Archive For: Leadership

Never Forget – You’re ON Before You’re On

One of the key issues faced by management today is that of Engagement. In a workforce that is increasingly disengaged, it is a critical aspect of the work life that needs to be managed into the future.

Add to that the ever-present mobile phone and technology, and it becomes an issue for families and friendships as well. ,

The 75 second video above is an example of one organisation that is getting it horribly wrong before they even start.

What little things can you do to increase the engagement of the people around you?

If you need some help get in touch and ask about the Express Engagement Coaching Program.

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Is It The Best Person For The Job?

During April, my gorgeous wife and I toured the UK as we were there for a couple of family occasions. While we were in Glasgow, we toured the Clydeside Distillery.

It was a fantastic couple of hours. I learnt so much about distilling, the relatively simple process (which explained so much about Hawkeye and BJ’s still in M*A*S*H), the challenges of making the simple process remain simple and then how to distinguish one whisky from another.

Our guide (you can see half of him in the photo montage above) knew so much about the process, the history of Glasgow, the Clyde river and Whiskey in general. He was also fun and entertaining. Definitely the right person for the job.

Contrast that with my friends neighbour. He had some trees that needed trimming. They were hanging over his cable tv connection and powerline to the house. Not an easy job and one that requires some skill.

… Or does it? …

The neighbour decided to have a go themselves and … well … let’s just say I was entertained for several hours receiving texts from my friend. With things like:

  • The cut trees got caught on the power line
  • The guy was actually holding the power line
  • He fell off the fence he was standing on
  • He fell off the ladder with the chainsaw going
  • He cut one bit that he could only just reach to find the release of the weight moved the rest of the branch out of his reach
  • After 5 hours, great risk to his own life, and too many dangerous situations to consider, he trimmed the trees.

The risk of life and limb, time it took and potential for major damage (if not a fatality) seemed that he had the wrong person for the job. The investment of a couple of hundred dollars to get the right person to do it quickly, safely and easily would seem to be worthwhile to me.

Trees caught on power line

Is It The Right Person For The Job?

Regardless of whether you are hosting tours, trimming trees or running events, you always need to consider, is it the right person for the job?

Too often I have seen conferences hosted by the CEO, the Sales Manager, a Funny Guy from accounts that are OK but don’t give the full impact because they don’t have a professional host. Award ceremonies that are lacklustre because the person who should be in control, isn’t!

No matter what task you have at hand, it is always worth asking, “Is this the right person for the job?”

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Do You Fear the Dark Clouds?

No matter what is happening, no matter how gloomy to dark clouds appear, there is always a touch of brightness.

Whether it is business issues, personal problems or simply things not going the way you want them too, here is where to find, not just a touch, but a BURST of brightness.

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Did Our Election Make You Angry?

So we’ve just had our election and I have to tell you the results have not made everyone happy. 

Some people are quite furious about it and there’s a lot of people going “why?” 

Was it the Queenslanders? 
Was it the independents? 
Was a dodgy voting tactics? 

At the end of the day the answer is, “It doesn’t matter.” 

The whys don’t really matter. The question that’s most important is, “What are going to do now?” 

If you’re a person who’s committed to the environment, how can you still make a stand? 
How can you influence your local Member of Parliament regardless of what party that they’re part of? 
If there’s a cause that you passionately believe in, how can you put your energy in a positive direction rather than blaming somebody else. 

I would hate for us to go down the path of many other countries where there is such animosity between people who vote for different parties that they become violent and closed to hearing alternate perspectives. 

At the end of the day, people made the choice that suits their circumstance on the information that they understood. 
So maybe some of the parties could have been clearer in what they actually stood for. Maybe they could have used, some would say less dodgy, voting tactics. But it doesn’t matter. 

What matters is what can you do now. 

What positive steps can you take today, and every other day, to create the kind of world, the kind of country, the kind of future that you want there to be. 

Hope you voted well.

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How To Become Your Own Robin Hood 🏹

I don’t mean start stealing from the rich! Robin Hood did something way more powerful than that.

I recently spent two weeks touring the UK. So how could I not visit Sherwood Forrest.

The visit had me thinking about Robin Hood. While redistributing the wealth was a great deed, his most powerful act was spreading the message that people did not have to live under a tyrant. Spreading his ideas, thoughts and helping others create a dream that was worth living for, gave something far more valuable than money.

While Robin Hood may be a fictional character [spoiler alert], you aren’t.

Do you have a message you need to spread?
How can you authentically and genuinely share your message to others?

For some it will be a simple conversation, coaching a team mate or sharing information. Others will want to take it further and share it from the stage.

If you are in Melbourne on Thursday 23rd, join me for a one day intensive on how to Get More Speaker Success.

Discover more info here http://GetMoreSpeakerSuccess.com

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How Important Are Words of Praise?

