The Rising – The Phoenix Infection, Part Two

There have been leaders throughout my life whom I have followed with vigor, some since junior high. My parents, of course, and then there was Mr. John Grandi, my history and drama teacher during those tortuous years. He quickly became a mentor, as many junior high teachers do for their students. Those between years mark a passage of time that can be very impressionable. My life changed quite a bit during that time: someone stole from me, a friend betrayed me, a boy held my hand, and one of my brothers passed away.     Trust lost.

It could be said that I was probably not ready for high school. I was a delightfully innocent and naive young woman. I had never seen anyone my age smoke a cigarette, let alone imbibe in alcohol or do drugs of any kind. I lived a kind of Utopian youth that I am thankful for today. Given my propensity to engage quickly and be a people pleaser, I can imagine that my life might have taken a very different turn during those years had I not had parents that were strong leaders and influential teachers like Mr. Grandi that understood the freedom a twelve- and thirteen-year old girl needed to test – it wasn’t much, believe me, for I didn’t know any better. 😉

Different phases in our lives require different types of leaders. They are not all good experiences, but those in my life have taught lessons that have altered my core, my precepts, and made a mark on either my soul or brain. That is what happens when we really learn, we change and the change may be small or even imperceptible to others, but inside – there is a difference. It may not be how we act but it might be how we react. It may not be what we do, but it might be what we think. It may not be how we respond, but it might be how we feel. Change is a direct result of learning.

My brother, Andrew, recently made a statement and asked a question in his group on facebook a few days ago and I was compelled to answer; that answer contained an idea that has been brewing in me for awhile. It is the idea of The Phoenix Infection.

Andrew Thorn: Leadership can be defined as the ability to motivate a group of people toward a common goal. How do you define leadership?

Me: A leader inspires by passionately sharing a vision and allowing participation in the creation and fruition of that vision. A leader is not bogged down by fear or jealousy. The active sharing of knowledge and the Phoenix Infection they gladly pass along define the line between leader and manager.

The Phoenix Infection is what happens when a leader is able to take you with him to fulfill his vision; you gladly join because his dream and aspirations are infectious – you, as a follower, really have no choice. The engagement is so pure, so true, that the joining is natural and fulfilling. The mythical phoenix has long held a magical place in my thinking. It represents immortality, the triumphant rising from disaster or struggle, always strategizing – looking ahead. It is a visionary with the capacity to continually re-invent itself and stimulate enthusiasm and continual motivation.

This fulfills part of my definition of a leader – a leader I can learn from.

© by rayannethorn

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Managing Expectations

The actual business of recruitment,  can be described as an enlistment of sorts. Who do we enlist in our efforts as a recruiter? The first portal we pass through is that of the Hiring Manager or Client. Getting their buy-in is key to accomplishment and must be thought of first and foremost in order for success to be achieved. The Hiring Manager is the gateway to bringing a search or recruitment to an appreciated close. How can you, as a Recruiter or HR Professional, keep dissatisfaction at bay? Learning to speak with assurance and limiting failure. Gene Kranz of NASA, during the famed Apollo 13 mission, said, “Failure is not an option.” How did he put those words into action?  He reached out to his team for help in bringing the mission to a triumphant conclusion. The definition of success in this particular instance was altered considerably from what its primary focus had been. Doing what needs to be done and learning to be flexible in this time of economic turn down is an insightful endeavor and will lead to greater outcomes.

Knowing when to ask for help is probably one of the most difficult abilities to master. It is driven into our business make up to be self-reliant and just get the job done. It is never easy to say, “I need help.” Think about it, when was the last time you said that in a business setting? For most, it is far easier to say “Can I help you?” We live and work in a society where we are led to believe we can have it all, but in order to have it all, you must be able to do it all. Not an easy task when time is divided between work, family, work, friends, more work, church, activism, volunteering, promoting, blogging, commuting, conferences, errands and still more work… the list is endless.

Diversification may be key in muddling through this trying time. Expanding your scope of business offerings and paying closer attention to a client’s needs is a step toward success. Keeping the communication door open will manage expectations and align procedures with what is anticipated. Expectations lead to the unfortunate risk of being let down. However, lowering expectations or having them lowered for us is not the right answer, either. The best way to manage those expectations is to be prepared and stay in constant contact with the parties involved in any given recruitment or business transaction. By asking for help from Hiring Managers, they are kept in the conversation loop and part of the active process. Put on your armor, sharpen your sword, and be ready to conquer a deadline or delinquent feedback.

Unfortunately, failure is bound to occur but if you do not risk failure, you most certainly risk growth. Learn from failure and know that even the greatest leaders have suffered at the hands of risk, yet even more have benefited.

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”
Winston Churchill

by rayannethorn

Failure IS an Option

Knowing when to ask for help is probably one of the most difficult abilities to master. It is never easy to say, “I need help.” For most people it is easier to say, “Can I help you?” We live in a society where we are told that we can have it all, but in order to have it all…, you have to be able to do it all. Not easy when time is divided between work, family, friends, school, church, activism, volunteering, promoting, blogging, commuting, birthday parties, baseball practice and games, rehearsals and performances, doctor’s visits for both family members and pets, yard work, laundry, paying bills, running errands…, the list is endless. really.

It helps to just know you need help. What is it? Admitting there is a problem is the first step to curing the problem. Yeah, right. Expectations are where the problem really lies. When you expect something of yourself or of someone else, there is great risk at being let down. So…, is the right avenue to lower our expectations? Or would it be better to learn acceptance and understand that everyone is fighting some kind of personal battle, everyone. No one is perfect, no one has it all under control, no one.

So, put on your armor daily, sharpen your sword, and face your jabberwocky with courage and the distinction that only you can.

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another

with no loss of enthusiasm.”
~Winston Churchill

Remember: failure can be valuable… If you do not risk failure, you risk growing and learning. The education of life is more costly and dear than a PhD.

So say “Ha!” to your greatest adversary: time. Take risks and find comfort knowing you don’t have to fight anyone else’s battle… just your own.

by rayannethorn