Noticing Changes
Photo by Edward Howell on Unsplash
Change often happens slowly, so we don’t notice that we have made progress. If we think about our kids, we may not realize how much they've grown until we're away for a week, or we look back at pictures from six months ago and recognize that they have changed. Or we think about the time we're putting in at the gym, and suddenly, we notice that we have more arm definition when we decide to wear a sleeveless top.
When I was talking with a client earlier this week (side note: I love my sessions with this client because we've opted to make them outdoor walking calls so we get the benefit of exercise and fresh air along with a new perspective), we discussed how much her organization has changed since we started working together 2+ years ago. The changes are highly related to the moves she's made to shift the people on the team and create a greater focus on how each person contributes to the organization's success. The evolution has likely felt longer than she would have liked, but it has happened. The change has also come from her shift in trusting that her natural leadership style works better than trying to be something she’s not.
I noticed firsthand the changes in the organization when I led a team event a few weeks ago. The team dynamics were night and day from when I had been with the group 18 months earlier. The team was laughing with each other, sharing introspective ideas, and one person in particular had changed their attitude so significantly (positively) that I was shocked.
The dynamics of a team are everything. People pull together when things are tough; they look to each other for ideas or validation; they actively collaborate because they know additional perspectives strengthen the result. When it's not working, the tension is often palpable.
As you look at your team or organization, have you started to notice a change in how the team works? Have you tried new strategies or had new people join the team? Take a moment and reflect - what feels right now that didn't before? Make a note of it so that you can recognize when you no longer feel this vibe.
Conversely, are you noticing that things have become more tense, or does the team need to work more collaboratively? If so, it's time to work through what has changed.
The key is making sure you are slowing down occasionally to notice that something has changed so that you can address it…either by celebrating it or identifying what needs to be fixed.
This week, pause and consider…what have I been too busy to notice?