Month: April 2016

#1419 reveal

April 20, 2016by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

During the afternoon, I accompanied an artist-in-residence to an elementary school where he did magic tricks and juggled for the students. They were enthralled by his act, and wanted to know how he accomplished his feats. “I read,” he said. “I taught myself how to do magic and juggling and you can teach yourself, too.” That was the extent of his revelations.

But at a reception for the sponsors later that evening, he shared a few insights to his magical slight of hand. He also admitted that he had done some of the tricks early in his career that had failed — some miserably — yet he continued doing them. He was supposed to make scarves “disappear” into a fake thumb, yet they didn’t all make it inside. Another time, the “thumb” fell off. Still another misstep occurred when he had a chemical that turned water into gel so it didn’t run out of the cup. He tried the trick with cola instead and ended up pouring pop all over his volunteer’s head!

The bottom line is that magic isn’t always magical. Just like things in real life that look like they are easy: it isn’t always the case. Instead of wishing for your magic trick to transport you to a better place, do like Bob Kann does and practice, practice, practice your reality until it appears to be too good to be true.

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

#1418 convenience

April 19, 2016by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

As I returned some DVDs to the library, I had to park, get out of the car and walk several feet to get to the building to return them in a drop slot. There is no drive-up receptacle for returning items, and when I asked about it, I was told that the employees did not want one as they would have to go outside in inclement weather to retrieve the items.

It is inconvenient for me to walk to the building; it is actually difficult for a handicapped person to make that journey or more of a hassle for a parent who doesn’t want to leave their child in an unattended vehicle even for a few moments.

This is a case where non-profits could take a lesson from businesses and try to make things more convenient for the consumer instead of the employee. There are other examples where the desires of the organization have trumped the service mentality:

> Many colleges have the closest parking reserved parking for faculty and staff, making the student (aka customer) walk the furthest to the buildings. Imagine if the employees at a store took all the prime spaces instead of parking further away.

> Many government or service offices are closed outside of M-F 8-5 hours. Think if businesses operated that way. I am sure those in banking or retail wish that they weren’t open on Saturdays, but for the customer’s convenience they are.

I believe strongly that happy employees are more likely to create happy customers, but like everything, you must strive to strike a balance. Shifting too much in one direction will leave you with happy staff members with no one to serve!

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

#1417 history

April 18, 2016October 5, 2016by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Over the weekend, I went on an architectural walking tour of our downtown. There are many historic buildings there, and I anticipated hearing stories about the structures that were built in the early 1900s. I did.

What I did not anticipate was hearing about buildings that were built in the 1960s. Interspersed between beautiful art deco and Gothic frontages were buildings that were devoid of any embellishment and looked rather plain. Our guide talked about how a new movement aims to determine what to preserve from the 50s and 60s as prime examples of modern architecture, and to figure out how to to do it.

“I don’t agree with the look and some of it is horrifying,” he said. “But you have to put yourself in their mind as a 1950s retailer and appreciate it for what it represents.” He talked about ways to “respect the past without replicating it,” and how to acknowledge that modern architecture is part of our history.

The tour gave me a new lens with which to view our city. Not only do I understand more about the grand structures that remain, but I also have new eyes with which to see the more modern buildings that surround them.

What is in your organization that you should be preserving, even if it is “horrifying” to you? Designs, packaging, programs and practices may seem antithetical to what you have become, but they have helped make your organization what it is today. Take a tour of your own “downtown” and earmark what is to be preserved, rather than purged. Your future will thank you.

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

What has been preserved

What needs to be!

#1416 thick

April 17, 2016October 5, 2016by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I recently met someone for breakfast at Hardee’s and while I was at the counter I was looking at their regular menu. They had a big banner touting their new bacon cheddar fries. They serve “Thickburgers” and 2/3# patties. The menu lists curly fries and onion rings. I thought to myself that I had never realized it, but Hardee’s had staked their niche on the non-healthy segment: they were going for the market that was not calorie-conscious. It seemed to be a clear brand choice and I was inwardly applauding them for going this route with gusto.

So imagine my surprise when I looked at my tray liner and it had a dietCoke pictured and a bun-less burger, made large by a pile of condiments. It said: “Explore the other side of Hardee’s — seedraH.com.” Turns out that seedraH is Hardee’s spelled backwards, and it welcomed me to “the other side of Hardee’s: a little healthier, just as tasty.”

