The true drivers of success

Behind every success, there is one key factor: You

Me, on my first working day - just before entering the building and excited for what to come

No matter the business, and despite all the technical developements that happended in the past centuries, the true drivers of success are always the people involved.

Today's blog post could stop here, because it's all being said in the sentence above.

Yet, let's make sure this realisation sinks in deeply.

Over the past 20+ years in my career, I have stepped into various roles across different industries. And no matter where I was, weather in daily operations or projects, as a trainee, a (project) leader or a coach, I realized very quickly that there is no success without the right people, in the right position with the right mindset.

Yet, what I've seen and experienced (for far too long) is that many organisations do not truly realize this.

Too many leaders tend to lead top-down - without ever listening.

Without making an effort to truly understand their people: their visions, their challenges, their needs.

I experienced firsthand how quickly this can lead employees to feel frustrated, insecure, inadequate.

Let me segue for a moment to recent research to make this even clearer.

You might or might not yet know that every person is born with a certain potential. Yet, no matter how great this potential is, it requires the right environment to fully unfold.

And make no mistake: good leadership isn’t about having all the answers.

There are a gazzillion factors that influence whether someone lives up to their potential. And of course, many of these are beyond your control as a leader.

But what IS within your control, is creating an environment where people feel safe, seen and heard at work.

That's where true magic happens.

When these 3 factors are met, people can enter their zone of genius. And I am sure you'd agree that this is the place where the seed of success grows best.

It’s about creating growth – within your team but also within yourself.

Because when we understand what drives us, we can help others do the same.

I have seen this over and over again not only in my role as Senior Project Manager, but also with my coaching clients.

With my clients, it always starts with talking about their vision, their wildest dreams and deeply burried hopes.

Once we identified their road blocks standing in their way, this becomes the foundation for re-building their self-trust and helping them to feel safe again.

And time after time, I witness how my clients start to slowly but surely begin to live-up to their full potential.

You might or might not yet know that in addition to the work I do here, I am an employee myself. And at the beginning of October I stepped into a new role in a new organization: Head of Project Management

In this position, I will be building and leading a project organisation while continuing to work hands-on as a project manager. It's allowing me to combine what I love most: developing people and ensuring everyone is equipped with what they need to make our projects a success.

Starting something new always brings a mix of excitement and uncertainty.

Yet growth only happens when we’re willing to let go of what was - and make space for what’s next.

And while many things are changing for me, one thing remains the same: my belief that real progress happens through people.

This is why I'll make sure to continue listening deeply. To build trust, to continue supporting my team and my clients to the best of my abilities so that they feel safe, seen and heard.

Helping others grow beyond what they thought was possible.

Because this is where the seed of success grows at it's best.

With Love, Light & Gratitude

Lara

P.S. If you’re ready to step into your own zone of genius – even if you don’t have the perfect leader or environment to support you yet – I’d love to be that leader for you and support you on your way.

Let’s unlock what’s already within you and make growth your new normal.

✨ Book a free discovery call → Lara Marek Coaching

✨ Or download my free audio for instant relaxation – available via the lightbox pop-up on my main page (just open a new tab and visit the homepage)