|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Volume 7, Issue 9 - September, 2008 • "Don’t Solve Problems" The CHALLENGE of leadership is CHANGE. A manager or administrator can keep the status quo, but it takes a leader to create change. Traditionally, leaders have approached change as addressing problems. They use problem solving skills and critical thinking. Most often it has been a top down approach to creating change and this may well explain why change initiatives have such a bad rap. Think about it. Do you get excited when facing a problem. No, you become defensive and protective just at the very time when you need to be creative and expansive. Survival today depends on creativity, ingenuity and the input and involvement of the workers, none of which comes easily with a top down, problem solving approach to change. Appreciative Inquiry provides an alternative approach to change that is vision led, focused on opportunities, fosters generative thinking and is self and group directed. Sue Annis Hammond, the author of “The Thin Book of Appreciative Inquiry” states, “Appreciative Inquiry is an exciting philosophy for change. The major assumption of Appreciative Inquiry is that in every organization something works and change can be managed through the identification of what works and the analysis of how to do more of what works.” Business guru Peter Drucker takes it a step further when he said, “The heart of leadership is to create an alignment of strengths in ways that make our weaknesses irrelevant.” This is where Appreciative Inquiry really shines.
Changes initiated with Appreciative Inquiry have a higher likelihood of success because: If you have tried change initiatives in the past without success or are just thinking about a change initiative, maybe it would make sense to at least explore using Appreciative Inquiry. Peter Drucker summed it up best when he said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Don’t solve problems, create your desired future! • Brown Bag Lunch Special Having just returned from the National Speakers Association Convention in New York, I learned that I am very close to moving to the next level in this organization, but I need your help. I need a couple more paid speeches between now and Oct 27th. To make that happen, I am offering organizations a brown bag lunch program for only $25 plus travel expenses. Your employees bring their lunch and I will present a program on Decision-Making based on my book, “Taking Aim for Better Decision-Making. They will eat the lunch they brought. I will do a short program on decision-making with questions and answers. Attendees will learn how to improve their decision-making and be back to work within the normal lunch hour. If this works for your organization or you know of another organization where it might work, please let me know. September 16,17 & 30 are booked. October 2,6,7,8,9,10,14,15,16 & 23 are booked. All other dates are open at this time. • Recommendation “In the fast paced, hectic world of business there is the calm of Bob Cannon. His depth of understanding in business is not only deep as it relates to creativity, marketing and business savvy over all, he also has the common sense and judgment that is so respected by those who value true wisdom. This is someone who will look at your world and with a touch of polite, classy feedback give you honest and clear ideas, suggestions and insights on the directions you should take. Hire this guy. Your revenue line and your business will be glad you did.” July 31, 2008 If you have a subject that you would like to see covered in future issues of “Taking Aim,” please send me an email at aim@CannonAdvantage.com.
|
Robert E. Cannon "Best Practice" Sales Force Development Change Management Customer Service Assessment for ISO Requirements Smart Thoughts from Smart People "Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." Ronald Reagan If stupidity got us into this mess, why can’t it get us out? Will Rogers "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." Albert Einstein "The fool who has not sense to discriminate between what is good and what is bad is well nigh as dangerous as the man who does discriminate and yet chooses the bad." Theodore Roosevelt Taking Aim © 2007 Bob Cannon, The Cannon Advantage Newsletter. All Rights Reserved. The Cannon Advantage visual branding by Zarney Creative. For contact information, click “Resources.” |
||||||||||||||||||
