Today has been one of those days…you know one of those days where it seems Murphy’s Law is following you around. And yet…I feel peaceful and relaxed. Why?
So here was my day-
I was flying in to Ohio to meet with some clients at 3 pm. I had connecting flights through Chicago.
My flight was delayed so the airlines routed me through another airline. That airline was delayed. I got routed again through another flight but alas it didn’t get me in until 4:30 pm. So lucky me got to sit at the airport from 7 am until my flight left at 1:18 pm. But I didn’t get upset as I was able to sit in the Delta Club and work and a wonderful Delta agent, Laura, was constantly working on my behalf to reroute me. She was positive, cheerful, persistent and dedicated. I knew she was doing everything she could to get me where I needed.
I missed my appointment.
But…my clients are great and are willing to set up a virtual session so it will be just like we were together even though we couldn’t be. They understood that things happen.
My luggage didn’t make it.
So I finally arrived but my luggage got switched up and ended up with United instead of Delta. So who knows if I will have clothes for tomorrow. But…
The Delta luggage lady was very nice. She gave me all the information. She called United to get exact details of where it was and when it would be in. She gave me a toiletry kit. I brought an extra skirt in my work bag and can pick up a shirt so…no worries.
So a bad day still didn’t rattle me. A lot of that was due to the fact that EVERYONE around me was working proactively and positively to find solutions that worked even when we faced obstacles. They apologized for things that went wrong and cheerfully worked to find options to get a solution.
So even though the entire day went up in smoke I got to see what great leadership in individuals looks like when they truly love what they do and are empowered to create solutions. Keep empowering your leaders to create solutions.
PS If you want to find out how to think and speak holistically and strategically join us for our upcoming Managing Your Strategic Message Session for Leaders.
******************************************************* “I want Anne to share with me..” Get a personalized Video Blog that answers YOUR burning questions!
While other companies make generic video blogs, we want to get to the heart of what you, a Valued Outcome Thinking® fan, really wants answered.
So each month you will have a chance to send in to us your question so we can create a video blog that gets directly to what you want to know! Simply WATCH NOW, Leave a Reply with your question and click Submit.
Outcome Thinking® Solution
Did I just make a bad hire?
by Anne Warfield
SITUATION: I hired a new supervisor and thought she would be a dynamo. She was enthusiastic, energetic and bubbling with new ideas.
I have been shocked by the way she has treated others including me. She got upset once when she didn’t get a document from a team member that she wanted for a project and so she wrote a scathing email to my boss blasting the team member who didn’t send her the document she wanted. Well the person she was requesting it from was on vacation that day so of course, she did not send it to her. I only found out about the email because my boss showed it to me. She is also very protective-she doesn’t want anyone to access her calendar, she wants her meetings private, etc. We are used to being a very open group. Oh by the way some of the team members had worked with her before as peers and now she is their leader.
How do I handle this? Did I just make a bad hire?
OTHER PERSON’S PERSPECTIVE: She wants to do a good job. She feels that if she implements her ideas she can make a mark. She may have even interpreted from the interview that you want things run differently and that you will welcome some disruption.
THINKING IT THROUGH WITH OUTCOME THINKING®: She wants to find a spot where she belongs and where she can make a positive impact. She may even be feeling a little lost as some of her old colleagues now report to her which can be awkward. You need her to fit in to the culture you have created that is high on respect, trust and accountability. You have to honor not only her, but the entire team.
Lastly you want to learn from this so you don’t have this happen again.
HOW TO BEST HANDLE/PHRASE USING OUTCOME THINKING®: “My goal is to make you as successful as possible as a leader here and that means helping you navigate the waters of our culture as well. You are a person of tremendous ideas and as you know from our interview that is something I enjoy about you. Executing on the ideas is part of the goal as leader but far more important to me than the completion of the ideas is the way you bring or exclude people from the journey.
I believe that one of the marks of a great leader is a state of curiosity-where she questions how things are done, learns from what is present and then looks at changes that can be implemented before just applying changes. It is a person who values those around her and consistently makes people feel valued while simultaneously challenging them to grow more.
What I am currently seeing is that in your excitement to get things done you are often pushing others or, in some cases, even belittling others by writing emails that attack them when they haven’t completed something the way you thought it should be. Those standards don’t align with our area’s culture of high respect and trust.
So I wanted to take some time today that we can talk about ways to implement your ideas, when and how to draw others in and when to back off of something so you engage more people. I know you are coming from a point of just wanting to accomplish things; what we need to focus on is how to do with successfully for the team around you.”
Then move forward with setting clear goals and expectations that align with the group’s values. As you talk about the values wrap in the value of transparency and how each person keeps their calendar accessible and meetings open to ensure that transparency. Find out what she needs from you in order to be comfortable doing that.
Deal of the Month!
Outcome Thinking®: Getting Results Without the Boxing Gloves
If you have ever wanted to say the right thing at the right time, then this book is for you. Anne shares why traditional communication doesn’t work and shows you how to shatter paradigms so you connect better with others.
You will learn three easy principles so when you speak people want to listen to you. Soft cover or Audio Book.
Click here to register for the “Successful Communication, Brain Style Analysis” Virtual Training, a 90 minute training session with a personalized Outcome Thinking® Communication Assessment included, that you can now watch anytime that is convenient for you.
Quoteable Quotes
“Once we have a certain amount of success we tend to stop doing what made us successful.” – Dave Hopla (He has the highest record for perfect basketball free throws in a row- 1,127 all Swishes!)
Leadership Development : Would you hire yourself tomorrow?
Would you hire yourself today? Watch Now as Anne shares how, no matter the position, we’re all leaders. She’ll share several key strengths you’ll need to exhibit.
The biggest problem most people run in to with interviewing is that they see it as “will they like what they see?” This leads you to view the interview as a judgment session rather than a “let’s get to know each other” session.
“If you really want to know your staff and teach them how to be an effective employee or leader…
…you must experience this instruction. I have a new appreciation for everyone at the office. Before attending Managing Your Message this is how I shared my message: I got into it right away, went through the details, then ended. Now with Outcome Thinking® I now know my audience, I make them feel a part of it and even opened it up for the production staff to take ownership of the show.” ”
Paul Loomis, Manager, Game Presentation, Minnesota Wild Hockey Club
Copyright 2015, IMP. Feel free to share information you learn. All we ask is that you credit us as the source as everything we are putting in here is copyright protected by our office.
Copyright note: Submission of an e-mail message or artwork affirms that you are able to and have given Anne Warfield non-exclusive permission to reprint the content of your message in all forms, electronic or otherwise, in all languages throughout the world.
Privacy Statement: We will not distribute your address to anyone. Period.
