Categoría: leadership

The club of the curious people

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We receive training, advice, lessons, … We can attend the latest masterclasses, go to the best schools, have the best mentor, pay thousands of euros, spend hundreds of hours, have the «coolest» certificates with the trendy topic on it.

But it’s not what we have, what we received or what it cost. It’s what we do with the learnings. Put them into practice, apply them to our daily work… Do we grow because of them? Are we able to develop a new skill?

And, what motivation is behind? Is it because we are curious? Is the reason that we want to know? Is it because someone enrolled us?

Curiosity, self-development, self-improvement,… they are the fuel that guarantees lifelong learning. Our teachers will be everywhere: Friends, bosses, teachers, books, … We will hear/see/read… and we will practice. If it doesn’t work we will try again, learning from what didn’t work, doing better.

We can pay for tons of class or coaching hours but if we don’t practice, we are just accumulating time and certificates but nothing else. One-offs. It will pass through us.

Come on! Stop leaking out knowledge and join the «club of the curious people». Life doesn’t stop to wait for you to catch-up.

Teaching vs. doing

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Kids are constantly learning new stuff. For example, to tie their shoelaces. We don’t always have the time or the patience to show them how to do it. Do we invest (teach)? or do we want inmediate results (do)?

  • We can teach them how to tie their shoelaces (wetrain them) or you can just tie them ourselves every time
  • We can train and then let them try over and over again, learning from experience or we can just do it and never allow them to learn during the process
  • We can educate them in research (while investigating how things work) or we can let them think that only we have the answer
  • We can show them that there is learning from failure or we can tell them that failure is not an option
  • We can enable them to understand the effort tha lies behind every success or we can leave them blind and think that everything in life is easy, that you only need to ask
  • We can help them to walk the road towards thinking by themselves or we can let them come to us every time that difficult questions appear
  • We can support them so they build their own opinion or we can just let them go with what we consider it’s the truth/right thing
  • We can obtain self-reliant/confident kids or we can have kids that will always ask us what to do next

Teaching takes time, requires dedication, patience, support. And, usually, results do not come inmediately, and when they do, they might need some corrections.

Doing has inmediate results, we do not need to correct anything. Simple and fast.

What kind of kids do you want to lead the future?

But is that what we want? Or do we prefer to develop our kids, our teams?

Sailing, freedom and discipline

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Did you ever find yourself wondering how did you end up somewhere? Like, if you had gone out for sailing, apparently knowing what your destination was and all of a sudden…. in the middle of the sea, with no clue of at what point did you loose your way or how to rectify to be back on track.

On the long run, when you realise that you are completely on the opposite site of where you wanted to be it’s because (let’s think that) you set your goals, your milestones, … but you didn’t check how were you doing, maybe the wind’s direction changed and you kept doing the exact same thing, you let the time go by, you got carried away. Had the right idea, the wrong execution. What you thought would give you freedom, keeps you captive. But, when you are not navigating alone, if you are the ship’s captain, you have a responsibility towards your crew.

On the short term, the feeling is a bit different. You feel there is never enough time, you are always running behind schedule, slave of your agenda, dependant on your team’s response time. And again, this time if you are the captain, you can not subordinate your crew’s time to your agenda.

We always think about freedom as: time off, financial freedom to do whatever we want (when enjoying our free time), the space to create, to experiment, to have leeway with design delivery, …

There is no Freedom without Discipline. Do you want to be sure you are following the right course? Be disciplined to check the progress, to correct if necessary. Do you want to have free time in your agenda? Be disciplined, respect timetables, respect the others agenda’s. If you live in chaos, you will be always trapped. If you live in chaos, you can drag your team into your chaos, invading their time management.

Each of us is responsible for being self-disciplined, for establishing our rules. If we have discipline, we are «free». Then, it’s easier to define our limits, what we allow and we don’t to others do with our time.

You can read this interesting post (on one of my fauvorites blogs.. ):  A learning day (discipline equals freedom) or listen/watch the  Interview (Jocko Willink)

If you want to read about my view on Who owns your time?  you can find it in this old post.

Thanks Peter, it’s always nice chatting with you.

 

About books, summer assignments and teams

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Photo by João Silas on Unsplash

Think back to those school days, (no need to say how many), when being kids, we were asked to do different assignments during summer time. One of them could be to read one or two books, elaborate a summary, answer a list of questions and give our opinion about what was the author trying to tell us. We were «responsible» for completing the task. The teacher was «accountable».

We are not in school anymore, but some principles remain the same although the comparision with organizations can be a bit exaggerated.

