| Lorne Rubis

Please Be a Drug Pusher!

201229 Jun
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Posted inBe Abundant

Key Point: If you need science and data to support the benefit of Abundant behavior, please watch the fascinating video below. The research Dr. Paul Zak has done over the past decade suggests that a chemical messenger called Oxytocin (NOT to be confused with the severe pain reliever Oxycodone aka OxyContin) accounts for why some people are more generous and trusting. This is fascinating research and does much to validate that generosity leads to increased generosity. This is not just softheaded mush. Let science support you in your leadership action.

Since 2001, Zak and his colleagues have conducted a number of experiments showing that when someone’s level of Oxytocin goes up, he or she responds more generously and caringly, even with complete strangers. Google Zak’s research and you will find some fascinating studies including one experiment where they measured increases in Oxytocin as people gave more money to others.

Character move:

Understand that generosity at work (and life) builds and inspires others to do the same. It literally increases levels of what Zak calls the Moral Molecule. Being abundant starts and reinforces the “un-vicious” circle!
Commit to a highly valued and used recognition system. The act of giving and receiving gets science contributing physically to the emotional well being of your teammates.
Be a drug (hormone) pusher in the best sense of the meaning! Push Oxytocin levels up in yourself and those around you.
As Zak suggests, make sure people understand the purpose and aspiration underlying the mission of the team or organization. A compelling intent facilitates the motivation to work together as a team.

Oxytocin in the Character Triangle,

Lorne

The Leadership Action Model and You!

201226 Jun
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Posted inBe Accountable

Key Point: I genuinely believe as human beings we excel as “verbs” NOT “nouns.” We were not born to sit still for long periods of time (meditation not withstanding). And the importance of forward movement refers to the whole of us; physically, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, medical correspondent for CNN, points out that we need constant natural movement to stay physically well. As an example, he suggests that we should conduct meetings while walking together. We were not built to sit in front of monitors for hours on end. It’s just not healthy. I believe the same principle applies to us as total individuals. We need to constantly move forward emotionally and intellectually. What is your personal framework for constant productive movement? The following model I’ve constructed may help. It is a Leadership Action Model. Does is it work for you?

The outcome of the model is continuous, sustainable value creation for others and ourselves. The outer circle of this way of thinking involves constantly creating, renovating, connecting and navigating. We need to be creating our new and better selves by renovating what we’ve already constructed. This means constantly connecting problems to solutions and navigating resources towards a desired future state. It includes enjoying and being content with the present, but inspired to reach for an improved state.

The inner circle of the model involves a framework for execution. The “Plan, Do, Check, Act” is a proven methodology for getting things done. The “Plan” phase involves describing in detail what the desired future state looks like. The “Do” phase outlines the “how” of getting to the described “end state.” while the “Check” element refers to reviewing what’s working and not working. The “Act” part of the process involves course correction.

And of course at the center of the model is The Character Triangle.

The Leadership Action aspect of this system refers to the constant rotation through this in every aspect of our lives. It also is a model for leading organizations to life cycle forward movement. If we sit still we atrophy. And while we need to enjoy the journey and stop to celebrate milestones along the way, whenever it feels “stagnant,” it’s often a strong signal to turn that life cycle wheel with vigor.

Character Move:

How do you apply the Leadership Action Model?
Outline where you are on the Leadership Action Model relative to your professional and personal development.
What in yourself are you Creating? Renovating? Connecting? Navigating?

Leadership Action Model in The Triangle,

Lorne

Will You Get Picked to Be On the Team?

201222 Jun
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Posted inBe Accountable

Key Point: In the most recent admissions year, roughly 9,060 people applied to Harvard’s MBA program. With an acceptance rate of 12 percent, Harvard interviewed about 2,200 candidates and accepted about 1,100 to fill its 905 to 910 available seats. They are changing their selection process this year. The essay part to qualify for admission is getting streamlined. There will now be two questions that form the basis of the essays. They’re more direct and simple than the previous menu of questions. They are:

1. Tell us something you’ve done well (in 400 words).

2. Tell us something you wish you had done better (in 400 words).

The school is adding a novel twist for MBA candidates that make the first cut and are invited to an interview with the school’s admissions staff. Those applicants will be asked to write an additional essay of 400 words within 24 hours of the interview on what they wished they had said during the interview session but didn’t.

So, what does this have to do with you?

You and I may never apply to Harvard, but in the current world of work, we are constantly applying for admission to the “next organization.” If we think we’re permanently on the team, we are likely in for an abrupt awakening at some point in our career. Every organization I’m aware of is into major change. Markets, technology, consumers, competitors, and employees… Everything is rapidly shifting and the consequence is that organizations must continuously evolve. If the organization is changing, your job probably is too. And that means you are directly and indirectly applying for an opportunity to play for the “next” team on a continuous basis. Literally no one is indispensable, especially if they do not self-develop in significant ways.

