No, this isn’t a “your mom” joke post. Today I’ll share some thoughts on how to lead like your mom. I’m picking this topic today because it’s a gift for Mom’s birthday (and it’s cheaper than flowers… have you seen FTD’s prices lately?!?). That’s one of my favorite photos of her over there on the left.
I’d like to share some leadership lessons based on things Mom taught me. Last time I did a post like this, I covered leadership lessons from my dad for his birthday and it was really well received so I’m going to stick with something that works. So Mom, Happy Birthday! I love you! Thank you for all the things you’ve given me and taught me.
So here’s what Mom said…
Do Stuff You Don’t Like Because Other People Do Like It
We hate doing things we don’t like. Watching movies we hate. Going places we hate. There’s a reason we hate those things. The thing is, other people like them. When I was growing up, I used to play Dungeons & Dragons (if you’re under 25, go look it up on Wikipedia). I loved that game. Unfortunately I was a bit of a dork (Shocker! I PLAYED D&D!) and didn’t have tons of friends to hang with. We didn’t have teh interwebz then either. But you need two people to play the game.
Enter Mom. She created a character (a cleric – a healer… hmmm…). She named her Nomannic (she had made French toast that day so cinnamon was fresh on her mind). She played the game with me one afternoon. I loved it. I’m sure she didn’t exactly have a blast (what mom enjoys fighting basilisks and shambling mounds?). But she played because it was important to me. She put the person she was leading first. I’ve tried to emulate this with my own kids. I actually go to the mall with my 13 year-old daughter for several HOURS (and I actually go INTO the stores with their perfume spraying, bone jarring music, and disinterested staff). I don’t always do it well but I have been trying more frequently to do a better job of it.
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2013-05-06 07:01:452013-11-12 07:07:31Lead Like Your Mom
Today’s post is by Erica Bell who is a writer for Business.com (that’s not her in the picture though). Here’s Erica…
The basics of running a meeting, such as letting those attending have enough notice and making sure all the materials are prepared, should be easy to master. However, getting into a meeting and truly leading it isn’t always easy. The truth is it doesn’t matter what your meeting is about. In order to truly lead a meeting with employees, you must be able to take the information being delivered, compare it against future expectations and then determine the ways in which your staff can meet those expectations to move the company forward. When leading a meeting, you’ll need to focus on three areas: the current situation, the future and how your employees can get there.
Current Situation
In order to lead your meeting, you must be able to stick to the agenda and move things forward. When you enter a meeting, make it clear that there is an agenda – which should have been sent out beforehand – that you’ll be sticking to. Then, ask your employees what the current situation is regarding the topic of your meeting or within their department if it is an all office meeting. Getting an update on the current situation can help you determine the gravity of the situation and whether or not the problem, if there is one, can be resolved in the meeting. Some things may need to be tabled for later and this is one point in a meeting where your leadership comes in to play as you need to determine what to address now and what to hold off on.
Example question: What is the current situation with the office relocation scheduled for next month?
Future Situation
As soon as you’ve been updated on the current status, move on to the goals that have been set and future expectations. “Too many meetings” was the number one time-waster at the office, cited by 47% of over three thousand workers in a separate 2012 study by career site Salary.com. Don’t let discussion of the current deter your from moving the meeting forward and reducing wasted time. Make sure you’ve kept track of previous meetings and discussions where goals and expectations were discussed so you have a record and can bring forth any documents or conversations that are pertinent to the present meeting.
Example question: What are the expectations we discussed and where do you think we will be next month when the move date is here?
How to Get There
This is where you and your employees need to have the most discussion so you can resolve the problem that is currently being encountered. Make sure you ask your employees where they need more or less resources in order to reach the goals laid out. Use the ideas of one another to determine how goals and expectations can be met while working as a team. Keep the conversation on topic and make sure all employees are well aware that if you’ve reached this point, the issue needs to be resolved. Put a concrete solution in place and the actions that need to be taken. Just as it has throughout the meeting, you’re leadership is tested as you determine how to break a stalemate, develop a compromise and deliver a solution.
Example question: What would it take for us to meet the deadline and be ready for the move?
Because meetings can take up valuable time for your business, leading them successfully is crucial. According to a TrackVia survey, 11 percent of employees polled waste time at work in meetings and among those who spend time in meetings, 37 percent felt that at least half of the time in meetings was wasteful of their time. Only 8% found meetings 100% productive. Make sure that if you are spending time in meetings, they are being led in the most effective way possible. In order to really lead a meeting, you need to have an agenda and focus on moving the current situation to the expected future situation in the most efficient way possible.
