Walk The Talk #11

WALK THE TALK #11Dear Larry,I couldn’t wait until tomorrow…I had to get this important message out to you TODAY! I know that this issue of the Power of Inspiration is a bit of a surprise—we usually send these out to you on Tuesdays, however the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference recently came across my desk and it stopped me in my tracks by asking, “Have you made TODAY matter?” I realized at that moment that Mondays do matter and each of us matters. Tomorrow is Election Day across the United States, and many of us will ask ourselves, “Do I matter?” If you’re like most people, you want your vote to count.  You want your voice to be heard. You want to make a difference! This “involvement” guide book provides a straightforward, uncomplicated, and down-to-earth process for getting involved, so you can make today (and tomorrow) count!

Please pass this along to family, friends and coworkers. 
 
Excerpted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference…

WHY MONDAY?
Before now, Monday was the least favorite day of the week. Monday was the day that ended your weekend; the day you HAD to go back to work; and the day you started a diet or decided not to smoke another cigarette…again. Our goal is to change the “image” of Mondays by making them mean something amazing, something incredible, something unbelievable. From this day forward, we’ll show you how to make your Mondays matter!
52 Mondays            52 activities        52 ways to make a difference
As you flip through these pages, you will see that every Monday has an activity that makes it easy for you to move from just thinking or talking about being of service to actually taking action. Being of service comes in many shapes and sizes. Some weeks’ activities are simpler than others, but they all pack a big punch. For example, on Monday #8, the Every Monday Matters activity is to help the hungry by simply donating some of your time or food. On Monday #21, the Every Monday Matters activity is to learn CPR so you are equipped to save someone’s life in the case of an emergency. As you participate in each week’s activities, you’ll see that Every Monday Matters is incredibly simple, yet significant, and has little to do with how much time it takes or the size of the action.

GET STARTED!
It starts with YOU who turns to your friend, neighbor, co-worker, significant other, and says, “We need to do this!”

This is about people taking personal responsibility to make a difference. To matter—one day, one action at a time.

While the ideas in this book can be put into action one person at a time, our vision extends far beyond the individual. It is a simple game of numbers…
A community of friends,
A chamber of commerce,
A neighborhood,
A church,
A club,
Employees at a company…
And grows across the nation. Imagine a day when no one honks their horn. Imagine a day when there are 300 million fewer pieces of litter on the streets because everyone picked up just one piece of trash. Imagine a day when…Imagine.Reading about why you’re needed doesn’t make a difference. Thinking about doing something doesn’t make a difference.

Getting started DOES make a difference.
May you be blessed with all things good.-- Kate Nowak Do something. If it works, do more of it. If it doesn't, do something else.-- Franklin D. Roosevelt Welcome to a special edition of Leadership Lessons - straight from the desk of Santa Claus.

Dear Santa:
I haven’t been a leader very long, and now I’m faced with replacing two top-notch team members whose special skills were needed elsewhere in our organization. I owe it to the rest of the team to fill these open positions with the best and brightest people. Please bring me a couple of suggestions to help me do that.
Staffing in Spokane

Dear Staffing:
Hiring the best people is not only something you owe to everyone on your team, but also something you owe to yourself! After all, YOU will have to deal with (and live with) whomever you select. In addressing your request, I went to one of my most trusted resources. Here are three strategies from Nuts’nBolts Leadership that certainly have helped me in the past:
Hire for Tomorrow’s Job. Don’t just hire for a position, hire for the future. Jobs,  technologies, and markets are changing faster than ever. Look for people who are intelligent, quick learners, and adaptable to change.

Remember: To Get the Best, You Have to Test! The most reliable predictor of  success on the job is not experience, education, or age. The best predictor is testing. Test for every important criterion in the job requirements.

Keep Your Ears Open for “We’s.”
[In interviews] Listen for the “we” word …unless you’re looking for an “I” person. One trait of good team players – no matter their level or function – is the use of the word “we” when describing previous work situations and achievements.

