Tag: professional development

The ONE question leaders should answer hourly
By Scott

The ONE question leaders should answer hourly

In the next week, I’ll be publishing a list of 5 books I recommend for leadership book clubs. A new addition is my favorite book this year: Triggers by Marshall Goldsmith. Here is why.

I believe that great conversations start with a question. Marshall Goldsmith asks some great questions in his book Triggers.

Some of the best:

  1. What is the most memorable change you have made in your adult life?
  2. Did I do my best to set clear goals?
  3. Did I do my best to make progress toward my goals?
  4. Did I do my best to find meaning in my work?
  5. Did I do my best to be happy?
  6. Did I do my best to build positive relationships?
  7. Did I do my best to be fully engaged?
  8. Am I willing, at this time, to make the investment required to make a positive difference on this topic? (called AIWATT for the rest of this post)

There are many reasons I love this book, and the main one is the author’s sharing of powerful questions that he has accumulated in his career as an executive coach. This post will focus on the significance of question #8, and how you can use it as a leader.

In a recent EOS quarterly, a leader shared a learning – “When we set goals, we need to make sure we set them so we can be excited about them and use that energy to complete them.” That is a powerful learning, and something that every leader needs to be thinking about when they accept a To Do or a Rock (quarterly goal). The AIWATT question is the action to ensure this happens.

Remember my 5 Tips for Managing Your Career and Performance? The first tip is Own It, and it is my way of saying what Goldsmith does by posing this question to us. If you answer No to AIWATT, then some other conversations need to happen.

This brings me to a second belief I have – Leadership is about honest conversations that lead to thoughtful actions and improved performance. One of the powerful outcomes for me from Triggers is that, as a coach, I need to always be focusing on creating space that allows honesty to happen, because that is the hard part. In my experience, thoughtful action is the easier part.

Two myths that leaders need to remember:

  • We need to love 100% of our work. There is an eastern adage: Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.  After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. Here is an example: I don’t like confronting people I don’t know. However, as president of an all-volunteer athletic booster organization, one of my roles is to call volunteers who have made commitments and are not doing the work. It is my job and the team depends on my doing it – so I do it because I have to, and make sure I overbalance it with other tasks I enjoy doing.
  • We have to do 100% of our work. Delegating pieces of our work to others who have more talent/passion for that work is fine. Just don’t always pass on the hard conversations, and tell them why you are asking for their help – because they are better at it/more passionate about it.

Let me propose two actions:

  1. For EOS leaders: Teach the AIWATT philosophy. As you go through the To Do list, ask people to answer the AIWATT question with the caveat that if the answer is No they acknowledge who they will ask for help – or that I will Own It (and use those words). *Note: Make a note for anyone answering the latter, and follow-up with them one-on-one to do some micro-supporting.
  2. For individuals: Put an AIWATT on two post-it notes and stick one to your computer screen and one to your phone for a week. Ask yourself that question continuously during meetings, when you answer emails, and when you do any morning/evening quiet time. After a week, do 5 minutes of personal reflection with the question, “How did AIWATT impact my leadership this week? Of myself? Of others?” If this reveals something for you that you need to bounce off someone, just call me and we can do a 15-minute coaching session: 616-405-1018.

I believe . . . great conversations start with a question.

 

Leadership is . . . having honest conversations that lead to thoughtful actions and improved performance.

 

Lead well . . .

3 Tips for Getting Your People to Own Their Development
By Scott

3 Tips for Getting Your People to Own Their Development

It is a choice . . . to buy into the fear and the system or to chart your own path and create value as you do.  It’s your job to figure out how to chart the path, because charting the path is the point.  ~ Seth Godin, Linchpin: Are You Indespensible?

 

The most important part of my development plan template is the last page.  It is where the individual signs it and commits to scheduling the next update meeting with their leader. That is ownership and I ask people to sign it before I end our session.

The key to getting to this point is to only start the process if the individual is ready and willing to own the process and excited about doing the work. This is not about tricking a person or trying to get into their head and guess their motivations, it is simply about providing them an opportunity to show they are ready and willing to own it.  Here are 3 ways I use to test that:

  1. Ask them to read a book before we start (the two I like are Linchpin by Seth Godin and Do The Work by Steven Pressfield).  The books are important, but more important is their capacity to create time to learn for themselves and demonstrate they can follow-thru. This demonstrates ownership.
  2. Gather 360 performance feedback and present it back to them.  Do they listen and graciously accept the gift of feedback and work through it to the point where they start making changes based on it or do they make excuses why it is not accurate? This demonstrates the ability to own their own strengths and weaknesses.
  3. Ask them to email me to setup a meeting and/or invite them to a learning event. Showing up sounds like a low threshold to demonstrate ownership – but you would be surprised how effective this is.

