Speak Up

Ever have one of those days where you feel like a full day has elapsed even before the official work day has really started?

One morning, I rushed to get my son up and ready early so I could drop him off and race to the airport for a flight to Houston. After I made it through security at the airport, I noticed that my flight had been canceled. Apparently I had missed the call from the airline. So, I went to the gate and stood in a long line to see whether I could get on the flight immediately before my scheduled flight, knowing I had a tight schedule of meetings. I knew it was a long shot since the earlier flight had almost finished boarding.

On the counter in front of me was a sign that clearly stated in capital letters “FORM ONE LINE” although there were three flights being served by three different agents in that area. As I stood there, a woman walked right up to one of the agents, bypassing all of us, and requested a seat on the earlier flight. The gate agent didn’t notice she had cut in line because her eyes had been glued to her computer screen. When the passenger first walked up, my first reaction was to think I was confused because no one in the line reacted. So I asked the man in front of me if there was in fact just one line and not three. He confirmed there was only one and confided that he was glad that he would have some time to decompress until the next flight. He was not in a hurry.

At that point, I felt like it was too late for me to walk up to the passenger and say something. And my sense was that she was completely clueless – she was in her own world and didn’t even notice the sign let alone the potential impact she had on the rest of us.

By the time I got to the front of the line, the agent informed me that the last seat had just been taken. At that point, I expressed my frustration about the woman who had cut in line, to which the agent responded, “Next time speak up!” In that moment, I realized that I alone had made the choice that would affect the rest of my day. If I had said something, that seat would have been mine. I could have arrived early, but because I held my tongue, I had to cancel my first meeting and knew I would be racing to the next one once I arrived in Houston.

I guess I could have blamed the airline and the passenger for how my day would unfold, but I’m not sure what good it would have done me or anyone else. It was far more empowering to realize that I just need to use my voice and make a different choice next time.

So, when you find yourself standing there holding your tongue and feeling frustrated (whether it’s in a meeting, on a call, or at the airport) speak up. Remember that people are often distracted or just don’t realize the impact of their actions on others.

© 2013 Neena Newberry | All rights reserved.

Is That Meeting Really Optional?

A theme has recently emerged with several of my clients. Some have expressed frustration when one of their direct reports misses a meeting that they consider to be important. I have also heard about this from the other vantage point, from my clients who have opted out of meetings like this when a legitimate scheduling conflict arises – and they just don't understand why it is a problem. Although it may seem minor in the grand scheme of things, remember that people draw conclusions about you from the small snapshots they see. They may not have time to explore what led to your decision, or to challenge their own conclusions about your decision, because of the competing demands on their time and attention.

So when you decline a meeting that your boss considers to be important, you may inadvertently send the wrong message – one that raises questions about your level of engagement, ability to manage your time effectively, or understanding of key priorities.

Here are three tips to help others take the right messages away:

1. Reverse roles

Put yourself in your boss's shoes. Even if you don't think missing that meeting is a big deal, your boss might. What is it really about for her? Perhaps it's less about the topics to be discussed and more about you showing your support, by making time to be there or contributing your valuable ideas. There is usually something bigger at play, so challenge yourself to notice it.

2. Clarify your underlying intent

If you decline a meeting, be sure to convey your underlying intent and distill it down to a few key messages. It could be this simple: you want to be there, you understand the importance of the meeting, and you are trying to balance it with moving another competing priority forward.

If you can't attend because you are spread too thin, then it may be time to reexamine how to leverage others or explore other strategies (perhaps with your boss).

3. Take responsibility for your absence

Have a game plan ahead of time, so that someone is prepared to share your input at the meeting and to give you a debrief afterwards. Sharing this with your boss may put her at ease. In some cases, your boss may want to be the person to update you on what you missed. Just be mindful not to create more work for her to do so.

I hope this article got you thinking about what you may be inadvertently communicating. Start by using the three tips as a checklist to help you notice what you already do well or may need to do more of, to send the right messages about your leadership.

© 2013 Neena Newberry | All rights reserved.

Forge Ahead

This week, I’d like to express my gratitude to my father who played a big role in making me the person I am today.  He lost his battle with pulmonary fibrosis this Tuesday night after a difficult ten days. One of the most important lessons I learned from him was to never give up in the face of challenges that seemed insurmountable. Although he may not have fully realized it, throughout his life his actions taught me to always look for a solution first.   I saw him step forward with courage making big decisions that changed our lives forever.  He may have expressed more than his fair share of frustration about the circumstances at hand, but at the end of the day he was willing to make tough choices with the unwavering strength and support of my mother.

