From The Desk of Karla Brandau

Pump Up Creativity Today for Innovation Tomorrow by Karla Brandau

2011-06-05T13:39:00.018-04:00

Has your organization been so focused on the bottom line and cost cutting that innovation has atrophied? Do creativity muscles need some heavy lifting to get them working again?

Samuel J. Palmisano, Chairman, IBM Corporation, stated in a recent publication from IBM entitled Capitalizing on Complexity, "events, threats, and opportunities aren't just coming at us faster or with less predictability, they are converging and influencing each other to create entirely unique situations. These first-of-their kind developments require unprecedented degrees of creativity -- which has become a more important leadership quality than attributes like management discipline, rigor, or operational acumen." Palmisano goes on to state that in light of the world's increasing complexity, creativity is the single most important leadership competency needed.

If you are a leader and need to refocus your workers on innovation, start by setting a creative tone in your meetings. Here are some ideas:

1. Get people laughing. Assign workers to look for the humor in their day and share the humor at your meetings. This technique helps people learn to laugh at themselves as well as setting a playful atmosphere for creative ideas.

2. Get 4-5 ideas for solutions. After attendees come up with one or two solutions for problems, ask them for two or three more. Who knows, the best idea may be number five.

3. Apply solutions to the problem. After ideas are on the table, ask employees to judge how well each idea solves the identified problem.

4. Make assignments. Always close your meeting with clear implementation assignments complete with followup deadlines. This safely moves the innovative ideas from the right brain to the left brain task list.

Follow these steps regularly and your employee's creative minds will steadily find solutions to the tough challenges of our multifaceted economy. Pump up the creativity muscle today for innovative products for tomorrow's world.

"Touchy Feely" - The New Thing? By Karla Brandau

2011-05-06T13:33:00.008-04:00

Well, not in quite the way you think of "touchy feely". Being overly emotional has never been the 'in' thing at work. However, what is now 'in' is the recognition that soft skills (tact, accepting feedback with grace, speaking respectively in meetings, listening to other's opinions, etc.) are just as important in the workplace as hard skills such as finance and accounting so says an article in the Wall Street Journal entitled on the Lesson Plan: Feelings. The article discusses how business schools are working to integrate soft skills into their business curriculum.

Successful leaders know that emotional intelligence, social etiquette, people skills, following the Golden Rule or whatever labels are attached to empathetic behavior, is a career maker or a career breaker. People don't get fired because they can't do the work, they get fired because they can't get along with their team mates.

As managers move from the hard skills required in project management into the soft skills required for performance reviews, their artistry in conversation, collaboration, and negotiation are paramount.

You need not get your group together and sing Kumbayah, but to move up the managerial ladder, you will need to:

1. Be aware of your emotions, acknowledge your emotions, and discipline your emotions.
2. Be sensitive to the slight variations in the emotions of others and respond in empathetic ways.
3. Use the art of questions to discover attitudes and opinions.
4. Understand basic negotiation techniques.
5. Learn to work and manage the emotions of the group to achieve intended results.

What is your experience with soft skills in business? Post your comments below.

Leadership: The Future Started Yesterday by Karla Brandau

2011-01-06T09:06:00.007-05:00

The Future Started Yesterday...in case you didn't notice.

Do you feel behind already? Is your organization struggling to keep up with the changing fluctuations of the economic environment, battling to learn new ways of marketing, working to adjust to the new social contract between employees and employers?

To move confidently into the future you need a vision, not just for the innovation of new products and services, or for new ways of marketing on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter but for new, more transparent ways to rebuild trust with your employees. During the past two years, most organizations have been tainted by broken trust between employers and employees.

The future you want to live in starts with a vision of superior ways to operate and that vision started in the discussion of yesterday where seeds of future achievement were planted in sometimes fuzzy recesses of deep thought.

As the seed of idea sprouts through dialog with colleagues and employees, all systems and processes are reevaluated and an ideal future is revealed.

This ideal future, this vision, takes possession of your entire soul and moves you into action. As you articulate your vision of future accomplishments to your employees, your vision becomes a shared vision. This shared vision serves as a guide for the future where you live with self-assurance.

Can you make this work in your life? Can you make it work today?

Leadership - No Blank Stares! by Karla Brandau

2010-12-08T07:41:00.006-05:00

There is nothing more angering than having a problem to solve and the people who are responsible for solving that problem look at you with blank, hollow eyes that avoid being accountable.

Every individual has the ability to think and should be coached to bring answers, not just dump a problem in your lap and skip merrily back to their office or to the break room.

Teach employees to use their imagination to find solutions. Ask them "What if money were not an object, how would you solve this?" Or "If you had all the resources in the company at your disposal, how could you make this work?" Or pay them a compliment with "You have a creative mind. Is there an out-side-the-box solution that makes sense?"

Engage the gears in the brain and eliminate blank stares.

Ban Office Gossip? IMPOSSIBLE! by Karla Brandau

2010-08-23T20:13:00.019-04:00

The BBC reporter on the other end of the line wanted to know if I thought you could ban office gossip. I told him it was impossible! Then he proceeded to tell me that Bridgewater Associates, a Wall Street hedge fund group, had issued a memo banning office gossip.

Staff would get two warnings and for the third offence anyone caught gossiping about their bosses or colleagues behind their backs would be fired.

And who is going to catch these people? Do they really want all of their managers policing gossip instead of growing the business? Or do they intend to hire a whole slew of security officers to wire tap telephones and install hidden cameras at desks?

There are two kinds of gossip:

1. Coffee Pot or Water Cooler Gossip. In this kind of gossip, employees can hardly wait to get to the office to gather around the coffee pot or water cooler to find out what happened in the "Nancy and Owen" saga. This kind of gossip is uncontrollable because employees will find some way to tell the next chapter even if it is passing notes under the bathroom stall wall.

2. Pointed Criticism and Denigration. When gossip turns ugly and becomes hateful, management must address the issue. I recommend starting a dialog with the bitter person and getting the issue out in the open. Better to have open even though conflict-filled dialog than let this kind of gossip destroy the morale of the entire organization.

Transparency will work. Banning office gossip will not.

Visit Workplace Power Institute to read how leaders can reduce damaging gossip.

