Use this self-assessment to be your own best leader
2-page self-assessment – 355KB Here’s a new download that’s perfect for reflection and planning. It’s a quick-take self-assessment for individuals who want to become better leaders and managers – of themselves. Use it to take stock of strengths, sources of inspiration and engagement, learning needs, recharge opportunities, and more. The fill-in sections are all on page 1. Detailed guidance is on page 2. Feel free to download, print, and circulate it among colleagues. We call it IMAP, for Individual Management Action Plan. But don’t let the word “individual” fool you, because it works especially well with groups. It’s an easy but eye-opening exercise that prompts good dialogue and discovery. Have team members use it on their own – then get together to share key findings. They’ll find plenty of common ground. They’ll learn new and important things about each other. They’ll even uncover ways to help each other – in ways that benefit individuals and the team. Download the 2-page self-assessment (PDF 355KB) This download is for e-letter subscribers • Sign up for the free Next Level...
Read MoreReality check: Are you doing all you can to earn trust?
5-page self-assessment – 1.1MB We know that trust is crucial to teamwork. We know it’s reciprocal: When you give it, you get it. We know that trust-building takes time. But what about you when it comes to trust? Are you doing everything you can to earn trust and build a trust-filled work environment? Click here for a self-assessment that can serve as a quick reality check. It’s in PDF format, so feel free to print it and fill it out for your own benefit. Too often, trust is talked about in vague generalities. And sometimes our thoughts about trust are all about what we wish others would do to earn our trust. This self-assessment is different. It gets specific, it focuses on behaviors, and it serves as an important look in the mirror. So take a few minutes for this – and get practical insights into what you can do to turn up the trust at work. Download the 5-page self-assessment (PDF 1.1MB) This download is for e-letter subscribers • Sign up for the free Next Level...
Read MoreAre you sure you know your greatest strengths?
This should be easy: Name your top three or so greatest strengths. Got ’em? Are you sure? Are you really sure? Most people think they know the standout strengths they bring to the workplace. But the truth is, most people never get a full and accurate accounting – and many people go through life never knowing the best of what they bring to the table. Why? Because we’re too close to ourselves to be objective. Because we can be too humble. Because we might be a tad cynical. Because our strengths may have morphed into habits that we now take for granted. The reasons are many and varied. So try something different. Ask three or so co-workers what they see as your strengths. You don’t need some special meeting for this. Keep it informal and just ask. You’ll be pleasantly surprised and thoroughly informed by their answers. Will they think your inquiry is strange? Sure they will, at first. But within five minutes, they’ll be asking you to tell them their strengths. By Tom Terez • Contact Follow...
Read MoreCivility At Work: 20 Ways to Build a Kinder Workplace
People who get along at work get more done and have more fun – and who doesn’t want that, right? So scan this list, share it with colleagues, and bring it to life. 1. Say what you mean, and mean what you say. There’s no substitute for authentic communication. 2. Be less inclined to give advice – and more inclined to seek it. 3. Resist the urge to jump to conclusions about people and their motives. Go to the source, get the facts, and then decide. 4. Identify the biggest redeeming quality of that person who’s always driving you crazy. Keep it in mind the next time the two of you interact. 5. When greeting a colleague, skip the mindless how-ya-doin’. Ask a question that shows genuine interest. 6. Go out of your way to say thank you. Sincere appreciation is powerful stuff – it’s feedback, recognition, and respect all wrapped in one. 7. If you’re overdue in showing gratitude, make up for lost time. Contact everyone who’s owed thanks, and let them know how much you appreciate their help. 8. When credit and compliments come your way, spread them to all who helped. If you think you’re solely responsible for that honored achievement, think again. 9. Promise only what you can deliver. If what you deliver falls short, explain why. 10. When things go wrong, resist the urge to assign blame. It’s the system that usually fails, so fix the system, not the people. 11. Widen your social circle. If you always go to lunch with the same group, invite someone new. 12. Give a gift for no reason. If you work with nature lovers, order some plants or flowers. If the group has a chronic sweet tooth, get a few candy dishes and keep them full. 13. When a rumor reaches your ear, let it go out the other. 14. Step down from the treadmill of daily tasks and have an inefficient chat with a colleague. If it’s someone you rarely engage in conversation, all the better. 15. Show interest in someone else’s interests. Okay, maybe you’re not dying to hear about Pat’s passion for stamp collecting, but Pat will be thrilled you asked. 16. When you take a stand and later realize it’s the wrong stand, be honest enough to say so. 17. Involve more people in weighing options and making decisions. There’s incredible brainpower all...
