Expressions of Power

Power is an interesting concept. We chase it...we are fearful of it...we are quick to identify abuses of it...

...and then we chase it some more.

What's the Real Story
There is an allure to success, and the trappings that come along with it. Titles, money, respect, authority. Hmmm...authority. That component of power that offers the ability to guide others in the way you want them to go. 

That path can be something wonderful...creating a culture that brings the great minds of your team together to push through to new levels of success. A culture whereby everyone feels connected to the vision. 

Damn, that can be exciting.

Power for Power's Sake
There is, of course, a dark side to power. In times of war power is projected in the most overwhelming ways possible to demoralize the enemy. Perhaps the same can be said for those leaders who are solely focused on power as a personal issue.

They are the ones that feel threatened in every meeting. They are quick to challenge others so as to redirect the focus away from their shortcomings. They see an inclusive leadership approach as somehow diminishing their own status.

We've all seen them. Maybe you've been one at some point in your career?
We've all seen their behavior as well: the body language, the words they choose, the tone of their electronic messages.

How About You
Who do you know in your company that views power in such a disruptive way? How can you help them? As we look to the start of a new year, it might be time for you to pull them aside, provide the thoughtful coaching they need, and help them start 2020 in a very different way.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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It's A Secret

Sometimes strange things happen when people are promoted to leadership. They don't turn into creatures of the night or anything cool like that; but they do seem to suddenly feel empowered to hoard information.

Yes, this sounds absolutely ridiculous.
Yes, this builds zero trust.
Yes, this still happens all the time.

They Won't Understand
Early in my career I learned of an executive who "coached" his leaders to edit information that was shared in hospital-wide leadership team meetings. I wondered why anyone would withhold important information....the answer..."the employees won't fully understand..."

Eventually I inherited that same team...

...and shared every bit of information that was rolled out in those leadership meetings.

The Power and the Glory
Let's peel back the layers here. What exactly happens when leaders hoard information? Is it an ego thing? Perhaps a power play? 

How is it that on one hand we rely on our employees to literally handle our business...and in the same moment, not trust them enough to get an update on what is happening, might be happening, or isn't going to happen?

Are we so much smarter than the rest of the team simply because we have a fancy job title?

How About You
Who are the leaders in your organization that are so stuck on their own greatness that they have completely missed the point of being a leader?

Share everything you can as quickly as you can. 100% of the time. You'll be amazed at the trust, credibility and loyalty you create.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Never A "Right Time"

I work with many leaders, and most of them are cautious. So, cautious in fact, they proclaim that they “wait until the right time” to make certain moves when it comes to recruitment and starting to build their employer brand as if it were a good thing!

Please don’t take this personally, but the right time was five years ago.

TIMING IS NOT YOUR MASTER

It’s an odd obsession…or excuse…to allow time to dictate whether we do our jobs or not. Sure, the answer is always the battle of negotiating some perceived internal political storm. But, why is human resources and talent acquisition always on the defensive?

Perhaps the time has come for us to take the talent shortages directly to those political opponents and call them out?

- They’ve held the organization back through their failed attempts to hang on to outdated strategies.

- They’ve failed the organization by not understanding and using current technologies to their fullest to attract the best and brightest talent.

- Based on these outdated attempts to cling to power, it is now human resources’ obligation to drive change as quickly as possible before the competition completely outmaneuvers the company.

BE YOUR MASTER

The data, complaints and noise that is constantly directed at human resources is no longer acceptable. These are not HR’s failures. 

They represent a culture of arrogance that wishes for everything to be perfect, yet is not willing to do anything differently.

HR is ready, willing and able to step up and lead the way. And it is now time to seize control to ensure the work actually gets done.

HOW ABOUT YOU

Tough talk? Maybe. But, how many more meetings would you like to attend where HR gets criticized…again? The same goes for me...none.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Recruitment Marketing Is Not A Threat

The concept of establishing an employer brand and then leveraging contemporary recruitment marketing strategies to capitalize on that brand are foreign to most HR leaders.

Sure, they've read about it, know they need to work on it, but somehow feel like making those moves would be controversial. Wait, what?

Telling the story of why your organization kicks ass is controversial? Um, no, it's not.

Fear

I can appreciate the fear that creeps into the minds of today's HR leaders. I've been one for more than 20 years myself.  You may not fully understand the concept of what an employer brand means. That's okay. You may worry that the Marketing Department will want to control your messages and content. That's okay too.

