I've been reading about this and thinking about this for years. I have been fortunate to work with amazing collaborative insightful and giving leaders; I have also had some bosses. I think there is a definitive list somewhere but the way I view leadership is from the inside. Each of us has a different interpretation of what they need in their leader or how they want to lead.
In a time when we have 3-4 generations in a workplace, the one size fits all model won't work. Sales managers yelling at reps to make more calls, Marketing directors steadfast on their design over others, CEO's accountable to shareholders without focus on their employees to make those financial successes a reality.
Read The Room
And that room can be as granular as every single person in the organization. For some, they need a coach akin to the defensive coordinator who yells at their guys for missing the tackle. For others, they require a more personable calm approach.
The key to being a great leader, in my opinion, is twofold. First, you don't decide you're the leader; your team or company does. Second, your only focus is your team or company. Customers will show up if you create a culture of collaboration, respect, and strong internal customer service. Since most are working remotely, this makes the challenge of leadership even more important to master.
A great leader never has to remind people they are the leader.
__________________________________________________________________
Showing posts with label coaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coaching. Show all posts
April 1, 2020
April 29, 2019
My Gramps' Advice
My grandfather used to love telling the story of his boyhood friend Campbell. One day, they were at my great grandmother’s house and she had just baked a delicious chocolate cake. She asked my grandfather if he’d like a slice and he replied; “Yes please!” and she gave him one.
She then turned to Campbell and asked him the same question and he said; “I don’t mind”. She replied; “I don’t mind either” and left the room. No cake for Campbell.
Real or Imagined
Whether this story happened or not isn’t the point. My grandfather was trying to teach his 9 year old grandson to say please and thank-you and if I wanted something someone had offered me, it was okay to accept it.
How often do we do that to ourselves? We send out confusing messages to the universe and wonder why more confusion returns. My grandfather didn’t teach his grandson to take what wasn’t his or be an arrogant self-centered person, he was showing me how to discover what I wanted and be okay with wanting it.
Say What You Mean
Now take the Campbell story into your life, your work, your company, and see how often basic communication breaks down to the point of confusion. We humans try our best but often we don’t communicate very well with each other.
In our relationships, if we aren’t clear, how on earth can we expect others around us to have a clear sense of what we want, mean, or say? So the next time someone offers you a piece of cake, simply say yes please or no thank-you. It’s all you would expect if you were doing the offering.
Thanks Gramps.
__________________________________________________________________
She then turned to Campbell and asked him the same question and he said; “I don’t mind”. She replied; “I don’t mind either” and left the room. No cake for Campbell.
Real or Imagined
Whether this story happened or not isn’t the point. My grandfather was trying to teach his 9 year old grandson to say please and thank-you and if I wanted something someone had offered me, it was okay to accept it.
How often do we do that to ourselves? We send out confusing messages to the universe and wonder why more confusion returns. My grandfather didn’t teach his grandson to take what wasn’t his or be an arrogant self-centered person, he was showing me how to discover what I wanted and be okay with wanting it.
Say What You Mean
Now take the Campbell story into your life, your work, your company, and see how often basic communication breaks down to the point of confusion. We humans try our best but often we don’t communicate very well with each other.
In our relationships, if we aren’t clear, how on earth can we expect others around us to have a clear sense of what we want, mean, or say? So the next time someone offers you a piece of cake, simply say yes please or no thank-you. It’s all you would expect if you were doing the offering.
Thanks Gramps.
__________________________________________________________________
January 1, 2019
What Makes a Great Leader?
I've been reading about this and thinking about this for years. I have been fortunate to work with amazing collaborative insightful and giving leaders; I have also had some bosses. I think there is a definitive list somewhere but the way I view leadership is from the inside. Each of us has a different interpretation of what they need in their leader or how they want to lead.
In a time when we have 3-4 generations in a workplace, the one size fits all model won't work. Sales managers yelling at reps to make more calls, Marketing directors steadfast on their design over others, CEO's accountable to shareholders without focus on their employees to make those financial successes a reality.
