MONDAY MORSELS for Leaders-What Made 3% of the Yale Graduating Class of 1953 Worth More Than the Remaining 97% Put Together?
With one perfectly honed skill, the skill of goal setting, the 3% become extremely wealthy. Below is the case study from 1953 that magnifies the imperativeness of effectively incorporating three steps in the goal setting process to be successful:
In 1953, Yale University did a study on goal setting. They went to their graduating class and asked them three questions:
- “Have you set clear, specific goals?”;
- “Have you written them down?” And;
- “Have you created an action plan to accomplish them?”
They learned that only 3% had done all three steps. Then, they went back to this same class 20 years later and interviewed the surviving members. They learned that the 3% who had set clear and specific goals, had written them down, and then created an action plan to accomplish them, were worth more than the remaining 97% put together who hadn’t. Need I say more?
Today’s Leadership Action Plan: Set three goals today around developing your leadership. Create one long range goal, one short range goal, and one goal that you can meet within 6 months. Remember that it takes 21 days to form a new habit, or 21 days to undo one. Follow the steps listed above, adding one last element to ensure your commitment to leadership development. Tell someone what will motivate you either positively or negatively, and then stick to it. For instance, I had one client that wouldn’t buy a new pair of shoes until she went one full week utilizing a new skill, thus reaching her goal-positive motivation. Another client had to pay me $200 extra, if, for one week, he didn’t fulfill his goal-negative motivation. Whatever motivates you, hold yourself to it by placing yourself in accountability. Make a demand on yourself by making it a big enough deal that you’ll genuinely put yourself up against the wall to be accountable, thereby accomplishing your goal. And, if you take me up on this, please let me know. I’d love to follow your progress!
Now, if you already know that you’re someone that has tried to do this before, and it hasn’t worked, or that you know you just won’t do it, but you truly want to, you just need assistance. Why not try coaching? What if it works? What if it’s finally your key to setting your goals, as well as finding the motivation it will take to follow through and reach them? Is it time to place yourself into accountability? Then don’t wait. Contact me today, and you could receive one free session worth $175. Helping people fulfill their goals and achieve success is not only one of my specialties, but one of the favorite aspects of the work I do. Either way, here’s to your success!
The Indomitable Spirit of the Leader
Where do you acquire your inspiration? Do you take your challenges and frustrations and amalgamate them into laser like focus, and a clear, unstoppable vision? For me, keeping my eye on role models with the kind of extreme challenge I live with regularly, is one way. I have a heroic esteem that after contemplating on their stories, cascades into a belief that says to me regularly, if they can do it, with their issues and problems, there is nothing that I will allow to stop me! So, when I’m coaching a business owner who’s struggling with the normal issues that every business owner I know does, I say often, “This is why you’re the business owner, not your employees.” It’s not a normal person that could handle an employee that embezzles money, with a customer wrongfully suing them, a computer that crashes and one of their big clients stolen by their competitor. Oh, and did I mention, this all happened within a month’s time? This may be extreme, but you have to be an extreme person yourself to weather instances of the above scenario on a regular basis. You see, the definition of business owner/leader is “One who has continuous challenges in the workplace that evoke a symphony of emotions”. How you deal with it all is what makes the difference, and you have to learn and acquire a defying like strength that will keep you going, in spite of all the leadership challenges and circumstances. Those that make it, stick it out, and are successful, learn to have an indomitable spirit, and an unstoppable attitude. Finding heroes to emulate is only one way to stay the course. What is it that you do that keeps you in the game?
Tip of the week: Read autobiographies of great men and women, or short stories such as in the book “Unstoppable” by Cynthia Kersey. And by all means read, or listen to “Failing Forward” by Dr. John C. Maxwell. Understanding that failure is not forever, and doesn’t translate into you’re a failure, is a huge lesson we all need to learn.
MONDAY MORSELS for Leaders-Can Leadership Expertise Be Acquired?
Here’s the question: Do you believe that leadership expertise can be learned, acquired? Can people gain the influence necessary, with teaching, training or coaching, to grow an organization, if they don’t have the natural personality to do so? What’s your opinion?
