Category: Personal Development (Page 1 of 2)

What’s personality got to do with it?

May 12, 2019 / Karl Bradley

How does it feel to be in a position you aren’t particularly suited for? In a workshop several years ago a young lady was experiencing some negative feelings & felt trapped. She loved the company but not her role & couldn’t find a way to transition. After a few discovery lessons, she found out why & within 6 months was on a new path. Her new journey could begin with better balance. There isn’t work & life there’s just life. How we choose to use our time/talents is only our choice. In finding personal wisdom we free ourselves to follow our own path!

In a previous post (A Values Exercise) I took a portion of a professional development class I’ve delivered many times. This offering will focus on another aspect…personality. We often hear from our parents, teachers & mentors along life’s journey that we have the ability to be anything we want to be when we “grow up”. Is this true, can we?

In preparing the slides & discussion points for the class a book was recommended; “Strengths Finder 2.0” by Tom Rath of the Gallup Organization. He starts out with this premise…

“You can’t be anything you want to be but you can be a whole lot more of who you already are!”

Needless to say, this concept really challenged my thoughts & those in attendance. This concept can seem to limit some & comfort others. If you’re an “if you can dream it you can achieve it” person you might initially dismiss this thought.

After some initial discussion, we begin by writing down something that we have a true passion for. Think about it & write it down. It can be skydiving, hair/make-up, cartooning, fitness, mountain biking, baking, flying…anything you can imagine. We tie our discussions & discoveries back to our individual passion items throughout the session.

Next, we discover some personality type characteristics through various assessment methods available. The focus is less on the delivery type & more on individual results. What our results inform us is important & can open a deeper understanding of what makes us “tick”. Discovering how our personalities & passions are interconnected makes for some “a-ha” moments. What are the things you can’t do? What part of your day includes true “passion” areas? How would your quality of life be altered if you spent more time engaged in them?

10,000 Hour Rule

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “Outliers” he coined the 10,000-hour rule. This has made its way into our vernacular & can be instrumental in expressing our “value” proposition to enterprises we wish to make an impact with. Finding an opportunity to spend time working on a passion (curiosity) area can be tricky but as we discover, people always seem to find time for things that are important to them. It’s natural, we just don’t stop to think about when/where/how we’re doing it. Gladwell gives us this equation…

Natural Talent(s) + Time Invested = Strength

There are many takeaways here. We can’t escape our DNA! Learning to accept ourselves & others for who we are is vitally important. It becomes the true diversity of our families, where we work & play. We should be asking ourselves not what we want to “be” when we grow up but what we want to “do”. Where can we make the most impact in the world? There is no wasted effort! In developing our innate talents over time we are able to focus our efforts on consistently delivering impact. What company doesn’t want this?

Opportunities for “Growth”

We often hear this over our almost 50-year working lives. Our leaders sell these new opportunities to us for many reasons. Some positive & some not. After all, companies need people to do stuff & if you’re one of the dependable ones you’ll get the nod. As flattering as it might be, these might be great for our development & maybe they won’t. If you truly know yourself, your talents & passions you’ll be better equipped to take advantage or pass. Money, position or title should be the last considerations. How effective is a collective “workforce” when people are putting their effort in some area they aren’t suited? If employee engagement keeps things moving forward then we only have ourselves to blame when we take a position that works against our DNA. However, seeking out opportunities that “stretch” us in new/different ways is always a great learning position. We take the best of ourselves into every job we accept, in or out of our personality/passion area. It’s all we have. We can’t do a job like someone else, we do it our way in partnership with other functions of the business. Hire the best you can in each area & develop them compassionately. When this growth is encouraged people will naturally combine their talents for the good of the team & everyone wins!

Peter Drucker asserts that we are all good at just a couple of things. If we focus continually on all the aspects of our personality/talents/gifts in which we are lacking it leads to insecurity & disengagement. He also states that it is our responsibility then to become “effective” in the areas we have true potential. No matter the outcome of any test we can all become effective.

There are many resources available to provide insight into who we are, here are a few…

Four Lenses of Temperament

Strengths Finder

Myers Briggs

DISC Personality Test

Gary Smalley Animals Test

Understand Myself from Jordan B. Peterson

It’s difficult to lead others without understanding ourselves first. The ability to communicate effectively with those we lead encourages them to do some self-discovery of their own. Mastering ourselves is the hardest & most rewarding thing we can accomplish in life. We owe it to ourselves & those we lead to thoroughly understand the unique aspects of who we are. It’s the beginning of unlocking our leadership superpowers. The most rewarding journey is to discover how we can leverage them in service to others!

All the best,

Karl
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*Thanks QuoteFancy for the Steve Jobs image!

K.I.S.S. it better!

