Don't go it alone...

·      As smart as you are, you can do just so much.

·      Just about everything is done better by a team.

 

Everything I’ve done has been improved upon and punctuated by the teams I’ve worked with. As a musician, writing songs, playing music, and singing were all so much better with other singers and musicians. And as an HR professional, the casinos I’ve opened (Mirage, Bellagio, Wynn), projects I’ve completed (BI, applicant tracking, and paperless systems), and extraordinary extra-curricular activities (employee of the year banquets and Bellagio’s Yearbook) were immeasurably improved upon by the teams of people I worked with. It’s more than two or more heads always being better than one - the fun, support, energy, and creativity of like-minded and committed colleagues enriches everything. Even tennis players have coaches and trainers on their team. I learned early on that trying to do something alone was crazy – there wasn’t enough time, energy, or brain cells to get any of it as right as I wanted. Most things in life need all that a team brings together to be as good as they can be – and that’s different than winning or losing. If you want things to be as good as they can be, make sure they’re being done by a team today.

 

Reid Hoffman (born 1967): American internet entrepreneur (co-founder LinkedIn), venture capitalist (Greylock Partners), podcaster, author, and a co-founder of Inflection AI.

Give others a hand...

·      Mentors are important to the success of any organization.

·      Passing on their experience and knowledge to the next generation.

 

When I broke into gaming the Golden Nugget had several older hosts who’d been around forever (it seemed). They were all still active but took it upon themselves to show many of us newbies the ropes. They were always available to answer questions and tell us stories of the old days, many of which were in Cuba or Vegas in the 60s. They’d be sitting in the casino lounge at the end of the day, and we’d hang around listening to them tell us how it used to be. And if we ever had a problem, we could go see them any time of the day or night and they’d be there for us. Because they knew that you succeed best and quickest by helping others succeed. Now we’re the old ones and we find ourselves doing the same. Find a mentor and make the most of the things he or she can teach you. When the time comes, be a mentor to others. Help them succeed today.

 

Oliver Napoleon Hill (1883 – 1970): American self-help author best known for his book Think and Grow Rich (1937), which is among the best-selling self-help books of all time.

Never underestimate the power of trust...

·      Winning doesn’t start by focusing on winning.

·      It starts with building trust.

 

Watching the NFL playoffs this weekend, there was a focus on the way teams win: it’s doesn’t start with setting a goal of winning the championship, but rather by building a team around purpose and trust. It’s a story repeated over and over about the making of strong teams, both in sports and in business. When we started Wynn Resorts, the challenge was building a new team – while we were fortunate to attract great people, they hadn’t worked together previously. We took a page out of winning sports teams and built from the ground up, focusing on developing trust in each other. On people believing they couldn’t succeed alone. And that led to a strength that everyone believed in and supported and benefitted from. It works in every kind of team. Find ways to build and reinforce trust in your team today.

 

Patrick Lencioni (born 1965): American author of books on business management, particularly in relation to team management (The Five Dysfunctions of a Team).

Give people their due...

·      You can call yourself anything you want.

·      What matters is what others think of you.

 

Everybody today want to be a Chief this or that and have a seat at the table. Fact is, you get what you earn and deserve. If you want responsibility you have to accept accountability; if you want authority, you must earn it. And it’s not just these Gen Z kids who demand to be heard – every generation has been the same and it’s up leaders to define what it takes, create pathways to achieve increasing levels of responsibility, pay attention, provide coaching, and be open to listening. My Mom used to say: “it takes two to tango” and that applies to this too. Get engaged with your people, talk to them openly, and help them find the way like someone probably did with you. Don’t make your peeps have to make up their own labels – watch what they do and give them credit and encouragement when it’s due today.

 

David H. Maister (born 1947): British American author (Managing the Professional Service Firm) educator (Harvard University), and expert on business management practices. 

Don't over-react...

·      Work, like life, has its scary moments.

·      Best to face them head on and learn what they’re about.

 

I loved going to work throughout my career in the gaming industry. But there were times when I I’d be worried about or fearful of what I knew was waiting for me. Most of the time that anxiety was caused by a lack of information. When that happened, I’d call together any and everyone who could help me learn what I needed to know before I’d start to address it. And one of the first things I would have to do is establish some level of calm amidst a chaotic situation. And again, that uncertainty was the result of too little information. The lesson here is that professionals must (1) be calm in the face of chaos, (2) not overreact to the situations they face, and (3) learn to become effective communicators – listening, learning, and directing as needed. These things seem to happen more than we’d like, so make it a priority this year to learn to stay on top of things happening around your and improve your overall communication skills. That will help you begin to master your fears today.

 

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835 – 1910): American writer, humorist, essayist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer known by the pen name Mark Twain.

If you love it let it show...

·      The best recruiters look for people with a great work ethic.

·      That’s something innate the best applicant bring with them.

·      Everything else can be taught and learned.

 

I’ve said it here many times – hire for attitude and train for skills. Recruiters who pore over resumes trying to make a perfect technical fit have it all wrong – just about everything needed for most jobs can be taught. But things like optimism, passion, flexibility, responsibility, discipline, dedication, and wanting to work hard can’t, so look for those attributes in your job applicants. Because without them it is difficult to be a top professional, or a top performer, or a key player on your team. In the interview, listen to how they answer your questions and watch as they do so – you’ll hear these attributes in their words, see it in their eyes, and sense it in their body language. I worked with a maintenance director who used to bring a cart full of tools to an interview, and he’d ask the applicants what each was for – it wasn’t just that he wanted to see if they knew one from the other, but how they talked about all the good times they had using them in their work. That’s passion and dedication. That’s what you want. And that’s where you’ll find your top professionals today.

 

Jahangir Khan (born 1963): Pakistani professional squash player who is widely regarded as the greatest squash player of all time, and one of the greatest sportsmen in Pakistan history.

Go get 'em...

·      Good days and bad, you gotta get up and go.

·      People are relying upon you.

·      Don’t let them down.

 

What are you going to do today?  Does this sound about right: getting ready for and traveling to where you’re going to do something, planning and preparing to do it, focusing and being in the moment, and making sure everything is done right?  All of those will take more time and energy than you thought, but if you’re a professional then you’ll do those things even on the days you don’t feel like doing them.  Because in the world of work, customers and colleagues have expectations and needs that pretty much set the tone and tempo for what you do.  So, take a deep breath and do the things you love to do and have to do. That’s what being a professional is all about today.

 

Julius Erving (born 1950): American retired basketball player, commonly known by the nickname Dr. J. who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim.