Challenging the Process in a Virtual World
Meet Alan Lyme, LISW
Alan is a Certified Master Trainer for The Leadership Challenge. He writes to us from his home in Greenville, South Carolina, where he endeavors to continue serving in a much-changed world. Here are his thoughts today:
“In the practice of Challenge The Process, we are encouraged to “search for opportunities by seizing the initiative and by looking outward for innovative ways to improve”. Today’s pandemic has thrust us all into a Challenge The Process world in which everything has changed. As a trainer and coach, my world has been turned upside down, as have the lives of everyone on the planet. In looking for a path forward, even as we are in survival mode, Jim and Barry’s 30 LPI behaviors (from their Leadership Practices Inventory) shine out like beacons of hope through the dark night.
How do these six behaviors resonate for you in your new reality?
3. Seeks out challenging opportunities to test his/her own skills and abilities
8. Challenges people to try out new and innovative ways to do their work
13. Actively searches for innovative ways to improve what we do
18. Asks “What can we learn?” when things don’t go as expected
23. Identifies measurable milestones that keep projects moving forward
28. Takes initiative in anticipating and responding to change
I was reminded of every one of these behaviors last week as I prepared for my first webinar on Zoom. If my work was to continue then doing so ‘virtually’ was the only way forward (28). It was certainly new for me (6) and I saw it as a challenging opportunity (3) that definitely tested my skills and abilities. I spent a day researching the best platform to meet my needs (13), even creating a green screen for my background (thanks YouTube!). I then mapped out a path for learning as much as I could (23) and took notes on the glitches that happened during the inaugural webinar (18).
I will continue to develop my virtual skills in order to be as useful as possible
My challenge to each of you is to use these behaviors (to say nothing of the other 24 in the LPI!) as templates to help you navigate this current upheaval and move into the future. Let’s keep adapting and adjusting so we can
keep serving and loving!
In service, Alan Lyme, LISW”