Get your act together...

 

·      Professionals are supposed to act with professionalism.

·      You learn about that to some degree, from books.

·      But it’s better to learn from a mentor.

·      And it gets better with practice.

 

Many decisions are made on the fly – meaning you often lose the benefits derived from stopping and thinking or discussing or planning. Just think how much more effective and professional your decision making could be with some calm, open, and logical thinking. And how much stronger you would be as a leader. But that means a more disciplined approach - making or leaving time in your calendar for those kinds of discussions, not thinking you must make all those decisions alone and fostering the kind of culture that supports open debate. I’ll be the first to admit it’s easier said than done. But, when I stop to remember this when the heat is on, I know that I do better. So, put those things on your to-do list today.

 

William Patrick “Billy” Corgan Jr. (born 1967) is an American musician (The Smashing Pumpkins), singer, songwriter, and World Wrestling Alliance promoter).

Get together to work together...

·      People working together to solve problems.

·      To get things done together.

·      Today that seems like a novel idea.

 

Back before he became President, LBJ was a leader in both the House and Senate and well known for working out deals with and among his fellow politicians. He got legislation passed by working with people on both sides of the political aisle, for the good of the people and the country. There were fierce battles that mostly ended in everyone being happy and unhappy at the same time but still satisfied with the result. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. Anyone that thinks they’re right and everyone else is wrong is living is some alternate universe. Same thing at work – lots of opinions and perspectives that work best when they’re merged, just like two heads are better than one. There are no problems that can’t be solved together, and very few that can be solved alone. There may be contentious and difficult conversations, but in the end, it’s about professionalism, civility, and a commitment to moving forward. Problems don’t go away on their own, it takes people working together solve them. That’s the only way things will get done today.

 Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973): American politician often referred to by his initials LBJ, who served as 36th U.S. President from 1963 -1969

Be clear about where you're going and why...

·      A mission is what you want to do.

·      A vision is where you want to go.

 

Some of the most rewarding work I do is facilitating the drafting or updating of an organization’s mission and vision statements. It usually involves working with the senior executives to craft statements that guide all employees. The simpler the better, so they are easily understood and remembered. The work continues as those organizations weave them into their most important processes (job descriptions, job postings, interviewing, onboarding, orientation, training, and performance reviews) making the statements relevant and functional. Done right, employees come away with a clear roadmap of how best to enable the full utilization of these statements. It starts at the top and cascades throughout, ultimately permeating a company’s culture. Creating a shared sense of professionalism. If you can’t remember your company’s mission and vision statements, look them up. If you don’t have them (or they’re outdated), get involved in drafting them. Then spend time enabling them today.

 

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900 – 1944): French writer (The Little Prince), poet, journalist, and aviator (commercial and French Air Force pilot). He died while on a reconnaissance mission from the French island of Corsica over the Mediterranean on 31 July 1944.

Set reasonable priorities and expectations...

·      Asking for something ASAP isn’t very smart.

·      Give people the chance to do things right.

 

As professionals, we’re called upon to do lots of things, usually as fast as we can. As a leader, your role is to make sure the people that report to you are effective. Meaning: give then proper training and guidance, coach, and mentor them to know how to know how things should be done, provide them with clear instructions, allow an appropriate timeframe in which to accomplish their tasks, and recognize their completed performance. And remember, everything can’t be done at once, but something can be started at once. This is where managing by walking around works best: stay engaged with your people, get their feedback and input, and schedule things right. None of us likes to be rushed just because someone upstairs has an unreasonable expectation – speak up when asked your opinion, listen to other’s opinions, and work it out so things get done right and on appropriate time. Keep your ears to the ground and help your team get started right today.

 

Calvin Coolidge (born 1872 –1933): American attorney and politician from Vermont who served as the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929.

Make This a Meaningful Memorial Day...

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die." G.K. Chesterton

 

Honor the heroes and she-roes who wear, or have worn, our Nation’s uniforms. We salute them all today.

 

Gilbert Keith “G.K.” Chesterton (1874 – 1936): English author, philosopher, Christian apologist, and literary and art critic.

Make sure your feet are on the ground...

·      Some people spend their lives longing to be famous.

·      Sometimes it’s better just longing to be alive.

 

Every day we meet lots of people – some famous, others just living their lives. And when you think about it, it’s the quiet ones you can count on, efficiently going about their tasks, and getting things done without much fanfare or drama. It’s nice to be asked to give a speech or do something special, but those are usually one-offs that don’t fill much of the day. It’s the rest of the day that’s important – coaching, listening, mentoring, caring, creating, and doing things for others. The kinds of things those others count on you for and appreciate most about you. So much so, that when you get in bed that night, you know you were effective. That’s when you realize that being humble is cooler than being famous. Because famous is fleeting and humble lasts a lifetime. So, whenever you get the itch to be famous, remember the people who are counting on you for things big and small. And when you satisfy their needs, you’ll have all the fame you need today.

 

Robin Sharma (born 1964): Canadian lawyer and writer best known for his books Megaliving!: 30 Days to a Perfect Life, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, and The 5 AM Club.

Recognize how hard things can be...

·      Getting through a rough patch.

·      Getting through a tough course.

·      That’s something to be proud of.

