Lean Tip #316 – Separate fact from opinion.
Clarity begins at home. We all have opinions, but not all of us are opinionated. The distinction is in how rigidly we hold onto our opinions and how skillfully we share them. Offer your opinions as useful gifts.
Lear Tip #317 – Establish credibility when you speak.
If you wait for absolute certainty to speak up, those who require less certainty will control the conversation. If in doubt, check it out. Get clear and speak up. Stand up for what you believe.
Lean Tip #318 – Match your talk and your walk.
People don’t care what you’re going to TRY to do. They want to know what you ARE going to do. High sounding words fall flat without corresponding action. Commit to walking your talk. It will make you careful about what you say. Words speak, actions scream.
Lean Tip #319 – Specify and see it through.
Say what you’ll do and do what you say. Dare to be specific. Being specific sets a higher bar for execution. Protect the power of your words by meaning what you say. No one will take your words seriously unless you do.
Lean Tip #320 – Be a uniter, not a divider.
Divide and conquer can win some battles but also create some wars you will lose. People you divide might eventually unite…against you. Don’t manipulate people it destroys trust. Be honest and harness team work.
Lean Tip #321 – Hold people accountable.
The harder you push, the harder people push back. Any fool can avoid a topic and any fool can attack a topic. It takes skill to speak out gracefully. Before you react, people are the least lovable when they need the love the most. Revenge may seem sweet, but sugar rots your teeth. The kinder, gentler, softer way is the smarter, wiser, stronger way.
Lean Tip #322 – Live The 5 C’s of Responsible Leadership
PThe 5 C’s of Responsible Leadership:
Clarity results in conviction: a clear commitment to your beliefs.
Conviction inspires courage: The “courage” of conviction.”
Courageous leaders are willing to use candor in their communication.
Candor lends itself to creative expression.
Creative expression adds clarity to your position.
From Meryl Runion’s book Speak STRONG.
Lean Tip #323 – Persuade, don’t manipulate.
There’s nothing wrong with persuasion. There’s nothing right with manipulation. Don’t back off from persuasion because you’re afraid you’ll come across manipulatively. Use your skills to accurately promote ideas that have mutual benefit.
Lean Tip #324 – Focus on possibilities.
Don’t get bogged down by how things are. While you need to acknowledge the existing reality, the possibility of change is more motivating. Pair each problem with possibilities. Focus on areas of agreement first and then work to dissolve areas of difference.
Lean Tip #325 – Asking is an important skill.
Ask and ye shall receive. Ask well and ye shall receive well. Know what you want when you want it. Be clear. Let them know what’s in it for them. Invite them to explore alternatives with you. Make it easy for them to give you what you want.
Lean Tip #326 – Take the time you need to do a quality job.
Doing work right the first time may take more time upfront, but errors usually result in time spent making corrections, which takes more time overall.
Lean Tip #327 - Do not multitask it is not productive.
There is an illusion that we will accomplish more if we multitask. But study shows that it is wrong. Be sure that you do only one task at a time. Doing only one task at a time allows you to have the necessary focus to accomplish the task with the highest possible standard.
Lean Tip #328 - Keep Your Workspace Clean and Organized
How often have you found yourself procrastinating on a big project by thinking you ought to really organize your desk? I’ve done it before! I admit it. If you’re like me, then you too might succumb to the temptation. Don’t even give yourself the option. When you have a slow day, take the time to carefully clean and organize your workspace. That way you can give all of your attention to big projects later and not worry about some papers that are out of order.
Lean Tip #329 - Stick to a learning schedule.
Whether it is keeping up with the news, or taking on new skills in your industry, commit to devoting a certain amount of time (a couple of hours per week, for instance) and then keep to it. That’s important because you do not want to fall behind, but also because you do not want to flood your mind with so many facts and details that you suffer from “paralysis by analysis.” Treat information as you would food for your mind: Put enough into it be healthy, but not so much to slow you down.
Lean Tip #330 - Focus on one thing at a time.
One of the reasons we feel so overloaded by information is that we allow them to come at us constantly. Not every e-mail, article, telephone call, or other piece of information that comes your way is urgent. Try to focus on one thing at a time, and you will quickly discover that your capacity for learning and absorbing is increased. Our minds are built to tackle a single issue and move on, so concentrate on what’s in front of you and let your brain do its job.
