Continuously Seek to Improve the Impact We Make | FOW #26

Always seek a breakthrough approach.  Our job is to improve the lives and work of the people we serve. This path takes planning, diligence, and thoughtfulness.

“What moves men of genius, or rather what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough.”

–Eugene Delacroix As our world moves at a very fast pace, it’s hard to keep up with it all. Technology has accelerated our ability, our capacity, and our reach.Most companies focus on ways to improve and be better. The problem is we can’t always keep up the improvement because there’s another one right behind it.While we focus on being better, we sometimes leave behind a trail of casualties. We forget about the impact we have on others as we have our foot on the gas.As an executive business coach, I’m focused less on a business and more on the people who are running the business. Your ability to reach people, understand what motivates them, and communicate in a way where they actually hear you, is key to the success of the business.We are actually talking less to each other in this world. We rely on email, texting, voicemail, and instant messaging as our main form of communication.We assume we are understood, and yet, we have no idea what the person is interpreting from our emails and text messages. Then, we wonder why things aren’t getting done or done in the way we perceive they should be. This is where the casualties come in. 

How do we avoid casualties?

 My husband has a great habit that I admire. He always makes an effort to know a person’s name.While at the grocery store, he’ll look at their nametag and greet them by using their name as he walks up.I love watching the change in expression on the face of the clerk. They always smile and say hello and appear to be calm and engaged.This is such a simple action that has a positive impact on that person. It doesn’t take much to significantly improve outcomes with people.I have executive coaching clients tell me all the time that they don’t know much about their teams as individuals. They are so focused on getting things done that they miss out on connection.

Making improvements in your organization is not only about better processes or better products and service.

It’s also about impacting your people positively so they feel valued. So, consider when you are looking for improvements, take interest in your people.Look them in the eye, ask about their family, check in to see how they really are. This investment will increase employee engagement, positive results, and your bottom line! “There comes that mysterious meeting in life when someone acknowledges who we are and what we can be, igniting the circuits of our highest potential.” -Rusty Berkus Whose potential can you raise this week? How did you do it? What was the result? Reply to this email to share, I would love to know! Make it count,Martha Lynn