Chapter 13 - Sundials in the Shade

NOVEMBER 6, 2011

Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade."  - Benjamin Franklin

Talent unused is talent wasted.

It is a tragic loss for all concerned, the company, the manager, and the employee.

Getting from "here" to "there" has always been a difficult process to describe.

How do you help someone realize their goals without their cooperation? Simply put:You can't.

Instead, you can teach them techniques that allow them to step into a newer, more successful future; and one that is personalized just for them.

The concept of future pacing was first described by researchers from a branch of psychology known as NLP (neuro-linguistic programming). More recently, some business consultants have employed the same techniques, but used a different term "back casting"

No matter what you call it, it works something like this:

• What did you do to get where you are?

• What did you do differently?

• What did you not do?

• What did you choose to ignore?

Sounds simple, doesn't it? But unless we are able to get everyone to "buy in" to the company's vision of the future, we will have a rough stretch of road ahead.

In a very real sense, our success will largely depend upon the ability to lead employees and clients to outcomes (goals) they would never have imagined for themselves.