Don Graumann's Blog, page 10

Sustainable means “How” >= “What”

If you are striving to build something sustainable, the “how” is just as important as the “what”.

You miss Opportunity if you are Difficult to Work With

Are you easy to work with? If not, do you realize that you are not getting the whole truth or missing opportunities because others are not willing to expend the effort to adapt to your terms? We all should strive to be easy to work with.

Are you careful when you speak for others?

Are you careful with others’ reputations? Do you speak for others in an effort to advance your efforts? Do you ever speak negatively while doing it?

Do you productivity leverage discretionary time?

Are you productive with discretionary time?  When you “find" an hour or two, do you focus and strive to add value or does it peter away?

Do you judge based on a data point or trend line?

Do you judge people based on one interaction? Or, is the single interaction a data point for a trend line? How would you want to be evaluated?

Focus on Adding Value Not Managing Up

Can you tell the difference between someone who is primarily focused on managing up and someone who is primarily focused on adding value? Be the latter, not the former.

Bring Alternatives when Escalating Problems

Does your team bring you problems…or problems, alternatives, and a recommendation? Always be nudging them towards the latter.

Professionally, clean up after yourself

Do you strive to leave things at least as good as you found them? Imagine working on a team where you never had to “clean up” after others

Do you have a Personal Scoreboard?

What metrics do you personally strive to live up to or surpass? What is your personal scoreboard?

Are you Strategic Management or “Compliance”?

Are your asks of your teams understood as helping them drive the team and business forward? Or, are they seen as fire drills and admin? That is the difference between strategic management and “compliance”. Strive to minimize the latter.