I have talked with a lot of managers over time and have heard many times over, the desire for their people to change.  They all seem to want their people to give just a little more.  They want their people to be a little kinder to their co-workers.  They all want their people to work a little smarter.  They want, want, want.

After listening to their desires for their team, I tend to get myself into trouble with my next questions:

"What have YOU done to change?  What have YOU done to bring a little more to your team?  What have YOU done to be a little kinder in your team?  What have YOU done to work smarter in your team?"

Most management are surprised by my line of questioning.  They assume that the change needs to take place with the people that they manage, not themselves.  WRONG!  That is exactly where change needs to begin.

If you want smarter people on your team, become a smarter person yourself, first.  If you need kinder, friendlier people on your team, become friendlier yourself, first.  If you want more effort given from your team, put forth more effort yourself, first.  Whatever the change you are looking for in others, bring it to the team yourself, first.

I have always enjoyed telling the story of a young boy hearing an echo for the first time.  The story goes like this: 

A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

Curious, he yells: "Who are you?" He receives the answer: "Who are you?" Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!" He receives the answer: "Coward!" He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"

The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention." And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!" The voice answers: "I admire you!" Again the man screams: "You are a champion!" The voice answers: "You are a champion!"

The boy is surprised, but does not understand. Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence. This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life; Life will give you back everything you have given to it."

So in summary of CHANGE, I would encourage you to consider the fact that YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!

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