MLK Day of Service
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?”
Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. MLK Day is a chance to start the year off right by making an impact in your community. Share with us what you are doing today in honor of Martin Luther King day!
For a list of opportunities in our neighborhood, please visit here.
Considerations in Strategic Planning
Year-end seems to be a typical time when many organizations conduct their strategic planning process. An annual strategic plan sets organizational objectives and priorities for the coming year at a minimum. These plans will ideally address ‘Where are we now? Where are we going? and How are we going to get there?” I have seen executives get so excited about the planning process that they fail to implement an action strategy that is followed up with assignment of individual accountability.
According to Erica Olsen, the Virtual Strategist, there are 10 Common Pitfalls of strategic planning. These plans often lack:
- Ownership;
- Empowerment;
- Accountability;
- Communication; and
- Are Removed from daily operations;
- Are not aligned to the regular decision making process;
- Are overwhelming;
- Lack buy-in;
- Are only conducted annually and
- Are viewed as an event!
Erica has a great set of short videos that my friend Steve Gladis, Ph.D of Steve Gladis Leadership brought to my attention. You may find them helpful in designing your own strategic planning sessions.
Survival Leadership
I am excited to share that Dr. Steve Gladis is coming to our office today to meet with our leadership team to help enhance our effectiveness. Steve is a leading Executive Coach, Motivational Speaker and Leadership Trainer, GMU professor and Author of 16 Books on Leadership and Communication! Steve also has a popular leadership blog that was ranked #5 out of the Top 100 Leadership blogs. I was introduced to Steve through a speaking engagement I attended offered by Women in Technology and now we both serve on the Board of Directors for the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce as well. We are really looking forward to an inspiring, engaging, and energizing session!
Happy (Belated) Boss’s Day!
National Boss Day fell on a Sunday this year, so we’re celebrating today instead. Some may think it’s a holiday invented by Hallmark or a bunch of brownnosers, but regardless of how it came about, we can’t emphasize the importance of expressing gratitude enough. According to Harvard’s Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage, 75% of job success is based on optimism, social support and managing stress in a positive way. Boss’s Day, Secretary Day, and the like are all great holidays in building a thanking culture. Here are a few ways to say thank you:
- Verbal Communication: Stopping to say thank you is an effective and cost-free way to say
- Ring the Bell: We’ve found that incorporating a physical bell in the office and using it to salute those who have hit a milestone, personal victory, project completion or new client win provides a quick “Hooray” for the people involved.
- Personal Notes: A personal, handwritten note goes a long way in expressing gratitude.
- Significant Events: Once a month during our meetings, we acknowledge significant events that have occurred within our lives.
- Tokens of Appreciation: Whether it’s freshly baked cookies, flowers, or a small gift, these tokens symbolize your appreciation.
How will you show appreciation to your boss?
Feedback is great. But will your message be heard?
Remember the blatant directness of a young child? And as that child grew, his behavior was managed so that he learned not to say what he was really thinking. But even as adults, isn’t that what we really all want? To know what people think? Truly believe? Of our performance, our word choices, our requests?
When I was 23, in my first professional role, I was in human resources for a well respected engineering firm. At 7:30 am one morning, the day after I had been asked for feedback on a firm-wide employee communication, I proudly waited for the managing partner to see me—knowing I was bypassing the gatekeeper at that hour. After reading the redlined hardcopy, the managing partner of a national firm said to me; “Kathy, I asked 5 people to review this memo, and you’re the only one who tore it to hell.” I responded by telling him that I thought he asked me, because he wanted my honest opinion.
I believe I’ve been successful in my career, to a great degree because people know that when they work with me they will get authentic feedback. And often my feedback is unsolicited. Ken Bartee once referred to me as an honest broker. I wasn’t even sure if that was a compliment at the time. At Helios we have said for years that we have a ‘feedback rich culture’ and I laugh as I also think, Be careful what you wish for. I get feedback all the time and am grateful that our team is comfortable in sharing it.
As I have matured, I have realized that how we deliver our messages will, to a large part, determine whether they are heard. Choosing our words is such an art, and one that I have gained a growing appreciation for. It is a constant developmental challenge for me, to anticipate how my words will be perceived. I have learned however, that if you are clear about your intentions, people will tend to give you the benefit of the doubt. I have learned that making clear requests and ensuring people understand the intentions of your feedback goes a long way in being heard.