Build From Your Strengths!

As change agents, leaders are constantly engaged with supporters, detractors and watchers. Depending on the specific issue(s) an individual may be a supporter on one issue while being a detractor to another.

These groups are typically easy to identify as the supporter is the person who shares the leader’s vision and understands the benefits of moving forward with that vision. The detractors on the other hand are those who are comfortable with the status quo and feel they have more to lose following the new direction and have no interest in change while the watchers are those on the fence, waiting and watching before they declare which camp they will align themselves.

It is difficult to turn detractors into supporters.  Instead, leaders should work to turn supporters into champions, watchers into supporters, and neutralize detractors, turning them into watchers or making them simply go away.

In other words…don’t waste your time with your donkeys…stroke your thoroughbreds…and build from your strengths…

Be good to yourself…

Abe is Still Teaching...

Being a lifelong resident of “The Land of Lincoln” my wife and I finally made a trip to the Capitol of Illinois. There, in the heart of Illinois, in the city of Springfield, is the Lincoln Museum, and the Lincoln Library. We weren’t in the museum for more than 10 minutes before I became overwhelmed with the history and intrigued by the leadership style of one of our greatest presidents.

Lincoln was a simple man of simple means. There were hundreds of stories about his life and the personal and professional challenges he faced, but the thread that wove its way through each and every story was the humility of Lincoln. Humility…an attribute not seen in many of our leaders today yet desperately needed.

There are some who would contend that humility is not necessarily a trait which comes to mind for great leaders. In fact, some would argue that humility is more of a weakness than a strength as a leader must show a backbone, be confident, almost arrogant to get ahead. On the other hand, some would contend that it takes strength to be humble.

Consider the benefits of humble leadership by:

1. Being open to opinions different from your own. Humble leaders not only listen, but SEEK views from all sides making decisions based on the best interest of the organization.

2. Putting others first. Research clearly indicates that performance is much higher when members of an organization believe that their leader is truly looking out for their best interests, that they genuinely care, and that the leader is doing everything in his power to ensure members have what is needed to get the job done well.

3. Admitting mistakes. NO ONE IS PERFECT…admit your mistakes and LEARN from them…move forward…do make excuses.

4. Accepting ambiguity as you can’t control everything. Sometimes you simply don’t have enough information to make good decisions…ask more questions…seek the advice of others.

5. Self-reflecting is imperative to gauge your humility as it doesn’t come easy to most of us.

6. Trusting people to do their jobs as micromanaging kills morale and isn’t very humble.

7. Remembering the words of old Abe himself when he said, “Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of it.”

Be good to yourself…

How to Tame Your Inner Voice

Recently I was talking to an emerging leader who asked what tips I might have to control self-doubts, or that little voice in all of us that rears its ugly head on occasion telling us we’re not smart enough, or we have no idea what we’re doing. Even the most seasoned leaders have to tame those thoughts and use various techniques to address them. Here are some ideas for you to consider.

· We all know the golden rule…do unto others as they would do to you… I’d have you to consider changing it a bit and do to YOURSELF what you’d do for others…In other words; most times we’re too hard on ourselves. What would you say or do to help a struggling employee? You’d be empathetic, resourceful, a support to get that top performer back on track…so do to yourself what it is you’d do for others.

· When things aren’t going well…ask yourself what it is you’re LEARNING from the experience. Don’t most people, if not all, agree that we LEARN more from our failures than our successes? View these times of self-doubt as a time to embrace the thought learning and growing. Success is a journey…not a destination…enjoy the trip.

· Be careful not to OVER THINK an issue. I once saw a poster which read, “Over thinking is simply the art of creating problems which don’t exist. “

· Sometimes we CAN’T see the forest for the trees. Learn to walk away from an issue for some time. Clear your head, take a walk, go to that yoga class you’ve been thinking about, get some fresh air, think outside the box, have fun with exploring CRAZY ideas, play the “what if” game…and remember…NOTHING is impossible!

· Henry Ford once said, “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

Be good to yourself…

How to Tame Your Inner Voice

Recently I was talking to an emerging leader who asked what tips I might have to control self-doubts, or that little voice in all of us that rears its ugly head on occasion telling us we’re not smart enough, or we have no idea what we’re doing. Even the most seasoned leaders have to tame those thoughts and use various techniques to address them. Here are some ideas for you to consider.

· We all know the golden rule…do unto others as they would do to you… I’d have you to consider changing it a bit and do to YOURSELF what you’d do for others…In other words; most times we’re too hard on ourselves. What would you say or do to help a struggling employee? You’d be empathetic, resourceful, a support to get that top performer back on track…so do to yourself what it is you’d do for others.

· When things aren’t going well…ask yourself what it is you’re LEARNING from the experience. Don’t most people, if not all, agree that we LEARN more from our failures than our successes? View these times of self-doubt as a time to embrace the thought learning and growing. Success is a journey…not a destination…enjoy the trip.

· Be careful not to OVER THINK an issue. I once saw a poster which read, “Over thinking is simply the art of creating problems which don’t exist. “

· Sometimes we CAN’T see the forest for the trees. Learn to walk away from an issue for some time. Clear your head, take a walk, go to that yoga class you’ve been thinking about, get some fresh air, think outside the box, have fun with exploring CRAZY ideas, play the “what if” game…and remember…NOTHING is impossible!

· Henry Ford once said, “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

Be good to yourself…

How to Tame Your Inner Voice

Recently I was talking to an emerging leader who asked what tips I might have to control self-doubts, or that little voice in all of us that rears its ugly head on occasion telling us we’re not smart enough, or we have no idea what we’re doing. Even the most seasoned leaders have to tame those thoughts and use various techniques to address them. Here are some ideas for you to consider.

· We all know the golden rule…do unto others as they would do to you… I’d have you to consider changing it a bit and do to YOURSELF what you’d do for others…In other words; most times we’re too hard on ourselves. What would you say or do to help a struggling employee? You’d be empathetic, resourceful, a support to get that top performer back on track…so do to yourself what it is you’d do for others.

· When things aren’t going well…ask yourself what it is you’re LEARNING from the experience. Don’t most people, if not all, agree that we LEARN more from our failures than our successes? View these times of self-doubt as a time to embrace the thought learning and growing. Success is a journey…not a destination…enjoy the trip.

· Be careful not to OVER THINK an issue. I once saw a poster which read, “Over thinking is simply the art of creating problems which don’t exist. “

· Sometimes we CAN’T see the forest for the trees. Learn to walk away from an issue for some time. Clear your head, take a walk, go to that yoga class you’ve been thinking about, get some fresh air, think outside the box, have fun with exploring CRAZY ideas, play the “what if” game…and remember…NOTHING is impossible!

· Henry Ford once said, “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

Be good to yourself…

How do YOU Deal with Negative Ned?

I recently read an article by Gwen Morgan revolving around chronic complainers within an organization. We’ve all encountered those negative Ned’s and Nancy’s who tip the scales from just being negative to becoming toxic with all those they encounter. Sadly, if not put in check, inappropriate complaining can become contagious costing productivity and eroding morale within an organization.

Here are some tips for redirecting the conversation and helping the complainer move forward rather than wallowing in their “pity-party.”

1. LISTEN…really listen as many chronic complainers feel that they are NOT being heard. Validate what it is they are saying. That’s not to say you need to agree, but rather be empathetic to what it is they are saying.

2. REFRAME THE SITUATION…many times the complainer simply needs to SEE a different perspective. Again, they need not agree to the perspective, but just see that there may be 2 sides to consider.

3. CHANGE YOUR RESPONSE…complainers are energy drains for their audiences. Often, their negative talk can energize them because it places blame on others and boosts their self-esteem, says David M. Long, assistant professor of organizational behavior at the College of William & Mary. So, like other communication styles, accepting that this is the individual’s way of communicating without taking it personally can be an effective coping technique

4. ASK FOR SOLUTIONS…sometimes the complainer actually has solutions and/or suggestions which are helpful.

5. CALL IT OUT…there are times that a leader must simply hit the mule over the head with a 2X4 and call out the inappropriate behavior…

Of course on any given day any or none of this suggestions may or may not work…but hang in there, even water cuts rock…eventually…

Be good to yourself…

Someday????

Sometimes I must admit, I’m a little behind the times. I see something for the first time that has been around FOREVER, according to my oldest daughter. Recently, I came across such an artifact. It was a simple poster which read:

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

SOMEDAY

SOMEDAY IS NOT A DAY OF THE WEEK!

How profound, and yet how many of us put off goals that we should be attempting now instead of waiting until SOMEDAY…which is NOT a day of the week??? Just sayin...

Be good to yourself…