Pathmakers Inc., Author at Pathmakers

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There is just not enough time in the day…

If we had magical powers and could extend the day to 26 hours, would we have enough time to get everything done? We tend to argue that we would fill up those two extra hours with new to-dos and there still wouldn’t be “enough time in the day”. But, we are open to opinions.

Instead of wishing for an extended day or waiting for our magical powers to appear, maybe we could explore ways to be more intentional with the hours we have. Here are a few things we have been thinking about at Pathmakers…

Is it time to explore with your team things that you can “start, stop and continue”? How could you be more efficient? What tasks could you eliminate? What is a good use of your time?
Can you intentionally ask your team for new and innovative ways to do what you do?
Can you find 2-3 things that you currently do that you could coach another person to do? Maybe you could provide them with an opportunity for growth and development.
Could you stop multi-tasking (yes, you read that right)? Being present not only helps you establish connection with and commitment to others, it also assures that you are hearing what is being said and understanding the decisions that are being made in a conversation/meeting.
Could you practice having direct conversations and encourage others to do the same? This will eliminate time spent in meetings after meetings, questioning or making assumptions about what others said, and worrying about situations.
Could you try more face-to-face conversations instead of back-and-forth email for extended periods of time?
Would short, regular (daily, weekly, monthly) meetings with your direct reports create increased communication and efficiency?
Are there things you should be saying “no” to instead of continuing to say “yes”?
Would it be beneficial for you to set aside a specific time each day to work on your goals and set priorities to help manage your time and talent better?

When you hear yourself saying “I just don’t have enough time in my day,” we encourage you to take a step back, challenge yourself, and read the questions above. Start with identifying one way in which you can create more time in your day…without finding any “magical” hours.

We at Pathmakers believe the old adage of “curiosity killed the cat” is overused and superfluous. Dr. Seuss was a master of curiosity. If you are not curious by nature or don’t always take the time to be curious, we suggest you jump-start your curiosity crusade by doing the following:

Ask questions. It’s that easy. Dig one step deeper by asking who, what, when, where, how or why.

Simple, right? Well, let’s go even further…

Consider going even deeper in your conversations with others. Most of us stay surface during interactions with others. We spend most of our time interacting around issues, tasks, results and facts because it feels safe and it’s how we believe we add value. Try going deeper to unleash the true potential and impact you can have on one another by addressing fears, beliefs, judgments and emotions. It goes back to the “why” question. “Why do you feel that way?” or “Help me understand where this belief began.” Asking deeper questions like this builds authentic, committed relationships and high-performance teams by bringing root issues and concerns to the surface.

Lastly, but most importantly…

Listen. Set aside your cell phone, computer and any other distractions. Be present and focused on the people you are talking with and what they are saying. Once you start asking the important questions, you will want to hear the answers!

Curiosity requires courage. The courage to ask “why” and be genuinely interested in what lies beneath the surface. Being curious helps you understand people better by recognizing and appreciating their needs more clearly. It grows your relationships exponentially.

Channel your inner child, be curious like Dr. Seuss or Curious George and start asking more questions!

“Good teams become great when the members trust each other enough to surrender the me for the we.”

–Phil Jackson

As leaders, we know just how important it is to develop teams by providing leadership, development, motivation, inspiration, challenge and vision. During times of change and uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to build that sense of team and create energy and interaction on the team. We need to lead by example, showing vulnerability and supporting team members, honoring their feelings and fostering a sense of togetherness.

Now is a great time for you to take the opportunity to explore where your team is and determine what additional support they may need from you as their leader. Here are some things for you to consider:

What are the behaviors that help you identify if your team is a “me” or a “we’?
What are the strengths of your team? How have you grown together?
Are there areas in which you’ve slid backwards? If so, how can you rebuild those areas?
Is there a high level of trust on the team? What are the behaviors that demonstrate that?
Do team members feel connected with each other? (Don’t assume connection because of interactions you may have seen, really ask the question to get a true understanding.)
Do team members seem to be thinking cross-functionally or do you see evidence of them being siloed?
Are the decisions they are making reinforce the shared vision of the organization?

