I've done a rather unscientific study with colleagues, friends, and clients, and it’s clear many are taking a good look at their lives from all aspects – work, family, finances, love, spirituality, health, exercise, dreams – and making a plan to improve what is needed and move away from what is not helping them.
We need to take full responsibility for our behavior in all aspects of our lives and with whom we share. And the old adage you can’t bring your life to work is hopefully taking its last few gasps of life. Bring all of you to all you do or don’t bother.
Eyes Forward
Maybe it would be wise for us to take a few steps back and give thought to the people on our team and in our company; the people in our life who are enriching it and those who may be holding us back.
I have a friend who says she hasn't dreamed or created in a while. I would challenge that she may not have given herself the belief to act. Perhaps that’s what we all need right now? Perhaps we need to stop the busy and start paying closer attention to the humans around us and most importantly ourselves.
The results may blow us away.
__________________________________________________________________
Showing posts with label responsibility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label responsibility. Show all posts
January 9, 2018
September 15, 2017
18 Random Thoughts
Make time for think time. Help someone without them knowing
Call them back. Make it about them.
Bury the past. Laugh at least once a day
Complaining solves nothing.
Stop comparing yourself to others
Trust your gut. Pick up the phone.
Connect don’t collect.
Say no. Own your decisions.
Balance confidence with competence
Self doubt won’t help. Don’t hesitate this time
Be kind to yourself.
__________________________________________________________________
Call them back. Make it about them.
Bury the past. Laugh at least once a day
Complaining solves nothing.
Stop comparing yourself to others
Trust your gut. Pick up the phone.
Connect don’t collect.
Say no. Own your decisions.
Balance confidence with competence
Self doubt won’t help. Don’t hesitate this time
Be kind to yourself.
__________________________________________________________________
December 22, 2014
Leadership Humanized
I've done a rather unscientific study with colleagues, friends, and clients, and it’s clear many are taking a good look at their lives from all aspects – work, family, finances, love, spirituality, health, exercise, dreams – and making a plan to improve what is needed and move away from what is not helping them.
We need to take full responsibility for our behavior in all aspects of our lives and with whom we share. And the old adage you can’t bring your life to work is hopefully taking its last few gasps of life. Bring all of you to all you do or don’t bother.
Eyes Forward
While you reflect on this ending year and the start of a new one, take a few steps back and give thought to the people on your team and in your company; the people in your life who are enriching it and those who may be holding you back.
I have a friend who says she hasn't dreamed or created in a while. I would challenge that she may not have given herself the belief to act. Perhaps that’s what we all need right now? If we want a successful 2015, we need to stop the busy and start paying closer attention to the humans around us and most importantly ourselves.
The results may blow us away.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
shuterstock
We need to take full responsibility for our behavior in all aspects of our lives and with whom we share. And the old adage you can’t bring your life to work is hopefully taking its last few gasps of life. Bring all of you to all you do or don’t bother.
Eyes Forward
While you reflect on this ending year and the start of a new one, take a few steps back and give thought to the people on your team and in your company; the people in your life who are enriching it and those who may be holding you back.
I have a friend who says she hasn't dreamed or created in a while. I would challenge that she may not have given herself the belief to act. Perhaps that’s what we all need right now? If we want a successful 2015, we need to stop the busy and start paying closer attention to the humans around us and most importantly ourselves.
The results may blow us away.
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
shuterstock
June 15, 2014
Happy Dad Day
Like being a mom, there are no manuals to being a dad. There are countless books and websites that can give you opinions and ideas, but nothing helps you in real life.
When I was a kid, my dad built the nets and would play road hockey with us. He was – and still is – always good for a story. He made great fried egg and peanut butter sandwiches (hey, don’t judge until you try one!), and he’s still good for a long deep chat about life. We’ll have one today. Thanks Dad!
DNA doesn't make you a dad. Money doesn't make you a father. Love does.
Some others’ perspective on fatherhood
When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years. Mark Twain
It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.
Johann Friedrich von Schiller
I found out that I'm a pretty bad father. I make a lot of mistakes and I don’t know what I'm doing. But my kids love me. Go figure. Louis CK
It is much easier to become a father than to be one.
Kent Nerburn
Fatherhood is great because you can ruin someone from scratch.
Jon Stewart
Whoever does not have a good father should procure one.
Friedrich Nietzsche
My father used to say that it's never too late to do anything you wanted to do.
