Starting a Different Career

So, due to circumstances, I am going to embark on a different career. This was a very difficult decision for me and a somewhat stressful one. I decided to resign from my previous job before having a new job to replace it. This was not done lightly. I believe the Information Technology landscape is changing and Business Transformation is going to be the key. Defining business processes and understanding key functionality is the only way to understand the technology requirements. Partnership is the key

How Important is Trust?

I have read many books on leadership and many of them stress the importance of trust in relationships. This can be particularly difficult in the workplace. How do you know who you can trust to watch your back, support your position, even to confront you when you might be over the line?

There is a difference between a professional trusting relationship and friendship. Do not make this mistake. You must maintain professional distance in workplace relationships. This is the way to maintain your objectivity. In the workplace, misplaced trust can be a career ending move. There are reasons that people talk about people working in a cutthroat atmosphere or seeing others climb to the top over other people.

So, how do you protect yourself but develop solid relationships in the workplace? First, you must remain integrity bound. Ensure that you can be trusted first. Next, choose your words carefully when sharing important information about your job, yourself, or sensitive information.
Finally, remember your relationships reflect back what you put into them. Trust is earned and that is both ways!

Dealing with Setbacks and Failures

This week has been a tough week for me. Missing deadlines are never easy but this comes with additional decisions. If someone came to me for advice on this topic, it would be, make the best decisions you can, be honest and integrity bound, and learn from this. So, while I know these things, it is not taking away the sinking feeling in my stomach. Writing this helps me see that tomorrow is another day and I need to let go and let God. No one on this earth is perfect. I always strive for perfection - but I need to give control away. I am ultimately responsible for this situation.

So, when faced with tough situations, it is okay to dwell long enough to learn from the situation. Then it is time to move on.

Passion - A main ingredient in Influence

Someone told me awhile ago that my passion is obvious when I talk. They went on to say that my passion encited people to catch the vision.

This comment spoke to me - to get people to follow you, they have to believe in you, then they will believe your words. It was a real 'duh' moment for me. This is so basic but I had not capitalized on my passion being a means for exciting people to follow a vision.

So, find your PASSION and use it to excite people.

Where Do You Start - Define the Journey

When I was 10 years into my careers as a programmer, I knew I wanted more. At first, I wanted to stay technical and be what is referred to as an individual contributor. Then, a manager in the organization approached me and asked me to teach others what I know - A LEADER.

A first, I was not sure. I did not want my career success defined by the success of others. Then, another per son took an interest in my leadership potential and mentored me. He suggested books and discussed opportunities. Reading the books and understanding what a true leaders does, I was in hook, line and sinker.

So, how do you start?
1) Read books on leadership - on an earlier blog, I provided a list of suggested books. In order to lead and make a difference, you need to define the kind of leader you want to be.

2) Find a mentor. Pick someone you trust and admire. Throughout your career, you will need different kinds of mentors to ensure that you keep growing. Remember, you are always looking to learn from the person, pick your mentor wisely. If you don't know who to ask, ask some leaders that are around you and see if they can suggest someome, maybe even themselves.

3) Develop relationships. Having a network that is broad will prove to be invaluable. This network should include coworkers across your company (not just your department). It should include community contacts. You get meet these people through volunteering, attending church, or even finding other types of groups in your community. This is a really important step.

4) Journal your path and progress. Remember, this will not happen overnight but if you keep making progress, you will see a difference.

The process is not easy, it requires hard work. But if you start with these 3 steps, you will be surprised at the difference you will see if 3 months if you are diligent.

Do You Know What You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

Have you asked yourself this question lately? This does not apply only when you are 6 years old and you want to be a fireman or a nurse. Every stage of our lives is around this question. Every promotion, job change, career shift is an answer to this question. The answer reflects your dreams and your next big step you are striving for.....YOUR HOPE.

So I challenge you......what do you want to be when you grow up.

Right now, my dream is to write a book. I working on what it is that I want to say, mostly I want to share my journey and the wisdom I have gained along the way.

Read from the Bible - Proverbs 92:14 - Dreams happen for the rest of your life - don't stop growing now.

Leadership and Employees

For many companies, year end is the time for employee reviews and bonuses based on company performance. With the state of the financial markets as they are, this process has been more painful than in years past. While large financial companies that have received bailout assistance are still paying significant executive bonuses, I may have to tell my employees that not only will there not be merit increases but bonuses are in jeopardy. While my employees will be thankful to have a job, it is still a sad state of affairs that this country is at the place it is.

So, here is a leadership question for you. How do you lead a team that there are no bonuses? How do you ensure that employees feel valued? How do you motivate them?

This is one of the times when leadership style plays an extremely important roles. If you have used your leadership skills to cultivate relationships of trust and continued to increase your creditbility, your team will still follow you. This is the key to authentic leadership. Don't get me wrong, people will be disappointed but you can keep them motivated.

By the way, this applies to people that may not directly work for you, and it is just as important that you provide leadership to those around you that may be in the same situation. Your attitude and support can make all the difference.

