10 sure-fire ways to disengage and be left alone

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Jay Morris
Don't bother me

Image from thelittlelion-girl.tumblr.com

If you’re like me, there are times when you just want to be left alone. No phone calls, no emails, no tweets, no text messages, no interruptions or meetings. No one imposing on your time, asking you for favors, soliciting your opinion, seeking your approval or begging you for money.

Just quiet time…to write, reflect or recharge.

If this is you, and you don’t want to be bothered anymore, here are some patented, sure-fire ways to shut out the world:

1. Don’t show up. If 90 percent of life is just showing up, then don’t. Don’t go to parties, weddings, funerals, concerts, lunches, dinners or even happy hour. Don’t go anywhere, or be there for anyone. Pretty soon no one will invite you to anything.

2. Stop networking. It’s a waste of time, right? Stop going to professional meetings, networking social events, industry conferences, workshops and seminars. Who needs that?

3. Stop volunteering. Sure, it’s nice to give back to the community, but isn’t altruism overrated? Can’t those nonprofits and charitable organizations get along without you?

4. Get off social media. Close your Facebook account, shutdown LinkedIn, quit Twitter, pull the plug on Google+. They’re such a waste!

5. Stop talking to your friends and neighbors. They’re so bothersome!

6. Snub your family. Who needs tedious holiday get-togethers, birthday parties or anniversary celebrations? Skip ‘em!

7. Ignore your spouse and kids (more than you do now). Quality time? That’s for you, my friend, not them.

8. Hide in your office, and for heaven’s sake don’t talk to your colleagues. Don’t respond to their emails or phone calls, either.

9. Stay in your house, especially on nice days. If you do have to go out, don’t talk to anyone. Not the postman, repairman or grocery clerk. No one!

10. Do not do anything nice for anyone. Don’t pay compliments, send cards, buy gifts or shower kindness. And by all means, do not reciprocate any acts of kindness towards you.

Follow these 10 easy steps, and I guarantee that you will be left alone.

What’s that you say? You’re having second thoughts. You really do want to be engaged? You want to have a more fulfilling life, maybe make a difference in people’s lives and advance your career? Seriously? Then do the opposite of what I just told you; but I’m warning you, you’re not going to be left alone!

Posted in Happiness | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Brand awareness and a glass of red wine

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Jay Morris
We saw a beautiful sunset from The Winery at Bull Run last week. Photo by Debbie Strickland.

We saw a beautiful sunset from The Winery at Bull Run last week. Photo by Debbie Strickland.

On one of the warmer afternoons we had last week, Debbie and I escaped to The Winery at Bull Run, where we tried a couple of the red wines. I can honestly say I was there on business because I recently started writing the winery’s blog, and I was meeting Natasha, the marketing assistant.

Natasha gave us a tour of the main building known as the Barn and showed us some of the Civil War relics found on the grounds. The Winery at Bull Run is right next to the famous battlefield, and the stone foundation from one of the houses of that period still stands, making for a picturesque place to have a glass of wine in the summertime.

As we strolled around, I had a hard time believing the winery is only seven months old. It is doing quite well. In fact, the day we were there, workers were expanding the parking lot to accommodate more visitors.

I have to say I like the feel of the place. With wood beams and a cozy fireplace, it was pleasant to sit and drink my first Norton. I had never tasted the Norton grape, which was first cultivated in Richmond, and I wanted to try it. As I’ve grown older, my taste in wine has changed. I rarely drink white wine anymore, and it seems I like my reds dark and full-bodied. I like a good Malbec, and the Norton reminded me of that.

History figures prominently in the winery's brand. Photo by D. Strickland.

History figures prominently in the winery’s brand.

The stone structure of a Civil War-era house still stands. Photos by Debbie Strickland.

The stone structure of a Civil War-era house still stands. Photos by Debbie Strickland.

Sitting there, sipping my wine and taking in the ambiance, I began to reflect on why some businesses thrive while others languish. Perhaps there are a hundred reasons, some capricious and some fundamental to the customer experience.

Quality and service are obviously key drivers, but often it is more than that. In marketing, we call it differentiation or brand awareness. And I would say The Winery at Bull Run is on to something. There is an energy about this place that I like.

They are doing all of the right things to create a brand, and people are responding. It doesn’t hurt, of course, to have a great location and to be able to take advantage of Virginia’s growing love affair with wine. Did you know that Virginia now ranks No. 5 in the nation for wine-grape production and total number of wineries?

