People Activation at Work: The Ripple Effect of Great Leadership

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In the realm of leadership, profound lessons often emerge from the simplest acts. Imagine a soccer player, drenched and weary, noticing the child right in front of him during opening ceremonies who is exposed to the relentless rain. Without hesitation, this player steps forward and offers his own jacket to the child. This small yet powerful gesture doesn’t go unnoticed. Inspired by this act of kindness, the other players quickly follow suit. This is the ripple effect of great leadership.

But why does this example resonate so deeply? Why is everyone so moved by the simplest acts of kindness? And furthermore, how the heck does coaching amplify such moments to create lasting change?

 

The Power of a Single Act

Leadership is often misunderstood as a command-and-control display of authority or the execution of complicated ideas and strategies. However, true leadership is more frequently found in small, intentional acts of compassion and empathy. The soccer player’s decision to protect the child exemplifies this beautifully. This single act not only provided immediate relief for the boy but also sparked a chain reaction among teammates. This ripple effect reminds us that small acts of compassion can flood the world with hope and inspire others to act similarly.

The Role of Coaching in Leadership Development

Coaching plays a pivotal role in harnessing and amplifying these moments of compassion. Here’s how coaching can transform individual acts into a broader culture of leadership:

  1. Awareness and Mindfulness
    • Coaching helps individuals become more aware of their surroundings and the impact of their actions. By cultivating mindfulness, coaches encourage leaders to be more intentional and notice opportunities for kindness and intervention, much like the soccer player did.
  2. Encouraging Authenticity
    • Authenticity is at the heart of impactful leadership. Coaches work with individuals to embrace their true selves, allowing them to act from their place of genuine concern and empathy.
  3. Building Confidence
    • Often, it takes courage to step out and act differently from the norm. Coaching builds confidence in leaders, empowering them to take those first steps, just as the soccer player did, knowing they can make a difference.
  4. Creating a Culture
    • Coaches help leaders understand the importance of creating a supportive and compassionate culture within their teams. When one person leads by example, as seen on the soccer field, it sets a precedent for others to follow, fostering a culture where empathy and support are the norm.
  5. Sustaining the Ripple Effect
    • Leadership coaches work on sustaining these positive behaviors. They help leaders implement systems and practices that ensure these acts of compassion are not one-time events but part of an ongoing culture!

The Broader Implications for Leadership and Life

The soccer player’s act of shielding the child from rain serves as a metaphor for leadership across all domains. Whether in the workplace, in communities, or in personal relationships, the ripple effect of great leadership lies in those small, selfless moments. Coaching ensures these moments are not fleeting but become ingrained in the leader’s approach to life.

Remember the old adage that a good leader is the same in public as in private. Well in leadership and life, never underestimate the power of one selfless moment. These moments, amplified through effective coaching, have the potential to create waves of positive change, transforming not just individuals but entire organizations and communities.

What do you or your business do to embrace the power of coaching to cultivate leaders who inspire, act with compassion, and create lasting ripples of hope and humanity?

5 Strategies for Rapid Transformation and Growth Through People Activation

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In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, transformation is not just a buzzword; it’s an imperative. To thrive in this era of acceleration, businesses must look beyond new technology and processes. The core of successful transformation is profoundly personal—it’s about PEOPLE ACTIVATION.

Accelerating transformation is crucial in today’s business environment. According to a 2020 McKinsey report, companies that embraced digital transformation and innovation during the pandemic were more resilient and outperformed their peers. The urgency is clear: businesses must adapt swiftly to changing market conditions, technological advancements, and evolving customer expectations.

However, a study by Gartner reveals that 75% of transformation initiatives fail to deliver the expected results. The hurdles include capability and skill gaps, burnout, and disengagement from continuous change. Middle managers, in particular, bear the brunt of these challenges, often expressing concerns about their ability to lead their teams through constant transitions.

So, what can leaders do when they face formidable challenges in executing transformations?

At the heart of successful transformations is ACTIVATING PEOPLE. Changing mindsets and behaviors matter the most. Co-creating, understanding, and empathizing with employees’ experiences of change is key. For each employee, transformation is personal. It affects their daily work, their sense of purpose, and their engagement with the company.

5 Strategies for Rapid Transformation and Growth

1. Empathy and Understanding: Take the time to understand employees’ perspectives. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions can help leaders stay connected with their teams. People want to feel seen, heard, and celebrated. Above all, they want to know that what they do matters and creates impact!