The Gap Between Strategy and Execution

It is no longer true that IT and business organizations are separate. In years past, IT has been responsible for taking the business needs and building specific IT solutions. But times are changing and it is a very necessary change. More and more companies are including IT at the strategy and planning table. Today's CIO's and IT leadership know the importance of the business and have taken great strides to learn the busines. In doing so, they have a view across the business landscape that provides additional insight to the business organizations - they see the integration and innovation opportunities. The opportunities that can change and mold a business - change and transformation. What a great way to find new and improved ways of doing business or leveraging efficiencies across the business organization reducing expenses and costs and improving the client experience.

Closing the gap between business strategy and execution is an increasing need and it requires unique skills that are hard to find. Creating this organization should be a priority for companies, especially in these trying financial times.

How long does change take

This is an age old question that can drive you crazy. Every company I have worked for has suffered with change and doing it well. John Kotter wrote a book called Leading Change in which he does an excellent job of laying out the 8 steps for change. If you look at the steps and divide them into strategy/vision or execution, you will see something very telling. There is a very important process between setting the vision and driving it to when execution takes place. In my opinion, this is the most critical - to take a vision and be able to put actionable steps to make it happen. This involves strong communciation to achieve buy-in and then the ability to determine the steps - looking of the win/win - business value against effort and dollars.

This is the key to making this successful. It cannot be part of someone's every day job. That is where companies make their mistakes. This takes time and dedication and a special group of people to lead this effort. If organized well, you can accomplish the most complicated change efforts needed to tranform a company.

Ever feel like nothing makes a difference

Well, today that seems to be something on my mind. So, the leader in me says, pull up my bootstraps and get over it. BUT (which negates everything I just said) there are times when you must deal with it.....YOU.....not those around you - so don't talk about it - YOU must decided what you are going to do with this feeling.

So, the challenge really is, is it good enough if you believe in what you are doing and you are doing it with integrity? And that answer would be YES. Now that is an approach I can focus on.

How do you maintain composure in unprofessional situations?

This is a tough one. Before I had read so much on maintaining character and integrity, I was a "gives as one gets" philosophy - only I always had to win. That in plain language is called SPITE.

Even though you may be in a professional environment meant to be one of mutual respect, this has not been my experience. Here are some tips that have helped my maintain my integrity in unprofessional situations.

1) Always maintain your composure, even calm. You are responsible for your response and attitude regardless of how you were approached. Walk away if necessary.

2) Remember, people always come first, especially if your sitution is about an employee, friend or co-worker. You need to keep in mind that you are looking for the win/win - even if it means you don't get your way.

3) Try additional approaches to the situation - ask questions, offer some other ideas or options, continue the discussion if needed. Do not delay a decision though if it is detrimental to a person (as identifed in #2)

4) Seek guidance from a co-worker who may have insight on ways to handle the situation.

5) DO NOT TALK ABOUT THE SITUATION in a negative way with other people. This only hurts you and it is unprofessional.

So, if you find this helpful, please respond. If you have other ideas, add them.

Why do companies not see leaders?

You know, a very wise person told me that you have to ask for what you want. Well, sometimes companies are so busy with the business that they don't see the opportunities offered by their "hidden" leadership talent.

Be bold - ask for what you want! Don't be afraid to ask questions and don't be afraid to take informed risks. Sometimes you might have to do a job for awhile before you get paid for it - if it is what you wanted - it is worth it.

Remember - it will probably never happen as fast as you want it to, so take a deep breath and be as patient as you can. Keep talking and talking and talking - to anyone that will listen. Listen to the feedback and apply it to your idea - keep driving the change.

Integrity - cannot lead without it

What does integrity look like? It means that no matter what the situation, you handle it with character. It means that you don't repeat what someone has told you in confidence. It means you do not exaggerate a situion to make yourself look better. It means you take responsibility for your actions, your attitudes, your decisions. It means that when you are wrong you admit it. It means that everyone trusts what you say - no matter what!!

Now, this may all seem like common sense but ask yourself this. When was the last time you knew someone that had all these characteristics and could be trusted in any situation.

I believe I am one of these leaders!

Change - Cannot be in business without - Cannot make it happen

With the ever changing financial times, it is more critical now than ever to make smart fiscal business decisions. When companies lack strategic focus, it is really hard to drive change to make things better. Change gets so stuck in the day to day "stuff" that we cannot seem to get out of our own way.

It is more critical now to drive change - to be better - and to provide services where there are needs. For example, what companies need to focus on is what their audiences' needs are - not what products we can sell. The competitive edge is all about providing/meeting the needs. People are scared and they want to know there are companies that care. This is the key to business leadership.

Leadership to drive change will involve risks. Leaders have to be willing to say, "Let's try this approach, and put a plan in place" instead of giving up or saying it has been tired before. My answer would be - different leader so it has not been done before.

Many times it is easier to stop trying than to try another approach. As a leader, you still have to take all this on while remaining integrity bound. That means, you don't put down what has been tired before. You don't blame the people. You don't blame the company. Instead, you focus on what can be, set your sights in that direction, talk about what you want to do ALL THE TIME, and make progress with win/win steps. A little at a time. No matter what anyone says, change will not happen over night.

Great leadership reading material

Do you really want to lead people? Do you want to understand the difference between leadership and management? These books provide some very good insight.

1) 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
2) Leading Change by John Kotter
3) On Purpose Person
4) The Servant Leader

Start with these 4 books and let me know what you think. The first book changed my life and provided the paradigm shift from management to true leadership