Monday, April 30, 2012

Feedback...To Give & Receive

"Champions know that success is inevitable; that there is no such thing as failure, only feedback. They know that the best way to forecast the future is to create it." - Michael J. Gelb , Author, Speaker (b. 1952)
To be successful, really successful personally and professionally, it is important we want to learn to give and receive feedback well...not loudly, not softly, but well! To give positive feedback, please follow this format: NAME, you are... Or NAME, you have the ability to... Or NAME, you demonstrated such... Please stop saying "I think you are...". Make it about the other person. Be specific, be brief, be bold and be about them! When giving less-than-optimal feedback, please consider it as offering improvements by using language like below: NAME, you have the opportunity to improve... And, when you state that, offer a solution versus his/her fault. Rather than saying "Debbie, you are too loud in meetings", you could say "Debbie, you have the opportunity to connect with colleagues in meetings by lowering your volume and engaging with them in a tone that is inviting". When you receive feedback, please resist discounting it ("What that? I did not think it was that good") or defending it ("They don't get me", or "That's how I am", or "That's not what I meant"). Instead, a simple "thank you" will suffice. Success is not in being perfect, a part of being a successful, thriving person, though, is being perfectly happy and grateful for feedback received, and better yet, for feedback received, and implemented...those with whom you shared feedback, and that you got as well!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Maximize Your Moxumility

"You know more than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to know." - Oscar Wilde, Irish Poet, Novelist, Dramatist and Critic, 1854-1900
MoxumilityTM is a word I have trademarked to show, express and encourage the idea of combining moxie with humility. While it is super to have the confidence (the moxie) it is also well-serving to know there is more to learn, experience and appreciate (the humility). Here are my top 10 ways to Maximize Your Moxumility. Additionally, here's a link to a 28-minute talk where I shared this as well: http://youtu.be/c23pkMRH1jE 10 - Be the expert in your space for your size, clients & offerings. 9 - Be trusting to be trustworthy. 8 - Be responsive instead of reactionary. 7 - Be contagious. 6 - Be grateful instead of just full of "great"s. 5 - Be absolutely, positively addicted to the truth! 4 - Be more interested in others than interesting to others. 3 - Be about "What?" and/or "How?" over "Why?". 2 - Be the product, and be the value. 1 - Be an intentional example that others can sample. Whether it is the video, or just the quick summary, here's hoping this tip reminds you of your moxie and humility! Thank you, and make the most of your moxumility!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Give it Your ALL!

"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you." Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Poet)
There seemingly are so many expectations we put on ourselves, and additional demands we allow others to place on us as well. In the long run, all we have is who we are and what we do, so isn't it fair to strip away expectations and demands, and instead be determined to "give it our ALL"?

By giving it your ALL, I mean really owning and enjoying, assessing and sharing your:

Appreciation - being grateful for what you have and happy for others for what they have, and bring to the table as well

Loyalty - having beliefs, knowing you have and give confidentiality, and really developing trust and dependability that is enjoyable and comforting all at once

Laughter - demonstrating the real you, and even laughing at yourself and with others with humor and humility, pride and presence

When you are willing and able to give your ALL, you are in a position to truly experience and engage in ALL that is important to you, for you! So let go of some of those burdensome expectations and demands and replace them with desire and engagement so not only are you giving your ALL, you can get your ALL!!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Collaborative, Constructive Performance Reviews

"Feedback is the breakfast of champions." - Ken Blanchard, American Businessman
Most of us like feedback...as long as we agree, right? Feedback is a gift when given and received well. As far as work goes, not wanting to give reviews, or feeling critical (leader) and criticized (team member) often comes up regarding giving and receiving feedback to/with employees.

With performance reviews, I encourage you to do the following on a quarterly basis:

Develop competencies for each role (only needs to be done once, and 6-10 competencies is usually best)
Assess the person to the competencies from 1-5 (no half numbers, with 5 being the highest)
Ask the person to assess himself or herself to the competencies from 1-5 (no half numbers, with 5 being the highest)
Share the assessments with each other
Discuss what is going well
Agree on what can be improved
Have an open discussion
Create a plan
Review the plan
Schedule the next quarterly review

I find this allows for input, discussion, coaching, and encouraging...without attacking or being too critical. In the end, the feedback can be collaborative, and a gift, so to speak, for each of you in growing your relationship, your team, and your business!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Becoming Your Own ACE!

"A miracle is an act or event out of the order of nature and unaccountable, as beating a normal hand of four kings and an ace with four aces and a king."

~ Ambrose Bierce (American Writer, Journalist and Editor, 1842-1914)

While the highest card in the deck for most games is an Ace, and the best pilot is called an Ace, and even the most impactful serve is deemed an Ace, it is understandable how many of us would like to be the ACE in our field.



What is different from just the phrase "An Ace", is how you are encouraged to get to that distinction of "ACE". Think of ACE in terms of your:

Attitude
Creativity, and your
Execution



For each aspect of the ACE above, there is a supporting ACE as well, meaning:



Your ATTITUDE is driven by:

Acknowledging and appreciating what is happening by being present and engaged.

Catching people and things doing/going well, and not just finding fault.

Exciting yourself with learning, people and opportunities.



Your CREATIVITY is harnessed and expressed by:

Allowing yourself (& others) to think differently without immediately thinking "No" or "That won't work".

Coloring your world with words and actions that suit your mindset and focus. Drab days seem grey, so paint them green or red, or pink or yellow in your creative mind and self.

Exuding "What else?" to almost every situation..."What else can I do?, "What else can I see, feel or create?", and even "What else can I let someone else do so s/he can shine?"



Your EXECUTION is about:

Accounting for your actions...good, bad, right, wrong. Own the errors and learn from them just as you pridefully accept the kudos you deserve.

Clearly defining and measuring goals by including actions, checkpoints, and others who will assist in inspiring you and holding you accountable.

Expecting results - both anticipated & other. Not everything will go perfectly, but sometimes the "mistake" is the best result ever (i.e. Post-it Notes)!



Go ahead, align your Attitude, Creativity and Execution for you to get to become your very own ACE!