by Caroline Leach | Apr 8, 2016 | Change, Learning, Work/Life
Once habits become part of a daily routine, they become a catalyst for other changes and function as the calm in the midst of a storm.
Habits can be a grounding a comforting force that enable you to navigate the really big changes in life. Maybe it’s a new career, evolving family relationships or a change in your health.
This became clear to me during this week’s road trip visiting colleges with my daughter. Although we’re in a place where in theory I should be right at home, I feel a bit out of my element.
Last night we took a dusk-to-dark drive along a beautiful yet desolate stretch of California’s Highway 1. We thought it would be fun to experience it. Even after a Google search surfaced something about a “devil’s slide,” we decided to go for it.
Yet the experience felt felt cold and foreboding at that time of day. The Pacific Ocean was more grey and angry looking than I’m used to seeing.
Maybe it was the absence of many other people and the familiarity of city life and civilization that felt different. If something happened to our car or if nature really asserted herself, could we handle it?
Surely we could. We know we can handle anything that comes our way. We can figure it out.
And seemingly a few minutes later we were steps from Union Square, checking into a boutique hotel. Being there re-energized us.
Yet as lovely (and trendy) as it was, I didn’t feel comfortable. I didn’t feel at home. That pushed me to remember that there are things to be discovered, learned and observed everywhere you go. You don’t have to be in your comfort zone to do it.
Part of that realization came from finding solace in the familiarity of my daily dozen. Writing my morning pages, getting some exercise and doing 10 minutes of Spanish calmed me down.
These are things I do each day, regardless of where I am or what else is happening. Doing them made me forget my unfamiliar surroundings. And even better, it moved me closer to my goals.
When it feels like everything around you is changing, it’s easier to be flexible and agile by staying grounded in a set of daily habits. Not to mention feeling healthier, more rested and better able to not only navigate change but to reap the benefits of it.
by Caroline Leach | Apr 7, 2016 | Learning, Work/Life
Even when life doesn’t work out exactly as you planned, there is tremendous joy to be found.
My daughter and I discovered it today on a road trip through Northern California. She says it’s not a road trip because we flew from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Having driven more than 150 miles today, though, it’s a road trip in my book.
We’re visiting the two colleges she’ll choose between this month. There have certainly been twists and turns of unexpected developments. And surely there will be several more before the May 1 deadline to decide.
In the meantime, today was near perfect. There were several hours of talking, laughing and exploring with my daughter. There was a college visit, complete with surprises of its own. There was an alternate route to our home away from home, exploring some surprisingly desolate areas of the California coast.
And it’s a full circle and a homecoming of sorts for me, since my life began in the San Francisco Bay area. My mom’s side of the family came here well over 100 years ago.
Back to the present, it’s day 7 of my April adventure. Even in that short time I can feel the perfectionist tendencies giving way to the stronger desire to achieve this month’s goals. There’s more of a willingness to lean into the messiness of life, if it means I can hit my goal to do my daily dozen.
It happened last night with a civic committee I serve on in my town. A few minutes before the meeting began, I was asked if I’d mind chairing it.
Of course I could do that. Why? Because these last few days I’ve found I can get highly creative and do anything necessary to accomplish my most important goals.
By the end of the month, my hypothesis is two-fold. First, that I’ll have established a half-dozen new habits. Second, that a “most days” approach will work better than an “every day” approach for my daily dozen. Some days I have work commitments that run well into the evening, or a community meeting at night or a family member who wants to spend more time together.
Underlying all of this, though, is an undeniable truth. The power of small steps is starting to create bigger changes.
by Caroline Leach | Apr 6, 2016 | Change, Learning
Will you sprint, stroll or stumble into a career?
That’s the question a New York Times article posed this week. It coincided with my 17-year service anniversary at my employer. So it got me thinking about my own career entry. I revisited my 20s, with its 5 employers and 2 career paths.
Near the end of that decade I landed my first job in my dream field of corporate communications. A few years later, a serendipitous connection through a professional association brought me to my current employer.
It was a thrill to make the leap from the aerospace industry into entertainment and technology at DIRECTV. It had been in business for 5 years, with just over 1,000 employees in 2 locations serving 5 million customers. With a career change already under my belt, I was sure this transition would be just as seamless.
That’s where I was wrong. At the end of my first week on the job, I was convinced I’d made a big mistake. The company had all the upside and downside of being in a startup stage.
But I couldn’t quit after only a week. So I decided I could do it for a year. Then I could reassess the situation and move on.
But something about the company grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I hired my first team member. And then another. I took on another function. And then another. It was and is a world of endless possibilities.
Reflecting on that time, there are a few obvious benefits. They start with building deep knowledge of the business and how it all works together to deliver on the company’s vision. Extensive networks get built over time, making it easier to know who to contact for what and how to get things done.
Well beyond that, unique experiences have brought growth and opportunity.
Working with an amazing boss today and 6 great former bosses has broadened my perspective, leadership capabilities and professional network.
Experiencing 5 different owners demonstrated the value of flexibility and agility. The best came last with AT&T’s acquisition of DIRECTV in 2015.
Working with 6 successive CEOs on corporate and executive communications during dramatic change in the company and the industry was a tremendous learning opportunity.
Starting as an individual contributor and building a team in Corporate Communications was a life-changing experience. I’m proud of the work we did together to achieve record levels of employee engagement and be recognized in The Civic 50 as one of the most community-minded companies in America.
