Oregon Natural Step Network

Leadership at Work

Paul Werder, LionHeart Leadership Consulting

The Oregon Natural Step Network now has over 45 graduates of Taking Your Natural Leadership Step – many people have found this experience to be personally transformative, as well as a smart business investment. Here are two examples of leadership at work.

Alan Scott at Green Building Services began his program with an intention to expand his role from technical expert to mentor to his colleagues at GBS. He’s said he’ll never forget the “sweater demonstration” that occurred during his initial coaching session. He discovered through the coaching that he was quite reluctant to impose his expertise on his colleagues with less experience and knowledge. He knew he was doing a disservice to everyone but felt stuck. In the exercise, Alan spontaneously had to instruct Paul Werder of LionHeart, how to wear a sweater that was worn on only one arm and sideways. Paul kept insisting he knew what he was doing and didn’t need any help – subtly waiting to see if Alan could muster the assertiveness to interrupt someone obviously off track and arrogant to boot. Alan did eventually break through his “overly appropriate politeness” and got Paul to put the sweater on correctly. He later said, “I thought about that coaching moment every day for months and found it very valuable. It gave me the strength to speak directly to clients about late deliverables and renegotiate unrealistic expectations. I successfully averted losing a client during a difficult conversation when I was able to stay cool, not make excuses, and listen for what was really needed. The leadership work also gave me the confidence to become a teacher and delegator and not just a doer. This has been very important, especially through the three month period that PGE gave us to become our own business - out from under their financial safety net. It’s been an amazing journey to go from a solo contributor in a large corporation to a principle in a small business who can now coach others through conflicts.” With high demand for services offered by GBS, Alan’s strengthened leadership skills are being used daily.

Margit Bantowsky at the Washington State Department of Ecology led a cross-region, cross-agency group to run several pilot projects with small businesses interested in adding environmental considerations into Lean Manufacturing practices. Her first

pilot company saved over $1,000,000 in time, material, and environmental costs annually. What were her leadership lessons? The project's demands, complexity, and challenging team dynamics were very difficult in that key people had different ways of approaching problems and there was no formal decision making process to begin with. Margit’s tendency to over-commit, take responsibility for other people’s leadership challenges, and burn herself out all became “internal signals” that she needed to consult her highest intentions and values before taking action. She developed the ability to find a more empowering perspective in her heart and dedicated herself to using her inner wisdom to navigate through her daily challenges. Her efforts were so successful she decided to offer her own leadership training to her colleagues in the Department of Ecology which was met with an overwhelming response.

Whether you’ve taken our program or not, all leaders continuously face four big questions:

1. Can you find, trust and follow the truth in your own heart to discover your unique contribution on a daily basis?

2. Have you been able to attract a core team of inspired colleagues who share your vision and passion for change?

3. Do you have an organization with a foundation of excellence that provides you the profitability, resources and time to contribute back to the world?

4. Are you using your success and resources to enrich the world and contribute to a sustainable future?

The world is full of wealthy and famous leaders who are “getting it” and making a difference. We are grateful for all of the rest of us within The Oregon Natural Step who are also providing leadership in important ways. Thank you!