Archive for the ‘Organizational Improvement’ Category
All Solutions are a Temporary Resting Place
Why we NEVER “arrive” – no groove lasts forever. This time, Sarah does most of the talking.
This video will help you deal with the frustration of changing circumstances.
Previous post on this topic:
How to deal with self-centered behavior…
In a sense, self-centered behavior is normal.
If people tend to act in self-interest, how do WE deal with that, and get THEM to think beyond themselves? Take a couple minutes to hear Matt and Alan address this.
Previous posts on this topic:
Putting conference learning into ACTION…
A visual example of using a simple system to take ACTION on what you’ve learned at a conference or other professional development event.
Previous post on this topic (including bonus downloadable tool): Organizing professional learning.
Leaders organize their tasks – here’s one way…
Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list? Here’s an easy way to organize it quickly and get to work!
Previous posts on this topic:
How to put ideas from a conference into action:
We’re entering a time of year when lots of people have professional development and conference opportunities. Lots of time when attending such an event, you get lots of ideas from the exhibit hall, from networking, from breakout sessions, and from keynote speakers and plenary sessions.
You come home with lots of materials, then life happens, and you get emails and work and projects to catch up on, and some of the ideas slip away. Here’s a way to triage those ideas and stay on task:
In one place, keep a list of all the ideas you have, big or small.
Then, at the end, categorize that list into two categories:
1) Ideas that can immediately be implemented without any big plans or permissions or cost. (E.G. only check email at 10, 1, and 4.)
2) Initiatives that require budget, plans, permission, or other team members. (E.G. hire that awesome leadership trainer I met.)
When it comes to the items in category 1, decide which 3 you will implement Monday, and put them in your calendar/planner. Then do them.
When it comes to items in category 2, rank them in the order that you’d like to see them done, then create an action plan to start the first one on Monday. Then do it! If it goes well, move on to number 2, etc.
Use the resource provided above — just click the image, and print or save it.
Hope you find that helpful. Good luck!
Group Dynamic Primer Chapter Four: Communication
If there’s one skill that leaders must master and habitually improve, it’s communication.
If you look at the list of topics to the right, you’ll see that it’s a pretty popular area of concern. So many dysfunctions, productivity concerns, drama, misunderstandings, and performance Read the rest of this entry »
The Group Dynamic Primer. Chapter Zero: Rock-Bottom
1996
I was despondent. Poor me. “My people” weren’t engaged. They didn’t get me; they weren’t loyal, they weren’t receptive, they were leaving me, and it wasn’t my fault. They just needed to give me more time, to get to know me…
Except… Read the rest of this entry »
What’s your space program?
We’ve always heard that the space program has done more for us than explore space, the moon, and Mars– but that we have NASA to thank for some other, “accidental,” by-products: Teflon and Velcro come to mind — and I use those daily, I think.
What’s your space program?
In other words, what crazy big projects Read the rest of this entry »
Effective leaders value clarity
Few things are more energizing than leaving a productive meeting with your team, set ablaze with fresh ideas that will set the wheels in motion. You’re ready to go. Your team is ready to go. You’ve established MT goals and are ready to tackle the world.
It’s a great feeling. Until something, somewhere, gets a little hazy.
Be smart about SMART goals (shortcut included)
Last week’s blog talked about the value of vision as a leader. With vision, you have a clear destination; a clear destination can aid in motivating your team.
But with vision, comes goals. Goals serve as checkpoints on the way to your vision. But how do you know you have a goal worth pursuing?
Can you see okay?
“Employees want to constantly be better at what they do. If not challenged, they will look for challenges elsewhere.” –Ilya Pozin
As a leader, you have a job to do: lead people (sounds simple enough, right?). Where you lead them requires vision. Knowing your destination makes it possible for you to challenge them in a “directionally appropriate” manner.
Leaders make clumsy attempts to do the right thing.
Clumsy attempts at self improvement are better than smooth successes at nailing the status quo.
A good, and immediate, example is Read the rest of this entry »
