Focus on a Future of What You Can Change Not a Past You Can't!

Too often we are stuck in the ‘Woulda, coulda, and shouda mentality’ fantasising about how things would have worked out differently if only we did something different, or we had another opportunity to do so.

Doesn’t really help change the outcome, just keeps gives us a momentary sense of retribution or recovery  in our own minds!

Memories are important for all the right reasons,  as long as they are the right reasons. Creating dreams  for the future are more rewarding.

By focussing on the future we can help to blow away cloudy past issues that may not give us a positive outlook. The future is in our control as long as we make that contribution continuous, focussed, owned and responsible. The future doesn’t happen by accident, we play a part in it.

So, consider this. As we replay the past we can sometimes see how and why things worked out the way they did.

Reverse think it. Anticipate what you want in the future, work backwards on how to get it and take control of the steps to get there.

Six Capabilities of Future Leaders Through the Eyes of the Current Leader

Today’s leaders are making history of the future. They are creating a framework for others to build on and open opportunities and possibilities that we can only imagine.

Getting ahead of the curve is hard but no one said it was easy. 

Those leaders who:

• Think and participate globally in business
• Are culturally diverse and inclusive
• Invest in accessibility as well as diversity
• Can imagine and are playful
• Use technology to replace obsolete processes with smart thinking Mentor, Coach and Guide their leadership teams - sent and future
• Develop their brain to think creatively

… are those leaders who make history come alive in the present and participate in the discovery and journey.

 

Where are you at?

Grateful Leadership

Every so often there is something that comes up that makes you stop…

 

Every so often there is something that makes you leap...

 

Perhaps things move you, inspire you, and help you appreciate what you are.

 

And be grateful for what you have, it takes a leader to take you there.

 

So does this video

 

Are You Heard?

We are assaulted most days with noise – from music in cafes and shops, to mobile phones and other forms of technology . It’s often sharp, loud, invasive and often uninvited. It’s hard to be heard above the cacophony of sound and has even been known to used as a convenient excuse when one does not want to continue a conversation on the mobile… such as “I can’t hear you.. it’s too noisy” and they hang up and we accept it. But that’s another conversation!

What we also need to accept is that it is often hard to listen even when there is no extra noise, simply because people are just not listening.

What has happened to our ability to listen well? It is because we anticipate answers before they finish and interrupt? Is it because we suffer from premature exasperation and can’t wait to move on to something else?

Is it because we give certain signals that interfere with the other person’s flow and energy? Is it because the conversation may not necessarily be interesting to us and therefore we don’t have the patience or interest to bother?  Or is it simply because we sometimes undervalue the integrity of those people in our lives whose opinions we may not prescribe to?

Either way, it’s first world impatience, I say.

First rate rudeness.

How Well Paid are You for the Work You Do?

Depends on how you define 'paid' really. 

If we are talking cold hard cash, most people  say “I deserve more for the extra work, effort, time, care, value, benefit, stress, engagement, support, insight, experience I give. I should be paid more.”

Yet, they settle for less.

Why? Because in some instances that’s all there is in the coffers, and there is no further negotiation of salary and people make their choice based on need and want.

In other instances it’s because the payment comes from social and personal recognition and that contributes to the balance of payment which cannot be added up in dollar terms. They feel they are well paid for the work they do and they get the return by knowing their contribution is making a difference.

Many would give up some dollars for more of this.

Yet some people believe they are well paid, and do an honest day’s work for an honest pay. Perhaps they are in the minority but at the end of the pay week, it all depends on perspective, attitude and stepping into your value as an expert or contributor.

Are you well paid for the work you do?

Whats the Word of the Street?

The old expression “Street Angel, House Devil” is often referred to by parents who know their children are naughty at home and likely to be “goody two shoes” at school or when out of the house. So the word on the street is that they are “good kids’ and can be counted on by their friends. As a parent myself, I must admit I preferred it this way, although there was a time when it was somewhat challenging having three teenage daughters who were house and bedroom mess devils! (and I think they now agree)

And while the principal of “street angel, house devil” does not apply in the workplace there are echoes of it down the alley way cafés, offices and associations that we all frequent. It works like this. Most people present at work as they are expected to – professional, respectful, courteous, polite, dressed appropriately and behave in a way that the organisations they work for would like them. They are office angels (ok, maybe you know a few who aren’t too!)

Yet, by and large when they leave the office, their personal brand appears and is blended with their business brand.  Thanks to social media and instant imaging we can now see people at all times of the day and evening that give us a picture of them outside the work they do and the relationships they have.

This can make for office conversation, gossip, rumour, speculation and in the end, people make up their own minds about the reputation and the image of the person and the company they work for. Sometimes confirming they are responsible and have integrity, other times maybe not.

Are they perhaps Work Angels, and Play Devils? Hmmm...

So what’s the word on the street about your organisation and the people who work in it? This word is powerful.  It opens or closes opportunities, business, relationships and networks. Sometimes you know about it, and sometimes we don’t.

We can only control the words about us. Make sure those words are the ones you want others to say about you when you are not there, as the words we hear may only be echoes of the past or only what we want to not what is really said.

Death by a Thousand BUT’s

“Love your idea, BUT…”

“In principal that would work, BUT…”

“I know how you feel, BUT…"

“We understand your concerns very well, BUT…”

“I know it’s good for the me, BUT…”

“Yeaaaahhh, BUT…”

 

And the list goes on! Death by a thousand painful BUT’s as they kill:

• Conversations
• Communication
• Creativity
• Engagement
• Stimulating discussion
• Further contributions and ideas

It’s easy to say BUT, and more likely to be used because it’s habit, not skill. It’s easy to say AND, too  - a simple three letter word less likely to be used because it’s not yet habit.

 

So try and make it part of your response before a four letter word is said behind your back or to your ears. That’s no fun!

 

So let’s look at the examples again and see how easy it to change their impact

“Love your idea, and let’s explore how they may work as I need further information to be clear."

 

“In principal, that would work, what did you have in mind as I am not sure of how this may develop."

 

“I know how you feel, it certainly is challenging. What would you suggest as another option as well?"

 

“We understand your concerns very well, have you considered another way around this before we decide?"

 

“I know it’s good for the me, and while I appreciate the value, its not really working for me right now so I would like to consider it over time."

 

“Yeaaaahhh, you have made a relevant  point – its not what I have experienced. I am coming from this in a different way so here’s what I would like to add to the discussion."

 

By taking a little care and converting the BUT’s to AND’s, you can stay tuned in to others so they don’t tune out!