Seem simple? It actually is, because any one of these give you an idea that they are ready.  The ability to fill out the development plan and spend time quarterly to reflect and update it will be the ultimate test.

Remember, not showing ownership does not mean someone is a bad person or an underperformer, it just means at this point in their life they don’t have the capacity to own it.  I remember one time I took on a stretch assignment of design and delivery of some learning for a group of senior leaders at a Fortune 100 company where I worked.  It was challenging, stressful, and happened during the third trimester of our fourth child. I realized that it was too much when I saw myself spending too much time working and no time feeling the baby move and helping with the other 3 kids so my wife could rest a little. I finally asked for help and handed off the duties because it was too much at that time in my life.  I could support the work, I just did not have the capacity to lead it.

Mastery is a journey, and it is a choice. Help people understand the choice, invite them to own it, and then provide an opportunity to show ownership.

 

By Scott

Career Plans – Your Best People Should Have One; Here is How

I was leading a succession planning process with a group of nursing managers. The goal of the process was to identify future supervisors and managers from the current staff and create a process to develop them, monitoring their progress so they would be ready for a leadership role in 1 to 5 years.

Part way through the process, an epiphany happened for one of the managers. After talking about identifying people who were hungry for learning and taking on more responsibility, she said “I just realized that my most skilled nurses, the ones who have been around the longest, are not the people that will be leaders for me in a few years. They just want to do their job.”

The fact is, everyone should have a career plan – even if it is to stay in place and help solve bigger problems. But if you have limited time as a leader, your first focus has to be on the people who want more and are capable of doing more. Is this fair?  Based on the trUPerformance lens I use, I would say yes. A career plan takes guidance from you as a leader and extra effort/ownership from an individual, so asking that of someone is only fair if they are willing and have the capacity to do it. It is built on a foundation of trust and truth.

These three questions are the foundation of truth for this conversation:

  1. Do you want more responsibility?
  2. Are you willing to take on the work?
  3. Do I believe you have the capacity to grow into the larger role?

The ability to answer these questions with the truth, and face-to-face, requires trust.

I have personally been through at least a half dozen processes, from multiple day assessments to formal outplacement services. When it is all said and done, here are the key pieces of information that any individual needs to document:

  1. Strengths (not just Talents, but what the individual has proven they do well)
  2. Weaknesses
  3. Achievements
  4. Short-term goals (6-12 months)
  5. Long-term goals (1-5 years)
  6. Current job responsibilities/accountabilities
  7. Development areas (1-3) to focus on and action plans

The process to do this is outlined in my whitepaper, Own It! 5 Tips for Managing Your Career and Performance.  The trick for you as a leader? Being confident enough to put some extra work into identifying and engaging your best people in the conversation, and the skill to lead the conversation while delegating most of the work. Here is a link to the form to get you started.

If you need help getting started, it is just one click away – scott@thetrugroup.com.  This is a great time of year to have this conversation – it will feed into a few New Year’s Resolutions that will make your business more successful and help you tackle some of the problems that are making your job harder.

3 Questions to Shift Perspective on Performance Gaps
By Scott

3 Questions to Shift Perspective on Performance Gaps

Too often we see performance gaps as things that should be hidden or apologized for. Our narrative around these events contains adjectives like poor or disappointing, which only makes us want to escape them more. Then you start trying to hide what you see as the truth, which too often results in a series of moves where your ego shows up too much or too little to others. It does not take a Psychology major to spot someone who is not comfortable in their work – we just have to listen to the story they are telling.

Then you find a person or place where gaps are accepted, and more energy is put into talking about them, learning from them, and working together to close them in your business and your personal life. At the Inc 5000 conference last week, I interacted with 5 start-up leaders, and while each story contained big challenges that worried them, it also contained things like pride, resourcefulness, teamwork, hope, and perseverance. They were not trying to cover anything; they were just sharing.

It never ceases to amaze me what energy comes from choosing a more hope-filled narrative. If you are a leader, you can shape this with the questions you ask.

