Monday, 1 August 2016

Awesome leaders - Michelle Obama

With the American presidential elections confusing the hell out of the world, there is one leader that has stood out for me. Sadly she has not put herself up for the election, she probably has better things to do with her life. Michelle Obama, what an amazing leader she is and an example to all.

Forbes summed up her leadership qualities as:-

How does Mrs. Obama exemplify great leadership skills? Consider the following takeaways when seeking managerial success:

Self-respect and respect for others


It’s very easy to forget to respect others, especially in our current political landscape. But without recognising and respecting the opinions of others, a leader isn’t leading; they’re dictating. Similarly, without self-respect, giving respect to others is quite difficult. In everything Michelle Obama has done, she has always held a high level of self-respect and respect for others, and that’s something all leaders should uphold.

Relatable to employees

In her recent speech, Michelle Obama talked about her personal life, her first date with her husband, and her hopes for her daughters. Her personal story has resonated with women across the country and empowered African American women to knock down stereotypes. Much of this happened because she has been a continuously relatable figure.

She’s not the first to convey personal anecdotes during speeches, obviously. In fact, it’s commonly seen in a First Lady’s speech. But the takeaway is the same: a leader who is relatable to his or her employees will connect easier with them, provide better feedback, and foster a more effective personal relationship.


Effective communicator

Effective leaders not only speak confidently and clearly, but also with a sense of conviction that will move who they are speaking to into action. Michelle Obama has continuously rallied women across the country in areas like women’s rights, voting, and finding balance between professions and motherhood.

Effective communication is not just about being clear and persuasive. It’s also about being open and available. Without having an open door, employees will feel restricted in their own conversations with you.

Honest and dedicated

Great leaders are honest about their policies and expectations and their areas of expertise and downfalls. In particular, an important leadership skill is knowing when to admit you’re wrong or that you don’t know. In fact, the best leaders not only don’t know everything, but they don’t claim to. However, holding honesty and dedication to their work is what is most effective.

Michelle Obama has been honest and dedicated in many areas during her husband’s presidency. In particular, her dedication to solving childhood obesity and supporting military families has been part of what makes her a great leader.

Inspiring and motivational

Take a look back on your life; who inspired you the most? Whether it’s a teacher, co-worker, or family member, they likely had at least this quality which made an impact on you. A leader who is inspirational and motivational is a powerful leader. Similar to Michelle Obama seeming like one of the rest of us, her personal story also evokes inspiration and motivation in women.

To me this video summarises what a great lady she is!



Tuesday, 21 June 2016

Developing excellence in paradise

We have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Mauritius. Two weeks of soaking up the winter sun, doing very little and achieving a deep level of relaxation. We stayed at an amazing hotel The Oberoi which offers beautiful accommodation in a wonderful location. No high rise buildings, just 75 pavilions and villas within 20 acres of paradise. Super attentive staff who, regardless of their jobs, are dedicated to making your holiday special. Outstanding food, with sufficient variety, which meant we were never bored. If you wanted a change the chefs would cook you something special!

We have travelled to many highly rated beach resorts around the world and rate this hotel the best of the best. Everything you read in all the TripAdvisor reviews are TRUE!

I wasn't working, but I'm always interested the attributes of successful organisations and my lazy observations picked up through watching and talking were:-

  • They recruit based on attitude and then train new employees in The Oberoi way
  • Every member of staff seemed highly motivated and well trained and we were provided with exceptionally attentive, personalised and warm service
  • They promote from within in preference to bringing in people from other hotel groups
  • People at all levels appear to be empowered to do their jobs with little interference, because they all know the very high level of quality that is expected
  • Outstanding attention to the detail, the little things from which excellence grow from!
The general manager Dhiren is a super guy and a constant presence across the resort - certainly not a desk bound leader. A warm personality, a great memory as he gets to know all guest and we really loved his method of ensuring all the little things are excellent. He has set up a WhatsApp group and as he walks around the resort he takes a photo of any flaw and shares it with the group. Then just leaves it to his empowered team to sort out the problem.

The interesting feeling we had after our holiday was that we could safely go to any Oberoi hotel around the world and expect the same level of excellence. We now have massive faith in the brand thanks to all the staff of The Oberoi Mauritius!!! 

M A G I C !!!!