In modern organizations every person on a team may be responsible for a given task that is required to complete a massive project. Back to school, You are the one to read the book, write a summary of it and answer the teacher’ questions if the moment comes. You can do what you were asked, ignore the assignment hoping that no one will ever ask, or roll the dice by copying from someone…

But leaders, they need to hold themselves accountables for the results. Accountability «is defined as taking ownership to ensure responsibilities are achieved as expected. This means that leaders must clearly understand expectations before making commitments.»  So, as leaders, we are our «team’ teacher». Teachers know the result they can expect, what they want to achieve when having their students doing something, reading, playing, creating. They know each student potential and their limits. They will take ownership for the class lack of performance, they will know how to reward and how to correct. So being a leader means that we can not be the ones asking what was the book about  because the principal shows interest. As leaders, we have responsibilities: to know what kind of book we are asking to read, to prepare them for the future, to track our class progress and provide assistance if needed.

We are not in school anymore. But we still have a lot to read.

resonsilibity and accountability in leadership (Eagle’s flight)

Life is a party.

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Life is like a party, there will always be people who join and leave it, but the party will go on. With or without you.

As always, it’s up to you. You decide if you go to that party, if you stay, leave, enjoy it, have fun or you just leave it. Then you can stay home or go to a different party, where you know nobody.

We make our choices, we decide to stay or to leave. In the end we will all leave it (wanting it or not). If you don’t like the party, if you dislike the hoster, why are you staying? Why not going to a different one?

I love good laughs with friends, they are better when the party is good, but they are really helpful whe the party is boring or it’s not at its best hour. Friends are one of the best things in life, spending time with them or knowing you can share some moments with them is awesome.

Should I stay? Should I go? Did I participate too much? Should I give a hand? You almost always know the answer. When in doubt, ask the ones you trust at the party, listen to the way they see it, what would they do. Then, make a decision. This party, if you are not enjoying it, should not be the last and the only one to be on. Try as many as you want, as you need. But always remember, party won’t stop when you leave. There will be always new guests. Do you want to have fun with them? Or is this party over for you?

Draw it, build it

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When we plan to give a speech, prepare a presentation we begin (usually) by designing, by writing the script.We keep it in our heads, on a piece of paper or on the computer.

When we are in a meeting discussing topics, training, selling a product… we have many different tools (power point, support documentation, videos…) but one of the most useful is drawing. The more visible surface for the attendants, the better.

  • Are you explaining something for the audience’s very first time? It will serve as the structure from where to build from.
  • Do you pretend to make understandable a structure, a decision… ? It will be the reference point for any posible question.
  • Do the attendees speak different languages or come from different areas? Use it as the common ground for questions, agreements, solutions, …
  • Are you trying to solve a problem with n possible solutions? The different paths will help to develop new thoughts and solutions
  • Are you offering different choices, but your audience has not clear what they true needs are? It will be the guidance to narrow their problem and get closer to the best product, or solution.

Communication is never a simple thing, we do not express and/or thing the same way, so we will understand and process differently.

While drawing (a process, for example) you clear your mind and fill any possible GAP and you give to others the opportunity to participate with their thoughts while adding, editing… your draw.

Drawing in order to get things clear is building common understanding brick by brick. Draw, discuss, modify, progress, improve. Draw, discuss, modify, progress… Everyone is able to leave the meeting with all the ideas, same understanding and/or agreements.

Take the opportunity to draw more, on a blank sheet instead of using a presentation full of words but with no understanding.

Closed for vacation

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closed for vacation

So, summer holidays are here again! Some of you might be already enjoying them, others just a few days away, and many still working hard (but they will arrive, promised! and it will be awesome).

I think in this same post last year I wrote that, for me, summer break is my own «year end». I can’t help but rule under the school calendar. So August is usually the moment when I stop, I look back, I do my personal review of the year, make many of the important decisions as well as finishing some adventures and starting new ones. And I know a lot of people who also, are still under this «school-calendar». And because of people, organizations (many) work the same way. Looks like everything needs to be done before September arrives! And that once the summer is over, we will be starting from scratch.

So, if you can, use this time to do whatever you want to do, nothing, everything, who knows, I won’t think about it… Just enjoy it. There is a lot more fun around the corner.

I, personally, will use this time for many things, including reading. I will come back with new ideas on my personal and quite unique vision of people, teams and organizations.

Thanks all for reading this blog, recommending it and giving me so many brilliant ideas. It’s worth the effort.