Unquestionably, team member selection is one of the most important responsibilities of leadership. Take it seriously … do it right!
 Life will bring you pain all by itself. Your responsibility is to create joy.-- Milton Erickson, MD Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. -- Vincent van Gogh 
Dear Larry,“We all face adversity in our life.
And so many times, it’s how we react to it that will determine our destiny.”
—Mac Anderson, Founder of Simple Truths

As 2008 draws to a close, it’s clear that many of us are facing adversities. With the present economy, you probably have questions about what actions to take going forward.  Finish Strong is the key.  Consider this powerful resource as a tool to:
·         Develop Your Leaders·         Thank Your Customers·         Achieve Business Results·         And, most importantly, to Finish 2008 Strong!Please pass this along to family, friends and coworkers.
 
Excerpted from Finish Strong: More than a statement…it's an attitude

The story of Jim J. Braddock, the “Cinderella Man,” is one of my favorites. It’s about a working man’s rise to the top, his fall to the very bottom and then his ascension to heights he never imagined. And through it all he discovered the true meaning of life.

Jim Braddock spent the better part of the 1920’s boxing in the light heavyweight division. During this time, he gained a reputation for being a fierce competitor with a right hand punch that could stop a bulldozer. His rise through the professional ranks began in 1926. He won most of his fights and earned a respectable reputation and living. By all accounts Jim Braddock was a successful man with a good life.

Like millions of Americans, Jim Braddock lost everything with the Great Depression. With no work available, Jim continued to box in order to provide for his family. Unfortunately, Jim’s boxing career hit the skids during this time. He lost sixteen of twenty two fights. To make matters worse, he shattered his powerful right hand and lost his greatest boxing asset. Under pressure to support his family, Jim quit boxing and filed for government relief. For the next few years, Jim would struggle to make ends meet. He worked odd jobs on the docks and took whatever other work he could find. His family finances grew worse and at times they had very little food or heat for their apartment. It was during these years that Jim Braddock discovered how important his family was to him. Because of this emotional time in his life, Jim would rediscover the true meaning of winning. 
People quit people before
they quit companies.
-- David Cottrell You have energy. Where should it be invested?-- Sam Parker Never forget that getting big things done all year long isn't about magic. It's about leadership.-- Santa Claus Welcome to a special edition of Leadership Lessons - straight from the desk of Santa Claus.

Dear Santa:
Having everyone understand and support the need for change is important to our success. But building that understanding and support is no easy task. Any ideas on what I might do? 
Curious in California

Dear Curious:
You’re right-on. Building understanding, support, and acceptance for any endeavor is critical to its success. And that’s especially true when change is involved. In addressing your inquiry, I went to one of my trusted leadership resources. Here are two proven ideas from The Manager’s Communication Handbook that should help:
Give The Reasons.
Providing information is a key to building understanding. The more information managers share about the “why” behind the “what” they are trying to accomplish, the more employees will see the overall organizational vision – and the more they will accept and support plans and strategies necessary to achieve that vision.

Teach The Business of The Business.
Although they may not specifically ask, employees really DO want to know what all the reports and numbers [that you track] mean. So explain them. Managers who invest the time it takes to teach employees how the business works will reap the rewards of greater understanding ... and increased productivity.
Need to build support for change in non-business settings (e.g. at home)? Try similar strategies … with a little tweaking. It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him.
-- John Steinbeck

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.-- Jack Welch Dear Larry,We are excited to announce the release of our latest book, inspirational movie, and personal development kit:The Power of 10% – How Small Changes Can Make a BIG Difference
Please watch this exciting 3-minute movie and learn how The Power of 10% can help you:
·         Develop a “Goal Attainment” Mindset·         Remove Counterproductive Boundaries to Success·         Understand How Small Changes Can Make a BIG Difference·         And most importantly·         Improve Yourself, Your Business and the World Around YouSo, take a moment to learn more about The Power of 10%. Please pass this along to family, friends, and coworkers. I pay attention to what my elves (and others) feel. Perceptions are realities for those that hold them…and I must deal with those realities in order to lead effectively.
-- Santa Claus

I don't think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday. -- Abraham Lincoln Welcome to a special edition of Leadership Lessons - straight from the desk of Santa Claus.

