Happy New year to All of You and Your wonderful families! Hope the year has started off on a very good note!
It is the start of the New year and a chance to Write 365 pages of Sheer magic in your life-book.
I am sure each of you in the corporate world would be having good discussions with your Boss, Your teams, etc. periodically. Here are some tips (with host of inputs from the web) to make it as Effective as it can be! (Think WIN-WIN)
Make Your 1:1's productive – The Basics!: (Yes, these are basics)
1. Do them at the same time each week - make them recurring meetings so you can get into a weekly rhythm. Schedule them for an hour, although you can shorten them during weeks when you have little to discuss.
2. Don't cancel them. The easiest way to communicate to an employee that they're not important is to cancel their 1:1, no matter what the reason. If a conflict comes up, try to reschedule the 1:1 at another time on the same day, and apologize for doing so. Cancelling a 1:1 is worse than never scheduling one at all.
3. Take notes and prepare - in all of your meetings take notes on follow up items. Use those notes to prepare for the next meeting, roll the notes from that meeting into the next meeting, and so on... Having a meaningful conversation with anyone takes time.
As you’ll see in a moment, you start with an opener where you figure out where everyone is mentally, which builds conversational momentum into having a conversation of consequence
4. Let them drive (to start). Don't start a 1:1 by piling more work on employees. Encourage them to drive the agenda and bring a list of things they'd like your advice on or to discuss. You can try to bring these out by simply asking, "What can I help you with?"
5. Go fishing. Ask open-ended questions to try to ferret out concerns. They can be questions about a specific project ("How's project X going?") or even more broad ("What's keeping you up at night lately?")
6. Be transparent and honest. By encouraging your employees to raise real concerns you're going to get some tough questions. If you can't answer them, tell your employee that. If you do choose to answer, answer honestly and err on the side of transparency. If they point out a problem on the team acknowledge it and respond by telling them what you're doing to fix it. If they think they're due for a promotion and you don't, reset their expectations by doing a gap analysis.
7. Discuss career development. Every few 1:1's make sure to step away from project discussions and have a higher-level discussion about the employee's career and satisfaction on the team. These are sometimes called "stay interviews". Check in on what the employee's specific goals are and what they think will make them satisfied in their job in the coming months. If their goal is to be promoted, review the different things they need to achieve or demonstrate to move them further down that path.
8. Ask for course correction. You won't always get answers, but every couple 1:1's with an employee ask them, "What could I be doing better as a manager?" You can get some really great guidance this way, and it's much better to get this feedback throughout the year and act on it than be surprised on it at review time when you hear about it from your own boss.
9. Give course correction. Performance issues grow over time. Try to spot patterns early and give gentle feedback to reverse performance issues. Strengthen the tone of your feedback the longer the performance issue persists.
10. Coach them on communication. The one skill that can benefit any employee throughout their career is clear communication. Use your 1:1's as opportunities to coach your employees on communication. Ask them to write brief docs on relevant topics. If they are unclear explaining something, probe until you understand and then replay the point back to them, as an example.
11. Relax and enjoy - over time you can build up a very good relationship with most people simply through this time investment. Even though you may need to discuss tough issues, try to build up enough trust and openness between you that you can enjoy solving problems and working to make the company better. Too much tension gets in the way of problem solving.
12. Make it about them. Demonstrate the clear personal value of feedback. Consider why employees benefit from what you are asking them to participate in. Integrate into things people already do so you ensure employees will want to engage.
13. Separate feedback from compensation. Ensure that employees are focused on learning, and using feedback to improve instead of defending their performance. Rather than appraising, or judging behavior, focus on discussing performance in the context of coaching.
14. Make it social. Performance is about people, not process. Company goals must align to people’s individual goals. Making it easy to get feedback from more than one person. Allow it to become an organic process, where the team has a say in how feedback is done. This allows you to make the feedback bottom up. Gives power to your team and creates personal meaning for them.
15. Get managers on board. Employees are motivated by active coaching, feedback and input from their managers. Managers have to see how your process helps them get the work they care about - selling, building, servicing, etc. - done. If it doesn't you'll be seen as reducing value, not creating it.
16. Make it real time. In a real-time world, it doesn’t make sense to wait six months for helpful advice on how you can improve. Make goals and feedback real by making them part of regular operations. Rather than thinking about goals once a year, adapt your behaviors to support them in real time.
In the day-to-day running around, spending a few hours a week sitting in meetings can feel like a big-company practice that doesn't solve the issues of the day.
The reality is that 1-1's can add a whole new level of speed and agility to your company. 1:1's are a powerful tool for a manager has, to engage with his team; 1-1's are a crucial part of the "Operating system" of how a company runs.
A company lives or dies by:
• Getting the best people to join the company
• Keeping them engaged and productive
• Making great decisions about what these people should work on
Leadership <--> Management <--> Employees
Vision Information Tasks
Goals Projects
Strategy
Management priorities Problem solving
People – rewards, feedback
But let's think about what you get for that investment and alignment to Management’s Priorities.
1) Coaching and feedback
Coaching and feedback are imperative, but many of us struggle doing a good job.
Feedback should be:
• Immediate - the best time to give feedback is right after you observed the job performance. Did someone do a great job in a meeting? Tell him that right after the meeting.
• Continuous - feedback should happen year round, not just around performance review time.
• Informed - by feedback from peers, subordinates, even customers. Never rely solely on your own observations.
The regular cadence of 1-1's can allow you to offer feedback regularly, and it can ensure that feedback is informed by other team members.
• You addressed problems (if any) quickly
• Team feels their opinion is sought and valued
• Other team members gain valuable feedback
• You may have headed off escalating tensions between different team members
• You learned that you need to improve how you are asking your managers to work with each other.
Without the regular heartbeat of your 1-1's it may have taken several weeks for you to gather the information you need and work the issue. In the meantime, the problem may have blown up beyond repair. An investment of a few hours may have saved the company hundreds of hours down the line.
2) Better and faster decision making
You can share Top management focus areas with your team, worked it with them in your 1-1's, then get prepared which ensures that You
• Do not have to scramble - you use meeting time that you already had scheduled
• Did not panic anyone - you don’t have to schedule any last-minute emergency meetings
• Gave your team time to generate ideas and contribute
• Got a pulse on how your team is feeling and soothed concerns they may have
3) Communication and transparency
Quick, accurate, and transparent communication is the lifeblood of any company. Everybody needs to know what is going on at the company so that they know best how to contribute and feel invested in the company's success.
You never want your team to hear important news through the rumor mill. But in many cases you do what to give your more senior team member a heads up on important news so that they can help you deliver it and manage the aftermath.
What can be accomplished?
• Your most senior people have an opportunity to help with transition, given them a learning opportunity
• They feel trusted and more engaged going forward
• Your CEO gets input on what issues to address regularly
• Your managers were equipped to walk their teams through the news the following week
4) Team engagement
Now let's look at what is happening at this company:
• Everyone at the company gets time with their manager regularly. Issues don't fester, and emotions don't get pent up
• Everyone get regular feedback while they can still act it
• The team sees that decisions are made quickly
• Managers are improving quickly since they are trained and included in what is happening
• Managers seem in sync with each other and are delivering a consistent message.
The sound that surrounds successful regimen of 1:1s is silence. All of the listening, questioning, and discussion that happens during a 1:1 is managerial preventative maintenance.
The cliché is “People are your most valuable resource”. I would argue they are your only resource. Computers, desks, building, data centers… Whatever. All of those other tools only support your one and only resource: your people.
Showing posts with label management thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label management thoughts. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Monday, July 22, 2013
Go Beyond your Boundaries
Let us start with some stories old and new!
The Elephant Rope
As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”
The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.
Here is another modern day story - Dog Collar Conditioning ~ By Lee Colan, Ph.D.
"I was taking a long walk with our small family dog, Sparky. Not sure who needed the exercise more. Although it was a well-worn path for both of us, this particular walk taught me a lesson about my dog and about me. Sparky is a great dog, but he is not a particularly well-trained dog. That’s a direct result of having a poorly trained owner. As a result, we have to be careful about leaving doors and gates open or Sparky will run like the wind.
This walk started off like business as usual. Then Sparky decided to continue his sniffing in one spot a little too long, so I gave the leash a gentle tug. As I learned later, Sparky’s dog collar had been loosened just one notch while he was at the vet’s office the day before. So this time when I tugged, his little head popped right out of the leash and he was free to roam, run or run like the wind!
But Sparky just sat there looking up at me, seemingly trapped. In reality he was as free as he had ever been. It was like a smorgasbord of all the smells and critters he could sniff and chase… a canine buffet! But Sparky stood still, paralyzed by the unknown of this freedom. He willingly let me reaffix his dog collar, allowing him to assume his normal comfort zone."
