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We’d like to think that the relationship between manager and employee is very transactional. The employee does the required work, and the manager pays them. Then everybody goes home and has their Real Life.
But we’re all human. We have ups and downs, triumphs and challenges.
In the work setting, we like to ignore all that. It’s just about “doing the work”. If we were all automatons, that might make it even easier. But there’s so much more.
Read the rest of this entry »I was having a conversation the other day about responsibility, accountability, and authority.
Accountability seems to be the term that people struggle with the most, because it feels like it’s nothing but bad consequences. If everything goes right, then we look for people to credit. If things go wrong, then we look for who’s accountable.
Who to blame.
Read the rest of this entry »Our work is SO serious! SO important!
So can we allow ourselves a little fun in our work? Why not?
OK, so sometimes the work really is super serious. I want my surgeon to know as much as she can and not play around with my life. But even in this example, you’ll find that medical professionals often develop a wicked sense of humor, to take the sting out of the weight of their work.
Read the rest of this entry »Even if your workers are working for a paycheck, it’s wise to learn from those who are leading volunteers.
I’ve learned a whole lot from volunteer-driven organizations, and am currently involved with several myself. In that environment, if people aren’t getting their needs met, they can simply walk away. This is one of the natural things about leading these kinds of groups.
When you’re giving someone their pay every week or two, it’s easy to fall into the trap that their loyalty will continue as long as the pay and benefits are good.
Not true.
Read the rest of this entry »As the leader, it’s your job to address mistakes and imperfections.
That can be SO tough, because of course you want to maintain certain standards and push towards a more ideal future.
And, let’s be honest, there can be a bit of ego involved. Especially if this is the organization that you started.
Read the rest of this entry »Everybody wants to be loved, to be recognized, to be appreciated. We don’t often use the word “love” in business, but it’s still in our nature.
It’s especially crucial for a place where you spend about a quarter of every week.
If you’re an effective leader, you know this. But it’s difficult to figure out what your team needs, both as a group and individually.
Read the rest of this entry »What’s changing because of your work?
We all want to make a difference, right? Whether it’s introducing the world to new ideas, or fixing problems, or giving people productive work … that’s where the motivation comes from.
This is true at the individual level, for an organization, even for society as a whole. And the answer is usually different at each level.
Read the rest of this entry »Sometimes we think our job is about just doing our job.
But if that’s the case, I’m going to quickly become bored and uninspired. Even with the prospect of pulling in a paycheck, I’m going to lose interest. Sure, I’ll do the job – I have integrity – but I’m not going to be inspired by it.
As a leader, your job is to help people become inspired.
Read the rest of this entry »As the boss, you think your role is to tell everyone else what to do. And it kinda is, in a way.
The trap is to think that it makes you more important than the other people. It doesn’t. Sure, your decisions might be complex and challenging. But you’re probably not the one who is actually, directly, delivering value for the customer.
And if you look at the big picture, ALL work is worthy of respect and honor. Even the planning you do.
Read the rest of this entry »I’ve found that it’s hard to figure out whether to chart my own path or follow someone who went before.
This came to mind because I was recently teaching a class for people who are on their retirement path. The key question is: What do I want to do with the rest of my life? And the answer is different for each person.
So the class was all about deciding what your desired path is. Or however you describe your best life.
But this connects with the challenges we have in business as well, where it’s more common to be in an industry where there’s a “normal path” to success.
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The Values-Based Business 