Grolistic

Overcoming the Fear of Change

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The market is littered with once great companies that could not change as needed to meet new business realities. With the pace of change accelerating, leaders seek to direct it rather than just adapt to it. But change raises fear and anxiety, which is why leading others effectively through the journey of transformation is one of the most challenging, and necessary, leadership responsibilities. The fear of change grows as people consider the risks of the unknown, questioning …

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Speed versus Bottlenecks

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The pursuit of speed and agility is constrained by bottlenecks.  Bottlenecks arise as a consequence of striving for functional efficiency. The premise is that maximizing profit requires that we optimize the use of resources. Since people tend to be the most expensive resource, being efficient demands that everyone be kept busy all the time.  It’s easier to measure efficiency by focusing on narrow, functional processes, without regard to cross-functional work flow and resulting outcomes. In pursuit of efficiency, …

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What Advantage Do You Own?

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What’s your competitive advantage in the market? Why do you own it?  Once you know the answers, invest your heart, mind and energy on leveraging your advantage to create value for your customers, dominate your competitors and grow your business.  If your advantage is trust, always deliver more than what was promised.  If your advantage is knowledge, collect it and share what you’ve learned with your customers and employees.  If your advantage is relationships, build enduring ones by partnering with …

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The Dialogue of Change

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No one can be compelled to change, so no change initiative can succeed without dialogue between the advocates and those impacted by the change.  Beginning this discussion before the initiative is launched provides the opportunity for people to exchange conflicting opinions, explore possibilities and discuss obstacles as a precursor for committing to support the change. For the advocates, the launch dialogue is an exercise in persuasion, intended to start an open, productive conversation with those impacted, aimed at …

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The Journey Matters

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In the classic story, “The Wizard of Oz,” the four key players are each searching for something they lack. When challenged by the Wizard to steal the Witch’s broomstick, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tinman begin a quest during which each discovers that hidden within them is what they seek. By sharing the journey, they help each other realize this insight.  All journeys can be transformational, from those that traverse space to others that navigate through ideas. Sharing …

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Cultivating Breakthroughs

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When heads are down, focused on getting things done, people can get stuck. Looking around, they often find that they are surrounded by people who are just as stuck as they are, so progress slows to a crawl.  That’s because one of the first questions we are taught to ask at work is: “What’s required here?” By meeting the spec, we get evaluated as being diligent, reliable and loyal.  But then, someone sees a different …

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Valuing Discretionary Effort

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When an employee fulfills obligations and achieves assigned goals with expected behavior, we recognize this as acceptable performance. The job is getting done.  But when one contributes more than the common standard, more than what’s expected, then that’s discretionary effort.  To improve results, leaders need advocates who can collaborate with them to drive productive change. For them to invest discretionary effort, these advocates need to appreciate how the change creates value for the business and how they …

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What Customers Value

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A customer’s inquiry typically solicits a resolution to a stated, short-term problem. If your solution relieves the customer’s immediate pain, without contributing to their long term progress, then you’ve produced transactional value like any other commodity. And you’ve wasted an opportunity to reveal your organization’s experience, expertise and competency in a way that differentiates your business.  But, if prior to proposing your solution, you discover why resolving the customer’s need would contribute to their success, then your …

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Change Takes Practice

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Wherever change energy is initially directed, there will be uncertainty, disruption, fear and discomfort among those who are impacted by the change. As a result, the first reaction to change initiatives is likely to be resistance; once the impact is clarified, advocates emerge who refocus their energy on learning more and seeking a means to contribute.  Leaders realize that inspiring these change advocates to invest their talent, energy and time is the first critical milestone in the change …

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Your Culture – Your Choice

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Organizational culture is always evolving, moving in one of two directions. One track leads towards more openness, collaboration and transparency. Moving the other direction brings greater control and dependence. A leader’s vision and beliefs, when aligned with the organization’s, drive the cultural direction for the business. And that choice impacts growth and sustainability, how the company operates and how it prioritizes potential investments. Given the increasingly dynamic nature of markets, the incessant rate of change, …

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