Take The Lead Book Receives a CIPA Award!

We wanted to take a quick moment to share some great news that we recently received here at Vantage International:

Take The Lead Everyday Leadership Series #1:  Engagement won a CIPA award!  We are extremely grateful and would like to thank all of our avid supporters.  Stay tuned as Leta is currently working on the second book in the Leadership Series.  We can hardly wait to get it out to everyone!!

Old Habits Die Hard

A discussion that I had recently with a dear colleague of mine, Lindsey, inspired some new and valuable insights for me that I’d like to share.

She and I were debriefing after a leadership program that her organization was sponsoring. We were both pretty enthused about the new, fresh conversations and behaviors that were surfacing as a result of the learning. And we were, of course, talking about sustainability – How challenging it can be to make lasting changes to habits that, for some, have been in place for a long time.

Inevitably, our conversation turned to the strength and resolve that each of us must find deep within ourselves when we are ‘breaking with’ old habits and ‘breaking through’ to more effective replacements. We acknowledged this to be particularly true when we’re back in our daily routine and are confronted with some of those ‘same old same old’ behaviors that are, at best, a buzz kill and, at worst, an organizational toxin. You can probably name the same behaviors that we mentioned to one another – If you guessed gossiping, idle complaining, back biting and back stabbing, cynicism and general put downs, you’re right!

That’s when Lindsey asked one of those powerful questions – something so simple yet so true and so illuminating that it stops you in your tracks for a moment as you really think about it. Trust me; I didn’t see this one coming. With a sigh, Lindsey said, as she thought about those toxic behaviors, “It’s pretty discouraging to realize that high school never really ends, does it?”

We looked at each other for a minute without saying anything and then we both nodded. If we were in a cartoon, you would have been able to see a big, blinking light bulb appear above our heads. I think Lindsey’s insight is a wake-up call for us all. It really was for me. Lots of the everyday behaviors that we choose at work are childish and immature leftovers from junior high!  And that’s just so unworthy of us! Think about it……back stabbing, meanness, talking about someone behind his/her back, trying to ‘get away with’ stuff, making lame excuses for not doing the right thing, petty jealousies born of insecurities, cliques and the list goes on. Reliving high school reminds me of the movie Ground Hog Day, only creepier and of far more significance.

Seriously, is this the best that we can be together? Why do we choose to participate in or tolerate (and, therefore, perpetuate) these patterns as adults at work when they didn’t do any good or felt bad way back when? Why are we stuck in behaviors that we should have outgrown long ago?

More importantly, what’s it going to take to ditch them permanently? Have we made peace with this elephant in the middle of the room by looking the other way when we experience them because they seem familiar or fairly innocent or because we’re guilty of them too?

If you’re ready to unhook from these recycled high school behaviors, here are some small steps that can get you moving in the right direction. Remember…

“To change your experience, change yourself. To change yourself, change your mindset.”

Do-ables

• Do whatever it takes to remind yourself throughout the day that we are all ADULTS at work. Avoid words or actions that convey any other messages. For example, stop referring to your team members as your ‘kids’ and/or acting like a parent. So, enough already…put on your big guy and big gal pants and choose to act like a grown-up throughout your work day.
• Do your part to offer universal education on behavioral expectations in your organization. This might include such things as:

¬  Code of conduct review and update

¬  On-boarding and ongoing mini programs on ‘leading from your seat’

¬  Identify the ‘dirty dozen’ – the twelve junior high behaviors that you won’t tolerate in the organization – and create an awareness campaign

¬  Discuss the importance of adult-adult relationships at regular staff meetings, morning meetings. Use examples

¬  Create a marketing campaign – for example, No whining allowed…Gossip free zone. In fact, make a contest of it and give a prize to the winning team.
 

• Catch folks making the right choices and acknowledge & reward.
•  Have a low tolerance for those behaviors – call them out (respectfully and professionally) whenever possible.
•  Be certain that there are consequences for continuing these immature behaviors; that everyone knows what they are and that they are fairly and consistently applied.

If you want to take a walk down memory lane and fondly re-visit your high school years then do it – dust off your yearbook, attend a reunion or find classmates on social media. But be darn sure that you leave those immature behaviors out of the picture. We’re not fifteen anymore and high school really is over!