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many times have I stayed within my own self-imposed boundaries? Probably more often than I’d like to admit. How about you?
This “dog collar conditioning” frequently occurs in the workplace as well. Leaders’ boundaries are usually much wider than their team’s perception of those boundaries. In other words, we often condition ourselves to live and work in a smaller world because of our own limiting thoughts. We typically have more control and freedom than we think.
Our biggest barriers to greater success and freedom are not “out there.” They are “in here” (our head). To realize our potential, we must re-condition our thinking to stretch beyond the boundaries of our own comfort.
Remember, growth and learning occurs when we are uncomfortable.
So,
• Take off your “mental dog collar/Elephant rope” and explore new limits of success!
• Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.
• Choose not to accept false boundaries and limitations created by the past!
The Elephant Rope
As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”
The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.
Here is another modern day story - Dog Collar Conditioning ~ By Lee Colan, Ph.D.
"I was taking a long walk with our small family dog, Sparky. Not sure who needed the exercise more. Although it was a well-worn path for both of us, this particular walk taught me a lesson about my dog and about me. Sparky is a great dog, but he is not a particularly well-trained dog. That’s a direct result of having a poorly trained owner. As a result, we have to be careful about leaving doors and gates open or Sparky will run like the wind.
This walk started off like business as usual. Then Sparky decided to continue his sniffing in one spot a little too long, so I gave the leash a gentle tug. As I learned later, Sparky’s dog collar had been loosened just one notch while he was at the vet’s office the day before. So this time when I tugged, his little head popped right out of the leash and he was free to roam, run or run like the wind!
But Sparky just sat there looking up at me, seemingly trapped. In reality he was as free as he had ever been. It was like a smorgasbord of all the smells and critters he could sniff and chase… a canine buffet! But Sparky stood still, paralyzed by the unknown of this freedom. He willingly let me reaffix his dog collar, allowing him to assume his normal comfort zone."
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many times have I stayed within my own self-imposed boundaries? Probably more often than I’d like to admit. How about you?
This “dog collar conditioning” frequently occurs in the workplace as well. Leaders’ boundaries are usually much wider than their team’s perception of those boundaries. In other words, we often condition ourselves to live and work in a smaller world because of our own limiting thoughts. We typically have more control and freedom than we think.
Our biggest barriers to greater success and freedom are not “out there.” They are “in here” (our head). To realize our potential, we must re-condition our thinking to stretch beyond the boundaries of our own comfort.
Remember, growth and learning occurs when we are uncomfortable.
So,
• Take off your “mental dog collar/Elephant rope” and explore new limits of success!
• Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.
• Choose not to accept false boundaries and limitations created by the past!
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Personal Accountability
Hi Friends, here is something, each of us can benefit from being More Passionate about in anything we do!!By being Personally Accountable – what does Personal Accountability mean?
"Personal accountability" is...
“Being willing to answer - to be accountable - for the outcomes resulting from your choices, behaviours, and actions”
Meaning of Personal Accountability
That simple personal accountability definition focuses on the outcomes, which are at the END of process. In reality, "personal accountability" encompasses ALL phases of the process - the before, during, and after.
Throughout the process, you must be WILLING (not forced) to PERSONALLY take ownership for...
• Understanding and accepting the task.
• Taking actions to achieve agreed-upon results.
• Answering the results obtained, regardless of the outcome.
Accountability is related to the key notion behind accounting (not the regular accounting, but..) - to give an account of:
• What resources were entrusted to you,
• What you did with them, and
• What outcomes you produced
Some favorite expressions of small children:
"It's not my fault. . . They made me do it. . . I forgot."
Some favorite expressions of adults:
"It's not my job. . . No one told me. . . It couldn't be helped."
True freedom begins and ends with personal accountability." ~ Dan Zadra
As an Everyday Leader (Each of us are Everyday “Leaders” in our own right! :) ), one of the most important things we can do in times of change is to get our team to understand how taking personal responsibility and recognizing problems as opportunities, will not only help the company, but will help them as individuals.
In other words, sell the idea of...what's in it for me/them?
Authors B.J. Gallagher and Steve Ventura wrote a great little book about achieving success through personal accountability titled: Who Are "They" Anyway?
Their list showing how each individual in the company can benefit by adopting a "personal accountability attitude":
• You have more control over your destiny
• You become an active contributor rather than a passive observer
• Others look to you for leadership
• You gain the reputation as a problem solver
• You enhance your career opportunities
• You enjoy the satisfaction that comes from getting things done...the power of positive doing
• You experience less anger, frustration and helplessness—all leading to better physical health
• You realize a positive spillover effect into your personal life at home
According to Gallagher and Ventura, the most important words of personal responsibility are as follows:
The 10 most important words: "I won't wait for others to take the first step"
The 9 most important words: "If it is to be, it's up to me."
The 8 most important words: "If not me, who? If not now, when?"
The 7 most important words: "Let me take a shot at it"
The 6 most important words: "I will not pass the buck"
The 5 most important words: "You can count on me"
The 4 most important words: "It IS my job!"
The 3 most important words: "Just do it!"
The 2 most important words: "I will"
The most important word: "Me"
Advantages of Being Accountable:
You have much to gain by exhibiting personal accountability including..
1. You are trusted2. You are respected
3. You send the message that you are willing to do whatever is necessary for the success of the team
4. You are a "high performing" professional
5. You job security is likely increased
6. You improve the likelihood of being promoted
7. You can be trusted to complete challenging and meaningful job assignments
A company with thriving accountability looks quite different. Accountability enables a leader to create ownership for the company on behalf of its workers. That means developing ownership for problems, successes, goals, initiatives, people and results – a.k.a. getting things done. Accountability sets the controls in place, drives the business, and indicates what is and what isn’t on track.
Through accountability, leaders always make three important discoveries:
1) whether they’re on the right course2) whether they’ve got the right people in the right places
3) whether they’re achieving goals.
With these findings, leaders gain insight on instituting change and setting new objectives.
Creating passion through accountability is arguably one of the most important, best-kept secrets you must know to achieve such a track-record of success.
Be more passionate about what you do – It enhances your Accountability quotient!
Frank Tyger said it best..."Your future depends on many things, but mostly yourself."
***-----------------------------------------------***
With inputs from "Simple inspirations" and the internet!
"Personal accountability" is...
“Being willing to answer - to be accountable - for the outcomes resulting from your choices, behaviours, and actions”
Meaning of Personal Accountability
That simple personal accountability definition focuses on the outcomes, which are at the END of process. In reality, "personal accountability" encompasses ALL phases of the process - the before, during, and after.
Throughout the process, you must be WILLING (not forced) to PERSONALLY take ownership for...
• Understanding and accepting the task.
• Taking actions to achieve agreed-upon results.
• Answering the results obtained, regardless of the outcome.
Accountability is related to the key notion behind accounting (not the regular accounting, but..) - to give an account of:
• What resources were entrusted to you,
• What you did with them, and
• What outcomes you produced
Some favorite expressions of small children:
"It's not my fault. . . They made me do it. . . I forgot."
Some favorite expressions of adults:
"It's not my job. . . No one told me. . . It couldn't be helped."
True freedom begins and ends with personal accountability." ~ Dan Zadra
As an Everyday Leader (Each of us are Everyday “Leaders” in our own right! :) ), one of the most important things we can do in times of change is to get our team to understand how taking personal responsibility and recognizing problems as opportunities, will not only help the company, but will help them as individuals.
In other words, sell the idea of...what's in it for me/them?
Authors B.J. Gallagher and Steve Ventura wrote a great little book about achieving success through personal accountability titled: Who Are "They" Anyway?
Their list showing how each individual in the company can benefit by adopting a "personal accountability attitude":
• You have more control over your destiny
• You become an active contributor rather than a passive observer
• Others look to you for leadership
• You gain the reputation as a problem solver
• You enhance your career opportunities
• You enjoy the satisfaction that comes from getting things done...the power of positive doing
• You experience less anger, frustration and helplessness—all leading to better physical health
• You realize a positive spillover effect into your personal life at home
According to Gallagher and Ventura, the most important words of personal responsibility are as follows:
The 10 most important words: "I won't wait for others to take the first step"
The 9 most important words: "If it is to be, it's up to me."
The 8 most important words: "If not me, who? If not now, when?"
The 7 most important words: "Let me take a shot at it"
The 6 most important words: "I will not pass the buck"
The 5 most important words: "You can count on me"
The 4 most important words: "It IS my job!"
The 3 most important words: "Just do it!"
The 2 most important words: "I will"
The most important word: "Me"
Advantages of Being Accountable:
You have much to gain by exhibiting personal accountability including..
