Let’s make the assumption that, as a leader, you’ve taken a number of human behavior assessments (like the Leadership Practices Inventory, Everything DiSC®, Strengths Finders or Myers-Briggs), and therefore you have some sort of description (or two or five descriptions) as to what kind of leader you are. What happens to those analyses after you finish the assessment? Do they sit on your desk? In a file? Or worse yet, do they take a one-way pass to the recycling bin?
Modeling Behavior
Do Leaders “Pick on the People They Really Like”?
When I was in 6th grade, my music teacher, Mr. Jones, played us some “Switched-On Bach” – Bach performed on synthesizer.
That was pretty cool back in 1980. If you’re over 40, I bet you know what I’m talking about. It actually got me really interested in “real” Bach music; I’m a fan to this day.
Mr. Jones was a real advocate, and fed me more to listen to, and encouraged my unusual (for a 6th-grade boy) passion for Baroque music.
Until one day…
Leaders Set Rules for Communications
I’ve heard the word “wow” twice recently.
1) “Wow! Thanks for calling me back!” Someone called and left a voice mail; he wanted to meet for coffee to visit about the computing support services his company offered. I called him back an hour later, and I think he was surprised I called back at all.
The Allegory of the Four-Way Stop
Four-way stops are easy, right? Stop, then take your turn after everyone else has gone. Is it a tie? Person on the right goes first. Easy. No problem.
Does everyone totally adhere to The Rules of the Four Way Stop? I bet they think they do. But you’ve seen these…
Resist the temptation…
In an earlier post, “Instead of…” was presented as an alternative to saying “Don’t.” “Instead of” forces you to come up with an alternative action, which is usually good.
However, if time is critical, or it’s not all that consequential, or you can’t come up with an alternative, try this:
“Resist the temptation to…”
It works best for quick thoughts that you might usually start with “Don’t”
“Don’t use the side door.”
“Don’t call her so soon.”
“Don’t staple every doggone thing.”
“Don’t leave the lights on in the storage room.”
“To know, and not do, is to not yet know”
A few weeks back, I was at a presentation of Janyne Peek Emsick, and she reminded us of a great quote from Karl Lewin:
To know,
and not do,
is to not yet know.
Have you ever explained how to tie your shoes? Better yet, was there ever a time that you tried tying shoes simply based on a verbal description of the process? You had to DO it to get it, right? That’s what Lewin is getting at.
A simple way to “stick” to a new plan…
How are the New Year’s resolutions coming? How about any commitment to self-improvement?
A helpful idea that’s quite simple (it almost seems silly to write about it) is the “sticky-note” technique.
Leaders Smile
There are scientists and psychologists who report that the most powerful expression in the human repertoire is the smile.
When there is work to be done, and we’re “all business,” we might forget the power of the smile. Not just to transmit our happiness, but to
Leaders Share, Abundantly.
In an earlier post, I wrote about the value of picking up the phone to ask for help, information, or other assistance from fellow professionals.
On the other side of things, what do you do when you get that call?
Share. Abundantly.
In my former profession, many of us Iowa band directors worked toward the special, singular honor of representing our class at the annual Bandmasters Convention. This was a big honor that went to just one (or zero) programs per year.
“I just hate miscommunications.”
Yesterday, while working in my home office, workers from a local store came to install a new appliance. I overheard a shocking conversation that struck me as inappropriate. I selected a typical excerpt, and posted it on my personal Facebook page to see what conversation would ensue. I was not disappointed. This was an interesting … Read more