global perspectives Nations, organizations, teams, and people all have at least one thing in common. They want to, but cannot fully unlock their human potential. In my career I have traveled the world and met many successful leaders, teams or organizations but I have not met too many people that do not intend to have a fulfilling career and life. However, too many people, companies, and countries end up focusing their time and energy on the wrong things, which seriously undermines their intended objective. This stems from the problem that we are wired with a high need to follow monetary rewards and achievements. In the long run, these will not bring fulfillment. Unlocking human potential has been at the core of my work for many years. Starting 2015, I have decided to focus on my vision by taking a new role that of Global strategist, coach and mentor. As announced late 2014 in Prague and in Brussels, I decided after more than 21 years to leave Microsoft. As somebody who believes that technology can help unlock human potential around the world, I consider myself very fortunate that since 1993 I have been working with great people at Microsoft, as well as fantastic customers and loyal partners. I am very grateful for all opportunities I was given in our company both internally and externally. When I was hired, I was an ambitious software engineer with basic knowledge of sales and marketing, but with a lot of energy and vision to impart. Microsoft gave me great opportunities through the Bench program in 1995 to work with great teachers like Philip Kottler in marketing, Edward de Bono in creativity, Mike Kami in strategy, and Tony Buzan in smart use of our brain. I was able to study top executive programs at Harvard, Wharton, London School of Economics, and Management Center Europe. I believe the company has always leveraged my strengths in terms of strategy, vision, and communication. While I was running the operations in Czech Republic and Slovakia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Public Sector in EMEA region and last but not least while being Chairman Europe for Microsoft Corporation, our relationship was at all times a win-win. I met Microsoft founder Bill Gates for the first time in 1994 and I had the opportunity to travel with him later on in my different roles. I think Bill Gates is not only a great role model but also someone for whom every ‘No’ is just the beginning of a ‘Yes’. I believe the company he created almost 40 years ago helped people around the world live better lives and I would like to thank Microsoft and wish the company all the best in the future. After many years as a global player in the fascinating IT industry, I am looking forward to unlocking human potential across industries. I was very inspired by a book by Clay Christensen who spoke at the last Microsoft leadership meeting. The book in question is “How Will You Measure Your Life”. The basic idea of the book is that you should not look only into your own success, but also into how you are helping others to be successful and happy. Indeed, success should be measured based on positive and prosperous impact on others. While I think I made a lot of mistakes in my career as all professionals make, the majority of my career has been very successful. I learned a lot of things and I would like to share what I learned with
IN COOPERATION WITH Czech LEADERS
Bill Gates at the discussion with Jan Muehlfeit
Photo: Archive
others and empower them to reach a higher level of success and happiness. This is why I look forward to the start of my own coaching and mentoring practice to help individuals, organizations, and countries to unlock human potential around the world. I believe in building on strengths, passion and personal values based schools, institutions, and working places. I think each and every person has different talents and strengths. We just need to unlock them and leverage them. Individuals, organizations and government institutions have great potential but they are stuck in the day-to-day tasks or outdated methodologies and they cannot fully unlock human potential. Usually, they make 4 big mistakes. The first is that they focus on weaknesses and not on strengths. Unfortunately, this is something that is planted in our minds from a young age. For example, even at an early stage, if a student excels in analytical subjects but is weak in humanities, that student is advised to focus time and energy on becoming better in humanities. However, if that student then looses touch with analytical subjects, then the result is someone average and unfulfilled – all because focus of resources has been placed on weaknesses and not on strengths. I think we should become better at dealing with our weaknesses but not to such an extent that we lose sight of what makes us unique, great and above all, fulfilled. The second mistake is another misallocation – a focus on planning first before asking what their mission, personal uniqueness is. Thinking on personal uniqueness is very powerful and important because it is tied to emotional connections, inspiration and the answer must come from the heart. Too many teams and individuals have forgotten to ask what is their personal uniqueness to such an extent that they cannot even answer with ease. It is not easy for everyone to reach inside and re-think why we decide one thing and not another. However hard it may be, question on personal uniqueness is a crucial question and must be asked because the answer has to do with what makes us happy and fulfilled. The third mistake that individuals, organizations and countries make is concentrating on success instead of following their heart. Tangible and short-
term achievements that are returned in the form of monetary rewards are not what will be fulfilling in the long-term. Of course we all need a salary, but we should not focus on getting it. If we follow our heart, hopes and dreams, the monetary rewards will also follow. One of my favorite quotes is “Not all dreamers are achievers, but all achievers are dreamers.” The fourth mistake is about concentrating on time management instead of energy management. Most professionals respond to rising work place demands by putting in longer hours, which inevitably take a toll on us physically, mentally, and emotionally. This leads to low engagement and low dissatisfaction. Unlike time, which is a finite resource, energy is renewable. In human beings, energy comes from four main sources: the body, mind, spirit and emotions. In each, energy can be systematically expanded and regularly renewed. For each source, professionals need to take the responsibility and find what it takes to renew their energy intentionally and periodically. The cost of organizations not focusing on energy management is a workforce headed for a burnout. If we want to unlock our human to focus on strengths and not weaknesses, ask and answer personal uniqueness question before we start to plan, concentrate on energy management and not on time management, and follow the heart not tangible rewards only. I believe this is the way how people can do what they like and be not only more productive, but also happier. If people are happier their immune system is better and they are healthier. This why my personal mission is: “Help individuals, organizations and countries to unlock their human potential”. I am strong believer that if we unlock human potential on our planet we will build better society. If you want to learn more about what I do, please visit my web www.janmuhlfeit.com (available both in Czech and English). By Jan Muehlfeit Global Strategist / Coach / Mentor EXECUTIVE IN RESIDENCE – RET. Chairman Europe – ■ české znění naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.czechleaders.com
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