Month: October 2014

#862 live

October 11, 2014by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

On this date in 1975, “NBC’s Saturday Night” debuted with host comedian George Carlin. The show was original from the beginning, opting for parodies and satires instead of more stand up comedy and it featured a different guest, host, and musical guest each week.

Eventually the name of the show changed, of course, and the “Live from New York, It’s Saturday Night” became as famous as members of its cast.

SNL became a farm club for the great comedic talent of several decades: Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Tina Fey, Dana Carvey, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Dennis Miller, Robert Downey, Jr., Joan Cusak and Mike Myers — just to name a few. It launched numerous careers, induced countless belly laughs, and still has skits that live on as classics.

One of the SNL skits is excerpted in the movie Julie and Julia, and I am reminded of another line from that film: “Julia Child wasn’t always Julia Child.” Just as the comedians mentioned above weren’t always household names. It took SNL, and the hours of practice it required, to refine their skills and give them wide exposure.

If you have a passion or interest in something, don’t refrain from embracing it just because you’re not great at it, or famous for it, or able to do it full time. Maybe the word that is missing is “yet”. All the SNL work may not be brilliant, but on the whole it changed careers, the comedy industry, and the nighttime viewing habits of millions of Americans.

Be like SNL, and show up every week and do what you love — live.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#861 an aspiration

October 10, 2014by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Sometimes we get so lost in the details that it is difficult for us to think about the implications and interconnectedness of all of our work. It makes reflection even more important, as an on-going process for continual growth.

In many cases, it is not new action that is required to move in this direction, rather a change in perception.

I am reminded of a quote I received many years ago from an unknown author:

At the heart of a learning organization is shift of mind —
from seeing ourselves as separate from the world to connected to the world;
from seeing problems as caused by someone or something ‘out there’
to seeing how our own actions create the problems we experience.
A learning organization is a place where people are continually discovering
how they create their reality.
And how they can change it.

The creation of this type of environment is a great goal for any group you lead. Start reflecting on — and then articulating — those connections today.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#860 trip my trigger

October 9, 2014by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I read an article* about triggers — events that trigger an emotion in you. These could be positive things or negative ones, but triggers, like most everything else, are largely things where we can consciously control our response to them.

The first step in adjusting our attitude is to consciously acknowledge the negative things that spark our fury. Maybe it is sitting in rush hour traffic — so you could go to work earlier or take a different route. Maybe it is a committee that is unproductive — that you could try to bow out of or disband. Perhaps it is people who are late — so begin to find ways to compensate for them so you are not further inconvenienced.

For me, one of my most annoying triggers is the city bill that comes every month. I truly do not mind paying it per se, but it irritates me to no end that they say the meter was read on X date, but 100% of the time the bill arrives before the alleged reading date. I am lied to every month and the act of dishonesty is a big trigger for me.

I suppose I could move or ask them continue the direct payment without ever sending a bill or a receipt, but in reality I am likely faced with my monthly untruth for the foreseeable future. My choice is to consciously adjust my attitude and focus on a positive trigger instead. Maybe I could get flowers on that date each month so my emotions are diverted in a healthier way?

What are negative triggers for you? Try to be aware of things that trip your switch and see if you can’t rewire your attitude circuitry for the better.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

*Attitude triggers by Matt Booth, 365ink Magazine, Issue #222, September 24-October 8, 2014, p. 31

#859 inspiration

October 8, 2014by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I was having a conversation with a new colleague and we began talking about how we got into the field we are in. Nobody starts out to go into higher education (or a host of other careers that are out there) and we were sharing the seminal moment when we knew we had found our calling.

For me, my journalism aspirations ended and my career in student activities was sealed when a student gave me a picture of himself holding a “thanks 4 the world” sign in front of the Great Wall of China. Up until that point, he had never left his hometown, even to attend our university, but through his involvement in student life he gained the confidence to travel the globe. That is why I do what I do.

My colleague works with adult students and she shared that she was committed after a specific incident after teaching a class to adults. During the class presentations she had smelled smoke, but wasn’t sure of its source. After class, she noticed that one student had a particularly strong smokey smell and so she inquired as to whether the student was OK. The student burst into tears and relayed that her car had been set on fire and she knew she only had a moment to grab one thing: either the kids’ winter coats or her presentation for class. She chose the latter, made the presentation and was prepared to go on with her life. That endeared my colleague to a life of helping adults better themselves through education.

Think about the why behind your career and job choice. I sincerely wish that you have a purpose and are among the lucky minority that is glad to go to work each day. Hopefully there is an inspirational moment that you can turn to for motivation, even decades after it occurred. And better yet, I hope someday someone is recalling you when they share their story of hope.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#858 navigating

October 7, 2014by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I was recently talking with a colleague who was new to her position. She was describing some of the changes that she would like to make and sought my advice on the timing of them.

This led to a wonderful discussion about the challenges of affecting change. If you are seen as too nice, then change is hard because people won’t take you seriously. If you are labeled as too tough, then you have difficulty building the relationships and trust necessary to earn support from others.

