We love it when people agree with us. We craft conversations so that people will nod their heads up and down even if they don't totally know why they are doing so. When people agree with us - we win!
Or do we?
What about the voices of caution? What about viewpoints that we haven't seen or can't see? Heck, what about the voices of dissent? If we listened, and then re-crafted our proposition - wouldn't we then have an even stronger case? One that could withstand criticism and could serve teams well for a prolonged period of time?
So, how can we have such conversations and see our idea live to see another day (or generation)? We know this to be true - often criticism causes the tent to fold and the circus to leave town - a trail of good ideas are left in the sawdust.
Here's how to have that strong conversation that can invite diverse viewpoints that make your effort stronger.
State the case. Why are you suggesting change? What is the common cause or common pain? If solved, what are the benefits? At the outset - what can you agree upon?
Then, make your suggestion. Not as if God has just dropped two stone tablets into your cubicle with THE MOST DIVINE idea ever - but with humility. Your idea is to get the conversation started. It is a draft to invite input. It is the napkin sketch of what will eventually be a detailed blueprint.
And be very public with "You know, I don't have to be right about this - but one of the thoughts I've had is. . . ." "I'd like to hear your ideas, or maybe together we can figure this out." Essentially, it is an invitation to disagree, with the whole purpose of crafting the strongest possible agreement between you and the team.
Being "right" is highly over-rated. . .and it's a false doctrine. None of us are 100% right - so we should face that reality so that truly we can move on. Inviting people, even if they disagree, to strengthen your position through their input is what is going to win the day.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
Friday, November 30, 2018
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
How to (Really) Get Rich Quick
Let's think about true wealth.
Engulf yourself in the diversity that surrounds you. Embrace the cultural, ethnic, gender and sexual orientation differences that bring us new ways of thinking and innovation.
Be part of a high-functioning team; if there isn't one - create one.
Recognize that mistakes happen - sometimes for a reason, sometimes not. Learn and move on. Repeat.
Talent and intellect surrounds you each and every day. They are wasted unless you access them.
Give up being right all of the time. . . or even half of the time. Others are right, too. Recognizing the latter doesn't make you wrong.
The people that surround you have trainloads of gifts to give everyday. Be accepting.
We all have the ability to look at things from different viewpoints.
Common sense. Humor. Empathy.
The ability to strive for justice, fairness and equity.
Integrity.
Here's the thing. These wonderful things are not fully available to us unless we are genuinely and humbly grateful for this world in which we get to work. Embracing that gratitude, in turn, allows us to give these gifts to others. That gratitude and that ability to give back - that's wealth.
Engulf yourself in the diversity that surrounds you. Embrace the cultural, ethnic, gender and sexual orientation differences that bring us new ways of thinking and innovation.
Be part of a high-functioning team; if there isn't one - create one.
Recognize that mistakes happen - sometimes for a reason, sometimes not. Learn and move on. Repeat.
Talent and intellect surrounds you each and every day. They are wasted unless you access them.
Give up being right all of the time. . . or even half of the time. Others are right, too. Recognizing the latter doesn't make you wrong.
The people that surround you have trainloads of gifts to give everyday. Be accepting.
We all have the ability to look at things from different viewpoints.
Common sense. Humor. Empathy.
The ability to strive for justice, fairness and equity.
Integrity.
Here's the thing. These wonderful things are not fully available to us unless we are genuinely and humbly grateful for this world in which we get to work. Embracing that gratitude, in turn, allows us to give these gifts to others. That gratitude and that ability to give back - that's wealth.
Friday, November 16, 2018
"It Is What It Is" (Isn't Complacent)
These days I find a strange comfort in the phrase "It is what it is." I challenge myself - because it can be interpreted as too passive - or even worse, not caring. And honestly, this is the conclusion I've arrived at. . ."It is what it is" is a perfectly good statement - provided that there is a commitment to action and learning that follows it.
Here's what I like about "It is what it is." It is foundational - it acknowledges that which is true. More important, however, it acknowledges that which is done. All too often if something goes wrong we end up spending an inordinate amount of energy trying to go back in time to change the outcome. Or we spend countless hours in the blame game.
Both of these actions are a waste of time. . .and crazy making.
Instead of going back in time to change the outcome. . .let's move forward to change the future.
Instead. . .if things didn't turn out the way we wanted. . .let's use it as a time of reflection. Did things really turn out wrong. . .or just not the way we had planned? Often if we can back off our preconceptions - we find that even though things didn't go as planned - they turned out just fine. . .or perhaps even better than plan.
Instead. . .if things didn't turn out the way we wanted. . .what can we learn from this? What is our ownership? How can we better use that which is available to us? What resources can we possibly recruit?
Instead. . .if things didn't turn out the way we wanted. . .what can we do to change the game going forward. If the chess piece didn't end up the way we expected. . .how are we going to change our next actions to secure a greater success?
Here is the comfort I find in "it is what it is." It is not a stumbling block, instead it is the starting block that enables us to begin the race forward.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
Here's what I like about "It is what it is." It is foundational - it acknowledges that which is true. More important, however, it acknowledges that which is done. All too often if something goes wrong we end up spending an inordinate amount of energy trying to go back in time to change the outcome. Or we spend countless hours in the blame game.
Both of these actions are a waste of time. . .and crazy making.
Instead of going back in time to change the outcome. . .let's move forward to change the future.
Instead. . .if things didn't turn out the way we wanted. . .let's use it as a time of reflection. Did things really turn out wrong. . .or just not the way we had planned? Often if we can back off our preconceptions - we find that even though things didn't go as planned - they turned out just fine. . .or perhaps even better than plan.
