Dear Business Discussion Group Attendees,
Thank you again for participating in our quarterly Business Discussion Group meeting. I enjoyed being the moderator of this interesting and diverse group!
The discussion was lively and interesting as each of you shared your experience with leadership and where you've witness leaders "who got where they are, but haven't gone any further".
Several of you cited stories of business owners who were very successful in developing their business, but their success was a stumbling block for them reaching further success due to a leadership blind side, such as, "telling the world how smart we are" or "withholding information" or "not listening" or even "an excessive need to be “me”". These blind spots are not uncommon in successful business owners or for any of us for that matter.
So, what do we do?
Marshall Goldsmith, the author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There, talks about the "beauty of knowing what to stop". How? We discussed the need for self-awareness. Self-awareness about our blind spots. We can get this self-awareness by asking for feedback from trusted partners -- our spouse, family members or colleagues.
As we get this feedback and gain awareness of our blind spots, we need to determine what to do about them. We discussed how we need to select 1 or 2 blind spots (or habits), determine a plan and solicit help in making the needed behavioral changes. The author further recommends finding a partner who also wants to change a habit. Each of you make a list of 6 - 12 questions related to the habit you want to change that can be answered with a simple yes or no. Each day you call each other, go through your list of questions and support each other through the needed changes. Behavioral changes happen best when we need to answer and be accountable to someone else regarding the day to day footwork required. Good luck resolving your blind spots!
In closing, the author recommends to "spend time creating the future"! I'm excited about the future you'll be creating!!!
I look forward to seeing you all at next quarter's meeting on Thursday, April 29th and to the friend you'll be bringing!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Improving Leadership Effectivess Gets Results
Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, talks about increasing our awareness of our leadership “blind spots”. Why?
Leadership blind spots undermine our effectiveness: Our effectiveness in:
- Setting goals
- Aligning employees
- Responding to the marketplace
- Achieving results
- Building quality relationships
Improving your leadership skills has a real (and positive) impact on your business. Increasing our leadership effectiveness result in:
- Actionable goals that move the business forward
- Engaged employees who provide great customer service
- Insights into business changes to capitalize on the marketplace
- Improved business results
- Rewarding relationships
Which ones are impeding your leadership effectiveness?
How do you overcome them?
What strategies have you used to counter them?
How did this experience make you a better leader?
How did this impact your business?
What’s your experience?
Come and join other business owners on Thursday, February 4th in an invigorating discussion around these and other questions related to leadership effectiveness!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Habit # 1 -- Winning too much -- What does that mean?
Goldsmith discusses in his book how winning too much is really a symptom of being overly competitive. How can being overly competitive undermine our effectiveness as a leader?
Winning too much actually affects our behavior. It impacts our interactions with others, especially our employees.
Think about the last time you met someone who you would consider a "know it all". What was it that irritated you? Was it that they always "had the answer". Or they "had to have the last word". Or they "wouldn't concede" that maybe they didn't have all the information or wasn't "right" this time. This behavior is "about winning" at whatever cost to their relationships.
How does this type of behavior undermine our leadership effectiveness?
As a leader, our job is to help develop our employees. How well are we developing our employees if "we always have the answers" or "have to have the last word" or "won't listen to new ideas"? This kind of leader drives employees away and causes them to disengage. Can your business afford this?
So, what can we do? Recognize this trait within yourself and count to 10 before responding. Think before you speak. Instead of having the right answers all the time help your employees develop the problem solving skills to solve it on their own. Walk them through the thought-process for arriving at the right answer by asking a series of open-ended questions.
If you have to have the "last word" STOP! Ask yourself if it's really necessary. And only when it's ABSOLUTELY necessary give the last word.
What ideas do you have?
Feel free to post your own and join in the live discussion on Thursday, February 4th at the ILSBDC at Harper College location. See the information on the left hand column to register.
Until then -- Be the best you can be!
Winning too much actually affects our behavior. It impacts our interactions with others, especially our employees.
Think about the last time you met someone who you would consider a "know it all". What was it that irritated you? Was it that they always "had the answer". Or they "had to have the last word". Or they "wouldn't concede" that maybe they didn't have all the information or wasn't "right" this time. This behavior is "about winning" at whatever cost to their relationships.
How does this type of behavior undermine our leadership effectiveness?
As a leader, our job is to help develop our employees. How well are we developing our employees if "we always have the answers" or "have to have the last word" or "won't listen to new ideas"? This kind of leader drives employees away and causes them to disengage. Can your business afford this?
