Tag: Leadership

When Solutions Create Problems

“The greatest intellectual discovery of this generation is that the real cause of problems is solutions.” Eric Sevareid.

1. Prohibition (1920-1933) helped organized crime develop.
2. Social media was supposed to strengthen connections.
3. Overuse of antibiotics leads to superbugs.
4. Email causes inefficiencies.

Overcome the danger of solutions:

#1. Walk around the problem:

Three blind men come across an elephant.  

The first man happens upon its leg and says it’s a tree.

The second man bumps into its trunk and shouts it’s a snake.

The last blind man feels its tail and exclaims it’s a broom.

When problems are elephants, walk around before trying to solve them.

#2. Avoid anchoring bias.

“… we can be blind to the obvious and we are also blind to our blindness.” Daniel Kahneman

1. Walk around the elephant with others. Ask them to define the problem.
2. Ask, “What problem are you solving,” when someone brings you a solution.
3. Ask, “What are we missing?”
4. Use the Five Whys approach.

Your vehicle won’t start.

1. Why? – The battery is dead.
2. Why? – The alternator is not functioning.
3. Why? – The alternator belt has broken.
4. Why? – The alternator belt was well beyond its useful service life and not replaced.
5. Why? – The vehicle was not maintained according to the recommended service schedule. (Root cause)

“Our comforting conviction that the world makes sense rests on a secure foundation: our almost unlimited ability to ignore our ignorance.” Kahneman

#3. Confront confirmation bias.

You’re a genius in your own mind. You don’t have stupid ideas intentionally. We search for reasons we’re right not for reasons we’re wrong.

We don’t see our own stupidity until it smacks us in the face.

1. Ask, “What if I’m wrong?”
2. Explore assumptions. What do you assume will happen if you implement your solution? What needs to be true for your solution to work?
3. Sleep on it.
4. Develop three solutions before choosing one.

How might solutions cause problems for leaders?

Still curious:

The Five Faces of Curiosity

Dangerous Solutions

5 Things to Do When Pedaling Faster Doesn’t Work

John David Mann and I invite you to checkout our new book, The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership.

Continue reading

5 Powerful Ways to Release Negativity

Negativity comforts defeat.

1. There’s no use trying.
2. It doesn’t matter what you do.
3. It seems like the harder you try the worse things get. Just stop trying.

Defeatists get it right eventually.

Bad stuff happens. Small problems escalate into crisis. Predicting troubles is useful, but it doesn’t fuel success. Greatness includes self-confidence.

Wallowing is defeat.

Negativity:

1. Blocks achievement.
2. Limits potential.
3. Undermines happiness.
4. Stifles learning.
5. Pollutes environments.
6. Drains motivation.
7. Saps energy.

Leaders believe they can make a difference.

5 powerful ways to release negativity:

#1. Own your own darkness.

You can’t fix what you don’t own. Own your negativity but don’t excuse it. Get over saying, “I’m not a pessimist, I’m just a realist.”

#2. Embrace useful pessimism.

Use problems, resistance, choke points, and adversity to inform plans. Devise strategies and solutions.

#3. Cultivate self-belief.

Confidence reinforces positive attitudes. Self-doubt energizes negativity. If you feel incapable, believe you can become capable.

Confidence transforms “I can’t” into “I’ll learn.”

#4. Stop fabricating negative stories. 

Pessimism fabricates dark stories when it doesn’t know the facts. Get the facts rather than feeding negativity with dark speculations.

#5. Establish aggressive deadlines.

Long timelines are the swamps of negative speculations. Aggressive – yet achievable deadlines – lead you away from speculation to action.

Action answers anxiety.

Bonus: Focus on what you want rather than what you don’t want.

How can negative people develop positive attitudes?

Still curious:

How to Overcome Negative Thoughts

15 Reasons Positive Leaders Seem Negative

Here’s a book: The Power of Bad and How to Overcome It.

John David Mann and I invite you to checkout our new book, The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Continue reading

7 Questions to Create a Bold Vision

Somewhere along the journey vision gets blurred. We hack away at life without knowing what we really want.

You need a destination – a bold vision – to get where you want to go.

Bold vision is a target:

There’s always a bit of aimless wandering in life. But there are powerful moments of clarity when we imagine a possible future.

Begin with what you don’t want.

When I ask people what they want, they invariably tell me what they don’t want. Narrow your field of vision by getting ‘don’t wants’ out of your system.

Don’t camp out in Don’t-Want.

Paint a picture of your bold vision:

“Paint a picture of the life you want that is so vivid someone else can see it.” Wendy Leshgold

‘How’ gets in the way of ‘what’. First, focus on what you want, even while your inner voice yells, “You don’t know how to do that.”