Read The Room
And that room can be as granular as every single person in the organization. For some, they need a coach akin to the defensive coordinator who yells at their guys for missing the tackle. For others, they require a more personable calm approach.
The key to being a great leader, in my opinion, is twofold. First, you don't decide you're the leader; your team or company does. Second, your only focus is your team or company. Customers will show up if you create a culture of collaboration, respect, and strong internal customer service.
A great leader never has to remind people they are the leader.
__________________________________________________________________
In a time when we have 3-4 generations in a workplace, the one size fits all model won't work. Sales managers yelling at reps to make more calls, Marketing directors steadfast on their design over others, CEO's accountable to shareholders without focus on their employees to make those financial successes a reality.
Read The Room
And that room can be as granular as every single person in the organization. For some, they need a coach akin to the defensive coordinator who yells at their guys for missing the tackle. For others, they require a more personable calm approach.
The key to being a great leader, in my opinion, is twofold. First, you don't decide you're the leader; your team or company does. Second, your only focus is your team or company. Customers will show up if you create a culture of collaboration, respect, and strong internal customer service.
A great leader never has to remind people they are the leader.
__________________________________________________________________
December 29, 2018
The Bully and Radiohead
I was having breakfast with a great friend and colleague this week and we started talking about how each of us often gets in the way of our own success. Why do we do that? Is it self-sabotage? Is it a fear of failure or success? We humans aren't born with fear; we teach ourselves fear. It's easy to blame outside sources but we have a choice on how we process influences and what to do next.
In a previous chapter of my career, I worked in the radio industry and during the last few years of that, I oversaw the launch of two radio stations from concept to creation and then went on to consult a handful of radio station clients in my consulting work. But I told my friend I'm often visited by a force that seems to hold me back. As I continue my work at an executive recruiter, it's not the candidates or clients who are in my way, it's me!
Voices Inside Your Head
So she put me through an exercise. She said we will call that force - The Bully; and the man who launched radio stations and built teams with confidence, we'll call him Radiohead. She warned me the bully is my comfort zone; my ability to fail without trying because it wasn't meant to be. She said it was a bunch of hot air meaning nothing. She then said whenever the bully shows up, thank him for his time and wish him well and focus back on Radiohead.
You can put your own labels on your life but you have them. There are two strong forces pulling you in opposite directions. One likes it safe so it reminds you to not take bold moves while the other has shown up when you weren't even paying attention because you were so focused on the task at hand.
Say goodbye to the bully and welcome radiohead.
__________________________________________________________________
In a previous chapter of my career, I worked in the radio industry and during the last few years of that, I oversaw the launch of two radio stations from concept to creation and then went on to consult a handful of radio station clients in my consulting work. But I told my friend I'm often visited by a force that seems to hold me back. As I continue my work at an executive recruiter, it's not the candidates or clients who are in my way, it's me!
Voices Inside Your Head
So she put me through an exercise. She said we will call that force - The Bully; and the man who launched radio stations and built teams with confidence, we'll call him Radiohead. She warned me the bully is my comfort zone; my ability to fail without trying because it wasn't meant to be. She said it was a bunch of hot air meaning nothing. She then said whenever the bully shows up, thank him for his time and wish him well and focus back on Radiohead.
You can put your own labels on your life but you have them. There are two strong forces pulling you in opposite directions. One likes it safe so it reminds you to not take bold moves while the other has shown up when you weren't even paying attention because you were so focused on the task at hand.
Say goodbye to the bully and welcome radiohead.
__________________________________________________________________
August 7, 2018
Grandfather's Lesson
My grandfather used to love telling the story of his boyhood friend Campbell. One day, they were at my great grandmother’s house and she had just baked a delicious chocolate cake. She asked my grandfather if he’d like a slice and he replied; “Yes please!” and she gave him one.
She then turned to Campbell and asked him the same question and he said; “I don’t mind”. She replied; “I don’t mind either” and left the room. No cake for Campbell.
Real or Imagined
Whether this story happened or not isn’t the point. My grandfather was trying to teach his 9 year old grandson to say please and thank-you and if I wanted something someone had offered me, it was okay to accept it.
