I dream in potential. It may seem weird but most dreams are. It is the Maximizer® in me, seeking to transform something strong into something superb. Most of the dreams have to do with unrealized potential; that of which is right in front of you if only you could see it. Here’s a great example made better only that it wasn’t a dream. A recent project to improve the view in our home involved washing …
Stepping into a new leadership role can be overwhelming. There is the excitement of the new opportunity, the chance to prove yourself and a bit (or more) apprehension of your ability to do so. The combination of adrenaline and fear can be deadly or powerful. Which will it be for you? Reading this you are taking the first step, and that is acknowledging that the promotion or new role is not the place to celebrate. …
Leadership is a magnificent endeavor. To lead is to guide on a way especially by going in advance, or to direct on a course or in a direction. Leadership can show in many roles from parenting to a universal leader such as Gandhi. It has many different styles – Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building and Strategic Thinking. There is no one way to lead. But in order to lead there is a requirement – trust. No one …
Who are the people that “get it done” on your team? They are likely easy to identify by the long “to-do” lists that are completed. Daily. They turn the plans of the Strategic Thinkers into action and back up the promises of the Influencers. Many of us mistakenly think we lead with Executing because we get things done. Do you lead by Executing or are you simply a human doing? The true Executors among us …
Strategic Thinkers add a dimension to the team that considers what could be. Futuristic, in the now or considering past events, they analyze the inputs to inform decisions. As careful considerers, they often need time to contemplate all the options. You might recognize these contributors as the “smart” ones in the room. The value of Strategic Thinkers in a team is obvious, however their talents may not always show in the brightest of light. The …
Relationship Builders are the glue that holds the organization together. Whether in a family or a part of Mission Control, relationship builders are the uniting force that bring 1 + 1 + 1 together in a way that is more powerful than just three contributors. What could your team accomplish with someone like this on the roster? The great news is that more of the population possess relationship building skills that any of the other …
Who are the Influencers on your team? Does their natural talent stand-out? Or are they a bit subtle, perhaps taking on the tone of your team? Identifying and drawing out those with influencing themes are crucial to the success of your projects and your business. Influencers are identified by the energy they bring to a room and an effort they are passionate about. Sometimes seen as self-serving if they are not able to play to …
As she entered the room the energy was palpable. A force of nature had arrived, bringing with her an excitement that had not been noticeably missing until she was there. The group shifted and recalibrated awaiting to see what would happen now that she had arrived. Rising to the occasion were the others in the group with similar strengths – those that enjoy being “on stage” and have a unique ability to influence others. Until …
George Bernard Shaw said “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” A powerful statement and frankly, it simply sums up a challenge we deal with on a daily basis. Spouse to spouse, parent to child, co-worker to co-worker, you to barista and assuming that we all are speaking the same language and in our native tongue, what happens from lip to ear? Communication is more than the words …
Act! Act now! Act on the information you’ve received. Asking for feedback requires action, particularly when asked of employees. Consider a few situations. If asking has determined that someone on the bus is not a fit, act now. Moving quickly can preserve the culture and morale of the team. It also increases trust, one of the four attributes of great leadership. It may be hard to believe but relieving the team of a bad fit …
Who wants to be on the bus you are driving? Can you tell by the glazed eyes and distracted glances at the smartphone in the weekly meeting? Probably not. Discovering who wants to be on the bus starts with the hiring process, and continues from there. However, you can’t ask if they want to be on the bus if you can’t tell them where the bus is headed! Start with the company’s vision and purpose …
The gnashing and grinding of the gears of a business. We would all love a well-oiled machine, smoothly operating except for planned downtimes to retool and refresh. It’s not a reality for our machines and is certainly not an expectation we can have for the people in our organization. What we can do is provide resources to do the work, an energizing environment and great management. The vision and purpose for the organization is the …
In “A Winning Team Begins With You” we identified that great teams come from great leaders. And that leadership begins with you. Our preference is to look at others’ performance as a reflection that they are not capable; that a failing within the other person is the reason for underperformance. While at times that can certainly be the case, great teams are created with great leadership and that is determined by you. Look inside How …
Do you ever look at your team and wonder “What are they thinking?” The blank stares or distracted looks at the smartphone have you wondering if you speak a foreign language. With missed deadlines and broken communication you wonder how anything gets done. Oh yea…that’s right, you are the one picking up the pieces. Great leadership begins with you. But it takes willing team players to make you a leader of more than just yourself. …
Over the past few weeks, it has occurred to me over and over again, that a feeling of tiredness or fear may be something entirely different. Getting out of bed each morning is a very simple example. Even with 7 or more hours of sleep it is difficult to rouse the body from the prone position. “I’m so tired” or “Shouldn’t I sleep until I don’t feel tired” may be what we are inclined to …
Sharing the story of my love for riding and enjoyment of golf is to highlight a common mis-perception. Just because we are proficient at something doesn’t mean we will pursuit it or even attempt mastery. Discovering what we enjoy doing is an ongoing, exploratory process. Parents, teachers and other earlier influencers notice and suggest things that would interest us. They also provide the opportunities for us to experience and explore things, discovering what we enjoy …
What is the difference between proficiency and someone who loves their work? How do you move from mediocrity to mastery? The Masters golf tournament give us that opportunity to watch mastery in action. And watch I do! I begin playing at the game of golf in late 1998 after my husband Ed and I returned from 4 years of living in Asia. Ed had long wanted to play but Tokyo, Japan was not the place …
Writing about the need for creating your personal development plan, gave me greater appreciation for doing work that you love. When you look at the basic components that make us proficient at something, you’ll find that having a passion or purpose for what you do makes it interesting, exciting, intriguing and fun. Here’s how… Being proficient at something requires: Skills Knowledge Experience Take a basic example – bookkeeping. It requires skills in organization and the …
Recently I was reviewing the agenda for a conference deciding whether or not it was worth attending. I love to learn, so conferences have great appeal, plus I get to meet new people! Several presentations caught my eye and I explored them further. The one of greatest interest was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. That is early even if you are staying at the conference hotel. Reading further I saw that the presentation was categorized as …
Do you yearn for a formula for success? A combination of elements that would make moving through your personal and professional life easier? Have you found it in the articles and blogs promising the “7 Keys to Outperformance” or “Perfecting Balance in an Imperfect World?” While enticing, most of us have discovered that these resources serve as helpful reminders or insightful ideas, yet they aren’t the solution we seek. I would love to give you …