Cold Sweat

You're asked a question in a big meeting and your mind goes blank.

You completely forgot to follow up on an issue and the information is due in 5 minutes.

You realize you are in over your head with an assignment and have no idea where to turn...paralysis sets in...and your credibility begins to evaporate.

Keep Breathing
Now before you do something rash like quit your job because you don't think you'll be popular anymore and won't have any 'friends' at work consider these points:

- you're not going to die because you've hit a rough patch

- you actually can do the work if you remove some of that self-talk clutter from your mind and start attacking the issue one little step at a time

- you can reach out to your colleagues for help...that's what real colleagues do...they help each other

Now Focus
Once the wave of anxiety has washed over you...and you've decided that your entire career is over and there is no hope for you professionally...

...get your head back on straight and start building your plan.

What needs to be addressed immediately? Write it down. Map out the deadlines and the resources you'll need to get there. 

Who can help you? Who also has a vested interest in this issue being executed successfully?

Find those people. Talk with them. Write everything down.

Breath Again
Think about how your mind has shifted. You have now documented a preliminary action plan, have connected with important internal resources to get the necessary results, and most importantly, are now back in charge.

This can not be overstated. Your mood will change. Your confidence level will change. And, by the way, the results will change dramatically from where you started.

Breath.
Focus.
Execute.

How About You
Is it going to be hard sometimes? Yes. Is it going to be embarrassing sometimes? Yes. Is it going to be worth it? Absolutely.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Thank You, May I Have Another?

What was your first reaction when you read the title to this post?

"Thank you, may I have another?"

Did you "go negative" right away? Did you think I would be discussing HR leaders getting dumped on by their colleagues, the employees, and a long list of other ungrateful souls?

Wait Just A Second
How about we try this approach instead...

"Thank you, but I would prefer the high risk project"

"Thank you, however, I would like to take the lead on that new initiative"

"Thank you, but I would really like to be a part of that expansion project"

There is is huge difference between the "regular" HR folks who default to a "whoa-is-me" professional existence...and then there are those that...

...well, they go for it!

They don't fall into the trap of hubris, excuses and arrogance.
They don't chase glory and extra squares on their org chart.
They don't wait until every plan is so perfect, that it is actually too late to execute (if they know how to execute at all.)

Old HR is Dead...Welcome to the New World
I don't always get it right in my work. I also make mistakes...regularly. But I can honestly tell you this my friends...

I am not afraid to do what's right.
I am not afraid to stand up to the bullies.
I am not afraid of the nay-sayers who are living in their self-indulgent arrogant past.

It is 2018. It's time to be more than you ever thought possible!
It's time to go for it!

How About You
Who are the weak links in your world that are living in the past? Perhaps it's time to stop giving them any airtime, and simply push your organization to the next level? They wouldn't understand how to lead the way, so why waste precious company resources on old school slow-movers?

Go for it friends. Today!

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Speed Wins

I consider myself a pretty high energy leader. I want to build strategies that make a real difference for my clients, and I want to execute them at an accelerated pace. It's how I've worked in the past...and it's why I am in the job I'm in now. High energy execution runs circles around the uptight corporate risk-averse stale leaders every day of the week.

Don't

I don't want to hear about internal politics, because they are a lame excuse to avoid taking action.

I don't want to hear about the old way of doing things. It's 2016, there are no old ways that matter anymore. Get over it.

I don't care if you want to be popular. Popularity has absolutely nothing to do with getting things done.

I don't want to hear about internal protocols, or taking a long time to build consensus so I end up having another birthday waiting to get started, those are lame excuses too.

I want results now. 

How About You
That is what I get paid to do...and when it comes to executing a kick ass strategy that will differentiate my clients from the competition...well, I want to do it at supersonic speed.

Speed wins in the market...

...and I like winning.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.


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You I Need

I think it's fascinating how some leaders make their lives so difficult. Those same leaders typically make the lives of those around them equally as difficult, yet they can't see how disruptive they are. SMH.

I Need You (in the mirror)
There is a simple reality to getting work done these days in my opinion. You have to do the heavy lifting. Unless you understand what is happening and invest the time to help build work plans, you are not leading. We can talk about delegating work all day long, but I've personally seen many executives fail because they believed they no longer needed to learn anything, and that delegating was actually leading.

Um, no. 

I've had to learn over and over again throughout my career in order to both grow my career and to understand what it actually takes to lead at a high level. (I'm still learning by the way...that's the fun part!) 

Beware the leader that says  they are an expert or have figured it all out. The world is moving so fast, I'm not sure anyone is an expert any longer. 

You may be damn good...but be careful with the self-appointed labels.

What does need to manifest itself however is the inner drive that the best leaders demonstrate each day. They have vision, they build plans, make decisions, and have stopped running scared of the political noise that can dominate an organization but provides zero value.

