Speed - What pace is your business?

Pace is important and it is a balance...too slow and your talent gets frustrated as do your customers...too quick and it can confuse.

I would say it is a safe bet that you work in a company that could increase it's pace...you do that through focusing on the 3 core ideas of the company. No other distractions. Focus on the 3 goals, translate for each team and individual and then work together to make it happen.

A little tale to finish
"A snail was once crossing a road for seven years. Just as the snail got across the road a tree fell and missed the small snail by about an inch or two. "Just think", said the snail, "If I had been where I was six months before, the tree would have killed me. See how it pays to be fast!"

Are you kidding yourself in your team? Nothing will ever be perfect...try it, get it out there and then tweak...learn from the beta idea of software companies and take that into your workplace.

Humility and Humour for Leadership Development

With all the stress and strain of everyday life, you can easily lose a sense of humour and a sense of reality. Well, remember Rule 6 as described by Omar Khan in Timeless Leadership.

Two world leaders were sitting in Conference. The host leader saw one of his staff fretting and fuming. He looked and said "Remember Rule 6". The staff member relaxed and moved on. The other world leader was intrigued. Then a few minutes later a Cabinet minister came in highly vexed, again the host said "Remember rule 6" the minister chucked and relaxed.

The other world leader then asked "What is this miracle rule?" The host said "DTYSBS - Don't take yourself so bloody seriously! The rule is to remind us that we are all human, what we're worrying about today we probably won't even remember in six months and the best way to engage our creativity to deal with the situation is to disengage our ego!"

The other leader said "And what are the other rules?" The host turned and said "Oh we haven't made those up yet!"

Emotional intelligence is a key part of management and leadership. Understanding the need for self control and also humility is a key part of being successful.

Continuous Improvement is Key to Business Success

A curse of business can be complacency, of taking the foot of the gas when things are going well. Here is a story to show you the importance of focusing on improvement as a manager/leader.

"A hunter said to his guide 'This seems to be a very dangerous cliff. It's a wonder they don't put up a warning sign.' The guide replied ' They had one up for 2 years but no one fell off so they took it down!"

See the danger here?? However, how many times do you do this at work. For example maybe the employee or customer surveys come in great...so you feel confident and take your focus away from keeping them happy. Results over time need continuous focus, continuing dialogue....management succeeds just like money - the more you put in, the more you get out.

So ask yourself today, "What area have you lost focus, because you think it is OK?"