Don’t let ‘how’ beat down your vision.

You won’t know how to achieve the life you want in the beginning. Paint your future in vivid colors anyway.

Bold vision exercise:

Ask yourself 7 questions to clarify your bold vision (From the book, Fast Forward). Limit your perspective to one year from now.

1. What are you known for?
2. What were your professional outcomes?
3. How would you describe the culture of your team or company?
4. What were your personal outcomes?
5. How did you grow and improve?
6. What is your outlook on life?
7. How would you describe the quality of your important relationships?

What suggestions do you have for creating a bold vision?

Many of the books on my shelf represent conversations with smart people. I’ve had many since the beginning of Leadership Freak. I had one yesterday with Wendy Leshgold. This post is inspired by that conversation and the book Fast Forward.

Dig deeper:

Wendy Leshgold and Lisa McCarthy wrote Fast Forward to help people create the life they want. They describe five power principles to create the life you want. This post focuses on principle #1 – Declare a Bold Vision

Like this:

Like Loading…

Continue reading

After Giving Tough Feedback Good Bosses Do 5 Things

Bosses think, “I’m kicking you in the pants and I want you to like it.”

Bosses call it constructive feedback. Maybe it feels like a punch to the face?

People bleed after tough feedback. Maybe you are the 20% who stand up, salute, and joyfully shout, “Kick me again, please!” But *80% either actively or passively look for new employment.

I prefer a pat on the head to a punch to the face.

Think back to corrective feedback you have received. How did you feel? Angry, embarrassed, discouraged, hurt, resentful, confused, ashamed, defensive. Did you complain to others? Did you sulk at work?

5 things great bosses do after giving tough feedback:

1. Monitor responses.

If you’re not concerned about responses, you should be. Are shoulders drooping? Maybe it’s anger or resentment. Don’t judge. Don’t pretend everything’s OK. Just notice.

2. Provide space.

Corrective feedback stirs up stress. Stress makes you stupid, moody, negative, and unproductive. Stress-inducing feedback shrinks your brain. Give people a few days to lick their wounds.

3. Approach with empathy.

Tell a story about when you felt hurt and angry after receiving tough feedback.

“Hey, Mary. Maybe you don’t feel this way, but I felt angry and resentful after receiving tough feedback. It hurt.” Be specific and let people glimpse your frailty.

Gently ask, “What’s going on for you?”

Listen to their response. Acknowledge. Don’t probe too deep.

4. Turn forward.

Acknowledge negative responses.

Remid them of their aspirations. Good bosses know people’s aspirations.

Gently ask, “How would you like to serve your future self right now?” Or

“What will move you toward your aspirations?”

5. Offer support.

Let people know they matter to you. You’re counting on them. Don’t offer to do their job. Don’t pretend it doesn’t hurt. Ask, “How can I help?”

What do good bosses do after delivering tough feedback?

Dig deeper:

Refresh your awareness of stress: How to Move from Stupid to Smart when You’re Stressed

Give feedback skillfully: 3 Ways to Give Feedback that Works

*Why Employees Are Fed Up With Feedback

Like this:

Like Loading…

Continue reading

Grapple with Fear and Live Boldly

A person oblivious to fear doesn’t enjoy the thrill of achievement. But anxiety gone mad rejects exploring all together.

Fear makes us like, “the farmer is endeavoring to solve the problem of a livelihood by a formula more complicated than the problem itself.” (Apologies to Henry David Thoreau for misapplying a brilliant sentence.)

Simplicity offends anxiety. Complexity comforts fear by providing excuses to play it safe.

Fear endorses:

1. Inaction.
2. Avoidance.
3. Conformity.
4. Self-doubt.
5. Withdrawal.
6. Negative self-talk.
7. Procrastination.

“It’s ruinous to be anxious about the future and miserable in advance of misery.” Seneca

Fearless:

You might blow yourself up if you were fearless. But imagine living boldly.

#1. Bold flexibility.

Confidence steps into uncertainty prepared to adapt. Anxiety requires perfection. Perfectionists live small lives.

#2. Realistic decision-making.

Dread lives to avoid. Courage seizes opportunities.

Stop living to prevent things from happening.

What future can you create today?

#3. Deep insight.

My wife planted a small garden this spring. She comes in some days saying, “Next year I’m not going to plant herbs in the garden.” Or, “We need to stake the tomatoes better next year.”

Inaction gives the illusion of knowledge. Action promotes insight.

The person with dirt under their nails really knows.

Act boldly today:

#1. Don’t visualize success.

Visualize the steps toward success.

