Treat your people highest

My wife was telling me about her work this morning. It seems that her colleagues just could not jive with her in terms of work. Seems that they just could not listen to her opinion, suggestions and recommendations.

I faced with that problem too when I was serving under a semi-government body. I get lots of disagreement etc etc. Being at an executive level doesn't really help. Well, really, an executive doesn't have to think, he only execute, right? Yes and No. Yes, if you want to remain an executive throughout your career and no, if you want your superiors to notice your capabilities and you want to move up the career ladder.

When faced with that kind of problem, this is what I always do:
Lead by Example.

For instance, you can't get anyone to help you out on a very challenging task. All your colleagues would just say they are too busy. What do you? Bite the bullet, grit your teeth, and just DO IT. Regardless how painful the experience / tasks are.

Everytime, you do this, I can bet, your colleagues will slowly (but surely) will follow suit. You set the trend! Not to mentioned, your superiors will definitely see you as a very capable person. Great if you want to get promote, eh?

There are lots of advantages by using this strategy....I'll discuss one -
a) When you have proven yourself - you hold them by their 'BALLS'. Think about it this way, - only you can handle the task, no one else can (since no one volunteered to help you thus they lose the opportunity to learn). No matter how small and simple that tasks are - only you can do it perfectly!

I'll write more on the advantages later this week....till then CHEERS.

Connect with your people

Many top organisation leaders, somehow too consumed with what they do, sometimes forget the importance of the people below them. The top leaders usually seem have unlimited energy and will not rest and get things done their way, until they fail to make simple human connection between themselves and their people.

Most leaders forget the human element in organisations. Most leaders do not make effort to 'connect' with the workers. Leaders who tends to do only business often end up losing the business AND the people, but leaders who nurture and tend to the people below them usually will build up and develop the people - and the business.

Think about it this way.

Try completing a simple household chore with a child. You know you can complete the chore without the help of a child in seconds! Having a child, you need to supervise, instruct, guide, reorganise, refocus and sometimes motivate to keep the child focused on the chore (depending on the child's age). Tough eh?

Sure, it's tough guiding a child, but in a long run, you develop qualities of the child to be a better person. you need to sacrifice, if you want to see your child learn, grow and reach their potential.

IT IS SIMILAR TO EMPLOYEES/PEOPLE. Sacrifice your time/agenda/meetings to get to know your people. Develop them. Most of the time your people moves a little bit slower than you, It's OK, you can move at their pace. Connect and slow down your pace.

CHEERS!

Tools of Greatness

I got this off from a book called "How to be a great communicator" by Nido R. Qubein, and want to share this with you readers. (Great book - by the way)

Nido was explaining about his friend Floyd Wickman on how he decided to change. A simple poem changed his attitude and job from go-nowhere job to a successful business person. Consider this :

Figure it out for yourself, my lad;
You've all that the greatest of men have had;
Two arms, two legs and a brain to use;
A brain to use if only you choose.

Simple as that! If only you choose to use your brains and will only you succeed. Great huh?

It's not hard to be nice & positive

Most people nowadays fail to recognise the importance of being.....NICE. It's not difficult being nice to strangers. Look at the bright side - by being nice, it'll brighten up yours and the receivers day. A simple smile is enough.

Who would know it will also open up doors for further opportunities - be it business or pleasure.

A friend of mine, Q, i think is the most positive and happy person I've ever met. He was sooooo positive and if a pile of cr*p fell unto his head, he would say, "Great, more manure for my plants". Unbelievable, but true! As a matter of fact, he told me he got to know a lot of business owners by accident.

I got that one figured out, "how?" you asked? Easy, friendliness = positive vibes = attracts people.

So start smiling and be friendly!

Have an awesome day! Remember today is always better than yesterday - believe in it and start living!

So you're not FOCUSED, eh?

So you have been complaining that you are not a focused person? 'Too much things going around you', you say?

Here's one important question for you ----- "What IS the MOST important part of your work? Identify what is the most important part, and eliminate unnecessary trivial, small, little tasks that screams for your attention most of the time.

Imagine this - if you are plowing, to get a straight furrow, you need to look at a stationary object and start plowing. However, if you decide to become narrow, short-minded person - well, you'll look at the wheels going doing merry-go-round or even looking and avoiding for small stones. The results - a crooked furrow. Hence, looking far and long ranged - will create straight furrow. Apply this to yourself.

Here's some useful tips to stay focused -

a) Write down your Long-term goals and be precise. write down clearly and specifically. i.e. you want to have a million dollar by the age of 30 years old

b) Read, read and read your goals everyday, every hour, every second if you can. this will help you maintain your focus.

c) Eliminate trivial, unproductive tasks. think "By completing this, will it help me to achieve my goals" (note - please do yourself a favour - don't justify and argue too much with yourself - get disciplined!) (Like how will playing Playstation 2 will help you to be rich? No, you will not be employed by big game-developing company and be paid handsomely)

Well, go figure.

Long range view = you create a straight line - i.e. focused
Short range view = you'll get crooked line - i.e. not focused.

CHEERS.

Buzy Bee?

Always on the run? Work fast, live fast, play fast......die fast? Over scheduled yourself? meetings after meetings, work after work? no life ? you are a rushaholic.

Here's a tip - DON'T DO THAT. You want to know why? you will accomplish less than what you really think. Do things more slowly. take your time to achieve something. Do it QUALITY not QUANTITY. How do you do it? Here's some tips...

1) You don't have to do EVERYTHING. Start to delegate your work. No, you are not superman. Say no to yourself first. Stop and think before you commit others of your time.

2) Take things slow - eat slow, walk slow, talk a little slower.

3) Patience. Don't rush things.

Practise - Good stuff don't come easy - take it easy.

How to "HIGHLIGHT" yourself

Question : How do you "highlight" yourself?

You ask a dozen of people, definitely you'll get a dozen different answers. Highlighting yourself well, in other words - you have to sell yourself. Wonder why you should do this?

Easy - by doing by SELLING yourself RIGHT, there are many advantages to you. No matter whether you are an executive, clerk, salesman, even a gargabe collector, there are advantages. Just think about it - by doing it right you can get people to follow your lead, trust you, love/like you or even adore you. Imagine what advantage that will give you.

So the hardest question - How do you do it right?

Personally, I think there is only one common answer to all answers given. It is Public Relation - I call it the 3Ps (nope, it's not the marketing 4Ps) - i.e. personal pleasant personality.

Here's what you can do when interacting with other people -

1) SMILE - yes, it's the most simplest mode of getting people to notice how nice you are. Smiling is contagious, but remember do it sincerely.

2) Always think POSITIVE about the person you are interacting with - hence when you see their POSITIVENESS (regardless of whether they are complaining, whining etc) - automatically you will SMILE and vise versa. Simple, eh?

3) Don't BOAST yourself - regardless whether you are a PHD holder or a CEO of a multinational company - just be MODEST.

4) Be CONSIDERATE to the person you interact with, no matter who they are. How you treat that person will actually show your inner self - especially to those person of lower ranks of you or those people who 'don't read good'.

5) Withhold your opinions and ideas on sensitive issues - yep, this is very important as if you start to show your smartness, people will just block you off. Rather, you just listen and try to understand their point of view. This way you will be able to avoid potential arguements, making it much easier for you to convince people with your ideas. Easy, right?

Use these 5 guidelines in your daily life and you will see the differences on how people will look and interact with you. Start practising & good luck.

Cheers.