Category Archives: Leadership

Small Changes with Big Impact

Are business problems wearing you out? Try these eight steps…

“The only business without problems is a dead business.”

~ Dr. Ichak Adizes, Author, Corporate Lifecycles

I love this quote, because it simply normalizes the fact that your business will have problems. Kind of takes the sting out of it. Makes you feel less…inadequate.

So let’s just be honest with ourselves. Running a business means solving problems.

Not just occasionally. Daily. Hourly.

And these business problems can just wear us slick.

Our time as leaders is not best spent on solving problems. It is best spent on creating possibilities and opportunities.

So here’s another powerful quote to help move you in the right direction.

“Fast and roughly right decision-making will replace deliberations that are precise but slow.”

~ Rita Gunther McGrath, Professor, Columbia Business School

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a handy little guide to help you think problems through and make the best decisions possible, as quickly as possible?

Here are eight simple steps to consider in any situation that requires problem solving:

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Seriously, just like yoga. Because taking in a long slow deep breath and exhaling slowly two or three times instantly lowers your heart rate and your stress level. So relax. Breathe.
Suspend your assumptions. Yup, you have them. You just have to be intentional about naming them. It might even help to write them down. “I assume______.” We hold on to assumptions because they create a safety zone, preventing new thinking and new ideas. But they can be fatal unless we check them out.
Ask “Why” five times. This takes you deep into the core of the problem. You’re looking for a real solution, not a Band-Aid, so find the core of the problem and fix that. For example: The printer won’t work. Why? It says the print cartridge is damaged. Why? I don’t know, but this happened before. Why? Tech support says it’s a known issue with this model. Why? There’s a bug in the software. In just four Whys you realize that you don’t just need to replace the print cartridge. You need a different printer model.
Define your desired outcome. What are you looking for, ideally? Wrap your decision about what really matters most. Of the five or six strategic objectives you want, which is really the top priority? Of all the people you are trying to keep happy, which one is the most important?
Think possibilities. Every problem holds an opportunity. You don’t need a short term solution that leaves you in the lurch long term. Look down the road. What you are facing might look like a huge mountain to climb. But on the other side of that mountain is a lush valley. Think bigger.
Apply logic. Whether we realize it or not, most of our decisions are based on emotions. We simply use logic to justify them. Emotions like anxiety, dread, or fear lead to bad decisions. Know your facts. Be very intentional about applying logic to the problems you face.
Run your options past a “devil’s advocate.” Years ago another consultant and I had an intense heart-to-heart with our client, trying very hard to talk her out of a very risky decision. We were the devil’s advocates. She decided to pursue the opportunity anyway, but the objections and concerns we expressed provided valuable information that she used to mitigate her risk. And her project was over-the-top successful!
Make a decision. Speed matters. Procrastination is deadly. We can gather information indefinitely, but if we delay difficult decisions to long, all that information will change anyway. There are very few decisions that can’t be undone. Get it over with. Remember, there really are no “perfect” solutions. We always have to deal with an uncertain future. One decision leads to the next.

Above all, teach this problem-solving method to your employees. Print it out and discuss it at your next staff meeting.

Never neglect an opportunity to train and educate those who work for you. Don’t just teach them WHAT to think – teach them HOW to think.

The more capable they are of solving problems and making decisions, the fewer problems that will land on your desk!

Take care,

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Wisdom From A Friend…Tell Me What You Need

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Some lessons are so simple, so obvious, yet so overlooked. I learned one of those lessons from a friend of mine last week.

We both volunteer with a program that educates women entrepreneurs in developing countries. We love that work!

As we talked about what we can do to provide really meaningful help, she said, “I’m glad that so many people are offering education and mentoring. But sometimes they forget to ask the women they want to help, ‘What do you really need? What would be most helpful to YOU?'”

Well then. She’s right. We’re smart. We have lots of ideas.

We think we know what’s best for others.

And we forget to ask what others really need.

So…because I offer online courses, training and keynotes for women entrepreneurs (and because I want to be as smart as my friend!), I’m asking YOU:

What do you really need? What would be most helpful to you?

Think about the challenges you face as we come into the last half of 2013. What could you learn that would be the most helpful for you?

Just scroll back up to the top and post a reply…I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

Oh, and the more women you share this with, the more I will learn about what women need. Thanks!

Is Your (Lack of) Communication Causing Anxiety?

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Last week I met with a woman entrepreneur who owned a large business, as well as a large building that houses the business. As I turned into her parking lot, I noticed a big “For Sale” sign.

“Wow, she’s selling out,” I thought to myself. “I thought things were going well for her, but maybe not.”

Turns out things were going very well for her. In fact, so well she had outgrown her space and was looking for new property. What a relief!

But during our conversation, it became clear that she hadn’t told her employees she was looking for new property. Every employee who drove into the parking lot saw that big “For Sale” sign and had no idea what was happening or why.

Imagine what was going through their minds. For all they knew, she was selling the entire company. “Am I going to be working for someone else?” “Am I going to be out of a job?”

THE FALLOUT

When we don’t have information, we imagine the worst. We invent things, we make things up. We hallucinate. For some strange reason, people tend to fill in the blanks — the communication gap — with something negative.

Just imagine how much anxiety we create for those around us when we don’t communicate fully. Just imagine how much wasted energy and wasted time results. Just imagine how trust is damaged.

Whether we have one employee or one hundred employees, we want fully engaged, committed, productive employees, right? Is it possible we might forget to provide employees with some critical information so that they CAN be fully engaged and productive?

THE FLIPSIDE

It’s not just employees who need forthright communication. Customers need clear and honest information about what you can deliver and when.

Contrast the “building for sale” situation with this one: I hired a branding firm to freshen up my website (stay tuned for a new look soon!). They promised me they would have a document to me by the end of the day Friday.

About 10:00 that morning I received an email saying that they noticed something they weren’t happy with. They wanted to change it, but it would be Monday before the right team member could take care of it.

Wow! I can’t tell you how much I appreciated that email. Honest, direct, timely communication. No avoiding, therefore no anxiety and no wondering. And no damage to my trust in them.

THE CAUSE

The two most common culprits that cause a communication vacuum?

Busyness – When you wear too many hats and go in a hundred directions, it’s easy to overlook communication needs. But as a leader, communication must be one of your top priorities. If you’re too busy, dig deeper and realign your priorities. Find small things you can 1) delegate, 2) outsource, or 3) eliminate. Start with your technology… it’s become an incredible black hole we fall in!

Fear — A dozen “what if’s” go through your mind as you consider what to say, to whom, and when. What if they disagree? What if they get upset? Don’t let fear of someone’s reaction stop you from sharing important information. Emotional needs come out one way or the other. Be on the front end and know that emotions are the gateway to vitality and better relationships.

THE SOLUTION

So what can you do to make sure your communication is timely, open, and transparent? Use these twelve questions as a quick checklist. Review them before each staff meeting (you are having staff meetings, aren’t you?). In fact, just print them out and keep them handy.

Who needs to know What by When?
Whose cooperation do I need for this task or project to be successful?
Who will actually carry out the work?
Who will influence the outcome? This might be someone who is not directly responsible, but someone with technical expertise, like legal or technology advice.
Who will be affected by this decision, this action, this project?
Have I fully communicated my expectations?
Do my employees know where we are going?
Do they know what we need to do to get there?
Are they aware of our values, our processes and our procedures?
Do they understand how they contribute to the company’s bottom line?
Is there something I’m afraid of?
What can I do to mitigate my fears?

Remember, when people don’t have information, they fill in the communication gap with something negative. Those negative thoughts create anxiety and damage trust.

Authentic and transparent communication is the first step to trusting, healthy relationships, both inside your company an out.

I’d love to see your comments and questions! And as always, if you know other women who can learn from this, please do share.

Take care, d

Surprising News About Leadership Skills

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Shocked.

That was my reaction to the survey results in a new book about leadership qualities.[i] As soon as I read the first chapter, I knew I had to share this with you:

“Sixty-six percent of the people surveyed believe the world would be a better place if men thought more like women.”

Now, we women have known this for a long time, right? We just didn’t have proof.

We do now.

This rigorous survey revealed that sixty-six percent of all people across the planet believe what the world needs most right now is feminine leadership. [ii]

Why does it matter?

Since self-doubt undermines so many women’s confidence, I hope you take this a huge validation. Now you know the entire world is hungry for what women can — and want — to contribute as leaders.

Here’s how to capitalize on ten of your natural feminine traits, that will become the gold standard for the future…

Look at this list of ten feminine leadership qualities. Choose just one and really explore how you can make the most of it, to achieve your full potential.

1) Empathy: Do you understand how others feel, even if you don’t feel the same way? When you empathize with customers, you have incredible insight into their needs and how to meet them. When you empathize with employees, you gain their respect. They know you care.

2) Flexibility: In today’s changing world, being flexible allows you to transition to meet market shifts or be willing to try new things.

3) Patience: Answers and results don’t always come quickly (I hate that!). Patience includes taking the time to listen, learn, to build consensus so that decisions turn into action.

4) Expressive: Use your natural communication skills to connect. When you are open, honest, candid, and receptive you built trust.

5) Trustworthy: Establish your personal track record showing your strength of character. Your loyalty and reliability will inspire confidence in others.

6) Intuitive: Plenty of women have a sixth sense about people, situations, and solutions. The problem is, we don’t always listen to our own intuition. Now is the time to trust that internal voice.

7) Collaborative: It’s not a winner-take-all world anymore, which is great for women, because we didn’t like that style in the first place. Be inclusive. Involve employees in planning and decision-making. Get input from customers. Look for opportunities to collaborate with business contacts, like co-sponsoring an educational event.

8) Passionate: Passion is contagious (just think about how people’s passion for iPhones turned them into top sellers almost overnight). Don’t be shy about sharing your passion for your product, your service, your cause with others.

9) Selfless: Be careful with this one…being selfless doesn’t mean having no boundaries or becoming a doormat. It means being cause focused. It means being humble and sharing the credit.

10) Planning for the future: You don’t have to be a futurist with a crystal ball to be a long-term thinker. You do need to evaluate all angles of a situation and think through the consequences of decisions and actions.

Used together, these top ten feminine leadership traits can help you resolve conflicts, maximize profits and redefine success.

So take this study’s endorsement of natural feminine qualities, embrace it, wallow in it. Let it help you gain confidence in yourself, banish self-doubt and trust yourself more.

I’d love to hear your examples of how you live out these feminine qualities in your business.

Take care,

[i] The Athena Doctrine: How Women (and the Men Who Think Like Them) Will Rule the Future, the new book by John Gerzema and Michael D’Antonio (authors of Spend Shift).

[ii] The authors surveyed 64,000 people in thirteen countries, representing 65% of the world’s gross domestic product (that alone was no small feat!). They asked half of their global sample to classify 125 different human behavioral traits as masculine, feminine or neither. Next, they asked the other half to rate the importance of the traits to certain virtues, like leadership, success, morality and happiness. From this data they could clearly see that across age, gender and culture, people around the globe feel that feminine traits correlate more strongly with making the world a better place.

Darcie Harris

Speaker | Trainer | Champion for Women Entrepreneurs