Grow Your Business

I've Moved!

2010-02-09T17:04:00.005-05:00

I am now posting this blog on a Word Press format to be incorporated into my website. Please join me in my new location http://growthexpertblog.com I look forward to seeing you there.

What is your level of TMI?

2010-02-03T08:53:00.003-05:00

Chip Conley, the CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, shared his internal struggle with posting his Burning Man pictures on his Facebook page at http://bit.ly/2qIml5 His pr advisors told him those pictures and his CEO persona could cause a misunderstanding about what is proper behavior. (I think it was his tutu picture that was the point of the discussion.)

Burning man is a one week retreat in the middle of a dust bowl with no food, no water, no showers, no cars, just what you carry in on your back or bike. It is intended to be an “out there” experience and from what people who have attended told me, you will see anything and everything going on at this retreat. When I say everything, suffice it to say, it is impossible not to be shocked at Burning Man because it attracts the freest of the free spirits and the edge is pushed more and more each year. I would guess not many CEOs attend Burning Man.

Which brings the question for all executives: What is proper to share on social media? The challenge with social media is that your personal and professional lives collide and for the “In the full disclosure of who I am” category it is actually a great resource for people to investigate who you are. Everything about who you are.

Employers are looking at social media pages such as facebook, twitter, and linkedin to see what employees and prospective employees are saying. The same goes for executives who are being “checked out” by employees, clients and competitors.

I have a number of clients who follow me on my personal pages as well as my fan page www.facebook.com/russelljwhite2 and they get the full me. But where is the Too Much Information (TMI) line drawn?

Would I share about my Saturday night in the strip club where I got 5 lap dances, had 8 beers, and was escorted out of the club by the bouncer for rude behavior? Would I share my disappointment about my employees letting me down? Would I go on a rant about how I hate Mondays?

Curiously, I have read each of these remarks by people who at that moment were employed somewhere. Is there a different standard for executives? I don’t think so.

Based on my observations the level of TMI has more to do with the age of the person posting than anything else. The younger people feel more open with their expressions and are willing to broadcast an almost open stream of consciousness. Conversely, some executives resist any contact with social media and prefer to remain a closed book. In either case, this is a misuse of a medium that is here to stay in some form or another.

Everyone needs to find their comfort zone. As with all media, there are the extremists on both ends of the spectrum who enjoy the shock value of what they put out there. Everyone has their hot points where they enjoy a good rant. For some people social media is their bullhorn to the world. Just keep in mind each post is an entry into your internet record which has public access.

The best advice I’ve heard about social media postings is to consider everything you write, link, or post would appear on the scroll at the bottom of a TV program and everyone you know or has contact with you is watching.

As a three year old I apparently walked into the middle of a ladies group home meeting and announced, “This is what my daddy does in the bathroom.” And I started to grunt. A three year old doesn’t know the difference between what public knowledge is and what should not be shared. As a three year old doing this, the ladies’ laughter to the point of tears was an expected reaction. What if I had been 18 year old? I image the reaction would’ve been very different.

Some things are best left unsaid in an open forum. As a guide for your social media postings, find where you audience is comfortable with your level of TMI, instead of where you are comfortable with your level of TMI.

3 Ways to Avoid “Map Wars”

2010-02-01T08:56:00.007-05:00

In other words: How to prevent the competition from telling everyone about your weakness.

The Verizon map ads seem to appear on TV every 10 minutes. Their unrelenting message caused AT&T to fight back with Luke Wilson ads that just don’t work. Why? Because Verizon found the glaring weakness of their competitor and cleverly got the word out to potential customers while the AT&T ads are just attacks on a competitor. Sour grapes does not gain market share.

What is AT&T going to do about this?

AT&T Will Spend $2 Billion To Improve Wireless Network http://bit.ly/d8db63

Now they are making upgrades they should’ve done before. Instead of gaining momentum with upgrades it appears they got caught with their pants down and appear to be reacting to the competitor’s ads. Meaning, instead of gaining customers for the upgrades they appear to be simply trying to keep the customers they have. That is a dramatically different return for a $2 billion investment.

How could they have prevented this from happening?

1. Be honest with yourself about shortfalls

When I work with organizations on strategic planning we often discuss the problems they have in-house and problems the competitors have. Which list do you imagine is longer? Many executives are blind to their own in-house problems and seem more focused on justifying why their situation is like it is.

You must take the objective look at where your competitors are beating you. If you can’t see it, get someone to help you. Because, if you are myopic enough to miss your weak spots, don’t worry your competitor will show them to you and all the customers you have or had.
Identify the critical areas you must improve quickly to be more competitive. Remember, sometimes you have to ask someone outside of the family whether your baby is ugly or not.

2. Know when the game has changed

People with knowledge have a great understanding of how to be successful in the way things used to be. Still advertising in the phone book? Still think social media is for fun and games? Still think if you build it they will come?

How do you know when the game has changed? When the traffic patterns in front of your location (that you rely on for business) reduces to a mere shadow of what it once was, you need to recognize you are in a new game. Once upon a time people wanted a bank branch on every corner, now they want those services on their phone.

AT&T fell asleep on the importance of 3G upgrades and it gave the advantage to their competition. How has your game changed? New technology? New competitors? Your energy isn’t what it used to be and the job is more demanding now than it ever has been? These are all import things to evaluate because the game changes daily, and last time I checked it isn’t getting any easier.

Once you can grab an understanding of how the game is played today, you have half the battle over. The next step is what you are going to do about it.

3. Proactive is under your control, reactive is under their control

I used to have a picture on my wall of a stampede with the caption: “If you don’t make dust, you eat dust.” The ones in the front only make dust, the rest are eating dust. Making proactive change and getting in front of the curve is where success happens. Once upon a time in the 90’s the economy was so good everyone did well regardless where you were in the herd. Not today.

Today only those who are proactive in making changes, anticipate customer needs, and take the risk to be in front are the only ones making the success we all used to see. Laying back and following the lead of others means by the time you “arrive” the customers have already moved on. That is how fast business is traveling. Are you being proactive or are you like AT&T having to spend too much money to simply keep what you have?

3 Ways to Keep Mistakes In-house

2010-01-27T13:02:00.004-05:00

Tylenol has recalled an undisclosed number of containers of Tylenol, Motrin and other over-the-counter drugs earlier this month after consumers complained of feeling sick from an "unusual" odor.

Toyota has suspended U.S. sales of eight models, which were recalled to fix accelerator pedals that might stick. This recall will impact over 4 million cars in service. Toyota is also stopping production on 8 models until this problem can be fixed.

These recalls will impact the trust of millions of customers, negatively impact employees (how would you like to be a car salesperson for Toyota right now?) and eroding corporate reputation that will takes years to regain.

Mistakes happen and people foul up in business; they always have and always will. The big differences between mistakes today over years past are twofold.

