What if you really listened to understand? Now I mean, really listened to understand what that person is thinking and feeling and why.
Our society has moved to a dangerous part of history where we have powerful narratives and beliefs about how things need to be, and we get dogmatic and sink into what we believe as opposed to being very curious about why someone thinks differently.
We often believe that “our truth” is “the” truth.
(more…)Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embracing who you are. Your leadership is correlated to your willingness to be vulnerable and real.
When we put up a façade as we walk into the office, people don’t buy it anyway. If instead, we become authentic and talk about our challenges and where we need to grow, and we “cough up the proverbial fur ball,” people support us because we’re being authentic.
Let go of the façade. You don’t need to wear a mask when you come into the office every day. Instead, step into your authenticity, and be the leader who’s willing to be vulnerable and real. Watch how people will support you in making your dreams come true.
Business is filled with obstacles that we need to overcome and get through. The only thing that really works is an inner drive with complete commitment along with innovation and an unstoppable approach.
Obstacles will happen every day. When they see an obstacle, many people begin to craft their story of why the obstacle is the reason they can’t get the result. “Well, I was going to accomplish this, but then this happened, so I couldn’t accomplish it.”
(more…)Most people don’t communicate enough. They don’t tell you where things are at with that project. They don’t tell you what’s going on with different pieces. They don’t tell you, “Hey, I’m behind on something.”
Be an over-communicator. In other words, tell everybody that’s impacted by anything you’re doing what’s going on so that they know what’s going on. Do it in effective ways. Don’t bomb their email account with a whole bunch of different emails, but, instead, say, “Hey, guys, I’m way ahead on this. I’m behind on these six things. Here’s what I’m doing about these pieces. Here’s how this could impact this particular piece. Here’s how I’m communicating to them.”
When you overcommunicate, you show to other team members that you care and that you are on it, on it, and you want to be that person that’s perceived as being on it. So we know you’re going to get behind. We know you’ll make mistakes. Overcommunicate the status of where you’re at, and people will go home at night in a restful state, knowing that there will be no surprises.
Shame needs three things to grow out of control in our lives: secrets, silence, and judgment. Guilt and shame are just permission to do the same things all over again.
So, when you’ve made a mistake and you’ve missed the target, simply say: “I blew it, and here are the things I’m going to do to recover. Here’s my massive corrective action plan.” Covering up when something didn’t go well is only going to get you into more trouble. Guilt and shame will just repeat a pattern.
Know that you’ll blow it, know you’ll make mistakes, and know that it’s okay. Nobody’s going to hold that against you. Instead, live with power, and whenever you make a mistake, own it, own up to it, and communicate it to others along with your massive corrective action plan.