What Makes a Good Boss? Even Kids Know!

I'm mentoring students at a local high school.  They are a bright, vibrant bunch.  Recently, I asked them to name their favorite teachers and they did without hesitation.  I then asked them why those teachers are their favorites.  

They told me their favorite teachers:  

Are FUN,
Are funny
Make the work interesting
Treat students with respect 
Are easy to talk to
Maintain control in the classroom. 

I asked them if they think these would be great attributes for a boss to have.  They agreed wholeheartedly.   So, I gave them this advice:

WHEN YOU BECOME A BOSS develop those same characteristics in yourself. 

• Look for ways to make the work fun and interested.  Assign people work that they enjoy and that will help them grow.  
• Be respectful and trustworthy in your communications.  People need to know that you have their back, and that you won't say derogatory things behind their back.
• Employ an open door policy.   That means not only having an open door, but an open mind.   It means listening, caring, and guiding as well.
• Provide your staff with the direction and support they need.   They will differ by person and situation.  
• Be the leader they can count on.

I think that's good advice for all of us!

Harboring a Closed Culture?

Recently,  I read an article that describes HR professionals as “stewards of organizational talent.” This means they are also stewards of organizational culture. An organization’s culture can be inviting and open, allowing people of divergent backgrounds to belong and thrive. On the other hand, an organization’s culture can be narrow and exclusive, accepting only those behaviors and ideas that fit the norm.  Worse still, organizational cultures can be so fragmented that each department has its own culture.  In my role as a consultant, I’ve seen this scenario many times.  It leaves disillusioned employees saying “I work for a great company, but I just don’t like the environment in my department.”  As a result, each department has its own reputation as well.  Accounting won’t work with customer service because the customer service department is seen is lazy.  Sales isn't interested in collaborating with Operations because Operations is seen as unfriendly.  Etc.    

For the fiscal and relational health of the organization, silos need to be broken. 
Professionals in talent acquisition often talk about finding candidates who fit in the organization culture.   That begs the question:  If we only hire those who “fit in” aren’t we guilty of perpetuating a “closed” culture?   This is not to suggest that recruiters should select candidates who contrast or oppose the company’s values and mission.  This could certainly lead to disengagement and ultimate failure. 

How, then, do we support cultural fit while embracing diversity? 

One way is to focus on competencies that are important to the organization – competencies such as creativity, initiative, leadership, or collaboration.  Further, make sure those competencies are not antiquated or ‘favors of the month.’  Instead hiring should be based on competencies that support the organization’s vision and goals.  If the organization, for example, has goals to increase market share by a certain percentage or increase community visibility, relationship building might be an important competency.  But, still, it probably isn’t essential for every position in the organization.   Therefore, hiring criteria should be job specific. 

Bottom line is, as companies acquire new talent, job fit and organizational fit must a part of the selection strategy.  This leads to achieving alignment; as well as individual and corporate success.  

Help! I'm Trapped. Who's In My Corner?

Last night my Dale Carnegie instructor told a story about a time when she was moving furniture and got stuck in a corner behind a dresser. Imagine it.  She moved the dresser, inch by inch, across the room and into the corner where she wanted it.  The only problem was she was stuck behind it!   She couldn't get out and she could no longer budge the dresser, no matter how she tried.  She was trapped. 

Luckily, she had her cell phone in her pocket.  She had to call a friend to help her out of that jam!  According to her, the friend laughed, teased, chastised, and reprimanded, but in the end the friend come over and helped her out of the corner. 

Sometimes we need an accountability partner as well as a helping hand.  We don't always remain consistent; nor do we make the right choices all the time.  We all need to identify those folks who are in our corner (no pun intended).  These are people we can go to for advice or assistance.  Also, these are people who will remind of past successes to motivate us, as well as lessons learned to caution us. 
For example:  
Terry:  "I'm thinking about moving my bed today. 
Pat:  "Remember when you moved your dresser and go stuck in a corner.  Maybe you should wait tell you have help."

Here's your assignment for today -- this as an exercise we do in stress management and trust building courses I facilitate.  Make a list of a few people you can count on when you're in a jam. 

Who I count on when I'm stuck:
1.  intellectually (making a decision, etc)
2. financially (overdrawn, overspent)
3. spiritually (disconnected, depressed, feeling lost)
4. physically/medically (ill, injured, etc)
5. mechanically (heater busted, car stalled, etc)

The next time you're in a jam, you'll know just where to turn.  Don't panic, and don't try to do everything by yourself! 

www.yourenhance.com

Friday Focus: Rejuvenate Your Mind

Sharpen the Saw.

Relax. Relate. Release.

Recharge your battery.

Different people call it different things.  Whatever you call it, experts say that rejuvenating your mind is about doing less not doing more.

