Friends, Alliances & The Proper Use of Power

I have read (or at least skimmed through) all of Malcolm Gladwell’s books and have found nuggets of wisdom in each one. This year, I’ve started listening to his Revisionist History Podcasts. I thoroughly enjoy the topics and his insights into historical events which can be applied to a wide range of fields of knowledge. I feel his are ideas worth contemplating and sharing. Season 2 Episode 5, about the friendship between Churchill and Lindemann (The Prime Minister and the Prof), is particularly powerful not only because of the tragic consequences of the blind loyalty of the two friends but also because it still resonates in real ways in today’s world in how politics play a role in both political and corporate decision- making. All too often power is misused and abused resulting in negative outcomes for the business and stakeholders.

It’s safe to assume that regardless of the industry, profession, or company, every working professional will encounter the inner dynamics of people jockeying for position and power. Too many seem to have the unpleasant experience of dealing with co-workers doing their best to be unhelpful or getting the occasional nasty finger pointing email CC-ing the boss, her boss and everyone else. And some find themselves in the midst of a more lethal office warfare or power game when executives try to get one up on one another. Workplace politics can get particularly volatile in tough economic times when resources are scarce and financial stability is in question. Developing political competence is a necessary career success skill. Power abused and unchecked is harmful. However, effectively managing the complexities of office politics and the power structures within organizations to exert a positive influence can distinguish you as a leader and give you a career advantage.

No matter how talented you are, how passionate you are about your work, or how much you believe in the company mission and product, you are not likely to accomplish much without building strong relationships and having strategic alliances at work. Allies are those co-workers who provide assistance and extend friendship. They are valuable resources when you are trying to solve problems and are in need of a different perspective. But alliances can work over the long term only when they are based on integrity and trust and operate for the greater good and in seeking win-win solutions. Relationships are the most valuable currency in the workplace. Nurture them, invest in them, and use them wisely. Treating people well is the true key to success. Always try to maintain good working relationships and strategically use political clout at all levels. 

Savvy professionals carefully observe the power structure within the organization. They understand the interpersonal dynamics of those in authority having formal power (holding management positions), those who have informal power (having unique knowledge or position), or those who are charismatic and well-liked and supported. The more you understand the political landscape and the power dynamics, the better you can navigate the waters to accomplish your career goals and ensure your own success. However, being purely politically motivated often results in making bad decisions (and a short-lived tenure.) You cannot go wrong when you focus on integrity. Wise leaders use data to figure out and predict long-term positive outcomes. They form alliances as a way to access resources and skills across the company and to advance common goals. Be proactive and manage work relationships with focused attention. Identify those who complement your skill set and who may have a different approach and perspective so that together you’d be stronger than each one would be individually, and that working together you accomplishing things you can be proud of through the lens of humanity and time.

“If you do not seek out your allies and helpers, then you will be isolated and weak.” ~ Sun Tzu

But choose well. Proceed with caution and act with integrity.

YEAH Goals: Long Journey Daily Success

I got inspired reading Jeff Haden’s LinkedIn post sharing the accomplishment of his lofty goal to do 100,000 pushups and 50,000 sit-ups in one year.

I’ve always loved the Lao Tzu quote: “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” However, I feel that as hard as taking that step is, it’s still much harder to sustain the stamina to complete a big goal. I remember watching the Olympics with my father. He always used to say that races are not necessarily won by the first runners out of the blocks. Winners are only determined at the finish line. Setting goals, making resolutions, and accepting commitments are things we all do almost on a daily basis. And I think it’s fair to say that most people don’t have a problem getting started. Just think about how many years you’ve made the same New Year’s resolution. How many diets have you started? How many times have you vowed to clean up the garage and keep it organized? If you are like most people, you can probably get excited about starting something new, yet find that you struggle to maintain momentum and enthusiasm to remain committed and follow through over time.

