How to Transform Your Workplace Experience
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Although this post is on the subject of transforming your workplace experience, I want to start off by sharing some data about money to give an idea of what’s at stake. The statistics published in Forbes magazine in January 2019 show that 78% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. According to the personal finance author and nationally syndicated talk show host, Dave Ramsey, as well as personal experience, many have simply accepted this as the norm. It has gotten to the point that most of those living on the edge are not particularly worried about it, and many aren’t even aware of how precarious their situation is until a small emergency creates a monumental catastrophe in their lives.
Similarly, there is overwhelming data that consistently shows 80% of employees are not engaged in their work, and their lack of satisfaction and enthusiasm about the work they do impacts not only their productivity, but just as importantly, their health and well-being and the quality of their relationships. Sadly, I know from my experience over the decades, having worked with thousands of people across four continents, most have accepted this monumental epidemic as the “way it’s always going to be.” They have come to believe that work is not supposed to be fun and it is normal to be stressed out and unmotivated. This is why Fridays are so celebrated while Mondays are loathed. As a society, we have simply accepted that work will always be a burden and there is nothing any of us can do to change that.
However, the truth is that things that have to be this way; in many ways, the status quo we accept when it comes to work is little more than a self-fulfilling prophecy. In fact, much of the work that I do is aimed at getting people to understand and believe that it is possible to transform their workplace experiences and that they can do it, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable barriers like an unsupportive boss or conflicting priorities and undesirable work conditions. Not only do I help people realize they can do it, I also help guide them to do so, by providing them with the tools, skills, and mindset they need to be successful.
With that said, in this post, I’d like to tell you about a couple of free resources that I have created to coach you through the process of transforming your own experience, as well as making an impact on the results and morale at your workplace.
However, I realize that while many people think “seeing is believing,” in the case of organizational or societal transformations, the reverse is true. You simply must believe before you see any sign of progress, and you must be able to walk by faith and not sight alone. Otherwise, if you don’t believe you can make progress, why would you even waste your effort and get your hopes up, knowing that it will amount to nothing?! This goes back to that self-fulfilling prophecy that keeps us stuck in the vicious cycle of disempowerment, resentment, dissatisfaction, and so on.
So, to get you into the right headspace, I’d like you to consider this excerpt from the Introduction of my book, The Transformative Leader, and consider its implications:
“Imagine a world where the workplace is a source of inspiration rather than a source of anguish and frustration. It's a place where employees experienced growth and development, and where they bring their best to work every single day. They are loyal to their employer and know that their employer cares about them as people, not just as interchangeable tools that serve particular functions; They collaborate with, and generously contribute to one another and experience an abundance of satisfaction. The team is out to win and they use guidelines and standards as a solid foundation to build on not a ceiling that inhibits their creativity and autonomy. The objectives of the employees and the employer are inseparable, so people don't have to choose between doing what is right for the company and what is good for them personally. They – employees and company— not only deliver superior results but have an inherent desire to get better that keeps them moving forward.
If all of this sounds a bit too pollyanna, or if it Sparks some cynicism in your mind, it is because the great majority of us have given up on creating such environments in our workplaces and have settled for something far less satisfying or profitable. We all want to be part of a team like that, but we often get overwhelmed at the thought of what it would take to create such a culture. We see it as the responsibility of someone else with more power than us to transform our workplace. Even those of us who take on making it happen often don't know where to start, and consequently, we quickly become overwhelmed and give up. Even if we somehow manage to overcome this personal roadblock, we may have eventually given up in the face of the organizational forced to maintain the status quo.
But what if it really could be done? What would be the benefit to the individuals and business unit? What if we figured out a way to deliver a benchmark results and have the people in our organization fired up about constantly getting better? What would happen to the profitability and productivity of the team business unit, or the company for that matter? What kind of prosperity and peace of mind would it create in the lives of the people in that workplace, their families, and acquaintances? What kind of far reaching impact with the cultivation of such workplace culture have on the economy and the well-being of a nation, and, I dare say, the world?”
If the thought of creating such a workplace culture intrigues you in any way, you are already qualified to take the first step to make it happen. You don’t have to be an expert on culture transformation to get started, and you don’t need a particular title or level of experience to begin transforming your workplace experience. All you have to do is to start with yourself and examine what is getting in the way of you being and feeling more powerful and empowered than you are today, and go from there.
I’m sure you can think of a hundred reasons why it will never happen and why it is not a good idea for you to even try. I’ve been there, believe me. But if you are willing to set aside your objections, just for now, and allow me to coach you, I’d like to share a proven methodology that I have personally used many times in my career to lead successful turnarounds for organizations across the globe. Even if it doesn’t end up working, what have you got to lose, other than stress and frustration?
While my book is obviously a resource I would encourage you to consult in your transformation journey, I’d like to introduce you to two more practical resources I have created specifically for the purpose of helping you to transform your workplace experience. Both of these are free and available to you right now so you can get started on your journey immediately. The first of these resources is my e-book which acts as a guide to transforming your workplace culture, because the fact is that you cannot transform yourself except in the course and context of transforming something outside of yourself. The second, related resource is my 5-part companion audio series, fittingly titled “Transforming Your Workplace Experience,” in which I go over and expand upon the 5 steps from the e-book, as well as provide specific examples of how I put these principles into practice and how you can do the same.
I hope that you find these resources to be useful in guiding you along your journey. We have more tools and services on the way, so be sure to follow me on LinkedIn or subscribe to my newsletter to stay up to date with our future offerings. Until then, may you boldly declare, courageously pursue, and abundantly achieve the extraordinary!
You can now listen to the new 5-part audio series, “Transforming Your Workplace Experience!" This audio series serves as both a great standalone introduction to culture transformation, as well as a companion to our previously available free culture transformation guide. In the series, I walk you through some applications and examples of the concepts presented in the guide, so that you can more effectively put them into practice and get motivated by the progress you will start making. I know that after learning and applying the concepts and distinctions that I present in the guide and audio series, you will be more qualified than ever to create extraordinary cultures that consistently deliver breakthrough results!
The Transformative Leader Audiobook is available now! I'm so excited to announce that "The Transformative Leader" on audiobook is currently on sale now exclusively on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes! The wait is over for those of you who (like me) prefer to listen to books during their commute or while exercising or simply doing things around the house! If you aren't yet a member of Audible, you can use this link (https://adbl.co/2MZWmaF) and sign up for a free 30-day trial and receive "The Transformative Leader" audiobook for free (plus one credit per month thereafter)!
About the Author: Amir Ghannad is an international keynote speaker, author of The Transformative Leader, leadership consultant, culture transformation champion, and founder of The Ghannad Group. He has made it his life's work to guide leaders and equip them with the tools, skills, and the mindset necessary to create extraordinary workplace cultures that deliver breakthrough results. Download his free e-book, titled 5 Practical Steps to Make Your Culture Transformation Stick by clicking here.
Want to learn more about how The Ghannad Group serve and guide you in your leadership development and culture transformation efforts? Click here
Want to get in touch with Amir? Email amir@theghannadgroup.com
As always, have a great week! May you Boldly Declare, Courageously Pursue, and Abundantly Achieve the Extraordinary!
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