fashano

It's easy to get "stuck" on yesterday's losses, missed opportunities, or on outcomes we hoped would have gone differently. Yesterday ended at midnight, and today is a new day to refocus your energies, concentration, and passion. However, it's time for some tough love: it's time to move on and make a plan for today. You know what you need, more than I do. What can you commit to as you spend time reflecting on your day? Here are ideas to get you started, but come up with your own to ensure you end today knowing you did the best you could. Today, I will: Make better decisions Add value to another person Be kinder Express gratitude Learn something new Be more [...]

Last week I shared thoughts on what it means to be leading from the front. And this week, I am sharing what it doesn’t. I have committed the following sins of leadership, and when you are out front, the temptation is there to do so. Micromanaging: Leading from the front does not mean you become overly involved in the details of what the person is attempting to accomplish. These behaviors can be intimidating and unproductive. If you commit these sins, you may be better off in your office. Eliminating decision-making power: You cannot grow your people when you do all of the thinking for them. Ask more questions, challenge them to discover solutions, and serve as their thinking partner, not [...]

We have adversity -- now what? It is true, many businesses are still moving through difficult and challenging times. For the most part, they can't control external factors like supply chain issues, labor shortages, proposed mandates, and so much more. I certainly don't intend to make light of these times, this is serious stuff we are dealing with, but as leaders, it's not supposed to be easy, and it's our job to grow from these circumstances. Equally serious as the current state of affairs, is our mindset and behavior. Oftentimes leadership is best learned, or honed through adversity. Recently, I read an article where former GE chairman and legendary leader, Jack Welch was asked, "What does it take to have [...]

As leaders we know how important it is to track results. Without results, we have no business. What I know to be true is to get, and keep the “ball rolling” we need the right kind of action -- action that drives results. To be clear, I’m not referring to our people being busy -- or looking busy, but rather, are they doing the right actions that drive results? For example, we have metrics—take sales, we measure sales results. Obviously we need new business, growing market share etc., but, they don’t necessarily drive success -- they only measure results. What we must have is accountability that drives results. Said another way, when coaching your people, and when reviewing their list [...]