Three I love are:

  • What is energizing you right now?
  • What is frustrating you right now?
  • What are you learning today?

People need a place to vent. We also need to create equal amounts of space to dream and reflect so we can learn and plan. We can use words like failure, and when they are used with words like learning and growth our story is fundamentally changed. People-centered leaders create this space and invite people in – and those that value that involvement #ownit.

To learn more about my philosophy on Performance Gaps – take a look at my new whitepaper.

 

 

By Scott

Micro-manager or Micro-supporter? One tip for starting the change.

Are you a micro-manager or micro-supporter?

A leader recently admitted that she did not stay close enough to a new leader and let them make decisions that were harmful to the business.  Her thought was that she needed to direct the next person more in the beginning. Expensive lesson, and one that will make her a more effective leader.

Micro-managers . . .

  • Direct the work even if the person has (or should have) the capacity to do it.
  • Sometimes say (and always think) “If I want it done right, I need do it myself.”
  • Consistently lose the people who want to lead and keep the people who want to be told what to do.
  • Are either over-involved or not involved – they have no self-control for meddling.

Micro-supporters . . .

  • Ask for the details of the plan because they either, a) Are building confidence in someone’s decision or, b) Want to see the details so they know how they can help.
  • Frequently meet with their people to brainstorm, problem solve, and delegate.
  • Know when to say “I need to take this,” and don’t do it often.
  • More often say – “Let’s work close on this one because it will be good learning for you and me, and it is important enough that two brains should be working on it.”
  • Have teams of loyal, hard-working, energized people that know they have a great leader and don’t want to leave.

If you are not sure which one you are, just look at your teams and the significance of the problems that get solved when you are not there.

The good news is, you can change.  Pick someone who gets their job, wants their job, and has the capacity to do it and do more.  Tell them what your intent is (support vs do their job) and ask for help.  Then start practicing.

If you don’t get what it looks like, read the New One-Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard.  Then start practicing.

trUTips
By Scott

trUTips

trUTips are published 9-10 times per year. Do you want to receive trUTips automatically? Sign up here.

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  • trUTips #41—20 Powerful Questions™ People-Centered Leaders Ask

    Asking people questions has the same effect as giving them food and money. People-centered leaders ask powerful questions, here are 20 questions that will help you master the 5 moments that are critical to getting the best performance from you and your team. Entrepreneurial Operating System™ Leaders – please read! Read trUTips #41.

  • trUTips #40—The Cornerstone of Engagement – Empathy: 2 Tips to Show It

    What is the importance of showing empathy as a leader? As a coach, I can speak to the impact of not showing it, and it is people coming to work thinking “My leader does not care about me as a person.” Do you really think they are bringing their best if that is how they feel about the relationship with their leader? Here is a lesson an emerging leader taught me and 2 tips for practicing(and building) empathy as a leader. Read trUTips #40.

  • trUTips #39—3 Tips for Creating a Safe Culture for Truth to be Shared

    How can I create an environment and culture in which my people feel safe sharing and dialoguing in an open and honest manner? People-centered leaders recognize the need for safety, and it show up as trust that alllows the truth to be spoken, sometimes in very difficult situations.  Here are 4 tips to see if it is present and 3 tips to creating it. Read trUTips #39.

  • trUTips #38—3 Tips for Successfully Delegating

    Delegating is critical for leaders, and it is not easy to do for many reasons.  Here are the 3 barriers to delegating and how to overcome them with action. Hidden truth – it is almost impossible to make this shift for a leader without help. It has become the top development areas for my coaching practice.  Read trUTips #38.

  • trUTips #37—7 Books for a Leadership Book Study Group

    Here are my 7 favorite books for a leadership book study group. All these topics are relevant for leaders, and as a bonus I include tips for make the study be about my core value – Learning + Doing  = Growth.  Read trUTips #37.

  • trUTips #36—FREE articles to help you grow as a leader

    Don’t Avoid Gaps, Lead Through Them

    Demystifying Strategic Planning: How to Create One and Effectively Lead Through The Gap

    Own It! 5 Tips for Managing Your Career and Performance

  • trUTips #35—How do I increase accountability in my organization?

    In seven years of working with leaders and leadership teams, no one has ever started a conversation this way. Here are four ways the conversation starts and actions leaders can take tomorrow to increase accountability.  Read trUTips #35.