Michael Jordan
By the time a man realizes his father was right, he has a son who thinks he’s wrong.
Charles Wadsworth
Having a kid is like falling in love for the first time when you’re 12, but every day.
Mike Myers
Nobody ever asks a father how he manages to combine marriage and a career.
Sam Ewing
It's an ongoing joy being a dad.
Liam Neeson
When my father didn't have my hand, he had my back.
Linda Poindexter
My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give; he believed in me.
Jim Valvano
It is a wise father that knows his own child.
William Shakespeare
Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.
Ruth Renkel
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | Leadership Strategist, consultant, writer, speaker, executive coach facilitating performance growth with leaders, management, and teams.
shutterstock
March 15, 2013
Collusion or Commiseration?
While waiting for a client this week in a coffee shop, I couldn't help but hear the couple right beside me talking about work. They didn't seem upset per se but the conversation got a bit loud and heated. It appeared the topic of the conversation was about the people in their company. Apparently someone in the office is upset because she works too many hours while the other guy isn't in the office enough and the boss hasn't looked at the new forms. My client arrived and we moved on to our own conversation.
The Three Circles
You may be familiar with the theory of three sides to every story - your version, my version, and the truth. So what was really going on in their chat and how often does this happen? Well I’ll propose the true story could be better told if they knew the whole picture and this happens far too often.
In a recent Forbes article entitled Why Are so Many Employees Disengaged, Victor Lipman outlines that the United States Bureau of National Affairs estimates US businesses lose about $11 billion each year due to employee turnover. There are various data that estimate the loss in productivity in North American businesses due to disengaged employees is approaching a trillion dollars annually.
Refills and Retorts
Widen that scope to a global snapshot and the numbers get worse. It's not always obvious, it often comes in small increments difficult to measure. A sick day here, a stab in the back there, an off-site chat here, and suddenly it adds up to a malaise or unhappiness which affects careers, culture, and bottom lines.
This isn't to suggest the two people at the coffee shop are ready to walk but imagine how much productivity is lost by their chat then multiple it by the millions of similar chats all over the world every day. We all need to blow off steam and not everyone will collaborate the way we want them to, but if you’re in a leadership role it’s imperative to understand revenue is driven by much more than sales calls.
If you are the leader, get used to the team talking about you behind your back and not agreeing with every decision but if you treat them fairly and openly, I like your chances.
Open that door a little wider and pass the sugar.
Kneale Mann | Leadership and Culture Strategist, Writer, Speaker, Executive Coach helping leaders create dynamic culture and improved results.
uaproperty
July 7, 2012
It Wasn’t Me
It might be something deep in our core, but it’s rare when you hear someone immediately own a problem. The culture here is terrible is translated that everyone but the person delivering this quip is responsible. That meeting went long is never caused by the guy who pointed it out. Things need to change around here has an underlying tone that the change needs to come from others, not the one who suggested it. We don’t need leadership that crumbles whenever there is a crisis but it can be the toughest part of the work you do. Years ago, I saw an enterprise wide employee survey that stated the number one concern of stakeholders was management’s inability to deal with non-performance.
It's easy to point out the mistakes of others.
It's much more difficult to fix our own.
Kneale Mann
istock
January 17, 2012
Fear Be Gone
In business, you know that everyone in your company has a powerful force that can create magic and solutions. It can also produce damage and destruction manifested in subtle ways such as sick days, wasted meetings, lack of leadership, butt covering, that’s not my department and I didn’t get the email. I’m busy can quickly replace did you get the report finished while I’m not available can substitute standing by your decision.
Imagine for a Moment
It’s been said that fear is a powerful motivator but as the saying goes it is often false expectations appearing real. Imagine, just for today all of those layers were removed. No more fear of failure, fear of leadership, fear of success, fear of speaking out, fear of losing your job, fear of that client hearing that their idea won't work, fear of standing up for yourself, fear of (insert here). I think I'll give it a shot, how about you?
Now imagine that same world where everyone took responsibility, owned the issues under their direction, allowed direct reports to honestly contribute to the process and stopped being fearful that someone may find out they don’t have all the answers.
What day could we have in that world?
Kneale Mann
image credit: petermaas | original: mar 2011
June 17, 2011
From Vancouver to The World
Welcome to our Instant Life
Business owners and managers who have yet gone deep with a digital presence often worry about the time commitment, the ability to manage the content, the sheer volume of information and the return on their investment.
