I am a big fan of self assessments and profiles as I think they offer a mirror of understanding about ourselves that is sometimes hard to see on our own. I taught a class on leadership styles and it was one of my favorites because there are so many different ways to assess traits or characteristics. It was rewarding to watch the proverbial light bulb come on in students' heads as they finally had language to describe something that was so engrained in how they behave.
I recently came across a new instrument, linked to the Born for This materials from Chris Guillebeau. A seemingly simple (and free!) 14 question quiz yielded a rather deep and insightful profile of the kind of work I was "born to do" and described with amazing accuracy my preferred: work style, organizational structure, workplace atmosphere and pace, and means of motivation. It also gave tips and recommendations in a report that was sent to my inbox. (Surprisingly, the same descriptions are not included in the book, although a lot of other interesting information is.)
I would encourage you to take a few minutes and take the quiz to equip yourself with a little greater understanding and some succinct language to describe your ideal work. Then take a look around and see if it explains why some aspects of your work are rewarding while others are not, and resolve to change what warrants it. (This is where the book is most helpful.)
We all spend a large portion of our life at work. Isn't it worth a few moments to "find the work that you were meant to do?"
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
See: https://bornforthisbook.com/quiz
Born for This by Chris Guillebeau, 2016
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
#1496 platform
I heard a speech from Aaron Thomas who was thrust into the spotlight when his father, a longtime high school coach, was murdered by one of his players. The junior Thomas was quite eloquent in delivering his message about controlling your attitude, even when you can't control what happens to you, and trying to do right no matter what the circumstances.
He also spoke about the intersection between platform and opportunity. Thomas said that you need to be prepared with your message -- to know what you value and what you wish to convey to others -- so that if you are given the opportunity, you have a platform ready to share. His opportunity came with national attention at the time of his father's death, but he said that he had learned lessons throughout his life that allowed him to speak of forgiveness and compassion at a time of unimaginable grief.
I think of all the life lessons each of us has accumulated, and wonder whether we have given them any intentional thought. If you were called to speak into a microphone today, do you have your platform developed of what matters to you and what you want to convey? In other words, if opportunity knocks, are you ready to answer?
The opportunity could come in terms of delivering reflections at a time of loss, or it could be that you are given a chance to lead a new venture. If asked what you stand for, could you say?
None of us knows when we will need to articulate our platform or under what circumstances this could be. Take a moment to reflect on what we would like our message to be, then live those values, with or without the formal microphone.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
He also spoke about the intersection between platform and opportunity. Thomas said that you need to be prepared with your message -- to know what you value and what you wish to convey to others -- so that if you are given the opportunity, you have a platform ready to share. His opportunity came with national attention at the time of his father's death, but he said that he had learned lessons throughout his life that allowed him to speak of forgiveness and compassion at a time of unimaginable grief.
I think of all the life lessons each of us has accumulated, and wonder whether we have given them any intentional thought. If you were called to speak into a microphone today, do you have your platform developed of what matters to you and what you want to convey? In other words, if opportunity knocks, are you ready to answer?
The opportunity could come in terms of delivering reflections at a time of loss, or it could be that you are given a chance to lead a new venture. If asked what you stand for, could you say?
None of us knows when we will need to articulate our platform or under what circumstances this could be. Take a moment to reflect on what we would like our message to be, then live those values, with or without the formal microphone.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
#1495 response
There are vast amount of data collected in organizations and companies these days. As a data nerd myself, I have spent a fair amount of time pouring over spreadsheets and analytics.
As I wrote about way back in dot #111: None of the numbers mean anything unless they are put into context by contrasting them with something else. Knowing that headcount is X means little unless you understand how that compares to budget projections and how that number contrasts with last year. Having the enrollment-by-major is just data; it doesn't become information until there is something to put it into context with another comparable statistic. Too many times reports are presented that only have one number without a reference point, and it does little to advance understanding.
The real key is how you react to the data you review. When you see a variance, do you prudently wait to see if things change, intentionally formulate a response or verbally panic and demand immediate action? It is an art to know which reaction is called for, and what the difference is between numbers. For some data points, a small movement is a big deal. For others, there is great fluctuation. A true leader knows what that difference is.
Learn as much as you can about the trends and patterns of your data to help you know what to do. There is a time to be prudent, proactive or to panic, but a mismatched response is more likely to do damage than move the data in the direction you desire.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
As I wrote about way back in dot #111: None of the numbers mean anything unless they are put into context by contrasting them with something else. Knowing that headcount is X means little unless you understand how that compares to budget projections and how that number contrasts with last year. Having the enrollment-by-major is just data; it doesn't become information until there is something to put it into context with another comparable statistic. Too many times reports are presented that only have one number without a reference point, and it does little to advance understanding.
