31 Jan
marketang Decision Making

Blame is Destructive

When people are lame, they love to blame.

–Robert Kiyosaki, author

As most of you know, PeopleTek is a strong advocate of John G Miller’s book: QBQ! The Question Behind the Question. We consistently encourage individuals, teams, and entire organizations to read this and reflect on taking responsibility for our actions and problems, and eliminating blame. It also promotes asking oneself “what can I do” or “how can I help” when challenges are encountered.

Mr. Miller consistently talks about accountability, responsibility and ownership, and also shares that to be truly successful, blame must be eliminated. Here are his reasons why:

1. Blame leaves problems unsolved.
2. Blame creates fear, hurt, and anger.
3. Blame destroys creativity, innovation, and risk-taking.
4. Blame obstructs teamwork.
5. Blame lowers productivity.
6. Blame kills trust.
7. Blame—internally—pushes paying customers away.
8. Blame hardens positions, hindering conversation.
9. Blame limits listening and hearing.
10. Blame blocks learning.
11. Blame encourages good people to leave.
12. Blame increases resistance to change.
13. Blame causes staff dis-engagement.

No work culture can sustain itself unless team members are accountable, build trusting relationships, and refrain from placing blame. Do you know any finger pointers? Help them understand why placing blame is destructive.

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

Concern yourself more with accepting responsibility than with assigning blame. Let the possibilities inspire you more than the obstacles discourage you.
–Ralph Marston
 
14 Jan
Leadership Coaching
marketang Decision Making

What Time Is It?

 
Invest The Time To Set The Path For Success
What time is it? It’s not just the beginning of a new year, it’s also the time to establish goals that are to be achieved throughout the year.

It’s old news that goals must be SMART:
  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Achievable (and Actionable)
  • Relevant
  • Time Based

For those of you ahead of the game, meaning you had them completed before year end 2022 so day 1 of 2023 you could action them, congratulations! (Through all our years in corporate America, that only happened to us once).

So, let’s say you either have, or shortly will have documented goals. That’s a starting point, but one common point of failure is that team members don’t understand how they can support each goal.

As leaders, we need to clarify what each goal means, and how varying roles and positions can support their attainment.

  1. Share what the “end-game” is
  2. Share your expectations required from each team member
  3. Share how and when each goal will be measured
  4. If the goal is too big, break it down
  5. Assess if you have the resources, skill-sets, and funding in place
  6. Discuss if any dependencies or collaboration with other teams is needed
  7. Establish an escalation path if obstacles or roadblocks are encountered
  8. Obtain commitment from team members

It’s also essential that each goal clearly supports your vision and mission statements; this includes ensuring all actions and behaviors within your organization support them. If they aren’t, it’s up to you to immediately address them.

Author Melody Beattie states: The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.

It’s time; create your 2023 goals and document your successes!

Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

People with goals succeed because they know where they are going.
–Earl Nightingale
 
08 Jan
Do You Make New Year Resolutions?
marketang Decision Making

Do You Make New Year Resolutions?

 
Making changes is about firmness of mind and determination.

If you make New Year resolutions you’re not alone; roughly 41% of us do.

So, what are resolutions and why do we make them? They have been defined as:
1. the process of resolving something such as a problem or dispute
2. a firm decision to do something
3. determination; firmness of mind or purpose

Common resolutions are related to self-care:

  •           Healthier eating habits
  •           Exercise routines
  •           Work/life balance
  •           Sleep more
  •           Schedule “fun” time  ex. Get a hobby, socialize with friends/family


And another common resolution is to spend less and save more.

Is there anything in your life that you want to STOP doing? What about new behaviors, routines, or actions that you’d like to START to do? We heard a New Year’s interview that also encouraged people to assess what they do well with the reminder to not neglect our strengths.

Maybe you don’t make resolutions but it never hurts to ask yourself:

  1. What’s working well/what isn’t? (For you and your team/organization)
  2. Are you lacking any skills?
  3. Do any of your behaviors impact others? How?
  4. Which of your habits impact your life and career either negatively or positively?


If you’re stuck, ask others for feedback. Simple questions include:

  • Please share 3 things I do that you want me to CONTINUE doing
  • Please share 3 things I do you’d prefer I STOP doing
  • Please share 3 things you’d like me to START doing


It’s up to us to replace our non-productive behaviors and actions. Document what’s working well and what you’d like to change and add both to your 2023 goals.

Making changes is about firmness of mind and determination. Wishing you success!

Sincerely,
Mike and Jan

A failure to take precise and deliberate action is the reason why so many New Year’s resolutions and other goals fail.
–Jordan Ring