Inspiration into Action February 2001

INSPIRATION INTO ACTION

February 2001

How Can You Love?

Bringing love to life and work in a roller coaster world

February 2001

It's Valentine's Day and the Chinese New Year of the Serpent has begun. Did you ever stop to think that love is the only emotion that is acknowledged with its own holiday?

The Chinese culture, unlike Western cultures, considers the Serpent as the most highly regarded of the 12 zodiac animals. The Serpent is seen full of profound wisdom, able to shed the old and grow anew. The Serpent is dedicated to a purpose and always on a mission.

ROLLER COASTER

The market has tanked. Maybe your dot.com didn't make it through the end of the last century.

You're challenged with leading your IT organization to greater performance heights in a "lean and mean production machine."

Your organization is filled with uncertainty and people are worried if their jobs will be axed next.

The visionary founder of your company has moved on to new pastures and the board brought in a tougher CEO who has no experience with your industry nor appreciation for the longtime employees' contributions. You're worried that you won't be able to perform to new expectations.

Your company was bought out and no attention is being paid to integrating the two company cultures.

Your company is on the verge of bankruptcy, and you're looking for salvation from the bankers, investors or another company to buy you out. You're wondering if you'll survive the shakeout.

Perhaps you've decided the career you were working on isn't the right one after all.

Maybe your job was deleted.

Rather than moan and groan your way through the change, stop and take stock.

What did you learn from the demise of your company? Were you and your colleagues driving your business in alignment with your values? Or was greed or fear driving you?

How can you remember your personal and your organizational values?

What steps will you take to realign your core values and company principles?

HOW WELL ARE YOU LEADING?

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being highly ineffective and 5 being extremely effective, indicate how well you are doing in each of these areas. Print this page out and rate yourself.

My actions are consistently aligned with my words.
I do not only require that my direct reports develop their people, be united in purpose, have high morale and high retention, manage multiple projects and deliver good work, I practice this with them also.
I regularly coach my direct reports to develop their career and bring out their potential.
When someone in my organizations is floundering or their performance is off, I meet with them more often to help them uncover what is getting in their way and I support them to get back on track with their careers.
When I discover that my direct report has different ideas about a career path than what I wanted or expected from them, I support them to move on and coach them through the transition.
I understand that organizations are dynamic systems and that each person impacts others and is impacted by others, including me.
When a knowledgeable, skilled member of my organization is struggling with performance, I take that as a sign to reflect on my leadership, to pay attention to what else is going on in my organization, and to address the issues even when it means adapting my style.
TOTAL

LOVE VERSUS FEAR

How can you take the learnings from not reaching your goals and turn them into wisdom?

On this special Valentine's Day, take stock and check in with yourself. Make yourself a cup of java, tea or whatever feels relaxing, set yourself in a place that nurtures you and look over your core values around relationship and love.

Click on the photo to hear how one CEO and one COO are bringing love to work and community.

INQUIRIES FOR FEBRUARY

What does love mean to you?

How are you giving love?

How are you receiving love?

How are you honoring love in all your relationships—business and personal?

How can you apply the spirit of this Serpent year to your relationships at home and at work?

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT LOVE

Regina Campbell of LuminArt Productions writes: "Love is the mere act of giving your full attention to another human being, to fully listen to them, to truly feel their pain and joy, hopes and fears. Perhaps an extension of that would be the willingness to hold the ladder so that another can climb toward their goals and the willingness to allow them to do the same for you."

Thomas Carlyle said, "Love is the only game that is not called on account of darkness."

M. Scott Peck has said: "The desire to love is not itself love. . . . Love is an act of willÑnamely an intention and an action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love. No matter how much we may think we are loving, if we are in fact not loving, it is because we have chosen not to love and therefore do not love despite our good intentions. On the other hand, whenever we do actually exert ourselves in the cause of spiritual growth, it is because we have chosen to do so. The choice to love has been made."

The seeds of love, once gently sown do not grow untended and alone. Watering, weeding and lots of care Will yield a harvest of love to share.

"Work is love made visible," wrote Kahlil Gibran.

May you make love visible each and every day!

Barbara J. Chan

If you want to know how to bring more spirit and love into your life or organization, send mailto:inspired@barbarachan.com

Barbara Chan Consulting Group
Inspiration into Action
510-233-0580
510-231-8919 fax