Team Politics January 25, 2012
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Business, Leadership, Life, Personal Development, Relating, Teams, Teamwork.add a comment
It seems you can’t go far without getting involved in politics anymore. The discussions are endless and there’s little resolution. The only thing worse than watching the drama of politics play out in the media is experiencing it first hand on the job.
Office (or Team) politics usually is a no win situation. You are seemingly trapped into choosing sides; one side’s right and the other is wrong, but each side believes the other is wrong. With all of the bantering back and forth (he’s this and she’s that) it’s a wonder any work gets done…or does it?
What should you do when confronted with office politics? Your job.
Sorry, it’s that simple…about 90% of the time. The reality is, if you have time to discuss office politics on the job, you’re not busy enough. (Don’t confuse office politics with office gossip. That’s another post.)
Office politics will always exist, but that does not mean you have to participate. If you find yourself in a situation where office politics rule, and you’re forced to choose sides, you’re in the wrong company. If you have no chance of breaking free anytime soon, the next post will offer some steps for working in a “political environment.”
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No Permission Necessary January 16, 2012
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Leadership, Learning, Life, Personal Development.Tags: Leadership, learning, Life, personal development
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You don’t need permission to:
- Make a decision
- Create something new
- Change your job or career
- Enjoy what you’re doing
- Sing in the rain
- Go the extra mile
- Do something special for someone
- Put others first
- Put yourself first
- Go on an adventure
- Dream big
- Ask for help
- Make a mess
- Start over
- Rediscover your partner
- Clean things up
- Take time to think about things
- Offer your opinion
- Lead
- Change your life
- Do more than expected
- Help without being asked
- Always do your best
- Be yourself
What are you waiting for?
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Team Politeness January 10, 2012
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Business, Life, Management, Personal Development, Relating, Teams, Teamwork.Tags: business, Life, management, relating, teams, teamwork
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Is your team honest or too polite?
Even the most harmonious team has arguments, problems, and disagreements, but there’s a fine line that should be drawn to keep things from getting personal.
The issue is the problem, not the person. But too often there’s a transference of energy that occurs during an argument, and it usually gets directed towards a person.
This energy push is usually power-driven or ego-driven.
If you’re strong, you’ll dish it out; if you’re timid, you’ll get bulldozed; but if you’re an engaged (and honest) team member, you’ll just state your position, defend it, and then let it go.
Polite is saying please and thank you, being an engaged team member is being truthful about how you feel and what you think – and not making it personal.
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Team Horse Race January 5, 2012
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Business, Life, Relating, Teams, Teamwork.Tags: business, Life, relating, teams, teamwork
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Do your team meetings ever resemble a day at the races? Not the race track but the Marx Brothers movie, “A Day at the Races.”
Sometimes a team member will withhold important information from other members (not maliciously but with the intent of controlling things). This requires other members to pull information out of the person, bit by bit.
There’s a scene in the movie that depicts this kind of behavior. It involves Chico selling Groucho a “hot racing tips” book from his bogus ice cream cart. (“Gettaya Tuttsi Fruitsi Ice Cream,” he beckons.)
Grouch gives in and buys a book only to find out that he must buy yet another book, and another book, in order to get the information he needs.
Team members who control the flow of information slow things down, send signals of mistrust, and generally are playing with the heads of their team mates. Why?
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Throw Out Your New Year’s Resolutions – Intend to Take Action! January 2, 2012
Posted by Jeff Pasquale in Business, Change, Life, Personal Development.Tags: business, Change, Life, personal development, Tom Peters
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Sometimes, too much energy is spent on goals and New Year’s resolutions, when a simple intention to Take Action will take care of things.
I used to request that clients “Tear up their New Year’s Resolutions,” and tell me what their intentions were.
It was a small distinction with a major difference in outcomes.
What are your intention?
“We have a ‘strategic’ plan. It’s called doing things.”
- Herb Kelleher/former CEO of Southwest Airlines
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