See the glass as half full....

Someone again asked me recently what’s the most important quality to look for in an applicant (or new employee): for me, that’s easy: someone with an optimistic attitude.  I’ve written about this a lot in these messages because it’s so important to hire people who see the glass as half full (rather than half empty), are flexible and generally interested in making things better, who’ll want the ball when the game is on the line, and in who’s hands you’ll want the ball then too: they’ll be the go-to people who can and will get a job done right and on-time. People like that have the right attitude, focus and drive to turn negative situations and stresses into positive ones. Identify the people working for you who are like that: nurture and coach them to use those positive team-oriented qualities for the benefit of all, mentor them to know and understand the bigger pictures and issues you’re dealing with,  and help prepare them for more responsibility. As a leader, your job is to convert negative people and situations into positive ones today.

János "Hans" Selye (1907 – 1982): Hungarian-Canadian endocrinologist who conducted important scientific work on the existence of biological stress

Don't cry wolf....

People want to know if there’s much drama in the workplace: they’re mostly interested in how people play together.  Some people exaggerate things, often to make themselves look better or more important, or minimize the impact of what they’ve done.  Our mothers used to refer to this as crying wolf, the implication being that if you do that enough times people stop paying attention or taking you seriously. In the workplace, we all need good and transparent communications, ones that let everyone know what’s going on – good or bad. As colleagues and friends, we should always speak simply and honestly. As leaders, we should stress the importance of honest and ethical communications, such that others can rely on them: as leaders we mustn’t overreact, but be supportive and responsive, and use those times when things are unclear as coaching opportunities.  People who work or play together should understand that if you treat every situation as a life and death matter, you’ll die a lot of times. Encourage good group communications today.

Focus on results....

I once worked with a guy who was better at making speeches than decisions: he was popular yet relatively ineffective. Good talkers are like that: they can excite a crowd but not effect change, carry on a conversation but not carry the day, or add up columns of numbers but not make sense of complex issues. He was a nice guy, but back then there weren’t many KPIs or metrics: ‘sort-of’ was often good enough. But I’ve come to appreciate that while ordinary professionals focus on giving advice, extra-ordinary ones are laser-focused on giving results. We need to watch and guide the ordinary ones, but the great ones need only a little direction and then a lot of runway: they’ll ask insightful questions, give clear feedback, and motivate others. Carefully prepare to lead them: they’ll want and look for clear discussions and directions – there’s an art and science to when you hold the reins and then let them go. The best way to get extra-ordinary performance out of your team of professionals is to be an extra-ordinary leader today.                                                                                                  

Ashish Patel (b. 1975): Canadian cricketer.

You gotta believe....

I’m sitting in the Calgary airport watching the many televisions arrayed around the boarding lobbies: hockey, soccer, basketball, golf, baseball, auto racing, curling… a veritable smorgasbord of competitive events. Every player on every team playing at his or her best, believing they’ll win. And because so many sport metaphors are applied to our work lives, we watch and talk about these athletes and their efforts long after the games end. Sport seasons, like work projects, seemingly go on forever, starting with the common belief that success for any one team or individual is a real possibility. The only way that can exist is when the participants neither know nor believe that failure is inevitable. Professionals in every walk of life have to approach their challenges with that attitude, and take each step as if it’s one of many on the path to success. If you’re working on something, think like that; if you’re leading others, keep reminding them of that. Professionals should believe that anything is possible today. 

Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel (1883 – 1971): French fashion designer, business woman, and founder and namesake of the Chanel brand

Be prepared....

The gig economy is fascinating: I often take Lyft and Uber and love talking with the drivers about this subject.  Here are some of the things they tell me: some drive because they are between jobs; others drive part-time to make a little extra money; and there’s a growing number who see this as a good way to work by and for themselves. Those in this last group, mostly millennials, are professionals who treat it like a real job where, most importantly, they control their work schedules. This may be changing an important equation: working when people want, not when others schedule them.  If that happens, a fundamental part of work also may be affected: think how attendance policies and absenteeism would be turned upside down if people regularly bid on open shifts themselves rather than having assigned schedules posted by management. This is a potential game changer and it would behoove company leaders and professional managers to begin thinking about a transformation of this magnitude. Because, as always, preparation is the key to success today.

Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922): Scottish-born scientist, engineer, and innovator credited with inventing the first practical telephone, and founding AT&T

Picture this....

