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Posts Tagged ‘leadership’

Can Leaders Avoid Burnout

Posted in Association Management Companies, CM Services, Leadership, Random, Volunteerism, tagged , , , on May 2, 2011| 1 Comment »

I recently read an article about how “high achievers” can overcome burnout. It assumed (and I happen to agree) that people who work at a fast pace and under significant stress (call them leaders) can sometimes tire from their work and if they don’t deal with the exhaustion properly, may become ineffective. A few of the author’s suggestions for overcoming burnout included:

1. Delegate more.
2. Take breaks between big projects.
3. Control your electronic devices (turn them off more often)
4. Socialize with people outside your work life.

I think these are all good suggestions. Not sure I can do all of them – especially turning off the devices – I find myself checking email on my phone at the strangest places sometimes; my daughter’s soccer games, while at stop lights, and even on the way out of church this morning.

Here are a few suggestions I have for overcoming burnout as well:

1. Find something you enjoy doing and do it often. I love to play golf and basketball. I try to hit balls on the driving range or play basketball instead of eating lunch a few times a week.
2. Do something physical. Most of us get burned out mentally but physically we haven’t even exercised our body. Go for a run or a bike ride. Lift weights. Do something to break a sweat.
3. Go home one night and force yourself not to even think about work. Find a good book (that has nothing to do with work) and read it.
4. Go for a long walk.

These are all things I like to do to overcome burnout. What are some of the things you do?

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Can Leaders Be Effective While Multitasking?

Posted in CM Services, Leadership, Uncategorized, Volunteerism, tagged , , , , , , on April 25, 2011| 1 Comment »

A colleague recently forwarded an article to me from the New York Times titled, “Message to Executives: Stop Multitasking”. I read the article with interest as I consider myself a multitasker.

Let’s make sure we’re on the same page here – to me multitasking is having many active projects or activities going on at the same time. (The proverbial “having many balls in the air at once”) In fact, Webster defines multitasking as “the performance of multiple tasks at one time”.

The Times article referenced a McKinsey Quarterly study which concludes multitasking hurts productivity, reduces creativity and even makes people unhappy. The conclusion of the study is that leaders should Focus, Filter and Forget.

Focus on doing one thing at a time.

Filter information to make better decisions.

Forget by taking time to do non business related activities.

I think these conclusions are great but the premise is wrong. No human being can actually do multiple tasks at one time. However, all leaders have multiple active projects or tasks at one time. So how does a leader effectively complete all these projects and tasks?

By focusing, filtering and forgetting.

Are you a multitasker? How do you stay effective?

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Leadership Qualities on the Golf Course

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on May 17, 2010| 2 Comments »

It never ceases to amaze me where simple but effective lessons in leadership are found. The golf course is one of those places. Golf is a game of man against hiimself. How can leadership be present without someone to lead?

I contend the qualities the game of golf emphasizes are leadership qualities that can be applied in any setting. Here are my top golf qualities:

1. Honesty
2. Integrity
3. Humility
4. Generosity

Do you have any to add?

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Every Day Should be Mothers Day

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on May 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I find it curious that we celebrate our love for and appreciation of Mothers once a year on Mothers Day. After all, shouldn’t we show all mothers respect and appreciation daily? Come to think of it, shouldn’t we show all people respect and appreciation daily?

I think that’s the mantra we should all live by – treat everyone with respoct and appreciation daily.

What are your thoughts?

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Economic Downturn Impacting Volunteerism

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on April 19, 2010| 1 Comment »

Americans have long been known as volunteers. Since its beginnings, America has been the land of volunteers. Associations, both trade and professional, were born in the US. Americans love to give their time and their money to charitable causes, research and development and professional and business development.

During the last two years, the US (and world) economy has been in a tailspin. The housing market “bubble has burst”, unemployment is probably over 10%, US businesses have had their biggest struggles in history. As a result of these and many more challenges, Americans are having to re-evaluate where they give their time and money and how much, if any, they have to give. In short, volunteers are giving less – a lot less.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel for the economy. Eventually (probably in 2011) our economy will turnaround, our businesses will recover and Americans will will have secure jobs, money, etc.

My question is, will they still be willing to volunteer? I hope so. Let me know what you think.

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It’s Okay to Take a Break Once in a While

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on April 5, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I must admit I am a workaholic – though I’ve gotten better over the years. Even before blackberries, iPhones and eMail I found a way to stay connected to my work during all hours but sleep, seven days a week.

Over the years I have been able to step away from work for a few hours at a time at least (mostly to spend time with my children).