It was actually a client who first mentioned Haden’s audacious goal to me. Her perspective was that it seemed a bit obsessive. Obsession is mostly viewed as being unhealthy. Yet, it may be a powerful force that drives us forward. As long as it is an obsession to improve, it can evoke a strong sense of intention and focus, an emotional attachment to the goal.  I’d also hazard to say that there’s no right or wrong goal to set for ourselves. Personal goals are just that – personal. Those things we care about achieving, for any reason that resonates with us, even when no one else gets it. It’s important to have a good reason for doing something in order to stay committed to a goal. As long as we are ready to dive in wholeheartedly, our drive may remain elusive as far as others are concerned. But we’d better have a clear driving force. Without it, we’d be haunted by excuses. Having that drive means we’ll do whatever it takes to follow through on our goal. Even when we no longer enjoy it, we’ll do it regardless. I call these “YEAH” goals. A “YEAH” goal is something that we are:

Yearning to do, that we have a burning desire to accomplish
Energized by, that we feel invigorated by the chance to rise to the    challenge
Able to achieve, that we know we are capable of doing
Hyped about, that we get really excited about achieving “it”

Because otherwise why even bother?

But despite the initial excitement, when pursuing a huge goal, we can lose our motivation along the way. The secret is to create a daily routine to experience daily success that will reinforce our ability to accomplish the end-goal. Running a marathon can feel overwhelming if you can barely finish a one-mile run (remember that high school physical fitness test?) Every goal can be broken into smaller, easier to achieve, mini-goals. It’s easier to stay the course when you know what you have to do every day to eventually create the reality you want. As you achieve each step, you get an instant motivation boost to keep going to persevere long enough to be victorious. Perseverance is all about small wins that help us stay focused in the face of any challenges. It’s different than quick wins, the proverbial low-hanging fruit, going after the most obvious opportunities and doing what’s easiest for a quick reward. Small wins are more about incremental improvement for long-term gain. Every small success indicates that change is possible and builds the confidence to keep trying. My running coach used to tell me that success is achieved when we keep going even when the going gets tough, when our feet hurt, when our muscles are sore, and even when it’s not fun anymore. It’s about the determination to power through and find the small inspirations along the way to keep running, putting one foot in front of the other. And most importantly, we need to own our goals: to set the goal, the standards, and the point of completion.

With any goal, it’s important to declare the destination, what is to be achieved at the very end of the journey. However, it’s just as important to also define a threshold of success, the point at which a goal is “satisfactorily” completed, even if not 100%. As you set your goal, create a positive picture of success until it’s real in your mind. But be flexible with your vision giving yourself a broader range of success options.

As much experience as we have in setting goals, we often fail to follow through and achieve them. In my experience, the following 5-step framework significantly improves the likelihood of success in achieving a goal:

1. Have a reason: create a compelling vision that would move you to action
2. Make a daily commitment: break your big goal into smaller goals and take daily action
3. Celebrate small wins: maintain the momentum needed to keep making progress
4. Find daily inspiration: incite your enthusiasm to stimulate your endeavors
5. Determine your point of completion: define your own success

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” ~Henry David Thoreau

 

 

The Point of Completion: When You Know You are Done

There are so many inspirational quotes about not giving up pursuing our dreams, getting up when we stumble, and turning failures into victories. Yet, quitting can sometimes be the best move forward. It takes a lot of courage to admit that an old dream no longer feels exciting. Sometimes we just know in our gut that it’s time to let go and move on to something new. I got a call from a client who had a dream to become a manager. He had the dream for 5 years. Following our work together, he did get the promotion about 6 months ago and became a people’s manager. Now he is saying the dream is not what he thought, and landing a dream job is not all it’s cracked up to be. He feels that the job helped him realize that he is NOT a people person. He wants to spend his time trouble-shooting technical issues rather than dealing with people’s issues. In fact, weekly one-on-ones make him want to rip his hair out and listening to excuses of why people need to work from home make him want to bang his head against the wall. In short, reaching his career goal to have the word “manager” on his business card was falling way short of expectations. He knew managing people would be a challenge, but he believed it would be a challenge he’d enjoy. So he landed the perfect job, the one he’d always wanted with a title to match, and well, he hates it. He needs a new dream.