Thursday, 12 May 2016

It comes down to GRIT

Up until last week I thought of grit as the substance that trucks spread on the roads here in the UK during icy conditions. Then I received Dan Pink's infrequent newsletter and discovered the following.

Quote:
"By now you've probably heard the term. It’s one of the biggest ideas in social science in the last decade — the brainchild of Angela Duckworth, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, winner of a MacArthur “genius” grant, and founder and co-director of Character Lab. 


This week Angela is publishing a book on the topic titled — you got it — Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (Buy it at Amazon, BN.com, or IndieBound). I had a chance to read the manuscript awhile back — and it’s one of the smartest, most compelling non-fiction books I’ve read in years. Mark my words: People are going to be reading and talking about this book for a long, long time."

So I had do the Grit Scale and discovered I am 4.13 out of 5 and grittier than 80% of the US population?? 




Then I found and watched a TED talk and based on my life experience,I agreed with the research. It certainly explains why a lot of high potential graduate recruits just don't make the grade. The challenge then, is how to develop grit in children and in adults??? 

Perhaps I should buy the book

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance :-)



Tuesday, 10 May 2016

Set up your support network

I've just heard something on the radio and don't want to lose it as I think it's so good. In all of our coaching we encourage people to set up their support networks, so that they never have to struggle alone with their problems and issues. You know the old saying a problem shared is a problem halved.

Well this graphic summarised what I heard.




Team Coach model - visualising what you want

I realise it's the way I am wired but I know if I can picture what I want to develop, then I can create a training programme to deliver that outcome. I'm currently working on a Team Coach programme and have created this model.




This TED talk highlights the value of creating a visual image of what you want to achieve.
  • See it
  • Believe in it
  • Act on it


Friday, 6 May 2016

Team Coach - learning graphic facilitation

I'm busy developing a Team Coach - growing high performing teams programme and one of the key skills they will learn is the ability to run highly interactive workshops. In this crazy digital world that we live in, there is a compelling need to get people away from their screens and reconnecting with paper, pens and real live people!!! 

Participants will, regardless of their ability to draw, learn how to use graphic facilitation techniques. They will learn how to get rid of the stodgy boardroom meeting format and create a magical, colourful and fun environment, where great ideas blossom and grow. 

I was very lucky to have been taught graphic facilitation by the master David Sibbet on his first visit to the UK and have continued to use the techniques for over 15 years. To say it works is an understatement as it ROCKS!!! When you use these techniques with the high performing team programme you actually witness teams transform from plodders to vibrant, exciting performers.

To give you a better idea of the visual meeting approach of High Performing Teams, please watch this short David Sibbet video.


Less elegant than the master, but done with love and passion and with an exciting outcome.











Thursday, 5 May 2016

How did Leicester City win the Premier League?

I'm not a football fan but you couldn't avoid the success of this little club against against the giants of the Premier League.

How did they do it????

Leicester City have completed one of the most remarkable stories in the history of English football by winning the Premier League title. Written off as relegation candidates at the start of the season, when the bookmakers made Leicester 5,000-1 outsiders to be crowned champions, they secured the first top-flight title in the club’s history after Tottenham were unable to beat Chelsea on Monday night. 

I went on to Google to see if I could get answers and discovered the following.


  • Employing Italian Ranieri a charming, extremely passionate and knowledgeable manager
  • The blessing of a Thai monk may seem a bit quirky but appeals to the emotions 
  • Great talent scouting, uncovering rough diamonds that could be developed to meet their full potential
  • Seeing the talent in those that had been rejected by the big guns and giving them a chance to succeed (at last someone belive in me!)
  • Getting tactics right and winning early in the season
  • Ranieri has that warm, infectious personality and brought humour and light to Leicester, privately as well as publicly, occasionally mixing up his words with comical consequences and, in true Ranieri fashion 
  • Success brought greater team spirit and determination, as well as the individual talent, was shining through and, in many people’s eyes, inspiring Ranieri every bit as much as his players
The more I read, the more I picked up on happiness, fun and laughter, warmth and emotion. Great team work, belief in one another, caring and nurturing. It aligned very much with what I have witnessed working with business teams where success comes from 'feelings and emotions'. Where the manager, leader or coach has a high level of emotional intelligence and can understand the emotions of their people and excite them about a better future. 

Our High Performing Team programme is very much about getting teams to develop this emotional bond and it can be summed up by the following image.

Well done Leicester!