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2013-02-27 13:02:542018-07-08 13:09:31How to Lead a Meeting
If you’ve ever pitched a business idea in front of a panel, you know there’s always at least one panelist who is a complete pain in the behind. Whether you’re an entrepreneur pitching your new business or a corporate-type pitching a new product idea to an executive committee, you’re always likely to face that one person who is a pain just for the sport of it.
They ask assy questions. They know it all. They sharp-shoot you. They ask things they know you don’t know. They offer ridiculous examples and compare those things to your idea. Heck, in some cases they insult you personally. When these things happen, it’s easy to get rattled, lose focus, and ultimately blow your pitch. The end result is you don’t get approval or win the pitch competition and they walk away smugly laughing about the smoldering pile of ashes they’ve left behind.
There’s good news though – you can defeat these people and in some cases, make them a strong ally. You just have to know what you’re getting yourself into and be sharp during the Q&A period. If you follow these tips, your chances of success go up exponentially. And why should you listen to me? Well, because there have been plenty of times I’ve been that panelist (especially at events like WakeUp StartUp which we hold every month).
Nail Your Pitch
Most idea pitches suck. Yes, I said it. They do. They go on and on and on and on about widgets and blidgets and digits. They are incoherent and lack focus on the problem and the solution. There are 5 reasons your idea pitch sucks. Figure it out. Nail it. It should be clear, concise, and compelling. If you find yourself talking about code, Java, browsers, and other techie stuff or saying things like “I know you guys can’t read this slide but what it says is…” then your pitch probably sucks. If you have a bad pitch, you don’t stand a chance.
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2013-02-25 07:01:212018-07-08 13:08:43How to Deal with Difficult Idea Pitch Panelists
Today’s post is by Gwen Stewart of Outbounding.com. Here’s Gwen…
It doesn’t matter if you’re a freelancer, a small business owner, a successful entrepreneur or a corporate executive in a Fortune 500 company—a business mentor can often provide you with advice, encouragement, or insight, helping to improve your business skills or ensuring that you stay firmly rooted on the path to success. Finding a mentor may seem like a difficult task, but by asking yourself or your proposed mentor a few questions, you’ll be better equipped to determine if that particular individual is well suited to be a great mentor, or if you should keep looking.
1. What Are You Looking For in a Mentor?
This is a question you first need to ask yourself before finding a mentor. Do you need someone to offer you advice on starting your business and keeping it running smoothly? Or would you be better served by a mentor that can offer you encouragement and show you how to stay motivated? Perhaps both? By understanding what your ultimate goals and business objectives are, as well as your strengths and weaknesses, you’ll have a better idea of what you need in a mentor.
2. Does Your Mentor Listen to You?
A good mentor can offer you great advice, but they also need to listen to you. If you are talking to a proposed mentor and feel that they are not really listening to your ideas, questions or concerns, then they might not be the best choice. How can someone help you if they aren’t really listening to you? Sure, they might still possess tons of experience and be able to provide you with good advice, but each business is unique, and you want advice that takes your own business and personal issues into account.
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2013-02-20 13:02:072018-12-28 19:43:097 Questions to Ask When Finding a Mentor
I know a lot of folks who complain about their jobs. They don’t like the work. They don’t like their coworkers. They don’t like their organization’s culture. They feel trapped and stymied by how to make things change. When trapped, they rationalize why they’re staying.
Some folks think they’re indispensable to the organization. They’re the big boss. The head cheese. The big kahuna. In their minds the organization would crumble without them present. Given how important they are, there’s no way they could ever leave their role.
Other people make excuses as to why they can’t leave. “I have unvested stock options worth trillions.” “My long term incentive vests soon. Only 7 more years to go.” “I’m 42 and I’m approaching retirement and social security.”
Regardless of the reasons we give, it’s a bunch of crap.
Look, if the pope can quit, so can you.
He’s the head of a major religion. 1.6 BILLION people ON THE PLANET are in his organization which is several CENTURIES old. It’s been almost SIX HUNDRED YEARS since a pope resigned. His long term incentive includes eternal life and possible sainthood.
Yet, he quit. Poof. Later.
If he can quit his job, so can you. Here’s how to think about it:
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2013-02-18 07:01:142018-07-08 13:02:42If the Pope Can Quit, So Can You
My story is probably not much different from most. Every corporate leader has had an epiphany of one type or another in their lives. It’s what you choose to do with it that will mean something.
