Juicy Words

Managing Others: Leading By Example

I’ve written a couple of articles that in some way relate to managing other people, and there are two reasons for this:

1. Managing other people is seen as the next step in almost all career paths.
2. Managing other people is one of the hardest skills to master.

In other words, you can never read enough about effectively managing other people. It’s in this line of thinking that I’m going to share with you one of the most important pieces of advice I can give: Lead by example.

Sounds simple enough, but you’d be surprised how often we do something that sends a bad message to our team. Here are three ways that you can send a good message to your team, and consequently make yourself a better team leader.

• First to arrive, Last to leave - In general, you should be the first one to arrive out of your team to work and the last one to leave. This sets a great example for the rest of your team as to the level of your commitment not only to your project but to them. It will really help to set a good work pace, as they can see you working right when they get in up until they leave. Now, this does not always have to apply. For example, if one of your team members needs to work overnight on something, you don’t have to stay with them. However, when you can, you should try to follow this tip.
• Don’t take “Sick” time - Now before you light the torches, let me explain. It’s perfectly fine to take a day off if you actually are sick. What I’m referring to is “Sick” days off, where you might be taking it for another reason (don’t even try to tell me you have never taken one). While in itself this is unacceptable, when you begin to be responsible for others it becomes even more so. You don’t have the liberty of not caring for a day, as people’s jobs could depend on you. What if you’re not there to answer a question and work stops? What if you miss a deadline because of that? This domino effect only gets worse, and it is something you need to think about before you call off.
• The “Bad mouthing” ends - This might be the single most important point of the three. When you are in charge, you need to keep morale as high as you can. This means that “Bad mouthing” other co-workers or your project pretty much ends. Think of it this way: If your manager starts talking about how awful your project is, what are you going to think? If they can’t handle it, how should you be able to? This also applies to your co-workers, especially any on your team. You should never rag on them, so to speak. Your team will take their cues from you, and you need to set a good example. They most likely need to work with these people, and you want that to go smoothly without anybody having any preconceived notions.

Your team performing better can only help you out in the long run. It’s a boon not only to your current project’s success, but to the success of your career as well.

Kevin Augustine is the administrator for Workplace Life - Where Every Cubicle Has a Window. Visit us for helpful articles on common Microsoft Office software such as Microsoft Word and Excel. We also have articles on career management, surviving in the office, professional email tips, and bits of humor to lighten up your day.

Leading Without Integrity - Nu Leadership Series

“A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or regard that quality in its chosen leaders today - and in fact we have forgotten.”

John F. Kennedy

Is it really necessary that a leader be high in integrity? Let’s explore this ethical behavior thought in leaders. Malphurs, author of Values-Driven Leadership, explains that organizational values co-exist on two levels, personal and corporate. On a personal level, individuals have a set of core values that dictate their actions. For organizations, these core values guide the operations.

Let’s examine an application. The movie Training Day, with its urban flavor, depicts a rookie cop teamed up with a seasoned veteran, Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington). The rookie operates under the virtues of the police force (service, integrity, etc.) while Harris doesn’t. Harris’ ruthless nature gives him street credibility, but Harris’ values are at odds with his organizational values. What happens when leaders don’t align with institutional values?

If leaders don’t adhere to God’s moral framework, they can follow Harris’ path. This occurrence can be contrasted by the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5. McGee, biblical author, explains that the works of the flesh are what people do and the Ten Commandments were given to control this sinful nature; however, the Christian life is meant to produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23).

Therefore, leaders must follow God’s framework for establishing honorable institutions. Start today!

References:

Malphurs, A. (1996). Values-Driven Leadership. Grand Rapids, MI: Bakers Books.

McGee, J. (1991). Galatians. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Rokeach, M. (2000). Understanding Human Values. Grand Rapids, MI: Bakers Books.

Qwipster.net (2006). Qwipster’s Movie Review on Training Day. Received on March 22, 2006 at http://www.qwipster.net/trainingday.htm.

