Kneale Mann

Questionable Leadership

2012-05-28T06:30:00.000-04:00

There is a theory that the two sides of a conversation are talking and waiting to talk. Well, we know that’s a rather cynical view, but what if we decided to do the listening for a change and give others the time and space to share their thoughts and ideas?

If you’re like me, this isn't always an easy tactic. We get passionate and want to genuinely improve the ideas presented. The two focus words this year for me are listening and patience. They are powerful and empowering to everyone involved.

Three Essential Words

Chris Westfall reminds us of a significant phrase we can use that will change every conversation, connection and communication and it is – tell me more. It will show others we care about their ideas and want to see how they will expand on them.

It's one of the toughest lessons I've learned. I get passionate and want to help. But the danger is I can give the impression that I've stopped listening. It's powerful to sit back and let the others talk and think. Sometimes the best move we can make is to simply be present for them. As my colleague Greg Zlevor reminds me, less is more.

Ask for Help

As leaders, we need to be more inquisitive and less instructional. That’s how we all grow. My work involves helping leadership teams with their personal and business development. These are bright people. They have worked hard, accomplished a lot and gained respect of their colleagues. The guy who wants to share ideas still shows up, but he's doing so less and less as listening guy is taking more of the lead.

The core of leadership is about questioning and helping others. If you see someone attempting to appear like a leader but making it about them, we call that a boss. And no one wants one of those. And whether you're trying to find your online voice, your inner voice or your career voice, you need someone to listen. So let's take Chris' advice.

Tell Me More

Kneale Mann

flickr

Starve Your Fear

2012-05-24T06:10:00.125-04:00

Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.
Steve Jobs

Last week, I was talking with a colleague who had been sick for a week and she mentioned the old saying ‘starve a fever, feed a cold’. It made me wonder what would happen if we applied that to our lives by feeding our passions and not giving any table scraps to those fears. Yes, easier said than done but worth a shot.

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.
Bertrand Russell

Some organizations, for all their efforts, become a dysfunctional environment. This is where I can help. Some don't want to be helped and it's best we leave them to their misery. But perhaps there is an underlying issue that needs to be put on a diet.

You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith. Mary Manin Morrissey

Open your calendar and go to a random date last year. Check out all that you had on that day. Now think about what made you stressed and what is now irrelevant. Some items may no longer be concerns and some you conquered. It may now look like a nothing day but at the time there was something that was stressing you that you were trying to get past. Now much or all of your fear may have dissipated.

Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.
James Stephens

Often, much of what we may fear isn’t the big scary monster but simply something we haven’t tried or an instance where we need help from others or a bit more experience. We may have fear while others navigate it with ease and can help us. There will be times the roles are reversed but we need to starve our fears together.

The enemy is fear. Mahatma Gandhi

Kneale Mann

williamscott

The 3 Questions of Clarity

2012-05-20T06:22:00.002-04:00

One way I help clients is to gain clarity on finding better ways to grow their people, leadership talent and their business. The old cliché that we are far too close to our own stuff to see it with any objectivity is often true.

We all know deep down that we are flawed and make mistakes. We know we don’t have it all figured out. And we know there's work to do. But part of finding clarity is discovering the joy in the work rather than the seemingly unattainable finish line. Purpose can often be more important than making quota or hitting numbers. And how long does the satisfaction from a "sale" last versus following your passion?

To gain clarity, there are three questions you can ask yourself, your team members or anyone with whom you collaborate...

1. What do you stand for?
2. What will you not do?
3. Why do you do what you do?

This quick but powerful exercise can work for someone new to the workforce or a highly paid barrister. It can unearth the deep rooted needs of a member of the leadership team and the guy who runs the local garage. It's industry and job level agnostic.

Clutter makes us nervous and stressed. It can derail us from our goals. Clarity will help you find your baseline and silence some of that unnecessary noise. And what you stand for, what you will not do and why you do what you do, will remain.

Ask yourself the three questions and get clear.

Kneale Mann

istock

Zuckerbook and the Millionaires

2012-05-19T06:25:00.157-04:00

Last January the Hollywood Foreign Press Association awarded The Social Network four Golden Globes for Best Picture, best original score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, best direction from the wonderfully talented David Fincher and best screenplay by one of the most gifted writers today, Aaron Sorkin.

