Month: September 2015

#1206 overcoming obstacles

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I had never heard of parkour before, but the picture on the front page of the Telegraph Herald caught my attention.  This woman was practicing for the National Collegiate Competition in a sport that was unknown to me.  I had to learn more!

A version of parkour has been around for more than a century, starting as a training program for the French Special Forces.  It is a sport with a focus of “obstacle passing”, emphasizing military style discipline that allows participants to overcome hurdles in a timed environment.  Parkour can be a competition, but also can be a training regimen practiced alone.  

What I liked about it is that it is about perspective as much as it is about fitness.  “Parkour involves seeing one’s environment in a new way, and imagining the potentialities for navigating it by movement around, across, through, over and under its features.”

It sounds like a lesson for life.  Maybe parkour can be the official sport of leadershipdots!  Seeing the interrelationships between culture and environment can often be the difference in connecting the dots and making sense out of our world.  Perhaps you can try to move literally through the world with parkour as well as mentally navigating new paths through dot lessons.

Either way, enjoy overcoming obstacles.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com


Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour

Photo by Nicki Kohl in the Telegraph Herald, p. 1A  September 10, 2015




#1205 transference

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If you know anything about recent Broadway musicals, you’ll know that Wicked was a mega-hit.  It has been performing to crowds on Broadway for 12 years and has nine touring companies around the world bringing in even more cash. Wicked has grossed over $3 billion and been seen by over 40 million people — many (like me!) seeing it multiple times.

And, yet, it did not win the Tony Award for Best Musical*.  

Another musical, Something Rotten, is trying to play off of that fact and benefit from a concept known as transference, where people shift emotions associated from one thing to another.  As the theory goes, if Wicked lost but was still that good, I guess Something Rotten could be good too even though it is a self-proclaimed loser.

Transference is in play with celebrity endorsements, the use of puppies in commercials, people who flaunt branded fashion or cars, and many other settings.  It’s a natural part of our make up, but something that you would do better to keep in your consciousness instead of sub-conscious.  

Think about how your organization can benefit from transference — and how you personally attribute traits to others who may not actually possess them.  Don’t automatically assume that other readers of leadershipdots are smart and savvy (even though they very well may be!!!)

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

 *Avenue Q won in 2004

Source: http://m.playbill.com/news/article/wicked-becomes-first-broadway-musical-to-gross-over-3-million-in-one-week-213296

Thanks Emily!


#1204 rewards

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I was part of a conversation yesterday about Box Tops for Education.  For the uninitiated, these are little icons on selected General Mills products that people cut out and save for schools, which in turn can redeem them for 10 cents each.  The value adds up quickly, especially with (theoretically) a whole school saving them.  Over 80,000 elementary and middle schools participate.

I recently began collecting these for my niece and nephew’s school, and I was struck by the inconsistency in them.  Some are on paper, others cardboard.  In my limited sampling of what is in my house right now, I found at least six different sizes of box tops.  What a nightmare to collate and redeem these things, never mind that you have to carefully cut out the minuscule icons on the line.

The current system seems to be more archaic than even the 1950’s iconic S&H Green Stamps which were of uniform size and came pre-cut. It makes me believe that General Mills wants you to buy the products because of the Box Tops, but not really to redeem them. If the company really wanted to facilitate a process, couldn’t they put bar codes on the inside of packages instead and create an app to scan them with instantaneous credit to the school?

There are many other loyalty programs that are more arduous than Box Tops (Pampers and Coca Cola with their multi-digit codes that need to be entered into the computer come to mind), but there are others that are much more seamless too (Target’s automatic donations to schools or Walgreens rewards at the registers.)  If your organization has a loyalty program, take a moment to evaluate it to see whether it is engendering loyalty or just aggravation.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com


Box Tops 4 Education




#1203 idea to action

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As the new academic year starts and committees get underway, I am always struck by the fear many have that they will be unable to generate enough ideas for the work ahead.  I believe that gathering ideas is the easy part; translating them into action is what takes work.

To facilitate that process, I like to lead participants through an Idea Funnel.

The top of the funnel represents Ideas.  Everyone will have far more ideas than actions; that is actually the point.  The goal is to generate new thoughts through talking with constituents, conducting surveys, having discussions at meetings or linking personal experiences.

