Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / What Would You Do?

Day 17
I have been warned not to be so transparent in these encouragement emails of leadership tips.  But here goes anyway...

Some of you may be wondering, "Is Dave nuts?"  Wednesday of this week your LEADERSHIP Accountability email subject line was "Victims."  Yesterday, my weekly Work Smart Live Well newsletter subject line was "Time Bomb."

I sent these newsletters to almost 3,000 people daily.  FREE.  You can access them in my blog.

I got an email yesterday from someone who loves these LEADERSHIP Accountability emails.  A different person responded to yesterday's Work Smart Live Well email as follows:

"I find any references to bombs or time bombs in any marketing material to be in extremely poor taste, especially considering the very recent events in Boston.  I wanted to personally let you know that I'm opting out of your mailing list as a result."

The first part of my response to this reader is below.  My full response was longer and included three apologies, in addition to the apology in the email itself (you have to read yesterday's email to fully comprehend the situation):

"If you want your clients to abruptly terminate your relationship when you accidentally offend them after years of service, then you have made the right decision."

And by the way, I closed my response with:

"I remain, sincerely, an encourager of your best leadership and success."

As you close out this week with accountability, consider, how should your people respond when a Client, vendor or peerbehaves in a way that offends you?

Do you toss away years of a good working relationship?  Do you abandon The Golden Rule?

IMPORTANT FOLLOW-UP:  This leader responded to my email, apologizing for his earlier communication and mentioning he did not cancel his subscription.  WOW.  His second email speaks volumes about his positive leadership traits.  My email just caught him at a bad time.  He really impressed me.  Emotions often get the best of us.   All of us.  

This situation might be a good discussion topic for your team, or reflection topic during your Sanctuary time.

It is the end of the week.  "OH NO!  It happened again, Batman.  Another week has vaporized.  Holy Outlook Calendar!" (As if there is such a thing...)  

As I mentioned in Day 2 of this series, sometime between late Friday and early morning on Monday is ideal for Sanctuary.  This is your time for personal accountability.

1.  Did you achieve your 3 Strands and daily W.I.N.'s?

2.  Did your people achieve their 3 Strands and daily W.I.N.'s?

3.  What can you do NEXT WEEK that will be incredibly fulfilling?  Are those tasks your 3 Strands and Monday's W.I.N. because they ultimately help you achieve your 2013 goals?

Put on a few of your favorite songs this weekend and dance like no one's watching...

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

 

 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Victims

Day 16
It is midweek and you are pursuing clear, measurable objectives this week - your 3 Strands and possibly daily W.I.N.s...

BUT people keep interrupting you.  Clients need attention.  There are "flash fires" that take your time.  Your Inbox is overflowing.  It gets overwhelming.

Whine... whine... whine.

John Ortberg in a fabulous sermon on Les Miserables (May 5th) made a statement that reminded me of my most time-challenged clients:

"No one is only a victim."

Here is today's accountability tips, although there is a lot more to discuss on this issue:  

1.  Stop blaming others.  You are only interrupted as much as you allow.  You are a victim only to the extent you refuse to take control of your schedule.

2.  Build gaps in your schedule.  These can be for work, or "Open Door" time to limit interruptions to this time only.

3.  Take responsibility.  For instance, I start most of my work days at 4:00 a.m.  Why?  We adopted a sibling group of 4 young kids.  Starting early is the only way I can put in a full day after my Bible study and prayer time.

As the leader, you have to adjust your schedule so it not only works for you, but for your team and Clients.  If you are getting pulled in too many directions then you need to make adjustments.  No one will adjust their behavior unless you require it - politely, patiently and proactively.

You may need outside help - a peer, mentor, coach...  someone to submit yourself to so that you try new behaviors that scare you, but that enable you to develop new, more productive habits.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Punch One At A Time

Day 15
The young girl's father managed boxers.  That evening they were in a local auditorium and the crowd was mainly cheering for the opponent of her father's fighter.  At the end of the fight it was too close for many to call... If they were to be honest. 

The ringside judges turned in their scores and the referee announced her father's fighter had won the bout.  The crowd got nasty.  They felt the fight was fixed.  It looked like her father and his fighter would not get out of the auditorium alive.

