Haircut Disaster: Agile Lesson from My Toddler

As an Operations and Executive Support professional, my daily routine revolves around planning, swift problem-solving, and maintaining a cool head in the face of unexpected challenges. Little did I know that one of my greatest lessons in agile problem-solving would come from an unlikely source: my two-year-old son, Hudson.

Last Sunday, while we were in the bathroom doing chores, Hudson grabbed my clippers out of an open drawer. Before I could turn around and react, he was already cutting his hair. Agile problem-solving is about adaptability and resilience. Instead of dwelling on the mistake or reacting impulsively, it's about assessing the situation, devising a plan, and moving forward confidently. So, I let Hudson's hair grow out while discreetly stocking up on baseball caps as a temporary solution. A week later, our trusted barber worked her magic, transforming Hudson's haircut into a stylish new look that turned heads and taught us all a valuable lesson in embracing setbacks as opportunities for growth.

This experience reinforced the importance of maintaining composure in the face of adversity, both personally and professionally. Mistakes happen, and setbacks are inevitable. However, it's how we choose to respond to these challenges that define our success.

So, remember the lessons learned from Hudson's haircut mishap. Be agile in your problem-solving approach, give yourself and others room for error, and trust in your ability to navigate through uncertainty. And if you ever need a reliable partner to help you tackle any challenge with confidence and finesse, don't hesitate to reach out—I'm here to help.

Leveraging Individual Strengths for Team Success

In the world of teamwork, missing the opportunity to lead based on your team's strengths can often pave the path to failure and burnout. Before utilizing StrengthsFinder, I often stumbled in the maze of team dynamics, inadvertently neglecting the power of leveraging individual strengths. Rather than recognizing and nurturing what made each team member unique, I found myself focusing on areas of weakness, inadvertently creating roadblocks to overall success.

Taking StrengthsFinder and understanding my top 5 strengths— individualization, empathy, relator, discipline, and developer— revealed a transformative path forward. These strengths became my compass, guiding me toward fostering collaboration, understanding, and growth within my team. When we lead with our strengths, we're not just finding our way through challenges—we're truly thriving together in all that we undertake.

Consider partnering with a support professional to identify and leverage your strengths. ( Like me, duh!) By leading with what makes you and your team shine, you'll not only overcome obstacles but also achieve unprecedented success. It's time to shift the focus from where we fall short to where we excel.