Everyday Leadership at the NEW New England Chapter's spring event

Q. How does a business conference exceed all expectations?

A. Everyday leadership, of course!!

We recently had one of those ‘aha moments’ at Vantage and it’s a story worth telling:

Several weeks ago, I had the privilege and pleasure of sharing some leadership insights with a group of extraordinary women and men at the Network of Executive Women’s New England Conference. Great people. Great experience.

It just so happened that our videographer was there to get some fresh material for our websites. After the event, several of us at Vantage reviewed the entire video to make final selections on the short clips to share with prospective clients. Blah. Blah. Pretty routine stuff….. Not so fast!

As we intently watched that video for content and style points, we saw something much more valuable that we hadn’t been looking for – We saw the critical role that everyday leadership played in the event’s overwhelming success!! The video captured a portion of the preparation period before the event took off. NEW members swarmed the huge ballroom. They were genuinely engaged, energetic and enthusiastic!! Every role had meaning and importance. The small stuff mattered. Everyone led from her seat! The chatter was punctuated by the language of everyday leadership –

“I’ve got that covered….What can I do to help….Do you need anything?....Great idea…Looks good….It’s gonna be GREAT!”

And, while this was all gratifying to take in, it wasn’t the only aha moment for us. Here’s Lesson #2: If we hadn’t changed the lens through which we viewed the video, we would    have missed Lesson #1! It was a simple but effective reminder of how easy it is to become so fanatically focused on the task at hand that you miss opportunities hidden in plain sight!

Pretty cool, huh?  I love moments like these!

Challenge your Leadership Thinking: Our favorite reads

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I’m a voracious reader and a career-long learner. That’s a powerful duo for keeping any one of us at the top of our game. If you want to be both better and different (and I hope that you’ve already made that call to action a leadership priority for yourself), then you’ve got to challenge your current assumptions, your same old same old thinking, believing and acting.

 

This ongoing challenge is made easier by the fact that there are so many business thought leaders who gift us with their novel ideas, clever insights, unique interpretations and practical tips, tools and techniques through their books, articles, audios and videos. Feed yourself a steady diet of this new information and these fresh perspectives and try it all on for size; then make only those portions or parts that speak directly to you, your own. Add the ‘best fits’ to your own personal brand of leadership as you continually evolve toward your best self…again and again.

People routinely ask for my top picks and recommendations and I’m glad to oblige – I’ve become a willing 24/7 interactive ad campaign for my favorites! So, why not here?! Below are some of the leadership and business references, grouped by topic, that have been most helpful to me on my own journey. You’re also invited to add to the list – what’s created the most value for you?

General Leadership

1. The Leadership Challenge – Kouzes & Posner
2. The Art of Possibility – Ben & Roz Zander
3. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey (It is a classic; never gets stale)

Coaching

1. The Heart of Coaching – Thomas Crane
2. Take The Lead: Full Throttle Engagement Powered by Coaching – Leta Beam (yes, it is self-promotion but I think it would have been weird not to add it to my ‘favorites’ list
3. Masterful Coaching – Robert Hargrove

Communication

1. Crucial Conversations – Kerry Patterson and the Crew from the Center for Creative Leadership
2. Discussing the Undiscussable  - Bill Noonan
3. Authentic Conversations – Jamie & Maren Showkeier (It’s so much more than a communication reference)

Intentionality

1. The Power of Intention – Wayne Dyer
2. If How-Tos Were Enough, We’d All Be Skinny, Rich and Happy – Brian Klemmer

Teaming

1. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni
2. Death by Meeting – Patrick Lencioni

Conflict

1. Crucial Confrontations – Kerry Patterson again

Personal Branding

1. Career Distinction: Stand Out By Building Your Own Brand  – William Arruda
2. Ditch Dare Do 3D Personal Branding For Executives – William Arruda

Other Great Topics

1. Fake Work – Brent Peterson
2. Fearless Facilitation – Cyndi Maxey
3. 3 Steps to Yes: The Gentle Art of Getting Your Own Way – Gene Bedell
4. The Power of a Positive No – William Ury

Periodicals

1. Harvard Business Review (Absolutely outstanding!)
2. Fast Company (this will challenge your thinking!!)

Children’s Books (Written For Adults In The Workplace)

1. Oh, The Places You’ll Go! – Dr. Suess
2. Tacky the Penguin – (It has an inclusion theme)
3. Swimmy – (This is great team learning)
4. The Little Engine That Could – (All about resilience!)