I Need You (everyone on the team)
Newsflash: real leaders are not individual contributors. Honing your communication skills, understanding that different members of your team need different levels of attention and guidance, and appreciating that without the team's efforts you will fail are all hallmarks of the best of the best.

Let me say it again...you will fail without them. Now, how do you think you should treat your team?

How About You
Trust yourself first. Trust your team second. "You" need them.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Apex Predator

I'm a super competitive guy. I like to win. I push myself hard at work, in my workouts, and in how I try to cram two lives into just one. I like the pressure to differentiate myself, my company, and my clients from the competitors in their respective markets.

I like to win.

Every time.

Winning Without Being A Loser
Part of winning is making sure I try to help everyone on my team win. This is no small task. Think about the people you work with and how they (read here --> many) are slow to accept change. 

Some may be early in their careers and don't want to make a mistake. Others may be long-tenured but still cling to the prehistoric notion that a command and control leadership style actually garners credibility in 2015.

Whatever obstacles we confront, it is essential that we try to include everyone. Candidly, not everyone will make the journey with us. It is easier to accept this reality when we know we've done our best to be inclusive.

Winning Comes in Threes
When you commit to winning you can not simply state you want to win and expect to get a good result. It requires courage and thick skin (particularly when hearing the criticism from those that want 'everyone' to win --> impossible, by the way.)

Let's take a look at my big three:

1. An endless supply of enthusiasm
Are you the one that everyone knows is fired up...all the time? Can you be relied on to jump in front of a group of people and get them engaged on a new project, strategy, or set of business tools?

If not, what the heck is going on? It's up to you to change your organization for the better. No one else. That means you must be the one who is out in front.

2. A willingness to take risks
Are you the one that is pushing to try new things and challenge the status quo? Or, do you wait for "approval" for everything and make sure each issue is so "safe" that you never take a step forward? 

If so, what the heck is going on? It's up to you to create a culture where innovation and creativity are normal. If you're not role modeling this behavior who is going to do it?

3. An ability to execute
Progress never occurs when we "wait and see" or "take a closer look at something." Do these phrases sound all too familiar? Is it suddenly uncomfortable reading this post?

If so, what the heck is going on? You must be the one leading...you must be the first one through the wall...you must make decisions and move forward.


How About You
Do you want to be the apex predator in your industry, organization, and life? 

Reality check...the only thing stopping you is you. 

Get yourself fired up, take some risks, and above all else execute more effectively than anyone you've ever seen. 

In the end...you're going to make a world of difference.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Abeyance (Will Kill Your Career)

Work can feel like a mad scramble sometimes. The priority list...the projects...the endless stream of 'important' email...lots of meetings...

...and don't let me forget the tremendous weight of the pressure from our personal lives that can push us to the brink...

Hmm. One could easily get caught up in their own drama and fall hopelessly behind on every front. Don't tell anyone, but that happens to me once in a while.

Focus 

As it turns out, feeling sorry for yourself helps you complete exactly zero items  on your Wunderlist. Although I am a big fan of allowing stress and pressure to wash over you, through you...and then out of you, I'll admit that it's no fun when it's happening.

Once you've completed  your self-inflicted pity festival (they're usually much bigger than a pity 'party' in my world) it's go time. Time to bring things back into focus. 

Time to get a game plan based on tackling one issue at a time. Trying to catch up everything at once is not only foolish, it won't work, so don't waste your time.

Get back to work...get your life organized...take one positive step forward.

Execute

There is another important piece to the "get your ass back in gear" mentality. That is, you actually have to do something. First steps, baby steps, or one-step-at-a-time approaches are terrific to get you started. But they are a long way from executing effectively on the totality of your responsibilities.

When you start to feel good about yourself as you get things back on track, remember to use that positive energy and take a deep dive into a major priority. You'll feel good...you'll get your work done...and you will be back on top of your game.

How About You

It's not easy to go from feeling like a zero to a feeling like a hero. Wallowing in self-pity may be a convenient excuse, but it sure as heck doesn't get your work done. Now is the time to get yourself together.

Focus. Execute. Win.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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To Reign Again

There is something special about being on top of your game. The world of work is so complicated these days that this feeling is more elusive than ever before. But when you know things are working...when the team is jelling...and your colleagues are actually behaving like, well, colleagues...life is good.

Get It Back

Consider where you are today relative to being on top. Are you making bold decisions and being supported as you take yourself, your team, and your organization to a new level? Maybe you find yourself having to justify every move you make because the old-school leaders in your company are literally too old (in their thinking) to understand that we live in a spread out, digital world?

Regardless of the reason, if you don't have that special feeling about your work then it's time to do something about it. 

Reign of Fire

Let's focus on three key areas that will move you from frazzled to fantastic as you develop your leadership presence and impact in your organization.

1. Know Your Stuff

This may sound obvious but sadly it is not. The world has changed so dramatically that it is imperative that you are current both in your discipline and industry.

