Engine For Change

If you goal is to make change, it’s foolish to try to change the worldview of the majority if the majority is focused on maintaining the status quo.  The opportunity is to carve out a new tribe, to find the rabble-rousers and change lovers who are seeking new leadership and run with them instead.” – Seth Godin, Tribes

Last night I had the privilege to attend the wedding of two rabble-rousers who met while participating in our 2010 Guiding Coalition. They led a team together and made a difference together by seeking  something more and refusing to settle for the status quo.  Now they’ll make a life together as change lovers rushing headlong into their future.

Jessica & Phill – I wish you all the best in your life together!

When you’re driving change with a team, you’ll be holding at least a few meetings.

To keep people coming to your meetings, be sure to greet them as they arrive.

Arrive 10 minutes earlier than you usually would.  Get all your things together for the meeting.  Then, as people arrive, say something to them, anything.

For more formal meetings I like to shake hands and introduce myself to each new person.  For more informal meetings I usually make eye contact, say hello and thank them each for coming.

After every meeting I always thank them all again for coming and remind them when the next meeting is scheduled.

You’ll want each person to feel welcome and want to come back, especially if they are volunteers that can at any moment stop spending their time on your project.

Remember: Welcome!

It really is that easy.

Test: Try welcoming people at your next meeting.  Count how many people attended.  At the next meeting after, welcome everyone again and count how many people returned.  Keep that up for a few meetings and I bet you get a better turnout.  Feel free to try it and see if you can prove me wrong.

When you’re leading a team, find your passion within the team’s project or goals and make the team’s work essential to you in some way.

Maybe the team’s goal (e.g., expanding housing for the homeless) is your motivation.

Maybe you’re indifferent to the goal (e.g., reducing the number of file cabinets in the department storeroom), but you’re energized by the chance to practice your leadership skills.  After all, who knows how exciting the next project could be!

Maybe all you care about is that the team gives you an opportunity to mentor the next leaders.

Whatever way you spin it, you’ll want your passion fueled by the project.  You’ll need that fuel when you’re drive change.

So, go find your passion in your projects.  Look for those projects you can’t stay away from with the meetings you rush to make and never miss.  Watch for those moments when times flies by and you wish you could keep working.

And, if you look and you just can’t find any passion in the project, then ask yourself: Why am I doing this anyway?  Maybe its time to stop.

There’s lots of things you could be doing with your time.  Why not spend it working on projects that play to your passion.  See Seth Godin’s The Dip for more on this topic.

For the next month I’m devoting the blog to a series of posts tailored for team project leaders and the people who support them (e.g., my favorite consultants and executives out there).

I think you’ll get something from these posts, whether you’re leading a team at your church, in your volunteer organization, or at work.  Enjoy the series!

Let’s start with the quote of the week,

Stay on your GO side!” – Dennis Goin

Years ago I attended Dennis’ training session on the difference between being on your GO side versus your STOP side. Your GO side is the place where you can keep adding the extra effort, push through the obstacles, or rise to fight another day.  Your STOP side is the “we’ll never,” “they won’t,” “how could I,” talk that keeps you were you are.

When I heard Dennis all those years ago I didn’t imagine then how far we’d come and how much we’d learn together.  With all those years gone by, I still remember this quote from that first day and use it to keep me on my GO side, cheerfully driving change.  Thanks for everything Dennis!

Now, let’s go!