Three very powerful and innovative leadership tools that have nothing to do with technology.
Are you joining us at HRWest16? Please download the Innovative Tools Handout here.
“Have you ever considered that maybe, we sometimes let technology take the place of meaningful conversations and critical decision making?”
This was the question that served up the opportunity for a juicy conversation while I was walking with a friend last week.
I’m a passionate student of relationship dynamics and communication, so this question sparked a lively conversation while we were enjoying a walk in the fresh air and sunshine.
Our chat kept coming back to a simple premise that aside from our families, the work environment is an excellent laboratory to study and learn about human relationships (both effective and not so effective relationships).
In fact, this is one common root of the “HR” profession… Human Relations!
But, alas, somewhere along the way, “HR” came to mean “Human Resources” and people became resources for a company to allocate. And sadly, the concept of human relations at work became somewhat taboo. Thankfully, that tide seems to be turning and we are gently floating back into what matters most at work (and in life)….. Human Relationships.
Stop for a moment and ask yourself this question:
Have you ever considered that maybe you sometimes let technology take the place of meaningful conversations and critical decision making?
If you haven’t considered this question, I invite you to do so. Look around at how technology has permeated conversation, the spoken word, and expressions of vocal creativity. How big data analytics has replaced much of the creative instinct that characterizes good decision making.
I love technology as much as most people, and many would call me an “early adopter”, but, it’s getting easier and easier to slip into a world where technology does almost everything for me.
Which brings me to three powerful, innovative leadership tools for driving business strategy. And perhaps surprisingly, none of them involve technology!
Tool #1: The questions you ask and the words you use.
We seek gurus to guide us to arrive at our strategic plan. We read the latest books. We huddle in a room for 4 days at a leadership training off-site. And, all too often, we are led down a complex path of fancy terms, craftily-worded questions, and academic structures designed to get us to answer a few simple questions:
- How do we add value for clients?
- Who do we serve?
- How does what we do matter?
- What are we selling?
- What is our product or service?
Notice how simple those questions are?
In fact, I’ve discovered that by using very simple, yet powerful questions, a team can arrive at their Vision, Mission, Purpose (Intention), Core Values, Strategic Initiatives, Objectives, KPIs, OKRs, and the “Big Why” in… (drum roll please) less than 4 hours! NOT 4 days…. just 4 hours. Now that’s meaningful! For the average team, that represents a productivity gain of ludicrous proportions!
(Stay tuned, I’ll share more of these simple questions in my next blog article.)
Tool #2: Your reaction to the response that you receive.
When you ask someone a question, listen to the answers that you receive, and then… most importantly, feel into your own reaction.
Much has been said about “gut feel”, intuition, and wisdom. After asking a question, trust your instinct as you listen to the answer. This is where the energy resides to drive meaningful business strategy.
Seek the answers that have passion and energy behind them. You’ll know it when you “feel” it – it’s that excitement and (often quiet) enthusiasm you get when it just “feels” right. It is a sense of “knowing”.
When it comes down to setting your goals and objectives the answer may not always be clear, even when using a rational decision-making process. But the only way forward is take a deep breath, gather courage and make the decision. Choose your next step and then act!
The way in which your team can achieve at their Vision, Mission, Intention, Core Values, Strategic Initiatives, and even the “Big Why” in less than 4 hours, is by combining powerful tool #1 with powerful tool #2.
Now how do you turn “can achieve” into “will achieve”?
Tool #3: Your intention.
Having the skill to ask the simple questions, the knowledge of those questions, and the intuition is well and good. And, to really leverage your business strategy and drive results, you need to focus on your intention.
So, what do I mean by that? Well, let me share an example.
While I was walking and chatting with my friend, we came to a creek that had overflowed its banks due to rain earlier in the week. Our original plan of action had been to walk across the field, cross the creek and follow a fire road to the top of the hill. Now we were faced with a small river rather than a creek. Had we been focused more on our plan (activity), rather than our intended purpose, we might have come to a very different solution.
Instead, by staying connected to our purpose, we decided to apply the tools we had just been exploring. So, we asked ourselves a few simple questions:
- What’s our intended purpose, for the walk?
- What gives us meaning in this moment?
- What are our options to fulfil our purpose and meaning?
Then we applied innovative tool #2 by paying close attention to the feeling of our responses. The logic was simple and the feeling held the truth for us.
So, with these two aspects in mind, we selected our path and set about walking alongside the creek, enjoying each other’s company, and the discovery of creative conversation rather than choosing to cross the creek or return back home.
We chose our path with intention. An intention to hold true to the purpose of our journey. With that, we were well on our way again.
Strategic planning is all about human relationships.
Strategic planning is simple when you remember that human relations serve as the foundation for all that we do. And when you apply these three innovative leadership tools you’ll see amazing results, enjoy substantial productivity gains, and I imagine that you’ll enjoy a dynamic journey along the way!
Want to know more about how we can help your team find it’s purpose and land your strategic plan on one page in 4 hours or less?Please email us at: hello@pendolinogroup.com for more information.
Are you joining us at HRWest16? Please download the Innovative Tools Handout here.
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