Posts Tagged ‘personal’
Wednesday, June 8th, 2011
Organizational goals provide the definition of purpose and the direction for an organization. Goals crystallize and bring life to the organization’s vision—its reason for existence. Organizational goals that are developed and executed properly foster organizational alignment and success through the three most critical components of an organization: Strategy, People, and Process.
As the overall goals are carried through every department, business unit, or division of an organization’s structure, they provide the cornerstone to the organizational structure. Organizational goals give you and your team something you can sink your teeth into, provide guidelines for achievement and recognition, and promote pride in the organization. A primary part of your job as a team leader is to communicate the organizational goals and their connectivity to the goals of your team or department.
The primary reason most organizations exist is to be profitable or to generate enough funds to implement their mission as in a not-for-profit organization. Goals provide the direction around which every part of an organization, as well as the various activities of the individuals within the organization, must be organized. When the physical, mental, and emotional efforts of all contributors are channeled toward organizational goals, the organization’s success increases dramatically.
Goals provide the organization with a tracking system and a means of recording its achievements. Too often, organizational goals are achieved but lost to memory by the reporting period. Recognizing achievements is a confidence builder. Past achievements can be a predictor of your future success.
Goals assist an organization in all decision-making processes. When an organization has defined exactly where it is headed, many decisions fall into place. All energies can be focused on discovering ways to get there, rather than deciding where to go. When goals are identified and action steps determined—it is much easier for all parts of an organization to align. Each part of the organization can weigh its own effort in terms of its contribution to the overall goals of the entire organization rather than to its own unique function. Goals help the members of an organization build unity of purpose. Therefore, communications improve and differences of opinion are shared more rationally because the team effort is directed at achieving common goals.
Well thought out organizational goals often become the basis of an organization’s public image. Publicly shared goals that convey confidence and success can help increase market share, customer loyalty, and earning potential. Customers are more likely to purchase from an organization whose image is that of an organization capable of describing its achievements to a vast audience—your employees and customer base.
Clearly defined goals will also help an organization anticipate, compensate for, and reduce the impact that outside forces have upon its operations. Goals help set into motion plans of action, which take into consideration a wide spectrum of possible obstacles to be encountered. By such systematic strategic planning, obstacles are either overcome or their efforts are greatly reduced.
A team with well-defined goals provides a framework within which your team members can set appropriate and meaningful personal goals. For success in today’s business environment, it is important that employees’ personal goals are aligned with the team’s and the organization’s goals. There is always a much stronger commitment to organizational goals when personal goals and needs are being fulfilled.
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in helping businesses and individuals achieve high levels of excellence and success. Learn how at www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: goal setting, goals, organizational, personal, resource associate, Success
Posted in Goal Planning | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
Everyone makes decisions differently and is motivated or driven by different things. Being aware of and understanding these differences is really important when managing employees or creating relationships.
Over fifty years of scientific research has revealed that there are three distinct styles of decision-making. Each of us can make decisions in all three ways, but we tend to develop a preference for one more than the other two. This preference becomes a subconscious force, affecting the decisions we make on a daily basis and shaping how we perceive the world around us and ourselves. The three decisional styles are personal, practical, and analytical.
To some extent everyone is capable of making all three kinds of decisions, but we ultimately have a preference. Here is a simple example of the three in contrast with each other. A person with each style is sitting around a table working on a project together. While the Personal style is focused on the needs of the team members involved and how to best use their talents, the Practical style doesn’t really care as much about the team or if it is done right, he just wants to get it done. Finally the Analytical sees no reason to worry about the people involved or even getting it done if it isn’t going to be done correctly.
We all have different balances of these three styles. That is what makes our decisions and actions different from others. These ways of making decisions and how we use them are at the core of whom we are.
