Author Archives: Inspiring Innovations, Inc.
TRIPLE III TIME: Avoid “ASSUMING” Potholes
How many times at work or at home do you “assume” that you are getting accurate information on an issue or believe that a person acts a certain way because that’s the way you have heard he or she has always been? Do you always assume the worst in most cases? Do you believe a story about someone because it fits your assuming belief patterns? Or are you afraid to question or check the reality of a story or information…because maybe you will find that you are wrong in your assumptions?
Unfortunately, I believe that too often everyone, everyday experiences a number of unprofessional or personally hurtful incidences which cause them to fall into assuming potholes! And although the pothole may not be maliciously intended or just the result of unplanned negative words…the result is an assuming pothole for someone just the same.
So this week my TRIPLE III TIME message is to AVOID ASSUMING POTHOLES. By this I mean to not only try to become a “non-assumer”…but to also avoid being the initiator of assuming potholes! I understand that in life and in the world-of-work, assumptions sometimes have to be made. But before you take action with regard to an assumption, keep these points in mind:
- Opportunities are often lost due to poor assumptions
- People recognize and appreciate non-assumers
- Don’t assume but instead give people the “benefit of a doubt”
- Understand that you learn more when you approach a person or situation assumption free
- Trust suffers with poor assuming… both with others and trusting yourself
- Appreciate the questions that come from genuine non-assumers
- Remember that smart people are smarter because they don’t assume
There are a lot of thoughts involved in this AVOID ASSUMING POTHOLES message. Be sure to give it appropriate and adequate attention.
TRIPLE III TIME: “Subtle Leadership”
This year my Dad would have been 91. And I will openly admit that there are many times each week that I think about what he might say or believe about “the state of everything”. I contend that his comments would be brief and to the point…but in the most unique way…each statement would qualify as: “Subtle Leadership”.
So in my fun TRIPLE III TIME way…here are my DAD’s TOP 10 “Subtle Leadership” 2021 reflections:
- Mask or no mask…there’s work to do so get out there and do it.
- Only take stuff with you that you know you will need…the rest will get too heavy to carry.
- Make a note about what you need to get done…otherwise you will forget.
- If you say you already know everything…why am I telling you something you need to know.
- People get scared sometimes…and that’s ok.
- Do you listen or sing a few of the songs we used to play…and then smile.
- If people tell you they have not tried farming a certain way before…try it and be the first.
- Make time for feeding young and older calves and cows…you need them all.
- It’s OK to go out and work a field later at night…it gives you special time to think.
- Remembering only negative stuff can take up a lot of space in your brain.
Yes I can almost hear him say each of these TOP 10 “Subtle Leadership” points. Read them a couple times and think about how they may help you too.
TRIPLE III TIME: Learning About “Emotional Intelligence”
Psychologist and author Deborah Rozman at one time made this important point: “If you don’t manage your emotions, your emotions will manage you.” And I have to be honest I really don’t remember where or when I read Ms. Rozman’s statement, but it wasn’t until recently as I strategized with a colleague consultant did the term Emotional Intelligence become a priority professional development issue for me.
Emotional Intelligence is defined as: “the ability to understand, manage and express one’s emotions in healthy ways.” Think about that definition and then apply it to yourself. When you feel good about yourself and where you are going in life, your emotions help with appropriate energy and enthusiasm. On the flip side when we are down-in-the-dumps and seem to be going nowhere, fear, anger, frustration, sadness and worry take a tremendous toll on our health both physical and mentally. I believe Learning About Emotional Intelligence is something everyone should undertake. What do I mean? I mean allow personal and professional time to better understand your emotions and the emotions of those you live and work with. Consider ways to…I will use the term harness…your emotions to possibly reduce stress, anger and move more quickly to positiveness. No one enjoys being caught in life’s ups and downs roller coaster ride. I believe these are the most critical times when understanding the impacts of Emotional Intelligence can lead to a quicker, positive life or work situation.
The goal of this TRIPLE III TIME message: Learning about “Emotional Intelligence” is just to create a greater awareness and understanding of this topic as a professional development tool. Thanks to JK for sharing it’s basics with me and I encourage all III readers to do a little research and reading about it.
TRIPLE III TIME: APPRECIATION Will “Generate”
Did you ever think about APPRECIATION as an “action word”? Yes, telling someone you appreciate them for what they have done is an action. But let’s consider how strategic, genuine messages of APPRECIATION Will “Generate” further positive activities, initiate innovation opportunities, build on sharing concepts/ideas, and encourage an excitement for “what next”!
Too often people just accept traditional impact responses after offering words of APPRECIATION to someone:
- “I didn’t think anyone really cared”.
- “It’s just part of what I am supposed to do”.
- “Thanks but it’s really no big deal”.
But what would happen if people who were conveying APPRECIATION customized their words:
- “What you did with your report will give us more time to upgrade our technology for everyone!”
- “The way you altered our accounts payable process will save us a ton of admin money!”
- “Your partnerships with all of those organizations will put us in a better service spot and not be taken advantage of or for granted in the future!”
This TRIPLE III TIME message is designed to motivate you to become more individualized/personalized in your words of appreciation. I believe authentic and “futurized” messages of APPRECIATION Will “Generate” unplanned and often unrecognized personnel motivational opportunities. Give this concept a fun try.
LEARNING MOMENTS Podcast: “What Do You Mean: CULTURE?”
