Michael Lee Stallard's Blog, page 23
July 12, 2015
Fort Worth’s Bike Riding Mayor Betsy Price Steers the City
Texans know every herd follows a lead steer.
On several days throughout the year, you can see a herd in the old cow town of Fort Worth, Texas, a city of approximately 800,000 people, following its lead steer. The surprise, however, is that this herd is on bicycles and its lead steer is their mayor, Betsy Price.
Mayor Betsy Price mounts her bike each summer to lead “rolling town hall meetings.” Over the course of the summer, these rides take place in different parts of town, encouraging city residents to participate in their local government while getting active. At the end of the ride, which concludes at points like a food truck park or community center, Mayor Price holds a town hall meeting. Throughout the year, the mayor also holds “walking town hall meetings“ and “caffeinated town hall meetings” for those not interested in cycling.
Mayor Price has mastered what I call “voice,” an attribute identified with effective leaders and healthy organizational cultures. When a leader makes voice a part of a group’s norms, she communicates that she doesn’t have a monopoly on good ideas. Instead, she seeks and considers the ideas and opinions of others before making decisions on behalf of the group.
Voice is what I see in the office of Mayor Price, brought to my attention not only by her creative town hall meetings but also an initiative she calls ‘Steer Fort Worth,’ a program which encourages citizens between 20 and 40 years-old to bring about positive change in the community through collaborative projects they initiate.
Mayor Price encourages citizens to speak up and get involved by frequently saying, “It’s your Fort Worth.” A Fort Worth native, Price is knowledgeable and confident yet humble. She never assumes that she alone knows what is best for the community. Having served as a PTA mom, local business owner, and the Tarrant County Tax Assessor before assuming the office of mayor, Price has learned the importance of seeking ideas and opinions and then considering them.
I first became interested in Mayor Price last summer when my youngest daughter served as an intern in the mayor’s office. Elizabeth would call home with stories of her workweek, excited to explain her growing admiration for the mayor. During her internship, Elizabeth worked on a research project concerning education. When she sat down one-on-one with the mayor to present her findings, Price made Elizabeth feel valued. She listened, thanked Elizabeth for her contribution, and provided useful feedback.
When Elizabeth observed the mayor interacting with others in the office and members of the community at events around town, she was impressed with Price’s thorough knowledge of the city. Members of the community trust the local government in Fort Worth because they know their mayor is capable and that she cares about them.
Today, Fort Worth, Texas, has an engaged and connected citizenry which helps Mayor Price make smart decisions for the community by actively sharing their opinions and ideas, and getting involved to make a difference. This proactive community would not exist if it weren’t for the emphasis Price has placed on giving citizens a voice.
Here are three lessons leaders can learn from Mayor Betsy Price’s example.
1. Go to the people; don’t wait for them to come to you.
Mayor Price takes her town halls to the people rather than expecting them to come hear her. If you lead people who are geographically spread out in various offices, go to them on a regular basis. Depending on the size and geographic spread of an organization, CEOs should aim to be in the presence of people at least once each year.
2. Listen: what issues matter to the people you lead?
When you are in front of people, let them set the agenda. Find out in advance what issues they are interested in hearing about. Begin by sharing your thoughts on the issue. Let them know you don’t have a monopoly on good ideas and you would like to hear what they think is right, wrong or missing from your thinking. Listen to their replies and have someone take notes.
3. Vocalize your plans to create change.
Follow up in writing if at all possible and let people know what you heard and what you plan to act upon. If you are not going to act upon an idea that was discussed, say so by letting them know why or saying you are not going to act on the issue although it will remain on your radar for future consideration.
By executing points 1-3 you will engage people to get more involved in making your group even more successful.
Elizabeth Stallard, an intern at E Pluribus Partners, co-authored this article.
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Be Sensitive in How You Describe Colleagues
#93 Be Sensitive in How You Describe Colleagues
Saying this is “my employee” or “one of my people” is disconnecting. Refer to people as “a colleague” instead.
This is the ninety-third post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.
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July 5, 2015
Create and Implement a Connection Culture Survey
#92 Create and Implement a Connection Culture Survey
Many organizations implement employee engagement surveys and these surveys are mostly about connection. We recommend that organizations develop a customized employee engagement or connection culture survey to identify those individuals who excel in creating connection cultures so that you can celebrate them and identify their best practices to share with others. In addition, these intentional connectors may be willing to mentor others.
This is the ninety-second post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.
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June 28, 2015
To Restore Connection, Say You’re Sorry
#91 Say You’re Sorry
When you make a mistake, say you’re sorry. This important step will help rebuild connection.
This is the ninety-first post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.
The post To Restore Connection, Say You’re Sorry appeared first on Michael Lee Stallard.
June 21, 2015
Expect the Best of People
#90 Expect the Best of People
Frances Hesselbein, the amazing woman who led the turnaround of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and whom we wrote about in Fired Up or Burned Out, once told me that her mindset was to always expect the best in others. A mindset or attitude of expecting the best in others helps you connect with them.
This is the ninetieth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.
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June 13, 2015
Get a Mentor or Coach to Help You Connect
#89 Get a Mentor or Coach
No one becomes great without mentoring and coaching. We all have blind spots – things we do that are disconnecting – and we need coaches and mentors to help us see our blind spots then advise, encourage and hold us accountable so that we grow to become Intentional Connectors.
