How Care & Growth has Affected My Outlook with My Team

I run the training division for Sage Alchemex.  A lovely, close-knit company that really cares about their employees – even though we are ultimately part of a large, international company.

I have always considered myself to be a caring, people’s person. My team come first and I treat them with respect and concern – as I should.

However – after going through the Care and Growth process – I realised several things.

1. Accountability

I don’t hold people accountable enough.  I am too nice.  I realised that not only will holding them accountable help them grow – it will help me grow too.  People want the discipline and want to know where they are going wrong in order to grow.  And I don’t want them to just grow – I want them to thrive with leadership and help.  Just like I want to thrive – with leadership and help from my line manager.

2. My Benevolent Intent

I have also learnt that when going into a meeting – especially a difficult one – I have to get my intent right.  I ask myself:  Why am I having this meeting? What do I want to get out of it?  I make sure I listen to what is being said without judgement or preconceived ideas.  Listen then analyse – don’t spend time preparing what to say until you know what is actually being said.

3. I am only in control of what I give.

So important.  I cannot control what I get – this is so obvious and so true – yet I never realised it.  I wonder how much time us as humans spend – chasing things we cannot get because we don’t control them.  Focusing on what I give has changed my outlook on life.  It has brought me peace knowing what I can and can’t control.

4. Watching the game.

The importance of just quietly observing my colleagues and staff has made me aware of what’s going on around me.  Its amazing what I have learnt just spending time doing this.  My team is so important to me and spending time just quietly observing them has allowed me to observe, advise and guide with the proper intent and also become aware of great capabilities and how much they go over and above what they need to do.  As a result of this – for the first time since I am here – one of my team has won a prestigious award.  She did something so out of her line of work, outside of her responsibility and without a 2^nd thought to how much harder it is for her to do it – and I noticed.  So powerful.

Overall the Care and Growth model has taught me a lot.  It has allowed me to take a step back in some places and to walk forward in others.  I feel so grateful that I have been allowed the opportunity to participate and will always use this in my professional and personal life.