A Walk Through Jell-O

“It was like walking through Jell-O. It worked, but it sure could have been faster and easier.”

That’s the statement I heard from a leader recently who shared what it was like before she reached out for support.

I laughed as I visualized her and her team wading waist-deep through a vat of green (in my mind anyway) Jell-O, and when my laughter subsided, I realized the truth in her statement.

The Leadership Belief That Creates a Bumpy Ride

The ‘I can do it on my own’ belief runs rampant in leadership circles, and perhaps the reason is because leaders are problem solvers. Leaders see themselves as being able to figure out anything that comes their way. But what if a good first step in problem solving for greater organizational and team health was to seek out support to help you get there faster and easier?

Think about it…

If your car is acting up, you may pop the hood to see what’s going on, but once you realize the issue may be beyond your mechanical expertise, you call in the people who specialize in car repair.

When your schedule is overwhelming due to that big project at work plus the kids’ practices/recitals/homework/all-the-things, you contact the experts to ensure your home doesn’t accumulate so much dust and grime that you lose the kids’ athletic gear/sheet music/textbook/all-the-things.

You get it, right? You’re a leader. And a problem solver. And perhaps the best way to lead your team through the inevitable bumps in the road is to call for support.

An Ideal Vision for Work Teams

Imagine a work environment where…

• Named leaders are capable, confident, and competent in their roles. Role models for others to follow.

• Unnamed leaders are plentiful and are offered support to develop their leadership skills for future roles.

• Current processes are examined and explored to determine if they’re the most efficient and effective options.

• Team harmony and alignment are high due to consistent, transparent communication and an understanding and practice of healthy conflict.

• Time/priority management is a skill that’s taught and instilled in every employee, thus resulting in increased productivity.

• Team members feel fulfilled in the work they do, are eager to do it, and proud to be part of the organization.

Sound too good to be true?

It’s not. This type of work environment is possible for everyone.

Create the Ideal Vision for Your Team

Doing it on your own, though, is like walking through Jell-O. Results happen more slowly and less easily than you’d like. And to make matters worse, the lack of professional development/support can result in the best members of your team moving on to organizations that make development/support a top priority.

My belief is that the most effective development and support is ongoing. The kind that provides a strong foundation on which you and your team can grow.

You wouldn’t work with a trainer in the gym once and think your fitness level was exactly where you want it to be. Nor would you have the orthodontist put braces on your teeth and think no follow-up appointments are needed.

The same goes for professional development and support. Rather than the ‘one and done’ method of inviting your team to one lunch & learn thinking that’s all the development they need, I promote partnerships.

My clients and I work together on an ongoing basis. We discuss the challenges happening as well as the vision they’d like to experience. Then I develop a plan to help them accomplish that vision and celebrate it.

Through training and coaching sessions, we make it happen. Together. The Jell-O is gone, and the foundation is built. One brick at a time.

When you’re ready to say goodbye to doing it on your own and walking through Jell-O day after day, let’s talk. Consultations are free, and I’d love to partner with you.