With my father showing me that he could do whatever he put his mind to, and my mother constantly telling me that I could as well; I have been armed with an amazing gift – one that allows me to forge ahead no matter what, and to believe that I can.

This week, in honor of my father, I want to challenge you to think about two things. First, consider the messages you send to others on a daily basis – whether it’s to your loved ones or co-workers. I assure you they are watching and learning. Remember you are always in the invisible spotlight.  You have so much to offer, so be purposeful about sharing the best of who you are.  Really think about how you want to show up in every interaction. Second, the next time you find yourself complaining over and over about a particular situation, challenge yourself to step out and do something different – perhaps something bold – to address it. One person does have the ability to make a big difference, one small step at a time…so forge ahead.

Progress Check Against the 3 P's

Through my work with leaders over the years, I have found that focusing on the 3 P's: Purpose, Presence, and Power can significantly affect their ability to impact the business and their careers. This is why we integrate the 3 P's into all of our services and products. So, today, check to see how you are doing relative to the 3 P's.

1. Purpose

How clearly have you defined the three areas where you can make the biggest impact in your role (i.e., the Big 3)? How consistently do you spend your time on the Big 3?

2. Presence

How consistently are you "showing up?" In other words, do your communication and actions clearly help others understand the three things most important to you as a leader? What type of energy are you giving off? Are you draining or energizing others?

3. Power

How effectively and authentically are you building and leveraging the power of your network to get better results for the business and for your career?

From this progress check, choose one area to focus on. If you were unclear about your Purpose, start there because it will affect how you think about your Presence and Power. Define one small step you will take this week and remember that small steps can lead to big results.

© 2013 Neena Newberry | All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

Seven Important Reminders

The past few weeks have been full of introspection as I moderated two panels with senior executives and was on one myself. Through all of this I found myself offering the following advice the other day. I hope you find it valuable.

1. Identify what you are currently tolerating in your life (negative thoughts, the wrong people, or misaligned values). Suspend any self-judgment and come up with one change you will make.

2. Surround yourself with the right people in your personal and professional life, people who will elevate your game and give you energy.

3. Challenge yourself to think about how you can be authentic to yourself and play “the game” in a way that works for you. Remember that you can’t win a game you won’t play.

4. Learn from others but don't necessarily emulate them. There's no right or wrong way. Figure out what works for you.

5. When things feel overwhelming, ask yourself how you’ve successfully dealt with similar situations in the past. Then focus on the first step you will take to move forward.

6. Invest in yourself, particularly your health and well-being. By doing so, you will be there for those who matter most to you, have more energy and get more done in less time.

7. Celebrate your successes. You have earned each success and deserve to celebrate. Recognizing important milestones will help you notice what you do well and put your strengths into play more powerfully.

I hope at least one of these reminders resonated with you. Choose one to focus on and identify one step that you will take before the end of this month. Remember, small steps can lead to big results.

© 2012 Neena Newberry | All rights reserved.

Pause, Reflect, Give Thanks

In the flurry of day-to-day life, we can easily overlook what’s right in front of us – valuable lessons we’ve learned, people who have touched our lives and opportunities to express gratitude. So, take a moment to consider the following questions:

1. How have you been “tested” this year?

Although it might not have felt like a “gift”, what value did you get from the experience?

2. Who has given you the most support and guidance?

How will you help them understand the difference they’ve made?

3. Whose performance and contributions do you want to recognize?

How and when?

I hope you will take time this week to answer at least one of these questions and give thanks. Gratitude can be a huge source of energy – for you and the person receiving it.

© 2012 Neena Newberry | All rights reserved.

What I Know Now

In the past month I have had the opportunity to speak, teach, coach, and meet several accomplished leaders. So, today I want to share a few words of wisdom that come from these recent interactions. I hope they will serve as important reminders for you.

“Don’t take things personally.”

Remember that someone else’s behavior is more about them than it is you.

“Don’t create your own ceiling.”

Don’t limit your opportunities today as you think about decisions you might make in the future. Forge ahead. You can decide which path you will take when the time comes.

“Keep an open mind.”

Approach things with a sense of curiosity. You know what they say about the word assume.

“Know yourself. Find the right environment.”

Fit matters. Find a professional setting and company in which you can thrive.

“Don’t compromise personal integrity.”

Stay true to your core values.

“If not you, then who?”

Take ownership and provide leadership. Don’t be afraid to step up and out.

“Never underestimate the power of investing in relationships.”

