Ten Treasures to Take Away from 2009

As 2009 comes to a close, many people find themselves pondering the events of the year.  The economy (and its negative ripple effect) certainly proved challenging for all of us.  As always, though, it’s never all bad.  There were positive highlights, a-ha moments and wonderful surprises too!  These are some of my greatest treasures of 2009…and the lessons I’ll take with me into 2010 and the years to come.

Have a Plan.  Be Intentional.

If I had to choose a favorite word for the year, “intentional” is it!  More than ever, this year I was intentional about writing a plan and intentionally going after it!  There is something powerful that happens when you put something in writing – it somehow forces more commitment.  Keeping those commitments top of mind (by having certain items posted in front of me!) motivated me to be more intentional with every action and word.  The result?  Exceeding the goals I had set for myself this year!

Having a vision and strategy are the critical beginnings of your plan.  You must have something to aim for, or you’re likely to remain in the world of status quo….or worse.  It’s still a tough economy out there, and it requires innovation, creativity and the best of what YOU can bring to the table.  Think about what you can do and how you can accomplish it.  Put your plans in writing, and be intentional about accomplishing them.

The Power of Identifying Strengths and Leading with Them

Late last year, with the help of StrengthsFinder 2.0, I identified my strengths, and as Marcus Buckingham suggests, I put them to work!  It’s not that I learned something totally new about myself, but I did find it helpful to confirm and even re-affirm what I thought.  In many ways, it was a confidence-builder that challenged me to push myself further by leading with those strengths. 

I also discovered that natural strengths come fairly easy to you, but as such, you may not fully recognize them (because the assumption is that they come easily to everyone else too.)  These typically are the “gifts” that most other people notice about you, and these are likely your best strengths.

It’s critically important to identify your strengths.  Also ask what others’ perceptions are about your strengths – you may learn something about yourself!  They key here is self-awareness, and it’s a necessary component of great leadership.  You must know your own strengths, weaknesses, passions and values to build the best teams (and you should know theirs too!)

Twitter – An Education and a Community-Builder

 

One of the greatest surprises for me in 2009 was Twitter.  What started as an “experiment” mostly driven out of curiosity, turned into one of the most impactful decisions I made this year.  It sounds hard to believe, I know.  I still can’t believe it either…but it’s true.

My strategy (yes, having a social media strategy is critical!) was two-fold: 1) Go beyond the Greater Cincinnati market to include experts, innovators and mentors in my inner circle of influence; and 2) Be intentional with communication that would be helpful, impactful and inspiring to those that follow me.

This strategy enabled Twitter to be become a powerful tool for me.  Not only have I had the privilege of learning from experts that I wouldn’t otherwise interact with, but I have also met some amazing people and formed communities around particular interests.  The interactions are personal, collaborative and useful in numerous ways…and they help me to be a better, more impactful person.

Lead Change Group….and LeaderPalooza (a sneak-preview into 2010!)

One community, which has a presence on both Twitter and LinkedIn is the Lead Change Group, led by Mike Henry.  The group is focused on character-based leadership, and Mike (who I met via Twitter) and I have become friends and encouragers of one another, based on our shared leadership interest.

What started as a few tweets in early spring has turned into real collaboration, powerful idea-generation and mutual support.  Together, along with what could be quite a large gathering of leaders, Lead Change group is creating a leadership conference (LeaderPalooza) that’s being cast as “Not Your Mama’s Leadership Conference” in February of 2010.  There, attendees will be leveraging an Open Source format to create impactful content, ideas and deliverables, driven by a passion for character-based leadership.

Lead Change group is a virtual community.  Mike and I, although we talk fairly regularly, have never met in person.  Many leaders and practitioners who I’ve come to appreciate through this group have impressed me through phone conversations, blog articles, webinars and more….but we’ve never met in person.  The energy has been building, and LeaderPalooza is going to be the unleashing of all these people coming together for the first time.  Great things are going to result from this…

The Value of Blogging

The combination of creating and sharing relevant information is what blogging is all about.  This, too, was another valuable and extremely impactful lesson this year.  Not only did I start blogging (which is great practice for the book that I hope to write someday…) but I also identified several blogs that I read on a regular basis.  These blogs are written by experts in their respective fields, and they share valuable insights, experiences and statistics that I learn from every day. 

