Radish Sprouts

Good Leadership and Science Matter in a Pandemic

In the challenging times of this pandemic, Coloradans have received the best from two leading medical doctors, both of whom happen to be female. That's why the Business and Professional Women (BPW) of Colorado just named them 2021 Women of the Year. Congratulations and thank you to:

Dr. Rachel Herlihy, MD, MPH, State Epidemiologist and Communicable Disease Branch Chief, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Dr. Herlihy is currently leading COVID-19 surveillance, case investigation, and outbreak response activities for the State of Colorado.

 

Dr. Michelle Barron, MD, Senior Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control at UCHealth. Dr. Barron has led the charge against infectious diseases including the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009 and Ebola in 2015. Since January 2020 and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has worked around the clock with fellow leaders to protect patients, staff and providers across UCHealth.

During a virtual celebration on April 28, 2021, these two medical doctors shared some important lessons learned and words of wisdom.

Dr. Herlihy shared:

	DATA DRIVES POLICY. It's a process: ask questions, go to the data, answer questions, and use this information to drive policy. We lacked a data infrastructure. We have a patchwork of systems. With funds coming in, we can build a robust informatics / data infrastructure.
	PEOPLE MATTER. This pandemic requires all hands on deck. My organization grew from 50 to 450 people in a few months. We can be very proud and trust the team. We meet every day, two times per day for 30 minutes in morning and afternoon.
	TEAMS WORK HARD. We found new leaders. We built a team, which never met face-to-face. We worked remotely and found ways to come together, communicate, and share. Together we tried to reduce the stress. Good leadership is an example.
	COLLEAGUES GAVE SUPPORT. Collaboration came from local public health leaders, Colorado School of Public Health, the Governor's Office and others in the state, and so many more.
	VACCINES ARE TO BE TRUSTED. The vaccine trials typically have three phases. To bring the COVID-19 vaccine to market faster they overlapped the phases. They did not cut corners. This approach will be used going forward.

Dr. Barron shared:

	GOOD SCIENCE MATTERS. Media wants a headline and wants you to just watch, which led to distrust of good science. Be careful of what you watch.
	HAVE CONFIDENCE. Remember FDR's quote, "There is nothing to fear, but fear itself." Imagine how the world will be if we are not afraid.
	WE KNOW ENOUGH TO HELP PEOPLE. We are more prepared than most knew. We did a lot right. Past pandemics, such as H1N1 and Ebola, taught us where to improve so we don't struggle with pandemics.
	MENTAL HEALTH IS SO IMPORTANT. We all need access to help sometimes. Debriefing on a daily basis can release what happened. When you get home, listen to your breath.
	VACCINES ARE BUILT ON DECADES OF RESEARCH. Known to colleagues as Kati, Katalin Kariko, Ph.D. has emerged as one of the heroes of COVID-19 vaccine. Her work, with her close collaborator, Dr. Drew Weissman of the University of Pennsylvania, laid the foundation for the stunningly successful vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. "Science builds on science," Kariko says. "We always built on the people who came before us, and people will use our data. Of course, everything was important that those people did. I would hug them if I could."

Conclusion

Good leadership and good science both matter during troubled times. It is a pursuit of passionate purpose. More pandemics are forecast. People and teams are important collaborators. We are preparing the data infrastructure. Lessons learned:  We know what to do, data drives policy, mental health is important, vaccines are safe and build on decades of research, and be confident,  

by Theresa M. Szczurek, Ph.D.  @2021 copyright.  All rights reserved. 

So, You Want to Get on a Board

 

Many leaders aspire to participate in the highest level of decision-making of an organization — the Board of Directors. How do you get on a Board and why would you want to serve?

What Exactly is a Board?

Board directors with a fiduciary role approve strategic plans, hire and manage the CEO, approve the budget, and set strategic direction.

As explained in Investopedia, "A board of directors, or board, is a group of people who oversee a company's management and operations to ensure the company's long-term success. They act independently of company management and day-to-day operations, and are responsible for making major decisions and providing strategic guidance."

Why Serve on a Board?

It is a means to make a meaningful difference in the world. It's an opportunity to meet and work with good people. You can utilize your talents and continue to learn. And it can be the next part of your career journey, providing credibility and pay.

Seven Tips for Starting a Board Journey

1.	START EARLY. Set a goal of 'getting on the right board' early in your career and then take action toward this end along the way. It's a process that can take time.
2.	BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE. Get clear on your values and live by them. Continue to do your job well. Build your level of experience and expertise. Step up to leadership roles. Do more than asked. Impress your peers, bosses, and competitors. Make connections with your co-workers and keep in touch over time. That engineer, sales rep, or project manager you worked with early on, may become the CEO of an organization that will need your talents and want to bring you on to her board.
3.	GET SUPPORT. Join an organization such as the Private Directors Association, which provides education, certifications, connections to others who serve on boards and to those who aspire to serve on a board. Meet others who have been successful on this journey.
4.	NETWORK and LEARN. Learn as much as you can from seasoned Board Directors. Who do you know that has been down this path? Ask for their advice. Look at their board materials. Board seats come from connections, more than online applications.
5.	PRESENT YOURSELF. Get clear on who you are and what you can offer to a Board of Directors. Boards look for certain skills and talents to fill a gap in their Board Skills Matrix. Draft a powerful biography as well as a board resume.
6.	SERVE AND CONTRIBUTE. Start by volunteering to serve on a local non-profit organization's board and expand from there to government, higher education, and for-profit corporate boards. Where is your passion? Where is your expertise? Learn how a board functions. Contribute. There are many board directors who found their first corporate board seat from a connection made on a non-profit board.
7.	GET CERTIFIED. There is a lot to learn to be a good board director. Take a course and earn a certification such as the Certificate for Private Company Governance from the Private Directors Association or the Directorship Certificate from the National Association of Corporate Directors.

My Journey

I set my goal decades ago to contribute at the highest level of decision-making on corporate boards. Throughout my career journey, I let that goal be known and I stayed open to the possibilities. Non-profit organizations asked me to serve and I said yes. I contributed, learned, made contacts, and showed others the value I bring. Then I co-founded my first entrepreneurial telecommunications firm, Radish Communications Systems, Inc. (aka Radish 1.0). One way to get on a corporate board is to start the business! This venture-backed firm grew and we found an exit six years later.

With two other tech start-ups behind me now, the latest Radish Systems, LLC (aka Radish 2.0) having just been acquired by NLX.ai, I have served on three corporate boards. When the Governor of the State of Colorado asked me to be his first Chief Information Officer and serve on his cabinet, I took a 2-year break from Radish 2.0 and did a tour of duty in the public sector. This led to serving on a government board as the Chairperson of the Statewide Internet Portal Authority and serving as a member of the Governor's Blockchain Advisory Board. And then the Governor appointed me to a Higher Education board, Western Colorado University, on which I currently serve.

Times change and my journey continues as I seek new corporate board opportunities. Continual learned is key that is why I have the Directorship Certification with the National Association of Corporate Directors.  Along the way, I'm honored to have been selected as one of the '50 Women to Watch for Boards' from 50/50 Women on Boards. And I currently serve as a board member and co-chair of Membership for the Private Directors Association of Colorado.  And, I help others on their board journey through my coaching and speaking. 

Summary

What about you? Begin your journey to serve on boards now. Don't do it alone. Be the best you can be, get support, network, learn, present, serve, and get certified. Put in the time and effort. You will find the right Board of Directors on which to serve and make a meaningful difference.

Copyright Theresa Szczurek 2024.  All rights reserved.  

5 Ways To Create a Wow! Customer Experience

 

Thanks Authority Magazine (http://www.authoritymag.co) for publishing my words of wisdom: "5 Ways To Create a Wow! Customer Experience" The interview delves into my successful career journey, from a blue-collar upbringing to a leadership role in tech and public service. Emphasizing the importance of #integrity, continuous learning, and #customerdelight, it shares humorous anecdotes and lessons learned. The interview advocates for businesses to prioritize #customerexperience through #innovation and feedback, and champion the "Pursuit of Passionate Purpose"  to achieve extraordinary success in both professional and personal life. Authority Magazine article

To The Top (part 4): Further Leadership Lessons from My Climb Up Kilimanjaro

I was on my way to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa. What other lessons would I learn going to the top? My earlier "To the Top" blogs (part 1, 2, and 3)focsu set the stage and highlighted lessons to: Clarify Your PURPOSE, Establish a PLAN, PREPARE, and CONNECT with people.

Here's more of the story and leadership lessons learned from getting To The Top as well as serving as State Chief Information Officer and being a serial technology entrepreneur. Let's talk about using these lessons to help you and your organization climb to new heights.

Lesson 6. Pursue Purpose

For most people, including me, it's close to impossible to sleep at 15,000 ft. This elevation takes its toll. Many people, especially those who have not had enough water, are feeling elevation sickness.

At midnight, after very little sleep and eating just a few biscuits, we headed out for the final leg. It would be over six hours of climbing to the top. Sure, it was a walk-up and luckily not technical climbing, yet the elevation, wind, and cold would make it more challenging. Fortunately, it was a clear night with a full moon lighting our way step-by-step up the mountain. I used these strategies:

	Be Prepared. I carried my own day pack with extra gear for the cold, plus dried apples from home for energy along with two liters of water in hard, plastic bottles. Even with our constant movement, it was frigid.
	Use a Meditative Approach. I got into the zone — step by step. I used my spirit companion as a guide, meditating on body sensations including breath, mental images, and internal talk. Breathe in, step. Breathe out, step.
	Be Clear on Your Goal. I knew from the beginning that I was going to get to the top. I wondered who else in my group would make it. The weather in the mountains usually starts clear and gets cloudy as the day progresses. The rule of thumb is to be off the mountain by noon. It became obvious to me that certain people were going too slowly to make it to the top in time.

BUSINESS LESSON. At OIT when I started, I took the organization through a strategic planning process. We discerned our core values and determined that "Innovation" was key. This value had always been there, but had not explicitly been stated. We set the goal to innovate, and through the myColorado app and many other projects we passionately pursued that purpose.

Lesson 7: Assess Progress

I assessed the situation. Our group was going slowly, too slowly to make it to the summit before bad weather moved in. When I considered my goal in comparison to my guide's responsibility to stay back with the slowest group members, I knew I had to TAKE ACTION to MAKE MID-COURSE CORRECTIONS. I spoke to my guide and said, "I'm going to the top. I don't think everyone in our group will make it. Please get me connected to another guide with a faster group." Thankfully, without argument, he quickly did just that.

Now with a new group, we were making progress to the top. Slowly, slowly (pole, pole), but not too slowly, we made our way up the mountain. Many people got sick from the elevation. There was vomit along the trail, but I wasn't distracted by that. I stayed the course. My mantra was: FOCUS, FINISH, and FLY.

It was starting to get light at 4:00 AM. This provided an opportunity to RECOGNIZE PROGRESS. We were higher than any other mountains in the distance.

We made it to 18,651 ft, Gillman's Point, at 5:30 AM. Some people stopped there. Not me. I was clear on my goal to make it to the very top. There was significant elevation gain. I was higher than I had ever been in my life. I was breathing heavily, and it was frigidly cold with fierce winds. Glad I had PACKed appropriately. I put on my warmer down jacket.

Now the going was very, very slow. Using the 'divide and conquer' approach of the Persistence Strategy from Pursuit of Passionate Purpose, I took two breaths for every one step, continuing with focused determination. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, step. The summit was in sight. Although it was less than 200 ft higher, it took over an hour to make it to Uhuru Peak at 19,340 ft.

My new group made it to the top, the first group to summit that day. We knew that we still needed to get safely back down. But first we stopped to enjoy the view, recognize our success, APPRECIATE everything it took to get here, and CELEBRATE this accomplishment in pursuing our passionate purpose.

Later, I learned that the slowest member of my original group also summitted later that morning. The lesson was, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE OTHERS who have their own passionate purpose.

The climb helped me know and nurture myself and, as a result, IGNITE my PASSIONS.

BUSINESS LESSON. How would we measure progress with Innovation at OIT? The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) had an annual innovation competition. My first year as CIO, we did not win an innovation award. I set the goal for OIT to win an innovation award the next year. We submitted the My Colorado app up against many strong contenders. There is nothing so motivating as having a clear goal and then working persistently toward it as a passionate purpose. This is a means to deliver extraordinary results. The State of Colorado won two innovation awards that year! We had reached a summit!

Applying this to you. What challenges keep you up at night and are hindering you from reaching new heights? My organization can help through coaching, speaking, consulting. and board service. Topics include strategic planning and marketing, growing sales and market share, spurring innovation, reducing risks and costs, and getting started with AI. Contact me for a complimentary exploratory discussion.

Summary

Remember, whether you're climbing a mountain or striving to perform in other aspects of your personal or business life, recognize that the journey is a pursuit of passionate purpose. The lessons learned in reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro align with the proven 4-phase Szczurek Process from Pursuit of Passionate Purpose: (1) find your passion by knowing and nurturing yourself, (2) align it with a meaningful purpose, (3) pursue it persistently with a plan and the proper people, (4) until you assess progress, make midcourse corrections, and celebrate success. You will get top results!

To The Top (part 3): Further Leadership Lessons from My Climb Up Kilimanjaro

[My porter taking a break and surveying the Horombo camp.]

My journey was underway to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa. My February and March newsletters set the stage and highlighted lessons to: (1) Clarify Your PURPOSE, (2) Establish a PLAN, (3) PREPARE, and (4) CONNECT with people.

Here's more of the story about getting To The Top, plus leadership examples from my roles as State Chief Information Officer and serial technology entrepreneur. How will you apply these principles to your life?

Lesson 5. Persist

Persistence is the act of steadily pursuing purpose despite hindrances or obstacles. The Persistence Strategy, one of the six success strategies in the Pursuit of Passionate Purpose formula, states, "Mindfully persevere with focused determination toward the goals using a divide-and-conquer approach. This brings the real rewards — tangible results, positive feedback, and a stronger self with more confidence and passion, which fuels the next pursuit stage."

Once I committed to reaching the top via the Marangu Route, my climbing team and I divided the journey into parts and conquered the whole, piece by piece. Working with unremitting will toward a portion, we continued to made progress. This progress provided a positive feedback loop.

After an easy three-hour hike from the park gate through the forest, we arrived at the first huts at 8,860 ft. This was Mandara where we spent the first night. The next day, after five hours of hiking through moorland, we reached the next set of huts, Horombo, at 12,204 ft. Because I was committed to get to the very top, I did some gentle hiking around those huts the next day and spent another night here. The following day, after another five hours of hiking through alpine desert, we reached Kibo, a stone hut at 15,446 ft.

Along the way, we learned:

	Pole Pole. The first day I charged forward fast, just like I do every day in my business life. My guide stressed going "Pole Pole" during the hike. This is the Swahili term for slowly, slowly, pronounced "po-lay po-lay." Pole pole is often used to describe a relaxed lifestyle or a "what's-the-rush" outlook on life. Yes, I realized there are many things to learn from the African culture. How can we apply this to our rushed business and personal life? If we slow down we may actually get better results faster.
	Enjoy the Journey. On the second day, I noticed my hard-working porter had stopped for a break, sitting on a rock looking toward the Horombo camp. This made me realize the wisdom to pause, take a break, and enjoy the journey.
	Bring the Right Resources. After leaving Horombo and walking toward Kibo, we came to a small stream crossing the path. It was marked "The Last Waterpoint." My porter wanted to fill and carry only one liter of water. I insisted on a second liter knowing this point was at least eight hours from the summit. I carried it.
	Keep Your Eyes on the Goal. Along the way as we conquered each part of the route, we could see Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance. It was getting bigger and bigger and we could see we were making progress. Yet, as you keep your eyes on the next part of the journey, don't be distracted. Say NO to many things in order to say YES to your goal.