I asked this because it is my passion to provide training, support, and coaching to those leaders who “fall” into the role of “leadership”, and find themselves ill equipped to handle the demands of the position. This was something my husband and I faced over 30 years ago, while leading a prosperous area in a non-profit organization. It never fails to amaze me when I watch leadership transformation take place right in front of my eyes. I’ve found THE two most important competencies for growth are: 1. A willing heart to try things, while people try to break out of their comfort zones; and, 2. A teachable spirit. Through trial and error, as well as with the support of a coach to re-engineer, train, and apply assessments for self-discovery, (while supporting and cheering the executive along,) I’ve seen change occur over and over again; even in those who had staff that pulled me aside to let me know there was absolutely nothing I would be able to accomplish with so and so. For me, this is music to my ears. Let me at them, to work with them. I’ve observed leaders who were incompetent, egocentric, insecure, lacking motivation and vision, harsh and hard hearted, as well as those who were clueless as to the needs around them, make complete transformations! I can genuinely say, wholeheartedly, and with an emphatic resounding “YES” . . leadership expertise CAN be trained and acquired by anyone who is willing and teachable! In fact, the book that revealed the necessary stages, opening a whole new world to us was, Dr. John C. Maxwell’s book, “Developing the Leader Within You“. Between this book and “Be a People Person“, by Dr. Maxwell, we began our assent into a new realm of servant leadership, learning to take our eyes off of getting people to do what “WE” wanted, and onto assisting, equipping, coaching, and motivating people to become all they could become, in the position they were in, thus fulfilling the company mission as they grew. It is now an honor to work with the many gifted, highly qualified people who have touched so many others and been willing to learn the lessons needed, and skill sets necessary, to become a servant leader. It is with this motivation that I hope those I coach will find the same great reward. It’s worth the effort to acquire and deal with a right heart motivation. And in the end, the employees will continue to make their bosses rich in every way possible!
How To Tailor Your Communication Style to Meet the Needs of Others
It was a pleasure to be the guest blogger today on Jeannette Paladino’s Blog: Write, Speak, Sell (Profiting from More Effective Communication) where she asked me to write on:
“Tailor your communication style to meet the needs of others “. Remember, that to learn more on this subject, and to receive your free DISC profile valued at $50, I will be presenting at the ASTD (American Society for Training and Development) breakfast meeting on Friday January 15th at 7:30am at El Parador.
DISC has applications that will assist you in conflict resolution, leadership development, team building, as well as in sales. This tool is one of the most phenomenal tools on the market. One, because it is “dead on” and can feel like you’ve had your hand read. And two, because you can take it for different environments and occasions and it will show you and reflect how different you are say, at home than you may be at work; or how you relate to one problem employee compared to the rest of the employees; how you view and handle money; or even how you are in leadership as opposed to when you’re not. This becomes invaluable to me, as an Executive Coach, when working with individuals or the company as a whole. So, whether you come yourself, or forward this to a colleague or business partner, I guarantee that you’ll find value in this tool!
While You’re on Jeannette’s website, look around, she has not only done a beautifully job on her website, it is also informative and helpful as well. Jeannette was senior vice president for the venerable Bowery Savings Bank where the experience indelibly impressed on her how a culture of communication can work magic with employees and customers! Jeannette and I took the same blogging class that will begin again on January 11th. You may want to learn all the wonderful ways to promote yourself and what you passionately believe in through a blog. Check out the “ Become A Blogging Maniac ” webinar just click on the link in the article: “A Great Way to Promote Your Business and Work is with a Blog.” One of the best things about this class is that if you miss a session, it’s posted so you can go back at your convenience to go through it.
MONDAY MORSELS for Leaders-How to Utilize Your Time Wisely- The 5 D’s pt. I
Prioritizing those high register tasks, along with the mundane everyday routine tasks, appropriately, is one sure fire sign you’re an emerging leader. Without this vital skill, you’re at the mercy of a conglomerate of urgent responsibilities and annoying needs pleading for your attention. I recently heard someone call the fun non-relevant distractions that come your way: BRIGHT SHINNY THINGS. And, in order to avoid getting caught giving your attention to these BRIGHT SHINNY THINGS, you’ll need the ability to:
Discern It (is it a worthy, timely goal? Does it fit w/your mission, vision & values?)
Dump It (It doesn’t fit, or isn’t relevant!)
Delegate It (Someone else can do it just as well.)
Defer It (Doesn’t have to be done now.)
Do it (It’s the 20% of activities that give you the greatest return on your investment of time, do those first!)