I read once that if a leader ever stops learning, then he/she should stop leading.  Blogs, written by informed and educated leaders, are one additional way I continue to feed my intellect.  I hope that what I write and share is valuable to my readers as well!

Authentic Leadership in Cincinnati

This group, started on LinkedIn, has proven to me that there’s a real thirst for great leadership that is focused on positively impacting people, as well as results.  Authentic Leadership in Cincinnati was launched in late-Summer, and today there are more than 250 group members!

Authentic Leadership was born out of a call to action I heard at church over the summer.  The speaker encouraged everyone to take action – don’t just talk about making an impact on your community – DO it!!  I didn’t sleep well that night, and the very next day, I wrote the vision and mission for this group that would attract business professionals who would embrace character-based leadership to make a difference.  The revolution began this summer…

With the help of an inspiring and highly-successful Board of Directors, Authentic Leadership in Cincinnati has had regular interaction on LinkedIn.  We’ve hosted two well-attended and highly-rated in-person events this year, and we’ve only just begun!!  The Board has some amazing ideas and plans to implement in 2010, and as the programming continues, Cincinnati will be able to demonstrate the powerful impact of leaders helping people reach their potential.

Lunch with John Maxwell

It’s not often that I’m “star-struck,” but I have to admit, I was more than honored to be extended an invitation to have lunch with John Maxwell.  John is, in my opinion, a prolific author and speaker, and one of the leadership experts after whom I model my own approach.

During lunch, John was kind enough to openly answer questions and share his experiences with an intimate group of people.  Many of his words continue to resonate and inspire me, and his direct communication provided encouragement to move forward with my purpose.  Every day, I find hope knowing that, like him, I am working to further develop and empower leaders from a perspective that’s rooted in Bible.  Keep it up, John!  I’m grateful to have your example as a guide!

Surround Yourself with Good People

What a true blessing it’s been for me to be surrounded by friends, family, people willing to collaborate as well as those willing to hold me accountable and with proper perspective.  This, I believe, is a necessary component of success for several reasons.

Perspective can be easily lost in day-to-day activities and challenges.  I’ve been so fortunate to have good people to remind me of where I ‘really’ am and to provide alternative perspectives when I may not have seen other options.  (Knowing this, I have been intentional to surround myself with smart people!)

The other great advantage is a sounding board.  My own personal “Board of Advisors” includes people who know me well, speak the truth with love and have strengths where I may have weaknesses.  Their advice has helped me to grow, learn and avoid mistakes I may not have even known I could have made.  For all these wonderful people, and their willingness to be helpful to me, I am eternally grateful.

With Risk, Comes Reward

As a stereotypical “type A” personality, I have always thrived on a good challenge…and I really enjoy exceeding expectations whenever I can!!  But taking on a good challenge is still different than taking on a risk.

In 2008, I thought I would be able to successfully launch a new company.  2009 is really where I had to prove it, though…and in a really tough economy.  Some called this a very risky thing to do, since I left a stable job with a wonderful company to launch Sagestone Partners.  I always looked at it as a “calculated risk,” and I tried to include everything in the plan to ensure that the company would take an upward trajectory…but, of course, I don’t know everything, nor can I predict the future…so, yes, there was a risk. 

As I was researching my decision, one consistent piece of advice and encouragement I received from many other CEOs was that, in fact, THEY didn’t know everything, either.  They knew what they needed to know, and they knew where to get help and support for the rest (see the point above on surrounding yourself with good people!)

So, ultimately, I took a risk, but 2009 has been a tremendously rewarding year!  I have learned more than ever.  I have met wonderful new people from networking in person and via social media.  I have better balanced my personal and professional life.  I have been blessed to see a positive impact I’ve been able to have on clients.  I was honored with an amazing award for women business leaders.  And more than anything, I’ve grown my faith…

You Must Believe

I saved this one as my last point, because it’s most meaningful, and I also hope it has a resonating effect with readers.  Every person will eventually crush under pressure without a strong belief system.  That systems needs to include three things:

Belief in yourself, that you were uniquely created for a purpose that only you were intended to do.