Realizing that a “dream job” is fast becoming a nightmare can be painful, triggering feelings of grief and loss. My client’s vision of success was climbing the corporate ladder by first becoming a manager to then managing bigger and bigger teams earning fancier titles, bigger paychecks, and recognition. Being honest that managing people wasn’t for him, my client now has to re-define his vision and definition of success.  His wife is an artist, and he says that there’s a Frida Kahlo quote in her studio “I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality” that really speaks to him. He has come to realize he needs to start painting his own reality. The goals are the same. He wants to receive the pay and perks to still be able to provide for his family and have the funds to maintain their standard of living, but the dream needs to be adjusted. It’s important to remember that success is not tied to a single goal, or a title. Success is fully utilizing our talents in a way that is impactful.

The thing with coaching is that it touches upon topics and raises questions relevant to everyone’s lives, to my life, and may touch tender spots. For years and years, being a career coach was my ultimate dream. I’ve always been driven by the purpose to help others find career success and satisfaction. Running my own business is something I’ve been wanting for a very long time. Yet, a year into being a business owner, I find myself relooking at my goals, established a long time ago. As I’ve failed to reach my 12-month financial goals, do I need to change my dream, or keep trying? I know my strengths and my weaknesses. But how do I know when I reach the point of completion and whether it’s time to change direction?

Some things in life have a clear point of completion. My husband has a dream to walk the 500 miles Camino de Santiago trail in Spain. I asked him why he wants to do it all at once rather than sections of it over a couple of years. He really has his heart set on receiving the compostela, the certificate of completion of the Camino de Santiago. He does not want to do it for any religious or spiritual purpose nor because of any cultural or historical reasons. He wants to do for no other reason than walking and completing the long trail all in one go (and yes, he is aware you can get the certification for walking only the last 100 kilometers of the Camino.) But often in life, there are no markers on the road indicating the point of completion. There may be points in our lives when we are not sure we are on the right path and have no idea how far we still have to go, or what we still have to go through to achieve our goals. It’s easy to leave when something is bad. It’s harder to do when something is good but not great. How long do we need to stick to a dream when it’s slow to come to fruition? This is certainly an individual choice. Here’s what I’ve come to accept:

1. Putting a dream to the test can be a powerful way to poke holes in it
2. As we work towards a goal, things change, and we change, too
3. When things seem to be falling apart, they may actually be falling into place

When our goals change, it means we are growing, evolving. When we evolve, we need to shed the things that no longer serve us and pursue the things that will shape our new destiny. When a dream doesn’t fit our life anymore, it’s time to shift our focus. An old yoga teacher used to start every class with “setting the intention.” The idea is to focus attention and bring awareness to the practice in order to notice the changes. I’ve found it to be true in life as well. The intention, not the goal, deepens the practice and helps us achieve results. We need to start every day like starting a yoga class: holding attention to what is authentic for us and setting the intention for our choices. Being honest about what we want and what we are ready to let go of, our boundaries and limitations, and what is possible to change. Small changes can have a huge positive impact. Make sure that as you start and end your day, you appreciate who you see in the mirror.

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” ~Henry David Thoreau

Starting a New Business: Failure is an Option but Hope is Infinite

A year ago I made a decision to remove myself from things that no longer served me and let a new adventure begin. In truth, it was more like being pushed to the point of no return rather than a courageous leap of faith. But whether a leap or a stumble, once I let go of solid ground, I had to learn how to land safely. While taking the leap sounds spontaneous and courageous, the truth is that it took months, if not years, of preparing. But ultimately it came down to the final straw, a decision that could no longer be avoided. In the past year I’ve come to realize that plucking up the courage to take that vigorous leap does not even come close to the real guts it takes to then do it all over again day after day facing the many obstacles along the way.

With all the research, prep work, and planning, starting a business is a lot like sky diving with a questionable parachute – you take the leap and build your wings on the way down. Entrepreneurship is personal. Every business owner has a different story about taking the leap. If you listen carefully, you know that the story is not just about passion and happily ever after. Every story is about challenges and twisty roads, fear, and uncertainty. Some days, the weather is nice, the air is crystal clear, and the path lays open and wide inviting me to touch the horizon. Others feel like taking a walk in the dark where I feel out of balance losing my footing being unsure where to step and which direction to take. Staying empowered through tough days that otherwise may leave me feeling powerless, requires persistent and unwavering optimism believing that difficulties are temporary and can be overcome. Few things are either black or white. I have to notice the shades of grey and the many more colors in-between.