November 2, 2018 / Karl Bradley

What do the wheel, nail, pulley, rubber band, sliced bread, paper clip, post-it notes, zipper & velcro all have in common? They’re simple! These items & many more make our lives easier every day. In fact, we probably can’t go a day without using at least one. These “low-tech” solutions can get overlooked with so many technological gadgets that help untangle our lives.

One of my coaches believed strongly in the K.I.S.S. method to keep himself from over-complicating the myriad of daily decisions. He showed us that leaders provide many positives; breaking down complex concepts can often be one of the most important. By simplifying the message it’s received clearly by the majority & improves the entire enterprise by helping everyone connect their job to the overall vision for the enterprise.

*Clear Vision & Purpose

There were two masons working on the same project. A passer-by asked the first mason what he was working on. He replied, “I’m building a wall.” He keeps walking & when he sees the second mason asks the same question. He replied, “We’re building a cathedral!” Boom! Clear vision & purpose in four words! Don’t we all want to be engaged & inspired by the work we do? Leaders say “we” & keep everyone connected to the over-arching vision for any project. It must be communicated (overstate for clarity), shown by example & most of all…simple!

Most of us work inside organizations that have layers that can slow progress. The more complex the hierarchy the more it can conspire against getting things done. Our individual influence can have a positive impact when projects get mired in bureaucracy. As leaders, we all have a responsibility to help facilitate others’ success. This simple message on a workplace poster is a perfect example, it stated…

-Know your job

-Do your job

-Inform leadership if you don’t know or can’t do your job

Excellent straightforward example. The best part is that it’s all up to us; no money, special talents or skills needed, just our own effort. It focuses us on the things we can control. Imagine how quick teams would come together if these three were taken care of every day!

*Know Your Job

It’s our primary responsibility to know what we’re supposed to be accomplishing every day. What’s the stuff you were hired to do to help the company move forward? Learn all you can, stay passionately curious, involve others & press on!

*Do Your Job

The majority of our lives don’t involve “nirvana” moments, instead we generally just have to get on with it. How we go about our work shows a ton about our character, leadership & caring for others. We all use our individual talent strengths to “get ‘er done”. Creating the acceptance space for employees to do the same serves as much needed inspiration during the daily grind.

*Tell Leadership

Unless you work for yourself we all have a “boss” of some sort or at least are responsible to someone. If we don’t have the right “tools” to get the job done we’ll spend most of our time finding workarounds. Creativity is obviously a needed skill but if things are being held together with duck-tape & baling wire something bad will eventually happen. One of the most common complaints is the lack of communication. Inform leadership tactfully, they’ll be glad you did!

Here’s another list that can clear up thinking processes a bit. Strive to do things…

1. Safely 2. On time 3. By the book

This works in multiple ways & can help reinforce how much we care. If we can’t do it safely there’s no point in doing it on time or by whatever governing framework our jobs are accomplished. Being on time is crucial but if we aren’t safe in doing so there’s no point. Following the “rules” is great but not if the first 2 conditions aren’t met. Keep “paralysis by analysis” at bay & take a page out of one of the most successful companies around…

“The utmost in sophistication is simplicity.” -Apple

We don’t do anything by ourselves, we need others to truly accomplish great things for any endeavor. If we set the example of tapping into our powerful intuitions it will hopefully build a culture of common sense in our interactions with people & stuff. When we remind ourselves to “keep it simple stupid” we listen with humility, learn more & lead better!

All the best,

Karl
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Compete or Create?

September 15, 2018 / Karl Bradley

The most intense competitors in history haven’t always been the most well-adjusted people. I totally get these people. Maybe Bill Parcells, Bobby Knight or John McEnroe come to mind. People interested in achievement & not simply activity, like to “win”. If you like to win, you want these folks on your team. There’s no doubt they’ll give every ounce of themselves to the team. Their passion & drive is infectious. In dissection, however, there are some lessons learned about what it takes to be successful & ultimately “win”. Let’s start with something I always thought was true…

Work Hard to Beat the Competition

At first glance, this seems totally intuitive. When we “beat” others in our enterprise it seems like we’re clearing our path to increased success. When we work hard to beat someone else, however, we can’t remain focused on improving ourselves. We can’t run our best race by being concerned with the other guys. So, competition is actually the opposite of creativity & collaboration. We are wasting time trying to be better than someone else, another company, department, division, etc. As leaders, our time is better spent creating conditions where everyone can be successful. This will set the foundation for not only our success but create more opportunities for other people/companies to flourish which boosts everyone. If all fast-food was McDonald’s, pretty soon they would fail for lack of diversity in the marketplace. This and every industry depends on the success of others inside it. McDonald’s can only work hard to do McDonald’s the best they can.

The Hall of Fame UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, famously didn’t scout opponents much at all. He focused the team on doing what they could do & do excellently. They leveraged their strong points to improve as individuals to make the team stronger. Of course, we know this formula created a ton of success as they won 10 NCAA championships in a row. They just did themselves better than the other team did themselves. This model created more opportunities for other programs, coaches, athletes & universities. They didn’t work hard to beat the competition, they worked hard to create the best version of their team. This is the same for us. We simply have to just “do us” really well.

