TRIPLE III TIME: Keeping The “Right Stuff”
Changing jobs is challenging. A new work family, workplace rules and expectations…I know you understand. However, this TRIPLE III TIME message is going focus on about professionally: Keeping The “Right Stuff” as you transition. I’m talking about those documents, books, emails, whatever…that may assist you in being successful in your new position and forever prepared to excel everyday…EVERYDAY.
The easy and most convenient decision is to just take all your past work-related items forward with you. This could allow you to reach back into history and pull out an old idea/program and introduce it as unique in your new workplace. This action may be easy and convenient for you…but is it effective and efficient for your new workplace? Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you take action:
- Are your future work-based problems, persons or situations exactly the same as when your original challenges and resulting solutions were proposed…. EXACTLY?
- Could the boxes and documents from past ideas and projects become more of a “crutch” …in your search for new solutions?
- Are resources that are available today (i.e. technology) …and the work/community culture the same as were used to find your old solutions?
- Will your new co-workers and associates be irritated that you are using “old news solutions” to remedy their perceived new problem?
- Would the time taken to dig through old documents, books and/or emails be better used in researching fresh material?
- Is the information you are holding on to…TIMELESS…and be useful even 20 years from now?
- Would a common practice of referring to easy/convenient materials be considered leading by convenience?
- Would it be logical to assume that your past good ideas are what got you your new position…but are not the ones that will keep you there?
- Do co-workers and customers like to hear a discussion of “where you have been” …or about “where you/we are going”?
- If someone asked you about the boxes, books and computer files you are saving…would you say: “It’s just old stuff?” …or “I am Keeping The Right Stuff”?
There is no easy, perfect answer. But it is important to think about the questions!
Learning Moments Podcast: “IDEA Generation”
Too often there are few structured initiatives totally dedicated to the purpose of IDEA Generation. Hopefully this first podcast of 2018 will provide a unique “Starting Line”!
TRIPLE III TIME: What’s “IT” For You?
Sometimes during the classes I teach, the sessions I conduct or the individual discussions I have with workers in any field…they ask: How do I get “restarted” each day? What gets you energized?…Who do you talk to?…Do you have a special routine you follow? You all understand the questions. Well, no matter the issue or question the “IT” that they/we/I are talking about is MOTIVATION.
Many of our TRIPLE III TIME messages have touched on MOTIVATION topics…but this time lets go a little deeper. What motivates YOU: money, status, your family, colleagues or just the challenge of doing something cool? Is it one thing or are you Multi-MOTIVATED? But what about when you feel unmotivated…where do you look for “get-up-and-get-it” answers?
BOTTOMLINE: First, take a long, hard look in the mirror. Understand that there is no one anywhere that can motivate YOU more than YOU. You can read books about it, go to seminars, get a life coach or even ask GOOGLE. In the end, the person on the white horse that must ride in to help YOU will be YOU!
Second, seriously pick a source of MOTIVATION. It doesn’t have to be just one thing or the same thing every day…but pick a MOTIVATOR. Next, pick a point of success. It can be small (signing up for a cool class) or big (starting a new product-line at work). Finally, make it a MOTIVATION PRIORITY to be an example to all that you know. The feeling of satisfaction that will come from having others learn and benefit from our commitment will keep your “IT” (MOTIVATION) going for YOU.
TRIPLE III TIME: The 2018 “Leadership Pledge”
As I considered what the first TRIPLE III TIME message should be for 2018…my thoughts instantly circled around the traditional “New Year’s Resolution” practice. Well I could come up with a large number of Resolutions (far beyond a TOP 10), but instead I thought it more valuable to offer a Leadership Pledge…that would feel satisfying even if recited everyday.
Here goes: As a LEADER everyday…EVERYDAY (you need to say it louder the second time) I will:
- Smile from the positives that happen today.
- Walk past the mad/angry feelings of unmet expectations.
- Practice a sense of urgency in all that I do.
- Exercise my creative/innovative muscles so they offer a “good” hurt.
- Shake hands STRONGLY with everyone that I meet.
- Think today about something to look forward to tomorrow.
- Run quickly to any new personal/professional opportunity.
- Roll around in every success so it gets all over me.
- Reach back for help/advice from true friends/colleagues.
- Remember that the word “NO” is very small.
Go ahead and say it over a few times. Don’t just say it in your mind…say it out loud.
Now I think we are ready for 2018!
TRIPLE III TIME: 1955 – 2017
The Christmas/holiday season often causes people to spend extra time reminiscing of times gone by. It really doesn’t matter how old you are…we all think back about special people, special times, special gifts and special events. The result is that we attempt to remake our “today” more like our yesterdays.
Well this final 2017 TRIPLE III TIME message is not intended to lessen the value of those memories…but to encourage you to consider the following TOP 10 thoughts as incentive to keep a FUTURE FOCUS!
- When you are at a family gathering instead of asking “How is it going?” …ask “What’s your game plan for 2018?”
- As you are traveling locally or for a greater distance…stop at a “home-town store” …just to see what’s out there.
- As you think about years past…try to pick “Just 1 Thing” to carry forward and customize it as a new memory.
- Be the leader that preaches making new special traditions that will be memory-making.
- Quietly understand that your opportunity to grow older and gather “futurisms” …is a privilege.
- Don’t spend much time wishing things were like the past…TIME can never be retrieved.
- Focus on appreciating all the gifts you received and family/friends you connected with…and NOT all the stuff you wish or should have done.
- Pick one person from your past that is your hero…and make a plan to make them HOLIDAY PROUD of your FUTURE FOCUS.
- Memories can make you smile and feel warm inside…but can’t make your tomorrows FUN…so??!!
- Finally, begin keeping a MONTHLY MEMORY LOG. No, don’t keep a diary…rather at the end of each month identify one cool thing that will be worth “Memory-Reminiscing” at Christmas time 2018.
Thank you all for staying my blog friends this past year…and get ready for 2018!
TRIPLE III TIME: “Even If Just ONE”
I take a regular “debriefing” action every time I finish teaching a class. By debriefing I mean that I take some quality time to assess what I did good…not so good…mistakes…cool progress steps…you all know what I mean.
Well the more recent class was a little more challenging. Issues like attendance, completion and submission of quality assignments, and just interest in the course topic were all ongoing concerns. The impact: A feeling that I wanted them to learn…more than THEY wanted to learn. And so what did I decide to do differently…you know “Corrective Action”? Or if I was the mentor…what advice would I pass along?
It is so important that you “give your all” to your profession everyday…EVERYDAY! In the case of my class…how sad it would be for me to lower my bar of learning expectations and teaching service delivery just because some choose to do the minimum. Not only would you be “short-changing” the caring achievers…but the bad habit you would be enacting/adopting…sets a world-of-work example you wouldn’t want anyone…ANYONE to follow.
So my Learning Moment from my latest class instructor experience: EVEN IF JUST ONE cares a lot about learning…you need to care even more about teaching.
Learning Moments: Making Service Special
Is there a difference between Customer Service and Service to a Customer? This month’s Learning Moments podcast discussion takes a curious look, but mostly stresses the importance of making your service SPECIAL everyday…EVERYDAY!
Listen carefully!
TRIPLE III TIME: STAR TREKING Public Workforce Management
This week’s TRIPLE III TIME message is my guest author article submission to the American Society For Public Administration PATIMES online news-piece. The article: STAR TREKING Public Workforce Management, recommends including exclusive wording in legislation which takes a “future-ish” position and strongly encourages flexibility, adaptability and yes…INNOVATION to stay more relative to current/future public service trends.
I hope you enjoy my thoughts and ideas.
TRIPLE III TIME: What’s The Best Evaluation?
For all of my professional career I have had a difficult time selecting and utilizing a personnel evaluation tool/system. There are so many “tried and true” examples of evaluations that measure, document and numerically rate employees from all levels of an organization or business. So why have I dodged the question of endorsing an evaluation? Well maybe a more interesting question would be: Why did you choose to develop and try out multiple hybrid methods of evaluating those that worked with you over the years?
Well my answer…right or wrong…is/was two-fold. First, I am a strong believer in the process of daily self-evaluation. Therefore, I tried to encourage the development of an organization-wide mindset of evaluating your own performance in a customized way everyday…EVERYDAY! The principle evaluation areas included but were not limited to:
- Teamwork development among co-workers
- Timely response to information requests or questions
- Being on time for work, meetings and reports
- Representing the agency as a true Ambassador
- Building on partnerships with people, businesses, organizations and the community
- Challenging old rules and procedures with new ideas for a better way
- Recommending and enacting ways to make the agency more SPECIAL to those needing our help
- Accepting responsibility for taking action…especially when it came under question
- Remaining progressively excited for change that was an everyday event
- Understanding and supporting the CAUSE of doing good work.
BOTTOMLINE: My choice for a great evaluation was one that focused on the future of what else we can/should do…rather than one that only measures the past and what we have already done.
P.S. My employees always did well on their evaluations.
TRIPLE III TIME: A Communications SUPPLY CHAIN?
Somehow it seems like the QUALITY of personal and business communications has never become more important everyday…EVERYDAY! Likewise, the challenges we face with regard to high level sources, volume and speed of communication have never been more intertwined. As a consultant/creative advisor to individuals and organizations, I continually stress that QUALITY communication overlaps/impacts everything. So this weeks TRIPLE III TIME message asks everyone to consider: A Communication SUPPLY CHAIN!
First, check out this simple diagram:
In order to be effective, I believe the communicator must decide where their message falls on the SUPPLY CHAIN. Are you just creating Awareness of an issue or asking for Action too? Determining where your message “fits” on the SUPPLY CHAIN will help in crafting it for clarity and timeliness. If you (the communicator) take a moment to deliberately consider where your message falls on the SUPPLY CHAIN, it will appropriately be more defined, targeted, and simplified. Too often time, energy and resources are wasted rehashing old or confused messages. Deciding early if your message is for Awareness…or an Action…or a general Response…or a Revised Action will enhance communication simplicity…and yes QUALITY!
Taking responsibility before and as you communicate to consider your message’s placement on the SUPPLY CHAIN is a leadership job! Don’t allow communication sources, volume and speed to confuse the QUALITY of your messages. Understandably, everyone has different communication styles. But if we could all use A Communication SUPPLY CHAIN as our common guide…I believe QUALITY would result.
Inspiring Innovations, Inc. 