How often do we do that to ourselves? We send out confusing messages to the universe and wonder why more confusion returns. My grandfather didn’t teach his grandson to take what wasn’t his or be an arrogant self-centered person, he was showing me how to discover what I wanted and be okay with wanting it.
Say What You Mean
Now take the Campbell story into your life, your work, your company, and see how often basic communication breaks down to the point of confusion. We humans try our best but often we don’t communicate very well with each other.
In our relationships, if we aren’t clear, how on earth can we expect others around us to have a clear sense of what we want, mean, or say? So the next time someone offers you a piece of cake, simply say yes please or no thank-you. It’s all you would expect if you were doing the offering.
Thanks Gramps, you are still teaching me!
__________________________________________________________________
She then turned to Campbell and asked him the same question and he said; “I don’t mind”. She replied; “I don’t mind either” and left the room. No cake for Campbell.
Real or Imagined
Whether this story happened or not isn’t the point. My grandfather was trying to teach his 9 year old grandson to say please and thank-you and if I wanted something someone had offered me, it was okay to accept it.
How often do we do that to ourselves? We send out confusing messages to the universe and wonder why more confusion returns. My grandfather didn’t teach his grandson to take what wasn’t his or be an arrogant self-centered person, he was showing me how to discover what I wanted and be okay with wanting it.
Say What You Mean
Now take the Campbell story into your life, your work, your company, and see how often basic communication breaks down to the point of confusion. We humans try our best but often we don’t communicate very well with each other.
In our relationships, if we aren’t clear, how on earth can we expect others around us to have a clear sense of what we want, mean, or say? So the next time someone offers you a piece of cake, simply say yes please or no thank-you. It’s all you would expect if you were doing the offering.
Thanks Gramps, you are still teaching me!
__________________________________________________________________
July 14, 2018
Training vs Development
If you ask a coach, team leader, or company executive if talent attraction and retention is important to them, it’s fairly safe to say you will get a resounding yes every time. Training is important for some things but is not enough for people development.
It’s not deep enough. It’s a quick fix that simply doesn’t exist and can’t be sustained. Leadership is a daily event that needs to be your top priority. What worked last week may not work today. And what was successful a year ago may never work again. That’s why we don’t offer training, we work with clients on their ongoing leadership growth.
Roselinde Torres has studied leadership around the world and shares her thoughts on what makes a great leader. Her findings may surprise you.
__________________________________________________________________
It’s not deep enough. It’s a quick fix that simply doesn’t exist and can’t be sustained. Leadership is a daily event that needs to be your top priority. What worked last week may not work today. And what was successful a year ago may never work again. That’s why we don’t offer training, we work with clients on their ongoing leadership growth.
Roselinde Torres has studied leadership around the world and shares her thoughts on what makes a great leader. Her findings may surprise you.
__________________________________________________________________
April 16, 2015
Do You Want Some Cake?
My grandfather used to love telling the story of his boyhood friend Campbell. One day, they were at my great grandmother’s house and she had just baked a delicious chocolate cake. She asked my grandfather if he’d like a slice and he replied; “Yes please!” and she gave him one.
She then turned to Campbell and asked him the same question and he said; “I don’t mind”. She replied; “I don’t mind either” and left the room. No cake for Campbell.
Real or Imagined
Whether this story happened or not isn’t the point. My grandfather was trying to teach his 9 year old grandson to say please and thank-you and if I wanted something someone had offered me, it was okay to accept it.
How often do we do that to ourselves? We send out confusing messages to the universe and wonder why more confusion returns. My grandfather didn’t teach his grandson to take what wasn’t his or be an arrogant self-centered person, he was showing me how to discover what I wanted and be okay with wanting it.
Say What You Mean
Now take the Campbell story into your life, your work, your company, and see how often basic communication breaks down to the point of confusion. We humans try our best but often we don’t communicate very well with each other.
In our relationships, if we aren’t clear, how on earth can we expect others around us to have a clear sense of what we want, mean, or say? So the next time someone offers you a piece of cake, simply say yes please or no thank-you. It’s all you would expect if you were doing the offering.
Thanks Gramps, you are still teaching me!