First of all, the speed of business today is so much faster than it used to be. If you have a car accident at 5 mph there is little or no damage and the lesson can be learned rather cheaply. As opposed to driving 200 mph at Talladega speedway and a car accident is spectacular and the damage is extensive.

This dramatic increase in speed requires people to be highly trained professionals in order to ensure everything is done with precision. However, most companies are cutting training budgets and getting people on the job as fast as possible instead of when they are fully qualified. In some cases companies are leaving jobs unfilled and asking other employees to take on the extra work load. This is sure to create more mistakes.

Speed increases the stress on everything. Whether we are talking conveyor belt tolerances or human reaction time, or performing quality audits; when time is the critical factor expertise becomes much more critical and tolerances become tighter.

The second reason is the way news is spread today. News outlets no longer deliver just the facts of the news, they add commentary, look for blame, and add unconfirmed unnamed sources for additional information. Can you say dousing a camp fire with gasoline?

Want to keep your mistakes in-house?

Evaluate your training process to ensure you are getting a productive employee once they have finished.
Review the power of your quality control. Do they have the right to shut down the process when something doesn’t meet standards? If not, why not?
Review your corporate culture to see if the real way of doing things in your workplace is shoving things out the door to met a quota, or in making sure what goes out the door is customer ready.

Once in-house mistakes make it beyond your four walls, the blame game begins, defensive posture is created and the mistake takes on a life of its own. Do what is necessary to contain mistakes while they can be managed before they are released to do great damage to your organization’s reputation. Cutting corners is often a first step to cutting your own throat.

Are the Right People on Your Bus?

2010-01-25T09:42:00.006-05:00

The people closest to you in your personal and professional lives will have a tremendous influence on who you become. As a friend of mine told me,

“I put people in my life who don’t let anything stop them.”

They have the same success mindset she does, and at her young age she has accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime. How does she do this?

Think of yourself as a bus driver and the seats behind you are occupied by those closest to you. What are you hearing from them? How do they act from day to day? How much of a priority are you to them? What actions are they doing you are proud of? What positive influence do you feel in their presence?

People you want on your bus

You are the average of the people you associate with. If you are surrounded by whiners and those who believe life is out to get them, then you become just like those people. If you spend time around people who are glad to see Mondays, are upbeat about life, and are eager to work hard to succeed, then you become more like them as well.

Make a list of 20 people currently on your bus. Family, friends, and the people you are closest to in your work environment. These are the people influencing your thinking, habits and drive to achieve. Are these the right people that will help you reach your dreams?

Off-loading your bus

Once you review who is on your bus you realize there are people there who really don’t have any business riding with you. What do you do about that? As you grow as a person you will be moving at a different pace than those around you who are not growing as fast. Eventually, you can outgrow some relationships.

As you reconnect with old high school friends through social media you will see how differently people have grown or changed over the years. Your current passengers on your bus are the same way. Are they growing with you?

Offloading passengers is tough to do. It depends on how badly you want to succeed. Making a choice to move beyond current friendships and family relationships can be a challenging and difficult process but one that is critical to your development and success. If their influence is negative, if you are a low priority, if they just don’t see the abundance of life’s opportunities, then you have no option but to let them off the bus. Either with a swiftness of a good-bye, or allowing things to gradually drift away; however, you choose, you need to make room for the right people to impact your life in a positive way.

Obviously, if you are only looking for people to give to you without you offering anything in return, your bus will be empty of the people you want to attract.

Getting the right passengers on your bus

Where you spend your leisure time, where you network, and the activities you get involved with will expose you to the average of the groups you are in. Not finding the right people? Then it’s time to find new places to connect with the right people.

Consider the people you want to be involved with then ask yourself the following questions: Where do I meet these people? How can I connect with these people? What is it about me that attracted the wrong people on the bus to begin with and what do I need to change in order to attract the right people on the bus? The answers to these questions could be the greatest decisions you make in creating greater success for yourself.

Burn the boats? First, Think About Who You are Dealing with.

2010-01-22T10:59:00.004-05:00

In 1519 Hernan Cortes sailed to Mexico to defeat the Aztec Empire and as legend has it upon landing he burned his boats so his soldiers could not turn back and had no choice but to fight to win.

Actually, due to a translation error of the events, it appears although he actually did destroy the ships, it was not by burning them but by running them ashore. This story has been used by many a speaker to illustrate removing the option to retreat. Full steam ahead. No looking back.

You can just hear the music building, the testosterone levels increase in the room, and then…panic sets in.

Explorers in 1519 were of a different breed of human being. They expected to face danger, fight for their lives, and handle meager living conditions. Losing the boats only meant they would be forced to settle in the new land and defend what was theirs.

Today’s American worker is not that same breed of individual. Arguably, we’ve never known real hardship. We are not used to defending ourselves from danger. We are conditioned to look for the side door, just in case we need an escape. To corner your employees in an employment fight to the death will cause more to abandon ship than hunker down for the fight.

Although some versions of the story differ, historians say the soldiers knew this was the plan and it was not done as a surprise tactic. Their loyalty to their commander and the cause (and obtaining the riches the new land promised) made them willing to accept this approach.

In today’s business world, it is better to spend time building loyalty and commitment to the cause in your employees for the battles that don’t require the drastic choice of burning the boats. Remember, the soldiers following Cortes were battle-tested and ready for such options. Be sure you are a battle-tested tight-knit group before deciding you are removing all options but one; otherwise, you might be facing the “enemy” all alone.

The Decision Tree of Success or Failure

2010-01-20T09:57:00.003-05:00

Did the leaders of Enron start out trying to lie to their investors? Did Bernie Madoff intend on defrauding those who trusted and believe in him? Did you wake up this morning intent on getting so upset in a 2pm meeting where you said things in anger that could cost you your job? No, but it happens every day.

Have you ever asked how did we get here?

Every day we are faced with infinite possibilities and hundreds of decisions. The path those decisions leads us on has us end up where we brought ourselves to. Without question there is randomness and luck involved in the decisions we face. Read Malcolm Gladwell’s excellent book Outliers on the impact fortune has on our lives.

What we do with those decisions is our choice and ultimately leads us to face the next set of choices along that path. Most of us have faced decisions to try cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, illicit activity, and to cheat, to lie, to over-indulge, we get to prioritize our lives as we decide. These become significant choices that significantly impact who we become. Each day we set our path face critical moments that propel us along.

How have the decisions you made as a teenager impacted you today?

How did your college choice change your perspective on life?

What did you decide six months ago that has you now reaping those results?

There is no one path to success or one path to ruin. We choose our own way. The critical moments occur in considering the choices you make on each decision. With each decision ask yourself, “Does this get me to where I want to go?” Whether it is personal choices or professional choices, you need to consider which direction each step takes you.

