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Rapid Fire Learning | April 2007

I look forward to this post every month. It is a great idea - with five days left in the month, write down the five things you learned during the month. Here's my top five from April:

1. People Make Decisions Based On Feelings, Not Facts.
Jim Hensen, CEO of Mara Gateway, says the following: "I am not suggesting for a moment that you ignore or dismiss the facts. But if you want to elevate your effectiveness as a negotiator - a key attribute of a strong leader - find some common ground or a way to bond with the person with whom you are negotiating. In the case of competitive negotiations where other individuals or parties are competing with you for what you are attempting to achieve, a personal relationship with the person you are negotiating with will give you a competitive edge."

This has helped me tremendously. I realize that in the midst of a disagreement, I need to begin with areas we DO agree on.

2. I Am Recommitted To Developing My Strengths.
I am a BIG advocate of strengths training. I quickly jumped on the Marcus Buckingham bandwagon a few years back. Throughout that process, I discovered that I had strengths in the areas of strategic thinking, learning, creating/crafting ideas, intellectual activity, and maximizing situations.

I am relearning and continuing to develop these strengths through a new learning project called Learn To Lead With Your Strengths. This project utilizes Buckingham's latest book, Go Put Your Strengths To Work. It is a collaborative effort, hosted on Joyful Jubilant Learning.

3. Assessment Is An Ongoing Process.
I recently developed a 4 S's approach (watch for an upcoming blog post) to assessing my workload and programs that I'm a part of. Basically, I run everything through a quick checklist:

» Is this something I should STOP?
» Is this something that should STAY the same?
» Is this something I should STIR up?
» Is there something I should START?

Each of these help me to organize and think BIG PICTURE with the things I'm involved with and providing leadership for.

4. Better Gmail Is A SUPERB Add-on If You Use Gmail.
Created by the folks at Lifehacker.com, this is what you can expect: To save you the time, I've compiled the best Greasemonkey scripts for Gmail into one handy Firefox extension, called Better Gmail.  After the jump, put your Gmail on steroids with Better Gmail.

Love it. Love it. Love it.

5. I Realized That Certain To-Do's Make Me Feel Successful.
Sometimes, I'll get to the end of my day and feel like I was successful. There are certain things that I do that give me that feeling. So I want to do more of those things.

If you'd like to read more about this concept and see my list, you can go to my article on What Makes A Day Successful.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Are you growing and learning something new every month?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: What did you learn last month?

: : : :

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Trainer & Tool Maker
www.studentlinc.net

Add Value To People! - A Secret Gift Can Be Special

Looking for ways to add value to those around you?

You've come to the right place. Here's the adding value tip of the week.

#11. Offer the unexpected, anonymous gift.

Bring coffee to your coworkers. Arrive to work early and leave a small gift on someone's office chair. Leave a gift card on someone's windshield. I love this one...balloons are my signature surprise; it is a joyful and very visual way to celebrate someone you value. For a few dollars you could flood someone's office or dorm room with helium balloons and uplift their mood and “value quotient”.

Want to read more great ideas that will move you into action toward adding value to others?
Download 103 Ways To Add Value To People!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Do you have to spend a lot of money to make someone feel special?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: What are your favorite, anonymous gifts to give?

: : : :

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Trainer & Tool Maker
www.studentlinc.net

Free Download: Little League Baseball Game Plan

I manage a Little League Majors team: the West Valley Orioles.

In leading a team of 10-12 year olds on the baseball field, I want to be as organized as possible. There is a lot of details to keeping the team going and keeping parents and players happy.

One of the tools I use in game prep is a (surprise!) one page downloadable lineup sheet. I created this planning sheet as a way to diagram my defensive lineup, my batting order, and help keep the pitch count.

I invite you to download it and give it a try. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below.

Download Little League Baseball Game Plan Sheet [pdf]

I hope you find this a helpful and useful tool for your own team.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: How does planning help you be more effective in execution?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: What do you think about the Little League Game Plan Sheet?

: : : :

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Trainer & Tool Maker
www.studentlinc.net

Discussion Dilemmas #5: Distractions Don't Have To Be Disastrous

It's tough to keep a small group focused. Each person has a different story, a different viewpoint, a different way of approaching a topic.

But getting sidetracked might just be the least of your worries. Sometimes, there are distractions that can affect a group's ability to keep their attention on the topic at hand. Here's the situation:

Everyone is just getting settled in. The conversation is beginning to get going and the group members are attentive. Suddenly, a phone rings...somebody else walks into the room to get something...somebody has to leave early. Now you have to work your way back.