Then ideas are narrowed in a process of Refinement.  This occurs through research, cost estimates, vetting the idea with constituents and doing background work to assess the true pros and cons of a shorter list of ideas.

Following Refinement comes the process of the Proposal, where the multitude of ideas is narrowed to one that you wish to advance forward.  A proposal need not be lofty, but it always in writing and includes specifics.

The Proposal leads to a Motion or Decision — so be sure to provide clarity on exactly the action you are seeking.  Precision is much more likely to receive a definitive answer and the ultimate goal of Action.

Moving ideas through the Idea Funnel will help people stay focused on achieving resolution of the idea as opposed to spending all their time generating more and more ideas that go nowhere.  Try it as a framework for your organization the next time you want brainstorming to result in action instead of just lofty thinking.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
leadershipdots@gmail.com
@leadershipdots

If you want me to send you a PDF handout, contact me at the address above. 

 

#1202 order

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I have heard a lot of talk recently about professional organizers.  My sister is using one (and loves it) and others have shared tips from those in the field.  This area is not one of my challenges; in fact, I am more likely to become a professional organizer than to use one!

I read the tips from the pros about habits they do every day.  These included such basic things as make the bed, write out a to-do list, tend to clothing as soon as you take it off, wash the dishes, etc.  I do all these things, but it has never occurred to me that they are habits that are keeping me organized.

I thought about what I would say if asked to give organization advice.  Here is my two cents:

1.  Make it easy.  I laugh when I see these pristine organizing systems that have clothes or crafts in elaborate configurations.  What I believe is more practical is to have easy access to a place to put things that you use frequently.  Have a box on the eye-level shelf where you automatically toss all of your receipts.  No thinking; that’s just where receipts go.  Have a spot in your office where all the magazines/newsletters/stuff to read later is placed.  As soon as they come in the mail, it’s to the spot in the corner for them. The recycling should be right next to the wastebasket, not off in a place that requires extra steps.  A glass on the front of the shelf in the pantry can hold the Box Tops for Education.  If any manipulation or thinking is required, it’s too obscure or complicated.  

2.  Keep the main area clear.  I think it is parallel to the broken window theory — when there is a broken window in one building, others frequently follow.  When there is a stack of “stuff” on the counter or table, it is like a magnet for other piles to gravitate towards.  If you keep the place clear where things are most likely to accumulate, it sets the tone that things should be put away (in that easy spot where they belong!)  Maybe for you it is the stairs leading up to the bedroom, the laundry room or the table in the den, but deal with wherever is the prime gathering spot for things, and I believe you’ll see a ripple effect of organization elsewhere.

I don’t disagree with the other tips from the pros, rather add my thoughts to them.  The bottom line:  it’s important to do what works for you.  Whether that is hiring an organizer, following your own method or putting some of these ideas into practice, develop a system that helps you feel in control instead of controlled by your possessions.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Thanks Eddie for the article!


#1201 yes or no

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At work, we were approached by an organization who wanted us to engage with them to deliver a service in a way that is a real paradigm shift about how we manage and think about one of our core processes.  The question facing us is whether we should get in on the ground floor or wait until the idea is tested to see if consumers buy in to this new way of doing business.

How do you know when something is a fad or when something is the initial phase of a trend destined to change the way we operate?  Is being engaged in the beginning a good thing or a waste of precious resources when you are paying to offer something only early adopters are utilizing?  

I asked three of my staff members and received the following replies: a resounding yes, a definite no, and a considered maybe.  I myself could make an argument as to why we should — and should not — participate in the venture.  It is really just too early to know.  

If you find yourself in the situation of being courted by opportunity, you need to weigh the investment and risk vs. potential benefit and just decide.  When the scales are so evenly balanced, you’ll get motion sickness if you to sway back and forth with the slightest change.  Jump onto one side and be content with the leap you make.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1200 misdirected

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One more lesson from my trip to John Deere: their headquarters has a display case that runs the length of the visitor’s center.  It is a chronology of the company and contains hundreds of artifacts to help guests place Deere achievements in historical context.


While I was looking at it, an employee came up to me and said: “This has been just like this since the building opened 50 years ago.  The lights don’t work and you’ll see that some of the items are falling down.  I wish they would do something about it.”

