Doors are interesting. Their purpose, of course, is very practical… to keep people/things in/out, to provide privacy, or to separate or confine sounds.  They can also serve aesthetic purpose.  However, I believe doors can also serve a symbolic purpose.  Here are few that come to my mind:

1. The front door to our workplace – Every day we come into work, the front door provides new opportunities, new chances, and a fresh start. No matter what happened yesterday, we have today to make it better. We also have a fresh chance to impact the lives of our coworkers, to encourage them, and to support their efforts. The door you entered this morning is more than an entryway, or a security line… it represents a day filled with hope and possibility.
2. The door to your office or the office of anyone else – Yes, this door also represents a new opportunity. However, it can be a door of second chances, as well. For those entering your space, it provides a new chance to right a wrong, to start something new, to collaborate, to correct a problem… every door represents a new chance… a second chance to make a difference.
3. The door of your home – I think of my door at home as the entryway to a sanctuary, a safe place, a place to shed anything that is not real or not really me. It is that one place where we can be open and honest in a safe way.

In truth, any door you enter represents a new chance or a second chance to do something great. Any door could be an entryway to something awesome or wonderful.  Do you look at doors this way or, like me, have you become so immune to things that you don’t even see it?  Why not, just for today, view every door we enter as a fresh chance to make a difference.  Then, let’s take advantage of it.

Thanks for what you do to improve the lives of our patients. To them, you make a huge life-difference.  Have a fabulous day!  It could be a “top ten” day, you know.  Watch for it!

 

Everyone knows you should come up big in the big things. Athletes always strive to be at their best during championship games.  Everyone wants to be at their very best when making presentations to senior management.  Individuals typically vie to be on the “big” project teams, the “important” activities, and the “needle-moving” opportunities.  Colin Powell once said, “If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters.”  So very true!  It seems that individuals typically shy away from the “little projects” because they want to be part of big things.  But, as Powell indicates, excellence matters in little things.  You prove yourself in the minor things and prove your capability to handle bigger things.

Being “big” in little things also matters in how we behave and how we deal with others. For example, driving in traffic is, in reality, a little thing.  It is not a competition.  It is not an indicator of our worth.  One way or another, we almost always get to our location.  However, our behavior on the road can be a measure of our character.  How do we handle things when someone cuts us off in traffic?  Do we always have to be in the fast lane?  Does courtesy go out the window when we get behind the wheel?

Being “big” in little things is truly a reflection of our character. How we handle little stresses matters.  How we treat others when we have been mistreated is important.  How we react when we are pushed shows others who we really are.  Being “big” in little things means a lot.  Please consider this the next time you are tempted to strike back at someone else or to shirk a less than desirable request when it comes.

This could be it… our best day yet! You never know when that day might come.  And, thanks for all you do to make this a better place.  Have a great day!

 

 

Some once said of culture:

“An organization’s culture is defined as the worst behavior that is allowed to occur or that is considered acceptable.”

I think this definition speaks volumes about the culture we create. After all, “culture is not what you say, but what you do.”  A culture is not created with banners, slogans, or goals.  It is that sum of behaviors and actions that occur day-after-day that determine the norm for that organization.  When negative behavior is allow (or even encouraged), the culture assumes that negative vibe.  When the norm is positive and enthusiastic, the culture assumes those attributes.

Which brings us to the problem with conflicting signals. Let’s look at a couple real examples:

• When you first learned to drive a car, you knew that the speed limit was the legally allowed maximum speed you could travel. However, you also quickly learned that you can typically drive 4 – 8 or more miles per hour faster than the speed limit without negative impact. This is re-enforced by the police when you drive past a waiting policeman going 5 miles per hour over the limit and you do not get a ticket. Further, the policeman never blinks when you only drive 5 miles per hour over the limit. Though you know the posted speed limit, the signal we get is that we can violate that limit up to 5 miles per hour or more.
• Another driving example… A new driver very quickly learns that a stop sign or red light means stop! Though you might occasionally get away with a “rolling stop,” the vast majority of drivers understand that stopping is a true safety issue and most readily comply with stop signs or red lights. The signal we get is that this is so important that we do not have liberty to violate it. The signal comes from others (peers) and those in authority (police).

So, how do conflicting signals impact us in the workplace? Again, let’s look at some examples:

• What do you think when we say, “Safety is our number one objective”, then we clearly reward production more than safety performance? Is this a conflicting signal?
• What do you think when your supervisor talks about the importance of integrity, then appears to take advantage of the rules in place that should apply to everyone? Is this a conflicting signal?
• What do you think when your department is faced with severe budget or spending restrictions, then you see others spending lavishly on travel, meetings, etc.? Is this a conflicting signal?
• What do you think when a parent tells a child, “Don’t drink (or smoke or gamble or whatever)”, then frequently does the exact behavior that they are teaching their children that they shouldn’t do? Is this a conflicting signal?
• What do you think when one member of management is allowed to yell or scream or use abusive language, yet the typical response is, “Ah, that’s just the way he/she is. Just ignore him/her.” Is this a conflicting signal?

We create our culture by what we do day-by-day, week-by-week. If we want a culture that is encouraging, credible, and positive, then our behavior should reflect that.  If we want a strong quality/compliance culture, we need to diligently adhere to established procedures, limits, specifications, practices, etc. without allow those “minor excursions.”  Those minor excursions that we allow say that compliance is important… when it is convenient!  A culture of quality/compliance (or whatever you target) is established when you say it, do it, and reward others that say it and do it.  Any inconsistency degrades or cancels what you say.

In short, conflicting signals is one of the primary reasons we struggle with a negative culture. We can say whatever we want, but unless we live it consistently, our words become nothing more than noise that becomes lost in the buzz of the crowd.

Have a terrific day!

There is danger in allowing yourself to be carried about by the current in every situation, leaning to one side, then the other. Never having an opinion or taking a stand leads to a life of compromise.  On the other hand, standing firm in every situation or being dogmatic about your views can lead to isolation and frustration.  Going too far with either is a problem.  Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and international statesman, had this to say about that subject:

“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”                   – Thomas Jefferson –

Jefferson advocated going along with prevailing viewpoints in matters of style. In other words, when the true outcome doesn’t matter, why take an immovable stance?  However, in matters that matter (e.g., principles),  we must stand firm, like a rock.  Principles lead to values which define character.  So, in situations in which a compromise of principles could occur, we must stand firm.  Jefferson was simply saying that we must “major on the majors.”  We must not attempt to win every argument or every situation, especially when the outcome is meaningless.  Save your battles for those situations that truly can impact others or the company.

Thanks for all you do! Never forget that our efforts can make a difference to others.  Have a fabulous day!

 

The third Sunday every June is designated Father’s Day in the United States. So, today, in the final of our Friday Tribute Series, we pay tribute to fathers and what they mean to us.

First of all, I would like to say a few words about my own father. He grew up in Xenia, Illinois, and was one of ten children in his family.  My grandfather was a farmer and the family was not wealthy – quite the opposite, actually.  My father was a navy aircraft gunner in the Pacific during World War II and became an oil-field welder as his career.  His work as a welder was hot and miserable in the summer and frigid in the winter.  He worked 6 days/week all his working life.  He had one week of unpaid vacation per year, but we always took a family vacation.  He loved to fish and hunt, but being a full-time father was his avocation, hobby, and passion.  I was active in sports and school activities all the way through college and he rarely missed an event, even when it meant driving hours and getting home late leaving little time for sleep before doing it all over again.

My father was the model for hard-work, integrity, and dedication to his wife and children. He was always kind to others and treated everyone with respect.  He was so intent that his own children attend college that he never taught any of the four of us to weld, despite frequent requests.  He never wanted us to be tempted to take his own path.  Much of what I am, value, and try to do is in response to what I learned from him.

I think it is important to say thanks to the fathers in our midst that sacrifice for their families. So, to the fathers in the group, this is for you:

• Thanks for putting aside your own hobbies for a few years to focus on the activities of your kids even though you get a tear in your eye every time you clean the dust and cobwebs off your golf clubs
• Thanks for going to work early or doing extra late at night or for giving up “work time” to be at your important kids events, such as dance recitals, soccer games in the snow, and endless band concerts, then acting in the end as if it was the greatest entertainment event you have ever attended
• Thanks for your patience doing homework with the kids even though your old way of doing math problems is “the wrong way” in today’s educational system
• Thanks for saying “no” when you needed to, “yes” when your heart said no, and “I love you” every day – you have shown your kids that there will never be a day when you don’t love them and want the best for them
• Thanks for teaching your kids that hard work, solid education, and ambition are no more important that integrity, service to others, and kindness in getting ahead in this world
• Thanks for being at home when your kids needed you most
• Thanks for always ensuring that your kids know that you love their mother and for letting them see you show outward affection to her – this teaches them what a loving marriage should be and what kind of spouse they should eventually seek
• Thanks for those special one-on-one times when you treat your kids to ice cream – you learn a lot about your kids when you do
• Thanks for protecting your kids – not just their physical protection, but protecting them from the negative influences that could so easily overtake them
• Thanks for keeping your promises, for being honest, and for showing your kids that fun times are important and memorable
• Thanks for showing your kids how to fix stuff – or at least who to call when something needs fixed
• Thanks for blessing the life of your children, their friends, and those that watch your love for them in action every day

And, to those of you that have lost your fathers, take the time this weekend to tell your kids or grandchildren a favorite story of growing up with your father. Better yet, write it down so no one ever forgets it.

Finally, I have included a couple of links below to songs that are fitting for a Father’s Day tribute. These remind me that the greatest honor of my lifetime has been to be Dad and Grandpa to those special people in my own life.  Have a great weekend!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP-Sxfntdb4                                                 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrWMBC6yoME

 

Sometimes, it seems the world has turned upside down. Things we formerly believed were right are now wrong.  Things we believed were wrong are now right.  We have enemies in our own land.  Jobs are difficult to find.  Taxes are high, but many say not high enough.  Our infrastructure is falling apart.  Prospects for the future are often dim.

So, is there hope?  What is your hope?  If you put your hope and confidence in a man or woman, you have been or no doubt will be sorely disappointed.  If you put your hope on an education, that will only get you so far.  If you put your hope on time (e.g., the future), we are only promised today.

What is out there that we can rely upon? What can give us reason for optimism for the future?

For me, there is only one answer to that question. My hope is in Jesus Christ.  I have placed my life and my future in His hands.  I know that I will go to heaven when I die.  No matter what happens here on earth, I know that my future is secure.

So, you ask, how can I be so confident?  How can I say for sure that I know I am heaven-bound?  There are 6 simple steps or reasons from the Bible that allow me to say this for sure:

1. God loves me and wants me to live with Him forever:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
2. But, we all have a problem – we are separated from God because of our sin (sin is anything against God’s desires for our life or any disobedience that we feel, commit, or express): “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23
3. We deserve God’s punishment for our sin:  “The wages of sin is death.” – Romans 6:23
4. Despite all our very best efforts, there is no way we can bridge that gap between us and God through our own works:  “For it is by grace you are saved, through faith – and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:9 – 10
5. But, God’s perfect Son – Jesus – died as a sacrifice in our place to pay the price – He rose on the third day and now lives in glory with God:  “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 AND “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” – Romans 4:25
6. All we have to do is to receive that free gift of salvation and believe (have faith or trust) that He is who He said and will do what He promises:  “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

 

 

 

There was a day when I realized I needed God’s love and forgiveness and I prayed to Him to accept Jesus and His sacrifice for me. I now put my hope and trust and eternal future in His hands.  That’s how I can say for sure that I’ll spend eternity in heaven.  Now, I don’t have to wonder about my future after this life.  And, this assurance gives me greater confidence to live my life now to the fullest.

So, I know my eternal future. My hope is not in any human, or company, or money, or any other thing – as the old hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”  You can have this same hope and assurance in your future that I have if you simply follow the six steps outlined above.  Or, if you would like more information, please contact me personally.

Have a truly wonderful day!

In life, we have only three choices for how we approach it.  We can live with our primary focus on the past, the present, or the future.  Let’s look at each and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of life-focus:

1. Focus on the past – I really enjoy music.  In fact, you could probably say that I am a huge music fan.  I like to listen to music really at any time.  When I do, I tend to like “The Oldies from the 60’s” or, more recently, classic country music from the 1960 to 1980 time period.  I also enjoy nostalgia, especially around sports and history.  I collect baseball memorabilia and enjoy recalling games and players from the “good old days.”  Many individuals I know around my age enjoy looking back to those days.  Those days were simpler, quieter, and, possibly, more peaceful.  However, there is a danger in over-emphasizing the past.  Some individuals continually look back to what they should have done, what they could have done, or what they wish they had done.  In fact, many individuals are so enslaved by the past that they have difficulty living in the present.
2. Focus on the future – Many individuals have an overwhelming focus in their lives on the future.  I believe there are two traps we can encounter when this future-focus becomes excessive:
   • You become caught up in the belief that things will get better when… you get out of debt, you finish school, you get your kids out of college, you get that promotion, you pay off your house, you retire, you get beyond your health issue, etc., etc.  Some focus so much on how life will be different then, that they fail to live for today.
   • The other trap is a fear of the future which brings about worry.  Nothing good comes from worry.  It cannot change a single situation of our future, yet it can rob us of the joy of today.  I heard a quote recently that hits the mark on this:

“Worry is when you use your imagination to create something or a situation you do not want.”

1. Focus on today – Yes, today is the only day we are promised.  We can plan or hope for tomorrow, but it may not come.  We can long for yesterday, but it is gone forever.  Today is our only chance to make a difference, to accomplish something of value, or to experience those things around us.  Our only focus that matters should be on today… this moment.  Certainly, we need to plan for the future.  I am not suggesting otherwise.  However, I do believe that planning and obsessing are completely different things.  We should plan for the future, but live for today.

The bottom line for today is this…  We need to live in the moment we have right now.  We need to stop and smell the roses.  We need to slow down enough to enjoy the good things happening all around us.  We should dance one more dance.  We can’t change what happened in the past, we must not worry about the future, so all we have left is to live in this moment.  Let’s give it a try today.

Have an awesome day!  And, find something good today that you might not have seen yesterday.

 

During early gold rushes, prospectors often were excited thinking they had “hit the jackpot” with veins of gold only to learn later that they had found pyrite, a brassy mineral otherwise known as fool’s gold.  Instead of being rich with a gold mine, they are fooled by the fake gold they had found.  The appearance was convincing, but the material was inauthentic.

Individuals today are also finding “fool’s gold” and, after the initial excitement and enthusiasm, discover that its real value is low or non-existent.  What is today’s “fool’s gold?”  Here are a few examples:

1. Seeking a title versus skills, influence, and job satisfaction – the luster of a new title will soon fade, but the other, more valuable items will last your entire career
2. Following a person instead of values – people may come and go, but our commitment to a set of values defines our character
3. Believing that form is more important than content – sure, some are overly impressed with form, but the content of your contributions should define your real value to the company
4. Serving yourself instead of the team – you might enhance your personal benefits by choosing yourself over team, but, in the end, when the team wins, we all win
5. Focusing on short-term gain instead of long-term value – we often seek that which brings immediate satisfaction rather than the greater value that comes through patience and diligence
6. Spin versus truth – most individuals value honesty and truth over spin designed to deflect questions and concern

How about you?  Are you a prospector searching for the world’s largest vein of fool’s gold?  Or, are you seeking true gold – that which has infinitely more value than its fake cousin?  Hopefully, most or all of us seek the true thing.  Please don’t be fooled – don’t settle for anything less than the best!

Have an awesome day!  Remember, any day could be your very best yet!  And, who knows, someone might even say to you, “It sure was a good day, wasn’t it?”

 

First of all, management of people is NOT the same as leadership. Leadership is a highly critical skill that will essentially define your success in the workplace and life.  However, many of us are also in positions that require that we lead people.  And, in many cases, we do so by managing the performance of people.  Much has been said and written about how best to manage these activities.  Today, I wanted to share my perspectives and thoughts developed over my 35+ years in the workplace.

To me, management of people can be condensed into three key, critical steps. Today, I share these steps:

1. Choose the right people for the right jobs – I believe that some individuals are capable of accomplishing almost anything. These individuals can do almost any job well, they represent you well, and they will get things done right and on time. Find these people! When you do find them, do whatever you can to get them into your organization – even if that means creating a position for them. Then, you need to match people to the right jobs. You cannot completely ignore matching skills to job requirements, but we often make the mistake of by-passing a very capable individual because we feel their skills match is not perfect. What I am saying here is that if you find the right person that can add value to your team, be creative in matching them to a position. I would rather have the right people on my team even if their skills were not a perfect match, than individuals with perfectly matching skills that were not those “magical” individuals I seek. Look for the magic and work out the rest! In my experience over all these years, when you find that special person with that “special sauce” that is hard the describe, they will accomplish more than an average individual many times over.
2. Clearly articulate everyone’s “box” of responsibility and expectations – I like to describe the scope of an individual’s job as a box. We all have a box within which we must work. However, most never fully understand what is in their box, how far their responsibilities go, and when they need to elevate issues or concerns. I think it is critical to be clear about the “box” given to an individual. For example, I like to outline:  exact responsibilities, how far the individual can go without coming to me, any limits on authority, financial responsibilities, goals and objectives to be successful, and examples of things “outside the box” that need my input before action.  Then, when this is clear, I communicate that everything in the box in that individual’s responsibility. They will be judged by how well they handle the items in their box.  And, they don’t need to come to me to ask about things in their box unless they are seeking my advice or input.  By doing this, you provide a level of freedom for the individual to use their own skills and reasoning abilities to manage the way they feel is best.  Plus, this gives you insight into their capabilities for future opportunities.  As they prove their capabilities with their box, you expand the box to include a larger scope or more responsibilities.  By providing ongoing input into the box and its contents, you help the individual understand their role and contributions they can make to the organization.
3. Get out of their way – Finally, once you have accomplished steps 1 and 2 above, you simply get out of the individual’s way. Don’t micromanage! Don’t hover! Don’t require constant updates or infer that they cannot make decisions within their box. Don’t provide conflicting signals, such as “this is your box, but don’t act without my input”. Let the individual operate freely within the box you have together outlined. When you stay out of their way, you do two things: 1) you ensure that they

Why you follow these three steps, you avoid many of the pitfalls of management that can cause poor performance, low morale, and frustration, such as:

• Micromanagement
• Stretching individuals too far
• Preventing personal development of your team members
• Mismatching of skills versus job expectations
• Inhibiting individuals the freedom to operate
• Second-guessing
• Hovering or doing the work yourself

So, there you have my simple list of the three keys to management: find the right people for the right jobs, clearly identify their box of responsibilities, then, get of their way.

Have a great day!

Today is another in our series of Tribute Fridays. Previously, we paid tribute to friends, veterans, mothers, great leaders, and teachers/coaches.  I am aware of many in our midst that either have or currently are dealing with adversity in their lives and thought we would recognize and encourage them today.

Adversity comes in many forms: health issues, marital problems, financial struggles, challenging children, legal issues, work stress, loss, etc., etc.  Each one of these can take a significant toll on the individual which could impact their health, happiness, or effectiveness on the job.  Anyone that has not dealt with such adversity should be thankful and prepare for that day when they must deal with it.

So, what do you say to a friend, neighbor, or coworker undergoing such adversity? How do you deal with it if you find yourself there today?  How can we help each other?  Not that I purport to have all the answers, but I can list a few things that have been helpful to me in the past.  Let’s look at a few:

1. Allow yourself to lean on a friend – One tendency when someone is in the midst of a life challenge is to isolate themselves from others. This is possibly the worst thing you could do. During difficult times, we need someone to lean on… someone that can lend a hand to pull us up… someone that can share the load or help share the load. When you face a challenge, find someone that you can share it with and allow them to help lighten the load.
2. Seek spiritual encouragement – For me, it has been helpful or even critical to seek spiritual encouragement when I undergo a difficult time.  God’s love has an amazing ability to soothe our hurts, if we will let Him.
3. Enhance your own resolve – My wife’s grandmother was a very loving woman, but she was pragmatic and tough, as well. She would say, when someone close died, “OK, you can mourn for three days, but then you have to pick yourself up and move on — not just for yourself, but for others that depend upon you.” Great advice! There are times when we simply have to stiffen our resolve and simply make ourselves go just one more step, take one more breath, or to just get through one more day. During difficult times, we cannot allow ourselves to remain sorrowful too long or it will be even more difficult picking ourselves up.
4. Divert your attention – One helpful technique for moving beyond a difficult situation is to divert our attention to something else. Finding a way to occupy our thoughts or turn unproductive time into productive time can help us out of our rut.
5. Encourage or serve someone else – I have personally found that when I am most burdened, it helps to simply seek a way to serve someone else. When you do something for another, it has a remarkable way of healing our own ills.
6. Seek someone that has successfully dealt with your situation in the past – Finding someone else that has walked where we walk is a great way to see that there is an end to our problem and we can deal with it successfully. Another individual might also have practical suggestions on what to do next.
7. Remember that through adversity, we reveal our character – Yes, adversity is difficult. However, when you undergo such a difficult life-event, you reveal the real you — you reveal the character that cannot be faked. So, remember that this challenge will pass and that you will be a better person at the end of this tunnel.

 

Finally, as friends, neighbors, and coworkers, we need to be alert for opportunities to encourage each other. If you know someone undergoing adversity now, take the extra time to be available, do something special or somehow, encourage that person with words or actions.  Sometimes, just a small gesture from a coworker or friend can make all the difference in a difficult situation.

Thanks to you all for making this journey a good one. This truly could be a great day… perhaps the best yet.  And, have a terrific weekend ahead!