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I’ve noticed that I can get really productive when I’m working against an external deadline.
This pressure gives me waves of adrenaline, so I can get focused and stay moving. If you think about it, that’s a kind of drug addiction.
And it’s pervasive through our culture. We get pleasure out of constantly pushing, striving, moving. But there are dangers we need to recognize.
Read the rest of this entry »I used to think that the goal of life is to have things as comfortable as possible. Not working hard, but maybe sitting on the beach all day.
My perspective has changed. I’ve learned that some of the most joyful times come from working hard and making a contribution.
Those are pretty general criteria – “working hard” depends on what I’m good at and how frustrating the experience might be. “Making a contribution” depends a bit on whether people appreciate what I’ve done, but not always. Sometimes it’s the more general feeling that I’ve created value through my work.
Read the rest of this entry »When I get stressed, I can start snapping at people.
I also get into rushed decisions and actions which are less than kind. And that’s not the person I want to be.
But it’s difficult when I’m under stress, as it doesn’t feel like I have the time or energy to step back and regroup.
Read the rest of this entry »Uh oh! Things have fallen apart!
Why is this the first time you’ve heard about it?
The answer is pretty simple. People don’t like to be the bearer of bad news, especially if they think there’s going to be an impact on them personally. Even casting blame on the group as a whole is uncomfortable. So people don’t hide the information … exactly … but they hope that they will find a solution given just a little more time.
Read the rest of this entry »So you’re building something that’s going to be really successful. Customers will be happy, and your employees will find purpose and make a living.
What’s beyond that?
The recent Artemis II mission got me thinking about perspectives which are much, much larger than I usually ponder. In the case of business leadership, this includes ripples you might be generating which extend far beyond your current business plan and even your lifetime.
So let’s think about that for a moment.
Read the rest of this entry »As part of my management training, I took a course named Crucial Conversations. The concept is that there are particular interactions you need to have which contain high emotional impact, and therefore warrant careful planning.
Workplace examples are where you might have to give tough feedback to an employee, or communicate a difficult decision. Typically what holds you back is the emotional response you expect from the other person, which generates some internal resistance on your part.
It’s not so much what needs to be said, as how to communicate to preserve the relationship. So it’s good to do some thoughtful planning. Here is the process I tend to use:
Read the rest of this entry »Small acts are the lubricant for a society that works.
I heard a presentation recently from someone who described how the small things can matter even more than big issues. In business, and in our society, we tend to pay attention to the Big Things because we think they’ll have the most impact.
But we should also pay attention to what he called the “small favors economy,” those seemingly insignificant things which matter because it’s part of being human. It could be something as simple as holding the door open for the person coming behind you.
Read the rest of this entry »What would happen if everybody in your organization was a leader?
I know what you’re thinking: sheer chaos. Everybody would be doing what they want to, all random and disorganized.
But in fact, it would be healthy thing to think about your people that way. Let me explain.
Read the rest of this entry »There are some horrendous fires going on in Nebraska right now, so it was the whole topic of discussion this weekend when I was talking with friends who are affected.
It reminded me of work that I did in disaster planning, and a conversation I had with my wife in 2013 when fires came within just a few miles of our house.
The question is: How do you possibly save what’s important? In fact, what is important?
Read the rest of this entry »I’ve found that people can put in amazingly hard work … for a while.
It’s not that people are lazy – they just get worn out. And our current society seems to love adding more and more stress, especially mental.
We need a break.
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The Values-Based Business 