Frank Uncovers Excellence in Leadership

© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

Tune in on July 9th for Attracting Ideal Clients, aired on BlogTalkRadio. We’ll be talking about how to Lead & Empower your Team by Asking Questions.

Attracting Ideal Clients on BlogTalkRadio
Lead & Empower your Team by Asking Questions

July 9th — 3pm Pacific / 5pm Central / 6pm Eastern

Special Guest: Frank Kanu

Author of Stop Telling… Start Leading!
The Art of Managing People by Asking Questions

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepdapro

Listen online (live or archived) or call (646) 478-4558 and ask a question during the show.

Click Here to Set a Reminder for the Show

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

in helping people deal with high energy prices and food prices,” said the President.

Way too little way too late.

Someone needs to tell him in something like three words or less that the stimulus is supposed to boost the economics, not to offset the cost increase we see everywhere.

But than what can one expect from the Commander Guy who spends trillions for a war that was announced to cost less than 600 billion and has its mission accomplished—5 years ago.

(I for one am tired of hearing about the progress being made. It’s years later and there are more and more American soldiers giving their lives for—yeah, for what?)

Did you read that the economic actually grew slightly in the first quarter ? One has to wonder how that can be with all the companies reporting income losses and layoffs. Oh, wait a minute—Dubya’s friends at the work: The oil companies (I am extremely disturbed by the obscene profits the oil companies are reaping. ) report new profit records every quarter.

Let’s face it: If a commander in chief needs to call himself the “commander guy ” he got his priorities wrong and is everything but a leader.

Anyway, for me the real issue about the stimulus pay is this:

By law, the stimulus payments are offset to satisfy past-due taxes, student loans, child support and certain other debts.
Child support? Yes! I fully support that—after all that money goes to a child (at least in theory…)

Past due taxes, student loans and certain other debts? You got to be kidding me!

Not only that even Dubya recognizes how useless the stimulus has become—now the pay does not even go to those who more likely would actually spend it…

What’s even worst—a family with children that has debts will not get a darn thing. Or get what children need: School supplies, clothes, etc. And those cost. But one has to guess that the debt is already so insanely high that even a little not paid stimulus helps…

But since children do not have a lobby…

Families need more support, especially in times with a rotten economics. Other countries—like Germany —pay Kindergeld an allowance for every child.

Wouldn’t it be nice if this President stopped telling and starts leading?

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

Happy Easter!
Frohe Ostern!

(If you like to learn a few more, look at Happy Easter in many languages )

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008





Ok, the subordinate explains what is done to keep the leader up to date.





I haven’t heard that?

Either Ms. Perino was lying with her statement that the President is briefed regularly. Or the briefings are useless—because the President isn’t informed properly. Or President Bush can’t understand the briefing or follow them.

What is it?

One thing is for sure: This is everything but leadership. One of the 13 deadly sins of Stop Telling… Start Leading! The Art of Managing People by Asking Questions is: Let Everything Go Uncontrolled. Looking at Ms. Perino’s and President’s Bush statement—do you think that anybody is in control in the White House?

They have the slightest clue what is going on?

I’ve said it before: This is no leadership. Countries in economical trouble need leadership. Or the trouble worsens. America has to deal with a lot of other things that many things are handled wrongfully: The Iraq War, health care, immigration, the fight of terrorism to name but a few.

But let’s face it: If too many people have to turn every penny twice (gasoline is now well above $5 a gallon in CA) an elected leader stating: “I hadn’t heard that.” shows nothing but a lot of ignorance. Towards those that put him in power in the first place. Looking back in history—wars have been started on the grounds of badly handled economical downturns. Sure, there is the stimulus package, but it hasn’t arrived yet and how much influence will it has?

Many think it’s too little too late.

On the other hand, some companies post ever higher profits while cutting low ranked employees income and cutting the work force. But to whom are these companies going to sell their products when the average person will be living below the poverty rate?

It used to be that top managers and companies understood their ethical and economical responsibility of ensuring the wealth of everyone—to guarantee their own survival. Now it looks like the only thing that counts is profit.

Where is a leader when the country needs one?

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

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 2000-2008

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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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

The posting book title received this comment:



There are many bloggers out there that would censor a comment like the first or the second one from John. Especially when they are hateful or nothing more than personal attacks.

You might wonder why I allow this comment. For one, I allowed John’s first comment. Secondly, leaders can deal with criticism, even when it’s really nothing else than a personal attack. Thirdly, it says a lot about John that a year almost two years later he took the time to write another comment, but did ignore what others said.

That’s what is wrong with many managers and great parts of our society: Everything has to be belittled. The success of many TV shows is now not based on a good concept or an interesting story anymore but some superiors pointing out how much one person sucks.

Last but not least there are comments about what John said and I find it incorrect to censor John’s comment in this situation.

A few days ago I posted about emotional answers given. Which one would be a good fit for John? I leave the answer up to you.

And, if my book is so worthless in John’s opinion, why is he then reading my blog?

As I wrote before, I do not mind people disliking my book. What I find quite interesting is someone who claims to be a manager/leader takes the time not once but twice to get personal. And even recommend burning the book. If that isn’t hateful and plain wrong… There have been many times in history books have been burnt; but some people never seem to learn, right?

Enjoy this wonderful day! I will—that’s for sure

PS: Coincidence that today’s daily question and quote of the day are about reputation?

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© Copyright Frank D. Kanu 2000-2008

Today’s question “Do you complain too much?” is a question that I am faced with very often. As an avid reader of my blog and / or my book Stop Telling… Start Leading! The Art of Managing People by Asking Questions you know I love asking questions.

Unfortunately that is not always received well:

• People curse
• There is the complain that asking questions is nothing else than complaining
• Hate will be expressed: What a stupid question!
• Instead of thinking about an answer defense mode will be entered.
• “Asking questions is impolite”
• The accusation of slowing down instead of contributing to progress is made
• You are not a team player!

What do you prefer: A great question that solves a problem or complying with every—no matter how silly in a given situation—rule?

Wouldn’t you agree that questions are not complaints but a great way of expressing concerns and helping to progress in the right direction? But let’s be clear about one thing: Because questions are not tolerated very well most have lost the ability to ask the right question. Or to accept that questions are and should be asked. There is only one way to become able to ask good questions again:
Training, training, training…

Exercises creates the master

German proverb

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