Broths are products of their qualities infused in the water. The water literally changes into another substance. And once the change has occurred it cannot be easily undone. There would be a lengthy filtration process to remove their flavors from the original water.
Identify Ineffective Habits:
People are creatures of habits. We like what we know. As we Shape the Culture and Translate Learning into Action, we still need to Infuse our Ideals into our people.
Infusion is a process that takes time and there is rarely a shortcut to success. If we are not as successful as we wish, we must inventory the habits that create outcomes we do not desire. Only then can we implement a change.
Listen to Their Needs:
Habits, whether good or bad are born from a need. Why do your people do as they do? What benefit is gained from an action that doesn’t produce the needed results? What do they need from you, from the company, and from each other to be successful?
People do what they do for a reason. This reason, if you listen well, gives you insight into their needs.
Expect Engagement:
Food is easier than people. Most foods do not fight their role in our dinner. People can be less than willing to follow the process. This conflict is normal and great leaders understand they are paid well to engage their team members. Set high standards. Reward great work. Celebrate positive outcomes. Expect that everyone will be duly involved in creating the success we want.
Remember, your team is also getting paid good money to do the job assigned to them. You need not apologize for being the leader, although sometimes you may have to apologize for what kind of leader you are. Model engagement, expect engagement, and support engagement.
Seek Results:
Engagement is great. You may even want to thank your vegetables for getting in the pot. However, the real pleasure is not their role in your pot, but rather their role in your mouth. Expect engagement and seek results. Effort that leads to results is more rewarding than effort that exists for the sake of effort.
Infusing Change means that we lead our teams to move from moderate success to rewarding success. We must never succumb to the ideal of working hard.
Working hard can be synonymous with making great time on the highway only to realize you are going the wrong direction! We work hard on the results we desire to achieve, and that result is worth the hard work.