| I'm sure you either saw or heard about the Men's | | | | achieves alone. Organizations don't achieve - their |
| Marathon just prior to the close of the Olympics | | | | people do. |
| that took place in Athens. Like many, I watched | | | | I have been very fortunate to have a number of |
| the Brazilian runner, Vanderlei de Lima, in awe as | | | | friends to run with. They challenge you and hold |
| he lead the group toward the end of the race, | | | | you accountable when you really don't want to |
| prior to being approached/ attacked/ interrupted | | | | get out of bed at 5am on Sundays to run those |
| by the disgruntled spectator attempting to make | | | | long runs through Sunnybrook. |
| a political statement. Perhaps you've completed a | | | | For Your Leadership: Who's cooperation/help do |
| marathon or two or may consider it in the future. | | | | you need to achieve your objectives ? |
| I have undertaken the challenge a couple of | | | | For Coaching your team members: How well does |
| times, and have always enjoyed training for it. | | | | your team work together? Are you sure? Take |
| Achieving your Leadership and Organizational | | | | time to check in and coach team members by |
| objectives is like training for a marathon. | | | | asking good feedback questions and listen |
| Below are 10 tips to stimulate your leadership | | | | carefully for potential barriers to teamwork. Are |
| thinking and the thinking of those that you coach. | | | | you familiar with the book 5 Dysfunctions of a |
| 1) Desire/ Passion needed!! I was asked to | | | | Team? It's a great read. (If you want details and |
| complete a marathon several years ago but didn't | | | | a free overview, just email us.) |
| have the desire. Desire to grow, change or | | | | Tip: Encourage and invest time in regular and open |
| develop is essential. | | | | group feedback. Align some outside help in team |
| For Your Leadership: Have you been planning and | | | | communications if budgets allow. |
| working on developmental areas that are most | | | | 6) Creating New Habits Requires Consistent Effort. |
| desirable for you (and your leadership)? | | | | Consistent Regular Runs - If you have trained for |
| For Coaching your team members: Do you know | | | | half or full marathons you know the importance |
| and tap into their desire/ passion areas within the | | | | of consistency. |
| job? | | | | For Your Leadership: What do you need to |
| Tip: Ask coaching questions to understand and | | | | prioritize consistently for your long term growth |
| stimulate.-- i.e. What areas of stretch/ | | | | and development? Stephen Covey calls this |
| development would you like to focus on? What | | | | Quadrant II behaviour. |
| would you want to achieve on the job that would | | | | For Coaching your team members: What do you |
| result in huge personal satisfaction (and contribute | | | | want or need them to do consistently, as a habit |
| to organizational performance)? | | | | in order to achieve objectives? |
| 2) Keep Goal Focused. When training for a | | | | 7) Increased Energy - Regular Running will bring |
| marathon, you need to know your desired finish | | | | your energy level up I've found tremendous |
| time and milestone times along the way. | | | | energy from my marathon training. Running is not |
| For Your Leadership: On a scale of 1-10 how have | | | | for everyone, but some regular activity does |
| you been in setting and working on your own | | | | produce great benefits for you. |
| managerial and developmental goals? Are you | | | | For Your Leadership: For your health - on a scale |
| satisfied with your progress? What can you do | | | | of 1 to 10, how much attention have you been |
| this week to enhance that ? | | | | paying to your health? What do you need to do |
| For Coaching your team members: Are your | | | | more or less of? |
| team members clear on objectives (departmental | | | | For Coaching your team members: They say that |
| and individual)? | | | | "only the lead dog gets a different view." How are |
| Tip: Building on questions asked in #1, ask "What | | | | you at encouraging a healthy lifestyle for your |
| would you need to do to achieve that?" | | | | team? Do you lead by example? What could you |
| 3) Strategize to Overcome Obstacles. While | | | | do to encourage them? Energy on the job is the |
| running, many obstacles are encountered - rain, | | | | benefit. |
| heat, bugs, extended hills, etc... Learn from them | | | | 8) Commitment. Commitment often requires one |
| and grow from them. | | | | to forgo other options. I don't drink much alcohol, |
| Find ways to combat obstacles or minimize their | | | | however the odd beer on a hot summer night is |
| impact - and persevere. I have learned that taking | | | | so refreshing. I learned, however, that a few |
| Advil before my long run helps me to overcome | | | | beers at a Saturday night BBQ made the long run |
| muscle fatigue. As my friend Brian Tracy says, | | | | at 6am on Sunday very tough. I haven't had an |
| "obstacles come to instruct, not to obstruct." | | | | alcoholic drink on a Saturday night for 2 months |
| For Your Leadership: When was the last time you | | | | now. Management is all about deciding with |
| did a personal (not organizational) SWOT analysis | | | | consideration of opportunity costs. |
| (listing your Leadership Strengths, Weaknesses, | | | | For Your Leadership: What changes could you |
| Opportunities, Threats, then actions) in light of | | | | make to enhance your productivity? Recently I've |
| your goals? What is your biggest leadership | | | | found that taking time off and working from |
| obstacle now? What are 3 possible obstacles you | | | | home have enhanced my work life. |
| need to overcome or minimize? | | | | For Coaching your team members: What do you |
| For Coaching your team members: Once there is | | | | think your team members need to change or |
| clarity of a goal(s), help them to identify and | | | | forgo? |
| overcome obstacles. Do not allow them to grow | | | | 9) Prepare to Run Your Race. In training for the |
| their focus on obstacles. Ensure that you assist | | | | marathon, many runners experience blisters, |
| them to become solution focused. | | | | injuries etc. I've learned it's not enough to have |
| Tip: When they raise obstacles, ask: "What do you | | | | the desire and ability to run. One also needs the |
| think you do about that? How would you suggest | | | | right equipment - Shoes, CoolMax Socks/Clothing, |
| we resolve that? In meetings, take common | | | | Water, Energy Gels, etc. Similarly, in leading a |
| challenges/ obstacles and have small groups (4-7) | | | | team to accomplish objectives we need to equip |
| brainstorm possible solutions to a problem. Focus | | | | them with the right tools in order to be effective. |
| on quantity of ideas first (i.e. list 15-20), then | | | | For Your Leadership: Do you have a major |
| select the top 3 to implement. | | | | organizational goal (race) ahead? What tools do |
| 4) Patience to Take it a Step at a Time. In order | | | | you need to have in place? What are you |
| to train to run 42 Km, one must have a plan to | | | | currently missing? |
| work up to it gradually. Too quickly and you're | | | | For Coaching your team members: Are your |
| likely to run into injury. | | | | team members adequately prepared? Are they |
| For Your Leadership: How is your implementation | | | | missing anything that you could assist with? |
| pace? Are you balancing the need for immediate | | | | Tip: ASK them. Whenever new and major |
| results with realistic implementation pace? What | | | | initiatives are underway, practice open dialogue to |
| could you do to ensure your team is achieving | | | | understand their barriers and needed support. |
| results while maintaining a sustainable pace? | | | | 10) Have FUN... In preparing for my first Marathon, |
| For Coaching your team members: Do any of | | | | I've read in a few books and a recent Runners |
| your team members have a crisis habit that | | | | World that it is important to enjoy the race. |
| impacts on results (theirs or others)? Develop | | | | Likewise, in working with various organizations and |
| coaching questions to stimulate their awareness | | | | leaders we've found that "enjoyment of the |
| of this before coaching for solutions. | | | | journey" is critical to sustainable organizational |
| 5) Nobody Achieves Alone. Did you know top | | | | growth. |
| marathoners need to train with others? Nobody | | | | |