Be a go-to source of knowledge...

Most people work hard and get paid for their efforts. How much they’re paid depends on way too many variables; but what they become by it is within their grasp. 

 

·      Work hard.

·      Get experience.

·      Become good at it.

·      Become known for it.

·      Become a source for others.

 

What are your unique contributions; that’s a question that few can easily answer. You don’t have to be a genius, but you might be one who others call for advice or guidance. For things like: what ingredients you put in your soup, how you stay upbeat all the time, how to make things, what you do or say to inspire people, how to dress for success, what to drive, relaxing places to visit, where to go for a great meal, or what you think about a certain something (fill in the blank)… you get the drift: there are all kinds of things you might know that others might like to learn. Being known, admired, or cherished for something is an honor. You gain that by the hard work you do, the experiences you’ve had, or the things you know or can do. Big or little, doesn’t matter. Someone wants to learn something and you’re the one they ask. Work hard and become good at what you do today.

 

John Ruskin (1819-1900): American Poet, Writer, and Art Critic

Let your pride show through in everything your do...

“The path from dreams to success does exist.” Kalpana Chawla

 

If you are proud of what you do and the life you live, then the path from your dreams to success does exist. The key is your pride and what you do with it.

 

·      Be good at what you do.

·      Take pride in what you do.

·      Be committed to excellence.

·      Be trustworthy and respectful.

·      Always set a good example for others.

 

You can’t fake good work or good deeds – they are basis of what you do and how you live your life. Good applies to thinking, preparation, behavior, performance, and results – they are there for everyone to see and judge. Good applies to character, honesty, integrity, trust, and respect – the qualities that we all look for in others. Be aware of these behaviors and traits and how they affect everything you do – friends, colleagues, and managers will be looking for these in you and your work. They’ll trust you if they see them and dismiss you if they don’t. There are pathways in work (getting hired and considered for promotions) and life (making and keeping friends and raising families) that your dreams travel on, and success depends on the qualities you bring to all of those journeys. Achieve your dreams by acting with pride today.

 

Kalpana Chawla (1961-2003): First Indian-born woman in space.

Be your authentic self...

At some point, everyone needs to decide who and what they want to be. Some let it ride, but you may want to be more actively involved in deciding the outcome.

 

·      Consider your skills

·      And add in your interests.

·      Leverage your experiences

·      And the things you like doing.

·      Be yourself and not anybody else.

 

But there often is pressure to conform – what you wear, how you think, the way you act, and the roles you play; corporate cultures can have that effect on people. But many of the leaders I know want people who think for themselves, aren’t afraid to take risks, and like being their individual selves. Against this dichotomy, businesses today are facing unique challenges that seemingly defy formerly successful solutions. Like finding employees – ads and job boards are coming up short and new sources of applicants are needed. Or recognizing employee needs – emotional intelligence and servant leadership skills are needed. Or treating today’s workers like individuals – build flexibility into your policies and practices. Workers today want the freedom to be themselves while also being part of a team – recognize them for their contributions while promoting group behavior. Be open to solutions that address the unique interests of each of your employees today.

Find your happy place...

A common problem among professionals is that they often try too hard. If (as your mother probably told you), good things come to those that wait, then patience and diligence should be practiced. You need:

 

·      To fit in

·      To prove yourself

·      To show that you can

·      To show that you care

·      To be a part of the team

 

When we are new at something, it’s natural to want to overcome that feeling of being a newbie or an outsider as quickly as possible. But it can’t be rushed. Be curious, ask questions, do more listening than talking, and don’t rush things. When someone new joins our team, we must all act as coaches and mentors to help them learn what, why, and how. Never forget those times when you were the newbie and remind yourself to always help others when they are new. That is the basis of onboarding: for that, take as much time as is needed to make your newbie feel like they know what they’re doing and that they belong. That’s what it takes to welcome someone and to make them effective at what they’re doing as quickly as possible. Help others find their place and feel comfortable with that today.

 

Mahershala Ali (born 1974): American actor and rapper.

Purpose and style should complement each other...

Everyone should find their purpose… and then stick to it. As for style, in the design world that too is important; but in the world of work, management style often needs to fit the situation. Here’s what I think:

 

·      People and situations change.

·      Managers need to remain flexible

·      To meet the needs of each situation

·      And the people that are involved in it.

·      In this regard, one size (or style) rarely fits all.

 

We call this situational management. Leaders must diagnose each situation they face: discovering the facts, people, and objectives to determine what’s really going on - this is called situational sensitivity. They then must decide which approach to take, balancing the needs of the work that must get done and the people involved - this is called situational flexibility. And finally, they must adopt an approach that best meets those needs and follow through appropriately - this is called situational effectiveness. The key word here is effectiveness: it’s not so much what you do as what you achieve. Start with the end in mind and put the rest of the puzzle together.  Remember, don’t try to do the same thing all the time – the variables rarely allow that. Find your purpose and then adapt your style to effectively deal with the results you need to achieve today.

