Look At Things Differently

Followers would have noticed my recent posts have been a bit 'different' lately. My overarching point of them all is that we have to now look differently at the way we recruit, train, coach, lead, and manage. 

Recruitment - There was a time when we submitted a CV, was short-listed, underwent an interview, and then either got the job or had to look for another. Now there are companies who conduct e-Screeing using state of the art technology to self-select recruits. No longer is there the need to run assessment centres, this is completed on-line.

Training - Unless you run a varied training package you are no longer meeting the needs of your employees. We have three generations of trainees, each requiring different techniques to address their varying learning needs.  If you have used the same training package for the last 10 years, it is obsolete and may be one reason why your new staff do not perform as well as they could.

Coaching - It is no longer valid to use the same coaches that you have always used unless they have been up-skilled in the last year or so. When was the last time you thought about matching age with age for your coaches? You cannot expect a baby-boomer to fully engage with a millennial unless the BB has been trained at engaging with these new learners. 

Leaders - I have already covered this topic off in earlier posts so I won't repeat them here. Suffice to say, look at how you lead and if it fits one of the four models then you need to change. 

Managers - These are to forgotten ones, the powerhouse of your organisation. For the last few years all of our energy has gone into ways of being a great leader while the managers quietly went about their role steering the ship. The role of a manager hasn't changed, the way in which we manage must now dos so. Job-sharing, FEO, flexible rosters, working from home, day-care facilities, all are now employment practices required to run a successful business.

When was the last time you looked at your organisations practices? If you haven't changed the way in which you recruit, train, coach, lead, and manage within the last five years then chances are you are lagging behind your competitors.

I'm Fine, I'm OK.

When was the last time that you asked someone how they were doing and their reply was "I'm fine", or "I'm okay". The chances are that they aren't fine or OK.

In my resilience work I have met many people who are struggling. I always ask this same question. I am yet to meet someone who answers with either I'm fine or I'm okay and who isn't fine or OK.

If you think about it, what do you usually say when asked how you are or how is your day going. Generally we answer with "Good thanks" or "Great" or "Busy". Something other than "I'm fine".

The next time someone answers you with these two short replies, stop for a moment and talk with them. If you have the time, sit down and have a coffee. Chances are they will tell you what their trouble is and you will have made a huge difference in their life. 

So, how are you doing?

10 Different Leadership Styles.

I have been fortunate enough to have attended many leadership courses. Most talked about the four main leadership styles - Autocratic, Democratic, Laissez-Faire and Transformational. While these styles are still relevant, we may need to add to the list as things change rapidly in today's world. Here a few that might you also want to consider;

1. Inclusive - You know where you are now and where you have to get to in your business so include others when deciding the way that you get to your destination.
2. Inspirational - Inspiration comes from you so set an example by working the way you want others to work.
3. Visionary - Having a vision is not something that you have to find yourself, although it would be more believable if that was the case. You can also find ideas from your staff, from books, and from Mr Google.
4. Adaptor - How quickly do you change in today's world and how quickly do you respond to change? An adaptor brings calmness to the workplace by swiftly adapting in times of change and crisis.
5. Creative - There are many ways of being creative, when was the last time you used any of them?
6. Modulator - A leader that is able to get the balance of oversight right, more in times of need and less in day-to-day work so as not to micro-manage.
7. Influencer - Not influencing followers to change in themselves, influencing them so they can control what happens.
8. Coacher - Spreading the load, coaching others to be leaders.
9. Decisive - There are times when an immediate decision must be made, don't waffle, take action.
10. Resilient - A resilient leader is able to use all of the above styles. By doing so they set an example and change becomes less of a challenge.

My point of this post is that we have to start looking differently at the way that we do things, leadership being an important one to examine. The traditional way of leading may no longer be acceptable. Today we have co-captains in sporting teams and co-leaders in government. Gen-X's are your powerhouse and Millennials like to be included in decision making.

When you are looking at your own leadership style, the most important thing I believe is to lead how you would want to be led. Look at those who were your leaders and take the best points from each that you enjoyed about their leadership style and use them when you lead.  Don't worry about the name or the style, worry about the way in which you lead.

Should You Joke In Crisis Communications?

No.

How's that for the shortest answer to a post, possibly the shortest ever? 

Jokes are okay if they are used and taken in the right context. However, when we are dealing with angry, sad, and emotional people jokes are never okay. When we are emotional we want to be heard, to have someone listen, and importantly for someone to empathise.

There is no doubt that laughter is one of the best medicines for stress. Laughter creates endorphins, the feel-good natural drug. Laughter can increase blood flow, relax muscles, improve the immune system and relieve pain. Laughter is also very good at quickly changing your mood from sad to happy. It does this by changing our thoughts and you know that our mood is mostly that, just a thought. 

There are some exceptions to making jokes in crisis communications;

1. If you know the person extremely well and the crisis is a small one!

That's it, just the one that I can think of. When you make a joke during crisis communications there are many risks despite your best intentions. It may appear that you are making a joke about a serious situation therefore not taking the matter seriously or the joke may be taken the wrong way.

Sometimes our brain will tell us to make a joke if it thinks that we need levity to ease tension. Resist, it's just your brain messing with you. In a few days time you can re-tell the story and introduce the joke top get a laugh.

Where Do You Squeeze The Toothpaste Tube?

It is said that the way we go about our mundane tasks at home is a reflection on how we behave at work. I was sceptical on this, but after some thought maybe this is something to consider in more detail.

Having nothing to think about for a few seconds this morning, my brain went off in a direction that I never would have consciously gone. Squeezing paste from a toothpaste tube. Is where we squeeze the toothpaste out from the tube a reflection on our work habits?

I squeeze at the bottom of the tube so that the toothpaste is pushed along towards the top. Then I roll the tube as I go as it is much tidier that way. Plus, my heritage tells me that I must use every bit of paste that I paid for. At work I am the same. Some say I have OCD because the office is always clean and tidy and I use every last piece of whatever resource I purchase. If I start something I finish it and always have a paperless desk. I look after everything I have. I am fastidious in my work habits. I also care about people.

I know a few people who squeeze the toothpaste tube in the middle. At work they are usually in a bit of a rush, grab the first thing that comes to hand and use it however they like, and generally their office is untidy yet functional. If something breaks they will give it to someone else to fix. However, they often go back and tidy things just like they have to do with the toothpaste tube, go back and squeeze from the bottom of the tube to get more paste. This makes the world right again.

I also know a few people who squeeze the toothpaste tube at the top, right beside the opening. (If you are wondering by now, I spent 6 months in barrack accommodation). These people just grab the tube and squeeze from the top because there is less effort, the paste is right there, and they don't have to think about it. They let others push the paste to the top for them. At work they are the same, they never put paper in the photocopier, never put another pot of coffee on and never ever wash their own cup because someone else can do that for them. If something breaks it is thrown in the bin.

So where do you squeeze the toothpaste from?