ELEPHANT ALERT!

Things are bad. Retirement savings have been slashed. Unemployment is up. The value of houses is down. No one is buying what’s being sold. The future is bleak. What’s a person to do?

Here’s the elephant in the office: People are quitting everywhere. They’re showing up for work paralyzed. They’re talking about their fears, all the things they disagree with, who’s to blame, and how they feel hopeless. It’s ugly – and little work is being done.

There are options. We recommend you tell them to quit.

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

Do you know someone who is stressed and miserable? Encourage them to quit.

Tell them to,

• “Quit feeling sorry for yourself. Quit giving up your emotional control to a bunch of numbers generated by Wall Street. Quit trying to figure out who to blame. Quit perpetuating you fears by re-exploring them each time you see your friends. Quit thinking you’re the only one who is right. Quit thinking you’re always wrong. Quit replaying old, worn-out tapes of the would’ves, should’ves and could’ves. Quit pretending you’re somebody you’re not. Quit getting angry at others who reveal who you are. Quit putting everyone you disagree with in a box. Quit discriminating against things you don’t understand. Quit bringing the poison of your day home for your family to taste. Quit looking at the flaws in the details that make up your life.
• “(Most of all, quit quitting.)
• “And if you’re serious about quitting, stop focusing on what you intend to quit – and spend your time thinking about what you want.”

Today, stop and consider: What do you want? What’s important to you? Why is it important? And how will you take a step in that direction – beginning now?

Quitting is easy…when you know what you want.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

Today, millions of people will vote. Ultimately, their vote will decide our future. “Change” has been the theme this year. The debate has centered on who will most effectively deliver transformation.

But the “know-it-alls” have it wrong. We’ll tell you who you should vote for. And if you want, you can steal the election right now.

Here’s the elephant in the office: It’s stunning how many companies beat their employees down, to the point where people have lost confidence in the one person – the only person – who can create change: themself. “Why even try?” and “I’m not very good at…” and “You don’t expect me to do the job, do you?” fill conversations in countless offices.

If that’s what people are saying aloud, imagine the destructive messages in their “self talk.” It’s like being a candidate in the most important race of your life…and voting against yourself.

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

Today, vote for yourself. You are the only person who can create the change you want to see in your career, relationships and life. If this sounds like a cliché, it’s because it is. And the reason it is: It’s true.

Take this challenge: Step into your own voting booth and determine the top three things you are most passionate about. Next, draw the curtain and take three steps. If you execute them you will deliver more change than you can imagine.

1. Commit to focusing on where you’ve successfully delivered in the past.
2. Generate innovative ideas to raise the bar.
3. Daily tap into your motivations on why this change is important to you.

You can’t win if you don’t vote for yourself. So start voting for the only person who can create change today.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

Times are tough. Resources are scarce. Stocks are down. Stress is high.

How is your team performing and responding to the pressure?

Here’s the elephant in the office: As work gets tougher many teams speed down the road to a dysfunctional state. They cultivate a culture of fear. Like leaves falling in autumn, excuses drop on why success can’t be reached. And CYA tactics permeate every meeting.

In the future, will your team be a memory – or become memorable?

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

“It’s easy when it’s easy,” says a friend named Kevin. “You set yourself apart when things are difficult.”

From Rudy to Apollo 13, Hollywood has provided an ample supply of “against all odds” success stories. Yet, just because your team doesn’t live in Hollywood, it doesn’t mean they can’t create their own Hollywood finish.

Everyone knows this: There will be organizations that come out of this “mess” victorious. And equally amazing: Even though this trek down a darker road may be new, you already know why select organizations will succeed. Among other steps, they’ll:

1. Master their focus. Instead of lamenting what they can’t control, they will consistently focus on solutions;
2. Create a culture of inclusion rather than exclusion. No one person has the answer to this riddle. It will only be revealed through collaboration; and
3. They’ll have leveraged their greatest strengths by focusing on what’s already working rather than what’s not. 

Have you ever had the desire to see your team demonstrate their greatness in a way that is recognized by posterity? Then you’ve never had a moment like now.

Is this your time? The answer is yours.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

Ages ago they didn’t believe the human body had “cells.” They didn’t even know cells existed. Then the microscope was invented – and suddenly cells existed. The microscope didn’t invent cells, it revealed them.

What solutions do you need that don’t exist right now? And what will you do to facilitate the necessary “equipment” to discover the solution?

Here’s the elephant in the office: Some take the approach that if they can’t “see” the solution, then it’s not there. When new ideas are offered these people shoot them down, discredit them, or dismiss them. “It’s not possible!” they claim. This means their organization is doomed, because it is now limited only to “what is possible,” or more accurately, “what’s been done before.”

