Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Creativity = Money in the New Ecomony

I recently heard a conference speaker say: “Creativity is the capital of the new economy.” (There were so many good speakers that I’ve forgotten who actually inspired this quote.  My apologies!)

The speaker’s position was that if an organization does not encourage creativity from its workforce then innovation will stop...leading to the downfall of that organization.

How prepared are you for leading your team in this new economy where creativity is a must-have skill?

A US News article gives us 6 Steps to Achieving Creativity in Business (both an art and a science). Find out how at: http://bit.ly/w6v2qV

Until next time...Lead like you mean it!
Marjorie

Posted on 01/24/12 at 01:40 PM
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Monday, January 16, 2012

Need to Develop Management Skills?

Are you a brand new manager who has never supervised a staff before?
Are you a seasoned manager but new to an organization?

There are critical skills you need to know in your first 30-days on the job.  And, it’s all explained on Thursday, May 10th during the 17th Annual Maine HR Convention at the beautiful Samoset Resort in Rockland, Maine.

Join me for Management Makeover: 30 Days to a New Leader at 3PM

Here’s the write-up:
A Strategic Role for HR. HR professionals are pivotal in designing workplace environments where every employee thrives. However, managers frequently are not provided with practical tools to consistently build high functioning teams. These struggling managers unconsciously create teams with low employee morale, high turnover, and increased employee relations issues. Marjorie Treu, from Team Fusion in Georgia, shares the 30-Day Management Makeover™ Plan, which helps you steer floundering managers back on course, sets up newly hired managers for success quickly, and bridges GenY managers to the other workplace generations with less conflict and increased communication skills. HRCI strategic credit pending.

More details at:  http://bit.ly/yzCXhm

Will I see you there?

Until next time...Lead like you mean it!
Marjorie

Posted on 01/16/12 at 01:29 PM
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Wednesday, December 07, 2011

What to Do About Untouchable Employees

In a recent VitalSmarts survey of 950 people, “93% of employees work with people whose bad behavior or chronic poor performance should make them a target for outplacement, yet they get away with just about anything and are accountable for almost nothing.”

Perhaps you have encountered bad behavior in the workplace in the past when it wasn’t your responsibility to handle.  Now, in a leadership role, you’ve followed all the established policies and suggested guidelines in dealing with a team member who is not a model company citizen.  No matter what you’ve tried, they continue to push beyond boundaries and the rest of your team is noticing.

Unfortunately, the “untouchables” on your team usually turn out to be those who have proved themselves as valuable to the company.  Over the course of time, however, they have turned into cocky big mouths – very bad behavior – with egos that believe organizational rules no longer apply to them.

Every company has their own definition of valuable and, most times, it is seem in terms of productivity and bringing in the money.  While these are important measures in an organization, they don’t always tell the entire story.

Research reveals the high costs of working around “untouchables”:
• overall damage to team morale, quality, and productivity
• other valuable employees are driven away
• tolerated bad behavior is know by 94% of the staff
• 91% of employees say the problem has continued unaddressed for a year or more
• 1 in 4 people confront “untouchable” coworkers about their behavior of performance.  They work around them, complain to others, or avoid their coworker altogether.

Tips for Holding Coworkers Accountable

1. Communicate respect.  Communicating respect in the first 30-seconds helps others feel safe, which will help them listen to you.

2. Lead with facts.  When sharing concerns, don’t lead with accusations or judgmental language.  Lead with facts.

3. Share natural consequences.  Motivate others by helping them see the natural consequences of their bad behavior in ways that matter to them.

4. Invite dialogue.  Remember you are partly wrong about how you see things.  After sharing your concerns, encourage the other person to share his or hers – even to show you where you are wrong.  Others will be open to your view if they are convinced you’re open to theirs.

5. Hold the boss accountable.  If the dialogue fails, and if it’s affecting you and the team negatively, your next conversation needs to be with your boss. 
Use these same steps to help your boss see that he or she needs to do a better job of dealing with bad behavior employees.

The real problem is not that “untouchables” exist in organizations; rather the problem is that they are not confronted about their bad behavior.  Make sure you address behaviors among your own team members.

Until next time...Lead like you mean it!
Marjorie

Posted on 12/07/11 at 08:41 AM
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Thursday, November 24, 2011

Wise Leader Lessons

Leadership is about the quality of your character.  It’s about action; not position.  Great leaders spend their days helping those around them reach their highest potential while working towards a vision that adds value to the world at large.  What are these qualities that separate those great leaders?

Lessons to Liberate Your Potential

1. Leadership is all about relationships.
• Your team will not follow you if they do not trust you.
• Your team must know you have their best interests in mind.
• Your team must know you care about them.
• Keep your promises.
• Be punctual – it shows respect of others’ time.
• Be courteous.

2. Strive for mastery over mediocrity.
• Watch how you choose your response to any given event.  Ask yourself, “What is the quality of my decision on this?”
• Be conscious of what you are thinking about and where you are directing your focus.
• In what ways are you raising your own standards every day?
• What bad habits or rituals are creeping in that do not help you to become a better version of yourself?
• Refine your talents by reading great books.

3. Do what is right; not what is easy.
• Avoid the path of least resistance (doing things that are comfortable and convenient).
• Face your fears and consciously look at the “thing” that is holding you back.
• Reframe and stretch your thinking of what security is.
• Understand that the tougher you are on yourself, the easier life will be on you.

Thomas Henry Huxley, a 19th-century English writer, said:  “Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.”

Stop putting off bold leadership…
Now is the time to move to the next level in your career.
Now is the time to learn new skills that will allow you to serve your team better.
Now is the time to distinguish yourself from other leaders.
Now is the time to deeply connect with your family and build great friendships.
Now is the time to enjoy the leadership journey - before it is too late.

Until next time...Lead like you mean it!
Marjorie

Posted on 11/24/11 at 02:53 PM
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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Done-For-You Office Holiday Celebration

As a leader, you have many projects on your plate.  Too many, right?

If you’ve been charged with organizing this years’ Office Holiday Party, consider delivering a completely Done-For-You event that your staff will remember for years. 

Details at:  http://bit.ly/tRpBwo

The great news:
1. Stress-free planning for you
2. Fun for staff and provides team-building
3. Your organization gives back to your community
4. You keep the videos - they become part of your corporate story!

Providing creative celebrations is part of your own leadership legacy.  You’ve earned the right to make it easy on yourself.

Until next time...Lead like you mean it!
Marjorie

Posted on 11/15/11 at 09:25 AM
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