The past as a platform not an anchor
Today I’m expanding one of the points from my article, “Adjusting Course.”
Every course adjustment says the present isn’t satisfactory. Sadly, leaders use past short comings or failures to motivate others to change.
Looking to past failures provides painful motivation to initiate change but it won’t sustain transition.
Four ways to celebrate the past, rather than demonizing it.
Reaching higher means the past wasn’t enough. However, don’t let past shortfalls obscure past achievements. Celebrate the past by remembering past successes. During transition, establish a celebration team. Make it their job to dig up stories about past employees, projects, and achievements. It’s better to honor rather than belittle past contributions of staff or volunteers.
You’re changing because you aren’t where you want to be. However, you aren’t where you were either (assuming you’ve made some progress). Celebrate the past by highlighting progress. During transition make time to highlight enhanced skills, streamlined processes, or simplified procedures.
Celebrate the past by focusing on lessons learned. For example, don’t say we failed at gaining new customers. Say, we’ve learned our current methods of phone sales aren’t effective. Learning what doesn’t work is valuable.
Celebrate the past by recalling examples of competence. I’ll never forget the day I heard a leader say, “I’m worried you won’t achieve your goal.” The room deflated. On the other hand, wise leaders inflate others by saying things like, “I remember when everyone stepped up to solved our technology bottleneck. I’m counting on that kind of dedication.” Leaders instill confidence by recognizing competence.
The past is an anchor when it limits potential. However, wise leaders use the past as a platform for progress by celebrating past successes, highlighting progress, leveraging lessons learned and focusing on competence.
*****
Have you seen the past used as a whipping post? Can you think of other ways leaders can celebrate the past while moving forward?
*****
Leadership Freak
Dan Rockwell
Thank you Dan the article was lovely and in the truest spirit of Monday morning blues I just finished an article about My Jasper Story and fond memories in my childhood and how those fondest memories kept me safe, molded my aspirations, and lent vision in my future. It was the fond stuff that helped me most. http://www.myjasperstory.com
Isabelle,
I love your style of writing!
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a link.
Enjoy your week!
Cheers!
Dan
Dan,
This may be a little off point, but I don’t think so.
Right now, I am sitting in the “City that Care Forgot” – my home town, New Orleans – The Big Easy. The title of your piece today is so exemplified by the resurgence of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.
Past Successes – The City has drawn upon its jazz and food heritage to gain the strength to rebuild.
Highlighting Progress – Neighborhoods throughout the City are coming back to life. Fact: there are more restaurants in New Orleans today then there were before Katrina.
Lessons Learned – Don’t count on the government at any and all levels to help you recover. Make it happen yourself.
Competence – Leaders have risen from the most unexpected places none of which from so-called political ranks.
Hopefully, the BP oil spill will not destroy this great City again.
Jim,
I assume you are in New Orleans with your mom. I hope she is doing well.
Laying these ideas over the context of New Orleans is creative.
“Make it happen yourself” is a powerful challenge. I know you don’t mean to rule out team work. However, I think we’ve all be in situations where those who should help either don’t or won’t. At that point our character is revealed. The Big Easy has an identity and character thats rising above.
I’m with you, the BP fiasco is disconcerting.
Thank you for giving us something to think about,
Dan
Jim Leeman I have to say Dan is right, actuate your success. I don’t know what is more frustrating, knowing the time and money Canada put into New Orleans did not help you, knowing friends of mine could not help you when the went to New Orleans or, knowing my ancestors who live in New Orleans can’t help you.
Irregardless I learned at a sociological level that often when one tries to fix what is broken, that broken thing breaks everything around it and lashes out.
Knowing this is half the battle.
Pack a suitcase tomorrow book a train plane or car and go some place you have never been before, a new city look around and see what people look like, going back and forth to work either by way of owning their own business or by virtual employment, you will find something that fits,
Now either take it back to New Orleans or stay put.
But its time to say thank you to some of those who have helped, they may not have gotten to you, but they sure put in their two hundred percent when they didn’t have to.
Dear Dan,
Leaders really inspire confidence in people by making them feel important for their past success and always throw future challenges before them to tackle. Establishing a team of achievers and instilling a healthy competition amongst them can act as the key driver of growth.
Celebrating success from time to time can act as a strong motivator, if done in presence of spouses and with due recognition and rewards. Try to give credit to the team rather than individuals.
Good leaders will never be satisfied on the past success and will never stop to take rest by way of celebrations. They convert such occasions to take a new commitment from the achievers’ team to move forward with higher confidence.
This is excellent! Thanks for sharing these insights.