Tag Archives: leadership

Everything is On Fire!

7 Sep

You’d think I’d be talking about how busy I am or how urgent everything on the “to do” list is, but I literally mean everything is on fire.  It’s been a horrible 3 weeks for this country and after an earthquake and a hurricane, I guess it’s no big deal that we have an outbreak of wildfires here in Texas.

We’ve been in a drought for quite some time, and this past weekend the Austin area lit up like an old Christmas tree.  Suburban neighborhoods evacuated, homes destroyed, deaths, one fire has burned over 35,000 acres.

Times like these are when we stop. We have to. The stuff we’ve been working on takes a back seat to the stuff that matters. Our family and friends, our communities, they need us, and we want to be there.

There’s another interesting thing that happens, I’m sure it happened with you in the last 3 weeks; we start wanting to do something to help. Anything.  We’ll give money, donate stuff, volunteer or pray. Something inside us says “go”.  I wish it didn’t take events like this for the “do” switch to be turned on, but sometimes it does.

The Modern Meeting

18 Aug

I hate meetings…most of them.  Sometimes I walk out wondering why I was even invited, other times I wonder why anybody agreed to meet with me. Most times we come in with predisposed opinions, closed, and not really interested in listening to what anybody else has to say, instead focused on what we want to say.

Al Pittampalli has just released a book called “Read This Before Our Next Meeting”.  In it he talks about what he thinks is the default stalling tactic in business today, calling a meeting.  It slows down the creative and implementation process and it put’s off having to say yes to a project.

So how do we fix the modern meeting? Al’s got some really good ideas:

  • The Modern Meeting supports a decision that has already been made.
  • The Modern Meeting starts on time, moves fast, and ends on schedule.
  • The Modern Meeting limits the number of attendees.
  • The Modern Meeting rejects the unprepared.
  • The Modern Meeting produces committed action plans.
  • The Modern Meeting refuses to be informational. Reading memos is mandatory.
  • The Modern Meeting works only alongside a culture of brainstorming.

You can buy the book here.

“…there are more zero’s on my paycheck.”

3 Aug

A decade ago I was riding the elevator with my then GM Mark Kopelman.  He looked stressed, I think he had just had his second child, and on our way down, we started complaining to each other about how tough the day was and what lay ahead that evening.  Somehow we got on the topic of money and he said this:

“I have the same issues you have, there are just more zero’s on my paycheck.”

Indeed there are, a lot more I think, but what a profound statement.  We all get wrapped up in chasing what’s next, believing that it’s better on the other side.  If I only made more money, drove a better car, or had a better job, everything would be easier. In fact, it’s not.  Truth is that time and again research has suggested the opposite.  People with the least tend to be the happiest. They have learned to be content with what they have and where they are in life. I’m not suggesting we stop striving and driving for what’s next.  I’m only asking if maybe you already have it. Do you?

Things You Should Say at Work!

28 Jul

This is a list of thoughts that I hope you and your teams are saying out loud inside your office or workspace. If not, print this and keep it as a handy reminder.

It’s far better for you to be thinking this way, rather than your competition.

  • Let’s try it.
  • I have an idea!
  • What if I’m right?
  • What if we did this?
  • Let’s go ask the intern.
  • Have you tried this yet?
  • What if it doesn’t work?
  • What if this actually works?
  • Wait…I’m on to something!
  • But that hasn’t been done before?
  • I have a hunch, let’s hash this out!
  • What would another department do?
  • You can’t ignore the research, can you?
  • Let’s go ask our receptionist what she thinks.
  • What if we fail at this and embarrass ourselves?
  • Nobody else is doing it that way, why should we?
  • What if we actually did what our customers tell us to?
  • Are we doing this because it’s how we’ve always done it?
  • Look at the silent person in the meeting and say “What do YOU think?”
  • How would (insert a completely different company here) manage this?
  • What would somebody from outside of our industry do?
  • Is this a unique idea, or a rehash of what’s been done?
  • Is there another way to use this technology?
  • Let’s go home tonight and ask our kids.
  • I’m over thinking it, let’s just do it.
  • I’m not afraid, are you?
  • I don’t know.
  • Yes we can!
← Older Entries
Newer Entries →

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 308 other followers