DRiVE - The Surprising Truth About What Motivates us

DRiVE - The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

As you lead, what are you doing to help motivate or inspire those around you? Do you know or understand the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation and how to apply each? Are you aware of how ideas around motivation have progressed through the ages?

Daniel Pink takes the reader through the foundations of human motivation. As he progresses through human development, Daniel explains how motivational triggers have shifted into our modern times. The readers gets a glimpse into the science of how motivation may provide different responses than we are taught. Yet, so many leaders in organizations, families, and schools have struggled against what has been learned through psychological studies that are decades old.

When you read this book, think about how it applies to yourself first. How are you motivated and would these tools that are taught have any effect on you? Then think about the tasks and duties that you are handing out to individuals and how others will respond to the motivators you are providing.

Discernment in Leadership

DISCERNMENT - Image from Pastoral Ponderings

Discernment - The ability to judge well.

John Maxwell states that discernment can be described as the ability to find the root of the matter. He also notes that discernment relies on intuition as well as rational thought.

When making decisions, if we wait until all of the possible information is available, we will find ourselves behind the competition or delivering late on proposals. We need to be willing to use intuition along with the information available at the time when we make decisions that will affect those around us. These decisions will not always be flawless, but the more we step out and practice decision making in this manner, we will increase our ability to discern the right direction.

Here are some thoughts about maximizing the effectiveness of discernment in our own lives:

1) Seek the root of an issue - In many cases we may not be able to get a complete picture, so take the information available and exercise discernment in the decisions that must be made. “Organizational effectiveness…lies in the blend of clearheaded logic and powerful intuition” - Henry Mintzberg

2) Enhance your problem solving - A great way to develop and grow your ability to discern is to work and focus in your area of strength. Do not try to have all the answers to all the problems.

3) Evaluate your options for maximum impact - “Never ignore a gut feeling, but never believe that it’s enough” - Robert Heller

4) Multiply your opportunities - Be willing to follow your instincts, based upon your previous experiences. Are you willing to trust your intuition as much as you do your intellect and experience?

Do you have a mentor, leader, or historic hero in life whose discernment you trust and admire? Study those individuals, read their biography, pay attention to the reasons behind their conclusions. Ask them questions to glean from their insights. Through it all, listen to your gut feelings, they are trying to tell you something.

UNBREAKABLE - A Navy SEAL's Way of Life

UNBREAKABLE - A Navy SEAL’s Way of Life by Thom Shea

We all have an internal dialog. Unless, we learn to direct that internal dialog we can find ourselves giving up when we should be persevering. When we engage our internal dialog, we need to be careful what language we listen to, and what words we use. I have found, that often in my internal dialog, I will say things that are derogatory, demoralizing, detrimental, or demeaning (you are not good enough, you just cannot do that, you are in over your head, you are a fraud, It’s too hard, etc.). If I were to speak these words to a friend, they would likely disavow our our friendship, and rightfully so. So, why do I accept this language when I speak it to myself? Are you accepting or listening to this kind of internal dialog? I understand that there is value in being our own worse critic, but why not use words that stir up responses like determination, grit, drive, and hunger for greatness?

Not only do we need to ignore the negativity that can come from internal dialog, but we also must avoid listening to words like “try”, “believe”, and “hope”. At least avoid them in the sense of how they are commonly used in today’s vernacular. For example, when we use the word “try”, we give ourselves a way out of fulfilling a commitment. Think about it, “I will try to get that report to you by the end of the day.” Does that comment convey commitment, or would the recipient of that statement have full confidence you are committed to the goal? In the above example, replace the phrase “will try to” with “believe I will”, or “hope to”. Again, would you be confident in the outcome if someone made that statement to you?

Thom Shea, walks his reader through the importance of internal dialog in this well written and extremely engaging book. The original intent of the book was to present lessons in life, and 13 challenges to his children, when he was away on deployment for our nation, in case he did not return. He and his wife wanted to make sure that their children would fully understand Thom’s heart for his children. These 13 challenges, can be incorporated into anyone’s life. I have made it through lesson 1, but only after multiple re-starts. It all begins and ends with your internal dialog.