So let’s say your boss comes to you tomorrow and asks you the two questions above. They want each response in a 400-word essay. And what if you’re also asked to produce a video explaining the proven value you have (if you’re an incumbent) and/or will bring to the company? You also need to provide testimonials relative to your role from people you’ve worked for and with, and from your current direct reports. Furthermore, you are asked to outline your personal development plan, and leadership principles. How would you do?

Character Move:

Superb organizations are NOT looking for the Purple Squirrel (perfect and impossible to find candidates). But they want very self-aware people with attributes that include self-accountability, respect, and abundance. And they want people committed to making a measurable, valued contribution, along with a deep desire to continuously improve. Ask yourself if you’re doing everything you can to be that person.
Be able to answer the two Harvard questions for your job really well. Can you convincingly write that 400-word essay? If you can’t do that, well, accept that you may be in the danger zone. If not right now, very soon. Frankly, the two questions are just table stakes. Leaders really need to know, ideally with data driven evidence, how you’re bringing value to the organization.
Are you sincerely committed to personal development? If so, what are the two or three skills you are going to further develop by the end of the year? How will you do it? How will you know you have? If you can’t answer these questions, you’re skating and don’t really have a personal development plan. Don’t wait for some one to develop your growth plan with or for you. Invest in yourself!

Always Getting Selected in The Triangle,

Lorne

Is the Shut-Up Gun Aimed at You?

201219 Jun
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Posted inBe Accountable

Key Point: I am going to share how two great innovations can help you at work. It is important to know when to shut-up and it is a practiced skill. Do you ever feel like someone is aiming the “Shut-up Gun” at you? When you do it’s probably a good time to zip it. I can certainly do better at this.

And do you know one way to give yourself more time during the day? Research says, take a minute to help someone else or initiate an act of kindness to increase productivity. Read more on how to become an innovator.

The New York Times Magazine’s Innovations issue is a good read. Of the 32 innovations listed, I want to highlight two written by Catherine Rampell:

No. 14, The Shut-up Gun: When you aim the SpeechJammer at someone, it records that person’s voice and plays it back to him with a delay of a few hundred milliseconds. This seems to gum up the brain’s cognitive processes, a phenomenon known as delayed auditory feedback. It can painlessly render the person unable to speak. Kazutaka Kurihara, one of SpeechJammer’s creators, sees it as a tool to prevent loudmouths from overtaking meetings and public forums. He’d like to miniaturize his invention so that it can be built into cellphones.

“It’s different from conventional weapons such as samurai swords,” Kurihara says.

“We hope it will build a more peaceful world.” adds Rampell.

No. 15, The Kindness Hack: “Researchers at Wharton, Yale and Harvard have figured out how to make employees feel less pressed for time: Force them to help others. According to a recent study, giving workers menial tasks or, surprisingly, longer breaks actually leads them to believe that they have less time, while having them write to a sick child, for instance, makes them feel more in control and ‘willing to commit to future engagements despite their busy schedules.’ The idea is that completing an altruistic task increases your sense of productivity, which in turn boosts your confidence about finishing everything else you need to do,” says Rampell.

Character Move:

Know when to aim the Shut-up Gun at yourself! I was at a meeting the other day and someone asked me a question I should have known the answer to. But instead of honestly stating I didn’t know the answer I blabbed some incoherent response. Where was the Shut-up Gun when I needed it? It is better to say nothing than to waste everyone’s time. Look for triggers to indicate it’s time to point the SpeechJammer your way. Two indicators for me are: When my ego tells me I “should” say something but I am not confident I have value to add. And when I’m starting to repeat myself. In that case I’m often using “blah, blah” to sound convincing rather than applying valued insight.
Be a kindness hack every day! If you want to go home and feel productive make sure everyday has some genuine kindness and generosity attached to it. My best way of doing this is giving someone sincere, thoughtful recognition. Everyone wins!

Shut-up and practice kindness in The Triangle,

- Lorne

Character Triangle

Our character is exclusively ours. We define it by how we think and what we do. I believe that acting with Character is driven by what I call the Character Triangle.

What, exactly, is the Character Triangle (CT)?

The CT describes and emphasizes three distinct but interdependent values:

Be Accountable: first person action to make things better, avoiding blame.
Be Respectful: being present, listening, looking again, focusing on the process.
Be Abundant: generous in spirit, moving forward, minimizing the lack of.