This week, the founders and venture capitalists surrounding Facebook began to cash in their chips. After hundreds of millions of years of networking socially, there are more billionaires and millionaires this week due to an initial public offering that speculators are saying will value Facebook at $107 Billion or just over $100 per user.

Like all companies, the purpose of Facebook is to make money despite the well crafted Mark Zuckerberg hoodies and golly gee it's all about the sharing exterior. So when it comes time for investments to be returned, it will be on the backs of each one of us - the 900 million. Whether we stick around when our pages are littered with advertising is a whole other story. It's doubtful the new millionaires are too concerned about all that.

Some interesting posts published this week

· Tech Crunch - Twitter Sentiment Mirrored Facebook Stock Price
· All Facebook - All That For 23 Cents?
· inc - Facebook IPO Could Spawn 1,000 Start-Ups
· Mitch Joel - Leaving Facebook
· Gigaom - Facebook Gets a Reality Check
· Wired - Facebook IPO is Not The Engame

Kneale Mann

venturebeat

Push Beyond Your Limits

2012-05-17T05:50:00.003-04:00

There have been moments in your life when you felt you didn’t have the answer. Conversely, there have been times when you allowed yourself to dream, if only for a moment, about what you wanted in your life, your career, your family or your lifestyle. And perhaps you paused. Then went back to what you thought was reality.

Caroline Casey was a global management consultant and changed it all to create her not-for-profit organization Kanchi. She discusses leadership, disabilities, elephants and how we must push beyond our limits and accomplish more.

Kneale Mann

caroline casey | TED

Is Customer Service an Endangered Species?

2012-05-15T05:54:00.032-04:00

If you work somewhere, you have customers. Even if you are eight levels away from actual paying clients, you are part of the equation. Which means you have a chance to improve or diminish the experience each and every customer has with your company. We are also customers of each other inside our companies. I call it internal customer service. Without it, external customer service will forever be a challenge.

We all want great service but clearly we don't always get it. Why is that? Is it because good enough will do for most people? Is it because the fear of actually stopping and doing a great job will cost you more than the profit made from that customer?

Money Talks

Perhaps most companies think we’ll be satisfied with what we get and keep coming back for more. Maybe we don't know any better. Maybe we just don't care. We all mess up, we all make mistakes, but when it becomes a pattern, there is cause for concern.

The best tactic is to vote with our wallet. But with some companies it certainly makes one wonder if customer service is something that should be relegated to annual reports, marketing collateral and coffee mugs.

If you want to establish a competitive edge, provide great leadership and service. Then you can take some chances.

Kneale Mann

cartoonchurch

We Don't Always Know

2012-05-11T05:15:00.042-04:00

The ascent of leadership within your career and business is a complex journey. It would be simple to look back at when you got a raise or promotion and called those the rungs on the ladder. When you look a bit deeper, they may not have been your growth spots.

Since we aren’t machines nor are our teammates, coworkers and fellow stakeholders, we need to keep a keen eye on human elements and interaction. So if we pause for moment and look at those times in our career where we felt hampered perhaps in a restricted environment, were those possible learning opportunities or obstacles?

Two-Way Leader

I remember early in my career, I was intimidated by leadership. I was the kid who swept the floor (sometimes literally) while others in more important positions made all the decisions. But as I grew through a career of hard work, setbacks and victories, with some hindsight it's clear my “bosses” didn’t have all the answers. In fact, the good ones were secure in that fact. They were learning too. They needed the team’s help to grow and we made mistakes together.

If you feel you need to be strong, even when you aren’t sure, then you may be setting yourself up for future problems. If you think you may appear weak if you need help, trouble may be imminent.

The enterprise can be an overwhelming place at times and there is little allowance to pause when the pressures of the day need our attention. But we need to keep trying to find think time to grow. And asking for help is a sign of strength.

Even the brightest among us don't have all the answers.

Kneale Mann

freeimages

How Important are Your People?