In creating team, t’s important to meet your team where they are and provide a plan with actionable items to develop and build their evolution so they can progress and stay focused on what matters.

Whether you are in the early stages of development, rebuilding, or your team is thriving, Pathmakers can help you cultivate a team centered around trust and invested relationships; one that lives and breathes your culture and values and drives sustainable results.

This webinar presented by the Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce is with our President/CEO, Thom Cody, and Executive Leadership Coach, Beth Mendoza. The webinar discusses an overview of the Change Process, how to chart the path to a New Normal workplace after the Covid19 pandemic, and getting your leaders back in sync after dealing with challenge and adversity.

During the Safer at Home order the last couple of months, we at Pathmakers have made some discoveries about ourselves, our families, our team and our organization. We encourage you to take some time to reflect on the discoveries that you have made with your team and in your organization. It’s helpful to use an appreciative perspective when you are identifying these discoveries. Take time to look at what really worked and where your team and organization shined. When you focus more on the areas of success, you will bring more success.

We have outlined some questions below to help you uncover some of these discoveries.

Identifying discoveries on your team:

What are the hidden strengths you have uncovered on your team?
What key insights have you discovered?
Are there any blind spots that you have discovered and could close the gap on?
How do you use what you learned to plan for the future?
Who on your team have emerged as leaders? How are you going to help them continue to learn, grow and build their leadership?

Identifying discoveries in your organization:

What have you come to learn about your organization and your industry that you didn’t know before?
What did you discover that your organization could do, or do differently, that you didn’t know your organization could do?
What areas were you able to be agile and flexible, adapting quickly to change?
How did you sustain your culture? How did you live and breathe your organizational values?

Pathmakers is your partner in creating a thriving leadership structure and culture to help you capitalize on these discoveries and so much more. We would love to hear from you and work with your organization’s leaders. Contact us today!

As a leader, you are receiving new information and communication daily. You are learning important facts and information about COVID19 and about individual and collective responses. You are leading in an ever-changing environment.

Additionally, you may be learning how to work and learn from home together, finding new ways to socialize from a distance, and seeing the creativity of others through art project ideas, scavenger hunts, and hilarious memes.

Here are a few practical things you can do to help stay connected and communicate through these times of uncertainty.

Bring the calm: While the world is rapidly responding to regular changes, calming yourself and remaining calm will serve to help you, your family and the team you lead. The feelings and emotions you share with others are taken on by them. Providing a calm presence will help them to remain calm. Now would be a good time to practice breathing and meditation, get fresh air by going outside or opening a door or window, and limiting negativity and depressing news.
Set a regular communication cadence: It’s important for all of us to continue a schedule and have communication expectations in our lives. As a leader, communicating often and setting clear expectations of your team is important for you and them. Having 1-2 scheduled check-in times each day (using Zoom, Microsoft Teams or some other virtual app) will allow you to talk about what you plan to accomplish/ have accomplished, resources that you have or need, and things that went well or you are thankful for each day.

Don’t forget, this communication cadence includes socializing with friends and family each day. Setting regular times to socialize gives everyone something to look forward to and creates connectivity with one another.

Create an environment of understanding around work-at-home dynamics: While some of you may have worked from home in the past, it was likely not under the same set of circumstances we are experiencing today. For many of you, it’s the first time you have young children who either can’t go to daycare or are attempting online schooling. For others, you may have spouses working from home who don’t typically. You may have pets that want in on your conference calls. Whatever the circumstances, it’s important to give each other grace during this time. Don’t expect perfection. Trust and know that your teammates are doing everything they can to keep work and home running smoothly. Enjoy this personal side of the teammates you work so hard with every day.
Keep it real: As a leader, it’s so important for you to set the tone and keep things as real as possible. Encourage “face-to-face” time via video conferencing. Share your morning coffee or virtual time at the water cooler.

