TRIPLE III TIME: Avoiding Leadership Inconsistencies
If someone asked you if you were always consistent in your leadership decisions… style… policies… what would your answer be? Or if someone accused you of always being somewhat inconsistent as a leader… what specifics would you find yourself thinking about?
Well in order to better apply our focus to this week’s TRIPLE III TIME topic: Avoiding Leadership Inconsistences, let’s begin with the official definition of Inconsistent.
INCONSISTENT: “Not staying the same throughout…acting at variance with one’s own principles or former conduct.”
In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, the challenge of not (at least occasionally) being somewhat inconsistent in one’s leadership responsibilities is understandable. First, think about how decisions and strategic discussions are shared and viewed not only instantly online, but potentially with a much wider audience than ever before. The resulting internet-driven opinions and observations offered naturally as “unofficial” responses often create more personal leadership action questioning and “second-guessing” than in the past!
Next think about the inconsistencies that may be generated from the always expandings social media level of information-sharing that occurs on a daily basis. I can think of several times I received extra/valuable information shortly after making a critical decision that would have altered my action!
Finally consider the impact of in-person versus online/virtual meetings. Was the leadership topic discussion as high quality as it could have been when conducted online? Was there a solid feeling of information-exchange confidence…or were the decisions/style/policy questions all just adequate? I know everyone knows what I am referring to.
Avoiding Leadership Inconsistences is a priority preventative maintenance activity for all leaders. The need to selectively, directly, and time-appropriately address decision areas has become more critical in our modern-day business/management worlds-of-work. Your time is YOUR TIME…. use it wisely and use whatever time you need to be leadership consistent everyday… EVERYDAY!
TRIPLE III TIME: Strengths & WeaknessesTRIPLE III TIME:
Every semester at the end of each American Government & Politics class the students and I conduct an “informal assessment” of the course. I ask questions like:
- Were the tests fair?
- Should we have used the book more?
- Were the weekly assignments too much?
-
Were the guest presenters good/have valuable ideas/concepts?
The results are always insightful, discussion-worthy and helpful as I plan for future class sessions.
This year I added one more discussion question to the list. As a student…what is your greatest strength… and then your biggest weakness? Here are a few examples of their answers.
There were several others but many could be combined with any one of these. Then “out-of-the-blue” one student asked: “What is your major strength and weakness?”
Well to say that I was caught off guard is probably an understatement…but I knew they wanted an answer!
![Image[11149]](https://inspiringinnovationsinc.blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/image11149.jpeg)
The weakness I stated was that: “I am the most impatient person you will meet because I expect it done yesterday”. And on the strength side I said: “I practice innovation and believe there is always a better way of doing a job…any job… everyday…EVERYDAY!”
I believe I gave them the answer they were looking for but then I asked: “Why is the strength/weakness question important?” Silence…no comments.
I concluded the class by telling them that they should plan for a question about personal strengths and weaknesses every time they interview for a job. That today more than ever before companies/organizations are looking for people that can add-value to their service or product. And how you answer this question could make a real difference in your future.
I think they will do fine! But what about YOU…could you answer the strength/weakness question with confidence?
LEARNING MOMENTS Podcast: Fine Tuning Your Listening Channels
It is the final podcast for 2022! And although we have discussed fun, important, thought-generating topics every month… this month is totally special!
Why?
This is the first time I have had a guest/guests on the podcast with me. One of my American Government & Politics classes were very persistent with their request to be part of a podcast discussion… and this month, they “got-their-way.” Although brief, I know their input on our Fine Tuning Your Listening Channels topic was right on track.
I hope you enjoy the listen and we will talk next in 2023.
TRIPLE III TIME: Where Do YOU Fall On The Request For Advice/Input/Help “Scale”?
This week we are going to discuss an issue that impacts EVERYONE…as leaders, parents, co-workers, friends…EVERYONE! I can’t say that we are asking about a personality trait or something that was learned as you grew up. But this TRIPLE III TIME message is all about: Where Do YOU Fall On The Request For Advice/Input/Help “Scale”?
Ok, let me explain the question a little better.
