Solving Organizational and Leadership Challenges: Is IEP the Answer?

Have you ever heard the phrase: "The problem is not the problem"??

When we meet with leaders who would like to explore ways to work together with our company, they often arrive at the meeting with the ‘problem’ they think the organization needs support with. (Sometimes they are also fairly certain that the problem will be resolved with a quick training, a 90-minute webinar, a half-day team session, or perhaps some executive coaching.)

After exploring the situation together, what we often find is that the problem they thought they had is really only a symptom of a deeper problem that is creating a systemic effect in their workplace culture.?

So the initial problem they wanted to address… is not the actual Problem.

While uncovering issues in your company can be a tricky process, the great news is that the solution to that deeper issue — the actual Problem under the problem —? is one that often addresses and resolves many challenges at the same time.

And even better news: the solution to these deeper issues is more sustainable, effective, contagious, and it benefits your workforce at work AND at home.?

An Accessible Solution to Complex Problems?

What if I told you that the proven solution for these complex problems comes down to something fairly simple, controllable, and allows for immediate and sustainable use by anyone, at any level in your company??

Imagine the “what if” possibilities…

• What if you could achieve increased ROI on training initiatives, increased quality (and conversion) of sales conversations, greater collaboration and outputs for design and innovation teams, higher retention and attraction of top talent, and supporting a workplace culture devoted to a leadership mindset, impact, and authentic engagement?
• What if your initial investments in training and development were sticky, sustainable, and had great results from the beginning? What if you didn't have to spend a ton of time, energy, and money on re-skilling, and re-training your workforce? What if your leaders embraced accountability and focused on the quality of their management skills rather than simply checking a box — or worse — weaponizing their new skills and leaving you with clean-up duties?

• What if your people talked to you (or their people leader) before they decided to leave your company, rather than disengaging and quiet quitting while they pursue other opportunities?

• What if that project hadn't gone off the rails in your last design review because people actually had the safety, courage, skills, and embodied ways of being to give honest and hard feedback that would have changed the trajectory of the result?
• What if your team, department, and company meetings were productive and purposeful, and people showed up (remote or in-person) with presence, clear about objectives, in control of their energy, and addressed any tension or disconnects in the moment so you achieve intended outcomes with speed, ease, and effect??

• What if your people experienced work in a way that didn't create a cycle of exhaustion and burnout? What if they were able to create boundaries and "work/life balance" because they were present, on purpose, and felt connected to the leaders in the organization??

What if??

Get to the Heart of the Real Problem

Imagine the impact — financial, emotional, results-wise, and culture-wise — on any and all of the above if you had a solution to tackle the deeper issues beneath these surface dynamics.??

To be clear, this is a short list... I could go on... I could easily share 50 other problems your organization is likely struggling with and trying to work around (and being exhausted by). But in working around these and neglecting the deeper issues, it’s merely a band-aid at best, whack-a-mole likely, and — at worst — doing more harm than good.?

All of the scenarios mentioned above are focused on the "doing" of leadership; the skills, the conversations, the actions. What people often think they don't have time for (or will neglect) is the "being" of leadership. But this is where the magic is; this is where the true impact is. You cannot DO leadership without tending to the BEING of it. Period.?

It's not uncommon for those working with us to start to see quick shifts —?and long-term results — in all of the above when they apply the right intentions, energy, and presence (IEP), which creates their Intentional Energetic Presence?, which enhances and creates greater positive energy in their actions and ways of working.?

The DOING vs. BEING of Leadership

Over the next several weeks I'll share more about how energy and IEP — when tended to effectively, fully, and responsibly — impacts any leadership, culture, training, innovation, people, wellness, or even "energy management" initiative you maybe working on right now.?

You'll want to pay attention here, because I really want to save you some time, energy, resources, and heart.?

For this week, here are some examples help you think about the nuance of the "being" and the "doing" of leadership, and to start building awareness if you have an opportunity to lean in with what I'm speaking to.?

Notice what comes up as you think about your organization, your team, and your own leadership — these are potential indicators you may have a problem that IEP can help solve:?

• You're spending a lot of time, energy, and money on training, but it's not having the impact you want it to have. Your people do not trust training or culture initiatives and may think your next training is just a "flavor of the month." Your people DO the skills, but they execute them in a way that makes others feel wrong, less than, or uninspired. ?
• Your people are leaving the company, and often it’s without a conversation or effort to make things right. You may be having a hard time hiring top talent because the way your people show up with incoming interviews and the recruitment process does not leave a lot of expansive, feel-good, feel-seen, feel-inspired energy in the mix.
• Your projects, meetings, Town Halls, etc. are ineffective and go off the rails, and no one is giving honest feedback or having honest conversations about why this is happening.
• Your meetings are chaotic, draining, ineffective, inefficient, go long, often have to be rescheduled, and leave people hating meetings.
• You're doing a lot of wellness stuff for your workforce and talking about how important well-being and balance is for your company, but people are still exhausted.
• Something just feels OFF on your team, in your leadership, with your company. The energy is not where you want it to be.

All of these are signs that the IEP of your leadership, workforce, and organization could likely use some love. And there is a method for that.

A New(er) Way to think About Leadership and Culture

At Active Choices, Inc., we use these questions and perspectives with our clients and potential partners to help explore strategic pathways to work together and/or invite their organization to join the Positive Energy Workplace Initiative?.

Our goal is to get to the deeper, rooted issues your company is facing so that we can help create the best ROI for optimizing your workplace culture.

Although the questions and perspectives we share might feel different/new compared to traditional approaches, our methodology is proven and has been established over more than 20 years supporting organizations of all sizes tackle the problem that is under the problem they think they have.

Tune in next week for more insights and invitations to explore these concepts!

Watch the Recording: IEP Method? Leadership Panel

We hosted an incredible Executive Panel last week where leaders In amazing companies shared their experience with IEP, the impact of the work, how they're using it, and more. It's a masterclass that even my team and I learned from watching some of the nuance and magic that happens when leaders lean in and engage with IEP and Active Choices, Inc. I hope you'll watch it, you can find it here .

Ready to get started on your journey with the IEP Method?? Here are some resources:

Contagious Culture: Show Up, Set the Tone, and Intentionally Create an Organization That Thrives (McGraw-Hill, 2015) In this book, you'll learn about energy in the organization, how to build your IEP as a leader and team, and ultimately how to build a positively contagious culture.

Contagious YOU: Unlock Your Power to Lead, Influence, and Create the Impact You Want (McGraw-Hill, 2019) After Contagious Culture, many wanted to build their leadership capacity and specifically more tools to help them strengthen their IEP and ability to navigate relationships with those who didn't think energy applied to them however were burning out their workforce. (I wrote Contagious You to support both.)

If you'd like to order either book in bulk for your team/event, contact us and we help coordinate purchase.

Our Company Culture Blindspots eBook is available for download on our website. You'll learn how to think about about the energy, intentions, and new ways to address culture.

Experiential Keynotes. Our key messages focusing on HOW YOU SHOW UP, YOU CREATE THE CULTURE, and YOUR ENERGY AND PRESENCE IS YOUR IMPACT are game changers and a great way to set the tone for any event, conference, executive retreat, or all-hands session. I am booking now for the rest of this year and dates in 2025 and 2026, so please reach out if you'd like to check availability and request our speaking packet.

Let's Connect. If you're ready to discuss bringing this methodology into your company, reach out and we'll talk . It's a great fit for innovation departments, talent, and honestly, anything performance or results-related in your company.