During my career with Kepner Tregoe, I\u2019ve had the privilege of working with mining organizations\u2014so it caught my interest when a leadership coach was quoted asking clients if they were \u201cturning the coal of the past into the diamonds of the present.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like coal to diamonds, there are specific things we can do to lead organizations through a painful change process. Leading others through critical strategic and tactical changes can take a toll on the enthusiasm and resilience of those we lead. Coal is opaque, relatively soft, and flakes easily while diamonds are transparent and the hardest known substance.\u00a0 Experts tell us that resilient people are those who work on solving a problem rather than becoming paralyzed by it. Transforming organizations? Coal to diamonds? The molecular structure of a diamond is said to be especially sturdy. Something has to change\u2026<\/p>\n
Transitioning to a diamond-like operation is about intentionally creating a sturdy structure that provokes prized performance.\u00a0 It is much more than teaching people new skills. At Kepner-Tregoe, we use a guide called the Enterprise Model to ensure all the right questions are asked \u2013 and answered \u2013 to provide a positive way forward. After all, you cannot lead your people to resolve issues unless you identify those priority issues that are relevant to your company\u2019s health \u2013 and provide a way around potential paralysis.<\/p>\n
Overcome Powerlessness \u2013 WHAT<\/p>\n
To defeat negativity and helplessness, it is important to have a dynamic and clear delineation among those things you can control, and those you can only influence.\u00a0 Every company has the power to build and control a vibrant organization \u2013 a sturdy structure \u2013 around nine business components:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Leadership
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Strategy
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Business Processes
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Goals & Measurements
\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Human Capabilities
\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Information and Knowledge Management
\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Organization Structure
\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Culture
\n9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Issue Resolution<\/p>\n
But there are also key factors that you cannot directly control \u2013 but may be able to expertly influence. These include:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Suppliers
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Resource Providers
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Government Regulations
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Societal and Community concerns
\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Parent Corporation
\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Customers and Markets<\/p>\n
The Serenity Prayer comes to mind \u2026 grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.\u00a0 Resilient people know the difference and are empowered by their leaders to change the things that they can change.<\/p>\n
Overcome Frustration \u2013 HOW<\/p>\n
Once relevant questions around the nine variables in the Enterprise Model have been asked and answered, the senior leadership team is empowered to do something about the things they can control or influence.\u00a0 More importantly, they will be able to expertly guide other leaders and individual contributors to actually resolve \u2013 rather than just talk about \u2013 those priority issues that are essential to best-practices performance.\u00a0 At Kepner-Tregoe, we have taught, coached, practiced and applied a suite of Rational Process methodologies that help people \u201cwalk the talk\u201d of strategic and operational issue identification, clarification, prioritization, and resolution in all nine of the Enterprise Model variables to avoid paralysis with a crystal-clear path through to the finish line.\u00a0 Problems solved \u2013 permanently.\u00a0 Decisions made \u2013 proficiently. Risks managed \u2013 skillfully.\u00a0 This is accomplished through robust critical thinking \u2013 structured thinking \u2013 that reminds people that it truly matters \u201cto think about how we think.\u201d<\/p>\n
Overcome Overwhelming \u2013 NOW<\/u><\/p>\n
Take it to the finish line. It is easy to get stuck in the thinking but not doing.\u00a0 Your company may audibly \u2018sigh with relief\u2019 when people are confident that the priority strategic and operational issues are understood (WHAT) \u2013 and those top priority issues can be solved (HOW).\u00a0 Now it\u2019s time for your team to take effective and efficient action with a sturdy structure of tools that help them tackle the to-do list.\u00a0 Remember, resilient people take action.\u00a0 We use project management best-practices to guide individuals and teams to the finish line. Across America and around the globe, we are frequently reminded of a core competency dearly held by Nike \u2013 JUST DO IT.\u00a0 Be sure to know the right things and the right way and then do it with confidence and skill \u2013 WHAT, HOW, NOW.<\/p>\n
Sturdy structures provide a safe and dynamic environment within which the most important part of your organization \u2013 your people \u2013 can thrive.\u00a0 Overcome paralysis, build resilience, and pursue the transformation of your company, from the coal of the past to the diamond of the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Creating exceptional performance through a little WHAT, HOW and NOW During my career with Kepner Tregoe, I\u2019ve had the privilege of working with mining organizations\u2014so it caught my interest when a leadership coach was quoted asking clients if they were \u201cturning the coal of the past into the diamonds of the present.\u201d Like coal to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[86],"class_list":["post-24794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-other"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n