In the early days of my management career, I remember a scheduled manager training session on weeding. It was the good ol’ get on your knees, bend over and clean out the bed without damaging the plants exercise. Back in the old days, it was not uncommon to assign a new person the task of weeding to see if he/she had what it took to make it on the team. Not long into this unpleasant task,...
When people sense that they matter, they instinctively become more engaged and more productive. Years ago, I attended a Disney Horticulture Conference and I remember hearing Katy Moss Warner, former Director of Disney’s Horticulture and Environmental Initiatives, say, “The standard is not what you expect, it is what you accept.” She was right. As a facility leader, I realized that our department had different standards for the same type of work from different crews. Not everyone saw the...
Have you ever said this? I have plenty of times. In the urgency of the moment, it is almost ridiculous to even think that training will happen. The cycle of construction, school starting and projects rushed to completion seem to always take priority over training. Middle-level managers and frontline leaders are some of the busiest people I know. Have you ever thought that one day you would get around to doing some training? Me, too. “We tried...
If you have ever seen the TV show The Profit starring Marcus Lemonis, you are familiar with the methods used to take struggling businesses and make them highly successful ones. He focuses on 3 parts of the business: people, processes and product. And with good reason. As humans, we are always so eager to get to the product – finished and ready to ship, view, consume or use – that the product is often flawed, incomplete or...
How important is motivation to your success? Are you a motivated person? Do you set goals, try to get better each day? Okay, now what about your team? Most leaders want and need motivated teams. If you asked your team what motivates them, I bet someone will say, “more money in my paycheck.” But do they really mean that? Most research tells us the link between what you make and how satisfied you are at your...
I had the honor of joining WCBI's Steve Schill to discuss my book Growing Weeders Into Leaders. Watch the entire WCBI Midday Interview right here. ...
“Learn to relax. Your body is precious, as it houses your mind and spirit. Inner peace begins with a relaxed body.” ~Norman Vincent Peale As we move from summer to fall weather, we can feel the crispness in the air. Some perennials are beginning their slow shut-down that will get them through the cooler months. Football season is underway, along with all the festivities that come with it. What does the fresh change from summer to autumn mean...
“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” ~Steven Spielberg Think back to your very first day at work. Were you given a mentor to help you learn the ropes, speed up the process and avoid mistakes? How could a mentor help you in your success today? Mentoring has been happening since Ancient Greece. A mentoring relationship in the work place can do more...
Today’s millennials really care about their work. In a survey, 50% listed "meaning" as the #1 reason they want a job. Amy Wrzesnieski, a Yale Management professor, explained it like this, “Students think their calling is under a rock, and if they turn over enough rocks, they will find it.” It has been proven that people understand the ultimate "meaning" in their work find more satisfaction in it and do a better job at it. Even if...
According to Forbes, Garth Brooks made over 70 million dollars in 2016. Does that mean he is more valuable than Carry Underwood who earned $26 million, or the new up and coming group Georgia Florida Line who earned 20 million? Most Head Football Coaches make 100 times the money offered to the front-line employees at the same institution. Does the paycheck make the coaches more valuable, more significant, or even more respected? Seth Godin, who inspired this blog,...