BUSINESS LESSON. As the Chief Information Officer and Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT) for the State of Colorado, I set a wildly important goal for OIT to provide virtual access, anywhere anytime for people to connect to state services. We needed a platform for this digital transformation. The myColorado app became that platform.

Some big government projects are similar to climbing Kilimanjaro, challenging yet meaningful. We started part by part, with the most important capability. Digital ID, implemented first. Over time, other parts would be added to store vaccine records, insurance information, and hunting and fishing licenses. We started with Digital ID because every Coloradan could use it and it was sticky — people would keep the app on their smartphone.

We persisted. We conquered the big goal piece by piece.

Summary

Look for my next blog posting which will continue with more of the story and lessons learned on getting To The Top. (Or ask me to speak on that topic at your next meeting or conference.)

Maybe you are not finding difficulties climbing a mountain now, but what challenges keep you up at night? My organization can help through coaching and consulting. Topics include, strategic planning and marketing, growing sales and market share, spurring innovation, reducing costs, and getting started with AI. Contact me for a complimentary exploratory discussion.

Remember, whether you're climbing a mountain or striving to perform in other aspects of your personal or business life, the journey is a pursuit of passionate purpose. The lessons learned in reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro align with the proven 4-phase Szczurek Process: (1) find your passion, (2) align it with a meaningful purpose, (3) pursue it persistently with a plan and the proper people, (4) until you assess progress, make midcourse corrections, and celebrate success. You will get top results.

Theresa M. Szczurek, copyright 2024.  All Rights Reserved.

To The Top (part 2): More Leadership Lessons from my Climb up Kilimanjaro

I was going to the top of Africa to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. My last blog post set the stage and highlighted two leadership lessons: (1) Clarify Your PURPOSE and (2) establish a PLAN. Here's more of the story and other leadership lessons learned from getting To The Top as well as serving as State Chief Information Officer and being a serial technology entrepreneur. How will you apply them to your life?

Lesson 3. Prepare

Oprah Winfrey reminds us that "Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity." With the right plan in place for my 6-day trek on the Marangu Route to the top of "Kili" at 19,340 ft, it was time for more preparation. To be lucky (and make it To The Top), there are ways to prepare to pursue your passionate purpose.

My preparation started before leaving home with my exercise regimen. I hiked nearly daily. I talked to experienced mountain climbers who explained how to pack for the journey. Using the Pack Strategy, one of the six success strategies in the Pursuit of Passionate Purpose formula, I packed the essential energizers and positive forces, and unpacked hindrances and negative forces that discourage. This strategy is relevant for all life pursuits.

	Make sure you bring enough water along the way while going to the summit. This clears out the carbon dioxide and helps you stay alert so you don't get sick. Water is a source of energy.
	Bring dried apples along for the final summit day to provide a surge of energy.
	Pack lightly. Take only the essentials to lighten your load.
	My preparation also included choosing the right operator with an extra day in the schedule in order acclimatize.

BUSINESS LESSON. Success in our professional life also takes preparation. My entire career and education prepared me to serve as the Chief Information Officer of the State of Colorado. Being the Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT) was a huge and important job. It helped that I had been an engineer, product manager, management consultant and coach, 3x tech entrepreneur, author, and speaker with a proven leadership approach. It took all of this experience and my healthy lifestyle of meditating and exercising daily to keep up the pace. It paid off.

How are you preparing to meet your career opportunities? Do you have the right coach to help you along the way?

Lesson 4. Connect with People

As the Connections Strategy, one of the six success strategies in the Pursuit of Passionate Purpose formula, suggests, "It is vital to build relationships with and bring along on life's journey the proper people and support network, and lessen the impact of improper ones."

We don't get to the top alone. It takes a support team. In climbing Kilimanjaro, I had the proper guide (or coach) committed to going to the top. Additionally, I had my hard-working porter carrying my luggage (later did I learn to lighten the load), as well as the all-important cooks.

Fellow travelers came from all corners of the world. My immediate climbing team, organized by the outfitter, consisted of people from Sweden and Scotland and the USA. I remember learning to LISTEN intently around the table at dinner, as deep international accents were at times challenging to understand. It helped to RELAX and go with the flow, so I could grasp the humor and LAUGH.

We were on our way. I had the PROPER TEAM. I wondered who in this group would make it to the top?

BUSINESS LESSON. In work as in play, relationships are key. At OIT, I built a strong and diverse executive team. Diversity brings strength. To handle IT support for the 30,000 people working for the State of Colorado and for 5.8M Coloradans, we had a team of 1000 staff members and managers, as well as hundreds of independent contractors. We worked to keep all the systems operating, information flowing, and technology advancing securely. A big job!