1. You are trusted2. You are respected
3. You send the message that you are willing to do whatever is necessary for the success of the team
4. You are a "high performing" professional
5. You job security is likely increased
6. You improve the likelihood of being promoted
7. You can be trusted to complete challenging and meaningful job assignments
A company with thriving accountability looks quite different. Accountability enables a leader to create ownership for the company on behalf of its workers. That means developing ownership for problems, successes, goals, initiatives, people and results – a.k.a. getting things done. Accountability sets the controls in place, drives the business, and indicates what is and what isn’t on track.
Through accountability, leaders always make three important discoveries:
1) whether they’re on the right course2) whether they’ve got the right people in the right places
3) whether they’re achieving goals.
With these findings, leaders gain insight on instituting change and setting new objectives.
Creating passion through accountability is arguably one of the most important, best-kept secrets you must know to achieve such a track-record of success.
Be more passionate about what you do – It enhances your Accountability quotient!
Frank Tyger said it best..."Your future depends on many things, but mostly yourself."
***-----------------------------------------------***
With inputs from "Simple inspirations" and the internet!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Go Slow to go faster
An interesting concept that I learned in China, adding some spice from the web!
Let us start with a true World war II story
During World War II, Navy fighter planes had a watch embedded in the steering column – not to help the pilot keep time, but to help save his life. The first step in a pilot’s emergency response process was to wind the watch. It may sound crazy, but Navy psychologists had proven that the split second required for a pilot to wind the watch was enough time for him to clear his head of distractions and to focus instead on the emergency at hand. The one second spent winding that watch bought him considerable time, enabling him to react in a more logical, coherent way.
You might have guessed more about the topic by now!
In today’s business world, we are all so busy, so stretched, so overcommitted, and so inundated with information, that we sometimes forget to wind the watch – to focus on what’s important and create space to accomplish our ultimate objectives…
Time to slow down and think. Which got me thinking…in today’s fast-paced work world, maybe there’s wisdom in slowing down. I know that it’s counterintuitive, as shorter and faster is usually preferred over longer and slower. After all, today is all about quick communication: email, social media including 140-character Tweets, webinars instead of conferences. We’re all just so busy. Therefore, quicker decisions, quicker action, quicker resolution allows us to move on to other things.
Today, speed reigns. But speed also kills.
Frank Partnoy, a professor of law/finance at the University of San Diego and author of “Wait: The Art and Science of Delay,” summed it up in an HBR article (“Act Fast, but Not Necessarily First”): “The crush of technology forces us to snap react. We blink, when we should think. E-mail, social media, and 24-hour news are relentless. Our time cycle gets faster every day.”
He continues by declaring that, as decision-making accelerates, long-term strategy becomes even more crucial, and that those who find time to step back and think about the big picture – even for a few minutes – will have a major advantage over those who knee-jerk react. “If everyone else moves too quickly,” he says, “we can win by going slow.” He believes that humans – leaders – are often better off resisting biology and technology by managing delay.
Partnoy references a military strategy, similar to winding the watch I mention above.
A decision-making framework developed by military strategist John Boyd decades ago is still being used by many military (and business) leaders today. It’s called the OODA model, simply the acronym for Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. Its premise is basically allowing your enemy (or, in business, your competitor or other third party market forces) to go first, and then quickly react to the situation.
It’s about not necessarily being first (with a product, a process, a technology, or what have you), but being the fastest at responding to changing market conditions (and “market” can be external or internal to the organization).
As Partnoy indicates, the ultimate goal of OODA is not being first, but instead having a fast response, which requires slowing things down up front so that you can move quickly when ready.
Here is another true story of a legend: George Brett, ace baseball “pure hitter” - had a natural swing and was incredibly comfortable in the batter’s box, especially during critical moments of the game.
But he revealed years after his retirement that the secret of his hitting success was in his ability to see the ball out of the pitcher’s hand, and in a split second – by observing the velocity and rotation of the baseball stiches – determine what type of pitch was being thrown. Are you kidding me?! Brett – and I imagine many of the other hitting greats – could actually see the quarter-inch red stitching on a three inch baseball some 60 feet away, oh, and travelling some 95 miles an hour at his head? I guess that is what separates the good from the great in major league baseball. But it also illustrates a key point here: in doing so, Brett was able to delay his swing by milliseconds but adjust with the “right” swing given the pitch that was being thrown. In essence, he slowed down to speed up. And he is still considered one of the top dozen or so best hitters to ever play the game
There is a saying in martial arts: you have to go slow to go fast. It means something different than what it sounds like. The idea is that you have to be relaxed - untense - to move as quickly as you are capable of.
Go slow today, to go faster in life! Think of the things to "untense/Slow down" to respond better to the different challenges of life :)
Let us start with a true World war II story
During World War II, Navy fighter planes had a watch embedded in the steering column – not to help the pilot keep time, but to help save his life. The first step in a pilot’s emergency response process was to wind the watch. It may sound crazy, but Navy psychologists had proven that the split second required for a pilot to wind the watch was enough time for him to clear his head of distractions and to focus instead on the emergency at hand. The one second spent winding that watch bought him considerable time, enabling him to react in a more logical, coherent way.
You might have guessed more about the topic by now!
In today’s business world, we are all so busy, so stretched, so overcommitted, and so inundated with information, that we sometimes forget to wind the watch – to focus on what’s important and create space to accomplish our ultimate objectives…
Time to slow down and think. Which got me thinking…in today’s fast-paced work world, maybe there’s wisdom in slowing down. I know that it’s counterintuitive, as shorter and faster is usually preferred over longer and slower. After all, today is all about quick communication: email, social media including 140-character Tweets, webinars instead of conferences. We’re all just so busy. Therefore, quicker decisions, quicker action, quicker resolution allows us to move on to other things.
Today, speed reigns. But speed also kills.
Frank Partnoy, a professor of law/finance at the University of San Diego and author of “Wait: The Art and Science of Delay,” summed it up in an HBR article (“Act Fast, but Not Necessarily First”): “The crush of technology forces us to snap react. We blink, when we should think. E-mail, social media, and 24-hour news are relentless. Our time cycle gets faster every day.”
He continues by declaring that, as decision-making accelerates, long-term strategy becomes even more crucial, and that those who find time to step back and think about the big picture – even for a few minutes – will have a major advantage over those who knee-jerk react. “If everyone else moves too quickly,” he says, “we can win by going slow.” He believes that humans – leaders – are often better off resisting biology and technology by managing delay.
Partnoy references a military strategy, similar to winding the watch I mention above.
A decision-making framework developed by military strategist John Boyd decades ago is still being used by many military (and business) leaders today. It’s called the OODA model, simply the acronym for Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. Its premise is basically allowing your enemy (or, in business, your competitor or other third party market forces) to go first, and then quickly react to the situation.
It’s about not necessarily being first (with a product, a process, a technology, or what have you), but being the fastest at responding to changing market conditions (and “market” can be external or internal to the organization).
As Partnoy indicates, the ultimate goal of OODA is not being first, but instead having a fast response, which requires slowing things down up front so that you can move quickly when ready.
Here is another true story of a legend: George Brett, ace baseball “pure hitter” - had a natural swing and was incredibly comfortable in the batter’s box, especially during critical moments of the game.
But he revealed years after his retirement that the secret of his hitting success was in his ability to see the ball out of the pitcher’s hand, and in a split second – by observing the velocity and rotation of the baseball stiches – determine what type of pitch was being thrown. Are you kidding me?! Brett – and I imagine many of the other hitting greats – could actually see the quarter-inch red stitching on a three inch baseball some 60 feet away, oh, and travelling some 95 miles an hour at his head? I guess that is what separates the good from the great in major league baseball. But it also illustrates a key point here: in doing so, Brett was able to delay his swing by milliseconds but adjust with the “right” swing given the pitch that was being thrown. In essence, he slowed down to speed up. And he is still considered one of the top dozen or so best hitters to ever play the game
There is a saying in martial arts: you have to go slow to go fast. It means something different than what it sounds like. The idea is that you have to be relaxed - untense - to move as quickly as you are capable of.
Go slow today, to go faster in life! Think of the things to "untense/Slow down" to respond better to the different challenges of life :)
Friday, August 17, 2012
This is from my China training- building on a concept learnt there with inputs from the internet
“Shadow of the Leader”
When you think of the title, it could bring up different thoughts in your mind. In an office it could be something like “ The train is as fast as the engine”; “A fish rots from the head first”; “A chip off the old block”. On a more personal family front, it could be “You’re just like your father”; ..
Hmm…this blog is about OUR conscious and sub-conscious behaviors / habits that others watch and pick up; Could be in office or at home ; could be your peer or your team member or your own child.
