Month: October 2015

#1237 declined

October 21, 2015by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I recently had a conversation with someone who told about a situation when he was asked to do a project by a senior member of the organization. The time frame to prepare was unrealistic, so he respectfully declined.

Others in the organization watched carefully to see how this would play out. There weren’t many people that said no to this person.

How it unfolded ended up being quite positive. She respected my colleague for setting boundaries and for being clear about what he could/could not do. The relationship actually improved with the declined invitation.

Think about your limits and where they are being pushed beyond what is reasonable. Is there something that you should be passing on or rethinking? Saying no is not an automatic career-buster if it is done with good reason and respect.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1236 fade

October 20, 2015by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

In addition to writing this blog, I also often write a long-hand journal as a place to sort out thoughts and emotions.

The other day, I was writing along and the pen died. Most times, the ink slowly fades and there are signs that the end is approaching. But this time, it went from legible to invisible on the same word without any notice.

I think that the ink in pens can be a metaphor for life. Most times, there are indications that things are slowing down, but other times, life just stops. You never know.

There is only so much ink in your barrel, and when you run out, it’s done. Use your ink wisely.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1235 best interest

October 19, 2015by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I think about all the things that are out there that provide incentives for people to do things that don’t seem to be in the company’s best interest.

> Regional airlines have gate-to-gate valet checking of luggage — with no lines to check and less waiting time to pick up — for free — while they charge you to wait in line to check a bag that you have to wait for again at the carousel. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

> Banks often assess service charges for use of ATM machines, but allow you to have one-to-one service with a teller for free. Is in-person really more cost-effective for them?

> The government spends millions promoting healthy eating, but fresh foods often cost a premium. Couldn’t they design a food stamp program that gives additional benefits to those who purchase healthy foods and charge a premium for junk food choices?

> Instead of giving days off for people who are sick (and perhaps inadvertently creating a few “mental health days”), could employers reward those who are well?

Consider whether your policies and practices align with your desired intent. Could it be possible that you are mixing your message about what you value or giving others reasons to do things contrary to what you desire?

Your customer will likely do what they perceive to be in their best interest. Try to have that be the same as your interest too.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1234 combinations

October 18, 2015by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I recently needed to pack for a four-day trip out of town. I pre-pack in my head before I actually assemble the clothes to take because for me, packing is like working a Rubik’s Cube.

It is very easy for me to pick out four different outfits, but that is like getting only one side of the Cube to have the same color. Just as all the sides of the Cube don’t automatically align, I take it as a challenge to get the right combination that efficiently uses clothes multiple times. I need to keep switching out options in my head until it all comes together.

Think about other situations that have layers of solutions. Don’t quit when you solve just one side; keep going until your whole Cube is aligned.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1233 target

October 17, 2015by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I was helping an organization work on its marketing and outreach plan. For one of our exercises, I asked the group to identify who should hear their message.

They came up with a list that included such things as legislators, area employers, board members, community leaders, etc. A list that was way too broad to be effective. It would have been easier to say “everyone.”

We started to talk about what they really meant. It wasn’t all legislators; it was members of certain committees on the federal level and representatives from certain counties in the state. Area employers meant the CEOs and human resource directors for employers in selected industries within a limited geography. Community leaders meant the heads of a category of non-profits, etc.

Once the influencers were identified, it was much easier to get a grasp on how to influence them. You could see certain patterns, overlapping channels of communication and paths that organization leaders may cross with the people on the list.

When you are trying to make an impact, it is often better to go deep than to go broad. Spend the time to identify the bulls eye. It’s not as easy to hit, but the results are much more on target.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1232 absorption

October 16, 2015by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I recently came upon a horrific accident. The front of the van was smashed flat and half of the side was missing. As I recounted the scene to a friend, I speculated that there must have been serious injuries involved.

He told me not to be so sure because the front engine of cars is intentionally built with several air pockets to absorb any impact. It does more damage to the vehicle, but it is designed to protect the people. The outside of the car may look worse than the inside.

I think that supervisors play a similar role as the car engine. Each layer of supervisor absorbs some of the stress, politics and worry to protect the people in their care. The supervisor can serve as a buffer between the outside and the inside. They help people absorb only what they can handle and in a way that protects them from stressors they don’t need to have.

Think about your balance between unfiltered transparency and effective distribution of impact. A little space may be a very good thing.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1231 verb

October 15, 2015by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Here’s a time management tip that is easy to do and could really help get you going: make everything on your to-do list start with a verb.

It sounds simple, but it can be the difference between creating specificity about your actions so you get started vs. having something daunting and nebulous remain there for ages.

Think about the distinction between:

> Budget and prepare quarterly report
> Workshop and develop outline for training workshop
> Taxes and categorize receipts for taxes
> Consultant’s report and read consultant’s report
> Joe and see Joe about project
> Task force and convene task force meeting
> Vacation and book flights for vacation
> Groceries and make list for grocery shopping

If you add that action and element of specificity, it is much more likely that you’ll add “cross things off to-do list” to your list of tasks for the day.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Per Amy from Justin Draeger speech at IAFSAA

#1230 be alert

October 14, 2015by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

It goes a long way when something is acknowledged that is usually taken for granted:

> the proofreader receives kudos from the writer
> the main manager gives a compliment to someone at the branch office
> the leader thanks the person who routinely runs all the reports
> the front of the house staff shares appreciation with the back of the house staff
> the back of the house staff tells the front of the house staff they did a good job
> the doctor thanks the receptionist

and on it goes.

We are usually conscious about thanking certain people for certain things they do, but acknowledging what is not always acknowledged can be a powerful motivator. Look around today and see what is going right that you can comment on, especially if you haven’t noticed it before.

Recognition (consciousness) that leads to recognition (appreciation) is golden.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1229 to scale

October 13, 2015by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

One of the banks in town just installed a new sign which includes a rotating LED display. To be effective, this space should be treated as a mini-billboard, but it seems that they are using it as an electronic brochure. There are pictures, headlines and copy, even though the headlines are barely large enough to be legible. To me, it is totally ineffective.

Around town, there are always examples of static billboards with the same problem. They may have looked great up close and personal on a computer screen and or when printed out on a sheet of paper, but when they are enlarged and moved several hundred feet away from the reader the message is lost.

Think about how you can take a lesson from these two challenges. Are you reviewing your message in the context which it is most likely to be read? Have you boiled your point down to its essence and cut away all the extraneous components? If you review your output to scale is it still workable, whether that be on a billboard or on a mobile phone?

One size does not fit all for most things, and certainly not for messaging. Don’t review things once on your computer and assume it speaks with clarity everywhere else.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

#1228 sacrifices

October 12, 2015by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

In a recent Dear Amy advice column, a parent was resentful about the sacrifices she was making for her daughter. Amy’s reply: “…this is what it means to be a parent. When you’re a parent, sometimes it seems that everyone else is on the dance floor, while you are left to guard their purses.”

I think that feeling is true in other settings as well. Sometimes it seems that way when you are a supervisor and are called to do the extra while others are able to go home. I’m sure coaches feel that way when the players are out celebrating a win and the coaches are watching videos of the competition in preparation for the next game. Teachers could resent the need to be doing lesson plans and syllabi while the students are enjoying their weekend or breaks.

Being the one responsible for others is a delight — and a burden. As you assume a leadership role, remember that it’s not all glory. Sometimes your job will be to guard the purses — or worse.

— beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Source: Mom conflicted over financial support for child by Amy Dickinson for the Tribune News Service in the Telegraph Herald, August 2, 2015, p. 7B