Know where you want to go.

Know the direction you want to take to reach that end point.

With each step make progress along the path of your choosing.

I often hear people wanting to experience success and they always ask, “How do I get there?” You can’t borrow another person’s playbook because it won’t fit your decisions you face. You achieve success with each step in the right direction. Choose your decision steps with the desired result in mind.

Jump on Opportunities like a Caffeinated Cricket

2010-01-18T10:01:00.002-05:00

Have you ever watched a movie or listened to a speaker at a conference that put you to sleep? You just get numb from the uninspiring information and delivery. A bad economy will do the same thing to your business. After 18 months of recession slow down and back-stepping, business leaders can get into a malaise that feels like the numbness experienced listening to that boring speaker.

Once this habitual plodding happens, business leaders miss good opportunities because their minds are more focused on just getting through one more month instead of looking for big jump opportunities.

Ask yourself these questions:

Is your budget for this year set with expectation of improvement or with the fear of repeating 2009?
Do you have wiggle room to capitalize on a fresh opportunity or do you feel overwhelmed in time and financial resources; therefore, you only hope to make it through the year?
Are you on high energy rush and expecting to have a record performance year, or are you using the same mindset you used to survive 2008 and 2009?

Opportunities for every business will be available this year. Those leaders who are looking for them will find a way to take those opportunities and turn them into long-term success. Others will be waiting on the right time to take on such new ideas, which means those business executives will go lacking while the aggressors take more market share.

Use this month to awaken your senses, get your people vibrant in their attitudes once again and grab your share of opportunities that are ripe with potential. In talking with a gentleman who owns 600 rental properties, someone asked him if he was feeling the pinch of the economy where people were not paying or he was left with open properties. He didn’t even respond to the question, he just offered a different perspective.

He said, “I’m not worried about how many open properties I have because now is the time to focus on the great opportunity to buy more properties, so I’ve been on a buying spree getting some great deals.”

Think of your perspective. Are you more focused on the negative impact the economy has had on your business, or are you focusing on the opportunities that can be grabbed while everyone is looking the other way? This is your wake up call.

Positive Emotions for Your Employees (Part 2)

2010-01-15T09:02:00.005-05:00

As I mentioned in my last blog post, true leaders will recognize the benefits to having a consistency of these positive behaviors in the workplace, and work to find ways to create that type of positive working atmosphere. Give your employees the opportunity to experience these emotions while working for you. They will be appreciative and you will benefit as well from the improved results.

Here are six more positive emotions you will want prevalent in your workplace and the activities that surveyed results say trigger these emotions.

Happy

What makes people happy is positive relationships. Whether they are with friends, coworkers or family, people describe happy most often when they have relationships that are caring, supportive and loving.

How are you creating a workplace that creates happiness? What kind of relationships do employees have with each other? What type of management style do you create that people feel happy when working under your leadership? Do I believe you need to create playground work environments or hold hands and sing “We are the World” before every work day for people to be happy? Obviously not. But caring and supportive working relationships between employees and between staff and management is what makes a unified happy workforce.

Relaxed

Relaxed is a sensation I hear too frequently people have forgotten how to feel in this whirlwind pace we live in. Responses to what event elicits being relaxed overwhelming indicated people think of being at the beach. The sun, the surf and getting away to this destination are synonymous with relaxation.

I’m sure you are thinking, of course everyone enjoys going to the beach, but how can I incorporate that into my workplace. In fact, you may be thinking do I want that emotion in the workplace? Many organizations offer incentive trips and the majority of those trips involve some type of destination with sun and surf involved. What type of incentives are you offering? Do you have a travel agency as a perk to help people book relaxing vacations? Employees who truly get a time of relaxation are better prepared to handle the demands of a work day than those employees running a ragged edge of emotion and mental capacity. Burn out used to be something to be worried about years ago. Today, it seems to be the norm. Help your staff utilize their vacation time for their greatest benefit. Help them to relax.

Laughter

This is an emotion people say they do not have enough of in their lives. It is also an emotion most often shared with friends. Contrary to popular managerial belief, laughter in the workplace does not mean lack of productivity. Laughter at work is more of an indication employees are working with friends and people they enjoy spending time with. If laughter is seldom heard in the hallways of your organization, it would be wise to figure out what or who is tightening the lid down on this emotion. In the speaking business we have a saying; you only need to be funny if you want to get paid. Levity leads to learning. Shouldn’t leaders be held to the same standards? When people are laughing, they are listening and when they are listening, they are learning.

Thrilled

The survey respondents indicated that being thrilled comes from adventures and recognition. Adventures can be riding a new ride at a theme park, or visiting a location a person has never been to before, or even participating in a new project in a new way. Adventure awakens the senses and gives people a thrill when experiencing the new and different most frequently of their choosing.

People also responded they felt thrilled when they received recognition for doing something well from someone they respect. How are you consistently recognizing your staff for doing a great job? How often do you use your words to thrill your employees? How many times are you offering your employees a chance for adventure to try new directions, new projects, work with new clients? A thrilled workforce is an alive workforce ready to perform.

Satisfaction

When do people most experience the emotion of satisfaction? Satisfaction follows after an accomplishment. There is a sense of satisfaction people experience from something as simple as planting the flower bed in the springtime to as demanding as completing the Ironman triathlon. People expressed how important it is to feel satisfaction in all areas of their lives.

Jobs left unfinished, or working on tasks that have no definable conclusion prevents satisfaction from being fully experienced. As leaders, it is important to set accomplishment targets so when those targets are reached there can be a celebration and a sense of satisfaction for all involved. At the conclusion of constructing a new office building a ribbon cutting says this job has been completed, at the end of winning the World Series, there is a champagne celebration because those who have achieved great accomplishment want to celebrate great satisfaction. How do you encourage your employees to feel that type of satisfaction? When was the last time you had a champagne celebration akin to a locker room following a victorious World Series? Maybe it’s time.

Appreciation

Our survey indicates people experience appreciation when reveling in the accomplishments and skills of others. For example, few of can even attempt some of the amazing performances we witness in the Olympics as we watch with great appreciation. I know about all I could do on a halfpipe is ride a sled down the middle of it! We are surrounded by talent and skill we admire and appreciate.

Today appreciation is being replaced with criticism all too frequently. We are quick to point out the flaws without appreciating the entire winning performance. In your workplace do your employees recognize and appreciate the best workers, or do they scorn them for “making the rest of us look bad.” Leaders can add more appreciation to the work culture be focusing more on the accomplishments and great performances within the workplace as opposed to highlighting the negative.

These twelve emotions people enjoy experiencing can be brought to the workplace by the right leadership which will not only make for a more rewarding work environment for the staff, but the benefits for the employer will give everyone a better feeling about the positive progress. How do you plan on building up these emotions?

