Positive emotions inspire change - not fear

The economy is slowly coming back. But we still face high unemployment, foreclosures and our 401(k)s are still ailing. So in this New Year we’re tentative in our optimism against a backdrop of fear.

Yet, when it comes to making positive change, does fear motivate us or slow us down?

Imagine that nine patients are given identical diagnoses of heart disease. All will die unless they improve their diet, lose weight, cut back on alcohol and reduce their stress.

How many will make the necessary changes?

Only one, according to a 2005 study authored by Dr. Edward Miller, the dean of the medical school at Johns Hopkins University.

“If you look at people after coronary-artery bypass grafting two years later, 90 percent of them have not changed their lifestyle,” Miller said.

In other words, faced with bad news, even death, most people do not change.

Harvard University Professor John Kotter has a theory about why that is true. Having studied change in organizations for years, he believes people are motivated to change not by fear, but by joy and other positive emotions.

“Behavior change happens mostly by speaking to people's feelings,” he says. “This is true even in organizations that are very focused on analysis and quantitative measurement. In highly successful change efforts, people find ways to help others see the problems or solutions in ways that influence emotions, not just thought.”

Last summer a group of leaders from mid- to large-size Phoenix businesses got together to discuss how to change and be successful in these trying times. The session was part of the Arizona Leadership Forum. I facilitated with Doug Griffen of the Advanced Strategy Center in Scottsdale?. We asked the group: “In a business environment dominated by fear, what should leaders do that will make them and their companies successful?”

Many of their responses supported Professor Kotter’s observation that the motivation to change originates with positive emotions. The group developed three recommendations: Re-create and re-invent; don’t replicate. Business-as-usual is a recipe for disaster; Communicate much more than ever before; Engage and collaborate more deeply within your company and more broadly with other organizations.

Now is the time to get serious about reinventing ourselves and raising the big questions: What is our core mission? Who do we serve? How are we going to serve them in a way that is far superior than we have done in the past? What is the dour economy teaching us? What is the metro Phoenix that will spring forth from the ashes?

As painful as the downturn is, if we are willing to look hard enough — and be smart enough — we can find new ways to survive and prosper. The real challenge is to look past fear and open our minds to the lessons and insights that will carry us to a positive future.

Dean Newlund, president of Mission Facilitators International, Inc., can be reached at www.missionfacilitators.com.

Success to Significance Leadership Assessment

Building hot teams support business leaders

Before I sat down to write this column I had just finished a coaching session with a newly promoted mid-level manager. Julie started our conversation with “It’s true, it is lonely at the top.  With my promotion I enjoy the opportunity to make a greater impact, but now my actions are scrutinized, former peers are now direct reports and I can’t admit I don’t have all the answers. “

Leaders like Julie are often starved for someone to talk to, a person who can provide unbiased, safe and supportive feedback.  Part of the issue is we expect leaders to be savors and heroes.  For them to ask for help or show vulnerability breaks the leadership-myth.  All of us, leaders and followers, need to boldly share our brilliance as well as our bruises, to engage in positive change, not wait for an invitation.

Executive coaches help, but leaders need on-going support from people within their companies.

I told Julie to create what I call “Hot Team” partnerships– so she can draw on the experiences of others and receive positive mentoring from people who want her to win. These mentors will listen, ask probing questions, share in the successes as well as the setbacks and teach a new skill when one is needed.

By developing two-person Hot Team Partnerships, Julie will increase her self-awareness, make better decisions and gain the support needed for better work/life balance.

I told Julie her Hot Team partners should be from different departments and reporting structures to help ensure confidentiality.

“So, how does this work?” Julie asked

“Suppose Susan, an acquaintance of yours, has a skill that you know you need in your role”, I said.  “Tell Susan specifically what your goals are and when you want them accomplished. Tell her you will phone her every week to report on your actions, and ask her not to accept any excuses for your temporary setbacks.”

“Tell Susan what you want to be told if you’re forced to admit that you’ve fallen off the horse. What should she say to get you back in the saddle? Sometimes a simple reminder of why your goals are so important is all that is required.”

“Try to line up one Hot Team partner for each of your skills or attributes that you feel you need to improve. You, in turn, may be a Hot Team partner for someone else because of a skill you have.”

As Julie and I were wrapping up our session I suggested she let other leaders know that she is available to be on their Hot Teams. It’s a great way to contribute to others’ success, and it could be an excellent opportunity to network within your organization.

As Julie walked away, she turned and said: “Ok, I’ll give it a try. And, maybe leadership won’t be so lonely”.

Dean Newlund, president of Mission Facilitators International, Inc., can be reached at www.missionfacilitators.com

Boomers Realigning Values

Herman Trend Alert: Boomers Realigning Values  November 2, 2011

Being 76.4 million persons strong, the Baby Boom generation is clearly influential to all kinds of markets. A just released study from Civano Living, Ypartnership, and American LIVES reports that Baby Boomer consumerism is giving way to relationship-building. In addition, Boomers are voting with their dollars for companies that reflect the values and lifestyles to which they aspire---great news for some marketers, terrible news for others.

This realignment of values  will have a wide-ranging impact “Consumer Goods and Services”, “Travel, Tourism, Home, and Real Estate”, and “Health and Wellness” and “Politics and Current Affairs”. Findings from the Boomer Values Realignment Study reflect the state of affairs in the United States: a very slow-growing economy, slipping global disposition, a bleak outlook, and socioeconomic imbalance. These developments have pushed Boomers to become more “introspective”.

They are shifting away from consumerism, materialism, and conspicuous consumption, toward personal, more meaningful relationships. Reacting to significant and far-reaching events, like decline in home equity and their nest eggs disappearing, as well as their own aging, Boomers feel vulnerable.

For many Boomers, there will be a decrease in their desire to buy designer goods and expensive jewelry and an increase in their desire to invest in eco- and volun-tourism. Though 80 percent want to “feel healthier and more balanced at the end of a vacation”, they will take fewer vacation days and shorter trips. They will gravitate towards “communities that foster social engagement and environmental consciousness”. Rather than buying how-to books, they will seek their information online, where they have built relationships and trust.

Baby Boomers will continue to explore their own “health and wellness” and 86 percent believe obesity is a national problem. (They are quite correct!) They see a connection between individual well-being and planetary health, maintaining a healthy interest in societal issues like air and water quality, healthier foods, less toxic building materials, renewable energy, and conservation.

Politically, they are pessimistic about the current state of affairs; 70 percent are concerned the US is slipping in its global leadership position. (Right, again!)

Although these data are on US Boomers, we are certain that similar shifts will be found in the attitudes of Boomers globally. Wise marketers will be motivated to rethink their campaigns, based on these new data.

The new age of innovation

How Baby Boomers and younger workers can work best togetherhttp://bit.ly/q30hUQ

Just finished facilitating a strategic "Tempe Summit" for the Mayo and City Council, Tempe, AZ