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
She then turned to Campbell and asked him the same question and he said; “I don’t mind”. She replied; “I don’t mind either” and left the room. No cake for Campbell.
Real or Imagined
Whether this story happened or not isn’t the point. My grandfather was trying to teach his 9 year old grandson to say please and thank-you and if I wanted something someone had offered me, it was okay to accept it.
How often do we do that to ourselves? We send out confusing messages to the universe and wonder why more confusion returns. My grandfather didn’t teach his grandson to take what wasn’t his or be an arrogant self-centered person, he was showing me how to discover what I wanted and be okay with wanting it.
Say What You Mean
Now take the Campbell story into your life, your work, your company, and see how often basic communication breaks down to the point of confusion. We humans try our best but often we don’t communicate very well with each other.
In our relationships, if we aren’t clear, how on earth can we expect others around us to have a clear sense of what we want, mean, or say? So the next time someone offers you a piece of cake, simply say yes please or no thank-you. It’s all you would expect if you were doing the offering.
Thanks Gramps, you are still teaching me!
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
April 14, 2015
A Living or A Life?
We can pretend that work is one part of our lives and life is the other but we live a blended existence. It’s the second question most people ask when we meet them – what do you do for a living? A living? Is that where we’ve come? We get paid to provide a service and we call that a living. I’m not sure if that’s sad or a reflection of how far we have gotten off track.
Perhaps the perfect scenario is you work at something you truly enjoy; watch the Alan Watts video I posted recently and it might give you insight into what will do it for you.
Last week I had lunch with a colleague I hadn't seen in years and he reflected on the time he sold his brand new car because he realized he bought it to get to work to pay for it to get to work to pay for it. He stressed about the payments and it affected his work and then his life. He replaced the car with a bicycle.
Show me the Money
I have another friend who says he’s stuck in a bad relationship because he doesn’t want to lose his life’s savings. How sad is that. I wonder where that will be on his list of life’s passions and enjoyment as he takes his final breaths.
I’m often asked by clients and prospects how I can help them. The bigger question is understanding why they do what they do and what they want to accomplish. If there were easy answers and instant results, we’d all be millionaires.
Transformation Imminent
If we’re running a company that isn’t doing as well as it should, if we’re in relationships that aren’t making us happy, if we’re in a job that is restraining us from our true gifts, or if we’re simply unhappy where were are, what should we do? Or better stated, what are we prepared to do to change it?
The late Jim Rohn once said; “Your life doesn’t get better by chance, it gets better by change”. And the change needs to start with ourselves. I’m as guilty as you in the making excuses department.
Let’s start making a living not a paycheck.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
Perhaps the perfect scenario is you work at something you truly enjoy; watch the Alan Watts video I posted recently and it might give you insight into what will do it for you.
Last week I had lunch with a colleague I hadn't seen in years and he reflected on the time he sold his brand new car because he realized he bought it to get to work to pay for it to get to work to pay for it. He stressed about the payments and it affected his work and then his life. He replaced the car with a bicycle.
Show me the Money
I have another friend who says he’s stuck in a bad relationship because he doesn’t want to lose his life’s savings. How sad is that. I wonder where that will be on his list of life’s passions and enjoyment as he takes his final breaths.
I’m often asked by clients and prospects how I can help them. The bigger question is understanding why they do what they do and what they want to accomplish. If there were easy answers and instant results, we’d all be millionaires.
Transformation Imminent
If we’re running a company that isn’t doing as well as it should, if we’re in relationships that aren’t making us happy, if we’re in a job that is restraining us from our true gifts, or if we’re simply unhappy where were are, what should we do? Or better stated, what are we prepared to do to change it?
The late Jim Rohn once said; “Your life doesn’t get better by chance, it gets better by change”. And the change needs to start with ourselves. I’m as guilty as you in the making excuses department.
Let’s start making a living not a paycheck.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
April 11, 2015
All Wretch No Vomit
The question seems simple but the answer is clearly complicated. What would you do if you didn’t have to worry about the financial elements of life?
