One or two more metrics (yes, more!). More is more!

Based on what we leaned this week about I am adding 2 new metrics to my dashboard by which to measure or inform my effectiveness in the role of a creative leader.

IMPACT

One of the biggest A-HA moments I had this week was truly understanding the value and depth of IMPACT. Small gesture like introducing two acquaintances or colleagues to each other may take very little effort on our own part. For them however it could have a long term life changing impact. Over a decade, my old employer went through a merger and laid off everyone but maybe 5 people. I was already working for a new company and decided to I introduced my recently unemployed old boss to my new boss, owner of the new company I was working for. As a result, my new boss hired my old boss. My small action had a huge impact for both of these individuals. One found a job she could retire from the other scored big time hiring a heavy weight professional who helped him grown the company and triple the business in a short amount of time. Interestingly enough, we practiced creating professional triads among our classmates.

FORGIVENESS

The second exercise we did this week was acting out labels we were given or have adapted over time and seeing what type of impact that act had on behaviors, our own and those around us. It made me realize that labels have good and bad impact on people. Labels enable us or limit us to succeed in life. Others can see us as reliable partners they depend on, or they can  view us as someone who doesn’t have potential just based on a label. Labels carry over from team to team in our HR dossier, and sometimes we carry them proudly like a flag or an ID day by day. Personally, I realized that I owned many of the labels I was given. I gave others a permission to see me and treat me in accordance with my label. However I also realized that I treated people in accordance to theirs. Therefore I had to forgive myself first, then forgive the others (my bosses or colleagues) second. Only at that juncture can I start changing and challenging the labels and create new norms. I write this in past tense, because after some soul searching I have committed to myself to act new labels until they become my reality.

I am still figuring out how to visually represent impact and forgiveness on my dashboard and how to accurately measure them. Stay tuned.