Leadership Blog

Feb

2023

Creating a Culture of Healthy Communication

I was finishing a communication workshop in an organization, and everyone was sharing their personal action step. When I got to the owner, he sat with his arms crossed and said as if a lightbulb just went off: “I need to change how I communicate.”

This was great to hear because many of our problems at work or home are rooted in communication challenges. You know how important communication is, especially in a professional setting. But did you know that how you communicate can greatly impact your productivity and relationships with colleagues? It’s true. A culture of healthy communication can make a big difference.

So, what is a culture of healthy communication? It’s all about creating an environment where everyone is comfortable speaking their mind, expressing their thoughts and ideas, and having honest conversations. It’s about listening to each other, understanding each other, and respecting each other.

Here are some tips to help you create a culture of healthy communication:

Be Respectful

Respect is vital to creating an environment of healthy communication. Always strive to respect other people’s opinions, ideas, and feelings. Listen to what they have to say and consider their opinions.

Speak Up

Don’t be afraid to speak up and share your thoughts and ideas. Everyone’s opinion matters, and it’s important for team members to share their ideas to come up with creative solutions. When you speak up, remember to refer to the first tip because we don’t want to be the opinionated know-it-all in the room.

Stay Positive

Negativity can make it difficult for people to be open and honest with each other. Try to stay positive and focus on solutions rather than problems. When coming to your team or leader with a problem, bring a few possible solutions and decide together the best option.

Encourage Open Dialogue

By following the previous tip, we will encourage this culture. Encourage team members to have open and honest conversations. Ask questions and be open to hearing different perspectives. Be attentive to how you respond because our verbal and non-verbal responses will either encourage or discourage this dialogue.

Take Feedback

Feedback is an integral part of healthy communication. Make sure to take feedback seriously and use it to improve and grow. I have heard of organizations that will have a system in place to provide feedback anonymously. However, remember how we respond to feedback will either promote or discourage this form of healthy communication.

Creating a culture of healthy communication is an important part of creating a productive and collaborative work environment. Which of these tips do you need to grow this week? Need help understanding your team’s communication style? Go here to learn about our communication impact report. Let me know any way I can help you and your team strengthen your culture with healthy communication. Lead Well!

Feb

2023

Learning from Lincoln’s Leadership

I was driving on a business trip and listening to the book The President and the Freedom Fighter and have also been slowly working my way through Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Both books highlight the leadership of President Lincoln. Below are some quotes from the latter and what we can learn about leadership as we celebrate President’s Day.

“In order to win a man to your cause you must first reach his heart, the great high road to his reason.”

Throughout his presidential leadership, Lincoln was intentional about when he acted. The emancipation proclamation was first drafted almost six months before it was officially ordered by the President. This was because he understood the importance of timing. Had he ordered this at the time it was written the union was not in a position that would win the hearts of the people. Six months earlier it may have caused a greater divide instead of unity.

Leadership expert John Maxwell in his book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership explains that “people buy into the leader, then the vision.” Lincoln understood this and knew he had to have the hearts of people before he could move forward with his vision for the emancipation of slaves. Great leaders connect with those they lead so they understand their needs and when the time is right they will support the leader’s cause.

“The books, and your capacity for understanding them, are just the same in all places . . . Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed, is more important than any other one thing.”

Lincoln read voraciously. He not only read but sought to understand and apply what he read. It has been said that leaders are readers. Why?

In order to be effective as a leader you must continually be growing. When we stop growing, we stop going. Reading is a way to learn from others we may never meet. Reading expands our perspective. Reading expands our knowledge so we can succeed.

Reading is not enough, we must apply what we learn and put it into action. Maybe there is something we need to change because of what we read, something we need to apply immediately or even teach others. What feeds the desire to grow is the determination that you will succeed. Leaders read in order to succeed.

“Though Lincoln desired success as fiercely as any of his rivals, he did not allow his quest for office to consume the kindness and openheartedness with which he treated supporters and rivals alike,”

Goodwin tells the story of how Lincoln needed someone to galvanize the war department. Many people would not consider someone who humiliated them in the past. Not Lincoln.

Lincoln tapped Edwin Stanton, who previously spoke disparagingly about Lincoln, to be the head of the war department. He did not allow personal grievances to prevent him from inviting people into his inner circle. Throughout his presidency, he had rivals as well as supporters who provided various perspectives to speak into his leadership.

Great leaders have the humility to bring people with different opinions close to them to strengthen their thinking. They put aside personal grievances and create a culture of openness unified around a common cause. As long as everyone in the inner circle is unified around the vision, different perspectives are healthy. Lincoln put people before his agenda and sought what was best for the country above all else.

Consider these priorities: relationships, growth, and different perspectives. Which of them do you need to improve on? Need help thinking into this? Contact me for a thinking partner session to help you think into your leadership. When we raise our leadership ability, it creates room to grow the leaders around us. Lead Well!

