Give the Gift of Significance

Last week I spent time with Fred Wilson, CEO, East Florida Division of Parallon Supply Chain Solutions and his Leadership Team discussing Customer Service.  One of our conversations centered on the word “Significant” which has prompted me to share a few thoughts with you.

Merriam Webster defines Significant as: “Have meaning; being important”

As you think about the definition consider who you made feel significant in the last 24 or 48 hours.

Are you surrounded with family members arriving for the holidays that feel welcomed into your home?  Have you offered a holiday greeting to those who serve you on a regular basis, perhaps your mail person or UPS driver? Have you given a compliment to a complete stranger?

Each of us has the ability to make someone feel special. We can do it instantaneously with a text message or email. We can offer a hug instead of a handshake. We can stay present in conversation by listening with both our ears and eyes. We can simply smile at others.

Will you join me as we begin to close out 2013 in using your influence as your gift for helping others realize they are important?

What better time of the year to practice making someone feel significant?

5 Simple Strategies for Coaching for Success

Later today I will spend time with the Leaders at e-Builder, a construction program management software company based in Plantation, Florida. Ron Antevy, President and recently selected as one of South Florida Business Journal’s Ultimate CEOs for Broward County, has asked me to conduct a series of Leadership Training Workshops as part of his on-going desire to grow the company through the success of his team. 

Here are my five coaching strategies for success I will be teaching: 

1.     Establish Trust - Without trust, the coaching relationship will falter and often result in negative outcomes.  It must start with trust.

2.      Learn the Past - In order to help an employee develop for the future, you must be aware of their past.  It is vital that you have a complete understanding of their work history, successes and failures. 

3.     Define the Future - You must align the employee’s personal and professional goals with organizational goals. This will enable you to uncover gaps between the employee’s strengths and opportunities for growth.

 

4.     Create a Plan - Successful development plans follow the SMART philosophy – they are Specific, Measureable, Action driven, Realistic and within a Timeline.

5.     Offer Support - Staying in touch, measuring progress through one-on-one meetings, phone calls, texting and emails are crucial and often forgotten.

A few more Coaching for Success tips:

·         Market and promote talent

·         Reward progress, not just results

·         Find the right size challenges

·         Gradually raise the bar

·         Let them go ahead of you

Let me know what works for you when Coaching for Success so I can expand my tips!

Enjoy meeting people that are different from you!

I am getting close to the finishing touches of my new leadership book The Kaleidoscope Leader and thought you would enjoy a preview. 

As you know a Kaleidoscope is a circle of mirrors containing loose, colored objects such as bead or pebbles and bits of glass. As the viewer looks into one end, light entering the other end creates a colorful pattern, due to the  reflection off the mirrors. 

The Kaleidoscope Leader is an individual that encompasses a multitude of leadership techniques to be successful. As they look within, their methods of leading change due to the reflection they see in others.   

One of these demonstrations is the fact that they enjoy meeting people that are different from them.

One of the most beautiful things we have on earth is the fact that nothing is the same. Snowflakes, fingerprints, zebra stripe and DNA cannot be duplicated. With atoms always moving energy around nothing stays the same.  Change is constant and different is normal. If you will agree with this, consider why. Think about how boring our world would be if there were no differences, if flowers looked and smelled the same, if all dog lovers had only one puppy to choose from, and if there were only one type of fruit to eat or vegetable to cook.  But this isn’t our world. Instead we have many pets to love, fruits to grow and vegetables to eat. And, we have many people different from us to enjoy.

The Kaleidoscope Leader understands the uniqueness of the Universe and how we all connect even when we feel disconnected. They realize the advantage of surrounding themselves with like-minded and unlike-minded individuals.  They welcome thoughts different from their own, appreciate another point of view and respect people that disagree with them.  They relish in the differences considering an alternative way of thinking as exciting. They are curious as to how someone processes information different than their method.  They are genuinely interested in learning new customs and traditions.  They are not threatened by diverse thinking. They are respectful of those who dress, speak and act in ways that are dissimilar to themselves.

As they move through the process of seeking out all types of people, they maintain a clear understanding of their core beliefs.  They will consider alternative views and may even adapt one or two. But, they have the strength and will power to stay firm when their beliefs cannot be altered.  This is when they will agree to disagree. They will accept and respect those that are different and yet realize the importance of staying true to themselves.

STOP! Take a moment…

If you read my blogs you know right now it has been awhile (at least I’m not annoying sending you stuff that you don’t read cause you don’t have time). If this is your first one, what the heck has taken you so long? Where have you been?

Ok…sorry for that small Dennis Miller rant…(not Rodman…Miller) – if you;re absolutely clueless about either, don’t worry, You'll still understand my message, which is...

Take a moment.

The minute you get done reading this I want you to take a moment to give a hug, make a call, send a text…show your preferred form of love for that one, two or many that mean something to you. That one person, group, or team that you would be lost without.

Sit for a bit and think about those who mean the most to you. I mean really THINK about them. Keep thinking. Pay attention to how you feel. Tears forming? Insides feeling warm? Heart beating a tab bit faster? When you are overcome with the joy of loving someone you know exactly what I am getting at.

And, now, for this second and the rest of the day be thankful for those who give you a reason…are there for you when you don’t ask, love you unconditionally and those you haven’t even met yet.

This one is for…

everyone that is reading and thinks that maybe…just perhaps, I would be typing in your name.  And, for the one I haven’t met yet…this one’s for you, Kailey.

The Chicken or The Egg?

The chicken or the egg dilemma is commonly stated as "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" To ancient philosophers, the question about the first chicken or egg also evoked the questions of how life and the universe in general began.
 
Metaphorically the question can be reformulated as: "Which came first, X that can't come without Y, or Y that can't come without X?"

Let’s apply this dilemma to the workforce. The Employee or The Customer?

I offer my opinion in my book: The Pied Piper Principle; Lead, and They Will Follow

“Principle #56 – What is more important – The Customer or The Employee?

Although there may be lots of reasons to pick one over the other there is one important difference. Without a customer, you have no business.  Yet without employees, you have no product to sell or service to offer. The employee is the most important aspect of your business.

Picture the customer that knocks on the door and there is no employee to answers. Or, the client that makes the call with no one to pick up the phone.

When you have employees you will always have someone to create the merchandize, sell the service and collect the money. 

Of course a business without customers closes. The customer must be valued and treated like gold.  An interesting thing occurs when a leader treats their employees like a priceless gem. The employees in turn, do the same with the customers.”

Show me happy employees and I'll show you happy customers!

Let me know who you think comes first.

The Door of Opportunity

By the middle of January most of us are well on our way accomplishing our New Year’s resolution. Or, we have already decided they just weren’t worth the effort.  Whether you are in the first category and looking for one more goal or feeling down that you didn’t keep a commitment, I have an effortless one for you this year.
 
It is simply: Open the door of opportunity for someone.

I imagine each one of you reading this can think back to at least one individual that gave you a chance, offered you a break – believed in you when no one else did. For many, that one vote of confidence was all it took to begin your journey to greatness.

Some of us may have had several doors opened over our life time…by teachers, friends, supervisors, neighbors or family members…they saw something we didn’t see. They sensed our ability to do more, understood that we had it in us even when we may have been at our darkest hour.

Today I encourage you to open the door of opportunity for someone.  This year find at least one person that can use the inspiration to be more - needs a little help to advance to the next place in their life.

Once you do, stand back and let them walk through. For as great as the deed it is to open the door, it is up to them to go through.