2012-05-08T04:00:00.006-04:00

Leadership is action, not position.
Donald H. McGannon

It’s simple to develop responsibilities, titles, direct reports and deliverables. But how will you allow a place of teamwork to resemble reality? The organizational chart is probably necessary for you to chunk up the work, responsibilities and strengths of your business but how you build a great, sustaining and successful company is through your people. There are no short cuts.

If you have ever experienced a true open environment it can be exciting - yet to some - chaotic. And because most don't want chaos, they choose to keep things nice and neat and departmentalized. They may like being a boss everyone obeys. But we know the flaws in that model are vast.

The perception of losing focus or control can block potential for significant growth in your organization and the careers of each person inside it. If ideas aren't shared, department walls get higher and silos deepen.

To lead the people, walk behind them.
Lao Tzu

The position of Chairperson, CEO or President may appear to be at the top of the company chart. But it's actually in the middle. This is the person who sets the tone; makes the big decisions that could affect the workload of everyone else. It can be a very busy place.

She must answer to the owners, shareholders, investors, customers, employees and the public. If a company relies solely on her decisions, millions or even billions can hang in the balance.

Don't try and do everything yourself because you can't.
Anthea Turner

A former boss taught me about reversed delegation. This is where someone suggests a half-baked idea and you try to run with it. This neither encourages their further thought nor helps you with what you want to accomplish. Push it back on their plate and see what happens.

Organization charts and fancy titles count for next to nothing.
Colin Powell

For decades we have followed an enterprise model that resembled a flow chart. Nice and clean, easy to follow, department and leaders, directors and work flow. But without an unwavering commitment to the people in your company you may simply be sharing a parking lot and florescent lights for 1,800 hours a year. And the four most powerful words you can use are; “How can I help?”

The challenge for leaders who want a successful business is to make their people the absolute top priority. For real.

Kneale Mann

image: msoffice

Are We the Enlightened Ones?

2012-05-05T07:06:00.003-04:00

It may be safe to suggest that humans have uttered the idiom “in this day and age” since we could form the words – in whatever language we spoke at the time. Some have claimed that there are more scientists alive today than in any other time in history.

We have seen monumental advancements in medicine, business and technology in the last one hundred years. However one seventh of world's population won’t eat today and there is war and conflict around the world. We have a way to go.

Make More Faster

The industrial revolution created mass production and transformed business and increased the ability for us to feed more people and make more things and create jobs and all that fun stuff.

But a workspace where a boss rules over the unwashed masses is flawed. Leadership must come from all of us but as Matthew Taylor explored two years ago and it remains true today, we may have some work to do on our 21st century enlightenment.

Kneale Mann

Matthew Taylor | RSA

2012 List | Revisited

2012-05-04T05:35:00.002-04:00

We like lists. They’re easy to read and review. It’s content in small digestible chunks. But without action, they’re just nice lists. On January 1st, I did yet another one and I was looking at it this week. Much work to be done, especially the singing!

Travel more Forget the past Turn your phone off Someday is not on the calendar Don't wait for approval Talk about them Say sorry Excuses won’t help you
Dream big. Do bigger Be gracious Thank your parents Make quick decisions

Trust yourself Numbers are irrelevant Read more, skim less

Stop comparing yourself to others Make eye contact Their opinion is just their opinion Smile more Take one digital day off a month Enjoy the ride

Stop doing anything that weakens you Keep an open mind Busy is a victim word
Plan ahead then be flexible Respect your own time Write something every day

Move from what if to why not Meet five new people each week

It's okay to be wrong Ask for help Hang with winners
Don't rest on past accomplishments Reach higher Follow through

Take time off It doesn't matter what they say There are no instant wins

No excuses Help someone without their knowledge Go for it Ignore the news
Don't waste your time on naysayers Sing often Let them be right

Tell others about someone fabulous You’ll never been done Say thank-you

Have dessert for dinner Trust your gut Do something ridiculous
Sit quietly Be more tolerant Success is not a number

Focus on your strengths Start now Laugh at yourself Take the victory
Get some sleep Less talk, more do Do something scary Do nothing Go for a drive

Cherish friendship Negative thoughts are a waste of time Be yourself
The bucket list is meant to be lived Mistakes are allowed Your resume is not you

Yes you deserve it Don't wait No one can want it more than you
Lead with passion Take yourself out for dinner All we have is now

I hope your 2012 is going well so far!
Email or DM anytime and we can discuss.