Her father turned to the fighter and his young daughter, and gave an order:  "Follow me!"

He then walked right into the mob.  As he approached the first person in his way, he stopped and pulled back his right fist as though he would punch the threat right in the face.  In fear that person, when singled out, backed away.

Her father took a couple more steps, paused, and pulled his fist back again prepared to punch the next person.  Again, the person when singled out, backed away.

Her father continued this process, moving as rapidly as he could, until they were out of the auditorium without having to actually fight anyone.

What is the lesson?

Do not let the "mob" of activities that threaten to overwhelm you each day distract you from achieving REAL results.  Use the 3 Strands and daily W.I.N. exercises to focus on achieving clear, measurable, meaningful results each day.

W.I.N. your battles with distractions and interruptions daily.  Then pause to (1) reflect on your progress and (2) plan your key objectives for the next time you enter "the ring" - tomorrow.

The story above is real.  I heard it many years ago.  Unfortunately I cannot remember the speaker's name.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Get Back In Control

Day 14
I was speaking with an I.T. entrepreneur recently and he was complaining his schedule is out of control.  He cannot seem to get his most important work done.

Although people's ability to control their schedule vary, here are some quick tips to regain control of your calendar:

  
1.  3 Strands:  How did you do on your 3 Strands for last week?  Not so good...?  Define the 1-3 key objectives for this week.  The only excuse not to complete them is an "end-of-your-world" catastrophe, not the typical fire drills you face each day.  

YES, start here.  Do NOT start by looking at your calendar.

2.  Today's W.I.N.:  How did you do on your daily W.I.N. last Friday?  Not so good...? Now define 1-3 things to accomplish today that are steps towards achieving your 3 Strands for the week.   

If you do not focus your task list, quote board, service board, Outlook tasks, honey-do list, what's in your mind to do... then you just do busywork, not the important stuff.  Be clear, measurable and specific when writing your 3 Strands and W.I.N.

3.  Calendar:  Now look at your calendar.  First, remove activities that do not lead to achieving your 3 Strands or daily W.I.N.  Narrow your focus.  Politely, professionally say "No, thank you..." and/or delegate.  

Second, schedule time to complete your 3 Strands and W.I.N. activities.

Third, continue to politely and professionally say "No" as new requests for your time arrive.

What about accountability?  Hold yourself accountable.  If that is not working, then consider a coach.  Your increased production will more than pay for the coach.  If you are struggling to do your most important work, then it is worth it to give a coach a try for 1-3 months as a pilot.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

 
Thank you.

 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Don't Let It Rot

Day 13
It is the end of the week and the end of the day.  April is gone and 33% of 2013 along with it.  But do not rest yet...

A Systematic Leader is a DECISIVE leader.  As Jim Collins likes to say in his book, GREAT BY CHOICE, you need a "triad of core behaviors:"

• Fanatic Discipline
• Empirical Creativity
• Productive Paranoia  

Having the opportunity to make decisions is similar to getting a chance to eat fresh, juicy fruit that is full of vitamins, fiber, nutrition and good health.

Make a decision and you can enjoy healthy growth.  It can be Yes or No, after a reasonable amount of reflection that incorporates your strongest core behavior and possibly gathers information from others who are strong in the other core behaviors.

Any decision is better than no decision when you pilot your conclusion in safe amounts versus betting all you have.

No decision, or one that keeps getting postponed rots the opportunity to gain an advantage.

Decide to go for it in a prudent way, to wait for a specific amount of time, or decline the opportunity altogether.  But do not let the opportunity rot.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

1.  Think about key pending decisions in your Sanctuary time as you review your 3 Strands for this week and plan your 3 Strands for next week.

2.  What pending decisions are negatively affecting your daily W.I.N.?

 3.  Especially consider decisive action / no action when considering your team's 3 Strands and W.I.N. results.  If they are not meeting their 3 Strands and/or W.I.N. commitments, then take action.

   

Let me know if you need help.

 

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / 5 Quick Schedule Tips

Day 12
We get busier as we become more successful.  So how do you manage your calendar in a way that provides LEADERSHIP Accountability?  Here are five quick tips and a WARNING to help you:

• Focus on what is most important
• Be able to confirm at a glance that your schedule has some balance
• Cover your personal as well as your business priorities

Tip #1:  Define categories for your calendar events, such as Business Development, Date Nights, Education, Exercise, Marketing, My Leadership, Travel Time...

