Karl Edwards presents Working Matters

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  • Listen In -> Making Peace with Work #4: Replacing Excuses with Intention

    What’s the difference between a difficulty and an excuse?

    We are making excuses when we use the difficult realities we face at work as reasons to let ourselves off the hook for doing what we can to find alternatives.

    Difficult people, changing deadlines, and stifling policies are facts of life in many workplaces.

    We find peace when we own our responsibility to do what we can in the midst of these realities. We exasperate our stress when we passively hope things will change.

    Join the conversation! After listening to this week’s show, leave your thoughts in the comment section of this blog post.

    Listen in.

  • Loving Monday: Adding Value In Tough Times

    loving_mondayAs we get back into the swing of a new week, dare we simply slip back into “same ol’ same ol’”?

    We’re in a strange and awful season where employers are almost randomly asking their best and brightest to pack up and go home in order to arbitrarily slash the payroll line item on the budget.

    Short-sighted? Leading out of fear? Unfair? Probably.

    In a situation where someone else is making a decision that affects you, what can you do to influence that decision?

    Add value.

    Find ways to add value to your presence on the team. Go the extra mile for a client. Help a co-worker with an important deadline. Find ways to make procedures flow more smoothly, require less duplicate effort, or take less time.

    Distinguish yourself from the crowd by being someone who is always improving. Improving yourself, improving your work product and improving the workplace. If and when lay-offs occur, you will be perceived as invaluable.

    Instead of increasing your stress about losing your job, I think you’ll find that you become more engaged in what you are doing which reduces stress.

    Worst case scenario? You love what you do until even the invaluable must go.

    On your side,

    – Karl

  • Question of the Week

    What is the difference between providing an explanation and making an excuse?

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

  • Thought Leaders Unpacked: The Gift of Work by Bill Heatley

    thought-leadersWe launch our first “Thought Leaders Unpacked” discussion series today with a look at The Gift of Work by Bill Heatley.

    For many of us spirituality and work operate in separate, unrelated compartments. But what if your work were an integral expression of your faith?

    gift-of-work1What if you weren’t asked to change the subject to evangelism or early morning prayer groups or promises not to take office supplies home in order to think about what it means to be both a faithful employee and a faithful believer?

    Join me as I delve into this insightful piece. I’ll be posting my thoughts chapter by chapter, and hope you will interact with your own comments, insights and opinions.

    Contents

    1. Changing Our Minds About Work
    2. Kingdom Living
    3. Redefining Success
    4. You Are Here: God As Our Reference Point
    5. Not a Trivial Pursuit
    6. Training as a Disciple of Christ
    7. The Nucleus of Change

    Get your copy and read along!

  • Listen In -> Making Peace with Work #3: Replacing Isolation with Collaboration

    It’s easier to do some things ourselves.

    The quality is better, we’re finished sooner, and the worry is eliminated.

    But it’s never easier to do everything ourselves.

    How did we end up all alone in the midst of a sea of people?

    This week Claudia and I discuss how we inadvertently isolate ourselves at work. We also suggest collaboration as a practical and achievable alternative.

    Don’t miss this episode! Listen in now.

  • Loving Monday: Getting Started

    loving_mondaySometimes the best way to get started is simply to jump in and get started.

    Getting back into work after a weekend away can be a motivational challenge… especially if you had a great weekend and are returning to significant challenges! There’s a natural inertia that makes it hard to get moving again. Like getting up from your favorite spot on the sofa after watching a good movie in order to wash the dishes.

    While planning has its place, it might be more helpful to simply jump into a project or task for your first hour this Monday. Pick up where you left off. Dive into something real, tangible and engaging. Get back into the ebb and flow of pulling needed files, picking up the phone, finishing an important letter or reworking a spreadsheet.

    When the hour is up, take a step back and look at the bigger picture of the week ahead. Your head will be in a different place. You’re next decision will be easier to act upon, because you are already in motion.

    Getting started by jumping right in, doesn’t pit your entire working life against your entire personal life in an epic Monday morning transition battle. Jump in by getting your feet wet as soon as you arrive, instead of spending the first half of the day talking yourself into the total body plunge!

    On your side,

    – Karl

  • Question of the Week

    Which option would encourage and empower more and better people to increase their involvement in accomplishing your goal?

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

  • Listen In -> Making Peace with Work #2: Replacing Busyness with Rhythm

    Busyness is a reality we face.

    There’s always something to do. Some new priority shouting for our attention. The piles seem to build more quickly than we can work through them.

    We may wish it were otherwise. We may wish for means to make it go away.

    In this week’s show, Claudia and I suggest that hope lies in developing your own rhythm.

    Rhythm.

    Something that works for you. Especially for you.

    Listen in.

  • Looking for Power? Say Something.

    alphabetWords are power.

    Their impact often out of proportion with their intent.

    Denigrating words wound long after their issuer has been identified as mean-spirited. Validating words generate exponentially more energy, creativity, loyalty and cooperation than ever went into voicing them.

    Negative labels are word weapons used to diminish, marginalize, and rob others of their voice.

    Calling out the positive attributes and contributions of others are investments which inspire confidence, build trust, and deepen credibility.

    You are more powerful than you imagined.

    To what end are you currently using the power of words?

    Reflecting on the power of words, how might you go about using your words differently?

  • Question of the Week

    Might the magnitude of your investment in one solution be making it difficult to recognize that it is time for a different solution?

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