Great video with some very simple questions that can help anyone inspire action. By Simon Sinek on Ted.com.
Gaining Loyal Customer By Building a Strong Leadership Brand
January 30, 2012 By 1 Comment
Cover via Amazon
LEADERSHIP BRANDING: When you read this term, do you really know what it means? I really did not know until the year 2008, when I read the book Leadership Brand by Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood. Because I had not heard of the term until then, it made me scratch my head and wonder if others found the term to be something they had not yet heard about.
So, I went out and polled a few business leaders, simply asked them to fill out a form based on what they knew, and many even admitted they did not know what the term really meant…but they took a stab at the questions I asked anyway.
We talk everyday about branding our “company” and making sure that our marketing collateral matches the “company brand”. But what would be different if you branded your company through the eyes of your leadership brand? My hunch is that it would be much tougher, and here is why:
When you build a brand based on true, enduring leadership, each person in the company not only speaks about the brand and and the promises you make to your customers in your marketing strategies, but each person in your company truly lives those promises every day in both their personal and professional lives, and that can be tough. Because of the internet, blogging and social networking sites, every person and every company is now under a microscope and is scrutinized right and left for their actions on the inside not being consistent with the words they speak on television and in other advertising messages. Leaders come and go everyday but strong, solid, committed and consistent leadership can help your company deliver strong bottom line results over and over again, making for happy, loyal customers. When you ask for a commitment from everyone in your company to “live integrity 100%” or to “live innovation 100%” or to “give 110% to living customer service”, you are asking for a big commitment. At the end of the day, it is better to ask everyone in your company to live it than to have your actions fighting against the words you speak to the world.
I have printed the answers from 14 business leaders below about the questions surrounding leadership branding. And, if you want to know more, I highly encourage you to pick up a copy of the book Leadership Brand: Developing Customer-Focused Leaders to Drive Performance and Build Lasting Value by Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood.
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Name Peg Donahue
Website http://www.fengshuiconnections.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you?
For me this relates to one’s personal style and authenticity. Each of us leads based on our beliefs, experiences and perspective. I believe it is important to be genuine and lead from your heart. It is also important to “walk your talk” and be a good example for others.
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Integrity
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above?
- Bring integrity to all I do.
- Regularly publish “thought leadership” articles and blog posts that demonstrate integrity.
- Actively include integrity as a value in my consulting and teaching practices.
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Name Val Boyko
Website http://www.motherwhisperers.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you?
The personal brand of a leader. How someone is seen or perceived as a leader.
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Understanding Others
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above
- Using the word understanding in my message to people and reassuring my audience that they are not alone.
- Sharing this message as part of my vision or mission statement
- Telling stories that show my understanding of others
- Using empathy in my conversations to show I understand the other person.
- Embodying this value in how I relate to others. Making it a living practice. “Be the change I wish to see in the world”. Gandhi
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Name Jeannette Paladino
Website http://writespeaksell.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you?
A brand is what an organization or individual wishes to be known for. Defining your brand establishes the direction, leadership, clarity of purpose and inspiration for the organization’s missi
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Strategic Thinking
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above?
In recent years I have re-branded myself as a business writer. But there is much more to writing than putting words on paper. It is understanding the client’s brand and taking a strategic look at what the company stands for and the key messages to be communicated to its target audiences. The specific steps would be to discuss how the company perceives itself, which is an inside-out-process: exploring what differentiates the individual or company from other companies offering similar services. I’ve just had conversations with two companies about this very topic and it is like unwrapping a present and discovering something wonderful inside — your brand essence. The branding and words flow from that.
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Name Sue Porter
Website http://www.AccidentalLeader.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you?
“Leadership Branding” is the way in which you have distinguished yourself as a leader. It reveals specific positive aspects of one’s influence. When people hear a particular name, they know what that leader stands for. Conversely, branding can also uncover a poor leader, but I prefer to describe positive branding. With this in mind, a leadership brand evokes feelings and thoughts of confidence, vision and wisdom. More importantly it should elicit a “knowing” ; knowing specifically how you and others will be treated. To develop a strong leadership brand encompasses values-driven behavior that gives people a desire to take notice and follow. Think of Seth Godin and you think “marketing guru, preeminent “out of the box” thought leader”; Dr. John C. Maxwell is synonymous with developing leaders and level 5 leadership; and, Marshall Goldsmith incites th oughts of servant leadership and equipping materials relevant for companies coaches, corporations, leaders and entrepreneurs. I don’t think most people realize that all they say, do, and live as a leader brands them. They not only should, but ought to strategically develop their leadership brand, monitoring it regularly.