So much research has show that people join a company but leave a manager. Yet so many managers think that all their team wants is a regular pay check. These managers are wrong.

Most people I have spoken with tell me that they want to know that they are doing a good job. The only way they will know this is being told as much by their boss. Their colleagues can tell them but it doesn’t mean as much as when it comes from your boss or someone in authority.

This was reinforced with something I saw on twitter this week.

Recently a high school drama class put on a school production of Alien with a tiny budget. That is a pretty big call! Looking at some of the stills and video on Twitter, it does look pretty cool.

Well word got around. The twitterverse got excited. Sir Ridley Scott, the man whose company made the original films heard about it. Seeing the fabulous job they did on a miniscule budget, he wrote a letter of thanks with some encouragement built in.

How do you think the kids, the teachers and the school feel right about now?
How delighted must you be when the person you are paying homage to lets you know you did an amazing job?
How thrilled would your team, family, colleagues, friends be if you told them how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate what they do?

How important are words of praise?

They are the most valuable currency you have.

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The Food Of Love

Sometimes you just need a bit more love in your life. Love for you, love for your fellow person, love for a cause. Shakespeare said it best.

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From Little Things Big Things Grow

Not only is “From little things, big things grow” a great line from a Paul Kelly song, it is true of our efforts as well.

Two years ago, my brother in law gave me an apple tree. And I am so thrilled that after fighting back bugs, possums, drought, hail and bashing it with a lawn mower (accidentally), we have been harvesting the first fruit from it.

Like a conference or event finally coming to fruition, it is a joy to taste the fruits of your labour.

But the thing is, it hasn’t been a hard slog. Yes there are times when it is hard work but most of the times it is just a load of little pieces.

Pruning back the tree (or the run sheet) to focus on the real value elements.

Sharing the progress of the buds (or registrations) as the tree/event comes to life.

Ensuring the right support is there (fertilisers, AV, MC) and now to enjoy the final product.

What event or project are you working on where all your little things are finally falling into place?

Don’t worry if seem like you are only doing little things.

Remember – from little things, big things grow.

Here is the song from Paul Kelly that chronicles the struggles of our indigenous peoples performed at the memorial service for Gough Whitlam.

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Are You The Conductor of Your Own Destiny?

Maybe “Destiny” is a bit too full on for this time of day, conductor of your own life is a bit full on too. Maybe conductor of your coming year or the coming months is more appropriate.

Whatever you find more palatable, the question is, are you in control?

Not complete control because there is so much that happens that is outside your control that happens that you have to deal with.

Ok, I have worked it out. Here it is. Are you willing to take responsibility for the actions that need to be taken to get the results you are after?

This is more than simply saying to yourself, “Yes of course!”

  • It is continually stepping up and being willing to make tough decisions and uncomfortable actions.
  • It is exerting your influence on others (both subtly and blatantly) to get the outcomes you are working towards.
  • It is training other people to do the jobs they should know how to do themselves anyway but doing it in a patient and caring manner.
  • It is being willing to put your hand up even when you don’t want to because you know it’s needed.
  • It is stepping outside your own desires and looking at what is best for the team and taking the appropriate action.
  • It is being willing to make a fool of yourself and not caring what others think.
  • It is putting suggestions forward and when they are knocked back, going with the group consensus anyway.
  • It is getting there early when you would rather stay in bed.
  • It is going above and beyond to make sure the entire experience is great for everyone and not just you.
  • It is asking the hard questions to those who don’t always like it.
  • It is having fun when things are getting a bit too serious.
  • It is tapping in to the synergy of everyone in the room and making sure everyone knows the part they play.
  • It is taking a little more than your fair share of the blame and a little less than your fair share of the credit.
  • It is doing what you don’t want to do when you know it has to be done.
  • It is shining the light on those that deserve it.
  • It is keeping things running on time and on budget even though that can sometimes hurt.
  • It is picking yourself up, cracking a joke and then continuing to move forward when things don’t work out.
  • It is counting on the team around you and letting go of the control.
  • It is passing on the baton and training your own replacement (even though you love your job).
  • It is leaving when it’s time.

Spider Man’s Uncle Ben said to him. “With great power comes great responsibility.” I find the reverse is true also.

“With Great Responsibility comes Great Power.”

The more willing you are to take responsibility for a situation, a position, a life, the more power you have over it.

The Conductor is the most powerful person in the entire orchestra. Are you ready for Great Power?

Are you ready to be the Conductor of your own Destiny?

 

PS If you are looking to have more power over your next event, be it a conference, a departmental meeting or an internal company event, starting Feb 6th, I will be running live on line sessions on how to be a master event host. It is an eight week course with a stack of additional resources. Check GetMoreMCSuccess.com for more details.

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Drowning in Words or Starving for Sentences?

When you are on stage or have to speak to a group of people, it is feast or famine.