Besides, it’s that time of year for you to create clear, powerful, strategic goals that will be the markers on your map to assist you in reaching your ultimate destination. Why? Because it’s a new year! A new beginning, January 1st, it’s time for:
OUT WITH THE OLD (those things that didn’t work/or are obsolete) and
IN WITH THE NEW
This entails reassessing where you are currently, check to see if the goals you previously established are, in fact, still relevant, and taking you where you intend and need to go, or if you got caught up in a BRIGHT SHINNY THING that needs to be restructured or possibly DUMPED. So, grab a sheet of paper and pen, and let’s begin first off with all your desired “OUTCOMES” and then work backwards. Whether you like a 1 year, or a 3 year strategic plan, you have to get a hold of understanding where, and what, you want “TO BE” at the end of it all. You see, a map without a destination is just a journey to no where. Once you have your destination in full view, chunk down each and every thing to bite size portions.
Remember to establishing your priorities in every aspect of your life: mentally, spiritually, physically, in your professionally as well as family life. Take a look at all the hats you wear, that should help. Yep, it’s called work/life balance, none of this all-or-nothing career, when you work with this Coach. Now, once you’ve brainstormed and “Discerned” those brilliant, clear, goals, go back and focus on the other 4 “D’s” 2. “Dump It”, 3. “Delegate It”, 4. “Defer It”, or my favorite, 5. just “Do It”.
Time saving and Money Saving Tip:
Try using a virtual assistant and you’ll soon discover, as I have, that the more you delegate or outsource, the more you’ll be able to focus on those items that only you can do. It’s keeping for yourself those tasks that bring out your most brilliant-talents. Those things you do best, and that are worth your time and financial investment. For instance, if you have figured out you’re worth $200 an hour, these better be tasks you do that will bring that financial return and more. These are things, that when you do them, people around you say, “You make that look so easy!” When you doing them, you shine and feel fulfilled. Pt. II next time
5 Costly Perils Business Owners Can Avoid pt. 1 (Just say “No)
The symptom:
1. I’m the owner, I can do it all myself, or pay my current employees to do it. This is, by far, the most prevalent and deceptive peril I see in operation in businesses. It appears to make sense when you’re the leader/manager, that is, if you don’t uncover all the facts. If you, or your employee, have specific training to perform high level job tasks that warrant a larger pay scale than minimum wage, and you give this employee a time-intensive, mundane task to perform, it’s illogical! You see, if any high school student could do it, and it doesn’t take specialized training, you’re wasting perfectly good resources - your specially trained workforce. But by far the worst thing you could do would be to do it yourself! If you do, you’re throwing good money, not to mention time, down the drain. “But, I’m saving money because I’m not adding more people to the payroll”, you say. Nothing could be more misleading! If you or your qualified employee could be spending time generating more work, bring in clientele, or working on cost saving processes that would save the company money, while a temp is doing the boring, mundane task, well, you figure it out. It only makes good business sense, as well as solid time management to delegate the task. Here’s the formula: Be sure you’re doing tasks that mirror your pay scale. Take some time to calculate your hourly worth, as well as know your employees’ hourly rate. If, according to the income, you or they are worth $200, or even $35 an hour, then don’t spend hours doing a job you could pay someone else $8 per hour. Make sense?
The solution:
In light of the surplus of people out of work, it is just intelligent to hire either a virtual assistant, a temp, or a minimum wage earner to do these tasks. Why not try to stay within the confines of your “brilliant self”? This connotes doing only those things that make you shine, and bring compound exponential value to your business. See for yourself how much more effective and fulfilled you and your staff will be. It’s why you’ve gained your specific training in the first place!
A perfect example of this “Just Say No!” skill is that of Mick Jagger and his three comrades from “The Rolling Stones”. Mick does two things, and two things exceptionally well: 1. He performs; and, 2. He records. He’s done it for more than 40 years, and is still going strong! (If it’s not obvious, they haven’t burned out. . . which is a common occurrence among business owners who try to DO ALL and BE ALL.) Wouldn’t it be silly to see Mick and the band among the 200 or so people that it takes to set up their two to three-story set? Or have them calling around to obtain bookings for their performances? Better yet, would you think it a good idea for Mick to learn to fly a plane, just so they wouldn’t have to pay one of the two or more pilots on their payroll? If it makes sense for them, it makes sense for you. Obviously on a much smaller scale, but the same principle all the same. So my motto for my clients for the new year is: “JUST SAY NO!”, and watch your money flow while your business grows!
