I heard four star General Tommy Franks speak the other night on television about the war effort in Iraq. He said, "It's not the precision, the tactics, or the strategy that wins wars, it's all about the men and women who execute the tactics and strategy with precision."
I was thinking how closely related his statement is to what I observe going on in so many corporations this time of year. The stress of closing out the quarter and end of year work has most folks focusing almost entirely on the business that they forget about the men and women who have been working really hard all year long.
You can never appreciate your employees, or people in your life for that matter, too often. This is a perfect time of year to acknowledge yourself and your people for the time, commitment, and long hours worked. Letting your people know how grateful you are for their contributions gives them a renewed sense of purpose and sense of pride. Just spending a few minutes talking with each of your people , even though you are busy, will make a huge difference in their attitudes and their re-commitment to their work and the company.
Use this simple exercise to re-connect with your people and show them you care by giving the gift of a few minutes of your time.
Take a few moments by yourself to answer the following.
The objective of this exercise is to complete the year and set the stage for the upcoming year. You can do this exercise for yourself for your own amusement and completion of 2003. You can do this exercise with your colleagues, your direct reports, your boss. You can even do this with your spouse, significant other and your children. Remember it is not only the answers to the questions that may surprise and delight you, but also the partner with whom you chose to do it.
Wishing you a holiday season filled with the warmth of caring, the joy of peace, and the love of family and friends. May peace, love, and health surround you and your loved ones throughout the coming year.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Vision Quest Consulting!
Leadership Coaching Newsletter is written and produced by Wendy Capland. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to: wcapland@visionquestconsulting.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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Copyright Wendy Capland 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003. All rights reserved.