Demographics and Assumptions

We live in a time when there can be 3-4 generations inside your company; sometimes within each department or team. That can provide dynamic collaboration. Yes, age is just a number, but it's a deeper issue than birthdays. There are socioeconomic and psychographic complexities if you have teams with members in many demographics.

I'm a walking contradiction because I'm a big fan of assessments, analytical data, and research, but I'm also not a fan of sweeping generalizations. Men are this; women like that; baby boomers prefer that; millennials are like this, etc. Nothing replaces one-on-one conversations to assess each and every person your team.

There's a right way to get on the bus.

I was recently involved in an on-boarding exercise that was far less than optimal. There were a lot of assumptions; the new employee was left to "figure it out" with no formal training; while biases and assumptions made it an excellent study in how to not bring in a new employee.

Do your research and get to know the different styles and preferences of each age group within your company; then drop the data and have human conversations while adopting one key element.

Keep an open mind policy.
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Learn, Lead, Share, Repeat

Leadership is a complex and iterative journey. It would be simple to look back at when you got a raise or promotion or that first big client as moments of growth. But when you look deeper, it's often before and after those events where you can see the change.

Since we aren't machines nor are our co-workers and fellow stakeholders, we need to keep a keen eye on human elements and interaction. So if we pause for moment and look at those times in our career where we felt hampered perhaps in a restricted environment, were those possible learning opportunities or obstacles?

Two-Way Leader

If you feel you need to be strong, even when you aren't sure, then you may be setting yourself up for future problems. If you think you may appear weak if you need help, trouble may be imminent.

Life can be an overwhelming place at times and none of us get through it without challenges. There is often little allowance to pause when the pressures of the day need our attention. But we need to keep trying to find think time to grow. And asking for help is a sign of strength. None of us has all the answers.

Ask someone on your team for help. Be open to their ideas and experience. The results may surprise you.
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Kneale Mann | Leadership Strategist, consultant, writer, speaker, executive coach facilitating performance growth with leaders, management, and teams.

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We Don't Always Know

The ascent of leadership within your career and business is a complex journey. It would be simple to look back at when you got a raise or promotion and called those the rungs on the ladder. When you look a bit deeper, they may not have been your growth spots.

Since we aren’t machines nor are our teammates, coworkers and fellow stakeholders, we need to keep a keen eye on human elements and interaction. So if we pause for moment and look at those times in our career where we felt hampered perhaps in a restricted environment, were those possible learning opportunities or obstacles?

Two-Way Leader

I remember early in my career, I was intimidated by leadership. I was the kid who swept the floor (sometimes literally) while others in more important positions made all the decisions. But as I grew through a career of hard work, setbacks and victories, with some hindsight it's clear my “bosses” didn’t have all the answers. In fact, the good ones were secure in that fact. They were learning too. They needed the team’s help to grow and we made mistakes together.

If you feel you need to be strong, even when you aren’t sure, then you may be setting yourself up for future problems. If you think you may appear weak if you need help, trouble may be imminent.

The enterprise can be an overwhelming place at times and there is little allowance to pause when the pressures of the day need our attention. But we need to keep trying to find think time to grow. And asking for help is a sign of strength.

Even the brightest among us don't have all the answers.

Kneale Mann

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Marching to Your Own Drum

Daily on Twitter, I like to share a saying or experience, a quote or a quip, something funny or serious, perhaps thoughtful or inspiring.

Here's the list for March 2012 

• Success comes through dedication, determination, discipline, and desire
• Imagine
• Offer help without expectation of reciprocation
• Take time for you time
• Would you rather be perfect or helpful?
• Don’t share your dreams with negative people. Jack Canfield
• What can you improve today?
• Gossip serves no purpose in our life
• Instead of no, ask how
• Their opinion is just their opinion
• Change is an inside job.
• Make today your best day ever
• It's not easy to change the world, it's a big job. Nancy Duarte
• Share now and often
• What will you learn from yesterday to improve today?
• Don't let yesterday take up too much of today. Will Rogers
• When giving feedback, give respect to those receiving it and the process itself
• Connect. Imagine. Share.
• Mondays count too
• The past is passed, leave it there
• What will you take from 'what if' to 'will do'?
• Be inquisitive
• To make new behavior an old habit, practice, practice, practice. Greg Zlevor
• Create
• Surround yourself with positive people and avoid the rest
• Take time for think time
• Never underestimate the power of your own curiosity
• Life's carry-on baggage is a choice
• Sure you can
• Leadership and learning are indispensable of each other. John F Kennedy
• Have the courage of a lion and the compassion of a lamb

Make today your best one yet!

Kneale Mann

image: flickr