So, what can we do? Recognize this trait within yourself and count to 10 before responding. Think before you speak. Instead of having the right answers all the time help your employees develop the problem solving skills to solve it on their own. Walk them through the thought-process for arriving at the right answer by asking a series of open-ended questions.
If you have to have the "last word" STOP! Ask yourself if it's really necessary. And only when it's ABSOLUTELY necessary give the last word.
What ideas do you have?
Feel free to post your own and join in the live discussion on Thursday, February 4th at the ILSBDC at Harper College location. See the information on the left hand column to register.
Until then -- Be the best you can be!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Are these fatal flaws holding you back from being an effective leader in your organization?
In the book, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, the author Marshall Goldsmith identifies the following flaws in leader’s which stunt their leadership development:
1. Winning too much
2. Adding too much value
3. Passing judgments
4. Making destructive comments
5. Starting with “No”, “But” or “However”
6. Telling the world how smart we are
7. Speaking when angry
8. Negativity, or “Let me explain why that won’t work”
9. Withholding information
10. Failing to give proper recognition
11. Claiming credit that we don’t deserve
12. Making excuses
13. Clinging to the past
14. Playing favorites
15. Refusing to express regret
16. Not listening
17. Failing to express gratitude
18. Punishing the messenger
19. Passing the buck
20. An excessive need to be “me”
Now, I don't know about you, but I don't think I do these things, do I? Who says winning is ever "too much". I thought being a leader meant being a "winner" -- so how can this be a bad thing? How can adding too much value be a fatal flaw as a leader? Isn't our job suppose to be adding value each and everyday? Isn't that what we are being paid for?
What do you think? Continually developing our leadership skills, as a small business owner, can be difficult. Typically, we are the "leadership team" in our company. How do we know if we are doing any of these things? Good question! The first step to develop your leadership skills further is to gain some awareness -- do this simple exercise: Create a list of these 20 items. For the next week monitor yourself. Each time you catch yourself doing any one of these leadership flaws, place a hash mark next to the flaw. What did you learn? You may want to have your employees keep track too. Wouldn't that be interesting -- see how many times they observe these flaws verses our own tracking. This may provide you with some incredible insight!
To learn more, come to our February 4th Business Book Discussion to learn from other small business owners on what they learned and strategies to further develop your leadership skills.
1. Winning too much
2. Adding too much value
3. Passing judgments
4. Making destructive comments
5. Starting with “No”, “But” or “However”
6. Telling the world how smart we are
7. Speaking when angry
8. Negativity, or “Let me explain why that won’t work”
9. Withholding information
10. Failing to give proper recognition
11. Claiming credit that we don’t deserve
12. Making excuses
13. Clinging to the past
14. Playing favorites
15. Refusing to express regret
16. Not listening
17. Failing to express gratitude
18. Punishing the messenger
19. Passing the buck
20. An excessive need to be “me”
Now, I don't know about you, but I don't think I do these things, do I? Who says winning is ever "too much". I thought being a leader meant being a "winner" -- so how can this be a bad thing? How can adding too much value be a fatal flaw as a leader? Isn't our job suppose to be adding value each and everyday? Isn't that what we are being paid for?
What do you think? Continually developing our leadership skills, as a small business owner, can be difficult. Typically, we are the "leadership team" in our company. How do we know if we are doing any of these things? Good question! The first step to develop your leadership skills further is to gain some awareness -- do this simple exercise: Create a list of these 20 items. For the next week monitor yourself. Each time you catch yourself doing any one of these leadership flaws, place a hash mark next to the flaw. What did you learn? You may want to have your employees keep track too. Wouldn't that be interesting -- see how many times they observe these flaws verses our own tracking. This may provide you with some incredible insight!
To learn more, come to our February 4th Business Book Discussion to learn from other small business owners on what they learned and strategies to further develop your leadership skills.
Monday, November 23, 2009
November 12th Discussion Recap on The Goal by Goldratt and Cox
Dear Book Club Attendees,
Thank you again for participating in our quarterly Business Book Club Discussion meeting. I enjoyed being the moderator for this interesting and diverse group!
