Oh Boy...Here We Go Again...

Here we go again…Halloween is just around the corner with all the ghosts, axe murderers, and goblins preying on innocent neighbors to give them treats or be punished with a “trick” which simply takes the form of vandalism. Do I sound cynical? I suppose I do as I really have a difficult time seeing the “good” in this particular “holiday.”

When you think about it, holidays typically bring out the GOOD in people…in families. It’s a time to draw together to count blessings and be of good cheer. I know I’m in the minority on this one as EVERYONE LOVES Halloween…I’m just the poster boy of the Halloween Scrooge.

That being said, I searched the web to see if there were any positive correlates between leadership and the celebrated holiday.  Here are 6 lessons to be learned as presented by West Chester University in Philadelphia.

1. Hand Out Treats - Although people aren’t going to go door to door asking for handouts as kids do on Halloween, leaders should look for opportunities to give out “treats” on a daily basis. This doesn’t have to mean candy or financial rewards. People thrive off of positive feedback and recognition, and will put in extra effort knowing that their contributions are not only noticed, but acknowledged and celebrated.
2. Inspire creativity - Every Halloween, we see people come up with the most creative costumes. People are more willing to participate and bring new ideas to the table when creativity is accepted and encouraged. As a leader, it’s important to be confident in your own creative capabilities and give others the opportunity to bring out their creative side as well.
3. Stay Determined - Just because you don’t get the candy you want, doesn’t mean you give up on trick-or-treating. It may take two, three, sometimes more tries until you get what you desired. Leaders set their eye on the end result, without losing focus or hope when things don’t turn out as expected.
4. Don’t Fear the Unknown - Halloween is full of spooky scare tactics. Although leaders are often faced with “scares,” they do not let these fears define or limit them. They do not dwell on the unknown, the “what-ifs.” Instead, they focus on overcoming their fears.
5. Never Walk Alone - When you walk alone, you tend to stride down the “safe streets.” Having others there can encourage you to branch out to new roads, opportunities, and concepts. Leaders walk in sync with their people, and listen and entrust them along the way.
6. Don’t Forget to Take Off Your Mask - While it’s fun to take on a different identity for a day, it’s important not to lose sight of your authentic self. Leaders must be consistent and transparent in their identity in order to gain the trust of others.

Hmmmm…maybe there ARE “treats” that even I’m able to take away, without tricking anyone…

Ahhhh BOO-HUMBUG!

Be good to yourself…

Are You Growing...Or Rotting On The Vine?

“Do you consider yourself green and growing or ripe and rotting?” This is a question that is attributed to the late Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonalds. It’s an intriguing question.  Let’s be honest, most of us would like to believe that we continue to be green and growing. But are we? How do we know that we’re simply not ripe and beginning to rot on the vine?

Author Marlene Chism outlined the following 7 signs as evidence of growth in her recent blog:

1. Your beliefs are still evolving.

Beliefs are formed from birth. As we evolve, gather additional information, reflect, our beliefs are changed subtly or, in some cases, substantially. If we are growing…we are still evolving…

2. You can see different points of view.

If we are growing we’re learning. The more we learn, the more curious we become. The more curious we become, the more likely we are to consider other points of view. That’s not to say that we agree with all different points of view, but that we can at least see “the opposite side of the coin.”

3. You are willing to stop unproductive habits.

As we all know, the first sign of insanity is to do what we’ve always done and expect different results. If we are truly growing, we are constantly re-evaluating our effectiveness and stopping those habitual habits that prove to be unproductive. A sign of growth, according to the author, is the willingness to stop habits (even the enjoyable ones) that stunt growth.

4. You consciously build productive habits.

Makes sense that if we’re identifying our nonproductive habits that we should consciously build productive ones. New habits require us to DO something, which may be very uncomfortable at first, but we know that it IS in our best interest. It becomes a habit when we no longer think about it, it becomes part of our routine.

5. You grow thicker skin.

A sign of growth is that you no longer take things so personally. Instead of anger getting the best of you, you take a deep breath, ask clarifying questions and realize that debate, differences of opinion can be a healthy way to move forward. You realize that the whole world is NOT against you…

6. You achieve more than you thought possible.

By definition, growing is becoming larger or greater over a period of time…to increase. A sign of continuous growth is looking back and seeing how far you’ve come…and a desire to keep moving forward.

7. Your definition of success changes

I believe this is directly related to the first indicator. As our beliefs are honed, experiences gained, we no longer need to “keep up with the Joneses.” As we grow, we find that success isn’t measured by “things” but rather by our state of being, the kind of relationships built, the growth of those mentored under our watch. Someone once said, “Success is not measured in the amount of dollars you make, but the amount of lives you impact.”

So…are you green and growing or ripe and rotting? The choice is really up to you. I must admit, I’m in various stages of this growth chart and there are times I need to regroup in certain areas (I guess that’s a good thing to realize if I am going to continually grow.)  However. as I read and re-read these 7 indicators of growth, they all seemed to revolve around LEARNING…hmmm…I guess if we’re not learning…we are indeed rotting…

Be good to yourself...

So...You've Gotta Ask Yourself One Question...

For those of you who are superstitious you’re well aware of today’s date and all that it encumbers. Friday the 13^th falls at least once a year and for really bad years can fall as many as three times in a given year. Today marks the second and last Friday the 13^th for 2017.

SO you’ve gotta ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?  Well do ya…?” Of course, there are two types of luck…good and bad…Interestingly we all know someone on each end of the spectrum…how can one person fall victim to so many “unlucky” mishaps while the next person seems to fall into a pile of manure only to come out smelling like a rose?

Is luck simply a mindset? There are those who would suggest that when we

BELIEVE in a particular ritual or superstition, it’s that belief or trust that boosts the certainty of the outcome. Believe that breaking a mirror will bring bad luck and everything that goes wrong will be magnified by that lousy mirror. Rubbing a rabbit’s foot might be just what you need to help boost your confidence which has a way of cascading a positive effect in your mental state which helps performance.

It’s no coincidence that organizations succeed when leaders provide their people with a greater sense of purpose to believe in. The power of conviction is not to be ignored. When we believe, trust, and are committed, our brains can override uncertainty, or, conversely fan the flames of certain doom depending on if we believe in “good luck” or “bad luck.”

SO you’ve gotta ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?  Well do ya…?”

Be good to yourself…

Fill In The Blank..._______ is Golden!

For those of you who know me, I assume this will not be a stretch for you to understand or believe, but as a child, I was a TALKER! My elementary report cards would verify that when it came to my “social habits” talking was one that always seemed to “need improvement.” My parents were very patient, reminding me on more than one occasion that, “Silence is Golden”…a concept I had a hard time grasping. As time marched on, I learned the value of listening more and talking less.

Over the past decade however I have noticed the deterioration of a good discussion giving way to countless emails, or the use of some sort of social media format. People seem to be talking less, giving way to email or text blasts eliminating face to face dialogue and silencing open and honest discussion. I’m beginning to feel that silence is NOT golden…that silence is becoming more of a detriment to the overall culture and health of many organizations.

In an article in Harvard Business Review, authors Boris Groysberg and Michael Slind conclude that Leadership Is a Conversation. (CLICK HERE for full article) Their research concluded that by TALKING with employees, rather than simply issuing directives via email, leaders can promote flexibility, engagement, and strategic alignment.

They go on to identify four elements to create “organizational conversation” that reflect the essential attributes of interpersonal conversation:

1.      INTIMACY shifts the focus of “top-down” to “bottom-up exchange of ideas and solutions. Organizational conversation is less formal and is intended to incorporate a casual tone. It’s more about asking and answering questions than it is about simply issuing orders or directives.

2.      INTERACTIVITY is to embrace the unpredictable vitality that a dialogue can bring versus a traditional “one-way” media such as print or that of a broadcast such as an email or text.

3.      INCLUSION turns employees into full-fledged conversation partners, entitling and encouraging them to provide their own ideas and possible solutions.

4.      INTENTIONALITY enables leaders and employees to arrive at a strategic and relevant action or solution from the push and pull of a DISCUSSION…

So my friends, perhaps it’s time to rethink old adages…as DISCUSSION is GOLDEN…not silence…

Be good to yourself…

Ron

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more; you are a leader. - John Quincy Adams