Karl Edwards presents Working Matters

Tag: motivation

  • Loving Monday: Tell Yourself the Truth

    loving_mondayToo many leaders are unable or unwilling to tell people the truth.

    It is sad but true.

    This inability to trust others with the truth covers myriad facets of work life. The truth about company finances, the truth about impending lay-offs, the truth about promotion prospects, the truth about changing deadlines, the truth about management planning… and the list goes on.

    Today I want to focus on the unfortunate reality that so many leaders cannot tell you the truth about you.

    FACT: Everyone has strengths, skills, talents and abilities. Therefore there is always something to affirm, empower and reward about everyone on the team.

    FACT: Everyone is imperfect, learning, makes mistakes, chokes, falters, and fails on occasion. Therefore there is always room for constructive confrontation.

    If leaders could tell people the truth about themselves, they would never be at a loss for extending compliments, expanding responsibilities or extending rewards. At the same time, in the ordinary course of events, leaders would be pointing out (more…)

  • Loving Monday: Super Bowl XLV Hangover

    loving_mondayIt was a great game. An even better game if you were a Green Bay fan.

    The markets were jammed all morning. The roads were cluttered immediately after.

    And those of us watching the were enjoying family, friends and food with an abandon we seldom get to experience on most weekends.

    It was a great game.

    Now it’s Monday and we’re back at work… Sort of.

    Not really.

    No, not at all.

    We’re either still celebrating or still depressed.

    We could suggest something inane to the winners like, “Don’t gloat.” Or we could recommend something preposterous to the losers like, “Be good sports.”

    The fact of the matter is those of us who were rooting for Green Bay are going to be strutting and celebrating and rubbing it in every way imaginable.

    And those who were short-sighted enough to root for Pittsburgh are going to be glum, whining, making excuses, and otherwise going out of their way to be very unpleasant today.

    So how to get back to work? (more…)

  • Quote to Consider: Turning Obstacles Into Propellers

    quote-to-consider“He is the best sailor who can steer within fewest points of the wind, and exact a motive power out of the greatest obstacles.”

    Henry David Thoreau

  • The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working

    American managers are in denial about the fact that their teams are comprised of human beings.

    Content with a data-defying strategy of squeezing as much work as possible out of their teams for as little compensation as possible, these self-congratulating fools close their eyes to the facts and resort to childish name-calling (e.g. “soft”) to anyone who dares suggest that human physiology and psychology are important factors in workplace productivity.

    What if there were facts, though, about how people work that could multiply your productivity with only incremental additional costs?

    I’m excited to come across a kindred spirit in Tony Schwartz in his new book, The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working.

    I’ve long advocated that people are an amazing, if complex, asset into which we should invest not a faceless, annoying expense that we should minimize.

    Schwartz provides invaluable insights into how the human beings function and provides the practical means to transform these insights into a more energetic, renewing, and yes, productive workplace.

    Specifically he looks at human physiology, emotions, our minds, and our spirituality. Far from hyping the latest feel-good fad, Schwartz methodically supports his case with data. If you look at the facts, certain things are true about what makes people thrive, commit, care, and work hard. On the downside, certain factors cause people to wear down, avoid risk, blame others and otherwise distance themselves from their work.

    Far from being “soft,” it is those leaders who have the courage, honesty and wisdom to face what I describe as “the hard facts about working with people” who have the mettle it takes to face the complex issues facing business going forward.

    Gone are the days where people can be reduced to inter-changeable commodities to be discarded at the first sign of trouble.

    Tony Schwartz is a must-read resource for any leader hoping to work effectively with people going forward.

    On your side,

    – Karl Edwards

  • Choosing to Show Up… Showing Up Engaged

    bored-at-workNo matter how powerless you feel at work. No matter how little power you actually wield. You always have control over how you show up.

    You can wield this “power” in a childish manner. Resentfully drag your feet and do the bare minimum at the last minute and only when asked for the umpteenth time. In other words, barely show up at all. As powerful as it feels to “stick it to the man” in this way, you end up diminished as a result as well. In other words, you’re only hurting yourself.

    Do yourself a favor and choose to show up engaged no matter what’s going on at work. Even for the most ungrateful supervisor, show up engaged. Even for the most uncooperative team members, show up engaged. Even for the most toxic of work cultures, show up engaged.

    You don’t have to keep working here—in fact, you should probably be looking for a change if you’re in an unhealthy situation—but while you are here, (more…)

  • Question of the Week #8

    What disincentives to taking the initiative would a visitor observe in our company?

    The Question of the Week is offered to increase awareness of one’s personal leadership practices and encourage experimentation with creative alternatives.

  • Loving Monday: Lukewarm Coffee

    loving_mondayLukewarm coffee.

    If you’re a coffee lover like me, those two words can’t possible fit in the same sentence. For a beverage to be lukewarm, by definition, means that it cannot be coffee.

    Fresh, strong, and piping hot equal coffee. Nothing else.

    Sadly, as the morning progresses, my coffee slowly turns into non-coffee. Hot becomes lukewarm. Delicious becomes distasteful. Right becomes wrong.

    The work week can feel the same. We begin the week in an energetic sprint. We end the week with a weary limp.

    Lukewarm work isn’t any better than lukewarm coffee.

    How then do we keep our “coffee” hot?

    Drink it while it’s hot. Focus, stayed engaged and see things through. Play at 110%. It’s energizing to play at the top of your game. Don’t let chores accumulate. Confront problems as they arise. Impress yourself.

    Get a warm up. Take a break. Get up and walk around. Surf the web. Chat with an associate. Do something for yourself that recharges your juices.

    Pour it out and start over. What can I say? Sometimes there’s nothing else to do but pour out the cup of lukewarm blahness and begin again. Such a drastic reset could take the form of going home early and make a plan for how to begin differently tomorrow. Try sweeping everything off the top of your desk and allowing only items related to your current task. Or go for a long walk during which you do an attitude check and reset.

    There is nothing more foul than lukewarm coffee. To keep sipping is the worst alternative of all.

    Here’s to enjoying hot coffee!

    – Karl

  • Loving Monday: Are We Having Fun Yet?

    loving_mondayWhat’s your favorite part of your job?

    What specifically are you looking forward to this week? What gets your juices flowing? What do you brag to your friends about? What makes the time fly by?

    One way I like to start the week is to remind myself why I am doing what I do.

    Work is a messy place for most of us. A mix of the rewarding and the maddening. Sometimes it feels like the maddening aspects are taking over.

    If we can catch ourselves feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, unhappy, or stressed before too much time goes by, we have a better chance to take evasive action.

    We can begin the week by reminding ourselves of what we love about our work. Why we took the job. What we’re trying to get out of it.

    Even if our rationale wasn’t anything particularly noble, personally motivating or sexy, remembering that we took the job in order to pay the bills (if that was your rationale), can help us maintain a positive perspective in the face of even the most difficult days on the job.

    As you jump into this week, take a moment to note at least one thing that you either love about what you do or that you know makes this job worth keeping and bringing your best game to.

    On your side,

    – Karl

  • Question of the Week #5

    Who would benefit from you verbalizing your appreciation today?

    The Question of the Week is offered to increase awareness of one’s personal leadership practices and encourage experimentation with creative alternatives.

  • Loving Monday: Stairs and More Stairs

    loving_mondayI recently discovered a new staircase that took my breath away.

    Literally.

    Several hundred steps rising from the floor of the Los Angeles Basin to a 360 degree view of the entire city 511 feet in the air.

    Los_Angeles-viewWhether you experience the climb as inspiring or intimidating probably depends on how you view heavy breathing and aching muscles. Or how much you enjoy seeing the mountains that surround the city or identifying city landmarks from miles away.

    I may have just discovered a form of exercise quirky enough to bring me back for more.

    For my fellow Angelenos, I refer to the new Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook recently opened just off Jefferson Boulevard in Culver City. Pleasant walking trails once you reach the top complete with nature center. (Yes, there is also auto access.)

    I‘m writing, though, because it felt so good to start the day with an intense climb. Any exercise would probably have a similar effect, but given the fact that I don’t do “any” exercise, this is an exciting discovery for me.

    Vigorous enough to give my heart a work-out. Inspiring enough to get me to the top.

    There are so many “shoulds” out there about health, life, relationships, work, etc., etc. As accurate as the “should” might be, we must face the fact that not all of us are motivated by all “shoulds.”

    We need to find those good things that we can “want” as well. When it comes to exercise, my final list is strikingly short.

    I think I found me a new one! Back to the stairs and then back to work.