I love the story about the father who was worried that his son was overly optimistic. Wanting to prepare him for life’s disappointments, he takes him to the stables filled with horse manure. Rather than crying or showing any signs of disappointment, the boy starts jumping up and down with excitement asking his father for a shovel. The father asks: “what do you need a shovel for?” And the boy responds without pause and with absolute certainty: “Well, with this much horse poop, there must be a pony in here somewhere.”

Being relentlessly optimistic is not about being a Pollyanna seeing everything as positive ignoring reality and avoiding hard truths. It is about seeing options when things go awry and turning negatives into positives. The one thing I’ve learned this year is to look forward to trying again tackling old problems with new strategies. When faced with tough challenges we can either feel hopeful, or hopeless. It’s a choice. And in every situation, it’s always best to hope for a better future than despair over the present circumstances. Hope is a renewable resource, that when used, opens up new possibilities and the freedom to make decisions anew. As much as I’d like to, I cannot control everything that happens in my life and in my business. The only things within my control are my attitude and effort. So why not choose hope? And why not keep trying? When losing a big client, I can say “I was just not good enough. I will never close a big deal.” Or say: “Too bad I couldn’t close this client this time. The client wasn’t ready for the commitment. I will apply the lessons learned and do things differently next time.” The beauty of it all is that I get to choose what is true for me, so why not choose the story that’s most empowering? I believe that successful people are those who are fundamentally hopeful believing that with a strong will there will be a way, even if not the one planned for.

A year into the journey “following my passion,” this is not (yet) a story of great success and loads of money. But it is a story of falling in love with work hoping the results will follow. It’s been a year of taking first clumsy steps addressing challenges never encountered before and learning new skills charting new territories. I am not sure what the future holds. So far, the 80/20 rule applies to running my business. I am spending 80% of my time doing things outside my core competencies, such as Marketing & Sales, to get to spend 20% of my time doing what I love, which is coaching people for career success. If there is a key to unlocking business success, I haven’t found it, yet. But I know the results shouldn’t be judged merely by the seeds planted to date. The harvest may not come for a very long time.  All the key learning moments from this past year can be summed up in a nutshell: “optimism.”  No matter what each new day brings, I am going to face all obstacles and challenges with hope and work to realize the opportunities and possibilities to be found.

Unfortunately, optimism doesn’t come easy to me, and I have to proactively work on remaining hopeful even on cloudy days. I’ve implemented the following five practices to my life to hold up hope as I forge my own path to entrepreneurial success:

1. I finish every day writing down 5 things that went well and/or that I am grateful for in my life.
2. I make sure to check at least 3 things off the daily to-do list that move me further along in achieving my short-term and long-term goals.
3. I do 5 nice things for others every day, even if it’s just a quick “get well” message, or running an errand for someone in need.
4. I take the time to analyze the temporary set-backs to create a moving forward plan that aligns to my ideal vision.
5. I do at least 1 fun thing every day and make sure to have fun things to look forward to booked and on the calendar.

I have found the above to be a sure and steadfast anchor of my entrepreneurial soul to tackle each new challenge with a sense of excitement, anticipation, and energy.

“Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune without the words,

And never stops at all.”

                                ~Emily Dickinson

What is the song in your soul?

 

 

Work & Life: Striking a Balance between Caring and Self-care

This week I was moved by a Rebecca Thomas LinkedIn post about her difficult decision to resign from a job that she loved because it was killing her. Over 1,000 people have commented, with many reporting a similar struggle to balance work and home life. It is certainly my personal experience (and that of many of my clients) trying to manage a crushing workload, which at times dose not leave much energy or emotional resources to enjoy other aspects of our life. You might be at risk for job burnout if you experience any of the following:

• working over 10 hours a day on a regular basis
• taking work home most days and consistently working on weekends
• never feeling fully relaxed
• (frequently)getting the Sunday or Monday Blues
• feeling physically and emotionally drained most of the time
• having trouble sleeping worrying about work

If any of the above sounds familiar, a new job might be the right solution. However, there are other options to consider as well. You have to figure out how to put yourself in a better position on the current job, or a new one. But whichever you choose, the process involves learning to say “no.” It is essential to prioritize the people and things that make all the difference, and proactively reserve the emotional energy and time only for those situations worthy of the investment of your most precious resources such as our time, talent, and caring. It is perfectly acceptable to care less about people or things that are less caring-worthy. To those who are not sensitive to swear words, Sarah Knight’s TED Talk “The Magic of Not Giving a F***” perfectly illustrates this point.