Goodwin, Doris K. Team of Rivals. Simon & Schuster: New York. 2005.

Maxwell, John C. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Harper Collins Leadership. 2022.

Feb

2023

NFL Teamwork

I was sitting with a friend of mine and we were discussing how we have coached our kids in sports. He shared with me an idea that I thought was tremendous. . . . Ask the kids what it means to be a teammate and focus on that all season.

Effective leaders build strong and healthy teams. Since this is Super Bowl weekend I used our friend Google and stumbled upon thoughts from Hall of Fame NFL athletes on teamwork. The link to the video is below, but here is a summary of some of their thoughts.

Unselfishness

This one can be manifested in unique ways. As the leader, we may think our way is the best. Unfortunately, we then keep doing things we shouldn’t be out of a desire to control or get all the glory. When we wrap our identity in what we do or think our way is best, self-centered pride sneaks in. Just as the prima-donna athlete eventually hurts the team so will our selfish desire to have things done our way.

Sacrifice

As a leader, you understand sacrifice because you have sacrificed to get where you are, but this is a different kind of sacrifice. Athletes understand that when they take a play off or hold back in effort it hurts their team. They are willing to put in work and sacrifice their personal agenda for the good of the team. Healthy teammates will, within reason, sacrifice time, energy, and other resources to help the team succeed.

Understanding

One of the Hall of Fame athletes emphasized that a good teammate will understand his teammates’ strengths and weaknesses. When we understand others we are able to help the participants be in positions where they excel. Not only does this help the team’s performance, but it also is enjoyable for the individual. Understanding individual strengths enable everyone to excel.

Trust

Football players experience extreme highs and lows. There is great emotion and in order to openly share the emotion trust is essential. Healthy teams that move fast have trust at the foundation. Stephen M. R. Covey states it well when he says:

“The trust we have in people . . . comes, in part, from believing that they do care.”

With trust in your team, you will accomplish more, faster.

Family

A football team is a community. They suffer together, they train together, they fight together, and they support one another. They are like a family who realize they are all together in this. When a team not only says they are a family but acts like one and has one another’s support on or off the field great things happen. Some of the championship teams that have existed came together as a family and supported one another through adversity and celebrated victories.

Take a minute and look at your team. How healthy are they? Does your team live out these qualities? If not, where do you need to help them grow as a team? Want to dive deeper into this idea of teamwork? Contact me and let’s talk about how I can help you grow your team. Lead Well.

https://www.nfl.com/videos/the-inspiration-project-hall-of-famers-emphasize-importance-of-teamwork

Feb

2023

Five Tips on Building a Healthy Culture

I was sitting with a business leader as we discussed their business strategy. During our conversation, it became apparent that he needed to get clear on what kind of culture he wanted to build.

As a business leader, it’s up to you to create a healthy workplace culture — one that encourages collaboration, creativity, and innovation, while still maintaining a productive and professional environment. Though every culture is different, here are ideas on how to get started.

Take a “Culture First” Approach.

A “culture first” approach focuses on the health and well-being of the company and its employees. This means creating a supportive and inclusive environment that values diverse thoughts and worldviews and encourages open communication. It also means providing the necessary resources to make sure employees have the tools they need to succeed.

Establish Clear Goals and Expectations.

Recently I’ve had the opportunity to help some business leaders set clear goals and expectations. This is essential for any successful business. Explain to your team what you expect from them in terms of their performance, and make sure they understand the vision and mission of the company. As a leader, you should also ensure your team knows what their roles and responsibilities are and hold them accountable for meeting the goals.

Prioritize Employee Engagement.

One leader I was talking to applied this idea with his leadership team by listening to their ideas to create an environment for them to own the vision. When employees feel heard and valued and have opportunities to express their ideas and experiences they will be more enthusiastic about the direction of the organization. On a personal level schedule flexibility and autonomy in how they complete their work can increase engagement.^1,2

Encourage Open Communication.

Oftentimes I will go into an organization to provide a communication workshop because this can be at the core of organizational culture problems. Not only is understanding our team and how we communicate important, but being available to answer questions and address concerns creates an environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. Creating ways for team members to communicate with each other and safely provide constructive feedback will reinforce the culture of open communication.

Invest in Professional Development.

Investing in professional development is another great way to build a healthy culture. Research has shown that employees are more likely to stay with an organization if they help them grow in their skills.³ Providing employees with the resources and training they need to develop their skills will help them stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technology and give them the confidence to take on new challenges.

Creating a healthy workplace culture is a process that takes time, but the rewards are worth the effort. By taking the “culture first” approach, setting clear expectations, prioritizing employee engagement, encouraging open communication, and investing in professional development, you can create an environment that encourages collaboration, creativity, and innovation — and that’s good for both your business and your employees. Need help assessing your culture in an organic way? Contact me to explore tools like our communication impact workshop or the Maxwell Leadership Game to assess and/or grow your team. Lead Well.