Like me, you probably have boxes of old photos that your parents and grandparents took and saved: looking thru them, it’s clear when Polaroid pictures started – they revolutionized the way pictures were processed. In our lifetimes, we’ve all benefited from the development of smartphones to take pictures – it’s so easy to shoot and store them online. Just think if the evolution of these new ideas for photography never happened because Edwin Land and Steve Jobs hadn’t been willing to throw out old ideas. Everything around us is the result of someone having the courage to say “what if”, the strength to look over the horizon, the willingness to be a catalyst for change: professionals are never afraid of new ideas and the improvements they might bring.  While hot everything can or should be improved, we should be prepared for where and when great new ideas start to push old ones aside. Keep an open mind and be ready to spot any great new ideas today.

Edwin Herbert Land (1909 –1991): American scientist and inventor, best known as the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation

Count your blessings....

We awake each day and get involved in lots of things: some important, others, not so much. We read the news like our lives depend on it, even when much of it is a world away and not all that pertinent to our lives.  But this past weekend, most of the world stopped and celebrated religious events that marked, among many other things, redemption and rejuvenation. These weren’t the topics on the Sunday morning news and talk shows, they didn’t affect our personal landscapes, and they mostly were ignored on the more popular social media sites.  But Easter and Passover have been important holidays for centuries, and they count greatly in how we live and lead our lives. While it’s sometimes difficult, we should all re-double our focus on the things that really matter to our overall well-being. So, on this Monday morning after, remember that many of the things you can count, don’t count; and many of the things you can’t count, really count. That’s a holiday message we all may want to contemplate today.

Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955): German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics 

Be sensitive and sensible....

Life is a give and take, and life in the workplace is no different: employers and employees struggle to find the right balance between these two. Too simply referred to as a work/life balance, both sides need to discover the right mix of policies and benefits that encourage attendance and engagement while recognizing personal needs and interests. Management sees this as all about productivity and think that’s mostly a function of hours worked; employees, a growing percentage of whom today are millennials, tend to view this as all about entitlements and think it should be more about “me” than “we”. Rather than accepting this seemingly natural generational push-back from their employees, managers must learn to be better and more effective communicators: setting clear expectations, recognizing changing needs, explaining ‘why’ when discussing these issues, rewarding appropriate behaviors, and gaining consensus on the right balance between giving more and taking less. That’s what it’s going to take to unleash a good work/life balance at work today.

Khalil Gibran (1883 – 1931): Lebanese-American writer, poet, visual artist and Lebanese nationalist

Tell your story....

Several people I know have written books recently: leadership books, kid’s books, motivational books, HR books, art books and more. Me: I write these daily missives; others I know write blogs, how-to books, and travelogues. The way I see it, it’s not what you write but the fact that you do: it takes discipline to find the time and inspiration to write, and it takes courage to put your thoughts out there for others to read and review. If you’ve got the inclination then you should write, and do it so well that when others read it you’re still proud of yourself. Write a chapter about your journey, share yourself with others, let them know who and what you are, and encourage them to do the same. That’s better than texting or tweeting: it’s personal and proud.  And that’s the best way to be and share yourself today.

Gift Gugu Mona (b. 1994): South African born author, poet, song writer, composer, musical arranger, inspirational speaker and thought leader

Life goes on....

Today’s quote initially had me thinking of the changes people experience throughout their lives and how they respond to them. But on this day after the fire at the Notre Dame cathedral, it also got me thinking about the changes an iconic place like that experiences throughout its long and proud history. In the nearly 8 centuries since Notre Dame was built, it has inspired civic and religious pride, been witness to many historic events, and been a backdrop to countless lives. You could see much of that in the faces that watched the fire’s destruction, hear it in the voices that spoke of that building’s importance, and feel it in people’s reactions to the tragedy.  Now, after nearly 800 years, it must prepare to start nearly over, rebuilding its structure and its place.  Amazingly, CNN reported that the first firemen to enter the burned structure after containing the flames took pictures of candles inexplicably still burning in the midst of all that destruction: that story and image make me believe that Notre Dame has the strength and will to start all over again. That’s something we can all be proud of today.

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (1896 – 1940): American fiction writer, whose works helped to illustrate the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age

Do the best you can....

I like making tables out of twigs and driftwood, and I like building stone retaining walls along the shoreline: people who look at these either like them or not – in the end that’s okay as long as I’m satisfied. I liked making hiring decisions during my career: I knew not everyone was going to like those new employees, but I tried my best to good choices.  People make things and decisions all the time, knowing that some will be admired or accepted and others might not… in the end all we can be is our best, because if we’re proud of the things we do, that’s enough. But we should never stop trying to make sure the things we do really are the best we’re capable of: if not, don’t let your pride get in the way of realizing this, adapt appropriately, and learn how to be better in the future. Do the best you can and be proud of that today. 

