WORDS TO LEAD BY - Communicate

Repost from February 10, 2013

Continuing with lessons from Wally Adamchik's book, titled Construction Leadership from A to Z which explores "26 Words to Lead By."

This session's word is COMMUNICATE

COMMUNICATE

Communicate - to impart knowledge of; make known; to give or interchange thoughts, feelings, information or the like by writing, speaking, etc.

"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." - George Bernard Shaw

(c) Renjith Krishnan

Leaders get people to do things. These actions may be of the leader's choosing or they may be a shared objective, but the leader is the one who gets it all started. The leader is the one who helps people understand their role and their contribution. The leader tells they story and explains the "why".

Communication is not about your monologue; it is about the message interpreted by the receiver matching the message intended by the sender. Effective communication means that what is heard is actually what was meant to be heard.

Communication is most effective when it flows evenly between people. Thus, listening is equally as important as speaking. The only way a leader can know what is going on in the ranks is to talk with people and be genuinely interested in what they tell him or her.

Generally there are two ways in which a leader can influence others to do something. The first is by setting an example or modeling the desired behavior. The second is by communicating personally and organizationally to others to help them understand the vision, the objectives and the plan. This helps people understand their role in accomplishing the objectives - why they are important and the impact they can have.

Clear, open, effective communication is the bedrock of successful leadership. And, at its core, leadership is about relationships. Effective leaders have more effective and positive relationships. And like all relationships, good, ongoing communication is essential

"We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak." - Epictetus

Communication Jumpstart:

• Learn to listen better.
• Turn the cell phone off, leave it in the car, go face to face.
• Respond, don't react. There is a difference.
• Sit, don't stand. It sends the message, "I have time for you".

Communication!

 "Nobody tells me nothing."
 "The communication around here is bad."

Who hasn't heard that? Maybe even said it? But how can that be? Who among us doesn't think they are a good communicator?

 "I told you how to do it."
 "I told you not to do it."

Is that communicating? Probably NOT.

We communicate by setting the example, by listening, by building relationships. Effective communication is not easy. It takes work. It takes commitment. It takes a desire for things to improve. Let's choose to truly communicate today and every day!

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

WORDS TO LEAD BY - Balance

Repost from January 26, 2013

Continuing with lessons from Wally Adamchik's book, titled Construction Leadership from A to Z which explores "26 Words to Lead By."

This session's word is BALANCE

BALANCE

Balance - a state of equilibrium; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc.

"To acquire balance means to achieve that happy medium between the minimum and the maximum that represents your optimum. The minimum is the least you can get by with. The maximum is the most you're capable of. The optimum is the amount or degree of anything that is most favorable toward the ends you desire." - Nido Qubein

In the short run, balance is nearly impossible. But in the long run, it is essential.

"There's so much said today about leadership. But I don't think in business you can forget the fact that you don't just have to lead, you have to manage." - Lee Scott, former CEO of Walmart

(c) Renjith Krishnan

Balance of focus says we know what to do and when to do it.

Balance with others is about operating fairly. The people you lead do not expect equal treatment. They generally understand and accept the nuances and accommodations made for people if this approach is applied to everyone you lead.

Balance applies to praise and critique also. Notice we are not talking about giving equal measures of both but about giving each as necessary.

The families contribute to the success of what you are doing.

A vivid vision in your mind of a balanced future is the best way to create a balance now.

"Life is best enjoyed when time periods are evenly divided between labor, sleep and recreation...all people should spend one-third of their time in recreation which is rebuilding, voluntary activity, never idleness." - Brigham Young

Balance Jumpstart:

• Say no appropriately.
• Keep a food log for one week; adjust your eating habits to improve your balance.
• Get the right amount of sleep.
• Maintain and refer to your time log and analyze what you should be doing versus what you are doing.

