When should your team or organization talk about your values and mission?
Every chance you get.
I believe that time should be given in every meeting to ‘values and mission.’ It might not be an agenda item but there should be intentionality to intertwine and evaluate all discussions around values and mission.
Dan Cathy, the CEO of Chick-fil-A has gathered a group of items he keeps in a “Leadership Tool Kit.” One of the items is a railroad spike. He explains Continue Reading…
There are those occasions when you need to get a text to a group of people and although some phones and operating systems allow this action, not everyone knows how to do this.
There are those occasions I need to send a text to a group of people and with a simple app I am able to do so.
Groupme is a free app Continue Reading…
Make any decision and there will be someone ready to ask WHY?
It really is best to keep the “WHY” question in mind before you make the decision.
From experience I have witnessed decisions being made and the decision makers not being prepared to answer why?
WHY? is really, ‘didn’t you think through everything and don’t you know how this will affect me?
Be prepared to answer ‘why’?
Better yet, explain ‘why’ before it is ask. Continue Reading…
Some like coffee, some like tea and there is no harm in disagreeing there.
Leaders and team members don’t have to agree either, but in the end they have to be unified.
“I believe the best team members are the ones who communicate what they think. There is no penalty for disagreement.” Kem Meyer: Less Clutter, Less Noise
What are we to be unified around?
I needed to wash the windshield and it was totally obvious when the bright morning sun was at the angle that blinds.
But it wasn’t the right time time.
If I had followed through and hit the ‘wash’ button that activates the windshield wipers and washer fluid I would not be able to see and that would be dangerous in the morning traffic.
Driving into the sun with a dirty windshield was a dangerous situation. Trying to make corrections in the middle of the danger would have created a more dangerous situation.
But by waiting to ‘act‘ instead of ‘reacting‘ I was able to safely clear some of the dust and debris from the windshield. I had a clearer picture and could focus on my goal.
Leaders are often faced with dangerous situations, those moments when they are confronted with resistance, negativity or insubordination.
The temptation to speak up and confront in the moment is great. However it could be the wrong time, which will cause more tension and irreversible damage.
You have to decide in that instant is it better to react or wait and act at a later time.
Sure there are moments that need immediate attention but I have found that when I take a moment, or even a day to get my thoughts together and formulate a plan, my actions are more effective.
There have been many times that I have not followed the act later plan but when I do, I see better results.