Belief in the people around you, that you’ve surrounded yourself with the right people who can be trusted and relied upon to celebrate the good times, comfort you in the bad times, and steer you in the directions that help you to reach your potential.

Belief in something bigger than all of us, that provides greater hope than people can generate.

 These are the things that I cherish from this year; things that will stay with me forever.  What resonated with you?  What unique experiences or lessons will you take from this year?  How can you use this information to make 2010 even better?  I’d love to hear from you – please leave a comment!

Erin Schreyer is President of Sagestone Partners, LLC.  She is passionate about leadership and helping people and companies to reach their greatest potential.  Please visit www.sagestone-partners.com for more information.

Be the Best You, To Be the Best Leader

Being a great leader takes a tremendous amount of energy, creativity, strategy, empathy and stamina these days.  Leaders are givers – giving to their organization, teams, community, and when the workday is over, finally their family.  WHEW!  That’s a lot on anyone’s plate!  And that’s precisely why, as a leader, you need to be sure to put some focus on yourself too!

As a leader, you are outward focused – serving others –but you can only give your best when you have your best to give.  As such, it’s important to take “ME” time and consider five key elements that can help you be most productive leader.  Not only will you directly benefit, but everyone around you will as well.

Develop High Self-Awareness.

Leaders should become highly self-ware of their value system.  Ask yourself – What’s important to you and what do you value?  What “feeds” you and re-charges your battery and spirit?  What are you most passionate about?  What motivates you?  These are all critical, but important, questions that help you discover the passion, purpose and style of your leadership.  Knowing the answers to these questions helps you to stay motivated and on course with everything you say and do as a leader.  This advice comes from Bill George, author of True North, who further states,

“But knowing ourselves at the deepest level isn’t easy, as we are complex human beings with many aspects to our character.  We are constantly evolving, as we test ourselves in the world, are influenced by it, and adapt to our environment – all in an attempt to find our unique place.”

It may seem as if we should all simply know our values, but as George points out, they are ever-changing as a result of life experiences.  For this reason, leaders who regularly work with coaches may have an advantage since heightening awareness is a critical component of a coach’s job.  With proper training, coaches can use of a variety of assessments and can ask powerful questions to help clients achieve a deeper understanding.  This information helps leaders to better understand their values and priorities, which then can shape their motives and actions.

Spend Time with People Who Build Into You.

Again, this one seems obvious, but the reality is that when our calendars get jam-packed, it’s the people in our inner circles that often suffer the greatest consequences.  Why?  Because we know they love and value us, so they can be ‘pushed off’ a bit without losing the credibility that newer people in our lives still need time to discover. 

Consider, though, how beneficial it is to spend quality time with your family; to be surrounded with people who adore you – faults and all (yes, they’ve seen them!)  Consider how a professional peer group of leaders provides a solid sounding board of advice and re-direction, without judgment or bias to other organizational factors.  Consider how your long-time friends can take a walk with you down memory lane and remind you of how wonderful your life really is -oh, what healthy perspective that can be! . (And let’s not forget how stress-relieving a good, hard laugh can be, either!)

Always Learn, Always Improve.

As the great poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Life is a journey, not a destination.”  For all of us, that means that the learning process should never stop…because there is always room to grow.  Leaders should remain humble and open-minded to receive good advice, new perspectives and the latest industry trends.

This is an age of innovation, where things can change quickly.  With an open mind, you can consider how to best leverage new technologies and creative, never-been-done-before approaches.  The most memorable leaders aren’t the ones who followed the path of the leader before them.  The greatest leaders thought outside of the box and implemented approaches that blazed new trails.  They couldn’t have done this without an open mind and a willingness to learn from others.  Leaders must embrace change, and they must continually learn to keep up with it!

Be Healthy.