This week we watched in disgust as thousands of people went on a rampage in downtown Vancouver moments after the Canucks lost their second bid at a Stanley Cup. Over a hundred people have been arrested so far, clearly a tiny fraction of those who should be brought to justice, and a couple of hundred people were injured which in itself is a miracle. There have been incidents like this in the past where lives were lost.
Good Versus Bad
The actions are inexcusable. If you are upset that your team lost a hockey game, go home and smash your own house and car. But the very tools that were used to broadcast the Vancouver events to the world in an instant this week will slowly turn positive in two distinct ways.
There is video evidence of the actual people who did the damage and hurt others. It astounds me how anyone can destroy property, hurt others and happily film themselves doing it. There are thousands of Twitter, Flickr, Facebook and YouTube accounts littered with the names and images for authorities to sift through but the bigger question is one I’m not sure we can answer – why did this happen and if the Canucks had won, would it have happened anyway? It’s easy to say a small group of thugs started it – time will tell – but that doesn’t excuse thousands – yes, thousands – of others joining in.
Bad Turns Good
But the other positive result is that in mere hours, hundreds of Vancouverites were on the streets cleaning up their city and tens of thousands of supporters were spreading the news through various Facebook groups. Vancouver is one of the most beautiful, clean, fun, engaging cities on earth. If you have never been, I implore you to do so. If you have been, go again and let’s not let the bad ones prove what some are suspecting is a long hill to climb to improve the city’s reputation.
The digital age gives us reasonably inexpensive tools to spread ideas quickly. The social web has opened up avenues to people who share our interests all over the world. But the events of Wednesday night in Vancouver remind us the responsibility we have with our web presence and content.
Let’s remember our responsibility as human beings.
Kneale Mann
image credit: thescore
Business owners and managers who have yet gone deep with a digital presence often worry about the time commitment, the ability to manage the content, the sheer volume of information and the return on their investment. This week we watched in disgust as thousands of people went on a rampage in downtown Vancouver moments after the Canucks lost their second bid at a Stanley Cup. Over a hundred people have been arrested so far, clearly a tiny fraction of those who should be brought to justice, and a couple of hundred people were injured which in itself is a miracle. There have been incidents like this in the past where lives were lost.
Good Versus Bad
The actions are inexcusable. If you are upset that your team lost a hockey game, go home and smash your own house and car. But the very tools that were used to broadcast the Vancouver events to the world in an instant this week will slowly turn positive in two distinct ways.
There is video evidence of the actual people who did the damage and hurt others. It astounds me how anyone can destroy property, hurt others and happily film themselves doing it. There are thousands of Twitter, Flickr, Facebook and YouTube accounts littered with the names and images for authorities to sift through but the bigger question is one I’m not sure we can answer – why did this happen and if the Canucks had won, would it have happened anyway? It’s easy to say a small group of thugs started it – time will tell – but that doesn’t excuse thousands – yes, thousands – of others joining in.
Bad Turns Good
But the other positive result is that in mere hours, hundreds of Vancouverites were on the streets cleaning up their city and tens of thousands of supporters were spreading the news through various Facebook groups. Vancouver is one of the most beautiful, clean, fun, engaging cities on earth. If you have never been, I implore you to do so. If you have been, go again and let’s not let the bad ones prove what some are suspecting is a long hill to climb to improve the city’s reputation.
The digital age gives us reasonably inexpensive tools to spread ideas quickly. The social web has opened up avenues to people who share our interests all over the world. But the events of Wednesday night in Vancouver remind us the responsibility we have with our web presence and content.
Let’s remember our responsibility as human beings.
Kneale Mann
image credit: thescore
March 28, 2011
False Expectations Appear Real
Eight Inches Between Our Ears
The human mind is a marvel of engineering we may never understand. We can run countries, survive 127 hours trapped in a cave or overcome monumental odds. Our brain can also keep us from succeeding, present obstacles that may not be there and create deep depression.
In business, you know that everyone in your company has a powerful force that can create magic and solutions. It can also produce damage and destruction manifested in subtle ways such as sick days, wasted meetings, lack of leadership, butt covering, that’s not my department and I didn’t get the email. I’m busy can quickly replace did you get the report finished while I’m not available can substitute standing by your decision.
Imagine for a Moment
It’s been said that fear is a powerful motivator but as the saying goes it is often false expectations appearing real. So imagine, just for today all of those layers were removed. No more fear of failure, fear of success, fear of speaking out, fear of losing your job, fear of that client hearing that their idea won't work, fear of standing up for yourself, fear of (insert here).
