Leadership coaching for software development managers
Your Quarterly Personal Offsite
Every 3 months
Take 3 hours to think
“What are the
3 most important things
For the next 3 months?”
Greg McKeown
#LeadYourself
Everyone around you is so busy – even too busy to think!
Make space in your calendar to think, and you’ll be a thought leader in your organization.
I love Greg’s idea because it’s so completely doable. You could do this on a Saturday once a quarter.
Put it on your calendar and see how effective it is!
People need to be heard.
1. Listen to what they say.
2. Repeat back.
3. Ask: is there anything else?
It really works!
#LeadOthers
Give this a shot. Try it with a “difficult” person. See what happens!
Priorities:
Boss won’t set them?
You do it!
Use your judgment.
Tell your boss what you’ll do & in what order.
#LeadYourself
<
If the grass looks greener over there, they are probably watering it.
What’s your plan for growth?
Make one!
#LeadYourself
Last night my eight year old daughter suggested a family walk, and as four of us set out she asked: “Dad, can you talk to me on our walk tonight? You usually just talk to mom, not me.”OUCH! It’s true. Most of the time when Holly and I go for a walk we use that time to catch up with each other.
Feeling guilty (because I really want to be connected to my little girl, and I know I’ve been dropping the ball) I decided to talk to her.
I started talking about the home renovations we are planning and the difference between sewers and septic systems.
Shortly after I began, she abandoned the conversation to ride her brother’s bike.
Watching this unfold, Holly observed:
“Tom, you’re a professional at this? You know this would make a great story for your to tell.”
Holly is right (as usual.)
Connecting is all about others. What did Stephanie want to talk about? The only way to find out was to ask, and then listen!On the way home I made a point to ask her about her day. I listened attentively as she shared her experience in the Easter kid’s choir with me, and then told me about her achievements in a spelling game she had been playing.
Thanks to Holly, I think I recovered from that screwup.
Who do you want to connect with? What interests them? Where do they put their time, money and passion?
Some great topics to ask about are
- Family
- Occupation
- Recreation
- Message/Mission
Going deeper
One of the bloggers I follow is James Clear. He wrote a great piece called Treat failure like a scientist
His post is worth your time.
“Hi Tom,Great event as usual! This is the year I will feel the fear and do it anyway. Because as you said failure is the pathway to success!”