Invest in relationships like they are worth their weight in gold.

As you reflect about these quotes and what you have learned in 2012, what one piece of advice would you give to someone else? Take 5 minutes to think about it and share it with someone. Don’t underestimate the power you have to make a difference with what you know now.

© 2012 Neena Newberry | All rights reserved.

Put Your Coaching Skills to Work

As you know, I returned from ICF Conference in London two weeks ago. Now that I have had a chance to think about the experience a bit more, I realized how much change coaching can affect. Yes, I know it sounds weird coming from an executive coach. But as I sat in a ballroom of almost 1000 coaches from 58 countries, hearing example after example of how coaches have rallied together to help local communities recover after massive natural disasters, helped companies drive unprecedented business results, and collaborated to build coaching skills; I was truly proud to be part of the profession. It inspired me to do more and think about how I can continue to work with my clients and our local ICF chapters to think even bigger. So today, I want to challenge you to think about how you will put your coaching skills to work.

When was the last time you asked someone how you could help them achieve their career goals?

Throughout the years, I have regularly asked each of my teams what they want to get out of a particular project or experience, whether it was something work-related or a volunteer opportunity. Doing this allowed me to think more strategically about their development and how I could put my network to work for them. Many of you may have conversations about career goals as part of the performance management process (goal setting, mid-year, and year end), but I encourage you to revisit them throughout the year.

How often do you delegate with development in mind?

As you gain experience, certain aspects of your job may feel routine. So you may underestimate how much you can teach others about what you do and how you do it. The next time you delegate something, do it with the other person’s development in mind. How can you stretch them? How can you leverage their strengths? Asking these questions may shift how you position the work and how you work with the person to complete it.

How much do you advise versus coach?

Although there are times when people truly need your advice (perhaps because they don’t know what they don’t know), there’s so much power in asking thought-provoking questions to generate new insight. This can change a person’s perspective and the choices they ultimately make about the path forward. So before you think about jumping straight to giving advice, stop and ask yourself whether an open-ended question could be more impactful.

So, I urge you to put your coaching skills to work this week. Identify one step you’ll take to make a difference. And remember that small steps can lead to big results.

© 2012 Neena Newberry | All rights reserved.

Reflections from the River Thames

I just returned from four days at the ICF Conference in London. Although it rained a lot, on two mornings I went for a run along the banks of the River Thames. I deliberately left my iPod at the hotel so I could clear my head and soak in the experience. As I passed beautiful historical buildings, watched teams rowing in the water, and thought about what I had heard at the conference, three important reminders came to mind. They are the inspiration for my article this week.

Recharge

Whether you start your day with a run, yoga, or reading the paper; do something that energizes or centers you so you can be more fully engaged. Remember that even if you don’t have time to go on a real vacation right now, you can still keep your batteries charged if you focus on proactively managing your energy. Taking time to get away can do wonders for your energy level and perspective. And that escape can be short and sweet - even 10-15 minute energizers throughout the course of a day. Remember that the quality of the renewal matters far more than the length of time.

Express Gratitude

When I travel to other countries, I can’t help but think about how easily we can take things for granted in the microcosm of the world we live in. With a seven-year-old son adopted from Guatemala, I often think about how different his life would have been had he remained there. When I extend this thought to my career, I can’t help but recall the mentors, friends, and family who have had a huge impact on my journey and what I learned from them along the way.

Take a minute to think about who has shaped your path, and let at least one of them know the impact they have had on you. In case you don’t know, research shows that giving positive feedback can energize you. The more specific the feedback, the more energy you get.

Celebrate

The day before I left for London, one of my closest friends called me to tell me she had won a big award. She truly earned it through months of hard work and tenacity, and she inspires me to do even more. When I got to the ICF Conference, this theme of recognizing results continued with three organizations winning the global Prism Award for their impactful coaching programs.

As I thought about these awards, I realized that every day leaders do things that make a difference to their companies and teams. It may not be award-winning, but it does matter. Before you gloss over your achievements and move right on to the next thing, take five minutes to identify something you’d like to celebrate. It will help you notice how you are making a difference. If you can make a habit of doing this, you may be surprised at how much you truly do accomplish.

As you look to the rest of this week, I urge you to identify at least one thing you will do to recharge, express gratitude, or celebrate. Remember, small steps can lead to big results.

© 2012 Neena Newberry | All rights reserved.