Now imagine that same world where everyone took responsibility, owned the issues under their direction, allowed direct reports to honestly contribute to the process and stopped being fearful that someone may find out they don’t have all the answers.
What kind of day would you have in that world?
Kneale Mann
image credit: unknown
In business, you know that everyone in your company has a powerful force that can create magic and solutions. It can also produce damage and destruction manifested in subtle ways such as sick days, wasted meetings, lack of leadership, butt covering, that’s not my department and I didn’t get the email. I’m busy can quickly replace did you get the report finished while I’m not available can substitute standing by your decision.
Imagine for a Moment
It’s been said that fear is a powerful motivator but as the saying goes it is often false expectations appearing real. So imagine, just for today all of those layers were removed. No more fear of failure, fear of success, fear of speaking out, fear of losing your job, fear of that client hearing that their idea won't work, fear of standing up for yourself, fear of (insert here).
Now imagine that same world where everyone took responsibility, owned the issues under their direction, allowed direct reports to honestly contribute to the process and stopped being fearful that someone may find out they don’t have all the answers.
What kind of day would you have in that world?
Kneale Mann
image credit: unknown
February 23, 2011
23 Ideas That Might Just Work
• Make time for think time
• Help someone without them knowing
• Call them back
• Make it about them
• Bury the past
• Laugh at least once a day
• Be honest about your efforts
• Take responsibility
• Complaining solves nothing
• Be clear on your offer
• Do nothing for five minutes
• Sell your strengths
• Stop comparing yourself to others
• Trust your gut
• Connect don’t collect
• Say no
• Pick up the phone
• Own your decisions
• Buy your weaknesses
• Balance confidence with competence
• Self doubt won’t help
• Don’t hesitate this time
• Be kind to yourself
What is on your list?
knealemann
December 5, 2010
More Inconvenient Truths
Our planet is a complex place. It is fascinating that we can go online and find information on anything we want from the comfort of our own environment. But you and I know there are conflicts beyond our scope that we wish we could solve. Economic issues, environment concerns, conflict and turmoil are everywhere.
Of course we need to strive for our dreams while working together on enjoyable projects and improve our careers but when you think of the big stuff, our grievances seem absurd.
Dr. Jason Clay is vice president of market transformation for the World Wildlife Fund. He says our goal must be to figure out how to produce more with less land, less water and less pollution, so we won't be the only species left living on this planet. He says we are using 130% of the world’s resources and the population will be nine billion by 2050.
Jason Clay is targeting 100 key companies to lead the charge but as part of the community, we can all do our part. [video]
knealemann | email
video credit: TED
Of course we need to strive for our dreams while working together on enjoyable projects and improve our careers but when you think of the big stuff, our grievances seem absurd.
Dr. Jason Clay is vice president of market transformation for the World Wildlife Fund. He says our goal must be to figure out how to produce more with less land, less water and less pollution, so we won't be the only species left living on this planet. He says we are using 130% of the world’s resources and the population will be nine billion by 2050.
Jason Clay is targeting 100 key companies to lead the charge but as part of the community, we can all do our part. [video]
knealemann | email
video credit: TED
November 12, 2008
Twitter Doesn’t Make You Hemingway
A couple of years after the invention of what is now known as the Internet, Ernest Miller Hemingway died of a self inflicted gun shot wound on July 2, 1961.
Today you can have the choice of creating a multitude of social media profiles, picture sites, and blogs with gadget add-on doohickeys and thingamajigs. Most offer the choice of colors and backgrounds, font choices and design options.
But none will make you a better writer or contributor.
There seems to be quite a bit of chatter in the blogosphere lately about the responsibility we all share as our own personal broadcasters, content providers, writers, editors and information givers and takers.
Start a blog. Get in the game. Have your say. Add your thoughts. But don’t expect any of the trappings to make you interesting or entertaining. Hemingway used paper and a pen, a typewriter and a bottle, to create timeless literature. Today, with a cup of coffee and blog software you can start.
Writing and being a writer are vastly different things.
I have worked in radio, television, and online for quite a while and there are two camps in this world. The scared old-school bunch that is afraid of an open source user-created entertainment model. And the ever-growing group that understands we have the power to; create, contribute and share.
That still doesn’t guarantee any of us are any good.