  • trUTips #34—Your People Want A Career Plan: How to do it

    The often overlooked key to retention?  Helping your people clearly see a career path for themselves AND understand the work they need to be doing to prepare for it.  Here are tips for leader to guide the process to ensure it is clear and owned by the individual.  Read trUTips #34.

  • trUTips #33—Right People in the Right Seats: How to do it

    Organizations cannot grow effectively if they do not have the right people in the right seats. Getting to that point is hard work, and the most important work that a CEO/Leadership Team can do to start the process of healthy growth for their organization. Here are some tips about how to work through the process of Right People in the Right Seats.  Read trUTips #33.

  • trUTips #32—8 Great Leadership Books for a Summer Vacation

    It is important to reset as a leader, and summer vacation is a time to do that.  Part of resetting for me is reading, and based on your attention span and time, here are 8 books I recommend.  I also created a special page to get some expanded descriptions of each book and an easy link if you want to order them.  Read trUTips #32.

  • trUTips #31—trUMoments™:  Someone needs something from you

    It is easy to get lost in concepts like Servant Leader.  New leaders are especially challenged because the important part of their job is the do, and too often they are buried with books and catchy phrases like “Right people/right seats” or “It’s your ship!”  My goal of truMoments™  is to focus on recognizing when you are in a place that is important and doing something significant.  Someone needs something from you is one of those trUMoments™  that happens all the time, and more important than listening for it is to create time to hear it so you can respond effectively.  Here are some tips and questions to do that.  Read trUTips #31.

  • trUTips #30—What Kind of Leader Do I Want to Be?  Introducing trUMoments™

    Leadership has been called a job, a skill, a calling, and many other words that elevate it to a place in our minds where we often get lost in the theory of what it takes to be a leader.  I call leadership a choice, and share some thoughts on what key moments leaders need to learn to be present for.  These are trUMoments™.  Read trUTips #30.

  • trUTips #29—Tools to Develop as a Leader: Listening and the Johari Window

It is critical to have One-on-One conversations with your people.  When we do have these conversations how do we make the most of that time together so we listen well and they feel comfortable and hear what they need to hear?  The Johari Window is a tool that can help leaders see their time with others differently and learn tips to build great relationships using that time.  This includes two videos and an exercise to use the videos to learn with your teams.  Read trUTips #29.

  • trUTips #28—A Case For Face to Face Leadership – The One-on-One

Why should I take the time to do one-on-ones with my team?  It is a great question, and by answering it a conversation emerges that will change you.  At the core of this question is an equally important question – What kind of leader do I want to be?  This trUTips makes a case for the one-on-one and why it is the most important time a leader has with his/her team.  Read trUTips #28.

  • trUTips #27—Mentoring

Too often people go searching for learning in a classroom or a book, when the more effective answer is ‘find a mentor’.  Here is some advice for both individuals and leaders about how to make mentoring work for them.  Read trUTips #27.

  • trUTips #26—5 Steps to Make Personal Change Stick

After making a key note on time management this summer, I had some conversations that made me realize people had lots of questions about how to define the changes they want and make those changes.  Here are 5 Steps for making those changes.  Read trUTips #26  Here is a link to the key note presentation if you are interested.

  • trUTips #25—Time. Have enough?

Talent management is about great conversations. I find myself this summer having 3 different conversations that all have a common theme. How should I be spending my time? Here are three tips for being more effective with your time. Read trUTips #25

  • trUTips #24—Problems finding the right people?  Here are some tips that will help

Are you struggling to find the right talent?  There is a talent shortage and it will probably get worse as the economy recovers.  Finding the right people when your business needs them requires a more proactive approach.  Here are tips to help you find the right people regardless of the economy .  Read trUTips  #24

  • trUTips #23—You tired?