In addition to there being three distinct styles of decision making, people are also motivated to make decisions based on different drivers. Based on the research of Eduard Spranger and later by Gordon Allport, there are seven key motivational drivers and they include the following:
- The motivation to achieve balance, harmony, and find form or beauty
- The motivation for security from economic gain and to achieve practical returns
- The motivation to be seen as unique, independent, and stand apart from the crowd
- The motivation to have influence and control over one’s environment or success
- The motivation to benefit others in a humanitarian sense
- The motivation to establish order, routine, and structure
- The motivation to gain knowledge or discover truth
Imagine how beneficial it would be to know how your team members make decisions and why they are motivated to do what they do. Imagine being able to share that knowledge with the actual team members. Communication, teamwork, and your ability to manage would instantly improve. Results and outcomes would measurably improve. Uncovering how people make decisions and what drives them to do what they do can be uncovered through a simple assessment process. However, the assessment process is only the beginning. A commitment by management to create an action plan on how to effectively use the knowledge to improve team building is a critical second step. Information for information’s sake is—you got it—just information. An action plan to manage with the new information will provide long-term and sustainable results for your team.
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in helping businesses and individuals achieve high levels of excellence and success. Learn how at www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: analytical, assessment, decisions, disc, drivers, Eduard Spranger, Gordon Allport, managing, motivations, personal, practical, resource associates, Values
Posted in Decision Making, Motivation | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
It is often said, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” When defining your personal and professional success it is critical that you focus on who you know!
- Are you surrounding yourself with winners?
- Are you surrounding yourself with people who can help you achieve your goals?
- Are you developing relationships that align with your purpose and passion?
- Are you connecting with people who understand what is necessary to be successful and are able to support your success?
- Do the right people know who you are, what your business provides, and the value you can bring to a customer?
Success is defined by your purpose, your action, and your attitude; however your success can and will be limited by the relationships that you create and maintain both personally and professionally.
Here is a great story that reinforces this concept:
Swen Nater an orphan from Holland moved to the United States when he was three years old. He grew up in an American home and as a high school junior; he stood 6′ 11″. One would think Swen Nater was destined for basketball, but he was so gangly and awkward that he didn’t make his high school team until his senior year. Instead of going to college after graduation, like some of his teammates, he went to work at a garage as a mechanic.
However, when a local community college coach convinced the towering mechanic to give basketball another shot several years later, his body had matured. Over the next two years Swen became one of the best junior-college basketball players in the country. He was honored with Community College All American his sophomore year. With two years of eligibility left, several smaller colleges became interested in Swen and each offered him an opportunity to shine.
But his coach decided to take a shot at a higher opportunity. He called John Wooden whose current UCLA team was in the midst of one of the greatest dynasties in all of sports. He said “Coach, next year you have a guy coming in that everybody in America believes will be the greatest player to ever play college basketball: Bill Walton who towered at 7′ tall. The next biggest guy you have on your team is 6′ 9″ inches tall. In practice, Bill Walton is not going to get better because he’s not going to have any competition so give my guy a chance.”
Wooden ultimately agreed and ended up making Nater two promises. “One, you’ll probably never ever get off the bench. But two, you’re going to get a chance to practice every day against the best player in America.” It only took a second for Nater to accept the offered scholarship, and as John Wooden promised, Nater barely played.
Three years later, Bill Walton as a college senior was positioned to be the number one pick in the NBA draft. Everybody wanted to know who was the best center Walton played against during his senior year. Was it that guy at Pepperdine or maybe the guy at Kansas? Bill Walton looked to the end of the practice court and said, “That guy down there, is the best player I’ve played against. Swen Nater.”
And it was true! Swen Nater had gotten so much better by working and playing against Bill Walton that he became the first player in history to be selected in the first round of the NBA basketball draft while never starting a college game.
Swen Nater went on to play 12 years in the NBA and is now vice president of Costco.
You are who you associate with. The people you spend the most time with in your life will significantly contribute to your success or lack thereof.
Instead of having a friend that suggests limitations that are an effort to keep you from harm or to protect you from being disappointed, align yourself with a mentor within your industry or area of expertise to enhance your knowledge and marketable skills. Making the commitment to enhance your marketable skills and having someone to guide you will propel you to higher levels of success.