As boring as this may sound, the first order of business is to do an honest assessment of your healthy habits:

• Are you eating right?
• Are you active enough?
• Do you have adequate downtime?
• Are you getting enough sleep?

When you implement changes in place to get the basic health habits right, you can start looking at other areas in your life. Set aside 5 minutes to make a list of all the time and energy drains in your life. Be specific and get to the core of the issue – outline the specific challenges, or pain-points. For example long commute, a phony boss, grocery shopping, or a needy family member - anything that you want less of in your life. Remember: the first step toward change is to be honest. Stop after 5 minutes. Repeat this step 3 days in a row. On day 4, compile your list of top 5 joy suckers in your life. Here’s a client’s list (shared with consent):

1. My boss is a terrible gossip who talks shit about everyone behind their back.
2. Bay Area traffic is a nightmare. I resent spending 2 hours on highway 101 every day.
3. Since the last round of layoffs, I’ve been doing the work of 3 people and cannot keep up with the workload.
4. I feel left out when the guys on my team play soccer at lunch, and I am not invited.
5. I hate being on conference calls at 10:00 pm, especially since nothing is ever decided.

When you have your list, take 5 minutes over 3 consecutive days to brainstorm solutions. Write down 3 action items for each challenge.

1. My boss is a terrible gossip who talks shit about everyone behind their back.
1. Apply “duck & cover” strategy: avoid lunch/coffee meetings or impromptu 1-on-1 meetings
2. Focus on the work: prepare clear agenda for each meeting. Redirect the conversation to strengths and solutions
3. When possible, invite others to meetings for input
2. Bay Area traffic is a nightmare. I resent spending 2 hours on the 101 every day.
1. Request telecommute 2 days a week (Tuesday & Friday)
1. Complete productivity WFH plan by [DATE]
2. Work on pitch to present 1-on-1 at [DATE]
2. Downloaded podcasts to my smartphone (The Muse 51 list) – this weekend
3. Create am/pm commute playlist – ask son over the weekend
4. Create weekly calling list to connect with family/friends  (every Sunday)
3. Since the last round of layoffs, I’ve been doing the work of 3 people and cannot keep up with the workload.
1. Draft a work plan of big projects & deadlines + daily/weekly/monthly tasks (telecommute plan #2)
2. Identify which things I can cover/what needs to be delegated to others – next step pitch to manager
3. Start every morning breaking the day into blocks w/breaks
4. Research productivity and time management apps & check any that are applicable (start using top 3 within 1 month)
4. I feel left out when the guys on my team play soccer at lunch, and I am not invited.
1. No more eating at my desk! Take 30-minute break every day
2. Keep Sketchers at my desk to go for a walk & find a nice spot to eat sandwich
3. Create a “lunch buddy” list for 3 months. Once a week initiate a lunch meeting with co-workers or LI connections (start [DATE])
5. I hate being on conference calls at 10:00 pm, especially since nothing is ever decided.
1. Decline all mass-conference calls & catch-up asking for meeting notes
2. Dedicate no more than 1 night per week for conference calls – Wed. night 9-11pm
3. Smile and promise to “do the needful”

When you are a caring, dedicated and conscientious employee, you tend to let work demands spill over into non-work time. Unfortunately, there’s no magic bullet for finding work-life balance. This is a continuous learning process in which we focus our attention and take action to improve our personal efficacy and emotional well-being. The key is to keep prioritizing what we care about and directing our time, energy, and efforts on those things that are within our control. And above all, we always need to keep all options open. No job is for life. Never stop looking for other opportunities. Make sure you dedicate a couple of hours each week to look at job openings in your field and to network. Life is short. Do something you love. Work where you thrive.