No Bold Tactics

Let's be clear about something right away. Busy does not equal effective. Everyone is busy...or make themselves 'busy.' I see it all the time. Leaders who want to over share how hectic their days are...so full of things to do...and important executives to sit next to during meeting after meeting.

So...I hate to break it to those folks who thrive on this sort of thing...but you are failing.

Leadership is not only about going to meetings.
Leadership is not only about getting things done on your task list.
Leadership is not only talking about how busy you are.

Tactics and Excuses
Too many leaders get stuck in tactical decisions (even the most senior executives) and convince themselves that they are actually moving their organizations forward.

Not true.

Sure, it's easier to feel productive when you're doing things. I love the feeling of (digitally) checking items off my Wunderlist. But, those items are at the end of the process. At some point, I've had to invest significant time, energy and resources into effectively planning the bold moves my organization or my clients need to make.

There are no tactics in that work.

Strategy and Courage
The really difficult work of planning, executing, and completing strategic plans is, in my opinion, the most important work to be done. True plans...fresh ideas that become reality...launching new product lines...addressing major gaps in the organization and doing something about it...THAT is the work of real leaders.

The same old talk, talk, talk, without the plan is worthless. 

Why reference courage at this point? Easy...most leaders don't have the courage to build the plans necessary...to take the bold risks necessary...to literally move their organizations forward.

It is far easier to work to maintain the status quo and keep life in neutral, than it is to see what needs to be done and build and execute a plan that gets the organization to an entirely new place.

How About You
Look back over the last five years of your career. What risks have you taken? How have you literally changed your organization for the better? What tangible results can you share?

You have it in you to make it happen. You simply need to go for it.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Should Have Known Better

"That time I pushed for what I thought was best, without really listening to what my colleagues were telling me."

I should have known better.

"When I didn't take the time to fully understand all of the politics involved."

I should have known better.

"The new policy I thought would be so good for the bottom line, but didn't realize how ill-prepared I was with the communication plan."

I should have known better.

"I wish the others could have seen how important that was...what's wrong with them?"

I should have known better.

"I wasn't threatened by them...I just needed to have things go my way...and be really popular."

I should have known better.

How About You
Who on your team needs a healthy dose of "should have known better?" Go tell them. Be firm. Stop treating them like they will break in two, or that chaos will follow. They need your coaching wisdom, and bold leadership.

Tell them today.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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If Not Us, Then Who

"That's not my job."
"Those issues are outside my scope."
"I don't have authority to address that."
"I'm in HR, that's an Operations issue."

It's About Action
What in the world is happening?

Have we lost our way in HR? Is there something inherent in how we view our roles, that has inadvertently backed us into a position where we feel we are not leaders of the organization?

Check out this recent example of HR in action:

A hospital's laboratory department [not a client] was struggling with turnover, scheduling, and low morale. The HR leader proactively joined in the solutions process and pulled schedules, department financials, and reviewed employee concerns. 

The result? She built a new schedule that solved both the morale and staffing problems. The Lab Director was thrown off initially, but once the progress became apparent, was appreciative of the support.

Leadership (Not Just HR)
That my friends, is real HR leadership. 

Was that in the HR Director's job description? No.
Was that "old school" HR? No.
Was that taking a risk that the organization could not recover from? No.

Here's the part that so many of us miss, including me, multiple times.

We have the authority as leaders to do any damn thing we need to do. There is no one holding us back. There is no one telling us 'no.' If we are going to earn the respect that we must earn, it is entirely up to us to take action.

Action trumps excuses every time.

How About You
What's holding you back from being a leader, not just the "HR person?" HR means so much more than the HR department, right?

Am I wrong? Should we lead for real...or just keep processing all of that paperwork?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Scared to Death

"Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things."
- Peter Drucker

I feel like I've been a rule-breaker in human resources leadership for many years. Ours is a profession filled with policies, rules, SOPs, laws, regulations, and a hell of a lot of scared HR pros.

Scared to make decisions.
Scared to be bold.
Scared to 'get in trouble.'
Scared to take risks.
Scared to be different.
Scared to put it all on the line.
Scared to try new things.

Friends, it seems like HR is scared to death.

What Is Up With HR?
What is it that holds HR professionals back? What could possibly be so pervasive that nearly an entire profession is mired in writing policies, saying no, avoiding all risks and yet still consider themselves as contributing?

I don't get it.

I've met a growing number of HR pros who are all about making an enormous difference in their organizations. Why isn't everyone in our profession clambering to get to the front of the innovation line?

Enlighten me friends! Who is leading the way in HR?
- in the US
- in Europe
- in India
- in Australia
- in New Zealand
- in China
- in...well...everywhere else!

How About You
When did you make the transition from scared to fired up? What made the difference? Was it an inspirational colleague; a progressive CEO; or maybe a new corporate culture that made it "okay" for you to be what you always knew you could be?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Nothing Left to Fear

"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one."
- Elbert Hubbard

Fear In Your Head
What is the worst thing that could happen if you took a risk and failed?

- embarrassment?
- loss of credibility?
- career stagnation?
- loss of your job?

Let me ask it in a slightly different way...

...what is the most likely result if you took a risk and it failed?

- reputation as a bold leader in an era of ridiculously self-absorbed wimps?
- achieve breakthrough learning that leads to innovation and progress?
- a promotion?

If you decide that the secret to success is a different view of the world, you might find that your world changes in a very profound way.


Fear In Your Heart
Once we flip the anxiety in our head to a relentless passion in our heart two very important things happen:

1 - We become more relevant in the life of our organizations.

How?

We all know the bold leaders in our companies. 

They take risks, are constantly trying new things, aren't afraid of a misstep, and have the respect of their team members, superiors, and clients.

2 - We have a positive energy around us.

How?

We see the world differently. 

Literally.

How About You
Does each day feel like an unbelievable opportunity to go for it? 

Or, is the new day just "the grind"...another reason to moan and groan...and list the same tired excuses to why new things don't matter...why new approaches have no value...and that the world just isn't the same anymore.

Don't miss out. Change the lens that you use to see the world. Who cares if something doesn't work today. Keep pushing and learning and risking...

...and winning for your organization.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Silence Calls the Storm

Leadership experience is a funny thing. The more I get…the more I see through the behavior of those that claim to be effective in their roles. They talk it up, yet their choices seem to contradict the rhetoric. It happens in the corporate world, it happens in our personal lives, and it happens to those in public life too.

Too Many Examples

The actions of others, above all else, have shaped how I view the responsibility I have as a member of my organization’s leadership team. 

Sadly, some of the most poignant examples of behavior I've experienced have come from those leaders that preached leadership frequently, yet were absolute failures. Let me share...

- the executive who dropped the f-bomb when he was upset, and threw reports across the conference room table at the team for doing a poor job (when in fact the team was beating the national industry performance average)

- two executives who held an ambush meeting attempting to intimate and discredit another member of the leadership team (when in fact their data was completely wrong and they ended up looking foolish and lost all credibility)

- the executives who secretly tried to undermine a colleague who was clearly the boldest, and most courageous member of the team (their efforts backfired and they were shamed into backing off)

How About You

When you see disgraceful behavior from other leaders what do you do? Is it too scary to stand up to them? Are you worried that you might compromise your own career if you do the right thing? 

Are you so self-absorbed that these issues would only matter if they were happening to you?

Guess what? If you don’t take action, no one will be left to help you when it’s your turn.

I’d love to hear from you.

No Excuses. 

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