CEO Success Report - November 2001
Back to the
Archive Index
** Note **
This Newsletter is sent ONLY to people who have requested it.
To subscribe or unsubscribe, skip to the bottom for instructions.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
CEO Success Report
- November 2001
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Increasing the Effectiveness and Enhancing the Lives of CEOs
and business owners.
Contents of this issue...
.. Welcome - A few words from the publisher, Gary Lockwood
.. Thought-Starter - "Remember Your FUTURE"
.. Guest article - "Caught In The Act"
.. CEO Resources
.. Quotes to use in your staff meeting this month
.. Humor to lighten up the executive suite
.. Contact the publisher
.. Subscribe and unsubscribe instructions
See past issues of the CEO Success Report at:
http://www.CEOSuccess.com/archives
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WELCOME to this issue of the CEO Success Report!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Hello again. I'm Gary Lockwood, President of CEO Success.
Welcome back once again to the CEO Success Report. I know you
have no shortage of material to read and I thank you for choosing
to read our newsletter.
We all know of people who "see" a vision of something that hasn't
happened yet or doesn't exist yet. We call them visionaries. Yet we
all have this capability. You, too, can be a visionary, by using the
same skills you use when you remember something.
Imagine how useful it would be if you could remember the FUTURE.
My Thought-Starter for today suggests that you CAN remember
the future. And I'll show you how to do it.
May I ask a small favor? Please forward this issue to other CEOs
and company presidents who may be interested in receiving
these messages. Thank you.
We work hard to provide practical ideas, thought-provoking concepts
and useful information for you. Please give me some feedback
about this issue or about the website. Send your comments me at
mailto:Gary@CEOSuccess.com
On to our guest article for this month...
Everybody likes to be acknowledged and appreciated for their
efforts. Most companies have a formal way of acknowledging
employees with such things as annual award banquets, top sales
awards and certificates.
According to our guest author, there are certain pitfalls with these
methods. And she reveals them here.
Our guest article this month is by Jody Urquhart. In her article,
Jody shows us how to develop an effective recognition program.
Read more about Jody at the end of her article.
I hope you enjoy receiving these articles and ideas to
help you sharpen your thinking about being an effective CEO.
My wish is that you use the ideas in the CEO Success Report to
get the results you really want. If you want some help in putting
them into practice, or if you have questions, email or call.
As you know, our specialty is Increasing the Effectiveness
and Enhancing the Lives of CEOs and business owners.
Enjoy this issue with my compliments.
Sincerely,
Gary Lockwood
CEO Success
P.S. Starting next month, I have openings for two new coaching
clients. A couple of projects are completed, and that makes
room for you. If you are ambitious, ready to tackle some big
achievements, and are willing to be accountable for the results
you produce, let's talk.
Coaching is not cheap, nor is it easy. If you are in charge of your
life, ready to move quickly, and can afford to invest in your future,
contact me at 909/984-3344 or at Gary@CEOSuccess.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This month's THOUGHT-STARTER
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Remember Your FUTURE
"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations.
I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty,
believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."
- Louisa May Alcott
What do you call a person who sees things that don't exist? Crazy,
huh? Well, what do you call a person who sees things that don't
exist YET? How about a person who sees a nonexistent amus-
ment park in the middle of a uninhabited Florida swamp...then
proceeds to make it happen? Walt Disney!
We all know of people who "see" a vision of something that hasn't
happened yet or doesn't exist yet. We call them visionaries. Yet we
all have this capability. You, too, can be a visionary, by using the
same skills you use when you remember something. When you
remember, you recall:
Images,
Smells,
Textures,
Feelings and
Sounds.
Inside your head, you see, feel, smell, touch and hear things
remembered just as if it were really happening again now.
Imagine how useful it would be if you could remember the FUTURE.
Instead of just recalling the past, you could remember things that
haven't happened yet. Actually, many of us do this already... we call
it "worry". Think about what we do when we worry about something.
In our minds, we imagine all sorts of bad things happening. Often,
we can see these imagined events clearly taking place, and then
we see all the terrible side effects.
Worry is a complete waste of imagination.
Mark Twain said "most of my life's worst experiences never actually
happened". Instead, what if we use our brain's talent for imagining
things happening to plan more effectively. In her autobiography,
Grandma Moses said, "What a strange thing is memory and hope.
One looks backward and the other forward". Let's use our imaging
skills to help produce positive results.
