Leadership

“Don’t wait until you feel positive to move forward. Act your way into feeling good.” – John C. Maxwell

Many times we don’t feel like taking action. It is easy to make an excuse for inaction because we don’t have the right feelings yet. Maybe you don’t feel ready (a confidence issue). Maybe you don’t feel you have enough information (a knowledge issue). Maybe you don’t physically feel well (a health issue). Whatever the case, waiting for your feelings to drive you to action will cause you to miss out on opportunities for growth and advancement. You need to take action and let your feelings follow. Once you get moving, your emotions can catch up.

I decided to run a half marathon with a friend several years ago. I NEVER felt like going out to run for my training. I only achieved the “runner’s high” that I’ve heard so much about one time. I had to make myself take action to train. I had to take action before the feelings followed. Regardless of how I felt I made myself go running. I completed the race even though it was a struggle. I did it despite how I felt. I took action day in and day out for months to prepare. This allowed me to achieve my goal of finishing the race.

What is it that you don’t feel like doing?

What emotions are holding you back from taking action?

Spend some time today identifying your emotions that are holding you back, then make the decision to take action in spite of your feelings. Once you get going your emotions will catch up. Sometimes you simply have to fight through your feelings to achieve your goals. Go out and take action!

Be Intentionally Great Today!

If you’re like many people, you may not understand the value of hiring a professional coach. You may have some ideas in your head of what a “life coach” or “executive coach” does, but it’s possible that you’ve never considered the role much nor entertained the idea of hiring a coach.

So, what is the value of a coach?

While I am a certified coach with The John Maxwell Team, I’ve been working with my own coach recently. Here are my key thoughts on the value that I’ve found from being a client in the coaching process:

• A coach is a sounding board to help the client process challenges and opportunities that they are experiencing in their personal and/or professional life.
• The client is in control of the agenda – they discuss what they desire to discuss. The coach does not dictate the topic.
• The coach asks thought-provoking and curiosity-based questions to draw out insightful answers from within the client. (You’ll be amazed at the answers a coach can help you discover from within!)
• The coach is not a friend who will let the client off the hook easily. Rather, they help him/her develop an action plan and then hold them accountable to take growth steps. (If you’re like me, you do not want to meet with your coach at the next session and tell him/her that you did not do what you said you would!)
• A coach is a safe relationship. What is discussed in the coaching session is confidential. It is safe to express doubts, fears, and other emotions that the client is feeling in the process.

These are just a few of the benefits of a coaching relationship. In my biased opinion, we all need a coach in our lives! Think about it…how many people in your life are asking you thought-provoking questions and helping you formulate an action plan so you will grow, then are willing to do the difficult work of holding you accountable? How many people truly have YOUR success and growth as their main goal? A coach does!

What a coach is NOT:

• A coach is not a mentor (although they can mentor you outside the coaching session if you so desire)
• A coach is not a biased friend
• A coach is not a trainer or teacher (although they can function as such outside the coaching session if you so desire)
• A coach is not tied to their success, but they are committed to YOURS!

Are you struggling with challenges at home or work?

Do you have an opportunity in front of you that you need help to figure out whether to pursue it or not?

Do you feel alone in your role and need a sounding board that is focused on YOUR success?

If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, then hiring a qualified coach would be of tremendous benefit to you. If I can be of service, please contact me and we can discuss what this arrangement would look like. If nothing else, keep these ideas in your mind because someday you might find yourself ready to hire a coach to walk with you to help you go farther faster in your personal and professional life.

Be Intentionally Great Today!

I just returned from a networking event that opened my eyes to the gap between young professionals and those who have been in the workplace for many years. Our Chamber of Commerce had a monthly gathering that was very well attended. It was a great environment provided by the host company and everyone seemed to have a great time. However, the young professionals demographic was noticeably absent.

This scene made me start thinking. In the marketplace today there is a gap between older and younger professionals. Both ends of the age spectrum need to work to bridge the gap. The younger professionals need to realize the value of being mentored by those older than them. The older professionals need to reach out to the younger ones and offer to share wisdom from years of experience.

I’m confident that different generations have struggled to connect with one another for a long time. This isn’t new. However, with effort on both ends of the age spectrum many great things can be accomplished.

Young professionals need mentoring. Don’t think you know it all!

Older professionals need to consider how to leave a strong legacy that can be built upon. Don’t walk away from a successful career without caring how those following you will carry on the work you’ve been doing.

Whichever generation you are in, think about how you can do your part. We’re better together than working separately. When generations join forces incredible results can happen. When there is a gap success will be limited. Be part of the solution and watch what can happen.

I’m committed to do my part. What about you?