Kneale Mann

image: flickr

Leadership and the Lone Nut

2012-05-02T05:17:00.002-04:00

We spend a lot of time here talking about the importance of leadership. No one wants a boss, however most appreciate fair and strong leaders. But what does it take to be that first follower to join the lone guy dancing on a hill to make things happen?

We are often afraid to take chances which creates atrophied ideas. There is great admiration for those whose stand out and lead the charge but we often do so from afar. We need to join the idea when it may not be ours. It takes guts to be the first one to speak up but teamwork is requisite.

The next time you have a big idea, don’t be afraid to share it and be equally brave to know it takes others for it to become a reality. When were are inclusive to others and trust them with our ideas, magic can happen.

If you haven’t this, watch as Derek Sivers explains how a movement can be created in less than three minutes.

Kneale Mann

youtube | derek sivers

Foolish and Hungry

2012-05-01T05:39:00.000-04:00

Noun: A person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person. Verb: Trick or deceive (someone); dupe. Adjective: Foolish or silly. Synonyms: tomfool - ninny. Verb: cheat - deceive - dupe - bamboozle - hoodwink - kid. Adjective: foolish - daft - goofy - fatuous

Whether a quip or an overheard phrase, some wisdom or a quote, a thought or an age old saying, every day on Twitter I share a quick thought.

Here’s the list from April 2012

• We are fools whether we dance or not so we may as well dance.
• Visiting the past is like rest stops on a road trip - don't stay too long
• We are the sum of our experiences. How's your equation?
• He had a dream. Do you? (MLK reference)
• Procrastination ends today
• If we think we can't, our wish will be granted
• Don't wait, give them a call
• Success and failure are not accidents
• Keep blessings and perspective nearby
• Do something that scares you every day. Eleanor Roosevelt
• Naysayers are inevitable. Don't let them distract you.
• Good news or bad, be there for your team
• You need to be the one who will create the change you need
• Someday is today
• You are capable of so much more
• It's up to us to create and curate our success
• What will get your focus today?
• Don't boss, lead
• Leadership means getting along with people. Mahatma Gandhi
• Your opinion is just as valid as anyone else's opinion
• Think big. Dream big. Do big.
• Earth Day. Every day.
• Laugh often
• Focus on your goals not what others say are your goals
• Turn your inner critic in to an inner coach. Jack Canfield
• Don't let greed get in the way of focus.
• Growth happens when we learn something, not when we show what we already know.
• It really isn't about the numbers
• Do you have an actual documented list of what you want to accomplish in your life?
• Leadership does not depend on being right. Ivan Illich

As Steve Jobs said; we need to stay hungry and foolish.

Kneale Mann

Hope it Works

2012-04-29T08:31:00.001-04:00

You've heard the saying – doing the same things expecting different results – but how many of us still do it? We hope this time the campaign will work, this time the client will understand, this time the tactic will gain traction. It’s human nature to miss our part of the equation as what may need to change.

All too often we cite external reasons why our past efforts have not garnered better results. The radio campaign didn't work, television is expensive, social media are too much work, we did pamphlets last time and that should work this time.

Nothing replaces strong leadership, good products or services, and hard work. But all that may not be enough.

This is not to suggest you are doing things wrong or your business plan is flawed but it simply takes a breather from the treadmill to examine the situation calmly. You need to find a way to look at things from 30,000 feet. And that, of course, is easier said than done but should be done.

Take 30 minutes, go off by yourself, turn your phone off and just let your mind rest. Your million dollar idea may not come to you in half an hour but you need to shut off the noise or you will never get there.

We need a break, perspective, space to think and we so rarely make time for it yet it is paramount in the success of our projects. Without ample think time you can spin in the wrong direction quickly and often. It can get rather pear shaped in short order.

A break may bring the answers you've been too busy to find.

