My Personal Board of Directors

Until Charlie Judy wrote about having a personal board of directors several years ago I had never heard of the concept. Kudos to Charlie for being so far ahead. At the time I thought it was a fabulous idea, and in the 'old' Jay Kuhns style I moved on. No follow up....no call to Charlie to explore it further...no email shout out.

Nothing.

Not This Time

Recently I saw another piece about the value of a personal board of directors and I realized it was time to do something. I was actually embarrassed reading it knowing that I missed the opportunity to have my all star team in place several years ago.

Not this time. I'm on it.

Discovering My Team

What was fascinating as I started thinking about who would be on "my board" was that I already had the core team in place. They were actively 'working' for me. How did I figure it out? It was easy. I looked at who I was reaching out to for advice, support, encouragement, and feedback. That very small list was the first group to become board members.

Building My Team

The next step was a bit more intentional. I realized the small group of people that made up the  'founding members' was not large or diverse enough for me to get the comprehensive support I needed. I thought about who would help fill in the gaps in membership in order to maximize the impact of the team without making it too unwieldy to manage.

Several more names were added and suddenly my board was coming together. As my view of the world has evolved (I'm increasingly interested in marketing, branding and communications) I realized I had another slot or two that needed to be filled. That's okay...boards are supposed to be fluid. Plus, my board is functioning very well!

 

When Are The Meetings

There are a variety of ways to implement your personal board of directors. I'm choosing to keep my membership confidential, even from the other board members. (Although I'm sure some of you are well aware that you have been appointed!)

For me, it's not about putting pressure on my all star team to have to "do" or "be" or "act" in a new or special way. I need them to just be who they are...that's why I chose them in the first place!

How About You

I'm surprised at how empowering my board has been for me. I view them as real board members now in addition to being friends, colleagues, and confidants. It's energizing to work with them and hear their views. Candidly, it's liberating to have a team I trust enough that I can open up on just about every issue in my life.

Don't make the mistake I made when Charlie showed me the way and I didn't listen. Build your team, seek them out regularly and learn from them. They care about you, otherwise they never would have made it to such a prestigious position.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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The Real Me

Game face.
Professional boundaries.
Opening up.
My "A" game.
Giving of myself.
Driven.
Focused.
Blah, blah, blah.

Sharing is Caring
I'm not type of person who keeps too many things inside. When I'm passionate about something it just spills out. It may be my work, it may be my family, or it may be my hobbies. But sooner or later, if it gets me fired up, those around me are going to hear about it. Since we all spend so many hours at our jobs, the people around me in the workplace definitely hear about it all...and then some.

But should they?

Professional Is Best...Right?
I've long espoused that we must maintain a level of professionalism in the workplace, particularly for those of us fortunate enough to be in leadership roles. Here's my dilemma: being professional all the time in no way comes close to the real me. Is that bad? I'm not sure. I do know it's real, so maybe I'm on to something.

Too Much Personal Is Bad...Right?

I've also thought for a long time that being a bit more fun and personal with those around me is the best strategy in just about every situation. Showing some personality, kidding around to alleviate the stress of the moment, and generally being a more upbeat member of the team just feels more natural to me. 

But should I be this way at work?

Finding The Balance

Jason Seiden has written some great material on the concept of profersonal relationships. I encourage you to check out his perspective on this issue. Putting all of these issues into practice however, changes the nature of our relationships with those around us. One way of finding our way on this journey could be, as Charlie Judy recently suggested, to develop our own Personal Board of Directors. It's an intriguing concept, and I'd love to hear if any of you have implemented this approach. I haven't taken that plunge...yet.

How About You
Do you think it's okay to share who you really are? Or, is it just simply safer to have a permanent game-face on that never comes off? I like to embrace my passions fully, which usually means my team at work hears a lot about social media, HR, and hockey. Can I go a bit farther and share my musical passions as well? Hmmm, maybe I should wait until I'm fully vested first?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.




photo credit 

The Power of Community in Your Success

I've been thinking a lot about the role "community" plays in my life. It's a term that gets thrown around so much that I wonder if anyone has internalized a definition for themselves and embraced it?

The deeper I've gone into my own communities, the more I see the profound role they play in my life. In fact, I can quickly identify six distinct communities that I actively participate in on a daily basis. Whoa!

Professional
This seems obvious, yet my focus isn't that I have a cool job and am able to do interesting things. It's all about the relationships and trust I've built that makes the difference.

Social
All hail the power of social media. Yes, I'm serious. Some of my most important social relationships (and my Personal Board of Directors) were born out of my connections on various social media channels.

