We just finished the long process of buying a distressed house in a gorgeous location. In just the first 2 weeks of starting repairs I've learned many leadership lessons I want to share with you. The biggest one is the importance of not losing the vision or keep looking for possibilities.
The 25 years old house, abandoned for more than a year, seemed to have little to offer beyond it’s sturdy construction and the great 1 1/3 acre wooded lot that overlooks a stream. Besides cosmetic needs, it no longer even had AC or /Heat! Nevertheless, we could see amazing possibilities once we gave it some TLC. We could envision lazy mornings on the ample deck watching the birds in the back woods, or opening the French Doors of the master suite to the night sounds and starlight.
It’s easy to become impatient or discouraged when the process of change seems to make everything worse. Leaks we didn't know were there, a rotten water tank, bad flooring over even worse flooring in a room. . . details that seem to slow down the process of getting on with the “real work” and be done!
How like leading a process of change! Messy, unforeseeable difficulties, slower processes, a need for bringing in more help, the danger to lose the vision in the midst of the mess of the everyday job. It also includes the excitement of seeing the new emerge, creative energy at work, the collaboration among different people with different skills to convert the vision into reality.
How can we keep our vision fresh and keep looking for possibilities in times of change?
- Start each day by thinking about the vision. Your mind needs to keep focused on the end-result. This will make it easier to see the everyday operation as stepping stones to success. It will also make it easier to remind others around you of of the importance of doing the seemingly “unimportant” work.
- Keep the communication flowing. To avoid interference and misunderstandings, It’s important that everyone is aware of each other's challenges and time tables. If communication breaks down, it’s your responsibility as a leader to find out what went wrong, clarify, and smooth things out.
- Don’t let feelings interfere with relationships. In times of change, it’s easy to be irritable and anxious. Small issues seem large. Feelings are delicate. Remember that relationships come first. Make sure to feed the relationships around you with positivity, and recognize good efforts. Even when the end result is not up to expectations, it will be easier for others to re-do things, or keep working on boring tasks if you recognize their hard work.
- Continue to look for new possibilities. Sometimes the original plan needs to be revised as you go along.What seemed “the right thing to do” at the time can be tweaked to become even better. Keep an open mind, listen to others, and explore options. When difficulties arise, look for the opportunity in the problem. Unexpected leaks in the plumbing? An opportunity to change a section that could have given problems after the walls were finished. The secret is to see challenges not as resistance to change, or catastrophic problems, but as opportunities for improvement.
- Keep a positive attitude. Your attitude as a leader is contagious. When you are optimistic and are ready to take challenges in stride, people around you will be more likely to help come up with creative solutions. Appeal to their creativity and skill and they will rise to expectations.
- Know your limits. There has to come a point of completion. Rresources are limited. Even if things aren't perfect, you can't keep changing forever. While creativity is great for finding the vision and meeting challenges, at some point you have to reign it before it become a liability. People need closure. Later on you can do another plan, find more funding, make more changes. But a project that involves change needs a finish point where everybody can celebrate the accomplishments and evaluate the pros and cons of the process.