How then are our teams to know – to know that it is time to switch to Thrive mode, the future is ours to create, that is time to start thinking about What is possible???!!!

I mean, ask yourself, have you clearly put on the indicator that says we are making a left turn to What’s Possible Town?  We aren’t really just expecting our people to pick themselves up and move forward all on their own, are we?  I mean – let’s be honest – we have put some of these guys through the wringer.  Many, many of us have really had our confidence shaken and our energy reserves tapped to exhausting levels.  So wouldn’t it be great to now turn our efforts to building instead of dismantling?!  To creating environments where Winning is the battle cry – not Maintain, Maintain?  As Leaders, one of our primary roles is to create environments for people to be their best, environments that inspire, environments that foster a culture of success and possibility!

So I ask you – Have you truly declared a change in direction?

5 Tips for Creating a Culture of Possibility

As Leaders, it is time for us to focus on re-creating the confidence of our teams and setting aggressive agendas for success.  While the tips below are in no way meant to represent a full-scale plan for renewal, they are a quick and easy way to begin the shift toward a renewed sense of optimism!

Tip #1

Declare the new destination. Be it growth, culture, morale, and/or engagement. Before you ask people to get on the bus TELL THEM WHERE IT’S GOING!

Tip #2

Ask them to get on the bus. As you share the new plan – ask for input on the plan – create a culture of contribution and therefore accountability.

Tip #3

Have enough supplies for the trip.  This doesn’t mean you have to spend money – but don’t be afraid to ask “what do you need in order to make the journey?” You might not be able to give them everything but giving them something is a start.

Tip #4

Get third-party validation.  Ask your customers to share a great story about your team or organization.  It creates a powerful, “See? Its working!!!” mentality.

Tip #5

Reward desired behaviours.  I mean make some noise!!!  You want to create a buzz of good new; an atmosphere of possibility. Start small if you need to – remember you are creating a new trend.

So today I ask myself – when people leave my presence – are they better for it? In the many things I need to get accomplished today, am I giving my best? Even if the task seems mundane? Or somehow – ordinary? Because you just never know when you are making a difference…

Thank you for one last lesson Laurie…

AFTER ACCEPTING THE President’s Award this year, I addressed our chapter. Although I didn’t expect to receive the award and so had nothing prepared, I discovered I had a lot to say.

You Affect All of Us
My commitment to our industry, like many of you, is to building a stronger industry. How you do what you do affects everyone in our Chapter. As planners and suppliers, if you organize a bad meeting, it affects all of us; conversely, if you create something amazing, it affects all of us.

We as a Chapter, even as an industry, are listened to based on the quality of meetings we organize. If a meeting does not achieve the desired result, we are all affected. Our industry is tightly connected. If a VP of Sales never sees an increase in sales due to the National Sales Conference then we become less important, less strategic and are less likely to be listened to as relevant. We end up relegated to presenting themes and finding entertainment. Now, more than ever we must deliver results. For some of you this means getting clear on the true intent of the meeting and finding content and process to achieve the intention.

Independent Yet Interdependent
Toronto Chapter remains one of the strongest chapters within MPI and I believe in this chapter and what we are capable of doing together. You influence the choices your clients make. You can take the easy way – the well-walked path that produces happy feelings without producing the intended result; or you can choose the way of results, finding the right way to engage and involve the participants to ensure they internalize the key messages and take action immediately following the meeting. Meetings of this nature increase our listening as an industry.

New Economic Consciousness Rising
Please, do not let this economic consciousness that’s transforming the world intimidate you. Get out there. Stand up. Stand up for the value you know you deliver or learn how to deliver that value. We believe a new economic consciousness rises from the crisis of confidence in the greed of the banks, financial companies and citizens. The economic crisis receives 24 hour attention on the Constantly Negative News station, CNN. Much like a child who cries for the loss of the toys he melted with the magnifying glass, they media focuses on the economic crisis they intensified.

At the same time, an economic consciousness continues to naturally grow and develop within us all. We ask more questions now and consider the long term consequences of our choices. The economic consciousness helps each of us choose more wisely. More conscious awareness in one part of your life makes you more conscious. As we grow and develop our consciousness, we notice more, experience more and improve more. Consciousness provides you with more choice and let’s face it – since poverty is the absence of choice, then wealth is more choice.