With all the challenges on leaders’ plates – the economy, keeping their teams motivated, the impending talent war, increasing sales and the bottom line – there’s virtually NO downtown.  Leaders are constantly balancing proactive and reactive, and that means their leadership is in high demand!

Leaders, if you’re not in good shape, you’re going to feel it!!  These are stressful times, and they require stamina.  Are you not only mentally, but physically able to deal with it?  Do you eat right, exercise and get enough sleep?  I’m not suggesting that every leader go on a diet and/or become a weight-lifter…but I am suggesting that you give your body the proper fuel to best prepare you for each day.

In a recent study, the British Medical Journal found that chronic stress has been linked to the development of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as other conditions.  Know that these risk factors are real and that you must work to counteract them.  The article can be found here.

Have Faith.

Every leader will need to embrace some level of risk.  Because leaders create vision and strategy, they are future-focused, looking forward, making improvements they believe will improve their people and their business results.  I, for one, cannot predict the future…can you?  This is where faith can be immensely helpful to a leader.

By having a faith in something much larger than themselves, leaders can incorporate their value system into their strategy and have a higher level of confidence (and lower stress!) that they will attain the desired results.  By having faith in their people, leaders can more highly engage their team and be able to “let go,” not having the need to touch every plan and decision.  By having faith in themselves, leaders can exude confidence, motivate their people and be willing to make difficult decisions.  As stated by Dr. Laura Nash, Ph.D. and Director of Harvard’s Divinity School,

“Faith not only helps a person see the ultimate values, it can provide the courage to pursue them when the market offers plenty of reason for fear.”

 

Take a moment and consider what you’re doing to take care of yourself.  Are you doing enough?  Are you able to give others your best?  What’s one thing you can improve upon to better serve those around you?

 Erin Schreyer is President of Sagestone Partners, LLC.  She is passionate about developing people and companies to achieve their greatest potential.  You can reach Erin at eschreyer@sagestone-partners.com or you can find additional information at www.sagestone-partners.com.

A Recipe for Great Leadership: Eat Mor Chikin!

What a great pleasure it was to hear the story of Chick-fil-A this evening from some of the company’s leadership team, as well as the President/COO, Dan Cathy.  They are going out of their way to make a difference in the lives of their employees, customers and anyone with whom they come into contact.  It’s a pretty tall order for a fast-food restaurant…but this is clearly a fast-food restaurant like no other!

 We Care About You…

I was fascinated as Cathy began his speech with “the first thing I want you to know is that we genuinely care about you personally.”  OK, so that’s not what I was expecting from a fast-food executive.  I was expecting a history of the company, possibly some ups-and-downs, how they prevailed in the end and now he has a family fortune and can stop working.  Success, right?!  That’s not their story.  In fact, there was only a little bit about their history as a business.  Their stories related more to their family and how they value their relationships.  Sure, they are a very successful company, but it’s clear that their definition of success does not revolve around amassing a financial fortune (although I’m certain they’re doing ‘just fine!’)

 When the leadership team of Chick-fil-A says they care about you, they’re serious.  And they’re not just saying it, they’re doing it.  Yes, they’re putting their philosophy into action.  By saying that they “care,” they are taking action to influence and impact people’s lives in positive ways.  The areas that they have identified as most important are: Live, Love and Lead.  Here’s what they say about each of these areas:

 LIVE

An important indicator of health is your energy level.  It ensures you have the ability to do what you want to do, when you want to do it.  The key: incorporating healthy habits into your day that will help you maintain the energy level you need to be successful.

 To support the “Live” initiative, Chick-fil-A employs a full-time Wellness Director.  Elizabeth David has helped to create programs and facilities for the company, including an 11,000 s.f. fitness center, exercise classes, a Corporate team of runners (more than 200 people!) for the Disney marathon and mountain hiking expeditions, to name just a few.  They have a belief that in order to be the best version of yourself, you have to be “Fit to Lead.”  As an avid cyclist and runner, I would have to agree!!

