 Wolf
Talk
In this issue, we will discuss:
Are You
Moving from Manager to Leader in Your Organization?
Answer yes or no to each
statement below -
-
As
an excellent time manager, I always set weekly priorities
and understand what must be done to be effective every day.
-
I am
a timely decision maker.
-
I
have recognized problems in plans or projects and have
proactively communicated them, leaving strong personal
emotions out of the discussion.
-
I
have a high tolerance to the ambiguity of change and have
navigated and initiated change where it is in the best
interest of the company.
-
I
have accepted responsibility when I made a mistake.
-
Before I found fault with others, I have looked at my role
in a task or an outcome that did not meet expectations.
If you
can not easily say yes to each statement, then you may be a
contributor to the organization but not a leader. The best
leaders know that time is valuable and therefore it requires
being organized, a strong decision maker, communicator, able to
manage a changing culture and building follow-ship by taking
responsibility and assessing their own role in missed
opportunities. While people will listen to leaders, their
behaviors are shaped by what those leaders DO.
Quick Facts
-
”Ninety-three percent of executives who have worked with an
executive coach report that it is a positive, sometimes
life-changing experience. That's because they feel the
impact in how they lead, and others see the change in
performance.”
CLO Magazine, April 2006
-
”Almost 90 percent of organizations report that they are
using employee recognition more often this year, according
to the survey by World at Work and the National Association
for Employee Recognition.”
Workforce Magazine, May 2005
-
“Half of all Americans today say they are satisfied with
their jobs, down from nearly 60 percent in 1995. But among
the 50 percent who say they are content, only 14 percent say
they are “very satisfied”. The largest decline in overall
job satisfaction, from 60.9% to 49.2%, occurred among
workers 35-44. The second largest decline took place among
workers aged 45-54, with the satisfaction level dropping
from 57.3% to 47.7%.”
News, Feb 2006
-
“Over
70% of all employees respond to competitors' job offers
during work hours, while you pay them. Voluntary
resignations are at the highest level in over 20 years.
Nearly 50% of all middle managers are either currently
looking for another job or plan to do so.”
Retensa May 2006
Icebreaker Idea
Looking for a quick icebreaker for your
next meeting? To improve creativity, ask participants to get
into groups of 4 to 5. Tell them they have been given $5000 and
two days to go on vacation. They must go together, spend all
$5000 and enjoy at least 3 group activities. Have them debrief
to the group. Learning: Decision making and collaborating plus
it’s fun to think about getting away-don’t we all wish we could
take a vacation—on the company?
Ask Cindy
Q: My manager is not receptive to hearing that the staff is
overwhelmed. I am willing to work but too many of us go home
later than we think we should. When I have raised what I think
are too many priority projects, he says we need to manage our
time better. Help! I feel like I’m downing! Any suggestions?
A:
Before I toss you a life ring, ask yourself a couple of
questions. Is the workload heavier now or is this temporary due
to a recurring need at a certain time of the year or month? Have
you experienced a lot of change causing people to tread water to
survive? Do you sense that there are fewer resources, the wrong
resources or a lack of understanding what is expected?
These
questions can help you diagnose what is going on more clearly so
that you can present a solution to your boss, not just a
problem. A changing work environment often causes a feeling of
being overwhelmed. Changes can be due to mergers, turnover, new
technology, a change in leadership or company vision.
Here are
five things to do to make a difference today
-
Organize your day or
week. Prioritize the top 20% of that list. Are these the
things that are most important to the department or company
goals?
-
Identify where you are spending your time. This might
require a ‘time diary’ for a week or two so that you can
show your boss what is taking you more time than necessary.
Perhaps you are attending to too many crises due to poor
planning by another person or department; maybe you attend
meetings that you do not need to be in or perhaps technology
is hindering your ability to gather data more quickly.
-
Analyze how much time tasks should take. Are you faster than
others in certain tasks but you take longer than others on
other tasks? Streamlining is key to managing projects
effectively.
-
Take
a look at your performance review again. Are you attending
to the goals that are expected of you? If you are unclear or
if priorities have changed, have a meeting to clear the
confusion.
-
When
faced with too many priorities, you need to negotiate how to
meet expectations. Don’t assume the problem lies with the
company or the boss. First, make a plan to gain control of
the projects and secondly, work your plan. Communicate what
you are doing to use your skills and if more training is
needed, ask for it. If you do not work your plan, your plan
will work you and leave you gasping for the air. (And, by
the way, are you managing your stress well? Vacations?
Sleep? Healthy eating and exercise? These areas directly
impact your ability to focus clearly.)
Once you
have done some investigation and gathering of the facts,
communicate with your boss about a plan that will achieve the
results needed. This might mean that you are being asked to do
work for a team of people. Then, you have to decide, can you
work under those conditions? Let me know how this information
works for you!
Wolf Track Notes…
The wolf is the largest wild canine in
North America. Gray wolves can be gray, white, black or silvery.
Some have facial markings that resemble those of huskies or
malamutes. Gray wolves are also called timber wolves. They live
in packs, although some animals will travel alone. Packs are
nomadic and may range more than 250 miles. During the time when
the alpha female has her pups in the den, the pack stays in one
place. Other than that time, they are always on the move.
And
speaking of tracks, wolf tracks
show four toes on each foot with
claw marks present. Wolf tracks are robust, often measuring 4¼
to 4¾ inches long. The stride of a wolf can be 26 to 30 inches.
Wolves can run 30 to35 mph. At top running speed, the distance
between groups of tracks can be six to eight feet. This little
guy is not ready to run with the big wolves. But, in just a few
months, he will be.
GrayWolf Consulting is
dedicated to providing training and development solutions that
bring about measurable outcomes. How may we help you to take
more control and make a difference in your organization?
www.graywolfconsulting.com
203-968-1302
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