How do we choose more wisely every day? First of all, be careful what you allow into your unconsciousness. Do you remember what happened after the news when we were young? The TV went off. It stopped broadcasting. Now, hundreds of channels broadcast 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The impact of carelessly watching TV is that you may start to believe the media’s messaging, which brings us doom and gloom from every corner around the globe. The reality is that many people have given birth, gotten married, celebrated accomplishments and made the world a better place, which the media fails to recognize. Be careful what you watch and think about it all, for it affects you.

Choices
Choose clearly. Do you believe in economic crisis or economic consciousness? Find your intention so that you build your business and your life on a solid foundation. How do you do that? Well it is surprisingly easy. You choose your intention and notice how your mind indentifies supporting data and supporting opportunities. Having chosen your intention, you become less likely to absorb someone else’s intention. When they ask in hushed tones, “So how is business?” you can answer from your intention rather than from your fear.

Tie up your shoelaces, roll up your sleeves and find ways to deliver the intended results at every meeting. Let’s make this year the best one yet.

Our learning levels (the intention of our learning designs) allow participants to become increasingly conscious about what they are learning, how to apply that learning and how they learn. In Distinction (level 2) – participants distinguish between their current way of doing something (their how) and become aware of other alternatives (or possibilities). They, in essence, create choice points. When participants distinguish the difference between one way versus another to achieve a task or communicate – they now have a choice. Or a choice point. The choice point means they get to consciously choose between two or more different ways to proceed. That choice, when you notice it allows you to live consciously. Consciously choosing your action/approach to your action.

Years ago, on a site visit with World Accord in the hills of Honduras, Chet Thomas explained choice to me from a completely different perspective. Chet had given up his powerful New York agency and gone to develop sustainable agricultural practices and community development in Honduras. Chet had a tremendous impact on me because he distinguished choice and wealth for me. I had been giving kids my spare change. And Chet chided me. He explained, “Poverty was the absence of choice.” Think about that (I have for 15+ years). Poverty is the absence of choice. No choice… you are poor. Inside those few words lives a lifetime of understanding of humanity. If poverty is the absence of choice, then wealth is the presence or abundance of choice. Simply, consider us reading a menu (of choices) versus the billions who eat what they can get when they can get it.

Choice then has informed much of my life. I actively look for choice even when it occurs like there is none (there always is). So consciousness seems, in practical terms, be connected to the noticing of choice points. Perhaps we could measure consciousness this way – the degree to which you are conscious could be measured in how often you notice choice points and then consciously choose. Perhaps this is the basis of living a conscious life. From simple choices of requesting a reuseable coffee mug when you are staying, instead of just receiving the paper cup. An example of how many of us live unconsciously, ignoring a choice point.

So the more conscious you are, the more choice you have. The more choice you have, the more wealthy you are. Could this mean – the more conscious, the more wealthy? Could that mean that the new bling or the nouveau riche will become consciousness. Media attention seems to be shifting that direction and all hail the tipping point on that concept. Conscious capitalism may be the next mutation of our collective evolution. Now to be the change I wish to see in the world.

What type of Leader are you?

“I just need to focus.” How many times have we heard that, or said that ourselves as we tackle a project, a document, a presentation? When something occurs as difficult or time consuming our response is often, “FOCUS!” As this methodology is time-tested and popular I cannot disagree that the ability to focus is a handy competency to embrace. What causes me concern, is the lack of attention as to WHAT we focus on! Why is it that whenever we need to accomplish something, all of our mental energy seems to move to very thing we want to avoid? The fat vs. the fit; the tactics vs. the strategy; the mistake vs. the learning; the actions vs. the result the very thing we want to avoid vs. the thing we so desperately want to accomplish!

Every newspaper I read these days is a perfect example of this phenomenon. There isn’t a Canadian alive that seems to  want a recession, and yet every headline warns of impending doom, falling stock prices, job layoffs, and credit crunches thereby creating the exact opposite of the outcome we are looking for. Are there no good news stories out there? Companies outpacing the market, having year end results of actual growth, hiring vs. layoffs (By the way, I am in the market for a fantastic sales person…yup, that’s right, we are hiring!) And never mind that media, where is our own dialogue focused? Oh you know what I mean….When you ask “How are sales?” , with that wise or don’t bother to tell me I already know look in your eyes. As you talked about Christmas – did you talk about how much you did spend and what you spent it on or did you talk about how you were reining it in and toning it down. Do you train your people when its easy and effortless to achieve target or in lean times when they absolutely need the support and motivation?

