It's not easy to be a leader. Unless you are a leader who never makes a decision (which probably means you're not really a leader), you'll have to say yes or no to certain things. Saying "yes" may green-light a project, giving life to a dream or aspiration. Saying "no" may just as easily dim another person's dream. Either way, it takes courage to make a decision and stick with it. Leaders are often tempted to change direction when a decision appears to be failing when it fact it may just need more time. It also takes courage to admit a mistake and change course. It may require apologizing to those who were originally told no ... or putting the brakes on someone who was originally told yes. Leaders must have courage to lead well. Any decision carries with it risk and a potential upside (or downside). A leader must…
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This is not the time to sit on the sidelines but to get in the game. Listen to this quote from President Theodore Roosevelt: “It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; Who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
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(How to) Make less meaningful work more meaningful. Take all the senseless BS out of people’s jobs – unnecessary tasks, paperwork, and CYA-related nonsense. When you ask someone to do something, use what they’ve done, or quit asking them to do it. Ask people to develop their own best ways to accomplish results, hold them accountable, and reward them for hitting targets. On the premise that we all need to see the needle move once in a while, give them some opportunities for quick wins. Source: Contented Cows
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Contented Cows is a great blog about how to facilitate cooperation in the workplace. The premise is simple: contented cows produce more and better milk. While not looking to produce milk, as a leader I am interested in how to create an environment where people can be productive, feel appreciated, and accomplish great things. In that spirit, I pass along this post entitled "Stop Being Ordinary!" ****************** Have you seen the YouTube video of the Thomson Airways (a UK carrier) safety video? If not, click on it (above), take 3 and a half minutes to look at it, then keep reading. Sure, it’s cute. The kids are really good. Adorable. And the creative team that put it together is brilliant. But what makes it work is that it’s anything but ordinary. Thomson passengers actually watch the thing, and I have to believe that retention of the material is off the…
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“How do you know if a man needs encouragement? If he is breathing.” -Truett Cathy, Founder, Chick-Fil-A
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