Archive for 2016
Thursday, December 15th, 2016 by AdvisorCatalyst
How often do we take the time to really notice the people around us? Not simply a casual glance and recognition but the attentive and genuine interest in their well-being that leads us to act with generosity and kindness toward their needs and desires.
If you are like me, the answer is not frequently enough. But why not? What am I giving up? Every time I care enough to serve someone else I realize double joy – the expressions of gratitude of the person I help and then the deep, internal satisfaction I experience as a result. These are worthwhile rewards.
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” John Bunyan
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Tuesday, November 1st, 2016 by AdvisorCatalyst
As leadership teams craft strategy plans for the upcoming year, they should remember the following lessons:
• There are no formulaic answers, however, you can benefit from a systematic approach to both your preparation and strategy planning conversations.
• Markets are dynamic so be disciplined in your strategy thinking. Challenge and test your basic assumptions – even if they are producing good results. Things change.
• Strategy requires clear choices and resource commitment. Each decision either reinforces or weakens the whole. The strength of how the decisions weave together form the fabric of compelling business models (think IKEA, The Container Store and Southwest Airlines).
“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes… but no plans.” – Peter Drucker
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Thursday, September 15th, 2016 by AdvisorCatalyst
Is your speech betraying you? I use the words speech and language loosely – I mean to encompass all personal communication. The actual words we speak account for less than 10% of our communication while the remainder is tonality and physiology – the nonverbal elements.
Language reveals our mindset and attitude about the other person(s) and the situation. Particular words, phrases or nonverbal communication can make or break outcomes of relationships, deals or projects. I try to remind myself to adjust my mindset and attitude toward the other party before engaging in communication knowing that my speech is likely to betray me.
“People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude.” — John C. Maxwell
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Monday, August 1st, 2016 by AdvisorCatalyst
How well do you concentrate your mental and emotional faculties on the situation at hand? Can you tell when someone else in a conversation is “miles away?” Here are four reasons why being present is a difficult skill to do well in our person-to-person interactions:
• we are naturally self vs. others focused
• we allow distractions (phones, email, etc.)
• we aren’t emotionally invested
• our minds wander
If we cultivate the mindset of being present we will have greater impact in the current situation. More importantly, we send people the message that they, and the tasks at hand, are important.
“The mind is never satisfied with the objects immediately before it, but is always breaking away from the present moment…” Samuel Johnson
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Wednesday, June 15th, 2016 by AdvisorCatalyst
Great accomplishments have a history of adversity. Our response when asked the question, “When have you grown the most in your career?” is frequently connected to times we were stretched to an uncomfortable level. The struggle of adversity is likely to produce stronger personal character as well as better performance. Character growth is seen in the form of greater personal humility, more graciousness toward others, and increased work ethic. Performance improvement comes through investing extra effort, developing our skills and figuring out new solutions. In the end, adversity provides the necessary edge to accomplish more than we first thought possible.
“There is no education like adversity.” Benjamin Disraeli
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Monday, May 2nd, 2016 by AdvisorCatalyst
Flying solo is a major accomplishment for a learner pilot. It is, however, a poor approach for a Quarterly Rock Champion. The Rock was selected because the leadership team thinks it will have significant impact on the organization’s future if it is accomplished during the next 90 days. This typically requires deep work and focused use of resources.
A Rock Champion should set up a strong team and utilize project management disciplines. Along the way, keep the leadership team regularly apprised of the status so they can: generate ideas, challenge the work, and commit resources necessary to complete the objective.
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Thomas Edison
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Tags: In 100 Words, Leadership, management, strategy execution, Troy Schrock
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Monday, February 1st, 2016 by AdvisorCatalyst
We have all seen people overreact. We usually think, “Easy…, it’s not that important.” If we’re honest, though, we overreact ourselves at times. This is especially common with our first (often too quick) response in stressful circumstances – irritation and frustration boil over. Abraham Lincoln exercised a unique habit in moments of frustration – he vented by writing a scathing letter which he promptly filed in a drawer and never sent. Do you have a file for your initial responses in testy situations? Favorable outcomes are more likely when we take time to settle our minds and emotions before replying.
“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” The Epistle of James 1:19, The Holy Bible (ESV)
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