 LOVE

Our marriages and families are incredibly important to us.  But between the hectic pace of our lives and the constant demands on our time, we can risk neglecting what is most to us.  The key: slow down and refocus on the significant relationships in your life.

To help ensure that love prevails, Shawn Stoever, a Ph.D. specializing in marriage and family therapy, is on staff at Chick-fil-A.  He serves as the Senior Director of the WinShape Foundation, a non-profit ministry of Chick-fil-A focused on “building relationships and transforming lives.”  This organization was founded by the same folks who founded Chick-fil-A, Truett and Jeannette Cathy.  Today, they have been married for more than 60 years, and their children, who currently lead Chick-fil-A, have been raised to value marriage and family.  They clearly support the belief that happy marriages are the foundation to so many other successes, including business success.

 LEAD

At Chick-fil-A, we believe leadership is endemic to each of us.  We all lead someone or something in our lives.  This is so important that we not only provide leadership training to home office staff and Operators, but also partner with others who are experts to bring leadership training to Chick-fil-A.

 Cathy shared a few stories of leadership at all levels within their organization.  This included him sharing real, local examples of customer-written letters, praising staff for the difference that they’re making in their customers’ experiences.  He even took time to acknowledge these employees (who were surprised by the letter!) in front to everyone, and he asked them to stay after the event so he could thank them more personally.  First-class!!

 Their leadership training is obviously building into their staff, refining their skills and teaching them how to provide the best service possible.  Cathy shared with the audience the basis of that training – it comes from scripture: If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Matthew 5:41)  From that, they launched their training program, “Making the Second Mile Second Nature.”  WOW – it’s no wonder you get great customer service there!  Talk about going above and beyond!!

 Dan’s Passion

Dan Cathy has been the President and COO of Chick-fil-A since 2001.  He spends most of his time on the road, visiting store locations and interacting with his team.  He is an engaged and caring leader, whose desire to build into his team is evident in both what he says and does.

 I have always been a firm believer that success will follow a strong passion for something.  Cathy has led the Chick-fil-A organization to many successes in many ways.  So, what’s his driving passion?  His personal passion is to see the fulfillment of the Chick-fil-A Corporate Purpose: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us.  To have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.”

 Way to go, Chick-fil-A!!  Kudos to your vision, great leadership and wonderful team!!  You are an inspiration, and you are, indeed, having a positive influence!!  THANK YOU!!

What are your company’s principles founded on?  What kinds of things does your company do to build into the employees?  How about building into your customers, or even the community?  I’d love to hear some great examples of other companies that should be honored and held as an example of true success!!  Leave your comments here!!

Erin Schreyer is the President of Sagestone Partners, LLC.  She is passionate about leadership and developing people to their greatest potential.  For more information, please visit www.sagestone-partners.com or e-mail Erin at eschreyer@sagestone-partners.com.

Authentic Leadership – Worth the Risk?

Each summer, the senior pastor at our church takes some time off with his family to relax, re-charge and re-build himself with lots of reading.  It’s a fabulous idea that helps him to be his best – and our entire church body benefits from his renewed enthusiasm and knowledge for months and months after his return.

 Another side benefit we get is the great opportunity to hear guest speakers during the time he is gone.  I always find it refreshing to gain the perspective of others.  These people are typically very involved in the church and its mission, although they often are “normal” people who do not have seminary degrees.  Instead, they are often people like you and me, who are trying to get through this thing called life in the best ways possible.

 This week, the speaker wasn’t quite as ‘regular’ as the rest of us, because he has some celebrity status.  Brad Johansen, Local 12  Sports Director and official “Voice of the Cincinnati Bengals” spoke to us this weekend about “Loving Your Neighborhood.”  (I should mention that our current message series is entitled “We Love Cincinnati” and is aimed at inspiring and motivating the people of our city to get involved in making Cincinnati be the best it can be!)

 I’ve heard Brad speak on several occasions and have always been moved and inspired.  This week I was particularly impressed as he spoke with such passion, transparency and authenticity.  I kept thinking to myself – “This is a real risk for him.  He’s a public figure.”