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Developing Others
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above
I would implement a training program, using both a SWOT and a needs analysis that would uncover their skills, abilities, personality, strengths, weaknesses, motivations and past training. Utilizing coaching, together we would then develop a strategic growth plan where they would set goals and make an action plan that would not only met their needs, but as much as possible be in alignment with our company mission and vision. I would then provide ongoing coaching, support, and motivation to individually assist them in reaching their goal.
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Name Dr. Jackie Black
Website http://www.DrJackieBlack.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you
A brand is like a tattoo on the minds of my target market. When anyone in my target market thinks about me or my company I want them to instantly associate certain attributes or leadership skills or qualities to me, my business and the value/benefits they will receive from doing business with me
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Approachability
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above? I would insure that the photo I use for business purposes makes me look approachable; that the language on my web sites, blogs, sales/splash/squeeze pages, ect, and in all collateral materials makes me sound approachable; and that from the first contact with the media and with prospective clients through every contact with the media and long-term clients I demonstrate with words, behavior and company policies and procedures how approachable I am. I would train all employees, direct reports and independent contractors alike, how to speak about me and on my behalf with the public and vendors in ways and with language that clearly demonstrate how approachable I am.
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Name Leah Grace
Website http://www.evolvesuccess.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you?
Leadership brand means to me understanding who you are as a leader. We all have strengths and gifts that are uniquely ours, when we know what they are and own them, this is when our leadership brand and success is born
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Courage
- Planning
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above?
A huge part of owning your leadership brand is getting real about who you are. For many leaders, showing up as the true-self will be one of the most scary yet powerful processes they will experience in their lifetime. Putting yourself out there in a powerful way, will take a large dose of courage. It is the tendency to skirt around what we really have to offer. Courage is a process. Like a muscle courage grows and strengthens all of the time and growing our courage muscles is not always comfortable. One of the biggest reasons people don’t reach their biggest dreams is because they do not set themselves up for success in this journey of development. This is where the planning comes in. Being a successful leader is not something we are born with, it is something that we stretch towards each and every day.
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Name Frank Faeth
Website http://www.faethconsulting.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to
Several things: 1) Well-respected product/service of high quality, consistency, and dependability; 2) Creates a product/service worth considering, aside from price; 3) Provides a product/service not quite like any other — distinctive for what it is; and 4) A product/service I’m not embarrassed to say I purchase/useIf you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Business Acumen
- Compassion
- Customer Focus
- Ethics and Values
- Integrity
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above?
- Approach every project with the highest integrity and deliver an incomparable end product;
- Be honest and open with my clients and their stakeholders;
- Be someone others would unhesitatingly recommend; and
- Demonstrate that I know more about my subject area than my competitors through my words and actions.
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Name Dolores Hagen
Website http://www.sixtyandsensational.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you?
I’m not sure I know exactly what that means. I’d say that means the perception of how others see you.
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Developing Others
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above?
At the end of each coaching session I would ask these questions:
1. In what way did our session today help you?
2. Would you be willing to send me comments on how today’s session helped you in writing through an email?
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Name Arlene Kahn
Website http://www.arlenekahntherapy.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you
My first thought is that it means a style of leadership or a kind of leadership like a brand of spaghetti sauce that includes certain things.
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Innovation
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above?
1. Learning about new ideas in the field, in this case the field of Psychology.
2. Combining important traditional approaches along with the new. For example:
- Forming a support group based on traditional ideas of “Attachment” along with newer information about the brain in that area.
- Using blogs, art, writing, and other creatuve and innovative approaches to mental health
- Instituting a Community Focusing Night, free of charge.
- Creating a business structure that supports these efforts.
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Name Shoya Zichy
Website http://www.ColorQPersonalities.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you?