How to Create Positive Emotions for Your Employees

2010-01-13T09:55:00.004-05:00

As leaders, we should want to aspire to create positive emotions in employees. The more positive employees feel about work the more likely they are to stay and be dedicated to the tasks they want to accomplish. As you read this, think of ways to inspire your employees to feel these powerful positive emotions while in the work place.

I recently performed an informal survey about what experiences people have which causes them to feel these twelve different emotions. I’ve compiled the results and found significant trends in almost every category.

Joyful

People seem to find the most joy in their lives from watching other people have a good experience. From listen to a virtuoso performance to children playing, to watching friends and colleagues have a wonderful experience. Joy comes from being in the proximity of someone having a great time.

Are you employees joyful at work? Are they getting the chance to experience a friend or colleague delivering a virtuoso performance? How are you providing an environment that encourages joy?

Excitement

People describe being excited when being involved in a winning accomplishment. Either a team victory or a personal “win” gets people pumped up and excited. It’s why people follow sports teams, why they enjoy competition, and why they enjoy trying new tasks because they get the opportunity to demonstrate a winning skill or talent.

How are you giving your employees a chance to experience victory? Do they feel a sense of team and understand what constitutes a win? Are you giving people the opportunity to feel excited about what they do? As rabid as fans are for their sports teams, imagine if you could create that same excitement for their work team?

Pleasure

Experiencing pleasure is simply doing what we love to do. People described pleasure coming from performing their hobbies, to spending time at a favorite location, to experiencing a high in their occupation. Nailing a speech, closing a deal, being recognized for an outstanding performance are all ways people experience pleasure in the workplace.

What opportunities are you creating for your employees to truly feel pleasure from their employment? What culture have you established in your work environment that encourages and fuels the opportunities for people to experience pleasure from a job they love to do?

Anticipation

For children, anticipation is huge the day before Christmas, before a birthday, just before entering into Disney for the first time. For adults anticipation is the same: the preamble to excitement. The preparation for a wonderful time is a type of high energy people enjoy just before “going for it.” It’s why players are jumping around just before storming the football field. It’s the racing of the heart as the speaker is being introduced, it’s the thrill of what positive moment is about to happen.

Great leaders are eager to get to work and get the excitement started. Top attorneys can’t wait to get in the court room to perform, and employees who love what they do are eager to get to the jobs they find exciting. How excited are your employees to get to work? How much positive anticipation do you feel on Sunday night getting prepared for your Monday morning? What model are you demonstrating?

Contentment

Overwhelmingly, people described contentment as something they experienced at the conclusion of a good day. Many tasks accomplished, success achieved, family tucked warm in bed, and a reflection on the positive accomplishments of the day.

What are your final thoughts before sleeping? Are you going over the positives of the day or are you watching televised news about all the negative things going on? Are you recapping your smiles from the day, or are you rehashing that argument you had in the morning meeting? Contentment is a choice we make. It’s also a choice leaders can influence in his or her staff. What last thoughts of the day are you choosing to have? What choices are you encouraging in your employees?

Invigorated

Almost every response to the question of what makes a person feel invigorated came from a physical activity. A gym workout, bike ride, a swim, working in the garden, weekend projects, doing something that makes a person sweat and gets the heart rate up were common in the physical exertion of energy.

As our employment becomes more office, white collar type of jobs, we are not experiencing the physical exertion of labor. (Although we all feel tired at the end of the day, don’t we?) Do you have a workout facility on your grounds? Do you encourage people to take a workout lunch break? Does your wellness program promote some type of invigorating activity during the work day? An invigorated employee doesn’t get the afternoon sleepies and is alive and alert throughout the day. How are you invigorating your employees?

The next blog on Friday will cover the next six positive emotions people experience. True leaders will recognize the benefits to having a consistency of these behaviors in the workplace, and work to find ways to create that type of positive working atmosphere. Give your employees the opportunity experience these emotions while working for you. They will be appreciative and you will benefit as well from the improved results.

Dealing with Helicopter Parents in the Workplace

2010-01-11T07:50:00.004-05:00

Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach and University of South Florida’s football coach Jim Leavitt were both recently fired because of stories brought to the respective schools by upset parents about treatment their sons had been receiving. The truth in these allegations is murky at best, yet both universities took swift and decisive action without knowing complete facts.

Parent involvement in children’s sports is no surprise, but reaching the college level and having impact on the employment of coaches is new. Emboldened helicopter parents (hovering overhead trying to control outcomes) are now extending their impact beyond the home and grade schools and into the workplace.

How do you handle parents who refuse to cut “the apron strings” on their children even when they become adults?

Handle with care

Parents who feel it is their obligation to get involved in employment matters of their offspring are not to be brushed off or handled lightly. These are people who believe they have a right to be there to defend their children. Already, I am hearing stories of parents demanding meetings with their adult child’s boss to talk about non-raises, disciplinary action, opportunity, and workplace complaints.

To not return their calls, tell them gruffly they have no business dealing with the issue, or flat out telling them to get lost only creates a nightmare of confrontation that very well could lead to litigation.

The best approach is to give them the opportunity to be heard. This is the most important desire they have. Secondly, take notes of the conversation to ensure you are getting all the details as they see them. This also lets the parent know you are listening to what they have to say. Lastly, let them know you will look into the matter and set a time for you to get back in touch with them. They want to know you took them serious.

Get the details

It would appear that the universities may have had alternative motives in firing these football coaches because the facts in the complaints brought by parents appear to have many errors and counter opinions from witnesses including the “child” involved in one case.

Before taking rash decisions, be sure you take the time to gather facts, speak with eye witnesses, and review reports and records until you have the details. Then make your decisions. It would be wrong to act on the words of the complaining parents and alienate your staff. It would also be wrong to cast aside the parent’s complaint and ignore it. Always gather information until you believe you have a firm understanding of the situation before taking action. The last thing you want to be dealing with is a legitimate sexual harassment case you never bothered to check the facts on.

Create a case file

As absurd as this may have sounded not very many years ago, managers are going to have to accept the meddlesome nature of parents wanting to get involved in every perceived slight of their children. The best approach is to create a case file of the complaint, what you found out, and the decision you chose to make. This is as much for self preservation as it is to demonstrate you took the complaint seriously.

If children’s sports and school experiences are any indication of manipulative parental involvement, this behavior is on the increase and will not be going away. The better prepared you are to handle it, the quicker you can reach resolution and get back to managing the workforce that only exists within your walls, the better you can focus on developing and growing your business..

How Your Business Can Avoid a Death by 1000 Cuts

2010-01-08T10:04:00.002-05:00

2009 was a season executives performed cut, cut, cut type of economic measures and hopefully your business wasn’t one of the many that died from self-inflicted 1000 cuts. Gruesome? Many businesses went under more because of their arbitrary across the board cuts bleeding them to death than the actually down economy. This year will also be an economic challenge as we all need to get more for less out of our businesses. Be a leader and don’t die at your own hand. Remember, you must avoid cutting your own throat when trying to get more for less.

