Posted: August 12, 2025 | Categories: Leadership, Management, Self-Improvement, Team Building

“Whatever you can do or dream…begin it!  Boldness has genuius, power, and magic in it” 

-Goethe

Last week I was talking to one of my clients in healthcare.  He was so excited about his work that you could almost envision a glow around him.  Noting his ebullience, I asked him what gets him so fired up.  He answered, “I love my boss’s vision and I want to help him make it happen”  I know his boss very well, and what he said was true.

His boss, (we’ll call him Todd), has lived with a vision he’s loved for as long as he can remember.  It is related to healthcare for the elderly, and everything he does himself and with his team are driving that vision.  When we think of phenomena like Apple, Microsoft, or the Pyramids of Egypt, they all have one thing in common:  A big, powerful vision.  When a vision is in full force, we clearly see and fulfill our purpose, and our emotional drive is full throttle.

Surveys have shown that the majority of workers today don’t like their jobs.  If you ask anyone in this category what the vision of their company is, you would probably not get an exuberant response.  Conversely, when you ask someone who is embraced in and is totally engaged in their company’s vision, you will likely receive a lively response.  Be prepared to sit back and listen.  They would love to tell you all about it!

So what is the vision that is driving you?  Are you excited and clear about where you are going and determined to get there?  If you are, you are headed for a life you can look back on with a big “thumbs up”.

Posted: July 17, 2025 | Categories: Customer service, Leadership, Management, Sales, Self-Improvement

Nearly 40 years ago I was viewing a session on time management and I saw a demonstration I’ll never forget:  The speaker asked the audience of 80 people, “How many of you have been on time for every appointment you have had in the last year?”  Only three raised their hand.  Since that day all those years ago, I can count the number of times I have been late on one hand. Being on time is my non-negotiable standard.

Unfortunately, one of those “non-punctual” times happened this past weekend.  My wife and I were scheduled to visit our son and grandchildren.  We said we would be there between 9:30 – 10:00am.  We didn’t arrive until 10:15.  As a result our son had to reschedule some activities to compensate.

My son is 38, and this was my first time being late.  I knew he must be thinking it was my wife’s fault.  It wasn’t.  It was mine!  The reason was poor planning.  I made it very clear that it was my fault and I apologized for not respecting his time.  No excuses.  No blame. I suppose I could have brushed it off and said in a dispassionate tone, “Sorry I’m late”.  I couldn’t do that.  This was a big deal.  When we say we will be somewhere at a certain time, that is a commitment.  It is a promise.  It is our reputation.  It shows we respect the most valuable thing we have…our time.

I conclude with the speaker’s follow up question:  He asked the 3 “on-timers” who raised their hands how they did it.  They all had the same answer, and I’ll bet you know what it is:  LEAVE EARLY!  Be punctual.  Be a person who can be counted on.

Posted: June 16, 2025 | Categories: Leadership, Management, Team Building

Each year tens of millions of people watch the Super Bowl.  The winner receives the “Lombardi Trophy”, named after Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers.  Vince knew how to build a championship team.  There was a special element he instilled in his squad that many others did not.  Simply stated, it is putting your team member first.  If we can do this as a leader and coach, there is a good chance our team will over-perform.

Let’s say you have a team that you believe is operating below potential.  How do we get them to improve?  Coach Lombardi built his success around a focal point.  In his situation, it was his quarterback.  In his QB, he needs to transfer all his important values such as discipline, clarity, and unselfishness.  With the quarterback at the hub, he counted on Bart Starr to lead the rest of the team to the hearty attitude and unshakeable work ethic he had been taught.

So what about your team?  First, identify those individuals that have already shown you that they “get it”.  That number may be 2, 3, 6 or more.  This group is your focal point.  These are the folks you can count on to be an extension of your values.  When those on the outside of this group get a taste of the fresh direction, many may like it and begin to join in.  With patience and persistence, the focal group grows to critical mass.  This will provide the momentum to move your team to a higher level.  Those who don’t change their attitude or poor engagement become marginalized.  They usually either join in or leave the organization.  To begin building your championship team, find your “core” and make it grow.  Be a winner!

Posted: February 17, 2025 | Categories: Leadership, Management, Team Building

It was June of 1974, and I began my new job as manager of a hotel in Suburban Chicago.  It was exciting and new, and I wanted to get started building a winning team.  I soon became aware of a situation that needed to be changed and I knew making the change would not be popular.  It dealt with payroll:  Paychecks were issued weekly, and we didn’t have a payroll service.  I knew we needed to change to bi-weekly, and I realized that if employees had their choice of weekly or bi-weekly, they would choose weekly.

I thought about my options and decided to make an announcement on July 1st that on January 1st we would be going to bi-weekly.  This would give the team ample time to make any adjustments as a result of this change.

After I made the announcement, one person came up to me and expressed their disapproval.  I empathized with them and mentioned that I was giving a 6-month lead time for each person to adapt.  Also, if they found the new policy unacceptable they would have ample time to find a new job.  From that point on, there was no further discussion.  Soon the concerns had passed, and when we came to January 1st, everything went smoothly.

I can’t help but think of what would have happened if I had announced the change effective immediately.  There would have probably been some resentment, and resentment can grow and fester.

Here is my suggestion:  If you need to make a change that is disruptive of normal routine, allow sufficient time for processing.  You will have more buy-in and less resentment.

Posted: January 16, 2025 | Categories: Management, Self-Improvement

I am going to describe a very special person:  When you call or meet with this person, he or she is relaxed and totally present, even if they are surrounded by chaos.  For most of us in this situation, the stress would show on our face or be heard in our voice.  How can we acquire this greater sense of equanimity?

Many years ago I heard a quote that helped me greatly in this area.  “Success is not so much knowing what to do, rather it is knowing what to do next.”  Here are some best practices I have found in common with people who are calm, focused, and present:

1. They know where they are going and our committed to do what it takes to get there.
2. They know their Key Result Areas and manage them well to stay in balance.
3. They plan and prepare relentlessly.  Instead of going with a simple “to do” list, their objectives for the day are directly designed to advance towards their goals, and they have their tasks and activities in proper sequence and priority.
4. And now for their secret:  When they plan their week or day, they look at their discretionary time and plan using only 70% of it  What is the other 30% for?  The unexpected.  There are always going to be problems and crises that occur unexpectedly.  Planning with the 70% formula enables us to allow the priorities that weren’t planned for.  You can be sure that if you plan 100% of your time, you will soon become overwhelmed and demoralized.  Leaving 30% open provides a natural buffer zone that enables us to feel calm and focused.