A Fresh Start

Renowned chefs and culinary experts emphasize that the foundation of great cooking lies in using fresh high-quality ingredients. 

Is It Time for a Fresh Start?

It is that time of year when we are helping many leaders and their teams to get ready for a new season. As the weather warms up and spring is bringing new growth, it’s time for another season. Many students are preparing to have a fresh start with a new job or an internship. Some leaders are nearing retirement and preparing for what is next. Some people are coming back from vacation. There are all sorts of transitions that might inspire people to make a fresh start. These are some reasons to consider a fresh start, but the beauty is that you don’t really need one.

It is exciting as coaches for us to see organization or individuals who have made the decision to not just go through the motions of starting, but rather taking a different approach, with fresh thinking. As we support them here are some of the ingredients that are using in their fresh starts.

They Decide!

They decide that this year is going to be different. The consider what they have done, had, and been in the past and they decide what they are going to do, have, and be moving forward. The simple act of rejecting the status quo is a key ingredient. It is not an indictment or criticism of what they have done in previous seasons, it is just an awareness that the fresher they are at the beginning of the new campaign, the better they will be later in the season when fatigue and heat start to show up.

They Have Clear Intentions!

Everyone on the team is clear about the outcomes they want to achieve. They know what they want their members and guests to experience. They are imagining the kind of comments they want to hear about the season when it draws to a close. They are clear about what they want to be thinking, feeling, and doing as a team throughout the season. They are clear about who they will decide to be.

They Are Accountable!

Every person on the team is learning to embrace accountability. They own their part. They know that when a member or guest encounters them, that they are the club. There are no victims on the team and they are committed to making the teams vision and intentions happen.

There Is a Freshness on the Team!

When we are working with teams there are often people in the audience that haven’t had their first shift yet. You can see the excitement in them that they are now part of this team. We see the excitement of veteran contributors who are excited about approaching familiar experiences in a new way. Often the leadership is leading the belief and enthusiasm of what the team can do this year. When freshness abounds, some team members who might be past their “Best Before Date” need to consider whether they can freshen up or if they are not comfortable with the freshness. Even though the team jerseys don’t change the team changes based on who is playing and how they are being trained and led.

A New Mindset!

There is a different level of thinking this year. Everyone is thinking differently. The have considered some of the thinking and beliefs they had last year the didn’t always work for them. They have thought about some of the challenges or pitfalls that they may encounter and have already decided how they will handle them. They are thinking about how things can be accomplished not why they can’t. They have decided to care deeply but not take things personally. They have decided on strategies to stay fresh. 

A New Feeling!

There is a new feeling of connection and passion when people know why they are here and what difference they make. There is a different energy when people feel that they “get to” vs. they “have to”. There is a different level of commitment when people on the team care about each other and have each other’s backs. When people can’t wait to get to work there is a lot more energy available in the parts of the season when energy is depleted. Everyone on the team knows that they can be a source of energy or someone who sucks energy. They decide to energize. Caring is recognized and rewarded.

New Actions!

Members are noticing the difference. Perhaps some renovations have made it feel different. Maybe the uniforms have changed. Maybe the pre-shift line ups have changed and brought new results. Maybe the buffets look different or there are new innovations at the member guest. Maybe the energy and the smiles on the faces of the staff are different. Maybe some policies and procedures that were out of date have changed. Maybe every person on the team has raised their game. Perhaps some standards have been raised. Maybe every team player prepared for their shift differently. Maybe every day is a training and development day on some level. Maybe everyone is having more fun. 

Is It Time for a Fresh Start?

Whether it is time for a fresh start at work, in a relationship, in parenting, with your hobby or in your personal life, please think about these ingredients. Just the idea of a fresh start can be invigorating. It can liberate you from old habits and old ways of thinking. It can make you look different. I can make you feel different. If the time is right, go for it!

May your ingredients be fresh, healthy, energizing, inspired, focused and inspiring. Perhaps you can be part of someone else’s fresh start!