I was sad to see that the chain was not staking its claim on big burgers, rather it was now promoting low carb burgers, any burger wrapped in lettuce, swapping fries for salad, and suggesting no mayo or cheese. It doesn’t give the calorie count for the low carb Thickburger (which seems like an oxymoron) but presumably it is less than the 1340 calorie Monster Thickburger they offer.

Why does everyone think that they need to be all things to all people? I was excited when I saw a clear brand position, and they took away that clarity when they extracted the carbs. Take a look at your organization’s “menu.” If you can’t get a clear picture of who your audience is, maybe you need to get it through your thick head that you are diluting everything by your lack of focus.

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

#1415 by any other name

April 16, 2016by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Do you know who Dr. Frank Jobe is? Have you heard of ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery?

Unless you are a baseball aficionado, it is doubtful that you do, but a much broader audience has heard of Tommy John surgery — the common name for the UCL procedure listed above. Tommy John was the patient, but Dr. Jobe was the surgeon who first performed it.

I wonder how the patient became famous for the procedure. Why isn’t it Frank Jobe surgery? He performed dozens of ligament reconstructions on professional baseball players, so you would think he would get the recognition. And I wonder how Tommy John feels about having a surgery named after him. If I was picking something to be known for, I’d prefer to have it be an accomplishment rather than a setback.

If you could pick what would be named after you, what would it be? Maybe Arnold Palmer would have chosen his signature lemonade/iced tea drink or Shirley Temple would have picked her grenadine and Sprite combination. Perhaps Jerry Garcia would have picked cherry ice cream or Twiggy would have chosen the Twiggy haircut.

The next time you need an icebreaker or conversation starter, ask people what they would have named after them. If anyone can beat ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery, be sure to let me know!

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

#1414 cream-filled

April 15, 2016by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Forest Gump uttered the now famous line: “My momma says that life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.”

I saw a real box of chocolates become just such a change experiment when an unlabeled box was on the counter for sharing. Some walked by and just picked one without regard to knowing what was inside. Others were upset that the treats did not have a “guide” indicating which was which. Still others went to great lengths to determine what was inside, even cutting some in half to inspect them before taking the plunge.

Forest’s momma may see chocolates as an analogy for life; I see them as a metaphor for how people handle change. Some are quite comfortable with the unknown and are fearless in experimentation. Others have no propensity for risk and want to be sure of their decision, even when it involves something as insignificant as a piece of chocolate. Those with mid-level risk tolerance will eyeball their choices, but then pick one: being content to decide with limited information.

What kind of chocolate-picker are you? And how can you use such innocuous decisions such as choosing a piece of free candy to expand your comfort level for change in general? Try to be daring on the little things to help you build skills for the bigger issues. Being brave is a cumulative talent, even one hazelnut at a time.

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

#1413 fleas

April 14, 2016October 5, 2016by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Some of my favorite weekend activities are attending flea markets or going to garage sales. Many people think of the two events as interchangeable, but a connoisseur knows that when they are true to form, they are quite different.

At a garage sale, people are looking to sell their items and get rid of them. Bargains abound, especially toward the end of the sale, when sellers would rather make you a deal than keep their possessions. At a parish-wide garage sale last weekend, I purchased a manual typewriter for the marked price of 25 cents. The same model is listed on eBay for $55 (not that I am selling it!)

Flea markets, at their purest, are more like antiquing. Items are often sold at a premium, as vendors are hoping to make money from their unique or rare treasures. If something doesn’t sell, they will most likely pack it up and try again later rather than giving it away for a bargain. At my last flea market, I paid $1 for a vintage Rainbow Tablet notepad that is clearly marked for 10 cents as the original price.

To be successful — as a shopper or a seller — you do best when you understand the event and have the right mindset regarding the transactions. While the two selling arenas appear to be similar, in fact, there are important distinctions. I would have expected to pay $25+ rather than 25 cents for the typewriter at a flea market, and would have wanted the 10 cent notepad for, well, 10 cents or less at a garage sale.

Think about the programs your organization is offering and consider whether it is possible they are being confused with another type of event in a similar category. Is your service project being perceived as a fund raiser? Or is your open house really a scheduled program? Maybe your educational webinar is seen as just an advertising pitch? Or what you promote as a town hall is more of a presentation vs. open forum where people can ask questions?

Be clear about the nuances in your category so you can align expectations with reality. People need to know if they need to bring their checkbook or a coin purse to your sale.