Consider trying some of these ideas:

1. Try to make the room distraction free prior to your meeting.
If you are at someone's house, ask them to turn off the phone in the room, or not enter during the conversation portion of your time. Talk to your group members about turning off their cell phones or putting them somewhere that they won't disturb the group.

2. If your meeting area is full of distractions, consider meeting somewhere else.
Finding the appropriate place to meet may be almost as important as the content of your discussion. If distractions limit the flow of your discussion, it is time to move.

3. Keep in mind people's schedules so that group members can better commit to the whole meeting.
If someone in the group must consistently leave early and disturb the rhythm of your group time, you might want to move the group time. I would recommend doing this if there are more than two or three with similar conflicts. If you move the group time each week because someone has a conflict, no one will remember when the group is meeting.

4. The best piece of advice is this: whatever the interruption, don't lose your patience.
Nothing causes tension amongst group members more than a group leader that loses his or her patience. You can't lose your patience when the distractions occur. Simply handle them and move on. If you lose your cool, you'll probably have even greater difficulty bringing the group back to a point where they're ready to start the discussion again.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: How do you handle the distractions?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: What other distractions make it difficult to lead a small group discussion?

: : : :

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Trainer & Tool Maker
www.studentlinc.net

Correct Principles Are Like Compasses

Stephen Covey writes the following:

To the degree that we recognize and live in harmony with such basic principles as fairness, service, equity, justice, integrity, honesty, and trust, we move toward either survival and stability on the one hand or disintegration and destruction on the other. Principles are self-evident, self-validating natural laws. In fact, the best way to realize that a principle is self-evident is by trying to imagine a world or, for that matter, any effective, enduring society, organization, or family based upon its opposite.
[From the article, Three Roles of the Leader in the New Paradigm]

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Are there instances where the principles listed above are not the appropriate course of action?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: What other principles are self-evident?

: : : :

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Trainer & Tool Maker
www.studentlinc.net

What Makes A Day Successful?

Last night when I laid my head down on my pillow to go to sleep, I remember thinking..."This has been a successful day."

Have you ever felt that way?
Have you ever felt the opposite?

This got me thinking: What is it that makes a day FEEL successful?

I want to be able to capture that sensation so that I can lay my head down each night and experience that feeling of success.

So here's some of my initial thoughts regarding what a successful day look like FOR ME (this is my list...yours will be different).

1) Some form of exercise.

2) Writing.

3) Completing something to the point of closure.

4) Witnessing the success of someone close to me.

5) Creating | Crafting an idea.

6) Having a good conversation with someone.

7) Learning something new.

8) Cleaning | Organizing | De-cluttering an area of my life.

9) Adding value to someone else.

10) Resolving conflict.

For me, completing at least half of this list throughout the course of a day will give me a strong sense of accomplishment and success.

I think this is a beneficial exercise for anyone. I am more motivated and disciplined when I sense that what I'm doing has a high return - that I'm being successful.

I would also add that I feel a twinge of regret when I only touch one or two of the things on this list throughout the day.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Are there certain things that make you feel successful?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: What would your list look like?

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Trainer & Tool Maker
www.studentlinc.net

[photo credit: flickr]


Technorati Tags: success, list, accomplishment

12 Rules For Self-Leadership

One of the things I encourage every student to carry in their leadership backpack (a metaphorical one) is the ability to lead yourself first.

I discovered a truly GREAT list of guidelines for what that means in practical terms. It was written by Rosa Say at Talking Story. Here they are:

1. Set goals for your life; not just for your job. What we think of as “meaning of life” goals affect your lifestyle outside of work too, and you get whole-life context, not just work-life, each feeding off the other.

2. Practice discretion constantly, and lead with the example of how your own good behavior does get great results. Otherwise, why should anyone follow you when you lead?

3. Take initiative. Volunteer to be first. Be daring, bold, brave and fearless, willing to fall down, fail, and get up again for another round. Starting with vulnerability has this amazing way of making us stronger when all is done.

4. Be humble and give away the credit. Going before others is only part of leading; you have to go with them too. Therefore, they’ve got to want you around!

5. Learn to love ideas and experiments. Turn them into pilot programs that preface impulsive decisions. Everything was impossible until the first person did it.

6. Live in wonder. Wonder why, and prize “Why not?” as your favorite question. Be insatiably curious, and question everything.