While we were there, Natasha showed us a new sign that the winery will soon be allowed to put up on Route 29 near the entrance. I thought to myself, this is good because Rule No. 1 of marketing is to create an identifiable logo and use it everywhere.

Rule No. 2 is to develop an effective brand message. From the winery’s Facebook page to its website, marketing and special events, I would say the message is getting out. People are checking out this new place near the battlefield that blends history with wine-making and bills itself as “the closest winery to Washington, D.C.”

Rule No. 3 is to occasionally kick back and have a glass of wine with someone special in your life. Alla vostra salute!

Posted in Marketing | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

‘I’ve got a name’ or personal branding 101

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Jay Morris

Why does Jim Croce’s “I’ve Got a Name” come to mind whenever I hear the words “personal branding”? Maybe it’s because I’ve always liked that song, and branding shouldn’t be any more complicated than Croce’s advice to be who you are and follow your dreams “down the highway.”

Are you branding yourself or letting others brand you? Photo from www.jeetbanerjee.com.

Are you branding yourself or letting others brand you? Photo from jeetbanerjee.com.

Of course, there are a lot of contradictions in having a name.  It’s a legacy passed from one generation to the next, and it’s up to you to keep it going. So Croce is right when he says, “I carry it with me like my daddy did.” A name can sometimes be a weight that holds you back. As Croce puts it, “I’m living the dream that he kept hid.” But thankfully, a name can also be empowering, an identity that we shouldn’t be afraid to celebrate (or “sing it proud,” as Croce says).

I suppose I’m reading way too much into a pop song, but it seems to me that good personal branding always straddles these two poles: On the one hand, we should protect our name and work hard to build our reputation. On the other hand, we all have a desire to reinvent ourselves, break free of the old norms and proclaim our individuality. So a successful personal brand is one part reputation management and one part creative license. Somewhere in between lies a happy medium.

Last week, digital communications expert Jonathan Rick spoke to the Independent Public Relations Alliance about what I would call the reputation side of personal branding. Jonathan gave a great talk, and you can find a summary of his remarks on his website, plus lots of great tips on how to better promote yourself.

Jonathan’s advice is pretty straightforward: Take a look at how you present yourself online. Do you come across as professional…or not-so-professional?

Your email address, for example, says a lot about you and your organization. Jonathan suggests avoiding free email services and buying your own domain so you control the words that make up your address. He also suggests some care go into your email signature block. He’s not a big fan, nor am I, of having a cute quote at the end of your signature. Providing links to your Twitter, LinkedIn profiles, your website and Facebook page, etc., are all part of branding yourself these days, too.

Jonathan also recommends Googling your name to see where you rank. Hopefully, you’re on page one. If not, you need to consider why that isn’t the case and start climbing up the ladder.

I usually appear on page one, but not always. I’ve got lots of competition: Jay Hunter Morris, the tenor who sings in the Metropolitan Opera; Jay Morris, the politician from Louisiana; Jay Morris, the dentist who has an implant center in Kansas City; Jay Morris, the boxer; and my favorite, Jay Morris, the male model. As a matter of fact, there are a slew of Jay Morrises, many more than I realized. And every one of them is on the Internet encroaching on my Google space!

So what do I do? Well, according to Jonathan, I have to work on getting more mentions. Having my own company website helps because that way I can launch fresh content. I also can beef up my LinkedIn profile, ask for recommendations and endorsements, and join Google+.

When I started my firm, I wasn’t sure if I wanted it to be known by my name, so I referred to it as JMC. I created a site title that said, “JMC—Jay Morris Communications LLC.” I’ve now replaced JMC with “Jay Morris Communications LLC—PR and marketing solutions.” I think that small change will actually help brand me better, plus it describes what I do.

I am pleased to report, by the way, that this blog now comes up first on Google if you type in “wayward journey.” I consider this a big deal since there are a number of wayward journeys out there, including another blog with the very same name. But for now, I am “A-#1, top of the list, king of the hill”!

So go out there and Google yourself. Find out if you’re a politician or a boxer. And sing about it! As Jonathan so aptly puts it, “You can be branded or you can brand yourself.” Which is it going to be?

Posted in Careers, Marketing | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The true measure of a man

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Jay Morris
An local landmark for many years closes its doors. Photo from The Annandale VA Blog.

Annandale Florist, a local landmark, closed its doors on Dec. 31. Photo from The Annandale VA Blog.

The other day, I was at Annandale Florist, a family-owned business that recently closed its doors after 56 years. A group of us were helping the owner, Gary Sherfey, clean out the shop. While Gary’s retirement is well-deserved, I can only imagine what was going through his mind as he sorted through papers and mementos accumulated over a lifetime of service at a local landmark started by his father.