Here's the main issue...you have a job to do, and in order to do it effectively in the modern world of work, you must develop an employer brand strategy. It is no longer optional.

Power

Feeling powerless? Wonder if you'll lose your job or lose political clout if you push this issue?

Consider how if feels in meeting after meeting when your Operations leaders are wondering why there aren't any applicants (or at least qualified ones) for their growing list of open positions.

Does that feel good? No, it does not.

Now consider the impact you can have by simply using the power you already have and taking action. No one will stand in your way if you make the business case for an employer brand strategy (insider tip: it's not hard to do!)

Don't underestimate the impact you can make. You have an opportunity to provide high impact, contemporary leadership right now. You simply have to decide to do it.

How About You

Are you ready to make a move? Are you ready to be bold? Are you ready to get your power back? I will help you get there. I'm serous. Hit me up here or here, and let's get started.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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No Lives Matter

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. Not to speak, is to speak. Not to act is to act."
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Other than my parents, I have two heroes who have influenced my life more than any others. I've written about them many times here on NoExcusesHR.

Martin and Dietrich.

They guide me..and today I will write how I honestly feel...and try not to disappoint them. To be honest, I'm not sure I can do it. But I'm going to try.

I would like to humbly offer my voice to the #BlackBlogsMatter project.

Are You Kidding Me?
I've heard the complaints for a long time. That somehow, the deck is stacked against whites. It's as if the push to bring equality to America has somehow disenfranchised white people. 

What? You can't be serious? These excuses, that I've heard for years, are some of the most bizarre deflections for not working hard, making an impact in their jobs, and being a difference maker.

I wonder what the response would be if the events of the last few years (or centuries) were reversed, and black police officers were gunning down whites regularly? Hmmm. Maybe a different reaction?

Black lives matter.

Losing Friends
I have to admit that earlier in my life I tried to maintain friendly relationships with everyone, both personally and professionally. But, that approach was not meant to be. I reached a point where I could no longer tolerate the racist comments, cheap shots against persons of color and other vulnerable groups, and just had to say, and do something.

I lost friends.
I called out colleagues publicly.
I made it very clear where I stood...and candidly did not care if those around me who felt differently were offended. 

Black lives matter.

Standing Tall
As time passed I grew increasingly confident in my views, and fortunately, was blessed to be in an executive position with considerable influence. Make no mistake, I used that influence to achieve my agenda.

I pushed to make major changes in my organization with the Board of Trustees, which were approved, implemented, and still stand today. The details are not important here, but suffice to say issues of diversity, inclusion and equality became part of the fabric of the organization.

Black lives matter.

How About You
As you consider your legacy...yes, legacy...how would you like to be remembered? Is being a "dutiful soldier to the majority" something that feels good? Or, is there another path? Perhaps one that gives you the opportunity to be a leader for everyone in your organization...and in your life.

I can not thank my parents enough for teaching me that when groups of people are treated unfairly it is our responsibility to lead the way and support them, regardless of the criticism, peer pressure, or political fallout. We must always do the right thing.

I hope Martin and Dietrich are not disappointed. 

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

inspiration: Sarah and Body Count
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The 'Club' Is A Pathetic Excuse

Mission Statements.
Values.
Codes of Ethics.
Guiding Principles.

...lots of important words...

But,

The words don't matter in a good ol' boy corporate culture.

You Can't Hide From Your Decisions
I've been working for a long time. During the last twenty years I've been fortunate to serve in leadership roles...and have seen all sorts of "leadership" behavior.

The employees see those behaviors too. Sometimes I wonder if "those leaders" actually believe the action they take in the workplace is invisible to the masses? 

In the world of #HealthcareHR the employee population is particularly bright. Physicians, nurses, therapists, legions of support staff that are oriented and trained to work in an incredibly intense environment, and a long list of other professionals with advanced degrees all fill these organizations.

Yet for some unknown reason, the same "club" continues to dominate. How is this possible in 2016?

Stop Shaming Yourself and Your Organization
There are so many challenges facing companies today. An unpredictable economy, tremendous government regulatory interference, huge numbers of retiring employees (who leave with valuable skills and experience), and of course the ongoing struggle to integrate contemporary business strategies into our work.

There simply is no time for arrogance, sexism, racism, and for God's sake there is absolutely no time for men to cling to some neanderthal-type hold on power. One might suggest if we had a different looking executive profile the business world could produce better results.

