5 New-World Tools

Posted on April 3, 2010 by Ryan Russell

Here are some very basic thoughts on for working, networking, living and leading in the world today. These are not comprehensive and they may not even be the top 5 so add some ideas of your own to the comments section. I feel silly even writing about these things but every week I run into leaders who are violating at least 2 of these 5 items.

Cell # – Keep the one you have. Don’t use the one your company gives you (unless you have to). DON’T ever change your number (unless your area code is North Dakota, then travel some place cool and get set-up there). Invariably you will change jobs, locations, etc… most people hate trying to track you down. Worst yet, they won’t.

Personalized Email – Similar to your cell, don’t make changes that keep the right and important people from finding you. Unless your employer requires you to use their email address, create your own. Get one at Gmail or .ME or get your own domain. I use 2. I for people and a different one for filling out forms and other crap on & off-line.

Google Docs – This is my preferred collaboration tool, others like Basecamp. The principle here is simple. Learn how to effectively collaborate and use current tools that allow you to do this effectively with others. If you haven’t spent time doing anything other than goofing off on the internet, start learning NOW how to use the amazing free work tools found online.

Network Tools – Sure, Facebook is good, but be sure to constantly be developing your own network of indispensable relationships, contacts, phone numbers and emails. This truth is as old as society.

Work from Anywhere – Train yourself to effectively be able to work from anywhere. Create your own personal spaces & virtual offices. IF you have to be ‘at your office’ to get your job done you won’t last long in the new world of work. By your own laptop. Keep your own files. Create your own securities and back-up systems. Make sure that everything essential to high performance is available to you online. Take reimbursements if they are available from your company for things like your cell or computer or licenses, but don’t let anyone else own your new office.

What your boss wants

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Ryan Russell

Ever wonder what your boss really wants? Here are important practices & attributes for young leaders:

- know your responsibilities well and be responsible.
- maintain a positive attitude
- educate yourself; keep growing
- deliver a strong performance in the areas that you are responsible for (4 or 5 out of 5 stars)
- don’t ever let him/her be caught off guard
- communicate effectively & clearly
- be honest
- admit mistakes
- stay focused on the goals
- don’t get caught up in politics
- give great input but avoid dominating conversation as a jr. contributor
- follow through on commitments
- avoid wasting time on meaningless items
- enjoy life inside work and outside of work
- be interesting

Eliminating Resistance

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Ryan Russell

I spent the better part of Saturday eliminating resistance. Some would prefer to call it ‘bike maintenance’. I can’t get excited about ‘bike maintenance’… it just sounds too boring and like work for somebody else to be doing. But, when I see the work that I am doing as producing easier pedaling, faster times and more enjoyable riding, then I get revved up to take out the green cleaner, the brush and the tools and get down to work.

At the end of the day, I want to win. As a leader I don’t get excited about planning, prep, organization, emails, meetings and H.R. policies. I could list even more things that don’t excite me, but these are near the top. I find when I can shift my focus to the results and impacts of these items, I can get engaged, amped up and become ready to put in the time it is going to take to do these things right. As a leader I am ‘in’ for those things that produce important, high-impact results.

The challenge is to stop seeing things for what they are and to start seeing things for their long term value and return. Use the outcomes to motivate the work at hand.

The Water Cooler Challenge

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Jessica

When the water cooler gathering occur much of the talk has personal agendas, unproductive results, and leaves wide open doors for misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Welcome back to Junior High, except this time having a big mouth could cost you a lot more, possibly your job.

Reason why you can’t shut up and what to do about it:

- You’re Offended: Talk only to the person that hurt you and move on, seriously no one else needs to be informed.

- You lack Confidence and struggle with Your Identity: You’ll never be a leader if this is the case. Approach close friends/family, ask their thoughts, and be prepared for some hard answers. Personal reflection to follow.

- You have Control Issues: This will come off desperate and have the opposite effect you wanted. Learn to not care about what others think of you as much.

- You lack Listening Skills: When people talk to much it can be because they don’t think the other person is hearing them, listen to their response to you.

- You’re Bored: You’re at work not a talk show; do your work. It is disrespectful and inappropriate to waste company time on personal things.

- You’re Inarticulate: Thinking before you speak is key to sharing a thought, opinion, and/or feeling. Take time and say it right the first time.

Leadership is Polarizing

Posted on March 5, 2010 by Landon Anderson

“No American politician in the Progressive Era had more loyal friends or more dedicated enemies. But it would have been difficult for Bryan to retain the former if he had found a way to mollify the latter.” – Michael Kazin, A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan p. 297

William Jennings Bryan, The Great Commoner, was the leader for the Democratic Party from the late 19^th century into the early 20^th century. He ran and lost the race for the Presidency 3 times on the Democratic ticket. He was one of the most popular orators of all time, rising to fame speaking out for a sense of liberalism that would cause the government to help out the people. Ever the evangelist, he stuck to his personal beliefs in the face of opposition and blatant disregard.

