Remarkable Employees

A great post a couple of weeks ago has been stirring around in my list of subjects. An Inc. article by Jeff Haden 8 Qualities of Remarkable Employees resonated with me.

Jeff lists 8 qualities (all of which I like to think I have) beginning with;

They ignore their job descriptions. In my world this is reflected in a need for flexibility and a great deal of comfort with ambiguity. Creativity blossoms when we not only think outside the box but we step away and create a whole new shape which likely isn't possible with a rigid job description

They're eccentric. Same old, same old brings same old results. In the paradigm shift we are living in, staus quo breeds familiarity which breeds contempt.

They know when to dial it back. This is the harmony piece I struggle with.I shun the idea of balance because I believe we are called to live in tension so I often miss the subtle clues (like a verbal smack) that I have gone too far.

They publicly praise. I often say that "anyone on our small team would take a bullet for me and I for them" because they passionately believe in the why, how and what of our organization. Great reminder to tell them what amazing work they do and what a difference they make.

They privately complain. Everything isn't rainbows and unicorns and venting can be an impetus to change. Complaints are part of communication. After dwelling in the space take a big step out and see the abundance surrounding us.

They speak when others won't. This is both courage and compassion exemplified (or it can be). When we see/hear/feel something out of sorts, it is our responsibility to speak up. I like the Homeland Security poster I saw at SFO " if you see something, say something".

They like to prove others wrong. This isn't the vindictive backbiting shrewish approach but rather the driven mismatching doer style. When faced with barriers, they overcome. When faced with criticism, they persevere. When faced with opposition, they excel.

They're always fiddling. I really like the relentless change agents in my life. Those who are constantly evaluating, adapting, re-evaluating and making changes. The entrepreneur approach of 'build, fix, build, fix ...' can lead to as yet unimagined solutions.

Go out there today and be a remarkable employee, a remarkable friend, a remarkable citizen.

Éirinn go brách

I wish you not a path devoid of clouds

nor a life on a bed of roses.

Not that you might never need regret

nor that you should never feel pain.




No, that is not my wish for you.

My wish for you is:

That you might be brave in times of trial

when others lay crosses upon your shoulders,

when mountains must be climbed

and chasms are to be crossed,

When hope can scarce shine through.

That every gift God gave you might grow with you

And let you give your gift of joy

to all who care for you.




That you may always have a friend

who is worth that name,

whom you can trust

and who helps you in times of sadness and

who will defy the storms of daily life at your side.

One more wish I have for you...

That in every hour of joy and pain

you may feel God close to you.

This is my wish for you and for all who care for you

This is my hope for you...now and forever.

unknown Irish author

Disagreement

I used to believe that remarkable people always agreed. There was an answer, an absolute answer, to every question. There was a solution, a perfect solution, to every problem. There was one way, one response, one truth.

I now understand that it is in disagreement that the as yet unimagined arises. A better than compromise position is found to what seems to be intractable differences. This happens not because I am right and you are wrong but because we listen, listen globally, to each other and allow the brilliance inside both of us to shine through the absolutes and biases.

I spoke last night to a group from MRUAA Bissett School of Business Alumni Chapter.. I opened with some personal journey stuff, followed with BB4CK's 'make it your problem philosophy and practice' and closed with the challenge to embrace the amazing abundance in our world that is ready and waiting. I saw nods and head shakes from the audience so I knew I was hitting the right balance.

The other speaker, Jordan Hamilton from the Drop-In Center, talked about why people stay at the homeless shelter - low income (30%), mental health (30%), and addictions(30%) and told stories both celebratory and tragic about the people involved. I was thinking that even though I have known Jordan for more than 5 years I didn't realize how differently we saw the world. Where I saw abundance, he saw scarcity. Where I saw opportunity, he saw challenge. Where I saw possibility, he saw tragedy. Until he said " we don't follow the Homeless Foundation's 'housing first model" but believe in 'community first'". A light bulb went on, we were defining community differently. His definition was far more encompassing but more local and linear. Hearing that distinction, I realized that we were saying many of the same things;
- people are more capable than given credit for
- we are responsible for each other
- we all have responsibilities
- we need to strengthen others by helping them find their 'natural' supports

We still disagree on the approach to solutions. I see and BB4CK confirms an amazing abundance and possible prosperity for all and Jordan is worried about how the next expense should be covered but maybe we just need to listen better and let the unimagined become present.

Thanks for your Support

Toupee for a Day in support of the great work of Wellspring Calgary.

When was the Last Time

When was the last time that you did something for the first time? Are you living every day with your cards tightly against your vest avoiding all risk and subsequently many exciting opportunities. This past weekend, my beloved and I headed north to the Cline River Heliport to experience a ride to the top of the glacier. Our kids had given us a Groupon coupon for Icefield Heli Tours as a Christmas gift and we were able to book the excursion on the only weekend that we both have off. First, the ride was amazing, the pilot competent and funny, the hike to the falls was bright and sunny and we went up/down/up and down safely. I had never been on a helicopter before and hadn't given consideration for anything that might go wrong ~ until the chopper lifted off backwards and the wind gusted in and gave us a pretty good shake. Adrenalin flowing, eyes wide open, we saw ice climbers going up the falls and tree tops blowing through the windows. I was able to settle down and enjoy the journey which is tough to do for a destination focused guy. The experience is etched in my memory and in the 125 photos we took to help remember that there are still lots of first times in our future.
What challenge faces you tomorrow or next week that you can choose to embrace or avoid? Is there a small first step you can take to remind yourself of the excitement of taking measured chances?

An Extra Day

Inspired by Gena at Dexterity Consulting and Calgary Chamber of Commerce iF Series I started thinking about my February 29. Would I appreciate or assimilate the 24 hours? Would I just cram more of the same into the time between 5am and 10pm or would I open my head, heart and hope to something else?
If I look back to other significant days ~ statutory holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, I see that more and more they just blend into the work-a-day pace with a possible short acknowledgement over a meal. How did that happen? When did I stop pausing to smell the flowers?
I am going to take the day or maybe release the day is more apt. There is a copy of "Atlas Shrugged" sitting nearby that I will start with and watch where the day takes me. As a through-time planner this can be a very difficult exercise, seemingly impossible to let Que Sera, Sera have any room.

I will be attending the iF presentations this afternoon with some great friends and will try not to feel guilty that I am choosing pleasure over productivity.

Abundance exists in any economy. If you understand that living an abundant life, one filled with enough and then some, then you can begin to understand that it can’t be measured merely by accumulation (or maybe not at all).
Stephen Covey said “People with a scarcity mentality tend to see everything in terms of win-lose. There is only so much; and if someone else has it, that means there will be less for me. The more principle-centered we become, the more we develop an abundance mentality, the more we are genuinely happy for the successes, well-being, achievements, recognition, and good fortune of other people. We believe their success adds to…rather than detracts from…our lives.”
What are the values in your principled-centered approach to the world? For me I celebrate some the questions that Wendy and Dave Ulrich pose in " The Why of Work".

1. Who am I? My abundance is built on a clear sense of who I am and why I use my strengths to strengthen others.

5. What challenges interest me? My abundance doesn't exist in the absence of challenge but rather in how I respond to it.

7. What delights me? Simple pleasures like laughing (at ourselves), appreciating beauty, relishing excellence help me feel cared for, happy, and excited about life.

On this Canadian Family Day I am reflecting on;

3. Who do I travel with? My relationships, collegial, social and familial enhance my abundance when I honour the care, time and complexity it takes to sustain them well.

If you would like to read the complete list or follow up on their work check out the Ulrich's work available on Amazon.