Tag Archives for " transformation "

What is Why?

In this current climate of wondering why people are acting the way they are, there are lots of question that might start with why. Why did she speak like that? Why would he have done that?

Why often flummoxes us when we consider others and actions.

The definition of why as a noun is “a reason or an explanation” and as an adverb “for what reason and or purpose”. But Why is more than that. Why is more than asking questions? Why is about finding your purpose - What is your purpose? Why are you doing what you are doing?

Let’s explore your Why

Have you considered the values that guide you? Those values that are fundamental to you, your life.

Your values are the things that you believe are important in the way you live and work. They determine your priorities.

This sometimes takes a bit of sorting but establishing your values is the base block of your Why. Be encouraged and reflective and uncover your values. You may be able to start seeing your What is being built as you think through your values. If you understand your values you can see that they guide us in our decisions and our undertakings, therefore, they are the fundamental block of what drives us. Our purpose.

Our Values and the link to our Why

After spending time considering and establishing your core values can you imagine having to operate against your values? It is hard to imagine.

Values drive our thinking, our responses, our behaviour, our actions. When we observe others around us we can occasionally see their values displayed. Generosity, greed, consideration... we see them on our trains, our roads, in our workplaces, all around us. Our values are on public display, we know this and we display our values.

Connecting Values to Purpose.

Now let’s stretch your thinking about your values and your Why and connect them.

It is important to build the link between your values and your Why.

Your values are the things that you believe are important in the way you live and work. They determine your priorities. Therefore, through knowing your values, you have a clear understanding of what is important to you. You can then directly link this to your purpose.

If your Why is doing something you see is of value to you (and potentially, hopefully to others); if your Why, your purpose, is about working on something that is important to you; then the link between your values and your Why is strong and should be considered and inseparable. Know your values and understand that they are one of the building blocks to exploring your purpose.

The Illustration – Values and Why the important tension

To finish, we once heard an acquaintance talking about the workplace and personal values and the importance of working in a place that had similar values.

The personal story was confronting to hear. The tension in the story was clear. There were the espoused values of the organisation, however, the actual values were displayed through accepted behaviour and this created a disconnection with a disappointed employee. Things had to change because the organisational values were not being lived and this prevented the employee from working with purpose. There was no connection. The employee considered that his purpose was not connected to the work of the organisation. The tension was too great and something had to change.

If you would like to explore your why with Affectus then head here for more information.

Can't see a workshop in your region? Feel free to contact us and we will fit you into our schedule.

Leadership Space

I have spent more than 40 years thinking about leadership. At various times during these years, it has totally absorbed me. I have spent time thinking about who I am and where I want to be, what change I want to make and what the team might look like to make that change a reality.

I have flirted with the concepts of:

• bribing people into voting for me
  (Albury Primary School Vice-Captain – you can see how successful that was)
• begging to be the sports captain
  (I remained an ineffective winger after that effort)
• and then understanding that it was always about finding my passion and getting better connected with my why, my purpose.

And this is why I have found the term #leadershipspace so helpful over the last decade.

I feel confident that I have found what #leadershipspace means. And what it might mean to others. So, let me explain, shall I?

#leadershipspace is about finding where we want to be and affecting that space. It is your and my hope that what we do:

• will have an affect
• that things will change
• that there will be a difference
• and we all have a deep desire that will we have an affect

I have heard it described:

• as legacy by some
• a better future by others
• working on my why, by people I love
• making a difference
• helping where it Is needed

…this desire to affect is a powerful driver. It drives me.

I also know that people want to see the affect, people stepping into a leadership spaces and those watching us stepping into leadership spaces some call it the evidence of leadership money spent wisely.

I frown as I hear the perennial comment “So what have we got from our $ spent” and I think look harder, listen carefully, be wiser.

And I think each person has thought about the affect they will make.

Everyone who has been part of any program, (any that I have facilitated or other people), everyone has thought about their affect.

They think about it:

• their purpose
• their community
• the issues
• the decline
• the positive changes

and they think “Where is the space for me?”

And then they see it!

Sometimes it takes no time and sometimes it takes a long time; sometimes only the individual can see it (and only ever will) and sometimes the world sees it. But believe me everyone wants to affect their #leadershipspace…

So how do you find the leadership space where you will affect things?

Well, that can take a long conversation, even a whole leadership program or years of mulling through but it takes thinking steps.

We have developed some tips below that will help you.

We believe that these couple of links will help you start your thinking steps about affect and your leadership space.

• Simon Sinek – How great leaders inspire action
• Drew Dudley – Everyday leadership

If you would like further information regarding any of these initiatives, feel free to contact Jill, jill@affectusaus.com.au.

What are the fundamentals of getting your team going?

I was asked to address a group of ‘Women in STEM’ last week. The convenor asked that I draw on my national leadership knowledge and experience. I spent time thinking through what I have seen work over my 20 years of researching, building and I reflected on how I have assisted in the development of effective teams that deliver outcomes.

I spoke for 10 minutes to the assembled women who work across the STEM field…doctors, researchers, agronomists, technicians, teachers, nurses…women interested in adding to the STEM agenda, both locally and nationally. I was asked to be precise, the woman had to get to work and commitments…so I condensed my long version to an abbreviated one.

I believe that there are fundamentals to get your team ‘going’. When I have worked with teams that need to deliver outcomes within 6 months and those that need to consider the long-term I have noticed the following five concepts are consistent across all. I have then used these five concepts to assist and groups move from a collective of interested individuals to a performing team. They will assist you in getting things moving for you and your team but they will also guide you if your team is in for the long-haul and already established.

1. Establish the collective values of the team. These values will guide but they will also assist when new people move into your group to help them understand the team baseline.
2. Find your team purpose – why you are taking this action? Why are you going to make this change? Perhaps you have done a gap-analysis and you have decided that you need to fill the gap or perhaps you are introducing a newness…whichever…find why?
3. Build a structure that fits your need…remember you can create a structure that works for you.
4. Analyse your team skills and knowledge so that you can work with the magic you have.
5. Remember that communication is the essential any team