Is it too ingrained in you to change? Is setting leadership priorities and sticking with them difficult for you? Then it might be time to hire an Executive Coach. Check out the offer through January, and set yourself up for your best year ever! Do it today. You won’t regret it, you have my word, and a money back guarantee!
Have You Ever Thought About Hiring a Leadership Coach?
Whether you’re the CEO of a large corporation, a solo-entrepreneur, a new leader, or a mid-level manager hoping to receive the next promotion, if you answer ‘YES” to three or more of the questions below, then you may be a candidate for the 2010 “Ramp It Up” Executive Coaching program beginning in January.
- Are you ready to take an honest, brutal look at where you are now in order to discover what’s keeping you from where you want to go?
- Do you find you’ve plateaued, hit a wall, or are just plain stuck in a rut?
- Would you like to finally tap into your brilliant self, to do your specific genius work?
- Are you ready to make clear, motivational goals that will challenge you to grow?
- Would you like to create work/life balance?
- Are you willing to be coached? And,
- Are you teachable, or willing to try?
- If you can feel it, feel you’re not really performing at your optimal best, but you really finally want to. Then:
A fortune 500 firm commissioned a study using MetrixGlobal, LLC, and determined that executive coaching produced an astounding 529% return on investment. 75% of the respondents expressed coaching had significant or very significant impact on at least one of their business areas.
This program is only for those who are ready to be serious enough to take action; to make extraordinary goals; and to use their untapped character skills, and underdeveloped talents. What if, what if this would help you break through the barriers that have been holding you back?
Why hire a coach? Well, why do the best of the best in the athletic world hire a coach? They’re already at the top of their game, especially if they’re going to the Olympics. It’s because they know a coach sees things from a different vantage point. They realize that they may be doing things they themselves can’t see, that would harm them, and keep them from winning. They hire a coach to stretch themselves beyond what they thought was possible. And finally, to receive the encouragement to keep up the hard work, and help them to toe the line and keep their eye on the payoff. So let me ask you, “Why wouldn’t you want the same thing for your career?”
“Until we focus and define what is most important to us, we live our lives in a haze of other-directed urgencies. Coaching is designed to help you stay focused – to practice ‘planned abandonment’ of opportunities that would merely serve as distractions.”
Laurie Beth Jones
AGAIN, IF YOU ANSWERED “YES” TO THREE OR MORE OF THE ABOVE QUESTIONS, DON’T WAIT. TAKE ACTION TODAY! Make 2010 your best year ever. For more information, and to register for this course, e-mail Sue at: dynamicdev@comcast.net today. The first ten people to register will receive the popular report: Five Levels To Be In the Leadership Influence Zone.
MONDAY MORSALS for Leaders - Become an Expert
I will never forget the day my friend inspired me, and set me on course for the rest of my life, by directing my passions and launching my destiny. I was laid up after having ACL knee surgery when she called. It was a normal conversation on the phone when she shared a new piece of knowledge she had just attained. I know she had no idea the profound affect her sharing would be to me. She said, “I learned You can be an expert in any area, if you read just 7 books on the subject.” So I did just that, and considerably more. I’ve now read close to 30 books on the subject of DISC Behavioral Styles, and what was a hobby, a fun way to assist and coach people to understand one another, is now the foundation of a thriving Coaching and Consulting practice. But it was an inconspicuous start, with the goal being to read 7 books. I still have a difficult time believing that it only take 7 books to be an expert, but they say the average person doesn’t even read 1 book a year, so according to that, 7 is an immense number. Now, what’s the take away from this?
- It’s never too late to get started learning something new, that could transform you future, and launch a new career or lifestyle.
- What you did 5 years ago (even though this was 30 years ago for me) the books you read, the people you chose to be around, the decisions you made, and the actions you took resulted in who you are and what you do today. Therefore, the books you read today, the people you chose to be around, the decisions you make, and actions you take WILL CREATE who you will be, and what you will do in 5 years!
- What you say to your friends, colleagues, and employees could set direction for them for the rest of their lives! Choose your words carefully.
So, what’s your passion? What fascinates you? Is there something you’ve always wanted to do, but you haven’t received enough knowledge to feel secure enough to call yourself an expert? Then I say, begin with just one book. Set that goal, get the book and read it today. One step at a time, and before you know it, you’ll have read 7 books as well.
