The Green Flash

The "green flash" is the way that they refer to the last second as the sunset fades into the Caribbean. As I happen to find myself in Grenada, and the bar at my accomodations is aptly nameed the Green Flash Lounge I thought this would be a good title for my post on a couple of points.

I got the opportunity to present two management and leadership programs down here for a group representing a cross section of leadership staff ranging from front line leaders to senior managers. It has been a very interesting experience on a number of levels including both cultural from an ethnocentric standpoint and from the challenges and issues facing their business.

The client is in some ways a monopoly- they have essentially no competition on the island. What speaks to their receptiveness and their vision is even under those circumstances they are very passionate about improving their level of performance both internally and externally. They are engaged.

It has been a personal growth opportunity for me- to explore and try to understand the nuances of both their corporate and personal cultures and convey concepts that are important to them without presenting our North American practices as "truths", but rather concepts to explore.

I have not found them to be at all naive nor awestruck. They challenge, but do so politely and constructively. They participate with a real desire to gain understanding and appreciation, but retain pride in what they have accomplished to date and what their plans are for the future.

Wherever this assignment takes me I have to tell you that I will leave here with much more than I brought with me. I hope I get invited back, I still have much to learn.....