Month: April 2024

leadership dot #4242: bigger picture

April 10, 2024April 9, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Supervisors who have employees who focus on the weeds and not the big picture may be perpetuating that behavior through the questions they ask in their one-to-one meetings. If each of those sessions becomes a play-by-play of the details of each project, it could appear natural to the employee that those are the things the supervisor wants to hear.

If you want to expand an employee’s perspective and help them focus on the long-term view of their work, start by asking intentionally broad questions during your time with them. Instead of asking: “What are you working on?”, change your horizon to ask: “What do you hope will be different in a year because of what you’re working on now?” or “How does your current work align with the organization’s strategic plan?”

You can also coach employees to maintain a more holistic view of their work, by asking such questions as “Of all the projects you’re working on, which one will have the greatest impact in a year?” or “How can relationships or learning that you’ve built on previous projects help you succeed with your current work?”

If you want to help your team strengthen its critical thinking muscle, don’t let your one-on-ones become a litany of task updates.

leadership dot #4241: go home

April 9, 2024April 8, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

People set the alarms on their phones as reminders for many things, waking up, of course, but also for taking medication, remembering to do a task, or even taking a lunch break.

But at an evening meeting, I learned a new use when the presenter’s phone buzzed. She said: “I’ll show you what it says: ‘Go home!'” She has a propensity to get lost in her work and lose track of time so she sets an alarm to jar herself out of her flow and remind her to keep reasonable hours.

Think about whether you need to adapt her idea to establish some reasonable boundaries for yourself. Perhaps an alarm telling you when to “go home” may make your morning alarm much more palatable.

leadership dot #4240: country music

April 8, 2024April 7, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Over the weekend, I attended a tribute concert celebrating 100 years of Hank Williams. In addition to playing Hank’s music, the performer shared stories of how country music has evolved from its twangy roots to one of the most mainstream genres of our day. Even Beyoncé has crossed over to country with her new Cowboy Carter album.

When Hank Williams began his career, the Grand Ole Opry was so religious that you couldn’t even say the word “beer” from its stage. Now, of course, beer is part of the country music anthems and distributors are major sponsors of country artists. Country music went from religious to honky-tonk to rockabilly to the ballads and high-energy songs of today. Stories of the genre’s evolution coupled with performances of songs from different eras made for an enjoyable and educational evening.

Every organization needs to help people understand the history of their group as well as the industry as a whole. Sharing that broader perspective helps people appreciate how they fit into something bigger and illustrates how much progress has been made over time. It’s easier to grow when you have a solid understanding of your roots.

Source: Jason Petty’s 100 Years of Hank Williams concert. Pictured below: Jason Petty

leadership dot #4239: cost

April 7, 2024April 5, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Many times we focus on the short-term and fail to take the long-term price we are paying into account. Things feel “free” at the moment, but there are other costs to consider.

For example, it feels like putting one more thing in off-site storage is free, and while there isn’t an incremental cost, there is the recurring monthly bill to pay to store things that may not be worthwhile. Or another scenario: the credit card may provide airline miles which we remember as we complete each transaction, but we forget the several hundred dollar annual fee required to obtain those miles.

I thought about this when my mail carrier left me a postage-due envelope. It contained a handwritten name, address, zip, and carrier number, plus the amount due — 24 cents — written three times. There was no cash outlay to collect my quarter, but did the Postal Service consider whether it was worth the carrier’s time to weigh, write, collect, and process such a token amount?

ROI, or return on investment, is a core concept in the business world. It should be in our personal lives, too. Time, mental burdens, clutter, and decision-making all have a cost. Don’t invest your resources in anything that doesn’t provide you with a positive return in the long run, even if it feels like there isn’t a cost at the moment.

leadership dot #4238: blame game

April 6, 2024April 6, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Yesterday (dot #4237), I described the debacle around the incorrect 3-point line at the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Once the error was pointed out, the pointing of fingers began. The NCAA blamed the company they hired to provide the court. The court supplier blamed the company that painted the lines. That company pointed fingers at the flooring company which incorrectly drilled a center hole used for measurements. There was more blame than basketball in Portland.

As the Washington Post reported: “At first, the NCAA blamed Connor Sports, the vendor for hardwood floors in the women’s and men’s tournaments. But on Monday, both the NCAA and Connor Sports — in separate statements — called the mistake a human error by a Portland-based company contracted to finish the court.”

Such a misguided focus on finding someone else to blame when the ownership of this should fall squarely on the NCAA.

Harry Truman received flack for his “The Buck Stops Here” plaque but he knew that the ultimate responsibility fell on his shoulders. As it does with the sponsor of the tournament — the one making millions from ticket and broadcasting revenue. To even look for a scapegoat is appalling.

If you’re the one at the top — the one who benefits if things go well — then accept that you are the one at the front if things go in a different direction. The only one to blame stares at you in the mirror.

