I grew up believing that if I worked hard enough, things would turn out. For most of my life, that worked. So in my management position, when I was asked to take a few groups of people who had always worked on their own and make them into one team, I worked harder to create a cohesive team. But I led on instinct and didn’t really know what my people needed from me. And I wasn’t about to admit that.
Our first engagement survey came back in the 21st percentile. I sat at a table with my fellow managers looking at a whole lot of red. For someone who had always found success on instinct or by simply working harder, this was hard to swallow.
What changed everything was learning two things nobody had ever taught me: how to lead from what I do best, and what my people actually needed to be engaged. Learning and practicing this new way of leading was a pivot point for me, both professionally and personally. The next year, my team was in the 97th percentile, and we stayed near the top for four more years.
I started Spark Engagement to teach what changed everything for me. I share what I’ve learned and what I’ve lived, through a simple practice that came out of both: Notice It, Name It, Spark It.
Here’s an example of what that looks like.
You walk out of a meeting with a colleague feeling irritated and can't shake it. That's Noticing It. Something is off, and you know it's holding you back.
You realize the real issue is that neither of you is clear on what's expected right now. That's Naming It.
So you decide to have a conversation tomorrow to clarify expectations and agree on how to move forward. That's Sparking It.
The great thing about this process is that it works with everything I teach, and it's something you can keep using long after our work together ends. What changes is what you're noticing, naming, and choosing to do next.
My goal isn't just to help you learn new leadership skills. It's to help you build the awareness, confidence, and ability to put them into practice on your own.
That's what I want for every leader and team I work with. I look forward to working with you!
Karin
