ReImagine Work

3 Things Great Leaders Know About Managing Change

Mary — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:44:34 +0000

Great leaders know that human beings are complex, and that change will come with time.

Learn 3 key points about leading people through change in my latest post at the Lead Change Group site.

Featured Post on Lead Change Leadership Blog: Don’t Let Your To-Do List Override Your Good Sense

Mary — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:36:20 +0000

By this time you’ve heard story after story of Black Friday gone wrong. Shoppers with a laser focus on “making the season bright” allowed themselves to be willing to hurt another to achieve their prized purchase. What a way to start off the holiday season wrong on so many levels… read remainder of post at The Lead Change Group site.

Are You Believing in Your Own Vast Potential?

Mary — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:37:29 +0000

Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.

- Martin Luther King Jr

I was going on as usual the other day about my belief in the vast potential of human beings. And how that is a handy perspective to have as a manager of people. If you come from that belief, in fact the higher your belief is on a scale of 1-10, the more you are going to get out of your employees. Being “believed in” is powerful fuel for human beings. And it doesn’t have to cost a dime.

This is something deeply rooted in me. I can get all trembley about it. As I was going on about this my coach commented, “You know this applies to you too.” What? “This vast potential.” (Sh!t —that isn’t a very gracious response, is it?)

She called me out. If I have this belief about human beings, and I suspect, if you are reading this post you probably have some similar positive belief about human beings, why wouldn’t it apply to you too?

On one hand it makes me want to crawl under a rock. Who am I to fulfill this vast potential? I’m too ordinary. And for a glimmer of a moment, it makes me want to soar. I’m going to cultivate that feeling more. How about you?

Ultimately we all win. After all, to paraphrase Dr King, you can never be what you ought to be until they are what they ought to be, and vice-versa. This is an unavoidable reality. What part are you going to play?

Why “Making People Feel Good” at Work isn’t the Answer

Communication is a Two-Way Street. Which Way Are You Going?

Mary — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:13:51 +0000

“Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them. -John Maxwell

I’ve heard one too many stories here lately of ineffective or oblivious communication on the part of people who can’t afford to be bad communicators, i.e. leaders. It shows up by them delivering a message and thinking that since they spoke it, it’s understood and that’s the end of it. No one can afford to assume that. The root of the word communication is the “commune,” meaning to interact, to exchange.

A friend said she thinks it about some leaders’ lack of energy and patience to connect with the human beings who happen to be their employees —to really listen and respond to what comes up in the moment. My response is that they have the energy and time to fix it on the other end, when things don’t work out as expected.

I don’t like this. There’s a choice where this is concerned. It’s a pay-me-now-or-pay-me-later thing, and I’m seeing too many people choose to pay later, or let someone else pay later because of unclear or misunderstood instructions, expectations or direction.

But you can choose differently.

This week I want to share with you some of my favorite posts on how you can head off some of those “pay-me-later” situations, and do so with poise and comfort with your own ability to connect, listen and engage. Check out:

Make it Make Sense to Them

Taking Interest in ‘EEs Lives: Don’t *Act* More Human, Be More Human

Are You Ready to Be a Leader in Your Own Communication?

Image from Microsoft Clipart Gallery – Royalty-free Corbis

The Trap of “Not Enough”

Mary — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:52:32 +0000

I read a great article yesterday about how we define “enough,” and how it colors so many aspects of our life.

Though the article was not Thanksgiving-related it helped remind me that being caught up in what I lack distracts me from being grateful for what I have. And there is so much to be grateful for.

Today I just want to leave you to ponder this quotation. We can be generous and grateful without it costing a dime. And if I may be so bold to add to the thought of Albert Schweitzer, don’t just “think” the gratitude, express it.

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”

Another Trap to Being a Good Manager: You Asking “What Feedback Do You Have for Me?”

Are You Doing Too Much Heavy Lifting?

Mary — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:58:02 +0000

I’ve been struggling a lot lately with feeling like I’m not doing enough. I’ve been busy doing work and traveling, but I also have my eye on writing and creating some new stuff.

