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Catch yourself the next time you say “I am so busy…” think about it, are you really?

Busyness is not good business

I went through a period in my career, where I was ‘SOOO busy’! I was SO busy attending meeting after meeting, my days were scheduled from the time I walked in the office to the end of the day. My real ‘work’ time and I mean by that productive time where I would actually get things done, started after 5:30 pm daily. I was SO busy, juggling work projects, priorities and staffing issues, days moved quickly into years on the job.

Don’t get me wrong,  I was very productive and overall attained exceptional results. But oh how much time was wasted during business hours on non-productive meetings, and so much work time overlapped into my personal time in order to retain my level of results. I felt like I moved through life putting out one fire and then going to the next, putting that out and then going to the next. Sound familiar?

I would wake at 5 am and get some emails done before waking my children to get them ready for the day. Rush to work, for many years being the first in the office so I could get some quiet time before my day was taken hostage by others agendas. My breakless days rarely included time to eat lunch. I ran on adrenaline and a lot, yes a lot, of coffee.

I would get in an hour at the end of the day after staff had left the office and then rush home to cook and have dinner with my children. I would spend time with them doing homework or activities and when I had them tucked in bed, my nightly work routine would start. This is when I worked on projects and finally got around to doing some email, which I often did until one o’clock in the morning. Not exactly a healthy existence; and oh how much time I wasted over those years, surviving this way year after year. My message for you: simply don’t do it!

On reflection, did I really have to be that busy? No. The norm of the environment that I was working in was not based on your effectiveness nor results, but the number of meetings and projects you juggled—how ridiculous! I remember trying to implement a ‘no meeting Wednesday’ or a day to work remotely to actually get some work done, and I was laughed at for such a ridiculous idea. Now how many progressive organizations function around these two options, and retain engaged employees with higher levels of productivity, increased results, and sustained longevity?

Looking back on this time of craziness, which many leaders recall similar times of “busy-ness,”I laugh at myself at the time I wasted, the time I will never regain. With maturity and increased job responsibilities comes a bird’s eye view of how you could have done things differently.

I spend time daily reminding leaders of these very facts: life is short; be a good leader; take time with your family and friends as it is precious; and treat your health, well-being and exercise time like gold. Just like when you are on a plane and you are told if you are traveling with a child to put on your air mask first, it is the same in life – the more time you actually spend looking after yourself, the better person you will be and in short, the better leader.

I challenge you to take five minutes and evaluate what is on your calendar for the next week. Then ask yourself the following:

  1. Are there any meetings that are not essential in my calendar this week?  Cancel them, or reschedule them when they will be most productive.
  1. Do you have time blocked off daily to work on your top 20% of tasks that will bring you the greatest impact?  If not, move things on your calendar to enable you to do to so. Daily, I concentrate time on my top 1-3 tasks that are essential to move important projects forward. I do not allow this time to be interrupted or bumped for another type of meeting.
  1. Do you have a process at the beginning of your day that you follow to ensure you stay on track?  If not, I encourage you to simply spend the first ten minutes of every day thinking and strategizing about what you expect to get out of your scheduled interactions so you   have a plan which will provide you greater focus. Do the same at the end of the day, evaluate what you accomplished, if there are any carryover tasks or follow up that you need to do and schedule the time to do so.
  1. Is there a day, or half a day a week that you can allocate as a ‘meeting free’ zone so you can get some concentrated time on a special project?  If you do not do this already, make it happen it will change your work week for the positive considerably.

If you would like to connect with me on this blog post to continue the conversation, please join my Facebook group at  https://www.facebook.com/JennyReillyConsulting/

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Leadership under fire…

A story of true grit in a crisis moment

“Fire, Fire, Fiiiiire”, rang through my house last Tuesday evening as I hosted 80+ guests at a welcome reception for new parents to my daughter’s high school. I was at the front door welcoming a teacher when I heard one of the parents screaming “fire, Jenny we need your help”.

I left the teacher mid-sentence running into the kitchen and stopped in my tracks as I saw rising flames from my gas stove top and billowing black smoke. (As the teacher referenced later, it was like being in a Monty Python movie.)

Keep your composure in a time of stress

I quickly ran to grab the fire extinguisher and thankfully, a parent assisted me in extinguishing the fire.  The smoke and soot in the kitchen was overpowering. I was advising people to go outside when the fire alarms in the house started wailing (better late than never).

So much for a relaxing networking opportunity for guests. Parents immediately jumped into action, cleaning off the foam on the stove top, removing charred container remains, wiping and scrubbing off soot from appliances, walls, and the ceiling.

Demonstrate Grit In a Time of Challenge

I was personally mortified that the social event I had envisaged, moved from being a reception to a full-on cleaning party by amazing parents. These individuals demonstrated team-work, showed real grit (while getting very gritty), and best of all, a sense of composure and humor. I am so grateful to the team of women and men, some I had known for less than a year and others less than an hour. I was ushered out of the kitchen and encouraged to keep socializing with new parents and assure them all was okay.

