I'm typing this post from an Internet cafe in the city of Granada in Nicaragua where I'm vacationing with my family. Though the Internet connection has been sporadic at times, this is a wonderful reminder of just how completely connected the world has become.

As I've strolled the streets here, peeking into shops, I've seen many Korean products on the shelves. These are noteworthy to me because I just spent some time in Korea so I recognize familiar brand names. Today we visited the workshop of a master guitar maker. He showed us guitars that had been shipped to Nicaragua from China just so he can repair them. The cultural museum in Granada has been restored and supported by a group from Sweden.

I love to travel because it helps me to see the world and my daily activities throgh new eyes. What I learn and internalize from expanding my view shapes and influences my choices as I move forward.

When was the last time you left a comfortable routine and tried something (or somewhere) new? How did it change you? Are you ready to do it again?

Posted by Cynthia Clay at 12:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've been observing two of my professional colleagues who just don't get along! Each frequently misinterprets what the other person is saying, gets annoyed, takes offense, and vents their irritation at the other. I know and appreciate both of them for their unique talents.

The first individual (let's just call her Mary) has a task-oriented, rather brusque, bottom line personality style. The second person (let's call her Sue) is relationship-oriented, warm, loyal, and committed to our company. Mary likes to communicate via fax and email. Sue likes to talk it through over the phone. Sue leaves voice mail messages requesting a return phone call and Mary frequently circumvents face-to-face communication by responding via email. When they are working on a joint project, their individual work styles often clash. Both believe that they have high standards for their work and think the other person is being unreasonable. Add the pressures of getting projects done with tight deadlines and they want to strangle each other. Does any of this sound familiar?

I obviously care about their working relationship because I want to be sure that we get the job done, get it done well, and that we all work together as an effective team. And guess what? I'm not the referee or the umpire in this game of life. It's not my job to intervene and declare either person right or wrong.

In fact, resolving conflicts like these often require that each person ask some self-reflective questions:

• What are the other person's behaviors that push my buttons?


• Why are these behaviors so important to me?


• What do I say to myself when my buttons are being pushed?


• Is what I'm saying to myself (about the other person) helping or hindering my ability to communicate?


• Looking back, have I experienced similar situations in the past? With whom?


• How is this conflict similar to those past conflicts?


• How can I put my needs into words that don't criticize, judge or blame the other person?

Posted by Cynthia Clay at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I'm thinking about failure today. I live in Seattle where we just experienced the failure of the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl. (I've recovered from my disappointment now.)

Failure is also on my mind because this morning I heard Marja Brandon speak at a networking breakfast. Marja is the Founder of the Seattle Girls School, a revolutionary private school that is changing the way girls are taught.

(She was just awarded the Helen H. Jackson Women of Valor Award presented by Senators Hillary Clinton and Maria Cantwell in January 2006.) She is an articulate champion of teaching girls (and boys) in ways that work with their developing brains and learning styles. Listening to her describe SGS curriculum makes me wish I could return to middle school and have another go. The eighth grade girls built an airplane last year (not a model airplane, mind you, a real airplane).

Marja eloquently describes what happens to girls when they fail at learning something (like math or science). In frustration, they often quit, vowing never to try again. Often that sense of failure occurs because they are being taught in ways that don't work with their learning styles. We have an education system that is focused more on acquiring knowledge than on applying information to solving problems.

Hmmm....interesting. Don't we deal with the same issues in our training sessions? How often do we attempt to teach people inside our organizations in ways that mirror their frustrating failures from school? How often do we expect people to "get it" without giving them the tools they need to learn? How often do we teach concepts without practical application? If you want a thought-provoking resource on this very topic, take a look at Roger Schank's book, Lessons in Learning, e-Learning, and Training. I think Marja and Roger would find they are kindred spirits.

Posted by Cynthia Clay at 07:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I had lunch today with a colleague in organizational development and training who has a mighty vision of the work that she will do in the world on the next phase of her journey: it's powerful; it calls her to become more skilled; it uses her talents; it contributes to the world in a meaningful way. She has no idea how she will pay for it or what it will take to bring it to fruition, but it's one of those irresistible ideas that has reached out and grabbed her. She's a visionary leader!