The proper people at OIT were energizers. Counter to some perceptions, these government people were dedicated, hard-working, smart, fast-moving, and creative. They chose to work in the public sector, rather than the private sector, because it brought meaningful work. Public service is a pursuit of passionate purpose.

As in climbing, it's important to have the PROPER TEAM and to LISTEN closely to them. Learn to RELAX and LAUGH along the way so you can enjoy the journey.

Who are the important connections in your personal and professional life? Appreciate them.

Summary

Look for my next newsletter which will continue with more of the story and lessons learned on getting To The Top (or ask me to speak about "To The Top" at your next meeting or conference). How can I help you and your organization through coaching and consulting set and reach your goals?

Remember, whether you're climbing a mountain or striving to perform in other aspects of your personal or business life, recognize that the journey is a pursuit of passionate purpose. The lessons learned in reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro align with the proven 4-phase Szczurek Process: (1) find your passion, (2) align it with a meaningful purpose, (3) pursue it persistently with a plan and the proper people, (4) until you assess progress, make midcourse corrections, and celebrate success. You will get top results!

copyright Theresa M. Szczurek (c) 2024.  All rights reserved.  

To The Top (part 1): Leadership Lessons from My Climb Up Kilimanjaro

 

The summit at 19,340 ft was in sight now. After completing the last hour of persistent climbing, I breathlessly whispered, "Yes! Here is the summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa." Indeed, the Pursuit of Passionate Purpose formula helped me succeed on that five-day arduous trek, just as it had in other parts of my life. Fierce winds blew on Kili, showing how adversity surrounds us. That climb brought me insights on how to succeed in both my personal and professional life.

Lesson 1. Clarify Your Purpose

When my friends asked me to join them on their trip to climb Kilimanjaro, my purpose in going was to live true to my value — for a life lived in a joyful, passionate, optimistic state. After finishing my degree years earlier, I had promised myself I would travel to Africa to experience the animals as a reward. Yet that pledge was still unfulfilled as I was immersed in running my first tech start-up. "You promised," my heart cried out. The heart does not forget such agreements.

Now the Universe delivered the opportunity. "Yes!" my heart sang out in joy. "You will meet the gorillas, see other animals, and climb Kili too." Climbing Kilimanjaro had not been part of my original purpose, but the "Attraction Strategy" delivered it. That strategy is to hold a broad intention of what you want, be open to the possibilities, think, feel, and take action, and let go of attachment to a certain outcome.

BUSINESS LESSON. Similarly, for success at work, we need to clearly define our purpose. I recall as the Chief Information Officer of the State of Colorado, I led our organization in a strategic planning exercise. We defined the purpose of the Governor's Office of Information Technology (aka OIT) as, "Together we enhance the lives of all Coloradans."

What is your purpose? See Szczurek Success Strategies-January 2024 for more insights.

Lesson 2. Plan

A plan is a roadmap that guides you to where you want to go.

As experienced mountain climbers, my friends had a plan to summit Kili, and I was about to find out what it was. We had flown into the airport of Kilimanjaro after meeting the gorillas in Rwanda. Oh, my heart was happy. The next morning at the hotel, I learned at breakfast what they had in mind. They intended to complete the 50-mile trek and scale the mountain in 3 days, carrying their own gear and tent camping, with the right operator. This would minimize the cost.

"What? That's not going to work for me," I exclaimed in surprise. "My goal is to get to the top. I need an outfitter that can provide more support and give me more days to acclimatize!"

I knew myself and what I needed. I had not come all this way NOT to make it to the top. I was prepared to take the right action. I jumped up, checked out, took my gear, and headed on my own to find an outfitter that fit my plan. Others might have been fearful of going alone, but I had courage and found the right company. I determined that a 6-day trek, staying in huts with a rest day, and the proper support team to guide, cook, and carry my gear would give me the best chance to summit. I overhead other travelers talking about being happy if they could just reach Gilman's Point at 18,650 ft. I made it clear before I hired the outfitter that I was going to the top — Uhuru Peak at 19,340 ft. I wanted a guide and team that was committed to this goal.

BUSINESS LESSON. At OIT, as with all the departments working under Governor Polis, we developed an annual plan with clear metrics. OIT's Wildly Important Passionate Purpose (WIPP) was Customer Delight. The customers in this case included the 17 agencies that served the people of Colorado. Using The 4 Disciplines of Execution, we set three WIGS or Wildly Important Goals. These provided the roadmap to success.

Summary

Look for the next post for more of the story and lessons learned on getting To The Top.  Better yet, ask me to speak at your next meeting or conference.  

Whether you're climbing a mountain or striving to perform in other aspects of your personal or business life, consider it a pursuit of passionate purpose. The lessons learned in reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro align with the proven 4-phase Szczurek Process: (1) find your passion, (2) align it with a meaningful purpose, (3) pursue it persistently with a plan and the proper people. Then, (4) assess progress, make midcourse corrections, and get to the top. You'll make it!

 

copyright 2024 Theresa M. Szczurek.  All rights reserved.  

Clarify Purpose and Inspire Greatness

Elizabeth Zott in Lessons in Chemistry lived her purpose, no matter what.

 

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, "roughly 85% of 1,000 U.S. professionals polled in a new LinkedIn survey say they are thinking about changing jobs this year, up from 67% a year earlier." WOW! In the past, that percentage has hovered between 50-60%.