7. There are some things you don’t take liberty with no matter how innovative you are when you lead. For instance, to have integrity means to tell the truth. To be ethical is to do the right thing. These are not fuzzy concepts.

8. Believe that beauty exists in everything and in everyone, and then go about finding it. You’ll be amazed how little you have to invent and much is waiting to be displayed.

9. Actively reject pessimism and be an optimist. Say you have zero tolerance for negativity and self-fulfilling prophecies of doubt, and mean it.

10. Champion change. As the saying goes, those who do what they’ve always done, will get what they’ve always gotten. The only things they do get more of are apathy, complacency, and boredom.

11. Be a lifelong learner, and be a fanatic about it. Surround yourself with mentors and people smarter than you. Seek to be continually inspired by something, learning what your triggers are.

12. Care for and about people. Compassion and empathy become you, and keep you ever-connected to your humanity. People will choose you to lead them.

What is the best way to apply this list to your life?

Why not print it off and rate each item on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being "not recognizable in my life" and 5 being "this perfectly describes me."

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Where are you strongest in this list? Weakest?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: What would you add to the list?

: : : :

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Trainer & Tool Maker
www.studentlinc.net


Technorati Tags: self leadership, list, improvement, Rosa Say

A Student Leader's Legacy: Will You Leave Well?

Your student leader year is almost over.

How did you do?

Here's an excerpt from my ebook: Student Worker or Student Leader. It can help you reflect on what you're leaving behind.

Every person who steps into a student leadership position will have to step away at some point.  When it's time to leave, a student leader will consider the following:

• Have I left the position better than I found it?

• Whom have I invested in to continue the duties of this position?

• Will anything be easier for the next person because of the work I've done this year?

• What will I be remembered for - the tasks I accomplished or the people I've developed?  Or both?

These are all issues that center around the idea of legacy.  An effective student worker will be remembered for doing a good job.  An effective student leader will be remembered for raising up good people.  There is definitely some overlap here.  Both the student worker and the student leader will be measured and judged by how they leave their position. 

Everyone has to leave at some point, the question is, Will you leave well?

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: What will you be most proud of when you step away from your student leadership position?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: What does it mean to leave well for you?

: : : :

Tim Milburn

Student Leadership Trainer & Tool Maker
www.studentlinc.net

[picture credit: flickr]

Marcus Buckingham On The Today Show

Marcus Buckingham, author of the newly released book, Go Put Your Strengths To Work, appeared on the Today show...today!

View The Today Show Video

If you have ever wondered what kinds of strengths you possess and how to apply those strengths in powerful ways in your everyday life - I would recommend you get to know Marcus.

In fact, why not get involved in learning more about how to Lead With Your Strengths by joining a group of us working through his book and discussing our progress.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Do you spend more time trying to improve your weaknesses rather than growing your strengths?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: What if you only worked in the area of your strengths?

: : : :

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Trainer & Tool Maker
www.studentlinc.net

Pass It On - What Incoming Student Leaders Need From Outgoing Ones

It's time for the changing of the guard.

Soon, outgoing student leaders will leave their positions and make room for the newly elected or selected student leaders to assume their duties.

It's always a bittersweet time. There are those who have worked very hard investing in their position and people. They'll be handing the work over to someone else.

One chapter comes to an end. Another chapter begins.

In the transition, there are some important things that can be passed on:

1. Stories
The outgoing student leader can pass on the stories of the year. Stories have a way of connecting people to the traditions, events, and rhythm of a position. There's a lot to learn from the stories of the previous year. People tell stories because stories are easy to remember and contain nuggets of wisdom that are more easily transferable.

2. Blessing
This one may sound a bit mystical and spiritual, but that doesn't diminish its importance. Offering a blessing to someone else is a profound way of wishing them well. It's an example of passing the mantle of leadership from one person to another. It's a way for the outgoing student leader to express his or her affirmation for the incoming student leader in front of others.

3. Momentum
One of the expectations I place on student leaders is that they leave their position better than they found it. I want to always encourage growth. If an outgoing student leader can leave with a sense of improved growth and momentum, it will carry over into the incoming student leader's year. Momentum is easier to sustain if you have it. It takes a lot more work to get momentum going.

For more ideas about what an effective transition looks like, you can refer to Passing The Baton - Transitioning Student Leaders #3.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: In what ways has the work of previous student leaders affected your success as a student leader?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: What can you give to an incoming student leader to help him or her be more effective?

: : : :

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Trainer & Tool Maker
www.studentlinc.net

[picture credit: flickr]