Dear Santa:
Dealing with performance problems eats up a great deal of my time … and my emotions. Is there anything I can do to reduce the number of team-member problems – and accompanying leadership headaches – that I’m told, “just come with the job”?
Frustrated in Falls Church

Dear Frustrated:
Excellent question! And (good news), the answer is YES – there are things you can do! Unquestionably, the very best way to deal with performance problems of team members is PROACTIVELY … by doing things that decrease the likelihood that issues will occur in the first place. Here are some strategies that should be helpful. They’re from an invaluable resource I continually refer to, The Manager’s Coaching Handbook:
7 Ways to Minimize the Need for
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT SESSIONS
  1. Hire people who have the talent, desire, and ability to do the job well.
  2. Clearly communicate job responsibilities and performance expectations. Confirm that everyone understands.
  3. Make training and continual learning a top priority.
  4. Regularly provide specific performance feedback. Make sure people know how they’re doing.
  5. Consistently recognize and reward positive performance.
  6. Hold people accountable for negative behavior and performance.
  7. Set the example. Be a positive role model for the team.
By the way, these strategies aren’t just for business workplaces. With a little adjustment, they can be applied to situations occurring in your personal life as well. Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.-- William Plomer We do not remember days, we remember moments.
-- Cesare Pavese
The only thing that separates successful people from the ones who aren't is the willingness to work very, very hard.-- Helen Gurley Brown
You can tell the value of a man by the way he treats his wife, by the way he treats a subordinate, and by the way he treats someone who can do nothing for him.-- Ken Babcock It is good to appreciate that life is now. Whatever it offers, little or much, life is now – this day – this hour.
-- Charles Macomb Flandrau Consciously cultivating thankfulness is a journey of the soul, one that begins when we look around us and see the positive effects that gratitude creates.-- MJ Ryan The only constant is change.—Heraclitus Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.-- Albert Schweitzer  Life does not consist mainly – or even largely – of facts and happenings. It consists mainly of the storm of thoughts that is forever blowing through one's head.
-- Mark Twain

Welcome to a special edition of Leadership Lessons - straight from the desk of Santa Claus.

Dear Santa:
I really do understand how important it is to recognize and reward the good perform-ance of the people I lead. But I’m hampered by a significant obstacle: no money! There’s very little in my budget when it comes to gifts, so I feel like there’s very little I can do for my team. Can you help? I’m open to any and all suggestions … as long as you don’t charge me for them.
“Dollarless” in Dallas

Dear Dollarless:
I have both praise and good news for you. First the praise – I applaud your desire to recognize and reward the members of your team. Yes, it is important … yes, they do deserve it … and yes, it is your job to make it happen. Now the good news – you don’t need a lot of money in order to demonstrate a lot of appreciation. With a little creative thinking, the low-cost recognition options available to you can be limitless. To get you started, I pulled a few tips from one of my most valuable leadership resources: 180 Ways to Walk the Recognition Talk:
“Cyberize.” Does the person you want to recognize have internet access at work?  If so, SEND AN E-CARD! There are plenty of websites offering this free service.  And if the person is “on the net” at home, consider sending the e-card there.  Either way, they’ll be in for a nice surprise when they see that familiar phrase:     You’ve Got Mail!

“Allow Me to Introduce Yourself!” Seize every opportunity to introduce people in your work group to customers, vendors, “big wigs,” etc. The message to your team members is, “You’re important … I want people to meet you.” Pound for pound, introductions may be the most effective no-cost recognition you can give.

Lend an Ear! Looking for a really low-cost way to recognize others? Try listening to them! Listening is one of the most underutilized recognition activities in the world.     (And one of the most underdeveloped skills!) But it can have a big impact. Whether     a person is a peer, a direct report, a boss, a customer, or even someone in a non-    work     setting (e.g., at home), listening to them sends the message that you care …and that they are important!

Name Something in Their Honor.  Officially dedicating “The Karen Jones Printer” or “The Bill Lee Forklift” – by affixing an inexpensive brass plaque – can be a fun yet powerful form of recognition. And its impact will extend well beyond the presentation ceremony.

Walk The Talk.  Here are a few things you can “give” people to recognize their     importance and contributions: respect, responsibility, honesty, feedback, trust, and     cooperation. Sound familiar? Chances are, these (or similar) attributes can be found     in your organizational values. So, let your values be your guide. Sometimes, the     most meaningful recognition comes from just “walking the talk.”

News Flash

*NW General Membership Meeting - TBD 2020

You are here: Home Larry's Corner Walk The Talk Walk The Talk #11