Faith
This is a huge part of my daily life, and I am absolutely grateful for it. Whether I'm leading small groups, or prepping for a big mission trip later this summer, my faith community has been tremendous.

Fitness
Staying healthy and reasonably fit has been an important part of my life for a long time. Investing in a professional trainer last Fall has helped me take my game to the next level. Now, a new facebook accountability group around fitness and motivation helps keep me on track as well.

Music
When my friend Michael Carty asked me to write about how I feel about "my" music, I was both humbled and a bit intimidated. But alas, my music is not only one of my greatest passions, it has also brought me to one of the most welcoming, nonjudgmental communities I have ever experienced. Here's the post if you're curious.

Family
Last here...but certainly not on my list of priorities, is my amazing family and those close personal relationships that make all the noise of the world seem insignificant. To say I feel blessed would be a massive understatement.

How About You
What are the communities that mean the most to you? How do they make a difference in your life?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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They Can’t Afford You

Time to level up.

You are a talented, experienced professional. You know what you’re doing and are bright enough to know when you need help and aren’t afraid to go after it and deliver for your organization.

Candidly, if you weren’t there your organization would suffer.

Let’s level up another step.

Think about the community where you live. There are many not-for-profit organizations that do incredible things right in your backyard. Somehow they make a difference despite the massive challenges they face each day, not the least of which is being able to hire the best talent.

This is where you come into the picture.

Can those organizations afford to hire you? No, they cannot.

Would those organizations benefit massively from your expertise? Yes, they absolutely would.

Final step.

My ask today is that you identify a not-for-profit organization in your community that aligns with your personal values.

• Contact them
• Get to know what they do
• Volunteer your time
• Join their Board of Directors
• Make a difference beyond the four walls of your employer (which also builds your employer brand as a community-minded organization)

Are you willing to take that step? Or, is it easier to say that you’re “just so busy that you don’t have any extra time?”

One last thing…I do practice what I preach. I am privileged to serve on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Cancer Center here in Tampa, Florida. Click the link to learn about the incredible impact the Center has on the lives of children and families navigating pediatric cancer and chronic blood disorders.

Thanks for being here.

Jay

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Self-Awareness is a Lie

"No matter how unbiased we think we are, we may have subconscious negative opinions about people who are outside our own group. But the more we are exposed to other groups of people, the less likely we are to feel prejudice against them."
- Mind Tools

I'm in Leadership, I'm Not Biased
I hate to break it to you...but yes, yes you are, and we have our brains to blame for some of those biases. We are not able to process the millions of bits of information slamming into us every second of the day. 

So, our brains make quick judgments based on things that are familiar (skin color, accent, job, education, geography, etc.) to help move past the simple things and get us to the really important stuff. Except the little things are the important stuff.

Trying to convince ourselves otherwise is not only foolish, it is quite literally, impossible.

Attack Your Biases...With Humility
One of the inherent problems of leadership, and in particular as we rise through the corporate ranks, is that we rely on our our own opinions more and more. We become removed from the operations, and the work flow, and the team that understands how the work gets done in the trenches.

Our over inflated egos block our ability to see and hear what we need so desperately to lead effectively. If we are to guide our organizations forward, we must understand what is happening from every point of view.

The solution is pretty straightforward if you're a strong enough leader to handle it.

- Ask for input.
- Listen to what your trusted circle tells you.
- Do not get defensive.

How About You
Who is there for you? For me, it is my Personal Board of Directors. A team of leaders who don't know it, but are the ones I on rely for candid feedback when I'm sure "I know exactly what I'm doing."

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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My Eyes Have Seen You

"It is our duty as men and women to proceed as though the limits of our abilities do not exist."
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Political Vision
Have you noticed the term "vision" gets thrown around a lot in corporate life? Personally, I love it. It can rally teams of people together; clarify where an organizaiton aspires to be; and differentiate a company from the competition in a big way.

As long as others do not attempt to sabotage your efforts...

...and that is where "vision" usually runs into trouble.

We are actually made to believe we have limits. Who made that decision? Was it someone threatened by our energy, risk taking, and success? Someone who clings to power by manipulating others to "know their place" and to understand "how things are done around here?"

I'm calling BS on that.

Wish List Vision
Instead of talking about the vision you have for yourself, your team, and your organization, do this instead:
- write everything down
- pull your Personal Board of Directors together and talk with them
- put your thoughts, ideas, and plans into action

Your vision does not have to be a fleeting wish list of a life you long for, but have accepted will never become a reality before you even put forth any effort. It can happen in your professional life, and your personal life too.