Leadership: Eliminate the "Bully" Manager's Image by Karla Brandau, CEO Workplace Power Institute

2010-06-02T10:40:00.017-04:00

I was interested in an article in a recent post in the Wall Street Journal on a new law proposed in New York allowing employees to sue a boss for bullying.

Sarah E. Needleman writes: "Earlier this month, the Empire State's Senate passed a bipartisan measure that would allow workers who've been physically, psychologically or economically abused while on the job to file charges against their employers in civil court. The bill applies to organizations of all sizes, unlike other employee-friendly laws that exempt small businesses, such as the federal government's Family and Medical Leave Act. It also holds employers responsible for the bullying of workers by colleagues and not just supervisors."

Needleman notes that bills of this nature are "politically popular" and 16 other states have introduced similar legislation. The full article can be found at http://tinyurl.com/2fvk2pl

In times of recession, employees may tolerate toxic bosses and coworkers, but as the economy turns around and companies begin hiring again, workers who feel harassed will leave and look for a work environment conducive to increased satisfaction and happiness on the job.

Here are some tips to teach your managers so you retain your valuable workers and eliminate the threatening, humiliating, or intimidating "bully" image:

1. Check the facts before criticizing an employee.
2. Keep conversations with the employee private.
3. Address disagreements or gaps in performance as they occur -- don't save the discussion for the annual performance review.
4. Create a conversational environment for the discussion of viewpoints.
5. Listen carefully to what the employee is saying.
6. Control personal feelings of frustration or anger to facilitate clear thinking.
7. Articulate both personal and employee viewpoints until both agree they have been heard and understood.
8. Make the employee a partner in solving the problem.

Help your managers follow these steps, and they'll not be perceived as jerks and fair game for a "bully" law suit.

The Workplace Power Institute has exceptional programs to help managers work smoothly with employees while focusing workers on organizational goals and increasing performance. Visit www.workplacepowerinstitute.com for more information.

Leadership: A Common Sense Approach by Karla Brandau

2010-05-21T08:46:00.011-04:00

Yesterday I attended a breakfast meeting sponsored by Business to Business. The speaker was David Ratcliffe, Chairman, President & CEO of Southern Company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Two things impressed me about Ratcliffe. First, he was very complimentary of his employees. He complimented his employees several times on their abilities and talents. His genuine admiration of his employee's work in making Southern Company emerge as a leader in the energy field was impressive.

In my consulting experience, praise of the workforce and authentic respect for what employees collectively achieve is paramount for success.

Second, I liked his "common sense" message. Often we collect data, analyze, project, slice and dice but forget to use common sense. His common sense approach has kept Southern Company moving forward despite rising costs, increasing demands for energy, an aging work force, environmental obligations and a growing global energy crisis. The complexity of our work world definitely demands common sense. Are you applying that in your organization?

For more information and to access the May/June 2010 issue of Business to Business Magazine, visit www.btobmagazine.com.

Professional Growth: Rejected But Not a Reject!

2010-03-25T16:37:00.006-04:00

On March 24, 2010 the Personal Journal Section of The Wall Street Journal carried an article entitled Rejected! It documented how Warren Buffett (Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) Meredith Vieira (Today show co-host) and Harold Varmus (Nobel laureate in medicine) were all rejected by Harvard. Entrepreneur Ted Turner was rejected by Princeton as well as Harvard.

Each said that to be rejected by the school of their dreams was personally devastating at the time. However, they may have been rejected, but they refused to see themselves as a REJECT! For each one, a brilliant light dawned as they pursued other educational opportunities.

If you missed it, read the article and apply it to your own life. When you are rejected by a person or your ideas are rejected by a team, tell yourself that you are not a reject and move on!

Leadership: Three Steps To Stardom by Karla Brandau

2010-03-04T11:36:00.010-05:00

Jim Halsey was fascinating in the interview I watched this morning. Halsey is a veteran music manager and agent having discovered and promoted stars such as Reba McEntire, Roy Clark, The Oakridge Boys and The Judds. After 60 years in business, his new book, Starmaker, touts three steps to stardom. In the interview I heard, Halsey said:

1. Design a plan. Get your yellow pad and write down where you want to go.
2. Build a team. Surround yourself with good people.
3. Stay focused. Don't stray from your plan.

Then Halsey stated an obvious truth: "There are probably 500 to 600 books out there that tell you how to be a success. They will all tell you the same thing: Success comes down to these three easy steps."

It jogged my memory of success principles even though I might argue that they are not as easy as Halsey made it sound. I do find it interesting that whether you want to be a movie star, a rock star or the best manager in the organization, the principles are the same.

iExpect Success Month: Tips For Tough Times

2010-02-15T19:49:00.012-05:00

I am pleased with the response to the request for stories and tips for International Expect Success Month. International Expect Success month is a time to celebrate the strength of the human spirit.

Your short tips for tough times are still welcome at www.KarlaBrandau.com/iexpectsuccess_stories.com.

Share your secrets for making it the rough spots in life. What pulled you through? What principles guided you? Where did you turn for support? Your insight and inspiration may be just what another person needs at this moment in time.

Tips and stories will be printed in coming issues of my newsletter, Strategic Strategies for Career Success.

One thing is very clear to me: Tough times require a fighting spirit! Whether that tough time is finding a new job, making quota, finishing a project on time, or dealing with a teenager demanding independence. The mentally tough, those who say, "I will find a way through this" are the ones who will triumph.

Complimentary iExpect Success Webinar: February 18th, 7:00 Eastern Daylight Time. Register at https://www1.gotomeeeting.com/register/935431184

You'll get tips and techniques to use the Right Thoughts plus the Right Actions formula for success on a daily basis.

Leadership: Make An Impact In Six Words by Karla Brandau

2010-02-05T09:31:00.010-05:00

I have been participating in a fun discussion on LinkedIn with the group, Linked2Leadership. A group member challenged readers to tell a story in six words.

Think about it...statements that impact you the most are short, simple, and have an emotional impact. Imagine the influence you would have as a leader if you could make succinct statements instead of using run on sentences or even run on paragraphs.