Brad’s message related back to the biblical journey of the Apostle Paul through the Bible.  Along with a large group of family members, Brad recently visited Turkey, and he shared pictures of the city of Ephesus, where Paul had written to the Ephesians.  He showed us the coliseum where Paul spoke, as well as the prison where he was jailed.

 In his letter to the Ephesians, Brad taught us that Paul expressed four things we can do to love our neighborhood:

Make an investment in the neighborhood and people.

Be authentic.

Show acceptance of others.

Begin with greater love in your own home.

 

His interpretation and teaching was right on spot.  He backed it with much scripture to ensure the teaching was an accurate biblical message.  What really moved the audience, though, was the emotion and vulnerability that Brad expressed as he walked us through the above four points from the stage.

 Nobody has to tell Brad that he is in the public eye.  In a sense, he is always on stage; and not just for the weekend church services.  As a celebrity, he carries the burden that people will always watch his moves and likely (although sadly) be ready to pounce on him with criticism.  And yet, he took a risk this weekend, and he very genuinely and passionately displayed his faith, even ending his message with a very pointed call to action.  It was both impressive and inspiring!!!  It was also an awesome display of leadership!

 I would be willing to bet that at some point, Brad thought through a risk-reward analysis of sharing so deeply and transparently, given his position.  Instead of letting the fear of criticism drive his behavior, he took a strong leadership approach.  Brad made a decision that the reward of following through on his faith and beliefs was worth the risk he would be taking by sharing so openly from the stage.  One comment he made, in particular, stands out in my mind:

 “I thought I had to change my job to be in ministry, until God taught me that I’m already in His ministry.”

 What he meant by that was that he is in a position to lead in everyday life and in everyday situations.  In fact, we all are.  AND, we can make a real impact if we’re authentic, just as Brad demonstrated by sharing real stories and speaking from the stage.

 I applaud Brad and encourage him to continue what he is doing, both in our church and in his neighborhood.  Although he works in a profession that is often cluttered with fake people, personalities and appearances, Brad is authentic to the core…and he’s not afraid to show it.  Because of that, he is a leader in our community and a wonderful example for all of us.  Because he lives what he believes and demonstrates that, not just through words, but also in his actions, he is a leader that we should follow.

 By the way, I WILL be switching to Channel 12 news from now on.  He took a huge risk, and because of his integrity, he most definitely earned my respect!

 Are you leading with authenticity?  What risks did you have to consider before doing so?  What reward was the payoff?  I’d love to hear how you weighed your decision and what impact your decision had!  Leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail!!!

 Erin Schreyer is the Owner/Managing Partner of Sagestone Partners, LLC.  Erin is passionate about building into people and companies so they can achieve their greatest potential.  Find out more information at www.sagestone-partners.com or contact Erin directly at eschreyer@sagestone-partners.com.

5 Steps to Building a High Performing Team

 

Got deadlines, budget (crunch!) pressures, demanding clients and/or management responsibilities?   Well, then you need to build a fabulous team!!  How can you increase your success of making it most effective?  I believe that the success of a leader and his/her team largely depends on communication.  Not much different than any other relationship, it’s all about valuing people, setting clear expectations and guidelines, and keeping the lines of communication open.  Here are some tips to help…

 Build A Community with a Purpose.

Yes, I used the word community.  People have an instinctive need to be included and connected, so it’s important to facilitate camaraderie, team building and collaboration. Create a real belief that one effective and synergistic team is far more effective than one great leader.  Do team-building exercises, kick off a project with a fun outing or share coffee in the morning together.  Develop some natural affinity in your group, so your team enjoys the “community” aspect of it!  If they like each other and have fun together, they’ll be much more engaged and fulfilled.

 Just as important, be sure to clearly articulate the mission and vision of the team (and have it tie back to the company’s greater purpose!) 

 Teams can only be truly synergistic when they share the same vision and work together to achieve the same result. 

