Plan ahead....

Business planning can be difficult: having a structured and strategic format helps make sense of that process. Whether you’re a professional in charge of an organization or an individual planning your future, having a roadmap to help find the best way forward is important. One of the key parts of any plan is the SWOT analysis. This identifies Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats: those four perspectives help organize your thinking and understand the things that most impact anything you want to do. For a business this forces you to see the big picture and think holistically; for an individual it helps clarify what future career path might be best. Unfortunately, most businesses and people do not plan ahead or consider all options because they think it’s easier to just act; the problem with that is it can lead to a dead end. Plans may or may not be worthless, but planning is everything. So, when planning a journey of any kind, start with where you want to go, consider all of your alternatives, and then map out the best route. That’s the best way to get where you want to go today.

Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (1890 – 1969): American army general and statesman who served as the 34th President of the United States

Continually strive to be the best....

Continuous improvement is a popular business tactic these days: it’s a process that sometimes can be difficult to achieve. There are several steps required to be successful at this: clearly identifying processes that could or should be changed, carefully planning to determine how current processes or practices might be changed, effectively implementing those changes, and reviewing how they’re working. Getting better than you already are is tricky: people and organizations become attached to what they’ve accomplished and often resist efforts to review and remake themselves. The best people and companies do the best they can until they realize and understand what might be better: once there, the best then attempt to do better. When you reach the top of anything, continue climbing: those that don’t then begin descending. Don’t be afraid of what you might then achieve: curiosity and courage are important to becoming and remaining the best at anything. Always look for ways to continually improve who and what you are and be the best you can be today.

Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014): American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist

Be bold....

I recently attended a workshop for non-profits that focused on board development and strategic planning: the theme was to ‘be bold’. Lots of people volunteer for various causes and find how hard it is to think big enough while struggling to survive in that world. But as I reflect on what I saw and heard in that workshop it’s apparent that successful organizations (and people) have the courage to bet on their ideas and take calculated risks. And even though they (and we) have moments of doubt and worry, with courage comes the confidence to act.  Businesses of all kinds – for-profit and non-profit – have to find the means to operate and grow: banks and donors need to be convinced that the cause is worthy and the outcomes are reasonably assured.  Success in that requires having the right people, the right plans, and the ability to execute. Make sure your people and plans are up to the challenge today.

Maxwell Maltz (1889 – 1975): American cosmetic surgeon and author of Psycho-Cybernetics (1960) that he claimed could improve one's self-image

Be an effective two-way leader....

Clients tell me they want to get the most out of their leaders; the leaders themselves tell me they want to get the most out of their careers: both are achievable if they follow Hopper’s advice. Being effective with superiors and one’s crew ultimately comes down to good leadership practices: superiors want clear and timely answers and subordinates want to know that their leaders care. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to clarify what your superior wants: it’s not a sign of weakness to be open about what you need. And don’t be afraid to be empathetic and understanding of subordinates: the right amount of caring, coaching, and mentoring builds trust, respect and loyalty.  Most leaders have at one time been in a subordinate position: remember what that was like and treat subordinates the way you wanted to be treated back then. And subordinates want to be successful and get ahead: doing their job without any drama will help to achieve both of those goals. Be a two-way leader today.

Grace Hopper (1906-1992): American Computer Scientist and Naval Officer

When yesterday and today combine....

My 50^thhigh school reunion was held this past weekend and it was great to see so many former classmates and friends. Many brought their yearbooks, complete with the things we wrote to each other back then: words filled with affection, hope, sorrow and pain. Others brought memorabilia and pictures that also sparked talk of the things we did and how we felt all those years ago: it really did feel like yesterday. As we matched faces and nametags there were expressions of amazement as the memories flooded back: the things we recalled along with the songs the DJ played from 1968 transported us back in time. The evening, like these intervening years, passed too quickly and as we started to leave it was apparent that the pain of parting all those years ago was nothing compared to the joy of meeting again. We really can’t go back in time, but these remembrances and realizations are good for the soul. The moral of this story: know that sometime in the future you’ll probably be looking back on how you lived your life today.

Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870): English writer and social critic regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era

Find your happy place in life....

Headed back to the airport via Lyft last night and had a memorable experience with my ride-share driver. He wasn’t happy with his job in Texas and moved to Vegas to find something better: says he found it with Lyft. I take ride share a lot and this guy was the most motivated I’ve had: only been at it 3 weeks and has it all figured out.  The key, he says, is don’t sit and wait for a fare: he says that’s being lazy so he spends his time in the company provided car picking up anyone, anywhere, any time. When asked if he likes it, he sounded like a guy who’d hit a jackpot: likes the people he meets and loves the company he works for.  Says the more he works the more rewards he gets and he’s proud to have had the strength to start over at something he’s clearly good at. Don’t wait for success to find you: seek out something you can be proud of and successful at today.

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (1896 – 1940): American fiction writer, whose works illustrate the Jazz Age

Learn and be more today....

My keynote address to a group of Professional Club Marketing Managers the other day focused on the challenge of making the most of the jobs they have.  They are responsible for attracting members to their clubs and, like most jobs, it’s better if everyone pitches in because ‘two heads are better than one’.  Their strengths and skills can help others promote the overall success of their efforts: making sure external and internal communications are clear and catchy, teaching employees about the values promoted during membership drives that have to be followed thru on continually, and keeping the experience alive. Successful companies weave everyone’s efforts into a cohesive patchwork of skills and abilities and that their most successful people keep growing in ways that satisfy the organization and themselves: in fact, their HR partners could collaborate with and learn from them.  Be proud of your professional growth, and remember that the best job for you is most often the one you have. Take the challenge to make it the one you want today. 

Paula Scher (b. 1948): American graphic designer, painter and art educator in design

Reflection is a good thing....

Today marks the holiest day on the Jewish calendar – Yom Kippur, which means the “Day of Atonement.”

“On Yom Kippur we are reminded that what we do for a living has no correlation to our worthiness before G-d. Everyone is equal. The only thing that matters is our behavior to our friends, our spouses, our parents, our children, and our community.”Amy J. Kramer

We should not be the same person the day after Yom Kippur that we were the day before Yom Kippur: we should be moving ahead, raising our lives to a higher level.

L’Shana Tova (Have a Good Year)

The art of business involves compromise....

I’m giving a keynote address today and the hotel where the conference is being held is one of 26 in Chicago participating in a city-wide strike. These hotels were unionized years ago so you’d think management and the union have had time to figure out how to co-exist.  Whether you support unions or not, people have the right to be represented by a bargaining representative: when that happens there’s self-interest on both sides that must be understood and respected (grudgingly or not). That puts a lot of pressure and responsibility on both sides to find the common ground of compromise that allows each to retain their dignity and maintain labor peace. I’ve negotiated long-term labor agreements that resulted in both sides working together for the benefit of all: did we have disagreements – you bet; were they resolved – every time.  That takes a willingness to talk, listen and understand that nothing should ever get in the way of providing what the customer is paying for. Don’t let pride get in the way of achieving your goals today.

Vanna Bonta (1958 – 2014): Italian-American writer, actress, and inventor

Work like you care....

I called an airline reservation line recently and was informed “this call may be monitored for compliance and training purposes”. Lots of other companies do things like this: grocery store receipts asking me to complete a survey, a sign at the McDonald’s drive-thru window advising me to contact them if I have any questions or concerns, and so on. It seems that supervisors no longer have the time or responsibility to monitor work or that employees are no longer encouraged to have enough pride in their work to do things right. I suppose they’re looking for both positive and negative comments, but the implication is that they really only want to know if something went wrong. I think it would be better to talk to employees about how pride is a personal commitment and how attitude separates excellence from mediocrity, and then have supervisors act appropriately when they see good or bad behavior. That’s a better way to promote pride in people’s work today.

