Stay Home

Some days just aren't as good as others.  It is important to understand how your body is acting and reacting to different events and happenings at work.

I had yesterday off work because on Thursday I could hardly speak.  The frog in my throat had become a toad.  If I had of gone to work I would have been able to accomplish two things -

1. Get more sick.
2. Share the sickness germs with others in the office.

I hardly ever take sick leave off.  If I do it is for one of two reasons - physical health or mental health.  Sometimes the brain gets to overwhelmed and I just know that I can't face the office.  So I stay home and work remotely instead.

No one is Superman and everyone needs time off to ensure the body remains in functional order and at maximum capacity.  If you're sick - stay home!

(Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annagaycoan/3984986794/)

Quote of the Week

“Leadership is the thing that wins battles.... It probably consists of knowing what you want to do, and then doing it and getting mad as hell if anyone tries to get in your way. Self–confidence and leadership are twin brothers.”  –GEN George Patton

Acknowledging Your Team - Lt General Hal Moore

Lt General Hal Moore was one of the great battle field commanders.  He had the ability to lead, inspire and motivate those who were under him - with ease.  In this video the General praises those under him and gives credit where credit is due.



My question is - how do you speak of your team?  What do you say about them?  Here's a thought -

• People will act and react depending on the way you treat them.
• Respect is earned not given.
• Talk your people up not down.
• Tell anyone and everyone about how great your team is and watch the results come flooding in.

Giving respect, honor and priase to others who deserve it is the quickest route to achieving great results.

Leadership Lessons - Patton

"A piece of spaghetti or a military unit can only be led from the front end."  George S. Patton .

That quote is true for every venture, adventure and outing in life.  If you want to go somewhere and get something done using others - you must go first.

Here are a few facts about Patton that will help us better understand his style -

• He read up, researched and understood his role and how others before him had devised and executed their tactics.  Example - Patton read about the Roman invasion of Europe and used the same routes in his journey into Germany.

• He broke the rules and made changes to ensure success.  Patton had each of his own personal jeeps (or peeps) modified so that he could travel safely and successfully even in the middle of a firefight.

• He changed his persona to suit the surroundings.  When in polite company Patton would take on the air of a perfect gentleman.  When with the troops he would swear, cuss and use foul language to make a point.  He fitted in with whom he was talking to and was able to relate to others where they were at.

Being a man of action and a straight shooter often times saw Patton on the wrong side of his peers andpublic opinion.  But sometimes you need to have the spine to ignore others, make the right call and make results happen.  It is up to you to decide where, when and what is important enough to warrant such action.

"If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you'll be amazed at the results."  George S. Patton.

(Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosnormandie/3729194525/)

 

Political Player or Political Animal?

One strategic understanding (emotional intelligence) you will need to forge the ability to figure out -

• Who are the players?
• Who are the political animals?

Sometimes it is hard to tell the two apart. 

Me - I'm a player and use different situations and people to achieve where I want to get to and what I want to do.  Most times people can't tell what I'm up to.  I keep my motives to myself and I am not in a hurry to get the top.  I use my personality to win friends and influence people and I assure that both parties win.  That's what makes a player.

Now someone who is unashamedly working the system to get up the ladder as quick as possible - now that's an animal.  Someone who is willing to use others as much as they can to achieve their own good, someone who targets managers, directors and ignores the little people in a business in an effort to climb - that's an animal.

Me - I don't care much for animals.  Political ones anyway. 

Beware of animals - they bite!

(Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gotmikhail/4201474510/)

Book Review - The No Asshole Rule

When was the last time someone you work with or work for - really annoyed you or upset you in the office?

What did you do about it?  Did you ignore the behavior in an attempt to hope it will go away or did you confront the person and discuss what the behavior?

 

In the book "The No Asshole Rule" the author looks at just these types of situations and looks for ways to empower average people to deal with these types of behavior.  Bob Sutton is not one to shy away from using strong (appropriate) language to label behaviors that suck.

So whats the book like?  Short on depth but long in tips and hints.

I enjoyed the first couple of chapters of this book but soon moved through the remaining content pretty quickly.  Don't get me wrong this is a great book but don't expect it to take any more than a week at the most to read. 

If you have people who behave like asshole's,  you want to know how to deal with asshole's or you want to avoid hiring one - then get this book!

(Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/benmurphyonline/3845562564/)

Kodak - F.A.S.T

FAST - now there is a business philosophy that I agree with.  Not SLOW or TOMORROW but FAST.

Jeffrey Hayzlett has a video interview showing on Meet The Boss TV where he discusses the way that he changed the culture and performance of the company by introducing a new methodology to the way that Kodak conducts it's business.

Here is the key slogan/philosophy that Jeffrey says he put in place -

• F - Focus.
• A - Accountability.
• S - Simplicity.
• T - Trust.

I love this saying.  Moving from the daily grind of an organisation and influencing employees to not only see opportunities but to grasp them and move ahead with speed.  Cut through the norms and the old ways of doing things and start getting things done!  Results matter.

Dante - Inspirational.

"In the middle of the journey of our life I found myself in a dark wood, for the straight way was lost."  Dante.

Every day we make choices that lead to results and outcomes.  My question today is what questions, results and outcomes are you effecting as a manager and as a human?

Dante's thoughts are interesting in that he realises midway through his journey that he has actually lost his way, he has strayed from the path and he is need of some enlightening to get started again.

Goals, plans and mission statements are valuable management tools that will guide you through your management journey and will ensure that you do not fall asleep at the wheel.

Here are some action steps to take that I recommend you take over the weekend -

1. Consider where you are currently at.  How are your job, your goals and your life progressing?
2. Write down some short term goals that you can achieve in the next four weeks.
3. Write down some goals that you want to achieve in the next 12 months.
4. Read a biography or two.  Find someone inspirational and who will challenge you (Richard Branson or Queen Noor).  Summarise the key points of their life and consider the decisions they made that set them on a new path.
5. Write yourself a new personal mission statement.  Think about who you are and what you want to achieve in your lifetime.

Today is the day to arise from your slumber, take stock of who you are and risk it all to achieve the unthinkable.

"From a little spark may burst a flame".  Dante.

(Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurentreece/4458204226/)

Dilbert - Because I Can!

LOL.

CEO Interview - Viv Maidaborn

The need for strong leaders and management within Non Government Organisations and Not For Profits is just a crucial mission in life as is working for corporations and organisations.

Here is another strong player/leader that has been brought into the spotlight by HerBusinessMagazine's who's who edition.  This leader is Viv Maidaborn.  I am not going to repeat the article because if you hit this link you can take your time and read it at your leisure.

Here's my view of the NGO/NFP sector -

• There are a lot of hoops and paperwork requirements to jump through - so one needs to be nimble;
• Time is of the essence - so one needs to be quick;
• Lots of obstacles get thrown up in the way of those people who are seeking to 'do good' and improve the quality of life of others - so one needs also to be able to jump over the candlestick.

Here's my skill summary for a CEO - "leader be nimble, leader be quick, leader jump over the candlestick!"