 So, as the leader, have you clearly communicated the vision, purpose and goals – keeping in mind, this is NOT the same thing as task delegation?  This is the entire reason this group is coming together, so be sure you’ve communicated clearly and in language that each individual not only understands, but more importantly, buys into.  Get everyone excited and passionate about the overall mission, as well as their specific role.  Make sure they know how their efforts, specifically, will impact the end-goal.  Be sure they CAN get fully engaged, and if not, find out why.  Perhaps they’re not the best choice for this team and would be better leveraged elsewhere in the organization.  That doesn’t make them “bad” – it just makes them bad for your team and its productiveness.

 Be Approachable and Demonstrate Integrity.

This is a key component – “humanize” yourself!  You may be the leader, but you’re still a person who’s much like the rest of the team in many ways.  Yes, this may mean you have to put your ego on the back shelf, but if you’re not approachable how can you expect anyone to come forward and be completely honest with you? 

 Create an “open door” policy where people know it’s safe to come in with their own opinions.  Let them know that it’s OK to say anything to you(with respect, of course!)  Encourage brainstorming and creative, out-of-the-box thinking.  Verbalize your value of diverse thinking and ideas – it’s not about you – it’s about the success of the team…and with a successful team, everyone wins!!

 As the leader, it’s also critical to model the behavior you’re asking of your team.  Lead by example, do what you say you’re going to do and demonstrate the characters that you want to be reflected by your team.

One of the most important roles we have as leaders is to imprint these values on each new generation of the company.  ~ Orin Smith

Ask and Listen.

Leading isn’t about delegating or handing out orders to get the job done.  Engage your team – ask questions, seek input and ideas, and recognize the value they’re bringing to the table.  Remember, it’s called a team, because it’s not just you!!  Create a team strategy that includes them and leverages their strengths.

Just as important – don’t assume that what’s important to you is equally important to them.  Ask them what’s fulfilling and what drives them.  Seek to understand their value system and what they get passionate about.  Listen carefully to their response and act accordingly…which, by the way, may mean that you change the way you communicate, manage or reward that person.  Respect their differences and embrace the value of diverse thinking.

 MYTH: Everybody is not motivated by the same thing. REALITY: If you want to know what will be satisfying to someone, ask. ~Thad Green

 Hold Each Other Accountable.

Believe it or not, this is a piece of the puzzle that is often missed!  What if we don’t make a milestone?  What if someone isn’t collaborating or contributing?  What if you aren’t helping the team get the support you said you would?  All of these scenarios have the potential to de-rail the team and the progress that has been made.

 Encourage your team to come up with ideas to hold one another – including you – accountable.  If commitments are made, then commitments need to be kept.  The team is depending on it!  Have an open team discussion and ask each team member how they would like to be held accountable.  This let’s everyone know they better stay on top of their game, and it also provides a personalized and verbalized recourse if they don’t.  Team members are less likely to get angry about the “price” if it’s something they came up with.

 Celebrate Successes All the Way to the Finish Line.

It’s likely that the most fun part of leadership is celebrating the success of your team.  Be sure to do this!  As the leader, you are also the “Chief Motivator!”  It’s up to you to keep the energy-level and morale high in order to keep the team fully engaged and performing at its best.  Consider celebrating individual and team accomplishments, milestones and contributions that exceed expectations.  Make a fuss, and make people feel valued and appreciated   Studies show:

 The #1 reason people leave their jobs: They don’t feel appreciated. ~from How Full is Your Bucket?

 Give credit where credit is due…and make it a motivating factor.  Celebrating success is one of the most effective team building approaches, because it provides incentive and fun, which, by the way, may further increase how much your team members enjoy what they’re doing.  Fun at work?!  Oh, yeah, baby – that’s what I’m talking about!!

 Have you or are you building a great team?  Do you continue to build into it?  Consider if your words and actions have a “building up” or “tearing down” effect.  What are some of your most effective strategies?

 Erin Schreyer is the Owner / Managing Partner of Sagestone Partners, LLC.  She is passionate about putting greater emphasis and value on people, communication and exceptional leadership.  Learn more by visiting www.sagestone-partners.com or reach out to Erin at eschreyer@sagestone-partners.com.

Are You Using Your Time Wisely?