Defining the unique qualities that differentiate you from other leaders
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Action Oriented
- Creativity
- Developing Others
- Humor
- Listening
- Understanding Other
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above? Create marketing materials, presentations and intellectual property that demonstrate those qualities.
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Name: Laura Schlafly
Website: http://www.careerchoiceswithlaura.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you? I have never heard of this term before. If I had to take a stab at it I’d say that it means “how one has labelled themselves, or been labelled in terms of their leadership style”.
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Approachability
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above? company name would look/sound approachable:
- My photos would elicit approach-ability
- My contact information would be readily available
- I would offer an easy, low cost or free way to get to know me before engaging formally
- I would be out in the public eye, networking and volunteering
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Name: Alice Dendinger
Website: http://www.gotoalice.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you?
Everyone has a personal brand – it is what others think of when they think of you. When I hear the term “leadership brand” – it means that it is a thought or perception assigned to someone based on how they “show up.” Does the individual speak about big picture, vision, systems impact, alignment of people and resources and getting results. Or are they worried about what is “in the weeds” and issues that are short sighted. People who are branded as a leader take a 30,000 foot view as opposed to ground level.
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Action Oriented
- Approachability
- Command Skills
- Composure
- Courage
- Delegation
- Developing Others
- Ethics and Values
- Informing
- Listening
- Strategic Thinking
- Understanding Others
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above? I would take a look at what I must accomplish and focus on the more elevated level and outsource the weed work.
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Name Deborah Frey
Website http://freyworks.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you?
A “Leadership brand” is a compelling identifier designed to accurately describe and promote our distinguishing, valuable, unique talents and abilities to create a shared vision, to collaborate with, guide and empower others for success.
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Developing Others
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked above?
- Engage with the client to identify and describe their unique critical issues.
- Collaborate with the client to design goal plans.
- Provide tools to identify natural talents, interpersonal style, communication preferences, and clarify personal and professional values.
- Provide a structured, pragmatic, open-ended development process that is aligned with the client’s unique attributes to ultimately fully engage their potential, and dramatically improve their odds for success.
- Implement follow-up success platform tools and support for sustainable results.
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Name Cheri Ruskus
Website http://victorycircles.com
When you hear the term “leadership brand”, what does this mean to you?
Because leadership comes in many shapes and sizes my thought is that leadership brand means honing into your own particular leadership style. Insuring that as you put your leadership skills out there into the world that these particular attributes are shown consistently and accurately.
If you were to define a leadership brand for yourself or for your company, which leadership quality below would you use to build your leadership brand?
- Action Oriented
- Approachability
- Business Acumen
- Compassion
- Courage
- Creativity
- Customer Focus
- Developing Others
- Ethics and Values
- Humor
- Innovation
- Listening
- Perseverance
- Planning
- Strategic Thinking
- Understanding Others
Based on the leadership skill you chose above, what steps would you implement so that your customers would actually describe you in a way that aligns with the leadership skill you checked abov
- As you can see I found it impossible to pick just one – there are just too many important ones to not use them all.
- To be cognizant that these skills are filtered throughout the work we do.
- Develop programs that insure these elements continuously get implemented with our team members and clients.
All are great answers. If you believe that you or your company can benefit from starting the process of designing a strong leadership brand, contact me today to schedule a time to brainstorm for a few minutes. While using this approach can take a bit of time, the best time to begin is now!
PODCAST: For Innovation to Succeed, You Must Be Willing to Be a Politician
January 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Many people cringe at the thought of being “political” in business. But, at the end of the day, when you are entering into a phase of innovation, you must be willing to sit down and get buy in from the political movers and shakers in your organization. During this podcast, Bea Fields addresses the topic of political savvy and its relationship to the innovation process.
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PODCAST: Is Your Perfectionism Squelching the Innovation Process?
January 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment
If you are a perfectionism, you may have a need to know 100% of the facts before you begin the innovation process. During this podcast, Bea Fields will present a different approach to help the perfectionists of the world so that they can actually get the innovation ball rolling.
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PODCAST: How to Deal With Difficult People During the Innovation Process
January 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment
During the innovation process, you will more than likely bump into a few “stoppers” and “nay-sayers”. During this podcast, Bea Fields will discuss how to handle difficult people who are on your innovation team.
