After hundreds of meaningless trainings, workshops and roundtable discussions people tend to become rather reticent to attend to more events of this kind. I am no different. When I started the journey towards Sofia to attend a “new” people management course, I couldn’t think about the days I will “waste” from my work time.
But as I learned, sometimes you can discover new perspectives exactly when you are the least expecting.
In Sofia I realized in the first day, that although I considered my self as a good leader, I am exactly on the opposite side. Sometimes men think that deliver results are not pleasant to the people as well. But we heard so many times the vise words of our result oriented society, “if you want an omelet, you have to brake a few eggs”, that we almost automatically accept, that result desire sacrifices.
At the training not only that I was able to identify my skills and my mistakes correctly, but I also learned, that any process could be fun, no matter how hard it is. And it is our role to create the settings for the fun part of every task and to go beyond the processes that tend to focus only on result.
In a society which evaluates the individual mainly on the basis of the “indicators” and “numbers” and it is able to assess the performance, the human factor can be neglected. But in any process, if you want real potential and exceptional results you will need your partners in full capacity, motivated and interested.
So since Sofia, I haven’t changed in a major way, but I gained a new perspective which, until now, it was missing. At the first days I started to apply all the principles right away, and obtained results right away, but the every day hussle and stress makes you to be less focused after a while. But when I have a stressful or unpleasant conversation, since Sofia, my mind is always focusing on SBI*, and I try to structure everything in a different way.
I still have a long road to walk, until I will be able to say that I am a people manager, in the true sense of the word, and the hardest battles are against my own reflexes, behaviors and beliefs.
But since Sofia I know my goal and the path. The rest is up to me!
Magor Csibi, Country Manager WWF Romania
* way of giving feedback by reflecting on Situation, Behavior and Impact
The biography is a great book with a lot of lessons for entrepreneurs. A must read! Steve had an amazing life and although he had his dark sides his story has got some very positive lessons to take. The 3 things I took out:
Walking while talking
All his important one to one meetings he asked people to join him for a walk, even with CEO's used to a more formal setting. He started the walk by giving his big picture and ended by asking what he wanted to reach and coming to the actions. He walked around many miles in Palo Alto. It made me wonder how big decisions would look like if we all do this including the big forms of world leaders like the important ones on out ecology. I am going to walk many more steps in 2012!
Think bIg, different and focus
Know what you want. What is the big thing in your life? Do it your own way. For Steve he wanted Apple to be number one in leaving a legacy for (future) users on the cross road of technology and art. That is why the design and user friendliness were so important. He always looked for new solutions and made his people believe that everything was possible which became true at the end of the day. And he focussed on that, he eliminated the rest that distracts.
The A team
Top people want to work with peers. Make sure you attract people around you who believe in what you believe. Then they will put all their passion, sweat and tears in it. If you believe in inspiring leaders to change the future, our A team in India would like to talk to you!
During our Connecting the Dots leadership program in India we experienced the work and impact of Grameen Koota, a financial service provider for 450,000 women in rural areas. After a session in which we asked 40 women to share their ambitions, dreams and struggles, one of the participants from Europe, Faiza, declared that she was very proud on these women and what they had accomplished. And that they actually achieve more than many women in the western world. A statement from the heart.
After the session, all women thanked Faiza personally one by one. You could see they were touched and this touched Faiza. One of the women showed her cows, that she had bought through a loan, and suddenly the two women embraced each other for a longer time. A heart to heart connection was established. Isn't this the foundation to start changes?
It’s 11-11-11 and I am attending in a conference in the heart of Amsterdam. On my bicycle I am daydreaming and enjoying the sight of canals in the fresh morning air. Suddenly I am woken up rudely: my bike hits a small pole on the street. At the same time a girl behind me hits the other pole. I wait for her to see if she’s hurt and feel guilty of not having paid attention. I expect her to be angry with me, but with a smile she says: “I was just scared. Enjoy your day and drive safely’.
Combining the ability to dream while being aware (and not hitting poles) is exactly what the conference is about. Otto Scharmer and his Theory U are the main attraction of the day, which pulls people together into the beautiful church ‘The Duif’. Three years ago I went to the USA to follow the Theory U course led by Otto and his colleagues. It is interesting to see him again and learn about his latest insights.
