Week 13: Eyes Opened Wider

October 7th, 2007 Z Man

The points came easily this week as I achieved 58 out of 58, and I made significant strides in my environment organization as I worked through some piles that had developed, and am now left with a very short stack to process.  What a powerful feeling I get from being organized.
 
The return to my former role has been sobering as my team missed their quarterly revenue number significantly.  The process of bringing my focus back to the Americas organization has been eye opening, and I realize that it is an opportunity to re-dedicate myself to my purpose, and what I want for this team.  When our Game assignment was to identify the one thing that is holding us back from living more on Purpose, mine was Consideration, and as I pulled together the autopsy on the recent quarterly miss, what stood out to me is how the basics I having been teaching the team for 18 months were the reason for our miss—time for a personal gut check.  It confirmed two things: 

1. I have to care enough about the team to push them to achieve their potential, regardless of their image of me, which means trusting my gut, and being honest with people who are not productive regardless of the consequences.
2. I need to get through to people in a more powerful way.  My reality is I own coaching my leadership team, and they own the field team getting better.  My job is not to do theirs, but I need to put my focus back on helping them close their own gaps to make the potential real, and then holding them more specifically accountable for their actions and results.

This week was also the beginning of my “sprint” to the finish, and my commitment to my Game team was that I would transform myself as a husband and father.  As a part of that process, I connected with some other game partners to find out about unique things they do in these areas that they are proud of, and I started creating a list.  The ideas shared were humbling, and I started to think about how to incorporate these new actions into my life.  And then, I received an email from Luciano with his thoughts on falling still on what my family needs as well as telling them they are number one. 
 
As I began to fall still and to carry this idea forward, I realize that the last thing my family needs is a longer list of tasks for me to be carrying out every day.  Intellectually, I know that what my family needs most is for me to be present.  This week because I spent significant time contemplating presence applied to my family, and came closer to understanding it.  I see more clearly that simple concepts I have been learning to apply throughout the Game could also be game changers with family (shared journaling, reciprocity, falling still, attention).  I just need to remain conscious of the moment-to-moment opportunities, and make good choices when they present themselves.
 
It’s going to be another great “sprint” this week, and I love how every week is fresh with insight.

Entry Filed under: Game 36