Log in to LinkedIn and visit the Linked2Leadership Group. http://tinyurl.com/yzjc2ky

Don't forget to submit your Expect Success story at http://tinyurl.com/ycgexd9

Leadership: Expect Success Month by Karla Brandau

2010-02-02T10:08:00.006-05:00

February is Expect Success Month! I challenge you to see the silver lining behind the clouds that may be blocking your view of the world.

To celebrate the power of positive expectation to change your world, I am collecting stories about how you used the right thoughts plus the right actions to pull yourself or your company through the economic crisis of 2009.

When you submit your story at www.karlabrandau.com/iexpectsuccess_stories, you will be entered to win an IPOD which will be awarded on March 1, 2010. The stories will be shared on my website where everyone can be inspired by your proactive steps to land on your feet after setbacks you may have experienced in 2009.

Just for entering your story, your organization will receive 20% off any programs produced by Karla Brandau & Associates.

I look forward to your submission.

Leadership: No "Just-in-Case Personnel" by Karla Brandau

2009-11-19T15:17:00.012-05:00

I was impressed today with a television clip I saw of Captain Richard Phillips thanking the crew of the USS Bainbridge for his rescue from the Somali pirates in April.

Two things he said have application to our work environment today.

First, he said that the first time he came aboard the USS Bainbridge, he noticed that the crew was tired, haggard, bags under the eyes but he could see that it was a crew "... working united and together as a team to save myself for no other reason than it was your duty, your job, your all. It was very impressive to me to work among such a dedicated, professional, motivated crew and see how they operated under the command of Commander Castellano."

What a strong compliment for a leader. His people worked hard to get the job done. They did not just arbitrarily stop because they had worked an entire shift.

Second, Phillips made a comment that applies to our lean work environment. He said, "We sailors know there is no one aboard a ship who is extra. There is no one aboard a ship who is not really needed. There are no 'just-in-case' personnel. Everyone has a role, has a duty, has a job. If we don't fulfill those jobs as sailors, then someone else has to pick up our slack."

That hit home! Most organizations have had to lay people off, leaving skeleton crews to do the work. There are no 'just-in-case' people to back employees up. A good leader helps each employee realize their value and encourages them to pull their load so a coworker does not have to pick up the slack for them.

Good lessons for today's stressful work environment.

Leadership: Bury the Skeletons by Karla Brandau

2009-10-29T16:46:00.009-04:00

Because team members are individuals first - with strong opinions - and team members second, disagreements and conflicts are to be expected as projects progress. Sometimes, conflicts are not talked through to the point of collaboration and become skeletons in the company closet, rattling their dry bones at times in protest.

If you are a leader of a team and the skeletons in the closet are hindering your productivity, use the Halloween theme to pull the skeletons out of the closet and into the open where the problems can be discussed, dissected, divided, dismembered and buried.

The key to burying conflicts is intelligent dialog, give and take, and the ability of team members to rally around the final decision, even if they don't agree with every single point.

http://www.karlabrandau.com/

Professional Growth: UNdoing to Start Doing

2009-08-19T16:02:00.014-04:00

Did you realize that you often have to UNdo something before you can start doing in new directions?

Today I was thinking about new directions for my company and was in a state of pondering about how the last few months have made me rethink every piece of my business.

Almost absentmindedly, I reached over and opened the quote book I compiled, Empowering Thoughts. The soft purple pages seemed to fall open to just the right quote: "What you have done to create where you are, can be undone to create where you want to go."

Wow! I was on automatic pilot today, doing marketing and sales in a rote way -- based on what worked 2 years ago. I have to undo those sales and marketing habits to enable myself to start in new directions, to start doing the right things to be competitive in the 21st Century.

I'm planning my "UNdo's" right now!

Leadership: Success, Chance and Risk by Karla Brandau

2009-08-04T08:41:00.016-04:00

There are elements of chance and risk in every success we enjoy. Interestingly enough, both words have negative and positive contexts.

Chance is defined as the inability to predict, understand, or control events. Looking at it from the probability or possibility viewpoint, any happening has a 50% chance of success or failure.

The synonyms of risk say it all: venture, peril, jeopardy. To take a risk is to expose you to the possibility of failure.

You can, however, make chance and risk work for you and lead you to success. For instance, if seen as an opportunity, chance can change into good luck which has been defined as 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

Risk can become a calculated risk meaning that if you risk going out on a limb, then you have calculated your weight and the number of pounds that limb will hold.

Being smart about taking chances and calculated risks can help you lead through ambiguity and chaos to success. You will avoid sending the red tip of that needle to the failure side of your initiatives.

Time Management: The Producer's Mindset by Karla Brandau

2009-07-13T16:00:00.007-04:00

The first time I heard the phrase "The Producer's Mindset" I knew instinctively what it meant. So I was shocked when a person in a seminar asked me what I meant by the phrase. I was even more shocked when I stumbled to explain it.

Finally it crystallized in my mind: The producer's mindset champions action! When the producer of a movie or television show says "action", everybody moves. Just like the producer on the set, the producer's mindset makes things happen.

The producer's mindset is the opposite of procrastination and laziness. If I have the producer's mindset, I am:

Making a to-do list
Identifying high priority tasks
Estimating the time it will take to do a particular task
Giving the task a deadline for completion
Attacking the task with vigor

The procrastinator's mindset aligns itself with the law of inverse excuses which demands that the greater the task to be done, any and all insignificant work must be completed prior to beginning the greater task.

A person with the producer's mindset aligns their thought processes, their behaviors, their environment and their actions. This alignment creates unparalleled focus which brings sustained success.

Just the thought of sustained success makes giving up the procrastinator's mindset for the producer's mindset a no brainer!

Leadership: Dismiss the "Wait till the recession is over then act" Attitude by Karla Brandau

2009-05-27T08:00:00.013-04:00

To take a "wait till the recession is over then act" attitude is a prescription for suicide for your organization.

Two headlines recently signal that a turnaround is coming. First, the Wall Street Journal recently reported that businesses have quit slashing IT budgets even though they predict IT budgets will be flat into 2010 as companies wait for stability over several quarters before new orders are made.

I saw the second headline in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Another sign the economy is coming back.... The article states that the Conference Board's Index of Leading Economic Indicators rose this month, the latest sign that an economic recovery may be around the corner. The LEI, which gauges economic activity in the next three to six months, advanced 1 percent in May, the biggest monthly gain in more than three and a half years. It follows a 0.2 percent decline in April. May's LEI gain was the first increase in seven months.

