Difficulty not of your choosing
Kia ora – it’s been a while!
You may have noticed my absence from this blog. Life, as always, ebbs and flows, and writing has been one of those things that I’ve needed to set aside in order to manage the delicate juggling act that is my current reality.
Since my last post in May, I’ve stepped into a new role as Powerco’s Operational Systems Manager. It is an exciting role - one aligned with my values - where I lead a team of passionate individuals dedicated to driving transformational change across those systems that control our electricity distribution network.
While the details of this role, and the incredible team I lead, are stories for another day, my experiences over the past 4 months have sparked some deep reflections:
- Aligning focus across the technological ecosystem: How can an organisation establish the right level of change, cultivate the right behaviours, and embed principles – mental “earworms” – that orient people towards a unified goal?
- Inspiring others to align their values and beliefs: How do we motivate individuals across the organisation to align their professional and personal aspirations with a shared direction?
What drives people to excel at what they do?
As part of my own growth, I’ve been exploring high-performance leadership with Andy Meikle, founder of Elkiem. Though my journey is just beginning, and I’m still getting my head around the central concepts, Andy has this remarkable ability to simplify complex topics.
Andy’s workshops are an incredible resource that prompt me to reflect on both my career and leadership style. They’re punctuated with the occasional quote that lingers long after the session ends. One such quote has deeply resonated with me…
Leadership is your ability to inspire people during difficulty that is not of their choosing.
Difficulty not of their choosing
This concept of “difficulty not of their choosing” is profound. The level of difficulty in any given task undoubtedly influences growth and progress, yet when individuals overcome challenges thrust upon them, the triumph feels even more meaningful.
So, what does it take to become such a leader?
While there’s no single formula for being an inspirational leader, certain factors exert both upward (positive) and downward (negative) pressures on one’s ability to lead effectively (I won’t spoil the details – working with Andy is the best way to explore this in-depth!).
Wrap up
Anyway, if you have been wondering where I’ve been as of late, my focus has been on helping my team navigate and deliver a pivotal business transformation project. Doing so has prompted me to think deeply about what’s needed to foster positive change in our business – because our will undoubtedly demand it.
As I wrap up, I want to leave you with a question that Andy posed to our team: Everyone brings their unique “cocktail” of attributes, motivations, and energy to work each day…
As a leader, is it within your remit to modify the cocktail of those who work for you?