Read MoreThe top 10 ways to bring out the best in people
1-page handout – 64KB Want to bring out the best in yourself? Then bring out the best in others. Here are 10 ways to take action, whatever your workplace role. 1. Think how, not what. Assignments and deadlines keep us focused on the work itself – sometimes so much that we lose sight of the people who do the work. Maintain a wider perspective. Instead of asking people what they’re doing, ask them how they’re doing. 2. Work it out now. When conflicts arise, letting them simmer is easier in the short term – but destructive in the long term. Unless you’re fond of grudges and hurt feelings, start resolving today’s conflicts today. 3. Just say thanks. There’s no need for fancy awards and rewards – because there’s no substitute for simple, sincere appreciation. Make a habit of putting your gratitude into words. 4. Take action inclusively. A bias for action is a good thing. But the action should be done with people and not to them or despite them. If you’re going to implement anything that affects anyone, gather a group of co-creators. 5. Turn up the differences. A workplace full of clones would be easy to manage. And boring. And terribly unsuccessful. Look for and leverage the many differences that you and your colleagues bring to the table. As long as you share meaningful goals, you’ll achieve uncommon success. 6. Make a point of asking. When you’re full of certainty about a situation, resist the urge to declare your perspective as the end all. Replace statements with questions in order to activate that nearby know-how and creativity. Go from “here’s what I think” to “what do you think?” 7. Tell stories. If you want to shape the workplace culture, become a positive gossip who dwells on what’s going right. Look for examples of employees serving each other and their customers. Then tell those stories over and over. 8. Engage people in return. When someone tries to engage you in conversation, be conscious of your reaction. In a hectic work environment, it’s easy to be dismissive. Take the time to open your ears and mind. 9. Show your emotions. You’re not a robot or a potted plant. If you’re thrilled, angry, enthused, confused, curious, or whatever, let it show in a constructive way. 10. Be the real you. We’ve all met people who are one way one day –...
Read More10 ways to boost your energy at work
Want to increase your at-work energy? Here are ten caffeine-free actions guaranteed to boost your presence and productivity. 1. Mix with different people. Step away from your immediate work area — and into a new work unit, floor, or department. Meet, greet, and learn what these other folks do. 2. Get up and move. Not long ago, most jobs involved standing, walking, and moving around. In today’s knowledge-worker world, not so much. Do your body a favor and take active breaks every day. 3. Do things differently. A little change can shake you up in an energy-building way. Start your day with something different. Change the order of your activities. Take a new approach with an old work task. Stop going through motions that have lost their meaning. 4. Lend a hand. We all need help now and then. Tune in to your colleagues, and step forward whenever your skills, expertise, and empathy might make a difference. 5. Visit with your customers. Maybe your job puts you in contact with the people you serve. If not, then find them, spend time with them, listen, and learn. When you see how people benefit from your work, you’ll feel a surge of energy. 6. Tell success stories. Did someone go the extra mile for a customer? Did an unsung workplace hero help someone meet a tough deadline? Did a creative colleague come up with a big idea? Watch for good news and spread it around. 7. Learn with others. Attend a learning session with a co-worker. Start a book group. Circulate that timely work-related article to team members. Make learning an everyday priority. 8. Be a coach. Don’t diminish your skills and expertise. There’s a lot you know that others need to know, so please be a generous teacher. 9. Make it better. Do your work processes show room for improvement? Then get busy with colleagues to analyze and strategize. But be ready to break from the past while you break apart those old ways of doing things. 10. Take on a big challenge. Stretch your skills on a new project. Take that big idea you’ve had for months now and be the one who gets it started. By expending energy in a positive way, you’ll get much more in return. By Tom Terez •...
Read MoreFor workplace nirvana, add in the five C’s
A friend of mine contends that great jobs boil down to three things: praise, perks, and pay. The more you get, the better things are. It’s an appealingly simple formula — but it’s woefully incomplete. I’ve spent years exploring what matters most to people at work, and I know that praise, perks, and pay are important. The degree of importance varies from person to person, but it’s nice to get that external validation every now and then. Plus, there are bills to be paid. But there’s much more to the “great jobs” equation. Let’s call these additional factors the five C’s. One of them is job content. As management guru Peter Drucker used to say, if you want people to do a good job, give them a good job to do. As much as possible, jobs should be designed so people can use their talents and strengths while seeing real results. Unfortunately, many people are told exactly how to do their jobs, with little if any leeway. This takes us to the second factor: choice. When people can make their own choices and decisions to shape how they do their work, their engagement and enjoyment go way up. The third and fourth C’s are related: collaboration and community. When people can freely team up and help each other as the workday unfolds, it’s like getting additional brainpower. Over time, collaboration turns into community. Both factors affirm that we are human beings, not human doings. The social aspects of work are a big deal. The fifth C might be the most important of all: caring. In great workplaces, people care about their customers. Co-workers care about each other. Bosses care about the people they manage, and vice versa. When people truly care, they show concern and strive to help others succeed, even when the people who benefit are not their close friends. Don’t get me wrong, the three P’s are essential: praise (let’s call it genuine appreciation), perks, and pay. So are the five C’s: content, choice, collaboration, community, and caring. Add them up and you get workplace nirvana. It’s that simple — and that challenging. By Tom Terez •...
Read MoreAre you ready to go from benchwarmer to champion?
Follow the lead of quarterback Cardale Jones of the Ohio State Buckeyes: Stand tall. Believe in yourself. Know your playbook. And upgrade from working hard to working harder. That’s when you’ll be ready to win big.
Read MoreBe on the path that leads to awesome
If you haven’t gotten the talk from Kid President, now’s the time. And if you’ve seen the video already, it’s worth seeing again. Because we all need a good pep talk sometimes.
Read MoreThe problem with “my employees”
What could be wrong with “my employees”? The answer might surprise you.
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