  • According to a 2021 Gallup report, organizations with highly engaged employees experience 41% lower absenteeism and 17% higher productivity. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions can significantly boost engagement by demonstrating empathy and understanding.
  • A study by Businessolver found that 96% of employees believe showing empathy is an important way to advance employee retention.
  • A Deloitte survey highlights that organizations focusing on employee experience are 25% more profitable than their peers.

2. Clear Communication: Transparent and consistent communication about the transformation process helps reduce uncertainty and builds trust. Strategically and intentionally including employees across all levels of your organization will create buy-in and personal investment in the outcome of the transformation journey.

  • The Project Management Institute (PMI) reports that ineffective communication is the primary contributor to project failure one-third of the time and has a negative impact on project success more than half the time.
  • A Towers Watson study found that companies with highly effective communication practices enjoy 47% higher total returns to shareholders compared to firms with less effective communication.

3. Training and Development: Invest in upskilling and reskilling programs to address capability and skill gaps. This not only boosts employees’ confidence but also enhances their performance.

4. Recognition and Rewards: Acknowledge and reward employees’ efforts and achievements during the transformation journey. This fosters a positive and motivating work environment.

  • A study by Bersin & Associates found that companies with effective recognition programs have 31% lower voluntary turnover than their peers with ineffective recognition programs.
  • According to a survey by O.C. Tanner, 79% of employees who quit their jobs cited lack of appreciation as a key reason for leaving.

5. Focus on Accelerating Teamwork and Adaptation: Implement Collaborative Tools that facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among team members. Adopt Agile Methods to foster flexibility and responsiveness in teams for quicker adaptation to changes and more efficient project management. Encouraging Cross-Functional Teams to work together on transformation initiatives to promote diverse perspectives and innovative solutions.

  • In the 15th Annual State of Agile Report, 86% of respondents say agile practices helped them manage changing priorities more effectively.
  • A Deloitte Survey found that organizations with high levels of cross-functional teamwork are 4.5 times more likely to be top performers in their industry.
  • According to McKinsey & Company, productivity improves by 20-25% in organizations where employees use collaborative tools.

By focusing on these essential strategies for rapid transformation and growth through People Activation, leaders will overcome the challenges of change, foster a culture of possibility, and drive their organizations toward a prosperous future.

Need help implementing? Learn more about how our coach-sulting solutions will help you unlock success for your workforce in just 90 days!

Are You a Toxic Leader?

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Toxic leaders can devastate a workforce. They may be in charge of the most talented people in the industry, but if they lead in a toxic way, much of that talent will go to waste. A good leader will not only bring out the best in their employees, they will also push them past their limits, allowing them to reach their fullest potential. Learn to identify your toxic leadership traits and you will be able to lead more effectively. You will also reduce your stress and improve overall productivity within your work environment.

Do You Find Yourself Exhausted and Unfilled at the End of the Day?

When you’re stressed, angry, or upset, you don’t function efficiently. You tend to be irritable and often spend more time finding things to complain about than finding solutions to problems. You’re always looking to find fault with others before you look for faults within yourself. This constant and intense expenditure of energy can leave us exhausted at the end of the day. You may feel as if you accomplished nothing and that your entire day was wasted.

Are You Angry or Frustrated All the Time?

If you notice that you’re angry or frustrated most of the time, ask yourself why. The key to being a good leader is knowing your leadership style and finding ways to maximize your own potential. Be creative. Find where your passion lies. Do you enjoy the work you do? If so, then focus on finding your joy in helping others be productive. If not, consider finding a different job. Being angry and frustrated just minimizes your effectiveness as a leader. Take the time to relax and look for ways to enjoy what you do.

Do Your Employees Feel Valued and Appreciated?

A toxic leader rarely recognizes the true value of the people they work with. If you want to become a better leader, take the time to get to know your employees. Find their strengths and weaknesses. Help them identify their talents and then give them the tools and resources they need to make the most of their abilities. Show them how appreciative you are of the effort they put into the work they do. Recognize both individual and team efforts so that everyone can be proud of their efforts.

Do You Find Yourself Taking on the Majority of the Work?

A toxic leader will often take on the majority of the work because they don’t have faith in their employees. This can lead to resentment and may cause employees to not put in the effort they should. If you want to maximize your employees’ potential, encourage them. Delegate duties and then help each employee do a better job. They can only improve if you give them the guidance and support they need to succeed. Instead of stressing over the work, give your employees a chance to learn more and take on more responsibility.

When Was the Last Time You Practiced Self-Care?