© 2006 by Daryl D. Green

Your Blueprint For Business Success

Before you start your own business one of the first things you need to do is draw up your business plan. This is your blueprint for success. Your business plan states the purpose of your business. It never ceases to amaze me that so few businesses have any type of written business plan. Because without one, you have very little, if any, chance of success.

The day-to-day details and problems of running a business will often take your mind away from the prime thrust of your business. This can and should in most cases be eliminated by regularly reviewing your business plan.

Here is what your business plan should include:

* It should describe your business name, locaton, product or service, market, and competition.

* It should state your business goals. This is where you really learn exactly why you are in business.

* It should analyze the market, identify industry trends, and specifically define your target market.

* It should describe your product line and compare your products and/or services with those of your competition.

* It should state your marketing strategy for both creative materials and the type of media you’re going to use.

* It should specify your pricing policy, methods of selling, distributing, and servicing.

Your business plan also deals with many financial matters, such as how much capital is required, how it will be repaid and how funds will be used. It also shows your earning projections and return to investors. Finally, it describes your management plan and includes resumes of your key personel, an operating plan, and a schedule of upcoming work for the next one to three years.

Key business ratios should also be a part of your business plan. And those financial projections I mentioned above should cover five years. Your first year should be monthly and each of the remaining four years should be quarterly. This means detailing the profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow charts, and capital expenditure estimates.

Your business plan serves a dual purpose. It proves to lending institutions and potential investors that a loan to you would be good business. And it helps you and your management staff keep your eyes on your original target. But only if you review it periodically each year. Your business plan is a valuable part of your business. Use it to stay on track because it is your blueprint for success.

All contents Copyright 2004 Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and achieve total success. Joe’s work in personal development focuses on helping his clients identify hidden marketable assets that create windfall opportunities, as well as sound personal happiness and peace.

Joe can be reached at: joe@jlmandassociates.com

Read more articles and newsletters at: http://www.jlmandassociates.com/

Time Management Mastery

From Potential to Performance

One of the great things about life is that we can realistically be or do anything we choose to. This includes being a good time manager! We must believe that we can be a good time manager - that we have the potential. Unfortunately, many people say, “Well, I am just a poor time manager,” as if it was ingrained in their DNA. The truth is that anyone can be a great time manager, if they choose to go from potential to performance.

So, how do we do this? Here is a simple 7 part process:

1. Believe that you can become a good time manager

2. Inventory where your time is currently being spent

3. Determine what your life values are - what do you view as important, what do you want to accomplish?

4. Set time priorities that will move you toward living out your values

5. Develop a system of scheduling that works best for you, not a time management conglomerate

6. Learn to say “no” to things that are not part of your priorities moving you toward your values - exercise your power to choose

7. Do what is in your new schedule

These simple steps, if you apply them, will take you from having the potential to be a good time manager to true time management mastery and performance!

About The Author:

Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of
Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn
their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and
achieve their dreams.

To see Chris “live” at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on
the subject of Secrets of Influence go to
http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.

Effective Meetings by Phone - Part 1, How to Plan a Teleconference

Teleconferences can be a boon or a bust. On the positive side, they allow people at
different locations to attend meetings without having to travel. On the negative side,
they can degenerate into frustrating struggles with uncontrolled babble. This occurs
because people lack visual contact, which hinders effective communication and
provides opportunities to misbehave.

Here’s how to set up an effective meeting by phone.

1) Plan a simple meeting. Ideally, the meeting should last less than 30 to 45
minutes. People are unable to concentrate on long phone calls. They become tired.
Their attention drifts. They need to take a break. Design your meeting so that it is
short and to the point. That way everyone can focus on the issues and participate
effectively.

2) Write out your goal for the meeting. Then make sure that this statement truly
represents the result that you want to have at the end of the meeting. Lack of a
clear, well-stated goal is the second biggest cause of bad meetings. Next check if a
teleconference is the best way to obtain that goal. Cancel the meeting if you can
achieve the goal with any other approach, such as by sending a memo, making a
single phone call, or thinking through a solution by yourself.

