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TEAM WORK EXCELLENCE

Skills, Tools, and More to Improve Leaders, Teams, and Cultures

Navigating the Energy Transition: Balancing Instinct and Innovation In Executive Teams

9/8/2023

 
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Observations
​As the energy sector experiences a paradigm shift, executive teams face unprecedented challenges. These aren't just strategic. Leaders themselves can experience the fear or apathy associated with challenges and change coming from all directions.

The need for an entrepreneurial mindset is evident, but the change also breeds apprehension. Is it wise to rely on instincts honed in a past era of abundance and success? The answer is a nuanced "yes". But can we trust our leaders intuition? Or do our instincts need recalibration? Failing to do this can paralyze decisions makers.

The good news: we can sort this out - but it requires openness and vulnerability - properly structured conversations can help us make this process safe. It is not intuitive. Read through to the end to discover what you can do about it.

The Evolving Energy Ecosystem and a Conundrum of Tradition
Emerging technologies in renewable energy and sequestration are rapidly altering the landscape. Established companies must not only adapt but become agile players. To do this effectively, marrying data-driven strategies with well-honed instincts can offer an insightful narrative that fosters optimized decision-making.

Leaders are grappling with a disconcerting reality: the instincts that once provided a stable foundation now seem less relevant. But should these be entirely disregarded? No. The challenge is to blend old-world wisdom with new-age strategies through a dialogue-centered approach, enabling actionable insights.

There is an urgency for large organizations to rekindle an entrepreneurial mindset:
  1. Adaptability: Agility is key to quickly adjust to new opportunities and challenges.
  2. Data-Driven Decisions: Marrying intuition with data can create a balanced roadmap for action.
  3. Calculated Risk-taking: Your intuitive grasp of the market can be validated through frameworks that encourage thoughtful discussion.
  4. Innovation and Growth Culture: Creativity underpinned by evaluation enables seamless adaptability.

Leaders, Intuition, and the Team Dynamic in Uncertain Times
Old rules are changing, but core leadership competencies remain invaluable. This duality can be managed by trusting your gut while also embracing a culture that values communication as a tool for making sense of uncertainty.

As we navigate uncharted waters, we may feel unqualified. Trust in one’s intuition and others' judgment wanes.

To combat this we have to have suffcient fluency in the structures of belief and emotion that steer our thoughts. If we can understand what internal tensions exist, and that we have choice, we can confront challenges that may seem nebulous. Once we're able to see our place on the innovation horizon, we can navigate the nebulous effectively. We can give ourselves permission to take calculated risk, and trust our instincts and subconscious. For decision makers this helps alleviate the need for data (that may not exist) and experts (that are learning as they go, too.)

Why 'Learning to Learn' Matters to the Bottom Line
In a fast-changing sector, the ability to continuously update skills and knowledge is vital. Old methods may offer a foundation, but openness to new learning experiences can be facilitated through candid, peer-to-peer conversations.

​But more importantly, navigating these complex times requires a surety of self, and a kindness towards our own thought process. The knowns of yesterday were comfortable. We are simply not approaching the unknowns of today - where agility and innovation are essential from a blank page. So a developed practice of listening to our intuition, and then decide if we must pause to adapt or trust in tried-and-true instincts will be the difference between a leader who can navigate decisions quickly - and move when there is no perfect answer. They will be easier on themselves, easier on the team, and more likely to find a way through first... rather than waiting for the answer.

My Parting Thought.
It can't be understated that today's energy transition continues to disrupt. It has laid bare just how comfortable and complacent many had come. It also shows us that leaders we thought were original and first-movers were actually traveling very deep tracks that had been cut by previous generations.

Today the path forward involves a balancing act between intuition and innovation. Leaders who can embrace the uncertainty and adventure see which intrinsic strengths they can leverage in new ways, and which asumptions to throw away, will find that they become experts and leaders. They will have a clearer compass move forward, and a foundational trust in self needed to change at a pace that the world requires.

Lead On!
Tim

#management
#leadership
#entrepreneurship
#energytransformation
#innovation
Leader and Team Actions Checklist
  1. Re-establish Trust: Encourage open dialogue to validate intuitions and judgments.
  2. Embrace Adaptability: Create a culture that values new perspectives while honoring existing expertise.
  3. Promote Data & Dialogue: Utilize frameworks that support marrying data-driven decisions with gut instincts.
  4. Prioritize Fluency of Self: Acknowledge that change includes both functional and emotional components during times of change - for ourselves and those we lead.
​Mindset:
Navigating the modern energy sector's complexities demands a balanced approach. It's about being agile, innovative, and re-establishing trust in your instincts. The future is navigable, especially when equipped with the right tools—old and new— for open dialogue and actionable insights.

Career Leadership - How do you Compare?

12/13/2017

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TWE "Performance Horror Stories"  #3

10/22/2017

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Trick or Treat!  Here is the third of these halloween graphics for you to share. 

Every day, from now until Halloween, I'll add one of these light-hearted "movie poster performance moments".  These are based on real-world issues that TWE clients have overcome.  Perhaps you'll find one familiar.

I hope you have some serious-fun with these.

<< Previous
Next>>


Best,
​Tim
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TWE "Performance Horror Stories"  #2

10/21/2017

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Trick or Treat! We're having some fun here at TWE.  Here is the second of these halloween graphics for you to share. 

Everyday, from now until Halloween, I'm going to upload one of these light-hearted performance moments wrapped up in a movie poster.  I hope will help you start a conversation at your weekly meeting..  (Share any insights in the comments!)

I hope you have some serious-fun with these.

<<Previous

Next>>

Best,
​Tim
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1/10 TWE "Performance Horror Stories"

10/20/2017

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Trick or Treat! We're having some fun here at TWE.  Here is a very real issue to share and discuss with your staff and colleagues. 

Everyday, from now until Halloween, I'm going to upload one of these performance moments for you to share.  I'd like to challenge you to start a conversation on this issue and gauge how you're team is doing.  (Share any insights in the comments!)

I hope you have some serious-fun with these.

​Next>>

Best,
​Tim
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Be a Clear Leader: Don't Confuse Your Staff

10/12/2017

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If we are to improve, we have to be ok with failure (preferably small and controlled failure). It is equally important that we send and receive clear, consistent feedback of when we're winning or losing. We often seek to protect others by softening the sting of getting it wrong - this confuses staff and hampers progress. Be kind, direct and consistent with staff and they'll be better able to fulfil your vision and innovate successfully.
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Here's a couple of ways you can use TWE graphics:
  • Share over social media to make a statement to your peers.
  • Use to kick off a meeting as a quick performance moment.
  • Stimulate a conversation with a team that needs a shake-up.
  • Use it as a cool tattoo.
However you choose to use it, we hope it's helpful.

To receive more fun and inspiring quotes and other tools to help you develop a high-performance culture, be sure to join the TWE tribe by clicking here or using the form on the sidebar>>>

Best,
Tim
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A "Secret Weapon" for Your Next Presentation

10/11/2017

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Over the years, there have been a few tools that I have worked with that have proved invaluable. I tend to go back to these "golden" tools again, and again, and again. When I share these tools with clients, they find them useful, and I look like a hero.
 
This is one of those tools.
 
The Periodic Table of Visualization Methods, designed by Ralph Lengler & Martin J. Eppler at the Institute of Corporate Communication, University of Lugano, Switzerland, classifies visualization methods so those trying to tell a story graphically choose a framework to display your data.
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​I am constantly surprised that despite being around for over ten years now, how many people have not heard of it. I shared it again this morning, and I figure it's high-time I do my part to spread the word.  I have no affiliation with the Visual Literacy Project, but I am a fan. It has helped me professionally, I hope it helps you.
 
The Periodic Table of Visualization helps you decide on an ideal graphic based on their subject, goal, and the needs of the audience:
  1. Are we displaying a STRUCTURE or a PROCESS?
  2. Is our goal to give an OVERVIEW, DETAIL, or BOTH?
  3. Finally, are we trying to inspire DIVERGENT or CONVERGENT thinking?
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Using the Periodic Table of Visualization Methods will not only stimulate ideas on how to best visualize the story you want to tell, but it helps you to pause and consider what you are trying to convey through the presentation. That will help you stay on message and build a common understanding with your audience.
 
Save this link to your favourites, and have fun using this tool over and over.

Best,
​Tim
Here is a link to the interactive Periodic Table of Visualization at Visual-Literacy.org
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If today you suck not, suck tomorrow - you will.

10/17/2016

 
Performance Moments Begin Meetings With and Incorporate Into Employee Coaching and Training.  Leadership Skills and Business Learning and Development Material Focused on Performance.
The stats say if your performance doesn’t suck today, it likely will tomorrow.
In the middle of a downturn, it's easy to blame the economic environment for our performance woes... and it's easier than you might think to unwittingly encourage a culture of complacency.
Here are a few of points to consider.
  • In 2013 over 40% of businesses indicated complacency over performance was an issue and this percentage is rising.
  • In 2014, Engagement is rising among the lowest performers.
  • Meanwhile, Engagement is falling among the best and brightest.
When engagement is high, and performance remains low – complacency has set in.  When people have drank this Kool-Aid, it becomes increasingly difficult for even the best leaders to bring positive change.

Only by maintaining a factual perspective can everyone see there is a problem. Teams must set meaningful targets and make those intensely personal for each person.
In a Yoda-esque statement, former CEO, and chairman of the board of Intel Corporation, Andy Grove said, “Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive.”  Leaders must remain ever vigilant.
"Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive." 
-Andy Grove, former CEO and Chairman, Intel 
Complacency is the result of inaction by leadership; and inaction is a choice
"Do. Or do not. There is no try." 
-Yoda, Jedi Master 
Low performers are complacent because they are allowed to perceive they are succeeding at something. I consistently come across performance issues which are rooted in leadership not holding everyone to a “standard of success” based on the creation of real value.
The good news... it can be prevented, and it can be reversed.

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