Transforming the ELT: Through Infrastructure - Defining Your Cockpit Culture
Gretchen Reid
CEO, Integrated Growth | developing leaders, mobilizing teams, and transforming organizations across healthcare, wellness, outdoor recreation, travel & hospitality, and public services.
A Note from Our Founder
Synchronicity is everywhere if you simply choose to be open to it, see it, and invite it in.
This past week on my flight to Arizona to visit my folks, I was lucky enough to be seated in the emergency exit row. Upon taking my seat, I reflected on the article we were writing for this month’s newsletter. I quickly reached for the job aid that was in my seat pocket and studied the door, picturing how I would execute my responsibilities in the case of an emergency landing. Turning to my right, I engaged the person sitting next to me, asking, “Have you read the instructions?”.
That began a two-hour long conversation that lasted from takeoff to landing (not my usual MO). Without going into detail, we covered a lot of ground…. literally and figuratively. It turns out we live near each other, know the same people, and yes, talked about infrastructure in his growing business — exploring how too much of it slows progress and inhibits effective execution, and how the right infrastructure can nurture innovation and true industry transformation.
Read on for our thoughts on how infrastructure can be key to your success!?
In your corner,
Gretchen
Transforming the ELT (Part 3 of 5): Through INFRASTRUCTURE
On a clear day, January 15, 2009, Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger and crew, including First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, prepared for a routine flight from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina. In the cabin, passengers settled in — parents pulled out crayons for their kids, and business travelers prepped for meetings. However, this flight was destined to be anything but routine.?
Two minutes after takeoff, the plane struck a flock of Canadian geese, causing both engines to fail. With no time to return to LaGuardia or reach another airport, Sully made a calculated decision to land on the Hudson River. In an extraordinary feat, they safely ditched the plane on the icy waters. Some passengers and crew sustained serious injuries, but all 155 people on board survived, rescued by nearby boats. This event became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson,” showcasing a team and systems operating at the highest level.
Was the landing truly a miracle, though? Read more about how effective infrastructure can transform your leadership team.
Team Member Spotlight: Saul Herbert
I remember my first unchaperoned backpacking trip more clearly than I remember graduating from college – my dad’s old Jansport external frame backpack, 1970’s yellow, loaded with 75 pounds of foolishly selected gear. My friend and I headed out on a 22-mile, high-altitude loop that started in Snowmass, Colorado, and ended in Redstone. Dehydration, exhaustion, self-loathing, and then triumph. It was awful and wonderful, just like many of the challenges of running a successful business.
Over the years, I've adapted as a leader in small and large retail, the building industry, auto repair, and more, all the while keeping the lessons that first “adult” backpacking trip taught me about being prepared and properly supported. Even when overseeing hundreds of locations across the entire North American continent, I consistently questioned why we did things the way we did, and how we could adapt (not just accept things as they were) to ensure that our resources, playbooks, and personnel development supported the whole team.
Whether as an employee or a consultant on a project, building the infrastructure that is necessary to help organizations adapt and thrive has been something I've focused on for years. In a world where lives are defined by highlight reels on social media, we now have a workforce that wants to be heard and, perhaps more importantly, seen for their contributions at every level and in every role. A leader's ability to adapt and meet the needs of this new workforce – whether learned on a trail or through mentorship in the business world – has become the most critical skill for businesses that want to thrive in the years to come. Ensuring the infrastructure is in place to both support this shift and give people what they need to truly succeed must be a top focus for every organization's leadership team.
Saul Herbert is a Human Resources, Learning & Development, and Operations expert with a passion for transforming workplaces into thriving, people-centered communities. He is proud to partner with Integrated Growth to help organizations create environments that foster collaboration, energize teams, elevate performance, and deliver results.
Tool: Initiative Design Document
Moving High Level Strategy to Initiative Design
This tool is intended to provide space to help you think through a new idea, concept, innovation or strategic initiative in order to test and present your thoughts as a step toward implementation.
In the spirit of creating sound infrastructure to support a cohesive, high-functioning team, we hope this tool helps lay a strong foundation for any new venture your team might be considering.
New Leader Integration
Set New Leaders up for Success
As executives are placed in new roles, there is immeasurable benefit to conducting a New Leader Integration Process that allows for the direct report team and new leader to lay the foundation for success in an accelerated fashion. This process propels the leader and team through the stages of team development more rapidly toward high performance. The impact of a New Leader Integration has a direct ROI on new leader and team member retention, employee engagement, performance and productivity, and bottom-line results.
Outcomes of the New Leader Integration
领英推荐
Are you leading a new team?
Take Our Assessment
How’s your team doing?
Ready to challenge how conducive your leadership team’s infrastructure is to operating as a true Enterprise Leadership Team? The following assessment is a great place to start (rate all statements on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree)).
And stay tuned as we continue our deep dive into building a true Enterprise Leadership Team using the elements of our proprietary PRIDE Model, focusing on one driver each month.
Next month’s article will focus on how Dynamics and the connection between your most important assets — your people — help build a strong foundation for any team.
Don't Forget - A Special Offer!
97% of our business comes from referrals. To show our appreciation, we're offering a special referral program through the month of January!
Refer a qualified lead and receive a complimentary 1-hour Executive Coaching session ($500 value!) When your referral becomes a paid client, you'll also receive a?2-hour virtual Team Coaching session for up to 8 team members ($4,500 value!)
Ready to help your network while boosting your own team's performance? Give the gift of Integrated Growth!Simply email a warm introduction to [email protected]. Feel free to send us a direct message with any questions you may have! Referrals must be made by January 31, 2025.
Featured Articles
Transforming the ELT: An Introductory Overview (Integrated Growth)
Transforming the ELT (Part 1 of 5): Through PURPOSE (Integrated Growth)
Transforming the ELT (Part 2 of 5): Through ROLES (Integrated Growth)
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Integrated Growth has been developing leaders, mobilizing teams, and transforming organizations since 1998. Founded by Gretchen Reid, their team of highly skilled consultants and executive coaches are known for building award winning leadership development programs, facilitating strategic planning and team development initiatives, and providing executive coaching to help you achieve your greatest mission. We invite you to schedule a free consultation or visit www.integratedgrowth.com for more information.
High Performing Teams | New Products | Medical Devices | Project Leadership | Optimizer | PMP | CSM
1 个月Gretchen Reid way to help us learn lessons from that event that we can take back to our "day jobs". Thanks for giving me an opportunity to contribute to the wonderful work at Integrated Growth, Inc.
Talent Development, HR, & Operations Leader | Driving People & Culture Excellence | Private, Corporate, & Private Equity | Seeking Opportunities - Open to Work
1 个月Gretchen Reid, thanks very much for letting me contribute to this topic. It's always a pleasure partnering with you and the Integrated Growth, Inc. team!