The central theme of the gathering is ‘crossing the tipping point’. What is ending in current times and what is manifesting itself as ‘new’ reality? The people in the room provide interesting answers like: ‘systems and institutions that cost energy are replaced by systems that provide energy’. The notion that the intention of individuals does not match with the outcomes produced by our current institutions is fascinating. As if all individuals are held prison by the institutions they have created and that they are managing them selves.
As the meeting continues I feel that my attention drifts away. The attempt to capture and codify intellectually what is happening in our world makes me restless and almost rebellious. The need for a big cappuccino somewhere in Amsterdam suddenly becomes bigger and bigger… Suddenly I am waking up again. This time no pole on the streets but the honest and modest story of a UK banker working for Triodos. The moment he starts talking it resonates with me. Speaking from his heart he transforms ‘grand’ change theories into a personal journey full of strength and foremost vulnerability. More heart, less head as a basis for a sustainable world. What a simple yet strong message.
Halfway the afternoon the temptation to dive into Amsterdam and escape the church becomes too big to handle. The cappuccino is replaced by a beer and together with a colleague we share stories from the heart. ‘Theory U’ has become ‘My Story’ and that provides freedom and creativity.
Better Future – 100% meaningful. That is what we strive for and that is what Create the Future, our yearly event, demonstrated. On the cards that our guests wrote us after the event, ‘meaning’ was given value in three ways:
Connection.
With heads close together, genuine conversations were held. People were seen and heard. Ties were made with each other and with the future.
Energy.
As Michel likes to put it, there’s “never a dull moment” at Better Future. Our keynote speaker Ruud Koornstra unfortunately had to cancel last-minute, but the improvisation that followed in the form of forest dialogue walks moved heads and hearts.
Inspiration.
The nine masterclasses each inspired in their own way. Jaikumar for instance, who leads Better Future in India, stayed close to his personal story when talking about the ‘angels’ in his life. People who help you further at crucial moments. Who are your angels, and especially – to whom can you be an angel?
On holiday in West Africa in 2001, the week before 9/11 – the day that will shock and change the world. My world also changes in this week. We visit villages in the Gambian inland and want to leave behind a small suitcase with children’s clothes. Tamsir (a local project manager) receives us. He shows us bare concrete and dry grass. But Tamsir sees it with different eyes. He starts telling us about his dreams: ‘Here is where the school will be, there the clinic and over there the shops of entrepreneurs in the village’. His passion, strength and thoroughness touch us. I move from my head to my heart. No way back.
The following days we spend with Ousman, leader of the same development organization. An inspiring and wise man who simply says: ‘When good people meet, good things will follow’. He sketches his wish: ‘ We want to further develop the talent and entrepreneurship of people in the villages. That’s more important than money.’ Six months later I quit my job at Hay Group. No way back.
In 2003, Better Future starts officially. The beginning of the adventure of a lifetime. Building a business from ideals – is that possible? Really following your dreams? The answer is: yes, it is. Simply by doing and following your heart. Reaching out to people and sharing your dreams. Together engage in creative enterprise, from the sincere wish to mean something for someone else. No way back.
We are proud of where we stand. As a social enterprise, we serve the top of the corporate world, international NGO’s and above all, the Tamsirs and Ousmans of this world. We do meaningful work in an entrepreneurial manner and are aware of our successes and disappointments. We continue on this chosen path full of energy and dedication. ‘Small beginnings can lead anywhere’, Ousman said. No way back, indeed. Fortunately.
Hoe kom je tot echte innovatie en maatschappelijke bijdragen? We zijn met een groep van Zwitserleven op stap in Nederland. Ervaren wat er nodig is, zien wat er mogelijk is en van daaruit nieuwe werkelijkheden creëren. Bij het Wereldnatuurfonds zijn we bewust gemaakt van de noodzaak van duurzame transformatie. Bij InterfaceFLOR, een vloertapijtenfabrikant, zien we een bedrijf dat een prachtvoorbeeld is van dat mogelijk maken. In alle facetten van de bedrijfsvoering is ‘Mission Zero’ doorgevoerd: vanaf 2020 zal Interface nul ‘carbon footprint’ achterlaten.