Getting the Support You Need

I coach my clients all the time on making the highest and best use of their talent and skills and focusing on the Right Work (the three things that will have the biggest business impact). Two weeks ago, when I was out facilitating a leadership development program for one of the Big 4, I realized that I wasn’t practicing what I was preaching. So, of course, this inspired some action on my part to make some big changes and the following questions for you:

1. How much time do you reserve each week to be strategic?

How much do you find yourself reacting to what’s going on around you versus strategically driving things forward? Many of my clients have instituted a practice of setting aside uninterrupted time at least 2-3 times a week. To get started, I have them dedicate 15-20 minutes once per week unless they can do more. Most people can find that small amount of time even if they have a packed schedule. As they realize how much of a difference a small amount of time can make, they inevitably find ways to carve out more time. Once you start implementing this strategy, I would encourage you to specify exactly what you want to accomplish in the time you set aside and communicate to your team that this is sacred time (i.e., please do NOT interrupt me!).

2. What takes up a lot of time but just isn’t the right work for you?

One of my clients recently expressed her frustration that she spends too much time reviewing and editing PowerPoint presentations for meetings. In fact, if she could resolve this issue, she would get back 20 hours per month!!!! Now, that’s a serious incentive to make something happen.

As we delved deeper, we realized that this situation presented an opportunity for her to delegate while developing her team in a meaningful way. We discussed several ideas including arming the team with her three review criteria, instituting a peer review process, and pairing up employees who are less skilled with those who can already do this well to promote teaching.

So, what’s taking up a lot of your time? How can you use it as an opportunity to develop your team, while freeing up more of your time? What other resources should you ask for?

3. Are you taking a long-term perspective?

Sometimes you can get in your own way whether it’s because of perfectionism, just doing what you’ve always done, or simply thinking it’s just easier to do the work yourself than ask for help.

I want to challenge you to take a longer-term view and think about whether it makes sense to invest a small amount of time now to teach someone else how to do a particular task so you can save a LOT of time down the road. Remember that all of those minutes can add up to a lot of hours or days that you could wisely invest elsewhere. With that perspective, what are you going to stop doing?

As you read through the questions above, I hope they stimulated some ideas. Identify one thing that you’d like to change and put into practice for yourself starting next week. Remember, small steps lead to big results and the goal is to just get started.

© 2012 Neena Newberry | All rights reserved.

How Many of These Practices Have You Implemented?

I had an interesting conversation with someone who also frequently coaches high performing women leaders. We talked about the fact that there are several key areas that women often overlook but can lead to stronger performance regardless of gender. So, today I want to share three of the most critical levers:

• Being strategic in how you communicate and work

• Building visibility and credibility to ensure that others understand the value you bring and how to leverage your skills

• Building a network of advocates to engage the power and influence of key leaders who can help you get things done

To get a sense of how you are doing in the three areas, rate yourself on each of the following practices on a scale of 1-5. (1 = I rarely do this; 5 = I consistently do this).

Strategic Focus

1. I understand and clearly communicate how my decisions support the vision, key business strategies and priorities

2. I explain my recommendations in the context of the bigger picture so that others understand the “so what” of what I’m suggesting

3. I carve out time to reflect so I can maintain my focus on what matters most and be more intentional

4. I focus on the “Right Work” - what drives the biggest business results and makes the highest and best use of my unique skills

Credibility and Visibility

1. I clearly understand what differentiates me and how that translates into value for the company (i.e., the impact of my strengths)

2. I track how I am adding value (e.g., specific results, accomplishments, impact)

3. I share my accomplishments in a way that is relevant and useful to others

Powerful Network of Advocates

1. I invest time in building relationships, not just getting my work done

2. I foster genuine relationships with individuals who have power and influence

3. I make it easy for others to help me and my team by arming them with the information they need

4. I leverage the power of my network to get access to information, resources and influence that will help me and my team deliver stronger results

Hopefully, completing this self assessment has gotten your wheels turning. You may already successfully use many of these practices. If so, think about how you can take it up a notch and put them into play even more powerfully. If not, choose just one practice to start doing more consistently from this week forward. Remember that small steps can lead to big results.

© 2012 Neena Newberry | All rights reserved.

Are You Accelerating Results through Purpose, Presence, and Power?

I get asked time and again about how I help high performing leaders get even better results. Despite each client’s specific goals, I always coach them on three things: Purpose, Presence, and Power, because it consistently takes their performance and leadership to new heights. So, today I want to explain the 3 P’s so you can put them more powerfully into play for yourself.

Purpose

Purpose begins with clarity about two things - what will drive the biggest business results and the highest and best use of your talent and skills. This is what I like to call doing the “Right Work.” When was the last time you really thought about this?