I highly recommend that others pick up the book, read it cover to cover, address your internal dialog, work through the challenges presented. Listen to Thom Shea’s podcast UNBREAKABLE, visit the website Adamantine Alliance, follow Thom Shea on social media. I guarantee, if you are seeking personal and professional growth, you will not be disappointed.

Courageous Leadership

By Jona Lendering - Livius.org Provided under CC 0 license (notice under the photograph in the description page of the photograph)., CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73611308

Today, I am sitting here asking myself…do I have courage in how I lead? Courage, like any other part of leadership is a choice…a decision…something you practice in order to improve. Eddie Rickenbacker (WW I Ace Fighter Pilot) stated, “Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared.”

For those of us who are interested in the lessons learned from military greatness, we see that many military leaders were in the line of fire, encouraging their troops in battle. We can read about how George Washington, at the Battle of Monongahela, rode forward to take charge of the troops. He had two horses shot out from under him and his jacket had four bullet holes. We can read about the courage of King Leonidas and his Spartan warrior, at the Battle of Thermopylae (the inspiration for 300).

Not all of us are destined to be great military leaders, but we are all in a position in our family, neighborhood, or job to lead others. Courage does not mean that bold decisions need to be made every day, but it does mean acting on what is right, in the face of what feels fearful. Here are some things to keep in mind as we strive to make courageous decisions.

1) Courage begins with an inward battle. Remember, it is not the absence of fear that defines courage. Courage is doing the very thing that stirs up fear in your heart

2) Courage is making things right, not just smoothing them over. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Being courageous means that you are dealing with principles and not perception. A courageous leader is more focused on the potential outcome of the decision than they are on appeasing others.

3) Courage in a leader, inspires commitment from followers. Like in the examples of George Washington and King Leonidas, when a leader displays courage it inspires those whom they lead.

4) Being courageous will expand your horizons.. I am told that those who face the fear of something like sky-diving, often realize that the fear of sky-diving is worse than the act itself. Once the fear has been faced, it opens up their minds to the idea of exploring more ways to conquer their fears (perhaps it is time to give sky diving a try).

This post is as much to encourage me in being a courageous leader as it is to help others face their fears. If I am honest, not a week goes by without being presented with multiple opportunities to show courage. What am I going to do with the next time I am given a choice to be courageous? Am I going to lead, focus on principle and potential or will I abdicate and let others fill the gap that was meant for me?

Who Moved My Cheese? - A Book Review

Who Moved My Cheese?

How do you cope with change? Do you anticipate change? Do you help others successfully navigate change?

If you like the use of story-telling to make teach lessons that are important in life, I think that you will enjoy this book. There is nothing complicated, but the message is clear. Dealing with change is not always easy, and can be made harder if you have the wrong attitude toward future possibilities.

Everyone that I know, has had to deal with a fear of the future. It ties into a fear of the unknown. What are you doing to prepare for and anticipate the future changes that will come your way? If change catches you off-guard how are you going to respond or react? How long will you take to make a decision about moving forward?

One thing that most of us can count on is that our circumstances will change. Job priorities will shift, family relationships grow and change, the stock market has highs and lows, sectors of an economy become obsolete as new technology arises. Keep a watch for things that you have the ability to foresee and be prepared to adjust on your own terms as often as feasible.

This would be a great book to go over in a master-mind group or book club. I am a slow reader and was able to get through the whole book in one morning. Read and review the book with the intent of understanding how your response to change is reflected in the characters.

Am I Being a Competent Leader?

Image found at www.prexels.com

How often do we see someone who we consider to be an expert in a given field and admire their work? As a citizen of the United States of America, have you peeked at The Federalist Papers and considered about the deep thought and clear communication which went into these writings? How about sitting in-front of a museum art-piece and taking in the details addressed in the artist’s work? We see professional athletes in our televised sporting events, but how often to we really consider the blood, sweat, and tears that helped them elevate beyond high school and collegiate athletics?

