The “Little Things” Of Leadership That Make The Big Difference

Christi Hegstad April 4th, 2013

A few weeks ago, I came into my office and found a little picture (see photo) on my desk. No note, no explanation, just a smiley guy greeting me that morning.

I leaned him up against my computer monitor and caught myself smiling oodles of times throughout the day.

This little gift reminded me, once again, how meaningful the little things are!

As leaders, we need to think about little ways that we can bring joy, meaning, and a sense of appreciation to our teams. Some of my executive coaching clients shared the following examples:

A sticky note, affixed to a report, that says, “Thanks for your extra work on this – I really appreciate it!”

A restaurant gift card sent to the employee’s home, via snail mail, in essence thanking the entire family.

Taking responsibility – standing up for the team – when necessary, even (especially) when it’s difficult.

Genuine words of praise – even just a simple “Thank You.” We likely don’t say this nearly as often as we think it.

A small, personalized gift such as a book by her favorite author or a manicure gift card for someone putting in extra hours. One of my clients knitted a scarf for each of her team members for Christmas, using colors she noticed each of them wore frequently!

Your time. Inviting a team member out for coffee, without a specific agenda, can make him feel valued and important. You can learn a lot about your team through these one-on-one interactions, too.

Year after year, studies show that employees don’t leave for the reasons we often suspect (salary, benefits, etc). They leave because they don’t feel appreciated.

The picture my youngest left on my desk likely wasn’t given with any motive, other than perhaps thinking I would smile when I found it. Children can be wonderful examples of altruistic generosity, can’t they?

In what small ways will you show your appreciation for those you lead? What little gesture will you make today rather than waiting until “the perfect time”?

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

What A Hardware Store Taught Me About Business And Leadership

Christi Hegstad April 2nd, 2013

I was recently asked in an interview about my business role models. Several names came to mind: Stephen Covey for his principle-based leadership, Mary Kay Ash for her clear priorities and perseverance, Marcus Buckingham for his relentless pursuit of strengths-focused workplaces.

But two people I consider among my greatest role models aren’t names you’ll find on the bookshelves or in case studies. Joe & Flo were exceptional examples of how to lead a business – and a life – in a purposeful, difference-making way.

They were also extraordinary grandparents.

My grandparents owned a successful hardware store in northern Minnesota for years. When I turned 13, I lived with them for the summer and “worked” at the store – with my end-of-summer paycheck being a new bike. I learned a great deal about retail operations that summer, but the more significant lessons sinking in wouldn’t be realized until much later.

Many of their customers would come in daily, or several times a week, sometimes only to purchase a few nails or a sponge. These customers, whose order might total 15 cents, were treated with just as much respect and consideration as those buying lawn equipment and lumber. My grandparents knew them by name, asked about their children, and truly made their shopping experience a welcoming, enjoyable time of connection.

People walked away feeling better than they had when they walked in. Not always common in the hardware business, but standard practice for Joe and Flo.

I’ve come to realize that their business – just like any of ours – was so much more than a hardware store. It was a place for connection, a community-building space, an opportunity for individuals to feel like they mattered – like someone cared. Because my grandparents truly did care.

This was not a strategy for business growth. This was a way of life.

As an entrepreneur myself for over 10 years, I marvel at how – despite the trends and innovative ‘new’ practices uncovered each year – my strongest business lessons return to the basics of connection I learned from my grandparents.

I imagine that if I could talk with them about this now, they would tell me something like this: We each have an opportunity every single day to let others know they are important, that they matter. Treat each person as a fellow human being first, a friend second, and then a customer.

Whether you are a leader in your business, home, or volunteer organization, this guiding principle can serve you well. When we focus on making a true connection and raising others up, we can uplift one person at a time – and ultimately change the world.

How do you make a connection with those you serve? What will you do today to let each person you encounter feel like he or she is the most important?

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

What Does Your Scorecard Look Like?

Christi Hegstad April 1st, 2013

CLARITY KICKSTART: Week of April 1, 2013

“If you’re serious about your Wildly Important Goal (WIG), then you must create a way to track it. As one of our clients puts it, ‘If you’re not keeping score, you’re just practicing.'”

~ McChesney, Covey, & Huling

Coaching Tip For The Week:

Quick: Where are you at with your most important 2013 goal?

If you cannot answer that quickly, are you really “in the game” when it comes to your growth? Or are you watching from the sidelines and hoping for the best?

Writing a goal is important: it crystallizes your idea and begins to develop the action plan. But to achieve the goal – especially if it’s a WIG – you need to track your progress along the way. You need to truly declare yourself in the game!