This is great news and the question now becomes, "What am I personally doing in my organization to prepare us for additional business and expansion?" The economy may still be fragile, but the time to act is now. To put your organization on the path to growth you can:

1. Evaluate your business processes and eliminate whatever blocks productivity.
2. Update your software versions and ask your IT professionals how technology can help you solve business problems.
3. Give your employees the tools to handle additional tasks as the recession ends. This includes training on topics from software applications to conflict and collaboration.

Check out Karla's resources for training programs in conflict and collaboration and in time management and technology at www.KarlaBrandau.com or www.TimeForResults.com.

Leadership: Tune Up Your Engine

2009-04-16T13:31:00.029-04:00

When your car is sputtering and stalling it is easy to open the hood, look around, check the oil, wiggle a few belts, check some connections and proclaim “It’s beyond me.”

Our economy is sputtering and stalling and most people don't have the foggiest idea of what to do. Instead of loudly proclaiming “It’s beyond me,” become the mechanic. Pull your team of professionals together and run the diagnostics needed to tune up your organizational engine.

Explore solutions to symptoms such as:

What product or service might need to be jettisoned?
Is there a new product we could launch with minimal effort?
Can we find new ways to cut costs?
How can we reward our employees for their loyalty?
What would increase morale?
Can we use Web 2.0 techniques in a productive way?
What would make life easier for our sales team?

What you are looking for are minor changes that can make major differences in the way your engine runs. The crisis of the economy is pushing us to modernize, cut obsolete products and practices, and readjust organizational vision while realigning purpose and employees. This process is the bright side of what is happening in every organization in the world today.

The Expect Success Attitude: Even a Penny Can Block Your View

2009-03-11T11:03:00.006-04:00

I can’t think of one thing a penny will buy in today’s world. All I use a penny for is to make the right change to cover the city, county and state taxes when I make a purchase. However, when held up to your eye, as small as it is, a penny can block your view of the world around you.

How does a penny apply to you today? Don’t let small bumps in the road block your long term plans for success or destroy your positive hopes for the future.

I ran on a book the other day by author Shari Dew whose title summarizes my thoughts: If Life Were Easy, It Wouldn't Be Hard.

Try the experiment. Put a penny up to your eye and then remove it. Removing the penny is similar to using your resilience and the “expect success” attitude to help you triumph over all odds.

Competence: Determination to Win

2009-01-23T20:17:00.014-05:00

I have often wondered about the components of self-esteem. In my search for higher self-esteem, I had an "Ah-Ha" moment when I realized that every time I conquered something or had a monumental task and finished it, my self-esteem went up. So, self-esteem comes from being competent! Therefore, it is not "easy street" that is important but the development of skills equal to challenges.

As I have experienced and observed, it is more through the traits of perseverance and determination that we achieve as opposed to raw or developed talent. The question becomes, "How much do you want it?"

As I have watched sports events throughout the years, I frequently hear sports commentators muse, "They wanted it more and that's why they won." In other wards, one team had more determination and more perseverance, thus they won the contest.

We are in a contest with economic forces beyond our control but the same principles apply. I will only win if I dig down deep inside and find the determination and the perseverance to streamline and focus my efforts so I win the contest against time and the economy. What is your choice?

Stress Management and the Holidays

2008-12-18T15:21:00.008-05:00

My Christmas stress management tips are simple. As you have undoubtedly experienced in the past, this time of year produces unique stress tied to the decision making process.

How much time do you spend deciding to trim your yard in multi-colored lights or just white lights? How much emotional distress have you experienced trying to decide whether to send hand signed and personally stamped Christmas cards or pick your favorite e-card where snow falls and lights twinkle, blasting it immediately to your entire distribution list? Do you waste precious minutes standing in front of the cooler in the grocery store wondering which your guests would prefer, Eggnog or Boiled Custard?

To handle these little dilemmas, remember these rules:
1. In matters of little consequence, decide quickly. Multi-colored light or white lights both serve the purpose of lighting up your yard.
2. If there is a sentimental reason for hand-stamped Christmas cards, send them. They will probably be lovingly opened and reread.
3. Buy both Eggnog and Boiled Custard and let your guests choose.

Making a choice quickly on small decisions that have little long-term consequence frees your energy to enjoy the wondrous sights, sounds, and excitement of the season.

Leadership: Economic Chill Killing Christmas Parties?

2008-11-25T10:21:00.005-05:00

Even if the economic chill is killing your Christmas spirit, I'd rethink canceling your Christmas party.

In my opinion, the purpose for the Christmas party in 2008 is to bond as a team and reaffirm your need to pull together to make it through this economic crisis.

Yes, get rid of the expensive "bash" concept. Yes, cut back on what you serve and eliminate fancy decorations, but don't drop the entire event.Cutting back on unnecessary frills sends the message that you at the top know how to be frugal.

Make this year unique. Create an event that reaffirms the worth of each individual as a valuable contributer to the organization and bonds you as a team to make it through the winter storm intact.

A View From Above

2008-10-19T17:42:00.017-04:00

Nature has a calming effect. This picture entitled simply "A View From Above" reminds me how beautiful the world is when we leave confusion and chaos in the valley below and ascend above the clouds.

Today when you listen to or read the news, remember that headlines are meant to sell newpapers and they fade with the sunset.

Be mentally tough. Resolve to climb through the clouds of uncertainty and forge a sure path to the top.

Personal Resiliency to Withstand External Stressors

2008-09-17T08:07:00.013-04:00

The daily news is filled with external stressors: slipping financial markets, war, terrorism, increased gas and food prices to name a just a few. Added to normal life pressures, these external stressors can increase the emotional tension you feel at work and at home. If you’re experiencing elevated stress levels, here are just a few quick tips to increase your resiliency to stressors whether external or internal. Practice these tips and you'll be feeling much better and less stressed in no time:

· Get some exercise during your breaks at work. Just the simple act of changing your environment for a few moments, whether it be walking around the building or a quick shopping trip, can be enough to reduce your immediate stress.

