Executive Coach Joe Sinnott of Witting Partners shares his insight on how organizations respond to turnover and culture changes. Host Jason Spiess and Sinnott use the recent transpirings at St. Peter’s University, who experienced a historic NCAA March Madness run only to have their coach leave and several players enter the transfer portals.
Sinnott, who also hosts The Energy Detox Podcast, explains how companies who are experiencing turnover right now can learn a lot from sports organizations, like in this example St. Peter’s. Sinnott is specifically talking about the recent news of Shaheen Holloway who after leading Saint Peter’s to the Elite Eight in this year’s NCAA tournament has left St. Peter’s for a head coaching position at Seton Hall, his alma matter.
“First and foremost, in the St. Peter’s example you are talking about an overwhelmingly positive situation right? I feel like its a win win win for everyone involved,” Sinnott said. “The St. Peter’s coach, who is now the Seton Hall coach, Shaheen Holloway, and the players, everyone is winning. Even St. Peter’s for getting put on the map and getting the exposure.”
Sinnott compares the St. Peter’s example to the corporate and small business worlds.
“Getting positive exposure when one of your leaders leaves or there is turnover or turmoil or even if there is a mass exodus, I think by in large as a coach, it is nice to accentuate the positives first,” Sinnott said.
The conversation transitioned into how job hopping, resume building and social media loitering can work against the individual in the workplace and professional settings.
“You mentioned the word balance, and it is a good one, but possibility overused, much like the work sustainability, which I think is a better fit” Sinnott said. “You want someone who wants a sustainable career. Sustainable trajectory. You want companies that are sustainable. Teams and organizations. Not necessarily from an economic standpoint or environmental standpoint, rather the ability to just keep moving forward towards the ultimate destination.”
The two talked about dream jobs and achieving your personal success rather than the success Hollywood or pop culture present as a template for professional happiness.
“The more transparent someone is in the beginning the easier adjustments are for everyone involved if they leave and there are no surprises,” Sinnott said. “The problem I see a lot of times with individuals is that they are not clear what their ultimate destination is.”
Spiess referenced a professional colleague who left the media industry in 2009 to work at a liquor store for a year to “destress” when the Internet created a mass exodus of lay offs, firings and changes in professional directions.
“In your example of the guy who left his career to work at a liquor store, his ultimate goal was quality of life, financial freedom and watch the sunset,” Sinnott said. “To be with your family or be with nature is a goal for some, and that’s it. It isn’t a short sighted goal of wanting to be the manager of XYZ Company at this specific store at this specific city, you know that is a short sighted goal.”
Sinnott reminded Spiess that when talking about professional careers and coaching it always requires the individual. Generalities and speculation can be guidelines, but ultimately it is the individual who sets their goals and how they co-exist within the organization is another story.
“What I think a lot of this comes down to is what does the individual want,” Sinnott said. “In the example of Shaheen Hollway leaving St. Peter’s for Seton Hall, for him to return to his alma matter, my guess is that carries way more value and meaning to everyone involved than him jumping to another university which I am sure he could have given the spotlight on him.”
Money doesn’t always equal success and happiness, however, having a decent base and support system can certain be a winning formula for a happy life and career, no matter what stage in life you are at.
Witting Partners delivers a full range of energy-focused leadership development services to help companies overcome the unique challenges of today’s oil & gas industry so that they can successfully regain and sustain peak performance.
From one-on-one executive coaching to group training programs to powerful speaking engagements, everything Witting Partners offers reflects an unmatched blend of industry insight, technical know-how, and relevant experience that has produced consistent results from the Gulf of Mexico to Appalachia, from service company to operator, and from drilling rig to downtown boardroom.
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