The real key is how you react to the data you review. When you see a variance, do you prudently wait to see if things change, intentionally formulate a response or verbally panic and demand immediate action? It is an art to know which reaction is called for, and what the difference is between numbers. For some data points, a small movement is a big deal. For others, there is great fluctuation. A true leader knows what that difference is.
Learn as much as you can about the trends and patterns of your data to help you know what to do. There is a time to be prudent, proactive or to panic, but a mismatched response is more likely to do damage than move the data in the direction you desire.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
Monday, July 4, 2016
#1494 Dear Ann,
In addition to the Fourth of July celebration, today also marks the birthdate of Ann Landers, the spunky advice columnist who doled out words of wisdom to readers for nearly 50 years. At the time of her death in 2002, her column was read by 30 million people in over 1200 newspapers.
I wonder what advice Ann would give about the state of America today. Since she is not around to dispense it, I'll take her place:
Dear Ann,
The country seems to have gone crazy. There is violence, intolerance, an impasse in Congress, divisive political elections and all kinds of bad things happening. What are we to do?
Signed,
A Concerned Patriot
Dear Concerned,
Alas, you are seeing the glass half empty. Especially on this Independence Day, take a moment to look around and see all that is beautiful about America. We are able to speak our political views without ramification, even if they are not embraced by others. We have the ability to vote, and can pick our leaders. There are vast opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, health care and culture. We have amber waves of grain, purple mountain majesties, spacious skies and shining seas. America has much that is great (already!) and if people think otherwise, there are literally thousands of ways to volunteer and contribute to a change. Ah, yes, Concerned Patriot, focus on being a patriot instead of being concerned. Fly your flag high today, feel the fireworks in your heart and do your part to be an active citizen in the greatest country on Earth.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
Source of Ann Landers' facts: Chase's Annual Events
I wonder what advice Ann would give about the state of America today. Since she is not around to dispense it, I'll take her place:
Dear Ann,
The country seems to have gone crazy. There is violence, intolerance, an impasse in Congress, divisive political elections and all kinds of bad things happening. What are we to do?
Signed,
A Concerned Patriot
Dear Concerned,
Alas, you are seeing the glass half empty. Especially on this Independence Day, take a moment to look around and see all that is beautiful about America. We are able to speak our political views without ramification, even if they are not embraced by others. We have the ability to vote, and can pick our leaders. There are vast opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, health care and culture. We have amber waves of grain, purple mountain majesties, spacious skies and shining seas. America has much that is great (already!) and if people think otherwise, there are literally thousands of ways to volunteer and contribute to a change. Ah, yes, Concerned Patriot, focus on being a patriot instead of being concerned. Fly your flag high today, feel the fireworks in your heart and do your part to be an active citizen in the greatest country on Earth.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
Source of Ann Landers' facts: Chase's Annual Events
Sunday, July 3, 2016
#1493 take
I recently was thinking about the word "take." It often has such negative connotations -- that you are taking vs. giving or taking something that you shouldn't be.
So I thought I would brainstorm all the things that you can take without it being bad. Here is my list.
You can take...
> pictures
> charge
> your time
> away (an idea, etc.)
> notice
> a stand
> a position
> leave
> a double take
> offense
> pity
> issue
> a break
> heart
> credit
> control
> over
> two
> a drink, a sip
> a step
Not a comprehensive list, of course, but I set out to come up with at least a dozen ideas and did.
What can you TAKE away from this dot? I hope it is another example of how focus helps with creativity and that routinely TAKING a break from your routine helps you to TAKE notice of new patterns and ways of thinking. TAKE time today to pay attention to all the things you can legally TAKE to heart.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
So I thought I would brainstorm all the things that you can take without it being bad. Here is my list.
You can take...
> pictures
> charge
> your time
> away (an idea, etc.)
> notice
> a stand
> a position
> leave
> a double take
> offense
> pity
> issue
> a break
> heart
> credit
> control
> over
> two
> a drink, a sip
> a step
Not a comprehensive list, of course, but I set out to come up with at least a dozen ideas and did.
What can you TAKE away from this dot? I hope it is another example of how focus helps with creativity and that routinely TAKING a break from your routine helps you to TAKE notice of new patterns and ways of thinking. TAKE time today to pay attention to all the things you can legally TAKE to heart.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
Saturday, July 2, 2016
#1492 intersected
I recently had an experience that reinforced to me what a small world it really is. I was cleaning out my stack of papers that I saved from college and came across one of my financial aid awards. I noticed the signature on that award was from someone who ended up working for me as my financial aid director -- 10 years later, and half a country away! Who knew?!
