Leadership Solutions

Essential Ingredient

This can ruin a photo if it's neglected.

Normally, a photographer focuses on the main image, framing it to produce a compelling photograph.

But there's more to consider.

It's the background. Because a bad background will ruin an otherwise good photo.

Note the difference between the two photos below.

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The first photo contains a branch in the background that seems to extend out of the bird's beak. That makes the beak difficult to see, and it also appears to be a comic growth out of the bird.

By moving a few feet to the left, I was able to obtain an uncluttered background without the branch.

The background is the environment for a photograph. Thus it serves to support, even enhance the subject of the photo. As you can see, a flawed background degrades the photo.

This explains why good photographers will spend as much effort choosing a background as composing a subject. Both are equally important in a photo.

There's a parallel here for leaders.

The work environment is just as important as the people who work in it. The reason is: the environment determines everything that happens within it.

So what is your work environment like? Who designed it? Who controls it?

This matters because as a leader one of your prime responsibilities is to establish and maintain an environment that facilitates excellence for everyone.

Today's Task: Evaluate your environment for it's effect on the people who work in it. Then make adjustments as needed.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

Leadership Expert

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

PS: Continual learning contributes to a positive enviroment.

Systems Thinking

Eventually, most people figure this out.

But they sort of back their way into it after it's too late.

I'm writing about developing systems to handle repetitive tasks.

For example, today (March 29) I was sending e-mail notices about a workshop on Creative Thinking that I'm conducting on April 3 in Santa Ana, CA.
 

By the way, it's a fantastic workshop. Click here [ Creative Thinking ] for details.

Rather than just release a flood of form letters, I sent each person a personal note inviting each to attend.

This can take a long time without a system.

In this case, I used a system. I wrote a generic note that contained text that would apply to most of the people in my database. Then I either added small changes or deleted those sections that might not apply to each person.

As a result, by using a simple system, I was able to send 50 personalized messages in a reasonable amount of time.

You too, can do things like this.

The key is to approach such tasks with a systems thinking outlook. 

That is, design your workflow to maximize your efficiency while maintaining your effectiveness. Seek opportunities to minimize steps. Work with templates. Use check lists. And include continual improvement where you refine the system as you discover improvements while using it.

Today's Task: Develop systems to help you complete repetitive tasks.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

Leadership Expert

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

PS: My workshop on Time Management includes a section on Systems Thinking.

Old Wisdom, Part 2

There's another side to this old proverb.

The original quote goes: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

But there's more.

You see, everything that you do teaches a lesson to someone.

In this case:

1) If you show someone how to fish, you teach someone how to be independent.

2) If you give someone a fish, you teach someone to beg.

This matters for leaders.

There may be problem performers who seem to need help. That's normal because everyone needs help with some part of their job.

What follows, however, determines the type of employee that you'll have in the future.

If you give them help, you'll teach them to be dependent upon help.

If you give them training, you'll teach them how to work on their own.

Consider: What training would make your staff more effective?

Much success,

Steve Kaye

Leadership Expert

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

PS: My workshops show people how to be more effective.

Monday Morning Lesson

You're probably wondering why a blog about Monday appears on a Friday.

Well, the answer relates to everyone's favorite topics: Money. Business. And Success.

It also contains a powerful lesson.

Every Monday morning I take care of the bookkeeping for my business.

And I'll state right here in print: This is my LEAST FAVORITE task. I'd rather wash the bathroom floors. (But I take care of that on Saturday.)

It's also a relatively easy task. I just have to enter numbers and make sure everything reconciles.

So, the problem is not a matter of Doing the task.

It's a matter of Starting it.

And that's the point.

We already know how to do things that will help us achieve incredible success.

The only obstacle is Starting.

So why is this blog appearing on a Friday?

Because I decided to post it now, rather than wait a few days until Monday.

Today's Task: Identify the most important thing that you need to do. Then do it. Note: the more complex your world, the more difficult this will be.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

Leadership Expert

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

PS: Want to know more? Call me.

Fantastic News!

Here it is: the news that we've been waiting for.

Barnes & Noble now has seven of my books in their e-Book store.

You can see them at: Steve's e-Books

I'm excited about this because e-Books are the future of reading.

Right now, you can download an e-Book reader for an iPhone, Nook, Mac, PC, or other computing tool. Then you can read books anywhere - from sitting at your desk to waiting in line.

In addition, as the iPad and similar devices become common, you will receive magazines, newspapers, annual reports, catalogues, and all other reading material through an e-Book reader.

So, you can expect the entire publishing industry to change.

This brings up a special question for leaders. What are you doing to prepare for this change?

Today's Task: Visit the Barnes & Noble e-Book store. This is the bookstore of the future.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

Ultimate Test

Here it is: The ultimate test.

And it's easy -- Because it only takes a moment.

It's also powerful -- Because the results could influence a lifetime.

The test is: Check how you feel at the end of each day.

Do you feel proud of what you did? Do you think you could gain admiration by telling others how you spent your time? Do you feel impressed with yourself?

If so, congratulations.

If not, then you may want to evaluate how you spend your day.

And wait, if you're like me, your results will most likely be mixed. That is, you may feel both proud and a bit unsettled.

This idea occurred to me while I was writing in my journal.

I realized that on the whole, I feel proud of what I've accomplished. (That's good.) And I look forward to doing more. (That's an incentive.)

So I wish all of you a happy state of unrest, where you feel proud of what you've done and look forward to making it better.

Consider: Great leaders help others feel proud of themselves.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

PS: My workshops help leaders become more effective.

PPS: Special good news is coming. I'll report on it as soon as everything is in place. Check back tomorrow.

Spring in California

Here are four photos to cheer those who received snow on the first day of spring.

I took them on Sunday at the Fullerton Arboretum. It was a beautiful day here in California.

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Consider: I always show photos before one of my workshops starts.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator
 

PS: Special good news is coming. I'll report on it as soon as everything is in place. Check back tomorrow.

What's on Your Camera?

Every photographer knows this.

The lens on your camera effects what you see.

For example, if you have a macro lens on the camera, you will see small things. If you have a long telephoto lens on the camera, you will see far away things. And so on.

This matters for leaders.

Your assumptions act like the lens on a camera. As such, they determine your view of the world.

The key is to make sure that your view of the world serves you well.

Otherwise, you might be missing opportunities, clues, and warnings.

Today's Task: Make a list of your assumptions. Then compare these with the results they cause.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator
 

PS: My workshop on Time Management helps people identify their assumptions and learn to use them strategically.

PPS: Special good news is coming. I'll report on it as soon as everything is in place. Check back tomorrow.

Job Search Tips - Part 15 of 15

So how did we do?

Were the past blogs useful?

What have your done or changed as a result of them?

As I wrote in Part 1, finding a job is a difficult and scary task.

And yet, it's a challenge that all of us can meet.

The keys to making it work are:

1) Approach the task as if it were a work project.

2) Include others.

3) Be kind to everyone.

4) Take care of yourself.

5) Use the time to improve.

6) Be flexible.

I wish you the best as you move into the future.

Today's Task: Review what you're doing and find at least three ways to improve upon it.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

PS: My workshops help people keep their job, too.

Job Search Tips - Part 14 of 15

For some people, this might be the answer to finding a job.

It is: Consider other options.

It's possible that the type of job you left may no longer be available. The company may have closed. Technology may have brought forward new products.

Or your interests may have changed.

If this is the case, consider other possibilities.

For example, could you work in a different industry or in a different field?

Are there other ways that you could use your background, experience, or skills?

I realize that this may seem like radical thinking.

Yet, it could be the key to finding a job.

And yes, it may involve starting over.

But everyone is in a state of starting over because everything is always changing. You just happen to have the good fortune of being in a position to take direct action.

So what could you do?

1) Have a conversation with yourself.

Write out a description of the ideal job. What would you like to do? Where would you work? What types of people would be working with you?

One clue may come from recalling the way that you played when a child. Often, this reveals a type of activity (or work) that resonates within you.

2) Test possibilities.

Attend a professional meeting or conference that supports this new career. Ask the people whom you meet to describe what they do. Explore beyond the hype to determine if this truly fits what you want.

3) Learn how.

Take courses, attend workshops, and read. Although these activities have a long-term payoff, they may open a future that exceeds anything you thought was possible.

4) Nibble inward.

You may be able to gain experience by finding a part time (often low level) job in the new career area. Use this to confirm your interest and gain experience. You may also be able to test a new career through volunteer work.

Regardless how this unfolds, use all of the related activities to meet new people, ask for help, and collect experiences that add to your resume.

Today's Task: Make a candid assessment of what you really want to do.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

PS: My workshops help people keep their job, too.