Richard William Wheaton III (b. 1972): American actor, blogger, and writer

Stay strong....

Like millions of others, I watched Tiger Woods win The Master’s golf tournament yesterday. It’s a great annual championship event, made even more interesting yesterday because of the personal drama surrounding Woods. It’s the story of a nearly invincible athlete at the top of his game who falters in his personal life and spins out of the spotlight. That kind of fall from grace can happen to anyone. Years ago, he won because he was expected to: that has its own kind of pressures; yesterday he won because he wanted to: with grit and determination. Any one  of us can fall from our own heights: that’s when you have to dig deep, find your own well of strength, and focus on coming back, one step at a time. The look of unbelievable relief on Woods face after the final putt said it all; the look on his mother’s face showed the universal relief and pride we all felt. Remember all of the challenges you’ve had to overcome and take pride in your success today.

Ashley Rosebloom (b. 1964): Author

Be a lifelong learner....

I recently interviewed some candidates for an executive position: one stated he ‘knows what he doesn’t know’. It was an honest assessment that reflected an awareness of things that needed to be learned, and a humble admission meant to show openness and flexibility.  More often than not, people don’t know what they don’t know and that truly can be a weakness – that’s why this admission was so refreshing. In today’s complex world, there’s so much to know and none of us can know it all: that’s why self-awareness, a commitment to doing more, a hunger for finding information, and a passion for continual learning are so important to being well-rounded and successful. There’s no shame in not knowing something, but how you deal with the opportunity that presents can certainly be telling. Change is everywhere and competition is fierce: make sure you’re prepared by humbly and honestly admitting and accepting your strengths and weaknesses. Then commit to learning more about what you don’t yet know today.

Richard Warren (b. 1954): American evangelical Christian pastor and author

Let the new help guide the old...

Everybody loves to network because it’s so easy to find and stay in touch with people: some go there to be sociable, others to be a little snoopy. This Internet thing has made all of that possible: you want to know something about anything all you have to do is start a search. But the key to all of this interesting research is to use it to come up with new ideas and then do something with that information.  What good is an idea if it remains an idea? Use it to get people engaged in discussion; challenge them to experiment with what they find; keep trying through trial and error; and begin to change the world around you. I’ve been lucky to know so many great HR people and to learn from them – old ideas with different twists, new ones with great possibilities, and even some off-the-wall ones that may not work but get you thinking. That’s how progress starts. Get passionate about new ideas today.

Simon Oliver Sinek (b. 1973): British-American author, motivational speaker and organizational consultant

Don't let pride fool you....

People often get so full of themselves – the things they do, the beliefs they hold, the proclamations they make – that they lose sight of themselves and their core values. You see it in those who gain stature and then try to maintain it, often, at all costs: they are not so much proud of what they do as of who they are, or are perceived to be. Maybe that’s why politicians become dogmatic rather than seek consensus; or why singers and actors, known mostly for one genre, have such difficulty changing with the times; or why some people have trouble accepting a more appropriate and obvious opposite of their current beliefs. It’s pride – that thing that keeps whispering in your ear “you’re right” when your heart and head know you’re not; and why humility – the gyroscope in your conscience – is so important. That’s why it’s ok to be right, when you are; and so important to admit the truth, when you’re wrong. Don’t let your pride make you artificial… allow humility to make you real today.

Inspire others slowly and steadily....

March Madness ended last night: the men’s and women’s champions have been crowned and the season is complete. For all the men and women who started the college basketball season months ago, there was probably a bolt of inspiration and enthusiasm in the beginning, but the drive to be the best most likely came on slowly and steadily, and built quietly throughout the year.  Then, as teams started winning and separating themselves from others, the excitement began to grow, the intensity grew stronger, and the possibilities took shape. Not many of us know the thrill of winning or agony of defeat like the players, but we have a chance to live those emotions with the teams we support. It’s like that in companies too: excitement and loyalty start slowly and grow over time. Passions like those come into us slowly and quietly, and all the time. That’s how the heart of a champion develops. Let your inspiration grow quietly and steadily today. 

Brenda Ueland (1891-1985): Journalist, editor, freelance writer and teacher of writing

Let hindsight help guide your foresight....