Being a competent leader is not a destiny or the completion of a complex equation. Leadership takes many skills, but demands competency in core components. There is the artful side of leadership, where one must know the people with whom they are charged and the direction of the industry into which they are thrust. A leader must orchestrate multiple tasks and operations much like a conductor of a symphony. To be an exceptional leader, one must also understand the technical or operational aspects of each team member’s duties well enough to coach and direct the team while observing and revealing blind spots which may create obstacles to success. The competent leader is consistently on a journey.

To ensure I am being a competent leader, I must be diligent in key aspects of my daily life, such as:

• Show up Every Day - This is more that just being physically present. I need to be engaged in both the relational and tactical aspects of my role!

• Keep Improving - Not every day is going to be a huge step in professional growth. The key is whether I am running, walking, or crawling…keep moving forward. I need to read books that challenge my thought process or provokes new ideas and put these ideas into practice.

• Follow Through with Excellence - Look at the output of my work. Does it reflect excellence, or mediocrity? Did I use proper grammar, is my message clear, does my team understand my intent…these are some of the questions to which I need to answer every time I communicate.

• Accomplish More than Expected - Am I going the extra mile? Have I pictured the end goal before beginning? Do I ensure the output is on-time, within budget, accomplishes the desired goals? Do I help position others to thrive?

• Inspire Others - This can only be done if I, myself am inspired. Do I have a mentor, coach, or cohort who will help push and encourage me to out perform my previous expectation? In my case, I do and I would encourage anyone who aspires to leadership to do the same.

Do I believe that I am a competent leader? Maybe, but the true answer of my competence can only be seen in the outcome of those who have trusted me. How am I removing obstacles to the success of others? How am I shielding my team from internal or external politics that end up being distractions? Am I seeking, reviewing, and/or providing tools for others to thrive? The answers to these questions help define my competence. These can be best answered by those who are around me and effected by my actions.

Effective Communication

Image provided by Modern Contractor Solutions

“Communicators take something complicated and make it simple.” – John C. Maxwell

Effective Communication

The word “Communicate” finds it roots in the Latin word, communicare – to impart, participate. 

Merriam-Webster shows the definition of “Communicate” as, “a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common sense of symbols, signs, or behavior.”

In my life we have had one United States President who was nicknamed, “The Great Communicator”, that was Ronald Reagan!  What was it that made Ronald Reagan such a great communicator?  I am sure there are many nuances that can be discussed. For this article I will focus on four key elements of his effective communication. 

-          Simplicity – His message was never complicated, nor complex; however, it also was not easy.  It takes great effort, skill, and diligence to prepare a message that will truly be effective.

-          Know the Audience – He spoke directly to the citizens of the United States.  When there was a serious message to convey, he did not rely on others but spoke plainly to those of us who could and would watch him on television.

-          Show the Truth – It was clear that he believed that his message was true for him and his audience.  He lived by the convictions that motivated the words he used while communicating.

-          Seek a Response – Ronald Reagan urged those who listened, to put into action the steps that would be needed to accomplish the goals he communicated. 

I know that there are times that I can use a lot of words, but not say a whole lot.  Effective communication is more than just sharing words.  As leaders, we need to be thoughtful, seek simplicity, have integrity, and prompts others to action in our communication efforts.  Ask yourself, how will you ensure effective communication in all areas of your life?

New Beginnings and Success

Originally Published December 3rd, 2017

So, where do I start? I could start from the beginning, but which beginning? I cannot tell you much about the beginning of my life, as I was well protected and still forming in the care and protection of my mother's womb. I cannot tell you much about my youth that would be of interest others on this particular thread. I could tell you about the beginning of my career, my family, my political interests, or much more. Perhaps all of this can be shared later, under separate topics.