Let me start with a couple of real stories –
On a smaller e.g., looks like the New Vice President - Finance of a company had a habit of tapping his pen on to his other hand while sitting in presentations. Guess what – in a couple of weeks, the habit had caught on with many other Management staff and they were also sub-consciously tapping a pen, while in meetings – no harm, except that it could be very distracting indeed!!
On the web, I noticed a very good e.g.
“One of my favorite personal examples of this is being on time to meetings. I’m known for always running late between meetings. In my earlier days, my managers would often sit me down and calmly tell me that they didn’t appreciate my tardiness and I needed to shape up. I tried and it would get a little better, but I would slowly fall back to my natural tendencies. Once I became the “Manager” I was so relieved because there were less people giving me a hard time about being late.
My direct reports didn’t complain, they understood and assumed I was busy with very important matters and that’s just how things work. What I didn’t realize, though, was that my “shadow” told them it was OK for them to be late to meetings too. On one rare occasion, I arrived to my staff meeting a couple minutes early and it wasn’t until about 10 minutes after the start time that everyone else showed up. My initial reaction was to make a comment about being on time for our meetings – fortunately, before I said anything out loud I started laughing to (or rather “at”) myself. My pattern of being late told them that it was OK and that our staff meetings always started ten minutes late.”
What a colonial waste of time – especially for people who have arrived on time. Also looks so unprofessional!!
On meetings, I was told that a person named Alan Mulally (some of you might have heard of him) actually comes for meetings one minute before the start time and similarly prompts his team periodically to ensure timely completion of meetings. If the item needs a longer discussion, it is subject of a separate meeting or discussion. Wow – Now that sound very professional.
Notes: Alan Mulally is President and CEO of Ford Motor Company who turned the company back to Profits; seems to have also won some awards along the way – “CEO of the year-2011”; “Person of the year -2011” etc.
Going into a much broader definition:
"Shadow of the leader" is a phrase used to describe a common phenomenon in business organizations where those in positions of leadership and power, through their behavior and actions, tend to influence the behavior and actions of those below them, thus “casting a shadow” across the organization. “Shadow of the leader” refers to Leaders, through their likes, dislikes, treatment of subordinates, language and idioms, personal preferences, beliefs and values tends to shape the characteristics, culture and ways of doing business in the organization.
The Shadow a leader casts with his/her team can drive the success or failure of the team. Think about it. As a leader, every move you make is being watched by the people who work for you. They take their cues on what is important by the things you pay attention to. They will reference a comment I made or email I sent about a particular topic and apply more meaning to it then what was intended.
It is not so much that leaders force their style and values on others, but that employees tend to look upwards for clues as to what is important, how to get ahead in the organization, and how to fit in. It is a natural tendency for people with limited power within organizations to have an “affiliation need” and want to fit in. Those that don't match the culture or don’t get along with the boss's standards and expectations tend to get rejected or leave the firm, often saying; “I just didn’t fit in with their way of doing business!”
Another true story from the web to emphasize the Leadership Shadow impact:
At a busy / crowded store/ workplace -- The place was jammed with customers, and everyone was hoppin’. That included the store manager, who was a complete stress case. He was tight-faced, tight-lipped, and curt with customers and his team. He wasn’t rude . . . he was just going through the motions.
And, as I noticed, so was everyone on his team. No one smiled. No one said “please” or “thank-you.” Everyone was just moving people through the line with as little personality as possible. You’ve heard it before: “I can help the next person.” Sub-text: “I can help the next person, but I don’t really want to.”
The idea is that leaders shape their cultures through a powerful combination of message aligned with action. Through actions, attitudes and messages, they cast a shadow that influences everyone around them. The shadow a leader casts may be strong and inspiring, or it may be weak and dispiriting, but it always exists. It is a reflection of everything a leader says and does.
So, as I watched the team, I noticed they were following their leader, doing as he did, matching his actions and attitude. Without knowing it, he was setting a powerful example and casting a dispiriting shadow. It’s that easy to do! Leaders lead without knowing it. All they have to do is be themselves, and walk their own talk. That’s the beauty of leadership, and it’s the burden of leadership. Your actions speak loudly, and someone is always watching.
Here is a positive impact true story from the web
A new VP of Sales held a regional sales review meeting where each manager was expected to present their sales forecast, where they stood against plan, and the supporting rationale. After hearing one presentation and the beginning of a second where the managers complained about their products and lamented their lack of technology and the robust product capabilities of their competitors, he stopped the meeting. He got up and moved deliberately to the front of the room in what seemed like a scene from the movie Patton.
He then said, "I didn't come here to listen to excuses about why you can't sell because you believe the competition has better products, technology or whatever. What I do expect to hear is how your commitment and strategy to sell our company's products is producing results. After that, I'm open to discussing what we can all do to improve. For those of you who may not have heard or understood what I just said, let me reiterate. We all get paid to sell the products and services of this company and it requires everyone's commitment to be successful. You have a choice to make, which I expect to see at the reschedule date of this meeting."
That situation helped change the dynamic of the sales team and it became part of the folklore that helped shape the future culture of that company.
Managing your shadow as a leader is a simple matter of awareness and intent. Here’s a three-step process for better understanding your shadow:
1. Identify your shadow. How do your actions, attitudes and messages influence the culture?
2. Develop a shadow improvement plan. Once you’ve identified your current shadow, focus on your strengths and figure out how you can use them to improve your shadow.
3. Share your shadow. Talk about this concept with your team, and ask them to help keep you on track and casting the shadow that positively influences the work culture.
A critical element of the leadership shadow is the "Say-Do" factor. It has to do with having the courage of your convictions. Essentially, if you say you are going to do something but act differently when it's not politically correct or represents a risk to you or your position, you put your credibility at risk as a leader and create doubts about what the company stands for.
A regular question to ask ourselves: "What kind of shadow am I casting as a leader?"
In closing, as Warren Bennis said, “A leader doesn’t just get the message across, a leader is the message.”
Cheers and Happy Shadowing!! :)
“Shadow of the Leader”
When you think of the title, it could bring up different thoughts in your mind. In an office it could be something like “ The train is as fast as the engine”; “A fish rots from the head first”; “A chip off the old block”. On a more personal family front, it could be “You’re just like your father”; ..
Hmm…this blog is about OUR conscious and sub-conscious behaviors / habits that others watch and pick up; Could be in office or at home ; could be your peer or your team member or your own child.
Let me start with a couple of real stories –
On a smaller e.g., looks like the New Vice President - Finance of a company had a habit of tapping his pen on to his other hand while sitting in presentations. Guess what – in a couple of weeks, the habit had caught on with many other Management staff and they were also sub-consciously tapping a pen, while in meetings – no harm, except that it could be very distracting indeed!!
On the web, I noticed a very good e.g.
“One of my favorite personal examples of this is being on time to meetings. I’m known for always running late between meetings. In my earlier days, my managers would often sit me down and calmly tell me that they didn’t appreciate my tardiness and I needed to shape up. I tried and it would get a little better, but I would slowly fall back to my natural tendencies. Once I became the “Manager” I was so relieved because there were less people giving me a hard time about being late.
My direct reports didn’t complain, they understood and assumed I was busy with very important matters and that’s just how things work. What I didn’t realize, though, was that my “shadow” told them it was OK for them to be late to meetings too. On one rare occasion, I arrived to my staff meeting a couple minutes early and it wasn’t until about 10 minutes after the start time that everyone else showed up. My initial reaction was to make a comment about being on time for our meetings – fortunately, before I said anything out loud I started laughing to (or rather “at”) myself. My pattern of being late told them that it was OK and that our staff meetings always started ten minutes late.”
What a colonial waste of time – especially for people who have arrived on time. Also looks so unprofessional!!
On meetings, I was told that a person named Alan Mulally (some of you might have heard of him) actually comes for meetings one minute before the start time and similarly prompts his team periodically to ensure timely completion of meetings. If the item needs a longer discussion, it is subject of a separate meeting or discussion. Wow – Now that sound very professional.
Notes: Alan Mulally is President and CEO of Ford Motor Company who turned the company back to Profits; seems to have also won some awards along the way – “CEO of the year-2011”; “Person of the year -2011” etc.
Going into a much broader definition:
"Shadow of the leader" is a phrase used to describe a common phenomenon in business organizations where those in positions of leadership and power, through their behavior and actions, tend to influence the behavior and actions of those below them, thus “casting a shadow” across the organization. “Shadow of the leader” refers to Leaders, through their likes, dislikes, treatment of subordinates, language and idioms, personal preferences, beliefs and values tends to shape the characteristics, culture and ways of doing business in the organization.
The Shadow a leader casts with his/her team can drive the success or failure of the team. Think about it. As a leader, every move you make is being watched by the people who work for you. They take their cues on what is important by the things you pay attention to. They will reference a comment I made or email I sent about a particular topic and apply more meaning to it then what was intended.