· Watch your diet. Don’t feed your stress by consuming candy, sugary coffee drinks, or other snacks. You’ll get a quick rush that makes you feel good for awhile, but by the middle of the afternoon, you’ll probably be tired or more stressed. Snack on fruit or chopped veggies instead.

· Prioritize your time. Keep a list of tasks and cross them off as they’re completed. Don’t feel shy about delegating projects to others if you have more work than you can handle.

· Vent your frustrations. Use your spouse, mother, or close friend as a ‘sounding board’ – it will feel good to get it all off your chest.

· Unplug yourself. Turn off the cell, put the computer in ‘sleep’ mode and relax. Check your email and messages less often. Practice deep breathing exercises to help you relax.

Technology and Your Future World

2008-07-07T17:19:00.012-04:00

Employability Skills for the 21st Century ...

Technology seems to hold the world in its fingertips, turning and churning it at will. I admit, I’m intimidated by technology. It is so powerfully simple when being used by a skilled IT person, an excellent graphic designer, or a web expert yet to me it has so many layers, angles, and options.

Do you relate? Have you ever been at a loss when your virus protection stops working or your Microsoft Outlook churns incessantly? There seems to be so much code that can be corrupted. Or do you wonder at all the hype over MySpace, LinkedIn, and other Web 2.0 innovations?

No matter how challenging technology is for you or how tired you are at having to learn to use the newest release of software, never stop trying. Technology can perform details and routine work more efficiently than a human and gives you, your products, and your services 24/7 exposure which is expected from buyers in our global marketplace. Electronic gadgets and software programs are key ingredients in your effectiveness, productivity, and ultimately a job in the 21st Century marketplace.

When you first open a LinkedIn account, try features in Outlook you have never used or wade through your new CRM software, everything is pretty awkward but as with any other skill, persistence and a “geek” friend is the key to power.

MUST READ BOOK: To help you understand the Web 2.0 networking, read a book by Ellen Sautter and Diane Crompton entitled Seven Days To Online Networking. It is available through the publisher at http://www.jist.com/ or on Amazon.

By putting a plethora of information in the hands of technology, you’ll keep your future in your own hands.

Need more information on work in your future world? Go to www.karlabrandau.com for information on coming audio conferences.

Oversized Competition

2008-06-20T07:50:00.007-04:00

The phenomenal display of talent displayed at the U.S. Open in Torrey Pines provided oversized entertainment and oversized lessons about life.

Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods battled for 91 holes and left us with these tutorials that are seared into my memory:

Number 1 – Competition and excellence. Competition takes your performance to new heights. Mediate stated that he threw everything at Tiger Woods except the kitchen sink. Woods answered every challenge and commented that this was probably his “best ever” performance even though in pain from a left knee needing reconstructive surgery.

Number 2 -- Belief in yourself. In one television interview Mediate stated, "Even if you are outranked and outgunned, you can still win." He believed in himself and his abilities and he lost by a tenth of a second in Olympic terms. His unusual attitude made him a winner in his own right as media swarmed to interview him.

Number 3 – Competitors and respectful friends. Even in the midst of fierce competition, you can still be friends. I had to pause for a moment and let the hug between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate sink in. After being fierce competitors for the coveted trophy, at the end of the match there appeared no animosity between the opponents, only mutual respect.

These three life lessons are monumental for anyone in a daily quest for excellence.

Personal Renewable Resources and Your Work Environment

2008-05-28T06:28:00.014-04:00

The pain of being held hostage by the fossil fuel industry (which at some point in the future will be depleted!), has me thinking about how I can take advantage of renewable natural resources.

The thought of ultimate depletion brings a frantic and helpless attitude to the person who believes the world can provide for our energy needs only through resources that will eventually run out. Depression is a natural by-product.

Optimism comes when you understand that the sun, wind, and water are true friends. Every morning they are available, ready to be put to work for our benefit.

I believe these renewable resources also provide a lesson for our work environment. When your work day is over and you are ready to head home, it is easy to be depleted with the irritations and problems inherent with ANY company fighting to stay in the black, or ANY director struggling to run an efficient agency or division.

You will prove a valuable asset to your organization if you can show up to work every morning with renewed energy to tackle the challenges. Here are three ways your use of renewable resources can raise the energy level of your office on a daily basis:

1. The Wind. Let the wind blow away the myriad of your annoyances so team members can collaborate, solve problems, and innovate.

2. The Sun. Let the sun warm your interpersonal relationships so enthusiasm and optimism can grow, spread, and flourish.

3. The Water. Just like the tides relentlessly beat against the shore, you also can relentlessly "stick to it" until your task or project is successfully completed.

And ultimately, forgiveness, trust, and achievement are natural by-products of your renewable attitude that can have a major effect on your colleagues and employees.

Too Wired? Too Reachable? Too Productive?

2008-04-23T21:18:00.013-04:00

All of our technology gadgets give us great boosts to our productivity. Or do they?

Well, yes and no. When your goal is to be accessible and reachable at a moment's notice, then yes...your cell, laptop, Blackberry, and any other wireless technology tool you can find achieves that purpose. These electronic gadgets let your customers, clients, and colleagues reach you anytime and any place provided you don't let your batteries run down. When they reach you, you can solve their problems and deliver excellent customer service.

However, if your goal is to increase productivity, the answer may be no. Why? Personal productivity is a complex issue. If you are constantly accessible with little down time, you are headed for burnout. True productivity relies on a well rested body. Just research how many hours pilots can fly per month and you get a sense of how important proper rest and relaxation are to a flawless performance...and we definitely do want a pilot's performance to be error free!

You are only productive to the point that you can maintain your emotional health. When you start to feel burned out, you need some downtime. Don't answer your cellphone or check your e-mail on your Blackberry. Whoever is calling you will think you are talking to someone else (or you surely would have taken their call). Those who e-mail you will have to wait patiently (or unpatiently) for you to return their e-mail.

Your quality of life will improve and you will be more focused and productive during your work hours.

Did you research the number of hours a pilot flies in one month? It is 70-80 hours. Wouldn't that number be nice applied to corporate jobs?

New Kid on the Team Rules

2008-03-10T13:02:00.000-04:00

I grew up on a farm in Idaho where we had the ultimate retention policy: I couldn’t fire my brothers and sisters.

