I have talked with people lately who feel “trapped” in their current situation.  They are not enjoying their job or some aspect in their lives.  I certainly understand that feeling.  I will admit to having had those same thoughts at various times in my life.  But when you focus on the negative part of the situation you stop yourself from experiencing all of the aspects of your life.  It would be sad indeed to define yourself only by your current job or by your relationship with one person.  There is so much more to our lives.

When I worked at the hospital, I only had to walk out on a patient floor to realize how much others were suffering.  Yet, even in their suffering those patients and families found reasons to celebrate.  Yes, we are in really tough times right now.  I am not suggesting we ignore that fact or not work to make things better.  What I will say is that if you cannot find a reason for joy or celebration, then you are missing a bigger part of life.  I have faith that the stock market will rebound, we will rebuild our economy and business, however that may look, will meet the next level of market challenges.  Meanwhile – do not miss the opportunity to rejoice and find joy in your everyday life.  As the song says, that mountain you’ve been climbing is just a grain of sand.

Talk with you soon.

Elizabeth

Well Chica! hate to be the splash of cold water but “the good old days” are long gone, actually, so are the recent “better days”.  We have been reading and talking for many years about the global economy, lean and just in time manufacturing and the age of technology.  These business trends have not only come to fruition but they will be more inpactful than anyone realized – business as we know it will not be the same.  Our city Mayor recently started a tour of Asia on a trade mission of sorts.  Some people here are questioning the fiscal need for this trip.  Let’s talk reality – if we are not involved in securing a global economic base here in the Midwest we will not be able to maintain our economy.  The world of the auto maker will be changing whether they like it or not.  Americans are not open to continuing to support “the good old days” of corporate spending.  The back lash against corporate America is gaining ground swell as story after story of big paychecks and poor spending decisions litter the media.  The really tragic part in all of this is that American big business has been the backbone of our society and has added significantly to our cultural enrichment.  We would be lost as an arts community if not for the financial help of a few key businesses here is town.  This same story is played out in cities all across the nation.  As we continue to change the business and economic landscape, you may see this support of local communities shift significantly. 

All of this change brings us to the role of leadership in business.  Strong leadership will be required at all levels of the organization.  There will be less actual leaders as we become more lean -therefore the skills required will ratchet up.  Developing leaders internally will no longer be a luxury but a necessity to keep the organization fresh and moving forward.  How will your organization address the leadership pipeline?  Leadership bench strength will not be just an issue for big business but an issue for every business.  If you haven’t started preparing you leaders – the time is now – the long term cost to your business could be staggering.  Don’t be caught unprepared.

Talk to you soon

Elizabeth

Take today to count your blessings and enjoy the time you have here on earth – you will only pass this way one time.  Leave it a better place for your having been here.

Talk with you soon.

Elizabeth

Many years ago around this same time my husband and I were both let go from an organization that was moving its headquarters out of state.  In one afternoon – we went from 2 managment salaries to none.  We had school age children at that time and we were headed in to christmas.  I will tell you it was a very humbling expereince.  Our childrens’ teachers took up a collection and brought gifts to our home.  Their chartiy was amazing and yet hard to accept.  It took us two years to recover from that expereince so I will share with you what we learned.

1. Be prepared to step back professionally

Those were tough times economically then and they are tough times now.  My husband started at the bottom of the heap in a brand new industry – he has moved up since then and has now spent 16 years in his “new” field.  I spent 2 years working odd jobs from substitute teaching to working for my children’s doctor.  I finally landed back in my professional arena but it was a journey.

2. Let yourself grieve

It was tough for both of us – we loved our work and the company we worked for – it was hard to leave.  I would find myself sad or depressed but whenever anybody asked “I was OK”.  I didn’t want to share my sadness and struggles with others.  I still don’t like to do that but I learned to forgive myself in those days and understand that I needed to grieve for the jobs and life style we lost.  You will also be angry, that is understandable – give yourself some time for that anger but don’t live there.  Angry people don’t interview well.

3. Do what you can

Nothing adds to the situation more than feeling helpless.  After some grieving time, get together an action plan.  What networking can you do?  What jobs could you take now?  Is there some type of training that could help you transition to a new career?  Don’t let yourself make excuses.  Trust me, working all my odd jobs motivated me to keep searching for a human resource opportunity.  Get yourself ready to interview.  Are you looking your best? Do you have a sharp resume?  Who could you reach out to as references?  You want to be ready when a potential opportunity presents itself.

No one likes to lose a job.  I will tell you however, that when I speak with people months after the event, they are generally in a better place.  They are able to celebrate the new doors that have opened and the changes they have made in their life.  More importantly most take pity on the people who remained with their old organization.  Sometimes staying is the hardest thing of all.

Talk with you soon.

Elizabeth

What does an organization’s execution ability have to do with the people?  Everything!  People execute not organizations.  So if the organization is unable to accomplish anything you have to start looking at who is leading.  Getting the right leadership or talent in place to move initiatives forward is a key deliverable for most organizations and yet often teams are created with little thought.  A team is put together based on politics or department responsibilities or just to get someone out of the way.  Rarely is the group designed with a thought around who could get the best outcome.  Additionally, no one considers the team dynamic.  Do you have a group of strong personalities and egos who will want their own way?  What about the indecisive or non-risk takers – will they create a bottle neck.  Who on the team understands outcomes and who can turn outcomes in to processes?

Execution is definitely about talent.  When I look back over the meetings I have attended, I can point to certain talent/leadership issues with the non-performing groups.  I can mentally look around the room at the players and tell you who was going to put forth their own agenda, who was not going to speak up, who was not even listening and I can visualize the leader that was not strong enough to keep control of the group – no wonder nothing got done.

I have had the opportunity in my career to lead cross-functional teams and it is not easy.  I took some “hits” early on but learned to lead in a way that kept everyone’s ideas front and center and moved the work forward.  Now I have the chance to share these learning’s with my clients.

Don’t let poor execution derail your business – think through your talent pool and get the right talent leading.

Talk with you soon.

Elizabeth

Smart People…

Have you ever been in a meeting with  a “smart person ?” This is the person who turns the pages and jumps ahead, who is really not concentrating on what is being said because they have already formed an opinion? They are the ones who seem to state the obvious in a way that makes everyone else feel inferior.

Don’t they just annoy you?  I am sure many of you out there would say yes.  I know I can spot the “smart person” everytime I attend a new meeting of a task force or group.  Yep, the air of superiority is there in the way they flip through the pages of the meeting information.

Now for the hard part – I am one of those ” smart people !”  Yes, I must admit that I am a recovering smart person.  It has taken me most of my career to determine this but I have faced the music and I have now launched my own self help program.  You must know that we “smart people” are not annoying and condescending  on purpose – we are generally people who process things mentally and very quickly.  We tend to be strategic thinkers who are focused on outcomes.  And, annoying as we can be, we do help move the work along.  We just need to learn to appreciate how the rest of you think and process. 

So, If you feel you are a recovering “smart person” or you know someone who should enter the self help program here are some of the changes I have been working on…

I no longer jump ahead but work to be patient and listen to what everyone is saying.  I am working on forming my thoughts in to questions rather than declarative statements.  I try not to sigh or otherwise give an outward clue that I have lost interest.  I am trying to let people discover my value rather than hitting them over the head with it.

So, next time you are in a meeting – take pity on the smart person, they don’t mean to annoy you – they just can’t get out of there own way.

Talk to you soon.

Elizabeth