The First Ninety Days

Three Months Could Change Everything

Empower Consulting Group Newsletter

2010.3

One of our clients called me into his office the other day. By the tone of his voice and the look on his face, I thought for sure we had a serious problem. As he started to speak tears welled up in his eyes and he had a small tremble. In a very shaky voice he said, "My controller shared some news with me today. It looks as though we've turned the corner. These are just preliminary numbers. But, for the first time in the last 18 months, the financials have showed 3 consecutive months of increasing profit. We'll actually post a very significant gain in our first quarter report for this year instead of taking the losses we have seen in the past."

He paused to gain his composure and continued, "We could not have done this without the guidance of you and your team. You held us to task when things were tough. You had faith in us when we didn't. You helped us stay the course when we wanted to abandon ship. We know we still have a long way to go. It's a relief to know we won't need to lay anyone off. I can sleep at night now. My team and I owe you our heartfelt thanks."

This exchange was a joyous and humbling experience for me. It was in that moment I realized the true impact of the work we do. We've helped save this organization and the livelihoods of all who are engaged there. But, the work isn't about us, it's about those we serve. And yet, it made me sad, too.

There are still so many companies with leaders who still don't realize how their resistance to change and innovation affects the results of the people in their organization. Sadly, these are the companies that will be left behind as we pull out of this economic crisis.

How do you prepare your team for the challenge of change and adversity?

It starts with grounding them in reality and inspiring them to reach for the sky. Hardship is the price we pay sometimes to go from good to great. Discouragement and despair come in times of adversity. Somehow, we must pull together. When we share our fears and anxieties, we strengthen each other. A strong team can accomplish great things despite the odds.

We identify causes of failure and practice restraint. We conduct internal audits. Not just reviews of the company's processes and systems but, checking to see how the team is holding up. When we stand up to adversity together we rise to the occasion.

Leaders must demonstrate their willingness to walk the hard road. They must be willing to set the example that their team members must be able to do the same.

While many believe people work for the lure of gold, history proves people work for more than gold and in fact will work their hardest and best when personally called to a challenge. We prepare the team for disruptions in business cycles. We instill in them the ability to adapt, evolve, and break away from what no longer serves. We teach them to gain market share by improving the small things each and every day.

People can handle just about anything except the unknown. When leaders tell the team about the difficulty they may encounter, it gives the team members the ability to draw on their reserves and to have courage in the face of change.

Leaders of all kinds in every company prove themselves in tough times, not easy ones.

For your company to turn the corner, what adversity or change does your team face?
Have you told them what to expect?
How are you preparing them to deal with adversity or change?
Where do you need to innovate to gain market share?

You asked and Art Devaughn with Web Services Corp delivered. Thank you to Art and his team for the recent upgrades to our website. Check out our resources section for great tools from our programs, our favorite YouTube videos, suggested reading and more.

Liz Christoffersen, Deb Armstrong
Empower Consulting Group

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