As a kid, one of my chores was to tromp out in the pasture at 5:30 every afternoon and herd the cows down to the barn for milking. One thing stands out in my mind…the newest cow in the herd ate around the fringes. It was an unwritten rule. It had the new kid on the team syndrome. I had to go out of my way to get the new cow on the right path to the barn.

In a similar way, there are unwritten career success rules for you as you move around departments, teams or make a career move from one organization to another. It is easy to become the “new kid on the team.” Those “new kid” rules are:

1. Be personable and approachable. As you are introduced to other co-workers, think thoughts such as “I like you” or “I’m looking forward to working with you.” These positive thoughts will be projected through your smile, your eyes and in a mystical way, through your soul. The other person will feel the positive vibes coming from you and will see you as approachable.

2. Be an active learner. Yes, I said “learner” not listener, even though listening is important. By being an active learner, I mean don’t be afraid to ask questions, fearing that you’ll look stupid. You are not expected to know what is going on so use this short time period to your advantage to knowledge acquisition. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help is a great way to get to know others.

3. Do the dirty work. Volunteer for the odd jobs detested by others. You will learn more about the functioning of the business unit and gain respect from your coworkers. Document what you do because it won’t be long before you can pass the list on to the next new hire. Pass the list on in a mentoring moment and the new hire will suspect nothing.

4. Respect time. Be on time to meetings and limit lengthy comments and explanations. When in a personal conversation, read the body language tips that tell you the other person is done. You know, the looking at the watch, checking their email on their PDA, wandering eyes, etc.

5. Have the Can-Do attitude. The strongest poison on a team is a person with the attitude of “I can’t do that.” It is especially poisonous when paired with “I won’t do that.” You will stand out when you volunteer for the tough task and pull it off with brilliance.

Practice these simple rules and you'll be the most popular new kid on the team. And, by the way, if you see a new kid on the team haning out, go out of your way to make the new kid welcome.

For a poster copy of Etiquette Rules for Career Success, click here.

The Urgency of "Doing"

2008-02-06T18:54:00.000-05:00

Leonardo da Vinci said, “I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.”

The man in the picture is doing. His task is so compelling that he has stopped on the way to work to complete it. I'd like to believe he is working on one of his goals professional or personal greatness.

Each morning is a spendid time to ask yourself the question: Are my goals moving me into action? Do I feel urgency to complete them?

I know what I want and I am willing, but am I "doing"?

To give urgency to your goals:

Break them into manageable chunks
Give each chunk a time slot on your calendar

As you go through the days and the months, you will bump into that piece of your goal sitting right there at 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. You will feel urgency to complete it so you can check it off as finished on your task list.

For more tactical time management and technology tips, go to http://www.timeforresults.com/. You will learn about the new 10-module "Time For Results" interactive learning series ready to help you use Microsoft Outlook to be more productive on a daily basis. To bring Karla to your organization, visit http://www.karlabrandau.com/.

Have an awesome day and remember to be great in 2008.

Has the Confetti Settled?

2008-01-05T14:11:00.000-05:00

After the confetti settles, I have to admit, I love January. For me, the New Year dawns with crispness in the air and hope burning brightly in my heart. I can smell the chance to do better and to reach once more for that pinnacle of success I see in my dreams.

I am filled with positive expectation and the opportunity for future achievements to replace past frustrations, disappointments, and mistakes.

Do you have the same feelings?

With the New Year, your dreams and aspirations provide that external force that pushes you out of the sluggishness of the past and into an agile, producer’s mindset required by the laser speed of business in the new millennium.

The producer's mindset that will make you great in 2008 involves:

1. Knowing where to start on your task list every morning.
2. Closing out your day before you leave work.
3. Planning projects in detail so you don't miss deadlines.
4. Learning to make conversations productive.
5. Structuring meetings so stuff gets done.
6. Keeping important details from slipping through the cracks.
7. Finding time for self-development.

Take a deep breath and use these seven things as a checklist to help you hang on as you experience the wild ride the New Year promises to be.

For articles and tips on the producer's mindset as well as my most recent newsletter, go to www.karlabrandau.com. And remember: Choose to be Great in 2008!

Multitasking -- Not Without Dangers

2007-12-08T12:09:00.000-05:00

I recently read an article by novelist Walter Kirn telling of his near death experience as he was driving late one snowy night on a two-lane highway in Wyoming. He was on his way to see his girlfriend in Colorado when his phone chirped indicating that a new picture had been sent to him, from her. Fumbling for his phone, he swerved off the pavement, sailed over a steep embankment and headed toward a barbed-wire fence, sagebrush and rocks.

He escaped death, stopped the car, turned it around, made it back to the highway and proceeded south as a much slower rate.

His multitasking of driving and using his cellphone was a near disaster. Multitasking in the office is not much different. Most driven individuals think they are accomplishing more by multitasking. That may be true if they have the computer printing and they are deleting e-mails while listening to a long-winded friend on the phone.

In a multitasking mode, not much quality will be produced and relationships may be destroyed. How important do you feel when you ask an question and the person who has the answer keeps their eyes glued to the computer and their fingers speeding over the key pad as they stumble to answer you while their mind is flitting from their task at hand to you and back to their task?

It takes concentrated focus to solve problems, write intelligent papers, and have a solution oriented conversation.

The next time you want real results, don't try to multitask -- especially if you are driving on snowy roads and your cell phone is buried under stuff on the passenger seat.

Use laser focus to get your mind into peak mode functioning and you'll achieve impressive results in your work hours.

For additional information on competence and productivity, go to http://www.karlabrandau.com/ and be sure to read the former posts.

The 10/90 Rule

2007-11-08T22:37:00.000-05:00

I sat down to breakfast with the Wall Street Journal and found a replacement ratio for the 80/20 rule--the 10/90 rule. I scanned through a couple of articles on the front page and then started to thumb through the A section.

My eyes stopped on A7, a full page ad by Accenture showing Tiger Woods with his golf club in position but no sign of a ball. The ball is hidden in the tall, golden, dried grass of Autumn. Tiger's face mirrors deep concern but determination as he looks toward the green where he intends to land his ball.

Next to Tiger is a vertical line with a marker at 10 percent accompanied by the words "what you did." Above the 10 percent is a 90 percent and the words, "what you do next." Did you see this ad, too?

