OK maybe I wrote that for affect; but seriously when was the last time you had a conversation with a leader that left your mind racing about all the possibilities next? All the possibilities within the next minute, the next hour, the next day? A conversation that didn't allow you to sleep that night because you were so excited about what could happen the next day... A conversation that made your heart race, your forehead sweat, or chills go down your spine... I had one of these AWESOME conversations yesterday!
This all began so innocent. A simple question. "How was the morning huddle?" The next hour was as enriching of a conversation as it gets. A conversation that turned into a very cool journey into what is possible when "WE" engage, involve, and/or immerse ourselves in the success of the people "WE" share our work with. I learned so much from this interaction that I am still thinking about what was discussed nearly 36 hours prior. Dare I say it was a career highlight!
Our journey took us to a place of the littlest of things, how they can have the biggest impact. We discussed how leaders can better understand their audience by their learning or teaching styles and how this can have a substantial impact on our desired results. We discovered that one word can change everything. We learned that one's definition of this word can help even more. We cranked up the learning when we uncovered how all of this knowledge can lead to endless possibilities. All it took was a single word. After all, every word counts, right?
Of course it does! However, this wasn't all about the word itself. Anyone can say a word that describes their style or how they want to be coached. They could just write a word even. ("Positivity", for example) A word is brought to life when we begin to describe it, giving it feeling or meaning. Its all about adding character, balance, and definition. The truth is, it may just still be a word on a piece of paper. So it is about the just a single word, just with a little more homework. (Ahhh the homework! Needless to say our conversation took off to the next stratosphere when we later did the homework.) Yes every word counts, but it only counts if we understand what it means to the audience that wrote it.
Think about the work you could do once you know all of this. Think of the way you can participate in the success of those around you when you do the homework. This store leader did the homework and perhaps he will have forever changed the landscape of his future. Better yet, his homework partner may have forever changed the landscape of his! Heck he changed mine!
Think about the interactions you have with the people you do your work with, what one word would unlock their possibilities? What homework do you need to do to participate in these possibilities? What additional things can you do next to further advance what this one word means? How about when you have the time to think (I mean really think!), what one word unlocks your possibilities?
Examine it. Name it. Share it. This could be very well be a career highlight for somebody else!