How About You
Who do you follow? Are they passionate about all races, backgrounds, and see gender as a non-issue? Or, do their true colors come out behind closed doors or when their insecure egos are threatened?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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You Can Be A Powerhouse

...you can feel the energy in the room change when they come in...they bring something special that is hard to describe; yet, every one on the team wants to be around them...I want to be that person too...

Success
It's a funny thing that happens to people when they achieve a level of success that they perhaps only dreamt of earlier in their careers. All of the self-talk of "how they would do things differently" suddenly becomes real.

Now they have to back up those words with action. There is often a collective expectation that simply because one person has arrived that everything will be different.

Sometimes, one person can shift an entire culture...

Leveraging Power
I am a strong believer in bringing energy to my work. Acting like you really love what you are doing is essential for leaders. Am I right?

How many of us have listened to leaders complain, launch into king-sized eye rolls, and forever gripe about something?

Guess what? No one wants to work for that miserable soul.

The opportunity then, is to take advantage of the power we have to spread energy and enthusiasm across our organizations. It has to be consistent, sustained and intentional every day. 

It must become a mantra that moves from your task list, to your "how I lead" style of living.

How About You
Would you like to be considered the person that is always "on" and ready to attack the day? 

To me, there is no other option. Why in the world would I want to sit and watch while someone else dictates the culture of my organization?

Bring the energy!

I'd love to hear from you

No Excuses.

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There's Something About Power

It seems to me there is a direct correlation between the amount of power one has and their ability to think clearly. 

Yes, I said it. The more power we have, the less tuned in to reality we are. You can't argue, because quite frankly your primary rationale for arguing is to justify your continued level of power.

Mmmmm....power. It feels good.

Entitlement

Why is that when someone moves into a formal position of authority they equate that with their own brilliance? Quite the opposite is actually occurring. Good leaders are the ones that recognize the enormity of the responsibility before them, and quickly build the most effective team of bright minds around them. 

"I don't need to come up with the best ideas. I need to implement the best ideas."
- Jay Kuhns

I fear for those organizations that have leaders who believe they are the smartest people on the team. How many new and innovative opportunities to grow the company, build the culture, and achieve breakthrough performance are lost simply because an arrogant leader believes he or she "has it all figured out?"

Real Power

There is an old, and incredibly accurate phrase that basically says...the more power that you give away...the more power you receive.

I can personally attest to this being true. I can also tell you it used to be extremely difficult for me to give away any power. I knew what needed to be done! I could do it myself very quickly! I knew my path to the endpoint was the best path!

Until I realized I really did work with a bunch of bright people who had different (and better!) ideas on how we could reach our shared goals.

It is a very good thing indeed that I have an appetite for humble pie.

How About You

How do you navigate your personal power trip? Does everyone on your team know that you are the boss with the best ideas? Or, are you the leader that everyone wants to work for?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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The Power of Time

I received a healthy dose of "don't forget what you can do Jay" from a member of the team during a call last week. I had decided to forgo an extra night at a hotel to save my company a few bucks. But... 

...I was reminded that time is more valuable than money.

Making It
Despite the never ending stream of "I'm so busy" comments that we hear all day, it is really not about our work, or responsibilities, or life that gets in the way. It is our unwillingness to make time. Have you ever heard this phrase before?

"Where does the time go?"

Of course we all have a full plate, that's not what I"m talking about. It is the choice to protect time, schedule time...to literally make time to get important things done.

Sharing It
One of the most important things leaders can do is share their time with the people around them. Yes, the people that help make them, and the company, successful. Sharing our time is not a one way communication. I often receive as much as I give when I connect with our team.

Often...as in...every time.

Not only does sharing time help with the fundamentals like communication, building internal communities, and living the values of the company. It also reinforces the influence leaders have in their organizations.

Think about the early days of your career. Did it matter if a senior executive took time to connect with you. Not because they had to....but because they genuinely wanted to?

It sure did for me.

There is another reason it is important to invest your time in the people you work with, and it is quite obvious. We all talk about how important our people are to our businesses. When we connect with our people, we are connecting with the lifeblood of our companies too.

Are you with me?

How About You
The old adage that time is money is true. But it is far more important than dollars and cents. How we prioritize our time speaks volumes about whether we back up our executive-speak or not. So, how will you spend your time today?

Thanks for the reminder Julie.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Salt the Wound (feat. You)

Approval.

Influence.

Pressure.

Deceit.

Impact.

Competition.

Winning.

Decision-making.

Power.

Responsibility
Making big decisions is a requirement when you lead an organization. Sometimes those decisions stem from frustration at the poor performance of the team and the need for you to intervene. 