Kneale Mann

Image: flickr

Breaking the Customer Promise

2012-04-27T06:15:00.059-04:00

You need camping equipment. So off you go to the internet to start your journey. As with most online shopping experiences, choices are overwhelming, the interfaces are varied but you seem to be getting somewhere.

Then the critical event occurs. You need an actual human to answer an actual question. Oh look, there’s a customer service toll-free line to call. Perfect! Two rings, three rings and you’re on hold with an antiseptic message that assures you something about you being important and they’re really busy.

Is Help on the Way?

While on hold, you notice their site also offers an online help option through a chat interface. Well two fronts are better than one so while you’re enjoying some Pearl Jam on the xylophone you click on the link. Open, good, it appears that Janice will be serving you today.

As you watch the blinking cursor awaiting Janice’s swift and helpful response, another insipid message says something about them being sorry and they’re receiving an unusual volume of calls, and back to a snappy instrumental version of Lady Gaga booms through your handset. Janice has yet to answer your inquiry. You click the window closed and hang up the phone.

Why so Impatient?

You've been on hold for 10 minutes. What’s the big deal? Well, you have already found three other sites with more selection and this one offers free shipping. The fact that Janice’s company could be the superior choice has become irrelevant.

Some would claim they can’t serve every customer in seconds and they're right. But unfortunately, customers and potential customers don’t care. Make it simple for your customers to interact with you. No amount of SEO or marketing will help the moment someone hits a dead end.

Is my Business Important to You?

Some companies think that a handy contact us form is the best way to manage the volume of requests. It is a form featuring several boxes and a small section at the end for comments. If someone would rather use their email system, there is a sales@ or info@ or contact@ option at the bottom.

Here’s where that strategy falls flat on its face – most (all?) visitors think these emails go into a large heap of unanswered inquiries never to be seen again. I tried this recently with ten well known brands through their website and received three auto responses and no actual answers. If you've ever shopped for residential or commercial cleaning companies, this becomes an exercise in frustration.

Can You Actually Help Me?

You need camping equipment but you don’t want to drive all over town hoping to find a helpful sales person who will solve all of your needs. You want to have a plan of attack but you seem to be lost in a never ending loop of technology and no answers.

It all begins with strong leadership ensuring a minimum requirement means responding when someone wants to spend their hard earned money with you. We all want good service. Not someone to shine our shoes and make us king for a day, just good service. Yet we often have trouble finding it.

This week, I counted 11 instances where I inquired about services for my business, myself or a client and the provider lost the sale before the work even began.

Some of us are giving bad service.
Few of us would admit to being a culprit.

Kneale Mann

image: flickr

Do You Enjoy What You Do?

2012-04-24T06:15:00.018-04:00

It’s a means to an end, a paycheck or a way to get to the weekend. All explanations of how far too many people describe their career. Leadership can come from each of us but often that strength is squashed by spending time during the week to make money in order to pay the bills and perhaps have some fun once in a while.

But what if we got to enjoy our work?

Sir Ken Robinson did an 18 minute talk at TED2006 and to date, more than four million of us have watched it. As a lifelong educator, his subject was about the fact that the education system is killing creativity. He returned to TED in 2010.

You’d think he would tell us all to go to school. You may be surprised by his thoughts on the topic and how we best look to our passion and life’s calling of which few people actually do. Ken is entertaining, thought provoking and funny.

If you haven't seen this, watch it, then follow your dreams.

Kneale Mann

TED | Ken Robinson

Wearing Your Wares

2012-04-22T11:58:00.013-04:00

Think about the last time you walked into a store and the clerk was on you from the second your foot crossed their front door. You probably quickly told them you were just looking because your personal space was crushed by someone trying to sell you something even though you were in their store.

Now imagine you're at a networking event and you meet John who shoves his card in your hand before you can say hello. You can feel yourself backing up and scanning the room for a few gulps of fresh air, a lifeline, a way out. Despite being at an event where you are trying to meet potential customers, clients or partners, John's approach is a bit much so you recoil. You quickly realize the room is full of two types of people - sellers and those who are too scared to sell.