The best way to get the most out of your workforce is to lead by example. This includes self-care and encouraging your employees to express themselves. Many employees don’t take time off because they are made to feel as if they aren’t trying hard enough when they do. Speaking their mind can get them in trouble as well. Take a day off when you need it and allow your team to work on their own. Encourage them to speak up when they have a question, concern, or an idea that may be useful. Taking time away and self-expression are great ways to keep the mind clear and more focused on the tasks at hand.

Do You Lack Enthusiasm or Passion?

Another toxic leadership trait is the lack of enthusiasm or passion that many leaders begin to feel when they no longer enjoy what they do. When you get to that point, it’s time to take a short break. Meet with your team and ask them what changes they would like to see in the workplace. Let them be more involved in some of the decision-making steps. Their ideas may be just what you need to find your passion again. Toxic leadership can be the result of depression, anxiety, addiction, or other mental health disorders. Consider talking to a counselor and looking for ways to get back into the swing of things. Becoming a good leader is a learning process. Find your own leadership style and continue to grow with your employees. Working together can bring out the best in both of you.

3 Ways to Improve Employee Wellness in 2021

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Over the past couple of years, employee wellness programs have become a staple in offices all over the world as a way to keep staff healthy, productive, and engaged. However, they became even more necessary in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees have reported feeling more burnt out since the start of the pandemic than they have ever been before. As some companies are suggesting employees return to the office and others are allowing them to remain remote, it’s important that employers are tracking the health of their workforce and offering successful ways to improve it in 2021.

Employee Wellness Tip #1: Work-Life Balance

With the shift to remote work, there became a stronger intrusion of work-life boundaries. Those who have worked from home over the past year may have experienced the inability to disconnect from their responsibilities outside of work hours. It’s even possible that they are still bringing their work home with them after they have returned to the office, out of habit.

Without a distinct separation between work and personal life, employees can easily become overworked, burned out, and stressed more quickly than normal. Employers should not only express the importance of a healthy work-life balance but also demonstrate it as well. Each manager or supervisor has a responsibility to demonstrate the company’s commitment to wellness. Clearly valuing their own well-being can show their team that they value theirs too.

Making your team aware of the wellness precautions your company has set into place isn’t always enough, sometimes they need to be led by example and reminded that they can, in fact, take time for themselves. Valuing wellness can easily be expressed by encouraging the use of vacation days and paid time off (PTO), stepping out for short walks or a bite to eat, and blocking time off on your calendar for appointments or mental health breaks.

Employee Wellness Tip #2: Screen Time and Vision Health

In some cases, while employees were working from home, they may have been nervous about stepping away from their computers for too long, creating the illusion that they’re not performing their tasks as they should be. However, the fear of not being online at all times has led them to engage with screens for far too long.

Excessive interaction with digital screens can lead to employees feeling the effects of digital eye strain, which causes dry eyes, blurred vision, eye pain, and headaches. The extent of your team’s visual symptoms often depends on the level of their visual abilities and the amount of time they spend looking at a digital screen. Uncorrected vision problems like farsightedness, astigmatism, inadequate eye focusing, or eye coordination abilities, can all contribute to the development of visual problems when using a digital screen. Therefore, employers should encourage staff to take frequent breaks from their screens to allow their eyes to rest and rehydrate in between tasks. Employers might also suggest that employees update and order new prescription glasses annually if they have any pre-existing vision conditions due to focusing on screens for longer than 8 hours per day. Wearing glasses with the correct prescription can help employees resist some of the symptoms eye strain may cause, like blurred vision, eye pain, and headaches.

Employee Wellness Tip #3: Monitor Workloads and Delegate Tasks

Although “remote freedom” is designed to give employees more flexibility throughout their day, in certain cases, it has caused some of the workforce to feel the need to be overly present online. This can also carry over to their office life post working from home because it has been their new normal for the past year.

Companies should be monitoring employees’ productivity and hours to determine not only their success but also their workflow. Are they working more hours than they should? Are they taking their work home with them? Are they demonstrating symptoms of burnout and high stress? If so, it may be time to delegate some of their tasks to team members or even reassess workflow overall.

Tracking employees’ hours can accomplish this, but it can also benefit the company as a whole to have an open line of communication with management. Sharing an anonymous survey that can poll your team’s feelings about their day-to-day can give great insight into what they are thinking. Weekly check-ins can also give employees an outlet to discuss workflow more frequently than monthly performance reviews can.

Employee wellness is very important to the success of an organization. Taking the time to monitor their health will ultimately benefit your company and make your staff feel more engaged and motivated.