“In this time of rapid fire change, it is the learners who inherit the earth. The learned are prepared for a world that no longer exists.”        Eric Hoffer

BREAKING THE RIGHT RULES: A look back at the 2013 Take The Lead Award

We’ve had an inspiring start to the year at Vantage International!  In early January, we were immersed in the selection process for our inaugural Take The Lead Award.  It was a ‘goose bump moment’ for us as we reviewed the almost 200 nominations and realized that our message of ‘leading from your seat’ was contributing to a movement in workplaces across the US and around the world!

On January 15, we had the pleasure & privilege of announcing Elizabeth Sholtys as the winner of the 2013 Take The Lead Award!  Her nomination is a powerful example of what one person can do to change the world if you dare to play big.  It’s a must read for us all. Congratulations, Liz!!

When you begin any new initiative, part of the excitement comes from not knowing exactly how things will unfold.  Of course, you plan and then implement well; you remain fanatically focused on the details and, still, you can’t anticipate absolutely everything. You need to be open to possibilities; and reasonably flexible and nimble in order to accept all of the gifts that the creative process offers.

We were surprised and delighted by our first Award experience.  It proved to be an outstanding opportunity for us to learn and grow – as leaders, professionals and people.  Here are a few of the lessons that we’ll carry forward with us:

·         Every day in workplaces across the world, there are amazing people choosing to show up and make a big difference – to do all that they can from their seats.

·         Almost 200 people paused in their very busy work lives to recognize the greatness of someone around them.

·         There were so many compelling, moving nominations that we decided to bend our own rules and expand the Award to include an Honorable Mention Category.  Nicole Blannard is a Hematology/Oncology Nurse Manager who was nominated by her entire team for her fierce everyday leadership.  Her story needed to be told in a big way.       

·         Our favorite lesson (well, to be completely honest, it was more like a whack to the side of our head) came from a team at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown, NY.  They didn’t bend a rule they broke it by creating their own Award category –Take The Lead Team Award!  In doing so, they challenged our thinking.  Bill Stamp, the nominator, put it this way:  “I do not believe any one member of the team is more deserving of this achievement than any other and thus I ask that you consider our group as a whole.” This team nomination was impossible to ignore; we are pleased to offer Special Recognition to this band of creative risk takers!  Thank you for breaking the right rules!

It may seem unusual to reward someone for breaking a rule. But we think it’s becoming more and more common as more and more of us challenge same old, same old thoughts, actions, processes and procedures.  We think that it’s an important part of the everyday leader’s every day mission:

·         To see something that no one else sees;

·         To challenge our current level of thinking;

·         To be brave, even fearless, and take a risk by playing big;

·         To challenge dysfunctional comfort

Tom Peters has said that he would “rather have a bold failure than a mediocre success.”  We agree.  So, take our lesson to heart…Break the right rules at work. Question your own habits and perceptions; find your blind spots; view your work processes through a different lens --- Be both better and different!  And when someone challenges your thought or behavior, choose to be receptive and curious instead of defensive.  Have a V-8 moment – Why didn’t I think of that, see that, etc.

No, don’t go rogue.  Lots of rules protect us, our products, customers, clients or patients. Break the right rules!  Knowing the difference is one of the everyday leader’s super powers.  Even better than ‘spidey sense’, right?

Click HERE to read more about the 2013 Take The Lead Winners on the Vantage International website.

The Rear View Mirror

January is the traditional time when many people make ‘resolutions’ for the coming year.  I like the word resolution.  To me, it means a firm decision to do or not do something. One of its synonyms is ‘intention’ and I have a passion for living my life (personally and professionally) with awareness and intention.  But those of you who are familiar with my work (and blog) already know that!

Resolutions are personal and/or professional promises that we make, mainly to ourselves, for the year ahead that will help us to be both better and different in ways that are meaningful to each of us.  I think resolutions are a fine idea.  I am a ‘resoluter’, although I don’t limit my intentions to January alone.  But it’s hard to argue with the power that January brings to us – the New Year is fresh and alive with sparks of possibility and resolutions are an opportunity to project our power into the near future, gear up for greatness and pre-pave our experiences for the next twelve months.