Jan

2023

Learning From Legendary 49ers Coach Bill Walsh

Although I am a Los Angeles Rams fan, I have to admit that Bill Walsh, coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 – 1989, was a legendary leader. I read his book The Score Takes Care of Itself a while back, and below are a few principles we can learn from his leadership.

Have a Philosophy

“Your philosophy is the single most important navigational point on your leadership compass.”

I have read books by many successful coaches, and they all have this idea in common. John Wooden had his “Pyramid of Success.” Pete Carroll has his “Win Forever” philosophy and if we look at other sectors of leadership, leaders have a philosophy.

In a resource I created called Leadership Theory 101, I explain eleven theories of leadership which I won’t go into here. I see in Coach Walsh’s statement that effective leaders have a philosophy. This is our guide on why, what, when, and even how we do what we do. This will be at the center of our decision-making process. Our philosophy will be our compass.

Growth not Goal

“I directed our focus less to the prize of victory than to the process of improving . . . about the quality of our execution and the content of our thinking; that is, our actions and attitude.”

As Walsh developed his philosophy he, like other great coaches, chose not to focus on winning but the process that would help them get to that outcome. When we get too focused on the result, we lose our drive if we have a loss that seems to prevent us from accomplishing the goal.

When leading our teams, we must have a goal or vision. That provides the why behind what is done each day, but as McChesney, et al. discuss in The 4 Disciplines of Execution, the lead measures are the daily actions that will help us achieve the goals we seek. As we keep our team focused on the habits that will bring results, the results will come.

Culture is Critical

“Champions behave like champions before they’re champions; they have a winning standard of performance before they are winners.”

Maybe you’ve heard the idea that culture eats leadership for lunch. As a leader, Walsh had a philosophy that helped create a culture. If the standard we expect as leaders is only held up when we are present, then we don’t have the culture we seek yet.

When the leader is not present, but the performance standard remains, you have created a culture. If people are not meeting expectations and others on your team hold one another to the expected standard . . . you have the culture you desire. This culture tied to your philosophy and expectations will reinforce and continue to help you accomplish your goals.

Reflect on these three areas for a moment today and evaluate how you are doing in these areas. Do you have a culture of followers who do what you want when you are there? Or are you developing leaders who are excited about the vision and help others work to accomplish the shared vision? Need help developing the leaders around you? Contact me and let’s explore ways I can help you and the leaders around you grow to create a culture that builds champions. Lead Well.

Jan

2023

Tips For Time Management

I was facilitating The Maxwell Leadership Game with a group of people recently, and everyone was sharing what they do to prioritize their time. As an entrepreneur, I know that time is money and that prioritizing my time is essential to staying productive and growing my business. However, I also understand that this isn’t always easy to do – we’re all busy, and it can be hard to know where to start when making the most of our time.

Below are some tips for prioritizing your time so you can make the most of your day and overcome the overwhelm to continue moving toward your goals.

Set Goals and Deadlines

At the beginning of each day, write down the top three goals you need to accomplish and deadlines to help you stay focused and on track. This will help you prioritize your tasks and ensure you keep sight of what you need to accomplish.

Utilize a Calendar

I was resistant to this idea for a long time, but as life got more complicated, it became essential. Whether this is “old school” or digital, use it to schedule your tasks and appointments so that you can stay organized and ensure you don’t miss any important deadlines. For example, I use a digital calendar that my wife can see both for accountability and so she can add family appointments, so I keep them in front of me.

Plan Ahead

I mentioned setting goals that keep us focused on the big picture. When working with clients one-on-one, we often discuss how they can plan ahead. For example, taking Sunday night or getting in early on Monday morning will help you plan your week. Some people have created an end-of-the-day routine and beginning-of-the-day habit to plan their day. Whatever the way, it will help you stay on top of things and ensure you’re getting the most out of your day.

Take a Break

Just the other night, my oldest son and I were discussing this. Breaks are essential for your productivity and your mental health. So take a few minutes each day to step away from your work and recharge. This can be anything from walking to listening to a podcast – whatever helps you relax and reset.

Delegate Tasks

Feel free to delegate tasks to others if you’re overwhelmed with your workload. If you don’t have a team, find people such as virtual assistants and use resources such as Fiverr.com or upwork.com to get help at reasonable prices. You don’t have to do everything alone – take advantage of the people and resources available to help you get things done.

Prioritizing your time is essential to staying productive and growing your business. Which of these tips do you need to apply this week? Need more detailed help and tools, contact me and let’s discover any way I can help you improve your self-leadership in this area. As we lead ourselves better, we will be even more effective in leading our teams. Lead Well!