The Halpin Step Up or Step Out Program

For the past year I’ve shared my thoughts with you via The Halpinion. I have focused my thoughts primarily on how you, as a strategic leader, can help others quickly gain clarity about their strengths, their roles, their motivations, and your expectations. This increased clarity very often results in people stepping up, feeling encouraged, feeling empowered and engaging in new ways in the workplace - or self-selecting out by having wonderful job opportunities in Toledo, Ohio.

In this issue of The Halpinion, I would like to focus on the benefits of putting ourselves on the Step Up or Step Out Program. During these tumultuous times, each one of us can benefit from a more assertive and more effective approach to business continuation. I am confident that all of us can arrive at the other end of this recession with a greater market share, increased revenues and a stronger, more cohesive team. In order to achieve this we must grow ourselves to grow our market share, our companies, our portfolios, our cash flow and our profitability.

1.) Take full responsibility for your current level of results.

a.) Remove any regret or resentment about team members’ impact on your results, the current economic conditions, your company’s financial condition, etc.

b.) Continually ask yourself, “What is the growth opportunity for me at this time? What life lessons am I not getting?”

2.) Ask yourself: “Am I currently in a role that is in alignment with my strengths?”
3.) Who on my team is not currently in a role that is in alignment with their strengths?

a.) Is there another role for each of these team members that would be in greater alignment with their strengths where they would add more value?

4.) Where as a team have we not been successful?

a.) What role have I played in this current situation?

b.) Have I unintentionally sabotaged our team efforts by holding on to a sacred cow, sending mixed messages or not communicating fully?

c.) What have been the consequences for individual team members for this lack of success?

In order to grow ourselves, we must continually put ourselves into a state of introspection so that we can ‘connect the dots.’ This could be a walk, a hike, some airplane time or even some think time in your study at home or in your office behind closed doors. When you can create this experience, here are some questions to ask yourself.

Reflection

Strategic Leaders will utilize the Halpin Step Up or Step Out Program for themselves. Here are two questions for your 'think time.'

1. What beliefs, attitudes, judgments or perspectives do I hold that I will be required to shift in order to grow myself and thereby grow my team and my company?

2. What support structures will I need to sustain these shifts?