Let's begin with today. Each day has an opportunity for new beginnings. Many of us are told this many times in our lives. Today, I want to begin sharing through a series of thoughts about "success". The word "success" covers a broad spectrum of thoughts, categories, ideas, and perceptions. I cannot hope to cover all of the areas of "success" in a life-time. I can seek to uncover some areas where we can all be involved in successful enterprise solutions.

In our Western heritage and culture, and our Capitalistic leaning economy, a large number of individuals have the opportunity to be involved in the success of a company, an enterprise, or an organization. These successes are not isolated to owners, proprietors, or those holding an executive office. These successes are not without pitfalls along the journey (and I can assure you I have had plenty of pitfalls). I am not holding myself up as the picture or model of success. I am hoping to share success stories in business settings, that will instruct, motivate, and inspire others who need help in striving toward success. Success is a journey that one will never complete, less they become complacent and have a fall from grace. It is not a series of sprints, but rather a marathon which requires endurance. Striving for success may cause you to get bumped and bruised, you may fall down and will need help getting up. Success is not defined by lack of failure, but rather by consistently learning with humility, from failure and improving as you continue to move forward.

I want to be clear here. I am focusing on organizational (or enterprise) success, but much of success in one area can and does lead to success in other areas. People, if they are authentic, do not change who they are as they enter or leave their work domain. I am convinced that those who are authentic have the greatest opportunity for true, long-term success. I am interested in drawing attention to striving for success and learning through the struggles and failures along that path.

Footnote:

To follow the author on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddrthomsen/

For more information on the GSI where Todd is a Sr. Client Success Manager - https://www.getgsi.com/

What Is Success In The Workplace?

Originally Published December 10, 2017

In last week’s post, I mentioned that the ongoing theme for these articles is about, “successful enterprise solutions”. I thought it would be a good idea to describe the intent of this phrase. As with the word “success”, the phrase “enterprise solutions” can have a variety of meanings. For the foreseeable future, I will be using, “successful enterprise solutions” as any solution (human, mechanical, technological, or otherwise) which can be implemented in an enterprise (private, public, government, or even volunteer run) to further the success of that enterprise and the people who thrive in their workplace.

As these article progress, there will be interviews with individuals who have experienced success at a variety of levels. I will strive to have conversations with business owners, executive level leadership, project manager, subject matter experts, and more. I have been privileged to hear and partake in many conversations where people have reflected on success in the workplace. Most of those who have the greatest success are those who love. They love what they do, who they are, where they live, their role in the organization, and mostly the cohorts with whom they work shoulder-to-shoulder. They will come from a variety of functions within an organization. Many love the people they are responsible to manage, others love the feeling of success when accomplishing the difficult tasks, most strive for excellence and want to share their passion with those around them.

The reader may find that these articles are focused on successful enterprise solutions, but the success is mostly a result of the people who are working the solutions and making them better every day. Success is not necessarily about automation, although automation may certainly help. Success will never be perfection, if perfection is the goal the outcome will likely be one of two possibilities:

1) If one perceives that perfection is obtained, they stop striving to get better

2) Once one observes that perfection is unobtainable, they will lose drive and determination

Successful enterprise solutions are mostly found in organizations that strive for excellence and are primarily motivated by compassion and love for those who work there. 

I hope that the reader is not “hearing” what I am not saying. A successful enterprise should seek out solutions that drive labor efficiency, promote creative genius, pursue increased market share, and add to their bottom line. All organizations should be focused on properly stewarding the resources at hand. Privately held, or publicly traded companies should strive to be profitable. If a company can help raise the standard of living for all of those employed there, or find a way to prevent layoffs during an economic downturn, these actions go a long way in showing the loving care that ownership and/or the executive team has for those who share their vision.

There are a lot of great organizations, large and small. I hope to highlight, encourage, and motivate those who would read these articles. My goal is to show the authentic struggles and triumphs in the lives of those who provide, implement, direct, manage, or in any other capacity currently work with successful enterprise solutions.

Footnote:

To follow the author on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddrthomsen/

For more information on the GSI where Todd is a Sr. Client Success Manager - https://www.getgsi.com/