I was listening to a trainer from The Disney Institute today and he was speaking of Intentional Architecture around systems and processes. This means we intentionally create a system to assist us in what we need to get done. The question is, what do you need to get done, and what are you trying to accomplish?
My average team member has been with me 6 years, why? Because I create Intentional Architecture to set an example on how I care, here is an example:
Each year I focus on a different way to connect and relate to my team. I work in basically a “fast food” environment, so healthy eating and fast food do not generally go hand in hand. However, I was watching some of my team, and based on what they were eating, and how, I was wondering does my team know what living healthy looks like?
Assist and Plan
I can tell them, or post a sign, but just like our success at Chick-fil-A, and at Disney, or at Quick Trip, success is about the systems in place. If you take 2 businesses, and one has 2x as many systems or “intentional architecture” in place, you will see much more favorable results.
Thinking about this and nutrition with my team, I started thinking about how can I assist my team, so I sought out a system to find out how to show them this concept.
Setting things in Place
A friend of mine has a few fitness places called Elite Training, and he shared a 21-day challenge with me at the beginning of the year. Is this a system? Diving deeper into this system, here is what I put into action:
Level 1
A downloadable app to provide easy access to the resources we need. This app included communications on:
- Grocery lists
- Healthy Dinners Menu
- Snack list suggestions
- Cookbook
- Video instructions
- Recipes
Right at our fingertips, on our phone! Awesome! We now have tools for success that are easily accessible.
Level 2
- This part included a trainer, (not me whew’) texting us individually no less than 3-5 times a day; checking on our progress, suggesting healthy choices, reminders of the tools, and snacks at the right time. Trust me, if you don’t eat the snacks, you will be hungry, or should I say ravaging hungry and it all falls apart.
- This SYSTEM is accountability and training!
I decided I would do this 21-day challenge with my team. Allowing me to walk hand in hand with them!! I mean when they are hungry, I am. When they are sick of it, I will be! I will walk the journey with them.
Why? Because sometimes our job as leaders is to walk beside our team to understand what it looks like. Before you throw this out, know this; we lost over 300 lbs together!
The average person lost 23lbs! I lost 19lbs (I was below average) One even lost 49 lbs, now that is not typical, but it is what is possible when you have a system, a plan, and accountability.
People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care! ~Theodore Roosevelt
Such a great letter from a team member noting their experience:
“I just wanted to say thank you for providing the kick start I needed to focus on getting healthy again. Even better, is that my whole family is working on getting healthy.”
“For me personally, something has just clicked and this has been the catalyst for some major “me focused” changes this year. The store at large is working on the same goals now too! Angelica is doing her own plan. Matt has started making healthier choices and he used to eat the SAME thing every single day for his lunch! I’m sure by now you know Casey has made some CRAZY great progress. I’m so proud of him! Even Rosa asked me today about the shakes.”
“I wanted you to know I appreciate this gift more than any other you’ve given me (and you’ve been very generous!)”
John C. Maxwell states “leadership is influence” I just want you to know your leadership has influenced many lives this month.
You can look at all of this and say another diet, OR you can look at this and say, what an incredible system if done right I will have success. Why? Because successful organizations create intentional systems. If done right, they are the recipe for success.
If your organization is looking for success, look to your intentional processes, have you engineered them in a way to succeed? This goes all the way to the point of how are you creating systems in your organization as a way to show you care?
Just like always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please feel free to contact me.
I have had a number of people ask me about this process with Herbalife, and here is what I tell them. I kill chickens for a living, and I teach, inspire and serve.
By the way, this is NOT a secret product, you HAVE heard of it. It’s called Herbalife. It’s not magic powder, but with this system in place and convenience, It works!
Success is about following the process, whether it’s this product or another.. what does the process look like?
If you’re wanting to know more about what we put in place for my team, text Whitney at 918-553-5509 tell him Arthur sent you!