We at Pathmakers are doing our best to keep it real by sharing our dogs and kids on conference calls and sending one another funny memes and videos to share the love and laughter. We challenge each of you to communicate and create relatedness and certainty for one another.

By Jennifer Anderson

We work with countless amazing leaders every day at Pathmakers and it got me thinking about some of the bosses I have had in my life. I’ve been really blessed to have crossed paths with so many passionate leaders who have fueled my work-life with patience, respect, positivity, empowerment, courage and character. Don’t get me wrong, I have had a couple stinkers in there too. But in thinking back, one of my favorites, one who really inspired me, was the man who taught me selflessness.

It was my first real job.

I was young. It was my first real job out of college, and I was struggling in my role. I knew it was not the right fit for me or what I aspired to do. Oh, I faked it pretty well and I could have continued enduring each day while searching fervently for something else, but that didn’t feel right. I felt guilty, like I was doing him and his company a disservice by staying. My husband thought I was crazy to say anything (he thought I’d get fired on the spot), but I decided to go to my leader, the owner of the company, and spill my guts.

I couldn’t have gotten a more kind, caring reaction if I had been talking to my parents. He was saddened at how I was feeling and wanted to make it better, but not for himself or the company. This selfless leader wanted to make it better for me. At least that’s how I viewed it. He offered to send me to classes. He offered to mentor me or bring someone in who could mentor me. I was shocked…and so honored that he wanted to invest that much in me.

I never forgot his compassion and selflessness.

Ultimately, I had to turn down his offer, as I knew that classes or mentoring were not what I needed at that time. It was simply that the role wasn’t the right fit for me and there were no other roles in the company that fit into my goals. But I never forgot that compassionate, serving soul who made me feel valued, invested in, and confident that I could do anything I set my mind to. And I know for a fact that the next in that role killed it because she was given the proper tools and investment to make her successful. Plus, she had a pretty great guy for a boss.

I have since had several roles that have fulfilled my life and passions in different ways. I continue to absorb what I can each and every day and just enjoy where I am. And I can only hope that I am practicing the same selflessness he taught me so many years ago.

By Beth Mendoza

I don’t know about you, but this year I am going to be healthier. This year I am going to work out… eat more fruits and vegetables… run a marathon… hit my ideal weight. This year.

Sound familiar? Right now, many of you are creating New Year’s resolutions. Maybe you are contemplating a workplace resolution for 2020. Did you know that one of the biggest challenges for businesses (in 2020) continues to be creating a living and sustainable company culture?

Creating a healthier lifestyle and creating a living, sustainable workplace culture are actually very comparable. If you want to live a healthier lifestyle, you have to make time to work out daily, not just the first two weeks in January. The same can be said about creating a living, sustainable culture. It takes years to create the culture you want; you must create sustainability and live your culture daily. One manager training session will not do it. And, just like with your health, it only takes a few bad choices to slide downward. It may take only a few decisions to transform your culture in the wrong direction.

Some essentials to living healthy include fueling, exercising, connection (with family and/or friends) and positive thinking. Likewise, essentials to a healthy culture are comparable and include Fueling Knowledge through Communication, Exercising Decisiveness, Creating Connection with Others and Setting a Positive Course.

Fuel Knowledge through Communication: It is essential to communicate often with employees and be transparent in your communication. Share information with employees in an authentic way, tying your message to the values that drive your culture.

Exercise Decisiveness – It is important to make timely decisions, at the right level, that align with your organizational values. This alignment helps create repetition of the culture you are building for your employees and customers alike.

Create Connection with Others – You need to not only understand yourself, but also those around you and the system you are a part of. You have great opportunity to both influence the system and be influenced by it. By choosing to form connection with your coworkers and create community, you can influence the livelihood and sustainability of the culture.