Look into the details

The easy road is to do the simple stuff many companies do. Across the board cuts, wage freezes and slice and dice the budget. This is where you can cut your own throat. What if you need more personnel to properly run your department? What if cutting your marketing dollars removes more revenue than you saved by not advertising? What if you best talent decides to bail because of a second year of wage freeze?

Study the details of your organization looking for cost saving opportunities. What services are you outsourcing you could bring back in house using your staff? What tasks can be streamlined? Are you getting your employees involved in finding better and more cost effective ways to perform tasks? Could you do a better job of scheduling people for peak customer times?

Take each department of your organization and explore ways to make improvements without cutting deeply into profit-producing opportunities.

Have a plan

During difficult economic times a tight strategic plan is more critical than ever before because every meeting, every dollar, even step must be made in the positive direction toward accomplishing goals. When I see organizations missing the marks they set to achieve for the year and then use the excuses of the economy, how hard they worked to get what they did get, or how they did the best they can under the circumstances, I see an organization that is off the path.

Define your targets, your action items to reach those targets and set a timeline for each step along the way. Accountability is the easiest choice to get more for less. How accountable are you holding your executives to their responsibility of reaching their targets?

Put away the knife

Why do companies cut budgets instead of focusing on finding the additional revenue to meet the budgets? Because reducing costs is always easier than finding more revenue. Who said it was supposed to be easy? The job of every company is to make profits and grow the business to extend the longevity of the organization.

Stop the cutting mentality and spend more time finding additional opportunities to grow your business. Are you looking for more for less this year? I suggest you focus on the more and dedicating fewer days to figuring out the less.

4 Ways to Energize Yourself and Your Business

2010-01-06T10:51:00.003-05:00

At the start of this decade no one was waiting around the office at midnight dreading to see if the electric grid crashed, if computer-based machinery stopped, or society fell into chaos due to Y2K as we did ten years ago. Yet, I still witnessed people dreading returning from their four day weekend to the daily grind that chewed up many businesses and their leaders last year.

To revitalize a company the leader must first be revitalized. How can you revitalize yourself when the economy is still down, people still seem to be in a negative mindset, and the future is quite unclear? With these four action items you can reenergize your vitality as a leader and once again set a positive tone for your staff to follow and vicariously become more energized themselves.

1. Get a reality check

I’ve heard it said many times; things are never as good as they seem and never as bad as they seem. 2009 seemed to be a pretty bad year for most organizations. Many executives just gave up in the fourth quarter and started focusing on 2010. In retrospect, 2009 was filled with lessons. Step back from the pain and frustration of 2009 and make a list of lessons learned that can help you in the future. We all learned last year, in some cases it could be what not to do. However, aren’t those some of the best lessons to have?

2. Make a plan

Free-wheeling is no longer an option for leadership; nor is sticking directly on a plan. Flexibility within a plan is different than free-wheeling in that you have a clear understanding of destination and the ability to make adjustments. Do you have a written plan for this year? Do you have a written plan for your personal life? I’m not being pollyanna here, I know you don’t suddenly wake up one day and life is all rosy. The business side of life is still going to be a climb up the mountain, but your personal life can be a great source of energy fueling that climb. Have a personal plan as well as a business plan.

3. Find inspiration in your personal life

People are still going to reject some of your sales efforts, companies are still tight with budgets, and the country still has a ways to go before we are into positive growth. In other words, business is still going to be a challenging environment. That is why I set 50 personal goals for the year (to go with my 50 professional goals for the year) because I know I get inspired in my personal life. Who inspires you? What inspirational friends do you need to spend more time with? What friends do you need to avoid/drop/move on from? If you aren’t being positively impacted by your friends, you are losing energy that is needed to fight the business battle. Find inspiration.

4. Try something completely different

How many times last year, did you ask people to give you more, hammer them for not doing their jobs correctly, and generally focused on the negative aspects of the business. Try something different this year. Become solution-focused instead of blame-focused. Be proactive instead of reactive. Look for innovative approaches instead of cutting budgets and doing less of the same that wasn’t working in the first place!!!

Pushing an elevator button repeatedly does not make the elevator arrive any quicker. I think we fall into this type of behavior frequently when times are tough. Get real about the positives, find solutions for the negatives and get energized to lead. Because it is the beginning of a new year, now is a great opportunity to refocus, reinvent, and reenergize yourself and your staff. Get pumped to make a difference this year.

Is Your Business GPS Programmed?

2010-01-04T09:01:00.003-05:00

Isn't it great how we can climb in the car enter our destination address into the GPS and have basically worry free travel knowing we won't get lost and will reach our destination? What does your business GPS look like? Since executives don't have a Garmin gadget sitting on their desk for them to enter where they want to be in 12 months and expect basically worry free travel, we have to do it the old fashioned way. We do that by answering some questions to help us determine the focus of the trip. Such as, do you know your destination you desire to reach by January 1st, 2011?

What is the address?

Having a clear picture of where you want your business to be is no different than the clear definition of where you want your car to be at the end of the trip. Instead of entering a street number into your GPS, enter in the "address" you want your business to reach. The address looks like, revenue dollars, on market share street in the town of profits in the state of celebration.

What is guiding your path to reach your destination?

A strategic plan is the best map for getting from Point A to Point B. Have you mapped out your route to your desired destination? Just being filled with desire and hope today isn't going to get you there. I know lots of hard working people who are struggling. Your mapped out plan keeps you on task even when you have to take unexpected detours. The more detailed the directions the better defined the route. Imagine the GPS lady's voice tell you, "It one mile, turn left" as opposed to your VP telling you at the last minute, "We should’ve turned one mile back."

What obstacles do you anticipate?

Rarely does a year happen with smooth sailing the entire way. In fact, if your seas are that calm, you probably never left the harbor. Obstacles are part of every journey and anticipated obstacles are easily navigated when you are prepared for their inevitability. Make a list of the potential obstacles you will face this year and make a plan to render them non-events, just part of the landscape of reaching your destination.

What are your contingency plans?

To journey the path to great destinations requires fore-thought as I've mentioned but also necessary to achieve greatness is the ability to think on your feet and be decisive. Every great leader is comfortable and ready with contingency plans when the unexpected happens. Unless you want to be stopped dead in your tracks well short of your destination, be ready to make choices quickly to keep your business progressing forward.

Time to Think

2009-12-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Between now and January 4th I will not be posting to my blog because every year I use the week between Christmas and New Year's Day to think. In today's world to simply sit and think has become so difficult for most of us because we feel the need to be in constant motion. To sit, think and contemplate at length about decisions, directions and desires for one's business doesn't often happen but I've found the wisdom that comes out of my week has contributed more to my personal and professional success than any other time.

