How do leaders control their use of control?
Few people have the ability to throw a small round object over 6o feet within a defined 17-inch wide space somewhere between an individual’s knees and chest. The ability to place a pitch precisely in the strike zone earns professional baseball pitchers sizable contracts.
The tricky part of the “strike zone” is that it changes with each batter. There is no “automatic” strike zone…
Where do you desire increased productivity?
Last Thursday I was privileged to sit with Jim Stovall. If you do not know Jim, he has overcome blindness to become one of the world’s most successful motivational and leadership experts, entrepreneurs, and authors.
Consider your response if I was coaching you and said:
Look, you must stop telling people what to do; I need you to start asking more questions. I want you to use open-ended questions, not yes/no questions. You will not motivate people by telling them what to do. Okay?
Over the weekend I heard my friend, Jon Middendorf speak in Oklahoma City. His message was a great question: “Is life a game or a gift?” As I reflected on this question I began to connect it the life of a leader.
What happens when leadership becomes a game?
Jennifer* was updating me on how things were going around the office. We are working on “developing her voice” so she can increase her contribution to the company. She has great insights, but her confidence holds her back. Yes, it helps once the “boss” requests her input.
What is exciting is to see how her influence is growing as she learns to frame
As our java chat (i.e.-coaching conversation over coffee) continues she begins to confide in me when I ask, “What is your challenge today?” The bottom line: her growing disengagement at work. You might say “harmony” in the human interaction is missing in her experience with her manager.
