Changing Lemons into Lemonade

Someone once said that "if life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" Great advice, but in the business world, it's not always easy to do. What ingredients can be added to make lemonade out of a business challenge that often demoralizes staff and detracts from progress?

Ingredients for Progress

We recently received an email from a Pathways graduate in Europe who is in the process of "making lemonade" using some of the tools he learned in our program. This person is a top executive in a highly competitive international industry. Here's what he wrote:

"As you heard yesterday, we are in a pretty good mood, and this despite the fact that our marketing budget was recently cut. This normally would have got me on the low road for quite some while and I really see the difference simple by staying forward focused and concentrating on making the best out of a situation I can't turn back anyhow. By focusing on the positive side of the Energy Circle - concentrating on what is working well -- I get back in shape much faster and work on a better future, rather than mourning about things I couldn't avoid."

There you have it - he CHOSE to respond to the situation by focusing on possible solutions and work-arounds rather than wasting time mulling over the fact that his budget was cut. Also, imagine the model this set for his staff.

Challenging Others to Look for Solutions

This wasn't the only example my friend shared where he refused to let a difficult situation slow him - or others -- down. And here is where his leadership really shone through.

"You might remember our conversation regarding the issue I had with E just after we came back from the training and he found out our IT system logon access was dropped from 5 down to 2.

"This caused a major uproar from him and I really struggled to get him back on a high road and thinking constructively again. So what to do? First, I postponed the subject over a weekend, gave him time to cool down then I asked him for solutions. After a while he came up with the great idea to contact the supplier directly. Since he had an offer for an additional service and he wanted to link it now to the availability of 3 additional applications.

"I wanted to reinforce his change in attitude, so I emailed him: "This is a great idea, you see, there is a possible solution."

"In addition I asked him to apply Pathways principles like the 3 Conditions that Support Change when he met with the colleague responsible for this change in process, to discuss the solution in order to lay the foundation for an improved working relationship in the future.

"I arranged a meeting for a constructive solution. I couldn't attend this meeting, but he told me yesterday that everything went fine and we (both divisions) agreed on a mutual solution (his solution).

"Naturally, I congratulated him for a job well done and showed him that I'm very happy with the way he handled the case, reinforcing the Pathways teachings that there is a solution for challenges as long as we take the effort to look for it seriously. Big point for him and quite a joyful moment for me!

"I thought this should be a nice day starter for you and by writing it down, it gets me on the roll too!"

Now, this is what I call masterful leadership. My friend not only focused forward himself, but also helped a co-worker refocus on solutions also. And sharing these successes with me (and some of his team) served me and got me on a huge roll. In addition, my friend realized that sharing these successes with others also got him on a roll and reinforced his leadership skills, setting a pattern for others to follow in the future.

Where will you be making lemonade out of lemons?

(c) 2003 Pathways to Leadership, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.