Is your organization on a Journey?
Is your organization on a Journey?
By Marcia Newman, MA, CPC, CSL, AMP
Marcia is a Consultant and Physician Coach with VitalWorkLife.com
With warmer weather finally upon us, many of us may be thinking about summer travel, where to go and what to do with our summer plans. In this “age of information”, there are myriads of websites which can be helpful when considering options. (Vitals’ concierge service offers assistance with that!)
Families have plenty of choices from simple to high end accommodations; Yelp reviews and other personal testimonials help make dining choices and decisions simpler as people have “been there” or “tried it” and can share their experience. Technology is a great advantage in helping us do what we need to on the fly. Google knowledge and You Tube “how-to” decisions are often self-evident. But how does a company make a decision to go where they have never been before?
I was recently in a meeting where a new venture had been proposed and several of us had been invited to the demonstration of the product. It was clear at that time, that the company had decisions to make but might also be wise to step back and consider options. Knowing they had made an investment and were still wanting to move forward, I was reminded of a wonderful book, by Jack Uldrich, entitled, “Into the Unknown: Leadership Lessons from Lewis and Clark’s Daring Westward Expedition. It is the story of the amazing adventures and outcomes of two revolutionary explorers, William Clark and Meriweather Lewis, commissioned by President Jefferson, to find the Northwest Passage from the Louisiana Territory to the Pacific Ocean: neither man had been West before.
Reaching back to history can teach us many things and provide needed testimonials and reviews. Uldrich’s book gives a synopsis of their journey and then highlights reasons for their successful adventure. Lest any reader think it was a walk in the park, Lewis and Clark did plan for two years prior to their journey and thought they had reached the Pacific Ocean when they were actually crossing the Continental Divide! They were later than expected in reaching their destination, and the numerous tales of their passage that required endurance and fortitude would have most of us crawling back into our sleeping bags. Yet what they accomplished for America in and through their bravery and courage, what they discovered by reaching the Pacific Ocean and their testimony of their achievement can shed great light on our organizational and personal study and endeavors.
Uldrich has suggested Lewis and Clarks’ mission was successful because as leaders they:
Thought Strategically
Surrounded themselves with good people
Made tough and timely decisions
Managed resources
Motivated their team
Interacted with different cultures
Assimilated vast amounts of information from a variety of sources
Balanced long term interests with short term realities
Learned from their mistakes
Tried new approaches
Handled adversity
It has often been my experience in consulting and coaching, that most people start out well- intentioned and focused, but begin to lose traction as competition rises and the frenetic urgency of life takes over primary importance; they can’t see land in sight. Lewis and Clark stayed on point and were intentional about every detail from day one to the end of their mission; they both knew they must achieve their goal, even if the initial information they had when setting out was wrong. It took a year longer than anticipated for Lewis and Clark to complete their incredible journey, yet there were many unforeseen blessings along the way which proved to be ultimately beneficial.
So, if this is where you find yourself today, facing change in an unknown territory, relying on instant everything, including communication and the lack of planning for the unexpected, you may feel overwhelmed. You are not alone; new missions can be daunting! Has your core mission been compromised following trends? Have you lost sight of your strategy as there are so many “good things” out there from which to choose? Have you lost sight of your end game?
Take heart and learn from Lewis and Clark. These explorers and their team had no organizational “how to” videos, no personal testimonies, no google maps, and only the supplies that they had prepared for what they thought would be the extent of their journey. An overarching mission, a deep respect for each other and their crew, a love of learning and a willingness to trust with creative resourcefulness ultimately saw them through to the end.
What is old is new, and what kept them on their mission are tried and true leadership principles that work in business today. Their story will inspire and encourage you.
Here’s to a great journey!