In addition to reviewing ideas and making decisions regarding personal growth and career development with a family member, spouse, or partner, develop a relationship with a professional coach. Family and partners often times say they are supportive but tend to impose their limiting attitudes to your situation. Having a coaching relationship where the coach’s sole responsibility is to focus on you and your objectives will provide an unbiased process, which can accelerate your results.
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in business and management consulting, leadership development, executive coaching and youth leadership. For more information visit www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: focus, network, personal, professional, who you know
Posted in Attitudes | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not, nothing more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved, and will always solve, the problems of the human race.” - Calvin Coolidge
“Press on” is a powerful and necessary mental attitude. It is the attitude that is found permeating through every successful person and organization.
As a country the U.S. pressed on after 9/11. As a world leader we knew it was necessary, and it did not change the intensity of the horror, the sadness, or the trauma the events caused.
Martin Luther King, like many historical heroes, continued to do what was necessary in order to share the power of his vision—no matter what amount of ignorance or violence stood in his way.
The NASA program exists today because the Kennedy administration had a vision and a goal to put a man on the moon. Many thought that vision was insane; however, in 1969 the vision became a reality. The space program has dealt with a great deal of set backs and has needed to press on after significant tragedy like the loss of the space shuttle Challenger and the space shuttle Endeavor.
Lance Armstrong, seven-time consecutive winner of the Tour De France, accomplished those victories by pressing through a traumatic diagnosis of testicular cancer that masticated to his brain. Lance, like so many other cancer patients, have after diagnosis adapted a press on attitude because they know it is required to deal with the required treatment and victory over their disease.
All of these examples are of exceptional people with a press on attitude who achieved amazing results in extreme situations. However, I submit to you that the press on attitude is required in everyday life and business. I believe that every person involved in the above examples always had a press on attitude. However, we saw their real capability because they were faced with adverse, challenging, life, or vision threatening situations.
The business community as a whole is currently faced with unprecedented changes of which many are out of our direct control. Recovery and regaining success in the business world will come because of the conscious decision to press on.
Make the commitment now to do what is necessary to make your business successful. Look at each business issue with which you are challenged as an opportunity for success. Use your talent, experience, and education to your advantage. Develop a plan that leverages your background and experience. Review your marketing plan and your marketing mix of activities and make sure they are the right activities. Reach out for assistance as often as needed.
Make the commitment to press on … the results are and will be worth it!
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in business and management consulting, leadership development, executive coaching and youth leadership. For more information visit www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: attitude, commitment, mental, organization, personal, Press on, results, Successful
Posted in Goal Planning | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
One of the greatest lessons in time management is to realize the difference between spending time and investing time. The dictionary defines spend as “to use up, exhaust, consume.” If you spend, you have no return. On the other hand, when we invest we “spend with expectation of some satisfaction, of obtaining an income or profit.”
With respect to time, many people spend far more than they invest. Most of us spend inordinate amounts of time engaged in frivolous activities that do little or nothing to propel us toward our life goals. For some reason, we don’t value time as we do money, electricity, food, or even paperclips. Most of use are trained not to waste paper. We turn off lights, so we don’t waste electricity. Yet we continue to treat our time—precious moments of our lives that can never be relived—as if we had an unlimited supply.
Too often we spend our time doing what someone else wants us to do, or we do things that seem urgent rather than those that are really important. As a result, many unimportant tasks get done in a thorough, timely fashion, while important activities get hastily done under crisis conditions. Time is like money. You can expect dividends if you wisely invest it and losses if you spend it frivolously. Time reflects who you are. It indicates what you think of yourself and others, and how focused you are in achieving the goals you have set for yourself. Orchestrate each day of your life to achieve a high level of performance and satisfaction personally and professionally. Align your activities with your personal goals and with the goals of your organization.
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in business and management consulting, leadership development, executive coaching and youth leadership. For more information visit www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: activities, goals, Investing, organization, personal, Time
Posted in Time Management | 1 Comment »
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