It is not so much that leaders force their style and values on others, but that employees tend to look upwards for clues as to what is important, how to get ahead in the organization, and how to fit in. It is a natural tendency for people with limited power within organizations to have an “affiliation need” and want to fit in. Those that don't match the culture or don’t get along with the boss's standards and expectations tend to get rejected or leave the firm, often saying; “I just didn’t fit in with their way of doing business!”
Another true story from the web to emphasize the Leadership Shadow impact:
At a busy / crowded store/ workplace -- The place was jammed with customers, and everyone was hoppin’. That included the store manager, who was a complete stress case. He was tight-faced, tight-lipped, and curt with customers and his team. He wasn’t rude . . . he was just going through the motions.
And, as I noticed, so was everyone on his team. No one smiled. No one said “please” or “thank-you.” Everyone was just moving people through the line with as little personality as possible. You’ve heard it before: “I can help the next person.” Sub-text: “I can help the next person, but I don’t really want to.”
The idea is that leaders shape their cultures through a powerful combination of message aligned with action. Through actions, attitudes and messages, they cast a shadow that influences everyone around them. The shadow a leader casts may be strong and inspiring, or it may be weak and dispiriting, but it always exists. It is a reflection of everything a leader says and does.
So, as I watched the team, I noticed they were following their leader, doing as he did, matching his actions and attitude. Without knowing it, he was setting a powerful example and casting a dispiriting shadow. It’s that easy to do! Leaders lead without knowing it. All they have to do is be themselves, and walk their own talk. That’s the beauty of leadership, and it’s the burden of leadership. Your actions speak loudly, and someone is always watching.
Here is a positive impact true story from the web
A new VP of Sales held a regional sales review meeting where each manager was expected to present their sales forecast, where they stood against plan, and the supporting rationale. After hearing one presentation and the beginning of a second where the managers complained about their products and lamented their lack of technology and the robust product capabilities of their competitors, he stopped the meeting. He got up and moved deliberately to the front of the room in what seemed like a scene from the movie Patton.
He then said, "I didn't come here to listen to excuses about why you can't sell because you believe the competition has better products, technology or whatever. What I do expect to hear is how your commitment and strategy to sell our company's products is producing results. After that, I'm open to discussing what we can all do to improve. For those of you who may not have heard or understood what I just said, let me reiterate. We all get paid to sell the products and services of this company and it requires everyone's commitment to be successful. You have a choice to make, which I expect to see at the reschedule date of this meeting."
That situation helped change the dynamic of the sales team and it became part of the folklore that helped shape the future culture of that company.
Managing your shadow as a leader is a simple matter of awareness and intent. Here’s a three-step process for better understanding your shadow:
1. Identify your shadow. How do your actions, attitudes and messages influence the culture?
2. Develop a shadow improvement plan. Once you’ve identified your current shadow, focus on your strengths and figure out how you can use them to improve your shadow.
3. Share your shadow. Talk about this concept with your team, and ask them to help keep you on track and casting the shadow that positively influences the work culture.
A critical element of the leadership shadow is the "Say-Do" factor. It has to do with having the courage of your convictions. Essentially, if you say you are going to do something but act differently when it's not politically correct or represents a risk to you or your position, you put your credibility at risk as a leader and create doubts about what the company stands for.
A regular question to ask ourselves: "What kind of shadow am I casting as a leader?"
In closing, as Warren Bennis said, “A leader doesn’t just get the message across, a leader is the message.”
Cheers and Happy Shadowing!! :)
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Listening
In her book, Listening with the Whole Body, Sheila Frick asserts that listening is active, voluntary, dynamic and continually adapting.
Listening and vision are active
They require the brain to act upon, perceive, interpret and store information. They are cognitive functions that distinguish human beings.
Let me share another Classic stuff. During my training in Shanghai, in one of the modules we learnt that the (traditional) Chinese character for listening is written as:
When translated into English, the Chinese symbol is made up of five elements:
• You
• Your ears
• Your eyes
• Your heart
• Your undivided attention
Did you get that!!! When we listen to each other carefully we become observers of nonverbal behaviors that reveal what words may not. Facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, use of touch and other aspects of body language construe perhaps 75–80% of the "communication iceberg."
So listen. listen carefully. moreover, if you have something delicate to discuss, try to do it in person.
Essentially, the Chinese symbol for the verb “to listen” reads –
“I give you my ears, my eyes, my undivided attention and my heart” -
a Great definition of listening, isn’t it?
Some people ask questions for the sake of asking questions they rarely hear the answers. Others never stop talking long enough to warrant a response.
Listening is all about being there at that moment in time
It isn’t checking your watch because you have three more meeting to attend, nor is it staring around at the other people in the room while the other person is talking. It is about showing respect and taking an interest. The speaker has given up their time to see you, this is the first step to a successful meeting, don’t blow it because your attention span doesn’t stretch far enough!
Here are some essential rules to Good listening;
1. Listen without judgment. The purpose of dialogue is to understand, not judge right or wrong, good or bad. When you judge, you are conversing with yourself, not another.
2. Listen to fully understand and then respond – and only in that order. If you didn’t understand say so and ask again
3. Listen for understanding. You don’t have to agree or believe... just understand.
4. Ask clarifying questions. These assist understanding. Qualify what you have heard e.g. “So if I heard you right, you are saying that…”
5. Suspend assumptions. You know you are making an assumption if you are annoyed or upset.
6. There will be a point when you become conscious that you stopped listening, turn it back on again. If you think you missed something important, politely cover it off again
7. Make "I" statements. Speak for yourself, not "everyone."
8. Take ownership of what you say.
9. Suspend status. All are equal in the dialogue process: no seniority or hierarchy.
10. Honor confidentiality.
11. Create a safe space for self-expression.
12. Speak one at a time. When two people are talking at once, neither is listening.
13. Respect silence. Take time to reflect on what you heard and how you want to respond.
Happy listening! :-)
Monday, May 7, 2012
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.
I am at your command.
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me.
For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.
I am easily managed; just be firm with me.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a
machine and the intelligence of a person.
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.
Lead me. Reward me.
And I will then...do it automatically.
I am your servant.
Who am I?
I am a habit.
From Habits Die Hard - by Mac Anderson & John J. Murphy
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.
I am at your command.
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me.
For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.
I am easily managed; just be firm with me.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a
machine and the intelligence of a person.
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.
Lead me. Reward me.
And I will then...do it automatically.
I am your servant.
Who am I?
I am a habit.
From Habits Die Hard - by Mac Anderson & John J. Murphy
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Balaji's musings - Customer service
Hi Friends, Hope all of you have been having a fabulous 2011, so far; thanks to the numerous friends who kept nudging me to start writing again (for various reasons)
Customer Service
Often, we as consumers come across different types of customer service…here are 2 very diverse situations that I encountered
(1) World of Titan……
Before I go into my actual experience at the World of Titan, I was reminded of a good joke. Here it goes
A keen Indian lad applied for a salesman's job at a city department store. The store was the biggest in the world and sold everything under the sun. "Have you ever been a salesman before?" the boss asked during his interview.
"Yes, I was a salesman in T'nagar," the lad answered.
The boss took an immediate liking to him and told him he could start the next day. "I'll come and see how you made out after we close up," the boss said.
The day was long and hard for the young man, but finally it was 5 o'clock. The boss closed up the store and found the lad sitting, slumped and exhausted, in a chair.
"How many sales did you make today?" the boss asked.
"One," said the lad. "One?" said the boss, obviously displeased. "Most of the sales people on my staff make 20 or 30 sales a day. How much was the sale worth?"
"Exactly Rs.401,334.50," said the young man.
"How did you manage that?" asked the boss, flabbergasted.
"Well," said the lad, "this man came in and I sold him a small fish hook, then a medium fish hook, and finally a really large hook. Then I sold him a small fishing line, a medium one, and huge one. I asked him where he was going fishing, and he said he was going down the coast. I said he'd probably need a boat, so I took him down to the boat department and sold him that fancy 22-foot fishing boat with twin engines. Then he said his Car probably wouldn't be able to handle the load, so I took him to the vehicle department and sold him a new Ford 1-ton pickup truck."
"You sold all that to guy who came in for a fish hook?" the boss asked in astonishment……
The story goes on….but I will stop here, considering the decent audience –
(Ok OK, the story is modified and the Ford piece was my addition!!)
Now coming back to my experience – My wife had gone to service her Titan watch in the Titan Showroom (as the salesperson proudly said “ this is a Tata's OWN showroom”);
the watch got serviced and was ready for delivery, so my wife / daughter went to collect it.