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

#1412 a sign

April 13, 2016by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Over the weekend I heard a speaker who recounted his experience at a 5K race. He noticed that after the leaders ran by the majority of the fans left, so he and his wife decided to stay to cheer on the rest of the participants. As a result, he learned heartwarming stories about the challenges the final runners faced. They overcame obstacles, beat illness and in general were more inspiring than those who sprinted across the finish line first. He benefited from cheering on others, and undoubtedly the runners gained a bit more energy having even just two people there motivating them to endure.

Running seems to be a timely topic, as this week I received this email from a friend:

Yesterday during the GO! St. Louis Half marathon, I thought about you and had an idea for leadership dots:

When running a foot race – 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon – some of the BEST parts of the race for the runners (besides finish line!) are the creative signs made by spectators. The signs help a runner get his/her mind off of the remaining (sometimes what seems like) endless miles, makes one smile/laugh, and are just all in all FUN! Also, the signs make those NOT participating suddenly an important part of the race and the fun/energy/excitement surrounding it.

There are some common ones: “Run Amy Run!” with another sign that says “Run Random Stranger Run!” Those spectators who are there for a particular person and cheering on that person, but seeing thousands of others so having a sign for them! “If it was easy, I’d be running with you”

There are some that only make sense to runners: “Toenails are not IN this season” (Toenails often fall off when you run a lot – particular marathon distance, etc.)

There are some that might only make sense to a younger runner: “I’d swipe right for you”.

There are some that are timely and the funniest yesterday: “If Trump can run, so can you!”

I think both the speech and the email highlight the importance of having someone there to support you. At a race or in life, we undervalue the role of the cheerleaders and fans. It would be a totally different experience running in isolation, just as it would be less fulfilling to go through any meaningful experience without someone to high five at the end. Whether it be graduation, finishing a major project, overcoming an obstacle or achieving any other goal, it is clearly nicer when there is someone to recognize your achievement in the moment.

Make it a goal to step back from the running and doing to be the sign-maker and applause-giver for someone else. You may find that the extra mile you go to cheer on others will fuel your own inspiration in ways you did not expect.

— beth triplett with Jen McCluskey

leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots

leadershipdots@gmail.com

Speech by Erik Hatch, NACA Northern Plains, April 8, 2016

#1411 pencils

April 12, 2016October 5, 2016by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I recently attended an event at a facility that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. As a result, the building had an exhibit about Wright and some of his other works and the gift shop sold a host of items inspired by Wright’s designs.

The architect is certainly known for his distinctive style that graces many residences and public buildings. He designed over 500 buildings and many of his recognizable works were on display. But the piece that caught my attention was a simple postcard with a picture of his colored pencils, all laid out on his desk as they were on the day of his death.

To me, the pencils were a tactic representation of Wright’s genius. A casual bystander might think they were the tools of a kindergartener, not a master architect. It shows that it was not the sophistication of his equipment that made Wright powerful, rather how he translated the congruity from simple tool to minimalistic architecture to create greatness.

We might have moments where we think we can’t produce wonder because we don’t have the right ____. We may think that we need more equipment or more technology or more gizmos. Wright is an example that it is the sophistication of what is within, not the glitz of what is external, that makes something masterful.

When you are stuck, think about Wright’s simple lineup of pencils and see if you can’t create something great with what you have before you.

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

#1410 ahoy

April 11, 2016by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Over the weekend, I was pulling up to the cashier’s booth in a parking garage. As I handed the clerk my ticket, she said: “That will be $3.75, and do you know what a pirate’s favorite letter is?”

The question took me by surprise, as it is not usually what I hear from a parking attendant!

“R,” I answered. “Wrong,” she said. “It’s The C.”

And while we continued our transaction, she continued to rattle off cheesy pirate jokes. “What is the pirate’s favorite restaurant?” “Rbys — bet you want to go there now!” “How much did the pirate pay to have his ears pierced?” “A buck an ear.” Etc.

Brene Brown has written about the importance of treating the service clerks with professionalism and cheer. The little banter from this attendant showed how a little joy can go a long way in a commercial exchange. It probably made her shift seem like it went faster, and it certainly brightened up an otherwise routine purchase for me.

You may not want to memorize pirate jokes to entertain your clients, but a simple smile and positive attitude can go a long way in adding some booty to the day of your fellow matey.

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