Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Common Action, Not Common Thinking


The Baldrige Program is changing and transitioning to a stronger enterprise business model. And there is a lot of excitement around the office about the opportunity to reinvent. Admittedly, the circumstances triggering reinvention added a sense of urgency, but the agility and innovation have been remarkable. And I attribute the success to date to my colleagues. For ongoing information about how we are changing please view our web page devoted to the topic, that has been referenced in other Blogrige postings.
But this post is more personal and a note to all leaders. the message is simple, “take common actions, don’t demand common thinking.” Let me explain. Like many other organizational leaders I know I have a tendency to complete sentences for other people, interrupt their thoughts with my on-the-spot analysis, and not be as patient as I should be. I have improved (I think), but still fall into old habits.
Well, for us it is a new world and I don’t have the insights in business model development that I at least believe I have on other topics (maybe incorrectly, but rarely with uncertainty). So, I have become a more patient listener to the great ideas of my colleagues and together we have developed a business plan for the Baldrige Program that is part of a larger Baldrige enterprise. All opinions are valued, all input is requested, and then we act in unison. It has in a short time taken us from concerned to excited about our future. There still are uncertainties and challenges, but their is also a light brightly illuminating a sustainable future.
Which brings me to the title for this post. It defines the path we have and are taking and is so aptly reflected in these few words, attributed to Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education. You can read more about good listening in The Executive’s Guide to Better Listening. It reflects lessons I have learned and try to practice every day. It has made me and Baldrige more resilient. It is a tribute to my colleagues!

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