Monday, December 29, 2008

Thought of the Week - 12/29/08

“If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right.” -- Henry Ford

Visualization and repeating affirmations are important stepping stones to achieving success. When you visualize and affirm you focus and channel your energies toward your goals, your mind becomes focused on finding solutions to bring your goals to life.

When you visualize and affirm your goals or write them down, you gain much more then just programming your mind passively with subliminal messages. One of the advantages of visualization and affirmations is that you can use them wherever you are, at any time, without the necessity of any external instruments. All you need is your mind.

When was the last time you actually wrote down your personal and professional goals?

When was the last time you really visualized yourself successfully achieving your goals?

What so you tell yourself on a regular basis about your goals and your likelihood of success?

Take some time today to visualize yourself doing what you have always wanted to do and being the person you always wanted to be!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Thought of the Week - 12/22/08

“The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished.” -- George Bernard Shaw

Think back to a time when an important decision needed to be made in the workplace. What was your reaction? Did you make the decision on your own or did you seek the advice of others that report to you? If it was a group effort, was this the norm in your decision making process? If you felt that the decision needed to be made solely by you, then how did you communicate that decision to others?

The point to be made here is that the method in which communication takes place is crucial in creating a workplace community where people feel valued. The more you are seen as someone who is genuinely committed to listening and responding appropriately, the more committed those around you will be to organizational goals and initiatives.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Thought of the Week - 12/15/08

“In order to have a winner, the team must have a feeling of unity; every player must put the team first – ahead of personal glory.” -- Paul Bear Bryant

In addition to building a positive relationship between you and your employees, we believe that cultivating positive relationships between and among employees is one of the most important, yet challenging goals facing today’s leaders. Building a successful organization depends on the ability of a leader to create a positive organizational culture which focuses on cooperation and collaboration, as well as strong relationships among and between employees (peers), departments and employees and management. Actively building a positive culture of employee relationships is contagious and leads to both improved customer service and improved relationships among and between all members of the organization’s community.

Ultimately, the success of any organization is largely dependent upon the strength of the relationships formed and maintained within an organization. The capacity to communicate effectively, to trust and to develop healthy teams relies on the strength of relationships. Stronger relationships between staff and supervisors and their teams are directly linked to increased productivity, increased retention and overall success of an organization.

What are you doing to let your staff know that relationships are important?

What strategies have you developed in order to create a safe environment for dialogue and discussion within your organization?

What have you done consciously in order to create opportunities for staff to share personal and family accomplishments?

Monday, December 8, 2008

Thought of the Week - 12/08/08

A successful life is one that is lived through understanding and pursuing one's own path, not chasing after the dreams of others.” -- Chin-Ning Chu

As a servant leader, you probably already have an idea of what your strengths are, as well as growth areas. For some leaders, creative visioning may be a stretch and, therefore, they chose to stick to the duties at hand. Other leaders would rather dream, than get bogged down with the mundane. Effective servant leadership requires a good balance of both. You may wonder how you alter your normal tendencies. This takes concentration. For instance, for those who feel they can not develop creative ideas, take time to dream and conceptualize how it could be brought to inception. Stimulate your brain by exploring unfamiliar territory and remember to bring about awareness in others by sharing your new knowledge.

How well do you know yourself? Are you willing to look at yourself honestly?

Do you have the desire to improve? Are you willing to find opportunities to step outside of your comfort zone?

Monday, December 1, 2008

Thought of the Week - 12/01/08

“I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening.” -- Larry King

Effective supervisors are proactive in their pursuit of employee feedback. They know and believe that their employees are an important source of information about how to do a job and how to do it better. They do not wait for their employees to come to them with issues and complaints, they go to them and create a safe and positive environment in which to share information back and forth. This can be done either individually or in a group setting. What is important is that it is being done.

When was the last time you ask your employees what they thought about a project or how to improve productivity?

When was the last time you actually sat quietly and really listened to what your staff had to say?