Those employees, who are a critical resource in their firm, are obviously not inspired by their work or the benefits they're receiving. The firms themselves are losing an important competitive advantage when their people aren't engaged or motivated in a common purpose. What is that purpose and why isn't it inspiring employees?

Definition of Purpose

Merriam Webster defines purpose as the reason why something is done or used, the aim or intention of something. Purpose encompasses a range of aspirations, from a grand reason for living to narrow objectives. Purpose is used interchangeably with the terms aim, target, goal, and intention.

There is a human need for purpose. In Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl, Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, discovered that purpose gives people a will to stay alive. He reports, "Man actually needs the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him." Kenneth Thomas, in Intrinsic Motivation at Work, says, "We seem to need to see ourselves as going somewhere — as being on a journey in pursuit of a significant purpose.

What Is Core Purpose?

"Core purpose is the organization's fundamental reason for being. An effective purpose reflects the importance people attach to the company's work. It captures the soul of the organization," say James Collins and Jerry Porras in Built to Last. "Purpose should not be confused with specific goals or business strategies. Whereas you might achieve a goal or complete a strategy, you cannot fulfill a purpose; it is like a guiding star on the horizon — forever pursued, but never reached."

Purpose is the WHY a firm exists. It's not simply to make money or to increase shareholder value. Those are important goals but not the purpose. Consider these organizational examples of core purpose:

	Disney - Make people happy
	U.S. Health and Human Services Department - Improve the health, safety, and well-being of Americans
	3M Company - Solve unsolved problems innovatively
	Girl Scouts - Build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place
	State of Colorado, Office of Information Technology - Together we enhance the lives of all Coloradans

Radish Systems, the technology venture I co-founded with Richard A. Davis, has an important purpose: to fundamentally improve the way people communicate with businesses. Learn more.

My Story. I am a catalyst in helping organizations and leaders contribute and deliver extraordinary results. I have led firms, both large and small, in public and private sector, and their leaders in their strategic thinking process. The result is clarity on values, vision, purpose as well as a 1-page strategic plan. Think of me and let me help you define and deliver results toward your core purpose.

Purpose Improves Business Performance

"A key role of core purpose is to guide and inspire," say Collins and Porras. When a firm has an inspiring purpose, people are drawn to work for the firm. The best and the brightest want to be involved. Rather than be itchy to leave, they want to stay, be engaged, and contribute to their fullest. People get a sense of meaningfulness from their work. According to Kenneth Thomas, work that delivers a high level of choice, competency, progress, and meaningfulness leads to intrinsic motivation which leads to high levels of engagement, fun, retention, and results.

A participant in my Pursuit of Passionate Purpose research study, Don Vanlandingham, the retired chairman and CEO of Ball Aerospace, said, "Ball Aerospace combines meaningful work with passionate people. A lot of our people would work even if we didn't pay them." What Don was saying is that Ball's purpose made a positive difference on Ball's culture and inspired their people.

Why Passionate Purpose?

Opportunities surround us, but you must open your eyes to see them. When preparation meets opportunities, you will find your purpose. When you align that purpose with your passion, you will find your passionate purpose. A passionate purpose is a goal or intention pursued with great enthusiasm, interest, zeal, and/or passion. The conclusion of my research, published in Pursuit of Passionate Purpose, is: "The pursuit of passionate purpose, as well as its attainment, and connections along the way bring the real rewards of life."

Practical Pointers for Purpose — Organizations and Individuals

1.	PREPARE. Purpose comes when preparation meets the possibilities. Nurture yourself and your passions by continuing to learn, grow, and trying new things. Do things that will build your true self. Be action-oriented.
2.	ASK WHY. Consider using the Five Why Method to know your purpose and why to pursue it.
3.	ASK HOW. How does pursuing this purpose bring meaning to your life?
4.	CLARIFY YOUR PURPOSE. I recently met Kevin McCarthy, author of The On-Purpose Person. He offers this approach.
5.	COMMIT TO YOUR PURPOSE.

Summary

Purpose is the fundamental reason for being. As Viktor Frankl states, "There is a human need for purpose." Both organizations and individuals have a "why they exist." Prepare, ask why, ask how, get clear, and commit to your purpose!

 

copyright 2024 Theresa Szczurek, all rights reserved.

credit for photo

Change or Die

 

(quote by Heraclitus, image by:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/534732155728795869/

 

We are surrounded by change. It is the one constant in life. Driving through the Colorado mountains to Gunnison for a Board of Trustees meeting at Western Colorado University, I see aspen trees bursting out in glorious gold — this shows the change of seasons. My daughter just got married — there is change in her life and mine. When I meditate, I am mindful of the flow of sensations — here is evidence of the impermanence of life. One of the companies with which I'm affiliated was just acquired — there is change in my professional life and in that organization. Change is all around us. How do you manage it?

What Is Change?

Change is transition. It is defined as the act or instance of making or becoming different.

Practical Pointers for Effectively Managing Change

Social Change Theory developed by Kurt Lewin in the 1940s offers a useful approach to understanding and managing change. I have put it to work in all aspects of my life, especially organizational change.

Here is a quick overview. First, represent the situation as a field of forces. There are positive forces encouraging movement to the desired state and there are restraining forces holding movement back.

