Michael D. Ward

Background

About Michael D. Ward

OPTIMIZING PERFORMANCE - this is the premier challenge facing organizations today. And I deliver against that challenge by engaging and developing client-centric, innovative and purpose driven people. I leverage my proven abilities to control, direct and empower operations and project teams in a highly-regulated industry. I’m at my best when I engage, develop, and deploy colleagues in the most optimal way to meet organizational goals. Gallup recently reported that only 21% of employees strongly agree that their performance is managed in a way that motivates them to do outstanding work. HOW I DO WHAT I DO I combine a 'Servant Leadership' mindset with my team’s skills, strengths, needs and desires to develop systems to boost performance. I take a ‘deep dive’ with each team member to understand what they do and how they do it. Only then am I able to offer better insights to make needed improvements. I tailor learning to the needs of each person. I dig into information looking for patterns. I seek anything that will allow me to ‘connect the dots’, to inform me as I create a fresh approach to tackle issues. I ask my team to question the ‘status quo’. Together, we pull the facts apart, see new configurations, and devise ways to get results that serve our mission. THE VALUE I CREATE PERFORMANCE | I find ways to ‘squeeze’ results out of Operations. When things work well, I make them work better. I orchestrate teams built around each person’s abilities and contributions. This is how we turn something strong into something superb. PROCESS | I create approaches that save time, money and improve quality. I learn what people do and how they do it. I listen to their ideas as to how to make improvements and build on those ideas. PEOPLE | I engage people. Engaged employees create ‘valued’ client experiences that form stronger and longer-lasting relationships. When employees are engaged, companies experience increases in tenure and their collective expertise. I make the people around me successful.