Frank Uncovers Excellence in Leadership

© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2009

I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?

Benjamin Disraeli

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benjamin disraeli
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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2009

Do you challenge them?

Give them a chance to grow, do something different?

Keep the status quo—because you depend on them doing what they are doing?

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chance to grow  employees  status quo
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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2009

People always thought that computers would help to have fewer papers to deal with. Reality is that most companies deal with a lot of paper. The bigger, the more. Way too often one get the impressions to deal with the overloaded bureaucracy of a long existing federal agency.

Do you deal with less or more paper—since computers have been introduced?

Are you fighting the Paper War?

Do you think that increasing the amount of paper we have to deal with is a sign of:
Bad leadership?

Bad management?

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bad management  bureaucracy  impressions  paper war
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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2009

Isn’t it surprising how many in management believe that the team spirit within departments makes up for missing corporate culture?

As a matter of fact a missing corporate culture can be quite damaging to any (big or small) business. While customers will recognize and appreciate the team’s spirit within a given department, having to deal with a different culture when talking to someone else is cumbersome at best. Even worst is how often the team spirit is based on the assumption the team one belongs to is better than other teams.

At times other teams are even seen as phlegmatic and unknowledgeable.

Would you consider that corporate culture?

Do you live within a corporate culture?

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assumption  corporate culture  different culture  matter of fact  phlegmatic  small business  team spirit
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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2009

Checklist

One of the best ways you can create a set of goals for your team is to remember to follow the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attractive, Realistic, and Timely) principle. Once those goals are set—they have to be evaluated constantly and adjusted when needed.

✓ Are you in control of your own destiny?

✓ Is your boss?

✓ Are you making your own decisions?

✓ Are you allowed to plan?

✓ Can you change given plans?

✓ Does your word count?

✓ Is there too much stress and pressure?

✓ Are blame games part of the daily routine?

✓ Does money or the lack of it rule?

✓ Is there supervision only?

✓ Is the staff qualified?

✓ Are there teams?

✓ Do you feel managed?

✓ Does the team feel managed?

✓ Is the top manager representing or managing?

✓ Do managers in the organization follow their own words?

✓ Do managers meet with employees every few weeks?

✓ Do you like the overall feeling?

✓ Do you have fun?

✓ Are management and staff loyal? To each other and the company?

✓ Is everyone responsible towards customers?

✓ Are there entrepreneurs?

✓ Are there ethical standards?

✓ Are they followed and lived by?

PDF version

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2009

Actually, it is more than just a blog. It is the books I have published so far.
Enhance your Leadership Skills always has been a free e-book - and I sure keep it that way

Stop Telling… Start Leading!
The Art of Managing People by Asking Questions
on the other hand is in print and will stay in print for a long time to come.

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blog  e book  leadership skills  long time  managing people
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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2009

Today’s daily question and quote of the day are about emotions.

When you ask a lot of questions (and I do!) you are always faced with emotional answers. Even to very simple questions like: “Do you have a plan?”

Very often you can see how the person that asked the questions get’s more than irritated by the answers given. Sometimes they step back, stop asking and miss the opportunity to analyze what happened. Every so often silence is an even more powerful way to get more and/or better answers.

But let’s step back and see why there is an emotional answer:

• Jane is in state of denial.
• Marc has other problems and is overwhelmed by them.
• The person has no clue, but does not want to admit it.
  Isn’t it interesting how many people (including myself) rather say something wrong than keeping their mouth shut?
• Pam feels threatened by the question and let’s her emotions take over.
• Bill is following his own agenda and does not care about the question.
• Ann didn’t understand the question and/or is not interested in understanding it.
• Don is upset that he didn’t ask that question. His emotions take over.

Understanding why people get emotional over easy questions is step number one in taking charge.

Do you take charge?

How do you handle emotional answers?

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clue  emotions  quote of the day  silence  simple questions  state of denial
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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2009

Well, we all know that a great many think that money is the, if not the only, motivator there is. Studies of brain activities done by scientists of the university Bonn found that for men knowing how much the competitor makes can motivate too; especially when one makes more than the other. There are no results for the female behavior. Yet.

Does it matter to you how much more or less your colleague makes?

Do you think that women will act differently?

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brain activities  colleague  competitor  female behavior  men  money  motivator  scientists  university bonn
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