I get it. When problems start coming at you right and left, non-stop, your knee-jerk reaction is to RUN AWAY!
What if the real solution was to stop, turn and give your problems a bear hug…Crazy, huh?
Let’s take a look…
I get it. When problems start coming at you right and left, non-stop, your knee-jerk reaction is to RUN AWAY!
What if the real solution was to stop, turn and give your problems a bear hug…Crazy, huh?
Let’s take a look…
When was the last time you experienced a conflict?
Well, “never” as one of my friends said recently. My response was, “check your pulse pal.”
Conflict is a fact and you know what, it isn’t a bad thing. It’s not. It’s simply a reality. Conflict just means that there are tensions, disagreements, varying viewpoints.
Done of these are wrong. The problem comes when we respond to conflict inappropriately.
And inappropriate responses tend to be either flight (running away from conflict) or fight (getting offensive in handling conflict). Neither works and neither is constructive.
Instead try this – speak the truth with respect.
You see if you speak the truth you won’t run away from or try to deny or bury conflict. And, if you treat the person with respect you won’t be offensive, uncaring and harmful.
This is a simple thing to say but a hard thing to do. So, get to work and begin to build a habit here. Every day for the next two weeks concentrate on handling conflict with openness, honesty, kindness, respect and grace.
And tell us how it goes.
Why can’t I get my child to obey me? Why is my child taking the wrong path? Why do I have trouble connecting with my child?
Do you ever ask yourself these things? Well, if you are normal you must! I certainly do!
And, having just walked my daughter Molly down the aisle to join her new life with Max, I have been reflecting on my parenting over the years. Was I a good father – did I provide leadership, guidance, love, support, encouragement, provision….?
I think I did some things really well (love, encouragement, support) and others I blew (too passive at times, not intentional enough, etc.). But, all in all Mary and I have two great, healthy, productive, talented children (Mary is the parent who gets most of the credit).
What I do know for sure is that any success we have had with our kids is directly related to our own personal leadership. You see you can’t lead others if you can’t lead yourself. Good leadership is based on self-leadership.
So how about you – how is your personal leadership? Where are you winning and failing here?
My suggestions are…
Well, those are my thoughts. What are yours?
Whether at work or at home our team matters? Those around us can make or break us. And, critical to a great team is being on the same page and even more fundamentally experiencing team UNITY.
George Bernard Shaw said it this way, “in the right key you can say anything, in the wrong key nothing; the only delicate part of life is establishing the key.”
Isn’t that true? When you are unresolved conflicts with those around you can say much that is significant and you certainly aren’t performing well.
So get intentional in building team UNITY. Here is my model. It’s built on the acrostic UNITY.
These 5 principles have been the paradigm I’ve sought to live out in my home, business and civic life for years. How about you? What has helped you build strong teams!!
Socrates once said, “you’ll never know a line is crooked unless you have a straight line to put next to it.” And, we have increasingly lost our “straight lines” in our culture. This needs to drive us to be clear about what our absolutes and non-negotiable values are. And, a great way to do this is to write up and then live out a code of ethics. I recently came across the Harvard Business School MBA Code of Ethics. This code developed and promoted by students and graduates of the school to promote “straight lines” is intriguing and helpful. As a business leader I recognize my role in society.
Therefore, I promise that:
In exercising my professional duties according to these principles, I recognize that my behavior must set an example of integrity, eliciting trust and esteem from those I serve. I will remain accountable to my peers and to society for my actions and for upholding these standards. This oath I make freely, and upon my honor. What do you think of this and what other examples of great Codes of Ethics have you come across?