I hope you enjoy your holidays and I implore you to take some time to think about important decisions you will face in the coming year.

10 Obsolete Products and Ideas. Is Your Business Obsolete?

2009-12-21T15:29:00.003-05:00

Over the last decade a number of things have become obsolete or are virtually on life support. It’s easy to spot in other people’s products and services that are obsolete, but what about your own? After reading this list, reflect on your business. What are the products, services, habits, marketing approaches, and managerial methods that are obsolete in your business. We are about to start a new decade, is your business ready?

1. The busy signal

Phone technology has advanced so much we rarely hear a busy signal any more. Call waiting and voice mail have made hearing the busy signal obsolete. Ask a young person what does a busy signal sound like, and watch the look they give you.

2. Dial up modem

Once again a sound that you hardly hear anymore is the electronic gurgling of a dial up modem searching then making a connection. 10 years ago this was the common Internet connection, today it is pretty much gone from existence.

3. The “Blind” date

Once upon a time when you were fixed up on a blind date you had no clue who the person was or anything about her other than what your friend told you about her. Today with Google, Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter there is an encyclopedia of knowledge you can obtain before actually meeting in person. Which begs the question: Are you using these tools to learn about prospects before calling on them?

4. Poor TV reception

No more rabbit ears and tin foil to find the best channel reception. We have more than 4 stations to pick from as well. CBS, NBC, ABC and PBS were about all the choices you had and getting them watchable was an exercise.

5. Waiting to get photos developed

Photo technology has changed from waiting a few days to get back vacation pictures to having them on your computer in five minutes. Almost unlimited capacity and no waiting are the code words of the photo industry today.

6. Answering machine

Along with the busy signal the small answering machine box has all but disappeared in its short lived life span. This product was being replaced almost as fast as it was invented. It had a very short life cycle.

7. A calculator watch

We no longer need watches with tiny button to do basic calculations on. In fact, we no longer are in need of wrist watches to tell time. Good thing the industry decided to market them as status and jewelry accessories.

8. Floppy disk

Ten years ago portable memory was on 3.5 inch disks that held so little memory capacity; most current programs wouldn’t fit on ten of them. Today, thumb drives, and portable hard drives the size of transistor radios (remember them?) make memory capacity readily available. Expect these devices to go the way of floppy disks in the near future as well with the advance of cloud computing.

9. Car cigarette lighters

The ubiquitous cigarette lighter was on the dash board of every car. Who knew that penny-sized hole would transform into an electronics charging port? The lighters don’t even come with the port anymore as the transformation from lighter to charger port is complete.

10. Getting an AOL disk in the mail

Monthly I was getting a disk of free minutes for AOL. Snail mail spam as it were. When was the last time you saw one of those? AOL the pioneer of online connection is lost in the vast number of ways to access the all important information highway.

2009: It Wasn’t Pretty

2009-12-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Let's face it, be real and call it what it was: 2009 was a bad year. No need to list the negative news the business world kept getting pounded with all year. Most every industry took a punch in the gut at some point. Some industries got hit a little harder and were dropped to one knee. Would you say this was one of the worst years in decades? Yes, I think that would be accurate. Now that that is out of the way...

What happens next?

Global competition didn't stop. Your national competitors are putting their brain trust to work on finding the solution to emerging stronger. 2010 is not the year to cut budgets, sit by and lick your wounds so you can consider it a year of getting back on your feet. That is what January is for. The rest of the year you need to have your track shoes laced up and double knotted for the race that will determine your next five years of growth.

Define your path to point B

Sure 2009 was a curve ball and your plan for getting from Point A to Point B no longer works because you no longer can see Point B. I hear many executives so confused with their organization's direction because of the turmoil of this year, they seem ready to just idle until the fog lifts and the picture gets a little clearer. The fact is, we are going to be traveling in foggy times for quite a while and no one can afford to just idle. Point B is still out there, granted the road to getting there has changed.

Map a different path to reach your destination.

Might it take longer? Yes, it probably will. Will it be a tougher road? I think over the last 15 years the path to business success has shifted dramatically and become much tougher. So have most avenues to success, but people still achieve tremendous accomplishments.

Use the beginning of the new year to prepare for the success you owe it to your organization to achieve. As long as you know the path, believe in the path and are willing to put in the leadership effort to walk the path, 2010 can become a much different story than 2009.

The All or Nothing Business Model

2009-12-17T07:00:00.001-05:00

What happened to the middle ground? The extremists have taken over and executives need to avoid falling into the trap of all or nothing. How many public figures make a mistake and someone is calling for their heads? Politicians, athletes and other public figures are one misstep from being called to resign. In fact, this is going on in our corporations as well and it is a very dangerous way to manage.

I have client executives who told me a year ago how valuable a particular employee was to the success of the organization only to hear twelve months later the executive is considering firing that same employee. I asked the executive what significant errors had this employee made over the last year? His response? Nothing significant, I’m just not as impressed as I was a year ago. When I pressed for more details the executive told me the once superstar had taken time off for some minor surgery and was gone during a critical time of the year.

There is nothing wrong with challenging employees to step up. There is nothing wrong with setting high expectations. There is nothing wrong with striving for excellence. But, when someone can go from the best to being considered for termination because of one failed attempt or one questionable event (surgery, really?) the work environment is caustic.

All or nothing employment will create disastrous consequences. Consider these three effects of an all or nothing environment.

1. Us against them

Look at our government right now. There is no collaboration and the fight between the parties is so caustic that the country suffers as a result. Right now the Democrats are enjoying their majority and passing legislation in the face of Republican protest. As always happens in politics the tide will turn and the Republicans will do the same thing in response, and the battle continues it just keeps getting nastier and nastier. Is this anyway to operate a successful organization? Once lines are drawn people will fight to the end even at their own detriment. Think this doesn't happen in business? Ask the leaders of General Motors and the Autoworkers Union how their loggerhead mentality has prospered?

When you create divisions in the workforce and set up a one mistake and gone atmosphere sides will be drawn and factions will try to take control and the focus of energy will be on winning the internal battle as the bigger picture sinks. Collaboration is a better path to success than combating factions.

2. CYA

When you place every employee on a one mistake tight rope suddenly people become much more interested in adopting a cover-your-ass style of thinking than in a how-can-we-get-better type of thinking. Survival is the most basic of instincts and teamwork, profits, and innovation will be abandoned in such circumstances. All or nothing makes everyone more interested in blame focus than in solution focus. It a blame-focused work place really the work environment you believe produces the best results? Think again.