You either have so many words that you can’t stop talking or you are a rabbit in the headlights and the words won’t come out. You know that you know what you want to say, it’s just that the words have disappeared!

That’s where the art of linking or Segues comes into play.

There are four different types of segues. One of my favourites is the final one Chaos.

This is where there is no link whatsoever but you force one in there anyway. They appeal to my sense of humour as well as adding an obvious transition.

If ever you have been stuck in a presentation or talking to someone and are not sure how to get to the next topic, these are brilliant.
You can simply ignore what you were just talking about, come up with a whimsical statement or even something surreal and then launch into the next topic.

Monty Python did this all the time on their sketch show. You may be watching something about a family discussing Woody or Tinny words and then up comes “And now for something completely different” followed by something equally ridiculous like a Fish Slapping Dance. They were so well known for this segue that it became the name of one of their movies.

The similar one you will hear more often is when the host says, “Without further ado” and then changes the topic completely.

If you are interested in finding out how to better connect your presentation points or writing points, why not join me for the free 30 minute session, Sorting our Your Segues this week.

Simply go to GetMoreMCSuccess.com/segue for more information or to register.

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You Must Have A Safety Cushion to Prevent Pain

As the Dread Pirate Roberts said, “Life is pain… Anyone who says differently is selling something.”

That being the case, I had a good dose of life on the weekend!

We were at the shed and while my gorgeous wife and our friend went into town, I thought I would pop up the ladder and do a couple of things that needed to be done.

So often we have talked about how important ladder safety is, particularly as the shed has a concrete floor. In fact, I was joking with my personal trainer about it a week or so ago as it is one of the main reasons men over 55 are admitted to hospital!

Anyway, I set the ladder. The kitchen bench was in the road so I positioned the ladder into what I thought was a safe place. As I was about two and a half metres in the air, it turns out that position was NOT safe.  The polished concrete did not give enough resistance to the feet of the ladder and I am a heavy bloke so, at the end of the day, the laws of physics stayed true and gravity worked!

On the way down I grabbed at the bulkhead over the kitchen (which I successfully pulled down), grazed my shin, landed on my feet with my forearms on the bench all while forcing the knife block into the microwave and bending two of the knife handles in the process. The ladder itself can now go around corners so it will be recommissioned as a climbing frame for beans, roses or some such plant.

With loads of broken glass from the microwave, my first check was had I cut myself. The answer was NO!  Phew!! Then it was time to sit, calm down and assess the situation.

Turns out all I got was a bruised ego, shin, hand and forearms and one hell of a fright. Yay for me!

So we know have a new protocol for climbing ladders.

  • It is not to be done if only I am there
  • Ladder must be stable with safety person holding it
  • Must have better ladder
  • Where possible, have a huge bed of cushions underneath
  • If in doubt, don’t

So Step one, get a better ladder. This is what I will use from now on (ignore the wheels, they are coming off!) Super stable and with working platform!!

What about you? You probably don’t climb ladders. Maybe the risks you are facing are not physical. Maybe it is financial, project based, competitive risks or something completely different.

What are your protocols for managing risks? How can you make sure you have a massive bed of cushions to minimise your negative impact and/or pain?

PS The Latest Episode of the Get More Success Show is all about dealing with Uncertainty and how to thrive in it. Evan Leybourn is the head of Business Agility Institute. Check out our conversation here. 

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Are You Prepared For Major Failure?

“Expect the Best and Prepare for the Worst” has been my mantra in preparation for the events I host. It also applies to other areas of my life.

On the way back from the shed yesterday, the car felt funny. It had some weird vibrations going on and I couldn’t work it out. When I saw in the mirror some bits of rubber flinging into the air, I knew I had a problem.

I pulled off on the side of the road. Then I thought traffic was pretty busy and I didn’t want to get too close to it. The emergency lane was pretty narrow as they had that new barrier wire up. So I just got very close to it.

Yes, my tyre was flat – well, probably a little beyond flat! Luckily I had a spare, most trailers don’t. Let’s be honest, it wasn’t luck, I made sure I had a spare on the trailer and I check it’s air pressure when I check the trailer tyres.

A quick change of tyres and I was back on my way.

Again, I was expecting the best but preparing for the worst.

The same thing happens in the events that I host. Things go wrong ALL THE TIME. It is just a matter of planning for them knowing that you can plan for 80% of the problems but 20% will come out of left field and you just have to deal with them.