So, while I think that committing ourselves to a select few resolutions each year can be a useful habit, there is another ritual that I practice at this time that provides even more value.  I have found that the end of one year and the beginning of another provides a perfect moment to look in the rear view mirror and thoughtfully, proudly, authentically and constructively review and then celebrate the past twelve months.  This ‘year in review’ habit that I have cultivated is one that I truly savor. Over time, it has:

·         yielded increasingly valuable insights;

·         allowed me to gain perspective on difficult moments;

·         forced me to acknowledge successes, even those that were originally disguised as challenges;

·         helped me to forgive myself and others;

·         piqued my curiosity & stoked my creativity;

·         launched me in new directions;

·         taught me beneficial lessons; and

·         gifted me with opportunities to mourn losses.

My look in the rear view mirror each year warms the soil for those fresh promises that I make to myself – and the virtuous cycle continues.

One of the most discouraging and dangerous laments that I hear too often from clients and colleagues goes something like this…”This all sounds good. I wish that I could do it. But I don’t have time to think!  I’m too busy getting things done to stop and think!” Before you blink your eyes and find yourself at the end of the first quarter of 2014, wondering what happened to those three months, schedule some ‘think time’ and take a long, appreciative look in your rear view mirror.  Connect your head, heart and gut and travel month by month back through 2013:

·         List all of the many, many things that went well (were right) during the year
·         Ask yourself what was the toughest challenge that you face. What worked? What didn’t?
·         Identify times/situations in which you demonstrated bravery or organizational courage
·         Think closely about your relationships. How many did you build? Mend? Harm?
·         Look for ways and times in which you surprised yourself
·         Focus specifically on lessons that you learned
·         Zero in on your proudest moment – What was it? Why are you so proud?
·         Get specific on all the ways in which you practiced everyday leadership – really led from your seat at work.  In the community.  At home.
·         Tell yourself the unvarnished truth about mistakes, snap-backs and other missed opportunities. What would you do differently if you had a do-over day?
·         Finally, ask yourself if you were true to the promises, the resolutions, which you made last January.

Looking back frees me to look ahead more confidently, more fearlessly. Your mom was right…look both ways…..

It's All Good (Or is it?)

I was talking to my colleague and friend, Bill, several weeks ago.  By now, I can’t even remember what he said that prompted my all too familiar, over-worked response – “It’s all good.”

There’s something about this slang phrase that really appeals to me.  It’s positive, upbeat and fun.  It sounds cool.  And, depending on the situation, it can even strike a note of forgiveness, kindness or generosity of thought.

Back to my conversation with Bill….This time, my “It’s all good” response was met with an atypical reaction.  Bill came back with, “No, it’s not” in a strong, matter-of-fact tone of voice.  He went on to explain that he had come to dislike that phrase and that he was on a mission to challenge it every time he heard it!  He felt that it was simply too much – used too frequently and too casually without any thought.  And, as a superlative, it usually wasn’t even true.  After all, rarely is EVERYTHING good.  He was campaigning for the use of an alternate phrase – It’s Mostly Good – and he invited me to join him in getting the message out.

At first, I was amused by the conversation.  But, as it turned out, it was thought provoking and I really like challenging my same old same old habits.  I’ve concluded that Bill is on to something.  I realized that I was one of those people who used that phrase way too often and without intention or mindfulness.  I was on autopilot.  I know (and you probably do too) that if you want to be a highly effective, great communicator, then you’ve got to be choiceful about your word selection.  Every interaction.  Every conversation.  And because highly effective communication is directly linked to peak performance, outstanding teams, goal achievement, and well, just about everything that we all want, we should ALL be fanatically focused on being world class communicators.

Yes, I’ve joined Bill’s campaign.  Now, from time to time, I say, “It’s Mostly Good.”  I’m selective.  I pick the right moment for the comment.  It’s more authentic.  It makes me stop and think for a moment.  I’m not on autopilot.  And, best of all, it makes the person to whom I’m talking take notice and stop and think.  It’s thought provoking (and you know I love this), it starts a conversation about intentionality and the importance of clear communication.  It’s all good. (Oops, I mean it’s mostly good!)