Alan Watts was a writer, speaker, philosopher, teacher, and spiritual leader who posed the question in his legendary speech about our quest to find passion and purpose. If you haven’t heard it, listen. If you have, it’s worth another.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
Alan Watts was a writer, speaker, philosopher, teacher, and spiritual leader who posed the question in his legendary speech about our quest to find passion and purpose. If you haven’t heard it, listen. If you have, it’s worth another.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
March 15, 2015
Perspective
It’s right there every day. You may recognize it but do you heed it often enough? A former mentor, a friend’s cousin, and a colleague’s daughter are all in my heart today. It may not be a tragic event, but do we pay close enough attention to the lessons that touch our lives?
One definition of perspective is a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view. You and I could look at the same situation with a different interpretation. Your experience may be a factor. My attitude may alter my standpoint. But the important question is, do we do anything about it.
Clear the Lens
We know life can be fragile but perhaps we go through our day without thinking too deeply about its meaning. Of course, we can’t spend every moment over thinking it all and overwhelm ourselves.
But how do we strike that balance to ensure we aren’t flippant about the essential elements in our lives, work, and relationships?
Write it Down
One way is to take a few moments each week to make a physical list of things we’re thankful for and balance that against the stress and busy of our everyday lives. The daily duties, deadlines, and stress seem to take up more of our consciousness than the important elements that shape our experience.
We might spend too much time complaining and wishing things were better rather than embracing the aspects that really are going well.
Perhaps some perspective when we focus too much on the unimportant while forgetting the essential.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
One definition of perspective is a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view. You and I could look at the same situation with a different interpretation. Your experience may be a factor. My attitude may alter my standpoint. But the important question is, do we do anything about it.
Clear the Lens
We know life can be fragile but perhaps we go through our day without thinking too deeply about its meaning. Of course, we can’t spend every moment over thinking it all and overwhelm ourselves.
But how do we strike that balance to ensure we aren’t flippant about the essential elements in our lives, work, and relationships?
Write it Down
One way is to take a few moments each week to make a physical list of things we’re thankful for and balance that against the stress and busy of our everyday lives. The daily duties, deadlines, and stress seem to take up more of our consciousness than the important elements that shape our experience.
We might spend too much time complaining and wishing things were better rather than embracing the aspects that really are going well.
Perhaps some perspective when we focus too much on the unimportant while forgetting the essential.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
February 27, 2014
What Makes a Great Leader?
It is one of the oldest questions in the proverbial book.
If you ask a coach, team leader, or company executive if talent attraction and retention is important to them, it’s fairly safe to say you will get a resounding yes every time.
We may think it’s about price, product, marketing, logos, market share, that new restaurant that just opened up, stock prices, the new thingamajig that start-up from Mountainview launched, and all the other metrics that seem to measure the success of business, yet all pale in comparison to the importance of not only having the right people in your company but the continuation of their ongoing growth and development.
Training is important for some things but is not enough for people development.
It’s not deep enough. It’s a quick fix that simply doesn’t exist and can’t be sustained. Leadership is a daily event that needs to be your top priority. What worked last week may not work today. And what was successful a year ago may never work again. That’s why we don’t offer training, we work with clients on their ongoing leadership growth.
Roselinde Torres has studied leadership around the world and shares her thoughts on what makes a great leader. Her findings may surprise you.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | Leadership Strategist, consultant, writer, speaker, executive coach facilitating performance growth with leaders, management, and teams.
Roselinde Torres | TED
If you ask a coach, team leader, or company executive if talent attraction and retention is important to them, it’s fairly safe to say you will get a resounding yes every time.
We may think it’s about price, product, marketing, logos, market share, that new restaurant that just opened up, stock prices, the new thingamajig that start-up from Mountainview launched, and all the other metrics that seem to measure the success of business, yet all pale in comparison to the importance of not only having the right people in your company but the continuation of their ongoing growth and development.
Training is important for some things but is not enough for people development.
It’s not deep enough. It’s a quick fix that simply doesn’t exist and can’t be sustained. Leadership is a daily event that needs to be your top priority. What worked last week may not work today. And what was successful a year ago may never work again. That’s why we don’t offer training, we work with clients on their ongoing leadership growth.
