180 Mentoring Terry Krebs

In this episode of 180 Mentoring, have I got a story for you! I know my audience appreciates stories, so listen up. Recently I had an unwelcome process which I had put off, but when I finally accomplished it the results were great. However, the job had some major aggravations, likely caused by some previous workers who had a poor work ethic. In my thirty years’ experience leading and mentoring, I have seen first-hand how it doesn’t pay to cut corners. For better or for worse, your habits reflect on you as a professional as well as on those who lead you. And now for the story . . . .

Do the kind of work that makes you proud, not ashamed, years later.

Recently I installed two new one-piece toilets in my house. The first one went pretty well but the second toilet project became a nightmare when I realized that the previous installer had used a kind of adhesive that looked like the proper silicone-based sealer, but was in fact like super-glue. I had to spend hours hacking away at this stuff, and I still cracked the old toilet in half before I finally was able to remove it. It seems like the installer was just doing the minimum to get by and wasn’t careful to use the right product. I’m guessing he abandoned a good work ethic in order to save time. Whether it was an ignorant mistake, a case of being unprepared, or a cunning trick his work reflects so poorly on him. His haste became my waste – of time. Avoid this mistake!

Keeping your cool saves your time, money and reputation.

Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying, “When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.” This goes for words or actions. In my toilet installation aggravation, I recognized that I was very frustrated. I had to choose to back off and let myself cool down. It takes time and money to repair or replace items broken in frustration. And if your angry tongue gets you in trouble with people, you may not be able to repair that damage. Whether you’re doing home maintenance or earning your living, patience is essential to a good work ethic. Hear more in this episode of 180 Mentoring.

The measure of a person is the work that no one sees him do.

Here’s an example from my personal life. When I used to work on cars, I would take a little extra time to tighten wires that couldn’t be seen in addition to wires that could be seen. This habit brought me great satisfaction, knowing I had done quality work for the customer. I hope you would be displeased, not smug, with low quality work from yourself. The work that you produce is a direct representation of you as a professional, as well as of your leaders and mentors. Though people might not notice specific small actions you take, they will notice your habit of excellence. This is priceless.

Here’s how leaders can make an average workplace into a great workplace.

Creating a solid work ethic in your workplace depends on you as a leader. Be confident – there are some basic steps you can take. Treat the individuals on your team well. Let them know you value them. Then continue teaching them in various ways and circumstances about growing as professionals and as individuals. It’s not a one-time lesson. Teach them that the measure of a person is the work that no one sees them do. Taking time to complete tasks the right way builds the kind of character that supervisors and customers value, even if no one ever sees the small conscientious actions. If your team sees you paying attention to integrity, they will be inspired to do the same.

Outline of This Episode



[1:25] Beginning of Terry’s two-toilet story

[7:01] Lesson #1 – Haste makes waste

[7:42] Lesson #2 – When angry count to ten

[9:37] Lesson #3 – First impressions are the most lasting

[11:36] An example of Terry’s own integrity

[13:36] Here’s how leaders can make an average workplace into a great workplace

Sometimes the smallest opportunity for keeping your word can make one of the biggest impacts in a person’s life. This goes for anyone in a position of leadership, whether in business, parenting, or other relationships. You know you appreciate it when someone keeps his or her word to you. Make sure you do the same for the people around you. In this episode, I share a story from my own experience about when a co-worker kept his word to me. The situation wasn’t even in our office – it was recreation. Listen to hear how impactful this was for me.

What does keeping your word mean?

Keeping your word means following through on promises you make. Or even if you don’t say the words, “I promise”, it simply means doing what you say you’ll do. This kind of integrity is also evident when you are honest with those under your leadership. At times, you need to point out an area where a person needs to improve. You can be honest and encouraging at the same time. If you aren’t one hundred percent honest with your employees, you’ll likely find yourself with even larger problems to fix, including their diminished trust in you. Don’t miss this episode where I share a great personal story that illustrates the impact of keeping your word.

If you keep your word in your leadership role, people will be likely to seek your input in new ways.