My leadership philosophy has developed over 20-plus years as an HR professional, entrepreneur and business owner but not without some serious personal and professional challenge. My corporate life faced struggle after struggle. I was continually surrounded by leaders who simply didn’t ‘get it’. They were disconnected and directive. I was putting too much energy into how to get out of their way rather than producing results.
Don’t Wait for the Flood
Why must we wait for the rains to come before we clean out the gutters? My rains came thick and fast. Literally! I had an epiphany while watching the floodwaters of the 2004 tsunami rise up and engulf the resort where I was staying, all except for my own bungalow. I finally had clarity and realized the need for some personal, inner work.
How could I be a success in the corporate world when everything was a self-destroying battle? It was time to meet myself, breakthrough recurring patterns and start to work from my inner core rather than just put a Band-Aid on yet another outer wound.
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2013-02-06 13:16:362013-11-12 06:22:26First the Epiphany… then Connected Leadership
Warning: this post is a bit of a rant (but does have a story and some practical advice). Does it seem like every day there’s a new pile of “experts” cropping up on every subject imaginable? Social media expert. Blogging expert. Communications expert. Strategy expert. Wingdings font expert. It’s enough to make me gag. Sorry but having a bunch of twitter followers or being at the top of the twitter elite for a podunk little town doesn’t make you a “social media expert.”
Even worse than the seemingly-viral proliferation of these “experts” are the egregious rates they expect for their services. Just because you call yourself an “expert” it doesn’t mean you’re entitled to the fee levels “real experts” charge (then again, if you’re the individual hiring an “expert” and paying them ridiculous fees, I can’t save you from your own insipidness).
Lastly, the worst aspect of these “experts” is the damage they can do to your organization. In some cases I’d love to sue some of these folks for malpractice of the trade they proclaim they’re an expert in.
So how can you as a leader of your organization protect yourself from the damage false experts can cause and how can you find the real experts among that mess? How can you ensure the expert isn’t like the false tailor and you end up like an emperor with no clothes?
It all boils down to asking the right questions. Read more
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2013-02-04 07:02:362013-11-12 06:21:51How to Differentiate Between Experts and Fraudsters
Today’s post is by Paul Smith, author of Lead with a Story (CLICK HERE to get your copy). You can learn more about him at the end of the post. Here’s Paul…
The best lesson I ever learned about financial management came from a guy whose budget I was supposed to keep tabs on. In 1997 I had just taken the job of Finance Manager at manufacturing plant in California. If you’ve ever worked at a high-efficiency plant, you’ll recognize the culture. We measured everything: quality, throughput, inventory, safety, on-time delivery rate, and of course, cost. Every engineer in the plant had a target to hit on multiple metrics and wanted to exceed them all.
With most measures, doing better than expected was a good thing. But with cost, our objective was to spend what we forecast, plus or minus a margin of error. If you spent significantly less than you forecast, it didn’t mean you were great at saving money. It meant you were lousy at forecasting spending. And as the plant Finance Manager, my job was to make sure we delivered our cost forecast—no more, no less.
At one point during my first year, we underspent our forecast several months in a row. I met with the engineers in charge of departments that spent the money, trying to convince them of the importance of forecasting better. I was doing an awful job of it. It just didn’t make sense to them. How could spending less than expected be a bad thing? Explaining that it made me look bad on my performance appraisal didn’t seem to win any sympathy. And my theoretical discussion about the value of keeping financial processes within control limits just drew yawns.
After I exhausted every explanation I could think of, Mitch Weckop stood up. Read more
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2013-01-02 13:08:372018-06-27 13:47:52How Unexpected Savings Can Cost Your Company Millions
I have come to believe that to survive and ultimately thrive we must effectively create partnerships with everyone around us, from family to colleagues to society in general.
The word partner conjures up many connotations, such as collaboration, equality, teamwork, trust, alliance, support and reliability. These are qualities that we look for in both personal and professional relationships. The people we surround ourselves with can often make the difference between failure and survival. It’s not only who we surround ourselves with that matters, but how we interact with them that makes the difference.
The Partnership Principle
Every partnership involves two or more parties who work together to achieve a common purpose or undertake a specific task while sharing risks, responsibilities, resources, competencies and benefits. It’s a voluntary collaborative agreement that must evolve to meet the needs of everyone involved.