As they were waiting for the watch to come, my daughter liked a new watch which was on display. So the mother & the Daughter made a deal and then the Father, who was still parking the car in T. Nagar finally came by.
So after more reviews of other watches on display, one watch was selected – while waiting to pay, the innovative salesperson was giving some free offers!!!
- First, a small water bottle, nothing costly, but in the hot scorching sat afternoon sun, it was like “Sweet nectar” – not enough, he still offered more water bottles!! Real Cool!
- Then some free gifts for the watch purchase – A trendy bag with a small snacks box inside -- that’s nice!!
- More!! A small coloring book with a few color pencils !! Super!!
- Not finished though – he gave a Titan card – which would enable me to accumulate points as I purchase each time and I can offset against future purchases.
- More!!! A Free sapling -- This is environment week – wow!! Slightly dazed by now!!
A bright idea sparks for my wife….our next purchase was for a function the next day – some silver articles! (Silver prices seem to increase faster than gold these days)
She says, why Silver, why not a watch for the Angel we are going to see the next day…that’s a bright idea and so…
We go back bought another watch for this angel also!! Result – one more teak sapling (neatly packaged in a Titan paper bag), one more set of coloring book / pencils, bag and snacks bag, etc… At the end, we came out as a very Satisfied and happy customers!
To crown it all, when we presented the watch in the function the next day, we also gave the sapling…lot of appreciative comments from the audience and the parents of the Lil girl (for the saplings)!! Hmm, that made us Happier!!
Hey, Wait a minute – my wife had just gone to service her watch!!! (hmm...now you can connect to the joke)
Scenario 2:
We went to shop for a Kitchen item in another shop in T.Nagar…famous showroom, centrally located, best prices (Advt said so!!), multiple brands, etc…well the Service, if anything to find a decent word - "Pathetic” – yes, we finally still bought the item, because we needed it “Urgently”, but whether we will go there again – I doubt it!!
Not that the freebies mattered, but the salespeople were not willing to explain the product features or the finer details of the product or details about the different brands available. Not that the shop was over crowded, but sheer callous attitude to customers!!!
A simple lesson: Many of us are in the Service industry(Directly or indirectly), so just like how we would enjoy being in the first scenario, look at how we can give our Customers a feeling of “Yes, You mean a Lot to me!!” and I am sure they will keep coming back to you!!!
It is win-win guys!
Customer Service
Often, we as consumers come across different types of customer service…here are 2 very diverse situations that I encountered
(1) World of Titan……
Before I go into my actual experience at the World of Titan, I was reminded of a good joke. Here it goes
A keen Indian lad applied for a salesman's job at a city department store. The store was the biggest in the world and sold everything under the sun. "Have you ever been a salesman before?" the boss asked during his interview.
"Yes, I was a salesman in T'nagar," the lad answered.
The boss took an immediate liking to him and told him he could start the next day. "I'll come and see how you made out after we close up," the boss said.
The day was long and hard for the young man, but finally it was 5 o'clock. The boss closed up the store and found the lad sitting, slumped and exhausted, in a chair.
"How many sales did you make today?" the boss asked.
"One," said the lad. "One?" said the boss, obviously displeased. "Most of the sales people on my staff make 20 or 30 sales a day. How much was the sale worth?"
"Exactly Rs.401,334.50," said the young man.
"How did you manage that?" asked the boss, flabbergasted.
"Well," said the lad, "this man came in and I sold him a small fish hook, then a medium fish hook, and finally a really large hook. Then I sold him a small fishing line, a medium one, and huge one. I asked him where he was going fishing, and he said he was going down the coast. I said he'd probably need a boat, so I took him down to the boat department and sold him that fancy 22-foot fishing boat with twin engines. Then he said his Car probably wouldn't be able to handle the load, so I took him to the vehicle department and sold him a new Ford 1-ton pickup truck."
"You sold all that to guy who came in for a fish hook?" the boss asked in astonishment……
The story goes on….but I will stop here, considering the decent audience –
(Ok OK, the story is modified and the Ford piece was my addition!!)
Now coming back to my experience – My wife had gone to service her Titan watch in the Titan Showroom (as the salesperson proudly said “ this is a Tata's OWN showroom”);
the watch got serviced and was ready for delivery, so my wife / daughter went to collect it.
As they were waiting for the watch to come, my daughter liked a new watch which was on display. So the mother & the Daughter made a deal and then the Father, who was still parking the car in T. Nagar finally came by.
So after more reviews of other watches on display, one watch was selected – while waiting to pay, the innovative salesperson was giving some free offers!!!
- First, a small water bottle, nothing costly, but in the hot scorching sat afternoon sun, it was like “Sweet nectar” – not enough, he still offered more water bottles!! Real Cool!
- Then some free gifts for the watch purchase – A trendy bag with a small snacks box inside -- that’s nice!!
- More!! A small coloring book with a few color pencils !! Super!!
- Not finished though – he gave a Titan card – which would enable me to accumulate points as I purchase each time and I can offset against future purchases.
- More!!! A Free sapling -- This is environment week – wow!! Slightly dazed by now!!
A bright idea sparks for my wife….our next purchase was for a function the next day – some silver articles! (Silver prices seem to increase faster than gold these days)
She says, why Silver, why not a watch for the Angel we are going to see the next day…that’s a bright idea and so…
We go back bought another watch for this angel also!! Result – one more teak sapling (neatly packaged in a Titan paper bag), one more set of coloring book / pencils, bag and snacks bag, etc… At the end, we came out as a very Satisfied and happy customers!
To crown it all, when we presented the watch in the function the next day, we also gave the sapling…lot of appreciative comments from the audience and the parents of the Lil girl (for the saplings)!! Hmm, that made us Happier!!
Hey, Wait a minute – my wife had just gone to service her watch!!! (hmm...now you can connect to the joke)
Scenario 2:
We went to shop for a Kitchen item in another shop in T.Nagar…famous showroom, centrally located, best prices (Advt said so!!), multiple brands, etc…well the Service, if anything to find a decent word - "Pathetic” – yes, we finally still bought the item, because we needed it “Urgently”, but whether we will go there again – I doubt it!!
Not that the freebies mattered, but the salespeople were not willing to explain the product features or the finer details of the product or details about the different brands available. Not that the shop was over crowded, but sheer callous attitude to customers!!!
A simple lesson: Many of us are in the Service industry(Directly or indirectly), so just like how we would enjoy being in the first scenario, look at how we can give our Customers a feeling of “Yes, You mean a Lot to me!!” and I am sure they will keep coming back to you!!!
It is win-win guys!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Hi Friends…Here comes a special edition with lots of superb articles from so many of my good friends. It was really a memorable 1.5 years reaching out with each of you through the blog.
Hope you will cherish this wonderful edition...
GOOD MORNING FRIENDS..
We tend to forget that..
Happiness doesn't come..
As a result of getting something we don't have,
But it rather comes.. as I realized
by recognizing and appreciating all that we have.
We tend to forget that..Happiness doesn't come..
As a result of getting something we don't have,
But it rather comes.. as I realized
by recognizing and appreciating all that we have.
Good Morning & Have a Nice day!!
Thought for the Day - B/f Ramalingam
Seems so much of Common sense..
To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order;
to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order;
to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life;
We must first set our hearts right.
Charging the Human Battery - B/f Simple truths
"Everything that's really worthwhile in life comes to us free - our minds, our souls, our bodies, our hopes, our dreams, our intelligence, our love of family and friends and country. All of these priceless possessions are free." ~Earl Nightingale
Think about it. You can lose all of your money and start over. If your house burns down, you can rebuild it. But things that cost you nothing, you can never replace.
One of the most important keys to self-motivation is to clearly identify your core values in life. You must decide what matters most. Why the need to identify your values? Many people think,
Charging the Human Battery - B/f Simple truths
"Everything that's really worthwhile in life comes to us free - our minds, our souls, our bodies, our hopes, our dreams, our intelligence, our love of family and friends and country. All of these priceless possessions are free." ~Earl NightingaleThink about it. You can lose all of your money and start over. If your house burns down, you can rebuild it. But things that cost you nothing, you can never replace.
One of the most important keys to self-motivation is to clearly identify your core values in life. You must decide what matters most. Why the need to identify your values? Many people think,
"I know what's important; I don't need a list to remind me." What they don't fully understand, however, is that those core values will often serve as critical guides for making important decisions. When they're in doubt, your core values will cut through the fog like a beacon in the night.
We all know there are many distractions along the road of life that will try to pull us away from our values. Sometimes we are forced to make difficult choices.
We all know there are many distractions along the road of life that will try to pull us away from our values. Sometimes we are forced to make difficult choices.
But a good rule of thumb is that when you have to sacrifice material possessions for one of those "free things" that life has given you...you've made the right choice.
