It seems as though there is a constant stream of “NEW” in our daily work life. Each addition to the ever present to do list has to be justified as it takes time away from what is already on your plate. Will it have a positive impact (why)? Have we identified the necessary action steps for completion (what)? Are our leaders prepared to motivate their teams to success (how)?
Typically we hear these questions in this order: What, Why, How? In a world where time is one of the most important commodities it is critical to change that order to ask why first. Identifying a need/opportunity and then vetting the new initiative to an agreed upon impact justifies the cost of time invested in creating process. But even if we are successful in navigating the first two questions how we rally our teams around change can make or break our success.
How is always the most interesting question to me. There are so many influences in our life telling us “how” to do things that we forget that our own voice, style, and presentation is simply perfect for that moment. We create our own relationship between content and teams.
A few years ago I was writing a speech to a group of esteemed tennis coaches. It was during this process I realized that I had been a thief my entire career. I learned from these incredible coaches and made their ideas my own through my leadership style and my voice. I could never hope to imitate them, but I could meld their ideas into my library of skills making my impact even stronger.
Change is inevitable, but asking “Why, What, How” can help identify impact and streamline your time investment. More important, understanding how you are going to implement any change with a clear understanding of the impact on your team can elevate your personal success and your team success.