More and more in all sectors of employment, “specialists” are talking about the importance of a solid workplace culture? What is it? How do you develop it? And what/who is responsible for maintaining it? This months Inspiring Innovations LEARNING MOMENTS Podcast, “What Do You Mean: CULTURE?”, attempts to answer some of these questions. And yes, five minutes does not seem like enough time to respond to even one. But listen closely and let me know what you think?
TRIPLE III TIME: Reverse Accommodation?
This TRIPLE III TIME message is difficult to write…possibly difficult to understand…and maybe even difficult to agree with…but my “community of commerce” sense prompts me to finish my thoughts.
Hopefully we have gone past the prime of COVID negatives. And during the last year or so we have asked a lot from the business and service industries regarding accommodations…right? Having employees work remotely. Spacing tables at six feet apart. Putting up shields to stop infectious particles. Purchasing tons of cleaning materials and masks. Reducing the number allowed in certain franchises at any given time. There are probably many more specific ones…but these seem to be the main required accommodations. The result was lost work, revenue, customers and in some cases company closings. Extremely tough times.
But today this TRIPLE III TIME message wants you to consider…are workers/employees prepared to help and make Reverse Accommodations? What do I mean? I am thinking about staffs coming in to work a little early and staying a little later…just to help. Possibly helping in another area of work besides their own to help the company. And not fighting the importance of returning to work…IN PERSON…because my experiences says it matters.
During these recovery times it is vital to help local businesses rebuild, rejuvenate and become more competitive in their area. Their ability to stay open, be prosperous means more jobs for you and those coming after you.
People talk a lot about “getting back to normal”. Well that means not taking advantage of COVID era world of work “accommodations” and assuming personal responsibility relating to your job, your opportunity to work and how things would change if those opportunities disappeared.
TRIPLE III TIME: Leadership & Understandability
Many times those in leadership positions make statements or write notes and assume everyone hearing or reading them “gets” exactly what is being requested or explained. Assuming people can “read a leader’s mind” is often an operational weakness that if not addressed can have a huge spread of inaccurate information and directives throughout a business or organization. This challenge of achieving solid UNDERSTANDABILITY is even more pronounced if a leader has that “innovation-spirit” blended into their mode of operation. So how do we achieve a communication balance with regard to Leadership & Understandability?
I believe the majority of the responsibility in addressing this issue falls with leadership. First they must establish a culture of innovation understandability within the overall group. This means ENHANCED COMMUNICATION…openness for asking questions and freedoms for anyone to question the viability of proposed actions. Next in an effort to combat the inability for people to read the leader’s mind phenomenon, additional detailed WRITTEN-DOWN IDEAS must be a standard leadership practice.
Finally effective leaders must retain a high level of PERSONAL ACCESSIBILITY. This means that those in charge need to employ a schedule which allows co-workers and colleagues adequate time to share and converse. There is no way to totally measure the value of ensuring regular accessibility as a leader. However, operating in an always distant manner will undoubtedly create production and quality voids.
Leadership & Understandability are inevitably linked as important personnel management skill sets. Emphasize understandability. This action will enhance your leadership experience on all levels.
TRIPLE III TIME: Innovation Tracking
Innovation Tracking has unofficially been one of my career life hobbies. It started years ago when I thought the world should have/create a National Center for Public Sector Innovation (NCPSI). I appreciated the great group of co-workers and work colleagues that joined my hobby from a distance. Interestingly NCPSI development activities went much further than anyone but me expected! However it was one of those concepts that was a little ahead of its time…so it faded.
But today think about how people make it a practice…even a service to follow/track trends. There are society, fiscal, political, medical trends…and the list goes on. Often they reveal interesting economic growth patterns or changes in how people act, vote, etc. So how about we apply this style of activity and begin a special “creativity movement” and have “followers” participate in Innovation Tracking!
We would begin by simply applying Innovation Tracking to individuals. Could they report that they have tried an innovative new practice in their world of work…weekly? How about observing innovative change…large or small in the product/service they offer? Next, how about if people tracked innovation in their community? A new walking path…a new voting process…a new/alternative downtown…or just an alternative cooperative music/performance get together.
Because of what I do and who I am personally…I do Innovation Tracking all the time. I review innovation organizations online, belong to innovation “groups”, and try to initiate some form of innovative practice with those I work with and even in my personal life…everyday…yes EVERYDAY!
Try it. Don’t make Innovation Tracking harder than it is. Do it in an effort to see more positivity and commit to a belief that there is ALWAYS A BETTER WAY!
TRIPLE III TIME: Public Sector Continuous Improvement… Now or Later?
This weeks TRIPLE III TIME message is my quarterly American Society for Public Administration PA Times article entitled: Public Sector Continuous Improvement… Now or Later? As you can guess, in the article I try to encourage a greater focus on employing a standard of continuous improvement processes to develop quality and efficiency in the public/private non-profit service sectors.
Hopefully everyone reading this article will agree that NOW is the best time to move into a “zone” of public sector product/service continuous improvement. What a great common theme to rally around!
LEARNING MOMENTS: Educationing Your Organization
Sometimes in your career-building journey you try-out different actions and attempt to determine the best ways(s) forward. You never know for sure if certain activities are the best… if the timing is right… and/or if your initiative for development even makes good progress sense?
This very special Educationing Your Organization Inspiring Innovations LEARNING MOMENTS podcast is about my time as an agency leader and my non-traditional design for developing the organization. It was a unique, fun time. I know you will enjoy this podcast discussion.
Inspiring Innovations, Inc. 