Beyond the Elevator

Everyone tells you that you need to get out there and meet people, shake hands, let them know you’re looking and what you offer. Yet few people enjoy networking. It can be intimidating to try and 'sell yourself' in a room void of buyers. Most shun those who pitch their offer on the social web yet I'm unaware of anyone who can pay their bills with followers and a better Klout score.

Perhaps if I was painter, it would be easier to explain. My passion to provide business solutions to owners and managers who want to become better leaders and improve their people and revenue. The process isn't easy to define because it changes with each situation. When you look closer at your offer, you may say the same.

Beyond the Title

We need to know how best to explain what we stand for and how we help others. Even the painter does more than slap paint on a wall. She may enhance the feel of the office while it blends with the dark cherry desk and black leather chair.

So before walking in a room to sell your wares or greet new customers in your space, figure out how you can help them and the process may be smoother. And if you think this is an issue exclusive to service providers and small business owners, even large enterprise stumbles on this stuff.

Think about whether you're selling or solving.

Kneale Mann

image: flickr | original: nov 2011

It's Never Enough

2012-04-20T06:02:00.006-04:00

I was on a client call recently and the tone was clear, she didn’t feel she had enough time or resources to carry out the solution we had identified together. It became the barrier to every discussion point.

She began to think she simply didn't have enough time or money. Looking at how to solve the issue was replaced by a flat out no. Any option – free or otherwise – was dismissed in place of her current constraints. In her mind, a solution was unattainable.

Life Imitates Life

Have you ever felt yourself shut down and think no solution seemed plausible? There never seems to be enough time, money, resources, people, sunlight, matching socks, peace and quiet, food, good shows on TV, shelter, budget, gas in the tank. Though new socks every morning would be sweet!

At times, we put ourselves into a corner and begin to read the new reality as our only choice. "We have no budget for that" replaces "is this a good idea?"

Walk away. Ask for help. Give yourself some time to replace those no’s with some how’s. Try a new route for a change.

Kneale Mann

image: getty images
Click here to book an initial complimentary 30-minute consultation

Is Leadership an Endangered Species?

2012-04-17T06:05:00.135-04:00

It may not be the work or the compensation, but something isn't quite right. Co-workers begin to spend time commiserating about their situation while talk of customer solutions and product improvements are replaced with nitpicky items that seem like a big waste of time and energy. Sundays are filled with dread of the impending week and calling in sick becomes an attractive option.

In all of the stakeholder surveys and research I’ve seen over the years, it is clear that no one wants a boss. Nobody takes pleasure in being over managed. And not a soul enjoys when their direct report consistently focuses on mistakes while ignoring the victories. So why is it so common?

Leader v Boss

I was speaking with a colleague last week and he said “the boss” (his words) gave a full company update which demoralized more than rejuvenated. The message was clear – the boss wasn’t happy and needed to point out exactly where others were going wrong. This management style helps no one except the short-sighted manager. The moment anyone in that room gets a better offer, they’re gone.

For a moment, imagine a working environment where good work is lauded, setbacks are solved as a team, finger pointing is eliminated and people actually want to put forth the extra effort. Now add in leadership that encourages ideas and feedback isn’t just reserved for the antiseptic 30-minute annual review. Envision a place where people actually enjoy collaborating as a team.

Read the Room

I’m sure, like me, you have made the mistake of being tough on someone because they didn’t do what you needed them to do. But before you feel the urge to point out the negative, remember how much you dislike that approach.

If you have issues, ask your team member to discuss a solution together. The result may surprise you. Improvements and revenue are important to keep the company in business, but bossing people around is not the way to get it done. My colleague’s parting comment; “I need a new job”. What a shame.

Co-created environments make Sunday more enjoyable.

Kneale Mann

image: animal-photos
Click here to book an initial complimentary 30-minute consultation

Creativity and Making a Difference

2012-04-15T09:33:00.002-04:00

There is a theory that states we do things for one of three reasons: to make a living, to make a name for ourselves, and to make a difference. It is possible to do all three. We can all make a difference in our lives and the lives of others far beyond the grand gestures we measure on the world stage.

Success is a strange beast. We strive for it yet we fear it won’t return. When things don’t seem to go our way, we feel success may be unattainable yet when we experience it, we worry it won’t replicate.

