“In business, words are words; explanations are explanations, promises are promises,
but only performance is reality.”
Harold S. Geneen
What is the performance “reality” in your business? Do you know for certain that each team and individual is performing to the best of their abilities? Do you have the tools in place to effectively measure and manage performance? Does your staff clearly know WHAT they are supposed to be doing? Do they know what it means to do their job well? Do they know what decisions they have authority to make and how to make them to drive revenue, create value for your clients, improve profits and attain the goals of your business?
/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpg00Wayne/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpgWayne2019-03-17 10:20:182019-05-07 00:08:02Mastering the Three “Sides” of Performance Management
“It is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises,
but only performance is reality.”
Harold S. Green
Last month’s featured article talked about the Three Sides of Leadership. In summary, as a leader, it is your responsibility to clearly define a situation or effort you are leading and create a clear vision of success for your team/company. When the situation is defined, it is easier to align the unique gifts you and your followers bring to the table to the actions required. Doing so provides the greatest likelihood of naturally motivating others to act to achieve the success you have defined. Once these three “sides” of leadership are aligned (the leader, the followers, and the situation), it’s time to take intentional action to tackle the situation at hand while managing individual and team performance, providing feedback, and making midcourse corrections when needed. That is, it is time for Leadership in Action!
Humans need clear, effective and concise information in order to perform effectively. We know this intuitively when we interact with children. As parents, we set boundaries, discuss expectations, and reward good behavior (or discipline poor behavior). With these actions, we guide our children to understand what is right and what is not.
But as leaders of adults, we often forget that those who follow us also need – and desire – this kind of clear direction and guidance. Everyone needs to know their boundaries. It’s like creating a “swim lane” for your staff, where they have the autonomy to do what is needed within their lane to drive toward success, and alerts everyone when they stray too far from the desired course. When this information is not provided, as humans, we will simply fill in the gaps on our own so we can accomplish what we think needs to be done. Trouble is…
/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpg00Wayne/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpgWayne2019-03-02 11:08:152019-05-07 00:08:19Mastering the “Three Sides of Leadership in Action”
“You manage things; you lead people.”
Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper
“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”
General Dwight Eisenhower
“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership.
That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.
Warren Bennis
Leadership. There are plenty of great quotes about it, but what does it really mean? To begin any discussion of leadership, the best place to start is with a definition. You know when you are in the presence of a great leader and when you’re not, but most of us struggle to define the term. Of course, the desire to “define” leadership is so that we can “become” a better leader. We think, perhaps rightly, that if it is definable, it can be replicated.
The following definition can be found in the dictionary[1]…
Lead·er·ship
[lee-der-ship] noun
the position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group: Synonyms:administration, management, directorship, control, governorship, stewardship, hegemony.
ability to lead: Synonyms: authoritativeness, influence, command, effectiveness; sway, clout.
an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction:
the leaders of a group:
Ah…, not very helpful when you’re trying to figure out HOW to lead, is it? Reading through The 100 Best Quotes on Leadership[2], you will find dozens of different “definitions” from a wide variety of authors. But how do you take that and discover your own leadership style, through trial and error? Not the best approach.
/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpg00Wayne/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpgWayne2019-01-04 10:01:052019-05-07 00:07:43Lead from Strength™: Mastering the Three “Sides” of Leadership
9 Essential Keys to Planning for Success in Your Business
By Wayne H. Ottum
“That business purpose and business mission are so rarely given adequate thought is perhaps
the most important cause of business frustration and failure.”
Peter F. Drucker, the father of modern business planning
If business planning is as valuable as we are told (and it is), then what we need is a way to plan so that the resulting plan is a plan with real meaning. One that literally compels you to act because it is a plan that naturally moves you toward what you truly desire. It is a plan that feels in alignment with who you are authentically, so you act from a place of strength using your unique gifts. It is a plan that works for you and your business and where everyone feels fulfilled and eager to work that plan every day.
There are 9 essential keys to creating a Business Plan… with Real Meaning: Read more
/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpg00Wayne/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpgWayne2018-10-01 16:33:342019-05-13 06:47:05Creating a Business Plan… With Real Meaning!
“Select a person, set expectations, motivate the person and develop the person… If a company’s managers are unable to play this role well, then no matter how sophisticated its systems or how inspirational its leaders, the company will slowly start to disintegrate.”
Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman in ”First, Break All the Rules” 1999.
The professional development aspect of the culture of an organization has an enormous impact on its ability to continually and effectively reach its strategic objectives. In order to create an environment that fosters top performance in the pursuit of these objectives, an organization must Lead from Strength™. In fact, the quote above is from the book that started the “strength” movement when the Gallop organization studied and reported on what makes a great manager in the book entitled, First, Break all the Rules. The result? Those great managers “broke all the rules” that focused on determining and “fixing” the weaknesses of their staff. Instead, these great managers discovered the particular strengths needed for the particular role, aligned staff’s strengths to those roles and then set expectations, motivated and developed those strengths.
To determine if you are creating an environment that fosters success now and in the future, we encourage you to ask your employees the following 10 questions routinely and continually: Read more
/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpg00Wayne/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpgWayne2018-08-18 20:13:272019-05-13 06:47:32Does Your Work Environment Create Top Performers?
The power is yours to create the life of your dreams with a clear vision!
You may have heard a few of these quotes in your lifetime, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” (George Harrison). Or, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you will wind up somewhere else!” (Yogi Berra). We really like these quirky little quotes because they capture the true essence of what happens when you’re not in the driver’s seat, actively navigating your life, and living intentionally. They also touch on the extraordinary power available to you by honing a clear focus, choosing a direction in alignment with who you are, and creating a compelling vision of the life of your dreams.
“The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.“- Chinese Proverb
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Abraham Lincoln
The holidays were fun (or stressful, depending on your point of view) but it’s a New Year and time to get back to business. So, what can you do right now to help your business off to a great start? Here are 5 things… Read more
/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpg00Wayne/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpgWayne2018-01-12 13:25:192019-05-13 06:48:015 Things to Do Right Now to Start Your Business Year off Right!
“At times, our strengths propel us so far forward we can no longer endure our weaknesses and perish from them.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
How do you simultaneously solve your weaknesses through a focus on your strengths? It starts by understanding the three types of weaknesses.
Three Types of Weaknesses
Weaknesses can be broken down into three categories, as shown in the following diagram:
Perceived Weaknesses:Weaknesses that others, and often we ourselves, perceive in us. It looks something like this… An individual has the ability to command and control any situation. They can step in, take charge, and get results. This is a great and highly valued strength. Unfortunately, many people perceive someone like this as pushy, bossy, or controlling. Thus, they “perceive” this person’s strength as a weakness. This “perceived weakness” is actually that person’s strength, taken to extreme, without consideration for the potential negative consequences of this natural way of thinking, feeling and behaving.
/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpg00Wayne/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpgWayne2015-02-15 16:14:192015-02-15 16:20:49Embrace Your Strengths, Solve Your Weaknesses!
I was just taking a minute to think about the workshop you conducted and wanted to again share my appreciation. The level of passion, effort, and care that you have shown has exceeded my expectations. I felt the workshop was a great success. You delivered what you promised, it took on a life of its own, and you guided the process effortlessly while providing a safe place for everyone to share ideas. So far all the feedback I have gotten has been positive and everyone really enjoyed your facilitation. I am sure I speak for Pat as well when I say, thank you, and we are really looking forward to the challenges and hard work that lie ahead.
Listen to the interview on Voice America Empowerment Radio, recorded on October 17th, 2014, with the founder of Ottum Enterprises, Wayne Ottum where he discussed the principles behind his book Live from Strength with hosts K D Marlee on their show “B-MyTe: Balancing Your Money and Your Time.” Click here or on the image to your right to listen to the show.
/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpg00Wayne/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/LeFS-Horz-100X330-100.jpgWayne2014-10-17 12:53:202014-10-17 12:53:20Listen to Wayne Ottum on Voice of America Empowerment Radio
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