Talent management is about great conversations.  Sometimes the things we see and feel need to first be understood.  Then we need to find a compelling reason to change.  Learn how to deal with leader burn-out or a tired team.  Learn how coaching can help.  Learn how to have the right conversations to direct your efforts as a leader to raise the energy and engagement of your team.  Read trUTips  #23

  • trUTips #22—Making One-on-Ones Cherished and Invaluable

Talent management is about great conversations.  The One-on-One should be the most valuable time for you as a leader and the most cherished time for your people to get what they need to be their best.  Here are simple tips to make cherished and invaluable a reality.  Read trUTips  #22

  • trUTips #21—Building A Leadership Development Program From Scratch

When we think of leadership development, we often think of world class organizations like the Center for Creative Leadership or some executive MBA from a top school like Harvard, Northwestern, or Michigan.  There is a way to do great leadership development no matter what size your organization.  It will cost one very valuable thing – your time. Read trUTips  #21

  • trUTips #20—Book Review:  Great On The Job / Interview with Author Jodi Glickman

There are lots of things we do not know.  How do we handle those situations where we are asked something but do not know the answer?  This situation and several others are addressed in this great book for people who are starting a new role or career and want to be successful.  The central theme in this book is creating forward momentum with all of your communication.  This book should be a key resource for all talent management professionals, leaders who are mentoring high potentials, or anyone looking to move their career forward.  I am also giving away some free books. Read trUTips  #20

  • trUTips #19—Succession Planning:  What It Is and How To Do It

There are many reasons not to do succession planning, which is why only 35% of organizations have one for their CEO.  The reasons are also similar behind the fact that only 45% of Americans have a will when they die.  Here is some practical advice about how you can do succession planning and what some logical first steps might look like.  I also included a document with some questions any leader should answer before starting the process.  Read trUTips  #19 Any leader should first answer these questions before they start succession planning.

  • trUTips #18—Choosing the Right Assessment For Developing Your Teams and People (ie: Talent Management)

Assessments can have great value for organizations.  Birkman Method, DiSC, Myers Briggs – there are lots of choices.  However, the complaints and frustrations I hear from organizations are always the same.  Here are some key questions that leaders can use to make the right choice for their people and their ROI.  Included is a table where I compare 9 assessment tools that I have used in my own career.  Whether it is leadership development, career development, or some other area of talent management – this will help you make a great buy.  Read trUTips  #18

  • trUTips #17—A Talent Management Calendar:  Here is a talent management map for a leader and how how the pieces fit.

Leadership takes time, and there is always too much to do.  Talent management activities like one-on-ones, performance conversations, and development discussions often get sacrificed because other things are more urgent.  There is lots of research that says if basic needs are met it will have a positive impact on the business.  Here is a map to those activities that will have the biggest impact on the business.  Read trUTips  #17

  • trUTips #16—One on Ones: Making the most of limited time with your people PLUS a template to help

Are you a leader with limited time that wants to make sure people are getting what they need to be successful AND you are hearing about things before they become issues? (and helping your people learn to solve most of their key problems. . . )  The bonus here is I provide a template to help you get started.  Read trUTips #16

  • trUTips #15—Development Plans: Why they are critical and How to do them

I was shocked when a group of HR leaders told me 80% of their executive teams had at least one person on it without a development plan.  This is one of the most critical pieces of talent management and probably the least used based on my research.  Here is the WHY they are important and HOW to do them.  I include links to some templates that anyone can use to start and complete these conversations with their people.  I also introduce an on-line version of the Talent Scorecard so  leaders can do a self check on how healthy their habits are around talent management.
Read trUTips #15

  • trUTips #14—Resilience

Hope > fear + anger + despair + frustration + worry + hunger + mistrust + ___________ (fill in the blank)
In a slow recovery, growing the resilience of your organization is more important than cash.  This trUTips is about what leaders can do to grow the resilience in their organization.
Read trUTips #14 and watch the video extra.

  • trUTips #13—Making Evaluations More Effective

Frustrated with your evaluation?  Maybe it is the time it takes or the value it creates.  Looking to start or restart a process at your organization.  It does not have to be complicate, but it has to be a conversation.  Learn some simple tips that will make it much easier and more impactful.
Read trUTip #13

  • trUTips #12—Followership

Lots of focus is put on leadership?  What about the people they lead?  With constantly shifting jobs and leaders, becoming a great follower is a critical skill.  The funny thing about followership, when it is done really well it looks a lot like leadership.
Read trUTips #12 and watch the video extra.

  • trUTips #11—Talent Scorecard

How well are you managing the talent in your organization? Here is a tool for a CEO, board member, or leader at any level to do a quick assessment of how an individual or organization is performing.Read trUTips #11 and watch the video extra.

  • trUTips #10—The Virtual Leader as the New Servant Leader

Do we need leaders when teams can get work done virtually? Yes and No.
Read trUTips #10.