In every man’s life, there comes a time for reflection and taking stock. The arc of a career, the life cycle of a business, the ups and downs of raising a family, the running of the proverbial race from beginning to end—when it’s all said and done, when the finish line has been crossed, how do we account for the decades of living, working, loving and striving? What is the measure of a man?

When chapters in our lives come to a close, we often fret over missed opportunities, dwelling on what could have been. We sometimes fall prey to the false yardsticks of success: money, fame and power. We wonder if we did enough, earned enough or achieved enough.

My friend Gary is an incredibly successful man, but it is not the fleeting success that so many seek in vain or gain at great cost only to find that it is fool’s gold.

No, the kind of success Gary has achieved can best be described in Gene Getz’s book, “The Measure of a Man.” A few years ago, I was on a men’s retreat, and the facilitator for the weekend chose Getz’s book for us to read and discuss. It provides a timeless guidepost for measuring your life. Drawn from the teachings of Paul, the 20 attributes that Getz urges us to follow have universal application. Here they are:

  1. Well-rounded
  2. Above reproach
  3. Morally pure
  4. Temperate
  5. Prudent
  6. Respectable
  7. Hospitable
  8. Able to teach others
  9. Free of addictions
  10. Selfless
  11. Not quick-tempered
  12. Not abusive
  13. Gentle
  14. Peaceable
  15. Free from the love of money
  16. Manages his own household well
  17. Loves what is good
  18. Just
  19. Devout
  20. Disciplined

Anyone who has ever spent time with Gary knows that he and this list were cut from the same cloth. You won’t find a more generous, patient, thoughtful or humble man in all of Annandale. I suspect there was not a day that Gary did not do something special for one of his customers, an employee or a complete stranger.

In his 45-year career, Gary must have launched a thousand acts of kindness from Annandale Florist. The thing about kindness is that it multiplies—one act sparks another and then another, creating a chain reaction of goodwill.

For a long time, I treasured a message Gary left on my cell phone reminding me that it was a beautiful day and to admire the sunrise as I drove to an early morning meeting. I have to say, that one little message gave me great joy, and I would find myself replaying it when I needed a pick-me-up. One small gesture mushroomed into a large dose of generosity.

I wish Gary all the best in his retirement. As someone once said of transitions, “When one door closes, another one always opens.” I know there will be many new doors and new paths for Gary to pursue. And I also know there are countless people he has touched in innumerable ways. The true measure of a man is not what he has accumulated but what he has given to others. My friend, by that measure, you have been a success many, many times over.

Posted in Leadership, Purpose | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

7 tips for achieving your New Year’s resolutions

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Jay Morris
Did you make any New Year's resolutions? Artwork from forbes.com.

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Artwork from forbes.com.

There’s something noble about resolving to improve yourself or better the world, especially when you are able overcome great obstacles. On the other hand, we humans seem hardwired for failure, so not making good on our goals is all too frequently the norm.

According to an Opinion Research survey, only 8 percent of Americans actually follow through on their New Year’s resolutions. The fact is, many of us will have slipped on our promises by the time of the Super Bowl. Ouch.

So if you don’t want to be sitting there on the couch at halftime thinking, “Man, here I am eating too many nachos again,” consider these tips to improve your odds:

  1. Set realistic goals and put them in writing. I like Melanie Marttila’s recent post on New Year’s resolutions and SMART goals, “Resolve not to resolve,” where she spells out specific, actionable goals for herself in 2013. Having a written plan and a timeline really improves your chances for success. When setting goals, keep in mind this quote from T. Boone Pickens: “A fool with a plan will beat a genius with no plan every time.”
  2. Look back to look forward. It’s always a good idea to review your progress before setting new goals. After all, how can you set realistic goals if you don’t know where you’ve been? That’s why I like Mary Fletcher Jones’ end-of-year post, “Looking back at 2012: the Fletcher-Prince annual report.” We’re all used to seeing annual reports from large organizations, but it’s also something you can do for yourself or your small business. If you can quantify your progress on long-term goals, that’s even better. It allows you to see how far you’ve come and to create reasonable goals for the new year. Again, putting it in writing helps!
  3. Focus on the positive. Motivational experts suggest that instead of trying to eliminate a fault or bad habit, pursue a positive goal. Suppose you’ve decided to eliminate soft drinks from your diet. Instead of obsessing on how many sodas you’ve consumed, make it your goal to drink more water. You’ll find that as you add water to your daily routine, this “good habit” starts to crowd out your “bad habit” of reaching for a soda. Pretty soon, you won’t even think about sodas. Well, at least that’s the theory!
  4. Consider the underlying motivation. Perhaps your goal is to save more money. That’s certainly a laudable goal, but what will you use the money for? Maybe it’s to take a nice vacation or make a down payment on a car. Make that your goal rather than simply saving money. The more tangible you can make the goal, the better.
  5. Make resolutions that give your life meaning. There’s no doubt about it, people who put purpose in their lives are happier and more motivated. You’ll naturally excel at goals that focus on the causes you feel passionately about, so why not resolve to work on a project that gives you satisfaction?
  6. Enlist the help of others. It’s extremely difficult to break a habit without the help of friends, business associates and family members. Surround yourself with boosters who can give you the encouragement you need to make good on your resolutions. Stay away from the people, places and things that invariably lead back to your old habits.
  7. Track your progress and reevaluate your goals. With a written plan and timeline, it’s easy to create reasonable benchmarks to track your progress. At the very least, put a reminder on your calendar to revisit your goals on a quarterly basis. Don’t be one of the 92 percent that never succeeds at their New Year’s resolutions!

Here are some previous posts that may also help you achieve your goals:

Posted in Goal setting, Staying motivated | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Very Inspiring Blogger and Sunshine Awards

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Jay Morris

With the beginning of the New Year, I’d like to gratefully acknowledge two blogging awards that David Kanigan nominated me for last year—the Very Inspiring Blogger Award and the Sunshine Award. David’s blog, Lead.Learn.Live., continues to be one of my inspirations, and I highly recommend his site.

veryinspiringblogawardFor too long, I put off these nominations, telling myself that I didn’t have the time (or the inclination) to meet the criteria—nominate 10 other blogs and tell seven facts about yourself. But over the holidays, I decided to tackle the task of drawing up a list of blogs I admire. I vowed to visit the site of every blogger who had “liked” me during the year as well as those who took the time to comment or follow me.

I discovered some rare gems in the process. I was transported across the globe—to the Middle East, Africa, India, France, Ireland and Canada. I was entertained, I was enthralled, I was super-impressed with the effort and care folks put into their blogs. To be sure, there were a few bloggers who disappointed. Those were the ones who hadn’t posted in six months, were too focused on themselves or frankly were too commercial for my taste.

SunshineAwardSome bloggers don’t accept awards, and I can appreciate that. You don’t blog to earn accolades, but it is nice to be recognized by your peers. And while the rules do have a chain-letter aspect to them, I believe they prod you to do what bloggers should be doing anyway—fostering a community that values sharing and mutual support.

So one of my New Year’s resolutions is to do a better job of encouraging other bloggers. I have signed up to follow some new ones, and I hope to do more “liking” and commenting in 2013.

Below are my nominations for the Very Inspiring Blogger and Sunshine Awards, culled from the sites I visited over the holidays and in recognition of their wonderful and varied work. Many other readers also supported me this past year with their feedback and kind words. Thanks to everyone, and Happy New Year!

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Alan at justmarketingideas.wordpresss.com
David at davidjoannes.wordpress.com
Michael at michaelnichols.org
Thin8air at dublinjournal.wordpress.com
Alex at livelife1once.wordpress.com
Ed at edrobinson.wordpress.com
Patrick at hikingphoto.com
Rob at tthread.wordpress.com
Tom at linked2leadership.com
Anthony at cusuitemusings.com

Sunshine Award

Chrisalyn at speakofeating.blogspot.com
Mary at fletcherprince.blog
Clotilda at clotildajamcracker.wordpress.com
Ellie at themuseisworking.com
Micheline at michelinewalker.com
Melanie at melaniemarttila.ca
Monce at monceabraham.wordpress.com
Chris at chrismartinwrites.com
Attila at attilaovari.com
Jessica at jessicaschaubbooks.com

Seven facts about myself

  1. I’m an introvert, so I really don’t like to talk about myself (that much).
  2. I enjoy being outdoors and going hiking, camping and biking.
  3. I recently celebrated my first year as an independent public relations consultant.
  4. I have written professionally for over 30 years but didn’t try blogging until about a year ago.
  5. I can be annoyingly pedantic, especially when it comes to grammar, usage and style.
  6. I have a passion for mission work.
  7. I attempt to play the guitar, although I admit that three years of lessons have not yielded much. In other words, don’t expect any concerts.
To accept an award, the rules are:
Link back to the person who nominated you.
Post the award image to your page.
Tell seven facts about yourself.
Nominate 10 other blogs.
Let them know they are nominated.
Posted in Staying motivated | Tagged , , , , | 28 Comments

4 fears you need to eliminate to become more creative

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Jay Morris

In my last post, I wrote about the power of prototyping, something that the international design firm IDEO has used quite effectively to help companies become more innovative. In this post, I want to discuss some ideas that IDEO’s Tom and David Kelley wrote about in “Reclaim Your Creative Confidence,” an article in the December issue of the Harvard Business Review.

If you don’t have time to read the full article, Alison Beard of HBR interviewed the brothers for a podcast called “The Four Fears Blocking You from Great Ideas.” It’s a great listen for entrepreneurs, small business people or change agents in larger organizations who feel held back or otherwise stymied—often by their own fears. You can also watch this TED Talk by David Kelley.

As the Kelleys note, creativity is something we are all born with, but many of us have stifled our creative impulses through socialization and a desire to be more analytical. Yet, creativity is actually essential to success.

To rediscover our creative confidence, the Kelleys say we need to “get past four fears that hold most of us back: fear of the messy unknown, fear of being judged, fear of the first step, and fear of losing control.”

When I think about this past year and being self-employed for the first time, I can definitely relate. I’ve had many jitters, especially about the unknown, but I’ve found each time that those fears melt away if I just apply myself and work towards my goals. As the Kelleys write, “You break challenges down into small steps and then build confidence by succeeding on one after another. Creativity is something you practice, not just a talent you’re born with. The process may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but…the discomfort quickly fades away and is replaced with new confidence and capabilities.”

In a nutshell, here are the four fears and some ideas for overcoming them:

  1. Fear of the messy unknown. The Kelleys maintain that you can’t be creative sitting behind your desk processing information from predictable sources. You have to go out into the messy, chaotic world and do some field research. In other words, go where your customers are and see the world (and your company) through their eyes.
  2. Fear of being judged. One of our biggest fears is not being accepted. So we stick to safe solutions and avoid risk. According to the Kelleys, “Half the battle is to resist judging yourself.” Listen to your own intuition and embrace more of your ideas. Some suggestions: Take baby steps. Capture ideas in a notebook. Schedule daily “white space” on your calendar where your only task is to daydream. When you try to generate ideas, shoot for 100 instead of 10. Encourage judgment-free collaboration.
  3. Fear of the first step. At some point, the Kelleys say, “You need to stop planning and just get started—and the best way to do that is to stop focusing on the huge overall task and find a small piece you can tackle right away.” Another way to push yourself to take the first step is to ask: “What is the low-cost experiment? What’s the quickest, cheapest way to make progress toward the larger goal?” Also, force yourself to start right away. Rather than stalling and allowing your anxiety to build, just start!
  4. Fear of losing control. Most of us are control freaks, but the Kelleys encourage their teams to let go. One simple suggestion that I like: “[B]reak the routine of a weekly meeting by letting the most junior person in the room set the agenda and lead it. Look for opportunities to cede control and leverage different perspectives.”

I hope to employ some of these great ideas in my second year as a solo practitioner. Like the Nike slogan, “Just do it,” there is something to be said for simply starting and not worrying so much about whether it’s the perfect plan!

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Try prototyping to jump-start your next project

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Jay Morris

It was the night before a client meeting where we would be discussing ideas for a brochure, and I spread out on my kitchen counter some photos I had pulled off the Internet and some preliminary copy I had drafted. Using Scotch tape and a pair of scissors, I created a prototype of what I thought the brochure should look like.

I went to bed feeling pretty good about my art project. The next morning, seeing it with fresh eyes, I was less enamored. “I can’t show this,” I thought. “It looks like something from elementary school.”

But I did, and it was a hit. After the meeting, the designer on the project remarked on how my little prototype had pushed us forward in the creative process and saved us valuable time in what was a very tight production schedule. Now I’m no designer (far from it), but most of the ideas we adopted came from my prototype—or at least they had their genesis in that first meeting where I “unveiled” my creation.

Since then, I’ve been thinking about what it was about my model that sparked such a good discussion. Just a few pieces of paper, taped together, crystallized our thinking, helped us visualize solutions and see more clearly what would work and what wouldn’t. It truly jump-started the “ideas” phase of the project.

Pro•to•type: a first, preliminary model of something from which other forms are developed or copied.

