Correctly define success

"It's mid February, and we're still doing our goal-setting," Kamran mentioned on the t-con.

Rigid goal setting that are inflexible or not appreciative of the challenges that were encountered in the previous year will tend to be very frustrating to employees. If people feel that the boss doesn't understand the challenges they faced that were beyond their control, it is actually quite demotivating.

As leaders, we have to be flexible about outcomes, and we must make sure we're correctly defining success.

The string

"Shirley is doing a great job at AIME," john informed me overt he phone, even without my asking.

One of my analogies I frequently use is to hand people a 12- inch string and offer $100 to the first person who can push it from one end of the desk to another in a straight line. Everyone's always motivated, but no one can do it. The string always coil and resists.

It's the same with people. If we push people, they resist. We can lead willing people, by training, coaching, answering questions and helping them. But we can't push them, and indeed, I won't. Somebody who has to be pushed has the wrong attitude.

Stay connected

"This is my big day," Sherly posted on FB

Most people think that love should always be magical and spontaneous. They loathe the concept of scheduling private moments with their loved ones for fear that this will suck the romance out of their relationship. 

Staying connected can be the biggest challenge a couple has to face. Life can move so fast that you don't set time aside for yourself and your loved ones, no one will bother to remind you about what's truly important.

Stand, don't sit.

"Shall we sit down?" Minte asked when the team came Into to my office for the goal setting discussion this morning

In some circumstances, I believe we shouldn't for sit a meeting at all. If the meeting is short and focused on making a decision of some sort, then I would  stand up for the conversation. This encourages participants to focus on the issue and come to a decision in a timely manner.