This goes beyond reviewing your performance goals, to reading between the lines to understand what really matters and gets recognized and rewarded in your company. Once you have defined the Right Work, you can be much more deliberate and strategic about where you invest your time.

Purpose also involves making clear linkages between your actions and your intent. For example, someone may observe your actions and draw a conclusion far from what you intended because of their own perspective. So by consistently communicating your intent, you can minimize misunderstandings.

Finally, Purpose means understanding what matters to you personally and professionally (e.g., values, lifestyle, etc.) and setting boundaries to help you honor that.

Presence

Presence is all about how you “show up.” Begin by clarifying your leadership brand, the three things you want others to know about you (e.g., what differentiates you, how you add value, your strengths). Then map out what each element of your brand would look or sound like so you can reinforce it in what you say and do.

As you might expect, communication plays a huge role in Presence, so pay attention to how much you:

• Focus on the big picture vs. the details

• Speak up or hold back in sharing your ideas

• Consistently and tastefully self-promote so that others understand the value you bring

Remember that all of the items above impact how others view your leadership and capabilities. So wherever you go, show up with clear goals in mind: how you will reinforce your brand, clarify your intent, strengthen a relationship, or work towards a desired outcome.

Power

The first aspect of Power entails understanding how things “really get done around here.” This requires uncovering and paying attention to unwritten rules, formal and informal leaders, and what motivates people. Power also involves securing resources and support to get your work done. You can do this by expanding your sphere of influence through two strategies: building your visibility and credibility, and building a strong network of powerful advocates.

Now that you’ve been exposed to the three P’s, how do you want to put them into play? As a first step, consider defining the Right Work or clarifying your desired leadership brand. Once you have a clear picture of what will drive results or what you want others to know about you, you will make much more deliberate, strategic choices. Just don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to tackle the three P’s all at once. Get started with one or two small steps. You know I’m a firm believer that small steps can lead to big results.

© 2012 Neena Newberry | All rights reserved.

How Would You Feel About Having An Executive Coach?

Today I had an interesting conversation with an HR leader. She called me because her company wants to hire an executive coach for one of their leaders, and she was concerned about how the leader might “take it.” We both realize that people have different perspectives about executive coaching based on what they have heard from others. So, today I want to arm you with some basic information about coaching. If your company wants you to work with an executive coach, you might ask, “What does this REALLY mean?” and then explore how your company has used coaches in the past. For example, some companies use coaches only for remedial purposes, to get performance back on track. This can create a negative perception about coaching because no one wants to be viewed as “having problems.” Other companies use coaches to develop high potentials and high performers, with a focus on elevating their performance and preparing them for bigger roles. AT&T, for example, does this well.

If you’re exploring coaching for yourself, have been asked to work with a coach, or are considering a coach for one of your employees, keep these three things in mind:

1. Coaching is an investment with an expected return

For business leaders, having a coach is often seen as a status symbol, and can be the mark of someone being groomed for great things. There is an inherent expectation that the coaching will take performance to a higher level. So, whether or not you asked for a coach, think about how you could use a resource like this to accelerate your business results AND advance your career (because the two definitely go hand-in-hand). What would make this a worthwhile investment of your time and the company’s money (i.e., the business case or expected outcomes)?

2. Coaching is used selectively

Especially in a tight economic environment, companies rely on a variety of resources to develop their employees. For example, your boss could easily ask you to attend a training session or participate in a group development program rather than give you a coach to work with one-on-one. However, when used the right way, executive coaching creates lasting changes in on-the-job performance compared to those alternatives. And since it usually requires a higher investment per person, most companies use coaching selectively.

3. More companies use coaching for leadership development

The seventh annual Sherpa Coaching Study highlights a greater emphasis on coaching for leadership development:

“In 2012, the majority of coaching is designed for leadership development, with the balance of coaching split pretty much equally between transition and problem solving. That applies equally to companies of every size. Over seven years’ time, the amount of coaching used to solve a specific behavioral problem has dropped from 40% to near 25%.”

So, what does all of this mean for you? First, remember that coaching can help you develop your leadership skills faster and more companies use coaching for this reason. Second, tie coaching to what you want to be known for as a leader and what you want to accomplish. This will help others understand what to expect. Finally, remember that it’s all about getting results: working more strategically and effectively, and having a greater business impact.

To learn more about coaching, check out these short audio files on our website at www.newberrycoaching.com.

• What is coaching really about?

• How do I choose a coach?

• How does coaching work?