Tip #2:  Color-code your categories so at a glance you can discern the balance of your activities and whether your most important tasks are scheduled.

Tip #3:  Schedule your exercise time, including any travel or time necessary to shower and change your clothes.

Tip #4:  Schedule recurring events, such as team huddles, prayer/study, time to write / review / report on / submit weekly 3 Strands or daily W.I.N., and other events that must occur regularly.

NOTE:  Maybe your "laugh until it hurts" time that I recommended yesterday should be a recurring event...

Tip #5:  Leave open time in your calendar.

WARNING:  If you are not keeping up with your schedule, then make changes to how you are managing your time immediately.  As one client said recently, otherwise "...it's like you are in a storeroom and items start cascading on you from above as the top shelves collapse.

  Let me know if you need help.

 

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

Daily LEADERSHIP TIP / Laugh Till It Hurts

Day 11
Is your first response to the subject line of this newsletter, "Well, the same to you!"

If it is, then consider this encouragement:  Try to get with one or more people this week and enjoy a deep belly laugh.  Just set aside the pressures and the stress to enjoy other people.  Maybe watch a funny movie together.  One that will make you laugh until you cry.

Why?

Why not?

Yes, I want you to hold your people accountable to their daily W.I.N. today, tomorrow and each day if they have committed to daily accountability.  Did you get your W.I.N.s today by 9:00 a.m. or whatever time you set? 

Did you get your3 Strands from everyone so you all are headed in the same direction, pursuing your clear 20 Mile Challenge, and on track for your 2013 Goals That Work?

A few years ago a former marketing executive I had worked with returned from a Hawaii vacation early with his second wife and two young children to have Thanksgiving dinner with his daughter of his first marriage.

Starting off from a stoplight after dinner his van was hit broadside by a Mini Cooper Traveling at 90 miles per hour.  Everyone died.  No warning.  No goodbyes.  No fun laughter.

Why not have a good laugh this week?

It is good for you.  It is good for your company culture if you enjoy it with employees.  It is good with your spouse, family members, or whomever.

I apologize if my subject line at first upset you, or if you feel I should have sent this earlier today.  (Maybe you REALLY needed a laugh then...)

Take your "medicine."  Enjoy some laughter about positive things, not putting others down.

And keep pursuing your dreams.

  
Let me know if you need help.
Thank You.

 

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Strong As An Oak

Day 10
I spent several hours pruning a few of our oak trees this past Saturday.  There are many ways an oak tree can be used to represent GREAT leadership.  Let me give you one that may surprise you.

Although much of my pruning was live limbs of the trees, an equal if not greater amount of my pruning was dead branches.  Most of the dead ones where not very long, but they were abundant.  The dead ones were also all over the branches - top, bottom, left and right.

Apparently oak trees were designed to pilot growth in many directions and then let the strongest survive.  It is interesting, because at a glance many of the dead ones should have done as well as the strongest of the other limbs. 

Some of the most popular words of advice I give lately are, "Leaders do not announce new programs often, but rather new pilot programs.  No Idea of the Week Club.  No major changes set in concrete on a whim, but rather flexible test programs for one week, two weeks, a month or 90 days. 

Then invest prudently in new pilot programs only for the pilot period.  If it achieves results, then "water it" some more.  Always be trying a reasonable number of pilots.  Make major changes only when your pilots fully take hold and have proven themselves worthy.

Then someday your company make be as strong as an oak tree.

Accountability:  It's MONDAY!  Have you taken your Sanctuary time to review your 3 Strands of last week and defined your key objectives for this week?

If you are doing a daily W.I.N. or your people are reporting their W.I.N. to you, start the week strong:

Do NOT just "rubber stamp" anything you write down or that is sent to you.  Consider whether their 3 Strands and W.I.N. align with the 2013 Goals That Work of each person, including yourself.

Have a great week.

Let me know if I can help.
Thank You.

 

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / LEADERSHIP Accountability

Day 9
A number of you liked my analogy of a Systematic Leader to a hurdler.  Ellen Prileson of Cornerstone IT added a VERY IMPORTANT perspective to my analogy.  Here it is:

"Thanks for this excellent piece of advice.  I have a daughter who runs hurdles, and the problem strategies are just as you described.  It is focusing on counting your steps, keeping your rhythm and speed, and finishing strong across the finish line. For shorter hurdles running as few steps as possible is the goal.

"The only thing I would add is the starting phase.  All hurdlers know that the push-off (includes the first number of steps) and the first hurdle are very critical.

So planning & envisioning your first steps are crucial.  This certainly applies to my work week, I have to manage the cash flow among many other things, and I have to be prepared!"

The preparation for your race as a leader, and how you start each activity, is critical to your success.

We could also add your timing.  You not only have to get out of the blocks fast when the gun goes off, but you cannot leave too early or late.  We could really expand on this and have a fun workshop!  Thank you, Ellen!

Back to accountability...  It is the end of the week. 

1.  How are you doing on your 3 Strands?  Today may be catch-up day for some of us (and maybe tonight or tomorrow morning...).

Just a thought...  I worked out in the gym and swam one Friday night years ago.  Afterwards in the locker room was another guy changing.  After we exchanged greetings, he said something like:  "Only the losers are here tonight.  Everyone else is out having fun."  Then he laughed and I joined in.  (I think I've only worked out one Friday night since then.)

My point:  Maintain a balance of really focusing on work during work hours.  During "play" time, just focus on personal activities and enjoying others.

2.  Have you scheduled Sanctuary time this afternoon, or sometime before you start your work on Monday?  Remember, this is a critical step to holding yourself accountable to your 3 Strands of this week, and possibly some other less important actions, and planning your key objectives / 3 Strands for the upcoming week. 

P.S.  I hope you laugh so hard that you cry this weekend.

 Please let me know if you need help.

Thank You.

 

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Triple Play Time

Day 8
Time management is such a struggle for leaders.  Here is a tip to carve out time every day to do your best work.

A triple play is a rare feat in baseball where the defending team fields one hit by the offensive team in such a way that they get three outs to end the inning for the opposition. 

In a similar way, you need to eliminate the ways people interrupt you from your most important work.

1. Schedule Out:  Schedule time in your calendar to work alone without distractions or interruptions.  To do this effectively you need to set the following expectations with others: 

• Change your email signature and voicemail message to inform people that you only check messages at two to four specific times during the day.
• Schedule regular meetings with your direct reports and make it clear that except in the case of an emergency, you will either email them your questions or wait to discuss topics until you get together during your regular meeting.
• Balance your TRIPLE PLAY time with Open Door time when you can be interrupted.

2. Shut Out:  Close your office door during TRIPLE PLAY time.  Robin Robins calls this "orange cone time" and has given her clients an orange soccer cone to place outside their door or cubicle to communicate to others that you are not to be disturbed.  I like the idea.  You may want to consider it.

When I encouraged this type of time management with Solid Networks, an awesome IT/MS provider in Modesto, California, their people just put a sign on the floor of the entrance to their cubicle.  It was their "Solid Time."  They all said Solid Time really helped their productivity.

3. Tech Out:  Thirty years ago, there were no cell phones, text messages, PDAs, instant messengers or email, but people still got work done and had meaningful relationships.

Tech Out during TRIPLE PLAY time:  Turn off all technology (cell phone, email, IM, desk phone...) so you can focus your mental energy on achieving your most important work.

It is reasonable for you to set certain hours during the day when you cannot be reached.  After all, you do it every time you go into a meeting.  (Or at least, you should!)

Communicate to your co-workers, clients and vendors that you are unavailable during certain periods of time during the workday so you can practice TRIPLE PLAY time.

Accomplish more in less time.  Try TRIPLE PLAY time.  

 Let me know if you need help.

Thank You.

 

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Sharpen Your Axe

Day 7
Are you applying one of President Abraham Lincoln's simplest leadership tips?  He once said: "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."

Working hard will not help you achieve your dreams.  Working smartincreases your odds for success.

When you take a Sanctuary break today to clear you mind, why not pose one of these questions to yourself? 

• Is the sales script our telemarketers using as strong as it could be?   
• Is our current marketing message clearly communicating our strongest value?
• How are our people confirming Client satisfaction at the end of each ticket, project, call...?
• Which employee needs sincere encouragement from me today?
• Which loyal Client needs to have me call them to thank them for their business and just see how they are doing today?  
• (You may have a question that is better aligns with your specific needs...) 

Each of these are stronger when you do it yourself, including testing your sales script.

Why not pause... and sharpen your axe?  None of these actions take a long time.  Where appropriate, note a Client conversation in your CRM as an activity or an employee discussion in MANAGEtoWIN as a log event.

Let me know if you need help.

Thank You.

 

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Monday Routine

Day 6
What is your Monday routine to make the most of your week?  Here is one systematic approach.  How does it compare with yours?

1.  Sanctuary:  I have reviewed my 3 Strands from last week and defined them for this week.  (If you don't understand the 3 Strands exercise, pleases see Day 3.)

• Have you held yourself accountable for last week and defined your key focus for this week?   

2.  Team Updates:  By 9:00 a.m. today I have received updates from each of my direct reports on how well they accomplished their prior week's 3 Strands and their 3 Strands for this week, plus how well they did on their Daily W.I.N. for last Friday and their W.I.N. for today.

This reminds me how they are focusing this time.  I can check their activities against their Goals That Work for this year to confirm they are making progress.  Their goals are in their Strategic Plan.

• Do you know the key objectives of your team today and this week?  (Don't guess.) 

3.  Inbox Clear:  I do my best to clear my Inbox of email from the prior week before starting the new week.  One thing that has helped is creating a folder titled, Watch / Read.  I dump everything in there that I would like to read, but do not have time instantly to focus on.

• Have you cleared your past (week - or more!) so you can better focus this week?

My main point:  Start the week focusing yourself and your team on your most urgent priorities.  Tools that we use for this beyond MANAGEtoWIN are:

     3 Strands for weekly priorities
     Daily W.I.N.for remote employees and/or myself
     Clear the Inbox increases focus

Let me know if you need help.

Thank You.

 

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Accountability

Day 5 - it is the end of the week.  As I mentioned in Day 2 of this series, sometime between late Friday and early morning on Monday is ideal for Sanctuary.  This is a time of personal accountability.

I am starting early.  Let me give you an example based on my 3 Strands for the week:

Assess

I started this "daily" newsletter six business days ago.  One of my objectives this week was to assess whether it is helping people.  Based on emails I am receiving the answer is "yes."  However, I remain committed to writing a full newsletter (instead of this) with a new idea most weeks, so this is not really a "daily" communication.  Plus, I do not send these emails on weekends or holidays.

What I am asked for is accountability.  These communications are a bit more like reminders, but we could call it "soft accountability" or encouragement.  This is why I changed the name from "Daily Leadership Tips" to "LEADERSHIP Accountability."

Status:  Complete.

Book

I am writing a book for a client.  This is the second one I have written for them.  I want to make a lot of progress - at least 50% done, if not more because we have a fairly detailed outline. 

Status:  Complete (on track to be by the end of tomorrow).

NOTE:  I do some work on Saturdays because we adopted a sibling group of four kids.  Making time for our three biological children, these children, my wife and exercise interrupts my work days so I often work a bit in the mornings and sometimes the afternoons of Saturdays.  For instance, at the moment, my wife is spending four days with our granddaughter and I'm taking care of the four new kids on my own.  This interrupts my work.

Focus

Improve my focus, particularly in the area of presenting the benefits of our new Certle application to manage multiple vendor programs and technical certifications, and MANAGEtoWIN software and services.

Status:  Complete - I made good progress this week.  Yes, this Strand is not as clear and measurable as a typical weekly objective that supports my annual Goals That Work.  However it is critical to my ability to achieve my Goals That Work this year.

How about you?  Why not give Sanctuary a try this weekend and define your 3 Strands for the upcoming week.

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Daily W.I.N.

Day 4

Yesterday I gave a brief overview of a weekly 3 Strands.  Your 3 Strands system holds people accountable to achieving weekly progress towards their clear, measurable annual goals.

  

But many people need to improve their focus on achieving daily key objectives.  We call this a daily W.I.N. (What's Important Now - this name is from the great leaders at Solid Networks in Modesto, California).