Thanks, Accenture and Tiger for a great message. What you did in the past is insignificant to what you do next and what the future holds. What may have gone wrong yesterday is inconsequential beside today's new start toward success.

To summarize the 10/90 rule? Ninety percent of success is what you do next. Are your next actions giving you a hole-in-one?

Common Sense, Responsibility and No E-mail Fridays

2007-10-21T06:39:00.001-04:00

In my post on October 5, we talked about no e-mail Fridays at Intel. The Intel blog has not yet reported on their success level, but research shows other companies have tried the policy including U.S. Cellular and Deloitte & Touche. The policy in these companies has sparked rich debate with pros and cons on both sides.

The policy was adopted to ease workers overload but implementation of the policy has highlighted the sheer volume of business conducted externally and internally via e-mail. The policy allows employees to answer e-mail from customers and clients but seeks to encourage live voice communication between employees. Talking face-to-face increases synergy and is a better tool for problem resolution or product innovation than e-mail. It is a productivity plus to get employees in the same room communicating.

Common sense, however, dictates that if the communication is a routine answser, e-mail is more efficient than face-to-face or telephone. If the reply is a simple "yes" or "no", again, e-mail is faster. Therefore, I recommend flexing the no e-mail Fridays to permit internal e-mail that falls into the "simple reply" category.

To gain the desired results from no e-mail Fridays, responsibility must be added to common sense. Employees can take individual responsibility to stop their addiction and refuse to check
e-mail 30 to 40 times every hour. For those addicted employee who send as much as 200 to 300 e-mails a day to co-workers, I would recommend a big dose of common sense: Stop the spam. Make your e-mail communications succinct and of value.

The Radicati Group, a Palo Alto, California research and consulting firm, predicts that e-mails sent by individual corporate users will increase 27% this year, to an average of 47 a day, up from 37 a day in 2006. When this increase in volume internally is combined with the increase from customers and clients, an astute observer will see that no e-mail Fridays is a good policy if combined with individual responsiblity and common sense.

For more ideas on gaining control of the avalance of organizational e-mail, call me at 770-923-0883.

Live in the "Now"

2007-10-05T23:13:00.002-04:00

American author Robert Jones Burdette (born 1844) is famous for his saying, "It is not the experience of today that drives men mad. It is the remorse for something that happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may disclose."

In that simple sentence, he captured the two most popular forms of stress: guilt and worry. Guilt looks to the past with feelings of dejection, depression, and anger at an event or encounter that didn't end favorably for you. Worry uses up precious present moments being occupied with feelings over something that might happen.

Mark Twain, the great American humorist, said, "I have experienced many horrible things in my lifetime...a few of which actually happened." His statement illustrates the point that we become fixated on things in the future that may never happen.

Whether your mind is occupied with either guilt or worry, you are throwing away the irreplaceable “now”. Since history cannot be changed, the powerful person will "let go" and move on. As the future can be affected, the powerful person will make appropriate plans so history becomes written the way they prefer the past to be remembered.

Burdette's last advice on how to live free from fear and apprehension is to forget worry about two days of the week: "One of these days is yesterday … and the other day I do not worry about is tomorrow.” He lived in the NOW and ejnoyed life one day at a time. Increase your effectiveness and reduce your stress levels by following his advice and don't forget to take time to njoy the flowers and the sunshine.

Download more tips on stress at Karla's Website: http://www.karlabrandau.com/. Recently posted is 15 Sizzling Solutions to Predictable Hourly Stress at www.karlabrandau.com/newkarla3/articles/StressSolutions.html. At Karla's web site, you'll also find the latest issue of her newsletter.

Basics First, Then Fancy Moves

2007-09-08T07:42:00.000-04:00

Like professional artists and athletes, taking action and moving your life forward to greater success is self-determination and involves mastery of the basics before fancy moves can be successful. For an athlete, the basics are hitting, shooting, throwing, kicking ... whatever the sport requires, practiced every day. For the musician, the basics are scales, warm-ups, tonal exercises, keys, meters ... whatever the instrument requires, practiced every day. During practice of the basics, each professional artist or athlete seeks to stretch their range of performance, thus making possible the fancy moves at performance time.

Being a professional performer in today’s business world means paying attention to the basics in two areas: time management and people skills. The fundamentals of time management are making a productivity plan on a daily basis and following through on that plan.

The fancy moves in time management involve making productive use of your time when:

1. Working on complex projects
2. Solving problems with creativity
3. Relating to other individuals when your work overlaps

The fundamentals of people skills for the business professional are social etiquette, graciousness, and respect. In other wards, being a true professional means you include “please” and “thank you” in your conversations and you listen to the other person’s viewpoint.

The fancy moves in people skills are:

1. Diffusing conflict
2. Collaborating to solve problems
3. Creating synergy

It takes practice to make a spectacular fancy move as you slam dunk the basketball or you flawlessly perform Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. In the same way, fancy moves in dialog skills and conversations take practice. On my web site, I have posted many articles that can help you conquer the basics and then make the fancy moves in both productivity and people skills. Study these articles at http://www.karlabrandau.com/ and improve your professional performance.

“Performance, whether as a professional, an artist or an athlete, is an art form…it is reading how the play will unfold, what the other person will do, compensating for minor mistakes.” – Karla Brandau

Leave the Office on Time

2007-06-23T11:50:00.001-04:00

Everyone longs to leave the office on time but few actually do. Why? The answer is complex but in my research, reasons for not leaving the office on time ranged from "I have so much work to do I can't possibly get it all done in one day" to an honest "I had several conversations that went too long and then I spent the rest of the day cleaning out my drawers. Now I have to get my work done."

Whatever your reason for not leaving the office on time, realize that desire to leave is a prerequisite to make it happen. If desire is strong, you can push productivity through the lazy afternoon doldrums of low energy and slow mental functioning.

Remember a time when you absolutely had to leave the office on time to make a flight? Attend an association meeting? Get to your son's state finals basketball game? What did you do to enable you to walk out the door on time?

Chances are you innately made good productivity choices meaning you:

1. Ignored possible people interruptions and social conversations (you walked down the hall looking at your work, refusing to offer more than a 'hello' to other employees).

