There are moments when, right or wrong, we must act decisively and swiftly. No wiggle room. No time to ponder and kick around ideas. No vacillating. Only action. Two days ago, I was faced with a moment such as this: A rattlesnake was in my laundry room. If my hands hadn’t been shaking so badly, I would have a picture …
Stop the Boredom – Part 2
In our last few MMS’s, we’ve discussed how to use an integrated meeting structure to support the realization of your company vision. The structure we’ve suggested looks like this: Annual Calibration Retreat Quarterly Strategic Meetings Monthly Growth Meetings (for entire team) Weekly Leadership Check-Ins Daily Focus Meetings Individual Employee Growth Conferences Courageous Conversations (as needed) In this MMS, I’m going …
Two More Important Meetings
Last week, I outlined a small business/practice meeting structure that included five different types of meetings to support your growth and the realization of your long-term vision. But, I forgot to mention two others that are equally important: Growth Conferences and Courageous Conversations. Both of these meetings are focused on developing your people, but they have two big distinctions. Courageous …
Stop the Boredom!
Sick of team meetings that are boring at best, contentious at worst? Or, do you discuss a lot of subjects as a team without anything ever actually changing? Maybe you frequently experience a lack of engagement or participation? Too many meetings? Not enough? What’s the answer? At LionSpeak, we think meetings are an essential part of the communication strategy for …
The Gift of Feedback
One of the pleasures of getting older is the joy of having grandchildren. I’ve been blessed (so far) with seven inherited Grand Delights (as we refer to them) from Tom’s children with an 8th baby girl on the way in April. The current youngest, 10-month-old Jake, lives close enough that on most Tuesdays we get the privilege of caring for him while his …
How Much Are You Worth?
How much should you be paid? How much are you worth? What should that pay be based on? Longevity in your position? Years in the industry? Your level of education? The ability to demonstrate your skills with measurable results? Here’s an important, alternative question: How much are you worth on the open employment market right now? If you went out today and interviewed for a new …
Practice Makes Permanent
Tom and I recently picked up pickleball as our new physical activity of choice. The rules are easy. The pace is moderate and the equipment minimal. And even beginners can get a great workout. After just a few rounds, I felt I was getting pretty good until… I saw them. The four young men who took the court next to me. They were clearly experts. They made …
Stop Boring Me!
Katherine is spending some time with family at her summer cabin this week so we are recycling this “oldie but goodie” from the past. Enjoy! It’s 2:30 p.m., but it feels like 6:00. You’ve been in this seminar since sometime this morning and, while it’s been full of good information, you’re on overload and squirming in your seat. Can you …
You Gotta Mean It
The words, “I’m sorry,” can sometimes feel like a true apology or just a great big brush-off. I’m reminded of a time when, long after its due date, a cushion I’d ordered from Pier One hadn’t arrived. For a week the tracking section of the UPS website stated it was “scheduled for delivery today.” After several attempts to track the package online, …