As the company grew from a startup to the Fortune 100 and well beyond, it’s continued to be a world of possibility. My recent career pivot from corporate communications into marketing is a testament to that.
Yet navigating a career ultimately isn’t about the decision to stay put or move. It’s about ensuring there’s learning and growth wherever you are.
by Caroline Leach | Apr 5, 2016 | Learning, Marketing & Analytics
When I started my learning project, the plan was to alternate posts between learning how to learn and learning more about data science.
A data review would show I’ve focused too much on the former and not enough on the latter. The data-driven conclusion? It’s time to shift the balance.
As I’ve worked in a new role the last 6 months focusing on marketing analytics, I’ve drawn heavily on my academic background. There’s economics with its emphasis on statistics and communications management with its reliance on research.
My professional experience is key, too. Leading an employee engagement survey strategy for several years and conducting corporate communications surveys has helped tremendously.
It’s fascinating how many parallels exist between seemingly disparate areas. And problem solving and team leadership are often similar from function to function.
One of the skills I’ve needed to sharpen is thinking critically about data measurements. I’m learning to ask better questions. And I’m learning to anticipate questions from colleagues on how data was collected and analyzed.
Harvard Business Review is a valuable resource in generating good questions – from branding to market insights and from big data to the customer experience.
A March 2016 article by Thomas C. Redman – 4 Steps to Thinking Critically About Data Measurements – gives great tips on asking good questions about data. Here’s a short summary:
- How does the actual measurement line up with what you want to know? Ask yourself if the measures are good surrogates for what you really want to know. Redman advises to “distinguish ‘pretty close’ from ‘a good-enough indicator’ to ‘not what I had in mind.'” If you’re settling for something less than perfect, you should be aware of it.
- What do you want to know? Clarify what you want to know. This is similar to asking, “what problem are we trying to solve?” It’s also important to make sure all stakeholders are aligned on the exact nature and outcomes of the measurement process.
- What are weaknesses in the measurement process? Here Redman advises a thorough understanding of the entire data collection process. He suggests listening to customer calls if you’re measuring customer complaints or going to a factory if you’re measuring factory productivity. This helps to “develop a feel for the weak links.”
- Have you subjected results to the “smell test”? If results don’t seem right to you, based on other knowledge you have, dig into them. If results come in much better or worse than expected, consider the possibility of bad measurement and investigate further.
Thank you, Thomas Redman, for a few simple litmus tests to think more critically about data.
by Caroline Leach | Apr 4, 2016 | Change, Learning
Can anything we do be a metaphor for change? What can we learn about change by trying something new? And what is taking up a new sport teaching me about change?
Here are a few parallels between stand-up paddle boarding and navigating change – whether it’s a corporate change initiative, of which I’ve led many, or a change in your family life.
Lean into it. The further forward you lean and put your paddle into the water, the faster you can go. Don’t hold back. Jump into it. Thank you, Sheryl Sandberg, for the universal truth about leaning in.
Stay grounded, yet flexible. When you attempt to hang on for dear life, ironically you make yourself more vulnerable. I had to consciously tell myself to relax and roll with it when a boat left a big wake or when we hit the open ocean for the first time.
Get more involved for more control. This is about putting your paddle deeper into the water It’s a stabilizing move. Who would have thought that steadiness could be found in the water. It’s the counterintuitive things in life that often work.
Try new things and see what happens. What happens if I lean slightly to one side or the other? Paddle backward? Try to turn faster? The only way I’ll know is by trying.
Keep pushing yourself by taking small steps on a consistent basis. Last time out my husband, Kevin, and I reached the end of the rocks in the marina and peered beyond, to see how we could navigate the open ocean. Take small steps – or paddles, in this case – to see what can be learned and then course correct.
This time, the water was relatively flat, so we ventured beyond the rocks. It wasn’t easy figuring out how to navigate, but we tried it.
Even on a “calm” day with 3- to 4-foot surf, it was a lot harder than gliding across the calm waters in the marina. And next time, we’ll go further. Maybe early in the morning, when it’s really calm (e.g., flat).
Enjoy the change of scenery. It’s great to be outdoors. Even in the fog, which is invigorating. Not to mention the terrific feeling of being physically tired at the end of the day. It felt like we’d worked hard and earned a good night of rest.
Notice what’s around you. Boats heading into the Santa Monica Bay. Seals relaxing on a barge. A duck paddling by. That reminded me of the serenity that shows on the surface, with legs likely paddling frenetically below. Just like what we humans do every day. Especially during times of change.
Enjoy the company of others. This is fun family time with my spouse. We’re learning something new together. We laugh about our silly moves as we’re getting up to speed. We’re a team. And we look forward to it every weekend.
Stay calm when crisis looms. As we were coming in for the day, I found myself heading straight for a docked boat. What was the worst thing that could have happened? Running into the boat and falling into the water.
I tried turning. Didn’t happen fast enough. Three more feet and I’d hit it. Finally I remembered about sticking the paddle straight in the water and paddling backwards. I didn’t go quite in the direction I intended, but I did manage to reverse course and avoid hitting the boat.
Don’t be afraid to fail. In paddle boarding, that means falling into the water. Assuming you know how to swim, what’s the worst thing that could happen? You get a little wet or a little cold. Easily survivable. And the learning? Priceless.
Use snippets of time to your advantage. I drafted this post as Kevin was driving us home from the marina. Going mobile is a time hack that will make it possible to blog daily for a month.
Mahalo.
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