Daarna een bijzondere ontmoeting met jongeren met een psychiatrische achtergrond bij Zonnehuizen. Samen koken we een topmaaltijd. Dit diner raakt ons nog het meest. Zo dichtbij, zo fragiel. Je zou zo een baan in de horeca voor ze willen organiseren.
Voor het grote doel, een gezonde aarde, en voor het kleine doel, die jongeren om de hoek, gaan we verder aan de slag. Wat kan een pensioenverzekeraar als Zwitserleven vanuit de bedrijfsvoering bijdragen? Ik zie iets voor me waarbij we iets toevoegen aan die verleidelijke palmstranden – het verantwoorde Zwitserleven Gevoel.
Jaikumar en ik geven een training voor 30 managers en trainers van Grameen Koota, een bank voor de armen in verschillende staten van India. Grameen Koota is een droomklant: een organisatie die 350.000 klanten bedient in de dorpen van India en echt open staat voor vernieuwing om haar sociale impact te vergroten. Deze dagen geven we een training die uiteindelijk doorgegeven wordt aan 2.000 medewerkers in de organisatie. We leiden deze lokale mensen op in het bouwen van sterke teams, geven van presentaties, leren feedback geven en ontvangen en het elkaar coachen naar een next level.
Vanochtend zijn we gestart met 'presence'. Dat wil zeggen: in het hier en nu aanwezig zijn en je volledige aandacht gebruiken om een boodschap over te brengen. We staan op een grasveld tussen hoge bomen, alle kleuren groen om ons heen. Het ene moment hebben we een mooie stilte met alleen geluiden van vogels op de achtergrond als iedereen zich in zichzelf terugtrekt, het volgende moment veel geschreeuw als we de opdracht geven te laten zien en horen dat ze er zijn: 'Here I am'! Iedereen heeft veel lol. En onderwijl groeien de zaadjes van zelfbewustzijn en het geloof dat je een groter verschil kunt maken. Better Future: it's in you, wordt hier waargemaakt.
In april 2011 hadden we het voorrecht om met Send a Cow Uganda en de boeren verbonden aan deze organisatie te werken. Met Nederlandse deelnemers vanuit verschillende organisaties en Oegandese medewerkers van Send a Cow hebben we een week gewerkt aan persoonlijke groei en vraagstukken vanuit de boeren.
Een van de Oegandese deelnemers was Timothy. Hij is verantwoordelijk voor de projecten van Send a Cow in het noorden van Oeganda én heeft zelf een opleidingscentrum voor boeren in de buurt van Kampala in het zuiden. Twee banen, twee levens, één passie: boeren zo ondersteunen dat ze technisch en als ondernemer voor hun eigen inkomen en voeding kunnen zorgen. En ja, net zoals in Nederland is Timothy een druk baasje en staat zijn telefoon niet stil.
Tijdens de eerste dag van het programma, waarop we vooral bezig zijn met elkaar leren kennen, loopt Timothy regelmatig weg om zijn telefoon op te nemen. Dat kost hem dansjes voor de groep, maar vooral ook verstoring van zijn proces met zichzelf en in de groep.
Na zijn eerste coaching en een paar ontbijtsessies realiseert hij zich dat het zo niet werkt, niet voor hem en niet voor de groep, en besluit direct iets te veranderen. Hij belegt een telefonische vergadering met zijn team in het Noorden, zijn teamleden van het programma zitten eromheen en luisteren, vol verbazing en ontzag, mee. Timothy vertelt zijn mensen ongeveer het volgende: ‘Ik vertrouw jullie, jullie zijn toppers in jullie werk en ik weet dat jullie het werk aankunnen, ook zonder mij. De rest van de week ben ik er niet, neem de beslissingen die nodig zijn, ga er voor en sta voor wat je doet. Als ik terugkom is het werk gewoon gedaan en als er iets mis is gegaan kijken we samen hoe het anders had gekund’. Zijn team is trots en verheugd dat ze deze ruimte krijgen. Timothy wordt de rest van de week niet meer door hen gebeld. Hij kan zich helemaal richten op (andere) leerpunten voor zichzelf en geniet van de spiegels die hij voor krijgt.