Sow the Seeds of Change Leadership in Business and at Work

During services today, our Director of Religious Education and several of our students passed out small clay balls the size of marbles to each member of the congregation containing native seeds, with the intention of re-populating / planting these seeds where native flora has been destroyed.  I loved the idea of these seed balls or dumplings, as our Director called them.

As often happens during services, I have time to think and free-associate. As we learned about the seed dumplings, I started to think about organization changes that I’ve sown and/or witnessed being sown over the course of my career:

• After learning about how being on different places on the Change Curve can create conflict, a colleague objectively and effectively responded instead of emotionally reacting to another’s emotions at work;
• Instead of reacting defensively to a room of 100+ upset stakeholders, I channeled my inner mediator and asked them what they needed;
• That being laid off, while always personally challenging,  can be an opportunity for lifting up great talent and performance, creating an opening for sponsorship and successful career pivots;
• That practicing customer delight can and will in turn sow priceless reputational currency.

What Change Leadership “seed dumplings” will you sow this week and beyond, in business and at work?