 

Yikes!!  It’s a loaded question…one that’s not so easy to answer, is it?  How do you know if you’re using your time “wisely”…and what does that really mean, anyway??!?

 I’d like to submit that your time should be spent in areas that bring you greater fulfillment.  Hey, we only have one life to live; we’re supposed to enjoy the ride!!  So, how do you know what will bring you the greatest fulfillment and joy?

 Go to the intersection of Strengths, Passions and Values!

 

 Huh?!  Can you just give me directions?  I’d really like to get there soon!!!

 Sure!  Consider these points:

1)      How well do you know yourself and what’s meaningful to you?  When did you last take time to be introspective and really consider what’s important to YOU (no, not what’s important to your family, parents, kids, church, neighborhood, community, etc…what’s important to YOU, specifically?)

2)      How can you incorporate what’s important into the time and effort you spend at your job, with the people you know and in your various communities?

 Carefully and thoughtfully define each of these characteristics for yourself:

• STRENGTHS – What are you naturally good at doing?  What positive comments do people routinely make about you?  What do you have a lot of experience doing?  In what areas do you excel or stand out from the crowd?  What accomplishments are you most proud of?  The answers to these questions will very likely fall into your category of strengths.
• PASSIONS – What gets you fired up and excited (keep it clean, people – this is a family show!)  What motivates you?  When you’re lucky enough to find a few free minutes, what do you spend your time doing?  What do you really care about?  These answers will likely fall into the category of your passions.
• VALUES – What’s meaningful to you?  What are your priorities?  What are the things in life that are important to you?  What do you want to be known for?  These answers likely comprise your value system.

 When you’ve completed your list in each of these three categories, consider if and how you’re spending time, energy and effort on them.  If you are, then you should be really proud of yourself for doing what’s meaningful to you!  If not, then consider what changes you need to make to allow you the time to spend on these things.  It doesn’t necessarily mean you need a new job, but it may mean that you need to make time for a hobby, volunteer work or some other activity that will bring you greater fulfillment in addition to your career. 

Regardless, the important take-away is to spend some time on YOURSELF and what’s meaningful in your life…..and please, do it without guilt!!  Remember that we’re supposed to enjoy the ride!!!

What’s Your Gift?

Chris Rice is a wonderful and inspirational singer whose voice is just…well, music to my ears!!  (haha!)  One of my all-time favorite songs of his is called Go Light Your World.  Below are a portion of the lyrics:

 There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she’s been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Several years ago, I received one the of greatest compliments ever from someone.  She had heard this song for the first time, called me, and she said “Erin, I heard this song, and it is SO YOU!”  WOW.  That was, and still is, a big deal to me.  Here’s why…

 My belief system drives me.  It is the essence of who I am, how I lead and how I want to be recognized.  I believe that we have all been uniquely created, and we each have our own set of special gifts – our non-tangible fingerprint, if you will.  Further, I trust that we each have been gifted so that we may share that gift, and the joy it brings, with others.  Perhaps it’s to inspire them, perhaps to help them, perhaps for other good reasons.

 Nonetheless, I have always had a natural ability to engage people, sincerely connect and encourage them.  I’ve mentioned before my “freakish amount of energy,” and I’m pleased that many find it contagious (I certainly have an abundance to share!!)  What I’m most grateful for, though, is the ability to inspire and encourage people.  To take someone and provide hope, a plan and a belief that something good can happen…this is one of the greatest gifts I have been given.  If I can help make even a small change in someone’s life -  something that leads them to greater satisfaction and fulfillment – then, WOW, I feel like I’m doing what I’m “supposed” to be doing.

 Sometimes I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for this gift.  I’ve been given a brightly-shining candle.  A light.  I intend to let it shine, with as great a glow as I can muster…in the hopes that I can find people and places that could use a little extra illumination.  I will do my best to pass on that flame, with the intent that the “Pay It Forward” rule will continue its journey to others.  This is my gift.  What’s yours?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments!  Use the comment button below or shoot me an e-mail to eschreyer@sagestone-partners.com.