Monday, October 30, 2017

Pick Up the Full Armor

Leadership in the digital age is a curious thing. On one hand we try to inspire, motivate, and encourage other leaders to be as impactful as possible. We share positive images from our lives, we call each other out, we push ourselves...all wrapped in an online presentation that seems...just right.

Sometimes Things Go Wrong
Despite all the effort we put into sharing our world online, sometimes that world turns upside down.

Who is to blame?
Why did it happen?
What will happen next?
What should happen next?

My world is no different than yours. Once in a while something happens that gets me all worked up. It's frustrating. It's usually unnecessary. It's always a pain in the neck to resolve.

But, it always gets resolved.
Always.

The Most Important Part
Getting things fixed is not always easy. But for most of us, we are not performing brain surgery. We are not responding to a domestic violence call that could turn deadly. We are not on the front-line of a war zone wondering if today will be our last.

We are blessed to have jobs that allow us to not not only be challenged with problems, but we can also resolve them for our organizations; and in so doing, make our organizations even better than they were previously.


It only happens if we are willing to put on the armor and go into our own "battles."

It can only be successful if we are willing to be fully engaged in understanding our role, and then making decisions to keep things moving forward.

It will only matter, if we elevate our leadership presence to one that is passionate and driven and unwavering on the quest to be world-class.

How About You
Do you need to pick up the full armor this week and make a difference? You are not alone. 

The need for bold leadership is everywhere, particularly when life isn't all unicorns and rainbows. Now, get after it!

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Be Relentless

"I don't care how good you think you are, or how great others think you are - you can improve, and you will. 

Being relentless means demanding more of yourself than anyone else could ever demand of you, knowing that every time you stop, you can still do more. 

You must do more. The minute your mind thinks, "Done," your instincts say "Next."
Tim Grover

Career
How are you going to be relentless in your career? Is it playing it safe, avoiding risk like so many of your colleagues around the conference room table? Or, is there another door waiting for you to kick open?

Safe = Death


With so many changes, pressures, and expectations on leaders in today's world of work, taking the same old tired path of safety and excuses is unacceptable. 

There is only one option...so what are you waiting for?

Personal
Finding the proper balance between our professional and personal lives is a never ending challenge. The solution is not as complicated as you might think.

Commit to connecting with those you love on a very regular basis (daily, weekly.) Call, visit, text, facetime, tweet, or spend time with them....it doesn't matter how you do it...just make sure they hear from you no matter what. 


Fitness and Nutrition
This might be the most difficult because society has basically allowed us to default to an endless list of excuses so we can avoid being healthy, and eat piles of garbage on our couches night after night.

Stop it. Download MyFitnessPal, start tracking what you put in your body, and for God's sake get up and move each day.

When was the last time you took the stairs and didn't feel like dying after one flight? 

How About You
Life is an amazing adventure...and we can achieve so much more than we ever thought possible. However, corporate cultures, society, and the obsession with "busyness" has created the myth that a relentless attitude is somehow odd.

I'm calling BS on that. Being relentless is the only way to live.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Thursday, October 19, 2017

Judgment Day

"If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that sometimes our assumptions and preconceived notions are wrong, and therefore, our interpretation of events is incorrect. This causes us to overreact, to take tings personally, or to judge people unfairly." 
Elizabeth Thornton

Persistent "Problems"
I work with people approximately...100% of the time. Whether it's in meetings, on site with clients, at my company's home office, interacting on the phone , or using any of the many digital or social media tools I use to stay connected. I am constantly working with people.

And, well...sometimes that makes things complicated.

One of those complicated issues appears in the form of "ongoing problems:"
- the difficult leader
- the hiring manager who is never satisfied
- the blame game that seems to take on a life of its own
- and the endless litany of excuses that are nothing more than an attempt to deflect the "leader's" inability to address complex issues

Unfortunately those excuses often become the corporate world's alternate facts, and in turn drive a wedge between business partners that should otherwise simply sit down and talk through the various problems that need to be resolved.

Do It Yourself
Our assumptions, and faux reality of the dynamics are often complicated further as we try to be so sensitive to every one's feelings that we don't step in and take charge.

I'm not talking about bullying...I'm talking about understanding that the team around you has tried their best, but they simply are not far enough along in their development to actually understand what to do next.

That is when savvy HR leaders step up.
That is when savvy HR leaders take control.
That is when savvy HR leaders do not allow the noise to interfere with achieving results.

How About You
Do you have issues in your organization that don't seem to be going away? Have you heard the same tired excuses as to why "this person" or "that department" are so difficult? If you're worried that others "won't like you anymore" if you jump in, you have missed the point.

It's time to tell your team to step aside. 

Now.

You are the leader...remember?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Monday, October 9, 2017

You Didn't See Them Coming

I've been away from the blog for a couple of weeks. It's been a wild ride of speaking at conferences, connecting with progressive human resources executives, and candidly, getting really fired up about the future of HR.

But not the HR group we normally think about. There is a gathering storm of HR executives in North America who are throwing away their excuses and are literally calling their CEOs and telling them it's time for a dramatic change.

I know this is true...because I've had the privilege of spending hours and hours with them.

Unstoppable Force
Who are these leaders you ask? Well, they come from an industry that not only gets little "air time" in the social media space; but they also are so committed to the missions of their organizations that the last thing on their mind is personal glory or "internet fame."

They are the HR Executives who lead the senior care communities across North America, and they are not going to be silent any longer.

They are driven.
They care deeply for the residents and families who trust them with their loved ones.
They are as fired up as I am about taking HR to a whole new level. 

Is this great news or what?!

Misconceptions
One of the barriers these leaders have had to face is the perception that... 

...senior living = nursing home. 

Not true.

While nursing homes play a vital role in our society, and are certainly a part of their corporate structure, that term is by no means representative of the incredible breadth of services offered.

The commitment not only to their organizations, and to their industry is one I've rarely seen in the HR space. 

They not only want to build their employer brands in the most contemporary ways possible; but they want to elevate the perception of their entire industry to help it grow.

Are you kidding me? 

When was the last time your direct competitor wanted to strategize with you about making your industry better? 

(Please don't say you both contributed money to the local Nursing school...good Lord that's been done for 50 years and hasn't made a dent in the lack of qualified faculty.)

How About You
If you would like to connect with this new wave of fired up leaders make sure you follow the Senior Care Summits conference announcement for next Fall. You will be inspired by the passion these leaders demonstrate at every turn, and you just might realize that there is a new group of HR Execs that are soon to take the lead in showing us all how contemporary HR is done.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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