 

I’m not sure if today’s author was saying this to herself, someone she cared about, or the hypothetical person who goes through tough times, but it’s one of the best things you can say to anyone. I always asked people I was interviewing about something that was especially tough that they got through anyway – the answers were always a window into their character. You want to surround yourself with people that have grit enough to get through the hard times or projects or problems – it says something about them that you and they should be proud of. So, when you see someone who muscles through, tell them you’re proud of them and that they should be proud of themselves. You don’t always have to be a winner to be a champion. Be proud of staying committed to your dreams even when things get tough today.

 

Melanie Robbins (born 1968): American podcast host, author, motivational speaker, and former lawyer. She is known for her TEDx talk, "How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over"; and her books, The 5 Second Rule and The High 5 Habit.

Be aware of other people's proud moments...

·      Sometimes people get too full of themselves.

·      It’s often pride that they don’t know how to show.

·      Catching them doing things right can help with that.

 

When you get something right, it feels good to strut your stuff – that’s human nature. When working closely with others, be aware of what they’re up to and recognize their contributions. And when teams produce good stuff, let them all celebrate. Being proud of yourself is not arrogant; it’s a sign of self-respect. And as a leader you need to let people feel good about that. Ignoring it causes people to boast just to get the recognition – be out ahead of that and give praise and thanks where they are due. It’s a sign of awareness, caring, and understanding and it makes the hard work feel worth it. A little appreciation goes a long way. I’ve often said here that managing is a full-contact sport: get engaged with your peeps and let them know that you know what they do. That’s another great way to make the workplace a great place today.

 

Alice Walker (born 1944): American novelist, short story writer, poet, and social activist. She was the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (The Color Purple).

Don't be arrogant...

·      Leadership is looking forward, not down.

·      Followers usually note the difference.

 

My mother taught me that I’m no better or worse than anyone else, so treat everyone as an equal. In Sunday school I learned that the words arrogance, arrogant, and haughty are mentioned over 100 times in the Bible, and in practically every occurrence, it is a behavior or attitude detested by G-d. And then there’s the Golden Rule – taught by mothers and Sunday school teacher everywhere: ‘treat others the way you want to be treated’. I suspect most people shared similar trainings while growing up. So, it’s surprising to me when I see or hear people talking or looking down on others. That’s just not allowed – in life or work. As leaders, we must never look down upon or talk down to our employees – no title gives us the right to do that. We must always help employees achieve the most they’re capable of – by coaching, mentoring, communicating, and caring. Put that in your management policies in case someone missed that training while growing up. And if anyone’s confused – help them understand the benefits of respecting others. At the very least, we can and should enforce the Golden Rule at work today.

 

Jesse Jackson (born 1941): American civil rights activist, politician, and ordained Baptist minister who served as a young protégé of Martin Luther King Jr.

Get off your high horse...

hum·ble

/ˈhəmb(ə)l/

adjective

1.

having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.

"he was humble about his stature as one of rock history's most influential guitarists"

 

The older I get the more I believe that humility is as important to one’s success as are knowledge and abilities. Because humility allows you to get along well with others. And getting along with others promotes teamwork, flexibility, creativity, and a shared sense of purpose. The things that maximize working relationships and smooth operations while reducing disagreeable disruptions, low engagement, absenteeism, and attrition. Don’t mistake humility for lack of pride – it’s about approach more than drive, we more than me, and outcomes more than pettiness. I wish they taught humility in school or prepared parents to promote it, but it’s not that simple. We can affect it in the workplace by training leaders to be effective communicators, promoting their role as a coach (rather than a cop), and recognizing and rewarding them for being a role model for humility. Don’t pit one employee against another – teach them to work together. Don’t recognize one to the detriment of others – catch everyone doing what they do right. Be aware and care. Little by little, you will come to understand how being humble helps prevent a personal or professional stumble today.

 

Dwight Lyman “D.L.” Moody (1837 – 1899): American evangelist and publisher connected with Keswickianism, who founded the Moody Church, Northfield School, and Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, Moody Bible Institute, and Moody Publishers. Moody gave up his lucrative boot and shoe business to devote his life to revivalism, working first in the Civil War with Union troops through YMCA in the United States Christian Commission. In Chicago, he built one of the major evangelical centers in the nation, which is still active. Working with singer Ira Sankey, he toured the country and the British Isles, drawing large crowds with a dynamic speaking style.

Find happiness in giving...

·      Volunteer your time.

·      Offer to teach young people

·      Passion can be found in work.

·      Passion can continue after work.

 

Throughout my career I was fortunate to be asked to get involved with and serve on a variety of non-profit boards. Each one was different, and they all exposed me to the benefits of contributing time and energy to groups that were grateful for the assistance. When I left the gaming business, I was even more fortunate to be able to teach young hospitality students at the University level and held ex-felons successfully re-enter family, work, and society. Those also rounded me out with even more important perspectives. I’m often asked about what people should do with their lives during and after careers and I my answer is always to get involved in things you’re passionate about. Whether you love your job or not, it’s great to find extracurricular (or post retirement) things you’ve always thought about and offer to get involved. It really is the ultimate luxury to combine passion and contribution, and it usually leads to happiness and fulfillment. Broaden your horizons by contributing your time to things you’re passionate about today.

 

Sheryl Sandberg (born 1969): American technology executive (COO of Facebook), philanthropist, and writer.