Some say Ernest Hemingway was the greatest short story writer in history. That’s a personal decision. But forty years after his passing, his books are still sold and his work is still studied in the most respected schools on earth. And he did it without templates and software.
If you have a passion, follow it with fervor. If anyone follows you, bonus.
km
Today you can have the choice of creating a multitude of social media profiles, picture sites, and blogs with gadget add-on doohickeys and thingamajigs. Most offer the choice of colors and backgrounds, font choices and design options.
But none will make you a better writer or contributor.
There seems to be quite a bit of chatter in the blogosphere lately about the responsibility we all share as our own personal broadcasters, content providers, writers, editors and information givers and takers.
Start a blog. Get in the game. Have your say. Add your thoughts. But don’t expect any of the trappings to make you interesting or entertaining. Hemingway used paper and a pen, a typewriter and a bottle, to create timeless literature. Today, with a cup of coffee and blog software you can start.
Writing and being a writer are vastly different things.
I have worked in radio, television, and online for quite a while and there are two camps in this world. The scared old-school bunch that is afraid of an open source user-created entertainment model. And the ever-growing group that understands we have the power to; create, contribute and share.
That still doesn’t guarantee any of us are any good.
Some say Ernest Hemingway was the greatest short story writer in history. That’s a personal decision. But forty years after his passing, his books are still sold and his work is still studied in the most respected schools on earth. And he did it without templates and software.
If you have a passion, follow it with fervor. If anyone follows you, bonus.
km
November 9, 2008
Taking The Blame
An interesting news story surfaced late last week from an “unnamed advisor” to the McCain campaign that is falling on the entire sword. “He” says it wasn’t Sen. McCain or Gov. Palin that derailed the campaign, it was him. That’s admirable but no one person is to “blame” for losing against a tidal wave. The U.S. economy, the Bush administration, the Democratic party's brilliant campaign and Barack Obama all had something to do with the landslide.
There was another "unnamed" source that called Palin "a diva". The cart lost its wheels quickly after Tuesday night's defeat.
These "sources" seem fishy at best. McCain was the boss. You want to be the President, man up when it doesn’t go your way. Skulking around with unnamed tips is ridiculous.
We've all had to take responsibility for our actions. We are all guilty of hoping it all works out or goes away on its own when we mess up, that’s human nature. But the team needs to assess the damage. It is rarely – if ever – one person’s fault. In any environment, there are usually plenty of mistakes for everyone to eventually take their turn. Mud flinging doesn't help.
I played a lot of hockey at one point in my life and made the decision very young to be a goaltender. I loved it. My hockey mom thought I was a phone call away from being drafted – thanks mom! Suffice to say I had fun and that was the point.
But in hockey, a goal scored is often not the goalie’s fault. Someone may have missed a check, a forward didn’t skate back fast enough into the play, a line change was messed up, or any number of other factors.
Sure the goaltender messes up, but teamwork is not a convenient mind space. You are either part of the team, or you are not. Blame can be flung easily at each other and the mud can just as easily be flung at you.
These may be weak stories during a lull in the news cycle but the point is still clear. In a team environment, everyone is on the same team and at the helm is strong leadership.
km
There was another "unnamed" source that called Palin "a diva". The cart lost its wheels quickly after Tuesday night's defeat.
These "sources" seem fishy at best. McCain was the boss. You want to be the President, man up when it doesn’t go your way. Skulking around with unnamed tips is ridiculous.
We've all had to take responsibility for our actions. We are all guilty of hoping it all works out or goes away on its own when we mess up, that’s human nature. But the team needs to assess the damage. It is rarely – if ever – one person’s fault. In any environment, there are usually plenty of mistakes for everyone to eventually take their turn. Mud flinging doesn't help.
I played a lot of hockey at one point in my life and made the decision very young to be a goaltender. I loved it. My hockey mom thought I was a phone call away from being drafted – thanks mom! Suffice to say I had fun and that was the point.
But in hockey, a goal scored is often not the goalie’s fault. Someone may have missed a check, a forward didn’t skate back fast enough into the play, a line change was messed up, or any number of other factors.
Sure the goaltender messes up, but teamwork is not a convenient mind space. You are either part of the team, or you are not. Blame can be flung easily at each other and the mud can just as easily be flung at you.
These may be weak stories during a lull in the news cycle but the point is still clear. In a team environment, everyone is on the same team and at the helm is strong leadership.
km
