Clarify your impact.

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It’s amazing how clients will define their value by the things they do instead of the impact they have.  Managing the daily grind this way, it’s easy to slip into a feeling of irrelevance -- a sense that it’s all “paper pushing” without any real impact.  If you view your work that way, it’s likely that others do too.

Truth is, we are all inspired to go the extra mile if we know we’re making a difference.  Clarity of impact helps us perform better and achieve greater job security. We willingly invest ourselves in both the process and the outcome when we know that it really matters.

If you’re feeling demotivated or insecure, one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is a fresh look at your impact.  Evaluate what you do and ask, “why does this matter?”  Take your answer and apply the question again. Soon, you’ll get clearer on the impact of your work, and you’ll feel more motivated and confident in what you’re doing.  If you still feel your impact is fuzzy, consider the impact you think you can have, and then make changes to move in that direction.

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Don’t Let Emotion Drive Your Actions

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In an environment of intense speed, instant communication and high stress, it's easy to react to situations emotionally and “in the moment” instead of taking the time to think them through and rein in emotions that might be spinning out of control and clouding your judgment. ‎Sometimes situations that require our patience can feel so infuriating, uncomfortable or inconvenient that we jump into action just to alleviate our internal turmoil or get it off our plate. In this era of electronic communication, people have come to expect instant responses.  In an emotionally-charged situation, don’t take the bait. More often than not, giving yourself that extra day, week or month to calm down and diagnose a situation before moving forward is all you need to stay in control, sort out what's really happening and determine the best response to the situation.

Giving yourself the gift of a pause can help you gain clarity and perspective and take control of emotions that could lead you in the wrong direction if you were to let them dictate your actions and decisions. Today, consider how you can wait for the dust to settle before you make your move.  

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May 2014: Have conversations that matter.

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Time is precious.  As a leader, you know that better than anyone.  So make your conversations count with substance and integrity. 

It’s easy to put off awkward conversations or squander opportunities like staff meetings and one-on-one interactions, engaging in more superficial chat instead.  But with every interaction that fails to matter, you’re wasting invaluable time and a chance to create more productive, effective relationships.

What big, honking conversations are hanging out there, waiting to be had? Is there something that needs to be said to your boss, peer or direct report?  Are there things you wish you knew or understood about someone? Are you craving greater clarity about your role? Do you see some things that need to be addressed in your organization? Are there performance issues you’re avoiding?   

It’s often easier not to have the conversation.  But when people see that you’re willing to put the real stuff on the table and that you care enough to engage in substantive (sometimes awkward) subjects in an effective way, you build trust.

Today, ask yourself, “how can I have more conversations that matter?”  

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