William Blake (1757 – 1827): English poet, painter, printmaker, and a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age

Keep a winning attitude....

Every successful person I know is passionate about what they do. Later today I will again be attending a graduation of men and women who are focused on successfully re-entering society after exiting the judicial system: the keys to their success include a laser-like passion to make the rest of their lives the best of their lives. Led by Jon Ponder, these Hope for Prisoner graduates are impressive because of their passion to make the most of the second chance they’re being given: Jon himself has walked the path he encourages them to take and knows that attitude is more important than aptitude. He challenges them to create a vivid vision of what their success will look like a year from today and then helps them stay on that path as they passionately work towards realizing their dreams.   If given the chance, help others find this kind of winning attitude today.

Sir Kenneth Robinson (b. 1950): British author, speaker and international advisor on education in the arts to government, non-profits, education and arts organizations

Love what you do....

I was talking to a friend the other day who, like me, is a semi-retired HR guy still doing stuff he loves: meeting new people, discovering what they’re involved in, expanding an understanding of how things work best, and sharing that knowledge with others. I could hear it in his voice: he was specifically talking about applying ‘agile practices’to HR. For those who don’t know what agile practicesare, Google it: they’re a way of organizing work to facilitate responsiveness and adaptiveness of activities and structure, and to match workforce fluctuations to demand. Most work is based on control and execution, but this methodology focuses on expertise, collaboration and decision making. Think about that: done right, it unleashes creativity and keeps people excited about their work. A leader is responsible for making sure that employees want to be where they are, doing what they do, and not somewhere else. Learn how to do that and get your employees to be really passionate about their work today.

James M. Barrie (1860 – 1937): Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan

Be positive and motivated.....

People always say they can’t find enough good employees.  While that’s become more of a problem with the low unemployment rate, it doesn’t mean there aren’t good applicant’s out there. Part of the problem is that most hiring managers aren’t clear what exactly they mean by ‘good applicant’. Of all the things they look for, being passionate about the opportunity is right up there among the most important attributes: problem is, you can’t just ask if an applicant’s passionate. In lieu of that, try watching when you meet them: do they seem genuinely interested? And when you ask a question, the way they answer is as important as what they say: it’s easy to see if they’re excited about what they’re saying rather than just going thru the motions. Nothing is as important as passion: no matter what you want in a new employee, make sure they’re passionate about what they do and where they might work. Always be on the lookout and make sure you hire passionate people today.

Jon Bon Jovi (b. 1962): Singer and songwriter

Remember....

“September 11 is a reminder that life is fleeting, impermanent, and uncertain. Therefore, we must make use of every moment and nurture it with affection, tenderness, beauty, creativity, and laughter.”Deepak Chopra

The Rabbi’s sermon during yesterday’s Rosh Hashanah service reminded us to reflect on how we react to what happens in our lives. On this day of remembrance for the worst act of terrorism on US soil, please take a moment to reflect on what’s really important. Don’t caught up in the small things and overlook the big: take time to passionately nurture all that’s good in your life today.

Deepak Chopra (b. 1946): Indian-born American author, public speaker, alternative medicine advocate, and a prominent figure in the New Age movement

Happy New Year

“May it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors, that you renew for us a good and sweet year.”Hebrew Prayer

Today is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and the beginning of what are traditionally known as the ‘High Holidays’. On Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people ask God for forgiveness for the things we’ve done wrong during the past year and remind ourselves not to repeat these mistakes in the coming year. In this way, Rosh Hashanah is an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and how to be better. Let’s all find time to reflect on our actions and discover meaningful ways to become better people in the year ahead.  

Be a 'possibilitarian'....

