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Category: Team Building
How to stand out above the crowd in coming year
Looking ahead to the New Year, are you interested in strengthening your leadership skills? If so, there is one area of growth that must come first before anything else improves. Do you know what this area is? I’ll bet you do: It is improving our listening skills. Our skills in listening are vital in building trust and maintaining focus and clarity. Here is some good news: The next few weeks should give us ample opportunity to put a better edge to our listening skills. Here’s how:
Think of a gathering you will be attending this holiday season. As you anticipate each event, work on developing a mindset of simply showing genuine interest in others. Here is an example:
Last night I attended a church function, and as soon as I entered the door, I encountered a smiling older lady who had given me cookies during our last visit. I began the conversation by saying how much I enjoyed the cookies and why I liked them so much. I then asked if she would share the recipe. She was thrilled to do so. Next she began talking about how she made the cookies. and the special people she gave them to. It was her passion, and she was sharing it. Our conversation probably lasted about 10 minutes, and all we talked about was the cookies and how she loved to give them away. I walked away from the conversation knowing I had sincerely given her my full attention, and also picked up a good recipe.
Before you go to your next social event, I recommend you go with these two objectives:
- Have a goal of learning something about someone.
- With genuine sincerity, let another person talk about something important to them.
Do this, and you will be exercising your listening skills and building good relationships.
Get the strongest start to the new year
Jim Rohn was an entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker who became a world-wide expert on personal development. He started as a high-school dropout. In his early 20’s he hired a mentor, Earl Shoaff. One of the first questions Mr.Shoaff asked him was how many books he read a year. The truth was, he read very little. “That’s not a good answer!”, Shoaff said. From that point on, Jim Rohn decided that he would be an avid reader. His mentor knew the truth: High achiever’s read a lot!
Over and over again I find this to be true. Think of the most successful people you know in this business world: Most likely they read whenever they get the chance. When they are driving, they are listening to books or some other form of audio education.
I was reminded of this truth just this week. A client of mine reads constantly. While reading in a spare half hour while waiting for his car to be serviced, he re-acquainted himself with an important management practice that he was falling short on. After further thought, he realized that his management practice of holding a 15-minute team meeting each morning needed to be revived. He remembered that his team was most productive during the COVID outbreak. This daily habit was a critical factor. He began this week with absolute confidence that bringing these meetings back will help lead them back to peak performance.
Bob is an avid reader and he knows the payoff of keeping up with his reading. Are you keeping up with your reading? Are you reading enough? With the New Year about to be started, what is your reading commitment?
Great leaders bloom where they are planted
I was 19, and it was a hot summer day in Southeastern Kansas. I was working a summer job in a bottling plant and I was finishing up a long day. My final duty for the day was helping the route drivers empty and refill their trucks. All of the drivers had been working hard since 5am, and often, when they drove in, they weren’t always in the best mood. There was one exception: His name was Tim. No matter how hot the day had been or how sore his muscles were, Tim came in with a smile thaat brightened our day. He would call us by name, had a great sense of humor, and was kind and respectful. He was the kind of person that inspires good will in others, and me and the loading team would always go the extra mile for him. He inspired us to do our best. You may wonder what happened to this young 21-year old as time went on. I know what happened to him: He married my sister and they were married for 51 years until her death in 2019.
When I think back to that day in the bottling plant nearly 60 years ago, I realize that every fine leader I have coached has those same qualities that Tim had. He was positive, friendly, helpful, respectful, and genuinely interested in others. It is no surprise that he spent his entire career in high-level leadership positions in major corporations. Tim knew how to “start by starting”, work hard, and work well with others. Wherever he was planted, he knew how to bloom, and take others along with him.
Use emailing and texting wisely
Growing up, I remember my father’s toolbox. My favorite tool was the vice grip. It was a powerful tool that could get off any nut or bolt no matter how beat up or rusted it was. Although the vice grip was my favorite, I learned to be careful how I used it. It would usually damage whatever I was trying to get off. If I wanted to re-use the nut or bolt, I would use a gentler tool like a box wrench.
Today we have many communication tools we did not have in my youth. Texts and emails are the most common advancements that come to mind. Like any tools, we need to use the “right tool for the right job”. If not, we can do damage. Here is an example:
Several weeks ago, one of my coaching clients received an email that was not of a friendly tone. It also contained judgment and insults. My client (Pam), emailed her back in response. Very quickly, she received a response email that was even more acerbic. At this point, Pam stopped, went down the hallway, and talked with the other person one-on-one. With a good conversation, they came to common ground.
In my working with teams, I find that texting and sending emails can be a good idea or a bad one. Electronic communication tends to work well when the message is transactional. You can confirm schedules, send attachments or even give a few instant “Pats on the back”. On the other hand, if you receive a nasty email, I recommend you respond with “Jane…let’s talk”. Doing so can help keep small conflicts small.
The power of a pause
Think of a time when you were working or interacting with someone and they “snapped” at you. It was unexpected, and it took you off guard. You may have reacted by saying or doing something that you would later regret. Instead of reacting, I think there is a better way to respond in such a situation.
When I was in my 30’s, I was reading an article on Roy Rogers, the most popular TV cowboy of the early 50’s. Roy had a full career and a wonderful life. People loved working for him. He and his wife Dale treated everyone like family. His kindness was legendary. To illustrate, one day he was talking to a team member, and they were getting tense and frustrated. Instead of reacting, Roy paused with a loving sparkle in his eye and said, “Let’s take a walk”. They did, and Roy just listened. It should come as no surprise that his team member was struggling with something personal, and it was showing up in their demeanor. Roy Rogers knew the value of taking a pause and listening to understand. No wonder his team was so loyal!
Whether at home or at work, we will all have days when something is “eating” us. It may relate to a challenge with a relationship, finances, or even health. Whatever the issue, we need to not let it affect our work. When another is showing irritation or frustration, we may want to take a Roy Rogers time out and get in sync with the other person. If we do, we will be taking a step towards a more positive and productive team.