Blog Archives

Trust or Confront--A Learnable Choice

10/26/2009

     My hope is that your response to this article, “Trust or Confront--A Learnable Choice,” is extreme.
     Hopefully, your habitual thoughts are strongly validated. If that's not true, I hope that you will strongly consider making some changes.
     If you think you have only an insignificant influence on the culture of your organization, have a conversation on this topic with someone in your organization who gives you honest, straight feedback.
     Dennis

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Annual Georgia Oglethorpe Awards Conference

10/20/2009

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I realize that many of you who read this are not in Georgia.

Instead of just ignoring this week's article, I encourage you to investigate whatever "Quality Award" program your state has in place.

Whether you are in Georgia or not, if you are not familiar with the seven categories of the "Criteria for Performance Excellence," I strongly encourage you to learn something about them. You need not apply for any award to educate yourself. You could visit the Georgia Oglethorpe Awards site, www.georgiaoglethorpe.org, or you can go to the National Quality Award site, www.baldrige.nist.gov.

Dennis

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Paradigm Shifts--Valuable Insights for Leaders

10/11/2009

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      If you've been a reader of my articles for a long time, you know how valuable increased awareness is for leaders. One of the ways that occurs is by remaining very sensitive to “Paradigm Shifts--Valuable Insights for Leaders.”

     Interestingly, if you fail to communicate a new insight to someone who can celebrate with you (and perhaps also enjoy the insight), it's likely that you'll not anchor-in the new awareness. That's why I encourage my clients to share their "Ahas!" with me or with someone else who supports them.

     I hope that you are open to the free information which flows your way---and that you are humble enough and hungry enough for growth. Keep your sensitivity setting high!

     Dennis

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On a "Truth" Quest or a "Feel Good" Quest?

10/06/2009

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     Have you ever noticed that when you are not feeling well, it's hard to accomplish much that is worthwhile? As integrated human beings, how we feel is a legitimate piece of who we are. Sometimes, however, we go overboard on wanting to feel good. This is especially true when we are self-focused. We lose sight of the fact that we are blessed with capabilities so that we are able to serve others. When serving ourselves supersedes our desire to serve others, we are clearly out of balance.

     The question which today's article, On a “Truth” Quest or a “Feel Good” Quest?, provides a basic scale against which we can measure our intentions and behaviors.

     Dennis

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A Desired Outcome and an Agenda to Get There

10/06/2009

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     Over the past couple of months, I've had conversations with a variety of clients about how they prepare for our coaching calls. The message I've delivered is included in the attached article, A Desired Outcome and an Agenda to Get There.

     A client who comes to a coaching call relying on me to lead the conversation is taking a great risk. Though I prepare for each conversation, we may not address that which is likely to meet his or her needs.

     Dennis

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Revealing Our Creative Capacity to Rationalize

10/06/2009

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     When it seems that all the world is wacky, along comes a book that proves it!

     Except, hmm, you make some of those illogical choices, too. And though I hate to admit it, I guess I'm not totally rational all the time, either!

     Today's article, Revealing Our Creative Capacity to Rationalize, identifies a book that helps us all understand just how skewed our thinking can be. We not only make illogical choices, we then explain them away. We work to convince ourselves and others that what we did made sense in the moment. That is, we rationalize (we tell ourselves “rational lies”).

     Dennis

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How Comfortable are You with Apologizing?

10/06/2009

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We all make mistakes. So, How Comfortable are You With Apologizing? is worth reading and considering.

Then facilitate a session with your team where everyone talks about the topic of apologies. Having a copy of The Five Languages of Apology allows each person to take the "Apology Profile." Make a listing of each person with his or her preferred and backup apology language so that everyone has it for future reference. You'll likely prevent a few future problems--and maybe heal some raw wounds from the past.

Dennis

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Two Huge Benefits from Collaboration

10/06/2009

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In the midst of daily activity, it's much easier to know what to do than to actually do it. Why are we so reluctant to ask for help?

Two Huge Benefits from Collaboration should cause you to rethink just doing it yourself or just telling someone else to go take care of it.

Dennis

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Whose Dream are You Encouraging?

10/06/2009

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Don't you appreciate it when somebody you respect comes alongside and supports your efforts to achieve something that's important to you? So what makes you think that others wouldn't appreciate that same energy coming from you?

Whose Dream are You Encouraging? invites you to consider going out of your way to support the individuals under your authority. You've got competence and commitment that anyone would welcome, right? So, why not serve those you influence in a way that, just possibly, you've not done to this point?

Dennis

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Why Is Genuine Win/Win so Hard to Achieve?

10/06/2009

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Assumptions are so easy to make! In fact, you don't even have to make them. They exist with no effort at all, without you even knowing they are there. They hide behind your interactions with customers, employees, colleagues, friends, and relatives.

You think you know why your customer buys your product, but there are a few things the customer might like to tell you. You think you understand what your immediate direct reports seek from their employment, but do you really? What would it take to find out? Take a look at Why is Genuine Win/Win So Hard to Achieve?

Dennis

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