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

We just left Quebec City, Canada, after addressing the Packaging Association of Canada. They’re in a tight spot: Everything they do to provide you packaging requires energy – and fuel costs have skyrocketed. Plus, they must respond to the growing consumer demand for green products.

No easy solutions are in sight. But the industry isn’t in peril. After meeting these leaders, I’m convinced they’ll pass onto future generations a legacy of quality and innovation, because they have a key understanding.

The microscope was needed to prove cells existed. Discovering business solutions requires creating a mechanism where solutions reveal themselves. That mechanism is your culture. Here are three actions to better do this:

1. Establish a focus on what’s already working;
2. Ensure people feel good (read: creativity);
3. And develop a “let’s-determine-how-that-idea-will-work” mentality vs. a “here’s- why-it-won’t-work” approach.

Do you believe your solutions are out there?

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

Nothing beats momentum. When the thrust of energy moving forward is strong, obstacles become smaller and inconsequential. What percentage of time does your team feel like it can achieve anything? Increasing the “momentum percentage” is a top leadership priority.

Yet, guess what approach too many people bring to business?

Here’s the elephant in the office: Some people try to build momentum by focusing on momentum-killers, such as problems, what’s not working, and blame. This approach is rationalized because “the facts must be looked at clearly.”

But why position facts so they drag like anchors on progress?

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

A friend shares, “It’s crazy. I’ve got people around me who point out all the places we’re successful, all the things we’re doing well. But I’ve always felt I had to sit on the ‘reality train’ and focus on where we’re coming up short. I realize I can do a lot better job of looking at the same facts – but in a way that builds momentum.”

Every person reading this blog knows that perspective is reality. Yet, why wouldn’t one choose a perspective that creates a healthy, more productive reality?

A Cincinnati company is building the population of leaders within their organization who can address reality in a way that builds the belief (and capabilities) that they can achieve even more. This naturally leads to achieving more! They just landed the largest contract in their history – and are now more strategically positioned in the market than ever before.

Even though they’re dealing with the same economic facts as their competitors, their reality is different. They are mastering their focus, which means they’re mastering their perspective.

What sort of momentum do you and your team have right now? What train are you riding?

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT

During a leadership training three months ago, Jim shared how his life was becoming increasing hopeless, leaving him with an overwhelming sense of being out of control.  He said there were days he was so discouraged, he could barely get out of bed.  He shared that he dreaded going to work…where he was sure he did more harm than good. 

Jim admitted that the only reason he came to the leadership training was that he was desperately seeking some kind of a “magic cure.” 

Here’s the Elephant in the Office:  Many people are waiting for a magic cure, or worse yet, they’re waiting for someone else to tell them how to fix their life.

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

Twelve weeks after the training, still using concepts he’d learned, Jim stated he had discovered something important - he now saw clearly that he had spent years digging his very own “hole of despair.”

“For years I was continually upset by all the things that weren’t working in my life.  I would ruminate about all of the boring and wasteful meetings I was forced to attend.  My forehead creased as I worried about all of the impossible deadlines.  When I woke up in the morning, I was already mad that I had so much to do…mad that I wasn’t appreciated…mad that my wife and kids were an endless hassle…mad that I never had time for myself.  Each day, I’d come home more discouraged than ever.  I kept asking myself, ‘why is my life going so poorly?’  I had dug a hole of despair so deep that I could no longer see any light.”

“What I now know is that I can keep digging a deeper hole or I can start filling it up.  I was waiting for someone or something to come along and fix my problems.  Had I continued, it would have been a very long and dangerous wait.  I now realize that my life, health and happiness depend on the tiniest leadership moments.   I have started to build a very strong awareness muscle.  I now realize that every single one of those moments is a choice… A choice to focus on my blessings: the things that are going well, the things I want to improve on, and the people I want to serve.   Leadership by leadership moment, I have a long way to go, but I’m starting to see some light.”

Jim’s story reminds us of an important lesson: We all know there is no magic cure. But there is something that works every time. We can purposefully choose our focus and our direction in each and every leadership moment.

What are you doing with your leadership moments today?

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

A friend sent this: “The only thing we have to give that is new is the growing edge of our lives.  Everything else is old.”

What are you giving others? And are the people in your workplace bringing a fresh and new version of themselves each day? Or is it a bit like the summer TV season: full of re-runs?

Here’s the elephant in the office: Daily workplaces are exposed to the “business as usual” scourge: people coming to work and thinking they already know everything – especially other people and their ideas.

Have you ever caught the contagion? Its symptoms include focusing on what we don’t like about people and things, arrogant and defensive attitudes, conversations about what’s not working, and the folly of trying to outsmart problems. When you model these behaviors you become outdated.

