Posts Tagged ‘High-Performance Culture’

Renegotiate Before the Breakdown

Monday, November 29th, 2010

* Transcription

Thank God it’s Monday!™ It’s a busy day in the office. John just set a mountain of papers on your desk and you agreed to look over them. You told Gary that you’d have the report to him by mid-afternoon, and… well, you haven’t started. Then to add to the load, you’re a million emails behind.

By the looks of it, there are three directions you can take. Most easily, you can give up. Make no attempt, because these tasks are so overwhelming. Alternatively, you can work. And by work I mean in-the-zone, can’t-stop-me type work.

So you step up and choose the second option, but nonetheless realize that you physically cannot bring these projects to completion. So you go the third route: renegotiate before you miss the deadline.

It is all about living your word and maintaining a clear and direct line of communication. Approach the person who assigned the task and propose an alternative deadline. Having done all that you can do, chances are that they will be fine with the change.

It’s not missing the deadline that typically puts people on edge—though repeatedly doing so is a huge issue. Rather, it is the surprise of a missed deadline that is troublesome. Keep your integrity and live your word by renegotiating before the breakdown.

Have a great Monday!

Roxanne

Roxanne Emmerich’s Thank God It’s Monday! How to Create a Workplace You and Your Customers Love climbed to #1 on Amazon’s bestseller list and made the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists—all in the first week of its release. Roxanne is renowned for her ability to transform “ho-hum” workplaces into dynamic, results-oriented, “bring-it-on” cultures. If you are not currently receiving the Thank God It’s Monday e-zine and weekly audios, subscribe today at www.ThankGoditsMonday.com.

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Who Else Wants to Get More Accomplished in Less Time?

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

People make “to-do” lists. That’s great. But try this tip that successful people do: They make “get-rid-of lists.”

Decide to get rid of the things that aren’t creating the best ROI for every minute of your time and every dollar you invest.

Things that could and should be on your list include: vendors that need to go, products that overstayed the party, employees who make you want to stop being an employer, mindsets you have that hold you back, mindsets your team members have that need to go, old systems that haven’t been challenged—you name it, anything that you wouldn’t want to start over should probably go.

New results don’t come with old methodologies, old thinking, or other clutter that keeps you stuck in yesteryear. Get out the shovel and clean house!

TGIM e-zine: September 27, 2010

Monday, September 27th, 2010

Issue 97 ~ September 27, 2010

In this Issue:

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Transform your team from “snooze-button hitters” to “rock-star performers” and create a buzz-worthy environment your clients will love. Sign up today and receive the TGIM e-zine and Roxanne’s weekly one-minute audio every Monday morning!

Ring the Bell or Forget It!

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

© Milous Chab | Dreamstime.com

Change CAN happen if only some of your staff are on board. Engines can also run on three cylinders. But the result is nothing to crow about.

In order for an organization to have a huge and profound transformation, EVERY manager must vote in with their full heart—must pick up that hammer and ring the bell, every time.

There are reasons people head into a new initiative halfheartedly. So you have to ask for extreme honesty—ask each member of your team to go far beyond lip service as they answer this question: On a scale of 1 to 10, how committed are you to a breakthrough?

Most people will give an answer somewhere between 7 (“pretty committed”) and 10 (“committed out of my friggin’ mind”). A seven from any member of your team might just as well be a three for all the good it will do you. Anything less than 10 gives that person a place to hide, an escape clause, a reason to fail. “I wasn’t that committed anyway,” goes the tune.

And it just won’t do.

If anyone gives an answer other than 10, congratulate their honesty, then find out why. Some people will say, “I don’t have enough time,” or “Well, I don’t know. Explain breakthrough,” or “I’m a practical person. I can’t commit until I know EXACTLY what I’m committing to.” For each answer below a 10, you need to help them understand why their answer will end up hurting the rest of the management team because they must be a unified voice for a major breakthrough to happen.

Make it clear that the breakthrough you seek is not an extra credit assignment, above and beyond the job. It IS the job. “I don’t have time for the breakthrough” means “I don’t have time for my job.”

Watch out as well for those who say “10” but mean something else. I remember seeing this played out hilariously once in a leadership meeting. The CEO had zeroed in on one poor schlub named Roger. When asked what he would be on the scale, Roger had mumbled, “Well, I suppose I’d have to be a 10.”

The entire boardroom burst out laughing. It was the least 10-ish tone of voice anyone had ever heard.

“That doesn’t sound like a 10 to me,” said the boss. “Let’s try that again.”

“Okay,” said Roger. “I guess the only right answer is 10.”

Again the room went to pieces with laughter. Even Roger smiled. He explained that he wasn’t really sure what the transformation was all about.

After every other member of the team had chimed in with enthusiastic explanations of what the transformation was about and how much they believed in Roger’s ability to rise to the challenge, he was asked again. And this time, he answered with conviction: “I’m a ten!”

Once everyone is fully on board at the highest level, willing to go the distance AND to hold each other accountable, there will be nothing in Heaven or Earth to stop you from achieving the profound and lasting transformation you need and deserve.

TGIM e-zine: September 13, 2010

Monday, September 13th, 2010

Issue 95 ~ September 13, 2010

In this Issue:

Not signed up for the TGIM e-zine?
Transform your team from “snooze-button hitters” to “rock-star performers” and create a buzz-worthy environment your clients will love. Sign up today and receive the TGIM e-zine and Roxanne’s weekly one-minute audio every Monday morning!