At other times your vision for what needs to be done is the engine that drives your decision making and provides the necessary structure for others to follow.

Sometimes though, we keep pushing our agendas long after it is necessary, simply to remind everyone who has the power.

Are you with me?

Let It Go
You've already won...when change occurs

You've already won...when your ideas are approved

You've already won...because you have the power and authority in your leadership role

Don't underestimate your words, your influence or your impact. You're a winner...even when you feel mired in administrative and political madness.

How About You
Everyone knows the rules, the pecking order, the hierarchy. There is no need to salt the wound of those around you. Remember...

You don't need to flex your executive muscle
You don't need to talk so damn much...

...you need to take action ethically, professionally, and fairly...

Right?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Messenger of God

"People exercise an unconscious selection in being influenced." 
- T. S. Eliot

Position and Power
I have been fortunate to serve in leadership roles for more than twenty years. It's hard to believe so much time has passed. One issue that continues to be ever present regardless of where I've worked or my position is the influence leaders have...but don't realize the real impact of that influence.

On one level, leaders bask in the new found glory of their position. Right? They have authority to make purchases, hire team members, and impact how the culture will be experienced by the employees.

That my friends is a lot of power. Remember, employees do not set the culture without leaders having a culture tolerance. Sadly, most organizations still have a low culture tolerance and thus those leaders power becomes a burden.

Influence
On a very different level, effective leaders understand the profound responsibility they have at all times. They understand that how they conduct themselves, even in more private settings, reflects directly on their credibility and the culture tolerance they will allow.

The best of the best embrace this responsibility and leverage it in a thoughtful and intentional way. They make calculated decisions all day long, not to manipulate, but rather to build their organizations in a spectacular way.

Yes, spectacular. If you're not up for making your organization spectacular why do you accept a leader's pay check?

How About You
What messages are you sending each day, and do you appreciate the breadth of your influence? Does the team look to you for support, vision, and leadership? Or, are you so above the masses that you don't have time to deal with simple things like culture, people...and success.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Using the Word

I don’t hear many leaders use it. Somehow it invokes the fear of a radical, self-serving third party. Or it gives the impression that the power so many have worked hard to achieve will be eroded. Whatever the reason, I think it’s a word that should be infused into the contemporary leader’s lexicon.

Words Matter

As I think about how the workforce is changing so rapidly with the use of technology, to generational views, to a completely mobile society it strikes me that expectations are changing faster than we might like. Guess what? Others expectations are not up to us. We need to stop trying to control for these things.

What we do have control of is our power. We’re the “older” ones in the workplace. We have the authority to do so many things (hire, fire, set strategy, allocate resources, etc.) If we use our power to introduce a new way of thinking…literally using new words…we can change the culture of our organizations. 

Don’t believe that one word can make a big difference? Try dropping the f-bomb in every meeting you’re in this week.

How About You

Candidly power is only useful if it is used productively. Sure, you can choose to be an ego-maniac power monger, but you’ll look like a fool and your colleagues and employees will mock you behind your back as they resign in waves.

Instead of looking foolish, try stepping out from the norm and infuse this word into your corporate culture:

Justice.

You might be surprised if you adopted ‘justice' as a core value in your company. The quality of talent you attract and retain might surprise you too.

I’d love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Born to Serve

"Despite everything you think you know,
You're ruled by a ruinous pack of lies.
You mean nothing in the grand scheme of things,
You're nothing in this vacuum hole of time."

Wait, what?

Who Are You Listening To?
There are lots (and I mean lots) of voices in our heads every day. Our colleagues, employees, peers, leaders, and perhaps the most challenging of them all...

...ourselves.

Often the political pressure of corporate life creates an alternative reality that when uncovered, seems to fall apart just as quickly as it whipped itself into a frenzy. But those voices...and their ability to impact our lives...are still powerful.

Our job is to not only manage those voices...but quite honestly to drown them out and lead the way!

One Voice Wins
Where does one start when the world seems to be pushing in from all sides? 

For me, it's about sorting through the noise...the self-serving agendas...and the power plays that seem to drive so much of leader...er, human...behavior. 

Once all of the variables are clear, the path we must take becomes clear. Your path...the one your honest, sincere voice has been telling you about is the one to choose. 

Stop listening to the critics.
Stop listening to the power-hungry phonies.
Stop listening to the leaders caught up in the fake world of corporate "fit" and "opinions."

...and stop listening to that inner self-doubt voice. It's wrong.

