July 2010 Archives
Some advantages are created organically, while others are by design.
Organic solutions are created in the natural course of events - think cup to hold water, and answer the question: i need something that will ...., what could do it?
Design solutions are by intent and strategic - think smart phones, bluetooth or apps for the mac, and answer the question, i want to create ...., what will make that work?
Both organic and design solutions work as advantage making approaches. Organic solutions can be spotted but must wait for a situation to emerge. Design solutions can be found as well with a proactive opportunity spotting approach.
A Start-Up business may begin with a design solution and then while it is developed and developing organic solutions can be found by the team.
The critical point is spotting the opportunity whether it emerges or is by design.
Alexander Fleming was doing an experiment in his lab and when he returned from a short vacation he found
a mold formed on his petri dish 'ruining' his experiment. But instead of tossing it out, he shifted from this is a
problem to this is a solution to killing the bacteria.
Fleming said, "When i woke up just after dawn on September 28th, 1938, I certainly didn't plan to revolutionize all medicine by discovering the world's first antibiotic, or bacteria killer." But that is what he did in discovering penicillin.
Would you have had the opportunity spotting mindset that Fleming had?
Are you tossing out a solution that could revolutionize your work or at least make a difference?
"If you are not creating advantages you will probably lose to someone who is"
The entire effort of your leadership ought to be targeted at creating advantages.
Advantage-Making Leaders create advantages that:
1) encourage
followers,
2) influence
outcomes,
3) create
forward movement, and
4) increases
opportunity
When your boss, colleagues and people who report to you think of you what is the first thing they think?
In the back of their mind, do they feel you encourage people, influence perception so people say yes to your request, make things happen that otherwise couldn't happen, spot opportunity and are ready willing and able to take advantage of situations?
Advantage-making leaders create victory in spite of their circumstances.
Obstacles are not stopping points, but triggers for using your ability to create unexpected solutions.
A Silicon Valley tech V.P. was working on an initiative that required cross functional commitment and engagement. He found that his peers refused to move forward whenever an obstacle arose. They just stopped, even as their stopping was making it more difficult to meet the deadline. And they didn't call, they just kept finding more questions. Details, in this case, were not going to make a difference.
When there are obstacles to you stop and wait, do you complain for more than a few minutes, do you ask more and more questions when the answers won't really make a substantial difference, or do you, as this V.P. said, 'Refuse to Lose'?
He was not saying there is no failure, he was saying there is always something to learn and move forward, to at least take engage.
Advantage-Makers are often thought of as high risk takers, but they are really doing their best to actively penetrate to the heart of problem and more importantly, to the heart of the solution, that often appears like a big risk to those who decide based upon probability rather than possibility.
While some obstacles actually are mountains, most are just pebbles that someone has thrown at you when you know how to play the game of advantage-making.
Questions:
What advantages does you leadership really provide?
I'd love to hear
The recovery required both structural and perception changes.
A number of structural changes have been designed and implemented.
And these forces will continue to work in the midst of uncertainty
But what can you do?
This is tough but the question now for the economy, and your personal economy
is what energy do you associate with?
With the winners or the losers.
Winners resonate a can do mentality, they are proactive. They don't deny reality but they don't play to the naysayers.
Who do you want to do business with? The naysayers or the resilient who perceive the opportunity that others don't see?
It's time for each of us to influence the perception that we can do and will do.
Perception drives behavior and controversy gets headlines.
We are beyond predominantly structural problems.
I do believe we must keep the stimulus flowing.
Best remedy for you individually is find ways that are working for you.
Small, medium or large.
Don't buy the naysayers
Shift the game. Your personal energy is what people first notice.
Shift the question with potential customers. Instead of what can you do for me, ask What can I do for you now?
I can attest to the reality that shifting your energy shifts the interactions fundamentally, and our ability to perceive opportunity
Lebron signs with the Miami Heat to win a championship, taking less money.
What stood out the most was his comment,
In this league, you become a superstar individually,
You become a champion as a team -
I know the history of the game.
Are you trying to be a superstar or a champion?
Happy Independence Day -
It's 1776 and the colonists are pondering the concept.
What a brave group of people to shift from subjects to citizens as Thomas Jefferson penned in the Declaration of Independence.
America was born out of a fundamental shift from monarchy to democracy.
The Founders and their family, friends and colonial colleagues were all part of a great shift.
While not accepted without a war for our independence, the mothers and fathers of our Independence
moved us from disadvantage to advantage. They prepared a platform for all future movements toward
freedom of thought and action.
We thank them and all who contributed to and continue to support the fundamental shift.
The real fireworks was in the consciousness of the leaders who took a stand in the face of the forces against progress and humanity's good will.
As we continue our journey, more and different shifts retain and expand our freedom of, by and for consciousness
This is real growth.
It's 2010 and America is appreciating the great shift
Shifting is America's birthright.
Each day the choice is ours. Advantage or Disadvantage.
Sometimes we are more fortunate and things go our way, as if the stars are aligned.
Other times we have to make it happen.
All you have to do to confirm this is watch the World Cup or Olympics
They prepare and are ready. But folks can get bad breaks not of their doing,
or good breaks that they capitalize on.
When you get bad breaks what do you do?
While complaining is normal, the important point is how quickly do you shift?
Are you prepared to shift?
You don't have to know what the answer is to know that its time to shift.
The first step is to recognize it is time to shift. Too many people take too long on this step.
To accelerate your performance, to get better results now, shift sooner.
You can look for solutions by sorting through the five shifts that create Advantage.
Shift the Question, instead of accepting the Givens. This will construct options
Shift Time, instead of being stuck. This will overcome the boundaries.
Shift Interactions, instead of doing more of the same. This will change the game.
Shift Perceptions, instead of a loser mindset. This will influence outcomes.
Shift Structures, instead of being controlled. This will shape new behavior.
We sometimes don't realize that if we are complaining we are not shifting fast enough to what will work.
Shift faster!
