Act like you are an owner in the company. Ownership accountability means holding yourself to account, holding others to account, and the willingness to be held to account. I have a secret. I’ve told myself that if I don’t declare a goal or an action out loud, then it’s not […]
Be reliable and deliver on all your commitments, no matter how small. If a commitment is in jeopardy, notify others immediately and set a new commitment. My dad was usually a quiet, stoic figure. He did love to laugh, play golf with his buddies, and bet on an occasional football […]
Communicate in the least complicated way, so that your audience understands you. This applies to all communication: Spoken, written, illustrated, etc. We are accountable for what people take from our communication. As a leader, you have the opportunity to work with your teams and communicate the intention for 2019. Whether […]
We serve each other, our customers, and ourselves when we serve the community. Demonstrate making a difference. As we wrap up the holiday season, I feel it’s perfect that our Fundamental this week is about giving to others and serving. It seems high on our priority list during the holidays, but […]
Keep your ego, your personal agenda, and your judgments out of the way of doing what’s best for the team or the customer. Don’t let being right interfere with being able to hear others and see possible new solutions you haven’t seen before. It is the commonest of mistakes […]
An excellent quote from the Dalai Lama: “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.” Be honest with yourself; how much have you learned by talking? Listening well to others brings new facts, opinions, information and – ultimately knowledge. But easier […]
Demonstrate doing the right thing in all your actions and all your decisions, especially when no one is looking. Always tell the truth. Acknowledge and own your mistakes, clean them up and make appropriate corrections. For the past two decades, we have been helping companies to consciously build their […]
Work from the assumption that people are good, fair, and honest. Set aside your own judgments or preconceived notions and give people the benefit of the doubt. Look for the positive intent in their actions and communications. Self-fulfilling prophecies are incredibly powerful influencers, in your own behavior, that of others and of your […]
Model enthusiasm in your response to issues and rigor in your follow up. Make sure your work is accurate, complete, and timely. Keep people updated, and make sure they are clear about your communication(s). One could argue the attention span of business has contracted to the impatience of a butterfly. […]
Let people know your appreciation for the qualities that they possess. Being acknowledged for a task well done is important, being acknowledged for a character quality is lasting. Who doesn’t like a “way to go” or “great job”? Why are we so driven to want to know if we are […]