Connecting the “soft” to the “hard”

Since the end of 2008 we have measured the culture, climate and engagement levels of the staff of a Western Cape construction company on a yearly basis using the Motto Survey. This has been an exciting journey for both the business and the ±120 staff. It has been fascinating to see how the staff responses change from year to year. In the first year the movement in responses were massive, as were the change in staff attitude and performance. Thereafter there has been a consistent and more gradual improvement on 90% of the measured items every year.

The reaction from all business owners and managers to this is always: “That’s great, but how did the business perform?” After all, we are here to make money. The successful business leaders understand that link – the connection between the “soft” measures vs. the “hard” ones.

The good news is that this company has been showing a consistent growth in profit in spite of the struggling construction industry.

Since the Motto Survey was first used in this business in 2008 we were able to design and implement Organisation Development (OD) strategies that could target the specific challenges and at the same time build capacity for future strategic business needs.

One of the many success stories over the years is of an Operations Manager that were able to make a complete turnaround in his management style, specifically the way he communicated with his staff. Staff responses on most of the leadership feedback items moved from 50-70% negativity to less than 30% on all related items from 2008 to 2013.

The success of this turnaround was achieved by a combination of intervention strategies, but if you ask the Operations Manager what made the staff responses change, he will talk about his staff communication lessons. Both the interactive workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions over time gave him insight on how to change the way he was managing the supervisors and staff. As a result the staff losses have been minimal over the years and very little disciplinary issues arise.

Being able to know exactly which area/department and which issue to tackle as part of the OD strategy enables business leaders to minimise staff loss, build capacity and create a performance driven workforce.

Compiled by Dr. Mariheca Otto. She writes a weekly blog: www.motto.za.net
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Geronimo!

When my husband and I travelled back from the UK after our working-holiday stint, we came via Nairobi on an overland truck. This was a very long time before kids, business and having to be responsible. At Vic Falls I decided to bungee jump, something I always wanted to do. I had the idea in my mind that it would feel like you are soaring, flight-like...

Not the case!

The thought that went through my mind was more like: ' #@*%! This is not right/normal/natural/human!' I was, let's just say, out of my comfort zone. Although you know that theoretically you are safe (there is a safety cord), when you are in the air your brain however is not comprehending this.

In my consulting work I am often suggesting to and encouraging individuals to move out of their comfort zone for various reasons. I recently was involved in facilitating a highly volatile work space. In preparation for the planned confrontational conversation I asked all the participants to think about their needs in the relationships - with the individuals, the group, the brand, the company. What this exercise does is help you realise what (and who) is/is not important to you. Stating your needs, or having confrontational conversations are not always easy or guaranteed fun. And the reality is that it completely puts you 'out there'. Mid air. Vulnerable.

My wise coach taught me that it is great to put yourself 'out there', to really jump into that difficult conversation. But you can manage your own levels of vulnerability. The key is to realise that some people have 'earned' your vulnerability, and some not. You know who those friends, family and colleagues are - you feel 'safe' with them, and when you express your needs or feelings they totally value it.

Confronting others, expressing our needs and being vulnerable happen when we are realising our life purpose or personal vision. Fortunately these are all skills - which means we can become better at it. http://goo.gl/UhC7V

Hanging on

When I was at school I had an intense (as intense as teenagers can be) conversation with a close friend. She subsequently wrote an amazing poem about the conversation that later in the year won some national language prize. That same conversation theme came up again today, this time with my two older boys.

I was much older when I relayed the picture of us (people) being like puppets. Hanging on strings, being controlled, not having much choice. I could share my kids' frustration and confusion in trying to make sense of life, and our part in it. Understanding, or rather knowing, how much of a choice we have in it.

I suppose I have always had a thing for the dramatic. Recently a client commented on how I tend to dramatise some consequence scenarios. The observation was absolutely accurate. I am so very aware of the possibility of us not taking full ownership of choices that we consciously or not so consciously make, whether this relates to the existential and life purpose options or less loaded choices.

This awareness, or consciousness of how we deal with our lives often comes up in the mentorship and performance related conversations I facilitate for my clients. I use the Individual Assessment tool (http://goo.gl/UhC7V) to help people unlock their awareness of choices they can make in their own lives, jobs and careers.

Just yesterday I was part of such a conversation again. I expressed (of course very dramatically) to a talented, mid-life(ish) male manager a possible scenario if he did not choose to consciously steer his life/career in a different direction. He completely got it. I know that, reflecting on it a year from now, he will be in a different place in both his work life and personal life - he has made a decision to own his choices/life.

Camping

In the past couple of weeks I became distinctly aware of the bodies we live in, and how we occupy them.

I have a client that is participating in the Ironman (is that still politically correct?) event over the weekend. I know quite a few people that recently ran the Two Oceans race - although I do think most of them used it as an excuse to come down to the Western Cape for a holiday...The not so long ago Argus cycle tour is another example of this.

None of these (for me extreme) sports really appeal to me, but each to his own, and I applaud anyone that has the discipline, energy, commitment, focus etc. to train and participate in these sports. My 2 eldest boys for some reason now also decided that they want to start running - I think it has something to do with receiving a medal. Personally I don't think that is much of a reward, but who am I to judge?

On another note, a very much liked client had a heart attack last week. He is now recovering at home. We had the whole health discussion at the end of last year, you know - what are you doing to cope with work stress? When are you going to take a holiday? Coincidentally he came back from a holiday break just before it happened. In the same week I heard of a friend diagnosed with breast cancer. This was a bit closer to home - female, small kids, same age, similar life style.

