How Did We Get ‘Hear’?

Go ahead ... ask me   what I did this summer.  So because you asked ... I had a cochlear implant and granted,  that's a unique answer ... for me and for just about anyone.  Curious as to what this has to do with business, leaders in business or The Third Zone?  Believe me ... it's an appropriate question and as you'll discover, a VERY connected answer.  Please read on.

Our efforts as The Third Zone have provided the opportunity to work with organizations and specifically, the leadership within, to help them forge greater success.  Whether the goal and desire was to develop more effective leadership, achieve alignment around a shared vision or bring about needed change, in general, what we were able to accomplish was to help them bridge the gap between their dream of achievement and their reality of performance.  And as we play our role as such there is no doubt that we have benefited as well.  From each experience, we take away different learning as we facilitate the various journeys upon which our clients embark.  However, was I surprised to experience the impact on me personally in a way I would never have expected or anticipated!  And for that I remain forever grateful.

I have a serious hearing impairment - one that was diagnosed at the age of 3 and that required the use of hearing aids as a college freshman at 18.  For the ensuing decades I have functioned quite well and, as you might imagine, my hearing aids simply became ear attachments that even I forgot I had.  My life was good and full in every sense and I never anticipated a change.  That is ... until about 18 to 24 months ago when things started to change.

As I came to grips with and accepted the further decline in my hearing I realized that my situation around my ability to hear ... or not ... would have a distinct impact on the future quality of my life ... both personal and business.  I realized that I needed to do something that would alter my current path and I felt I had to do it quickly.  This led to intense research of available options and finally within the past month, receiving a cochlear implant - a step that is intended to take me into a hearing world the degree to which I haven't experienced for many, many years.  With my decision and the resulting action I have reclaimed the driver's seat of my life and how great it feels!

Still wondering what this has to do with the business of The Third Zone?  Here it is.   Coincidentally, during the past 18 to 24 months, our work with the leadership of our client companies has revealed a fascinating and challenging journey for them, their businesses ... and for us.

Reclaiming the Driver's Seat of Your Business

You ‘heard’ us … you get it … and  now you ask ‘how?’

In the spring edition of B.O.L.D. Print our lead article was one entitled "Action Born of Acceptance ".
The article was based on the query, "What happens when we accept what has been going on in the business economy as the 'new wave' and began making the necessary changes to thrive in this environment?"  More than any other single article that we have published, this one evidently rang the bells of many. The comments we received included:

"You've nailed our issue and our problem"

"We are so ready to have a positive thinking business"

"Trying to survive today has gotten very old and very tiring"

"I hope we're not too late."

Yet the question that was asked the most was ...

How can you help us get started???

Making the mental shift from surviving to thriving is relatively easy once we accept the fact that waiting it out makes for a long time to hold our breath as we're running out of places to achieve cost reductions.

When we stop asking “What is happening?” and start acting on ‘What IS happening’

Ask yourself the following questions …
What happens when you stop living in a world of
‘what if’ …

• this economy doesn’t change soon?
• we don’t live through the storm?
• we don’t change our business?
• our market doesn’t return?

and instead move to a world of
‘the way it is’ …

• what has changed that we need to accept?
• what do we need to change?
• what does the marketplace need from us NOW that we can successfully provide?

Think about it.  What does this shift do for the health of your company?
What is the impact on the leadership … collectively and individually? 
How does it help to solidify the strength of your organization and stabilize the work force on which your success ultimately depends? 

What it does is return you and your business to the land of the living.  Do you really have a choice?   We say NO!  No, that is, if you want to thrive in this new business world.  The many leaders with whom we meet know that this is where they must go.  How to do this quickly, efficiently and effectively is the challenge and there is no doubt that when your company makes the switch you will have transitioned to an organization that has fully embraced the realities of the day … your first step to reinvent your success.

Up to this point, many companies have taken measures to weather the storm.  They have aimed to become more efficient in their operations by cutting any combination of appropriate production, process and staffing expenses.

Surviving on this path looks like this:

In order to survive, leaders must change, act and execute.

The clear and loud message to businesses today is that in order to survive, leaders must change, act and execute... and ultimately find their own safe landing place ... or risk extinction. If you're one of the 95%+ of businesses that have been impacted by today's economic upheaval, we really understand what's going on in your organization and we come to you with a solution in hand.

Today's environment has increased the need to address and enhance the effectiveness of leaders working collectively and individually to weather the current storm on the way to tomorrow's achievements.