As part of our last discussion, we reflected on the students’ MBA journey – some of them have been pursuing this degree for more than 5 years – what a ride! One of the most important points we emphasized was the immense responsibility the students now have. Globally, from a degree and learning standpoint they are in rare company, and with that comes the need for them to apply what they’ve learned in order to create healthy high-performing organizations. Some of them had ‘a-ha’ moments during the discussion, and the weight of the responsibility seemed to hit them for the first time. Before we had the discussion, their perspective was, “I’m getting my MBA – that will look good on my resume,” or, “I’m getting my MBA – that was a requirement to getting the promotion/raise, so now I should get that.” I was happy to be a part of the shift in perspective, and I will stay in touch with them to see how they react to the responsibility, and the possibilities to life that come with it.
This made me think of you, our blog reader. Regardless of your position at your firm, you are a leader. I know how seriously you take growing your business. I also know how challenging it can be to operate with clear intent and purpose in everything you do. This is part of the responsibility of the leader, and is part of the inherent value in what we have built in your vision and values; it is soon to be the story, growth plan, customer experience approach, and systems of management. NOW is the time to dig in even more deeply. NOW is the time to be more resolved to elevate performance. NOW is the time to ensure team members are also clear on the elements we’ve built, and what success looks like. Believe me, it WILL get harder. You WILL have moments when you want to retreat or withdraw. Those are PRECISELY the moments when great leaders push forward, ask for help where needed, and enroll the entire organization in not just the journey, but also the vision of the future.
If you need a tool, or process, to help you on your path, we are HUGE fans of reflection and journaling. If you’ve not checked out http://www.fiveminutejournal.com/, we highly recommend it. Especially when things get tough, this exercise can be grounding in the most positive way, it can keep you on the forward path.
You are those leaders. Your team needs your leadership more than ever. And it is your responsibility to deliver. As part of your community, we are here with you every step of the way, and look forward to contributing to your continued growth, development, and transformation.
Andrew Freedman, Principal at entreQuest, specializes in helping eQ’s clients grow by creating well aligned company cultures and strategies that result in remarkable client and employee experiences.