When duty calls, effective leaders are do what’s needed. Friend of mine back East is a lawyer: mid-sized town and an outsized practice. He says he gets it, meaning he works at learning what the client wants and how they want to be treated: some want advice, others solutions; some want a business relationship, others make it more personal. In any case, he gets involved to fully understand what’s needed to be effective: that’s the level of engagement that creates success. He says not many people want to be that involved anymore. Fact is, everybody does, but the sad truth may be that not everyone is prepared or encouraged: that’s when a leader who personally demonstrates what’s possible is so critically important. They set the tone for how their employees see themselves and recognize the value of the work they do, stay on top of what they’re responsible for to keep others on-time and on-point, and stay focused and positive during the action. You know someone who’s struggling: figure out what’s needed to help them get going. Demonstrate what’s possible today.

Mark Yarnell (1950-2015): Author, orator, network marketer, and international business leader

Get involved to make good things happen....

Every summer we pack up the pets and relocate to our home in the Adirondacks: three or four wonderful months on a lake in the middle of nowhere. While being there is great, the trip there and back is often not.  After setting out for the airport for our return yesterday, we got an automated text message from Southwest Airlines saying our flight had been cancelled: pictures of long lines at ticket counters and sleeping on the floor flashed through our heads. We called and that picture began to change: the agent on the phone was appropriately apologetic, empathetic, and seemed truly interested in getting this story back on track. From so many other service debacles we know that people don’t often get involved to make something like this better than it could be: cancelled flights often lead to interminable delays while people wait for the backlog to clear. But, this employee didn’t give up until she had me, my wife, and our cat on another flight: sure, it was late, but we got home. Remember: one person can make a difference. Get involved and make sure that bad stories have good endings today.

Spryte Loriano: Author, Entrepreneur, and Humanitarian

Be nice, or beware....

There are so many other contemporary ways this can be said: ‘what’s good for the goose is good for the gander’; ‘if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen’; ‘people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’; and so many more. The point being that you shouldn’t get involved in things like gossip, rumors, snarky comments, or jokes about others: once you start down than dangerous and slippery slope there’s little you can say or do when others do the same about you.  The moral of this tale: participate only in things that are righteous, appropriate, kind, well-intended, positive, supportive, proper, and nice. Whether at the water cooler, in-person, on the phone, or spoken in supposed confidence: say and do only the kinds of things you’d want others to say and do to and about you.  Simple to say (I know), but much harder to consistently do. Take part in the right kinds of things today.

James Boswell (1740 –1795): Scottish biographer and diarist, best known for the biography he wrote of Samuel Johnson

Be yourself....

Employee engagement is a big buzz term these days. If you want it, start by being on the lookout for how engaged an applicant is: are they on time for their scheduled appointment(s), and do they (1) sit up straight, look you in the eye, and act enthusiastic about the questions you ask, (2) have good questions for you,  (3) appear interested and attentive when being introduced to others or shown around, and (4) follow up with you to let you know they’re grateful and interested. If ‘yes’ to those, chances are they have potential. But, real engagement occurs when new employees are encouraged and supported to be who they are: meaning you have to continually engage with them, let them know how much you appreciate their efforts, and recognize and reward them for acting that way. We’re all consumers and know when service is attentive and enjoyable: remind your employees about that and be an unabashed cheerleader when you see that in your team. That’s how to get real engagement today.

Brené Brown (born 1965): American Scholar, Author, and Public Speaker

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day traditionally marks the end of Summer: it’s a day set aside for honoring those who work. Much has been written about the things people do: but the real story should focus on the things we do to get them to work smarter and more effectively. Things like understanding what makes employees tick, listening to their concerns and ideas, acting when those make sense, and celebrating their efforts every minute of every day. It you’re not attentive, why should they be? If you don’t care, don’t expect them to either. Why should they work hard and care a lot if they don’t think you care? And if you don’t make a big deal of the stuff they do they won’t think their efforts matter. Don’t just pay people for having heads and hands, do everything to make them feel good about using them. That’s your #1 job and the best way to honor and celebrate labor today.

Elbert Hubbard (1856 – 1915): American writer, publisher, artist, and philosopher