2. Put your phone on voice mail for a short period of time to reduce interruptions.

3. Avoided mental interruptions by resisting the urge to check email every 5 minutes.

4. Watched the clock and were aware of the amount of time spent on each task.

5. Closed out your day and moved unfinished items to the next day.

What came naturally to you in a moment of desperation to leave the office on time works on normal days as well. All it takes is desire and a productivity mindset. Give it a try and then email me at karla@timeforresults.com and tell me how you make sure you leave the office on time.

Competence: The Well Executed Day

2007-06-02T12:22:00.001-04:00

What makes you jump for joy and feel triumphant?

The sale of the century? Winning a heated argument? Turning an angry cusomter around? Making the right management decision? Getting your dream house at the price you bid?

Yes, yes, yes...all of these things would all make me jump for joy.

For those seeking greater competence, however, there are other components in living a well executed day. My idea of a well-executed day means that I am conscious of my time management plan, but I use common sense, letting the day flow, and answering the needs of the people around me.

A well executed day means that I closed out my day satisfied that I completed the most important tasks, made an ambitious plan for tomorrow's work and reconciled myself to the fact that only when I am permanently planted will my task list be finished.

For me, the icing on the cake of a well executed day is connecting with the people I love. Just knowing that my family has been out in the world, driving the highways, and have all returned home safely is enough to make me jump for joy. I'm sure you feel the same way.

If you ever feel incompetent, evaluate yourself by the components of a well-executed day, not by the number of tasks not checked off. Chances are you can jump for joy.

Mid-Day Madness

2007-06-02T12:01:00.000-04:00

Your morning hours must be productive because as morning turns into mid-day, you will probably experience chaos and mental madness as people ask for a piece of you, project deadlines loom, and undone tasks nag at you.

For mid-day productivity, try these tips:

1. Assume everything will take longer than you think it will so leave a little extra space around tasks with a definite place in time.

2. Give tasks a time frame for completion. Time frames work like deadlines: they give you parameters to work within and you will produce more on a personal level knowing that you have to make decision and finish Section X of the project by 2:00 p.m.

3. Using the same time frame principle, when someone wants a piece of you and you get engaged in a discussion, use this phrase, "I have 10 minutes. Can we handle this in that amount of time." This puts the person on notice that you have a busy day but you are willing to take care of them. When the ten minutes has elapsed, then you have a natural way to end the discussion or extend it as you see fit.

4. By clustering similar activities in your planning time, you can get more done even though your mental nerves are getting frayed because the tasks are organized into blocks. One block might be e-mail. Mid-day is a good time to check and return important e-mails, deleting the spam and moving informational e-mails to folders for action at a later time. Another block might be telephone calls. If in your planning time you identified several calls you need to make, blocking them together is a productivity tool. Mid-day is a good time to make or return calls. If you miss the caller, you have additional afternoon hours to try them again.

Try these tips. They will work, but if your mid-day is particularly hectic, then grit your teeth and charge through the madness.

Sunrise Competence Tips

2007-05-30T15:57:00.001-04:00

To be productive, the first few hours of your day are critical and the first few hours of your day start the night before by tucking yourself in early. Getting to bed early ensures that you will have a few minutes to actually wake up and get your brain and body functioning. Get your body functioning by doing a few stretching exercises or a couple of light aerobics. A short jog around the neighborhood is extremely invigorating if your commute to work permits.

Once your body is going, tackle your brain by reading something motivational. Motivational quotes and books give you the "I can handle anything today" attitude. If your motivation is on track, then stretch your brain by reading something challenging in your field and thinking in creative ways about applying the principles to your daily problems.

Now that your brain and your body are confirmed alive, allow a little extra time for your compute to work. Traffic slowdowns can frazzle even the best of optimistic human beings and a few extra minutes saves the indigestion of wondering if you are going to be on time. Of course if you are computing from the kitchen to your home office, you are in control of traffic unless a spouse, kids, or dog gets in the way.

Now that you are safely in your comfortable, eronogimic work chair, check the priorities of your day. Do you have your tasks in the right order? Are you doing the most relevant first? Once satisfied with the order of your to-do list, then start executing you number one task. When you can successfully complete your number one task in the early morning hours of your day, you are on the way to feeling good about your productivity.

In summary, your sunrise competence tips for your day are:

1. Early to bed and early to rise.

2. Get the blood flowing in your body.

3. Stimulate the brain.

4. Allow extra time for the commute to work.

5. Check the prioirities of your to-do list and complete #1.

If you do these five things when the sun rises, you will be amazed at your productivity.

Anger and Competence

2007-04-23T12:43:00.000-04:00

“Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.”

– Epictetus (55-135 AD) Greek Philosopher

Even in 135 AD, great thinkers recognized the effects of anger on a person’s ability to perform…on his/her competence level. When the emotion of anger controls you, your mind and thinking processes take a back seat. In this mode, high emotion, low analyzation, you may say and do things that are unwise and destroy your credibility with your colleagues, friends or family. Productivity is on hold as you deal with your emotions.

To get back in the producing, competent mode, take a deep breath and try these strategies:

1. Think back and identify why you are angry or what part of the conversation pushed your buttons. When you can put your finger on the part of the conversation that sent you over the edge, then you can work through the problem mentally and reestablish equilibrium.

2. Do something physical to release the stressful hormones built up in your system. For instance, a little anger makes it easy to clean your office and throw out the piles of stuff you never get to. If cleaning your office doesn’t make sense, then take a walk, go jogging, go to the gym for a pickup game of basektball, etc. The exercise will work the hormones out of your body and give strength to confront the issue, not just be angry.

Competence and Success in Life

2007-04-23T12:40:00.000-04:00

At birth, you began seeking competence: competence in crawling, walking, climbing, etc. The higher you could climb, the more competent you were and the happier you felt, even though your mother may have been dismayed at how high you were perched in the three or four years old.

As an adult, your ability to perform is closely tied to your happiness and satisfaction in life.

This Blog is dedicated to helping you gain competence in three areas:

Personal Productivity
People Skills
Professional development

As you increase your competence in these areas, you will become a leader on your team, with your employees and among your colleagues, regardless of your formal title. The formal designation and place on the org chart will follow as fast as you develop your competence.