Where the magic happens ...

I recently had a conversation with some of our leaders in the CEETRIS area - a great opportunity to connect with people in a number of countries I don't get to visit often.

I just thought I'd share some of our discussion here as a hopefully useful reminder to people at all levels of any organization.

If you step in - don't forget to step out. 

During the course of the pandemic, one thing I have continued to be impressed by is the way in which colleagues have sprung to action in service of society - taking big and bold decisions to do what is needed by customers, healthcare systems and patients, without worrying about hierarchy and going up the chain for approvals.

That said, there have of course been moments when my leadership team and I have had to dive in at an operational level to remove barriers and drive progress. And that was great when the crisis initially hit, for example; but fast forward to last week and we belatedly realized that once you're in something, it's easy to forget to step out. Six to eight weeks ago we should have switched gears again to revert to being more active coaches and catalysts, not controllers.

Aim for something special, not success. 

If we look at effective leaders, and frankly people who are making a difference at any level, it simply comes down to the desire to do something great, something that is meaningful, or even just beautiful. 

I am sure everyone can relate to a moment when they had the opportunity to be part of something really special. Early in my career I can remember being a part of a team helping a family get a medicine for their child, which they did not think they could get - and just seeing the look on the parents’ faces and going into a weekend with that image on my mind has forever stuck with me. Things like that are really special.

I have been working for nearly 30 years and mention it because especially in my early career I think I was often more interested in success rather than in doing something beautiful. However, I have noticed that if you have a team full of people who are all aiming to do something great, you get one dynamic. If you have a room full of people who are all trying to be successful, you get a very different dynamic. It is just a reminder for all of us that when we can put aside that question of personal success and aim for something of beauty, making something work or delivering something that seemed impossible, that is where the magic really happens.