Building Team Trust
February 2, 2010 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
I love a good mystery, don’t you? Some of my favorite Sunday afternoons as a kid were spent watching Sherlock Holmes or Charlie Chan use their super sleuth skills to solve the most complex of crimes and, ultimately, save the world from complete annihilation. However great contemplating classic capers have been for me, having a mysterious leader has never been as entertaining. In fact, it can quickly become a horror show. Have you ever worked for a person whose reaction to situations would sway from one extreme to another depending on who was around, which way the wind was blowing, or if they had gotten a prime parking spot that morning? Well, you are not alone because I have had the displeasure of working with (and for) “Bi-polar Bob” and “Wacky Wanda” as well. Working with questions, inconsistency, and conundrums erode the trust needed to keep morale high, move the team forward, and weather the trials that many of our teams are facing.
When examining relationships, there should be no mystery - at home, work, or play. If you are the last person to know about bad situations or feel like you’re the last resort, there is probably a reason. The question to ask is, “Am I building Covenants or breaking them?” A covenant is a relationship of trust. It signifies that, no matter what, you act in accordance with your beliefs and that your teammate can count on that consistency. There are no questions and there is no guessing on how you will sail because you are sure and steady. This starts with your own reflections on what you believe, where you stand, and is manifested in how you behave. To build everyday covenants (and keep the mysteries at a minimum), I continually strive to stay consistent by taking the time to periodically reflect on three things: statements of purpose, statements of intent, and congruency between the two. Although you may not be able to change others around you, you can change your behaviors and reactions to those around you.
What Are My Statements of Purpose?
Statements of purpose manifest from the core of my being. Above all, they are what I value and what “I Believe.” For me, I believe in honesty, integrity, family, love, laughter, and the innate goodness of the human spirit. I also believe that each person has been given a purpose on this big, blue, wet ball and with that purpose, a responsibility to ease the burden of others, not to make it heavier. Those values are the rudder by which I live my life. Take a moment to reflect on yours. What are your statements of purpose? What do you believe? Where do you stand? If it’s a mystery to you, then it will surely be a mystery to others!
What Are My Statements of Intent?
Statements of intent are different from things that you “can do” (there are a lot of things that each of us can do). Statements of intent are things that you WILL DO! My statements of intent include that I WILL:
Treat others with dignity and respect
Put the needs of the ones I love before my own
Take myself lightly and find the humor in life
Be honest with myself and others
When I’ve taken the time to reflect and intentionally write them down, they become my personal “manifesto” on how I will deal with people, situations, and also they become a roadmap of how I will live my life. What are the things that you WILL do? There is great power in knowing what your statements of intent are, writing them down and speaking them out loud. Do yourself that favor!
Are The Two Congruent?
The last thing I reflect on is if my beliefs and actions are congruent with each other. If they are, then there will be NO mystery to anyone on how I will (or would) respond in a situation. If there is, something is amiss. Either I don’t really believe what I’ve stated as my purpose or the intent doesn’t match the belief. I like to equate it to when people say they “want” something. If you want something, that means you are taking steps towards your goal. If you aren’t taking those steps, then you really don’t want it. It’s just a nicety. The same goes with purpose and intent. If you say you believe something but don’t actively live it, you don’t really believe it. The two must be congruent or you’ll be swayed, mysteries will continue and covenants will be broken.
It’s not that I don’t like surprises, I do. I like the spontaneity that keeps relationships fresh, vibrant and how it can propel a team to new possibilities. But, I know I am not alone when I state that I don’t like the mystery of how you’ll react if I come to you with less than favorable news. There are no mysteries within the covenants that are built with others; there is only openness, loyalty, and trust. That’s what is being built every day in relationships - as long as you are living your values and openly sharing them with those within your circle. Step Up and Invest Yourself Today!
All Engines Ahead Full!
February 5, 2009 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
It was the Independence Day holiday weekend and all of my buddies were going out to paint the town. It had been a long 10 weeks of training during Officer Candidate School and each of us had earned the privilege of going out to blow off some steam. I, however, decided to stay in and study. Our previous few days of lessons had been on ship’s navigation and on the Monday of our return was a comprehensive test on what we had learned as well as a practical exam using Maneuvering Boards (MOBOARDS). Oh, how I hated MOBOARDS! A line here, a vector there - all were important in navigating the ship but I never seemed to get it exactly right (and I had to if I was going to graduate with my class). With hard work, time, and some help from some patient friends, I not only mastered MOBOARDS that weekend, but I also learned that any goal could be achieved with the right tools. As you contemplate personal and professional aspirations this year, try using these three tools in navigating towards new opportunities.
Pick Your Point
The first step in navigating is to pick, exactly, where you are going. It can’t be in generalities, it has to be written down as specifically as possible. Let’s look at it like this: If you were leaving Norfolk, Virginia and sailing to Brisbane, Australia, you wouldn’t just pick Australia as your navigation point. There’s no telling where you would end up (if you’d even hit the right continent). The same goes for setting your personal (and team) goals - the point we are navigating to should be specific. Imagine it, visualize it, write it down and let others know where you are going.
Get Your Fix
Before we set sail and in order to lay a good course, we have to know where we currently are. I would recommend using Dead Reckoning. Dead reckoning is the process of estimating one’s current position based upon a previously determined position, or fix, and advancing that position based upon known speed, elapsed time, and course. Before you pull anchor, you need to make an HONEST assessment of where you are. Questions that should be asked when figuring your position are: What are my strengths and weaknesses? Who do I need help from? What do I need more of in order to hit my goal? Those questions have to be answered honestly if your course is going to be true - failure to know your current point of reference will cause your course to be WAY off and possibly run aground. Get your fix!
All Engines Ahead Full
With your current fix and destination known, it is time to set sail. Don’t hesitate, call down to the engine room, order the command “ALL ENGINES AHEAD FULL” and start moving towards your navigation point. Without that command, obviously, you aren’t going to go anywhere! While sailing your course, you may have to throttle back the engines in order to get a new fix - that’s acceptable and necessary. What shouldn’t happen is to order the command, “STOP ENGINES” - unless, of course, collision is imminent (which is highly unlikely if you are continually getting your fix). Keep your engines ahead prevents drifting aimlessly in the open sea.
I mastered MOBOARDS with a clear goal, a good fix, and the “engine power” to move to my destination. Every point I’ve identified for navigation to since that time has been approached in the same way and so can your points. But, like I said, I did have some help from my shipmates (Navy term for friend). Some MOBOARDS are so complex that it takes a team of people to figure out the course. Never hesitate to accept assistance from your shipmates - you’ll, undoubtedly, enjoy a smoother sail. Don’t wait: Throttle those engines and navigate towards your goals today!
Remember: Every day is a New Year with the right perspective!
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