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

We just completed a session in Ecuador. And I wish you could have been there to meet Humberto.

Humberto models leadership in many ways, including his immunity to the “business as usual” scourge. He’s been working in his industry for 43 years (that’s not a typo). And yet you won’t catch this man yawning, not listening, being defensive, or putting his nose in the air. Instead, Humberto sits on the edge of his seat; he asks questions; he laughs; he engages with passion – and he delivers great results.

You won’t get re-runs with Humberto because he models his ever-growing personal edge.

Become immune to the “business as usual” contagion by asking yourself: In what ways will I be a student today? Where will I set down assumptions and collect new data? What will my growing edge look like to others?

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

Is it possible the difference between succeeding and falling short of your goals comes down to one characteristic? There are many success variables – but one is more important than all the rest.

Observe the people around you: What percentage of the time are they bringing their ‘A’ game? Giving their best effort?

Here’s the elephant in the office: “It drives me crazy,” said my neighbor. “There’s a small group of us at work who give the job our all. And then there’s a whole bunch of people who seem to be going through the motions. It’s like life is just a dress rehearsal for them.” He shook his head. “What are they waiting for?”

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t isn’t just talent. And it certainly isn’t luck. The key characteristic is this: Successful people always bring the best version of themselves to the game.

A friend named Jay recently started his own business. Within a year he’s not only profitable – his biggest challenge is managing the rapid growth. I asked him, “What’s your secret?”

His answer inspires: “I show up. It’s that simple. Every day, in every meeting, I give my all. It surprises me how many people come to the dance – but don’t dance.”

What’s on your schedule today? If you’re like most, you’ve got little or no time to prepare. How will you ever be successful? Try this: Before each meeting, ask yourself this question: What will I do to be the best I can be? Then engage. Dance. Show up. Be on a roll. Contribute. Drink it up.

Dress rehearsal is over.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

ELEPHANT ALERT!

My wife and I recently returned from some work in Aruba. Splendid! Joy! Incredible! The trip exceeded all expectations…and then: during a lay-over in Miami, I splurged and bought one of those double-mocha-frappa-latta-venti-foofoo drinks. The perfect way to wrap up the trip.

Needing to use the restroom, I set my drink next to my wife and our carry-on luggage. Gone just a few minutes, I returned…to find my drink gone!

My wife, engrossed in a novel, was equally surprised. Immediately we found the culprit: just feet away the custodian was pushing his waste basket – with my drink at the bottom.

Here’s the elephant in the office: Too many people have incredible jobs, work with amazing people, earn stunning incomes – and they still take the double-mocha-frappa plunge.

STOMP THE ELEPHANT

I don’t purchase expensive drinks often. I had a right to be angry – right? I stewed. I mumbled. My spirits plunged…until I woke up and did a cost-benefit analysis. Was I willing to throw away all that was experienced and gained on this trip in exchange for being angry over a stolen coffee?

As a friend told me later, “Here’s five bucks. Get over it.”

What small, stupid error has someone else committed that is robbing you of the satisfaction you deserve? Is your anger and the “I-will-never-forget” attitude paying you a high dividend?

If you could put a price tag on what it’s costing you to carry a grudge or to resent someone else, what would the cost be? And what would be the benefit of letting it go?

When we stomp the elephants in our life we can move ourselves to the “benefit column” any time we want to.

Where will you lead – where will you stomp elephants – today?

WHAT APPEARS TO BE

Do you encounter a negative attitude or two during your work day? Most of us have the ability to dodge a "distasteful" remark or behavior. But what happens when there is nothing but mud around you?

Do you contribute to the grime you encounter during the day – or do you make your day shine?

WHAT MIGHT BE

A scowl, a poisonous tongue, eye rolling, words muttered in a whisper – the list of toxic behaviors is long. And some have formed habits with them.

“They must pay,” is the thinking of some. When someone does us wrong, some people move to deliver a consequence. “They must know that what they did is wrong,” goes the thought process, so bad is corrected by bad…and the bad perpetuates.

WHAT CAN BE

There is an alternative.

A friend, Allyson, shares, “At my daughter’s school they have "Opposite Day." If someone treats you badly, you do the opposite: you treat them well. It sounds corny,” says Allyson, who then smiles and finishes, “but it works.”

Most humans, when receiving a “low road” message from another, respond by taking the low road in return. Stress and disappointing results are the norm for such people.

There is something remarkable about the human spirit – and it’s important to note: when we receive a “high road” message from someone it almost always invokes a high road response. This is when lives and results change.

Could today be an "Opposite Day"? Could today be the point when you show the world that you can be headed toward the low road with someone – and take the high road instead?

What is the difference between what “might be” and what “can be”?  You decide.