So much verbiage flying around about women and what constitutes "work" this week! I wrote this post awhile ago - seems quite relevant now. Looking forward to your thoughts. Please post them!
Don't forget the F*REE Journal Workshop on May 3. Look to your right and click on it for more info. Grab a friend or two and sign up - all from home in your jammies!
I had the wonderful privilege and opportunity to spend time with a group of brilliant, high-powered executive coaches AND a group of brilliant, dedicated, talented MOMS. I'm writing for moms, but I LOVE dads and this is for them too.
Time now for some self-disclosure. Sometimes, when I am in the presence of executive and business coaches I get a little intimidated. I don't understand the complexities of creating and building business organizations (hold that thought), don't understand the lingo, don't wear the power suit, and don't command the big bucks. Don't we sometimes do that as moms too? If we are "just" SAHMs there is some question about our productivity, our contribution. What DO we do all day? If we are moms who also work outside our homes, there is some question about our effectiveness and priorities. Can we really do it all - and do any of it really well? Do we occasionally let someone make us feel "less than"? No more! It's all over but the SHINING and BUSTING in PRIDE!
Your family is an organization. It is the most IMPORTANT organization on earth. It is complex, ever changing, demanding, rewarding, challenging, and contributes to the well-being of every single human on this planet. No, that is NOT an exaggeration. Every one of us came from some kind of family organization and it helped to define who each one of us has become. That, in turn, has played out in the state of our world today. Look around. If you need suggestions, try looking in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. You can tell who was groomed, trained, and molded in which kind of organization.
We know that 40-60% of start up companies will fold. We know that 50% of families will collapse. The success of any organization depends on the strength and integrity of the management. The top is where culture is set, priorities are decided, values are cemented, and operating procedures are put into place.
The executive coach group discussed internal vs. external coaching, ROI (return on investment) and how to measure it, and 360 evaluations. My amazing job is to help moms (and dads) to become focused, solid internal coaches and managers. YOU are on the inside, fully invested, watchful, honest, intimately acquainted with every person, and committed with every fiber of your being to the success of your organization and its members.
The 360-degree evaluation is a mechanism for evaluating someone's performance based on feedback from everyone with whom the individual comes in contact-supervisors, coworkers, partners, subordinates, the general public. This type of feedback helps employees see themselves as others see them and allows them to seriously examine their behavior. The 360-degree evaluation will help employees identify their strengths so they can build on them at the same time it addresses their skill gaps. It is a process that leads to continuous learning, team building, growing self-confidence and improved productivity.
-Is your organization committed to continuous learning?
- Does your organization see the value of developing leaders in-house?
- Are you willing to make the changes necessary to do this?
- What is the level of trust in your organization?
- Will your culture support honest feedback?
- Is upper level management willing to lead the way and volunteer for 360- degree evaluation?
The Missouri Small Business Development website (the source of this information) likens this evaluation tool to the owl which has a 270 degree range of motion for turning its head. I love it! The owl must constantly be looking for opportunities and threats. She must gather information from all directions to get a complete read on her environment and what she must to do to survive. Put this in any business language or venue you want - this is a great MOM!
Look at the description of a 360 eval. It's brilliant in a family! All for one and for all, speak the truth in love, encourage each other, help capitalize on strengths and compensate for skill gaps, always growing and learning, a safe place to become all that you can be, and accountability. Giving feed back and helping your kids to accept and evaluate feedback is crucial to a healthy organization. Honest, direct conversations with them about what a coach, teacher, or friend has to say gives them tools they can't get anywhere else.
What's the ROI moms? We can do quantitative measures. How many times this week did everyone get out the door without crying, arguing, or being late? How many times this month did you refrain from raising your voice or using sarcasm? These are important. Setting boundaries and expectations and measuring them is vital for the operation of every organization. For example, if Johnny hands in all homework assignments for the grading period, he will earn an evening of pizza and bowling with two friends. It reinforces the value your family places on education, it requires task completion and time management, honesty and accountability are emphasized, and the satisfaction of a job well done and a reward earned are inherent in this one event.
How about qualitative measures? When you have the first civil discussion in a month with your teenager and it is sealed with a hug and a "Thanks mom". When you watch your daughter consciously include a "fringe" kid in the game. When you see your kids sacrifice their time, money, and possessions in the service of someone else. When you spend an entire day together as a family and genuinely enjoy each others company. When you hear your kids using your very language in conversations with friends - language that defines who you are as an organization - a family. "Oh yeah, we always visit the nursing home on Valentine's Day." Priceless!
What you do is of the utmost importance - in fact, it has never been more so. Our world stands at the brink and our kids will determine whether we slide over or pull back and stand in strength and integrity.
YOU are raising World Changers!
You are the CEO of an organization that will
CHANGE the WORLD!
I stand with you and am ready to coach you and your organization to the top.
Blessings,
Beth
No comments:
Post a Comment