5 Top Leadership Tips for Next Gen Leaders

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Leaders always want to up their game. They want to become high performance work athletes!  Whether they’re new to their leadership position, switching teams or companies, or just want to level up and be their best, real leaders know they have to put in the work to see the results. Use these 5 simple and proven leadership tips to up your game and create the impact you want to have at work this year. 

Leadership Tip #1: Use Your #1 Communication Tool

What is the #1 communication tool in any leader’s toolkit? Simple – your ears!

Great communicators are great listeners. They listen in order to understand, to make the other person feel heard, and to inquire about solutions with great questions. If you find yourself talking more than you listen, start there. Houston, there is a problem. Challenge yourself to recognize when you are overtalking and really listen to the people around you, your team, your bosses, your customers, family, etc. Then, stop, breathe, and shift to ask one great question that deepens your understanding and insight of your audience. Guaranteed you will be surprised how the simple act of listening changes results for you.

Leadership Tip #2: Let Go of Making it All About You and Needing to Always Be Right

Many leaders are leaders for a reason. They like to be in charge and to take control of situations and solutions. So, one of our most effective leadership tips to simply let go of that need to always be right and replace it with the desire to serve others. Accept and expect that your answer or your idea isn’t always the best one. You need to include diversity of thought. If you create space for others to step up and make their own ideas heard you will win every time. People want to feel that what they do matters, that they are contributing and creating impact. Part of your job as a leader is to simply back off and allow it to happen in the way that makes the most sense at the time.

Leadership Tip #3: Figure Out What People Want

The Platinum Rule has replaced the Golden Rule and it reminds us to treat people how they want to be treated, not how we want to be treated. Start by figuring out what it is your people want! As their boss or manager, figure out what motivates them and their passions, skills, and values. The simplest way to figure that out is to ask them: turn your organization upside down. Having your audiences’ desires firmly in mind will allow you to frame your conversations and interactions accordingly. If you know one team member wants to be a manager, this allows you to tailor your communications and coaching to move them toward that goal. Likewise, if you know someone desires to be home with their family as much as possible, you know you can appeal to them by offering greater flexibility with the time and place of work.

Leadership Tip #4: Improve Your Communication Skills

To step up as a leader who creates real-deal impact, focus on improving your communication skills this year. Learn the art of the question, make a habit of using inquiry to go deeper, listen twice as much as you speak, and use our GPS communication strategy for tough conversations. If you need help and guidance to get you where you want to go, reach out to us about our personalized and on-demand coaching. We ask our client to ask themselves what is in it for the them (WIFThem): the audience.  And then to continue to use inquiry as a tool to solve and bridge any gap. 

Leadership Tip #5: Adopt Simple Systems

On a recent podcast I was asked about my best leadership tip and it is this:

KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid.

The principles of leadership are easy. What’s not easy is the execution. Adopt simple systems to support growth and sustain permanent change. Our launchbox coaching systems focus on actionable and easy to implement 3 – 4 step processes each time. We provide a practical approach not a theoretical one. Our systems meet our clients where they, and their workplace culture, are. It’s been finetuned and tested thousands of times.

Don’t overthink the problem. Tap into something that is proven to work so you can start making big leaps in your career.

Taking the next step in your leadership journey starts with you. Implement our best leadership tips to drive your success and reach out to us to learn more about our leadership coaching for driven and motivated individuals.

Coaching as a Vehicle for Workplace Transformation

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If 2020 was a massive shakeup, then 2021 is the year of shift and impact. To maximize your results and position your company to compete in the new workplace of the future, take the time now to create a coaching culture of connection within your organization. Coaching is the new connection currency. Our launchbox Coaching Systems will spur your launch plan for success and real-deal impact. Here are just a few of the transformations coaching can create in your organization:

Transformation #1: Develop the Real Leaders Within 

Our launchbox Coaching System will meet your employees and teams where they are and then develop the leadership behaviors they need to succeed in “YOUR” workplace of the future. We start by helping each of them establish the baseline with themselves and in your organization right where they’re at. Otherwise it does not matter. Then, we invite them to take the journey to shift their mindset. Mindset shift starts from within and we guide that through our proprietary Strengths & Story framework which helps them get to know themselves, what they’re about, and articulate their strengths, skills, values, and passions. When they really understand who they are, they’ll have confidence in their ability to articulate their value and lead with all of their talents from a place of strength.  