3. The Fear Freeze

Imagine The University of Kentucky basketball team is playing a big game against the University of North Carolina and one of the coaches is fed up with all the personal fouls his team has been having so he tells his team over the noise of the crowd just before the tip off, "If anyone gets one foul they will be pulled from the game. No fouls or you are gone from the game. Got it?" What possible chance do they have of winning? The players will be frozen in fear every time the ball comes down the court for fear of being pulled out of the game.

If you have been laying off employees, creating fearful announcements in your workforce or making extreme comments to try to inspire your work force you are probably witnessing some of these effects of the all or nothing managerial approach. It’s time for leaders to avoid the extremes and return to middle ground where employees can make mistakes in the effort to improve, grow and innovate.

Whispers are Now Broadcasts

2009-12-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

My parents' generation barely wanted to talk about sex with doctors let alone in public, and today with social media and phone technology we are so open with our thoughts we have a new word: sexting. What was once whispered is now considered broadcast worthy.

Between twitter, facebook and texting millions of people feel the need to express their every emotion, thought and circumstance. That behavior is slopping over to the real world too. Recently I was in a poker tournament and the young man beside me started just going off about what he was going to do based on my actions. It is rude to talk about a hand while it is still in play so I asked him what he was doing. He told me he was talking to himself. Another person immediately chimed in, "We can hear you!"

This is where we are in society -- out loud, unbuffered thinking and communicating. Is this the transparency we really need? Social media is becoming the self-help group therapy session for millions of people and it is changing how society interacts. The lines are blurring of what is considered professional, confidential and appropriate.

Had a bad meal at a restaurant? Tell everyone and take a picture of the food to post. Dealing with a rude customer service person on the phone? Tell the world.

People are creating hate blogs, corporate bashing websites and editorial commentary on anything and anyone. This is changing business interaction and creating ethical questions for organizations.

Can an executive read an employee's posts and take action based on what was posted? Can an employer read a prospective employee's twitter postings (tweets) before the interview? Can a business file a suit against a customer for false reporting of a negative situation? How does an executive handle a negative thread of posts on their corporate facebook page? Is that censorship or good business?

These questions and many others are raising the stakes on the open communication in social media. Executives need to crate policies to deal with these broadcasts from employees, customers and cowardly bashers who have been given a forum to vent.

As we've seen with the Tiger Woods story, a person can go from role model to pariah in a matter of hours as people heap opinions upon opinions in open communication. In the age of instant communication and unvarnished baseless opinion organizations need to be ready to handle a firestorm that was once whispered but now is an open broadcast. The rules of communication have shifted dramatically in the last 12 months. Businesses need to create the proper response within the next 12 months or risk the loss of control on your brand, business message and information.

The End of Year Sorting… Through Your Mind

2009-12-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year when many people decide to sort through files, desk drawers and office shelves getting ready for the new year. The annual office cleansing ritual is a way to prepare for a fresh beginning. But are we clearing out the right things to truly prepare for a fresh start?

I believe the files and desk clutter are not the most important cleansing needed to start a new year with a fresh start. Take one day for your physical clutter removal and spend the rest of a week removing the mental clutter because this is where the greatest obstacles exist for starting anew.

Remove the mental pain

"Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me" may have been true in simpler times, but in today's world words cause much greater lasting damage. Remember the crushing remarks your boss make in the heat of emotionally-fueled conversation? Of course you do. How about the argument with a fellow executive where snide comments were made that still hurt? And that hundredth phone call that never got returned from a prospect? That was the day the phone became too heavy to pick up again.

This is the clutter that is a much greater obstacle to a fresh start than old files will ever be. Take the time to cleanse these memories if you truly want to make a fresh start on the coming year. To renew your vigor for the job and refresh the excitement for coming to work this is the right time to wipe this mental pain from your memory. If only it was as easy as washing a blackboard.

Cleaning office clutter is mindless work. Cleaning your mental clutter is intense work, and the payoff is well worth the effort. What are the memories you need to get beyond? What are the words that were said in the heat of the moment that have been given much greater credibility than they ever should have been given? What is still a thorn in your brain that triggers unwanted emotions? By working to clear this clutter you will return to the excitement you once had for your work.

Ask yourself 4 deep questions

When I do my annual end of year mental check list I find it best to ask myself questions to gain clarity to see if I am ready to take on a new year totally stoked and ready to hit it..

1. Do I still love what I do as much as when I started this business? If not, why not? And what am I going to do to restore that? Side bar: I hear so many executives tired this year, fed up with the negatives, concerned with the rapid changes that are happening, this may be the most important question you could ask yourself to prepare to be successful in the coming year.

2. Do I have the energy required to create a successful year? If not, what habits do I need to adjust in order to have that energy? (I'm not talking resolutions, I'm talking behavioral shifts!)

3. Where is my excitement level for the work I see coming in the new year? Base this on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 meaning I'd rather be anywhere else but here to 10 meaning my work is more enjoyable than vacation.

4. What areas within me are holding me back from delivering the ultimate performance in the coming year? What do I plan on doing about that?

I take the week between Christmas and New Year's Day to work on my mental de-cluttering and strengthening. It's the perfect time of year to cleanse, refocus, and clear the air in preparation for a running start to another great opportunity.

No Time for the Timid

2009-12-14T07:43:00.004-05:00

At the end of one of the roughest economic years in recent memory leaders have a great challenge at hand. Government is having greater impact on significant industries such as auto, finance and health and the trickledown effect will be a tidal wave of impact.

Are you ready?

The leadership approach of "wait and see" is no longer an acceptable strategy. The longer you wait, the more changes are going to happen, the more behind you will get. Obviously, I'm not saying take a "ready, shoot, aim" approach because you will need to digest the volume of changes that are coming and interpret the impact on your organization. However, once you have that understanding to the best of your ability it’s time to take action.

Clear picture no more

Not that many years ago the business world was a clear picture of how to make profits, gain a bit of market share and know who the competition was. You can't wait for the clear picture anymore. Visionary skills at the top are more important now because the picture isn't so clear. A leader has to be able to see through the fog and recognize where their organization needs to be heading. Executive ability to lead in a storm is trait most needed in business today. These are not times for the timid.

Over the next few years businesses are going to fall into three categories and the leadership of each organization will determine which category those organizations fall into.

Passive

These organizations will be late adopters and want to follow trends. These executives are more interested in hanging in the middle of the pack and hoping others will determine the path the industry must follow. The only problem here is how fast things change now. By the time the passive organization joins the trend, the wants of consumers has already shifted and these organization will only be serving the stragglers. Passive organizations will always be looking to cut budgets and hope to make profits at the end of the year.

