Monthly Archives: March 2010

Communication. How well do you Communicate?

March 31, 2010

You think you communicate fairly well because you like to talk and you might even pride yourself on the fact that you can talk to almost anyone. A lot of people seem to talk just because they don’t like silence or because they just like the sound of their own voice. That my friend is not communicating, that’s just talking.  Sometimes silence really is golden!

First let’s look at the word itself, communicate. According to Dictionary.com, communicate means to impart knowledge of; make known: to communicate information; to communicate one’s happiness. To give to another; impart; transmit. Communication is an exchange of thoughts or ideas.

Besides speaking which we all understand; we need to look at a couple of more definitions.

Hearing, as defined my Merriam Webster Dictionary is ‘the process, function or power of perceiving sound, the special sense by which noises and tones are received.’ Hearing is a passive activity that requires only partial awareness of noise with no intent to respond. Has anyone ever said to you ‘are you listening to me?’ and what you wanted to say was ‘I heard you, I just don’t care!’ You received the sound of their voice, just not their message.

Listening is a verb and defined my Merriam Webster Dictionary means ‘to hear something with thoughtful attention, to give consideration.’ Listening is an active activity that involves receiving, deciphering and perceiving a message with the intent to respond.

Communication involves a presenter as well as an audience and is an exchange of thoughts, messages, ideas or information.

The way you communicate to your 5 year old child is different than the way you communicate with your employees or your boss. Well, OK, sometimes maybe not so very different!

Sometimes communication needs to be direct and to the point and is in the form of a message or information; clean your room, don’t be late again, finish the floor set, your paycheck will be late this week.

Communication can be in the form of an exchange of thoughts or ideas; our business is horrible, what do you think we can do about it, what would you think about this, what would you say if we tried this, I have an idea, let’s clean the garage!

How many times have you been having a conversation with someone or giving someone instructions only to find that your message had been misunderstood? You end up saying “that’s not what I intended” or “that’s not what I meant.” The miscommunication could be caused by one of the following factors; they did not hear you, they were not listening to you, or your message was not clear.

To ensure your communication is clear and understood follow these steps;

  • Know your audience
  • Make sure you have the persons attention
  • State your message or instructions
  • Ask them to repeat your message or instructions
  • Ask if they need further clarification or information
  • Follow up with them to ensure they are on the right track

If you follow these steps you will be able to effectively communicate with your 5 year old child, an employee, or your boss!

By John | Posted in How well do you Communicate? | Comments (0)

Spring, a Time to Plant

March 27, 2010

It is Spring!  Now is the time to get your garden ready. It is time to clean out the old dead growth from last year and prepare your soil for this year. Time to decide what is a weed, and what is a plant. It is time to plant your seeds for new and wonderful things to start growing!

What do you need to do in order to properly plant your seeds so that you have the best chance of having a beautiful and abundant garden? You need to loosen up the soil, plant seeds at the proper depth so that they will have proper room to establish strong roots. Give them fertilizer and water and soon you will be watching your seeds grow and bloom.

After planting you must continue tending to your garden. It is important to pull out the weeds. You have to continue giving the plants nourishment and water so that they can grow and blossom into the biggest and best plant that they can. Soon enough you will have a garden that is the envy of all!

Have you looked at other people’s gardens? Which ones do you admire? What about them is appealing to you? Is it the color? Is it the variety of plants? Whose garden do you want to use for your inspiration?

Developing your Leadership and Management Skills is very similar to tending your garden. Leadership skills don’t grow on their own the seeds have to be sown so that you can grow and harvest your skills.

How do you prepare your Skills Garden? Pretty much the same way as you would your flower garden. You must nourish your leadership skills to help them grow.

You have to clean out the old dead growth. Perhaps your communication skills have died. You aren’t listening or you aren’t communicating in a way that your audience understands. Maybe your ability to prioritize tasks is wilting. It might be time to learn some new management skills so that you can grow again.

You need to separate the weeds from the plants, and remember what is a weed to some is a flower to someone else. Being brutally honest, for example, can be both a weed and a flower. Some people will only hear the brutally part while others will hear the honesty.

You need to loosen up your mind so that it will be open and accepting of new leadership skills. You need to plant the seeds of learning correctly. Your mind, just like your garden soil, cannot be closed or compacted or the new ideas you are learning won’t be able to expand and grow.

Some people say that Leaders are born, I say that leadership skills must be planted, tended to and given nourishment so that they can grow and blossom into the biggest and best skills they can be!

Look at other Leaders. Which ones do you admire? What about them is appealing to you? Who are the  Leaders that you look to  for inspiration?  Why and how do they Inspire you? Post your story!

Happy Spring and Happy Planting!

By John | Posted in Spring a Time to Plant | Comments (0)

Keep Them Ignorant and in the Dark: The Ineffective Boss’s Motto

March 24, 2010

Imagine for a moment that your child or spouse is sick. You know that there is medicine available that will make him or her better, but because you didn’t invent the medicine, you will not use it. Unthinkable as this is, many mangers follow this thought process every day.

As a boss, how many times have you come across programs, articles or blogs that would be of benefit to your team, but because it wasn’t your idea you didn’t pass along the information?

The reason can be twofold;

  • You think you are too busy to teach, train, or develop your people
  • Just plain fear. If I educate my team they might end up knowing more than I do

If you think you are too busy then you are playing Russian roulette. By not taking the time to teach, train, and develop your team you are setting yourself up for sub-par performance. You will soon find yourself asking why they aren’t doing things the right way. Don’t they know there is a better way? If you are fostering an air of ignorance by not teaching your pupils then that is exactly what you will achieve.

If you give your people the ammunition, the tools of education and learning, they might use them and become smarter than you. The pupil becomes the teacher. If they are educated with new ideas they might start questioning you. They might start asking the dreaded why questions. They might start challenging you. The ineffective boss certainly couldn’t accept that!  It is better to keep them ignorant and in the dark!

The examples in everyday life are endless. If you are a gardener and you don’t show someone the proper way to pot a plant aren’t you inviting failure? If you are a dentist and you don’t show someone the proper way to brush and floss, aren’t you inviting tooth decay? If you don’t teach your children that the stove is hot aren’t you inviting a burn? If you are a boss and you don’t show your teams a better way of doing something aren’t you inviting failure?

This sort of thinking is so short sighted and prevalent among ineffective bosses. If I can keep my people down, keep them ignorant, keep them in the dark then I win. Don’t you want your friends, family and loved ones to be healthy and happy? Don’t you want your children to be more successful than you are? The same thought process should apply to your Team.

What is the difference between an ineffective boss and an effective boss?

The ineffective boss doesn’t believe in the importance or power of education, of training or of working in a cooperative spirit, he believes in the divide-and-conquer approach. His thought process goes something like this, “If I don’t teach and train my team then I can take all of the credit when things go well because I am the only one who really knows anything. I can also blame others when things go wrong, because they didn’t do their job correctly. I strive to keep people in their place as subservient to me, the boss.”

On the other hand, the effective boss believes that knowledge is power. He is not afraid of educating his team. He believes in the spirit of teamwork and cooperation. When things go well he passes the credit on to those who actually did the work. When things go wrong he is the first one in line to take the blame because he is the leader, it was his mistake. He strives to raise up his people and helps them be the best they can be.

The effective boss wants to pass along and share any information or ideas that might be of benefit to the team. He seeks out advice, programs, blogs, or articles that might help with the training and development of his people. The effective boss wants his people to succeed, and he knows that education and knowledge is the best way to achieve success.

Everyone has a choice. As a boss you can choose to focus only on yourself, not give your team any more information or knowledge than you absolutely have to, keep your team in the dark about what is going on, or you can choose to focus on your team. Give them all of the information and knowledge you have to help them grow, give them details about the how and why of a situation, shed light on any situation. The choice, as a boss, is yours to make.

  • The ineffective boss strives to keep their people ignorant and in the dark.
  • The effective boss seeks out knowledge and wants to bring their people into
    the light.

Which boss are you?

By John | Posted in Keep Them in the Dark | Comments (3)

Leader Is Just a Word

March 19, 2010

What do you think of when you hear the word “leader”?

The word leader itself is like the word car or food. Cars can be big or small, fast or slow, expensive or affordable, and they can be status symbols or basic transportation. They come in colors you like and colors you don’t care for. Food can be hot or cold, nutritious or junk food. You like some foods, you don’t like others. You love peanut butter, you hate peanut butter or you don’t care.

The word leader is the same. There are good, bad, tall, short, rich, poor, smart, and not so smart leaders. There are leaders you believe in, ones you don’t believe in, and one’s you just don’t care about. There are leaders who lead by Inspiration and one’s who lead by Intimidation.

You see leader, car and food are all just words. The definition of the word leader is:

  • One that leads or guides
  • One who is in charge or in command of others
  • One who heads an organization
  • One who has influence or power

Most people, but not all, would agree that these are examples of bad leaders

Most people, but not all, would agree that these are examples of good leaders

How do you decide, for yourself, which leaders are good or bad? Which leaders are worth following? Here are some suggestions:

  • Have a backbone and a spine!
  • Use your brain and your intelligence
  • Make your own decisions
  • Don’t ever follow someone because someone else does
  • Don’t follow someone because somebody else says you should
  • Evaluate the person, their ideals, and their mission. Does it match with yours?
  • Do you believe what they believe?
  • Do they inspire you to be better?
  • Are you willing to openly and freely follow this person?

A boss by him or herself does not a leader make. A leader cannot be a leader unless there is someone following. If you don’t believe in what they stand for, don’t follow!

A leader should:

  • Inspire you to deliver your best
  • Help you dig deep within yourself to search for the truth
  • Raise you up
  • Teach you
  • Guide you
  • Encourage you

A leader should be focused on the people they are leading. A leader should be about making things better for the people who are following. A leader should be about guiding the followers through difficult times.

A leader does not focus on themselves. If he or she is playing the “how many people can I get to follow and worship me game,” then they are not leaders. If ego is involved, then it is about tributes and adorations, not leadership.

Leader is just a word. What will you do to make that word have significance and to have an important and positive meaning?

My questions to you are:

  • What kind of leader do you want to follow?
  • What kind of leader do you want to be?

Please post your comments below as I would like to know your answers!

By John | Posted in Leader Is Just a Word | Comment (1)

Leadership – Today – Everyday

March 16, 2010

Many Managers possess the qualities to be truly great Leaders, but lack one necessary and crucial component; consistency. Too many Managers believe that Leadership is something to be saved for just the important times, when they can make an impression, when they can show everyone how important they are. They think that Leadership is something that you can pull out of your pocket, something that you can turn on and turn off, something to be used only when needed.

How do you conduct yourself on a daily basis? Do you come to work or meetings late? Expecting your team to be grateful that you have arrived? Are you pre-occupied, answering questions on your blackberry, checking messages, looking at your Facebook while your employees are trying to present you with information? Or, as you should, are you giving your employees your full attention? True Leadership shows in how you respond and handle your day to day duties and responsibilities.

The workplace is full of opportunities to demonstrate your Leadership skills but these opportunities are often disguised as mundane, commonplace activities. When you pass one of your employees in the hall or on the sales floor do you acknowledge them, say ‘hello’, smile, nod? Do you stop by someone’s’ desk and ask how they are doing? Do you take 5 minutes and help someone on the sales floor with a project, or even find out what they are doing? Do you ever say to one of your employees, “hey, I’ll get that for you”?

Because we get so wrapped up and involved in what we are doing it is too often too easy to write off the day to day activities as just not that important. We don’t give them our full attention. By being self absorbed with your own importance and not giving the necessary attention to your Team, you create a tiny crack in your professionalism armor. A tiny crack can soon lead to a full break if you don’t pay attention to it!

The Buddhist religion contains an important concept called “mindfulness”. This very simply means giving every task your full attention, right here right now. The Buddhist believe that this leads to a calm and peaceful existence.

This week I want you to approach every task as if your life depended on it because as a Leader it does. Your Team is looking to you, watching you. They want to follow you but you must give them something worthwhile to follow.  Review and renew your commitment to Leadership and ensure that everything you do reflects that commitment.

Leadership is NOT just a trait, it is NOT something you turn on and off and it is NOT something you pull out of your pocket. Leadership is a day in and day out lifestyle and practice!

Leadership – Today – Everyday!

By John | Posted in Leadership – Today – Everyday | Comment (1)

Follow the Leader(s)

March 12, 2010

Successful managers and good leaders share certain practices that enable them to continue day after day, to motivate others, grow companies, and achieve personal as well as professional success. True leaders know that the qualities they need to succeed come from first knowing themselves, and then from learning all they can about the world around them. These are the skills they must practice constantly to remain focused and true to their commitments. These activities can be broken down into 5 basic steps:

  • Know your People
  • Be Committed to Effective Communication
  • Take Ownership
  • Take Risks
  • Check your Results

Know your people, your company and your agenda. Understand how your company works, how your people work and how your people work within the company. What is your agenda, your plan, what is your course of action to get from point A to point B? Be a presence to your Team. Be available to them when they need you. Invite their participation and opinions. Get to know them and learn what makes them click both at work and at home. The best Leaders never stop growing because they never stop learning!

Be committed to effective communication, be honest, fair and direct in everything you do, write or say. You’ve heard the saying, “sometimes the truth hurts,” well yes, sometimes it does. But the truth is always welcomed over a deception. Share your ideas openly so that everyone knows where you are coming from. Be consistent. If the plans change, as they sometimes do, let everyone know. Don’t keep secrets. Effective communication also means that you have to be open and willing to receive feedback. You also need to be appreciative of the fact that your people were willing to offer it. A big part of communication which is often overlooked is praise. If you want involvement and commitment then give people praise!

Here is a cautionary note regarding praise. Not everyone likes or appreciates being praised in the same manner. Some people like the praise heaped upon them, the more public the better. Center stage is good for them. Letting everyone know they are being praised is important. Then there are others that are embarrassed by public praise. They don’t like the attention. These people still want to be recognized for a job well done, but in a low key fashion. Keep it simple. As a Leader it is important for you to know your Team so that you know which type of praise to give; public or private.

Take ownership of your own behaviors, of your company or store and of your mission. You must have a passion for developing your team and for meeting your goals and for exceeding expectations. Help others succeed. There is no I in Team may sound trite but it is very important to follow and to preach. If you want to be a Leader, act like one! Taking ownership means taking the responsibility for when things go wrong, accepting the blame, having the “buck stops here” attitude. Being a Leader means when it is wrong it was your fault. When things go well or right, taking ownership means passing on or at least sharing the credit for the success with your Team. Simply put, taking ownership means saying if it is wrong I did it, if it is right, they did it.

You must be willing to take risks. If you want to play it safe then stay home in bed with the covers over your head. If you want to be a Leader risks must be taken every day, for everyday is a new day with new challenges and new opportunities. Taking risks includes being honest with yourself and others, standing up for what you believe in, making decisions, acting upon them and trying something new. Sometimes something new is something old. Just because it didn’t work a year ago doesn’t mean it won’t work today. Taking risks is the only way to move forward.

In order to check your results you need to keep track of your progress and measure results. Evaluate what IS working and what IS NOT and have the conviction to make necessary changes. Everybody has to course-correct sometimes. Hind-sight being 20/20 sometimes what we put in place just doesn’t work. Face the facts and get things on the right course.

I think that if you follow these simple suggestions you will see that true Leadership is there, inside you, waiting to be set free!

By John | Posted in Follow the Leader(s) | Comments (3)

Assessing Your Employees

March 8, 2010

I recently received this question on “Ask John”

“Good evening John,

My current position is the HR/Operations manager for a department store.

My biggest challenge is assessing my new team. When assigned to a new store, I usually take about a week to observe their behaviors while performing tasks. I also look into their knowledge and capabilities as it relates towards their position’s. With over 100 associates, I find it difficult at times to get to all of my associates. In your experience what would be the best way to effectively assess all associates in the building?”

This was my answer:

Thanks for the great question!

I can tell you that you are not alone; most Managers struggle with this exact issue.

As I am sure you are aware, knowing your Teams strengths and opportunities is the most important element to the success of your building, your business and you!

Having been in retail most of my life I can appreciate the difficulties associated with Q4 activities.

Observation is key but in my opinion your participation is essential. To effectively assess your Team and to establish yourself as a Leader participating with your associates is the fastest and best way.

