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WOW!!!!!!! What an exciting and very positive energy week I just experienced. I was able to validate that positive energy will prevail – it sometimes takes a while for it to capture those that are negative but it definitely will do just that. It also caused me to be sympathetic for those that are so wrapped up in negative energy that their circle of friends and work colleagues are starting to push them away. Let me share some of the excitement and positive energy that I experienced.
One of the successes we had this week involved my work with one of my clients where we turned a corner and the entire team embraced a mentoring culture. It did take one person to step to the plate as a leader and say enough talk, let’s move forward and embrace our new culture! I stopped in for one last set of sessions with all the employees and I could feel the positive energy as I entered the building. Perhaps the sugar rush from having finished a number of chocolate eggs as part of an early morning office function was part of that – but the positive energy and respect for each other was bubbling throughout the office. My one on one session with each employee were very positive and upbeat and it was clear that the new culture was now a way of life for each and every employee. I made it clear that they now owned the new culture and would have to support and maintain it and they were more than willing to accept my challenge. I will check in on them periodically to make sure they are still moving forward, but I am very proud of their work and accomplishments.
I was very fortunate to present to the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association (SHCA) Annual General Meeting on the 4th of April, 2012. It was an energizing experience for me to speak to an association that is supportive of mentoring! We spoke about succession planning/development and mentoring and how it was relevant to the SHCA membership. . The aspect of the disengaged employee and negative energy was a topic that we touched on during the presentation. The disengaged employee and negative energy is a good segue into the next positive energy experience that I had!
You sometimes wonder if people are actually listening and hearing what you are saying. You just have to love those that practice active listening! I got to watch – didn’t engage this time, a rewarding experience for me unfold right in front of me. Organizations today are successful because of their people. Those that struggle do so because of their people. A lot of the struggle comes from having a work force that is not engaged, empowered or held accountable. We all understand that with engagement comes empowerment and with those two in place accountability follows. This week I watched a group of employees gather for a quick conversation – perhaps a short break to catch their breath. I overheard a conversation where one employee was most definitely very negative about what was taking place and the lack of direction clearly demonstrating disengagement. What I then witnessed which made me very happy was that a few of the others listed off some things that needed to be done and proceeded to go and get them done. Our disengaged and negative energy source was left standing with no one else for him to draw into his personal negative vortex. Chances are I was the only one that saw or understood what took place – but rest assured it will be a topic of conversation in the not too distant future. So there is a light shining at the end of the tunnel – but the journey is still ongoing and has a ways to go yet. The employees that took the initiative and demonstrated the positive energy are to be commended for they are helping this organization move forward and develop their mentoring culture.
As I reflect back on the past week I can’t help but be energized with what has taken place. I only hope that more organizations will realize the benefits of creating an engaged, empowered and accountable workforce enabled through a mentoring culture. Do not underestimate the “power of mentoring.”
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