Old school

This category of organizations is the group that just believes in doing things the old fashioned way based on the thought it worked fine for the last 40 years it will work fine for the next 40. Old school organizations resistant to change have a short life expectancy. The Big Three auto makers are the best example of change resistance to the eternal detriment of the company. Change can be scary and sometimes executives just want things to stay the same. Unfortunately, business is progressing rapidly with increasing speed and these companies will be lost and left behind to suffer a fate of either closing, being purchased, or broken apart. In this category the smaller the company the shorter the life expectancy.

Aggressive

These organizations are going to be looking for every advantage they can possibly exploit and take the necessary risks to make it happen. They will shop for top talent, pay high salaries and take the occasional long shot. The workloads will be tremendous and the commitment extensive. This is a group that thrives on change, and desires to be in the forefront of the industry.

Some organizations will project well and make huge strides; others will miss the mark and most-likely cost the executives their employment. This is a gutsy group that lives for winning. The risk is high but so is the potential payoff.

As you can see, the business world, no matter which category you lead your organization into requires risk and courage. It’s up to you to decide which path you feel best to be part of. The day of the timid leader enjoying the ride is over.

Failure? Not a damn chance

2009-12-09T09:47:00.004-05:00

2009 is on pace to record close to 150,000 commercial bankruptcies to go along with almost 1.5 million total bankruptcies. That is a lot of lost wealth and lot of crushed dreams. Businesses have failed because leadership was poorly matched with the situation they encountered. Whether it came on suddenly or gradually, the leadership missed important steps to preventing the failure from happening.
How do you prevent getting into such a dire situation when the best choice you have left is to ruin your credit rating and get into a disastrous financial situation for your organization? You have forethought and rely on these three steps.

Obstacles are a guide post

Along the way to every bankruptcy were poor decisions and misunderstood obstacles. Obstacles are not always best dealt with by waiting from them to get out of the way. You can't throw money at obstacles and hope that will make them to go away. Just going around them and not considering the new direction you just took is also a poor decision.

So what do you do with obstacles? Sometimes obstacles are an indicator a new direction is needed. But make sure you know where the new path is heading other than simply around the obstacle. When you encounter an obstacle to the normal flow of your business, stop a minute and think what it means.

Obstacles will show you what you are doing incorrectly if you stop and pay attention. Most people are of the mind set to plow forward and charge through on the same path they have always taken. In these times of rapid upheaval change, it's the right time to stop and think what your obstacles are telling you. They could be warning signs of greater problems down your normal path.

Refuse to lose

What does it mean to refuse to lose? Continue to bang your head against a wall until you are unconscious? Of course not, "refuse to lose" is more about commitment and dedication with a healthy mix of business savvy.

Bankruptcy had become too easy in this country and poor decision makers were using it to wipe the slate clean of mistakes to get a fresh start and letting others pay for their mistakes without making the effort to save the mess they created. The bankruptcy reforms of 2005 tightened the rules on these folks making it tougher to file for bankruptcies, but the mentality of business owners haven’t adjusted as fast as the law.

I see business leaders throwing in the towel because the work seems overwhelming. I've seen small businesses disappear because owners simply quit. Most business failures don't happen overnight unless there was a disaster such as a fire or a devastating law suit. This is not a popular opinion I know, but most businesses fail because leaders either were not paying attention or didn't have the energy to do what it takes to refuse to lose. If there was ever a time to have mental toughness, now is the time.

When you dig deep surprises happen

Innovation never happens unless someone is trying to solve as problem. When times are challenging and you feel backed against a wall, dig deep for new ideas, fresh thinking and new solutions.

We never know what we are fully capable of until we are fully tested. Don't shy away from challenges, embrace them. Don't throw in the towel, stoke that fire from within and drive harder. Failure? It doesn't stand a chance when you are fully engaged and committed to coming out on top.

5 Ways to Get Your Mind in the Game

2009-12-07T07:00:00.003-05:00

Watching college football games over the weekend and thinking about how we are coming to the end of a challenging year I am reminded how critical it is for us to be focused because there is such a slim margin between winning and losing.

1. Your morning pregame

All athletes know the importance of pregame preparation which is why some are almost obsessive to have the identical pregame routine before every game. Listen to the same music, have the same meal, even to the point of in what order they put on their socks. Lack of a structured pregame can have a negative impact. I've witnessed games lost because of the attitudes in the locker room before the game ever started.They just didn't have their minds ready for the game.

Rushing into your office at the last minute with a cup of coffee and a half eaten Danish isn't how to start your day. Neither is wiping away the sleep from your eyes because you stayed up late watching the game the night before.

Define your perfect morning pregame. What should you eat? How much rest should you have the night before? What are you thinking during your commute? What is your excitement level for hitting the office door charging into your day?

The next time you watch a college football game imagine the team strolling onto the field just before kick off still pulling on their uniforms and grabbing a snack. Would you think they were prepared? Why do you accept that losing behavior in yourself? Get in the game before the game.

2. Clearing your mind of distractions

Athletes with off the field problems frequently tell reporters they enjoy being in the game because they get to block out the distractions and focus on winning. How many office mates do you see wasting time, energy and effort on distractions outside of the job? When you are at work are you AT work? When I pay to see a concert I expect the band to be in the moment and deliver their best effort I paid to see. When I see an athlete play I want to see a focus that is on nothing else but winning the game I paid to attend.

Your employer paid to have you deliver your best performance. Are you focused enough to bring your best to the table? Once upon a time people brought their work problems home. Today, people bring their home problems to work and their performance reflects this distracted behavior.

Get in the game. Leave the distractions for another time and get your focus on like millions are counting on you to deliver the victory -- because you employer, customers, potential customers and employees are.

3. Know your role

I saw a great quote of a military edict: Shut your hole and know your role. Imagine if you adopted that approach to the rest of the year of work? In the final three weeks of the year create a focus that isn't about small talk and gossip and instead was a pure focus of getting things done you know need done. Perform your role you know makes things positive happen. Forget the chit chat, zone in on the task at hand.

4. Have a plan

The night before you check out of your office did you leave a specific plan for the next day? Without that plan most people lose the first couple of hours of the morning trying to get the day started in the right direction. Imagine your job is a movie and when you turn the lights out in your office for the day you hit the pause button on the movie. The next morning when you throw on the lights for the day you hit the play button on the movie. No warming up, none of this "Now where were we?" No refiguring what needs to be done. The movie picks up on the line of dialogue it paused at with a seamless plan (script) still in place.

A plan will give you that type of consistency day to day that will help you get many more things accomplished.

5. Execute the plan

I hear executives tell me they do write down their plans for the next day the night before but when they hit the office in the morning there are unforeseen demands and distractions and some days they never get to the plan. Sounds to me like the job is in control of the executive instead of the executive being in control of the job. When you have a plan and execute the plan you know how to deal with the few distractions that come up.

Having a plan and not sticking to it, is nothing but a Santa Claus wish list of things you want to happen. Everyone wants to win, but those who win are the ones who have their mind in the game.