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PODCAST: How to Deal With Creative People During the Innovation Process
January 22, 2012 By 1 Comment
The creative thinkers on your team will be critical to the innovation process. During thie presentation, Bea Fields will discuss how to deal with creative people on your innovation team.
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PODCAST: The Building Blocks of Successful Innovation
January 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Innovation is a tough process and involves many moving parts. During this podcast, Bea Fields will present the first building blocks required for successful innovation.
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The Leadership Strengths of the 5 Remaining GOP Candidates
January 17, 2012 By 3 Comments
Oh My! So much mud! So many ads! So many debates! So many exaggerations! What do we do when we go to the polls to elect the GOP nominee?
The majority of the time, you hear the media talk issues, voting records, skeletons in the closet and an entire host of other things. But I just don’t hear a great deal about the leadership strengths the GOP candidates would bring to the White House.
After having observed each of the candidates, I want to give you my two cents on what leadership traits they do bring to the table. And, as a leadership coach, I do believe that these skills should be considered when you walk into the ballot box.
From Left to Right: Governor Rick Perry, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Senator Rick Santorum, Congressman Ron Paul and Governor Mitt Romney
The Candidates Listed in Alphabetical Order by Last Name:
Newt Gingrich: Strong presentation skills, decades of political experience, knows where the political landmines are, uses storytelling effectively to let people know where we have been and where we are going. He is tough and makes no apologies about being straightforward.
Rick Perry: Charisma and that swagger that we often see come from Texas. He knows what his followers want, and he knows how to speak to what his supporters want to hear. When he is “on”, he is infectious (in a positive way). He does not try to be something is isn’t and is strong with using self depricating humor.
Ron Paul: Authentic, trustworthy, steady, consistent, patient and willing to go against the grain. Paul is on a mission, and that mission is not to win a popularity contest but to inspire people with a compelling message of liberty, freedom and justice for all. He inspires people to follow him into unconventional territory using a vision that he has been speaking about for 20 years. He does not give up!
Mitt Romney: Strong business acumen, strong executive presence, pragmatic, turn-around experience and driven by details and facts. Romney strikes me as a results-oriented leader who is always looking at the bottom line so that he can execute a plan to improve it.
Rick Santorum: Principled, strong family values and a track record of political experience. He seems to have a deep passion and a purpose, and this does mean something in the world of leadership. He is not a pushover and knows how to take a stand when attacked.
If you are voting in any of the upcoming Republican primaries, just keep these in mind as you vote. You are not just voting based on issues. You are voting for a leader!
Myth Squashing Time! There’s No Need To Vote If You Can’t Seek The Truth
January 10, 2012 By 5 Comments
So, here we are again…in the middle of one of the most highly contested Republican primary seasons I can remember, and I have had the right to vote now for 34 years.
Over the last few days, a few things have been taken out of context, and it’s time to give the media, the candidates and the voters a wake up call, and here it is:
1. To the media and the candidates: If you claim to be fair, why do you report things out of context? Yesterday, Governor Mitt Romney delivered a speech about “firing people or companies who don’t provide great service”. He was discussing the state of affairs with health insurance companies and that as consumers, we should have the right to “fire” an insurance company that is not providing us what we need and hire a new insurance company who can provide the services we seek” (paraphrase). But, as always, Romney’s opponents and the media simply clipped out the section when Romney said “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me” and then started flying down the tracks with that statement in their hands claiming that during one of the worst economic eras since the great depression, Romney wants to fire people. If that is what you are going to listen to and buy into, then don’t vote. I am 100% for voting, unless you are a voter who does not take the time to get the full story. Just watch this video of Romney speaking yesterday and pay close attention to how the phrase was actually used:
While he may now regret his phrasing…he is absolutely right! If you have an employee, vendor or board member who is not doing his or her job and are hurting your business or life, then they should be asked to move on and find other work or other customers. Every day I work with leaders in the business and non-profit sector who KNOW they have a bad apple on their team or a vendor who is slack, but they are soooooo afraid to fire anyone. Maybe we need someone with the guts to say “Hey…you are not doing your job for the American people. Move on!”
I am not writing this to back Mitt Romney. I am writing it, because as a leadership coach, I cannot take things out of context and then use them, and as a leader, you cannot take things out of context or take a thin slice of a full statement and then slam a person with it. So, I urge you to look at the full picture.
