Versolla Morsels

Versolla Morselshttp://www.versolla.com/index.htmlStirring the pot, leading change, and building teamsendan.wilton@versolla.comCopyright 2011 Versolla llc and Dan Wilton2012-05-31T05:39:24-07:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Thu, 31 May 2012 05:46:27 -0700©2008 Versolla and Dan WiltonBusiness/Management & MarketingVersollaMorselshttp://feedburner.google.comStirring in Natural Ingredientsdan.wilton@versolla.com (Dan Wilton)ChangeLeadershipCommunicationTeams2012-05-31T05:39:24-07:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VersollaMorsels/~3/H4ACZBSTzrE/b9682175c5dd16b37860eb2e04c79847-64.htmlhttp://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/b9682175c5dd16b37860eb2e04c79847-64.html#unique-entry-id-64 Pepper

Your goal is to bring about real and lasting change. So, let’s take a closer look at the hand you’ve been dealt...at the team you’ve been given the responsibility to transform. We’re going to look at mixing in some natural ingredients to this pot we’ve begun to stir. Now, grab an iPad (or pen and a pad of paper), and jot down a few notes...

]]>http://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/b9682175c5dd16b37860eb2e04c79847-64.html#unique-entry-id-64Cultivating Revolutiondan.wilton@versolla.com (Dan Wilton)ChangeLeadershipTeamsMentoring2012-04-30T07:24:59-07:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VersollaMorsels/~3/2bRYMYT_lec/d6967ea3c3c64fb7b6b8bff536b8bf14-63.htmlhttp://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/d6967ea3c3c64fb7b6b8bff536b8bf14-63.html#unique-entry-id-63 Revolution

“The practice of leadership is not the same as the exercise of power. If I put a loaded gun to your head, I can get you to do things you might not otherwise do, but I’ve not practiced leadership; I’ve exercised power. True leadership only exists if people follow when they have the freedom not to.” – James MacGregor Burns

The key driver for a revolutionary change initiative is true leadership. Remember, managers ‘maintain’ and leaders ‘lead’. For the fullest success of any group in the organization, there have to be true leaders rather than just managers. People need hope, encouragement, and clear direction. True leaders direct people. Managers direct tasks. But people want to be part of something bigger than just the tasks they perform…they want to make a real difference in the world around them. And because they choose to work here right now for you, then you should provide them with something great to accomplish more than their otherwise menial tasks. You must lead confidently with a strong vision for the future. And you must help others in the group grow into strong leaders themselves, working collaboratively to reach otherwise lofty goals.

]]>http://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/d6967ea3c3c64fb7b6b8bff536b8bf14-63.html#unique-entry-id-63Innoculating Against the ME Virusdan.wilton@versolla.com (Dan Wilton)ChangeLeadershipTeamsCommunicationMentoring2012-03-30T07:34:39-07:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VersollaMorsels/~3/qjVU385ljQ0/81a447da7548f3f382ce54fc5a41392a-62.htmlhttp://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/81a447da7548f3f382ce54fc5a41392a-62.html#unique-entry-id-62 Syringe

In my last blog, I mentioned one of the dangers that so easily de-rail cultural change initiatives: that the position of leader can become the ultimate ‘ME’ trip. As time goes by, we as leaders can easily begin to believe that we achieved this position of influence solely through our own hard work and special talents...that we are somehow gifted and superior to most...and worse, that we somehow deserve extra perks and praise and ego reinforcement. We are the boss and we have the power. And the rest of the world should stand up and take notice of how great we really are!

]]>http://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/81a447da7548f3f382ce54fc5a41392a-62.html#unique-entry-id-62Danger, Will Robinson!dan.wilton@versolla.com (Dan Wilton)ChangeLeadershipTeams2012-02-29T07:19:16-08:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VersollaMorsels/~3/2nGt4K4T3YE/35441fb4eb0ded6624e8effddbb135d3-61.htmlhttp://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/35441fb4eb0ded6624e8effddbb135d3-61.html#unique-entry-id-61 Dynamite

“Danger, Will Robinson!” – Robot on TV Series, ‘Lost in Space’

For every major change initiative with incredible potential, there will also be inevitable dangers. This is just as true for culture-busting leadership strategies such as TeamConnect™ (see my last blog introducing high performance teams). As you move your vision forward, watch out for the five ticking time bombs along the way. The dangers are often hidden, but sooner or later they have a tendency to blow up in your face. The better you think out cautionary steps in advance, the better you’ll get to that 95% Bacon Guarantee (refer to my first blog). Here are the five dangers to consider:

]]>http://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/35441fb4eb0ded6624e8effddbb135d3-61.html#unique-entry-id-61High Performance Teamsdan.wilton@versolla.com (Dan Wilton)ChangeLeadershipTeams2012-01-31T16:38:11-08:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VersollaMorsels/~3/aokSEqrNJ70/fe1d8e078f353dfe40363e6b0abf9864-60.htmlhttp://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/fe1d8e078f353dfe40363e6b0abf9864-60.html#unique-entry-id-60 SportsCar

“…leadership is not about being ‘soft’ or ‘nice’ or purely ‘inclusive’ or ‘consensus-building’. The whole point of [leadership] is to make sure the right decisions happen – no matter how difficult or painful – for the long-term greatness of the institution and the achievement of its mission, independent of consensus or popularity.” –Jim Collins

In my last blog, we talked about the five-year itch -- the need to have a five-year vision -- each year with a driving thematic goal to stir the pot of change in your workgroup. Today, I’ll expound on the first year’s thematic goal to “Implement High Performance Teams”. We at Versolla believe that this underlying strategy is so absolutely critical to the beginnings of long-term success in a cultural change initiative that we have given the strategy its own name. We call it TeamConnect™...

