The struggle is real people. Everyone has had a moment when they ask themselves, ‘do I address the issue, or do I let it slide?’ The ‘slide’ option is most often the easiest path to take. Afterall, if the issue isn’t addressed it either goes without notice (or minimal fuss) or it goes away faster-in theory. This ‘theory’ plays out nicely on paper in Seth Godin’s blog Counting Beans , which illustrates nicely what the cost of compromise can be. The blog frames ‘compromise’ as the moment one decides to place ‘win’ over ‘worry’. The moment you short change what is right for what is easy and/or a short-term win. Bottom line, every action has an outcome. So the question becomes what is the long-term outcome of compromise for the sake of perceived ‘wins’ or ease? What is your desired outcome? How are your decisions framing the culture in your organization’s culture?
Your Lens
What lens are you looking through? If you are talking about bringing people into your community to live, or engaging people in their work in your company, are you looking through your lens or their’s? If you’re not sure, just look at your results. I once consulted to an international nonprofit that focused on advocacy, education and change through action. They had all the tools they needed. When I look at their progress today I see clearly other organizations focused on the same or similar causes have ‘lapped’ them. Why? Because they are looking through their lens, not the lens of those they want to engage. If you want to reach your goal, and if that goal involves engaging others, the path to sustainable success is meeting folks where they are, not where you wish them to be.
Something For Everyone, Any Career Stage
I’m a book junky. Even if you are not inclined to pick up a hard copy, you can access all kinds of mind bending, inspiring, entertaining information from a gorgeous book via a tablet, Kindle, or even audio. The following list, “21 books to read if you want to boost your career,” has something for everyone regardless of age, gender or state/time of your career. Time to move in the direction you desire. Time to get book.
Noise vs. Content = Use Your Time Wisely
Before you judge this post with a “what a horrible day/time to post” look or thought, know this, I’m aware. But the point of this post is to stand on its own and remind you of all the other stuff out there being thrown in front of you, (or that you are throwing out to others) demanding eyeballs. I have a reading pile. I have an inbox folder with “Read This” on it. I have saved articles on Facebook, blogs, etc. Suffice to say, there is a ton of stuff that has been waiting for me to look at it. It becomes stressful and one more thing I feel I need to do-screwing all the joy right out of it. I know I’m not the only one living like this. Then this happened. I went through the majority of it and with one cursory glance identified what was promising content (be it entertaining or informative) and what was just noise. About 95% was just noise. Boom. Reading pile manageable. Before you send it, publish it, share it, make sure it is of value. Number of contributions does not trump value of contributions. Just ask all those who put items out their I’ve eliminated. They have diminished the possibility of me saving anything from them again in the future. Found the graphic below. Nice summary.
More Women In Leadership = Higher Profits
We are living in an era where it is easy to access articles demonstrating research on why women are not in leadership positions. Clearly we know the inequity exist. The question is how long will organizations and businesses continue to handicap themselves by continuing to exclude women from their leadership positions and boards? Perhaps step one is remembering the question isn’t “what” is holding women back. The question is “who” is holding women back. The consequences are great and impact the bottom line. Think about it… If your company, or government entity has a “leader” that is not utilizing financial resources appropriately, it is not an acceptable situation. The dynamic of limiting women in the workplace, has a negative impact on financial outcome; subsequently, also not an acceptable situation. Don’t believe me? Here is a great article that will help get you there, More Women In Leadership = Higher Profits, Better Outcomes.
Networking & Reasonability
I recently had a conversation with a nonprofit leader in the community who was struggling with the balance of sustainability. She is a natural connector but feels drained with all her energy going out and the return on her efforts feel to her to be a demand for more of her ability to connect. Connecting/networking is a great concept, whether you are in fund development or sales. The premise is connecting with others and through mutual support the tide rises for all involved. The reality is, not everyone has a reciprocal mode of operation which can create a very draining dynamic. For those in the nonprofit world mutuality isn’t usually the mission of the organization, service is. Subsequently, it can be challenging to break out of the service frame of mind and culture when networking, and focus on mutual benefit and sustainability. Challenging perhaps, but necessary, absolutely, as here is the thing, self-sustaining behavior is within the world of service as you have, especially in nonprofits, a limited amount of time and resources. I’m not saying you interact only with those you know will connect, donate and/or support you and your organization in some way. I am saying there is a point of reasonability when you become aware of if the person is a “gardener” looking to support themselves as well as others, or a “flower” looking out only for their own benefit and growing their own immediate sphere. As a leader, nonprofit or otherwise, you need to self sustain in regards to your own energy, mental health, physical health, etc. in order to support, serve and grow your organization. This requires the ability to factor in the best use of your time and resources. By all means network and connect, reach out to people whom you feel can be of mutual benefit to a relationship. But always be cognizant of where the point of reasonability rest as it is the line between fruitful and frustrating.
The Basics
It is amazing how we can go down the rabbit hole of business verbiage and assess and re-assess. There is merit in educating yourself on a myriad of topics; however, if you want to get down to the two basic elements that will rock or drop your return on investment (ROI), focus on your people (organizational dynamic) and your people’s time management. People and time management are the twin pillars of positive ROI.
Being Productive At Work Means Getting A Life
Working more does not always equate to working better or higher results. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was while working for The Ohio State University in which human resources during training shared that if someone tells you they need something right away, it can usually wait 24 to 48 hours. So unless you have one of those jobs that requires you be on call for true emergencies, such as fire or police personnel, you need to tune out work on your day(s) off. Not only does tuning out work benefit you, it benefits the organization you work for as well. Need further proof? Below is an interesting quote from an in interesting article. “The Greeks are some of the most hardworking in the OECD, putting in over 2,000 hours a year on average. Germans, on the other hand, are comparative slackers, working about 1,400 hours each year. But German productivity is about 70% higher.”-Source: http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2013/09/working-hours
Venting vs. Full Blown Toxic Behavior-Build Your Mental Blanket Fort
As human beings we all have moments when we feel overwhelmed or perhaps slighted. This is normal and healthy and a positive as it is proof you are paying attention to your own life. But there is a line, and it is not a fine one, between venting and being toxic. Toxic behavior obviously impacts the team, and obviously impacts you if you are the source. The difference between being toxic or just plain venting and blowing off steam is easy to determine. Venting is brief and there is an immediate shift in how you feel once you complete your vent. Venting is triggered by a specific event. Venting usually has a compact timeline, as in, incident, internalizing, venting, moving on. And if you can read people, they don’t shudder when they know you are about to vent, meaning you are not spewing your negativity all over them, your are instead just processing. In contrast, toxic behavior is ongoing, full throttle, spewing negativity and is often accompanied by the thought that everyone is never going to be as good as you and/or as you need them to be. This pattern is often accompanied by the feeling that you are the only one that can do things right. While we don’t go to work to make friends we do have professional peers. An indicator that you may be toxic is if your professional network of support is either limited or non-existent. Basically, does anyone want to be around you if they don’t have to? Do your professional peers find value in interacting with you? Venting is healthy, being toxic is not. Bottom line, toxic behavior is just that, a behavior. It is a choice and you can decide to re-route the patterns and thought processes leading you down the path. Chances are we have all been toxic at some point. I’ve stood on the edge of it myself recently. Fortunately for me I had a peer to vent to, and he had the good humor to listen and advise that if we could bring blanket forts into the workplace we would all be happier. Perfect example of venting, re-routing and moving on! There is a dynamic that makes it hard to move on from a vent. When the workplace, not just a single person becomes toxic. That is another story for another day. But until then, build and reside in your mental blanket fort and start your pro/con list of staying or going.