Do the best you can...

People engage in a wide range of activities, from basic daily tasks like eating, and sleeping to complex pursuits like work, learning, socializing, creative expression, and leisure activities. These are all shaped by their individual needs, interests, and circumstances. That said, it often seems that nothing goes as planned nor is it ever easy. Yet there are things we can do to lighten the load of what feels like pushing a stone uphill. Things like collaboration – working with others to get things done together; innovation – looking for better ways to approach our challenges; problem-solving – measuring twice before making any cuts; communicating – speaking and listening equally; adapting – being flexible and learning as you go; being prepared – eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and keeping an open mind; and being kind and fair -  treating others the way you want them to treat you.  Stop playing the victim – we’re all in this together and need each other, so be reasonable in your expectations, lend a hand or comment when appropriate, and always be appreciative.  Whether playing a game, working a job, going to school, raising a family, living in a community, being creative, or navigating life – make the most of what you have today.

 

Vince Lombardi (1913 – 1970): American professional football coach considered by many to be among the greatest coaches and leaders in American sports.

Strut your stuff...

My boss used to tell us that the difference between a good manager and a great one is his or her ability to communicate effectively. And, not for nothing, the people you see getting ahead are those who are comfortable talking to others, either one on one or to a group of people. Whether it’s welcoming people, introducing an employee of the month candidate, or speaking to a gathering of peers or visiting executives. Those are the people selected to represent the company at local events, give interviews when media seeks information, going to conferences and presenting (alone or on a panel), or addressing the shareholders. They’re the ones who take pride in their ability to do this and aren’t afraid to take chances… and they’re the one remembered when promotions are being considered. Because they’re competent and confident. Many companies offer public speaking courses, and they’re also available off site through Dale Carnegie or local community colleges – enroll and ask for tuition reimbursement: nobody was ever refused for trying to better themselves. So, don’t hide yourself when there are opportunities like this available. Stand up, speak up, and show them what you’ve got. You control this ability to stand out and get ahead today.

 

Joe Mari Fadrigalan: Character played by actor and movie producer LaTeace Towns-Cuellar. 

Pay attention to what people tell you...

In business we want people to be straight with us, but not so much that it’s harsh or hurts. Even with the best of training, giving feedback – critical or not, may feel like a rebuke. We all get involved and invested in what we do and seek feedback, especially if it’s good. But truthfully, people often look for the flaws before they notice the strengths of an idea or effort – maybe that’s human nature. But the best lesson to learn is find the positive, informative, and directive in any feedback.  Look at it as an opportunity to learn, a chance to improve, and an approved do-over. Don’t overreact and don’t let your pride get in the way – the facts are always friendly. And on the flip side of this, when giving feedback, remember how you felt when getting it and let that be a good lesson. Most people work together for long periods of time, so use it to build relationships and trust, and treat others the way you want to be treated.  It’s all part of being creative and engaged, so take a deep breath, and make the most of the feedback you get today.

 

Eric S Yuan (born 1970): Chinese American billionaire businessman, engineer, and the chief executive officer and founder of Zoom Communications.

Listen to your peeps...

·      You want improvements, ask your front-line peeps.

·      Empower them to recommend improvements.

·      Listen to what they have to say.

·      Then follow their lead.

 

I recently audited a regional casino company’s policies, practices, and performance: the leaders asked my opinion on the state of their operations and what, if anything, could be improved. After getting their take, I talked to mid-level managers, employees, and customers to get their perspective on how things are. In general, I let their achievements speak for themselves – when the place is clean, employees are smiling, guests are happy, and the place is making money, there’s more good here than not. Of course, there are things that can be improved – even the best places have that, but the leaders and owners here should be as proud of what’s going on as their employees are in making that happen. It’s a matter of seeing the glass as half full rather than half empty – these leaders should be high-fiving the staff and asking them what improvements they might suggest. That creates a culture of trust and respect, where things get better organically because everyone’s taking ownership for driving excellence. You don’t need a guy like me telling you this – it's obvious. Good or bad. That’s why managing by walking around is such a powerful tactic, one that promotes engagement and pride. Trust your employees and support continuous improvement today.

 

Leila Summers:  South African author, editor, and book coach who advises, inspires, and assists fellow writers to realize their full potential.

Smile and the world smiles with you...

I often coach new managers and the first thing I tell them is to walk the floor and interact with employees – talk a little and listen a lot and everything you need to know will be learned there. And don’t scowl (like many think they need to do when promoted) – that’s perceived as arrogance; a smile lets them know you’re proud of your position, approachable, and intent on doing a good job. Far too often managers are called suits from upstairs, as though they’re not in tune with regular workers – put that to rest by being emotionally intelligent: aware and interested in what they have to say. Sometimes they just need to vent so go with their agenda and always get back to them with answers to their questions or concerns. That will allow them to be heard and you to help shape how they feel about the company, you, and management in general. The more you do this the more your smile will become contagious and that’s the message you want to convey. And the prouder you are of them influences how proud they are of themselves. Bottom line: that’s the best way to affect the customer’s experience and satisfaction today.

 

Mason Cooley (1927 – 2002): American educator (French, speech, world literature) and aphorist known for his witty sayings. 

Be proud of the good things you do...

·      Take pride in the things you accomplish.

·      Don’t be afraid to tell your story.

·      And toot your own horn.

 

This quote reminds me how we adapted storytelling to our employee recognition program. Historically, managers selected nominees based on criteria like attendance, performance, and standards. Over time it became more of a universal recognition rather than an award for excellence – the problem was that managers weren’t often around for the of exceptional performance or service that merited the award. So, we revamped the program and asked employees to submit their own stories of excellence in performance, service, and customer attention. We believed that the best champions and cheerleaders are the employee themselves and that they’d want to talk about the accomplishments of which they were proud. Some worried they’d embellish the story, but tall tales were hard to put over on their fellow employees. By and large, the stories they submitted were, in fact, extraordinary examples of excellence beyond our wildest expectations. Things we hadn’t noted or recognized in the past. Things they were very proud of. We often forget that personal pride is a great motivator, especially when people are encouraged to stand up and talk about how proud they are of something they’ve done. To be role models for excellence. We published their stories and watched as they inspired others. Always be proud of your accomplishments, big or small, today.

 

Ayanna Howard (born 1972): American roboticist, entrepreneur and educator currently serving as the dean of the College of Engineering at Ohio State University.

Never lose your passion for making things better...

I was happy working at Wynn because I was encouraged to look for projects that got my creativity going. I had lunch this week with someone I worked with on the paperless and self-service modules we built there on the front end of PeopleSoft. We talked about how those had been flapping around in little corners of both of our minds until we were able to bring them all together for Wynn’s opening in 2005. Lots of stars needed to align for that to happen – there it was new computer technology, processes that cried out for improvement, a company and brand that stood for innovation and excellence, an appetite for well-planned risk, and people who were passionate about their vision(s). There are things everywhere that can use improvement and stars can always be helped into alignment by people with good ideas working diligently and passionately to get them designed and implemented. Ideas that can make a difference and have an impact. Keep looking around at the things you’re doing and don’t be afraid to dream about ways to make them better. Even the smallest things. Let them flap around in your mind until you see them clearly and have an opportunity to talk them up. That’s the way improvements – big and small, begin to take shape today.

 

Elaine Lobl Konigsburg (1930-2013): American writer and illustrator of children's books and young adult fiction.