What
an exciting thing to do - develop a business! For me it's about alchemy
- that amazing mysterious process of creating something wonderfully valuable
out of bits and pieces. It reads like a recipe book, really. Take one
good idea, add a lot of energy and hard work, gradually mix in well thought-out
systems and strategies, and pour out through a set of highly effective
people.
Sound familiar to you? It is to me. I've been part of the building and
developing of at least four dynamic, successful businesses; both as an
employee back in my corporate days and most recently as a business owner.
We're in a tremendous stage of growth and development right now at Progress
Productions and every day I'm reminded of some of the most important Principles
for Progress which I share with my clients and need to continually reinforce
to myself!
Here are five of my Key Principles for progress:
1. People will always perform for their reasons, not yours
If I want my team to go and grow with me, I need to continually find out
what turns them on. What are their personal drivers and inhibitors? What
are their psychological needs in regards to their work environment? What
are their fears and concerns, and how can I help them manage them? What
are their values and goals and how can I ensure they are in alignment
with mine? All your strategic planning, your goals and objectives will
be useless if the people you need to help achieve them don't have the
same level of commitment as you do.
2. People can only perform up to the level of belief they have in
themselves
This was a massive discovery for me! I also discovered during my early
years in management the tremendous power of the Pygmalion Effect - that
people would largely live up to my expectation of them. So I've learned
that if I want to build my business through my people, I have to build
their belief in their capacity to achieve. Not to the point of any delusion
about current performance, but with a real conviction about potential.
If I want to lift their achievement, I first have to help them lift their
belief!
3. People want floors, flexible walls and no ceilings
While we are growing we usually want a level of security beneath us, a
floor or a foundation. Keep your team informed of your plans and your
activities so they know where they stand. Allow them flexibility of operation
within specified measurable frameworks, and let them know the sky's the
limit, for achievement recognition and reward.
4. People treasure recognition and need to own responsibility for
creating it
Everywhere I present and consult, people tell me they don't get enough
recognition. Sad, isn't it? I usually ask them how much recognition they
give! They look at me as if I'm nuts. But a good culture of recognition
is carefully and deliberately developed, with praise and appreciation
shown up, down and sideways. Find fun ways to encourage everyone in your
team to recognise achievement in others - but be careful to keep it genuine,
spontaneous and both individual and team based. Teach your team to ask
for feedback if they're not getting it the way they want it. It works!
And teach them they own the responsibility for earning it, too.
5. All people are creative
Each one of us has created our life just the way we want it, or at least
the way we've settled for it. But some of us have been told we're creative
(see Pygmalion Effect) so we actually use our creativity courageously.
Others who haven't been told they're creative, naturally don't believe
they are. Encourage and 'incentivate' involvement and innovation.
Building a business is hugely rewarding - building your people is even
more so. Please let me know if I can help.
Catherine Palin-Brinkworth is a consultant, presenter and facilitator
with a proven ability to bring out the best in people, to turn around
performance and to develop positive change in teams. She has a strong
track record of success in organisational leadership, both nationally
and internationally.
Contact her on (02) 9904 5840, email at cpb@progress.com.au
or visit www.catherinepalinbrinkworth.com.