3) Prepare an agenda. A teleconference without an agenda is like a journey without a
map — in the dark. Without an agenda, you will lose control and waste time. Your
agenda should include the goal for the meeting and detailed instructions for each
part of the meeting. It should be so complete and specific that someone else could
use it to run your meeting.

4) Distribute the agenda at least a day before the meeting. This allows everyone to
think about your issues and prepare for their participation. If appropriate (e.g., for
controversial or complex issues) call key participants to confirm that they received
the agenda and to check if they have comments on how the meeting could be made
more effective. Use this as an opportunity to listen their ideas, instead of to work on
the issues or argue with them.

5) Distribute any materials related to the issues before the meeting. This includes
outlines, blueprints, schematics, product brochures, and data. Then, the
participants can use these tools to participate more effectively. For example, they
can follow an outline, look at diagrams, or read data during the meeting. This helps
compensate for the lack of visual contact in a teleconference.

6) Invite only those who can directly contribute to the meeting. Ideally, this should
be fewer than eight people. If you invite more people, it becomes very difficult to
hold an effective meeting. With a larger group, some of the attendees will become
lost as silent listeners, which is a waste of their time. You can always send a copy of
the minutes to the people who need to know about the work accomplished during
the meeting.

A teleconference is more than a phone call. It is a meeting. And a meeting is a
business activity that should be driven by a well thought out goal supported by a
detailed plan. With proper planning, your teleconferences will distinguish you as an
effective leader.

- - - - -

IAF Certified Professional Facilitator and author Steve Kaye helps groups of people
hold effective meetings. His innovative workshops have informed and inspired
people nationwide. His facilitation produces results that people will support. And his
books show how to hold effective meetings. Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.stevekaye.com.

Call 714-528-1300 or visit his web site for over
100
pages of
valuable ideas.

Time is of Essence When Managed

When time is managed wisely, it brings forth a spirited attitude that we so much desire as human beings. There is not a single person in the entire world that can say “I hate feeling good about myself.” If there is such a person, don’t bother to read this article. Well, if you missed the point here, let me fill you in by letting you know that motivation is the key to productive time management schemes that lead to success.

Motivation is the ingredient required to make smart decisions. Our motivation is often backed by intuitions that let us know if something is wrong. Likewise, our intuition let us know when things are right. Our motivation and intuition ties into time management, which includes financial obligations and decisions…when we own or work within a business and have obligations that include financial responsibility, it is never good to lack confidence.

In today’s fast-paced world, we need to know the importance of financial obligations and stay aware by discerning how finance keys into our business success. When we make financial decisions, we must consider all aspects of purchases that affect our business. A strong influential leader in a business will recognize and keep an eye on financial statements in the building and outside of the building. Financial obligations are a strong point in time management. If we make bad decisions, it will only hold us back, and drive us to modify our current time management plan, changing it sometimes dramatically, but it affects our entire outlook.

Our future is cultivated by our actions, plans, motivations, thoughts, and so on. If we are not working all the components in harmony, guess what…your time management scheme is most likely going to fail. Financial obligations and decisions can make or break us, but for the most part, if we are motivated to do what is right, we often make wise decisions. Keeping an open mind and thinking positive develops a strong being, who generally strives to do better. We all set goals, which is a part of time management, so therefore a wise person will definitely set goals that suits everyone’s needs, including the productivity of the business. We all have the desire to feel good about ourselves.

To understand how we can develop our motivation is strictly by adhering to our intuitions, which guide us through the path of life. Obviously if you work at a job that requires your skills, education, and abilities to handle the financial obligations and decisions then someone already trusts you. Therefore, when you are making a financial decision and your motivation or intuitions are reluctant, then it is obviously the decision may not be in your best interest. On the other hand, if your intuitions and motivations are assuring your confidence on a financial decision, then move forward. If you have, doubts consult with another responsible member in your business. The ultimate rule of thumb is “when in doubt, do without.’

For more great free resources on how to manage your time visit Gabae Time Management.

Also for more informative articles on time management visit Gabae Time Management Articles.