How About You
Whose voices are in your head? Are they distracting you...confusing you...trapping you in a downward spiral that serves others and not yourself?

It's time to go for it...for yourself...and make a real difference!

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



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I'm Broken

strength: 
- muscular power, mental power, moral power, power by reason of influence, endurance

I take pride in being strong. I work hard in the office, on the road with clients, and in the gym taking care of myself. I push myself to be current in the work that I do, and I am not afraid to make big sacrifices for those that rely on me in all aspects of my life.

Being strong, for me, has become part of who I am...not just something I "try to be."

But sometimes being strong all the time is hard.

Power
Power affects us all. For some, power becomes a drug that replaces our work and evolves into our primary focus. The work, the team, and sadly common sense are soon forgotten as the cult of personality takes over. 

For others, power is a scary burden that is simply too much too manage. Although those leaders believe they can handle the responsibility and impact that comes with power, it quickly becomes obvious to those around them that they 
are not yet ready.

Power corrupts our ability to be strong in a healthy way.

Strength
The peaks and valleys of being strong, feeling strong, and occasionally feeling like you've lost your edge are normal. The challenge, as I've learned over and over again, is to rise up each time you feel like you've slipped off course.

The danger is that we allow the feeling that we're somehow irreparably broken to become the lens we see ourselves through.

But that doesn't mean we don't feel that way sometimes. 

How About You
Who do you know that might feel broken today? Maybe it's a colleague, a team member...or you. Don't lose your momentum. Keep pushing...take care of yourself...and don't let the noise of the world turn you sideways.

You are stronger than you think...and you sure as hell are not broken. I'm not either.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



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Armed and Dangerous

Holding a leadership position sounds glamorous. The allure of lots of authority, more pay, and the freedom to make important decisions can be hard to resist. 

Oh yes, and power. 

Lots and lots of power.

Be careful friends...power can be the fuel that drives organizations to a whole new level of excellence; or it can pollute the mind of the leader and create havoc. 

Where are the landmines? What should we look out for? What are the risks leaders should be aware of?

I worry about...

- leaders who think power is the work product

- leaders who don't know what they don't know

- leaders who think they are the smartest person on the team

- leaders who think they don't make mistakes

- leaders who move fast in the name of moving fast

- leaders who are paralyzed and can not make a decision

- leaders who believe they should be trusted because of their job title

- leaders who believe their work day will be shorter in their new role

- leaders who are afraid to use social media

- leaders who don't understand that diversity is NOT an item on a to do list
                 
How About You
What would you add to the list?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses. 



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HR and the Power It Holds

I love modern, sleek furniture. The days of giant dark wood desks and foreboding offices are gone for me. I prefer a more open style that sends a message to everyone that I'm not hiding behind my over-sized mahogany (esque) structures anymore.

Doesn't the HR job title already get in the way of employees being comfortable in our workspace?

More Power

There's another furniture discussion  we've all heard in the HR universe. I don't like that one for a couple of reasons.

First, HR has lots of power. Don't believe me? Just ask any employee that has been in trouble since 1950. Still don't believe me? Try randomly selecting an employee and asking them to come to your office because "you need to speak with them." I wonder what type of reaction you would get?

Second, whining is lame, it detracts from the credibility of the profession, and erodes the HR leader's personal brand. Oh yes, personal brand. By now we all realize that EVERYTHING we do affects our personal brand. There is no distinction between personal and professional life any longer.

There is only life.

Share the Power

In what seems like a never-ending attempt to cling to the power crumbs thrown from the operations leaders, HR can lose focus. Our reality is that through reaching out and allowing other leaders to feel they have some of HR's power, we will actually grow our value to the organization.

Consider this...a manager who is stressed about a difficult situation in her department reluctantly reaches out to HR for support. Feeling as if she's failed and has to give up control in order to get her problem resolved, HR has a decision to make.

The shrewd HR leader does much more than "coach" the leader through her problem. The real opportunity for HR is to focus on ensuring that leader feels valued. 

The performance planning process no longer equates with the leader's failure. Instead, it becomes a partnership with a colleague vs. an exercise in waving the white management flag.

Don't let the leaders in your organization surrender. The connection you build with them in lieu of "telling them how to handle the situation because they couldn't figure it out" will push your value and power through the roof.

Everybody wins. I like winning.

How About You

Who holds the power in your organization? You have more than you think. Respecting that power, and sharing it with your colleagues will go a long way to building your brand, and your HR team's brand too. Everybody wins.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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