Transformation #2: Better Communication

We believe story is connection currency because our brains are wired to digest, receive, and engage with stories. And, understanding your own personal story allows you to form connections with others. It is the root foundation because when you can communicate through story you can connect and that bridges all these gaps that exist between ourselves and others. Understanding and articulating that story is the precursor to great communication. However, navigating the workplace of the future requires adding in highly effective tips and strategies for better communication. We teach audience-focused communication and skills like trust and empathy. Then you have a recipe for real-deal team and client success. We’ve seen even the most disconnected teams learn to effectively bridge the gap through their investment in our launchbox Coaching System. 

Transformation #3: Increased Client Focus and Profits

When your team communicates well, effectively bridges the gap (between generations, genders, cultures, clients’ pain, solutions, etc.), and shows up as their best selves every single day, everyone benefits. It doesn’t matter if you’re a B2B or a B2C company – when your house is in order, when you can tell a story that connects and communicate clearly, you can shift your focus from worrying about alignment and internal challenges toward truly carrying out your mission and vision for your organization externally. It’s not surprising that if you can use communication and stories to bridge the gap internally, well then external results will follow. This leads to increased client success, bigger profits for your company, and ultimately, greater impact on the world.  

Transformation #4: Enhanced Culture of Engagement and Wellbeing

If the last year has taught us anything, your workplace culture really, really matters. People need to feel safe, supported, and heard in the workplace. They need to feel like they belong and have a belief that you and they are growing together. All of us together. And how do you do this? Well we all come to the table with a different set of experiences owing to our age, gender, culture, education, etc. In the workplace of the future, diversity of experience is something that should be valued and celebrated. Knowing how to use simple communication tools to bridge that gap through alignment, trust, empathy and communication systems allows you to unite the best parts of your team’s varied backgrounds, reduces friction between individuals, and connects them to meaning and purpose within your organization. 

Transformation #5: Team and Organization Connection 

The worker of the future doesn’t want just any job. They want to feel that what they do matters and see the meaningful nature and tangible effects of the work they’re doing. In sum, they want to connect their own meaning and purpose to organizational impact. Coaching systems can provide a unique and personalized framework that meets them where they are, helps them discover themselves, and then gives them the tools to show up as the leader they want to be so they can create impact. It also helps them learn to coach themselves so they can sustain that system and keep creating massive impact every single day.

Interested in what our Coaching System can do for your organization this year? Reach out to us to schedule a free consultation and hear more about our client successes.  

5 Performance Review Tips for Managers

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Now that we’re back to work for 2021, it’s performance review season! Whether formal or informal performance reviews or day-to-day coaching, it’s important you really understand how to discuss performance in a manner that serves the employee. Specifically, performance discussions must connect with and make a difference for your employee. Your people want to do a good job for you, and they want these 3 simple things:

  1. To feel safe on the employment journey
  2. To feel like they belong to a team
  3. To have the ability to learn and grow.

So, show them how! Use these 5 tips to make sure you’re having great performance reviews and discussions which encourage your employees’ growth and fulfillment in the workplace.

Make It Relevant

Performance reviews must be relevant and directly correlated to the employee’s experience and their growth journey. You should be discussing things you’ve covered with your employee all year long and, although you can and should talk about new places for improvement, make sure that’s not all you’re talking about. Remember it’s about their growth and their journey.  Help them gauge whether they’ve been aware and conscious of the feedback as the first step.  Have they corrected or improved their behavior and results since you last discussed? Remember: your people want to learn and grow so make sure they understand that you have their back and show them the way!

Make Them Feel Safe

Few people, unfortunately, enjoy and look forward to having performance reviews or discussions. That’s why it’s important your employee feels safe from the very beginning. The safer they feel the more they will receive the information and start to understand that these discussions are gifts along the journey.  As I mentioned above, your people do want to learn and grow. So, remind them that’s all a performance review/discussion is – an opportunity to discuss areas of improvement so they can be their best. Even if you’re giving a positive performance review for someone who’s exceeding expectations, there’s always opportunity to learn, grow, have an aha moment and do better. Make sure your employee understands the performance review is about them and not about you – you’re sitting down to mentor, coach and show them the ways where they can level up, create impact, and make a bigger difference.

Remind Them That You’ve Got Their Back

In order to make your employees feel safe during their performance review, show them you’ve got their back. Be vulnerable. Share your experiences and for God’s sake, demonstrate gratitude for their service. Everyone needs that type of empathy. In this new world of work, people want to work for bosses and managers who are authentic, transparent, and who demonstrate over and over again that they want to see their team succeed. That is what we call other focused leaders. A little reassurance goes a long way, especially for your Millennial and Gen Z employees. Focus on creating trust within the conversation. For a roadmap on what NOT to do, click here to check out a list of common behaviors that actually create feelings of mistrust.