  • trUTips #9—Why There Has to be an “I” in Team

There is no “I” in team. Popular slogan, but it is wrong. Bringing individual stars together to form a team is a challenge. Here is some practical advice on how to do it.
Read trUTips #9 and watch the video extra.

  • trUTips #8—What to Do With Your B-Players?

Those steady performers, priceless and frustrating at the same time. Here are three strategies to increase the engagement and productivity of this group.
Read trUTips #8 and watch the video extra.

  • trUTips #7—Dealing With Low Performers

Some call them C-players, but whatever you call them they drain your personal energy and hurt the performance of your team and business. Here are some tips for dealing with people that are not performing well on your team.
Read trUTips #7 and watch the video extra.

  • trUTips #6—Leadership Lessons from Greg Mortenson

He wrote a book called “Three Cups of Tea” to stress the importance of education in ending much of the violence we see in the world. In the process, he had some great things to say about leadership. Here are some tips that will help you handle your next merger, promotion, or key change project.
Read trUTips #6.

  • trUTips #5—Leadership Can Be Lonely

Leadership is, ultimately, about making decisions and keeping a team moving toward a goal. In the end, the leader has full responsibility for failure, and most of the time gets some credit for the success of the team. But it can be a lonely role. Here are strategies to keep your health and sanity as a leader.
Read trUTips #5.

  • trUTips #4—What Motivates People and How a Leader Can Help

When people are not performing or are not clear on what their job is, it is easy to stand back and blame them. Leaders need to step back, remember what motivates people, and do a couple of things to get them refocused. Executing these habits regularly will keep most people on track.
Read trUTips #4.

  • trUTips #3—Want to Increase Your Training ROI?

Focus on the why. Often times, 70% of people that go to training do not know why they are there when they walk in. That is a big problem, but an easy one to fix. Here are some simple tips to increase the return on your training investment.
Read trUTips #3.

  • trUTips #2—Connecting Your Best People With Your Biggest Problem

What motivates your high performers and high-potential employees? It is not money. Learn more about what they need and how their needs can help your business. You want these people engaged!Read trUTips #2.

  • trUTips #1—How the Recession Has Impacted Your People…and How to Fix It

The recent downturn has left your people shaken, and your best people are now more ready to move than they were four years ago. Here are some strategies to make sure they stay to help your business grow in the future.
Read trUTips #1.

Simple but not Easy
By Scott

Simple but not Easy

Simple doesn’t always mean easy.

Seth Godin shared this wisdom on February 28th, 2011 and I printed the post and hand it out every time I start an EOS strategic planning for an organization.

The reality, when we face decision points as leaders Simple but not Easy means – My options are clear, and . . . .

    1. I have never done what is being asked of me and asking for help seems weak, so I will think a little more
    2. I am a leader and it is important to be right so I need to think about it some more
    3. I wish there were one where the people, the business, and our customers all won
    4. My Strengthfinder talent is analytical, so I will keep using it and then switch to reason #2
    5. I am just plain scared of what I have to do

Simple blurs the resistance that keeps us from moving forward.  Seth calls it Shipping. Simple makes us feel like ‘I just need to figure this out.’ We move by the resistance by speaking the truth and using it to gain the support that will help us ship.

I sat with a leader recently that shared a story about a difficult conversation they had just had with an employee that was not performing and it was too important of a job to allow it to continue.  The employee agreed with the non-performance, and it looks like they will probably leave in the next 30 days or be let go.  Simple.  This conversation has been evolving for 12 months.  Not Easy.

Simple doesn’t mean easy.

Choose to ship. Encourage and support others to make the same choice.

trUTip – QuickTip:  Want to explore the concept of resistance?  Check out this video by the author of Taming Your Gremlin: A Surprisingly Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way by Rick Carson.  I also like the book.

Time for a Career Check-up?
By Scott

Time for a Career Check-up?

What is your habit about doing a career check-up and development plan?  I encourage the calendar changing to a new year as a place to step back, take a deep breath, and think about the past year, the current moment in time, and the coming year.  As I mentioned in my whitepaper 5 Tips for Managing Your Career and Performance, a key piece is tip 5.5 where you Hone the Habits of revisiting your plans from the previous year.

Here is an outline of what a personal reflection might look like, in 4 simple, but not so easy steps…

First, remember my 30-30-40 rule on conversations.  A healthy conversation focuses 30% on the past, 30% on the present, and 40% on the future.  With that in mind and the goal being to answer a few questions about you and translate that into tangible goals for next year.