Then, to change the situation and the force field, use Lewin's three steps to unfreeze, change, and refreeze. "First you must melt the ice to make it amenable to change (unfreeze). Then you must mold the iced water into the shape you want (change). Finally, you must solidify the new shape (refreeze)." Further details from Lewin's model are below.

1.	UNFREEZE. Understand why the change needs to occur. State the vision of the outcome. Articulate a clear message.
2.	CHANGE. Realign the force field by decreasing or removing the forces restraining the shift. If possible, turn the negative forces into positive forces. Then increase forces encouraging the change. "Look for new ways to do things. People need to understand how it will benefit them. Time and communication are the two keys to the changes occurring successfully. People need time to understand the changes, and they also need to feel highly connected to the organization throughout the transition period. That means answering questions openly and honestly, dealing with problems immediately, and relating the need for change back to operational necessities. You can also empower your people by involving them in the process, where appropriate. Also, have line managers provide day-to-day direction. Where possible, generate short-term wins to reinforce the change."
3.	REFREEZE. "The outward signs of the refreeze are a stable organization chart, consistent job descriptions, and so on, making sure that the changes are used all the time, and that they are incorporated into everyday business. As part of the refreezing process, make sure that you celebrate the success of the change — this helps people to find closure, to thank them for enduring a painful time, and to help them believe that future change will be successful."

My Story

When we were building our first tech venture, Radish Communications Systems (aka Radish 1.0), we applied Lewin's change model. We had introduced our VoiceView product and made the first big sale, but we realized we were not going to get to our financial goals. Change was needed. We conducted a force field analysis of the situation. While there were positive forces encouraging companies to buy and implement Radish's 'voice with visual exchange' solution (such as improved understanding, reduced time to transact business, and improved user experience), there were strong negative forces holding companies back (users needed new hardware and software on both sides of a phone call, there were no standards, and there was uncertainty if our company would survive).

So we changed our business model to realign the forces. We were fortunate to attract a significant partner, Microsoft, to embed our software in the Windows operating system and modem partners (representing 90% of the worlds' chip, modem, and PC shipments) to embed our hardware in their off-the-shelf devices. With these powerful partners, we removed the negative forces and our solution became the defacto standard for voice / data communications over standard telephone lines. Remarkable!

Summary

Change is inevitable. How to manage it? Use Kurt Lewin's change management model. Recognize there is a field of forces holding the situation in its current state. Unfreeze the situation, make change happen by realigning the forces, and then refreeze. The result can be fast and smooth change leading to a stable outcome.

copyright Theresa Szczurek 2023

Turn Dreadful Meetings into Joyful Ones.

When was the last time you were in a well run meeting? Did you feel good, energized, inspired, productive, connected, focused, on purpose, and happy you attended? Oh joy! Now think of meetings you've attended that are a waste of everyone's time. Did you feel distracted, bored, lethargic, frustrated, impatient, and unvalued as time was wasted. Oh dread! Time, time, time. It is one of our most precious resources. Yet more times than not, we suffer through inefficient gatherings that don't accomplish a worthwhile goal. It's time to revolt against dreadful meetings and turn them into joyful experiences. How?

What Is a Meeting?

According to Wikipedia, a meeting is "a gathering of two or more people that has been convened for the purpose of achieving a common goal." There are many types of meetings, from large to small, short to long, formal to informal. Let's talk here about work meetings which can be board meetings, management meetings, team meetings, staff meetings, kickoff meetings, project meetings, stand-ups, huddles, and more. The location can range from in-person to remote to hybrid, where participants can be either on-site or virtual. They can take place at all different times of the day.

My Story

Similar to what many of you find in your work, I participate in numerous meetings. As a trained meeting facilitator and certified management consultant, it can be frustrating for me when I'm not running the meeting and it runs amuck. Oh my! I recall a recent meeting, where speakers ran on and on, and important business — scheduled later on the agenda — was neglected because we ran out of time. In another meeting, there didn't seem to be any agenda, skilled facilitation, or time limit. As a result, certain people dominated the discussion. What to do?

Practical Pointers

Here are a few guidelines for making work meetings more worthwhile for everyone. Depending on the type of meeting, they may not all apply in your situation.