Industrial designers and engineers have been building prototypes for years, but prototyping doesn’t have to be just for manufacturers. It can be employed by creative people, entrepreneurs and small businesses with great results. As I discovered, a rough prototype can often better communicate ideas to clients than words or pictures.

In doing some research on prototyping, I kept finding references to IDEO, the international design, engineering and innovation firm that has developed thousands of products and services across a broad range of industries. One of the keys to IDEO’s success is the use of prototyping as a tool for rapid innovation.

If you’re a tinkerer like me, prototyping just comes naturally. As a kid, I was always making things out of scraps of wood and metal, not worrying about what they looked like or whether they really worked.

As it turns out, the folks at IDEO do the same thing, only they have perfected an approach now studied and emulated by businesses around the world. Essentially, it boils down to three simple concepts: Right, Rapid and Rough.

Right: A prototype should be designed to answer the “right” question. And the right question is the one that your client really needs answered. That means, fundamentally, you have to understand your client’s needs. It’s also important not to try to answer too many questions with a single prototype. (My prototype addressed my client’s need to promote a new product.)

Rapid: IDEO says prototypes should be built quickly (in just a few minutes if possible). By limiting time, energy and resources on the prototype, you can afford to fail and move on to prototypes that do work. The classic example of a good prototype is pictured below. This is a real prototype an IDEO designer made on the spot at a client meeting with otolaryngology surgeons. That prototype evolved into the finished device below it. IDEO teams have also been known to use LEGO blocks to quickly show a concept.

IDEO 1

IDEO 2

Rough: A prototype doesn’t have to be pretty. My brochure proved that. The advantage of a rough prototype is that you don’t become too attached to it, so you can afford to try new ones. A key IDEO concept is the willingness to “fail early so you can succeed sooner.”

There’s a lot more to this innovative company and its pioneering founders, so I’ll follow up in my next post with a few other gleanings. Until then, here’s a fun homework assignment: find some scraps of wood, bits of paper, glue, nails, tape, whatever, and make something!

Want to learn more about prototyping? Here are two good articles:

ParisTech Review: The Power of Prototyping (also the source of the two photos above)

NASA Ask Magazine: Right-Rapid-Rough

Posted in Entrepreneurship, Marketing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Giving and the high performance leader

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Jay Morris

Helping handStarting with Thanksgiving and continuing throughout the holiday season, most of us spend a lot of time thinking about giving—and reflecting on the many gifts we have received during the year.

In his book “Design a Life that Works,” Michael Alan Tate suggests that giving is a key characteristic of high-performing leaders. He tells of a business leader he was coaching who had incredible technical knowledge, plenty of experience and lots of drive, but he lacked the spirit of generosity. As a result, this leader wasn’t able to motivate his team and achieve the results he wanted.

Tate argues that successful leaders subscribe to four “give factors”:

Give thanks…for what you are most grateful for at this time.

Give credit…to those most responsible for your success, helping you and being there for you.

Give back…with greater frequency in a selfless way.

Give up…or let go of something intentionally to reach a new level of success.

“In my experience as an executive consultant,” Tate says, “a person’s response to these Give Factors reveals a certain depth of character found in those who are ready to take the next step in becoming high performance leaders in business and life. Ask yourself whether you are a giver or a taker, and you will know if you are ready for the next level.”

I wrote in my last post (“Story time isn’t just for bedtime”) about Tate’s book and that I would be drawing on his advice to write a one-page life plan for myself and my business. In the book and online, Tate provides some examples of life plans. I was struck by the fact that in each example, generosity comes shining through in the mission statement, goals and objectives.

Tate recommends that his readers incorporate “EKG charts” into their life plan. EKG stands for Earn, Keep and Give Away. The EKG chart, then, is a grid showing how much you plan to earn over the next two to 15 years, how much of that you intend to keep or invest, and (equally important) how much of your income you plan to give away.

When I think back on the CEOs I’ve worked for in my career, it’s the giving ones that stand out. The ones that encouraged staff through their words and deeds, demonstrated compassion and trust, and honored each employee’s dreams and aspirations.

What does generosity look like in a leader? Here are nine giving “to-do’s” from an article by Bruna Martinuzzi on the Mind Tools website. See how many of these you do.

  1. Give people a sense of importance.
  2. Give feedback, not criticism.
  3. Give people visibility.
  4. Give anonymously.
  5. Know when to forgive.
  6. Give encouragement.
  7. Give opportunity.
  8. Share your knowledge and experience.
  9. Give moral support.
Photo from gentlechi.net.
Posted in Leadership | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment