Monday, January 31, 2011

What Spiderman Says


Movies give us fantastic lines.
A movie can hold great meaning just for the parallels the plot can draw to our lives...even if the characters don't quite match who we are, the story will resonate.

A line that I think about over and over again is from Spiderman:
 "With great power comes great responsibility". 

 How true it is. How true it feels. Power is tied to responsibility ....think of a leader of a country, a corporation, a church. In the hands of that leader, with great power, is the responsibility of the those they lead....their country, their business or their community.

How do you work with power and responsibility?

Do you have movie lines that inspire your leadership?  Share them here!

Friday, January 28, 2011

The 4 R's of Execution


Routine, Repetition, Recognition, Results

Execution requires good direction from the leader. More importantly it requires focused attention on details to get the job done well.

Using the four R's can help you get the execution you are looking for, from your team or yourself.

Have a routine. Make sure the team knows it or you follow it.

Repetition in important. Repeating instructions for questions, repeating work processes can make efficiency happen as well as improve quality.

Provide recognition as execution is in progress. This will help move the project along, inspire continued effort and even build self-esteem.

Expect results and follow up to get them. By showing the team what the results could look like and how it would make a difference to them you are setting the benchmark for execution.

Use the R's...they R simple and get you and your team to execute.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Credit-Do You Get It?


People are always looking for credit. Even if they say they don't want it, deep down they really do...even if they are simply going to give it to themselves. Credit is recognition...not the monetary kind.

How do you go and get credit for what you do well? For what you are attempting?

1-give credit to others, they will follow your example
2-Energize and inspire others
3-Create a motivating environment
4-Tell the story. Telling success stories inspires others and also develops an environment to continue to do the same. Your credit comes back to you from the implementation.
5- celebrate success. Recognize publicly..helps to show that results are rewarded, recognized and shared.
6-Take responsibility. It can be difficult to do this for something that did not turn out as expected but it also shows your team that you are there for everything..good, bad or ugly.
7-Set goals. Part of getting or giving credit is having a reason, a goal to aspire to, and then naturally measuring your way there.

In other words, what I have taken quite a few lines to say is that It's About Others, not about you.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Leadership Steps

Think of leadership as a staircase that leads to many different different floors.


On each step in the staircase, there are messages that can help create your leadership style. Each step takes you up and to a new opportunity -to climb higher, to stay on the landing and make a decision about which way to turn...go up or down or rest for a while.

Leaders set a vision what the next step looks like - making sure the ladder is going in the right direction (manager helps take people up the ladder).

Here are some steps to consider along your journey:
  • Not just what you say, it's what you do...people see action, forget the words, remember the image
  • Do the right thing even when no one is watching....your conscience is your guide Self last...leaders teach others, put yourself last in line to ensure that everyone crosses the finish line safely together
  • Listen in proportion:  2 vs. 1...you have two ears and one mouth....use them in proportion
  • Objective, non-judgmental....objectivity in decision making in necessary, eliminate passing judgement and creating a safe environment to learn and grow makes all the difference.
  • Thank people...it's little, but it goes a long way.
  • Subtle, intuitive...leadership can be quiet and purposeful, always from the heart, in your heart...and your mind, connected and authentic
  • Very small things put together day after day that create consistency and build a culture.
  • Build relationships... remembering an event, a concern, a name, an important date can make a huge difference in someones life...even though it may seem small to us.
What will your leadership be remembered for when you move on to the next step? What is the footprint you will be leaving on the step?

Monday, January 17, 2011

Competition Vs. Competitiveness


You are the coach, cheerleader and scout for your business.  You need to be aware of who is racing with you up the hill, while cheering the team on.

Someone could come in and take your business while you are busy patting yourself on the back. Always have a healthy paranoia and respect for the competition.

Look for what the competition is doing right, not just what is different or what you may believe is wrong.

Sam Walton said 'steal shamelessly' , the modern day version of this quote is 'repurpose' or 'why reinvent the wheel'

What will you repurpose from the competition today?
What wheel are you working on reinventing that is already in motion elsewhere?

Friday, January 14, 2011

Join a Group - Leaders Need Support Too


Leaders need support.  Where do you find yours?
In the boardroom?  Colleagues?  Networking Groups?
Have you ever thought about group coaching?

Group Coaching is a way to explore coaching with less expense and time commitment but still getting the foundation and understanding of a coaching relationship.

In group coaching, the members of the group have similar goals and share a common agenda.  Together, with the guidance of a coach, they explore their opportunities and challenges, find new ways to reach their goals and support each other along the way by sharing experiences and providing insight to each other.

Click here to learn more about group coaching.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Just Perfect


What is the difference between perfect and excellent?
What is it that you demand from your team - perfection or excellence?

One definition of perfect is "conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type" .  Are you looking for an ideal or something that conforms completely to the described result?

One definition of excellent is "possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good".
Are you looking for outstanding, superior results?

I can't answer that for you.  You will need to understand what it is that you are requiring your team to do.  There may be an instance where 'perfect' is impossible.  For example, if it is a very subjective project, perfect could be different in each person's eyes.  You may need to settle for outstanding - is that so bad?

Make sure that the team you lead knows the difference between perfect and excellent, including your expectations.  It will make execution easier and better!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Do The Research


No matter what type of project or goal you are tackling, you will always be better served if you do the research that is required to understand everything involved.  Whether it is a trip, a landscaping project, a presentation, a performance evaluation, or your own goals - both personal and professional, you can set yourself up for success by having a solid foundation created with research.

Research can take many forms -
-surfing the internet for information
-reviewing past metrics, numbers, results
-interviewing others
-taking surveys
-reading
- and many more I am sure that you can add to the list.

Once you have everything at your fingertips, you can start to formulate your plan.  What you will do when and how, including how long each step will take and what the intended/expected results will be.

You can do this with your goals as well.

Take each goal that you have for 2011 and create your plan - research first what you will need to do/get/have/work on to reach your goal and the milestones on your way to success....then build your outline.  You will see that your process will be much clearer and you may find a few obstacles that you would not have anticipated without the research.

Click the underlined words to learn more about Goals & Goalsetting and successful plan implementation.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Leadership Discussions

Don't forget to visit the Be the One Information Page to get more information or sign up for the in-person speaker series. 

You may only get one chance to Be the One.


Monday, January 3, 2011

Meet Someone New: Michele Scism

I have met wonderful people in 2010.  It is easy to meet people with all the social media networks available to us.  But connecting with someone in a meaningful way takes time and effort.

Meet my friend Michele.  She is a dynamic, wonderful woman who has a heart that beats for everyone.  Her passion and determination to help women create the successful businesses is awesome  I spent time in session with her as well as get her blogs and newsletters.  Michele is always ready to share ideas, plans and next steps along with get you involved in things that can help you move your business to new levels.

I am introducing you to Michele because she helped me.  Who have you introduced to others, that can help them?  Is this part of your 2011 strategy for relationship-building?

Check out Michele's website www.decisiveminds.com - very cool with lots of super information!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

2011! It's Here!

Have a wonderful,
Happy
& Healthy
2011!

from Leadership Solstice