When the guy in the story kept his word to me, my respect for him deepened. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t always the top performer in our shop. I sought his opinion on various matters even more after that incident. I knew I could depend on him. Dependability is not optional for a leader. When you keep your word, those around you believe you can be trusted to be honest in giving advice, feedback, or just plain opinions. That is a quality that will always serve you well, and your future employers or employees will value that about you.

As a leader, if you can’t keep your word to someone, how should you handle it?

If you make a commitment and then realize you’re not going to be able to keep it, be honest about it. Tell the people involved what’s going on, ideally with advance notice. As you gain more experience with age, you will get better at not over-committing yourself. It’s best to be honest up-front and avoid making a commitment that you think you might have to back out of later. Take the time to think ahead and then communicate honestly about what you can and can’t do. You’ve gotta hear this whole episode because I also go into how good leaders need to sometimes follow.

Next steps for you after you hear this episode

As you think of what you’ve heard about the importance of keeping your word, sit back and think about what you’ve done thus far in your career or even just in life. Think about what you could have done better. But more importantly, be prepared to keep your word in the next situation that comes your way. Also be prepared to watch for the impact of that action. My bowling story happened fifteen years ago! I still think highly of that person. I made it a point to tell you about him. Think of all the news stories, past and present, which are based in some way on someone’s not keeping their word. Don’t end up like one of them! Listen to this episode to hear how my friend’s simple follow-through on a promise, made almost in jest, continues to be an example to me.



Outline of This Episode



[1:03] Why I use a story to make my point in this episode

[2:01] What does keeping your word mean?

[2:35] Getting to the story

[6:21] The best part of the story

[7:26] My friend’s integrity impacted me, as well as my relationship with him

[9:28] What to do if you can’t keep your word to someone

[10:20] List of leadership examples in this story

[10:35] Good leaders still need to be good followers

[12:46] Next steps for you after you hear this episode

As a leader, you will encounter days when your calendar will be filled with commitments. Expect it. Then a request will come for your company to do work for a potential client. You know your company will not even have a chance to do the job for that person. What should you do? If you refer him or her to one of your competitors, you might never gain that person as a client. On the other hand, if you promise service that’s unrealistic, or if you lead the person to believe things will be OK until you have time to do the job, the problem may grow and make the potential client very unhappy. Both scenarios could have been possible in a situation I recently experienced as a client. Listen to this episode to find out which way it went for me.

Where do leadership knowledge and education come from?

Of course, leadership education can come from books, classes, and on-the-job training. However, if you keep your eyes open, opportunities and examples will present themselves in situations you encounter in daily life. I recently had an issue with leaking pipes at my house during freezing weather, and I knew I needed to call a professional. The difference in the responses of professionals whom I called for help was very enlightening. My learning in this off-the-job situation underscored some interesting principles for leadership professionalism. Catch this whole episode to hear which professional I respected the most.  

Emulate the practices of professional leaders like these.

Tell the truth. Don’t embellish facts or mislead the client by giving false hope that you can handle their problem when you can’t. When you don’t have the capability or time to serve the client, refer him to another reputable business that can meet his need sooner. Then, don’t hesitate to even promote those other businesses above your own if they will meet the client’s needs better or sooner than you can. This kind of honesty and support of your colleagues will only help your own business. Why? Because customers will be able to tell that you truly have their best interest in mind. That will make them want to come back.

What does leadership professionalism look like in practical terms?

Never put down someone who works with you or others in your industry. This is different from professional criticism which may be needed to help an employee or colleague improve his or her performance in some specific way. But if you don’t have knowledge about specifics, and have no good reason to speak negatively, don’t. And don’t tolerate it from people under your leadership either. That kind of negative talk has a way of coming back to bite. I’ve seen that happen consistently. Conversely, when you take genuine opportunities to speak positively about your competitors, that will return to you as well. There will be times when they refer clients to you.

When you can build up your competitors in the minds of potential clients, it will actually benefit you too.

When I recall how I was treated by those three different plumbers in my emergency situation, I have great respect for all of them. Plumber A referred me to Plumbers B and C when he couldn’t take on my job. Plumber B had great things to say about Plumbers A and C, and he couldn’t commit to my job either. Plumber C handled my need very professionally. Because of the way they networked and promoted each other, my trust for all of them grew. I am confident that I could refer any of my friends to any of those three plumbers. When you combine excellent service with honesty and promoting competitors you respect, your reputation as a professional leader in your industry will only grow.

Outline of This Episode



[1:30] Where do leadership knowledge and education come from?

[1:52] Example of my own learning when I needed a plumber at my house

[4:00] How “Plumber A” handled my need professionally when he was booked

[6:20] “Plumber A” increased my respect for him...

You’ve just been assigned to a new office or position as a team leader. What team leader skills do you need to successfully introduce yourself and begin the job? If you try to come across as though you’re amazing and you have a whole new system to implement, you’re probably going to de-motivate your new team. Believe it or not, I have experienced that kind of new leader as an employee and our team went from productive to unproductive pretty quickly. Catch this episode of 180 Mentoring to hear best practices for true success as a leader in a new position, regardless of how much experience you may or may not already have.

Don’t confuse leadership philosophy with leadership expectations

The most important idea to convey to your new team is your philosophy of leadership. Leadership philosophy is about who you are and why you do the things that you do. In three or four minutes, you should be able to convey to your team ideas such as what has impacted your life, what your idea of leadership is, and even what you do for fun. The other essential thing you need to convey is your expectations as a leader. Whether general for everyone or specific for individuals, your expectations need to be clear. These basic skills are vital for any team leader. Listen to this episode to hear examples from my own experience.

Rest assured, you can grow in your skills as a new team leader!

As a new leader, determine what are the critical pieces of your program. Two ways to do this are to ask yourself, “What will get me fired if I don’t do this correctly? What aspects of this job have the potential for the biggest problems?” If possible, go through everything about your program with the person to whom you are accountable. Understand from that person what the program is and what needs to change. Then, sit back and listen to people on the team. Here’s a trap to avoid: relying too heavily on how other people view your employees. Your experience with them may be entirely different. Be sure you make your own evaluations.

Now that you’ve laid some groundwork as a new leader of a team, what’s next?

After observing operations at your new office for a week or a couple months, figure out where you can implement some small changes to improve the performance of the team. Establish your vision and goals. And don’t forget about money! What kind of budget do you have? While doing all of this, you can almost automatically evaluate the current morale of your office if you really listen. I have a creative suggestion for building morale that many employees have not experienced. Don’t miss this episode if you want to hear my examples of these team leader skills.

A certain amount of nervousness is actually beneficial when you begin your new role as a team leader.

You’re about to run a new office or join as a new leader of an established office. You’ll be understanding performance standards and how things are going to be done. You’re anticipating communicating your leadership philosophy and expectations. You should be a little nervous! This is a great opportunity that can be very rewarding and fun, but if you’re not a little concerned about how you will pull it off as the one in charge, that could be a red flag. Catch this whole episode to enhance your team leader skills.

Outline of This Episode



[1:14] Description of the book Rules and Tools for Leaders by Perry M. Smith

[1:50] Avoid this way of establishing yourself as a leader in a new place!

[4:40] Two things you need to communicate to your new team

[6:35] Don’t confuse leadership philosophy with leadership expectations

[9:10] How do you determine what the critical pieces of your new position are?

[9:48] Avoid the trap of listening too closely to reports about how others view your employees

[10:29] Checklist of a few of the next important goals, including how to connect with your team

What knowledge is essential for good leaders?

One of the most valuable pieces of leadership knowledge you can possess is this: You don’t have to know everything to be a fantastic leader! Does that sound counter-intuitive? Let me explain. The more I learn, the less I know. No one is automatically licensed to be a good leader. As a leader, it’s ok if you don’t know everything. In fact, you can’t. If you try to come across as having all the answers, others will see through it and respect you less. You just have to know how to solve problems; how to figure things out. Tune in to this episode to hear more insight I have gleaned over years as a leader myself (and yes, I have made some major mistakes!).

Knowledgeable leaders know how to handle unknown unknowns

During a press conference, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld once spoke about “known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns”. People who know how to tackle the “unknown unknowns” are the ones supervisors want in charge of their businesses. These kinds of leaders are not afraid to use all of their skills and the skills of their team to figure out solutions. If a leader is only good at figuring out the “known knowns”, he or she is very limited. A knowledgeable leader needs to be able to think outside the box. These are the innovative thinkers who are not intimidated by the stress of something new.

Leadership knowledge involves attaining knowledge and attaining wisdom

To attain knowledge you have to add things every day. To attain wisdom, you have to remove things every day. The key is knowing when and what to add, and when and what to remove. This knowledge only grows with experience. Wise leaders can live with the understanding that their knowledge is limited. It’s perfectly acceptable for people under your leadership to have knowledge and expertise that you don’t have. Be willing to trust them. You just need to know who has the knowledge and how to access it from them.

Truly knowledgeable leaders are always learning!

When leaders learn, they don’t always have to retain every piece of information they acquire. Go out of your way to learn what will help you do excellent work. But also spend some time learning when it’s ok to let go of some knowledge to make room for more learning. Confucius said over 2500 years ago, “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” I have learned that the real power of leadership is understanding that when you come across something that you weren’t aware that you didn’t know, you’ll be able to handle it, understand it, file it away, and move on. Experience has taught me to let some knowledge go, and make room for understanding the next problem that comes along. Catch this episode to hear more about it.

Outline of This Episode



[1:52] The skill set of a good leader

[3:41] Mistakes can be stepping stones to success.

[6:12] Ask for help.

[7:11] Quote from Donald Rumsfeld

[9:00] Qualities of high performing people and organizations

[10:50] Attaining knowledge and attaining wisdom

[12:28] Confucius’ saying about knowledge



Resources & People Mentioned



Donald Rumsfeld’s quote about unknown unknowns

Confucius’ quote about knowledge, including other quotes from him



Connect With Terry at 180 Mentoring



www.180Mentoring.com

180Mentoring(at)gmail.com

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/180Mentoring



 

Leadership is the most important part of a team or company. Without effective leadership, everyone will struggle to reach the goal. But what makes leadership effective? In this episode of 180 Mentoring, I discuss why I think Inspired Leadership is the most effective type of leadership and how you can lead in a way that inspires your team. Listen to this episode to hear my thoughts and tips.

Do you need to inspire the people you lead?

The idea of inspiring your team is not an uncommon idea in today’s leadership culture. Many people would argue that it’s not essential for a leader to be inspiring. What do you think?  Do we need to focus on it as much as people say we do?  Is it all it’s cracked up to be? I think the answers is YES. In this episode, I will explain why I think it is important to inspire those you are leading and how you can begin to do so in your team.

What is your definition of an Inspiring Leader?

You can’t be an inspiring leader unless you know what it is. What’s your definition of an Inspiring Leader? Everyone has their own definition and they all have merit. Depending on your definition your leadership will take on a different appearance. In this episode of 180 Mentoring, I’ll share my definition of an Inspiring Leader and how that definition can give you a clear picture of how you need to improve your leadership.

6 attributes of an Inspiring Leader

Every leader is different. We each lead in our own styles and with our own techniques. But there are a few key things that every inspiring leader must do to truly inspire their team. Join me in this episode of 180 Mentoring and I’ll outline my top 6 attributes of an effective leader.

It takes a team to build success

Regardless of how big of a role a leader plays in the success of the team, that success would have been impossible without each and every member. Behind each successful person stand many people who helped them get there.  As you work hard to build an inspiring environment for your team, make sure that you create a strong foundation for teamwork and mutual appreciation. If you can build your team to appreciate each member and bring out the best in them, you will see success beyond what you thought possible.

Outline of This Episode



[1:04] Do you need to inspire the people you work with?

[1:29] What does it mean to be an inspiring leader?

[2:00] Many don’t agree whether a leader needs to be inspiring

[3:15] Ways you can be an inspiring leader

[3:30] Listen

[5:30] Be engaged with the team

[6:46] Make sure you have accountability

[7:30] You need to have empathy

[12:00] Show gratitude

[13:44] People make mistakes

[13:44] Create an environment where it’s okay to fail and learn from it

[15:00] Create an Environment of optimism



Connect With Terry at 180 Mentoring



www.180Mentoring.com

180Mentoring(at)gmail.com

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/180Mentoring