These would be my recommendations:

  • Just spending 10 minutes with an associate helping them on the floor will enable you to gain valuable insight into the associate, their work ethic, and knowledge and set you up as a Leader. Help an associate fold the t-shirt table, re-stock socks, and fold the jeans. This will enable you to have conversation with the associate while getting work done. You can teach and show that you can work and talk at the same time. It will show your staff that you work along with them and not just delegate. It will give you an opportunity to find out if the systems are conducive to accomplish tasks.
  • Spend 10 minutes bagging for a cashier. This will enable you to see the customer service, observe the cashiers efficiency and once again show your Team that you work with them.
  • Take your breaks and your lunch in the break room with your Team. Great opportunity to interact in a more social atmosphere.
  • I know you are busy but it is important to establish a touch base program. 2 or 3 days a week establish a touch base where you set aside an hour to bring in associates to your office just to chat. You can bring in 4 associates one at a time for 15 minutes each. This will give you time just to ask them how their job is going and to ask what you can do for them to make their jobs easier and more satisfying. It will also help take the fear out of “the office”.  Too many times associates are only called to the office when they are in trouble.  This will help establish the fact that in your building the office is a safe place.
  • Assuming that you have morning meetings be an active participant. Ask questions. Ask for feedback. If you are not having 2nd shift meetings you should. Often time’s stores will have a morning huddle, but then tend to ignore the folks that come in for the afternoon or evening shift.

The best and fastest way to assess your staff is simply to talk with them at every opportunity to matter how briefly and to always work with your Team.  This will not only give you great insight into your people but will clearly establish you as a Leader.

I think if you follow my suggestions you will find that your Team is seeking you out!

Do you have other suggestions you would give to this Manager?

By John | Posted in Assessing Your Employees | Comments (2)

Are You Lost?

March 1, 2010

We all get lost from time to time. Perhaps you can’t find that great new bistro you heard about, or the place where the wedding reception is being held, or the new doctor’s office.  Me? I get lost going around my neighborhood!

We used to use maps. Remember those things? Who can even fold one anymore? We used to stop at a gas station to ask for directions. That never really made much sense to me. Just because somebody worked at a gas station somehow we thought they knew where every place was that we wanted to go!

Now when we are lost we just plug in the Garmin, pull up an app on our iPhone or ask our car!

What do you do when you get lost or lose your way at work?

We ask for directions if we can’t find a street or a restaurant, so why should work be any different? We all get lost from time to time, and it is important to learn to ask for direction at work. Many times we don’t ask for directions because we are afraid it will make us look stupid. The other choice is to not ask and do the project inaccurately or incompletely, now who looks stupid?

If your boss gives you an assignment and you aren’t clear, ask for direction.  Get the details, get the map. Find out where you are going with this project, where the boss wants you to go. As an employee it is your duty to get all the information and direction you need to complete your assignment. As a boss it is your duty to provide the employee with what you need.

Sometimes, even though everyone is saying all the right things, giving and getting all of the correct information and directions yet things still just don’t click.

This is probably due to communication and listening style differences. This is dangerous, even deadly in a work environment.

When faced with a new project, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do I know where I am going?
  • Do I know how to get there?
  • Do I understand the details of the project?
  • Do I know what is expected from me?
  • Do I know how to deliver the outcome?
  • Am I listening and understanding the directions I have been given?

Sometimes the people giving us the assignment know what they know but forget that we don’t know what they know! They give us vague direction because what they are asking for makes perfect sense to them. Unfortunately it may not make sense to us!

Here are my suggestions to you:

  • Ask for clarification
  • Repeat back the request to ensure that you and your boss are on the same page.
  • If you are not sure exactly what to do or how to do it, ask where you can find the information.
  • Clarify the timeline. Is this a project that should be completed in 3 days or 3 months?
  • Gather everything you need, materials, support, data to get the job done.
  • Plan out the project, have a checklist, an agenda to follow.
  • If this is a new project for you, ask a more experienced co-worker to review your work.
  • Give your boss a status update about half way through to ensure that you are on the right track.

If you follow these suggestions you will be able to complete the task like a Pro!

Now all you need to do is turn in the project, get the praise from your boss and Celebrate your Success!

By John | Posted in Are You Lost? | Comment (1)