So you may be thinking… how did this kitchen fire actually happen?

With so many people attending the potluck and bringing food, the overflow of food was stacked on the range. People continually circulated in and out of the kitchen to the dining room to replenish the table. At the time of the fire, there must have been 20+ people chatting in the kitchen. Although not entirely certain how the fire started, perhaps it was as simple as someone leaning against one of the stove knobs and unknowingly igniting it. Some of the plastic based containers immediately caught on fire. Luckily all was contained before there was any significant damage.

Most importantly no one was injured. My gratitude goes out to everyone that acted fast in putting out the fire.

Collaboration and seamless teamwork

Parents stepped up in the kitchen, becoming the best-dressed cleaning crew you have ever seen. My recall of the kitchen was not of the blackened ceiling, sooty walls or appliances but of the parents working seamlessly together in a true picture of coordinated teamwork.

Networking 101

I do not think that anyone that attended the reception expected this kind of excitement to occur. It was like putting on a planned energizer and team activity all rolled into one. It definitely changed the feel and course of the conversations, they became more fluid, relaxed and there was definitely more and louder laughter after everything settled down.

I have attended and hosted many professional events and receptions in the past. Networking is something that is not enjoyed by the majority, however once the ice is broken the conversations and relationships that can be formed can be quite amazing.

Nothing is as healthy as a good belly-laugh after a time of stress

I laughed so hard with so many of the parents afterward. The potluck will go down in the history of the school as being one of the most entertaining. It won’t be forgotten by anyone that attended for many years to come.

You may wonder why I am writing about this event, and how exactly it relates to my area of expertise in leadership and performance? This event clearly demonstrated effective leadership and teamwork practices including:

  • Calm leadership in a time of crisis
  • Clear and articulate communication
  • Exceptional, collaborative teamwork
  • Ease of delegation
  • Engagement and commitment
  • Bonding during, and after a time of crisis, and
  • True grit (yes, you can only imagine how much elbow grease was needed to get the majority of soot off the ceiling and appliances).

I spoke to every single person in attendance and we shared somewhat nervous laughter around how something that could have ended quite terribly worked out so well.  The comments the parents shared and thanks I received as they left at the end of the event were priceless.

You have to envisage the individuals as they were leaving in their lovely clothes and shoes sprinkled with soot on their outfits or hair and laughing with me as we were so relieved that all turned out well. I sure do know how to host a shindig!

As an experienced leader, in a time of challenge, I do automatically go emergency mode to turn events around. When you have your next work fire to put out, do the same  – embrace it and treat it as an opportunity to practice your leadership skills and shine. Or, when you go to your next networking event, jump in, don’t be a passive bystander. You never know who you will meet or how you may work together in the future.

If you have a story to share on leadership, performance or teamwork I encourage you to connect with me on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/JennyReillyConsulting/.

If you are interested in developing your leadership skills, presence and improve your productivity, please let me know and I will keep you informed of The Leaders’ Inner Circle membership that I am launching in July.

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7 Steps to Change Professional Behavioural Shortcomings

Honest feedback is as essential for your own professional development as it is for your staff. You are not doing anyone a favour by pushing poor behaviour — yours or theirs — under the carpet, ignoring it and pretending it will get better. Behaviour will not change unless it is recognized.

For many, there is a lack of understanding in how they are perceived by others, hence they keep repeating the same behaviour as they know no better. Past behaviour predicts future performance. To make a change in the performance cycle, recognize the unhelpful behaviour and plan to change it!

Have you worked with someone you consider to be:

  • Arrogant? Why is that? Do you feel they think they always have the answers?
  • Annoying? Do they continually interrupt, butt-in and finish everyone’s sentences? Do you think they understand how they are being interpreted or do they think that they are being helpful?
  • Ignorant or unresponsive? They interact minimally and come across as very distant and reserved. Do you think that is their intent?

Leaders who are seen as arrogant, those that shirk responsibilities, are ignorant or disrespectful do not have a solid following. These habits over time, grate on people and eventually they become a huge issue. These behaviours can be changed, however only when they are identified, the real impact of the behaviour is understood, and there is a true interest in improvement.