See your future. Make it happen. Today.

How About You
Keep your eyes focused on your vision of what you can become. Do not allow the risk-averse cowards in your organization to bully you into staying as lame as they are...you are so much more.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

Bringer of Light

Who are you learning from? Who is the leader that you connect with the most as your mentor, guide, or example that you aspire to live up to? Please don't say that you don't need a mentor, or that you no longer need to learn. If that's truly how you feel I wish you nothing but the best (as your career spirals down the drain.)

My View

For me personally I am starving for more...whether it's insight into the RPO industry...getting to know my colleagues better...understanding how to best juggle a life that is literally split between three states...or figuring out the best way to push harder and faster than everyone is comfortable with me doing.

I hate feeling comfortable...that typically means leaders are talking big and running scared at the same time. Leaders who run scared are absolutely useless....don't you think?

Leading

I find it odd that the more senior leaders become, the more they convince themselves that they have it all figured out. 

Perhaps it's counter-intuitive, but as one's scope expands dramatically doesn't that mean the amount of learning necessary is exponentially higher?

Admitting that we need to learn is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it sends a signal to our teams that learning is what leaders do. Confidently learning is far different than having an a know-it-all swagger.

Are you with me?

How About You

So who are you learning from? Is it someone in your company...your CEO...a member of your team with specialized knowledge...or perhaps a member of your Personal Board of Directors?

Keep learning. When you do...your leadership will rise above the noise and make a real difference.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



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Are You A Believer?

"Believe me, this is the right thing."
"I've got to believe we're on the right track."
"We believe this is the best move going forward."

Having strong beliefs is an integral part of society.  Whether they are personal, spiritual, professional, or corporate beliefs, it seems we all have some whether we consciously think about them or not.  So what is it that society is pushing us to believe?

Three Categories of Belief
1.  You can believe anything.
For many, it appears that as long as you believe in something, you're okay.  It doesn't matter what the category or subject is, just be passionate about it.  Believing in something instead of nothing at least gets us noticed...I think.

2.  You can believe in the "wrong" things.
Now things start to get tricky.  Believing in the "wrong" things opens the doors for us to be politically correct -> "I may not agree with you, but I respect the fact that you have the right to have your opinion."   While this may sound good from a theoretical perspective, what happens when that other person's beliefs are truly wrong?  What if they conflict directly with your corporate strategy going forward?  Do you still respect them as much?

3.  You can believe in the "right" things.
If #2 was tricky, this one has to feel almost impossible to deal with.  Who exactly decides what the "right" things are?  Is it your Manager, Senior Management Team, Board of Directors?  Your conscience?  

This Is A Tough Topic
Sometimes in true leadership roles we must support decisions that we may not necessarily completely agree with.  Does that mean those decisions are the "wrong" ones?  Certainly not!  The challenge is making sure we do not compromise our values when we execute strategies that may not meet with our particular belief system.

Think of a leader who did not just believe "anything" or the "wrong" things; but someone who demonstrated to those around them that they believed the "right" things.  How did they show it?  How did people react?  How did the course of your leadership path change because of that person?

How About You
What do you believe about leadership?  Do you believe the "right" things; or just as importantly, do those around you know what you believe?  If you simply say you "believe" but you never show it, you really don't believe in anything at all.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.




pic courtesy of sydney

Visions In My Head

We all see the world in one way...our way. We convince ourselves we're seeing it the right way too.

Oh sure, we also claim to be open-minded, and willing to walk in other people's shoes too. Hahahaha...sure we do.

Lens? What Lens?
Here's my dilemma...despite my powerful self-talk machine that "tells me" I'm open-minded, I find myself wondering if that is actually true. 

Or, at least, true enough.

Think about that for a second. You've spent your entire career in HR proclaiming to be open-minded, and as it turns out you're just like everyone else. 

Your lens is firmly strapped on, and that is the way you see the world.

Time for the Humble Pie Buffet
How exactly does one figure out if their world view is much more limited than they previously believed? How much courage does it take to ask and find out?

Whoa! Not sure I'm ready for that.

But if I'm going to be effective, I need to be a lot more open to feedback from those that I trust. (see this post about your Personal Board of Directors to learn more.) 

What might we learn if we ask those closest to us for their honest take on who we are? Are we ready for that feedback? More importantly, are we prepared to make the changes necessary to align our talk and our actions?

Heavy stuff.

How About You
When was the last time you took a step back and critically evaluated your 'open mind?' 

Is that too scary; or, could it be a moment that leads you to new ways of thinking, working, and leading?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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