The discussion was lively and interesting as each of you shared the focus of your goal setting during these last few days of the year. You identified goals targeted at:
Understanding and delivering on the needs of the customer
Re-establishing or revitalizing customer relationships
Pipeline development of business prospects that maximizes 2010 financial success
In this challenging economy, you identified strategies needed for the goal setting and goal attainment process, such as:
Visualize your goals
Set flexible goals, don’t get overly structured and inhibit your ability to respond to a changing business climate
Ask trusted advisors to review your goals, such as an accountant or business advisor
Review progress against your goals regularly, make necessary adjustments
Assess your environment continually, look for new opportunities and refine your goals accordingly
Instill confidence in yourself and your team in achieving your goals
Lastly, we discussed the benefits of having a “Goal Buddy” – a trusted partner that holds you accountable, while providing you encouragement for attaining your goals!
I wish each and everyone of you the best holiday season ever!
Sincerely,
Sue Smedinghoff
Thank you again for participating in our quarterly Business Book Club Discussion meeting. I enjoyed being the moderator for this interesting and diverse group!
The discussion was lively and interesting as each of you shared the focus of your goal setting during these last few days of the year. You identified goals targeted at:
Understanding and delivering on the needs of the customer
Re-establishing or revitalizing customer relationships
Pipeline development of business prospects that maximizes 2010 financial success
In this challenging economy, you identified strategies needed for the goal setting and goal attainment process, such as:
Visualize your goals
Set flexible goals, don’t get overly structured and inhibit your ability to respond to a changing business climate
Ask trusted advisors to review your goals, such as an accountant or business advisor
Review progress against your goals regularly, make necessary adjustments
Assess your environment continually, look for new opportunities and refine your goals accordingly
Instill confidence in yourself and your team in achieving your goals
Lastly, we discussed the benefits of having a “Goal Buddy” – a trusted partner that holds you accountable, while providing you encouragement for attaining your goals!
I wish each and everyone of you the best holiday season ever!
Sincerely,
Sue Smedinghoff
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Differentiation by Maximizing the Customer Experience
I recently read a Harvard Business Review article, Discovering New Points of Differentiation by Ian C. MacMillian and Rita Gunther McGrath. Like the book The World is Flat, they discuss the need to compete by differentiating yourself/your business. But many of us immediately focus on those tangible means of being unique in the marketplace -- the tangible features of the products and services we offer. But what about the customer experience? Isn't this an extension of our physical product or service? What is the customer's experience each and every time they interact with us? How well are we meeting their needs during the sales or purchasing process? Are all their needs being addressed during the delivery of our product or service? What other needs do they have once they’ve received our product or service? Do we really understand the full scope of your customers’ needs and know how to fully satisfy them? Can you compete more effectively by better understanding and addressing their needs across each and every interaction?
Here’s one way I’ve addressed a customer need: To satisfy the stringent paperwork requirements of one my training provider customers, I created a project completion checklist that lists all required documentation. Now, as I complete each professional skills training session, I use this template to ensure that I send each and every required document in the project closure packet. This simple solution has expedited their paperwork processing, allowed them to be reimbursed more quickly and best of all, has permitted me to exceed their reporting goals and become a preferred training provider for them.
What strategies do you use? Share strategies you use with your colleagues by posting a response below.
Here’s one way I’ve addressed a customer need: To satisfy the stringent paperwork requirements of one my training provider customers, I created a project completion checklist that lists all required documentation. Now, as I complete each professional skills training session, I use this template to ensure that I send each and every required document in the project closure packet. This simple solution has expedited their paperwork processing, allowed them to be reimbursed more quickly and best of all, has permitted me to exceed their reporting goals and become a preferred training provider for them.
What strategies do you use? Share strategies you use with your colleagues by posting a response below.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Using Technology to Stay Connected
Welcome to the IL SBDC Business Book Club's blog. As we discussed in our August 20th discussion meeting, technology advances have eased the barriers for individuals to compete globally, as well as, the need to extend your network of business contacts -- this blog addresses both of these concepts.
This blog is a way for you to stay connected with your Business Book Club colleagues and keep the discussion alive and relevant for each of you.
My objective with this blog is to continue the discussion on our topic and offer you other resources/ references to expand your knowledge. Your participation is critical! Let me know what you think by adding your comments!
Sue
This blog is a way for you to stay connected with your Business Book Club colleagues and keep the discussion alive and relevant for each of you.
My objective with this blog is to continue the discussion on our topic and offer you other resources/ references to expand your knowledge. Your participation is critical! Let me know what you think by adding your comments!
Sue
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
