Strategic Serendipity

I attended an amazing training session with The Coaches Institute this weekend...more on that to follow over the next year.  In the meantime, I want to share with you one of the things that occurred to me.  We all have patterns in our life.  Some of them are good and some of them are not.  For example, for me, it always seems that just when I've found an area in which I can contribute quietly and effectively (because no one else cares about it) there is that person who suddenly cares just as much and beats me out for the job.  I'm not proud to admit that for a couple of years, I wondered why I should bother caring about anything because this will always be the outcome.  This weekend I remembered why I should care.  Because caring is so much more fun than not caring.  I also thought a lot about how to handle that person the next time they showed up in my life to take something I care so much about.  Then it finally occurred to me.  If I w...

I will admit it, I can't stop watching Dance Moms.  If you've not seen the show, it is based on a dance instructor and her troupe of young girls who compete in contests and of course, their moms.  Last week was the season premiere and in it the dance instructor repeatedly stated that everyone can be replaced.  This hit me so hard and I spent a lot of time thinking about why.  I concede, the dance world is probably more competitive than I could ever survive, and that type of realism is probably a good thing for future dancers to learn at an early age.  However, my first boss out of college used to love to throw the "everyone can be replaced" in my face...repeatedly.  And I have heard some version of it, more or less, from more than one boss since.  So it got me thinking.  It is probably true that people can be replaced.  However, what does it say about the leader who uses that as a primary motivator?  Does the phrase come from a...

"Purpose and passion are the internal drivers that determine employees' performance and their commitment to the organization, factors that ultimately have a very real impact on business results. ... Without [individual purpose, an employee's] journey meanders, their actions lack meaning, and their passion is left unexpressed in their work - a combination likely to leave them disengaged, dispirited, restless, ... or worse."  The Purpose Linked Organization:  How Passionate Leaders Inspire Winning Teams and Great Results by Alaina Love and Marc Cugnon. We all know people who don't seem to have their heart in their work.  And it shows.  Some may not actively try to let everyone know how unhappy they are, but it doesn't work.  No matter where you work, when you are passionate about what you do...it shows.  And if you aren't...that shows too.  How you got there doesn't matter, but it is how you are going to get out that is the key.  The most i...

Join me in 2012 for a leadership discovery.

It has been a long time since I posted and I am so sorry.  The short story is I fell on Friday and sprained my ankle.  I am fine but will be sporting a (not so) fashionable ankle brace for a couple of weeks. Now, on to my thoughts for today.  People seem to feel free to say things to people via e-mail that they wouldn't say in person (or in front of their boss or parents).  In addition, this usually follows a quickly fired off response to an e-mail they haven't fully read. Here's my plea for the day...next time you have the urge to fire off that scathing e-mail, don't hit send.  Instead, walk away from the computer, grab a glass of water or walk around the office.  Then, go back and read the original e-mail.  Is there something you missed?  Is it possible there is another interpretation besides the person who sent it is a complete idiot?  Think of alternate possibilities.  If you are unclear of the meaning, reply with a question to d...

Happy Year of the Golden Rabbit.  I love the sound of that - is sounds both prosperous and fertile...promising in all ways.  So for those of us who have already broken our New Year's Resolutions and are looking for a fresh start, why not start today?  We know it takes twenty-one days to form a new habit, what do you want to do?  Sit down and make a plan.  You don't need to do something at the same time every day, in fact, play around and find out what works best for you.  Share your plan with someone who will help keep you accountable.  Good luck!

How many times have you gotten truly invested in a project, either at work or at home, only to have it given to someone else.  At that moment you wonder why you invested your time and effort and become less likely to do so in the future.  Sometimes, the way our organizations operate, one person can have their investment "stolen" more than once.  While reorganizations, realignments, and job descriptions make sense, we need to also make sure we are respecting the investment that our workers have put into something.  Keeping them involved after the realignment is one way to work towards efficiencies and individual respect at the same time.  It is a little fix but requires the acknowledgement that people are investing in their work and that should be respected. Have you had your mental investment "stolen"?  Have you been in a situation where it could have been but for a good leader who recognized your input?  How do you routinely recognize the investment...