2. Educate Your Colleagues

Do not expect your team, or the other executives in your organization to be as current as you. Modern leaders are few and far between. Most are afraid to move out of their comfort zones and simply rely on the company's brand to "take care of things like it always has." Yes, leaders actually still say these things.

3. Execute Confidently

There is nothing more powerful than a leader that knows what they are talking about, and isn't afraid to make decisions to keep things moving forward. Most leaders today are simply trying to protect their own backside, and are unwilling to actually make bold decisions.

How About You

It's time for you to reign again! You deserve to have that special feeling when you are at the top of your game. Don't hold back simply because the other leaders are afraid to lead. Their weakness is not your responsibility. Keep pushing and believe you can make a difference.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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A Dangerous Meeting

"Sorry I'm late..."
"How was your weekend..."
"Did you hear what happened last week..."
"I have so many examples of this problem that I need to share with you..."

I've spent my professional life in meetings. That may sound a bit disheartening, or even sad. But the reality is meetings are vitally important if led well. I used to believe meetings needed to be managed well. That approach turned out to be misguided.

Meetings need to be led. If someone is trying to manage a meeting you can collect your things and leave, because they are failing miserably and no one wants to watch that happen.

Why
It may sound simple, but when you attend a meeting do you know why you're there? Regardless of whether or not there is a printed agenda and a resource person with a stopwatch to frenetically scold you if you run over your allotted time by 30 seconds, good meetings need to be led differently.

Why are you sitting in the room when you could be executing on your company's strategy? 

Understanding how you will specifically contribute to the meeting, either by sharing data, giving a status update, or to simply receive information you need to do your job, you must understand why you are there before you join the session.

Focus
All too often meetings are filled with noise and excess information that detracts from the pace of work that is necessary in high-performing organizations. 

Several approaches that help keep meetings moving as rapidly as possible include:

1. Never be late. If you can not arrive on time text the leader and then be absolutely quiet when you join the group. If you are late on a consistent basis you clearly are not committed.

2. One example. Time and again I've heard example after example of a problem or a solution (and I've done this myself for years) - but it is a time killer. One example is enough.

3. Make decisions. The ultimate frustration about meetings is that decisions are not made at the end. Effective leaders make decisions and keep things moving. Sometimes those decisions will not be popular. So what? You're not getting paid to win a popularity contest, you're being paid to execute confidently and quickly. 


How About You
When you step into your next meeting today, think about who's leading the session. Are they focused on executing corporate strategy? Are they making sure everyone has an opportunity to share five versions of the same problem before proclaiming "I'll take a look at that."

It's time to lead meetings differently. Stop trying to manage them, and do your job.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



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We Who Are About To Die (from your noise)

I've recently made a breakthrough...of sorts. It turns out that despite all the different kinds of people in the world, there are actually only two types of leaders. It wasn't a research study that I stumbled upon that opened my eyes. It wasn't a fascinating journal article that raised my level of awareness. Nor was it some ancient text that was discovered in a far off land.

I learned this from experiencing the same behavior over and over, and I could no longer deny the truth.

Talk

One of the most important skills leaders must possess is the ability to influence others with their words. Inspiring those around us, motivating our teams, and supporting our own leadership team is a core competency for the contemporary leader.

There is a significant risk however at only being a skilled communicator, let alone someone who throws around the latest jargon but clearly has no idea what they're talking about.

Execution

We all recognize those leaders that are not able to move from talking...and planning...and talking some more...

...with those leaders that demand action.

Planning appropriately, and following that plan is always the best path. However, the balance point between planning and paralysis can be a fine one. The action oriented leaders sometimes need to push across that line in order to maintain momentum.

"If there is no momentum, there is no execution. If there is no execution, there is simply no need for that leader."

Noise

For those leaders that can not move from words to action the result is a swirling cauldron of noise. Noise damages credibility. Noise forces team members to critically examine if they can still believe in that leader.

Noise kills.

The secret sauce of leadership if finding the balance point between words that inspire action, and the ability to make decisions to ensure momentum and execution.

How About You

Do you find every excuse in the book to avoid leading? You may think "following up with your team" or "looking into that issue" is part of leading.

Well, you're wrong. That's not leading at all. That's actually killing the rest of us.

Don't be that person. Lead the way instead.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Exciter

Seems to care...yet has a cold side.

Seems eager to help...but actually stirs the pot.

Seems to want to take the lead...but doesn't understand how to execute.

Seems very busy...but never gets anything done.

Seems to have lots to say...but is just noisy.

Seems to get everyone moving...but never gets any traction.

Seems to know everyone...yet has no real allies.

Seems to be full of the right words...but is just an empty leader.

      
How About You
Do you recognize the person above? Are they so excited to be part of your organization that they don't see their impact? Everyone else sees it though, right...and they're waiting for you to do something about it.

Let me ask you something...why are you still quiet? 

Something to think about.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.





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