Month: August 2016

Posted in Blog, Business Inspiration, Leadership Inspiration

Tips on Running an Efficient and Effective Meeting

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

Meeting

As a leader having efficient and effective meetings is so important to every aspect of running a successful business.  Meetings that aren’t productive are a waste valuable time and cost the company money.

Here are some tips on how to run a productive meeting:

  • Have a written agenda in advance and distribute before the meeting so attendees have time to read it and write down questions or concerns.  If the attendees do have questions or concerns request in the invitation for them to send their questions in advance so they can be addressed in the meeting.
  • Establish ground rules, etiquette, adhering to schedule and staying on topic.  Ask everyone to put away detractions such as: cell phones, iPads and to focus on what is being discussed except for the note taker.
  • Invite people who need to be there, the decision makers and experts on the subject.
  • Encourage open discussion but stick to the agenda time line.
  • Redirect the “off topic” discussions to be addressed later.
  • Plan breaks if more than two hours.
  • Have someone other than the meeting leader to take notes and distribute them after the meeting.
  • Meeting notes are a good reminder of what was discuss and follow-up action steps of who is responsible to get things accomplished.

Here are some examples when meetings are NOT productive or efficient:

  • No agenda, very disorganized and complete chaos.  The big question “Why are here”?
  • Attendees get off topic.
  • People talk over each other.
  • Private side conversations in the meeting when someone else is talking to the group.
  • Attendees on their cell phones texting, answering emails and/or looking at Facebook instead of participating in the meeting.

Having set ground rules and behavior etiquette is so important to running successful meetings. Being organized and prepared is critical.  Being courteous and respectful allows everyone to speak, to be heard, participate, engaged and this is when great results will happen.  As a leader, we lead by example and if we are not focused and engaged; our employees will not be either.  ~ Patti

Discussion Questions:

  1. From your past experiences “What was a productive meeting”?
  2. From your past experiences “How did you feel attending meetings when nothing was accomplished”?
  3. Were these tips helpful?  Why or why not?

Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks!

Become a Better Leader [e-Book] Click here to download your copy.

Quiz – Is Your Job Too Stressful?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Blog, Business Inspiration, Leadership Inspiration, Personal Inspiration

Having Integrity at Work

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

shutterstock_434662855 ~ Lead by Example

Definition of Work Integrity:

According to the BusinessDictionary the definition of Integrity means the following:

1. Strict adherence to a moral code, reflected in transparent honesty and complete harmony in what one thinks, says, and does.
2. State of a system where it is performing its intended functions without being degraded or impaired by changes or disruptions in its internal or external environments.
3. Stored or transmitted data that is free from any unauthorized change. See also data integrity.

Characteristics of Having Integrity:

  • Staying true to your word.  Keeping obligations and promises to others such as employer, staff and customers.
  • Commit and attend your scheduled appointments and meetings on time.
  • Doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
  • Make a mistake own up to it, apologize and don’t blame others, take responsibility and be accountable for your actions.
  • Give credit where credit is due.
  • Do not associate with people who lack work integrity.
  • Lead by being a good example.  Everyone is observing your choices whether they are good or bad.

Characteristics with Lack of Integrity:

  • Coming to work late, leaving early, calling in sick when you are not really sick, taking longer breaks and lunches.  Creating excuses for this behavior which is taking advantage of your employer, supervisor and co-workers.
  • Having your co-workers cover for you because you are doing personal stuff such as; surfing the web, making personal phone calls and/or texting instead of working.
  • Not following policies and procedures.  Taking short cuts which cause errors and produce customers complaints.
  • Blaming others instead of taking responsibility for your actions.

Integrity is being honest with others and yourself.  Doing what is right even when no one is watching.  Staying true to your word and actions.  Facing the consequences for your decisions and choices.

As a leader, integrity is so important to being a good leader.  With integrity there is no covering up, no guilt, no shame or second guessing what is right or wrong.  Reflect on the choices you make.  If you make a mistake own up to it and learn from that mistake.  Everyone falls down sometimes.  Apologize and fix it.  Strive to lead by being a good example in all aspects of your life.  By having integrity these are the keys to ultimate success.

 Self-Reflection Questions

What does integrity mean to you?

What is the importance of having integrity?

Do you think it is acceptable to be right on the edge of right and wrong and still have integrity? Why or why not?

Become a Better Leader [e-Book] Click here to download your copy.

Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks!

Posted in Blog, Business Inspiration, Leadership Inspiration

Micro-Manage or Not to Mirco-Manage

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

Manager Yelling in the Phone

What is the definition of micro-management? It means a manager’s management style who closely observes or controls subordinates’ work and manages excessive control and attention to detail. The manager lacks trust, is never quite satisfied, enjoys finding errors in others’ work, and wants to control all the decision-making. Micromanagement usually has a negative effect in the workplace.

