Leadership coaching for software development managers
There’s no time to do it right?
There will be time to do it again.
Make the time to plan
Make the time to execute well
I’ve seen it too many times to count. We don’t have time to do it right, so we just get started and do the best we can.
When that fails, we magically have time to fix it. Why not make the time now to do it right the first time?
#LeadOthers
Find ways to tie it in
Hourly: 1-1 meetings
Daily: with peers
Weekly: in status updates
Quarterly: in management reviews
#LeadOthers
When they start to make fun of you, it’s working!
Say it over and over and over and over again. In lots and lots of different ways with as many people as possible!
Do hard things
What is something
Really hard
That you’re avoiding?
Do it
#LeadYourself
There’s so much to say about this one, but the key here is the thing that makes any task hard is YOUR MIND.
To make big progress, you have to lead your mind. You have to take charge and do hard things.
Pick one where you’ve been procrastinating and as Nike says “Just do it”
You’ll be amazed at how good it feels to have overcome.
What’s your “big rock” item today?
Comment below to tell me how it goes.
No great thing
Is done by a single
Individual.
Ask others to help you!
Yes, you’re smart.
You’re hardworking.
You get it.
You really know your stuff.
You personally only have so much time, attention, energy and resources.
If you want to achieve more, look for ways to ask others to help you.
With help you can do far more than you can do by yourself.
Ask for help.
#LeadYourself
#LeadOthers
Who has been helping you?
Take a moment to say thank you.
Over the phone, In person,
better yet in a short handwritten note.
It works
4 Simple Steps
Be specific
Be personal
Be brief
Do it!
Be specific
Saying “Thank you for taking ownership of that data quality problem” is much more powerful than saying something general like “thank you for all you do.” It takes a little more work, but has a bigger impact.
Be personal
This one is subtle, but really profound. Saying “I appreciate YOU for” is more powerful than saying “I appreciate IT when…”
Telling the person THEY matter makes a bigger impact than you expressing appreciation for what they did.
Be brief
You don’t need to go on and on with flowery prose.
Two or three sentences is really sufficient.
Do it
Whether you say it over the phone, in person, or actually write a note, the most important thing you can do is actually DO IT!
It is never too late to say thank you. Take a moment right now to reach out to someone and appreciate them for their contributions.
As my colleague and friend Michael Maher says “What you appreciate…Appreciates!”
If you want more great work from a team member, say thank you when they do a great job!
Example:
Joe, I just wanted to drop you a note to say I appreciate you for the work you’ve been doing on the Smith project. You really took ownership of that data quality problem and got it fixed. Thank you.
Tom
PS – when have you got a sincere and specific thank you note from someone? How did it make you feel?
Priorities:
What is your “big play of the day” today?
We only have so much time and energy. We can’t do everything. We have to pick.
As you look at your day, what is the one thing you need to “hit out of the park?”
What is the one thing where you need to be your best you?
Manage your energy, thoughts time and plan to make that part of your day great.
#LeadYourself