Recently, I have learned from several successful leaders I know that everyone needs time away from work. Taking time away from work isn’t a weakness, but a strength. If you’re a workaholic like me, you are laughing in disbelief and asking how that’s possible – it doesn’t even make sense.

Here are a few examples of why taking time away from work is a sign of a strong leader:

1. It recharges the batteries – gives you renewed energy
2. It provides a different perspective to the leader
3. Sets a good example for your employee partners
4. Helps your family know it is important
5. Helps the leader balance his personal and work life

Do you take time away from work? Does it make you better at work?

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Better Boards Build Relationships

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on March 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I believe that most successful trade associations have Boards of Directors that are not only functional but whose directors have developed trusting relationships amongst each other.

I have had the pleasure of seeing dozens of Boards of Directors interact with each other. Here are some of my observations about how Boards develop trusting relationships:

1. The members treat each other inside and outside the boardroom with respect both professionally and personally
2. The members begin every meeting sharing one recent business success and one recent personal success
3. Consent agendas are used allowing the Board to focus its time on mission critical issues, not administrative ones
4. The members keep the organization’s mission and strategic plan at the forefront of their minds in meetings

Tell me about some of the characteristics of the successful (or even unsuccessful) Boards you have seen.

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The Enemy of Leadership – Distractions

Posted in CM Services, Volunteerism, tagged , , , on March 8, 2010| Leave a Comment »

One of the greatest challenges leaders face are distractions. Distractions cause leaders to take their “eye off the ball”. Distractions cause leaders to lose focus on their mission and strategies.

Distractions come in all shapes and sizes. Here are my top four:

1. Personnel issues
2. Demanding customers
3. Balancing work and family
4. Money

In the last eighteen months, many leaders have been distracted by economic conditions. These conditions have caused leaders to focus on expense reductions and major business model changes just to survive. Now it is time for leaders to re-focus on developing the strategies that will help their businesses succeed in the future.

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Teamwork Tips

Posted in CM Services, Meetings, Volunteerism, tagged , , on February 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I spent last week at the Annual Meeting and tradeshow of one of our association partners.  The meeting and show were a success – despite the economy.

Honestly I was a little worried going into the meeting.  The leadership has been divisive recently and it was unclear going into the meetings whether they could overcome their challenges.  However, at the meeting the association leadership really started coming together.  They recognized the importance of working toward a common goal – the association’s mission.  Here are some of the reasons I think they are moving in the right direction together now:

1.  Leadership Training – we have offered one half day of leadership training twice a year for several years.  The training is never the same but is always focused on providing them the tools they need to be effective leaders.

2.  A Mission – the association has long had a mission statement.  We have focused the leaders on developing annual operating plans with the intent of moving them toward accomplishment of the mission.

3.  Cheerleading – every team needs to feel good about itself as a team and every person needs to feel good about themselves as a person.  We began cheerleading for the association and its leaders at this meeting and by the end of the meeting, many of the leaders were cheering for each other.

4.  Sharing – the leadership spent time getting to know each other personally at this meeting and shared commonalities and differences they have amongst each other.  This helped them remember each of them is an imperfect human being.

5.  Full Value Contract – this is a new idea one of our staff members found.  Essentially the group determined the behaviors they want to uphold as leaders of their industry trade association and agreed to create a “contract” which will be used to hold each other accountable to behaving appropriately.  Examples of the behaviors might be:  Treat people the way you would want to be treated; or Always listen to and consider others points of view.

These are just some examples of how we can get our teams working together toward a common goal.  What ideas can you add to the list?

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Why can’t we all be more selfless?

Posted in CM Services, Random, Volunteerism, tagged , , , on January 11, 2010| 1 Comment »

I have been thinking about the way people interact with each other.  Not the ways in which they interact but HOW they interact – how people treat each other.

I am disappointed with the way we treat each other, in our business and our personal lives.

It seems to me every generation of people have become more and more selfish – while we should become more selfless.  Don’t think so?  Observe people for just a few minutes on the freeway, in the grocery store or even in your next meeting.

I think you will find cars in a hurry to beat you to the next red light; people willing to cut you off in the checkout line to save a few minutes; and people interrupting others in mid sentence and not caring to listen and really understand the thoughts and opinions of their peers.

It’s a sad state of affairs.  I would like to offer these simple suggestions to help each of us be more selfless:

  1. Slow down (just a little).
  2. Next time you arrive at a stop sign or the grocery store checkout line at the same time as someone else, let them go first.
  3. Next time you’re in a meeting, listen to what your peers are saying and ask follow up questions so they (and everyone else) know you are interested and are really considering their thoughts and opinions.

Let me know what you think about this list and add to it.  Let’s see if we can use this blog to create best practices for interacting with others.

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