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Jeff Colvin
Management Consultant & Founder of Link,
a Management Consulting Group
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It's
here! So let's make the best of it.
With every January 1st, we go through a re-set. A new year, a new
beginning, a new outlook. Or is it just another day? Have you considered
what will really make this a happy new-year?
Well, before you wind back up, and find yourself in nothing more
than a continuation of the last year, let's do something different.
Let's understand new and understand happy.
First, stay away from the word resolve, as in resolution. The root
of the word itself suggests that we are fixing the same old problem
again; as in re-solving it. This year we want to do some novel things
that will bring us new energy, new ideas, new desire. It is likely
that "new" can trigger the emotion of happy.
What made you happy last year? Can you remember? Can you repeat
it? Conversely, can you remember what blocked your happiness and
can you identify those elements and prevent them?
And now to the crux of this article…people want to be happy.
And, this is how you want to manage them and to be managed yourself.
I shouldn't have to say this, but happy people are the most productive
people. So now you have a personal and business motive to do something
different. Here's what to do…
List the people in your business that you count on and care about,
and are the true contributors to the company success. Don't forget
to put yourself on this list. Schedule and invest some time in each
of these people now, before the new-year begins to age rapidly.
In fact, start with yourself.
Start with a reflective process. Look back over the last 12 months
and evaluate the process and results that you engaged in and determine
which events provide fond memories and which others you'd like to
forget. Peel back the core feelings you had and tie them directly
to an action or approach that you used. These should translate to
specific behaviors that will show you a path to your happiness.
Words like created, developed, lead, stimulated, or completed will
be revealed as sources of pleasure. Other words including, recovered,
ran-around, reacted, or forced may unveil the activities that made
you unhappy.
While you are cognizant of these experiences and the associated
behaviors write them down and begin to think of new ways to do things
that will cause more positive outcomes in the future. Be creative,
and expand on what has worked for you in the past as a plan for
tomorrow. Learn from those uncomfortable past events and consider
things that you can do now to prevent them from occurring.
This 30-minute investment in yourself should be repeated for every
one of your employees that is a contributor to the success of your
business. This compassionate approach to show employees that they
are indeed the most important asset in the business may reap the
highest return on your investment you'll ever receive. At a minimum
you'll have sent the message directly to each person that they count,
and that you care about their happiness (and productivity). Then
let them know that they, just like you, are the only ones responsible
for their own happiness.
If we don't take a look at our unhappiness from last year we may
be doomed to repeat it!
Management Tips
Invest in Investigation
- What makes you happy?
- What blocks your happiness?
- Do this for self and others
No Resolutions
- Do not re-solve the same problems the same way
- Identify novel approaches to challenges
- Keep it simple s….. (KISS)
Manage by Emotional Elements
- Plan actions aligned with happy indicators
- Prevent reactions triggered by unhappy indicators
- Train yourself to self manage this way
Help other Self-Manage
- Lead others through the process
- Create awareness and consciousness
- Reinforce the desired behaviors
- Have others manage you this way
Don't Worry, Be Happy
- Do what you like
- Stop doing what you don't like
Jeff Colvin (Jcolvin@linkllc.com)
founded Link, a management
consulting group in 1997 whose mission is dedicated to the Systems,
Structures, and Behaviors that make people and companies successful.
Link's bottom line focus on process improvement is achieved through
the facilitation and training of cross-functional teams to address
key strategic goals. Learn more about Jeff
Colvin & Link...
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