Roselinde Torres has studied leadership around the world and shares her thoughts on what makes a great leader. Her findings may surprise you.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | Leadership Strategist, consultant, writer, speaker, executive coach facilitating performance growth with leaders, management, and teams.
Roselinde Torres | TED
September 20, 2010
Are You A Good Coach?
John Robert Wooden was a brilliant coach and sharp judge of human behavior. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and a coach. His mind was sharp for his entire 99 years before passing away earlier this year.
This is his TEDTalk from 2001. This is about so much more than basketball. [video]
knealemann
Let's create experiences not campaigns.
image credit: TED
This is his TEDTalk from 2001. This is about so much more than basketball. [video]
knealemann
Let's create experiences not campaigns.
image credit: TED
August 6, 2010
Are You Roger Federer?
Roger Federer is the real deal. He is a solid dude. Happily married to the lovely Mirka Vavrinec with twin girls Charlene and Myla. In 2003, he started his own charitable foundation to help disadvantaged children, has done work with UNICEF and organized a charity initiative with other top players entitled Hit for Haiti.
The Guy Is A Phenom
His work ethic is resolute and until some injuries in the last couple of years, his winning streak was not of this world. He was consistently winning or at the very least in the semis or finals of virtually every tournament.
Fed was the world’s dominant number one tennis player and it seemed he could stay there for as long as he wanted. He has slipped to number three but clearly won’t settle for that. Go Rafa!
One For The Record Books
Roger Federer has won 62 titles including 16 grand slam singles and 8 grand slam doubles championships. His lifetime professional match winning record is 701-168 and let’s lob in a gold medal from the Beijing Olympics.
The man is not just a professional tennis player; he is an elite athlete and will forever be on the best of all time list. But until recently, he was alone in one curious category.
Calling Your Own Plays
Throughout his career, he has gone long stretches without a full-time coach. Fed has agents and trainers and lawyers and other staff but often not a coach.
Who at this level doesn’t have a coach? What individual or team member, playing at the peak of performance in the highest level of sport, does not have another pair of eyes on them? Just imagine the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks winning this past spring without Joel Quenneville behind the bench.
But Things Have Changed
The only elite athlete on the planet, who didn’t have a coach, now has one, for now. Paul Annacone was Pete Sampras’ long time coach and also coached Tim Henman who made it to number four.
As a pro, Annacone made it as high as number twelve in singles’ rankings. After his playing career he was the managing director of the USTA then the head coach of the Lawn Tennis Association and the British Davis Cup Team.
Give It A Shot
Federer has asked Annacone to work with him on a trial basis. An accomplished coach has the biggest challenge of his career and the best tennis player in history is now paying someone to tell him how to improve his game and get back to number one.
Have a look at your career. Who is your coach?
knealemann
strategy. marketing. media.
image credit: wilson
July 8, 2010
Can You Help Me?
Four Simple Words
Why do most of us have trouble saying them? Most people I know are good at offering a hand but tend to be more reluctant to ask.
This is about gaining a new perspective on a certain area of your business or career. You may need others to hit the restart for you and clear your vision.
Online Etiquette
We can get stuck in a world where we are supposed have our act together. If you travel in the social web, you know that you can't go online and complain about prospecting or revenue or being stuck. No one likes a whiner. Conversely, the fine line gets finer because few like anyone who brags about themselves all the time.
This is why a personal advocacy group is essential. Find five people who can give you real advice, clear direction and objective perspective. In return, offer that help back to others. This needs to be taken seriously and people's time must be respected.
This is not a dumping ground for grievances.
This week, I sent a note to seven people and simply asked for fifteen minutes of their time. All seven agreed. Thanks guys! The help has proved invaluable. It was tough to ask for help but as a friend of mine who is a psychologist reminds me - asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.
The little things become the big things and your advisers can help you keep them small and manageable. Suffering in silence or pretending you have it all covered will significantly affect your career and business in a negative way. It will also affect those around you. Been there, done that.
Where are you stuck? Who can you call? Who can you help?