Ask Deep Questions to Spur Thought & Accountability

Nobody likes to be talked at or even worse, talked down to. To ensure you’re being heard and understood, make sure to ask “great” questions. And not just any questions. Good, deep questions that are open-ended, nonjudgmental, supportive, and ask them to grow and become accountable, are what constitutes a “great” question. Understanding the art of the question is one of the most important tools a next gen leader can have in their toolbox. Practice it now during this round of performance reviews and daily thereafter. There is no more important skill a real leader can learn.

Use Our GPS Communication System

Systems really work. They are the best tools one could ever use. GPS is our favorite communication tool here at launchbox because it friggin’ works. GPS stands for Gratitude, Permission, and Shared Experience. Using GPS allows you to deepen your relationships with anyone through effective communication. With our teams working remotely during COVID-19, it’s more important than ever that we get this right. Click here to check out more about our GPS communication strategy and download your free worksheet to put it into practice today.

Liked this post? Want more actionable ideas, tips, and tools? Reach out to us and ask about our virtual keynotes, remote workshops, and personalized one-on-one coaching. We can help every member of your team start creating success now. Get in touch!

Humans (People) Really Really Matter: The Workplace of the Future Needs Humans (Real People) Now More Than Ever

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“Humans (People) are underrated.” Elon Musk tweeted those words back in 2018, but they still ring just as true in 2020. Humans (People) ARE underrated. Especially in the workplace. In the keynotes and workshops we’ve delivered for organizations around the world who want to get a handle on what the future of work will be, we posited that all these discussions about the future overlook most important person: the worker, yes the People.

Back in 2016, the World Economic Forum predicted that Emotional Intelligence would be one of the top 10 skills people needed to cultivate in order to thrive in 2020. Well, it’s 2020 and guess what? In the midst of a global pandemic, remote work, and social distancing, we need People more than ever. But when the threat of COVID-19 is gone, we won’t stop needing People. The need for human skills (emotional intelligence, creativity, people management, etc.) will only continue to grow as our workplaces become increasingly automated.

Machines Don’t Erase the Need for Human Workers – They Create a New Need

A new article from MIT Sloan Management Review (Brynjolfsson and Beane) looked at the role of robots in our workplaces and made some surprising conclusions for our post-pandemic world. Chief among them is the idea that the workplace of the future will more than likely involve humans working alongside machines, rather than machines putting humans out of a job. In their interview with CNN, the researchers remarked that “there is a whole spectrum of having humans and machines work together. You can choose different points on the range in this division of labor, but in almost every case, you want humans doing some of the task.”

To summarize their findings, machines are great at doing certain things for us. Things that are repetitive and don’t require creative problem-solving. But that’s not all that happens inside our workplaces. We’re constantly challenged by unique problems, situations, and team dynamics. Things happen every single day that no machine could ever be programmed to deal with. But we humans are uniquely suited to solving the unpredictable. So rather than replacing our jobs, machines instead create a new need for humans in the workplace of the future – alongside new career opportunities.

New Jobs Will Emerge

Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum released a new report analyzing the workplace of the future to make predictions about the jobs of tomorrow. They identified seven emerging professional clusters and the necessary skills we should be cultivating for careers in each. In the summary of their report, they made the following remark: “While disruptive technology skills such as data science and AI skills will certainly be critical to the future of work, so will caregiving, leadership, and the ability to provide learning and development. In other words, the transition to the new world of work will be both human- and tech-centric.”

Machines aren’t going to replace us. Instead, they are paving the way for us to assume new roles – roles best suited to our own very human talents and skills. Our Strengths and Story. The most successful managers of tomorrow will be able to effectively integrate and leverage the best of both worlds inside their organizations. Yes, that means investing in your people, reskilling them, and ensuring they have a pathway to learn and grow. But we know how to help organizations do that. We’ve been doing it for years with our clients in all kinds of industries – and we can help you, too.

We’ll Have to Learn New Skills

We are living through what’s been called the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The McKinsey Global Institute predicts that as many as 375 million people will need to change their occupation by 2030 – just ten years from now! Which means there’s going to be a lot of people in the world who’ll need to go back to school, get retrained, reskill, level up, or otherwise dramatically alter the work they’re doing today.