 

Manuel "Manolo" Blahnik Rodríguez (born 1942): Spanish fashion designer and founder of the eponymous high-end shoe brand.

Life is good...

It’s good to live a satisfying life, and even better for others to recognize what you’ve accomplished. Not to go around tooting your own horn, but to graciously accept the accolades you receive. And life goes on:

 

·      The work you do

·      Is to be given freely.

·      Seeking nothing in return

·      Except what is earned and due.

·      And to find satisfaction in what you do.

 

After working more than 40 years, my friends, colleagues, and I are at or reaching the end of our careers. And like so many others, we now take time to reminisce about the things we’ve done, the places we’ve been, and the memories we’ve made. I am truly gratified by the experiences I’ve had and accolades I’ve received – it’s nice to be known and remembered. In quiet moments I look back upon my life with satisfaction, and that truly is like living twice. But I know I’m not alone in this – so many of those things were accomplished with others, many smarter and cleverer than me. So, it’s fun to tell the stories, to recognize the contributions, to revel in the things we did, and to realize that others will one day do far more. At this point it’s no longer a competition.  Just life. Be satisfied with and grateful for your accomplishments and memories today.

 

Khalil Gibran (1883 – 1931): Lebanese American writer, poet, philosopher, and visual artist, best known as the author of The Prophet, one of the best-selling books of all time.

Plan to make a difference...

"Great leaders don't set out to be a leader. They set out to make a difference. It is never about the role - always about the goal." Lisa Haisha

 

Most people say they want to make a difference… probably you have too. But like many things in life, that’s easier said than done. Let’s examine what it could mean.

 

·      What you know,

·      And what you do,

·      Matters to your team.

·      It can open up their world;

·      It can help to shape their lives.

·      Make a plan to make a difference.

 

You can stumble into making a difference in someone’s life. But it’s better if you make plans and set goals to do that. I studied HR in college because I knew that kind of career could make a difference in people’s lives. And I had goals – to help people find meaningful careers, to help others learn to be as good as they could be, and to improve the work life and experiences of employees. Every leader can make a difference. They have the opportunity to hire, train, coach, mentor, and inspire people; to be great communicators and listeners, to be fair, to catch others doing things right, to always say please and thank you, to trust and be trustworthy, to care, and to be respectful. Leadership is about actions, not titles. Don’t squander your opportunities: set a goal to be the kind of leader that makes a difference today.

 

Lisa Haisha: Life coach, author, and spiritual healer.

Ask around...

It’s good to know what you know, and to realize what you don’t know.  And to be curious about the latter. It’s hard to get someplace new without knowing something about it. And that starts by asking.

 

·      Learning something new,

·      Takes a process of discovery.

·      It starts with seeking new things,

·      And seeing that everything can be discovered.

·      Start by being curious and asking good questions.

 

It seems that everyone is thinking about the Great Resignation these days, meaning people are curious about what might be better. Employers hope that their people stay, but with so many leaving it might be a good time to do what you can to keep them. Many of my clients are taking a more pro-active approach by being curious about what their employees might be interested in doing. They conduct “stay interviews”, discussions meant to pique their interest. If you sense they might not like their work, ask them what they like and don’t like about their current job, inquire what they would like to do if they could, and if they’d be willing to work with you to make that happen. Don’t be surprised how powerful a force simple curiosity can be. And don’t miss an opportunity to learn something new today.

 

Dame Susan Hill, Lady Wells (born 1942): English author of fiction and non-fiction works.

Being yourself is good enough...

Vonnegut wrote some incredible fiction, full of all kinds of made-up characters. Imagination in his line of work is essential… not so much in the real-life characters we all try to be. 

 

·      We are who we are, and

·      People take us at face value.

·      While imagination may be good,

·      Exaggerating ourselves is not good.

·      Being just who we are is what’s important.

 

Like me, you probably submitted resumes when applying for jobs. Some employers take those at face value, others do background checks. Who you are, what your goals are, where you went to school, whether you served in the military, if you’d ever been convicted of something, and the places and jobs you’ve worked are all germane to hiring decisions. Your personality, hobbies, skills, and personal circumstances complete the biography known to your colleagues. People rely on that stuff when getting to know you, just as you do with them. And if it’s discovered that some (or all) is made up, that bank account of trust starts to run out. There’s no need to exaggerate - truth be told, your work is what others really measure you by and rely on. But even when that’s good, the questions raised if any pretend is uncovered hurts the trust that makes teams cohesive and effective. So, just be yourself and let your actions define who and what you are today.

 

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. ((1922 – 2007): American writer fiction and non-fiction novels, short story collections, and plays.