As countless baby boomers (like me) look back on our long careers, it’s obvious we sought success in many different ways: during that time, it’s probably safe to say that many also realized how  important humility, service and love were. But, in hindsight, I’m chagrined to admit that I was not always as successful as I could or should have been, or that I didn’t let humility moderate how driven I was. Life is full of passionate moments and there were times that grabbing the brass ring seemed to be so very important, but the realization that there’s more to it than that makes me wish I could go back and do some things over with the benefit of knowing what I know now. It reminds me of a poster my father had in his office that simply said ‘too soon old, too late smart’. Look for ways to enrich your success with humility, service and love today.

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 1936): The first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory III, who reigned in the 8th century

Make others feel good about themselves....

The first Friday of every month I play the guitar and sing songs for the pre-school students at my daughter’s synagogue. It’s a program to help them learn about and get into the spirit of the Sabbat: the program is fun and engaging. There’s one song where we sing about making chicken soup: each kid is given a toy that looks like one of the ingredients – carrots, noodles, the chicken – and when the time is right they have to put theirs in the big pot to be stirred and cooked. The looks on their faces are priceless: it’s the same every month but, for the little ones involved in acting out the song, it’s like the biggest part they’ve ever played. People young and old feel good about being engaged in and with the places they work or play when it’s fun and they’re made to feel a part of something greater than themselves, where they’re included and treated like individuals. Whether through songs or games or just being treated with respectful, that’s the best way to get people involved today.

Meghan M. Biro: Talent management specialist and career strategist

Get engaged and feel the vibe....

Every week I pick a core corporate value (this week its participation), find quotes that apply to them, and then write a 200-word message about things I’ve seen or learned that applies to the first by weaving in the second. As an old folk singer, I am familiar with Glazer’s songs and so today’s quote strikes a resonant chord (no pun intended) in me. I remember asking audiences to sing along: some clapped or tapped their toes, and others hummed and sang with us…but all were engaged in the songs and the spirit: they left remembering the experience as well as the songs. In my professional career I’ve often taught classes – in front of my own employees and managers and more recently for corporate clients and professional associations – there too, it works best when you get the learners to participate in exercises and games…they too love the participation and it enhances their learning of the material. In each, learning and remembering are easiest when everyone’s engaged: that’s when learning becomes fun and really sinks in. Help others learn by getting engaged and doing today.

Thomas Zachariah Glazer (1914 – 2003): American folk singer and songwriter

Live and learn....

We all make mistakes: I’ll readily admit to that.  Some are made because we don’t yet know what or how: those things should be added to the learning process that goes on throughout life. Others are made honestly: there’s so much to know, and when a deficiency is discovered it’s best to acknowledge and learn from it. But the ones made knowingly and maliciously – those are unacceptable: period. It does no good to cover them up… they’ll eventually get uncovered; and protesting what one doesn’t understand is unseemly: those are the times to humbly admit ignorance and learn a positive lesson from one of life’s negative moments.  Don’t bother trying to defend the mistake when you can more appropriately benefit from it: be open, look for the positive, get engaged in learning all you can, become better because of it, and move on. That’s a trick you’ll want to learn and perfect today.

Alain Ducasse (b. 1956): French-born Monégasque chef whose restaurant Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester holds three stars (the top ranking) in the Michelin Guide

Make your mark....

Have you read about the guy in Indonesia who leads others in collecting plastic waste from the beaches around where he lives: he’s gotten thousands to join him and together they’ve collected more than a million pounds of trash. Sounds like a lot, but when you then read of plastic blooms in the middle of the oceans, or dead whales with nearly a ton of plastic in their bellies, you start to realize the importance of this clean-up effort and that every little bit helps. For decades the world has been addicted to the use of plastics and victimized by the waste this has created. What if we all started picking up these plastic grocery bags rather than let them accumulate in vacant lots and along roadways; better yet, what if we all started agitating to get cities and states to ban their use. And even better, what if all of the people who ate at McDonalds asked (or even demanded) that they stop using plastic straws? A few caring people can change the world: they can begin by making it a better place today.

Margaret Mead (1902-1978): Cultural Anthropologist

Look for the real bottom line....

What do you think when people say ‘just give me the bottom line’: you most likely start thinking about the cost or basic facts of something, but sometimes things are not that simple.  That’s why it’s best to ask questions and investigate further, engage in real due process and discovery, and collect and consider everything before deciding anything of consequence. Don’t get caught up in and fooled by false news or too few facts: do your homework, take your time, and consider everything.  The important things in life are not just a series of calculations or a sum total of statistics or facts, they’re about experience and participation, the things that are more complex and interesting than what’s obvious or first surmised. We’re often inundated by rumors, innuendo and suppositions: take the time needed to get all the information you need to make informed and good decisions today.

Daniel Libeskind (b. 1946): Polish-American architect, artist, professor and set designer