Elizabeth Gilbert is a gifted writer who gained worldwide notoriety after toiling with her passion for two decades. Three years ago, she reflected on the success of her book "Eat Pray Love" during her TEDTalk and how she felt about whether it would return. Her perspective may surprise you.

Kneale Mann

TED | Elizabeth Glbert
Click here to book an initial complimentary 30-minute consultation

What's Your Best Leadership Advice?

2012-04-13T05:45:00.117-04:00

That is a question I posted as a recent Facebook status update. Leadership isn’t easy and it takes skill, patience, time and experience.

Here are the insightful responses

Elizabeth Grattan Be sure there are people actually following you. ;)

Maureen Turner Rasmussen Listen.

Vivian Vasquez Definitely listen.

Maryse Senecal Lead by example, always.

Kevin Hamil No one has all the answers to don't think you need to
or worse think you already do.

Charrise McCrorey Be you.

Chris Young If you want to be a leader, make sure you're worth following.

Michelle Fortin Stay curious and access your compassion when you are feeling frustration. Oh yes, and read "Power and Love" by Adam Kahane :)

Andrew Hedges Be transparent.

Lydia Robertson Actually care.

Steve Gamlin Live as an GOOD example.

Catherine Jones First learn how to follow.

Joel Scott Good leaders are good listeners and don't ask someone to do something
you never would or won't. Lead by example.

Glen Bryant Be fair. Be consistent. Be credible.

Barbara Nixon Listen.

Kathy Hahn Become the example.

Chris Kennedy Integrity must be the #1 core value demonstrated win all actions and decisions – especially during crisis and when having to deliver bad news.

Helen Smith Be present. Learn where to help and when to get out of the way.

Jeff Schueler Engage everyone in the outcome.

Carol Roy Respect everyone for where they're at in life/career and always support
where they want to go. Be honest, at all costs.

Wendy White-Katsipodas Be honest. Something that used to be a man's word for the people he leads.

Brendan Jones Be dishonest and you are a fool if you don't know they know.

Scott Armstrong Listen.

Sarah Montague Listen and let other people lead.

Great advice from some strong leaders.
Clearly one word keeps coming up – listen!

image: forbes
Click here to book an initial complimentary 30-minute consultation

Your Biggest Business Fear

2012-04-11T05:40:00.003-04:00

Fear is a curious emotion and one that is often created solely in our minds. If a lion was running at you in the jungle, you would be justified in feeling fear. But how often do we get wound up and stressed over something that is nothing more than a temporary situation or something we've created in our minds?

We may be worried about what happened yesterday and stressed about that meeting coming up tomorrow while we overlook what’s right in front of us. We miss right now while we spend far too much of our time worrying about the past and the future.

Some is Real, Most is Self-Inflicted

If we try to change what has already happened, our inner critic seems to find great satisfaction in focusing on what we did wrong verses building on our strengths. No matter what we do, we can’t change the past yet we can let our minds be consumed by things that can't be changed. Making mistakes is part of the human condition so we need to give ourselves a break once in a while.

When you mesh fear with business, people can begin to act strangely. Some may say their focus is revenue but their behavior is creating the opposite effect. They are being tough on their team, over managing the situation and making everyone skittish. This type of environment will result in less revenue which will create even more anxiety.

Focus and leadership is hard and requires patience. So beating ourselves up about the past, or what may happen next, won't help.

Priorities Shifted

Some may decree that people are their most important asset but their actions prove they are doing all they can do alienate others for the purpose of improving business. And deep down, fear can be the culprit.

It’s been said that fear is a powerful motivator but just for today imagine all of those layers are removed. No more fear of failure, fear of leadership, fear of success, fear of speaking out, fear of losing your job, fear of that client hearing that their idea won't work, fear of standing up for yourself, fear of (insert here).

If you’re feeling stressed or fearful, reach out.
You will be pleasantly surprised who may help you.

Kneale Mann

Today I Will...