I know life is temporary. Or let me put it this way, my brain knows life is temporary. As a friend frames it: our bodies are the 'tents' we live in, just a shell. Temporary. Explaining this to my kids is another story, a rather challenging one. But it does help me to start making sense of where I am with this health, body awareness concept.

The bottom-line is this: you need your body to live your life purpose. The question then comes up: how are you treating/managing/occupying your 'tent'? This is an aspect we look at in the Motto Individual Assessment, you can have a look on the website: http://goo.gl/UhC7V

Getting back in the game

When I just read the heading of the previous blog (Getting your wings) I found the whole situation very ironic. Very shortly after that blog our transforming butterfly baby girl took the flying concept a little far as she launched herself from a balcony at our home.

This very traumatic event shocked and served as a massive wake-up call for not only our own family, but anyone that heard of the accident. Miraculously, apart from a few bruises and scratches, after every conceivable test or scan she was declared as 'perfectly fine'. Now, after a couple of weeks, only emotional scars are visible on the rest of the family.

Yesterday evening when my mom was visiting, our 3 year old, out of the blue, mid-sentence, mid-story, pointing at his sister commented: "Ouma, you know, she fell very high."

All of us have been dealing with this event in our own way, trying to make sense of it and working through an interesting variety of emotions. Personally I found it exceptionally challenging to let go of (at least some of) the guilt, and the acceptance of this bit of baggage that is now part of my 'make-up'/being.

Although I know, on an intellectual, rational level that it is time to 'move on' or get back into the game, I carry this piece of baggage quite heavily. To such an extent that talking, and now writing about it is still a struggle.

Shortly after the traumatic event, during a visualisation exercise in the yoga class, brilliant Beryl (the teacher) used the picture of 'growing' wings and when trying to fly you have to let go of a box you were not realising you were holding on to. In the visualisation the baggage you were holding on to were holding you back, and the moment you dropped it, your life is so much easier, lighter. For quite some time I did not realise that my box was the shame and guilt, holding me back.

In my consulting work I often see how people are not fully developing their own potential, because they (not the people around them) are not okay with their past experience. They are often ashamed of or not forgiving themselves for anything from a failing marriage to an unfortunate upbringing.

Accepting our own baggage/pain/stuff is an on-going process, whether we like it or not. Sitting on the bench, serves no one. We have to get back in the game, as tough as it sometimes can be, and play. Fully play.

You can do the Individual Assessment (Motto tool) on our website http://goo.gl/UhC7V if you want to get some self-awareness on what is holding you back in living your best life.

Getting your wings

Yesterday I met with a consultant-colleague that has managed to transform himself. When I met him a couple of years ago he was a client, part of a senior management team. Since then everything has changed, from the new funky beard, to the fresh MBA status and entrepreneurial business focus. I completely admire how he has gracefully moved through this huge transformation, and is now rebranding himself.

My baby girl on the other hand is not embracing her transformation from baby to toddler as gracefully. Now this could be because the change is enforced upon her, as life sometimes does. Or it could be because her star-sign is Virgo (no offense to any Virgo's). Or it could be that she is just not change and transformation fit, yet.

Personally I am also going through a transformational stage, partly because of where my baby is in her development, partly because my business is demanding it. This is both exceptionally scary and exciting.

This got me thinking, why do some of us struggle to adapt to the change in ourselves and our lives more than others? I have a close family member that is also in a transitional phase, and it is obvious that the man is in pain. I am sure that if he could he would also scream and tantrum as my baby does, maybe also straight through the night...

I am fortunate to have an amazing support system, from understanding close friends and family, to lots of professional supportive and guiding input. We are not meant to go through these personal changes on our own, without someone(s) having our back (so to speak).

This is my conclusion: the more support during the transformation, the easier, maybe less painful the process. The Motto model that I developed, and the subsequent Individual Assessment tool, can help you to transform yourself, and just maybe it would be a little less painful. (See self-assessment link: http://goo.gl/UhC7V)

Being difficult

This week I learnt a not-so-nice lesson about myself - I cannot stop myself from challenging solutions imposed. Unfortunately this is not an ideal quality considering the consulting space I operate in. Partly my rebellious nature of not just 'taking' a solution or plan, and partly my pressing need to HAVE to think about the issue myself forces me to start asking questions. I suppose often irritating, maybe even intimidating and uncomfortable questions. Of course this does not mean that I may come up with a better solution or idea, I just have this pressing need to understand, or okay then, challenge the solution. Test it, so to speak.

My 3 year old's mantra is "Don't tell me!" He also does not want to be told what to do. The people close to us found interesting ways to 'tell' us - to ensure our buy-in. My all-time favourite mommy-trick is giving the two (solutions) options: "Are you wearing the green or blue top?" Or my husband's 'question' most evenings: "Do you want to bath the kids or make dinner?" Very sly, but effective. We feel not only consulted, but as if we had a choice, we were not told what needs to happen.

Which brings me to my "a-ha" moment. I experienced one of the most frustrating, uncomfortable and embarrassing meetings earlier this week. In my consulting career I have experienced a variety of, let's call them 'uniquely challenging', clients and consulting colleagues. I suspect that this severe sense of dread was most likely only my experience, as the present management team and other consultants seemed quite used to the inappropriate, almost emotionally abusive behaviour of the client.

When reflecting on the meeting, I realised why it was such a horrible experience for me. I was not allowed the space to contribute, question, 'be difficult'. We were 'told'.

Without saying it, the client basically told all of us present to not think, or challenge the solutions given. I know in having to live your best life, one of the key skills to realise your unique personal vision is to be able to challenge solutions and think more. Your self-perception of this skill is also measured by the Motto Individual Assessment http://goo.gl/J4jfg on our website.