Check out this enlightening article from Inc.com

Rejuvenating Your Mind

Consider implementing some of these techniques this weekend!

Become an Olympian in Business!

Did you see that special moment when Gabby Davis won the individual gold during the all-around gymnastics competition?   Were you watching as Michael Phelps broke the record for most medals won by a single Olympian?  These great athletes really know how to execute a few key strategies that lead to their monumental success:

 1. They set specific lead goals; not just lag goals. 

A lead goal is one that will help reach the desired accomplishment.  Steven Covey identifies it as one of the Four Disciplines of Execution in his book of the same title.  For example, Gabby’s lag goal might be to earn a score of 16 or better on her floor routine.   That’s the ultimate outcome she wants.  But she needs to set lead goals – those goals that will help her reach that outcome.  Lead goals might be mastering a 180 degree turn; sticking her landing after a double summersault;  or incorporating original dance moves not used in previous competitions.  Knowing the lag goal is important, but also knowing what goals will LEAD to the outcome is essential.  That’s why they are called lead goals – they lead to results!

22. They prepare to win.

It goes without saying that Olympic training is a total commitment of mind, body, and spirit.   These athletes commit.  They compromise.  They work hard.  They don’t go to the high-school proms, they stay in the pool and swim.  They don’t stay in the comfort and security of home, they move thousands of miles away from family to continue training. 

What does it take to win in any business or industry --  Spend more time making cold calls?  Read more articles about growing trends?  Greet customers in a more friendly manner?   Take a training class to improve skills in a certain area?  Seek feedback from peers, managers, and ,yes, subordinates?  It could all of these and more!  That’s what being prepared to win is about -- taking the initiative and being proactive.

33.  They know what it takes to excel above the others.   

                 They  focus on their strengths – Gabby knew that a dazzling performance on the parallel bars and a flawless floor routine were her best chances at winning the gold.  The balance beam is not her greatest strength but she can make up for an average beam score by shining in other areas.  She can become really good at the balance beam but it will likely never be her greatest asset.  

If a professional is great at customer interactions but not great at balancing budgets, she will benefit from concentrating on building relationships and establishing customer loyalty.  She can strengthen her skills at balancing a budget—she should ensure she has adequate abilities in this area-- but it will probably never be a strength.  Her customer interactions will have a far greater payoff. 

                

They know their competition. Great Olympians (and businesspeople) are prepared to give the customers/judges/audience something they are not receiving from competitors.   Phelps watches his competitors, even those on his own team.  He knows what it will take to beat Lochte and South African competitor, le Clos.  He watches the footage and studies their techniques.  That’s the only way an Olympian -- or a business professional -- can reach the pinnacle of success!

It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3.  Ok.  It’s not necessarily simple.  It takes effort, self-motivation, and consistent execution.  It is, however, worth it!

36 at 36

On my 36th birthday, I journaled 36 reminders and commitments to myself, as I do every year.  I ran across it and thought I would share.

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule,

or that will compromise your mental health.　



5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.　


9. Pace yourself.

Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time;

don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns.

If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety.

If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.　


13.. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet,

an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut).

This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.　


16. Carry a spiritually enlightening book with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.　


20.. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life…

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot.

Try to nip small problems in the bud.

Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.　


25.. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope

is often a good 'Thank you GOD ..'

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31.. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Dismiss your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.  (2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason)

34. Slow down & pay attention.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.  (Don't sweat the small stuff)

36. Every night before bed, write down one thing you're grateful that is unique to that day.

A Successful Frame of Mind

At a recent awards gala, Keynote speaker Tom Black discussed several keys of success.  The keys that stuck out to me are the ones focused on a successful mindset.  My reflections on some of them are: 

Be Happy Now.
          

            
Many times people say they are waiting for something before they will be happy - retirement, graduation, new car, new job, new house, marriage, divorce....  Why would one make the conscious decision to delay his/her own happiness?

Visualize your success.   Meditate on it.

         Think continually about what you want and how you can accomplish it.

Read inspirational material to encourage positive thinking.

            You will reap what you sow.  Plant positive messages to reap positive rewards.  

Remember that in every adversity there is a "seed for greater growth."

           It's our failures that help us find the path that works and the solution that fits.   Adversity quite simply makes us stronger, if we seize the opportunity to leverage it.  The Wright Brothers made over 2000 flight attempts over the course of some years before the "First Five Flights" documented in a book by the same title.   Abraham Lincoln was rejected for several public and private offices before being elected President.  Michael Jordan was kicked off his school's basketball team.

Offer No excuses.

         When it comes to excuses, there are two types of people; those who look for a way, and         those who look for  way out.  These are all factors you can control, or at least influence in your own life.  No finger pointing, no blame game.  No one to hold accountable... BUT YOU!