2. To the media, candidates and the American people: Stop calling our visionary leaders crazy, cranks and odd. That is just again not fair. Dr. Ron Paul has been called crazy, a crank and odd. In 2002, he was really called crazy when he delivered this speech to congress in 2012:
So, was he crazy? I don’t think so. This speech is very sobering indeed.
Walt Disney was called crazy, and look at the joy and happiness his “craziness” has brought into our lives. Steve Jobs was called “crazy” when he introduced the iPod, and our world has been forever changed because of his vision. Dr. Paul has been trying to warn Congress and the American people since the late 1990s that we were headed for some big trouble on both foreign and domestic fronts, but everyone just said “Oh…crazy Ron…there he goes again, saying that we are going to pour money into the Gaza and Afghanastan and that we are headed for an economic meltdown.” Paul was not crazy…he was right. He is a smart man who closely follows and studies foreign relations and economics, and he understands that history repeats itself, moves in repeating patterns and cycles around and around the same issues: money, religion and resources. He has always been looking into the future, and some people just don’t have the vision to be able to really see down the road. So, the only response is “Well…that person is crazy”…that again is just not fair, and it is not accurate. It is hurtful.
So, I encourage you today to embrace our visionary leaders and to seek the truth…not just a sliver of truth but the full truth. If you listen to the media and to the bits and pieces being slung around like wet mud enough, you will never get the full story. Do your own research, get the facts straight and become fully informed before heading to the polls in November.
5 Effective Leadership Skills You Can Use to Quickly Settle a Dispute at Work
January 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
As a leader, there will come a time in your career when you have to sit down with two or more people and do your best to help settle a disagreement, dispute or conflict. While this is not the activity most leaders enjoy, it is a part of the job, and the best approach is a proactive one that engages the disagreeing parties in a dialogue that ends in resolution.
Striking while the iron is hot is critical in helping to settle a dispute. Many leaders just ignore conflict on their team, thinking that time will heal all wounds. I have observed the opposite to be true. If two or more people on your team are in the middle of a disagreement, negative emotions will build, and team chemistry can fall apart.
So, here is what I suggest trying the next time you are settling a dispute. You will be using these 5 leadership skills:
1. Addressing conflict swiftly.
2. The art of using effective dialogue.
3. Mediation.
4. Holding people accountable.
5. Taking action.
For this post, I am going to use the names John and Sue. Let’s say John and Sue have had a disagreement, are avoiding each other and starting to gossip about the situation to other team members. It is time to call them both in, and start a dialogue:
Step 1: Establish the ground rules. Allow each person a chance to vent for about 2-3 minutes about what is going on. Then, state firmly but calmly “We are now going to shift into a conversation about what each of you want for yourself, what you want for each other, what you want for the team and what steps you are going to take to get there.
Step 2: Ask John the following questions:
- What do you want for yourself?
- What do you want for Sue?
- What do you want for your relationship?
- What do you want for your team?
- What steps will you take, starting today, to
- Get what you want
- Help Sue get what he wants
- Get what you want for the relationship
- Help the team get the results they need
Step 3: Ask Sue the following questions:
- What do you want for yourself?
- What do you want for John?
- What do you want for your relationship?
- What do you want for your team?
- What steps will you take, starting today, to
- Get what you want
- Help John get what he wants
- Get what you want for the relationship
- Help the team get the results they need
Step 4: State the accountability system by saying this. “I am going to be observing your interactions, and I would like to follow up on _____________ date. State a date that is no later than two weeks into the future. If at this time, you have not resolved your issues with each other, we are going to have another conversation to see where we go from here. While I encourage open debate, I have to get my team on the same page, moving in the same direction, so I will be following up in two weeks.
Step 5: Take action. If Sue and John cannot come to an agreement, and if they cannot work together and continue to cause tension in the team chemistry, it is time to make changes…either moving them onto different teams or taking steps to determine if Sue and John are really a good fit for your company. If they “agree to disagree” and still work together, you may continue to see this issue surface, even if you move them to another team or department.
If you or a team member is having difficulty settling a dispute, contact me today for a complimentary consultation to see if I may be able to help you with this challenge.
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