Named by Inc. as one of the top 100 leadership speakers, Shelley Row, P.E., CSP is an engineer and former SES government executive. Shelley engineers leaders to see beyond the data to add relational skills to their technical skills for more effective delegation, decision-making and communication. Learn more at www.shelleyrow.com.
Website: http://www.shelleyrow.com
Chances are you don’t have much choice about who your boss is, and these days, you may have more than one (i.e. if you serve on a short-term project combining staff–and leadership–from various departments.) You can save time and frustration by giving serious consideration to the approach, topics and personal agendas of the bosses you interact with regularly.
When you started in your management position what was your initial objective? For most of us, we dove into the technical work. We identified the big projects and how we could help keep them on time and within the budget. We focused on the technical challenges and the financial picture.
I lay in the narrow bunk, heeled 30 degrees, listening to the storm tear at the boat and sails. And, I listened to the crew tackle each adversity calmly, collaboratively, decisively, and transparently. Do you do the same when adversity hits your organization?
Have you heard of the enneagram? There are nine different types of people according to this system, which helps one understand the way people think, feel, and act in relation to the world, others, and themselves. What if we thought about what type of person we were interacting with at any given point in time? How about what’s going on in their lives? Or, who’s here?
We often think of a brand statement as applicable to a company, but did you know you have a personal brand statement as well? When preparing for an interview, your priority should be creating a confident, accurate brand statement. This is a personal summary of who you are, your skills, and attributes you bring. You must be clear, succinct, and land the message.
Learn to take back control of your decision-making! Do you often feel that something just isn’t right, but you aren’t sure what’s bothering you about a particular situation? Do you fear your productivity has taken a hit because of the time and energy spent ruminating on decisions? You may be guilty of over-thinking!
Have you ever felt a certain “temperature” in a room when you walk into a meeting? I’m not talking about whether the room is too hot or too cold, but the emotional temperature.
Discover the emotional temperature by making it easy for participants to state their feelings about the topic, process, or outcome. This knowledge gives you a productivity edge. Check out this example. It was a tiring meeting, but we knew it would be. The strategic planning discussion would set the future direction and tone for the organization.
Imagine a fireplace blazing on a cold winter’s day. It could be a gas fireplace, like mine, or a wood fireplace like my friend’s. While both fireplaces warm the room, the experience feels different depending on the fireplace. (Many would say there’s no substitute for a “real” fireplace.)
Cultivating a spirit of gratitude makes life more fulfilling and meaningful. But have you thought about how YOU can cause someone else to be grateful? There are lots of ways to enhance the lives of others–one of the most valuable of which is to give them your attention.
I thought I was being positive by repeating “It will be fine” but my brain heard “Worry” over and over again, so it gave me worry. Words matter. As an insightful leader, the words you repeat to yourself have more impact than those you say to others. Your self-talk affects your outlook, how you show up to others, and your demeanor.