I find that there are many ways to learn. I hope to provide some insight on the ways that I learn, share knowledge, and be a great community citizen to the web.

BUILDING A PERSONAL SCORECARD

A local radio show this morning was having a conversation about using a scorecard for children’s behavior for parents. 

DANGER IN ISOLATION

Some call it JOB SECURITY. Others call protecting intellectual property. Many want to just have the end result perfect before sharing out. There is danger in these ideas and thoughts as they lead to isolationist principles. When we break down isolation in the workplace, many times this is due to self-serving / self-preserving attitudes. Individuals see benefits to this as it provides a perception of worth and security that sometimes is lacking in their jobs. I personally remember thinking it was awesome that I had the “keys” to the source and that only I could make changes. Thankfully, I learned a lesson about being expendable. To that point, workplaces are really starting to frown upon these attitudes because they:

WATCH YOUR TONE WHEN LISTENING

My face said it all. I wasn’t paying attention. How soon can they be finished with their monologue of discontent and discouragement. Lately, I have been observing characteristics of others as they listen or attempt to. Whether it is a meeting or a 1:1 conversation, we all may need to do a little self reflection or at least pretend that someone is recording us. Here are some of the latest visual queues of poor listening that I have seen:

WORK IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT - 10 OBSERVATIONS

I was really looking forward to a breakfast talk about work and worship in downtown Seattle. The cogs of the work engine were grinding and a pleasant change of pace where I could soak in information was just what I needed. I am glad I wasn’t disappointed. Here are 10 key notes in no particular order from that talk: Very few people ever get to work in what they are truly passionate about. Since this is the case, make sure that your motivation is not based upon your passion, but rather values and ethics. Setting a proper context in any conversation is crucial. It is also very difficult. Become practiced in storytelling and the art of setting a stage presence. This will lead to much better communication. Develop your creative practice. It is important that you are open minded and can take in the collective opinions from culture. This will help you to innovate and thrive. Do everything you do as an offering. Do not work for selfish reasons as this work will leave you with a deficit Don’t retreat from your creativity in work. As you retreat, you may leave something very valuable behind. Leaders, commit to your employees. It is your obligation to go to the mountaintop or charge the fortress with them. Don’t be passive. Change happens from the inside. The key thought here is it is a change in personal perspective. When you don’t feel like changing look inward and discover why not. Make sure your work is a slow - steady - obedient practice. This will help to avoid the “short term” gains for the long term sacrifice. Our goal is to find the highest impact work for others. It raises quality, respect and appreciation across the whole team. There is a healthy tension between work and motivation. Motivation should win most of the time, when it doesn’t find something to be motivated about.

THE CALL IS NOT PRIVATE

I am in hot water with my conscience. Don’t ever think that you are just talking to a single person over Skype, Lync, or other online meeting communications and that the conversation is private. As a matter of fact don’t even think that an email is private. I am doing a lot of reflecting on this today, as I participated as a listener in a call without being announced. My conscience bothered me all night and honestly, I didn’t measure up to the ethics and morals that I strongly believe in. Here is some of the damage that listening in did for me:

EMPOWERMENT DURING CHANGE SERIES: LEADING BY SERVING

Everyone must serve somebody, even if it is yourself. As employees, we server our managers or company. As a husband I serve my family.

EMPOWERMENT DURING CHANGE SERIES: LEADING BY LIBERATING

It is almost a certainty that you and the company that you work for will go through a major change. With every change comes fear, doubt, tension, uncertainty, and anxiety.

EMBRACING CULTURE CHANGE IS A CHOICE: LEADERS CAN MAKE IT EASIER

Did you get that memo about shifting the way we work? Have you heard about how the company is focusing in on one mission in the halls? Are you all in to make a difference for a better workplace? Is your answer maybe, or I’ll believe it when I see it? If so you are not alone. Changing a culture is a monumental effort that takes the very essence of what we are today and breaks us with the intent of rebuilding. Leaders must ensure that breaking existing culture is done with care while reshaping and molding the brighter future.

LEADERS CREATE A HARBOR

The storms of work are always around us and can flare up at any time from any direction. In our jobs, hopefully there are sunny warm days with only a few scattered showers. Every so often though we hear the call for “man overboard” or feel the waves filled with pressure crashing in on us. We become overwhelmed, distraught, anxious, and stressed over our work situation. It is times like this when we need our leaders to create a safe harbor for us to reside in.

YOU NEGOTIATED THE PRICE

I hate to admit that I often have felt treated unfairly by my leaders and management. Recently, another person was chosen to attend a meeting that I was clearly entitled to be at, because of course I was the best person to represent. Why would my manager do this to me? Doesn’t she know the value that I could have provided the best insight and value? Pretty arrogant right? I had to swallow my pride and ask for forgiveness.