You can visualize a garden all you want but nothing happens until you get dirty.

#2. Forget about bold moves.

When anxiety has you by the throat make a series of small moves. If you don’t die keep making small moves.

#3. Reject the myth of quick success.

Embrace effortful effort.

#4. Jettison the need to feel confident.

Our need to feel confident while filled with anxiety multiplies discouragement. Embrace lack of confidence. “Well, hello there Mr. Anxiety. I’ve been expecting you. Fasten your seatbelt. We’re moving forward.”

What are some ways to tap into boldness?

Still curious:

The Real Advantage of Fear and Anxiety in Leadership

7 Ways to Find Graceful Boldness

What is the Function of Fear in Leadership?

John David Mann and I invite you to pre-order our new book, The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Continue reading

The Ripple Effect: Understand How Consequences Work

Consequences mean actions matter. Even painful consequences reinforce the potency of our actions. Some actions deliver immediate consequences.

Consequences: immediate payment:

You get burned when you touch a hot stove. Confronting an angry person results in hostility. Disrespectful jokes wreck relationships.

Immediate effect provides learning opportunities. You think I won’t do that again.

Life is better when you avoid harmful actions.

Application: Provide prompt feedback.

Consequences: compounding interest:

Some actions are like compounding interest, they provide escalating impact. You get away with neglecting exercise and eating unhealthy food until heart problems smack you down.

The trouble with compounding interest on mistakes is…

1. You don’t notice it at first.
2. It demands radical intervention the longer you wait.
3. Damage eventually becomes catastrophic.

Application:

#1. Investing in your future is undramatic. Taking a course or learning a new skill is less dramatic than touching a hot stove.

#2. Include a long-term perspective during self-evaluation.

1. What long-term advantages accrue to your account based on recent behaviors?
2. What does your future look like based on current patterns of behavior?
3. How did you advantage the future of others last week?

#3. Consistency magnifies impact.

Wise decisions accrue advantage slowly. Going to the gym once won’t make a difference. A kind word spoken once won’t build a reputation for compassion.

Reputation is the way people assess the patterns in your life.

Notice the ripple effect:

Action is a smoke screen when it prevents self-reflection. I prefer busyness to reflecting on the impact of my actions on myself or others.

It’s dangerous to act without reflection Consider the trajectory of your actions.

How can you serve your future self today?

What behaviors bring advantage to others?

Still curious:

How You Have Inescapable Impact

The Boomerang Effect: The Dark Side of Enthusiasm

Building Your Reputation

Like this:

Like Loading…

Continue reading

While waiting in the drive through line at Starbucks this morning, I noticed a man helping his small son out of the back of his SUV. When the little boy emerged, he was wearing a full astronaut suit, complete with the most realistic helmet complete with tinted visor I’ve ever seen.

I gave the young astronaut a thumbs up, and his dad looked at me and shrugged, suggesting he had no idea what possessed his son to dress up like a space man today.

What were you possessed to do differently when you work up today?

I admire that kid’s sense of possibility. When you are that age, any day can be an adventure, and you can choose whatever you want to be.

What happens to us in the intervening years between youth and adulthood is routine. We get in habits, some good, some bad, and our routine become relatively fixed.

Rarely–actually never–do I wake up and say, today I’m going to be an astronaut. It would be particularly odd to see an adult dressed that way going into Starbucks. Of course that’s not my point.

What I learned today is to revisit my sense of possibility more often. To continue to be a responsible adult but not bounded by a rare re-examined routine.

While we might not have the opportunity to be anything we want when we wake up each day, we do have the opportunity to do something different, learn something new and have a little bit more fun.

Or as Buzz Lightyear might say, “To infinity and beyond.”

Mark Sanborn is motivational keynote speaker and Leadership Expert in Residence at High Point University, the Premier Life Skills University. His teaches leaders and teams how to be extraordinary. For more information about his work, visit www.marksanborn.com. 

Author: Mark Sanborn

Mark holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association (NSA) and is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. He was recently honored with the Cavett Award, the highest honor the NSA bestows on its members, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the speaking profession. In 2020, Global Gurus named Mark the #5 Leadership Authority in the world.

Continue reading

Yes is Better Than No

The law of holes, “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”

No is a hole. Yes is a door.

5 ways to live into yes:

#1. Focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have.

1. Progress is built on using what you have.
2. Current strengths are the foundation of future abilities.

Don’t worry about what others have. Use what you have.

Show up saying, “I see what we don’t have. What do we have?”

#2. Live beyond, “I can’t do that.”

1. Stop comparing yourself with the achievements of others. It’s self-defeating.
2. Set lower goals. Find something that feels achievable if you’re a can’t-do-person. Try doing one push-up, for example.