Cartoons - B/f Vidhya
(Click to see a Larger picture and enjoy)
Cartoons - B/f Vidhya
(Click to see a Larger picture and enjoy)
B/f Thanuja
(Click to see a Larger picture and enjoy)
Quick Management Tips - B/f Narayanaswamy
Q.- Many people believe that to climb the corporate ladder successfully, they have to put others down or crush others. Bringing others down has become today's policy?
A.-. A person who is truly successful as a leader, builds his or her position, not on the failures of others but, rather, on their success.
Q.- Many people believe that to climb the corporate ladder successfully, they have to put others down or crush others. Bringing others down has become today's policy?
A.-. A person who is truly successful as a leader, builds his or her position, not on the failures of others but, rather, on their success.
A good leader of a society is the person who brings about success for others and, in that total success, becomes great.
Inspiration is a quality that a good leader must possess. Someone who helps others progress gains respect from many.
When most people in a company or institution help each other to progress, then there has to be prosperity.
Leadership Special – Just For YOU!!! – By John Maxwell
In The Right to Lead...Learning Leadership Through Character and Courage, you will read about people who have earned the right to lead others. They became effective leaders not by making other people follow, but by making themselves the kind of person people would want to follow.
This book is loaded with stories, quotes and "nuggets" for anyone wishing to sharpen their leadership skills. Here is John's introduction to The Right to Lead. Enjoy!
Excerpt from: The Right to Lead, by John Maxwell
WHAT GIVES A MAN OR WOMAN THE RIGHT TO LEAD?
It certainly isn't gained by election or appointment. Having position, title, rank, or degrees doesn't qualify anyone to lead other people. And the ability doesn't come automatically from age or experience, either. No, it would be accurate to say that no one can be given the right to lead. The right to lead can only be earned. And that takes time.
The Kind of Leader Others Want to Follow
The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go. As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:
Let go of your ego
The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things."
Become a good follower first
Rare is the effective leader who didn't learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first - and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.
Build positive relationships
Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today's generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.
Work with excellence
No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.
Rely on discipline, not emotion
Leadership is often easy during the good times. It's when everything seems to be against you - when you're out of energy, and you don't want to lead - that you earn your place as a leader.
Leadership Special – Just For YOU!!! – By John Maxwell
In The Right to Lead...Learning Leadership Through Character and Courage, you will read about people who have earned the right to lead others. They became effective leaders not by making other people follow, but by making themselves the kind of person people would want to follow.
This book is loaded with stories, quotes and "nuggets" for anyone wishing to sharpen their leadership skills. Here is John's introduction to The Right to Lead. Enjoy!
Excerpt from: The Right to Lead, by John Maxwell
WHAT GIVES A MAN OR WOMAN THE RIGHT TO LEAD?
It certainly isn't gained by election or appointment. Having position, title, rank, or degrees doesn't qualify anyone to lead other people. And the ability doesn't come automatically from age or experience, either. No, it would be accurate to say that no one can be given the right to lead. The right to lead can only be earned. And that takes time.
The Kind of Leader Others Want to Follow
The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go. As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:
Let go of your egoThe truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things."
Become a good follower first
Rare is the effective leader who didn't learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first - and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.
Build positive relationships
Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today's generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.
Work with excellence
No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.
Rely on discipline, not emotion
Leadership is often easy during the good times. It's when everything seems to be against you - when you're out of energy, and you don't want to lead - that you earn your place as a leader.
During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion.
Make adding value your goal
When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership - and its highest value.
Give your power away
One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You're meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.
In The Right to Lead, you will hear from and read about people who have done these same things and earned the right to lead others. Because of the courage they found and the character they displayed, other people recognized their admirable qualities and felt compelled to follow them.
The followers who looked to these leaders learned from them, and so can we. As you explore their worlds and words, remember that it takes time to become worthy of followers. Leadership isn't learned or earned in a moment.
~John Maxwell
Brain Health Tip
Make adding value your goal
When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership - and its highest value.
Give your power away
One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You're meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.
In The Right to Lead, you will hear from and read about people who have done these same things and earned the right to lead others. Because of the courage they found and the character they displayed, other people recognized their admirable qualities and felt compelled to follow them.
The followers who looked to these leaders learned from them, and so can we. As you explore their worlds and words, remember that it takes time to become worthy of followers. Leadership isn't learned or earned in a moment.
~John Maxwell
Brain Health Tip
Protect Your Brain with Daily Caffeine
What's the best way to consume caffeine for sustained cognitive performance?
Studies have concluded that caffeine is best consumed gradually, over the course of the time you want to be alert.
What's the best way to consume caffeine for sustained cognitive performance?
Studies have concluded that caffeine is best consumed gradually, over the course of the time you want to be alert. In other words, you should aim for small and frequent doses of caffeine rather than a venti chug to start the day.
This is because caffeine reaches the brain quickly and is then gradually removed by your system.
Here's the caffeine content of some popular drinks (in milligrams, per 6-oz servings):
1. Espresso: 100
2. Brewed coffee: 80-135
3. Instant coffee: 65-100
4. Tea, brewed: 40
5. Coca-cola: 23
Personality Tip - B/f Joseph
“In time, we lose our freshness and spontaneity of true conversation. These are areas in which everyone interested in self-improvement will seek to improve.”
Here's the caffeine content of some popular drinks (in milligrams, per 6-oz servings):
1. Espresso: 100
2. Brewed coffee: 80-135
3. Instant coffee: 65-100
4. Tea, brewed: 40
5. Coca-cola: 23
Personality Tip - B/f Joseph
“In time, we lose our freshness and spontaneity of true conversation. These are areas in which everyone interested in self-improvement will seek to improve.”- Dale Carnegie
Working to enhance your communication skills will add impact to your presentations.
Working to enhance your communication skills will add impact to your presentations.
* Develop increased flexibility through the use of expression, gestures, and voice modulation
* Demonstrate ownership of unfamiliar material
* Present written material in a captivating manner
* Improve your delivery of written material
* Overcome barriers that restrict your flexibility
Amazing – Be Blown over - B/f Srikanth
Its really Amazing ::::::::::: Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple - 360° view
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple – 360 view
Amazing – Be Blown over - B/f Srikanth
Its really Amazing ::::::::::: Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple - 360° view
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple – 360 view
http://www.view360.in/virtualtour/madurai/
For your Safety - B/f Radha
Here is an Automotive Expert advising what to do, when you are going at high speed in a car and your breaks don’t cooperate..
For your Safety - B/f Radha
Here is an Automotive Expert advising what to do, when you are going at high speed in a car and your breaks don’t cooperate..
The right way to stop the car and be Safe….
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8980024
Put your speakers on!! Please share with your friends who love to speed in their 4-wheelers
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8980024
Put your speakers on!! Please share with your friends who love to speed in their 4-wheelers
Finish Strong!! B/f Simple truths
"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." - ~Albert Einstein
For many companies and individuals 2009 has been a difficult year. But in my 64 years on this earth, I have come to realize that the difference in our success or failure is not chance, but choice.
Because when adversity strikes, it's not what happens that will determine our destiny; it's how we react to what happens.
That's what Finish Strong is all about! As we head into the last quarter of this year, I don't think there is a person or a business out there that wouldn't want to finish strong in 2009.
But, we must understand that Finish Strong is more than a statement...it's an attitude. It's an attitude of believing you can do something, and it's having the courage and determination to see it through.
And of course, you can apply this "finish strong attitude" to your business or your life!
Vince Lombardi said, "The will to win...the will to achieve...goes dry without continuous reinforcement."
In a perfect world, we hear something once, record it in our brain, and never need to hear it again.
Well, I don't know where you're living, but my world is far from perfect. I occasionally have doubts, fears, and disappointments in my life. During those times I need to reinforce, encourage, and motivate myself to keep moving forward toward my goals.
So here's my challenge to you...decide today to Finish Strong in 2009!
Bye Friends - thanks for your support to the various editions...here is a small Phrase from Deep within my Heart.....THANK YOU!!!
Disclaimer: The publisher believes that the contents of this blog do not violate any existing copyright / intellectual property of others in any manner whatsoever. However, in the event the author has been unable to track any source and if any copyright has been inadvertently infringed, please notify the publisher in writing for corrective action.
You MAY share or publish any of the articles on the web or in print without written permission of the publisher.
I practice zero tolerance - I take extreme care to avoid publishing any material that may offend any religion, caste, sex, etc., however if you notice anything that might offend anyone or group of people, please do let me know, and I will remove that material after review.
Monday, November 2, 2009
(Please click on the picture to see an enlarged version...)
HI Friends, Here comes 77th edition of Good to great..As always with plenty of diverse articles, views, pictures to make you think and enjoy!!
