Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Get Organized

Getting Organized. Maybe this is one of your New Year's Resolutions, something you've always wanted to improve on but have struggled with. I've been there.. done that.

If you want a place to start, it may not be with the usual suspects:

1) Implementing a new filing system.

2) Buying and using a Daytimer or PDA.

Great things in themselves, but I'm going to encourage you to the take the following first step in Getting Organized:

Organize a Team! YOUR team.

Each one of you have cheerleaders in your life. People in your workplaces, families and friendship circles that love you for who you are. They are genuinely excited about your potential. They stand on the sidelines cheering you on and wanting the best for you. They would jump into the game in a heartbeat if only they knew what you wanted from them. Your goals, dreams, aspirations.

After all, Goals need to be shared and then shared if you know what I mean. When you share your goals with the Cheerleaders in your life you bring them into the game. They will play hard for you because they share that vision for you. They will block, tackle and open up the field for your success.

I got lucky. I never used to want to "Bore" people with what I wanted in life until one person dragged it out of me. I told them and two months later they were in a position to help me achieve it. They came back from a party with a business card and said "Phone her. I think this opportunity is what you are looking for" One innocent conversation with a Cheerleader in my life lead to 15 great years with a great company.

I'm excited that as you build a team of 2, 5 or even dare to dream...12 people working on your goals that your path to your dreams will be more focused, efficient and less stressful. After all a team of 12 should be able to get things done much quicker than an organization of one, even if the organization of one has the use of their daytimer mastered!

So 2 key questions:

1) Who are your cheerleaders? Write down the names of 5 people in your life who want the best for you.

2) Are they in the game? I know you are friends, have always done things together. They know your favorite wine, what you like to eat and the quirks of your inlaws. My question is do they really know what your life goals are?

If you've never shared your goals with the cheerleaders in your life, make that an urgent and important task on tommorrow's to do list.

Organize a team, YOUR team and watch your success unfold.

David Benjatschek is an award winning speaker/trainer in the areas of Leadership & Communication. Visit his website at http://www.marketbeamer.com/ or email david@marketbeamer.com to find out more about the Freedom House Leadership & Communication Workshop Series that includes topics like "Get Organized!"

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Own the Podium

Rampant flag waving, record number of gold medals, throngs of people cheering, a share of heart wrenching disappointments, amazing stories of courage and achievement, spontaneous outbursts of Oh Canada: These are just a few of the outcomes of the recent 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

Behind it all, a program called Own the Podium. What can companies and individuals learn from this initiative?

1) The overarching goal of Own the Podium was specific and measurable: Win the most medals of any country at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Black and White. History showed that number would be between 28 - 36. Make your goals specific and measurable. When people have a clue to what is specifically expected of them .. don't be surprised if they deliver it for you. My experience is that most "podiums" are not that well defined in companies.

2) The goal was understood. Understanding doesn't just come from saying something once. Here are a couple facts that can help us be understood.

- People remember 30 percent of what they see and hear. Yes.. well educated, motivated, bright Canadians will take away on average 30 of what they see and hear. Most goal setting sessions I've ever seen in corporations were death by powerpoint followed by the question "Do you have any questions?" (Do we really think most people will have the courage to stand up in public and question the direction laid out by a management team that controls their destiny? No. Your answer will be NO 95 percent of the time and YES there are questions.. lots and lots of them.)

- People remember 90 percent of what they say and do. The best way to ensure your employee's understanding of specific goals/objectives is to ask them in a private setting to tell you what they believe their performance objectives are. Unclear objectives will pop out instantly as they struggle to tell you about them. Catching these upfront is not only beneficial to you.. its beneficial to them. You win, they win and your company wins. Just do it.


Finally the goal of Own the Podium was communicated and communicated and communicated again. So much so that you could see athletes starting to Believe it. Yes it was a well chosen theme song :O). If we truly believe we can accomplish something, we have a great chance at success. As Canadian athletes achieved much of what they believed .. they have other Canadians starting to believe in themselves as well. Flag waving, cheering, learning, singing. Okay ..except for the singing .. isn't that what we'd love for our companies?! Own YOUR podium.

David Benjatschek is a motivational trainer/speaker in the areas of Leadership & Communication. Visit www.marketbeamer.com for full information on David and the training available to your organization. You can email David: david@marketbeamer.com