Author: Chuck Sheron

Are Your Actions Reflecting Your Values?

You may (or may not!) have noticed I did not create a newsletter last week. What happened? Did I forget? No. Become lazy? Nope. Bag it altogether? Not at all. The truth of the matter is that after a full week of powerfully serving my clients I took my family to the beach for Memorial Day Weekend. Once there, we enjoyed good food, games, and the company of extended family.

Could I have created an article while there to send out? Sure, but that would’ve violated two of my high-ranking values. The first, being fully present with and for my family. There is an adage I recently read: We are all replaceable at work; none of us are replaceable at home. I am the only one who could have fulfilled the role of husband, father, son, and brother that weekend at the beach, so I chose to lean into that. The second value I didn’t want to compromise was my commitment to a healthy work-life balance. I believe in the value of hard work and practice that belief on a regular basis. However, without a corresponding commitment to rest and leisure we run the risk of burning out, and if I allow that to happen my own effectiveness diminishes. This reminds me of another axiom: Sharpen your axe, or the tool will eventually become increasingly dull and inefficient.

So, I challenge you to ask yourself two questions: One, “What are my core values?” and two, “Am I honoring those values by how I spend my time?”. If you’re feeling stuck in answering these questions, I invite you to contact me on the left side of your screen.

All the Best,
Chuck

There is a saying in golf: Be where your feet are. The concept is that the only play you have is the one in front of you. The shot you flubbed on the last hole? Gotta flush it – it’s history. The next hole with the water hazard to the right side of the fairway? That’s in the future. If your focus is somewhere other than on the swing you are taking right now to hit the ball that is directly in front of you, chances are it will negatively impact that shot.

The same is true in life. How often do we direct our energies on that which is either out of our control (i.e. sphere of influence), in the past (which is unchangeable), or in the future (which hasn’t happened yet)? How would your results change if you were to be more intentional about living in your three foot radius of control? In other words, what would change by being fully present in the here and now – your thoughts, your conversations, and your interactions?

So, the next time your find your mind starting to wander away and you begin to feel unbalanced and out of control as a result, imagine your are on a golf course. You’ve got your five iron, and you know where your ball is. Be where your feet are.

All the Best,
Chuck

Ever take one of those tests in which you are asked to look at an image and share what you see? Perhaps it looks like two ninjas giving each other a high-five, or maybe it’s a bird, or a guitar with feathers! Depending on your answer, it may be psychologically insightful or revealing. One of the fascinating elements of this type of assessment is how two people can look at exactly the same visual and “see” two totally different objects. In other words, we see what we want to see.

This is also true in the the field of professional coaching, where I am. So often, we condition ourselves to have a certain mindset toward something or someone. For example, because it’s raining when you wake up you decide it’s going to be a crummy day. Or the economy is reported as declining so you adopt a mood of gloom. Meanwhile, someone else wakes up to the same weather and thinks, “I’m glad it’s raining; that will be good for my plants”. As for the news about the economy someone else says, “I have no control over that. I’m going to focus my energies on what I can do today”.

The point is, we get to decide. We always have the option of choosing our attitude and “seeing” what we want to see.

What do you do? In my last article I wrote about strategies to utilize when you are not the smartest person (i.e. expert) in the room. But what if it’s reversed? What if you are the person with the most institutional knowledge, skills, and experience and everyone else is looking to you to lead the team at this time?

First, lean into the moment. Adopt a mindset of confidence in which you want this opportunity to share, teach, and communicate with your people. There are times when a leader needs to be out in front, seen and heard. This is one of them.

Second, be prepared. Whether the goal is to improve your team, your systems, or complete a project you want to make this an intentional time of growth. Be productive, be personal, and convey a message to others that their time is valuable. Being prepared will help to accomplish that.

To acquire more tools related to this topic, I invite you to click the link below…

All the Best,
Chuck

Good! You now have an opportunity to grow. As leaders, we sometimes want to be in this position because it allows us to accomplish two goals:

1) We can acquire knowledge from others. Obviously, nobody knows everything so why pretend otherwise? The willingness to model this to your team will also convey a message of vulnerability on your part, and a willingness to send a powerful message: New lear
ning is valued and expected of everyone – including me.

2) We can empower our team to take leadership roles and apply themselves in their areas of expertise. After all, that is what they were hired for, right? You will get better results and avoid burnout by resisting the urge to do everything yourself.

All the Best,
Chuck

As leaders, it is critical we embrace opportunities to recognize our team for a job well done. Too often, we fail to positively reinforce our people for their hard work and miss a chance to celebrate the results. Highlighting successes also can strengthen bonds and relationships within a team, so let’s make sure we do this!

An important leadership characteristic involves being accountable, or taking responsibility, for the results of your organization. Your team members need to know they can count on you for such a responsibility. President Harry Truman had a sign on his desk, “The Buck Stops Here”. As leaders, it is imperative we embrace accountability for the effectiveness and overall health of the organization we are charged to serve.

In order for leaders to avoid burnout and maximize the potential of their teams, it is imperative for them to provide their people with the tools and opportunities for them to do their best work.

As a leader, it’s imperative to build trust with those in your organization. In this video I provide some strategies to do that, using my experience as a school principal as an example.

 

Did You Know?…

Geese have much to teach us about leadership! Specifically, distributed leadership. When the lead bird flying point begins to tire, it rotates out of formation. Another bird then takes its place at the front. That way, all of the geese share a portion of the work while preventing one goose from becoming exhausted.

As a leader, is there someone on your team you could provide an opportunity to lead? To take on more responsibility? To grow? I want to challenge you to consider making such a move. You may find that it proved to be a worthwhile investment both to increase the capacity of an individual, as well as improve the quality of your organization.