15 May
PeopleTek Coaching Leadership

Leaders Are Continual Learners

We’re pretty sure you’ve heard the quip that learning never stops. What about that leadership requires ongoing development?

Effective (and successful) leaders adopt the mindset of being continual learners which better positions them to manage, communicate and lead through change, address problems and issues, make informed and timely decisions, and more strategically influence their team/organization.

For an organization to survive, its rate of learning must be at least equal to the rate of change in its external environment
–Professor Reg Revans

L = P + Q

Professor Reg Revans (1907-2003), was an Olympian, physicist, professor, author, and management consultant who pioneered action learning.

He created a formula: L = P + Q

learning = programmed knowledge + questioning insight

The scope for continuous learning is limitless; it could address workload management, technical skills, soft skills, “people” problems, process issues, project management, the handling of difficult situations, or simply being an advocate for enabling and empowering people to learn with, and from, each other.

One of Professor Revans’ beliefs was that the key to improving performance was not exclusive to the thoughts/opinions of ‘experts’, but that practitioners must also have a say. It requires that each team member not only study their own actions, experiences, and behaviors, but also those they interact with.

Action learning frequently includes having a coach who is responsible for promoting and facilitating new learnings, and encourages and helps the team become self-managing.

Once again, we’re circling back to the need for awareness (of self and others); we need to identify and leverage individual and organizational strengths, and we need to address/minimize and develop any gaps that impede progress, profits, products, or services.

Are you a continual learner? What development plans do you have in place for yourself and for your staff?

Here’s a Wealth of Information

Each week we’ll partner with QwikCoach and provide the ability for you to reinforce or expand your knowledge of a prior topic.

Last week’s tip focused on Stress Relievers.

Go to QwikTips to read more! There are two different versions–one for visitors and one for licensed QwikCoach users.

Help turn your leadership knowledge into leadership action!

09 May
PeopleTek Coaching Success

Stress Relievers

We received quite a bit of feedback on the topic of burn-out and decided this was a good time to re-share some stress relievers from a prior tip.

Stress is not what happens to us. It’s our response to what happens. And response is something we can choose.
–Maureen Killoran

Most everyone experiences stress at some point in their professional life; so much to do, too little time. Do you have coping mechanisms to help you manage it, or do you just accept the fact that your life will include stress?

We suggest that you don’t just “live with it”, but rather face it head-on so you don’t negatively impact relationships, decisions, and how you influence and communicate with others. (And also put your health at risk).

Stress Relieving Tips

  • Establish Priorities. What can you realistically accomplish and in what time frame?
  • Create a task list. Use your priority list as the baseline and then determine what you MUST do, select all tasks that can be delegated to others, and identify any dependencies. Say “no” when there’s a need!
  • Don’t procrastinate! Unfinished work weighs you down.
  • Remember that multitasking increases stress. It delays completing a “to do”, can lead to disorganization and frustration, and creates a loss of focus.
  • Journaling. Writing down your thoughts and experiences is a release.
  • Keep a notepad and pen by your bed. Great ideas may come to us in our sleep; having the notepad allows you to capture the idea, then go back to a sound sleep.
  • Pay attention to your stress levels. Stiff neck? Irritability? Exhaustion? Stand up, walk around, stretch, laugh, listen to music, and laugh more! (Laughter is considered one of the best, and cheapest, medicines.)
  • Schedule time for you on a daily basis. This is critical even if for only 10 minutes. What do you like to do? Read? Listen to music? Take a walk? Power nap? Whatever it is, make time for it.
  • Watch for stressful behaviors in co-workers (and family members). Coach them on stress relievers.
  • Limit the “goodie” intake. The extra carbs can add to fatigue and make you feel guilty (“stressed” spelled backwards is “desserts”).
  • Drink green tea. Caffeine-free green tea has a calming effect.

Is everything as urgent as your stress would imply?
–Carrie Latet

5 Stress Relieving Team Activity Suggestions

  1. Build 15 minutes into a staff meeting and have every team member write a positive one-word descriptor for each teammate. It’s a “feel good” exercise, reduces stress, and builds harmony. (Each person puts their name on a blank piece of paper and the papers are passed around the table for completion.)
  2. Play festive music (if allowed). Encourage each team member to share their favorite song/CD.
  3. Have a bake day where everyone brings in a special treat to share.
  4. If possible, schedule a day for everyone to have lunch together. This can either be potluck or at a restaurant. Share holiday traditions with team members and select the most unique and the most common.
  5. Have the team select and support a community event. There are food drives, gifts for those in need, visits to the lonely, decorating assistance, and even holiday caroling.

Make an effort to keep your perceptions and attitude positive; looking for the good in every situation will help keep your stress levels in check.

Remember, it’s up to us to manage stress and to proactively respond to it! What’s your favorite stress reliever?

QwikTip and QwikCoach

Each week we’ll partner with QwikCoach and provide the ability for you to reinforce or expand your knowledge of a prior topic.

Go to QwikTips to read more! There are two different versions–one for visitors and one for licensed QwikCoach users.

Help turn your leadership knowledge into leadership action!

01 May
PeopleTek Coaching Success

Adaptive and Agile

During the last several years there has been a large push towards faster delivery and a more rapid deployment of solutions promoting innovation and growth. This is wonderful news for using a creative energetic process that permits out of the box thinking while increasing customer satisfaction.

It no longer takes years for implementations to occur (or for enhancements to be applied), but it does require a new mindset, new processes, new tools, and of course skilled resources.

Our resources are the crux of the matter. We must continue to understand how people work, think, act and react, and we need to understand that the basic foundation of any team is trust.

The faster you build it, the better it is for obtaining results!

Too often as technocrats we think that we can circumvent the “people” development side of the equation, and forget (or choose not to concern ourselves) about how we “show up,” and limit our focus to the task at hand.

Key components of being adaptive and agile include placing an emphasis on teamwork and continuous improvement, and of course possessing a strong sense of values. Make sure the following values are incorporated within the framework of your team: focus, courage, openness, commitment, and respect.

Get to know your team members! Understand one another, know the gifts or “Magic Dust” of each team member, and honor, support, and leverage them. A strong sense of self awareness, and an awareness of what others are passionate about will inspire and release more occurrences of innovation and growth that will transcend your current business state.

Trust within teams fosters collaboration. Obstacles will be addressed and removed, and if the issue is out of their “scope” of responsibility, they will work with other teams that do have the authority to take action.

Communication is always key. Everyone must have, and must share information, so that decision making is effective, that problems and concerns are openly discussed, and that solutions are timely (immediate!).

Be adaptive and agile and let your courage allow you to undertake greater challenges!

Here’s a Wealth of Information

Each week we’ll partner with QwikCoach and provide the ability for you to reinforce or expand your knowledge of a prior topic.

Last week’s tip focused on Burn Out.

Go to QwikTips to read more! There are two different versions–one for visitors and one for licensed QwikCoach users.

Help turn your leadership knowledge into leadership action!