Both of these positions are exacerbated when you are first in a position because people don’t have a history with you to modulate your responses over time. Being seen as either a softie or a bully does you no good; you need to navigate the space in between in order to create an impact.

The best way to traverse down a narrow channel is to make turns carefully. You still can make progress, but take some time to build the credibility you need to survive in the long run.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#857 R&R

October 6, 2014by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

It is Monday morning and typical office banter is likely to include the question “What did you do this weekend?”.

Note how the emphasis is on the “do” part of the question. How would you respond if someone said: “Not one darn thing. I stayed on the couch all weekend and stared into space.”? We expect that people did something; that they were productive or at least active in their entertainment choices.

The same occurs for vacations. “Where are you going?” is the first question that is asked, and if the reply is that the person is staying at home, it is often followed by a disclaimer: “I need to paint the garage.”

It seems that we are not comfortable with true, unabashed leisure without making it into a conversation-worthy experience or turning it into a productive accomplishment.

For your mental health and sanity, try to regularly have time where you do nothing of note. Make it your goal this week that when you’re asked next Monday: “How was your weekend?” you can honestly answer “delightfully boring.” Even God knew when it was time to rest.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Thanks to Emily for the observation

#856 sock it to me

October 5, 2014by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I wrote last week* about the decline in jeans and the growth in more casual “athleisure” wear. I wonder if this phenomenon was what drove the Men’s Warehouse folks to include black dress socks with men’s tuxedo rentals.

Do the socks of groomsmen and ushers really need to match? It seems like an unnecessary expense to include socks (that you can keep!) with a rental outfit.

Or perhaps the fashionistas (or brides) were worried that their men would not have (or wear?) black socks on this formal occasion.

In any case, now in with the cuff links and cumberbuns comes a pair of conservative knit ankle-highs.

The expectations for a complete, no-thinking-involved package continue to grow. Do you need to follow the trend and include something obvious with your offerings?

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

*Dot #842 September 21, 2014

#855 sprint

October 4, 2014by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

A colleague told the story about advice his coach gave him when he was on the track team: “Run through the tape.”

By the end of the race, everyone who makes it to the finish line is exhausted. The natural inclination is to slow down even a minuscule amount once you see the finish line. “Whew, I made it!” is a thought that often runs through sprinters’ minds.

The coach was encouraging the runners to be focused all the way to the end.

It is good advice for anyone working on a project. Even if you’re tired, it’s always best if you finish strong. Take his advice and run through the tape on your next task.

–— beth triplett

leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#854 position

October 3, 2014by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

While I was in Minneapolis, I went with my sister to return something at Nordstroms. It did not go well. In addition to waiting in line, the clerk did not offer to take the (heavy) return item from us or hang it up while processing the transaction. After the return, another clerk was all but lecturing my sister on what she “should” have done before purchasing the item.

If you read a transcript of the interaction, it may not seem egregious. But this was Nordstroms, known as the king of customer service, and so both of us expected something more. By linking their brand to service, Nordstroms elevated our expectations and so ordinary was considered as sub-par.

The same phenomenon occurred when I stayed at a “luxury” hotel in Washington DC. There was nothing tragic about my stay, but my expectations were higher and so the facility was a disappointment. Small transgressions in housekeeping or service were exacerbated because I expected, based on their brand/literature/price, to be wow-ed and I wasn’t. If the same room and front desk experience had happened at a Hampton Inn, it would have gone unnoticed, but since they position themselves as luxury I was looking for more.

It is easy in the marketing world to make bold claims and to boast about your product, but nothing could be worse if you don’t deliver. Think carefully about the words you use and the step on which you stand. If you can’t align reality with that, you are better off taking it down a notch instead of having disappointed customers knock you down several.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#853 astonishing

October 2, 2014by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

One final thought from wedding weekend…

Even though I know young newlyweds like cash as a gift, I still have a hard time just writing a check. I feel like I should give something with the money, so for this couple I put together a basket with bread, salt and wine — and the It’s a Wonderful Life movie where the symbolism came from:

Bread…that you may never know hunger
Salt…that life may always have flavor
Wine..that joy and prosperity may reign forever.

The most interesting part of the gift opening: neither the bride (age 22) or groom (age 26) had ever seen the movie!

I wrote yesterday about taking things for granted and assuming that our cultural universe encompasses “everybody”. In reality, it doesn’t. Even though it is “one of the most critically acclaimed films ever made” and the “number one most inspirational American film of all time”* — not to mention the fact it runs almost continuously on television every December — apparently there are some who still don’t know the magic of the bell.

It made me glad that I had taken the extra step to include it as a gift — I hope I gave this couple a memorable experience instead of just some funds that will soon be forgotten.

The next time you have an opportunity to make an impression instead of just complete a task, I hope that you make the effort to do so. Making memories is an art, and all of should strive to be artists.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

*from Wikipedia “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Also see Dot #496, October 10, 2013