Set a Positive Course – The CEO and Executive Leadership Team create the culture and have the ability to create a positive one. So, it is important for you to show up, be present, and live your values each and every day. You manifest what you focus on as a leader; it is important to be positive and stay focused on what your organization values.

As you ring in 2020, consider hitting refresh and finding one thing you can focus on to breathe life and sustainability into your organizational culture. This can help to ensure your healthy culture lives on year after year. And, as a bonus it may help you and all of your employees create a healthier lifestyle!

By Beth Mendoza

So many things can be said about change, but rarely can we say that change is beautiful as we are going through it. We can usually look back and see the beauty in change; however, during the change we see the struggle, chaos, imperfection, tension and confusion.

On rare occasions we get to see the beauty during the change and transition. I recently had an experience with that as I transitioned to Pathmakers, Inc. after 20 years with a previous employer. While the idea of making this change was at times overwhelming and a little scary, the experience itself has been wonderful.

From the moment I met the Pathmakers team, I felt a sense of comfort and growth. The comfort came from the warm welcome, the genuine care for me as a person, the thoughtful interactions and responses, and of course the heartfelt hugs. The growth came from participating in the Pathmakers’ process, the willingness of the team to invest in me as a person, the daily challenges to be my best, and laughing and sharing laughter. The Pathmakers people and the culture we create mindfully each and every day is one that encourages healthy change. So, it is fitting that the change felt beautiful even as I was experiencing it.

While there are so many things I could highlight about my transition to the Pathmakers family, I want to highlight one – authenticity. This group is truly the most authentic group of people I have worked with. I believe their authenticity comes from their love for others and their desire to help people see their talents and be their best. Even on the days when we aren’t at our best, we seek our best. Pathmakers lives what they share. I have seen so many examples of team members helping one another seek their best. The authenticity is so refreshing and beautiful.

Another sign of the beauty of this change is the feedback that Pathmakers has received from clients. In the short two months that I have been here, I have seen emails and heard feedback from clients about the amazing impact that Pathmakers has had on them personally and professionally. In fact, recently two of our Executive Leadership Coaches have been accused of being the “two most genuine people in the world” who had “a powerful influence on my (the client’s) life”.

So, my advice to you…Make a wish. Take a chance. Make a change. There is an opportunity to see great beauty in yourself, the people around you and the world.

As leaders, we all want happy employees. We supply insurance, paid time off, retirement plans…and those are only the “standard” today. Some companies go so far as to provide weekly catered lunches, onsite workout classes, free beer Fridays (?), and various other benefits in hopes that employees will be content with their jobs and stay forever.

Some leaders even think they have to give certain things up, including their vision, to simply make their employees happy. They don’t. Here are just a few ways to keep your employees happy without breaking the bank:

Start with trusting employees to do the job they were hired to do. When you do this, they become part of the vision. Your goal should be to discover a shared vision with them – talking with them about what WE are trying to achieve gives them a sense of purpose and helps to create a positive culture within the walls of your organization.
Examine role clarity and create clear expectations for each and every employee. They don’t want to come to work every day in a fog not knowing what to expect, so why not clear the clouds for them?
Define accountability for all of you and each of your commitments to honor these agreements. Check in often to see where you are all at on the accountability scale.

By starting with these initiatives, your employees might not mind that you don’t offer “Free Beer Fridays” in the office!

Entries by this author

How To Magically Add More Time To Your Day

Why is Curiosity Important?

Simple, right? Well, let’s go even further…

Lastly, but most importantly…

Creating Team

“Good teams become great when the members trust each other enough to surrender the me for the we.”

–Phil Jackson

Charting the Path to the New Normal

Take Time to Identify New Discoveries

Leading Your Team Through Uncertain Times

The Selfless Leader

It was my first real job.

I never forgot his compassion and selflessness.

Hit Refresh on Your Culture in the New Year

Change is Beautiful

How To Create Happy Employees