How To Master Leading Your Team To Be Calm In A Storm

It is time to take the mic and grab the camera!

That is what I have told many executives this past week as I have spoken to them about the various storms they are living through.

Despite the WSJ reporting this weekend that the IPO market might be significantly weakened with only one third of companies completing an initial public offering compared to the same point last year that doesn’t mean storms aren’t brewing.

I am observing an unprecedented level of acquisitions, mergers, ruthless prioritization of investments, and big bold bets on innovative partnerships that are creating storms everywhere. 

Whether unexpected or predicted, the ability to weather the storm and remain calm is an art that everyone can learn. 

I call these storms tornadoes because of the various stages that require you to act differently. I created The Change Tornado to help leaders at all levels understand how they can help their teams remain calm regardless of what is thrown at them. 

Imagine the storm you are currently experiencing and ask yourself what phase are you in? - perhaps the eye of the storm where all is quiet while you freeze waiting for the devastation to hit. Or maybe one of the other five phases of the 

The five phases of the storm are:

• decision

• anticipation

• devastation

• freeze

• devastation

• rebuild.

Each phase requires an intentional approach, like playing chess you have to consider what might happen, how it might impact you and how you will react if it does. 

Playing the “what if” game with trusted advisors helps you remain calm and be ready for what might happen next. This is particularly useful during potential change of ownership or job moves. 

Always questioning what exactly you are optimizing for will help you make sure you are understanding how those around you are making decisions so you can question, contest, and debate alternatives. 

Most importantly… your people want to hear you and see you. So take the mic, grab the camera and point them in your direction to share what you want others to know. Otherwise the void will be filled with others stories which may or may not be true.

You can find out more in Chapter 4 of my latest book…

Words That Work Communicate Your Purpose, Your Performance, and Your Profit. Now available at your favorite local bookstore to support your local small business. Or online at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes & Noble, Target, Booktopia.au,  Waterstones, Amazon.ca

Let me know if you want to order copies for your team or event and I can extend special offers and discounts to you.

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/

How To Shed What No Longer Helps Your Growth And Happiness

Do you have any idea how often a snake sheds its skin?

I was surprised to learn that it is once a month on average. This shedding, also known as ecdysis, is a process that can last between seven and fourteen days. The purpose for the ecdysis is so the snake can keep growing; their old skin doesn’t fit them, so they need to lose it to survive and get stronger.

We all need to shed what no longer serves us well to remain successful, I call this the Ecdysis Evolution. 👈 Click that link to see Featured in Chapter 11 of Words That Work: Communicate Your Purpose, Your Profit, and Your Performance, Kogan Page, January 2022

You can follow the diagram to go through your own evolution. (Drawing created by my 11 year old daughter Naomi and probably one of my most memorable diagrams that I use with executives!)

Click on the link above and then follow these four crucial stages of your Ecdysis Evolution.

Stage 1: Habits

Consider what habits currently do not serve you well and note them below the snake. Add new habits you want to incorporate above the snake, representing the new stronger you.

Stage 2: People

Next, comes my most unpopular but valuable advice:

“Which friends or colleagues (or bosses!) do you need to divorce?”

Without overthinking, debating, feeling guilty, or second guessing, write the names of any friends or colleagues in your life who are not serving you well, do not lift you up, or do not fill you with joy at the thought of spending time with them.

Above the snake, note friends or colleagues who you don’t spend enough time with—those who already have caused a smile on your face just by thinking of them and the energy they bring to you.

Stage 3: Commitments

Then reflect on all of your regular commitments—in your work life, whole life, social life, and charitable life—and note which you want to shed. Consider where you want to add new commitments that will help you fulfill your raison d’etre. This may take additional thought and time.

Stage 4: Priorities

Finally, note in the shed zone what your current default priorities have become. Because as work and life becomes more demanding, there is a natural order to what gets prioritized, even if it is the person or project with the loudest voice or the greatest risk. The opportunity is taking back control of what you prioritize so that you are intentional, or what I call being Thoughtfully Ruthless about what you focus on when. Now you can use your insights from your Ecdysis Evolution to make the changes you need.

You can find out more in Chapter 11 of my latest book…

Words That Work Communicate Your Purpose, Your Performance, and Your Profit. Now available at your favorite local bookstore to support your local small business. Or online at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes & Noble, Target, Booktopia.au, Waterstones, Amazon.ca

Let me know if you want to order copies for your team or event and I can extend special offers and discounts to you.

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning: http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/

How To Quickly Tell If You Have The Best Cooperation Possible

It’s easy to notice when cooperation is failing, but can you describe precisely what it takes to create an environment where cooperation comes naturally?

I developed the Five Cooperation Foundations (Figure 3.1 from Chapter Three of Words That Work) as conversation starters for teams and companies that want to increase their cross-team results.

When a board chair of a technology company asked me if I could meet with a CEO and his executive team because they weren’t delivering their quarterly earnings results as expected for the third quarter in a row, he shared his concern that each member of the executive team seemed to be operating on their own, and that their strategy and implementation lacked cohesiveness. When I met with each of them, I asked them to score the Five Cooperation Foundations using the following scoring system:

• Green—it is a consistent strength;

• Yellow—there is room for improvement or greater consistency; and

• Red—it is a concern that needs dedicated attention.

Five Cooperation Foundations

1. I feel confident everyone has my back.

2. I observe that across teams, functions, and locations, we are all working to common goals.

3. I have experienced that asking for help is acceptable and encouraged.

4. I have been part of successes that are jointly celebrated.

5. I have seen mistakes objectively deconstructed for lessons learned, not to attribute blame.

As they individually shared their color coding and answered what it would take to make each foundation a strength, there was a common reaction from all eight executives: they realized they had never had the conversation about how they worked together or how they wanted cooperation to occur in their company. They had discovered for themselves the power of taking time out to intentionally declare expectations of how they would communicate and cooperate. I share the results of their evaluation in Chapter Three of my latest book, Words That Work.

For the first ten readers who reply or DM me their results of their Cooperation Foundation Assessment I will provide you with insights and ideas customized just for you.

a quick reminder…

Words That Work Communicate Your Purpose, Your Performance, and Your Profit. Now available at your favorite local bookstore to support your local small business. Or online at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes & Noble, Target, Booktopia.au, Waterstones, Amazon.ca

Let me know if you want to order copies for your team or event and I can extend special offers and discounts to you.

Dedicated to growing your business,

Val

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this week's VAL-uable Insights, sign up here to get them in your inbox each Monday morning:

http://valwrightconsulting.com/newsletter-sign-up/