]]>http://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/fe1d8e078f353dfe40363e6b0abf9864-60.html#unique-entry-id-60The Five Year Itchdan.wilton@versolla.com (Dan Wilton)ChangeLeadershipCommunication2011-12-31T07:37:09-08:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VersollaMorsels/~3/3WNyl4bLzrg/43ac17ebfc70b3051d7c770b0e197202-59.htmlhttp://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/43ac17ebfc70b3051d7c770b0e197202-59.html#unique-entry-id-59 ItchySocks

“The first step in becoming extraordinary is simply to stop being ordinary.” – Anonymous

In an earlier blog, I asked you to impose on yourself the question, “Am I the One?”. I believe we each need a strong dose of self-awareness...and when it comes to radically changing the culture of our organization, you must critically assess whether or not you have both the courage and the tenacity to go the ‘long-haul’. Things are not going to be easy. It is going to take -- read carefully -- no less than five long years to bring about a complete overhaul!

]]>http://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/43ac17ebfc70b3051d7c770b0e197202-59.html#unique-entry-id-59The Seventh Sigmadan.wilton@versolla.com (Dan Wilton)ChangeLeadershipMentoring2011-11-30T15:01:58-08:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VersollaMorsels/~3/tUMB0PD6xeQ/8d7c835b48f42b987e1e79e3fa7162f2-58.htmlhttp://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/8d7c835b48f42b987e1e79e3fa7162f2-58.html#unique-entry-id-58 TeamHuddle

Stirring the pot can be fun! No, really! Leading significant cultural change is both exciting and satisfying as you see people come alive, get motivated, and get committed to their work and the organization.

]]>http://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/8d7c835b48f42b987e1e79e3fa7162f2-58.html#unique-entry-id-58Am I the One?dan.wilton@versolla.com (Dan Wilton)ChangeLeadership2011-10-31T16:51:03-07:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VersollaMorsels/~3/E7bcOuZrZxc/2e15ca7921c1d3d135acdf067134645f-57.htmlhttp://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/2e15ca7921c1d3d135acdf067134645f-57.html#unique-entry-id-57 Muscleman

In my last two blogs, we spent time looking at our role as change leader...first, from a parent vs. babysitter perspective, and second, the leader as a catalyst for injecting life into seemingly dead people. Our task at bringing massive cultural change to our organization begs a key personal question. Am I the one? Are you the one to lead this team forward into the messy, often discouraging, always difficult task of change? You need to know if you are the right kind of person to lead change.

]]>http://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/2e15ca7921c1d3d135acdf067134645f-57.html#unique-entry-id-57The Smell of 95% Bacondan.wilton@versolla.com (Dan Wilton)ChangeCommunicationConflictCustomer ExperienceLeadershipMentoringTeams2011-07-08T09:43:24-07:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VersollaMorsels/~3/7THioByILDo/c5ff4b9d3b90296283f11735d1b86e0b-56.htmlhttp://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/c5ff4b9d3b90296283f11735d1b86e0b-56.html#unique-entry-id-56 BaconAlso

Mmmmm. The wonderful smell of bacon first thing in the morning. Hash browns. Eggs any way you like 'em. English muffin with butter and honey. A tall glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice. But it's that luscious whiff of bacon that really gets your mouth watering. So what are the odds you're actually going to get some bacon?

]]>http://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/c5ff4b9d3b90296283f11735d1b86e0b-56.html#unique-entry-id-56I See Dead People!dan.wilton@versolla.com (Dan Wilton)ChangeLeadershipMentoring2011-09-20T10:01:38-07:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VersollaMorsels/~3/XlRTLnDz1qU/aa84ab7bffc7209e01ca59885c61cb96-4.htmlhttp://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/aa84ab7bffc7209e01ca59885c61cb96-4.html#unique-entry-id-4 RIP

Have you noticed at work? Dullness and mediocrity abound. People just don’t seem to get it when they come into the workplace and lifelessly enter critical transactions into a keyboard. Don’t you question the lack of commitment and competence of those that clearly have an education but just don’t seem to engage their brains as they process their workload? They seemed to be alive, excited people when you hired them. But now, as you look around, you wonder why despite the constant churn of work that needs to get done, everyone seems lifeless...drones...missing the purpose in it all. They only seem to come alive when its time to go home!

]]>http://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/aa84ab7bffc7209e01ca59885c61cb96-4.html#unique-entry-id-4Am I a Babysitter or What!?dan.wilton@versolla.com (Dan Wilton)ChangeLeadership2011-08-15T18:30:00-07:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VersollaMorsels/~3/WmdC6x8E5_s/3e8479ccb6df4967cbe9b8b69eb48a8b-3.htmlhttp://www.versolla.com/pages/blog_files/3e8479ccb6df4967cbe9b8b69eb48a8b-3.html#unique-entry-id-3 Brat

I was a young manager and trying to do the right things for the company and for the people working under me. I had just celebrated ten years with this Fortune 500 corporation. While I felt that I had made good progress in my own career, I was frustrated with my job. I had been with this particular operations group for a couple of years and I just didn't seem to be making any real difference. While the job was good pay and a good place to work, I was very frustrated and discouraged by what I saw in my operations staff.