• Two excerpts from our new self-paced coaching program, WOW! Women On the Way to Peak Performance ProgramSM.

Four Key Levers to Manage Your Career and Get Results

As someone who has coached many high performing women, I was asked to participate on a panel discussion at the Kellogg Career Symposium to give women tips on how to manage their careers. Although I can’t do the topics full justice here, several are covered in my new self-paced coaching program, WOW! Women On the Way to Peak Performance ProgramSM.

1. Focus on the Right Work

Women often take on too much because they may have difficulty saying no, have a desire to prove that they can do it all, or get distracted by work that is less important. At the end of the day, it results in leaving the work that can have the biggest impact on the business and on their careers on the back burner.

So, to help you make more deliberate choices about where you direct your time and energy identify your “Big 3” - the three areas where you can drive business results and make the highest and best use of your talent and skills. Consider how you will really be measured and evaluated, beyond what the formal performance management process is to include what you actually see rewarded and recognized in the company.

2. Tastefully toot your own horn

Women struggle far more with self-promotion than men, so it comes as no surprise that I am asked to present on the topic of Tastefully Tooting Your Own Horn time and again. I consistently hear stories about women who are shocked to hear that others may view them as less effective than they view themselves. So, do these women truly have skill gaps or do they just need to make people more aware of their skills and how they add value/drive results?

Remember that others only see small windows into our accomplishments, so we have to create an authentic and powerful picture of who we are and how we make a difference. So, take the time to proactively and consistently share information in a way that’s relevant to you and your company – i.e., to provide “strategic snapshots.” You never know how others might benefit from your experiences.

3. Consistently focus on building a network of advocates

If you haven’t read it, take a look at this Harvard Business Review article: Why Men Get More Promotions than Women. It points out that although women are more likely than men to have mentors, men talk much more about being sponsored by their mentors. In other words, men typically choose mentors who have power and influence and those mentors advocate on their behalf by giving them exposure, visibility, and access in ways they wouldn’t otherwise get.

So, take a look at your network. Could any of your mentors also be sponsors or advocates? What one step can you take to strengthen your network of support?

4. Maximize the opportunities right in front of you

Finally, remember that every meeting, phone call, interaction is an opportunity to reinforce your brand, build your credibility, or bring a unique perspective. So, take one minute to clarify what you want to get out of the interaction before you walk into one of these situations. It can dramatically shift how you “show up.”

As you know, I am a firm believer that small steps lead to big results. So, choose one of these four areas to focus on this week and identify one action step you will take.

Three Keys to Peak Performance

Since I just completed my new self-paced coaching program, which is all about peak performance, I can’t get the topic off my mind. As you know there are several things that come into play when you want to really step up your game and take your performance to the next level. I have chosen three to get your wheels turning.

1. Focusing on the right work

Many of us get sidetracked by all the things we need to respond to each day – even when we know not all of it is critical or impactful. Keep in mind that 80% of your results come from 20% of your effort, so imagine what might be possible if you could consistently focus on what matters the most. I have a whole module dedicated to this topic in my self-paced coaching program and consistently spend time on this with every client, given its importance.

So, take a minute right now to identify the three areas where you can have the biggest impact in your role – what I like to call the “Big 3.” Having clarity about this will help you make more deliberate choices about how you invest your time and energy.

2. Managing your mindset

How you “show up” each day and respond to what’s happening around you can dramatically help or hinder your progress - and ultimately your results. This year, I will be collaborating with Dr. Paul Stoltz who is a global thought leader on resilience and works with leaders to respond to challenges and adversity in a way that elevates and sustains individual and team performance. His company has done over 25 years of research in this area and has documented the financial impact of implementing their tools and techniques. As you might suspect, it all begins with managing your mindset. If you haven’t seen Paul’s work, check out his latest book The Adversity Advantage.

3. Defining success

Finally, high performers are notorious for expecting a lot of themselves but not always recognizing what they’ve accomplished. Have you defined success for yourself so you’ll know when you’ve gotten “there?” Taking a few minutes to do this will help you notice your progress, more easily share it with key stakeholders, and celebrate your successes.

So, this week, I would encourage you to take one action step in one of the three areas above – whether it’s defining your Big 3, thinking about your mindset, or defining what success looks like for you over the next six months. Just remember that half the battle is just getting started. What small step will you take?

Be Still But Keep Moving

I had a chance to hear Bill White, a community and business leader in Dallas, speak. For years, he has been a strong supporter of the United Way. His quote is the inspiration for my article today: “Be still but keep moving.” This really stuck with me, and reminds me of two important things that can be easy to forget as we rush through life.

