Strategic Coaching to Manage Change and Stay the Course
It was the fall of 1995. A United States aircraft carrier was cruising off the coast of Newfoundland when the radio operator notified the bridge of a rapidly approaching vessel. The Captain immediately got on the radio and requested the Canadian vessel to divert it’s course 5 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
To this, the Canadian radio operator requested the U.S. carrier to divert it’s course 15 degrees to the south to evade the collision. This went back and forth until the Captain of the U.S. aircraft carrier, rather indignantly responded, “This is the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea. We are a large warship of the U.S. Navy. Divert you course immediately. To this the Canadian radio operator replied, “This is a lighthouse. Your call!”
Ouch! This chronicle aptly describes the life-altering phenomenon known only too well as a stable of the 21st Century — change. Known for striking angst in the hearts of even the most fearless, change is constant.
By embracing change as an expected part of business, you can lessen stress, minimize resistance, and encourage progress. There are, however, fundamentals that serve as anchors to aide you in finding and staying on course, including:
- Beliefs – knowing that which is true about your staff, your self, success, earning aptitude, growth capacity
- Vision – what you see as inspiring to attain
- Mission – the purpose you’re called upon to realize
- Values – key cornerstone ideals upon which your business is built
- Gifts and talents – ways to utilize the genius of you and your staff in making the most of opportunity and challenge
- Principles – doctrines, ethics, and ideologies that serve as your rudder
- Standards – personal performance benchmarks to which you hold your self
- Sense of humor – likely to develop daily
What “anchors” help you stay the course?