I see the world in a certain way. I don't think that's a bad thing; in fact, I'm not sure how I could see it any other way. I'll always have those unconscious biases playing in the background and influencing how I think, speak and act.
The challenge, of course, is what to do about those biases as I become aware of them?
My Lens
The lens I use to see the world is clouded with high expectations, little tolerance for excuses, and even less patience when it comes to repeated leadership failures. I'm not trying to be cute here...failings in these areas send me right over the edge.
That clouded lens of mine has served me well, but it has also been a source of much frustration. So, where is the gap?
Savvy
The value I place on being a savvy leader is not merely because it is important. Quite the opposite...everyone who is actually paying attention to the practice of effective leadership understands it's importance.
The challenge lies in helping those leaders who don't understand what it means to be savvy. You know who they are in your organization. They use lots and lots of words, yet somehow for all of their "knowledge" they fail miserably when the moment comes and they have to be savvy.
In the moment.
Without thinking.
Without running to a supervisor for guidance.
Acting with the full knowledge of what is at stake, and the accompanying dynamics that will play out.
...and they have to do it instantly.
Is this difficult to do? Of course it is.
Are we supposed to wait and wait and wait and wait while our "leaders" take an inordinate amount of time to "get up to speed" and be savvy?
Absolutely not.
How About You
Achieving results for our organizations does not happen because we make excuses. We do not grow, open new jobs, pay our people, or create an employer brand that is second to none while simultaneously justifying why the same errors are repeated.
Be the savvy leader your organization needs. Push yourself to be what you've always wanted to be. If you're not ready...don't pretend. Everyone can see through your talk. Instead, be humble, listen, learn, ask questions, and give yourself a chance to take your career to the next level.
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
Showing posts with label perspective. Show all posts
Showing posts with label perspective. Show all posts
Monday, November 13, 2017
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Deciding to Win
Consider your situation right now...personally or professionally.
Have you achieved your goals?
Are you hustling with a company that you love?
Have you found a sense of inner peace...with all of the successes and failures and near-misses and disappointments and noise that are part of "peace?"
Hoping to Win
It's funny how our early dreams of future lives...filled with hope for personal satisfaction and professional success...somehow never seem to get to an end point. It's as if we can...never...quite...get...there...regardless of how hard we (have convinced ourselves that we continue to) try.
There is a tired, but accurate phrase, that says 'hope is not a strategy.' However, it appears to be one of the most common forms of self-evaluation, self-esteem, and overall measure of one's worth.
I vote that we use hope as part of our thinking, but pursue a different path when it comes to actually getting things accomplished.
Deciding to Win
Now consider your situation again, but this time let's use a different lens. One that is not based on workplace hustle, personal bliss, or finding the perfect job. Instead, let's take an inventory of what you have accomplished over the last couple of years.
What bold moves have you made in your career?
How does it feel to be on the other side of major life decisions that caused so much stress, but are now behind you?
What else is different now, but you were in such a hurry to focus on the next thing that you've forgotten how much of a difference you've made?
How About You
As it turns out, winning is not a place, or title, or partner. Winning is what you decide it is. So, will it be the endless pursuit of...pursuing? Or, will winning be something entirely different for you?
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
pic
Have you achieved your goals?
Are you hustling with a company that you love?
Have you found a sense of inner peace...with all of the successes and failures and near-misses and disappointments and noise that are part of "peace?"
Hoping to Win
It's funny how our early dreams of future lives...filled with hope for personal satisfaction and professional success...somehow never seem to get to an end point. It's as if we can...never...quite...get...there...regardless of how hard we (have convinced ourselves that we continue to) try.
There is a tired, but accurate phrase, that says 'hope is not a strategy.' However, it appears to be one of the most common forms of self-evaluation, self-esteem, and overall measure of one's worth.
I vote that we use hope as part of our thinking, but pursue a different path when it comes to actually getting things accomplished.
Deciding to Win
Now consider your situation again, but this time let's use a different lens. One that is not based on workplace hustle, personal bliss, or finding the perfect job. Instead, let's take an inventory of what you have accomplished over the last couple of years.
What bold moves have you made in your career?
How does it feel to be on the other side of major life decisions that caused so much stress, but are now behind you?
What else is different now, but you were in such a hurry to focus on the next thing that you've forgotten how much of a difference you've made?
As it turns out, winning is not a place, or title, or partner. Winning is what you decide it is. So, will it be the endless pursuit of...pursuing? Or, will winning be something entirely different for you?
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
pic
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
This Battle Chose Us
leading through change
leading through criticism
leading through risk
leading through failures
leading through setbacks
leading through growth
leading through fear
leading through breakthroughs
leading through bigotry
leading through new perspectives
leading through sadness
leading through success
leading
through
it
all.
We don't have a choice.
The real leaders keep pushing, no matter what.
That is the path chosen for us.
Are you with me?
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
pic
leading through criticism
leading through risk
leading through failures
leading through setbacks
leading through growthleading through fear
leading through breakthroughs
leading through bigotry
leading through new perspectives
leading through sadness
leading through success
leading
through
it
all.
We don't have a choice.
The real leaders keep pushing, no matter what.
That is the path chosen for us.
Are you with me?
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
pic
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
It's A Kingdom Thing
"Perspective is the most important issue in the world of work today."
- Me
There, I said it. I know everyone is a genius (including me sometimes); but the reality is that unless we recognize and appreciate the fact that every employee has their own perspective on the workplace, we'll never make any progress.