Last night I showed up at my coaching call with no agenda. I was a little too burnt. All I knew was that I was not getting everything done that I wanted to. I chose to just come clean with my coach. I started with, “I’ve been a bad coachee.”

I guess you could call that surrender. I showed up to the call trusting we’d come up with something, and that it would be useful – maybe productive, maybe just comforting. Because I trusted both my coach and myself. I guess it was the first time I had been “in the moment” in awhile. (No trick here – I can’t even put my finger on exactly what “in the moment” means most of the time.)

In any case, we ended up having the best brainstorming session perhaps EVER. We came up with tons of ideas for white papers, eCourses, manager/employee conversation templates, checklists —even a book.

I guess this is a lesson about relaxing and not forcing an agenda, which is what I have been trying to do.

How might surrender serve you right now?

Photo credit: iStockphoto user Aldra

5 Things to Remember Now That You’re the Boss

Mary — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:34:04 +0000

You probably know at least one manager who doesn’t want it to ever be said that their title has gone to their head. This can show up particularly if they have been promoted to supervise former peers.

This behavior also shows up in new managers, but even well-meaning veteran managers can experience the pitfalls of being a “humble” supervisor of people.

You may be one of these managers yourself. This can work for you in some cases, and in others it can backfire, so keep in mind…

1- Your words hold weight. You are the boss. Watch musing or thinking out loud in front of your employees. The next day you might find a wall painted. (Yes, there’s a story there.)

2 – Be friendly, but not “friends.” Even being friendly with your employees can lead some to believe you are friends. Then you make a decision that they believe disadvantages them and they feel betrayed by you. I’m not asking you to dramatically change your behavior, just be aware and be prepared.

3 – Be careful in picking your confidantes. Don’t put any direct reports in a position to be your confidante, particularly if kvetching about your peer, their peer or your boss, or anyone for that matter. Not only is this unprofessional, it can make the employee feel inappropriately burdened.

4 – Make it safe. You can tell them all you want that they can speak freely, but you have to prove it. Create opportunities for them to feel safe in being up-front with you. Whether they are fully conscious of this or not, in their eyes, you are an authority figure. They know you can negatively impact their performance rating, raise, etc. Don’t underestimate this.

5 – You really aren’t just one of the team. One of the hallmarks of leading human beings well is not over-doing it, not imposing more structure, rules etc. than absolutely necessary. If you have gotten in the habit of standing in the background allowing things to happen, you might overlook those times your reports want and need you to make a decision, intervene or advocate. Don’t do their job for them, but be sure you are doing your job fully.

You can work to demonstrate you don’t let your title go to your head, but by trying to act like you’re nothing special, you’re only kidding yourself. You are the supervisor. There is a distinction. Own your role.

Managers: 5 Things You Need to DO to be a Good Communicator

Managers: Now that Halloween is Over, Loosen up That Mask

Mary — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:03:59 +0000

Halloween is always an interesting season for me. Young and old get into the spirit of having fun, dressing up maybe, pretending to be someone else.

I wonder if when adults dress in costume, whatever the occasion, we aren’t actually revealing more about ourselves than we realize. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I know I get insight into my friends and neighbors’ creativity, humor, even aspirations when they dress up. And I learn a little more about myself too.

We show people who we are with every breath we breathe.

At work we maintain this professional persona, a costume or mask of sorts. Or most of us do. How much are we really hiding? And what benefit might there be in allowing more of ourselves to show —particularly those of us who think we need to appear invulnerable or perfect? Before I completely scare you off (no pun intended), please read on.

I’m certainly not suggesting you let your constituents see you in a puddle on the floor, but in truth, people have more respect when you are real and human, rather than perfect. Perhaps showing more of your real self includes being more light-hearted or compassionate at work.

How does your professional persona show up to those you lead? Could you and they benefit by you loosening up the mask and showing the real person behind it?

Photo credit: Author’s own.