As always, please share your feedback, thoughts, suggestions to balajineela@gmail.com
After a speech one day, America's motivational Guru, Zig Ziglar was approached by someone in the audience who said: "Zig, it was a great speech, but...motivation doesn't last."
Zig said, "Bathing doesn't either. That's why I recommend it daily!"
Zig loves quotes and believes that the right quote can provide "a-ha" moments and can help to reinforce a positive attitude.
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Get To Or Got To? - By Zig Ziglar
Zig loves quotes and believes that the right quote can provide "a-ha" moments and can help to reinforce a positive attitude.
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Get To Or Got To? - By Zig Ziglar
Every morning for several years, promptly at 10:00 a.m., a prominent business woman visited her mother in a nursing home. She was close to her mother and loved her very much. Often she had requests for appointments at that time of day.
Her response was always the same: “No, I’ve got to visit with my mother.” Eventually, her mother died.
Shortly thereafter someone asked this woman for an appointment 10:00 a.m. It suddenly hit her that she could no longer visit her mother. Her next thought was, “Oh, I wish I could visit my mother just one more time.”
From that moment on, she changed her “got to’s” to “get to’s.”
Her story makes us realize that pleasurable things are “get-to’s.” Burdensome things are “got-to’s.” I get to play golf today; I get to go on vacation this week, etc. We use the term “got to” when it’s not necessarily pleasurable: I’ve got to go to work at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow; I’ve got to clean house; etc. Since perceptions influence our thinking and performance, try this. Instead of, “I’ve got to go to work,” think about those who have no job. Then you can enthusiastically change it to, “I get to go to work tomorrow.”
Her story makes us realize that pleasurable things are “get-to’s.” Burdensome things are “got-to’s.” I get to play golf today; I get to go on vacation this week, etc. We use the term “got to” when it’s not necessarily pleasurable: I’ve got to go to work at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow; I’ve got to clean house; etc. Since perceptions influence our thinking and performance, try this. Instead of, “I’ve got to go to work,” think about those who have no job. Then you can enthusiastically change it to, “I get to go to work tomorrow.”
If somebody invites you to go fishing, instead of saying, “No, I’ve got to go to my child’s game on Saturday,” think about the fact that someday your child will grow up and you won’t be able to go to his or her games. Then it’s easy to change it to “get to.”
It’s amazing what that change in words will eventually do for your attitude. You’ll find yourself looking forward to doing those things instead of feeling as if you have to do them. With a difference in attitude, there’ll be a difference in performance.
With a difference in performance, there’ll be a difference in rewards. So think about those things, change your “got-to’s” to “get to’s”!
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Your Health - Tips to Maintain Blood Sugar / Keep Diabetics under control
Diabetes develops as a result of being overweight or obese. Here are some healthy tips, to maintain blood sugar levels to normal levels.
• Stay away from sweets and desserts
• Eat low fat foods like skinless chicken and fish and low fat milk and diary products
• Follow a high-fiber diet, rich in cereals, brown bread (in moderate amounts), beans, lentils, vegetables and fruits (in moderation), since fiber slows down the absorption of sugar in the body
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Your Health - Tips to Maintain Blood Sugar / Keep Diabetics under control
Diabetes develops as a result of being overweight or obese. Here are some healthy tips, to maintain blood sugar levels to normal levels.• Stay away from sweets and desserts
• Eat low fat foods like skinless chicken and fish and low fat milk and diary products
• Follow a high-fiber diet, rich in cereals, brown bread (in moderate amounts), beans, lentils, vegetables and fruits (in moderation), since fiber slows down the absorption of sugar in the body
• Eat food with a low glycemic index – food that does not cause a rapid increase in blood sugar, such as, oats and apples. Eat moderate amounts of food with a moderate glycemic index, such as boiled potato, banana and orange juice.
* Avoid foods with a high glycemic index which cause a rapid increase in blood sugar directly after its absorption, such as white rice, sugar, white bread, and dried fruits such as raisins.* Exercise every day to speed up your metabolism. Sports also help body cells to become more sensitive to insulin, and thus help maintain normal blood sugar levels.
It is advisable to consult your Doctor about specific amounts to eat, taking into consideration your nutritional requirements.
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Interpersonal relationships - Connect With Your Spouse better
Give Your Spouse Your Full Attention
Although there are times in every marriage when one of you is talking and the other isn't listening, don't let that become an everyday situation.
Here are some simple tips to connect ever more and better.
* If your spouse wants to communicate with you, stop what you are doing so that you can give your spouse your full attention.
* When talking with your spouse, maintain eye contact.
It is advisable to consult your Doctor about specific amounts to eat, taking into consideration your nutritional requirements.
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Interpersonal relationships - Connect With Your Spouse better
Give Your Spouse Your Full Attention
Although there are times in every marriage when one of you is talking and the other isn't listening, don't let that become an everyday situation.
Here are some simple tips to connect ever more and better.* If your spouse wants to communicate with you, stop what you are doing so that you can give your spouse your full attention.
* When talking with your spouse, maintain eye contact.
* When you don't want to be distracted while talking with one another, choose a neutral location to have your conversation.
* It is important to remember to listen to one another without interrupting.
* It is important to remember to listen to one another without interrupting.
* Don't jump to conclusions about what your spouse is saying.
* If you need clarification of what your spouse has said, ask questions, but don't point fingers.
* If you need clarification of what your spouse has said, ask questions, but don't point fingers.
* Respond without being critical of what your spouse has said.
* Be affirmative and supportive.
* Be affirmative and supportive.
* Decide together to make time to have alone time with each other on a regular basis -- preferably once a week.
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Thought for the week…
"It is not the strongest of the species that survive….but the one most responsive to change"….Anon
"It is not the strongest of the species that survive….but the one most responsive to change"….Anon
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Painful truths....so dis-heartening to see this picture..India shining, but miles to go before everybody gets their share of Roti
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Smart car
Smart carWash your car with a bucket of soapy water, rather than with a hosepipe.
Running a hose for just 30 minutes uses more water than an average family consumes in a whole day.
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Picture story
(Click on the picture to see an enlarged version/ clear picture)
What would You do?
Wait for the snake to pass and then drive on your vehicle or would you just get out from there?
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Laughter the Best Medicine
After twelve years in prison, a man finally escapes.
When he gets home, filthy and exhausted, his wife says,
"You escaped eight hours ago! Where have you been? "
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Quit Drinking
A man walks into a bar in Londonand ordered 3-glasses of beer and sits in the backyard of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes, he comes back to the bar counter and orders 3 more.
T
he bartender asks him, “You know, beer goes flat after I fill it in the glass; it would taste better if you buy one at a time.”
The man replies, “Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Dubai, the other in Canada and I’m here in London. When they left home, we promised that we’ll drink this way to remember the days when we drank together.”
The bartender admits that this is a nice custom and leaves it there. The man became a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He order 3-Beers and drinks them in turn.
One day, he came in and ordered only 2-Beers All the other regulars notice and fall silent. When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, “I don’t want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my sincere condolences on your great loss.”
The man looked confused for a moment, then he laughs.... “Oh, no,” he, said, “Everyone’s fine - both my brothers are alive”. The only thing is I just quit drinking...! !!
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After twelve years in prison, a man finally escapes.
When he gets home, filthy and exhausted, his wife says,
"You escaped eight hours ago! Where have you been? "
------------------
Quit Drinking
A man walks into a bar in Londonand ordered 3-glasses of beer and sits in the backyard of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes, he comes back to the bar counter and orders 3 more.
T
he bartender asks him, “You know, beer goes flat after I fill it in the glass; it would taste better if you buy one at a time.”The man replies, “Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Dubai, the other in Canada and I’m here in London. When they left home, we promised that we’ll drink this way to remember the days when we drank together.”
The bartender admits that this is a nice custom and leaves it there. The man became a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He order 3-Beers and drinks them in turn.
One day, he came in and ordered only 2-Beers All the other regulars notice and fall silent. When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, “I don’t want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my sincere condolences on your great loss.”
The man looked confused for a moment, then he laughs.... “Oh, no,” he, said, “Everyone’s fine - both my brothers are alive”. The only thing is I just quit drinking...! !!
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Click on the picture to see an enlarged version and relish the joke
Disclaimer: The publisher believes that the contents of this blog do not violate any existing copyright / intellectual property of others in any manner whatsoever. However, in the event the author has been unable to track any source and if any copyright has been inadvertently infringed, please notify the publisher in writing for corrective action.
You MAY share or publish any of the articles on the web or in print without written permission of the publisher.
I practice zero tolerance - I take extreme care to avoid publishing any material that may offend any religion, caste, sex, etc., however if you notice anything that might offend anyone or group of people, please do let me know, and I will remove that material after review.
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