This is not over, we will be away for 3 weeks, only 3 posts waiting time..

Have fun, enjoy family moments, relaxing times, all of them. The new course will be intense (Which one hasn’t been?) with many many new endeavors.

For those who are starting a new adventure in September, congrats, relax and work as hard as always. Will be awesome!!

For those who will still be these days under pressure, with infinit tasks… vacations will arrive (once we are all back). Take it easy in the mean time.

See u in a while. 🙂

For all, have a super, great summer. See you all in 3 weeks!!!!!

The roller coaster: friends, colleagues & teams

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team development
Years ago I took a ride on a roller coaster with some friends. It was a new one, something different, unknown, the ultimate amusement in town. Recently, while talking to colleagues, this moment came back to my mind. The similarity between this amusement and how does individual mood impacts on the rest of the team inspired these lines.

Before we got on, some of us tried to explore all the posible details of the steel structure draw. Others of us didn’t even want to look.

As we were quite a big group, we could not fit all in the same wagon. So, we would have the experience with different time offsets. Also, it meant that a few would have to sit with strangers.

During the ride, emotions and reactions were completely different between us. Fright, enjoyment, expectation, … Laughs, screaming, silence due to panic, dizziness, …

Not possible to have two people with the same expectations, reaction, same emotions at the same time.

When being part of a team and we are:

  • Facing new horizons:
    • We can start a project with some friends, and sit in the same front wagon. As we progress we will not feel the same way, we will not have the same reactions. But it’s good to know that we are all there to support each other. And it’s also important to teach the ones who got on the last wagons.
    • If we are joining an existing and robust team there is no front wagon for us. Then it’s really important to have the support of those who already lived what we are going through. To have some guidance and understand what will come after and be as much prepared as feasible.
  • Dealing with individuals states of mind:
    • Around us there is who is in a similar momentum as we do. We feel comforted, understood. And it feels good, we are not alone, we have some support.
    • But there is always, always, someone who is in the other side. If they are up we need to get close them and let us catch by their good vibes. If they are down, we need to help them, try to contagiate some positivity or at least, let them feel that the team is there for them.

 

The moral of our team has a high impact on our performance. And after one roller coaster another one will come. Don’t you want to have the more fun you can and the best results?

 

Summer holidays are reaaaally close. Use them to recharge your batteries.

Maybe some other time

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We can find and make endless excuses for not exercising, go on diet, studying, … whatever we have to do that requires effort. But do you want to overcome difficulties? You will have to do it, once more, beat laziness and progress.

You do not want to have that difficult conversation? Set a slot in your agenda for it so you can not procrastinate, it will make things easier.

You do not want to go to the gym today? Ok, just go outside, start with some walking, run for some minutes, back to walking and you can go home.

You don’t feel focused enough to study? to read that document? play some music, have a drink and back to books.

The less you are able (willing) to find the right moment to finish something the more important is to carry on. This is how you keep those promises you made to yourself. That’s how you do not fall, you do not quit.

Complete a nice, worthy piece of work. Finish on time the goal you set up.

The promises (not obligations) we make and keep to ourselves are more important than the ones we make to others.

Sunday is usually a day to chill out. But, couldn’t skip this.

Have a nice week. (this post was written on July 1st. some connection issues didn’t let me post when I had promised to)

 

The «mojo» issue

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Photo by Anna Sullivan on Unsplash

«Mojo», Slang word to define Magical charm, enthusiasm, talent based on personal appeal, influence, confidence, style, … From time to time, issues arise. We, then, loose our «mojo» and we face the lack of interest, problems to focus, we are less attractive, finishing tasks on time is very complicated.

We as individuals, we radiate «magic» when feeling special, balanced, happy. We perform extraordinarily when enjoying what we do. All of a sudden, pop! It’s gone. Someone stole your «mojo». As a matter of fact, this is something that can not be stolen. We simply lose it. Because we let criticism get to us, we change the way of doing things just to please others or just for fear. Then it’s when slowly, very slowly, we loose interest for what we do, we stop learning, we no longer have fun.

Companies will go through exactly the same phases. They can lose their essence, without realizing, just following a trend or to ensure success by just producing their top sales, no innovation on the horizon. So, the same company gets bored, just the same day after day. And, all of the sudden, competitors are ahead of them!

You need to refocus, rediscover what made you vibrate. Why did you start all this adventure? Is still the same thing that makes the ball roll in? Or you have changed? New us, with old manners (even if it’s as an individual or a company).

Regain your charm, surround yourself by that magic generators again. And everything will be ok, back on track.