Morning Minute 10/15/24:
“Survival, Greed, Status, Power, or Influence?”
What motivates you now? What is the filter through which you process information, perceive danger, or seek opportunity. What IS your primary motivation in life!
Before examining these, let’s recognize that at different times in your life, you may have been motivated by several, or even all of these.
The question today is: “What motivates you…now?”
SURVIVAL: We have a perfect example of this by looking at those who have endured the recent hurricanes. Many have lost their homes, businesses, and jobs. They have no electricity, heat, toilets, food, or clean water. Most lost everything including the ability to communicate with others outside their location. Their mobility is restricted due to destroyed roads and bridges. And, Winter is just a few weeks away. They are truly in survival mode.
GREED: This is the single-minded pursuit of wealth and everything that money buys. For these people there is never enough money, wealth, or the trappings of success. They always want MORE! They judge their worth as humans by their net worth, the size of their properties, and their financial well-being. Thus, greed may possibly consume them at the expense of their personal relationships.
STATUS: These people are primarily motivated by how others perceive them. Titles, awards, honors, and educational achievements are sought in order to be seen as successful. Being recognized for their individual achievements feeds their rather large egos. They seek that recognition in their occupations, their families, their clubs, and their churches. For them, their personal and professional status is everything.
POWER: These people are motivated by the power to control other people, events, and circumstances. Government at every level today is filled with power-seekers. Many desire power because they feel they are better prepared, better suited, of smarter than the people they want to control. For them, power IS control! And the more power they possess, the better that government and their organizations will operate. For them, they never feel that they have enough power!
INFLUENCE: People motivated by influence seek to improve the situations and people they encounter. They help others develop the habits, skills, and disciplines required to create their own success. Their influence is to be used to help others learn job related skills, get out of debt, and be better prepared to serve others. They share important and useful information. The best examples of are teachers and coaches in schools, and in the workplace. These folks take great pride in, and want to be judged by, the success of their students.
Finally, allow me to share another motivation. We have all received certain gifts and abilities from our Creator. I know that I will be judged by God according to how well I have used the talents He gave me to serve others. That is my primary motivation.
So, I ask again, what motivates you now? Is it…
Survival, Greed, Status, Power, Influence, or the motivation to please your Creator?
That is today’s Morning Minute!
Morning Minute 10/18/24:
“Why Are Things So Out of Control?”
You were hired or promoted to improve a substandard team, turn around a failing business unit, or replace a failing teacher.
Finally, someone recognized that you could be more, do more, and earn more. And yet, 6 months in, things seem out of control, even falling apart. How do you turn this disorganized catastrophe into the success you initially envisioned? I suggest that you use this turn-around process.
Successful leaders always look at themselves first to determine what they can improve on. Why didn’t I see the trouble on the horizon? If I had anticipated these issues, how would my approach have been different? Is there an immediate change I can make to stop the bleeding? There are always changes that the leader can make to initiate a course correction and begin the process of improving. What do you need to change?
During your self-analysis, remember why you were chosen to lead. Your business or team owner, unit director, or principal observed how you succeeded in your previous assignment. In their interview with you, he/she determined that you had the skills, temperament, and drive to make the necessary changes to accomplish the mission. Thus, remember their expectations, and yours, for what success would look like.
Being overwhelmed usually means that you lack the time for inspection, planning, and training. It isn’t how much time you invest to create success. It is how you use the time available to you. Remember Stephen Covey’s 4 quadrants: If urgent and important, DO IT. If not urgent but important, PLAN IT. If urgent but not important, DELEGATE IT. If not urgent or important, ELIMINATE IT.
Then decide which of the 4 management areas to attack first: PEOPLE, PROCESS, PRODUCT, or PROMOTION. From previous experience I can share that most problems begin with PEOPLE. Train, transfer, or terminate those who are ineffective in their jobs. Get the right people in the right positions. Then inspect and analyze the PROCESSES your team is using. Get the team’s input on obstacles impeding their success, or on how to perform more effectively. Make the necessary changes to achieve your goals.
Running a business unit, managing a team, or teaching a class all have their individual PRODUCTS or services. Analyze these by identifying what the end user wants from what you sell or service. When making an investment, the buyer wants a significant future return. When purchasing a product, the buyer wants what that product will enable them to accomplish. Fans want their sports team to win. And, both pupils and their parents expect that the skills being taught in class can be used forever.
When the people, processes, and products are in place, analyze how what you are producing, selling, or teaching should be promoted. PROMOTION, being the last of the 4 Ps, must be both targeted and measurable to determine its effectiveness.
Success requires action. Action requires you to execute your plans, and monitor their success. Then, pivot when necessary to achieve the transformation that you desire.
“Why ARE Things So Out of Control?”
That is today’s Morning Minute.
