Have you noticed how ENERGY is influencing your workplace or your private sphere? Have you felt how the energy dramatically can change depending who is in a room? For me ENERGY is an essential part of being in a leadership position. If you are not able to create some form of positive energy around you very few people will want to follow you voluntarily. Image you are a leader of a non-profit organization, or a sports club or a scouts organization...
Read moreBut - in a feedback loop
Have you thought about the way you communicate with your friends, colleagues or boss? Have you at the same time observed that different approaches create very different responses?
Try to notice how you use the word BUT. Do you use it in a way that emphasizes a bad behavior or a good behavior? If you have no idea what I means then look at this tweet - which will give you an idea.
If the other person you are being direct with can feel that you respect them as an individual you will most likely receive a better response then if not. I believe respect and trust are the core components of a mutual good dialogue. And IF the respect and trust is there, THEN you can be more direct in your feedback.
If however the other person DO NOT respect you or trust you, there is a fair chance that direct feedback will not be received positively.
I have the exact same reaction pattern as most people. The minute I feel there is no respect or trust I have difficulties to receive direct feedback. However if I feel some form of respect or trust towards a person I can accept even harsh feedback. How do you react upon direct feedback? And is there a difference who it is coming from - and how?
Please let me know what you think
Leadership and optimism
What has leadership and optimism in common - and what is your reflection on that? A very inspirational person asked me that question not long ago.
It made me wonder a lot - and gave inspiration to this blogpiece. I believe that there IS a strong correlation between being a leader and having an optimistic outlook on life and where you (or your company is going). To me leadership has a lot to do with being an inspiration to the people around you. You can only go so far that your surroundings are willing to follow you - and most people tend to want a certain degree of optimism in the way the workplace is functioning. Do you agree on that?
Personally I CHOOSE to be optimistic in my leadership - and you might ask how I do that? One of the things I believe in is mutual trust and openness towards my fellow colleagues. I choose to value their comments and inputs, even when it is not exactly according to my opinion. I think that EVERY day is a chance to impact a group, a colleague, a customer or a student. If I choose to have an optimistic outlook on life and the day to day business it actually rubs off! Can you feel the positive vibes coming from that thought?
Every day you and I can influence how other people behave and act together in a group. Group dynamics is very often influenced by the standards being set by the leader (or leaders) in a company. Thus it is immensely important that most (not all - but the majority) of the leaders of a company have an optimistic way of being, even in crisis or turmoil. Because it spreads!
Do you have a good story of how optimism have worked in your work environment?
Leadership and personal values
Can your personal values be a guideline for the way you lead? YES – they have to in my humble opinion. Values are the core from which you decide how to lead and what decisions you make. I evaluate my personal values every year in a very, very simple way...
Read moreStrategy is just a plan
A lot of organizations are struggling with direction. Some because of poor leadership, some because of the pace of the industry they are part of where the World moves fast and some because they have a misconception about strategy.
Basically strategy is the ability to form a plan - a direction for the company, the Departement, the Sports Club or the NGO. There is a balance of things and strategy can help set a direction within areas where there is uncertainty. You might even go as far as saying that strategy is making a plan for the things you do not know for sure!
What do I mean by that. Well, if you know things - then you might as well just do it! When you do not know things for sure, then you need a strategy to tackle them. You might start with a number of possibilities - or several directions. An ability to draw scenarios about the future is one way to form a strategy, so you can have different Action Plans according to which scenario that plays out.
I believe in the need to revisit your strategy with regular intervals. The World is changing and so is your customer base, your target groups or your fan base. So forming a strategy that you can change or adjust depending on the outlook of your business will be crucial to your success.
At the same time there is a need for some major goals that can ensure an engaged working force inside your organization. People are moved by something bigger than themselves. So part of your process in designing your strategy should be the BIG, HAIRY and AUDACIOUS goals. Some goals that are bigger than yourself. Goals that are more than just cashflow or EBIT.
But remember: strategy is just a plan