As I prepared to write this summary of my journey I had a
very difficult time trying to find a starting point. I truly did not want to revisit the individual I was when this
adventure started. It is amazing to me
just how complicated I had made my own life.
The hole I had dug for myself was deep and slippery and I saw no way to
climb out. If I had only known the ride
I was in for!
I decided a good way to get started on this summary would
be to review the journals I had prepared from August 30th to October
19th. I tried to find common
themes from the journal, both the positive and the negative issues I was
dealing with. What I found through
reviewing the journals was that the words, thoughts and emotions contained
within were the result of my desire to make significant changes in my
life. I came to understand that those
changes would involve not only my fellow employees, but also my family and
friends. I needed to be in agreement
with my professional life as well as my personal life.
When GTM first started the CTRG program, I participated
from an attitude of “this will be great for others, but I don’t need this
stuff.” I didn’t buy into the concepts
that were being presented. “The person
is more important than what they do” was not a principal I could easily
understand. I have always felt that
what I did defined who I was. I did not
apply the concept of the “individual”.
As my journey progressed I learned that the concept really meant that by
recognizing the individual for who they were, what their abilities are, how
they perform, what motivates them, and how they learn is more important than
what they produce. By tailoring my
involvement with the individual based on these concepts I can make their work
experience rewarding by helping them to grow with confidence and pride in their
achievements. The results are
self-producing in an environment where the worker is more important than the
work. I have learned to balance the
individuals’ needs with the Company’s goals.
I think my greatest flaw at the time I started this
journey was that I had a goal I wanted to reach and was going to do everything
I could to reach it. I saw mistakes by
others as a direct attack to my goal. I
approached everything from a standpoint of how would this affect me and how do
I benefit from it. If I saw
self-preservation in something I participated wholeheartedly, if I saw an
obstacle or conflict, I deflected it away from me. This thought process perpetuated my negative attitude towards
others. The significant change in my
thinking comes from the belief that how I affect the success of others through
my insuring their success guaranties my success. I look at my role not from a standpoint of “Ruler” but from one of “servant”. How can I best serve the individuals in my
care? How do I insure their success
regardless of the cost to me? My
answer to these questions is to bring consistency and patience into all my
dealings with people. To see things
from the eyes of the individual, to base results on their success. If the employees respect me and look to me
for direction, then I need to own their respect and honor their needs as
employees and people. I need to
concentrate on how to motivate them to solve problems and less on why there is
a problem. I own the problems and
challenges of not only my department, but of all I come in contact with if I
truly want the success of others. If I
educate instead of dictate I can help all individuals reach their potential. In so doing I create a win/win situation and
we all celebrate the success.
I have brought sincerity to my want for change and for my
participation in the success of others.
Sincerity was lacking in my motivation prior to this journey. People in my life now know that they can
deal with me openly and honestly with no hidden agendas. I have seen the results first hand in both
my work environment and in my personal life.
Relationships are now based on trust and respect for the individual and
not on what benefit to me does the individual offer.
I have received a tremendous amount of support in this
journey. I thank all involved for the
respect they have offered me. This has
allowed me to be as honest with myself as I needed to be. Personal growth means change, change means
pain. “No gain without pain”. The investment made in me, and the benefits
I have realized from the changes in my life, I can’t repay. I truly enjoy my life so much more today
than when this journey started.
If I had to summarize my change in thinking to one
sentence it would be; lead from a position of service to others, being a good
steward of their talents.
“Please keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all
times”. What a ride!
Thank you
Mark Hayes
Operations Manager
GTM Stores