“…And What Else?” Issue No. 17

“...And What Else?”

Newsletter and Thought Starter

Issue No. 17

Success begins by asking the right questions. So why not a newsletter that asks a powerful question: “…and what else?”

Hope these insights pierce through the clutter and create a moment to reflect on your purpose.

First Thoughts

Blame vs. Cause

Blame is easy and convenient. I blame the appliance installer for the leaky dishwasher. I blame my co-worker for missing the project deadline. Blame is simple and easy. And ineffective. I blame; they defend. I rationalize; they justify. In the end it may be emotionally satisfying but blame rarely fixes anything.

But what about cause?

When we approach problems using cause we learn that the installer was not properly trained on my particular dishwasher model. Cause: ineffective training. Solution: identify and fix training gaps.

When we examine the cause of our co-workers missed deadline we discover he never understood the due date. Cause: crappy project communication. Solution: revise project communication.

Blame seeks punishment; cause seeks solutions.

Who are you blaming today?

Thinking Out Loud Blog

Are You Making These Team Leadership Mistakes?

So you’re a team leader. Maybe it’s your first time; maybe you’re a veteran and a senior leader. While the context, industry, and team size may vary, there are many ways a leader can fail on their journey to build strong teams. Here are a few to note. And while there is no magic wand, awareness and intentional action can avoid, manage, or mitigate them all.

The Forty-Two Challenge

Question #7: For what (or whom) are you most grateful?

The Challenge: It’s the time of year when gratitude comes front and center. Yet, it shouldn’t take Thanksgiving to acknowledge those important in your life. Let’s do it more than just once a year.

There is someone in your life who you are grateful for. Tell them.

Share your reflections on your favorite social channel. #FortyTwoQuestions

Build High-Performing Teams in 2023

Got team turbulence? Need to harness the power of your team's strengths? Our Team Workshops create insights to drive new and better behavioral choices leading to greater impact and outcomes.

In our workshops, participants will:

Identify and use the strengths of others
Deal with conflict effectively by learning adaptive behaviors
Enhance teamwork, reduce team conflict, and minimize misunderstandings
Improve communication skills by determining communication styles

Learn more about developing high-performing teams.

Worth Reading

The Culture Code, by Daniel Coyle

Author Daniel Coyle takes the approach that culture can be created through a specific set of skills. Skills that tap into the power of our social brains—built early in life. He details three necessary skills to a strong culture: 1) Build safety: how signals of connection generate bonds of belonging; 2) Share vulnerability: how habits of mutual risk drive trust and 3) Establish purpose: how narratives create shared goals and values.

Thought Starter: Coyle highlights research that shows that expressing vulnerability increases team cooperation. Further, he says that when it comes to creating cooperation, vulnerability is not a risk but a psychological requirement; one that precedes trust, not follows it.

How is your team providing safe opportunities for all voices? What best practices do you have in place that allow each team member to say “I messed up” or “I don’t know” without judgment?

Looking for more great reads? Check out these purposeful resources.

Worth Watching

The Happy Secret to Better Work - Shawn Achor

We got it backwards. Success does not create happiness. Happiness creates success. You might think that optimism is “nice to have,” but note this: optimistic sales people outsell pessimistic ones by 56%.

Thought Starter: Research supports that our beliefs can impact our efforts and directly change concrete results. So, what do you believe in and what can that create?

Final Thoughts

Being kind is the #1 cause of more people being kind.

Leadership Coaching | Team Development Training and Facilitation