Be Intentionally Great Today!

“If you can learn to pinpoint how those around you experience the world, and really try to experience the same world they do, you’ll be amazed at how effective your communication will become.” – Terry Felber, Am I Making Myself Clear?

How well do you find common ground with people? Do you ask insightful questions that allow you to learn about others? Do you “seek first to understand, then to be understood” as Stephen R. Covey wrote about in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?

If you want to increase your leadership effectiveness, seek common ground with those you wish to lead. Find out what makes them tick. John Maxwell recommends the following questions to consider:

• What do they dream about?
• What makes them sing?
• What makes them cry?

If you pay attention to your people, you will find common ground to connect on.You will know how to communicate with them better. You will know how to lead each person as an individual better. You will build trust and rapport.

Think about the people you are leading or wish to lead. What do you know about them? What do you have in common with them? Do you even know?

If you can answer these questions confidently you are well on your way to leading people more effectively. If you don’t know the answers, then it’s time to shift the focus from yourself and your task lists to start understanding your people better. Finding common ground takes work. But in the end, you will be glad you invested the effort. Your people will respect you and trust you more. You will be able to lead from a more solid foundation of trust.

If you realize you have a significant gap in this part of your leadership, contact me and we can discuss ways that I can help you grow as a leader that truly connects with your people.

Be Intentionally Great Today!

In John C. Maxwell’s best-selling book “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”, he writes about The Law of the Picture. In this law, he states that “PEOPLE DO WHAT PEOPLE SEE.”

As a leader you MUST model for your followers what you expect from them. If you expect from them what you are not willing to be and do, you are a hypocrite. Hypocrites do not gain increasing credibility. Instead, they lose credibility more and more each day.

Does this mean you have to be perfect in every area of leadership? NO! It does mean that you must model a growth mindset. Show your people how you are improving on your strengths and addressing your weaknesses. Talk openly with them about how you’re striving to improve. Acknowledge your weaknesses – they already know!

John Maxwell also writes about The Law of Magnetism, which states “WHO YOU ARE IS WHO YOU ATTRACT.” In this chapter, he challenges readers to make a list of the characteristics and qualities of the people they want on their team. Then he says to evaluate yourself against that list.

Are you displaying the qualities that you desire for your team?

If the answer is “yes”, congratulations! Keep working on your strengths to become the best version of yourself.

If the answer is “no”, start working today to become what you expect from others. How?

• Read books, blogs, and articles that address your key issues.
• Find a mentor who has the qualities that you desire to possess.
• Hire a coach to walk alongside you for a season to help you become a better version of you.
• Find conferences and workshops that will give you greater insights and awareness.
• Ask others what they see in you. Take their feedback and reflect on how you can improve.

Become what you expect from others. Display the qualities that you desire in your team. Make a commitment to improve daily. Model a growth mindset for your followers. Be the picture that motivates others to become more and perform better.

Be Intentionally Great Today!

I am convinced that we have a higher concentration of the brightest young professionals today than at any other time in history. I am also convinced that there is also a greater need to invest in them more than ever. The future of our world, nation, companies, organizations, and families depends on it!

While the internet age has allowed incredible access to knowledge, it has also created a disconnect between younger and older generations, which is where wisdom is often birthed. Knowledge WITHOUT mentorship creates a wisdom gap and often arrogance. Knowledge WITH mentorship brings a higher level of awareness of what you don’t know and how to best apply what you do know.

In past decades and in many other cultures around the world, older and more experienced men and women have been sought after for wisdom and seen as icons in their communities. We’ve lost that in our American culture and it is hurting us. In your organization, develop a plan to invest in your young leaders.

• Mentor them.
• Listen to them. They often have the ideas for your future success.
• Share with them your learnings from years of experience.
• Offer opportunities for them to try and fail without severe ramifications.
• Pay for them to have a professional coach that will walk alongside them in their development journey.
• Hire trainers who will help them develop “intangible” skills like how to win with people, how to connect with others most effectively, and how to develop a long-term personal growth plan.
• Set up consistent meetings to guide them through challenges and help them capitalize on opportunities.

It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day grind. It requires visionary leadership to invest in your young team members. Become intentional about creating the space to invest in them. You’ll be glad you did as they grow to be more seasoned employees.

Be Intentionally Great Today!

Correcting poor staff performance is never easy. Sitting across the table from an underperforming team member can be difficult. However, NOT having the hard conversation is worse in the long-run for your organization, team, and the staff member.