Source: NCAA women’s tournament game played on court with incorrect three-point line by Jesse Dougherty, The Washington Post, April 1, 2024.

leadership dot #4237: discrepancy

April 5, 2024April 4, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

It baffles me that the 3-point arc in the Women’s NCAA Elite Eight Tournament was drawn incorrectly by nine inches!

But even more surprising is that it was brought to the attention of officials by a fan who saw the discrepancy from his seats — in the fifth game of the tournament. Almost certainly, someone else had thought it looked “off” or noticed a difference, but only Michael McGrath persisted in bringing the error to the attention of officials.

It would have been easy for McGrath to post his pictures and let it go at that, or for the refs to dismiss such an outlandish claim from a fan, but McGrath cared enough to get his message through. He saw another fan waving to one of the tournament’s workers and followed up with the fan to get connected to the worker and then with an official. His perseverance paid off, and soon everyone was involved in the calamity.

The next time you see something that is amiss, take a lesson from Michael McGrath and have the fortitude to act on your observation. We need more people to care about making things right.

Source: NCAA women’s tournament game played on court with incorrect three-point line by Jesse Dougherty, The Washington Post, April 1, 2024.

leadership dot #4236: re-engage

April 4, 2024April 3, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Former Presidents Clinton and Obama appeared together at a fundraiser that contributed $26 million to President Biden’s re-election campaign.

In the city Jason Sudeikis claims as his hometown, a nonprofit raised $750K thanks to a fundraiser featuring several former castmates from the Ted Lasso show.

While you likely don’t have the star power to gather three U.S. presidents or a cast of blockbuster TV stars –nor the expectations to raise the kind of money they did — you can still adapt the concept to your scale. Consider who is a “former somebody” with connections to your organization that may be enough of a draw to attract an audience for your message.

Former athletes could lend their name recognition to their schools or hometown youth sports teams. Retired actors could help raise funds for their hometown’s community theater. Former politicians or judges could become engaged to benefit where they clerked or studied law. Retired sports announcers or newscasters could contribute their voice talents and visibility to help a nonprofit. The founder of an organization could return for an event.

You don’t need to rely on current stars to help your organization shine. Consider re-engaging those with a storied past or local reputation to help boost your message (and hopefully, your bank balance as well).

leadership dot #4235: handoff

April 3, 2024April 2, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I listened to a discussion about the implications of the Baltimore bridge collapse and was reminded that this disaster has so many implications that span the globe, not just the Patapsco River.

The thought that really resonated was that right now, there are ships being loaded in foreign ports that are scheduled to land in Baltimore in 84 days. Those giant freighters contain nearly 5000 containers, with the stowage all meticulously loaded based on the order in which it needs to be taken off. How they are loaded now depends entirely on when and where they will be unloaded.

When we are faced with a personal or organizational deadline, it’s easy to become narrow in our focus and forget that we are part of an interconnected system where our work impacts other things down the line. The ships need to be cognizant of unloading timetables. The author has to adhere to publishing deadlines. A home buyer needs to allow time for processing approval and closing preparations. A school district needs to have facilities ready for the emerging classes, not just the current ones.

You can’t just blindly load your ship. Consider where your work will sail in a month or year and prepare at the beginning for a smooth handoff to the next step in the system.

Source: Washington Post Live: Baltimore Bridge Collapse with Former White House Port & Supply Chain Envoy John D. Porcari, April 2, 2024

leadership dot #4234: lived experience

April 2, 2024March 28, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Data can describe things but nothing makes a more powerful impact than hearing directly from someone who has personally been impacted. Too often, we rely on research, stories, or facts to make our point, but those with lived experience can paint a vivid picture, bringing the pain, challenges, and triumphs into clear focus.

A recent advertisement for Down Syndrome Awareness Day is a good example of this. A woman with Down stars in this powerful video, urging viewers to “Assume I Can” in ways that speak much louder than if the words were read in a news broadcast or written in a brochure.

Take advantage of the power of lived experience to shape your work and share your message. Utilize clients to provide testimonials. Have beneficiaries thank donors. Engage residents to shape policies. Listen to those affected before making decisions. Give voice to the front line.

The world takes on a new perspective when you hear about the reality, not just the imagined or assumed.

leadership dot #4233: quantifiable

April 1, 2024March 28, 2024by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Some people have jobs that provide clear metrics — amount of revenue, number of units produced, deals closed, etc. Others do work that is more difficult to measure — the impact of teaching, coaching, or leading, the changes made through writing or podcasting, or the long-term results of public service.

For those in the latter category, it’s always good to have an outside interest that is tangible — something through a hobby, side hustle, or volunteer work where you can see your results. For example, I know of a counselor who achieves this through gardening, a teacher who tackles DIY home improvements, and a change agent who tracks miles run in marathons. Personally, even though I am unsure as to their impact, numbering these dots provides me with a quantifiable measure of my progress.

Society needs those who work on long-term change, but most people need an occasional marker of accomplishment to remain motivated over time. I encourage you to cultivate something in your portfolio with results you can see.