There has never been another person like you…ever. Everything about you is unique; your voice, walk, writing, etc. Therefore, everything you do is inherently original. Your viewpoint is just as viable as everyone else’s. The way you connect concepts/ideas has never happened quite that way before nor will again. In this spirit, you are what you want to accomplish now. If we’re trying to get to Paris & don’t realize we’re already there, we’ll just keep going until we figure out we’re where we need to be already.

Shhh….it’s a secret!

Maybe you’ve heard about the “law of attraction”, it’s no secret anymore. It’s so true! If we utilize this simple formula from The Master Key System we can begin our journey to success. Broken down in its simplest form it states: Be + Do = Have. We all have what it takes to “Be” what we want to be today. Figure that out & decide! After deciding, it’s time to “Do”. What do people do who are what you want to be? This focuses on how you’ll get there. After the effort of doing you’ll soon “Have” what you want. The universe will deliver opportunities if you believe in yourself, put the energy into it & remain open to receiving them. Seems overly simplified but if you are honest in the analysis you’ll find it to be true.

Edison quote

The person who thought about bringing the toilet inside the house wasn’t initially popular but history has proven it was a pretty good idea. Innovation isn’t doing things differently it’s doing different things. Courage to discover & persevere through the necessary changes makes all the difference. Tony Robbins says, “where focus goes, energy flows.” What amazing thing will you be the catalyst for?

My true confession? I still like to win, who doesn’t. If we were voting we’d vote to win over lose 100% of the time. “Lose” is my least favorite word. Always has been. It sticks out like a naughty 4-letter word in a conversation. Dealing with the jealousy of who won isn’t a healthy way to live. When we’re willing to give it our best, don’t we hope others will give their best as well? The interplay makes everyone better in the end. Best is just that….best. We’re only cheating ourselves if we don’t connect with our best.

Maximizing the team we’re on is all about connection & extension of the inherent talents/passions/gifts of the people on it. The more we help others achieve their goals in life the more opportunities we get to achieve ours!

All the best,

Karl
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The word focus in 5 different variations of blurriness and sharpness isolated over white.

Focus Points!

April 19, 2018 / Karl Bradley

In the past few years, one of the best things I’ve spent time on is reading, watching or writing something on leadership every day. There are so many experts to draw wisdom & insight from; the resources are inexhaustible. Here are some I’ve personally been focusing on from my discoveries (in no particular order), maybe they’ll hit home with you too!

Others

This was the foundation of my decision to try to become the best leader possible. It’s helpful for me to separate when I need to manage (resources) & when leadership (people) is required. Fix processes & coach people. Making this distinction helps me categorize my time & energy.

Compliment

Gratitude works. Saying “thanks” is definitely an underutilized form of compensation. We all want to feel our contributions are valued & a genuine connection can go a long way to show it!

Show Hope

Intrinsically I feel it’s better to work “towards” something instead of having projects to work on. Pretty sure it feels that way to others as well!

Speak to their needs

Getting to know the people we work with, really know them, is never time wasted. Tapping into their strengths, passions & goals shows authentic interest in their growth as valued members of the team.

Encourage

Staying positive is infectious! Building your “flexible optimism” muscle is truly worthwhile. On difficult days, this gift helps everyone.

Help them Win!

I’ve tried to eliminate the word “lose” from my vocabulary. It’s negative & I simply don’t like it. We either win or learn….lose is just not a part of that life process.

Simplify the message

Boiling down anything overly complex into something manageable & easy to understand can be the spark needed to get on with it!

Listen

This one is proving hard for me. I’ve tried taking notes during conversations to help slow down my impulse to respond. Waiting to talk is rude & devalues the messenger. When speaking, the moment my breath runs out I try to let the thought be finished.

Stop digging!

When stuck I use the “3 if” rule; if there exist three aspects of any project that just don’t feel right or are out of my control it’s time to move on. My efforts can be utilized better somewhere else. At Facebook they have a saying; “Done is better than perfect!” Moving the project on & involving other team members revitalizes momentum.

Responsibilities not Rights

Focusing on my responsibilities instead of what I deserve keeps me grounded with my personal values. The example I set for others is really who I am to them. Be the boss you’ve always wanted & the spark of trust will come your way!

Huge vision…right size tasks

Having the ability to dream of what could be & communicating it is truly powerful. Likewise, the skill of identifying how & what is needed to get there provides the inspiration for getting things moving!

Think like you’re self-employed

This keeps me in tune with making sure I’m doing my best for the goals of the enterprise. The back pressure you’d feel as a business owner would probably be twice the stress. Would you write that paycheck to yourself?

