By John A. Passante
As an executive coach I am often asked by presidents and senior executives, “Do you think that people can really change?”
Being a decisive person, I reply yes and no! Ask yourself the question, “Can you change?” “Have you changed?” I suspect your answer is a LOUD yes.
It has been my experience that people transform based on life experiences. We encounter personal health issues, deaths of loved ones, illnesses, promotions, relocation, children and retirement. These events create new realities and in effect force us out of our comfort zones.
Remember butterflies leave their “comfort zones” – the cocoon – because they feel it is safe to do so! In effect, they display courage and trust. As a leader, do your employees feel safe to venture out of their comfort zones?
Leadership consultant and blogger Dan Oestreich states, “Is there a similar human experience like that of the butterfly’s? I would say not one but many. We are transformed constantly simply by growth and things happening to us. We are always dealing with new life situations while we are losing others.”
Let’s talk Greek for a moment. Psyche is the Greek word for “soul,” but also the word for “butterfly.” We all know that butterflies do not change, they transform. (We are all butterflies.)
According to author and organizational consultant Bill Bridges, “Transition, by comparison, is the psychological process of adapting to the change, a process that occurs in predictable emotional stages.”
According to a recent TIME magazine article, “Corporate culture has long ignored the fact that we can’t check our feelings at the office door.”
Why is it high time to be rational about emotions in the workplace?
To me, transformation is the quest for self, the journey for personal well-being. It involves both the heart and the soul.
Leadership plays an important role in all of our lives’ transformations. The leaders who impact our daily lives:
• Inspire us
• Accept us for who we are and who we can become
• Are committed to us
• Encourage us to fly … like the butterfly
• Do not control or trap us
• Listen to us, without judging
• Listen with both their head and heart
In the work environment, change is indeed the watchword. Companies and employees must change in order to compete. Performance reviews would be pointless if people were not able to adapt to changes in culture, structure, leadership, etc.
The role of the influencer
From my perspective, change/transformation is a two-way street between the leader and the associate (employee). Trust is a key element in this process. The leader assists the individual in recognizing the need for change (introspection). Listen and guide to collaborate the passions and desires to change. Provide open and candid feedback to the employee in good times and in bad times. Give unconditional emotional support and encouragement throughout the process.
A paramount responsibility of a leader is to evaluate and determine if an employee is the right “fit” for the current position and/or future promotions. To this end, it is critical to ascertain if the employee can change/transform their approach and their thinking to a job. Will they actually do it?
To change is to grow and nourish the world around us. We have all had automotive aftermarket leaders who have nurtured us, and permitted, if you will, “us” to be “us.” They got us out of our cocoons.
Our mission now is to pass it on! Reflect on your organization; think about an employee or employees who need to change/transform for their good and for the long-term good of the organization.
Take the steps and show the courage to reach out to these employees and help them reach their potential. Others did it for us.
John Passante has more than 30 years of organizational development and senior human resource experience. His expertise is in management development, change management, training, recruiting, administration, executive coaching, succession planning, corporate communications and public relations. He is a motivational speaker who conducts seminars in the U.S. and internationally. Passante previously served as vice president of human resources at CARQUEST; senior vice president at Moog Automotive; and senior director worldwide human resources for Delphi Products and Service Solutions. He is an adjunct professor at Northwood University. Currently, Passante is the president and CEO of the Organizational Development Group Inc. His firm specializes in recruiting, coaching, change management and culture enhancement. Passante attended the University of Toledo, has a masters of business degree from Indiana Northern University and earned doctorate degrees from Pacific Western University and Northwood University. He is a member of the Northwood University Board of Governors. In 1995, Passante was inducted into the Automotive Aftermarket Hall of Fame and in 1980, he received the University of Toledo Peacemaker Award, an award given annually to outstanding Business Alumni. Passante also is president and CEO of Brenton Productions.
