Leadership Solutions

Leadership Solutions: Unique Requirement

There is a unique requirement that characterizes my business.

By the way, I provide workshops on leadership skills (such as time management) and meeting facilitation.

The requirement is this: I must deliver my services on time as expected. All of the time. Every time.

Period.

For example, if I'm scheduled to conduct a workshop on Tuesday, then I must arrive on Tuesday, and not on Wednesday. And I must bring enough materials (such as workbooks, project tools, and so on) for all of the participants, and not half of them.

Similarly, if I'm scheduled to speak at a conference at 9:00 AM, I must be at the conference before 9:00 AM, and not at 9:32.

So, how do I do this?

I over design my arrival. That is, I plan to arrive at least an hour before my program starts. On October 21, for example, I was 75 minutes early for a workshop.

Now, how about you?

Do you arrive on time for meetings? For appointments? For work?

One thing that bosses complain about is unpredictable arrival. This always causes problems in the business.

And (fasten your seat belts) one thing that employees complain about is unpredictable arrival. They are disappointed by their boss's failure to live up to a basic standard of proper conduct.

In both cases, late arrival is a manifestation of a) disrespect, and b) bad time management.

Key Point: Time management is essential for good business.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

Web Site

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Leadership Solutions: The Wealthy Poor

Some of the poorest people in the world have the most money.

How can this be?

Because they don't think that they have enough.

So, they live with a poverty mentality suffering stress, fear, and failure. As a result, they spend their lives striving for goals that will always be out of reach. This happens because every number can be made larger by adding another number to it.

For example, consider someone who sets owning a 200-ft yacht as the measure of success. If that person can only afford a 190-ft yacht, this becomes a mark of failure. And if that person manages to buy a 200-ft yacht, this feels like a success until someone else buys a 210-ft yacht.

This brings us to real wealth: financial comfort.

Financial comfort is simply a matter of being satisfied with whatever one's income can provide.

And so, a homeless person living in a box under a bridge may be happier than that person who is obsessed with owning a large yacht.

Now, I realize that none of you are going to rush out to live in a box under a bridge. (After all, the best spots have been taken.)

My point is this: you will find happiness by accepting and enjoying the things that you are able to buy. And that's what life is really all about.

Key Point: Whoever dies with the most toys didn't enjoy owning them.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

Web Site

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Leadership Solutions: True or False?

Here's today's trick question:

Should meetings be fun?

Of course, this depends upon how we define fun.

If fun is laughter, jokes, stories, witty comments, brilliant replies, and the like, then most likely your meetings are wasting time.

Now, I realize that it's important for executives to bond as a team, know each other personally, and release stress. And I know that playful laughter can foster creative thinking.

So, here's the ultimate test when including fun in your meetings: Would you be willing to pay for it?

Or, would you want the owner (or major stockholders) present while you were having fun in your next meeting?

There's another definition of fun: it's the satisfaction that comes from making methodical progress toward results that benefit the business, which in turn helps you earn raises and promotions.

If you accept this second definition of fun, then I can assure you that all of my meetings are fun. They are also characterized by hard work, intense thought, and courageous candor. Then at the end, everyone is smiling because they know that accomplished something significant.

This means the meeting was fun.

Key Point: A meeting is a business activity that earns a profit for the business. And earning a profit is always fun.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

Web Site

blog

Leadership Solutions: More Like a Green Light

There is a quick test that will determine if you are on the right track.

It's this: are you in pain?

Pain can be any type of discomfort, such as stress, worry, or fear. It can be your reaction to uncomfortable questions, unknown events, or uncertain possibilities. It can be the pain of rejection, struggle, or failure. It can even be physical pain.

Some people react to pain as if it were their enemy. So, they hide it behind fantasies, bury it under medications, or replace it with distractions.

Actually, pain is your friend.

It's there to tell you that you need to start doing something else or start doing something differently.

At first, pain simply whispers. Wise people who pay attention, start making changes immediately.

For those who miss the early message, pain will speak again and again, each time with a louder voice. Eventually, pain will scream in a desperate attempt to save you from a huge disaster.

For example, leaders who ignore the pain of small failures, can suffer the disaster of being fired. Business owners who ignore the pain of customer complaints can suffer bankruptcy. And so on.

So, here is a friendly reminder to celebrate every pain as good news. It heralds a green light into new activities that will make you more successful. All you have to do is start making changes.

Key Point: Pain exists to free you from being stuck with failure.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

Web Site

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Leadership Solutions: Monday Drudgery

Every Monday it's on the list.

In fact, this task is at the top of the list.

The task, by the way, is updating my business finances.

It's notable that I do not enjoy entering financial data or reconciling accounts. But this task must be done because the IRS expects documentation to support tax returns. And I've decided to take care of it (instead of send it to an accountant) because this gives me immediate feedback on the health of my business.

So, every Monday morning it's the first task on my list of things to do.

This applies three well-established time management techniques.

