Archive for the ‘Vision’ 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:
Feedback: the “silver bullet.”
Tabby and Alan outline the value of timely, specific feedback; in just a couple minutes, you’ll have greater insight on improving engagement on your team.
Previous posts on this topic:
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:
Leaders Know that All Solutions are a Temporary Resting Place
Jill was a jerk of a boss.
Her people didn’t like her, mostly because she was bossy, passive-aggressive, and a bad communicator.
This all added up to a low-trust, high-tension situation.
Jill got good advice: Be Read the rest of this entry »
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 Two: Vision
Leaders must have vision. Not just in the “creatively imagined future” way, but also in the way of “I have an accurate assessment of the way things are right now.”
Leaders must 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 »
The Olympics of Dedication
The Olympics have a way of shining a new light on the meaning of dedication.
The opening ceremonies were comprised of one spectacular vignette after another, with thousands of performers, musicians and athletes knowing exactly where to go and what to do during every minute of their moment in the spotlight. That’s dedication.
Every commercial that runs during the Olympic Games tells the athlete’s tale of foregoing dessert, not watching TV, not skipping a single day’s workout in order to be the best. That’s dedication.
Then there was the Chinese farmer who spent the last two years traveling to London via rickshaw just to see the Olympic games. A little extreme, but yes – that’s dedication.
Fear and vision.
Fear paralyzes; sometimes we allow it to, calling it “caution.” It’s good to be cautious. Not so good to be paralyzed. Either by over-analysis OR fear.
(Though, extreme analysis can combat fear; see Freakonomics for the statistics on child restraints…)
A good nugget from Tim Ferriss’s Four-Hour Workweek is this (paraphrased):
The thought of the “worst-case scenario” keeps us from acting, yet the worst-case scenario almost Read the rest of this entry »
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.
Two other blogs to look at…
I’m traveling this week, and will return to producing original content next Wednesday.
In the meantime, check out these two worthy blog efforts that I am proud to have been a part of last month:
Check them both out; they are worthy of your attention for different reasons. And even if you’re not from Des Moines, those tips are worthwhile in your community, too.
