Chapter 8

One Word in Action

In addition to the several examples we shared in the previous chapter, we have heard from thousands of people who have taken One Word to a whole new level.

Everywhere we go, people tell us how their organization, school, family, and team have implemented One Word. We have witnessed firsthand how One Word has been incorporated into the very fabric of entire organizations and leadership teams. It is transforming the way businesses serve their customers, schools teach their students, and teams unite their players.

ONE WORD COMMUNITY IMPACT

We hope these stories fuel your creativity and show you what is possible with your One Word. The pictures and short descriptions will inspire you to put your One Word it into action.

One Word for Schools

The power of One Word helps educators focus on what matters the most. Think about it: Every August, school administrators and teachers gather to prepare for the upcoming school year. They discuss their vision, expectations, plans, and goals for the year. It’s a process filled with excitement, hope, and enthusiasm.

One Word helps teachers bring out the best in their students.

Unfortunately, by the time October rolls around, the positive energy and optimism felt in August has given way to the stress and challenges of the classroom. And the vision, plans, and goals that were developed with such passion are likely forgotten, in the garbage can, in a binder on the shelf, or ignored on a laptop. The antidote to this challenge is One Word. One Word sticks and serves as a driving force that inspires each educator to be his or her best and bring out the best in every student.

One Word also helps principals and teachers create a great opportunity to build teamwork and unity. For example, teachers from the Mahanay Elementary School came up with their words for the school year, and their principal made the T-shirt for them to wear. What a great reminder to teach with more compassion, passion, focus, and purpose.

MAHANAY ONE WORD T-SHIRT

The staff at Park Glen Elementary came up with their words as well, made T-shirts, and took the picture with each person holding a painting they made with their word on it.

PARK GLEN ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Peggy Belt, Norfolk Senior High School English and Speech teacher, put up her students’ words on a One Word Bulletin Board in the classroom.

ONE WORD BULLETIN BOARD

The staff at Hidden Lakes Elementary in Keller, Texas, did a One Word team-builder before the first day of school. The districts antibullying initiative this year is R.O.C.K. (Reaching Out with Character and Kindness). Every teacher painted their own One Word on a rock that stays in their classroom for a year.

ONE WORD ROCKS

The Principal and staff at TE Baxter Elementary not only discovered their own words, but the One Word theme has spread to the classrooms and even the hallways! Students painted their words on ceiling tiles and now have a creative, artistic, and festive reminder as they walk the halls!

SCHOOL TILES

CEILING TILES

One Word for Businesses

Business leaders have also gravitated to the One Word concept as a simple way to improve morale, motivate and focus teams, and produce great results. One Word provides a better way than numbers and goals to refocus the company and motivate employees.

Does this mean business leaders shouldn’t share goals and numbers anymore? Of course not. Leaders and companies must continue to set targets and share goals to start the year. You do need to measure progress because that which you can measure you can grow. But you must do so knowing that numbers don’t motivate people. Motivated people produce great numbers. Real motivation is driven by a passion and purpose to do great work, grow, and make a difference.

One Word reminds you of your purpose and fuels your passion.

Leaders can help motivate and inspire their people to excel by helping them discover the One Word that reminds them of their purpose, helps them maintain focus, and keeps their passion alive throughout the year.

We’ve heard from a number of companies that have introduced the One Word concept at their yearly kickoff meeting. They start out by doing what everyone does—sharing their goals—but then they also do something different: They encourage their people to discover the word that will drive them to work harder, care more deeply, maintain focus, and surpass their goals. The feedback is amazing.

For example, the picture below is a graphic illustration of a One Word talk Jon gave to the leaders of Gallagher Bassett. It was a powerful visual that helped each employee fully understand the One Word process and choose their word for the year.

ONE WORD GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION

The owner of the Spa at Roop’s Mill in Maryland did One Word with the entire team and posted their words by the front door for customers to see. The staff even involve their customers by letting them read One Word as they enjoy their spa treatment. Clients regularly tell the staff their words and spread the word to others in the community, making it good for business and good for life!

ONE WORD WALL

CUSTOMERS RECEIVING THE ONE WORD SPECIAL

This leadership team at Pepsi who manages the relationship with BJ’s used the drawing to focus on their words You’ll notice each person’s word next to their caricature.

PEPSI’S ONE WORD DRAWING

Kavaliro developed a company One Word for the year, Drive, and each team member discovered his or her individual word. The banner hangs in the corporate offices for all to see.

ONE WORD BANNER

One Word for Teams

Coaches, athletes, and teams naturally understand the power of focus as it relates to performance. That’s why teams all across the country and around the world are using One Word and getting great results.

Individual players discover that their One Word serves as an internal motivator. It helps them grow, improve, and play their roles. Additionally, teams often discover a One Word theme that unifies their focus and effort. One Word can help create team chemistry, turning an ordinary season into an extraordinary season.

Great team chemistry turns the ordinary into the extraordinary.

The stories and results from teams that have implemented One Word have been amazing.

The University of Central Florida basketball team created a One Word basketball; each player wrote his individual word on it, along with the team One Word. During the season, they traveled with their One Word basketball and placed it in their locker room before every game!

The Gettysburg College women’s lacrosse team did One Word as a team exercise. Each player discovered her word and printed it out on paper to post in her locker. As they became focused as a team, they experienced great success, winning their conference championship, and advancing to the NCAA play-offs.

GETTYSBURG COLLEGE WOMEN’S LACROSSE TEAM

The University of South Florida women’s basketball team developed their One Word theme through the painting which was displayed in their locker room. Look closely and you’ll notice each player’s word featured in the painting.

ONE WORD BASKETBALL

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA ONE WORD PAINTING

The Oklahoma University women’s basketball team put its One Word poster up in the visitor locker rooms when playing on the road as a constant reminder of the team’s purpose throughout the season.

OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY POSTER

The Murray State softball team put its team’s One Word, Fearless, on a softball cutout, and each player put her individual word on a paper bat. The picture on the next page shows what their locker room wall looked like.

MURRAY STATE SOFTBALL

The Santa Clara men’s basketball team maintained focus and positive energy throughout the year by creating a One Word document. All the players, coaches, support staff, and administration personnel discovered their words and listed them in wheel form as a symbol of their unity, along with the team One Word and team purpose. Santa Clara won more than 20 games and rebounded from a disappointing season the previous year.

SANTA CLARA BASKETBALL

One of the top sports teams in China used One Word as a transformational team builder. Together, they went through the three-step process, discovered their words, and wrote each of their words on a small stone as a reminder. Their words were Cherish, Expectation, Strength, Trust, Strong, Joy, Mentality, Thankfulness, Believe, Think, Faith, Focus, Grateful, Focus, Work, and Moment.

ONE WORD IN CHINA

One Word for Families

When families become One Word families, they quickly realize the transforming power of this activity. Life for most families today can be overwhelmingly busy with each person going in a different direction. With so many distractions, One Word helps bring families together and strengthen relationships.

The annual tradition of sitting down together and painting One Word pictures creates a lasting memory and family tradition. It becomes a time that everyone looks forward to and brings everyone together. When each family member discovers and shares his or her One Word, it gives opportunities to encourage the others and gives insight into their expectations for the year.

COOPER FAMILY

As family members post their words in prominent places (such as the kitchen), it serves as a powerful reminder and becomes part of the ongoing conversation around the dinner table. Families like the Coopers (Forgive, Pray, and Be) and Stephenses (Compassion, Big, Patient, Renew, Live, and Passion) paint pictures of their words and put them up in their house as a constant reminder.

STEPHENS FAMILY