Why do I share this story? I first heard of her calling when we had a conversation four months ago. After we spoke and I encouraged her to pursue this life dream, she met with a flurry of other people who did just the opposite: they cautioned her to be reasonable, to be pragmatic, to slow down and consider the risks. Out of concern for her well being, they encouraged her to think again, and to make sure that she had contingency plans in place so that she wouldn't fail. In the face of so much "good advice," my friend put her dream on the back burner and waited until she had more answers.

Now, I'm as pragmatic as the next person, but I make it my business to encourage people to pursue a vision, to flesh out the details, to make it come alive, to attract people to support the dream, and by golly, to start down the path of creating it. Mighty forces line up to support us when we act. Goethe wasn't the first to say it but certainly said it eloquently: "Strike the dog dead! It's but a critic!"

Wait, that's not the Goethe quotation I want. Here's the one: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

So I ask you to consider today: What dreams have you shelved because you didn't have all the answers? What do you long to create? Are you a critic of the dreams of others? Or are you a creator of your own dreams? Are you ready to take action?

Posted by Cynthia Clay at 01:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

A good friend of mine, Barb, just started her first week in a new job managing four long-term employees who are technically skilled and experienced. When we had lunch a few days ago, she asked me, "What's the one piece of advice you would give to help me be successful?"

New manager...new job...experienced staff. I'd say the most important thing you can do is get to know your staff as individuals. Regularly express appreciation for their skills and contributions. Avoid making judgements about how the work is being accomplished—at least for now. As a new manager in an unfamiliar organization, you should be a "learner" not a "fixer" in the beginning. Your first task is to establish a solid relationship with each person on your team while you learn about the unit's functions and priorities.

Then, if you want to make changes to the systems or practices, you can engage your employees with questions like, "Why do you use this approach? How does it work? What would you do differently if you made changes? How can I help you improve this process? What resources do you need?"

I remember the advice of one of my mentors early in my career: If you're looking at a messy set of procedures or practices in a work unit, there's probably a good reason why it works that way. Find out the history before you try to fix it. Many messes are really inelegant solutions to complex problems.

The bottom line: demonstrate your respect for the long-term employees' skills and experience and they will be more willing to collaborate with you.

Posted by Cynthia Clay at 05:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Occasionally, our clients schedule a NetSpeed Leadership training session and neglect to order materials for the class. So I wasn't surprised to hear from a favorite, long-term client that he had forgotten to order materials for a class he intends to deliver tomorrow! We hustled into gear to ship him what he needs over night. I chuckled out loud when I heard the title of the module he plans to train tomorrow: Managing Time in Fast Forward.

I want to take this timely opportunity to remind myself of a few time management techniques that help me stay on top of deadlines like this one:

First, take time on Friday afternoon or Monday morning to review your upcoming schedule and monthly goals. Then write down the goals for the week. Post your weekly and monthly goals where you can see them. Second, when you write your daily task list, scan your weekly and monthly goals to identify tasks that need to be completed that day. Focus on the tasks that will help you achieve your goals and schedule them in advance of your deadlines. In this way, you will focus on your Fast Forwards (important tasks that are directly tied to your goals) before they become Fast Fires (crises that require immediate action).

What's your favorite time management technique? Take a moment to share it here.

Posted by Cynthia Clay at 01:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

As I am preparing for our first web workshop on the topic of delegating, I remember when I finally learned how to delegate. I was serving as the President of the Board for a non-profit, business networking organization seven years ago. I felt competent, confident, in control of all aspects of the organization, and capable of making any decision required. In other words, I believed that it was I, and I alone, who could run the organization successfully. It was difficult for me to trust others, to let go and let people learn from their mistakes. Isn't this the trap that many skilled professionals fall into?

One event changed my outlook: my twin brother died unexpectedly. As I began to grieve his loss, I felt overwhelmed, out of control, and unable to function fully. And a life-changing shift occurred. I realized I would have to release control of the many tasks, projects, and meetings to the executive team; I would have to trust that they could handle it all. And, of course, they did. The knowledge that I gained from this experience has served me well in being the President/CEO of NetSpeed Leadership.

It may not take a death of a loved one to cause you to delegate. If you're not already delegating work to your team, what's holding you back? What would you gain if you began to delegate? Don't wait—delegate!

Posted by Cynthia Clay at 06:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)