No excuses

I make mistakes every day. If you’re falling down through taking risks there is learning going on. Nobody will fault your effort. When frustration sets in, emotions can take over. I’ve tried to employ the example from the movie “Saving Private Ryan” to always complain up. Venting a little is healthy but when it evolves into circular logic it becomes damaging. Own your perspective & leave it once you’ve said your peace. Celebrate a victory, don’t get too down when something doesn’t go well, learn what you can & have a short memory for the rest. The 24-hour rule helps keep me focused on the part of life we can change…tomorrow!

Eyeball to Eyeball

Nothing takes the place of human interaction. When possible, tackle issues in person & solutions will follow. Leading people takes time, establishing & maintaining relationships are worth it. Their successful contributions give back to us in spades!

Deciding to lead no matter where you are in your career or the organizational chart will come with some criticism. Heed Bill Belichick’s advice & trust that you are enough because you’re stepping out to focus on others. Be authentically vulnerable & transformation will happen. Leaders don’t create followers they create more leaders. Look forward to your thoughts & perspectives. Engage & inspire!

All the best,

Karl
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Old Hat

February 14, 2018 / Karl Bradley

All of us probably have items we’ve held onto for a long time. The sentimental value pulls at our heartstrings so hard we can’t seem to let them go. One such item for me is a New York Yankees hat. Here’s the story!

My wife & I were on the road together (before marriage) in New York. One of the stops on the tour was New York City. We found ourselves with some time one morning & decided to venture out to discover downtown. It was a gorgeous sunny day & I wasn’t prepared so naturally, I bought a Yankees hat. When in Rome…! We had a great time seeing the sights & sounds of one of the greatest cities on the planet. The energy was infectious & the food was even better! Having a schedule to keep, we jumped on a train to head into Brooklyn & ran into some issues getting there due to some unanticipated construction. They say the city has 2 seasons…winter & construction! Needless to say, we got lost, de-railed if you will, getting to our destination. We felt alone & isolated. Time seemed to move faster with our growing worry of being late. I remember simply hugging her close on a crowded train & reassuring her everything would be OK. I really did believe it, in fact, I was sure.

Eventually, we did get to Brooklyn…late but safe. You’ve probably guessed that a conversation was about to take place regarding the importance of being on time, even early. Our boss was firm but compassionate. He reminded me to always set a good example for good time management where early is on time. I’ve always appreciated his approach & to this day consider him a mentor.

What about the hat? Over the years the hat has gone from an everyday kind of hat to my gym hat. It’s been through a lot & with the passage of time, it gains more meaning. We’ve been through a lot in our marriage; balancing 2 careers, parenting, moving, job transitions, extended time apart, illnesses & loved ones passing. You know…life! The hat serves as a great reminder we can get through anything…together.

Our journey didn’t start by getting lost in New York City but what we learned that day has. The power of my old hat is real, as real as the love for my wife, children & our life. It might be easy to get rid of “things” when they no longer seem useful. I’ve had lots of hats & worn tons of figurative “hats” but this one has stood the test of time as our life together has. We’re tackling life’s challenges, its ups & downs, as you are. Remember the many aspects to be thankful for & find something that reminds you.

The life we enjoy is one of the most precious gifts of my life & I wouldn’t change or trade it for anything. Whether you’re a Yankees fan or not doesn’t matter, be a fan of life’s most important things & wear that with fearless pride!

Love to my one & only!

All the best,

Karl
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Can complaining be positive?

January 30, 2018 / Karl Bradley

Confession time…I’ve always loved questions. Sometimes, however, they can be seen as a personal attack on leadership and management decisions. Especially when it seems like we’re complaining. Of course, it’s different for every workplace environment. The right questions can teach us a ton quickly by getting explanations, confirming strategies or adding value to a project through “question ideas”. But questioning, even the healthy kind isn’t my focus here. Stay with me…

There is a definite stigma surrounding the concept of “complaining”. It’s often seen as a negative when people have the courage to bring difficult things forward. Whether it’s workplace culture or a more benign topic our response to it can make all the difference. How do we respond? Is it always appropriate to the situation? Is our response technique positive & encouraging or damaging?

A young man I had the pleasure of having in a leadership development workshop was the bold questioner type. Unfortunately, his queries weren’t always met with empathy or any sense of compassion in weekly meetings. He began to feel belittled in front of his peers & unsupported by leadership. This response style was very damaging to his self-esteem & depression set in. It wasn’t long before this treatment caught the attention of his supervisor. The situation was addressed but the “hurt” was not able to be overcome. They decided to arrange for a transfer to help get him on track. Just about 1 week before the switch, having fallen into a “hopeless” state the young man took his life.

Bullying had won.

This is an extreme example but the shock value shines a light on a basic premise; to see others not as things to be used but as people to be loved. We all deserve that & frankly, deep down, expect it. This should never be tolerated by anyone regardless of title or position in any enterprise. Of course not, right? We all naturally agree, but do our actions support this sentiment? If we expect it for ourselves, what makes us so quickly forget when it comes to others? The triggers are for each of us to discover but here are some thoughts to help.

The 5 Second Rule

Wait 5 seconds before responding. This aids in processing what has been presented & reframing the challenge. Take some notes, actually count to 5, whatever slows you down a bit. At first, this exercise will seem like time has stood still. Over time it will prove to be very valuable & others, you’ll notice, will pick up the waiting habit as well. If you’re like me & your brain is loading up a response just as quickly as people are talking this will save you! For honesty to happen we have to respond tactfully to build trust.

Complain Up

In the movie “Saving Private Ryan” this concept comes up. Of course, this is a military movie & in the deep hierarchy of this type of organization, leaders can be sheltered by rank. Subordinates can learn to just do their job, not question orders & squelch their individual thoughts. This is part of being “institutionalized” inside any organization. The way our companies are set up can conspire against us. Developing a healthy environment that encourages & embraces engagement can be a lonely venture. It’s worth it though! Since we all have a “boss”, simply have people bring things up with the next title or position above them. This will serve to properly frame the details of the concept/idea & remove the feeling you’re working on some secret agenda. To get traction on any idea we need buy-in from those we work with. This concept can cause the necessary momentum needed toward any change initiative. After all, you don’t have a “movement” until someone else joins you!

Challenge the Process (not the people)

I’ve come to embrace fixing the process & coaching the people. If we boil down what has been presented to the 1%, the essence, we often find the issue is something in the way of people being productive. A failure of a process, not the people. This has led to frustration & manifested itself in a complaint. When we focus on fixing it, the people feel supported & trust is built. Processes don’t have feelings, people do. Solving a process energizes our creative energies in the right direction & puts the emphasis on a learning faster environment. A win-win in anyone’s book!

One of my favorite books examines this topic from a different angle. In the book “The Four Agreements“, the second agreement is “Don’t take things personally“. It says…

“Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.”

Wow! What a concept to digest. If we can get to the point where we recognize this as truth, it does wonders for the workplace. Jealousy & contempt fade. Competition with co-workers is replaced by collaboration. Just like life, this is easy to say, hard to do. It’s supposed to be hard if it was easy everyone would already be doing it! Nothing in life that comes easy carries much meaning anyway. Get this little book of wisdom, you’ll love it!

Before ever discovering this book, a couple coaches I worked for instilled this concept in their own way. They were upfront with players telling them they liked each of them as people. Respected them for the commitment they had made & the people they were becoming. But at times we would not like their football & it was our responsibility as coaches to correct to make them better. If they took this personally it would only inhibit personal & team progress. This process is never easy but separating these helped remove a huge barrier to improvement…negative emotional responses.

A Bit of Psychology

The head coach of a staff I was on instilled a process of coaches yelling at coaches, never the players. After all, as coaches, we were responsible for teaching the players what we needed them to do. By yelling at each other it reinforced that concept. This engaged the players to work hard & pay attention so their coach didn’t get scolded in front of everyone. Loyalty soared & team unity was built quickly. The value of this can’t be understated. By creating an environment where players (workers) can become the best version of themselves, can really excel with their talents, the team improves exponentially. It also encourages leadership development from all the coaches whose primary responsibility is serving those they lead. Years later I learned several great coaches have used this technique to great success. He borrowed a great concept for sure! Leaders holding each other accountable for good & bad just works. Our staff loved it & you will too!

Here’s a quote from one of the great organizational culture builders of our time. The relevancy of his words is filtered through our own lens but nonetheless, it’s worth including. It certainly hits home with me to remain open in accepting a breath of fresh air no matter where it comes from!

“Only self-confidence makes freedom & dissent possible. An organization that brain-washes employees to think alike will only breed complacency & make itself unappealing to anyone who might inject some oxygen into it.” – Ricardo Semler

By encouraging everyone to “complain” in a healthy tactful way & altering our response methods, the entire team will realize a value greater than the sum of the individuals in it. Isn’t that the place we all want to work? Two quotes to ponder…

“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” – Cherokee proverb

Get to the 1% of the issue, not what the person complaining didn’t do to fix it. Yesterday is gone, move forward today by finding & owning the solutions!

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Gandhi

Life takes guts to live authentically. Encourage it, live it & embrace complaints with compassion!

All the best,

Karl
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7 Enduring Resolutions

January 1, 2018 / Karl Bradley

At this time our thoughts are often thrust into pondering meaningful ways to focus the upcoming year. We are bombarded with things others feel we should “value” but these decisions should be personal. A couple of years ago I shared my New Year’s resolutions with my wife & she in turn shared hers. At the top of her list was having more patience but the one that sticks in my mind is this…

“I will love myself…..after I lose 5 pounds!”

Too funny, but telling at the same time. We often don’t give ourselves permission to accept where we are on life’s journey without some kind of condition(s). Of course, we could always eat better, work out more, etc. but we shouldn’t come to love ourselves just because we do them. We should begin with a deep appreciation of who we are as the foundation & decide what we need to do to improve, not the other way around. Easy to say, hard to do.

A few years ago, I discovered the following personal mission statement carved below a statue of Merlin Olsen outside the Utah State football stadium where he played. He says…

“The focus of my life begins at home with family, loved ones & friends. I want to use my resources to create a secure environment that fosters love, learning, laughter & mutual success. I will….

Protect & Value Integrity

Admit & Quickly Correct My Mistakes

Be a Self-Starter

Be a Caring Person

Be a Good Listener with an Open Mind

Continue to Grow & Learn

Facilitate & Celebrate the Success of Others”

Merlin Olsen (September 15, 1940 – March 11, 2010)

You’ll notice he begins with aspects of others first, this recognizes the example of how we live our lives has a direct impact on those around us. This is clearly a choice for leadership; to take care of those closest to us first in our diverse life roles of son/daughter, sibling, spouse, parent, colleague, etc.

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Protect & Value Integrity; this is first for good reason. If we don’t figure out what we stand for we’ll fall for any passing fad that comes along. Your character should not be situational, remain steadfast to protect it! To value your own integrity is to keep it in the forefront of how you live each & every day.

Admit & Quickly Correct My Mistakes; we are all human & will always make mistakes but admission & correction gives us permission to fail while encouraging others to remain positive in the face of change. We often forget change has to happen if things are going to move forward, it’s as constant as time passing. Encourage a healthy curiosity. One must fall down to keep learning!

Be a Self-Starter; this is essential for lifelong learning. Our development is not linear but organic, like agriculture, always growing. We can learn something from every situation we find ourselves involved in if we are open to receiving. Move past the negative, self-defeating emotions & discover the value. Learning what not to do can be just as valuable as what to do!

Be a Caring Person; well, he was certainly this. As a member of the “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line with the NFL’s Rams he could be intimidating but his work outside football paints a different picture. Would a truly mean person work for FTD selling flowers? Showing you care for others shows you love yourself enough to be vulnerable & open with your emotions so it’s OK for them to be. Being the first one to say “I love you” in any way opens the door for true connection & the best leaders know you have to start there to get extension of teammates talents. He did this with his family, friends & anyone who came in contact with him. Perhaps this was his true superpower!

Be a Good Listener with an Open Mind; this is a skill that seemed to come easy for him. In an increasingly fast-paced world we can become distracted in a moments notice. You can’t replace or underestimate the value of human interaction. Being truly present creates deep connections that are the foundation of understanding & eventually trust! We all have the power to make this a part of our everyday leadership activities.

Continue to Grow & Learn; striving for lifelong improvement speaks to not only education but also personal growth. Making self-reflection a habit is the hallmark of all great impactful leaders. He certainly had impact on & off the field just as we can.

Facilitate & Celebrate the Success of Others; he opens & closes with a focus on others. Deciding to look after the people around you consistently takes a ton of energy. What you give others will come back to you in spades if done authentically with compassion.

After reading his mission statement, the idea of New Year’s resolutions took on a whole different meaning. It’s my hope that we all get to a place where we can love ourselves & be courageous in sharing that love with others. Maybe, just maybe, our actions will encourage others to do the same. If you make no other resolutions except re-committing to your version of these you’ll have done more than enough. Happy New Year!

All the best,

Karl

*Image of Merlin Olsen from Pinterest.com
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5 “W’s” on Leadership

January 11, 2017 / Karl Bradley

These questions appear so many times in articles, posts, marketing, etc. They are a bit cliche at this point but nonetheless remain a powerful questioning tool.

WHO

Everyone has the capacity to tap into their personal leadership qualities in service to any enterprise we truly care about. Developing them, therefore, is for anyone who’s decided to focus less on individual contributions & more on others development. It can be an uneasy feeling to work yourself out of a job. This is the prime spot to live in to support others’ personal & professional growth. Giving up control can be hard but ultimately it’s necessary. Paying knowledge forward gives credit to not only you but those who’ve mentored, supported & guided you along your path.

WHAT

Leadership is about influence. Author & optimist Simon Sinek says leadership is a choice, not a rank or position. Your positive influence can make a huge difference. We will all work with people who choose to focus on other aspects of life & career but recognizing who has chosen to take care of those around them should be supported. Respect their decision to lead as a natural part of their growth. If they act with integrity & not to win power & authority over others they should be encouraged.

WHEN

Business thought leader Gary Hamel outlines in his book “What Matter’s Now” that there is no time like the present to transform our workplaces through courage, a contrarian mindset & compassion. Courage of character with tactful questioning & compassion for others thoughts/opinions will make you a great asset for the long haul in our working lives.

WHERE

Discovering the right environment where you can thrive in your chosen profession is vitally important. What is your preferred way of interacting in the world; listening, reading, hands-on? Humans have a great capacity for adaptability but knowing where your foothold lives is a great place to start because you can’t fight your DNA. Where we work & how we interact there will set you up for less activity & more achievement!

WHY

Because it’s a lonely feeling to look back on a long career to find that you had a chance to make a difference in others lives but didn’t take the opportunity to give back. If you are feeling guilty about this then maybe you took too much along the way. Giving back as you go provides a sense of accomplishment as we continue to balance taking care of our people & the tasks at hand. Ricardo Semler has great thoughts on this in his TedTalk from a few years ago, it’s full of awesome nuggets.

HOW

The biggest challenge of leading is taking care of the needs of those we work with & the stuff that’s just gotta get done. Striving for balance of these isn’t easy but it’s worth it because you’ll approach the people you lead with empathy while getting the right things done for the enterprise. Peter Drucker has some great additional thoughts on this in his book “The Effective Executive”.

Always remember, those who follow after us are vitally important & their development can’t be underestimated. Engage, encourage & inspire!

All the best,

Karl
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7 Enduring Resolutions

December 21, 2016 / Karl Bradley

At this time our thoughts are often thrust into pondering meaningful ways to focus the upcoming year. We are bombarded with things others feel we should “value” but these decisions should be personal. A couple of years ago I shared my New Year’s resolutions with my wife & she, in turn, shared hers. At the top of her list was having more patience but the one that sticks in my mind is this…

“I will love myself…..after I lose 5 pounds!”

A few years ago, I discovered the following personal mission statement carved below a statue of Merlin Olsen outside the Utah State football stadium where he played. He says…

“The focus of my life begins at home with family, loved ones & friends. I want to use my resources to create a secure environment that fosters love, learning, laughter & mutual success. I will…

Protect & Value Integrity

Admit & Quickly Correct My Mistakes

Be a Self-Starter

Be a Caring Person

Be a Good Listener with an Open Mind

Continue to Grow & Learn

Facilitate & Celebrate the Success of Others”

Merlin Olsen (September 15, 1940 – March 11, 2010)

You’ll notice he begins with aspects of others first, this recognizes that the example of how we live our lives has a direct impact on those around us. This is clearly a choice for leadership; to take care of those closest to us first in our diverse life roles of son/daughter, sibling, spouse, parent, colleague, etc.

Be a Caring Person; well, he was certainly this. As a member of the “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line with the NFL’s Rams, he could be intimidating but his work outside football paints a different picture. Would a truly mean person work for FTD selling flowers? Showing you care for others shows you love yourself enough to be vulnerable & open with your emotions so it’s OK for them to be. Being the first one to say “I love you” in any way opens the door for true connection & the best leaders know you have to start there to get an extension of teammates talents. He did this with his family, friends & anyone who he came in contact with him. Perhaps this was his true superpower!

Be a Good Listener with an Open Mind; this is a skill that seemed to come easy for him. In an increasingly fast-paced world, we can become distracted in a moments notice. You can’t replace or underestimate the value of human interaction. Being truly present creates deep connections that are the foundation of understanding & eventually trust! We all the power to make this a part of our everyday leadership activities.

All the best,

Karl

*Image of Merlin Olsen from Pinterest.com
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Leadership 101 from 4 NFL coaches

December 2, 2016 / Karl Bradley

Sports has taught many of us life lessons we didn’t realize we were learning until later in life. In this way, the sports we participated in hold a special place in our memories. In fact, they have the power to take on a life of their own in our daily lives. But it’s probably the intense preparation, the journey, that our coaches led us on that taught us the most. Those incredible individuals gave us their best, pushed us to improve & never let us quit on ourselves no matter what.

During my short college coaching time, our staff had the pleasure of attending a clinic where some successful coaches shared their X’s & O’s & overall philosophies. Knowing why, how & what gets these guys out of bed in the morning is powerful knowledge.

One of the speakers was Marty Schottenheimer; his passion for coaching resonated with all of us. An awesome opportunity to hear from a great NFL coach & man. Here are some of his thoughts & some nuggets from 3 other NFL greats.

MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER

He is perhaps most famous for coming up just short in big games & his pre-game speeches. His English degree served him well in the latter & his winning percentage speaks to his success despite not winning the big one.

Find out what you do best & do it! Throughout his career, his teams ran the ball but he wasn’t afraid to change when the team was better at something else. “Marty-ball” meant finding & doing what the teams he led did best. He’s the only coach to be fired after going 14-2, you can’t argue with that record.

Live life one step at a time & play the game one play at a time. Don’t let one mistake, one bad play ruin the next one. Stay optimistic & have a short memory to move on so you can bring your best on the next play. Hard to do but powerful if you can re-focus quickly. Their family instituted the “midnight rule” to develop the ability to move on. They could complain & re-hash events of the day until midnight then they had to be done with it.