Increased investment in automation and technology means we’ll have to lean harder on those things machines can’t take from us. Those soft skills we’ve been talking about for years – emotional intelligence, relationship building, connection, communication, trust. All things that you can’t program into a robot. They don’t come easy to some of us and they can be hard to teach. But nothing is impossible when you have a proven system that works. We have that system plus tips and tools to help you and your organization succeed and help you find your relevance.

We’ve been saying it for years and we believe it still: People matter now more than ever and they’re going to matter even more in the workplace of the future. If you want your company to grow and thrive for years to come, you need to put your focus on people right now. Use our 3-hack system to help: turn your workplace upside down to ask your people what they want and need from you, help them find meaning and purpose in their work, and reskill them for what’s to come. People are the heart of an organization and no amount of technology is going to change that.

If you need help equipping your people and your organization to succeed in the workplace of the future, reach out to us to learn how we can help through our customized workshops, personalized, on-demand coaching, keynotes, and more.

Employee Development in the Virtual Workplace Matters Now More Than Ever

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Employee development really matters. It always has. But now look at this: we’re all working remotely, interacting virtually, and dealing with uncertainty, stress, and anxiety surrounding the pandemic. It’s never been more important to invest in employee development, especially for the younger generations, Millennials and Gen Zs. They want to matter in the workplace and want a career plan. We all did. How do we know all this? Easy, we just asked them! They’re human beings, too.

In Deloitte’s recent Global Millennial Survey, they found that 41% of Millennials and 43% of Gen Zs expressed concern over their longer-term financial future. Similarly, 40% of Millennials and 46% of Gen Zs worried about their job or career prospects. From start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, in diving deeper, they discovered that respondents felt less confident that they possessed all of the skills and knowledge necessary for future success.

Guess what employers – you have to be the guide! As an employer, it’s your job to make sure your people get what they need from your organization. And organizations that provide that support outperform their counterparts. It does not just happen and how you do training and mentoring matters. Good news, while the Deloitte survey found that companies are doing a better job of this (with 65% of Millennials and 68% of Gen Zs saying their employers are providing enough support in this area) we need to be doing more to win. Investing in your people is one of the key ways to make sure your organization not only survives this pandemic but thrives in the world that comes after.

At launchbox, here is how we help. We know each client is different and they need customized products and solutions to reach their goals. Increase your employee development offerings in the months ahead with these 3 simple ways to give your people what they need and want to achieve success:

 

Virtual Workshops

In this disconnected world, help your team pull together to solve the disconnect because we can’t afford for our people to be anything other than highly engaged in the workplace. We need them to bring their best selves to work every day. Offer a transformative system that will help your team find, build, and share connection. Then empower them through simple and unique tools and strategies to own their growth and get to that next level.

 

On-Demand Training

We’ve worked with thousands of young Millennials and Gen Zs and if there’s one thing we know about them, it’s this: they want things on their own terms. And that includes access to employee development training. MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE. Try a system for coaching and mentoring that is sustainable over time. We use virtual training systems that employees can access anywhere on-demand called Hooga, however, just make sure they can access people when they need help. Help your people figure out how to work from the inside out, to discover who they are, and the value they have to contribute to the world. Then show them how to use their learnings about their own Strengths & Story to connect with others and build better relationships. Ask us how you can try Hooga for free today!

 

Individual One-on-One Coaching

For the employee, manager, or executive who desires to take their development to the next level, we believe in direct individual or group high-performance coaching that is tailored to the needs of the individual. Make sure you place an emphasis on creating a connection to self first, so they can then build the tools to win with others. Through one-on-one coaching you will help them discover, develop, and articulate their own impact: we call it Strengths & Story. Once you help them become self-reliant and create the work competency of knowing who they are, you can believe they will better connect to coworkers, team, boss, clients, etc. to deliver value and create greater impact for them and you.

 

The world as we knew it has changed. It’s time for us to step up and invest in developing next-generation leaders within our own organizations. We are here to help! If you’re not sure how to start, click here to reach out and book a free call with us.

Connecting in the Virtual Workplace: B.R.I.D.G.E. the Gap

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Now the need for connected and engaged workforces has never been greater, thanks to COVID-19! Remote and separate work is killing us. Our 5-year focus has been connecting the generations in the workplace. We developed a winning workplace formula to connect the Millennials, Gen Zs, and every generation. B.R.I.D.G.E. the Gap.

