Weathering the Storm

I woke up this morning to the sound of robins chirping outside my window. Their lovely singsong chatter came from a new nest, hidden beneath the leaves of the magnolia tree in my front yard. My 6 year-old son and I watched it being constructed just last week. If you've ever watched a bird making a nest, it's really kind of an amazing process. Twig after twig, strand after strand of grass are carried to the "construction site" until the nest is sturdy and strong.

I was quite relieved to see the nest, still in fine shape, following the monsoon-like rains we've had over the past few days. The birds had built an amazingly solid foundation that kept them safe in the midst of some pretty fierce storms. They made it through, the sun is shining once again, and life goes on.

Now that our own collective storm is passing - and signs do show that the Great Recession is finally coming to an end - how prepared are you to meet the opportunities that await? Are you looking ahead with optimism? Are you ready to shake off the gloom and fear that have been holding us back?

The recovery is coming. Be prepared. Your attitude - and your actions - will impact how you emerge from this powerful but passing storm.

Until next time...

Liz

The Importance of Stretch

To be successful and fulfilled in your career - and in life - remember to stretch yourself on a consistent basis.

Earlier this month, I flew out to California and had the great delight of hitting the beach in Carlsbad (San Diego area) with my three awesome nephews and wonderful sister-in-law. As I wasn't traveling with my own kids, I took advantage of the opportunity to kick back on my beach chair, open a leisure book and simply relax. I watched my nephews hit the waves on their boogie boards and smiled and waved as my sister-in-law succumbed to their earnest requests that she join them in the water. Looked like fun, but hey, I was in relaxation mode.

Until, that is, my nephew, Noah, asked me to boogie board with him. Now this kid is sweet as can be and, in truth, very difficult to refuse. So, despite my desire to just vegetate in my beach chair, my concern about the 'chilly' water, and just a bit of trepidation about hitting the waves, I got off my behind and joined him in the surf. He gave me some pointers on catching the waves properly and offered me his board.

Let me tell you, it was one of the most fun and exhilarating experiences I have ever had. What a complete joy to catch and ride a wave right up to the beach line. I mean, I was smiling ear to ear and literally laughing out loud!

The point? Well, boogie boarding initially felt like a real stretch for me. I'd never done any sort of surfing before and was far more comfortable just staying put in my beach chair with my book. But once I'd ventured out and pushed beyond my comfort zone, the reward was tremendous. I felt more confident, competent, masterful, proud, adventurous, and eager to take on the next challenge. (This challenge came just two days later, by the way, when my brother took me for a ride on his Spyder roadster - check out the link, it's very cool! But that's a whole other story...)

To be successful and fulfilled in your career - and in life - remember to stretch yourself on a consistent basis. Extend your comfort zone. Try new things, move beyond what you've already experienced and mastered. If you feel intimidated or unsure, that's probably a good sign. As the saying goes, feel the fear and do it anyway! That's the key to continued growth and a well-earned sense of accomplishment.

Until next time...

Liz

Keeping Up with the Joneses: How to Use Social Comparison to Up Your Game

Ah, the Joneses. Have you ever wondered just who these Joneses are? And why on earth do we try so hard to keep up with them?

The fact is, social comparison is one of the ways we human beings judge ourselves. We look to others’ achievements to assess our own accomplishments. We wonder: How am I doing, anyway? Am I at least as successful as the guy next door?

We compare and contrast ourselves to an array of other people - colleagues, competitors, family and friends. We look at their achievements and use them as a yardstick for answering questions like: Am I doing as well as they are? Am I as attractive? As thin? As smart? As well-liked? As wealthy?

And where does all of this comparison leave us, anyway? Well, that depends on what you do with it. Best case scenario, it works to motivate and inspire you. You think to yourself: If they can do it, so can I! Worst case, it can be completely demoralizing, as in, I’ll never be as good as they are, so why bother?

The key is to be aware of the social comparisons you’re making - and to harness these comparisons for your own growth. What does your competitor – or your colleague or your neighbor or your sister or whomever – do especially well? How can you learn from these people? Which of their strategies and techniques can you adopt in order to improve your own effectiveness?

Use others’ successes as inspiration - and take action to up your own game. Before you know it, the Joneses may be trying to keep up with you!

Until next time…

Liz

 

How to Lead Your Team to Top Performance

Success is rarely accomplished as a solo act. It requires the collective contributions of multiple players, working in concert to achieve meaningful goals. To be successful, whether as a business owner, line manager, or corporate executive, you’ve got to set your people up for maximum effectiveness.

This month’s Bywater Journal addresses the leader’s role in achieving exceptional team performance. Here are a few excerpts:

In today's turbulent times, it's more important than ever to get people aligned and working together. Individual workers are under ever-increasing pressure - and the demand for results is tremendous. If ever there were a time for teamwork, the time is now.

The following strategies will help you guide your team to unparalleled collective performance:

Provide structure. Assign roles, tasks, and projects so that each member makes a meaningful and important contribution to reaching the team's goals and objectives…

Provide good management. This one calls for some flexibility, as each team has specific needs and preferences around being managed…

Provide motivation. No matter how dedicated your team may be… they still need ongoing motivation to keep doing great work. Think about creative ways to reward your people for outstanding performance. When budget constraints limit financial bonuses, why not provide a nice lunch with the boss, a Starbucks gift card, or a simple note of thanks for a job well done…

You can read this article in full or sign up for future issues of the Bywater Journal. It's always jammed with insights and practical advice for improving performance... helping you reach your goals for maximum career success!

Until next time…

Liz