Business Moment: Teamwork

Teamwork is a strong force regardless of the discipline it represents. It demands cooperation, focus on performance, unselfish direction toward goals and caring.

It has been said that too many people see business as a a dog-eat-dog world in which the most important thing is looking out for number one. Like the cannibal who once informed the great Mark Twain, “Our people understand Christianity: we ate the missionaries.” The challenge is that the cannibals, like too many others, miss the point. The focus must be on the ultimate goal. Every team member is important and the best is most often achieved when people work together and think together.

Teamwork does breed productivity and putting each team member in the proper place does ensure that the team will be more successful.

Feature Article: “Cows Don’t Give Milk”

Growing up in the country around cows, I can truthfully tell you that, "Cows do not give milk!" You must take every drop from them! Sometimes it is easy and other times it can be the hardest and most challenging job you could ever do.

Cows as a whole are moody. Sometimes they will gently lick grain from your hand and other times they will do their best to give you a swift kick. I suppose it boils down to the approach you take. If you get ready to milk and have cold hands…boy, oh boy…are you in for a surprise! But, if you take time to warm your hands, talk to the milk provider and gently pat her side as you sit down…chances are you will be successful in taking away a bucket of milk. It is how you approach the task that counts.

The same is true in our daily work. Not only does our mood or attitude determine our success; but, both have a chilling effect on how we are viewed by others. Do we approach each day with enthusiasm and excitement…glad to be alive…or, do we wake each day and curse the early time, the weather outside and what we have to do for the day?

We are all born excited…just look at the excitement from a baby who announces to everyone that it is hungry, needs to be changed or has a desire to be held. What excitement! Former baseball great Pete Rose was once asked which asset goes first on a baseball player: his eyes, legs or his arm. He replied, "None of those things. It is when his enthusiasm goes that he is finished as a player."

How we approach any situation is crucial. We can make challenges we are facing boulders of distress, or we can convert those challenges into stepping stones of grandeur...Click here to read more...

Energy Leadership Article: “How Open Are You?”

In our exploration of the characteristics of anabolic and catabolic leaders, so far we’ve determined that anabolic leaders “lead” and “participate,” while catabolic leaders “manage” and “delegate.” This month, let’s look at another aspect of leadership - how information is passed along to others – to further see the difference between the two types of leaders.

In any type of leadership role – whether as a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, or as a parent, imparting information to others is an integral and essential part of leading. Catabolic leaders give information, while anabolic leaders share information. 

“Giving” means to convey, transmit, assign, or allot. When we give to others, we no longer have ownership of what we give. “Sharing,” on the other hand, means to partake of, use, or experience with others. When we share, we’re still part of the process – we’re “in it” with the other person. It’s similar to the difference between catabolic delegating and anabolic participating.

When a catabolic leader gives information to others, they do so without much explanation, and with little buy-in or justification.

An anabolic leader who shares information, however, explains well and gets buy-in, which builds trust, develops rapport, and deepens the connection with the other person.

Which of the following leaders is more likely to get the result they desire?... Click Here to Read More 

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