Open to Change

We are in the middle of a 5-session project management training program and watching the participants embrace this new content has caused me to develop a profound respect for them.  Let's be clear, not everyone is embracing the content the same way, but enough are.

I can see it, in their focus and determination, and in their questions.  They are listening to new content and a new subject and they are being open.  They are looking at how they can take this new knowledge and apply it to their business.

It isn't "Well, the way we do it works fine so we don't need to change," it's "How can we be better?"  "How can we take these new ideas and make ourselves stronger?"

How this applies to the rest of us... Just ask yourself, when you come across new knowledge (from a peer, a book, a course, etc.) what do you do with it?  Do you assume its different than what you are doing and not worth looking at?  Do you assume that because someone else said it, it must be good?  Or, do you just go in with an open mind and willing heart; ready to take the best bits of everything you come in contact with to make you and your organization better.

Think about it, and next time, be open.

-Alexander C. Cook MEng, MBA, PEng, PMP

Reward for Risk

Reward for risk.  This is a great idea, right?  I mean, tech giants like Google do this kind of thing all the time.  They give people the latitude to try new things and reward them when it goes well; sometimes people are rewarded when it doesn't go so well - the bigger consideration is that when people fail (and put in their best efforts) they aren't punished for it.

I've seen many organizations try to replicate this.  They like the idea of innovation and of gaining critical competitive edges against their opponents and let's be honest, who wouldn't?  Yet, when put into practice this often seems to fall apart, and from my experience, it comes down to a single flaw in leadership.

If you want to implement this kind of program you need to not only communicate to your team that they will be rewarded for taking risks, but you need to mean it.  That last part, that is the critical flaw.  Most people don't like to fail, leaders included, so when they tell people to take risks, somewhere, deep down, they aren't willing to accept the consequences.  Your team will figure that out very quickly, and while you may be preaching that they need to be innovative and take more risks, if you won't back them on it, no one will stick their neck out.

This phenomenon happens not only with risk and reward but with many aspects of leadership.  If you talk the talk, make sure you walk the walk, and who knows, you might be rewarded for that risk.

-Alexander Cook MEng, MBA, PEngg, PMP

Photo Credit: http://1000lifelessons.com/risk-vs-reward/

When is the right time for a coach?

When was the last time you saw a football team without a coach?  Or a kid's soccer team?  Or really any kind of athlete (professional or not)?  Pretty much never, because all the time is the right time for a coach.

Coaches/teachers/mentors are invaluable (and often undervalued) influences in our lives that can help us become better versions of ourselves.  Sometimes that means picking us up when we fall down, and sometimes that means knocking us back down a few rungs on the ladder.  The point is, they are there to support us with what we need, not necessarily what we want.

Sports demonstrate some very visible examples of coaches, due to the highly competitive and highly public environment, but business is also highly competitive; so is life.  We all have these influences, from our friends, to colleagues and co-workers.  They help us out along the way.

Not everyone requires a professional coach, but once you find yourself in a more specialized environment (like leading a new team, or an organization, for example) it can be hard to find those supports around you.  That is the time when you need a professional coach, though you can, of course, enlist a professional coach at any time.  Professional coaches are not just there by chance, you can interview several and pick the one with the skills you need and a personality that can drive you to become your best self.

Just think, professional athletes use professional coaches in their hyper-competitive environments, maybe it's time you did too.

-Alexander Cook MEng, MBA, PEng, PMP

p.s. On that note, if you are looking for a professional coach, we can help!