I’m not sure that I would have noticed it before his comments, but he was right.  It was darker than ideal in the case and several items were lopsided.  I had been so impressed with my Deere experience, but this tarnished the illusion that Deere pride tended to every detail.

But why did he mention this to me? Certainly there is nothing I can do to fix the display.  I wonder if he has shared his comments with someone who can.  The company prides itself in listening to its customers, but has it made it easy to hear from the front line employees?

Think about the vast knowledge that your employees have about how things really work at your place.  Have you mined their data and sought their input on what needs attention?  Have you cultivated them to become a brand ambassador, not just an employee?

Work hard to create an environment where your people take the initiative to fix things themselves or at least tell you and not the customers what is on the to-do list.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com


#1199 no place like home

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Football season is underway, and with it comes a frenzy of supplies for the fans.  Team apparel displays are everywhere and the grocery aisles are packed with football-themed snacks for all to enjoy.

Tailgating has always been a big draw for fans and retailers alike, but the vast majority of people watch the game on television instead of in person.  Target has capitalized on this trend by promoting supplies for “homegating” — celebrating the sporting event from your own home.

Homegating is a great way to generate excitement (and sales) by making something that seems routine into a special event.  It acknowledges the way that most consumers actually view sports and implicitly gives them permission to expand the experience beyond the game itself.

Is there something like homegating that applies to your organization?  Can you encourage people to replicate an experience at home without having to attend the event?  Are there ways to make a routine function into something special?  

Homegating isn’t the same as being there, but depending upon the weather, it may even be better.  Pass the remote please!

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com


#1198 stumping

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I wonder why so many people are running for President this year.  I know that there are always many candidates before the caucuses/primaries get into full swing, but this year it seems that the number exceeds any previous election.  I am curious as to what is prompting the multitudes to throw their name into the hat. The campaign circuit has become a Tower of Babel with so many voices drowning out any meaningful dialogue.

I think of all the time and money that is being spent on these preliminary campaigns.  We could probably make a dent in the national debt if all the funds from the candidates and PACs were directed to the Treasury instead of to the media, pollsters and political infrastructure.  All but two of these people are spending millions of dollars and thousands of hours in a losing effort.

It is 2015.  Do the early candidates really need to stump around Iowa in person, attending the State Fair and posing for photos?  Does this popularity pitch really serve us well when determining who should next lead our great nation?  

It is hard to pin someone down because the problems the president faces don’t have sound bit solutions.  Even a debate doesn’t lend itself to meaningful discussion when 10 candidates are vying for their minute with a live microphone. I wish there were ways we could engage the candidates in an extended forum to see how they would truly approach the job when they weren’t angling for it.

If the candidates were trying to be the one to run your company, would you want more substance from them?  Would you do more research and pay more attention to their take on meaningful issues?

Don’t forget that this person isn’t going to lead your company, but they are going to lead your country.  Work hard to get past the hype before you make your choice.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com




#1197 patriot

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I have one more John Deere story to share, but it did not seem right to have an ordinary blog topic on 9-11.  With each passing year, the memories of the terrorist attacks become less vivid and more people are “of age” who do not remember them except from history lessons.  This blog is a token effort to remind us to stop and reflect on the impact of this event on our country.

I recently wrote* that I visited the 9-11 mobile exhibit that was staffed by retired New York City firefighters.  One of them was asked about his feelings on the memorial that was built on the site.  “I was not for it in the beginning,” he said.  “But now I see it as a way for people to remember what happened there.”

I am all for whatever helps people remember what happened on this day. Maybe it is because I was in Manhattan while the site was still raw with twisted steel that this event had such an impact on me.  Perhaps it is because of the scope of damage or the vulnerability I felt because of an attack on our soil.  But this day makes me think of all the men and women who served as first responders, all those who still function in that role across the country as well as the thousands who have defended our freedoms through service in the armed forces.

Take a moment today to remember, and especially on this day, strive to be a patriot yourself.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com


*See Blog #1184, August 29, 2015:  http://leadershipdots.blogspot.com/2015/08/1184-never-forget.html

 

My photos from November 2001 at the Trade Center site