Show up asking, “What’s the easiest thing to do next?”

#3. Shift from limits to opportunities.

1. Practice gratitude.
2. Help someone else. There’s always a place for someone who shows up to serve.
3. Notice negative self-talk.

Show up saying, “I see what we can’t do. What can we do?”

#4. Adopt a “next-step” approach.

1. Turn to the present. Don’t look up the hill. Take the next step.
2. Think about ability, not weakness.
3. Put energy into action. Jettison rumination.
4. Visualize the next step. Let go your need to win.

Just take the next step. Passivity makes us pathetic.

Show up asking, “What’s the next step?”

#5. Notice something that’s right.

1. Reflect on what is right more frequently than wallowing in what is wrong.
2. Go on a what’s-working-walkabout.  

Show up to ask, “What’s working?”

No is a necessary part of life. How can we live into yes?

Still curious:

The BIG YES Accelerates Leadership

The Power to Say No

Law of holes – Wikipedia

Like this:

Like Loading…

Continue reading

Organizational Structure: A Living Dog is Better than a Dead Lion

A coaching client said, “We need to adapt our organizational structure every two years.”

Organizational structure adapts because:

1. Customers change.
2. Products evolve.
3. Business expands or shrinks.
4. Complexity surges.
5. Regulations shift.
6. New talent takes leadership.
7. Technology improves.

Dead structure means people waste energy stumbling over trivialities.

Dynamic organizations create living structures.

Dynamic structure:

Effective structure enables people to flourish and contribute. Useful structure enables conversations about vision, goals, and tasks. Is your organizational structure closed and cumbersome?

Beneficial structure facilitates decision-making. How many people need to sign off before someone buys a pencil?

Positive structures promote collaboration. Cross-functional communication enables people to pool their skills and perspectives and maximize resources. How well do teams work together for the common good?

Positive structure provides channels for growth, accountability, and performance. Is high performance rare or normal?

10 questions for building dynamic organizational structure:

1. How can we responsibly foster freedom with constraint?
2. What could we simplify?
3. How could we eliminate layers?
4. How could we push decisions to the lowest level?
5. What makes high performance likely from a structural perspective? What hinders it?
6. How does organizational structure reflect our beliefs and goals?
7. What is the best ratio between collaboration and control?
8. What makes us believe our structure enables people to flourish?
9. What is essential to protect?
10. What kinds of conversations does our structure promote?

What questions enable leaders to build dynamic structures for their businesses?

Still curious:

How to Build Environments Where Teams Thrive and Talent Wins

7 Types of Organizational Structures

John David Mann and I invite you to pre-order our new book, The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Continue reading

What to Do When You Disagree with Leadership

Complexity, turbulence, ambiguity, and uncertainty are the environment of painful decisions. Upper management may seem short-sighted, self-serving, and out of touch.

At some point you will disagree with leadership in your organization.

Disagreements shape life.

Temper resistance:

Pushing against leadership is like carrying hot coals in your pockets. You get burned, they don’t.

The pursuit of clarity is perceived as resistance when done poorly.

Ask questions with openness. Reflect on the big picture. Explore issues with humility. Enter conversations with a view toward organizational success.

10 questions to ask yourself when you disagree with leaders:

1. What is the impact on your attitude when you reflect on your entire history with this organization?
2. What do you want for yourself, your team, your organization?
3. What are the downsides of their decision?
4. What advantages can you list? (Think short and long-term.)
5. What concerns you most?
6. What is within your control?
7. If you express disagreement, what do you hope to accomplish?
8. How likely is it that you will be able to influence decisions?
9. Can you support upper management’s decision even when you disagree?
10. How will you best serve your team and yourself in the short-term?

5 questions to ask when you disagree with leaders:

1. What led to this decision?
2. What alternatives were considered?
3. What risks are you concerned about? Internal and external?
4. What is the timeline for reviewing this decision?
5. What are the best ways for me to express disagreement? Support?

Build team culture:

You can’t control everything, but you can control the way you build positive energy during turbulence.

When upper management’s decisions drain the life out of people…

1. Don’t pretend it’s easy.
2. Communicate positive intentions. “We will support each other and thrive in a challenging situation.”
3. Avoid us/them thinking.
4. Open your mouth to make things better.
5. Keep moving forward.

What should managers do when they disagree with leadership?

Still curious:

20 Ways to Disagree with your Boss

Facing the Fires of Disagreement, Improvement, and Destructive Criticism

12 leaders’ tips for respectfully disagreeing with your boss

Like this:

Like Loading…

Continue reading