There are seven simple steps that you can take with those that you are leading or mentoring to help them change the behaviours that you feel may hold them back from being more successful:

  1. Clearly articulate the troublesome behaviour and indicate how this is being perceived by others.
  2. Give specific examples of how the behaviour is affecting those around them.
  3. Highlight potential behaviour tweaks that could be made to adjust and turn around the ill-perceived behaviour.
  4. Encourage 360° feedback, vertically and horizontally; identify the individual’s areas of strengths and challenges in the organization. At least four colleagues should provide feedback to make it most meaningful.
  5. Review feedback and strategize how to approach each area to enable improvement. Obtain commitment to changing the top three areas of behavioural challenge.
  6. Ensure follow up is made with the individuals who provide feedback. Thank them, share any small wins, and let them know you are grateful for the honest feedback.
  7. Initiate monthly follow-ups to monitor progress. Continually seek feedforward, that is, asking for advice for what you can do to improve in the future.
  8. More often than not, individuals do not realize the effects of their behaviour, how often they present sub-optimal behaviour, and that they can transform their behaviour.

If you are interested in high-performance coaching to work on improving behaviours that you feel are holding you back, leadership development, or professional development workshops, please do reach out to me. I would be happy to provide you with a free assessment on individual or team concerns.

Please click on the button below to book a strategy session call that works with your schedule.

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Who is Your Role Model? Whose Role Model Are You?

We have all had people in our personal and professional lives that we have looked up to. For me, those individuals have been authentic, grounded, balanced, strong, focused, ethical, honest, and possessed a high level of integrity. I am extremely grateful for the individuals who have inspired me, pushed me, and helped me along certain pivotal points in my life. I pay it forward, and therefore do the same with individuals that I mentor.

My role models from an early age were my parents. My mother was a stay at home mum who put her children and husband first. My father was a blue-collar man, a truck driver who worked hard for his family. My mother represented love, kindness, generosity, and grounded me. My father represented loyalty, work ethic, strength, integrity, and honesty. They raised me to believe that I could do anything that I set my mind to, anywhere, and that I would always have their support along the way. I was very fortunate to have two wonderful role models from a young age and right up to their 60th wedding anniversary (my father passed away shortly afterwards); they represented unity as they still walked down the road holding hands. I was lucky indeed!

I have also had wonderful professional role models along the way. In my 20’s in Australia, Scott Loader and Bruce Walker. In my 30’s and 40’s in Canada, Carmen Poulin. These individuals had a strong sense of self and guided me along my professional journey. I will be forever indebted to them for the honesty in feedback, advice and suggestions they provided along the way.

As leaders I feel we have an obligation to assist those who have a desire to be more successful and are seeking our assistance to do so. I encourage you, if you do not already, to mentor individuals in your industry. Provide feedback and support and assist them in their career journey. You will find the reward and impact it has on you to be threefold in comparison to the effort you have to put in.

I encourage you to think about the individuals who have had a great impact on your career to date. What traits did they possess, how did they help you?

Now, list 1-3 individuals who may benefit from your mentoring. Reach out to at least one and offer your assistance and insight on their career.

And if you feel ill-prepared to either work with your role-model or be a mentor, connect with me by simply clicking on the button below to schedule a convenient time to have a quick call with me and I will help you. Alternatively, if you recognize a young star on their career path and realize they could benefit from coaching, please refer them to me. I love helping people succeed in their careers.

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Practice Your Short Game

I love golf. However, unfortunately I am not particularly good at it. Regardless of ability, I love playing the course with my golfing buddies. There are five of us that play, however with our busy schedules it is rare that more than two or three are able to make a round. We try to get out weekly, and after every game, I must admit, I look forward to the next time we can go again.

One of the women is a female Tiger Woods, she can hit that ball so hard and far we often see it land right on the green. Another is articulate with her practice swing. Her form is excellent and she perfects her practice swing before she hits the ball…and yes her game is good. Another is consistently steady, thoughtful on every swing, patient and is on a continual improvement trajectory. The other an experienced tennis player, takes to the course like she is playing Wimbledon. She has the drive to be very good and her level of improvement has been outstanding in an exceptionally short time. And then there is me…I am impatient when I get to the tee, I want to whack that ball as hard as I can, and then just GO! I can hit straight, however not far. My best game is on the green – my short game.

Our golf balls sometimes go the wrong way, quite a few have been lost in the trees, and yes, admittedly, there are the odd mulligans — when we top a ball and it rolls off the tee or take a swing and miss completely — that occur. We keep track of our score, and are not delusional about our golfing weaknesses. We keep each other in check, are each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and while doing this, have valuable authentic and uninterrupted conversation along the way. I love these ladies, they are my support team, ones that I can bounce ideas off, be challenged in my way of thinking, and continuously be pushed forward to be a better person.

Leaders, too, need a similar support system. Leaders like golfers have the same desire – to simply get better.

Who provides you support and encouragement in your leadership role?

Every successful leader wants greater success, to be a better leader, get better results, and make more of a positive contribution. Despite success, there is always room for improvement, there are always areas that require a little more focus and concentration. Leadership is a lifelong journey of improvement and not a game.

If you need support in your leadership role, are feeling as though you have plateaued or needing more of push to attain the results you are targeting, I can assist you. If you would like to discuss your situation, please book a free strategy session with me by clicking on the button below.

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