  

Your daily W.I.N. is similar to the 3Strands, but it is a daily exercise.  (We want your people to FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS.)  Here it is:

  

Each day have your people define the 1-3 key things they have to get done, listed in order of priority.  Over time these activities should lead to achieving their annual goals and often relate to their 3Strands for the week.

Require your people to email you the following information daily before 9:00 a.m.:

• Their W.I.N. from the prior day and how they did.
• Their W.I.N. for today.

You may also want to discuss their W.I.N. briefly in-person if you work in the same office.

  

You may suggest that they change the priority of their list or replace something with another activity.  This provides you with the opportunity to give directions in-writing than to have them invest their valuable time working on less important tasks.

  

Here is an example of a W.I.N. email:

  

Yesterday:

1. Conference calls with Ralph and Leadership Team - COMPLETE
2. Client Interactions - Reach out to Clients to request deliverables - COMPLETE
3. Complete at least one soft skills training - COMPLETE

Today:

1. Provide feedback to Clients (Jennifer Smith) and continue reaching out to Clients who requested feedback
2. Work on strategic plans for May of U.S. Ag (12 requested)
3. Prepare for call with MHWT

The daily W.I.N. process takes about five minutes for your people to create and update, and a minute for you to review.  It is a very time efficient yet effective process to keep people on track.

  

WARNING:  This is NOT a to-do list that lives forever.  You must accomplish your W.I.N.'s daily or it indicates your leadership systems are broken.

Let me know if you need help.
 
Thank you.

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / 3 Strands

Last Friday I encouraged you to take a weekend Sanctuary for personal accountability.  Weekly accountability for yourself and your people is critical to success.  Here is a brief introduction to our 3 Strands© process:

SYSTEMATIC LEADER NOTE:  Goals without accountability are a recipe for failure.

A person's 3 Strands are the 1-3 most important milestones or tasks they must complete during the upcoming week to move closer to achieving their annual goals.

1. Never define more than 3 Strands so you stay focused.
2. List your 3 Strands in order of priority.
3. Review them at the start and end of each day.
4. Require your direct reports to submit their 3 Strands to you weekly by Monday at 9:00 a.m.

The inspiration behind calling this "3Strands" is from Ecclesiastes 4:12, which says:

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Individually each week's 3 Strands activities may not seem very important, but collectively they are a "20 Mile Challenge" towards achieving meaningful work each year.  Over time your progress through these three weekly activities also:

1. Protects your people from failure or ongoing mistakes;
2. Systematically builds a fortress of success;  and
3. Strengthen your defenses against competitors and anyone who might question your productivity (stay focused).

The discipline of weekly achieving 3 Strands is a strong climbing "rope" (or cord) to reach your vision of success (whatever you have defined success to be).

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Sorry & Team P.I.P.

Day 1

A few months ago we became convinced we needed to sell more in our emails.  Thus... we started sending email blasts more often.

The problem is... overloading your Inbox with requests to buy does not help people and helping people is what my work is all about.  I made a mistake and I feel terrible about it.  With very rare exception, the sales emails stopped yesterday.

I am sorry.  Will you please forgive me for following some bad advice?

Here's the new plan.  I will give regular, often daily, LEADERSHIP Tips for you to become a better, Systematic Leader.  Here is a start:

Earlier this week my newsletter encouraged you to make a decision:  Is your company a Family or a Team?  It should be a team.

What is one action you can take today to become a winning team?

Identify one or more people who are not performing up to your standards.  Take a week to develop a draft Performance Improvement Plan ("P.I.P.") for the person to demonstrate their can become a fully engaged team member, or be let go.  Work with 1-2 other people if possible to develop it.

The Performance Improvement Plan should be:

• A maximum of 1 page in length, and preferably only one side of the page
• Have 3 clear, measurable results-oriented objectives
• Have clear behavioral expectations for them, and from them to you 

  Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

Daily LEADERSHIP Tip / Sanctuary This Weekend

Day 2 / Sanctuary This Weekend

Yesterday I recommended a P.I.P., or performance improvement plan for employees who are not meeting your performance standards.

Well, what about you?

Are you meeting your performance standards each week?

