By Judy on August 16, 2011
In an excellent HBR Blog, Modesto A. Maidique discusses what CEO intuition really is–essentially the Rules of Thumb (ROTs) that executives use to make more or less unconscious decisions.
He lists Bill Amelio’s (former CEO, Lenovo) ROTs, almost an outline for excellent performance.
Try a discussion with your team of the Team’s ROTs, compare them to these and amend, then hold each other accountable for carrying them out:
Here’s Bill’s list (amended following the merger, as described below):
Strategy:
1. Identify and concentrate on the critical few decisions.
2. A call is better than no call.
3. Give your decisions a short leash. Quickly pull back in case of mistake.
4. Trust your intuition.
People:
1. Communicate the critical few decisions effectively and repeatedly.
2. Don’t tolerate jerks.
3. Build a team of people you can trust and rely on.
4. Trust your intuition.
Self:
1. Get feedback early and often and act on this feedback.
2. Earn the trust and confidence of others.
3. Demonstrate vulnerability to gain credibility.
4. Play to your strengths.
5. Trust your intuition.
(I suggest starting with “Self ROT #1: “Get feedback early and often–AND ACT ON THIS FEEDBACK”!
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/08/decoding_intuition_for_more_ef.html?referral=00563&cm_mmc=email-_-newsletter-_-daily_alert-_-alert_date&utm_source=newsletter_daily_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert_date
Posted in Executive Leadership, Uncategorized
By Judy on August 17, 2010
"Pretty Weights Are NOT Lighter!"
I don’t like to gossip but there’s a woman in my gym who works out at the same exact times I do. She talks incessantly to her trainer at a pitch and volume that would make fingers on the blackboard sound soothing. I’m not usually bothered by such behaviors but try as I might not to listen, the highly personal content–I mean HIGHLY personal–is something that does not belong in a public place. It’s not my gym nor a battle I want to take on so have chosen not to say anything to her. However, I may have to make an extra trip to the dentist to repair the damage done to my teeth from gritting.
What to do? There’s always tv noise or rock music blaring when I walk in so asked my trainer if he would play some classical music—loud. The first delicious sounds were of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony. At first I struggled to block out the lady’s powerful voice and focus on the music. But then, the lovely chords came through.
Looking up at the clock in between those lovely crunches, I realized that 8 minutes had gone by. Normally, at the gym, I am aware of every half second for the whole hour. I expected a complaint from the voluminous talker but none came, and I was almost disappointed at the missed opportunity. I had my delicate but direct response ready: “The pitch of your voice is right at the level that makes my hearing aids squeal. I wonder if you could lower the volume a little, and then we could turn down the sound system.”
If anything, I think both her pitch and volume lessened with the competition. My usually day-long hour at the gym went quickly. By the time I left, the sounds of a march by John Phillip Sousa filled the tiny gym. (see 11 second video below) I drove home singing.
Gym Sounds
Posted in Executive Leadership, Leadership Humor, Leadership Lessons
By Judy on July 23, 2010
With the steady increase in stress we are all experiencing–and will continue to experience–having a surefire strategy to reduce extreme anxiety is vital to your career, your health and your well being.
Taking 3 deep breaths is a proven method even if it sounds new age or silly to some. It changes your body chemistry, helps get blood back to your brain that you lost when you got super anxious, and buys some time to think. Asking yourself questions is another way to get the blood flowing out of your extremities that are preparing to run or fight. But the best, simplest and safest way? Leaning on physiology we all share, regardless of rank, excuse yourself for a pit stop. Hard to imagine anyone stopping you from that one. That buys you the time to deep breathe, regroup and plan what you are going to do or say on your return.
Why is this so important? Because to lose it at work in front of others may permanently damage your career. Better that people think you have a tiny bladder than all the other conclusions people draw when you lose it in public.
What ways do you use to de-stress?
Judy Nelson, JD, MSW
Certified Executive Coach and Workplace Big 5 Consultant
Judy@CoachJudyNelson.com
Posted in Executive Leadership, Leadership Lessons
By Judy on June 14, 2010
“Guess who’s coming to Grand Forks,” my mother said when I answered the phone one January morning in 1998. Before I could ask who, she blurted it out: “Art Linkletter!” Her words transported me back to 1954 and for a moment, I was a fourth grader again. We were the first family on the block to get a television set and I have wonderful memories of gathering around the set after school to watch “Art Link letter’s House Party.”
Art, a television pioneer far ahead of today’s reality programming gurus, tickled his audiences every day by rummaging through the purse of a delighted audience member to see what embarrassing item he would find or giving one of his famous deadpan expressions when a child gave a startling answer in his “kids say the darndest things” segment. My mother thought that Art Linkletter walked on water—my having met him was a seminal achievement in her eyes!
I only met Art because of his wife Lois, one of the warmest most giving people I’ve ever known. I was thrilled when she’d agreed to become a member of the Board of Directors for Children’s Bureau of Los Angeles. I had been the Executive Director there for several years and was in the process of trying to strengthen our Board. Lois rolled up her sleeves and began working on the agency’s future from day one. Though long retired from daily broadcasting, Art’s many talents kept him engaged in writing best selling booking, overseeing international business interests, appearing in television commercials and, occasionally, making public appearances. In no time, Lois also had Art thoroughly involved in working on behalf of the interests of the abused children and troubled families who we served. Over the years I had come to know and treasure them both.
Read more here >>>>>
Posted in Heroes among us, Leadership Humor, Thoughts and Musings | Tagged Heroes, Judy Nelson, Stories of life
By Judy on May 15, 2010
“So how do you relate your cooking problems to leadership?” You might be suprised to hear that I’ve heard this question more than once from those who know of my frustrating and disastrous experiences as a noncook. I can’t boil eggs—literally!
The answer to the question about cooking and leadership is–a lot. In another era of my life, I spent hours trying to cook something edible every night, succeeded rarely, feeling like a failure often. Then, I stopped trying (except occasionally which always proved I should stay out of the kitchen) and focused on the many skills I have in other areas. I also found a partner who would accept me for what I was and was not. This gave me the freedom to develop my skills and to compensate for my “weaknesses” (i.e., psychological traits and energies over which I have no control.)
The ultimate understatement is that I am NOT a detail person. Good cooking requires attention to detail—in planning, shopping and preparing–or suffer the consequences. I get bored easily. Good cooking requires the ability to focus on the task at hand and ignore boredom. While I envy the joy and wonderful outcomes of my friends who are great cooks, I’ve stopped beating myself up over a talent that simply eludes me.
Now in my second career, as an executive coach and trainer, I am in hog heaven (without having to cook the hog.) Why? Because I am doing only things that I am good at, love to do and that consequently, create no stress. I repeat. NO STRESS.
I wonder how much happier and less stressed I might have been if I had chosen my first career in a field that required more of my natural talents: creativity, multi-tasking and idea-generating, to name a few. Not that my jobs have not required all of those. But the other requirements such as budgeting, oversight and tracking wore me down, leaving little time or energy for the fun stuff.
So? So after 30 plus years as a working adult, I have finally found my niche, and I’ve never been happier or less stressed. (I think there is a relationship between those two!)
What lessons have you learned along the way to make you a better leader?
Posted in Executive Leadership, Leadership Humor, Leadership Lessons, Thoughts and Musings | Tagged Judy Nelson, Leadership, Stories of life
Resources, Stories and Discussions for Nonprofit Executives