@knealemann
Helping you integrate all you do with all you do.
photo credit: teacherinthemaking
Why do most of us have trouble saying them? Most people I know are good at offering a hand but tend to be more reluctant to ask. This is about gaining a new perspective on a certain area of your business or career. You may need others to hit the restart for you and clear your vision.
Online Etiquette
We can get stuck in a world where we are supposed have our act together. If you travel in the social web, you know that you can't go online and complain about prospecting or revenue or being stuck. No one likes a whiner. Conversely, the fine line gets finer because few like anyone who brags about themselves all the time.
This is why a personal advocacy group is essential. Find five people who can give you real advice, clear direction and objective perspective. In return, offer that help back to others. This needs to be taken seriously and people's time must be respected.
This is not a dumping ground for grievances.
This week, I sent a note to seven people and simply asked for fifteen minutes of their time. All seven agreed. Thanks guys! The help has proved invaluable. It was tough to ask for help but as a friend of mine who is a psychologist reminds me - asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.
The little things become the big things and your advisers can help you keep them small and manageable. Suffering in silence or pretending you have it all covered will significantly affect your career and business in a negative way. It will also affect those around you. Been there, done that.
Where are you stuck? Who can you call? Who can you help?
@knealemann
Helping you integrate all you do with all you do.
photo credit: teacherinthemaking
November 4, 2009
Silence May Not Be Golden
Have you ever been in a business meeting where there have been people who have said nothing? Of course. If you know me, you know I'm never that guy. Ha!They may quietly take notes, smile and seem to be paying attention.
They usually are, but as someone who is never short on conversation I find these people amazing yet puzzling.
Is it their choice to say nothing?
With strong personalities present, are they afraid to contribute?
It’s one thing to be polite and pay attention to a presentation but this is pointed at those who rarely if ever utter one word in any meeting. Perhaps you should wonder why they are in the meeting in the place or more importantly whether there is a deeper issue. Are great ideas being lost in the back of the room?
Some people prefer not to lead discussions or speak with ease and that’s okay. But in a co-creative workspace, it requires contribution from everyone.
It's important to decipher the reasons why they remain silent.
A common perpetrator is the highest ranking official in the room who makes it clear they are not interested in ideas or a democratic creative process.
I know this is shocking but some managers actually do not want others’ opinions. In other cases - though rare - those in management positions do not possess the skills or training to actually coach people.
Some people are shy, some are polite and some are respectful of authority. Some feel the only way to survive these types of situations is to sit quietly, nod and take notes.
Do you know the real reason for their silence?
@knealemann
Helping you create your best business
marketing and social media strategy.
image credit: outinc.ca
June 16, 2009
Wanna Make More Money?
You are running a business. But you want to increase the bottom line, have a larger market share and get more out of your people. What Should You Do? What Shouldn't You Do?
Here are some steps you can take to gain a competitive advantage no matter what industry you are in during any economic climate.
◦ Have a plan and be flexible.
◦ Fix every broken window as fast as possible.
◦ Avoid short cuts at all costs.
◦ Be clear in your direction and offer constant coaching.
◦ Manage your expectations.
◦ Tell the truth.
◦ Ban cubicles immediately.
◦ Encourage and nurture a co-creative atmosphere
◦ Demanding respect is an exercise in futility.
◦ Make your company a fun place spend 1,949 hours a year.
◦ Answer customer complaints promptly.
◦ Don’t just say it – do it.
◦ Allow your people to be rock stars.
◦ Your bottom line is directly affected by their bottom line.
◦ Understand everyone is motivated differently.
◦ Compensate fairly - not according to some industry average.
◦ Raise everyone’s standards - most importantly, yours.
◦ If you need to remind them you’re the boss, you’re in trouble.
If you do everything on this list, you will be 50% of the way there. And if you offer adequate products or services your team will win. But if you offer superior products or services your team will dominate.
And Remember...
Accountability only happens when everyone in the building is accountable to everyone in the building. Yes, that means you too.
What will you do today to improve your workspace?
@knealemann
knealemann at gmail dot com
Helping clients better utilize all media.
How to make it, use it and profit from it.