When someone at home or in your workplace brings up an issue that they are having trouble dealing with…are you:
- The “Advice God” with the absolute right answer every time?
- The “Critical Evaluator” that criticizes all that someone has tried to do?
- The “Forever Analyst” that just believes taking more assessment time is best?
- The “There Are Many Other Issues Confuser” that makes the issue more complex than need be?
OR
- The “Quiet Listener” that hears the whole story but says nothing?
- The “Did You Try This Suggester” that has unlimited ideas one can consider?
- The “My Experience Tells Me Teacher” that only considers a historic action?
- The “I Will Help Volunteer” that uses partnerships for progress?
My guess is that we have all experienced people in our daily lives that fits into one or more of these categories…but again where are YOU on the Advice/Input/Help Scale?
Well I will admit that there have been times and issues when I have fit into any one of the eight Scale examples. Why? Because it is the ISSUE that most often draws out the Scale option in you. However, the goal of this TRIPLE III TIME message is to help everyone examine their Advice/Input/Help Scale style and be better choosers of Scale options as issues come up. Is it easy…NO…but will it help build quality partnerships and better product/service outcomes…YES!
TRIPLE III TIME: Assumed Professional Development
It is time to take a TRIPLE III TIME professional development survey for yourself and those that work with you.
QUESTION #1: How many professional development events do you and/or your workers participate in each year?
QUESTION #2: Do you assume personal and co-worker progress happens based on regular work experience, tradition, interorganizational interactions… other?
QUESTION #3: Do you/your organization make a conscious effort to fiscally invest in employee professional development…regularly or just because “it’s that time again”?
With much of my recent consulting work centered on helping everyone PRIORITIZE…I overlooked that Assumed Professional Development is an unfortunate organizational weakness.
What am I trying to say?
Today I believe everyone in every job and career planning area suffers due to Assumed Professional Development. Workers just like facilities need to be attended to… upgraded… modernized and shown appreciation for what they mean to an organization. Even high school and college students need to experience and feel a different form of professional development. The world of education has changed dramatically in the past few years…and wouldn’t it be cool to host a unique “Student-isms For Today & Tomorrow” workshop…maybe twice a year! A special session that would offer students self-improvement recommendations, ideas and insight on how to be a better student in the “school-place” everyday…EVERYDAY! Has anyone considered this challenge…yet?
Bottomline: Believing Assumed Professional Development happens “naturally”, is only a hope. Planned Professional Development is a strategic, strong form of preventative maintenance and structured growth in the workplace and perhaps for our students too. Think about it and let me know your reactions.
TRIPLE III TIME | Public Administration: Endless Lifelong Learning
This quarters American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) article: Public Administration: Endless Lifelong Learning, represents a reflection of a major professional element of my career in the public service arena. Working in a public administration role uniquely requires a continuous improvement focus in multiple lifelong learning categories. They are all “naturally” built into public service jobs, but rarely are professionally identified as Endless Lifelong Learning responsibilities… but they are.
Be thoughtful as you read the article. Each paragraph offers an additional career reflection. And for those employed in public service, I hope the article adds value to everything that you do.
TRIPLE III TIME: Teams/Teaming By Assignment or By Wish?
Over the last nine (9) years (yes nine years of TRIPLE III TIME messages) we have talked about Teams/Teaming and why they are important in our everyday worlds of work. But to be honest I really didn’t understand nor take stock of the critical “building-block” advice that was often contained in each message. Whether the value was with other staff members or partners in a product/service area, Teams/Teaming never lowers in professional value!
This week however we will look at Teams/Teaming from a special angle. As people have discussed the structure of their Boards with me as part of consulting, we talk about the difference between being “ASSIGNED” to a Board versus someone who “WISHES” to join a Board.
Think about it. Consider the commercials that show someone being picked for a team because they are cool and the best. Or back in grade school when people were picked ahead of you because they were better at a certain sport/activity. Are you thinking? Would people pick you or your organization/business FIRST to be on their TEAM??
Before you answer that question, I think you need to first consider another set of TOP 10 questions:
- Do you try to retain an “always progressive” professional stance?