Olympic athletes do it all the time. Remember the last time you were
watching the Olympic games? You may have noticed how many of
the athletes talked about how they "visualized" their event. Long
before the actual event, they practice by imagining themselves
winning their event. And they do it in complete detail. Inside their
heads they picture themselves at the starting line. Then they imagine
they hear the starter's gun. Next, they feel themselves coming up
out of the starting blocks and starting to run. They feel the track
beneath their feet, hear the roar of the crowd and see the finish line
ahead of them. Finally, they picture themselves breaking the tape,
feeling joyous and triumphant and being congratulated by all their
fellow athletes.
All this is called "visualizing". It is the same as remembering the
event before it happens, so you can plan exactly what you want to
do. You can use this skill to plan how to accomplish what you want.
You can also use it to prepare to deal with problems if and when
they arise (a much better approach than just worrying).
If you are new to visualization, here is a way to practice. Go get a
glass full of water. Look at it carefully, noticing all the details.
shut your eyes and try to continue to see the glass full of water in
your mind. You may need to open your eyes a couple times to get
a glimpse of the "real" glass of water. Keep at it until you can
clearly see the glass of water in your mind.
Next, visualize the glass again with less water. Open your eyes, the
glass is full; close your eyes and the imaginary glass is partially
empty. Keep at it until you can readily bring up the image of the
partially full glass.
How can you make this picture in your mind come true?
* You could drink some of the water from the real glass.
* You could pour some,
* Let it evaporate, or
* Give some away.
There are many ways to make an imagined situation come true.
What possibilities does that open to us? What if we could picture
our future the way we prefer it to be? If you can remember the future,
you can create a plan to get you there. This is called Proactive
Futuring. There are three kinds of people in this world:
** Those who MAKE things happen - Inventors,
** Those who WATCH things happen (and complain) - Resentors,
** Those who don't know what's happening - Consentors
INVENT your own future.
Decide what you want, your preferred future, and then use
visualization as your key to actualization. Turn your daydreams into
your 36-month view, in your mind's eye, of your business and your
life. You can always be successful in your imagination. Then you can
develop a specific plan of action toward your goals, including
contingency plans for possible barriers.
This is truly a case of "what you see (visualize) is what you get".
Imagination is a preview of life's coming attractions.
Remember, it's your future.
© Copyright 2001 BizSuccess All rights reserved. No duplication
About the Author...
Gary Lockwood is Increasing the Effectiveness and Enhancing the
Lives of CEOs, business owners and professionals.
Get the Free BizSuccess newsletter -
http://www.bizsuccess.com/newsletter.htm
or send any blank email to mailto:subscribe@BizSuccess.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Guest Article
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Caught In The Act - How to acknowledge people without
turning them off
by Jody Urquhart
"This project was my baby for over a year. After all the hours I
invested, management had the nerve to pat me on the back and
give me a cheap gold pen. How patronizing! I have news for them
I didn't do all that hard work for empty praise or a cheap prize.
I did it because I'm the best person for the job. I wanted to see it
happen and it did. This makes it feel like my accomplishments
are ordinary. I didn't just fix the fax machine or something."
Everybody likes to be acknowledged and appreciated for their efforts.
Or do they? Most companies have a formal way of acknowledging
employees with such things as annual award banquets, top sales
awards and certificates. There are a couple major pitfalls to these
programs:
1) the reward is handed down from management and reinforces
imbalances in power;
2) it can be patronizing to receive a small award for a large
accomplishment;
3) the accomplishment is often a team effort. It fosters resentment
when just one person gets the reward;
4) it creates competition;
5) the most common flaw of award programs is they often reward
people for doing work they were supposed to do anyway.
The best form of acknowledgment is grounded in the idea that
people work because they are committed and want to work. This
assumes people work for reasons other than a paycheck at the
end of the week or an award at the end of a project. Many people
do work for these external reasons but sometimes this is because
the workplace encourages them to. Work and accomplishment is
natural and should be treated as such. As Alfie Kohn observes in
Punish by Reward, "When responsible action, the natural love of
learning, and the desire to do good work are already part of who
we are, then the tacit assumption to the contrary can be fairly
described as dehumanizing."
A Culture of Appreciation
How do you acknowledge others? To answer this, consider a
company with an attitude of appreciation that is a routine part of
every day. Everyone is continually appreciating everyone else. You
don't have to be a manager to acknowledge someone else.
Employees are aware of the specific projects or roles their
colleagues are involved in and what their strengths are, and are
on the lookout to catch people doing well. This culture assumes
people are out to do their best and regularly notices them doing it.
