Entries by Ryan Shaw

What are the biggest mindset challenges you face when leading your team remotely?

May 14, 2020 /0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

Our reader poll today asks: What are the biggest mindset challenges you face when leading your team remotely? I worry they’re not actually working. 19.5% I have little control over their deliverables. 8.4% I worry they feel like I’m not developing them. 22.2% I worry they feel I’m not necessary or adding value. 16.9% I don’t worry at all about anything. 12.7% I worry about something else. 20.3% It’s not you, it’s me. While 28% of you worry about your team members’ productivity and managing their deliverables because you can’t supervise them closely, the bigger concerns (39%) are with how the team members see you as their leader. You’re worried about not developing them or adding value. These are the true leadership concerns to keep top of mind. To manage them, schedule regular development and 1:1 calls. Don’t let good in-office habits fall by the wayside. Have explicit conversations about their development needs especially in a distanced environment. In terms of adding value, don’t just ask “What can I help with?” because you’ll get a “nothing” response. Make specific offers of assistance like “I’m happy to talk to that one stakeholder who’s giving you trouble and see if I can help remove the barrier.” Specific requests show you’re tuned into what their issues are and are more likely to be met with a response of “that would be really helpful.” Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below! – Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC Did you enjoy this post?  If so, I highly encourage you to take about 30 seconds to become a regular subscriber to this blog.  It’s free, fun, practical, and only a few emails a week (I promise!).  SIGN UP HERE to get the thoughtLEADERS blog conveniently delivered right to your inbox!

Better Utilizing Structured Thought and Communication

May 13, 2020 /0 Comments/in , , , /by

Alan Veeck, thoughtLEADERS Principal, sat down with Jim and Jan of The Leadership Podcast to discuss his thoughts on structured thought and communication. In continuation of our new collaboration with The Leadership Podcast, Alan talks about structured thought and communication in this short form “chalk talk.” These chalk talk series are bitesize sessions on a common (but challenging) leadership issue. Alan dives into a clear explanation of what structured thought and communications actually means and how it applicable not only in a work/career setting but even with our families and friends in everyday life. Alan, Jim, and Jan challenge the ideas around “slowing down to speed up” and how structured thought and communication can really just be more about efficiency and a better use of your time as an individual and as a leader, especially when utilized for large groups and organizations. Stay tuned for more of these brief Chalk Talks featuring Alan, as well as many more members of the thoughtLEADERS team.

Rendezvous with Emotion: And its Vital Role in Decision Making

May 11, 2020 /0 Comments/in , , , /by

Finding an emotional anchor within work is not something to shy away from, but rather something to actively search for. Today’s post is by Raghu Kalé, author of Loyalty and Sacrifice (CLICK HERE to get your copy). The mental make-up of the human mind is an enigma. Understanding reality has a bearing in comprehension. As a communications professional, I have grappled with what provokes audiences into believing a proposition, and what douses their suspicions and doubts. Emotion has a vital role in decision making, which is best described through my own experiences. Making short films is a hobby — and I’ve used it effectively over the years. The watershed moment was the stringent budget cuts that were self-imposed by my CEO after the tragedy of 9/11 that caused worldwide disruptions and tremendous anxiety. It was self-imposed because I was part of the CEO’s office of a premier luxury hospitality brand – The Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. Actions speak louder than words. The directive by my boss, who was the CEO, said it all: “We can’t be seen as doing this, find a way to be responsible.” I recall walking out from his office to my room next door and sinking back in my chair with a depressed feeling. That is when I determined that there was no need to engage an agency with high costs of production. Technology permits so much to be done, and with my background in advertising, communications, and my creative capabilities, I started my love affair with short films. Today, I have a score of 200+ short films that I produced primarily to obtain efficiency in my communication budgets and prevent transmission loss of the message and agency delays. Eager requests soon came in from many colleagues, sometimes seeking help for short films for corporate […]

Twelve Characteristics of Great Leaders

May 6, 2020 /0 Comments/in , , , /by

In this episode of Innovating Leadership Maureen Metcalf, thoughtLEADERS Principal, interviews Mike Figliuolo, thoughtLEADERS Managing Director, on the twelve characteristics of a great leader. As part of the continuing thought leader series at the Innovating Leadership podcast, Mike will discuss with Maureen his insights and thoughts on the twelve characteristics of great leaders and what makes these characteristics so important. Mike will share some of his personal experiences as well as the work is doing with clients and he will answer the following questions: Are great leaders made or born? You write that many if not most of us are good leaders, but few are truly great. Given that accurate self-analysis is very difficult, how do you know how good of a leader you really are? Of the 12 characteristics of great leaders that you cite, which ones really resonate with you personally? In other words, which one or two do you consider the most important features of top leaders? Stay tuned for more of these leadership discussions between Maureen and Mike, along with a few other team members from thoughtLEADERS, being featured on the Innovating Leadership podcast.

Are You Promoting Responsibility? Are You Sure?

May 4, 2020 /2 Comments/in , , , /by

Managing a team comes in many different forms and requires a lot of different skills, check your ego at the door and rethink how you’re promoting responsibility in your organization. Today’s post is by Lonnie Wilson, author of Sustaining Workforce Engagement (CLICK HERE to get your copy). Several weeks ago, I had two experiences that reminded me of the nature of responsibility; and management’s role in promoting and sustaining a responsible workplace. First, a student of mine sent me the following email, “Coach, there is next to no sense of responsibility here.  Nothing happens when dates are missed, goals are ignored, etc…  I may be going bonkers.  Can we talk?”  We talked. Second, I was at the 10 am production meeting of yet another client when Dave, the day shift production coordinator made the following report to Mark, the plant manager.  “Mark, the critical shipment to Quality Industries went out first thing on schedule.   Raul and his crew got it 100% completed. It has been picked up. But Mark, you need to know that Raul had to work 32 hours of overtime.”  At which Mark replied, “What is wrong with Raul?  Didn’t he read the notice from the home office we got just this week that costs are over budget and for the rest of the year there will be no hiring, no expedited freight and especially no overtime?  What is wrong with that guy?  Can you get me his home number?”  Dave responded, “I knew this would be an issue, so I asked Raul what happened.  He told me that 4 of his crew, who carpool together, got into an accident on the way to work, a serious one.  None of our guys were hurt, but the other driver was drunk and two of his passengers were taken away by […]

How to Build Team Resilience

April 29, 2020 /0 Comments/in , , , /by

Maureen Metcalf, thoughtLEADERS Principal, sat down with Jim and Jan of The Leadership Podcast to discuss her thoughts on building team resilience. In continuation of our new collaboration with The Leadership Podcast, Maureen talks about developing team resilience in this short form “chalk talk.” These chalk talk series are bitesize sessions on a common (but challenging) leadership issue. Maureen previously discussed building personal resilience and so she explains the necessity of this building personal resilience and how this is key, and different, from building resilience as a team. Jim, Jan, and Maureen delve into some of the agreements that need to be made within a team, or group, that allows space for everyone to develop and maintain their own resilience and respect that nature and encourage it within one another. Stay tuned for more of these brief Chalk Talks featuring Maureen, as well as many more members of the thoughtLEADERS team.