Now, let me be clear, I am not asking for us to be obtuse or ignorant to facts. I am asking us to look at what facts we are focused on …are we focused on possibility or inevitability?  As we go about our business, lead our teams and lead our customers, are we focused on fear and scarcity or on possibility and abundance. Where your mind is focused your behaviours will follow…

Michele Ferrari

Executive Vice President, Learning

Mysteries Revealed in L(earn)² Reveal the Secrets

We have all been there. The meeting with the salesperson who wants to tell you all about his product or offering and doesn’t have a clue, or seemingly doesn’t care about what you need. They drone on and on, never noticing your blank expression and then are surprised when they don’t get your order.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to never be “sold” to?  Can you imagine a sales process where people weren’t selling but in fact solving problems!

That is the secret to effective selling…speak into your client’s needs, speak into your client’s listening. Solve someone’s problem!

A value proposition is a wonderful thing but only if you are sure, really sure, that it meets your customer’s requirements. The truth is, we are currently in an opportunity market, at least if you understand how to take advantage of the opportunity. In order drive revenue, we need to sell more and in order to sell more; we need to sell more effectively. In order to sell more effectively, we need to truly understand what our customer needs. It sounds simple and yet how many sales people do you know that actually understand their clients? Maybe it is time to do a pulse check!

To book this find out more about L(earn)² Reveal the Secrets contact  L(earn)² at 416.410.6434.

Lessons in L(earn)ing

How connected are you?

We all have seen them before; colleagues that come in each day and continue to be skeptical and indulge in negativity that contributes little to the success of the organization. They “hide out” while affecting others as they continue becoming disconnected from your organization’s priorities. You can politely call these people “The Disengaged”. Surprisingly there are more disengaged employees than engaged and engagement matters! Whether the economy is good or bad  it affects performance. Simply put, without engaged employees productivity and, more importantly, results will suffer.

The latest statistics indicate that “fewer than I in 3 employees (29%) are fully engaged”. Imagine the impact that has on your company’s productivity. If you could just change a fraction of a percent what would that mean to the bottom line? The truth is that everyone wants to have a connection to their work. They want to feel that they matter and the work they are doing is actually meaningful. Simply put, engaged employees are more satisfied and committed to not only their own success but the success  of their organization.

Here are some of the most common scenarios that result in disengaged employees:

• Not enough development opportunities to learn and grow
• Disconnection to the mission, purpose and goals of the company
• No recognition and praise for doing good work
• Individual opinions don’t seem to matter
• Underutilized workforce
• Unclear tools and support for achieving career goals
• Overworked and unclear expectations

Over the years L(earn)² has noticed that broad organizational tactics to combat disengagement are limited. To be successful a macro and a micro plan must be utilized. Firstly, on a macro level the work environment must support engagement. It must have the necessary resources and tools readily available to breed engagement. On a micro level employees, with the help of their managers, “need to establish a thriving personal connection with their work and carve out a satisfying future in the organization”. It is in our experience that the most successful companies make engagement a priority. It’s an ongoing commitment not a once a year event.

Many successful organizations hail engagement as their secret competitive advantage ingredient.  Here are a few positive correlations to the impact that an engaged workforce can have on a company’s success.

• Best Buy reports that stores which increase employee engagement by a 10^th of a point (on a 5-point scale) will see a $100, 000 increase in sale for the year
• MolsonCoors estimates that by “strengthening” employee engagement, the company saved $1,721,760 in one year. For example, the average cost of a safety incident for engage employees was $63 compared to the average of $392 for disengaged employees.

The organizations above shifted from a once a year Management Event mentality to a consistent, systematic approach to engagement. The results speak for themselves. Are your employees engaged?

To learn more about how you can increase your employee engagement contact L(earn)² at 416.410.6434 to hear how we can help.

Telling it Like it Is…

“Simply put, engaged employees chose to freely give the effort required to improve our department’s sales performance.  Employee engagement drives client engagement.  And learning and development drives employee engagement.”

“L(earn)2 is our primary partner for learning and development.   Their programs always hit the mark, and deliver a high return on investment.  We have no doubt that L(earn)2’s contribution has helped us build employee engagement, and has consequently improved our service to clients and our business performance.”

Cheryl Fry

Sr. Manager, People & Development

Media Sales & Marketing

CBC Television