Too often in organization we see continual and excessive finger point and people becoming engrossed in the blame game. We lament about the ‘lack of leadership’ at the top of the organization. We complain that we have too many managers and not enough leaders. We complain that we do not get enough training then we complain when we get assigned to attend training. We complain about equipment, we complain about the shift schedule and we complain about facilities. The question is what are you going to do about it? Are you going to be a problem identifier or a problem solver?
In my opinion the first step is to understand and accept that EVERYONE is in:
- A position to lead.
- A position to train others.
- A position to make a difference.
The question is whether or not you choose to.
The point of this blog posting is to encourage all of us to step away from the blame game, stop pointing fingers and stop waiting for someone else to take action. Start focusing on what you control. Focus on what YOU can do to make a difference. Accept that regardless of your position in your organization you are in a position to lead, to train and to make a difference. It is my experience that many major changes in organizations start at the grass roots level and are bottom up driven, not top down driven.
If you are at a call and you see something is not going right then speak up. You may have seen something others did not and your action may save a life. If you see something that could be improved in your agency then put together an action plan with possible solutions and put it foreword. If you see a gap in training then do some research and put forward some possible solutions.
Remember to be patient. Change does not happen overnight. I had the pleasure recently of spending some time on the phone with a leader and trainer I have a great amount of respect and admiration for. She works in a emergency services communications centre. She has taken a number of courses and attending a number of seminars at her own expense to expand her knowledge and skills. She has been working tirelessly for more than a year to change the culture of negativity that was becoming pervasive in her workplace. After all this time she is making headway and making an impact.
There is a group of dedicated trainers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan that are working to make a difference. They have identified some issues within their agency and are doing something about it. They have worked tirelessly to find a facility, line up catering and put together advertising for a full day Pursuit of Personal Excellence Seminar which I will be presenting there on Saturday March 6, 2010. The presentation will cover Dare To Soar: The Pursuit of Personal Excellence, Emotional Winning: Strategies for Dealing With Today’s Hectic World and Your Life IS Your Legacy. A portion of the proceeds is going to help start a resource library for their officers. For more information contact: Shawn Penner at shakajoza@gmail.com, or Stephen Moorgen stephenmoorgen@yahoo.ca. This will be a powerful day with a great message supporting a create cause. Download March 6 poster
Take care.
Brian Willis
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