|
July 1, 2008 09:36 - Take The Hint - It's A Gift
Sometimes we have to respond to our surroundings. To things that happen to us - they are there for a meaning, however long it takes to take the hint!
In 'Maid in Manhattan', that great movie about the maid who meets with her perfect partner - and gets the sack from her job for it - there are a couple of nuggets that are great tips.
One of them is where, after Marisa (the maid) gets the sack for impersonating someone she isn't (and then falls in love with the would be Senator, of course!).
In an excellent example of following your heart, Bob Hoskins, decides to resign in that moment, not just in support of Marisa, but because he realizes something for himself.
He says:-
"Sometimes, we're forced in directions that we ought to have found for ourselves."
In business, we get little inklings of possible routes forwards that we might not have noticed in the hurly-burly of the work we do.
As busy managers, we 'desensitize' ourselves from noticing the little things that we can use to help ourselves.
Yet we are also lucky, because sometimes, just sometimes, we get quite a slap in the face to almost force us
to notice different possibilities.
To learn to be more noticing, is a valuable asset indeed.
The movie? Of course it's syrupy - and what's wrong with that?
July 2, 2008 11:08 - Honesty is Always the Best Policy
My football team, Burnley, have consistently been unable to deliver top flight status over the last 20+ years.
We have a pretty new manager for next season and a comment that came out a couple of days ago, struck me as one I needed to share.
One of the players, who had come to the end of a one year contract, was offered new terms and a slightly different role.
Owen Coyle, the manager, explained to him that he could not be guaranteed a place in the team throughout the season and that he would likely be a 'squad' player.
This means he would not be in the first choice startup, but would be likely to play when others were injured or unavailable.
The player decided to leave.
One thrilling aspect of this that you need to know, is that absoulute honesty, in the overal interest of the business not only has huge value to that business, but, in fact there are two other big benefits as well.
The manager wins, because he is seen to be honest and consistent to the rest of the team, which has a big significance for morale and motivation.
The player who leaves benefits too, because otherwise, it's likely that he will have a disappointing and frustrating season, coming towards the end of his career.
Honesty is definitely the best policy.
July 7, 2008 13:15 - Wood For The Trees?
Trees.
You look at a wood and see trees. Some of them are in the mix, the hubbub of the horizontal line that makes the size frame in your siteline.
One or two peep above that median. The trees that stand out if we look for them - see their significance.
It's like that in our businesses. Sure, we have second tier management teams that are our great supporters as we run our business. Whilst we might like them to be the most brilliant team we could have devised, it's not always the case.
Then, in the bunch of folks we have that come in and do their day job each and every (we hope) day, there are one or two that poke out above the majority.
The tall-er trees.
Where you take the time to notice them, they will become the sturdiest foundations for the next growth of your senior team, if you nurture them especially.
July 20, 2008 21:39 - What's 'Why' All About?
Asking good 'open' questions of your people is a great way to get them talking.
Through listening carefully to them you then build a level of understanding about them and what they offer that is invaluable.
Sometimes, you could be tempted to cut short the relationship building process and dip into the question 'why'.
It sometimes happens when time is short; you are frustrated; or even angry.
'Why' is a good 'open' question to ask when the circumstances are right - it cuts to the chase and saves time when you need answers fast.
It only works well when you have built a very good relationship with someone and the trust level is at it's optimum.
Using the 'why' commencing question fails to work when this is not in place as it makes people defensive and lose trust in you.
Try using the other key 'open' questions if you have not reached that level of trust with someone as yet (Who, What, Where, How, When or Where all work very well in this situation).
Open questions will indeed, serve you well.
|