These are very demanding times. The economy is challenging. We all are being asked to do more with less. We know the upcoming work season will bring long days and many hours away from home. This is the business we have chosen because of the many rewards it offers, including personal satisfaction and professional pride. And, to fully enjoy these rewards, we must constantly strive to keep a balance in our life. A balance of self (family, work, recreation); focus (managing vs. leading); and others (treating people fairly). Let's choose to keep our life in balance today and every day!

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

WORDS TO LEAD BY - Attitude

Repost from January 13, 2013

Continuing with lessons from Wally Adamchik's book, titled Construction Leadership from A to Z which explores "26 Words to Lead By."

This session's word is ATTITUDE

ATTITUDE

Attitude - Disposition; feeling; orientation, especially of the mind

"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." - W. Clement Stone

(c) Pakorn

The winners in the world are able to silence the negative voice and listen only to the positive voice. Leaders impact people. This is external, but everything you do is based on how you think and feel internally. Ultimately it is your attitude that determines much of your success: your attitudes about yourself, your employees, a given situation,the market, and so on. And, of course, you are responsible for, and can choose, your attitude.

"...a man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts..." - James Allen

Good ideas and attitudes give birth to good results.

To begin thinking more positively, simply look for and embrace the good. Then get rid of the negative. For most people, the first step toward improving job performance is improving how they feel about themselves.

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems but it will annoy enough people to make it work the effort." - Herm Albright

Attitude Jumpstart:

• Stay hydrated. Dehydration can make you confused, angry, tense and blue.
• Make a list of things you are grateful for.
• Know that nothing will bother you. If it does, give it ten seconds then move on.
• Smile.

Things happen to us every day - some good, some bad. We don't always have a choice over our daily events; however we ALWAYS have a choice regarding our attitude - good or bad - toward these things. A good attitude allows us to learn and grow from the experience and develop an effective action plan. A bad attitude prevents us from learning, growing and improving the situation. A good attitude is just as contagious as a bad one. Let's choose a good attitude today and every day!

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

WORDS TO LEAD BY - Timely

Continuing with lessons from Wally Adamchik's book, titled Construction Leadership from A to Z which explores "26 Words to Lead By."

This session's word is TIMELY

TIMELY

Timely - occurring at a suitable time; seasonable; opportune; well-timed

"How does a project get to be a year behind schedule? One day at a time." - Fred Brooks

(c) Renjith Krishnan

The 1916 short story "Obvious Adams" shares five tests of obviousness, the fifth one being: Is the time ripe? Sometimes the time has passed and you should let the idea go. Sometimes the time just isn't right yet and you would do better to hold on to your idea.

We believe leaders must be outstanding and ruthless in their use of time.

Team time is about changing the question from "What should I be doing now?" to "What is the best use of our time?" This recognizes that top performance is a team effort requiring close synchronization of values and effort. When you are late to the meeting you called, you are in total ignorance of the concept of team time. When you don't get back to someone when you say you will, you are violating team time. This is a surefire way to tick people off and confirm a lack of leadership on your part.

...One of the marks of a professional is to be on time.

Just be on time.

"He [the manager] meant that I should not try to do everything at once but meet my deadlines as they came. If I was going to miss a deadline, I needed to see that it got handled by somebody else or to let my boss know that we might miss it. Keeping my manager's advice in mind, I only committed to what I knew I could accomplish, and I prioritized my work in a way that allowed me to succeed as an individual and also as a member of the team."

"Punctuality is the stern virtue of men of business, and the graceful courtesy of princes." - Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

Timeliness Jumpstart:

• Cut 20% from your things-to-do list.
• Use a calendar system.
• Complete a time log and analyze your day / week.
• Be on time.

What time is it?
  What time may I expect you?
    Will it be done on time?
      What time am I supposed to be there?
        .
        .
        .
      I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME!

Well, we all have all the time there is - 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, or as we commonly hear now, "24/7". That's all there is. What separates winners from losers and leaders from followers is how they use that time. Let's choose to be on time today and everyday!

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc