Tag Archive for: Impact

What is your Noah Project?

Noah’s project—the building of an ark—was a monumental undertaking with an enduring legacy. Despite skepticism and ridicule, Noah’s project symbolized visionary leadership and the power of perseverance for generations. His story continues to inspire people, a lasting example of how a single project, rooted in faith and determination, can have an impact that endures long after the original work.

A Noah Project is an endeavor that serves a noble cause and has enduring value beyond one’s life.

What is your Noah Project?
Is it building a company or a non-profit that will live beyond you? Is it being committed to making a difference to the team you serve? Is it recording music you produced? Is it starting a podcast or a blog post? Is it cleaning up your neighborhood? Is it a project that will help slow climate change? I have a friend whose Noah Project is to spend enough time with her grandchildren that “my finger print will be embedded in their hearts forever.”

My Noah Project this year is to write my memoir with my daughter. Hayley keeps encouraging me by saying I have a very fascinating life and a great story to tell. I’m about 1/2 done. It’s been a great learning and rewarding experience so far.

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A big part of my work and focus is teaching leaders to be integrated, balanced, good human beings with strong character.

This is the foundation of high trust, psychologically safe organizations. And this is where the truly lasting impact and fulfillment comes from in our leadership.

People these days are wanting their leaders to get past the gimmicks, fads, and flavours of the month and be real.

Legacy is not so much what we leave behind as it is the difference we make today.

Leadership When People Don’t Want To Be Led

As leaders, we impact people’s lives and it’s fulfilling when things go well. But things don’t always go well. So what do you do when someone isn’t engaged, is struggling or not showing up as you need them to?

There’s no easy answer, but here’s a few thoughts about responding to a difficult team member:

  1. Assess the context. Is the resistance/lack of accountability a change or is it their default behavior? A change can indicate a mental health challenge or something going on in their personal life.
  2. Be honest and provide an opportunity to address head-on what’s going on.
  3. Grant grace. Understand there’s usually more to the story and may be outside of your control. Just because you are in a position of leadership doesn’t mean you’re going to get people to act they way you’d like them to.
  4. Be clear. Let them know what you expect. Negotiate and define mutually agreed upon expectations. Remember: you can bring compassion to the situation without compromising your standards.
  5. Talk about consequences if resistance remains and expectations aren’t met. Consequences can involve motivators that might inspire change. They might eventually turn to termination, but you don’t have to start there.
  6. Realize that challenges are usually there to help us grow. As Eleanor Roosevelt, a woman who had a deep understanding of getting through hard times, said, “The encouraging thing is that every time you meet a situation, though you may think at the time it is an impossibility and you go through the tortures of the damned, once you have met it and lived through it you find that forever after you are freer than you ever were before.”