- Do you embrace a teaming priority to ensure everyone wins together with any project?
- Does your group feel pride and proud of what they do…what they produce?
- Does your organization retain a questionable “pick me-pick me” over-whelming communication style?
- Does your agency portray an attitude of always being ready for the next challenge?
- Do people feel safe coming to you for input?
- Do leaders think of you/your group when they consider setting an innovative precedent?
- Would people/organizations brag that they are Teams/Teaming with you/your organization?
- Would someone want to join your Board based on your history?
- Would someone want to experience “repeat-business” with you or your group?
Teams/Teaming By Assignment or By Wish is an interesting self-analysis activity. Give it a try.
LEARNING MOMENTS: “Questioning Your Decision-Making”
This months Inspiring Innovations LEARNING MOMENTS Podcast title speaks for itself and needs no additional explanation. The habit of “Questioning Your Decision-Making” isn’t new, but I believe in recent times it has become a more dehabilitating habit for those in a leadership role.
I am assuming everyone will be able to relate to the discussion points raised in this critical podcast. And I also hope that everyone will think strongly about my recommendation for improvement in the “Questioning Your Decision-Making” area.
Enjoy the listen and we will take on another topic next month.
TRIPLE III TIME: The Missing Piece
Did anyone ever take a class in high school or college that was all about just WORKING WITH PEOPLE? Maybe something entitled: Introduction To The Challenge of Understanding Working People? Or People Interaction Principles 101…201…301 and on and on! Now don’t think I am talking about a one or two day workshop or an online/virtual series of discussions on and about people problem issues. No, I am talking totally about the absence of specific coursework with an instructional focus dedicated to the multiple aspects of successfully just dealing/working with people?!
Now that I have your attention…think about the potential diversity of topic areas! Different age group issues, poor/middle-income/well-to-do individual impacts, the influence of education, family dynamics and so many more. But remember this isn’t about social work or mental health counseling, it is about surviving and hopefully even thriving as a business/organization co-worker, supervisor and leader…WORKING WITH PEOPLE.
This weeks TRIPLE III TIME message: The Missing Piece is more of an awareness lesson instead of a list of “leader-like” recommendations. Becoming skillful in WORKING WITH PEOPLE is NOT an easy task. However my work experiences have taught me a few things.
- Try to learn all of the work/non-work talents and skills of workers. It displays “caring” in a working together way and may help the organization.
- Adopt the belief that we live in a “show-me world. And with this in mind show people that you are prepared to help with any job… any time.
- Communicate and share business/organization information to the maximum. Secrets build “grape-vines”…and you know the rest.
- Blend different teams of people to work on projects whenever possible. Success and progress is everyone’s job would be the lesson learned.
Customize your efforts to find The Missing Piece in your workplace. The impacts could be GREAT!
TRIPLE III TIME: Marketing Advice…Who ME?
As a consultant you often get asked for advice or ideas on issues or projects that are not really in your area of expertise… yes marketing! But if you think about it…if the name of your company is: **INSPIRING INNOVATIONS, Inc.** it does make sense that potential customers may ask you about new, cool “innovative”, “inspiring” marketing ideas!
Well, don’t ever think that I would not take on a new challenge. And just to at least deliver this special message in my “comfort zone” style; here is a TOP 10 list of marketing thoughts to consider:
- Stay simple! Big words and long sentences don’t capture attention.
- Focus on one (1) service or product. Promoting a group of things at the same time often creates confusion.
- If possible cool colors adds “attention-drawing” value.
- Target market. Go to where your potential customers hang out…online or in-person.
- Experiment using different marketing options. Don’t assume what will or won’t work.
- Test market your initiative with those you trust. Make sure you ask and get honesty.
- Don’t be lured into being a marketing “copy-cat”. Originality matters.
- If your contact info is included…offer more than one option if possible.
- Product/Service exclusivity is an important marketing message.
- Finally however possible be consistent and regular. Sometimes marketing initiatives need to “age” to be noticed and effective.
You now have my first TRIPLE III TIME Marketing Advice message. I hope one or more ideas help.
Inspiring Innovations, Inc. 