In my 20 years of hosting events here are some of the things that have happened to me and others around me:

  • Yesterday my friend landed in Sydney to do her early morning keynote and her luggage (with her performance outfit) went to Adelaide
  • Flights have been cancelled, missed, delayed causing speakers to be late or not turn up. I had a flight rescheduled coming from Perth to Adelaide. By the time I got to Adelaide the even would have been over. So instead I went back home to Melbourne and had 20 mins to spare to present to the audience over the internet!
  • AV has failed (this happens so often that it is not really a problem anymore. The show will go on!)
  • Power outages
  • Evacuation alarms – one went off at a charity dinner I was hosting right as we were coming to the end of the night and half the people simply went home!
  • Speakers not showing up (this has happened a couple of times and my event organisers love that I have a keynote up my sleeve and ready to go when it does)
  • A death at the event. This has happened once for me and has had me re-evaluate some of my protocols.

 

So Dear Reader, in what you do and in your life, how do you expect the best and prepare for the worst?

Are you prepared for major failure?

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Do You Match Your Marketing?

Most of us have been into, seen or drooled over cake displays like this one. Or maybe this one

With great anticipation we order the piece (or two) that we have our eye on.

It looks amazing and smells fabulous. A little bit of drool starts to form as our mouth begins watering.

We sit at the table with anticipation as finally the piece is served, maybe with a flourish, a dab of cream or some other garnish.

We probably take a photo of it, tell our dining partner how good this will be and then we have the first bite.

This is where reality comes crashing down on us. 

So often the piece we have selected does not live up to our expectation or to the promise that has been made of it. We have inadvertently fallen prey to the Marketing Gap. The difference between what is marketed to us and what is delivered to us.

Companies do the same thing.

They spend a lot of money marketing a product or service and telling us how good it is. The marketing is exciting. It’s colourful, vibrant and enticing. We believe it, try the product or service and are disappointed.

Movie trailers seem to be the worst at this. Promising something that is never delivered.

Prospective partners can fall into this trap also. They start off being awesome only to fall back into their old ways once you have committed.

Social media seems to amplify the Marketing Gap. What you see on Instagram vs IRL (that’s In Real Life for us oldies) can set you up for major disappointment.

How is Your Marketing Gap?

In what you do – professionally and personally, do you deliver on your “marketing?”

Authenticity and open communication is so important in managing expectations and your own success. Please make sure you match your own marketing.

PS I had the Mini Yoyo – it wasn’t really that good.

 

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When is the Best Time To Invest in Your Future?

I love big old trees like this one. It is one of the many old gum is on our property in central Victoria. But for me to appreciate this tree today, something had to happen many years ago.

It is the same with our future. A bright and prosperous future depends on us doing great things today. While in the world of social media, some people become rich, famous, celebrities, influencers and fabulous overnight, I can tell you (particularly in my case) that is not the norm.

Many years ago, the band The Presidents of the United States of America released an album which had a few songs about peaches. In one, there were millions of peaches, in another they were eating peaches on the back porch. The concept of eating your own home grown fruit has always appealed to my gorgeous wife and I – so to make that happen, we had to do something today (well a couple of days ago actually).

I know I have mentioned before the saying, “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago and the second best time is today.” So we have chosen to embody that saying, peaches and all!

On Saturday we had 43 people and 5 dogs come and help us plant about 60 fruit trees and about 20 Golden Ash trees on our block with a Shed on it. We had done the hard work prior to fence off the area and protect the trees from the horses, kangaroos and anything else venturing in the paddock as well as setting up an automated irrigation system and pretreating the soil (there is a bit of clay there!)

It was a magical day and a pure delight to have family and friends helping build a better future for us all to share. Yes it was cold. Yes it had a bit of rain. Yes one of the dogs (naughty Molly) thought the trees were sticks to play with and tried to run off with them, but having that many people meant that it wasn’t a great deal of work but there was a lot of celebration. Check out the photos below.

Dear Reader, I am sure you are thinking, “well that’s nice but I don’t have a block or want fruit trees.” That’s ok. Everyone is different.

So what DO you want in your future? What do you need to do NOW to make it happen? Who can you get to help you start or progress your dream NOW?

Let me know if I can help.

 

The Golden Ash

 

The Orchard

 

Some Workers

 

A Big Feed

 

Staying Warm

 

Even Horses Love Selfie

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How is Your Underlying Structure or Strategy?

After 8 years of talking about it, we are finally getting a deck!

One of the key things about it is making sure we get the structure right. Granted, we want it to look good but if the support is not there or the layout isn’t in the right direction, it won’t get the results we are after. It won’t meet the purpose we need it for.

A concept I learnt from Paul McCarthy and Brad Tonini is the concept of “For What Purpose?”

The simple act of asking what is the purpose of this action, this idea, this building, this online course, this book – help dictates the strategy. Too often people believe the rubbish perpetuated by Hollywood Movies, “If you build it, they will come” (Spoiler – THEY WON’T!)

How is your strategy?

Does you have a well thought out plan of: 

  • What you are trying to achieve 
  • Who you are trying to achieve it for
  • Where you will be working on it
  • How you will achieve it
  • How you will celebrate when you achieve it

You have to get the strategy right for the results to follow. Let me know if you need any help.

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