jdean3 - Tales of Transformation

It has been a few weeks since I first started to fill this blog with various “pre-posts” to learn WordPress and various features as well as test my ability and desire to publish these tidbits on a regular basis.  During that time, my wife and kids (and a few friends) have asked repeatedly, “Why are you doing this?”   It seems I have surprised those who know me most with a sudden change of direction.

It’s a fair question. After all, I’ve made a fairly strong argument over the years that my privacy is paramount and my ability to keep my personal life separate from my professional life has been a huge part of my defined personality. Now I am posting some of my most personal (and professional) experiences on a public forum for anyone to read. And it deserves explanation.

This is a “foreign” activity for me.  In the past couple of months I’ve joined myspace, facebook, linkedin, visualcv, twitter and created this blog.  I’ve quickly jumped head first into a new world of social media that I’ve simply avoided for years.  While I knew all of these technologies existed, it wasn’t until I witnessed the explosive growth of the Fiesta Movement that I decided to join the “conversation” in a more direct way. I am learning a great deal, and I am energized by the revelation that I can match whatever quality of communication I desire.  It has been interesting to be so involved.

My own Transformation

The fact of the matter is, however, this act is simply the first of several steps I will argue are part of any real rebound.  If you have read any of the earlier postings you know one of the prevalent themes on this blog is about “transitions”.  Regardless of whether we are talking about personal, professional or company transformations, the process is the same.  After a vision is established (or change requirement identified) action must occur.

The FIRST step of any transformation requires initiative  — ie taking matters into your own hands. Pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps is an old metaphor that I don’t entirely understand but use to describe having the courage to take the initiative to fix your own problem.

If something needs to change…change it.  If your not happy with your life…fix it.  Don’t wait for someone else to show you the way.  Letting things unfold around you lends itself to being a victim of circumstances, and that is rarely pleasant unless you live a lucky life.

While I’m not quite good enough to clearly envision what I want–

I most definitely know that the status-quo is unacceptable.

The fact that I was injured in an accident in 2005 that forced me sidelined from my career track for 4 years in an industry that simultaneously experienced a historic worldwide restructuring, has left me to ponder my options. I feel a bit like the storybook Rip Van Winkle who awakens to find the world has passed him by.  Professionally, my support network is gone and the prospects for returning to a commensurate level (pre-accident) position within U.S. operations seems bleak.  There doesn’t seem to be anything I can aspire to in our present structure.  My loyalty to Ford Motor Company for standing by me during my accident is strong, but the majority of my school buddies and recent departures from the Company advocate a different career. I’ve learned I can’t assume everything will turn out alright.

It seems I need to broaden my skill set and find alternative ways to contribute to this Company or another, regardless of what I do.  While it wouldn’t take much to be paralyzed by the complexity of the situation, I began to look for something to sink my teeth in.  Clearly, I have much to learn.

My physical injuries taught me a great deal about taking control of my own health care (ie let me out of this hospital…no more meds…get rid of this crutch…I need physical therapy every day…I’ve got to get back to work).  My propensity for spreading the virtues of demonstrating “initiative” (one of the defining characteristics of anyone successful) force me to practice what I preach by taking matters into my own hands.

So now I am taking the first step in taking control of my own destiny.  I am learning something new along the way (social media) and it feels a bit awkward (narcissistic) and vulnerable…but in some ways it is exhilarating to be stepping “up to the plate”.  The act of demonstrating the initiative to take the first step is the start of every turnaround.  Sure, a vision of where you are going is required….but due diligence requires action!

I will likely follow up with a separate posting on the art of “futuring” (envisioning future scenarios and actions to achieve a desirable outcome) as it applies to this transition story.  However, there are no guarantees as this process has risks and the potential for failure and setbacks.  I’ll likely document those too.

This is the start of a simple story about a transformation and survival.  Am I making a mistake?

Point of View Graphic

Background: Perhaps one of the greatest internal developments within Ford Motor Company during the 90′s (Nasser Era) was the institutionalization of BLI (Business Leadership Initiative) and specifically the personalization of the “Teachable Point of View”.  Forcing every employee to develop and articulate a statement of what they valued and how it translated into their decisions and actions was a tremendous revelation to many people.  Initially, the simple act of slowing down enough to reflect inwardly was awkward but when we really applied the process truthfully (some did) and accurately acknowledged the conflicts that existed in our work-lives/personal values, it became a powerful tool to help launch a mentoring mentality, a collaborative mindset and greater sense of openness and honesty that was absent within our culture.  I have found no greater tool than the expression of an individual PoV to drive synergy or teamwork in an organization.

My First Attempt: The bulk of this posting was taken from my first presentation of my own point of view of success.  It was given on August 11-12, 1998 at the Tanglewood Resort in Lake Texoma, TX to my staff of 18 Zone Managers/Schedulers in the Southwest Region.  I’m sure I spent weeks preparing for the presentation as my notes were extensive and my outline on the entitled “IRA & Six Pack” (9 concepts and values that formed the basis of my PoV) was three pages long.  It was a huge success with the team and gave me the confidence to keep building upon my PoV as I matured.

Use of Graphic: Not everyone uses a graphic to depict their professional PoV, but I have found it invaluable.  Although I have amended the core values “titles” from time to time, the main message remains intact.  I have utilized the Powerpoint triangle graphic because it was easy to recreate, but I have long since wanted to develop a different/more appropriate depiction that doesn’t prioritize or minimize the value discussion points.  Any suggestion?

Basic Tenants of my PoV: Each of these tenants deserve their own postings, so I will only summarize them here.  [Note:  I will update this posting with links to a more thorough explanation of all points when they are available]

• Data Driven Decisions. The foundation of my PoV rest with the notion that all decisions, evaluations and forecasts must be based upon the facts.  Quantifiable and qualitative data collection is easy to collect in our industry and yet we often fail to hold people accountable for them or to use the data to make our decisions.  It is also imperative that we clearly articulate an individuals contribution to the data results.  This is especially important when there are so many variables that impact product performance in a market.
• Sustainability. We simply must get comfortable with doing the right thing for the long term.  This isn’t about doing the same thing, however.  To truly sustain something it must be evolutionary.  It must adapt, and conform to maintain.
• Mentoring. Everyone needs a mentor and you can not lead without becoming a coach for business acumen, courage and personal intiative.
• Accountability. The assumption of responsibility is one of the key drivers of success and is often avoided at all cost.  A leader must step forward and take control and ownership even when things aren’t going smoothly.
• Efficiency. On one hand this has to do with “getting more output than input given”; on the other it has to do with effectiveness.  Success has to do with your ability to clearly demonstrate INITIATIVE.
• Transparency. Honesty and consistency are paramount to successful leadership.  The comfort of predictability is what creates followers when you need them most.  Open door communication is not enough, you must walk the talk and encourage your team to push back when something seems inconsistent.
• Focus on Others. This is the true test of a leader worth following.  If “its all about me”, no one will care to join. Your teammates want to know your focus isn’t on yourself.
• Fostering Passion. We need more passionate employees!  Providing an environment for that passion to excel will drive huge returns to the team.  Our rules and constraints too often do the opposite of what we need to unleash the power of passionate employees.
  
• Inspiring Purpose. Although not every employee aspires to passion in their work, everyone needs a sense of purpose in their job.  Knowing how they contribute to the objectives and success of the organization seems obvious, yet it is most often missing.