1) Schedule it. Make an appointment with yourself.

2) Make it a habit. Make it a routine part of work.

3) Just do it. Make it important.

So, how about you? What tasks do you need to complete? Can you schedule them, make them a habit, or just do them?

Key Point: Take care of the tasks that you like the least at the beginning of your day.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

Web Site

blog

Leadership Solutions: Financial Comfort

One basic life goal for everyone is to achieve financial comfort.

First, financial comfort does not mean having piles of money heaped on the floor of your house.

In fact, someone who just bought a 200-ft yacht, could be in huge financial discomfort.

Financial comfort means being able to live without worrying about paying your bills. And anyone can achieve this by applying these basic strategies.

1) Spend only income.

This seems obvious, but some people live off of debt. You must have a net income that pays all of your bills. It can be pay from a job, pension payments, interest on investments, royalties, residual income, Social Security, or something.

2) Save some of your income.

Savings are essential because the more savings you have, the more income you can derive from them. Thus, income from savings reduces income that must come from other sources.

3) Avoid all short term debt.

This includes all credit card debt and other short term loans. Such debt significantly adds to the cost of purchases made with it.

4) Pay bills on time.

Late payment fees are extra profit given to the company that sent the bill. In fact, paying bills early earns you a better credit rating, which results in lower interest rates when applying for long-term loans, such as when buying a car.

5) Allow for inflation.

If you use income from investments, plan your withdrawals so that enough investment income is left behind to let the principle grow at the rate of inflation (or more). This will provide effectively a constant investment income as inflation reduces the spending value of your savings.

Key Point: Financial comfort is simply a matter of common sense math and realistic planning.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

Web Site

blog

Leadership Solutions: No Thanks

This is hard to believe.

Last Sunday, as I was walking through the Fullerton Arboretum, I passed a young man who was trying to balance a small camera on a post. He planned to use the self timer to take a photo of himself and his friend sitting among a display of pumpkins.

Since he seemed to be having trouble, I asked, "Would you like help?" implying that I could take the photo for him. (By the way, I've been taking photos for over 43 years.)

And he said, "No. I don't need a good picture."

So, I walked on.

You know, the same thing happens on my website.

People visit and decide that they don't need a good result. So, they continue with what they have.

I suppose this approach is harmless if you're taking a photo that you plan to e-mail to a few friends.

But it can be critical if it's your business. Everything (income, career, future) depends upon that.

So, if you want professional results, ask for help from an expert.

Key Point: Strong leaders ask for help when the results matter.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

Web Site

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Leadership Solutions: Looking Far Ahead

Imagine this:

It's many years from now, you're sitting in the sun room of a nursing home, and a young person sits beside you to ask: "Tell me about your life."

What do you want to say?

That is, do you want to describe achievements or provide excuses?

I'm posting this because too many people spend too much time explaining why they can't do things that will make a difference in their lives.

And if you're explaining now, you will be explaining in the future.

Key Point: Live so that you'll have a good story to tell when your older.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

Web Site

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Leadership Solutions: E-mail Safety

This happens too often.

Someone sends an e-mail with more than one address in the To: field. Sometimes they put their entire mailing list in there, which can include all of their employees, friends, members, relatives, or combinations of these groups.

So, what happens?

1) Everyone on the list knows who else received the e-mail. Certainly, you have found it fascinating to discover who else knows (or is related to) the sender.

2) Anyone can copy that list and then use it for something else, such as spam, advertising, or junk e-mail. And if the e-mail was sent to someone with a business e-mail address, that e-mail is now saved forever in the company's archives. Then someone, such as an HR manager (or a police officer with a warrant), can request a copy at any time.

3) If anyone forwards the e-mail, then the distribution of this address list expands to the great unknown universe. Now, you can guarantee that the list will be misused.

So, what do you do?

Use the BCC: field. Then each recipient receives an e-mail with only their address on it.

And (more important) you will protect the privacy of the people in your contact list.

Key Point: E-mail requires more care than any other means of communication.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

Web Site

blog

Leadership Solutions: Business Turbulence

What happens when there is a problem in your business?

Most likely, someone calls a meeting to figure out a solution.

And what happens in that meeting?

Most likely, people talk about everything without reaching an agreement on anything. Often, the person who talks the most (or the loudest) convinces the rest to adopt an idea.

And then what happens?

The business struggles with a bad idea, which leads to more problems.

First, let's recognize that a meeting is a team activity where the participants work together to find solutions that provide the greatest good for the business.

Second, let's recognize that repeating an idea does not make it become more worthwhile.

Third, let's recognize that holding effective meetings is critically important to the future of your business.

If your meetings take too long or produce too little, it's time to fix that. Otherwise, your business could be one of those that investment advisors refer to when they talk about "market corrections" (i.e., casualties).

Key Point: A meeting is more than a random discussion. It's a deliberate business activity that produces useful results.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

Web Site

blog