3. June 2010 by Monique Guilford.

That’s right folks, there is no way around it. The world is constantly changing around us. We have gone from the Agricultural Era to the Industrial Era. We have gone from women working mainly in the homes to holding a political office. Once upon a time, technology was a strange, new tool to us, but now it has become a tool that is essential for our survival. Change is inevitable, but it is how we handle that change that makes the difference.

Recently, I finished reading a book entitled; Attitude is Everything by Keith Harrell. Today, Keith Harrell is one of America’s most popular motivational speakers, but before this notable title, he was an inspiring NBA player from Seattle University. Once he was not afforded the opportunity to play for the NBA, he went for the next big challenge, working as a salesman for IBM. After a few years of training and conducting workshops at IBM, Keith decided that it was time for him to focus mainly on what is was called to do…motivational speaking. Mr. Harrell was about to endure a major life change, but he was determined to succeed with his “whatever it takes” attitude.

It was not easy for Mr. Harrell to reach his goal. The road ahead proved to be very tumultuous and there were a lot of “nay sayers” along the way. However, he kept a positive attitude and he refused to become a victim of “changecosis”, a disease that threatens your ability to enjoy life and to develop your full potential (p.181). Again, I understand how ‘scary’ change can be; the unknown can be frightening. We must remember though to keep a positive attitude when change is occurring in our lives. Keith Harrell (2000) suggests ten strategies for creating a positive attitude about change that can be adopted into our lives daily.

1. Tap Into the Power of Your Subconscious.
The mind is a powerful tool and it can be trained to work wonders for you. Take the time to program your mind with a positive attitude about ongoing change. Jump out of bed each morning grateful that you have lived to see another day and be ready to seize it. The author used the example of how he wakes up each morning, clapping his hands a few times to welcome the new day and to get himself “psyched” for the new challenges. This is a good attitude to have towards work. Instead of saying, “Oh no, is it Friday yet?”, try viewing workdays as another opportunity to strengthen your work skills, thus making you a viable employee.

2. We live in a culture of reflection.
Reflection is a powerful tool used by educators to better themselves in the field.  The author encourages us to elevate our standards and overcome our limitations through this process. During this reflection period, we should be cautious to monitor our inner dialogues and be aware of any negative inner thoughts and cease them immediately. It may be helpful to keep a work journal in which you record your actions and tasks, then review them at home to seek ways to improve.

3. Keep Your Long-Term Goals in Mind.
Well-defined goals will keep you focused. Visualization is a great tool to help you in this process. Focusing on your goals helps you to regain a sense of control over your life. It also increases your self-esteem and your outlook on life. I know that when I visualize myself as Dr. Guilford, it makes me that more determined to finish my doctoral program. I have even gone as far as printing out a picture of a scholar in the doctoral regalia and placing my face on the body. If you are hoping for a new promotion on the job, visualize yourself receiving that promotion and keep yourself encourage during the process by remembering things that you have done to enhance the company.

4. Avoid Learned Helplessness.
If you don’t find direction in life, it will direct you. We may not be able to stop unwanted change from occurring in our lives, but we can program ourselves to take positive actions and make the most of it. We are not helpless! We have enormous power to act, set goals, and to go after them. You may not be able to control the fact that your job is down-sizing and that you may be affected soon, however, you can remain positive about this change and make the most of it.

5. Maintain a Balance.
It is important to maintain a physical, mental and spiritual balance. Remember, you are no good to the world if you don’t take care of yourself. Rest, healthy eating habits, and regular exercise are vital in keeping a positive attitude. When we feel overwhelmed at work, quality time with friends and family can easily help us put things back into perspective. Companies today are becoming more and more in tuned with meeting the whole needs of the employee and offer fitness courses that employees can participate in during their lunch breaks. The key here is being in tuned with yourself to know when you need to regroup and to use the words of vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin “reload” (without guns of course!).

6. Acknowledge Change.
The author encourages us to never ignore change. We make greater strides in life when we let go and strive for something better. Letting go empowers us to release past hurts, rejection, and frustration. This reminds me of someone whom I used to work with that I will refer to as Sally. Sally was a good employee at company ABC, but her demeanor was not received well by other employees and/or customers. Although Sally received excellent employee evaluations from the company, her employee contract was not renewed during the renewal period. Sally and I were good friends at ABC and one day during lunch, she confided in me that she believed the reason for contract not being renewed resulted in her poor attitude and resistance to change on the job. Sally is a good employee, someone I would hire to work for me if I had my own business, but I am afraid that her attitude may prevent her from getting the job that she deserves in the long run.  Accepting change is not over night, it is a gradual process.  Ultimately the only thing that we can change is ourselves and that makes a world of difference.

7. Convert Threats into Opportunities.
When change seems threatening, try to look at it as a new opportunity to make a difference in the world. When we are given new tasks on the job, exposed to new technology, or even a new boss, we should view these changes as an opportunity to widen our experience and expand our knowledge. Think about it, how impressive will your resume look to future employers now that you have experience working in a different department or with a new tool in technology.

8. Turn the Change into Challenge.
The challenges in life teaches us something about ourselves.  It forces us out of our comfort zones. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The ultimate measure of a man [or woman] is not where he [or she] stands in the moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. If your manager changes your work agenda at the last minute, do not panic! View this change as a challenge and remember that you have the ability to remain professional and make the most out of it.

9. Keeping your mind in a constant positive state requires a tremendous amount of work.
Create affirmations to say to yourself throughout the day or make a list of positive quotations to stay on track. Some places of work have opportunities in which managers and employees empower one another before the day begins. If this is the case for you, I would suggest that you take advantage of that opportunity each time. Empowerment for the mind is like Vitamin C for the body. It will also help if you composed an A-Team which will consist of positive mentors that can help you “snap” out of a negative mood. The A-Team should be diverse and consist of people from all ethnic groups and social classes.

10. Seek Support from Members of You’re A-Team.
As mentioned previously, it is important to have nurturing relationships that are dependable in times of need. Avoid those that a “busy bodies” at work. Surround yourself at work with people who enjoy life and want to make the most out of it. People who truly care about you want you to lean on them in difficult and challenging times because they know that you would be there for them in return. Remember, no man is an island. We can all help each other achieve our goals.

I have decided to refer to this book as my “mini-bible” on attitude. Keith Harrell reminds us that attitude is everything and it impacts everything that we do. A good attitude can lead us down the path to having everything that we desire in life. Whether starting a new job, getting new boss, or dealing with a natural disaster, keeping a positive mindset will help you through adverse times. Jim Rohn said, “If you learn to set a good sail, the wind that blows will always take you to the dreams you want, the income you want, and the treasures of mind, purse, and soul you want. ”Having a positive attitude especially when it comes to change is one way to achieve that. 

Source:
Harrell, Keith (2000).  Attitude is everything: 10 life-changing steps to turning attitude into action.  Harper-Collins Publishers, Inc.

Rohn, Jim (2010).  Retrieved from http://www.jimrohn.com

Posted in Hiring Process, Customer Service, Creating the Culture, Training | Print | 1 Comment »

9. March 2010 by Monique Guilford.

When a person decides to become a franchisee, I do not believe that he or she says, “This is my opportunity to bring havoc upon my customers” or “This is my opportunity to sink my business by running all of my help away.”  I believe that most franchisees enter into an organization with good intentions for the organization and for the people that work for them.  After observing my husband for six years as a business consultant for a major corporation, it is my belief that most franchisees want to run a lucrative business, one that will be there for them through their retirement years.  Most businesses that have withstood the test of time have had exemplary leaders.  Leaders such as Sam Walton (founder of Wal-Mart), Ray Kroc (founder of McDonald’s Restaurant), Bill Gates (founder of Microsoft), and Robert Johnson (founder of Black Entertainment Television) just to name a few, have all had common characteristics of exemplary leaders.

The Merriam – Webster Online Dictionary (2010) describes exemplary as deserving imitation because of excellence.  Kouzes and Posner (2002) believe that when getting extraordinary goals accomplished within organizations, leaders engage in the following Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership:
 
Model the Way.
Simply put, do not ask your employees to complete a task that you are unwilling to do yourself; regardless if there is pay or not.  We all have our limits on a job and employees get a kick out of life when they see owners of the organization or upper management completing some of the same tasks that they have to accomplish while working.  Exemplary leaders know that they want to gain commitment and achieve the highest standards. They must model the behavior that they expect of others (Kouzes & Posner, 2002).  So, go ahead, do not be afraid to let that employee see you scrubbing a toilet or taking the trash out.  This will give the employees the opportunity to see you (the leader) in a different light and they may gain a new respect for you.

Inspire a Shared Vision
Since the beginning of time, every organization, every social movement, begins with a dream (Kouzes & Posner, 2002).  Leaders inspire a shared vision, not command it.  When people have a vision or when they share and believe in a common vision, they are more so inclined to work efficiently towards achieving the goals of the organization.  The key words here are: shared vision.  When visions are only shared by leaders the visions become insufficient to create an organized movement or significant change in the company (Kouzes & Posner, 2002).  If there are no constituents, there are no leaders.  Remember, people follow the person first, then the plan.

Challenge the Process.
Leaders seek and accept challenge (Kouzes & Posner, 2002).  Warren Bennis writes, “as weather shapes mountains, problems shape leaders.”  Exemplary leaders challenge the status quo (Kouzes & Posner, 2002).  There is not one leader that exists that claims to have achieved personal greatness by keeping things the same and remaining inside the box.

Enable Others To Act
Exemplary leaders empower constituents to feel strong and capable (Kouzes & Posner, 2002).  People will not perform at their best or remain committed to the organization (or you) if leaders make them feel weak, dependent, or alienated.  Let’s face it, no one wants to work for a company in which they are “brain dead” while at work.  Employees like to be “free to do their own thing” (Sergiovanni, 2005).  Encourage creativity among your staff (especially, according to renowned motivational speaker Eric Chester, your Generation Yers) and watch the growth of your business.  Employees thrive in businesses in which they are trusted to make the right decisions (Kouzes & Posner, 2002).

Encourage the Heart.
It is part of the leaders’ job to show appreciation for people’s contribution and to create a culture of celebration (Kouzes & Posner, 2002).  This is a matter in which “real will recognize real”.  Hard working employees like to be sincerely recognized for all of their hard work.  The rewards do not have to always come in the form of money.  Recognizing an employee for their hard work during a staff meeting, assigning a parking spot closer to the building for a month, or posting an employee’s picture and biography for Employee of the Month are a few examples of a non-monetary rewards.  Recognition is not just an opportunity to celebrate, it is a chance to recognize the accomplishments and encourage the hearts of the employee.  Employees will not respond well to pretentious ceremonies that create a false sense of camaraderie (Kouzes & Posner, 2002).


So now what?  Now that I have all of this information, how do I implement these tips into my organization?  As an exemplary leader in training, you should take every sincere opportunity that will allow you to slowly integrate these tips within your organization.  You should reflect upon the outcomes by keeping a journal and make necessary adjustments.  According to Kouzes and Posner (2002), leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who chose to follow.  Remember the goals for your business.  Keep your vision close to your heart.  If you have difficulty with implementing some of this traits, seek out a leader who aspirers to take their leadership skills to the next level.  Improving your relationship with your constituents through these traits will empower them to get extraordinary things done on a regular basis.

Source:

exemplary. (2010). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.

Retrieved March 5, 2010, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exemplary

Fullan, M. (2007).  Understanding change (3^rd ed.).  San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2002). The five examples of exemplary leadership (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Sergiovanni, T. (2005).  The principalship: Manager to leader.  Retrieved from:  www.cnx.org/content/m12924/latest

Posted in Creating the Culture, Being the Boss | Print | 2 Comments »