This topic has a lot of different opinions and viewpoints. Here is my perspective; there may be times as a Leader you will have to utilize micro-managing aspects with a staff member.

Possible reasons of when to use some aspects of micro-management positively: 

You need to review employees’ workflow, time management, work performances, and when an employee is experiencing a lack of motivation and focus with tasks or is just plain struggling with work performance. When this occurs, assist the employee through coaching and give additional training and feedback, including an action plan to help them succeed.

The choice is up to the employee if they want to succeed by accepting the coaching, training, and action plan. The leader can provide the guidance and tools; however, it is truly up to the employee to be open to success through listening, asking additional questions, and being accountable for their career. The employee needs to take responsibility for their mistakes and correct them by learning from those mistakes and doing it right.

Possible situations for constructive feedback, review of performance, coaching tips, and additional training:

  • A new employee
  • A new project or implementation of procedures
  • A high profile case
  • Highly confidential material or circumstance
  • An employee is making continual mistakes
  • An employee not understanding how to accomplish the task

When to prepare a corrective action plan including scheduled dates and times to meet with the employee to review their work performance:

  • An employee is not meeting the minimum standards
  • An employee is not following policies and procedures
  • An employee is not following security and safety guidelines

A good leader knows when to use some elements of micro-managing and when not to micro-manage their employees. Knowledgeable employees, understand the expectation, accomplish their goals, have a good work ethic, and do a good job should not be micro-managed. A good leader is part of the solution through open, honest dialog with good suggestions on improving their work performance and meeting their goals. ~ Patti

Become a Better Leader [e-Book] Click here to download your copy.

Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks!

Posted in Blog, Business Inspiration, Personal Inspiration

Prepping for a Busy Work Week (home/work life balance)

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

Work Life Balance Scale

Here are some tips for prepping with a busy work week:

  • Pick out your clothes and children clothes with shoes and socks the night before.  Have them sitting out and ready to put on in the morning.
  • Set up cereal bowls at the kitchen table pour cereal inside with a spoon and cover with clear plastic wrap.  Just add milk in the morning for the children or if the kids are old enough they can pour their own milk.
  • Make lunches the night before put in refrigerator.  You and your children will take them out before you leave in the morning.
  • Have all school supplies, homework checked etc. in back packs before bed time, ready and by the front door or in the car.
  • Have all food items in crockpot, put in refrigerator, in the morning take out of refrigerator and plug in to cook.  Look up crock pot recipes for the week and shop for those items ahead of time.
  • The night before look at calendar to see what after school activities are happening and plan for it.  Do you or your children need to bring anything for these activities?  Have them out by the front door or put them in the car so you don’t forget them.
  • The night before check your work calendar to review if you need to have anything prepared or take into work that day.  If so, have it prepared and ready to take with you.

Having everything prepped the night before saves you rushing around in the morning and being late or forgetting something important.  No family drama with getting the children dressed.  Older children can pick out their own clothes the night before and have them out and ready.  Make sure they do it and it becomes routine this will reduce yelling and frustration in the morning.  Everyone knows the routine and things go smoothly and less stress for all.

Do you want more in your life than just your career?
If so, click the link and sign up for the 21- Days Optimal Work/Life Balance Workshop.
Do you want even more work-life balance strategies? Come and join the Facebook group called Work-Life Balance with Patti
Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks!

Become a Better Leader [e-Book] Click here to download your copy.

Quiz – Is Your Job Too Stressful?

To learn more about one to one coaching with Patti – email me at: patti@coachingforinspirationwithpatti.com

Posted in Blog, Leadership Inspiration, Personal Inspiration

Work like a Dog Day!

Posted on by Coaching for Inspiration with Patti

Work Like a Dog Day

August 5th is National “Work Like a Dog Day”!

What does “Work Like a Dog” mean?  It means working extremely hard and for an extended length of time.  The origins of “Work Like a Dog” are unknown, however the term may have referred to working dogs such as sheep dogs, sled dogs and hunting dogs, these dogs are bred to work long, hard and be very persistent.

“Work Like a Dog Day” is to honor, recognize and to celebrate your hardest working, most dedicated productive staff members.  As supervisors we all know who those employees and co-workers are that give their all everyday to the job.  Take on different tasks and challenges without a negative thought or reaction.  Who love the challenge of something new and want to make a difference.  Go over and beyond their co-workers to get the job done.

August 5th is the time to show your appreciation to those who carry more than their own work load and “Work Like a Dog” with determination, persistence, reliability and the most productive.  The ones you can count on as a supervisor with an important task or assignment and know it will be completed and done correctly.

How will you acknowledge and praise your highest producing employees on August 5th?

I would love to hear how you celebrated with your staff members share below. 🙂

Become a Better Leader [e-Book] Click here to download your copy.

Quiz – Is Your Job Too Stressful?

Comments are always welcome and please share this post with your colleagues, friends, family and on your social networks!