Why do so many leaders have such a hard time saying "no" to projects that just do not fit into the departmental operations? Some of us say “yes” to misfit projects because we want to protect working relationships. Others of us value our reputation or perception of being a “can-do player.” Maybe this misfit project is a unique opportunity, and we don’t want to be perceived as unsupportive. In some cases, we will take on a...
Leaders are judged on their results. Great leaders know they must work through a team of people doing hands-on work to get the results the organization needs. Let’s compare it to a train. The train conductor has to make sure that everyone is onboard, and that each car is connected correctly before leaving the station and before there is any hope of staying on schedule and reaching the destination. Connection, one to another, is key to...
“If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't know what you are doing.” ― W. Edwards Deming Nature, especially human nature, is hardwired to find a process for surviving, growing, and winning. It is the responsibility of the leader at each level to see the vision, set the tone, find the process, cultivate it, and grow it. The process of building a successful winning organization is complex, multifaceted and involves several key elements....
Recently I was sitting in on a company leadership meeting when the topic of motivating employees came up. One leader said he struggled with determining how hard to push an employee to perform well. When he said this, I was reminded of all the many people I had heard say they admired a person in their life because they pushed them to be better. Encouraging employees to grow beyond their personal expectations or even abilities to meet...
“You don’t build business, you build people, then people build business.” ~Zig Ziglar Hiring new employees is an important and complicated process, but giving careful thought and planning into the onboarding process is like an investment that can produce impressive long-term gains. And finding the right way to engage and integrate a new employee has never been more important for any organization looking to maintain or grow their business. In today’s market smart organizational leaders have a plan...
According to Leadership Challenge, there are four characteristics most admired in a leader: honesty, competency, inspiration, and having a forward-thinking (a visionary leader) mindset. Forward-thinking, visionary leaders have a clear idea of where they are headed. They envision a better future and work toward it, rather than merely living with the current status quo. They are futuristic, innovative, and imaginative, see the big picture, work to make a positive impact, and often want to change their world...
Sometimes it helps to take a minute and actually list the employee qualities you are looking for when hiring at your organization. Do you know what your organization is looking for? Do you need leaders, followers, outdoor workers, independent thinkers, problem solvers, strategic thinkers? Years ago, an employee, Louis R., helped show me what we needed at my organization. Louis was a self-taught irrigation specialist. He had “old school” values. He believed in working smarter, not...
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” -Booker T. Washington Adversity is defined as difficulties, misfortune, bad luck, hardship, or distress. Bosses, employees, contractors, suppliers, weather, circumstances, and customers can be a real source of adversity for any of us in leadership. When we are misunderstood, have our character questioned or our reputation slandered by our co-workers, it is painful....
Today, while working with our team in a Leader-to-Leader session, one of our seasoned leaders said, “I was creating my own leadership lid. I had intentionally set my ability to lead myself and others too low because I was afraid, I might fail. “ The leadership lid is that imaginary barrier we often put in the way of how we think and how we develop ourselves. The lid might be telling us that we don’t have the...
If you are being asked to do more, take on more, it is because you are a problem solver, you get results and you are seen as someone who can adapt and overcome. In short, you are a leader in the eyes of your organization, and it feels good. But organizations change; it may happen when they are experiencing major growth and expansion, or top-level leadership switches out. When this happens, the pressure is on the...