Sincere and genuine appreciation is forthcoming. Employees are
at their best because their standards of excellence are their own.
Keys to Better Performance
How do you create this kind of a culture of appreciation?
1) Avoid awards that set people apart from each other, such as
programs for the top sales person. Only one person can win this
award, so only few will try. It also separates winners from losers.
Instead have employees aim at beating their own sales from the
previous month;
2) Let employees set their own goals, help them understand how
it helps the team and company, and acknowledge their contribution;
3) Encourage employees to acknowledge others daily. Set up an
informal network, like a newsletter or bulletin board where people
can brag about their colleagues;
4) Give employees the opportunity during meetings to talk about
what they accomplished that week. In other words, let them brag
about themselves;
5) Recognize people for their strengths on more than specific
projects or achievements. How does each individual's strength
contribute to the team as a whole?
6) Make every employee aware of other's strengths and give them
a chance to learn from one another;
7) Continually recognize the achievements of the group as a whole.
Savor the feeling of achievement;
8) Reinforce the value of the work itself. How employees function
contributes to the community and their customers;
9) Celebrate the vision of where the company is going and how
the group, made up of the individuals in it, is helping get there;
10) Design incentives to award departments as a whole, where
everyone is awarded for the group's accomplishments.
Bottom Line
Companies with an attitude of appreciation are proud of the
achievements of all employees and departments. They are aware
of the strengths of each individual in helping realize the corporate
vision. Communicating this vision is their strong point. Ack-
nowledging people this way can dramatically change the way
people interact with each other and with customers.
Author of "All Work & No SAY," Jody Urquhart,
www.idoinspire.com,
speaks at meetings and conventions on How to Build a Passionate
& Committed Workplace. To book Jody to speak at your next meeting
email her at jody@idoinspire.com.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RESOURCES for CEOs
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
They Rule http://www.theyrule.net
Get ready to delve into the private board rooms of corporate
America. This site explores the connections between America's
most powerful companies, many of which are found in shared
board members.
These interlocking directories are user-supported; if you have
information to share you can add the URL. Any research that you
do can be saved as a "map of connections," complete with your
annotations.
This site must be experienced to be understood. It is incredibly
fascinating and also a very useful reference tool. Once the site
launches (usability note - do have Flash 5, and prepare for tiny
type), click on ADD COMPANY to get started. Click on the
boardroom table to see the names of all the board members of
that particular company.
Click on their briefcases to work with individuals -- conduct Web
searches, follow the money in terms of donations, and more.
Click, hold and drag each board member to position him or her
in reference to other companies. A unique mapping technology
and must-view information.
Check it out at http://www.theyrule.net
< this resource brought to you by Larry Chase's Web Digest.
Visit http://wdfm.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
QUOTES to use in your staff meeting this month
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute,
day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.
Stephen Vincent Benét
Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.
Hector Berlioz
All animals except man know that the ultimate of life is to enjoy it.
Samuel Butler
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.
Albert Einstein
Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the
stuff life is made of.
Benjamin Franklin
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
HUMOR to lighten up the executive suite
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Kids In Church
--------------
One particular four-year old prayed,
"And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put
trash in our baskets."
A little boy was overheard praying:
"Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.
I'm having a real good time like I am."
A Sunday school teacher asked her little children, as they were on
the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in
church?"
One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."
Until Death Do Us Part!
------------------------
Wife...lets go out and have fun tonight.
Husband.....okay! but if you get home before I do, leave
the hall light on.
***excerpts from: http://www.joker.org/
***
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
CONTACT CEO Success
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Gary Lockwood is the publisher of the CEO Success Report.
Email: mailto:Gary@CEOSuccess.com
Office: (800) 272-1575 (USA) * (909) 984-3344
Fax: (815) 361-3041
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Your Comments, please?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I appreciate feedback, corrections, and comments about the
CEO Success Report. Please send your thoughts to:
Gary@CEOSuccess.com <mailto:Gary@CEOSuccess.com>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Subscribe and unsubscribe instructions
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Visit http://www.CEOSuccess.com/newsletter.htm
To subscribe to the CEO Success Report, send any email to:
Subscribe@CEOSuccess.com
<mailto:Subscribe@CEOSuccess.com>
To stop getting the CEO Success Report, send any email to:
CEO-off@CEOSuccess.com
<mailto:CEO-off@CEOSuccess.com>
Copyright © 2001 CEO Success All rights reserved.