2012-04-07T05:30:00.059-04:00

Today I will not be so hard on myself. Today I will be present for others. Today I will not be so busy. Today I will be more collaborative. Today I will dance. Today I will let them do the talking. Today I will accept help. Today I will be clear what I need. Today I will keep things in perspective. Today I will take better care of myself. Today I will not let distractions disrupt my progress. Today I will be a stronger leader. Today I will help a friend. Today I will remember today. Today I will live in the moment. Today I will be more kind. Today I will help without payback. Today I will offer clearer communication. Today I will be kind. Today I will take time off. Today I will clarify my goals. Today I will stay focused. Today I will stop worrying about the past. Today I will give myself a break. Today I will be more compassionate. Today I will not follow in others’ footsteps.

Today You Will?

Kneale Mann

image: istock

The Elusive Future of Leadership

2012-04-05T05:52:00.000-04:00

Anytime I think about the future, it reminds me of what Eckart Tolle says that the future will never arrive and the past is simply our recollection of what may or may not have happened.

The future of leadership can only be done through the lens of the observer yet each of us makes three fatal errors. We assume others think like us and share our sensibilities, we presume our agenda is pure and we presuppose others will remain constant and agreeable while we activate the necessary change.

Titles are Irrelevant

You don’t attain leadership from words on a business card. It doesn’t appear in the enterprise organizational chart like chosen royalty. And you aren’t given a special potion or pill on first day of that new promotion that makes you a leader.

Countless billions are spent each year on establishing markets, creating customer needs and growing revenue. Much of this investment is to attract external clients while very little time or money is spent on strengthening internal relationships. I call it internal customer service. And it is the most important ingredient to success.

Can I Help You?

We all enjoy great customer service yet we rarely experience it on a regular basis. That can also be said with regards to our relationships at work. Somehow there is an expectation that “they” will make it better or “the boss” is the person who ensures the work day is an enjoyable and purposeful experience.

Far too often a promotion is given to a top performer – the best sales person on the west coast becomes the new VP/Sales for California or the person who landed that new multi-million dollar account is named Director of Marketing – but leadership is about people, not client lists. Favouritism, nepotism and bad leadership are not endangered species but give serious thought to how you can make your situation better.

Invest Before Return

In order to lead, you must spend at least half of your time helping your people grow. Yes, 50% of your week must be with your people. That means actual time actually spent actually helping them. The pressure of bottom lines and shareholder values can distract us from our top priority which is making our people better so the entire team can deliver the very objectives the company wants in the first place.

When you ask people who are unhappy at work for the reason, it is rarely the services or products they are working on but rather it is often the people around them. You will hear words like “direct report” or “boss” which become four-letter words.

Whatever You Say

Respect and trust are not gained because someone signs your pay stub every two weeks. Admiration and belief do not appear simply because someone out ranks you.

The future of leadership starts today. Look at your team and the people who may be below or above you on that dreaded organizational chart. Take a leadership position by outlining specifically what you bring to the team and exactly what you need from them to do it even better.

The future of leadership is now

Kneale Mann

image: istock | originally on switchandshift

44 Years Later - His Dream is Alive

2012-04-04T07:56:00.000-04:00

Many may say it’s not possible. The naysayers will chime in to remind you that no one has tried that before while the status quo will fight to keep things just the way they are now. Every now and then someone is brave to stand for millions and remind us that each of us counts and can affect positive change.

April 4, 1968

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was just 39 years old when his life was ended in Memphis. His inspiration continues more than four decades after his tragic passing. Dr. King's words remind us that we can do it, we can put forth change, and we can have a dream.

• A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

• A right delayed is a right denied.

• At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.

• Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. We must straighten our backs and work for our freedom.

• Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.

• I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

• Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

• Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.

• You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

• Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.

• Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

• Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?

Kneale Mann

image: mlk memorial

Leadership is Hard Work

2012-04-02T06:12:00.000-04:00

Clearly no one with any sense of decency thinks war is a good idea yet it has been a part of the human condition for our entire existence. It’s painful and senseless.

Retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal had a decorated career and his story is well documented. His passion and convictions are clear.

Leadership may seem simple but it clearly remains extremely complicated - especially when actual lives are at stake. During his TEDTalk, General McChrystal outlines its challenges and its vast opportunities.

Kneale Mann

ted | stanley mcchrystal