Although he is perhaps best known for his failure to gain the Presidency and his weakened attempt to keep evolution out of the public school system, Bryan is a classic case of polarization. His many admirers considered him to be a prophet-type, the one man able to lead the United States to its rightful position. His opponents considered him to be out of touch with reality and shallow in his political thought. Truth be told, he is most likely to be considered somewhere in between.

The truth we find in a leader like Bryan, is that leadership is polarizing. It is impossible to please everybody, and certainly not worth our time trying to do so. Strong leaders must recognize a vision and work hard towards accomplishing it. The goal is not to please people but to lead people. Clinging to your vision and making independent decisions will always develop dedicated enemies. But in the end, leadership is making the right choice not the popular one.

Big Girl Panties

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Ryan Russell

“Put your big girl panties on and deal with it!”
I saw this on a t-shirt my friend was wearing… it is the motto of HER leadership group.
I liked it so much they printed me my own t-shirt.
Don’t you wish more people lived and lead with this mindset?
Don’t you wish more people were candid, fearless, and bold?
I do.

I also secretly wish I could just keep panties on hand to throw at people who don’t have the courage to lead with this mindset but are in leadership positions.

Want to be mentored? -part 2

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Ryan Russell

In search of self improvement or a desire to move forward professionally, young people land on the idea that they need a mentor. However, wanting a mentor or teacher is a whole lot easier than the process of being mentored. Here are a few quick things to consider on the subject:

[part 2]
Don’t play games with reality - You aren’t ready to be mentored if you aren’t ready to be honest; about yourself, your situation, your work ethic, your morals, your finances, your family, your priorities, your ambitions —- ALL of it. There is no bigger waste of time on this earth than to trying to mentor a person who is blowing smoke about who they really are. Don’ bother meeting if you can’t be truthful about your reality. Mentors aren’t afraid of your reality, in fact they embrace it. Helping you move forward is why they are there.

Be ready for some pain - Once you have been honest, brace yourself for to hear things that no one else is telling you. Your gut reaction will be that “this guy is wrong and/or mean”. Not so. What is going to take place when you have found a good mentor are a series of questions, reality checks, performance penatrating observations and soul searches. After that, they will also tell you the truth in a way that likely no one has before. You want them to do this… trust me. If they didn’t do this you wouldn’t need them. If others were doing this, you wouldn’t need a mentor. Don’t shy away from what they need you to hear. Don’t flinch. Don’t whine about it to others. Take it. Think on it. Watch to see if what they tell you isn’t truer than you first thought.

Risk it on partners

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Ryan Russell

The essence of partnership is helping each other move forward towards mutually beneficial wins. A tremendous early challenge in forming win/win partnerships is that someone has to make the first move. The opportunity for leadership is to take the first risk in a strategic partnership, being the first one to give or help. Another leadership opportunity is take the point in guiding and fostering the relationship as you journey into the future.

Don’t Kill ‘MO’

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Ryan Russell

Objects in motion stay in motion unless met with force or resistance. (A rough paraphrase of Newton’s 1st Law of Motion) This law of motion applies to bike riding, rv pulling, building teams, organizational progress and to leadership.

Momentum is a critical ally in leadership. Building ‘MO’mentum takes hard work, well developed strategies, diligent oversight, lots of cheering, clarification of mission and goals, and the celebration of victories. Quite possibly it will take many cycles of these to attain it. You will know that you have MO when as some would say “you feel things begin to click”. Victories come easier and more often. Goals and objectives are being reached and when your mission is being achieved (in part or whole) right in front of your eyes.

When you have MO you will invariably come to a juncture where you and other leaders will face some tough decisions about the continuation of things from the past and opportunities that are presenting themselves for the future. With each of these decisions, you must ask this important question:

“Will this kill our MO?”

Sometimes the killer of MO will be resistance to growth. Or it could be resistance to change. Or it could be the desire to go faster (throttle down) than your group can keep up with. Or….

I think you get the idea. It could be a lot of things, but know this, once momentum is lost, it is a hard slog back up the hill to where it can be recaptured again.

‘Dip’ read

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Ryan Russell

Pick it up & read it: “The Dip” by Seth Godin

This is not a new read, but it is a timely read IF you are wondering whether you should push through during a difficult time in leadership OR cut your losses and move on. Inspirational, motivational, and very helpful. BONUS = it should only take you about 30 minutes to read.

(yes craig, I will get your stolen copy back to you.)

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Developing yourself and your leadership

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