I’ve heard too many excuses from high level leaders this week! “The culture is the problem.” “I did my part. He didn’t do his.” “People just don’t like change.” I’m sorry, but if you are earning the big bucks, it is your job to be sure
I had a great time on WWLP’s MassAppeal recently. Watch me in this television segment on getting a child to clean his room!
“Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible.” Colin Powell
I’m frequently asked about the difference between objectives and goals. My response: Who cares! This is not a distinction worthy of discussion. Here is why: Do you know what you are trying to accomplish? Is your definition of success sufficiently clear and specific so it will be obvious when you have achieved it? Do you have a reasonable deadline from which to work backward in scheduling your work? Are you committed to success, including knowing what is of lesser importance and may need to be put aside in order to succeed? If yes to all four, you are in good shape whether you think you have goals, objectives, both, or neither. If not, you won’t get anywhere regardless of whether you think you have goals, objectives, both, or neither. Debating the difference between goals and objectives is as useless as most goals and objectives because most goals and objectives don’t meet these four criteria.
Executives: Listen up! Many of your best employees are out interviewing. How do I know this? Because lots of them contact me before they take that step. They read my newsletter or hear me speak and see that I could help. They are tired of banging their heads against the lack of clarity, communication, commitment, and progress. Without the authority to hire me themselves, they can only make suggestions to receptive ears, share my newsletter, or try to introduce me to someone who can make a difference. Since they are unwilling to risk their jobs, they rarely blurt out the truth. When they’ve had enough, they move on.
“If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time and you would achieve nothing.” Margaret Thatcher “Strive to be liked and you will gain little. Strive to be good and you will be liked for your kindness, accomplishments, and values.” Ann Latham
I’ve been called stubborn a time or two, but I swear it is only by people who don’t know the difference between stubborn and persistent! I believe we should all avoid being stubborn and strive to be persistent. The world is not an easy place so persistence is essential. Persistence gets us over hurdles, through tough times, past confusion, and farther down the road to success. Stubbornness just gets us into trouble! If you are persistent: You doggedly pursue results and are willing to consider different ways to get there You may repeat yourself in an effort to persuade You ask questions sincerely and listen eagerly for new information
The Republican Party is in a cul-de-sac according to an examination of what went wrong in 2012. They’ve realized that they are a bunch of “old stuffed shirts” who are “talking only to themselves.” If they have the guts, big changes should follow. Your company may be in a cul-de-sac also. Are you breathing your own exhaust or discussing exciting new ideas? Are you learning from the changes all around you or focused primarily on your performance against the same old goals? Are you honing your systems or developing the agility and strength to change quickly? Good financial results today guarantee nothing about tomorrow. If you wait too long to carve out your future, you too could find yourself described as a stuffy old shirt talking only to yourself deep in the cul-de-sac.
A distress call from my daughter involved a strange situation at work. Naturally, I wanted to help but it was tough to get a word in edgewise. When I finally found an opening to ask a few questions, they were clearly unwelcome. For about the ten thousandth time, I had confused venting with a request for help. I wish she would just tell me up front what role she wants me to take! This is a common occurrence with children, partners, and friends and it usually leads to frustration, if not hard feelings. A similar scenario plays out in the working world every single minute of every single day. The flavor is a little different, the root cause the same, and the cost potentially far higher.