Instead. . .if things didn't turn out the way we wanted. . .what can we learn from this? What is our ownership? How can we better use that which is available to us? What resources can we possibly recruit?
Instead. . .if things didn't turn out the way we wanted. . .what can we do to change the game going forward. If the chess piece didn't end up the way we expected. . .how are we going to change our next actions to secure a greater success?
Here is the comfort I find in "it is what it is." It is not a stumbling block, instead it is the starting block that enables us to begin the race forward.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
Friday, November 9, 2018
It Can't All Be About the Money
Having worked with retailers who use coupons as a driving marketing strategy - let me explain one of the basic problems with that strategy. Retailers who rely upon coupons to drive traffic are often negating or neglecting the other dimensions that are needed to run a successful business: strong merchandise, interesting presentation, great customer service and a relationship with the customer.
The result? As soon as another retailer waves a higher value coupon in front of the customer - the customer is gone. Coupons do not build customer loyalty.
And so it is with money in terms of compensation; money alone does not build team member loyalty. Don't get me wrong - I'm all in favor of paying people what they are worth - but often the focus becomes so much on the dollar figure of compensation that we ignore the other, very necessary elements of job satisfaction.
Do team members know their contribution to the enterprise and do others recognize them for their importance? Feeling useful, knowing that one is important and integral - this is also part of compensation.
Is heartfelt thanks (genuine gratitude) offered ethically and often? "Thank you" is not only warranted, but it is necessary to sustain work and life. This is also part of compensation.
Is the framework set so that people can work as a team? Knowing that others are reliant upon you. . .and that others have your back. . .this makes work enjoyable - and we should all enjoy work. . . because this is also part of compensation.
And do you have a strong professional and ethical relationship with team members? Do you put intent behind building those relationships? Relationships build loyalty and loyalty beats money. . .
Just as coupons are only a tentative and tenuous marketing strategy . . .so is relying upon paychecks as the only form of compensation. There must be something more.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
The result? As soon as another retailer waves a higher value coupon in front of the customer - the customer is gone. Coupons do not build customer loyalty.
And so it is with money in terms of compensation; money alone does not build team member loyalty. Don't get me wrong - I'm all in favor of paying people what they are worth - but often the focus becomes so much on the dollar figure of compensation that we ignore the other, very necessary elements of job satisfaction.
Do team members know their contribution to the enterprise and do others recognize them for their importance? Feeling useful, knowing that one is important and integral - this is also part of compensation.
Is heartfelt thanks (genuine gratitude) offered ethically and often? "Thank you" is not only warranted, but it is necessary to sustain work and life. This is also part of compensation.
Is the framework set so that people can work as a team? Knowing that others are reliant upon you. . .and that others have your back. . .this makes work enjoyable - and we should all enjoy work. . . because this is also part of compensation.
And do you have a strong professional and ethical relationship with team members? Do you put intent behind building those relationships? Relationships build loyalty and loyalty beats money. . .
Just as coupons are only a tentative and tenuous marketing strategy . . .so is relying upon paychecks as the only form of compensation. There must be something more.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.
Friday, November 2, 2018
Great Confidence in the Change of Things
These two things give me hope.
Things change. . .and we can make things change.
Change is the natural order of things: what is fact today may change significantly tomorrow. . .or next week. . .or next year. The circumstances that we face today will be, to some extent, somewhat different tomorrow.
This is worth noting for a number of reasons. Hardly ever are we ever facing the exact same set of circumstances - many are beyond our control and our versatility allows us to function (and hopefully, function well) through an ever changing environment. If we are doing our jobs (that is our jobs as humans) right, we are also working to change the environment in which we live and work for the better. This means that due to our own activity we are changing the landscape; and in responsiveness to the natural change of things we are then responding to our own fluidity.
To me, this is the entrance of both hope and faith. When we face seemingly insurmountable barriers - hope is kept alive because of the change of things - what may present an obstacle today may be an opportunity tomorrow. Faith: the belief in life itself and our ability to impact life is what enables us to move forward, step after step, leap after leap.
True it is a balance - the knowledge that things will naturally change - without falling into the pitfall that we have no responsibility or ability to work for change. There is also balance in understanding that we have responsibility for initiating positive change when possible - and also understanding what circumstances may be beyond our control.
True story - change use to make me nervous and anxious. I now welcome and embrace it. It moves all of us forward.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is now available on Amazon Kindle.
Things change. . .and we can make things change.
Change is the natural order of things: what is fact today may change significantly tomorrow. . .or next week. . .or next year. The circumstances that we face today will be, to some extent, somewhat different tomorrow.
This is worth noting for a number of reasons. Hardly ever are we ever facing the exact same set of circumstances - many are beyond our control and our versatility allows us to function (and hopefully, function well) through an ever changing environment. If we are doing our jobs (that is our jobs as humans) right, we are also working to change the environment in which we live and work for the better. This means that due to our own activity we are changing the landscape; and in responsiveness to the natural change of things we are then responding to our own fluidity.
To me, this is the entrance of both hope and faith. When we face seemingly insurmountable barriers - hope is kept alive because of the change of things - what may present an obstacle today may be an opportunity tomorrow. Faith: the belief in life itself and our ability to impact life is what enables us to move forward, step after step, leap after leap.
True it is a balance - the knowledge that things will naturally change - without falling into the pitfall that we have no responsibility or ability to work for change. There is also balance in understanding that we have responsibility for initiating positive change when possible - and also understanding what circumstances may be beyond our control.
True story - change use to make me nervous and anxious. I now welcome and embrace it. It moves all of us forward.
Like it? Share it!
My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is now available on Amazon Kindle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)