Month: March 2022

leadership dot #3566: Cinderella

March 21, 2022March 20, 2022by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I spent much of my weekend watching March Madness basketball including the game where Gonzaga University advanced to the Sweet 16 for the seventh consecutive NCAA tournament. It brought back flashbacks to 1999 when the Zags were the “original Cinderella” — a completely unknown school that knocked off three higher-ranked teams to make it to the Elite Eight. At the time, hardly anyone outside of Spokane had heard of Gonzaga University or their unlikely Zags mascot — both sounded fictional — but all college basketball fans definitely know them now.

Gonzaga’s ascension into national prominence wasn’t a fluke; it was a strategic investment in the university’s future. Basketball prowess was designed to bring recognition to the school — it has certainly achieved that — but it came as a result of years of building. The same athletic director led the department for 24 years, providing consistency in vision. In 2004, the university gambled and built a 6000 seat facility when they only had a few hundred season ticket holders. One year, the university redshirted six quality players, enduring its last losing season to prepare for success in the future.

When I watch the tournament now, I wonder who the next Gonzaga will be. Is there a school quietly but intentionally building its infrastructure, facilities, coaching staff, and recruiting classes to be poised for consistent athletic success? Is that team already in the tournament — one of the lesser seeds who has already defied the odds and advanced? When it happens, the newcomer will be dubbed the next Cinderella — and be a surprise to everyone but themselves.

What is your organization doing now with the intent of reaping benefits in the future, and more importantly, sustaining them for years? There are no fairy godmothers to provide a night at the big dance without decades of hard work beforehand.

leadership dot #3565: sink

March 20, 2022March 19, 2022by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Frequent travelers know that liquids are not allowed through airport security but water bottles and coffee cups have become so ubiquitous that people sometimes forget they are forbidden. Add in novice flyers and you end up with a fair amount of contraband at the screening checkpoint.

In most airports, the bottles are confiscated after a TSA search but Boston Logan preempted the delays by stationing a portable sink before the queue. This allows people to discard their liquids but retain their bottles to refill once they have cleared security. It saves time and money for the traveler and helps to keep the lines moving.

Think about where your bottlenecks occur and consider how you can provide your version of a sink to empty them.

leadership dot #3564: recognize

March 19, 2022March 18, 2022by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Unless you’re an aviation aficionado you likely have never heard of Charles Taylor — but without him, the Wright Brothers may have remained grounded. Taylor is credited with building the engine for their first successful flight and serving as their mechanic.

The Federal Aviation Administration memorialized Taylor’s contributions by naming their highest award after him, an honor that recognizes the lifetime achievements of senior airline mechanics. To even be eligible for the award, candidates must have 50 years as an accredited mechanic in the field, with a minimum of 30 years as an FAA-certified repairman. Fifty years is almost half of aviation history, yet United Airlines alone has 59 gentlemen who have received the distinction. United’s Charles E. Taylor Master Mechanic Award impressive and prominent display at O’Hare is engraved with the names of the airline technicians who make flight possible.

It is easy to overlook the contributions of those who serve behind the scenes. Take a lesson from the FAA and United and rethink who you recognize and how. Those outside the spotlight make it possible for others to be in the light. Allow them to have their moment to shine as well.

leadership dot #3563: imprint

March 18, 2022March 17, 2022by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

If I asked you how many plastic bags are floating around in the Dubai desert for camels to eat, you may not think there were many. Plastics in the desert wouldn’t seem to be a problem, right?

But a presentation by plastics researcher and environmentalist Marcus Eriksen proved otherwise. In addition to personal stories and statistics that presented alarming facts about the enormous amount of plastic pollution in oceans, the desert, and every corner of Earth, Ericksen came equipped with startling evidence. He shared a suitcase-sized wad of plastic bags that he unearthed from the carcass of a dead camel! After the lecture, he allowed people to touch it, hold it, pose for photos, and truly grasp the depth of plastic pollution occurring even in isolated places. It was simultaneously disgusting and powerful.

There are others who have used dimensional artifacts to shock others into action: a manager who curated a collection of 424 gloves used in his company to show the problem with independent purchasing processes or a consultant who brought piles of videotapes to a committee to illustrate the need to revise an award selection process.

We can recite facts and even tell stories until our voices are hoarse but a compelling visual is hard to discount. Visuals gain attention (what picture do you think was on the front page of the newspaper for Erikson’s lecture?), generate word-of-mouth retelling, and imprint an indelible image on our mind that remains long after the statistics have faded. If you need to make an impression, do it in a 3D way.

Marcus Eriksen and the mass of plastic bags found in the carcass of a dead camel in Dubai

leadership dot #3562: two years

March 17, 2022March 16, 2022by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

It’s the anniversary of the initial pandemic lockdowns, causing me to reflect on the past two years. A recent Pfizer commercial replayed pandemic moments that seem so long ago: banging pans outside to honor essential workers, sewing masks, neighbors delivering groceries to neighbors, and drive-by parades to celebrate birthdays. In a personally symbolic moment, I finished my bottle of soap yesterday — from a twin pack of hand soap in the more-soap-I-could-use-in-a-lifetime vat size I purchased at the start of all this. (In a move that seems inconceivable today, the other bottle and an open bag of flour were mailed to my sister in Boston when both items were unavailable there two years ago.)

