Rich Wives & Golden Geese

January 10, 2012 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, Get 2 Goal, Serious About Service · Comment

Julie Budd from Budd Marketing in Burlington, was driving down the road and saw a man at the intersection of I-40 and Highway 68. He was holding a sign that in her words, “made me chuckle”. It also reminded her of a recent article and request for fun and interesting signs ( See: Five Favorite Signs from 2011.) And so Julie stopped and, with his permission, took this picture and sent it to me.

Julie referred to him as Read more

Tags: goals, marketing, networking

10 Tips for Getting & Keeping Clarity

January 10, 2012 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, Get 2 Goal, Quick List, Serious About Service · Comment

This week’s quick list is a companion piece to our Quote of the Week: Leading with Certainty vs Clarity. Read more about it here.

Then take on these ten tips for getting and keeping clarity….all great too for boosting morale, productivity and overall performance.

Tags: goals, morale, productivity, vision

Quote of the Week: Leading with certainty vs clarity

January 9, 2012 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, Get 2 Goal, Quote of the Week, Serious About Service · Comment

Excerpt from last week’s quote commentary:

With the number of possible paths and destinations seeming to expand exponentially by the moment, it’s easier than ever to go absolutely nowhere. And for morale and productivity to take a deep dive of despair. More than ever, we need leaders to take charge, cut through the muck and “lead with intention“.

The thought of this and the resulting pressure is enough to cause many leaders to take a deep dive into a big pile of paperwork or a long series of unproductive meetings.

Both are good places to “hide”. Both are good ways to avoid taking charge.

None of US would ever do that though, would we?

I didn’t admit it for a long time – mainly because I didn’t realize it. Instead I thought the meetings and papers (reports, surveys, research) were going to provide the information needed to be certain we chose the right path. To be certain that we went at the right time and with the right people. To be certain that we did the right things along the way.

And eventually I became certain that looking for certainty got us the same place as hiding or avoiding. Or doing absolutely nothing.

It got us absolutely nowhere.

This week’s quote reminds us what to seek instead.

Tomorrow we will post 10 Tips for Finding & Keeping Clarity.

Meanwhile – use the above quote as background or wallpaper for your computer with just three clicks. Read more

Tags: leadership, linkedin, morale, motivational quotes, performance management, productivity

Goals, Clutter & Clean Off Your Desk Day

January 6, 2012 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, celebrations, Get 2 Goal, Serious About Service · 3 Comments

Ahhh- to cut through the clutter and chaos. To simplify. To be able to focus on priorities. And pursue goals.

A clean desk is a good way to start and any day is a good day for that.

Monday is especially good since it’s National Clean Off Your Desk Day - celebrated the second Monday of January.

But how is a busy person with lots of projects supposed to get and keep a clean desk?

There’s always the approach Nora helped Holly take in one of my favorite episodes of Brothers & Sisters. Read more

Tags: celebrations, goals, interference, linkedin, meeting ideas, motivational quotes, productivity, time management

Fire Department Show Signs of Good Business

January 4, 2012 · Filed Under Be a Better Manager · Comment

Like many of us, the Chapel Hill Fire Department puts up a wreath as part of their holiday décor. For the past ten years, the wreath at the fire department has included a sign (below) which shows many signs of good business.

Chief Deputy Matt Lawrence is in charge of the “Keep the Wreath Green” campaign designed to remind citizens of the dangers of the holiday season and to urge them to do their part in preventing deadly home fires.

To help citizens do their part, the fire department pumps out information – online, in the media and at Christmas tree lots. Sure. Sure. We think we know all that stuff. But it’s a hectic time and all it takes is one hurried holiday moment.

Lawrence says, “It’s a terrible thing to go through at any time, but especially during the holidays.”

The fire department’s green wreath, illuminated with green lights, went up on December 1.

It stayed green for 21 days. Read more

Tags: customer service, goals, management, morale, performance management, productivity

10 Tips for Leading with Intention

January 3, 2012 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, Get 2 Goal, Quick List, Serious About Service · Comment

This week’s quick list is a companion piece to our Quote of the Week: Lead with Intention.

With the number of possible paths and destinations seeming to expand exponentially by the moment, it’s easier than ever to go absolutely nowhere. And for morale and productivity to take a deep dive of despair.

More than ever, we need leaders to take charge, cut through the muck and lead with intention.

How to do that?

Here are 10 tips for leading with intention.

Tags: coaching, leadership, morale, productivity