1.	CLARIFY PURPOSE. Establish the purpose of the meeting. What do you want to accomplish? Is there an envisioned outcome? Sometimes it's better not to have a group meeting at all, but rather meet one-on-one with people. Do we really need to have a meeting?
2.	ESTABLISH AN AGENDA. Create a list of items to be discussed. Keep the agenda short. Allocate time per agenda item rather than the meeting length. Send out the agenda with the meeting notice so that people can come prepared. Clarify what work should be completed before the meeting and brought in.
3.	CREATE THE INVITATION LIST. Who is critical or required to be at the meeting? Who is optional? Don't invite everyone — just those that contribute to the purpose and have a role. Keep the invite list small.
4.	GIVE NOTICE. Send out a meeting invite. Get the meeting on the calendar. Some meetings require a certain amount of notice.
5.	START ON TIME. End on time. This shows respect for the people attending.
6.	PREPARE. Come in with your thoughts. In order to save time during the meeting, you might send questions and comments ahead of time.
7.	FACILITATE. Appoint a facilitator. That person doesn't necessarily need to be the CEO or the Chairperson. Ask if it's okay to share facilitation responsibility. If sharing that role works, then take responsibility to contribute and keep the meeting on track and help the facilitator. Gather the energy of the people into this space and time. Keep the meeting moving. Ensure that everyone gets a chance to contribute. Pass the ball to someone else to share. Summarize a discussion topic and then move on to the next agenda item.
8.	AGREE ON RULES OF ORDER. Do you use Roberts Rules of Order? It's perhaps the most widely known set of rules offered to facilitate and manage meetings. Sometimes a simplified set of rules is more appropriate. That's why Colorado local governments, for example, established Bob's Rules of Order.
9.	COMMUNICATE CLEARLY. Gather your thoughts before speaking. Summarize your points.
10.	SET A TIMER. Have a person who keeps track of time and will alert the facilitator to move on. This person can be a big help to the chairperson or facilitator.
11.	RECORD. Appoint someone to take notes and document the important decisions made and next steps. Who will distribute them?
12.	EVALUATE. In some way, gather feedback on how the meeting went and what can be done to improve it. How are people feeling at the end? Use these inputs to turn dreadful meetings into joyful gatherings.
13.	OPTIMIZE CADENCE. What regular meetings do you have and how often do they convene? Verne Harnish in his book, Rockefeller Habits, says "To make more than just a lot of noise in your business, you've got to have rhythm. And the faster you want to grow, the faster you have to pulse. At the heart of executive team performance is a rhythm of tightly run daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual huddles and meetings — all of which happen as scheduled, without fail, with specific agendas."

Summary

Let's work together to turn dreadful meetings into joyful experiences. If a meeting is needed, follow the practical pointers above. Steve Jobs would agree. The results are better meetings, greater productivity, and more fun!

 

copyright Theresa Szczurek 2023.  All rights reserved.  

Feel free to share, but please leave the  credits to the author, Theresa Szczurek

Accessibility Matters

Is your business and your technology accessible? Accessibility is a hot topic. So much so that the State of Colorado legislature passed and Governor Polis signed HB21-1110 into law in 2021. Most all accessibility guidelines relate to web content or documents. They assume people will start at a website. But what about people who start with a phone call? Learn more in this newsletter.

CODA won the best picture Oscar in 2022. The acronym CODA means 'child of deaf adult.' This touching movie raises awareness of the challenges faced by people with hearing disabilities, as well as CODA family members. The question we need to ask is, what are we doing to support people with hearing loss or other disabilities, and improve their accessibility?

Why Should You Care?

	NEGATIVE IMPACT. Hearing loss has been shown to negatively impact nearly every dimension of the human experience, including physical health, emotional and mental health, perceptions of mental acuity, social skills, family relationships, and self esteem, as well as work and school performance.
	FINANCIAL IMPACT. Those with unaided hearing loss earned on average $20,000 less annually than those who used hearing aids or cochlear implants.
	PEOPLE IMPACT. About 15% of the world's population, or over 1 billion people, live with some form of disability, of whom 2-4% experience significant difficulties in functioning. They are the world's largest minority.
	IT'S THE LAW. U.S laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), require that accommodations be made to improve accessibility to those with hearing and other disabilities. In Colorado, HB21-1110 makes it a state civil rights violation for a government agency to exclude people with disabilities from receiving services or benefits because of lack of accessibility. All state agencies and local governments must be compliant with state standards by July 1, 2024. The United Nations adopted in 2006 a Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

Practical Pointers for Coping with Hearing Loss

	GET EDUCATED. Learn about hearing loss and other disabilities and what you can do to accommodate the situation.
	SEEK MEDICAL HELP and get tested. People with hearing loss wait an average of 7 years before seeking help.
	COPE AND SUPPORT. The Mayo Clinic offers tips to help you communicate more easily despite your hearing loss. Tell your friends and family that you have some hearing loss. Position yourself to hear by facing the person you’re talking to. Turn off background noise. For example, noise from a television may interfere with conversation. See the complete list.
	TURN ON CAPTIONS. During virtual meetings and while watching TV, turn on captioning so audio is represented in text format. In this way, people can leverage visual as well as audible information sources.
	TAKE ACTION. Government and businesses must consider the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide technological and other solutions that can help people accommodate hearing loss.
	USE 'VOICE WITH VISUALS' COMMUNICATIONS. According to Dr. John Medina, author of Brain Rules, when you see and hear information you are 600% more likely to understand. Radish System's ChoiceView® addresses this market with a new kind of voice-and-visual phone call positioned between a voice-only call and a videoconference. ChoiceView improves phone accessibility for users with sensory, cognitive, or mobility disabilities. It helps businesses make and save money while preserving compatibility with their existing phone systems. ChoiceView provides a realistic alternative for users who want to reach businesses via a phone call but need to engage beyond voice only. Learn more.

Summary

Accessibility matters. Over 1 billion people in the world live with disability. You should care because of the large negative impact on people and the economy and because it's now the law. Use these tips: get educated, seek medical help, cope, provide support, and take action. Consider how to expand from voice-only to 'voice with visuals' communications.

Theresa M. Szczurek  copyright 2022.  All rights reserved.