Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2017 44 Libby Wagner Culture Coach Libby Wagner, author of The Influencing Option: The Art of Building a Profit Culture in Business, works with clients to help them create and sustain Profit Cultures www.libbywagner.com RO 2 017 is just around the corner . . . and I don't know about you, but 2016 was a doozy for me! There were no major economic upheavals or crashes. My business market didn't change dramatically, and none of my clients walked away in a huff. No, nothing like that. Yet, I always take time at the end of a year to do some reflection and assessment, and also to set intentions and direction for the coming year. I'm grateful for 2016—I met some wonderful people while I was delivering keynotes, helping with mergers, and coaching leaders. Personally, my home renovation is clicking along, almost on schedule. But I also fell and tore my ACL, resulting in an unexpected knee surgery and lots and lots of asking for help. I had some personal losses, too, and those are never purposely on the "to do" list, but they do show up, and they demand our attention. We cannot always plan for everything. Coincidentally, I read two books this year that had a significant impact on me and my approach to my work: The Art of Asking, by Amanda Palmer, and Year of Yes, by Shonda Rimes. Neither are business books; both are memoirs of a sort. Palmer, musician and former street performer, delivered a TED talk about "the art of asking," and specifically about creativity and art, which led to her subsequent book, a story about her own journey and especially how she left a record label to create a stunning relationship with her fan base resulting in the biggest crowdfunding campaign ever and a completely independent way of making art for her fans. Shonda Rimes, who owns Thursday nights on ABC and delivered her own TED talk, is the creator and writer of popular television shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder. Her book shares the better happenings in a year she designates to say "yes" to things that scare her, like appearing on late night Jimmy Kimmel Live and speaking at her alma mater commencement. In some ways, some of the primary questions in these two books remind me of our work with Invitas and The Institute for Conversational Leadership (www.invitas.net/YearLong2016.html). We encourage leaders to not only consider but also practice saying "yes" to radical invitations, as well as stepping into the art of receiving—not things you ordinarily hear while you're hanging out near the water cooler. But leaders, more than ever, need to step into the courage and robust vulnerability required to lead in a world where change isn't just normal and inevitable, change is Now! Change is immediate and swift, sometimes exciting and terrifying, too. How do you lead when it becomes more and more challenging to create strategic plans and offer projections that predict the future? You must show up in an entirely different way. Here are some things to consider for your leadership in 2017: 1. Be present. There's simply no way to navigate the world that is modern organizational life without cultivating your ability to be present, to listen deeply and to pay attention. You can't even recognize the invitations if you're not able to do so. 2. Say yes to what scares you. Whether you'd call yourself an entrepreneur or not, the entrepreneurial spirit is what differ- entiates the most effective and savvy leaders. You need to say yes. There's risk involved and perhaps no guarantee. This isn't about making stupid choices. It's about having enough information that offers you an inkling of what's to come. Or, it's listening to an opportunity and thinking 'now, how can I possibly do that?' and going for it. Just say YES. 3. Accept help. Remember, we do nothing alone. Sometimes, we ask for help, and sometimes we receive invisible help. This assistance can come from within or without, but be willing to say yes to receiving by allowing others to share in the success and the burdens of your journey as a leader. SAYING YES TO RECEIVING RADICAL INVITATIONS

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