Who's Agenda Is It
Are you developing (read here --> pushing) your view of what your organization's culture should be on the employees? When you hold focus groups, team meetings, or group discussions does it feel more like you're trying to convince the staff of something instead of getting their input and changing what your original vision was in to something better...and...maybe more realistic too?
When new policies are implemented across the company do you invest the time to really understand how the changes will impact employees; or, is it easier to justify why the change is necessary and assume the "fallout will be minimal, I'm sure."
The danger of having a strategically oriented global view of the workplace is that we no longer "see" the details of the work being done on the front line. We miss these details not because we don't care, we simply have jobs that are no longer focused on the fine details of daily operations. It's not wrong, it's just the reality of serving in a different role.
You're Afraid, Just Admit It
Why is it that leaders really don't want input into their decisions? Is there something wrong with truly engaging the team of people around you to develop a shared vision going forward? Is that a sign of weakness, or inability to lead, or incompetence?
I submit to you an emphatic no! Quite honestly, the leaders that choose to open themselves up and allow their team members to fully participate in how the work gets done are going to be much more effective in the long run.
Why? It's those same team members that will execute that plan and make it successful.
That means the leader is successful too. Are you with me?
How About You
Do you value the perspective of your employees? Really? When was the last time you proved it? Or, maybe your definition of "proving it" is that you held a staff meeting and announced what you decided was best. I'm not sure that's the perspective I've been talking about. We're all part of the same workplace kingdom...maybe we should start leading with that in mind.
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
pic
- Me
There, I said it. I know everyone is a genius (including me sometimes); but the reality is that unless we recognize and appreciate the fact that every employee has their own perspective on the workplace, we'll never make any progress.
Who's Agenda Is It
Are you developing (read here --> pushing) your view of what your organization's culture should be on the employees? When you hold focus groups, team meetings, or group discussions does it feel more like you're trying to convince the staff of something instead of getting their input and changing what your original vision was in to something better...and...maybe more realistic too?
When new policies are implemented across the company do you invest the time to really understand how the changes will impact employees; or, is it easier to justify why the change is necessary and assume the "fallout will be minimal, I'm sure."
The danger of having a strategically oriented global view of the workplace is that we no longer "see" the details of the work being done on the front line. We miss these details not because we don't care, we simply have jobs that are no longer focused on the fine details of daily operations. It's not wrong, it's just the reality of serving in a different role.
You're Afraid, Just Admit It
I submit to you an emphatic no! Quite honestly, the leaders that choose to open themselves up and allow their team members to fully participate in how the work gets done are going to be much more effective in the long run.
Why? It's those same team members that will execute that plan and make it successful.
That means the leader is successful too. Are you with me?
How About You
Do you value the perspective of your employees? Really? When was the last time you proved it? Or, maybe your definition of "proving it" is that you held a staff meeting and announced what you decided was best. I'm not sure that's the perspective I've been talking about. We're all part of the same workplace kingdom...maybe we should start leading with that in mind.
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
pic
Thursday, March 21, 2013
AND, not BUT
I have a busy professional life. I'm expected to deal with some of the most intense confrontations in the workplace, make decisions on the fly, lead others, and give feedback and my perspective on a variety of issues. That last point, feedback and my perspective, can be one of the trickiest parts of my day.
I Hear You, But
I do my best to allow others to give me their insights into what is happening with a particular situation before I jump in. That's hard for me to do. One of my failings is that once I've heard their update and attempted to validate what they've told me, I often follow with my own comments using the word 'but.'
Not good.
Once I utter that word my previous comments that affirmed their decision or perspective is instantly negated as they prepare to hear how I am going to correct them.
Really not good.
Often times I don't change what their ideas are, I'm just adding my proverbial two cents worth, but instead of maintaining a positive flow to the dialogue I use the 'but' word and change how they are feeling about the update.
Let's try this same statement using 'and' instead...
"Your plan makes a lot of sense, and I think Mary would be a big help too."
How About You
Have you convinced yourself, like I have, that my feedback is interpreted as I intend it to be 100% of the time? If so, like me, you've failed. Our teams rely on us to be supportive and provide balanced feedback, so let's both commit to avoiding the deadly word 'but' from now on.
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
pic
I Hear You, But
I do my best to allow others to give me their insights into what is happening with a particular situation before I jump in. That's hard for me to do. One of my failings is that once I've heard their update and attempted to validate what they've told me, I often follow with my own comments using the word 'but.'
Not good.
Once I utter that word my previous comments that affirmed their decision or perspective is instantly negated as they prepare to hear how I am going to correct them.
Really not good.
Often times I don't change what their ideas are, I'm just adding my proverbial two cents worth, but instead of maintaining a positive flow to the dialogue I use the 'but' word and change how they are feeling about the update.
And I Hear You
As part of a year long leadership development program that I am quite humbled to be a part of, I learned the power of the word 'and.' I am on a mission to replace the word 'but' with the word 'and' whenever possible. Let's try out an example:
"Your plan makes a lot of sense, but did you ask Mary about her ideas?"
"Your plan makes a lot of sense, and I think Mary would be a big help too."
How About You
Have you convinced yourself, like I have, that my feedback is interpreted as I intend it to be 100% of the time? If so, like me, you've failed. Our teams rely on us to be supportive and provide balanced feedback, so let's both commit to avoiding the deadly word 'but' from now on.
I'd love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
pic
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