Be Still

As I reflected about the first part of this quote, several things came to mind. First, there are times in your life where you need to stop pushing so hard and just let go. You know, those moments where you need to take a leap of faith and trust that you have done all that you can.

Sometimes, that brief pause can allow important lessons to surface that you might not otherwise notice in the midst of it all. Or it can create space for others to step up or things to unfold in ways you hadn’t expected.

Second, being still emphasizes the value of taking time to reflect and understand where you are. So when you do move forward, it’s strategic and deliberate. Strong leaders have mastered this practice.

Keep Moving

Now let’s think about the second part of the quote: “Keep moving.” To explain what he meant, Bill compared life to a bicycle. He said, “You have to keep moving to keep it in balance.” In other words, if you allow yourself to stay still too long, you will falter and won’t achieve what you want. You won’t get to the other side. So, you can’t allow yourself to stagnate or keep tolerating what doesn’t work for you. Sometimes you just need to do something and allow yourself to learn from it. Often taking even one small step can give you the insight, motivation, or information you need to take the next one.

There are times when you need to be still and other times when you just need to keep moving. Both are important to achieving your goals, personal and professional. So, what one step will you take to put this into play for yourself this week?

Venus Williams on Leadership

Thanks to my friend Millie Bradley, I had the opportunity to meet Venus Williams and hear her speak at the 100th anniversary celebration of the Girl Scouts in Dallas a couple of weeks ago. She was an impressive 6 feet and 2 inches, towering above most of us with a big smile on her face. Her keynote speech was full of personal stories as she described what leadership means to her. Although you have probably heard these three points before, they are good reminders:

1. Challenge yourself to grow

Venus’ parents have clearly had a huge impact on her perspective. She described how her father always challenges her and Serena to try different things on the tennis court. He doesn’t want either of them to get complacent, sticking to what feels comfortable in tennis or life. Rather, he wants them to constantly stretch and challenge themselves to do better – even when it feels like there isn’t a need.

2. Have a “can do” attitude

Venus laughed as she said, “In my family ‘can’t’ is a four letter word. We were NOT allowed to use that word in our home!”  She shared how her parents always pushed her to find a way to make things work, developing her tenacity and creativity. As evidenced by her impressive track record, there is tremendous power in having a winning, “can do” mindset.

3. Look for the lessons in your failures

As you know, how we handle our failures can have a huge impact on our future successes. Venus shared how losing a big match impacted her.  She often took it really hard, getting depressed and going into her cave for days. Eventually, she realized the value of making mistakes. She laughed as she said, “It’s okay to make the same mistakes twice. It just means you didn’t learn the lesson you needed to the first time. But I draw the line at making the same mistake thrice. You better have it figured out by then!”

So with those important reminders from Venus, how are you going to put them into play for yourself? Take a look at the questions below to get started:

• What will you do this week to stretch outside your comfort zone, even if it’s just a little bit?

• What one thing can you do this week to have a more positive outlook, focusing on what you CAN do?

• What was the toughest lesson you learned this year? How will you take that lesson forward into next year?

As always, identify one small step that you will take this week. You know I’m a firm believer that small steps can lead to big results.

What Seeing Things in Black and White Can Do for You

I realized that I received five journals as gifts this year from various conferences at which I have spoken and events that I have attended. Seeing that stack of journals reminded me about the power of writing things down. It seems like such a simple thing - so simple that many underestimate its value.  So, as you wrap up the year and begin thinking about the next, take time to write down these three things:

1. Your goals

Writing down your goals has tremendous power. Once you put them on paper, you will find yourself applying more scrutiny to them, refining them, and thinking about how you will achieve them. Often that step to get the goals out of your head and onto a sheet of paper is the most important one in making that commitment to achieving them.

What are your top 3 goals for the next six months or year? Be specific.

2. How you define success

People tell me all the time that they expect to be past a certain point by now, whether they are talking about their careers, a particular project, or something related to their personal lives.  “Come on, shouldn’t I be there by now?!”

When I dig deeper, I usually find that they haven’t defined where “there” is.  In other words, they don’t really know what success looks like. So, of course they never get “there.” And even if they did get “there,” would they know it?

In situations like this, most people don’t realize that their definition of success may have become a moving target tied more to their feelings in that moment rather than their progress against clear measures of success.

So, what is your definition of success for the next six months or year? How will you know when you have achieved it?

3. Your accomplishments

I find that high performers usually underestimate or overlook their successes, quickly moving to the next thing on their lists without taking the time to notice or celebrate what they have actually accomplished.