At the beginning of the pandemic, there was great angst and many, many changes. Almost everything was disrupted. There was delusion as to the “temporary” nature of the pain. Two years later, we are still affected by COVID but in a way that has become part of our routine. We’ve figured out how to use Zoom, rely on curbside pick-up or delivery, and expect all restaurants to have takeout. Now that hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and even vaccines are readily available, live events are happening again, and no one is wiping down their mail, it seems as we have made it through. Yet, it’s not like it was — nor is it like it will be.

The thing is that the pandemic is not over. The U.S. daily death toll from COVID averages more than 1,000 people/day. There are still mask mandates and volatile disagreements about them. Supply shortages and reduced hours are still prevalent. Just because people have change fatigue, doesn’t mean the disruptions are finished.

Step back and consider how the pandemic parallels change efforts in organizations. It’s chaotic in the beginning — whether from a pandemic declaration, new software installation, or a different direction imposed by a transition in leadership. There is backlash and denial — as well as many missteps and improvised solutions. Slowly, most people adjust and eventually become comfortable with the way things have evolved — sometimes becoming too set in a new routine before the changes have matured. As a leader, you need to help them (and yourself) remember how far you have come — and remind people how far you have yet to go. As a whole, we have been adaptive and resilient. Keep going.

leadership dot #3561: something new

March 16, 2022March 15, 2022by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

A different skill set is required to create something as compared to improving it. If you are focused on making something that exists better, the focus is on the output. If you aim to develop something new, the effort should be concentrated on the inputs — the people, vision, infrastructure, culture — all those need to be aligned in order to be successful.

Unfortunately, too many organizations are interested in short-term wins and immediately visible results. Leaders want to see quick evidence that can be bragged about — tangible signs that changes are occurring — but in an inaugural effort, those benchmarks often come much later in the process. The real work occurs before any outward changes are seen.

If you’re asked to champion a process to create something new, begin by setting clear expectations about the time it is likely to take. There are no easy ways to innovate or embed adaptive changes in an organization. Don’t let your enthusiasm override your thinking and cause you to believe otherwise.

Different skills are required to improve the one on the left vs starting from scratch on the right

leadership dot #3560: pave the way

March 15, 2022March 14, 2022by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

The Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts is named for two benefactors — who never collected art of their own. The couple earned their fortune through lumber and coal but left their estate to construct a museum for the “most valuable, meritorious, artistic and high-class oil paintings obtainable.” Today, the galleries exhibit Monet, Degas, Renoir, and O’Keefe paintings — a collection that is often loaned to other museums due to its quality.

Just because you don’t do something yourself does not mean that you can’t pave the way for others to do it. You don’t need to be an art collector to help others appreciate the masters. You don’t need to be an author to help others become readers. You don’t need to be an architect to recognize distinctive styles of buildings. You don’t need to be a scholar to assist others in earning an education.

Start your legacy while you are alive by helping others achieve your aspirations. You may not have fulfilled your dreams on your own but they can be realized in different ways.

leadership dot #3559: pair

March 14, 2022March 13, 2022by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

What do Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton have in common? One thing on their list: they are both co-authors with James Patterson.

Patterson has written over 200 novels (!!) since 1976. He manages such prolific production through the use of co-authors to augment his intense publication schedule. Patterson has said that collaborations bring new ideas and perspectives to his work — something that must be working since he has written or co-authored more than 100 New York Times bestsellers.

Patterson’s outreach to those unaffiliated with the literary world expands not only his range of ideas but his ultimate audience as well. Think of who could be your co-author or co-conspirator on your next project. Like with Patterson, you may benefit most from pairing with an unexpected source to enhance your creativity and appeal.

leadership dot #3558: communicating

March 13, 2022March 12, 2022by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

What is the third most commonly used language in the United States? You probably were correct in guessing English and Spanish as number one and two but many are stumped at what is number three.

The answer: American Sign Language. ASL is used by nearly a half-million people in the United States and Canada and 70 million people worldwide, yet it has often been overlooked when providing accommodations. Slowly, that seems to be changing.

The movie CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) has won numerous accolades and raised awareness of the challenges of being deaf in a hearing world. Barbie enlightened countless children with its Sign Language Barbie that aims to teach basic signs to those who play with the doll. And some parks have started to include signage that helps others communicate with a few universal ASL words.

Think of what you can do to help those who communicate through ASL feel a sense of belonging in your organization. Can you learn some basic signs? Provide interpreter services for key services? Include closed-captioning on your audio materials?

Many organizations have heightened their responsiveness to clients who speak other languages. Don’t leave out ASL in your efforts.

leadership dot #3557: dignity

March 12, 2022March 11, 2022by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I’m a big fan of a growing movement that reimagines how people provide food to those in need. Efforts are evolving that integrate distribution into mainstream delivery systems — providing recipients with more choice and more dignity.

One program is in Boston where people are able to receive grocery store gift cards instead of utilizing a central food bank for their holiday meal. This allows them to pick their foods — rather than relying on what others have donated. People can shop as everyone else does and make holiday feast selections that fit with their dietary needs, culture, or traditions. The organization also provides Visa gift cards to allow recipients to shop for presents and make personal selections rather than gifting generic gifts that have been donated.

Another program, The Iowa Café, partners with local restaurants to craft a special senior meal menu in conjunction with an Agency on Aging nutritionist. Seniors are then be able to receive a free, daily meal at these establishments. Instead of eating at a congregate meal site, seniors receive variety, nutrition, and the normalcy of dining in a restaurant.

As you evaluate personal contributions or community outreach through your organization, consider how your donations will be used. Giving to services that deliver with dignity adds to your impact.