Beggin' and Payin'

Ridin' high when I was king,
Played it hard and fast cause I had everything,
You walked away, won me then,
But easy come and easy go and it would end

Too Comfortable
When I look back on my career and think about all the twists and turns, highs and lows, and everything in between one thing becomes clear. Without people giving me an opportunity I would have nothing.

Nothing.

Sometimes I can lose sight of the journey I've been on simply because the pace of life is so hectic. Juggling my responsibilities inside Kinetix as well as with our clients, going full speed in my busy personal life, squeezing in daily workouts, and generally trying to stay out of trouble can all be a distraction. 

I don't necessarily feel bad about being so busy, in fact it is a blessing to have so many exciting things happening...even if they seem to be happening all at the same time!

Stop Begging, Start Paying
The risk, obviously, is that what I have now can erase my memory of what it took to get here. More importantly, it blurs the memory of who got me here.

The early part of my career was all about working hard, and hoping for an opportunity. The professional version of begging, if you will. Fortunately, there were many people who saw something in me, and took risks of their own to give me a chance.

Now, it's my turn! In fact, it's been my turn for quite a while. I've embraced connecting with people early in their careers. I love encouraging new members of the teams I've worked with, even to the point of challenging them to think beyond their role with the organization because I thought they could do more right now.

It would be impossible to list everyone who has been influential in my career, but here are a few...

Dad and Mom, far and away the most influential role models in my life

Paul McBride, undergraduate school professor

George Haskett, graduate school professor

Mike McNally, first HR VP that I reported to and early mentor

Kathryn Gillette, CEO, former boss, and mentor

Trish McFarlane, HR leader, social media, blogging mentor and friend

Mike VanDervort, HR leader, social media, blogging mentor and friend

How About You
How do you connect with the early careerists in your company? Do you notice them; or, are you too busy running to your next meeting to "really see" them? 

In addition to my focus on payin' - I'm looking forward to serving as a formal mentor for one of our interns this summer!

How are you payin'?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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beggin'

Who Got You Here?

There are many people that shape our lives. Whether it’s our parents, siblings, extended family, friends, colleagues or mentors the list could go on and on.

I’d like you to take a moment and think…yes, we’re all “super busy” but you can stop for one moment…and list the five most influential people in your development.

- Who were they?

- What did they do that was so meaningful?

- Have you told them how important they are to you?

How About You

For as much as we (ahem, that would be me) take pride in being strong, independent, and progressive…none of us made it this far on our own. Perhaps in an era of massive self-promotion and competition it would do us all some good to say thank you to those that got us here.

 

I’d love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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The Finesse Factor

Have you seen them? You know, those leaders who are so smooth, so polished, and see the big picture so effectively they can pull together what feels like a hopeless set of circumstances and keep things moving forward.

They’re fabulous...

…and they are rare.

Finesse is a Competency

Let me be very clear…leaders with the finesse factor do far more than weave together words in a way that makes people feel good about themselves or their situation. Lots of leaders talk…very few deliver on that talk.

It is something beyond words that sadly is so foreign in the world of work today. Leaders with finesse actually deliver on what they say.

Think about the leader struggling to understand their future path, and suddenly an executive steps in and not only explains their vision for the future, but takes action to ensure it happens quickly…

Or a new manager who is struggling to find their way in the organization, and their leader invests the time to not only be patient, but to paint a picture of how their strengths match with the complex layers of the company...

And then there is life outside of work…stress and strain is not exclusive to the workplace, and that same leader guides those around them to see a clear path through the “impossible situation” of the moment.

How About You

Do you understand the role finesse plays in leading effectively? 

Having lots of experience, or being a really smart hard-charger only gets you to the start of the race. It is finesse that will get you across the finish line.

I’d love to hear from you.

No Excuses. 

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You Make All the Difference

We have many influencers in our lives. Some of them we're aware of...role models, close colleagues, and supervisors are easy to identify. 

Other influencers are not so obvious...the media, group-think in our organizations and the infamous "society."

Who

I'd like you to take fifteen seconds (not a big ask!) and think about the short list of people who are influential in your life. 

- who are they

- why are they so special to you

Thinking about who and why the influencers in our lives have achieved that important position informs how we are going to behave and make decisions. I'm living proof. When I needed to make a major career decision I leveraged the influencers closest to me to help make that decision.

You
I'm going to ask for five more seconds. Let's fast forward a few years ahead...and imagine that someone is asking someone you work with who their influencers are. Wouldn't it be amazing if you were on their list?

You can make that a reality. Consider your influencers....integrate your style...and you will be that special person for someone else.

How About You
Some leaders shy away from the responsibility of actively working to be an influencer. Sadly, that means they've decided to stop leading. For others, it is a privilege to be cherished. Which one are you?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

Put Me In Coach!

As the new school year gets underway across the country I'm reminded of the anticipation of starting new things.  Whether it was a school, a sports team, or job, the mix of excitement and anxiety always gave me a rush. 

Look Around
Take a moment over the next couple of weeks and identify those new team members in your organization; particularly those early on in their careers.  They're living an emotional roller coaster lifestyle right now.  They are eager to learn and impress, and worried they might make a poor first impression and lose credibility before they even get started.  You and I need to intervene and serve as a mentor to help them along.  This doesn't have to be part of an official program; in fact, some of the best mentor/mentee relationships are informal which removes an additional layer of pressure on both parties to perform.

You Weren't Born in Management
As you consider your journey, consider who those important leaders were that helped you along the way.  Was it your supervisor, peer, or another experienced leader who saw potential in you and offered to help?  How do you pay it forward and support those that are hungry to progress in their careers at your company?



How About You (and me)
I think it's time to reach out to those that are excited and anxious in our organizations.  Let's make a difference in the life of a new leader, and in turn, make a difference in the life of our organizations at the same time.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.


pic courtesy of cafepress