The Ins and Outs
of Outcomes
When you invest both
time and money in a program billed as transformational what can you expect?
And more importantly, how can you measure results?
Last month we talked
about how the senior leaders at The Neill Corporation weathered the tough
post Katrina weeks with courage and caring.
An update: at a recent
Board of Directors meeting the strong bottom line numbers were a validation
that putting people first works. Debra Neill, CEO, stated "we're 'all
in it together' mindset helped us get the job done. Equally important, we
dove in and out of conflict situations in record time using clear
communication tools and pattern awareness understanding to guide
us."
A strong bottom line is
an important quantitative indicator of success. Handling crises is a good
qualitative one. Promotions and career moves are also success measurements
used to track TLC graduates since its inception November 2001.
Elsie Dennis, M.D., was
promoted to Director of Medical Communications at Novartis Pharmaceutical
Company in 2005. She tells the following story: During TLC, I was always
impressed with the challenge to go beyond the obvious for solutions. I
liked the way we created icons to put on our desks as reminders, to keep us
in touch with a "can do" attitude. In Apollo 13 they used duck
tape to make models, you know, prototypes of how to get the men back to
earth. Our leadership team handed out packets of duck tape as icons of
"anything is possible." It worked; we were able to come up with
amazing cost effective ways of solving our problems.
Richard Harris, owner of
Spa Sydell in Atlanta, Ga. and a TLC graduate comments on the promotion of
Genny Holden to Director of Operations. "Genny's ability to link all
parts of the organization is helping everyone gain clarity about how their
jobs impact each other. The TLC theme that 'we're all connected and no one
wins unless we all do' is a major part of our business model."
The TLC philosophy helps
leaders gain strength and clarity in telling the truth in short, blame free
sentences. Several teams are using the Heartruth 4-sentence method with
excellent results. "It shortens the time between upset and resolution
so more constructive work gets done more effectively", said Lynn
Rolston, who was recently promoted to CEO of the California Pharmacists
Association.
Another outcome has been
the "thank you" calls we have gotten from spouses about
observable changes at home. Comments such as "It has been almost
effortless to talk about creative projects, literature or world events.
Before TLC our evenings were locked into talk about work, work, and
work."
One of the surprising
outcomes of TLC has been the number of spouses, significant others,
siblings and even parents who have signed up to go through the program.
Everyone is very positive about how their leadership styles have developed.
"When both you and your spouse are able to discuss issues that
usually stay well below the radar, creative solutions come quickly,
"stated Richard Gearhart, head of U.S. Intellectual property at
Novartis. Elizabeth Gearhart, Ph.D. has felt very much supported by her
husband Richard as she embarks on a career to write books to help children
become environmentally conscious. "With a Ph.D. in chemistry and a
passion about clean water, I never thought I'd find as unique a win-win for
my talents."
Several others in the
program have commented about their courage to speak out without fear of
consequences or feeling they would be rejected. "Knowing we can
transform our patterns is a relief", said Joanne LaMarca, who was
promoted to Executive Producer level at NBC Today. "I'm actually
helping my colleagues look at how a super achiever can become more
effective as a creative collaborator."
An important outcome of
TLC is that changes are lasting. Mary Vidarte was in the pioneer group
from November 2001. "The clear communication skills I learned and the
core belief in staying true to myself is with me everyday. I learned that
sustainable change takes time and practice. I also learned that hidden
patterns can be accessed and mastered and that life is more fun viewed as a
series of "ahas".
In that first group of
12 participants we can report 5 promotions, several stronger marriages, one
divorce done with style and grace, two returns to further education, one
baby growing into a clear communications toddler and most of all a general
perspective that leadership is really about untying the "nots"
(as in cannot, will not and have not etc.) from the past and living as
fully connected a life as possible both at work and at home.
One TLC participant sent
the following note: "Your philosophy even ends up in an airplane
magazine, I thought you should put this in the newsletter."
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"When you can see the
invisible you can make the impossible happen."
Anonymous
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It sums up the magic in the program.
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