In “Good to Great”, Jim Collins uses the metaphor of getting the right people on the bus, getting them in the right seats, and getting the wrong people off the bus. This concept is crucial to the success of any organization or team. Having the wrong team member or having someone in the wrong role on the team can be devastating long-term. If you determine you have the wrong person on your team, take swift action to graciously let them go for your sake and theirs. It is a kind decision to release people to find a better fit somewhere else. If you determine you have the right person, but they need to improve I suggest the following steps:

• Set up a meeting and let the team member know you want to discuss their work performance.
• Put together a Performance Improvement Plan. Give the person a written document that lays out the current reality, the expectations you have for him/her, and the ramifications of not improving. Clarity is essential!
• During the meeting use phrases such as “My goal is…” and “My concern is…” Attack the problems, not the person. Let him/her know you want them to succeed and that you want to help them become the best they can be.
• Follow up after the meeting. Once the dust settles from the difficult conversation, check in with them to see how they are doing. Give them time to process what you’ve shared with them.
• Set up consistent check-in times for accountability and mentoring. I suggest weekly 15-minute stand-up meetings.
• Set up a meeting for an official progress review. I suggest 30 days to give them time to work on the plan and show improvement.
• If they are improving give them another 30 days to keep working and then meet again. Do this as many times as you see fit to reach the desired outcomes. Always celebrate progress!
• If they are not improving, inform them they have another 30 days to correct the issues or you will need to discuss further action that may result in demotion or termination.
• Document the process that you are going through with the team member. If the day comes that you need to fire them, you want to be able to show the steps you’ve taken to help them succeed and how they have not been successful in doing so.

Through this entire process check with your Human Resources department to make sure you are taking all the correct action steps for a legal process. You may need to adapt my recommendations based on your HR policies.

Following these steps can help you navigate this often challenging part of leadership and management. While this can be difficult you will be glad that you took action rather than let someone struggle which hurts both them and your team.

If you need assistance to navigate this process, please contact me. I would be more than happy to walk alongside you as a coach and advisor.

“Leaders know the way, go the way, and show the way.” – John C. Maxwell

Have you ever been lost and needed directions? Have you ever stopped at a gas station or store to ask for help? If you have, I’m sure you’ve experienced the difference between being told where to go and using a GPS unit that actually guides you along turn by turn.

Leaders should function more like a GPS unit than the worker at the gas station spouting off some generic directions. We should walk alongside our followers, guiding them to places where we’ve been before. Even when we are leading them somewhere we have never been, we need to step up and go first for the sake of the team.

Telling people what to do or where to go when we’ve never experienced it can be detrimental to everyone, but guiding people along can be impactful. As a leader, you must know the way first. Then you must go the way to experience it. Finally you must show the way by bringing others along with you.

Don’t expect faithful followers if you are sending them places you’ve never been before. Be like a tour guide rather than a travel agent. Tour guides are experts in the places they are leading people to experience. Travel agents are simply directing us to places they’ve often never been before.

As you examine your leadership, are you going first? If not, make the decision right now to become a guide to your followers. Show them where to go and what to do, don’t just tell them.

Be Intentionally Great Today!

“Most people accept their lives; they don’t lead them.” – John C. Maxwell

Does this sound like you? Are you simply accepting the circumstances in your life as if you can do nothing about them? Or are you living with intention each day?

Evaluate yourself with these questions:

• Do you take time each week to plan the upcoming week?
• Do you plan your work?
• Do you plan your family and social life?
• Do you guard your time and energy for things that matter most?
• Can you verbalize what truly matters most to you?
• Do you fill in your calendar or does someone else?

These questions can help you reflect on how intentional you are living. We all have the same amount of time each day to live. Some people waste theirs while others maximize the time they have. What is the difference maker? It’s intentionality!

Choose right now to be intentional each and every day. Clarify your values and make sure your calendar and checkbook are in alignment with them. Lead your life; don’t just accept it!

Be Intentionally Great Today!

Too often we focus on “what” and “how” in our daily lives and neglect the best starting point – “Why?”. Knowing your “why” is knowing your purpose. This could be as broad as your life purpose or it can be more specific as in the purpose of a project or a goal.

If you want to take strides in your effectiveness and success, start with “why”. Ask many “why” questions each day. Toddlers do this all of the time because they are curious. Even though it may become annoying to their parents, they are learning so much by asking “Why?”. We can learn a lot from this approach because curiosity leads us to dig deeper and find greater meaning in who we are and what we’re doing.

As you go about each day, search for deeper meaning. Don’t settle for the way things have always been done. Look for new ways of working, thinking, interacting, and leading.

If you want to continue to grow and stay motivated, start asking “Why?” more often. I’m confident that you will find that discovering greater purpose before taking action will increase your motivation to act and succeed.

Be Intentionally Great Today!