Having a list of your achievements handy will not only help you recognize your achievements, but also arm you with the information you need to regularly provide “strategic snapshots” of your performance to key stakeholders.

What are the three accomplishments you are most proud of from this year? Who will you share them with? How will you track your accomplishments next year so that you can keep them front and center?

I hope this week’s article has gotten your wheels turning. I urge you to look at your calendar, and find some time to answer the questions I posed. Remember that you don’t have to do it in one big chunk of time. Just do it in a way that works for you

Have You Seen these Resources?

Throughout my career, I have had the chance to learn from and work with some great thought leaders. So, this week, I thought I'd share three resources with you from people whose work has helped me and my clients.

Put Your Mindset to Work

I had the opportunity to meet Paul Stoltz last month, and am impressed by his ability to take complex research on resilience and overcoming adversity and turn it into something you can apply in practical, simple ways. His latest book is Put Your Mindset to Work. The Adversity Quotient lays the foundation for his subsequent books, and has some good gems in it.

A Smarter Way to Network

I had a chance to meet and work with Rob Cross when I was at Deloitte, and I'm a huge fan. He has done some valuable research on networking, identifying what distinguishes high performers from others. He's an author, professor, and business consultant. You can buy his latest HBR article, published in July 2011 and listen to an interview with him by clicking on this link: https://hbr.org/2011/07/managing-yourself-a-smarter-way-to-network.

BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It

For those of you who have trouble letting others know about how you create value and make a difference and haven't been able to attend one of my workshops on the topic, take a look at this book by Peggy Klaus.

Just Colleen – Leading with Luv

On September 9, 2011, we had the unique opportunity to hear Colleen Barrett (President Emeritus of Southwest Airlines) speak about Servant Leadership at our monthly North Texas Coaches meeting. Unlike most leadership presentations, this was an open forum where she encouraged us to ask her what we really wanted to know. I have to smile as I think about my experience with this event. It began with logistical emails back and forth with her team as I sat on a Southwest Airlines (SWA) plane from Dallas to Houston. When they realized I was on a SWA flight, I immediately received heartfelt emails thanking me for being a customer, signed with lines of “X’s and O’s.” That was truly a first for me in a business setting. And quite fittingly, the event itself ended with more Luv. As I thanked Colleen on stage, she gave me a big kiss on the cheek while she endearingly adjusted the back of my suit jacket and said, “I just couldn’t let you walk around like that.”

In the hour she spent with us, Colleen shared story after story in such an authentic style, all in the spirit of teaching us what she has learned over the years. As you know, she and Herb Kelleher successfully planted the seeds that have grown a culture that truly differentiates Southwest Airlines from its competitors, driving results in a challenging industry. So, today I want to share a few of Colleen’s pearls of wisdom.

Serve First

Colleen began by telling us that serving first is the backbone of Servant Leadership, a philosophy core to her management and leadership style. This means that servant leaders think about others’ needs first and ask, “How can I help?” Colleen views this as key to understanding how to motivate and develop employees and get results. By serving others and following the Golden Rule (i.e., Treat others as you would like to be treated), leaders build true followership.

Do What You Luv

Colleen spoke about the importance of loving what you do, what she called “combing your advocation and your vocation.” For her, the past 40+ years in the airline industry have been about customer service, something she wholeheartedly thrives on. She reminded us that life is short, and that we should not underestimate the importance of doing what we love. We inherently know that tapping into what we enjoy brings out our natural creativity and elevates performance.

You Can Learn from Anyone

Colleen also reminded us that great ideas can come from anywhere. As leaders, when we let go of the hierarchy and adopt a learning mindset, we can naturally and easily bring out ideas from others. Colleen also emphasized the power of noticing the small cues, like body language, which can teach us volumes about what people really think.

Do the Right Thing

By the end of her presentation, Colleen had us all in tears. She closed with a moving story in which employee after employee at SWA had jumped through hoops, working around at least four major rules and government regulations, to do the right thing for a passenger in a dire family situation.

She used her example to highlight the power of doing the right thing, even if that means bending or breaking the rules. Colleen explained that the SWA culture empowers employees to do what they feel is right in a given situation – to use their own judgment, take a risk, and potentially make a mistake. Although SWA has a forgiving culture, they do stand firm about what matters most - employee attitudes and customer service.

As you might guess, we left the session sniffling and inspired. If you want to learn more about how Servant Leadership can drive results, take a look at Colleen’s new book co-authored with Ken Blanchard, Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success.