You can find important lessons in the smallest things. You just have to pay attention and look underneath the surface. One of the activities I usually start my seminars with is a game where the group tosses a ball around while calling out their names. There are several challenges along the way, and the group has to respond to those challenges. Throughout the game, I stop every so often to…
In my 40-plus years of work, I have had five female bosses. They were all good supervisors; two were excellent. Looking back over all of my supervisors, I think they were better overall than the male supervisors. I answered to a female on my very first major professional position. She was the mayor. I was the city administrator. She was a long-time community activist and businesswoman before she was mayor.…
It’s the three fundamental principles of business: location, location, location. The right location can make all the difference in your success. But there is more to it than just looking for a high-traffic location. First, I have to point you to this National Public Radio story that got me thinking: “Girls Auto Clinic Owner: I Couldn’t Find A Female Mechanic, So I Had To Learn.” A quick summary of the…
“He’s just an opportunist!” someone said after a meeting. We were discussing the aftermath in which one person seemed to get a cushy assignment while others seemed to get to carry the heavy load. The “opportunist” had quietly lobbied for the assignment before the meeting. That’s when it occurred to me that the word “opportunist” gets a bad rap. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines opportunity as: 1) a favorable juncture…
Any skill that is important to you – from simple writing skills to complex negotiation skills – needs to be practiced, and practiced even when you don’t need it. While people say that practice makes perfect, I prefer a different quote: “Don’t practice until you get it right; practice until you can’t get it wrong.” You know who Michael Jordan is, the winner of six NBA championships. After winning…
One time when my father was in the hospital, he called me to take him some documents he had left at home. I went the next day, taking my lunch hour to drop off the papers. Dressed in my business suit, I rushed through the hallways, papers in hand, ignoring everyone in my way. I’m sure I had a frown on, considering I was missing my lunch. As I rounded…
I’m not one to offer quick-fix solutions to motivation, but this one singular tip is useful for personal and as well as group or team motivation. Try the Goldilocks Approach. I picked this up from author, photographer and entrepreneur James Clear. Clear looked at research to point to how people succeed. According to Clear, you need to pick challenges that are just out of your reach. They can’t be too…
Simple steps lead to clarity For some of us, goal-setting seems to be a mystery, but it doesn’t have to be. There is a simple approach that can keep you on track for setting and achieving your goals. Most people tend to think that goal-setting needs to be a massive, time-consuming venture that requires deep philosophical discussions: what are my priorities; what do I want in life; what is important…
More than likely, you have several shelves full of books about leadership and management. Maybe you’ve attended a four-hour seminar on some aspect of leadership. You’ve listened to motivational speakers. If that has worked for you, great. If not, consider going in a new direction with a community leadership program. I believe that leadership happens in the doing, not the reading. I compare it to riding a bike or sex. You can read all the books you want…
“Hocus Pocus! It’s time to focus.” I stole that line from an online forum, but I can’t track down the name of the woman who wrote it. For her, it is a quick mantra to get her moving when she starts to become complacent, feels a goal is overwhelming or starts feeling worn out. It is a mental kick in the pants to get her moving. There are times everyone…