25 years ago, when Denise Mahoney shared her new discovery with me, she had no idea that one day, because of that call, I would be coaching executives, including the top executives of a billion dollar public works engineering project, as well as launching a complete business of coaching and consulting. Now, I have added certifications to this book reading, but it all started with a little boost in knowledge that gave me an increase in confidence. And all because of a half hour conversation with a friend kind enough to call while I was recuperating. Thanks Denise!! Here’s to you girl.
Get Out of Discouragement Now, “The 24hr. Rule” for Leaders/Owners/Marnagers
I use Don Shula’s 24 hr rule. Coach Shula, of the Miami Dolphins, understands how detrimental it is to revel in a win or wallow in a loss too long. He keeps his team focused on the “big picture” by training and coaching them to take just 24 hours to be excited, with ecstasy, over a win, or bemoan and grieve over a loss. Once the 24 hours is up, they get right back on the horse of vision and focus on the next game. Shula’s favorite saying: “Success is not forever, and failure isn’t fatal!” He instills in his team the belief that with hard work, it doesn’t matter if things aren’t going well, don’t give up, get down, be overwhelmed, loose control, but remember and believe that ultimately things will turn out well. He’s a man of faith, and understands that what you think on, what you believe, will happen! This correct thinking keeps them grounded, bringing them back to their plumb line of values and beliefs, to be positive.
Who hasn’t experienced discouragement, deep disappointment, outright failure, in their life. For a leader, it can come at you weekly, if not daily - and be deadly? If you’re an entrepreneur, or risen to the top of a company, it’s part of an undisclosed job description. Right along with conflict. That said, how you pull out will either make you, or break you. I spent years doing it the wrong way myself. Well, the 24 hr. rule works, I’m telling you! Of course ,I’m not talking about life threatening situations, or death, (although it still helps there) but training your mind and emotions to stop, do an about face, get on track, and put a demand on thinking on the future, and those things that are healthy. If you do, it will be transformational!! Sure, go ahead, take that 24 hrs. to scream your head off, cry, pour out your heart, or be overjoyed, but when that 24th hour hits, BE DONE - get back in control of your mind. Try it, I challenge you, you’ll be amazed. Now if you just can’t, I’d suggest you work on gaining the other skills of emotional intelligence, get coaching, or counseling! We’ve all needed a little extra help in life from time to time. The best to you.
Well, my 24 hours is up, and I’m doing, thinking and feeling just great!! Sue “The Accidental Leader“
MONDAY MORSALS for Leaders
It takes true dedication to achieve transformation! 90% of people who attend seminars see NO IMPROVEMENT in their lives. The same goes for reading self-help books, listening to tapes/CD’s or even to a sermon for that matter. And why is that? Because you have to implement what you’ve learned. It must be linked to the listener’s life and experiences. Knowledge alone does virtually nothing. An example I heard once, was that in this day and age everyone knows it is bad for your health to smoke, but for an avid smoker, that fact doesn’t change their habit! Humm…think about it. On top of that, although we spend 55% of our time listening, the sad thing is that 70% of what is said gets screened out, or misunderstood. So, is it effective for one to spend the majority of time at a workshop listening, or would it be better spent engaging the hearer in activities that will ingrain a lesson, searing it into their mind for future reference? Humor, stories and skits aid in this process. But for a new skill, competency, or attitude to become route, you must provide some form of action plan with accountability. This can be done in the form of coaching, or even with an accountability partners. (For more information on coaching, see the tab on the main page of this web-site)
My father, Dr. Don Barnes, was a professor of secondary education at the University of Arizona. This meant that if you were going for your doctorate in education, he was one of two professors you would have had. His passion was to actually have his students “achieve learning” so that they would be better equipped to be a principals, administrators, or teachers. I learned from him the value of engaging people in the learning process, by encouraging them to discover, banter, negotiate, and observe for themselves, ultimately applying their learning experiences to their life. As a leader or manager, we tend to want to take the easy way, and just “tell” our employees what to, or not to do. And, in some instances this may be necessary. In meetings though, we can bore them to death, as we drone on, leaving them clueless in the end as to the purpose of the meeting in the first place. Next time you have an important point to make, or change to initiate to establish, be creative, facilitate the learning process. Asking questions and leading a discussion takes work, but believe me, they’ll own the answer and outcome considerably more! Now to do this, you can’t be the “answer” man/woman, but must allow them to think they came up with the solution on their own. And, they just may surprise you, and come up with a better one than you were thinking of. You won’t receive the credit, but the organization/company will benefit from their greater commitment, involvement, and contribution. Here’s to you dad, thanks! Sue