Decades ago Lee Iacocca turned around Chrysler Corporation.  He wrote about it in his book, IACOCCA.  The primary takeaway I got from the book may be helpful to you:

Every Sunday evening Iacocca separated himself from his family and went into his study.  He reviewed his major objectives from the prior week and assessed how well he had done.  Then he defined his most pressing goals for the upcoming week.

I call this a form of Sanctuary.  No interruptions.  No distractions.  Just focused time on what is most important - NOT to-do lists.

I suggest you try a Sanctuary time between this afternoon (Friday) and early Monday morning.  Pilot Sanctuary for one month to test its value for you.

Let me know if you need help.

Be a Systematic Leader - because inconsistency hurts

Thank you.

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

Automated Certification Is Here

Does it frustrate you when one of your people lets a key technical certification lapse, or a vendor requires one and you have to scramble?

Your days of frustration are over.  MANAGEtoWIN has launched a new software application named Certle (it’s no relation, but think “Yertle The Turtle” when you pronounce it) to manage your key vendor relationships and certifications.  Now organizations can track all vendor certifications and their status with a beautiful and intelligently designed interface. 

The beauty of it is the MANAGEtoWIN Client Services team enters all your vendor program and certification data for you – Microsoft, Cisco, HP, VMware…  Whatever vendor you want in their system, they add it for you as part of your setup at no additional charge. 

Are you tired of reminding your people to get their certifications?  Certle emails them reminders, and notifies you when they complete their certifications or fall behind schedule.

Do you want to manage your certifications in a solution that is integrated with your PSA?  Certle is integrated with ConnectWise so service tickets are created when your people are assigned to certification requirements.

Do you wish you could just see the status of all your vendor programs and certifications at a glance in a dashboard.  Certle provides that too.

Do you want more money from your vendors to create and close sales?  Certle is a great way for you to make certain that you have already qualified for the maximum amount of dollars you can receive.

FAMILY OR TEAM?

I was working with a client recently on developing their company values.  In two places they used the term "family." 

 

This may shock you, but I advised them against using the word "family" to describe their company.  Here's a quick summary of why I think that term is incorrect for most organizations.

 

1.  Your company is a "team," not a "family."

 

2.  Families must endure dysfunctional family members indefinitely whereas participation on a team is based on your performance.  If your results do not meet the minimum standards of your team then you are no longer allowed to play for that organization. 

 

3.  Families may choose to lose everything to support a family member who is suffering from a deadly disease or other catastrophe. A team may be empathetic to a team member's struggles, but must limit their investment in the team member to retain profits and sustain the organization.

 

4.  Families often vacation together.  Team members take their families on their own vacations.

 

5.  Families are for life.  Teams are for seasons of life.

 

In closing, but which may reinforce an overall theme as you consider whether your company is a "family" or a "team."  Performance-based love in a family is unhealthy and dysfunctional, yet performance is the standard for being an employee of your company.

 

The first quarter of 2013 is gone forever.  It may be time to make changes in your organization.  Contact me if you have employees that could be more productive and you need help putting together a performance improvement plan for them.

 

2013 will be over before you  know it.  Act now for the sake of your team, and your family. 

 

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts.

 

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc. 

LIVE IT - Learn From The Best

Just how good is your Client experience compared to companies that are SUPERSTARS at exceeding their customers' expectations?

 

I teach you how to improve your Client experience as the first step of the book Rob Betzel and I wrote, The Company Culture Challenge.

 

Vince Fung of Debian IT, a Canadian Client, 17 year industry veteran, and a great guy applied the Live It portion of our 5-step system for improving your client experience last weekend.

 

He decided to have a team building/customer service retreat with his entire team last weekend up in Banff, Alberta.  As one of the pre-retreat exercises, Vince sent his staff out in teams of three with the "Live It/Learn from the Best" exercise recommended in my book.

 

Each team was given $80 in cash to shop and test a local business that they felt had exceptional customer service.  Later during the retreat, they debriefed about the exercise.

 

The result:  Vince says, "...The learning and insights that we gained from that exercise was phenomenal!"

 

P.S.  You may notice my signature has changed below.  We discussed it as a team.  My calling is to teach people to become systematic leaders.  Part of that is being intentional, so my encouragement to you is...   

 

Be a Systematic Leader because inconsistency hurts. 

 

David Russell, CEO

Success With People, Inc.

MANAGEtoWIN, Inc.