Companies of all sizes and shapes around the world are now forced to confront heightened culture issues inside the workplace.  The need for a system to help them B.R.I.D.G.E. the gap around generation, gender, race, religion, whatever, is daunting. Our workplace connection system is guaranteed to work when companies authentically believe and deploy it.

FACT: The most important life/work skill is relationship building. The ability to build relationships is your connection currency. B.R.I.D.G.E. is a 6-step framework that solves today’s most challenging workplace issues. Learn more about how to B.R.I.D.G.E. the Generation and Diversity Gap below and if you’d like help implementing, reach out to us.

B.R.I.D.G.E. the Gap in Your Workplace

 

B: Bust Myths

No matter what specific challenge you’re facing in your workplace, it starts by checking your assumptions at the door. We all buy in to myths, biases and beliefs about the people we work with that may or may not be true. But make a commitment right here, right now, to stop placing people in a box. Instead, lean in and really listen. Understand and welcome that diversity, it creates better business results – just check out this study from Deloitte. If you connect to yourself by busting myths you are free to inquire and listen to your own strengths.  Once you understand yourself, you’re ready to engage with others to find the strengths in them. Busting myths starts with understanding and identifying what people are really bringing to the table – not the baggage or labels you’ve assigned to them.  That is what leaders that transform the workplace do.

R: Real Deal

Authenticity and trust are two of the most important ingredients for creating strong relationships and real leadership. And, now that we’re all working remote and dealing with the uncertainty, anxiety, and frustration of life during a pandemic, it’s become more important than ever that your workplace colleagues know you’re there for them. Be interested and interesting.  Care and put in the effort to be vulnerable.  It pays in connection currency.  Stop making excuses and blaming others (colleagues, friends, etc.) and start becoming genuinely interested in your team, their ideas, solutions, and strategies. Challenge yourself to learn as much as you can about everyone: What makes them tick? What motivates them? What inspires them?  What are their goals? Simply ask great questions and then go deeper to form rock-solid relationships.  My 19-year-old son told me this week that the greatest gift I gave him was the ability to understand, practice, and shape question asking. He said with that he could enter any room of 200 and find something in common with every person and build relationships.  Now I want to test that skill.  Anyone have a room of 200 during COVID?

I: I Own It

Let’s face it: it’s easier to blame others and make it someone else’s problem when you don’t have to hang out with them in the break room or stare at their cubicle all day. But real leaders step up and own their side of the street. When things go wrong, take responsibility. And when things go right, own that too. You must have personal accountability in everything you do if you want others to own their stuff, grow, change, and show up differently.  You want to change the world change yourself because what happens to you is because of you.

D: Deliver Value

If you’re familiar with my views, you know I’m always talking about delivering value to others. Without that, you’re dead to me and everyone else. Value is a big freakin’ deal! I believe if you show up, serve, and focus on how to consistently give values to others, your life and your results will change tremendously. So how do you personally connect, mentor, lead, motivate, engage, and add value to those around you? Where are you crushing it and where could you do better? And has it changed since the pandemic began? When will you recapture some of the magic you had before you went remote? And, how?

G: Goals in Mind

In the virtual workplace, it’s more important than ever that people have a clear sense of what a company’s goals are and what the vision is for the future. A shared vision and shared goals allow people to get into alignment with each other, regardless of their differences or past experiences. If you’re a leader, it’s up to you to create that vision and then lead with transparency and purpose. If you’re a team member, check in with yourself and ask great questions like: How does what I do help achieve the company’s goals? Why am I important to the company? Most importantly, given the radical changes we’ve gone through, what goals in mind do you have for workforce development?  Now more than ever, adapting to change in economies is not just about cost-cutting and risk assessment, it’s about finding and training the right leaders that will persevere in the new uncertainty. DO you have a system for that goal? If so, it better relate to connecting people.

E: Empower Success

Our signature program, Strengths & Story, centers on helping individuals discover and articulate their own strengths to others. Why do we focus on highlighting strengths rather than correcting weaknesses? Because we want to empower people and help them discover what is already special about them. Everyone has their own innate superpowers so help your team recognize and cultivate their gifts. Then, celebrate them when they succeed!

 

As we went through the B.R.I.D.G.E. acronym, I hope you noticed that even though we’re using B.R.I.D.G.E. as a means to close the gap between self and others, we kept the focus on the self – specifically, on you! That’s no accident. The only person we can control in all situations in ourselves. So creating change and getting the results we want starts with us doing the work from the inside out. If you need help stepping up and becoming the leader you want to be, we offer personalized, on-demand coaching. Contact us to learn more about what we can do for you and your team!