There has to be a better way:
For many years, my teams have heard me say this…there has to be a better way. I became increasingly frustrated seeing passionate and talented people lose their confidence when performance-managed out of corporations, leaving them questioning their strengths and abilities, quietly disappearing into a depressed state of feeling crazy, lazy or stupid.
How could these people be star performers on one project, yet be unable to contribute productively to another? And why was no-one else concerned about this? I experienced this personally when I was handed a large project no-one else wanted to touch for the risk associated with it. We were trying to deliver a brand new, complex solution to diverse teams across the globe. There was no convenient methodology to follow, so my multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary team and I had to make it up as we went…and I absolutely loved and excelled at the challenge!
My next project was highly structured and governed by a multitude of processes and policies with a good measure of technical details thrown into the mix, and I became a blubbering inarticulate bunny in the headlights mess!
Understand this, I am talking about highly intelligent, skilled, experienced and educated people, who are driven and motivated to succeed.
I realised early in my career that success had nothing to do with personality or intelligence, but that it was closely linked to having the freedom to be yourself, and to be given the space to solve problems and be productive in a way that comes naturally to you! Success at work and in life has everything to do with how we do the job – that predictable, internal force that governs how we act. Our mode of operation (M.O.) is what gives us our competitive edge!
According to Kathy Kolbe, founder of Kolbe Corp, expecting someone to work against their grain is like "being in the right sport, but the wrong event. You’d never expect a sprinter to run a long-distance race, just as you know a long-distance runner doesn’t have enough steam to excel as a sprinter. How can we so clearly see the benefit of ‘playing your own game’ on the sports field, when we can’t see the same thing is needed in business?”.
How could these people be star performers on one project, yet be unable to contribute productively to another? And why was no-one else concerned about this? I experienced this personally when I was handed a large project no-one else wanted to touch for the risk associated with it. We were trying to deliver a brand new, complex solution to diverse teams across the globe. There was no convenient methodology to follow, so my multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary team and I had to make it up as we went…and I absolutely loved and excelled at the challenge!
My next project was highly structured and governed by a multitude of processes and policies with a good measure of technical details thrown into the mix, and I became a blubbering inarticulate bunny in the headlights mess!
Understand this, I am talking about highly intelligent, skilled, experienced and educated people, who are driven and motivated to succeed.
I realised early in my career that success had nothing to do with personality or intelligence, but that it was closely linked to having the freedom to be yourself, and to be given the space to solve problems and be productive in a way that comes naturally to you! Success at work and in life has everything to do with how we do the job – that predictable, internal force that governs how we act. Our mode of operation (M.O.) is what gives us our competitive edge!
According to Kathy Kolbe, founder of Kolbe Corp, expecting someone to work against their grain is like "being in the right sport, but the wrong event. You’d never expect a sprinter to run a long-distance race, just as you know a long-distance runner doesn’t have enough steam to excel as a sprinter. How can we so clearly see the benefit of ‘playing your own game’ on the sports field, when we can’t see the same thing is needed in business?”.
It’s about time we try!
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Hi, I'm Liezel Pieters.
I have worked for the best (Deloitte, KPMG, Price Waterhouse) and with the best (Rio Tinto, SABMiller, Woolworths to name a few) for more than 20 years as a Program/Project Management Consultant and Facilitator/Executive & Leadership Coach in the UK, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Although I loved my corporate career, what really puts a spring in my step is seeing people thrive! Over the years I have mentored and coached many professionals and teams to get more done, with less resources, and to greater quality! My passion is to use my extensive corporate experience and training as a Project & Productivity Consultant to identify my clients' innate mode of operation (modus operandi, M.O.) and to teach them how to use their innate talents to excel in communicating across cultures, reframing problems, aligning goals, managing stakeholder groups, resolving conflicts, managing change, finding solutions, motivating teams, mentoring and coaching, and being better, more self-aware leaders! |