Part 1:  Look back on the past year

  • What were my most significant learnings from the past year?
  • Who were people that I am most thankful for because of the part they played in my year?
  • What did I accomplish?
  • What would I like to forget?

Part 2:  Take inventory of where things are today

  • Fill out a wheel-of-life (see attached).  For each piece of the pie answer the question – How satisfied am I with that part of my life? What do I have to celebrate?  What would make this part of the wheel stronger and more fulfilling for me?
  • Looking back at the entire wheel – What is one area I want to focus on in the coming year?

Part 3:  Look to the future.  I took this exercise from Rich Sheridan’s book Joy, Inc. – How We Built a Workplace People Love (p. 241)

  • Take a quiet hour to sit down with your computer, your tablet, or a pen and paper and describe a good day one year from now.  Pick an exact day.  Write down what is happening in your life on that day.  Here is a start to that letter:  It is December 15th, 2016, and today I . . . .   Then start writing.  The description should be dripping with detail.  It should be both personal and global – it shouldn’t be just about you; it should be about both you and the joyful results you are helping to produce in the world.  It should reflect both your personal goals and your work goals.
  • As you read through it – What part of your story jump out at you?  What are the significant things that you see happening – both personally and professionally?  What are the relationships you are celebrating?  What does it tell you about the things you need to focus on maintaining?  Building?

Part 4:  Read through the things from Part 2 and 3.

  • What do I need to KEEP Doing this year?
  • What do I need to START Doing this year?
  • What do I need to STOP Doing this year?

It is that easy, and not that simple.  Once you create a goal, build in some time monthly to review them and set up some progressive steps for making those goals a reality.  Here is a worksheet to help make your goals SMART-Er.

Let me leave you with one quote that I use with many of my clients and in my own life.  It is an African Proverb that says – If you want to go FAST, go ALONE.  If you want to go FAR, go TOGETHER.  This journey towards mastery is best done TOGETHER – so find some travel partners.

By Scott

Owning Your Performance: Gremlin Training 101

The biggest thing getting in the way of performance for most of us is US.  It is why Tony Robbins is a multi-millonaire and countless other people make a living at getting us unstuck and doing our best work.

One book that I have always liked in this area is Taming the Gremlin:  A Surprisingly Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way by Rick Carson.  When I read his book I quickly became aware of the stories that I am telling myself and it made a big difference in how I experienced life and others.  Recently I found a video of his where he summarizes much of what he says in his book.

Here is the link – Rick Carson – Gremlin Taming Part I

Many of you are in positions where people come to you with problems, and in many cases want an answer to fix it.  If you fix it, they will likely be back with the same question next time.  If you help THEM fix it, then the next time they come back it will probably be with a bigger problem because they have the confidence to handle the other ones.  Listen well and you will hear gremlins in their story.

Keep this video handy because it challenges us to examine our stories/assumptions that become our Gremlins.

 

By Scott

#peoplecentered #leadership – A Hashtag Does Not Make It So

Last month I was able to spend 90 minutes with a group of leaders from across the country to walk through my book and help them to experience the content.  I did this through polling them and equipping them with two tools they could take back and start using the next day.  I asked them the following questions:

  • How effective are your business leaders in building strong relationships with new people during the on-boarding process?
  • In your organization – What do you see most often from your leaders – Love or Fear?
  • What part of the RESISTANCE does your leader manage MOST effectively?
  • What part of the RESISTANCE does your leader manage LEAST effectively?
  • How would I score my EGO? (1=not enough, 5=just enough, 10=too much)
  • How often are performance conversations (1 on 1) happening in your organization?

A few observations from me:

  • It is nice to see more LOVE than FEAR in the workplace.  I still wonder what those were experiencing that answered 4.  I am thinking there is still too much FEAR.
  • The one part of OBN leadership that is being managed most effectively is They think they are . . .   Self-awareness is so important in leadership, and being able to actively manage it is critical.  I am glad to see that is #1.
  • Stress induced tunnel vision is being managed least effectively.  Hmmm . . . . .
  • How would I score my ego?  Way too many 10’s!
  • Leaders are not being effective often enough at building strong relationships with new people.  This concerns me, unless I am recruiting and trying to steal talent from someone else, then I am glad because people are making it easy.

Here are the results – so take a look.

If you are looking for a speaker let me know.  My favorite score is the 81% engagement of the people that were there.