Never stop coaching. In everything he does, he’s always helping make people better. His approach of treating everyone the same encouraged lifelong learning no matter where they were in life’s journey.

Expect to win! He encouraged his players to trust their preparation & align their expectations on desired results. Maintaining a positive attitude through tough times with the focus on killing ’em with kindness will be the measure of the dignity you displayed whether you win or lose.

Leaders say “we”! Throughout his presentation, he always included others by stating “we” accomplished it. This inclusive mindset develops deep trust as players & coaches become confident he has their back. We don’t do anything by ourselves, we always need others to succeed.

BILL WALSH

He was nicknamed “The Genius” but perhaps his legacy lies in his relentless pursuit of constant improvement, perfection through precision. You don’t just have one chance to succeed in life you have many. He seemed to have been kept from a few NFL coaching jobs because it was thought he couldn’t handle the emotional ups & downs. History has shown that he figured out how to manage himself to get the best out of his players no matter the cost to him personally. That’s leadership!

Leaders accept responsibility; finding the middle ground between the well being of the people & the achievement of the goal is one of the trickiest aspects of leadership. Being ready to take bold risks & stay accountable for the final decisions made is paramount.

He lived by the “no enemies” rule. Spending time getting even empowers enemies to get ahead of you while you’re figuring out how to get ahead of them. Look forward & create no enemies, it’s wasted effort!

His brain-child, the “west-coast” offense was labeled finesse but it was hardly that. They were tough! They lived by the mantra “Beat ’em to the punch” as he prepared his teams for every situation imaginable so the unusual became routine. What a concept!

His legacy book “Finding the Winning Edge” has become the coaches “bible” for how to be successful no matter the enterprise. If you can find a copy, read it, it’s as amazing as the man who wrote it!

DICK VERMEIL

He might cry every time they open a Wal-Mart but his passion was never questioned. People, patience, passion & hard work were his calling card. The son of a mechanic, he knew that no one ever drowned in their own sweat. He was a demanding coach & steadfast compassionate person. He took the Philadelphia Eagles from worst to first & eventually to an appearance in the SuperBowl. He took the knowledge he gained in the broadcast booth into his next coaching job with the St. Louis Rams where he eventually won the big game in one of the best Super Bowls ever played.

He worked with a “no clock” mentality in his first few coaching jobs but it was his ability to adapt that made him develop into his best “leader” self later in his career. He began to work smarter instead of harder by providing opportunities for others around him to flourish. They delivered!

BILL PARCELLS

He loves competition…duh! The games wouldn’t mean as much if there wasn’t a scoreboard; it was always about achievement. He wasn’t pretentious or phony, he was himself. After all, football isn’t a game for the most well-adjusted people. Creating turmoil can get attention where it’s needed & can ignite their inner passions.

Diversity is present everyplace we work & you can embrace it to its fullest by finding out if they’re willing to help the team. If they are, then come on in for the win!

Those who follow are important & he developed some of the best coaches in NFL history. His philosophy of being hard on the coaches in front of players worked magically. The players would always rally around their coach without them feeling demeaned in front of their peers. Psychology 101 right there!

You’ll always be the hardest person for yourself to see! The players who “got it” became his guys, remained loyal & played hard every play. In fact, they thanked him for the life lessons he taught through the tough battles of the NFL.

He tells us in his NFL Network “A Football Life” special that he’s kept this poem with him all these years. Hope it serves you as well as it has served him, it’s a great one!

THE MAN IN THE GLASS

When you get what you want in your struggle for self

And the world makes you king for a day

Just go to the mirror and look at yourself

And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife

Whose judgment upon you must pass

The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the one staring back from the glass.

He’s the fellow to please – never mind all the rest

For he’s with you, clear to the end

And you’ve passed your most difficult, dangerous test

If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years

And get pats on the back as you pass

But your final reward will be heartache and tears

If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

by Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr. – 1934

One of the most entertaining speakers at the clinic was Lou Holtz. This is my favorite take away from his talk…

“We’re all better coaches when we have better players!”

His point was that it’s what we do with who we have that matters most. Keep coaching to get the best from everyone. If people feel valued & supported they’ll work hard toward the goal. True in sports & in life. He’s a real common sense guy who has the ability to boil down complicated aspects of leading into something easy to grasp.

Have you ever wanted to know something before you were supposed to learn it? In my experience, it’s this willingness to seek out & find ways to learn the key aspects of your life’s passion before others expect you should know them that can make a huge difference. This feeling of “back-pressure” will lead to learning the trade not just the tricks of the trade. Hopefully, there are some aspects of these great coaches that resonates with your life & leadership journey!

All the best,

Karl

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Category: Personal Development (Page 1 of 2)

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7 Enduring Resolutions

5 “W’s” on Leadership

7 Enduring Resolutions

Leadership 101 from 4 NFL coaches

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