This is the eighty-ninth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.
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June 7, 2015
To Connect, Be Responsive
#88 Be Responsive
Return emails and phone calls promptly and within 24 hours. Doing so demonstrates respect and helps keep you connected.
This is the eighty-eighth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.
The post To Connect, Be Responsive appeared first on Michael Lee Stallard.
LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry: NBA’s David-Goliath Showdown
The NBA Finals are proving to be an epic battle. On the surface, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers match-up appears to be a showdown between Stephen Curry and LeBron James. David and Goliath, anyone?
LeBron, at 6’8” and 250 pounds, is the best player in basketball. He is awesome to behold: smart, confident and dominant. Curry is a smaller, quick player with extraordinary agility and shooting accuracy, not unlike the shepherd boy who slew the giant.
Beyond David and Goliath
Unlike the Biblical confrontation that came down to the performance of each side’s representative, the winner in this battle is likely to be the team that plays better together, a calculus that favors Golden State. The duo of Stephen Curry and Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr gives the Warriors an edge.
Curry blends high competence and character. What’s not to like about him? He’s hard-working, humble, and unselfish — a combination that facilitates team success. As a leader, Curry doesn’t have to be the center of attention. He is soft-spoken and modest. He likes to shine the spotlight of attention and praise on his teammates. He lifts everyone’s performance.
Steve Kerr, in his first year as an NBA head coach, is following in the footsteps of coaching greats Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich, whom Kerr played for in Chicago and San Antonio, respectively. Jackson and Popovich are consummate team builders and you can see signs in Kerr of what made them great.
As soon as he was named the Warriors’ head coach, Kerr traveled to meet his players wherever they were. In these meetings, he complimented them and their former coach Mark Jackson for what they had achieved. He was candid about what he had in mind to make the team better, even if it required a player to leave the starting line-up.
In practices, Kerr shows his passion for hard work and excellence, balanced with making practice enjoyable. Stephen Curry observed this about Kerr:
“He’s just brought a flow and a chemistry and a joy-ness about the game and how we were going to win… making the practice environment, the locker-room environment, the environment on the bench inspiring to all the players… we love coming in to work and practice…”
That’s a very positive sign. It says connection — a sense of community and unity among team members — is extraordinarily high because you don’t consistently experience joy on any team absent a connection culture among team members.
Prodigal Son Brings It Home
While this NBA Finals evokes a David versus Goliath story, a different narrative may play out in this series.
LeBron broke the hearts of Cleveland fans when he chose to leave in 2010 to play for the Miami Heat. Although he won two NBA championships in Miami, all the glitter didn’t necessarily turn out to be gold.
Now LeBron is back home. Like most people, he has grown wiser and more mature with life experience. The ultimate question is whether LeBron has learned, as Phil Jackson once asked of Michael Jordan, “to surrender the me for the we.” If LeBron has made that leap, the Cavs will play together as one. However, if LeBron’s teammates feel like King James’ supporting cast, they are likely to lose.
If I were advising LeBron about his role as a team leader, especially in this critical period, I would impress upon him the competitive advantage of connection. Below are three ways LeBron could increase connection among the Cavs.
1. Bring Greater Meaning to the NBA Final
LeBron could remind his teammates that they are playing for a cause greater than themselves and their own glory, they are playing for the people of Cleveland and northern Ohio. Winning a championship unites a community and gives them something to celebrate. Times are tough and an NBA title would lift the spirits of people in the region at a time when they could use it.
2. Appreciate Each Teammate
LeBron could take time to personally connect with each player. In meetings and telephone calls he could say what he appreciates about each individual and how glad he is that they are teammates.
3. Show You Care
Finally, LeBron could ask each player how he is doing and let him know if there is anything he could do to be of help to them, not to hesitate to let him know. In other words, he could let his teammates know he has their backs.
These actions apply to any leader when it comes to connecting with colleagues.The words and actions have to be genuine, of course. As they say in the South, it has to be the real sugar (and can’t be the fake artificial sweetener stuff).
I’m optimistic that we are going to see LeBron rise to new heights as a leader in this NBA final. By being intentional about connecting with each teammate, LeBron, as the Cavs’ leader, could elevate the team’s performance and bring an NBA title to Cleveland.
That will make it a homecoming to remember.
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May 31, 2015
Help Your Team Connect With a Connection Café
#87 Create a Connection Café
For those who would like to participate, put cards with all the names of participating team members in a hat and have everyone draw one card. The individual drawing the card must contact the person whose name is on the card and schedule a lunch or coffee with him/her.
This is the eighty-seventh post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.
Image courtesy of Flickr user Chichacha.
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May 22, 2015
After Knowledge Flow Sessions, Follow Up in Writing
#86 Follow Up in Writing
After a Group or Individual Knowledge Flow Session, follow up in writing to summarize what you heard, what actions are necessary, who is responsible for each action and when each action should be completed. Great communication shows people you value them and also encourages further sharing of information and ideas.
This is the eighty-sixth post in our series entitled “100 Ways to Connect.” The series highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.
The post After Knowledge Flow Sessions, Follow Up in Writing appeared first on Michael Lee Stallard.