Even though we worked together for a decade, I never realized she originally worked at the school where I attended college, and she never made the connection that she would have been the one doing my aid award. But I saw her signature on literally thousands of aid letters when she worked for me, and so it jumped out at me right away when I was purging.
It brought back a saying I frequently quote: "You have to behave all the time" because you never know who you are with or how they will turn up in your life again. The person that works for you may become your boss. The jerk in the store could end up as your neighbor. A person in church may have a job to offer you. A fellow parent at Little League could one day be your child's in-law.
It really is a small world and we are all connected in it, even if we don't realize the ways in which our world overlaps. Treat others and carry yourself as if those intersections were visible, and you will be glad when they are.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
Even though we worked together for a decade, I never realized she originally worked at the school where I attended college, and she never made the connection that she would have been the one doing my aid award. But I saw her signature on literally thousands of aid letters when she worked for me, and so it jumped out at me right away when I was purging.
It brought back a saying I frequently quote: "You have to behave all the time" because you never know who you are with or how they will turn up in your life again. The person that works for you may become your boss. The jerk in the store could end up as your neighbor. A person in church may have a job to offer you. A fellow parent at Little League could one day be your child's in-law.
It really is a small world and we are all connected in it, even if we don't realize the ways in which our world overlaps. Treat others and carry yourself as if those intersections were visible, and you will be glad when they are.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
Friday, July 1, 2016
#1491 STAR supervision: R
This week I am sharing tips on becoming a STAR supervisor -- for more on that, see Monday's dot, Tuesday's dot on S = STARTING, Wednesday's dot on T = TIME, and Thursday's dot on A = ALIGNMENT. Today's dot concludes the series with R = RESOURCES and how deploying the right resources helps build capacity on your team.
Not all resources cost money. Providing resources can involve providing skills, time, space or staff support, and your job as a STAR supervisor is to know what matters to your staff.
Oftentimes, one of the key resources your staff needs is information. By keeping them abreast of new developments and connecting the dots for them by sharing the big picture, your staff feels a sense of belonging and is empowered to do things that make the most sense in the current context.
Another desirable resource involves providing your staff access to other staff, to professional development or to a senior leader with influence. Opening the doors to a partnership may provide the resources that are needed without fiscal outlay from your department. Allowing your administrative assistant to support a project may make all the difference.
Teaching staff new responsibilities also contributes to resource expansion, as they become more competent and connected to the organization. You can easily achieve this by involving junior staff in proposal writing or giving them ownership of a piece of the budget for their project.
As a supervisor, you also control resources that can be used to effectively show recognition to your staff. You can provide the resource of time and allow for an early departure from work after a long week, offer an extended lunch period for team bonding. You may control the option to have a casual day or impromptu potluck to celebrate. Saying "yes" is a powerful resource to use with intentionality.
There are many ways to be a STAR supervisor, and no one has perfected the skill. Begin by acknowledging the importance of supervision, and then apply the STAR principles discussed this week: be the supervisor from the Start, invest the Time, seek clarity in Alignment and deploy the Resources your staff needs. I'll bet that then your supervision talents will shine!
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
Not all resources cost money. Providing resources can involve providing skills, time, space or staff support, and your job as a STAR supervisor is to know what matters to your staff.
Oftentimes, one of the key resources your staff needs is information. By keeping them abreast of new developments and connecting the dots for them by sharing the big picture, your staff feels a sense of belonging and is empowered to do things that make the most sense in the current context.
Another desirable resource involves providing your staff access to other staff, to professional development or to a senior leader with influence. Opening the doors to a partnership may provide the resources that are needed without fiscal outlay from your department. Allowing your administrative assistant to support a project may make all the difference.
Teaching staff new responsibilities also contributes to resource expansion, as they become more competent and connected to the organization. You can easily achieve this by involving junior staff in proposal writing or giving them ownership of a piece of the budget for their project.
As a supervisor, you also control resources that can be used to effectively show recognition to your staff. You can provide the resource of time and allow for an early departure from work after a long week, offer an extended lunch period for team bonding. You may control the option to have a casual day or impromptu potluck to celebrate. Saying "yes" is a powerful resource to use with intentionality.
There are many ways to be a STAR supervisor, and no one has perfected the skill. Begin by acknowledging the importance of supervision, and then apply the STAR principles discussed this week: be the supervisor from the Start, invest the Time, seek clarity in Alignment and deploy the Resources your staff needs. I'll bet that then your supervision talents will shine!
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)