Refresh Leadership | Fresh Ideas for Today's Business Leaders

Is Analysis Paralysis Killing Your Productivity?

May 17th, 2013

The short 19^th century poem The Centipede’s Dilemma, most commonly attributed to Katherine Craster (1841-74), illustrates a common occurrence that has likely affected everyone at one point or another.

A centipede was happy – quite!
Until a toad in fun
Said, “Pray, which leg moves after which?”
This raised her doubts to such a pitch,
She fell exhausted in the ditch
Not knowing how to run.

Do you suffer from analysis paralysis?
Analysis paralysis occurs when we over-analyze a situation to the point where a logical decision can’t be made, eventually causing everything to fall apart. And, it’s a phenomenon that is common in the workplace. Whether it’s a leader who can’t decide on a strategic direction for the company or a team of individuals who have reached an impasse on which direction to take an important project – analysis paralysis can have dire consequences on productivity and success. Read More→

Avoiding the Cliff

May 16th, 2013

One of the most significant labels you can give anyone is that of problem solver. People who can solve problems are among the most valuable individuals in our society. Many of the most famous people in politics, science, medicine, business, and many other fields are known for solving problems.

We should always seek to serve others by solving their problems; however, there is one trait and label even more powerful than that of problem solver which is problem avoider. We’ve all seen the action movies where our hero saves someone who is hanging from the edge of a cliff. While this makes great drama in theatre, wouldn’t it have been preferable if our hero had just helped the individual stay away from the cliff in the first place?

I did some consulting several years ago for a major sales corporation. In this particular organization, people became heroes for problem solving. This was important because this particular corporation was always in some sort of problem. Their corporate lore included legendary tales of people working all night to get the shipment out, complete the document, finish the monthly publication, and any other last-minute heroics you might imagine. Read More→

Work Life Bringing You Down? Check Out These 17 Tips to Help Turn it Around

May 15th, 2013

We spend so much of our adult lives at work, so why not ensure you’re making the best of it? In a recent article for Inc.com, blogger, journalist, and author, Geoffrey James, outlines 17 tips for being happier at work. From “Don’t compare yourself to others” to “Don’t over commit yourself or your team,” James offers up some valuable nuggets of actionable advice to help you find a little more joy from 8:00 – 5:00, and beyond.

Check out the full article:

17 Ways to Be Happier at Work

How do you stay happy at work? What have you found to be the key to an engaging and fulfilling work life? Let us know in the comments section below. Read More→

The Results Are In: How Do You Ensure You’re Constantly Developing as a Leader?

May 14th, 2013

In our April question of the month, we asked how you continue to develop yourself as a leader, and for the most part, the results were evenly split across the board. Of the nearly 700 readers who participated in the poll, 27% say they read leadership and business strategy books; 24% attend conferences and seminars; 24% ask for feedback from employees; and 19% meet regularly with a mentor for advice and guidance. Approximately 6% selected “other” and submitted additional responses, including:

Attend roundtable discussions with various leadership groups
Obtain higher education, like graduate and MBA programs
Continue to develop interpersonal skills
Job shadow other experienced leaders
And, according to one reader – take regular naps

Less than 1% of survey participants said they don’t do anything to ensure they are constantly developing as a leader. Read More→

Are You a Wanna-Be Leader?

May 13th, 2013

In a post on his Predictable Success blog, author and business speaker Les McKeown writes, “The most common reason wanna-be leaders give for not actually being a leader, is that they’re not yet in a leadership position.” And, it’s just one of three excuses he says wanna-be leaders give when they’re wary of stepping up to the challenge of leading.

Check out the full article:

3 Biggest Excuses of Wanna-Be Leaders

What are some of the biggest excuses you’ve heard from “wanna-be” leaders? Let us know in the comments section below. Read More→

Is Busy Always Best?

May 10th, 2013

We live in a fast-paced world. Our lives are constantly changing by the urgency of schedules and commitments. Work and life variables are pulling us in every which direction. But it isn’t that these obligations are making us too busy, it’s that we are unnecessarily making ourselves busy. Consider the saying “running around like a chicken with its head cut off.” The bird, spastically moving around without thought or direct purpose, is a picture of many people in modern society. We feel busy but we aren’t being purposeful with our goals.

“Never mistake motion for action.” – Ernest Hemingway

By misunderstanding what action is and replacing it with meaningless motion, you end up working more hours to accomplish the same amount of work, which hinders productivity. If our society doesn’t change tracks, we’ll soon be staying busy to create an illusion of being productive. Instead, be deliberate with your time and energy. The best way to convert meaningless motion into deliberate action is to plan out initial steps. When thoughts are organized and goals are set, productivity becomes much more of a reality.

What are some ways you’ve converted motion into action? Let us know in the comments section below. Read More→

4 Ways to Get Back to 40 Hours

May 9th, 2013

Technology has changed how work gets accomplished. With tablets, smartphones, and unlimited software apps, it is easier than ever to get briefed on projects and organize deadlines. These productivity tools were designed to help us be the best we can be in our respective professions. But, it turns out that today’s workers are still feeling overworked and burnt out.

According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), one in three workers suffer from chronic stress, with high workloads being a major factor. The APA also found that 39% of people work more than 40 hours a week. With incoming emails and calls, employees end up working outside of the office, which can actually lower productivity and quality of work. As a business leader, you can’t afford to be less productive – and you definitely can’t afford to have a burnt-out workforce.

So how do we get back to normal work hours and take back precious revitalization time with friends and family? Here are four ways to get a good start. Read More→

Delegation is an Important Part of Leadership

May 8th, 2013

Do you have a difficult time delegating work to your employees? If so, you’re not alone. According to leadership expert Michael Hyatt, one of the most common justifications leaders give for their refusal to delegate is, “I don’t delegate because it takes longer to delegate the task than to just do it myself.”

Check out this article from Hyatt’s blog for a little insight into why he believes this justification is flawed:

Why Some Leaders Find Delegation Difficult (and What to Do About It)

Do you have a hard time delegating tasks to your employees? Tell us about it in the comments section below. Read More→

Top Companies Rally Behind a Strong Mission Statement

May 7th, 2013

Part two of a three part series on developing a strong company culture. Read part one here.

If you met someone in an elevator and they asked what your company does, could you accurately explain it before you reach your floor? If you’re like many people, you’d probably give a quick three to five word description like “we do software development” or “we’re a small chain of coffee shops.” Yes, you’re answering the question, but with only the bare minimum of information. The elevator doors open, and all your new acquaintance really knows is you do something with computers. Or you sell coffee. Information that will be tucked away or completely forgotten as they move on with their day.

So, how do you share the who, what, and why of your company without breaking out flow charts and annual reports? It may be as simple as developing a solid mission statement. Read More→

Younger Generations More Materialistic – Blame It On the Boomers

May 6th, 2013

In many workplaces today, there may be as many as five generations working side by side. So, it’s easy to understand why there could be a little conflict and misunderstanding. Check out this article from Life Inc. about a recent study that explores the values and tendencies of younger generations, as well as suggests how they are a product of the older generations.

Today’s Teens More Materialistic, Less Likely to Work Hard, Study Says

Which generation are you? How do you interact with other generations in your workplace? Let us know in the comments section below. Read More→