Jeff McManus's Blog, page 26
August 27, 2017
Should I be using a Mentoring Program?
“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.”
~Steven Spielberg
Think back to your very first day at work. Were you given a mentor to help you learn the ropes, speed up the process and avoid mistakes? How could a mentor help you in your success today? Mentoring has been happening since Ancient Greece. A mentoring relationship in the work place can do more than change the one being mentored – it...
August 17, 2017
Connecting the Dots: Finding Meaning
Today’s millennials really care about their work. In a survey, 50% listed “meaning” as the #1 reason they want a job. Amy Wrzesnieski, a Yale Management professor, explained it like this, “Students think their calling is under a rock, and if they turn over enough rocks, they will find it.”
It has been proven that people understand the ultimate “meaning” in their work find more satisfaction in it and do a better job at it. Even if the job is not what someone wants to do forever. Understand...
August 11, 2017
Money: The Big Distraction
According to Forbes, Garth Brooks made over 70 million dollars in 2016. Does that mean he is more valuable than Carry Underwood who earned $26 million, or the new up and coming group Georgia Florida Line who earned 20 million?
Most Head Football Coaches make 100 times the money offered to the front-line employees at the same institution. Does the paycheck make the coaches more valuable, more significant, or even more respected?
Seth Godin, who inspired this blog, says:
“Money is a simple me...
August 4, 2017
Motivation
“Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.”
~John C. Maxwell
How important is motivation to your success? Are you a motivated person? Do you set goals, try to get better each day? Okay, now what about your team? Most leaders want and need motivated teams. If you asked your team what motivates them, I bet someone will say, “more money in my paycheck.” But do they really mean that? Most research tells us the link between what you make and h...
July 27, 2017
Value
“Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on.”
– Maxwell Maltz
Teams work best when each member is valued and feels valuable. Treating one another as a valued member produces results – undervaluing yourself or others produces less. How we treat each other matters – personally and professionally – and we all struggle with self-doubt. Sunday, I was inspired by my friend Dan Miller’s email and I want to share it with you. Mainly, because I’m in the business of growin...
June 29, 2017
Stakes are High
In our weekly meeting last month, I asked our school’s Athletic Director, Ross Bjork, to share 10-15 minutes with our leaders. It is always good having another respected voice to encourage and assist in the growing greatness on our team. Ross talked a lot about going through adversity and drawing closer together as a team. The overall message left our team encouraged and confirming their role in making the campus beautiful. They heard that their role is important; they help provide goo...
June 22, 2017
Enthusiasm
Last week at work in our Leader-to-Leader meeting we discussed the word “enthusiasm”.
I asked the different groups to define the word and I heard, “excited, passionate, eager”. One guy said, “hooah!” and explained that was the Army’s way of showing enthusiasm. You usually don’t see “displays enthusiasm” listed in job descriptions, but it plays a massive role in meeting production and getting results. I found that just talking about the word and letting others voice their thoughts on it get...
June 15, 2017
Can someone call a tree doctor?
When you see this photo what comes to mind?
“What the heck happened to this tree?!” I laughed when I first saw it. Whatever happened, It is obviously an un-natural occurrence.
“Who would do this?!” Surely someone is responsible for the damage and neglect.
I took this picture a year or so ago on a property less than one mile from my office, but thankfully, I was not responsible for the tree. And, the person that asked me to look at the site never mentioned the tree or expressed any concern....
June 8, 2017
Product vs. Process
“Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.”
~A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
If you have ever seen the TV show The Profit starring Marcus Lemonis, you are familiar with the methods used to take struggling businesses and make them highly successful ones. He focuses on 3 parts of the business: People, Processes and Product. And, with good reason.
As humans, we are always so eager to get to the product – finished and ready to ship, view, consume or use – that the product is often flawed, i...
June 2, 2017
Collaborate or Cooperate
Does your team collaborate, cooperate, do both or neither? I have worked with all types of teams and by far the collaborative team works with less drama and with great pride. There is a huge difference between collaborating and cooperating – especially in the outcome.
Invest in growing a collaborative team.
Cultivate your Greatness.