Partnerships are powered by synergy, enabling two or more parties to leverage their assets, such as resources, capabilities, expertise, and client base, for the mutual benefit of all.
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2012-12-26 13:03:422012-12-26 13:03:51The Importance of Collaborating with the Right People
This year is almost over so it’s time for the year in review list of the BEST posts we’ve published in 2012. It’s time for the 2012 edition of The Figgies (here are the 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions).
This is an annual event here at the thoughtLEADERS Blog. Here’s how it goes: this list is comprised of our most viewed, most forwarded, quirkiest, most provocative work as judged by you the readers. There’s also a kicker bonus post on the list just for good measure.
Enjoy. Share. We’ve loved writing them. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading them. I don’t ask a lot of you folks so I have two small requests as your holiday gift to me (you are getting me something, right?):
1. Invite all your coworkers, friends, and family to come check out the blog and become readers. The only way we get better is by raising everyone’s game. I’m not asking a lot here. If you found this blog helpful at all this year, here’s your chance to return the favor for all our hard work. Just email folks and tell ’em to come take a look.
2. Pick up a copy of One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful Personal Leadership (especially if you’re looking for last-minute holiday gifts for bosses, team members, or your mom – she’ll love it). Yes – I know I talk a lot about the book but it’s not for the money (I would have made more money if I worked in a sweat shop in Asia making sneakers). I talk a lot about it because I’m evangelical about the topic. Buy it. Read it. In the words of Roland Smith (CEO of Wendy’s) “It could change your life.”
Thanks for your incredible support in ’12 and best wishes for ’13! We hope to be a part of your future success!
Enough preamble. Here’s the best stuff we’ve written all year:
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2012-12-17 07:03:462013-11-11 19:41:32Best of thoughtLEADERS 2012: A 55 Gallon Drum of Awesomesauce
If you ain’t ’bout money, then I don’t mess with y’all
Y’all think I don’t get girls, cause I ain’t very tall
If she see my stacks, I bet you that she calls!
– Krispy Kreme, The Baddest (2012)
All of us want to be happy and fulfilled in our careers. We want to achieve the pinnacle of success and enjoy ourselves while we do it. If you really want to reach that goal, you can learn a few things from the baddest Internet rapper ever: Krispy Kreme.
First, allow me to introduce Krispy:
You’ve gotta give it up for the kid. He rocks (and what can I say about Moneymaker Mike?). Now, once you stop cracking up, I’m going to share a few things you can learn about your own development by following in Krispy’s footsteps.
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2012-10-29 07:01:272018-06-26 20:56:43What a Horrible Web Rapper can Teach You about Personal Development
As leaders, we say we want our people to be empowered and to go out and make decisions. We say we’re okay with them making mistakes and we’ll still support them making decisions on their own.
But not really.
I’m lucky to have a huge leadership lab in the form of the SmartBrief on Leadership weekly pulse poll. Every week I ask a leadership-related question and thousands of people respond to those polls. Sometimes I get a little sneaky and conduct my own experiments over the period of a few weeks. I conducted one of these experiments recently.
First I asked “Would you rather have a team member make decisions and make mistakes or make no decisions and leave that up to you?”
Unsurprisingly, all us empowering leaders were eager to give our team members the latitude to make decisions and make mistakes. 96% of respondents said they’d rather have a team member make a decision even if they make mistakes. A measly 4% of respondents wanted the team to leave all decisions up to them.
I observed we want our team members to take the initiative, take action and move things forward, even if they make mistakes. It is incumbent upon us as leaders to ensure that, when they do make mistakes, we realize we gave them the latitude to take action — handling the mistakes in that context accordingly. While we need to hold them accountable for the mistake, we also need to ensure they learn from it and do so in a way that we don’t make them afraid to make more mistakes in the future. Heck, I believe so strongly in this notion of decision making and empowerment that I dedicated a whole chapter of One Piece of Paper to the topic (grab a copy here and check out Chapter 13).
The following week I conducted the second part of my experiment.
https://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.png00Mike Figliuolohttps://www.thoughtleadersllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo.pngMike Figliuolo2012-10-22 07:01:352018-12-28 19:14:35Go Ahead and Make Mistakes – But Not Really
No, this isn’t a “your mom” joke post. Today I’ll share some thoughts on how to lead like your mom. I’m picking this topic today because it’s a gift for Mom’s birthday (and it’s cheaper than flowers… have you seen FTD’s prices lately?!?). That’s one of my favorite photos of her over there on the left.