This week, make a chart or scorecard to track your most important goal. Find an app, create a spreadsheet, or – my personal favorite – pull out paper and markers and have some fun with it.

Keep your tracking chart present so you can celebrate your progress, adjust your course, and truly play to win – instead of playing not to lose.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

Want to receive Clarity Kickstarts in your in-box every Monday morning? Click here!

Are You A Big Failure?

Christi Hegstad March 27th, 2013

In general, we hate to fail.

When we experience failure, we tend to either hide it, wish it away, or – unfortunately – allow it to define us.

But what if we completely flipped this on its head? What if we embraced failure, knowing that it’s an absolute sign of growth, engagement, and living/working to the fullest?

I recently read an article featuring Sarah Blakely, the founder of Spanx and the world’s youngest female self-made billionaire. Apparently while growing up, her father would ask each night at the dinner table, “What did you fail at today?” If she or her siblings didn’t have a response, he was disappointed.

Why? Because if we’re not failing at anything, that means we’re not trying anything new. We’re not stretching out of our comfort zone, exploring all that life has to offer, embracing new opportunities for fun and fulfillment.

If we’re not failing, we’re in a rut.

Failure can be beautiful. Yes, it may cause your cheeks to flush and your gut to tighten. But failure means so much more.

It can remind us how courageous we are when we try new things. It can serve as an impetus to work smarter, harder, or differently. It can remind us that no matter our age, we are fresh and open to learning. We are embracing life!

And sometimes it helps to know that people we may admire – even so-called overnight successes – have experienced their share of failure. Michael Jordan, revered as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was cut from his high school team due to lack of talent. He went home and felt miserable for a while – then decided he wouldn’t let someone else’s judgment impede his passion. He literally upped his game and much of the world is thankful for it!

Or consider Oprah Winfrey, fired from one of her first jobs as a news anchor because she was “too emotional and unfit for TV.” She leveraged that experience to help her hone in on her passions, and flourished from there.

And think of the many authors who receive rejection after rejection after rejection. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen experienced over 150 rejections with their Chicken Soup For The Soul series, until finally a publisher said they’d “take a chance.” It’s now one of the bestselling series of all time.

Do you think failure hurt these folks? Of course it did; we’re only human, and being judged unfavorably affects us. But the bigger question is, did their failure define them? Did it prompt them to give up and assume they’d never succeed in basketball, on TV, in print? Absolutely not.

If anything, they failed forward. They fell down 5 times and got up 6.

Thomas Edison, who “failed” thousands of times when creating the lightbulb, once said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

So congratulate your failure. Learn from your failure. Then keep putting yourself out there, fully embracing the opportunity to make a difference through your work, your life, and yes, even your failure.

How have you failed your way to success? What other success stories are prefaced with failures?

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

Does Having a Plan B Mean You’ve Already Lost?

Christi Hegstad March 26th, 2013

A few weeks ago I posted the following quote, accredited to George Schultz, on Facebook and Twitter:

“The minute you start talking about what you’re going to do if you lose, you have lost.”

While I like the confidence and positive attitude towards winning, something about this quote just doesn’t sit right with me.

Does having a Plan B mean you don’t have confidence in your ability to succeed with Plan A?

I once heard Rosie O’Donnell talk about her lifelong desire to become a comedian. Others urged her to have a backup plan, “just in case.” She refused, because she wanted to give her Plan A her all. She felt if she had a safety net, she would eventually fall into it.

Fortunately, she succeeded with Plan A.

Yet we frequently hear stories of people who put their heart and soul into Plan A, pursuing their dream with gusto and with nary a thought of Plan B, only to find themselves feeling completely lost when life doesn’t quite work out as planned. Think of the athletes who practice their sport more hours than a full-time job requires, for years upon years, setting their sights on a gold medal, then miss qualifying for the Olympic team by a fraction of a second.

Are you a “Plan-A-All-The-Way!” type, believing wholeheartedly in your goal and not even considering the alternative? Or do you create a backup plan, knowing that while you pursue Plan A with heart and soul invested, life experience tells you that sometimes things don’t work out as planned?

Can we have it both ways?

Personally, when I set a goal that’s exciting, authentic, and meaningful, I can charge forward with confidence and positivity like a potential Olympian. When I set out to run a marathon a few years ago, for example, I only had a training plan in hand – no “just in case” alternatives in the event that I got injured or decided I couldn’t do it.

In instances like that, I fear that having a Plan B will cause me to dwell on it – and ultimately make Plan B my reality. So I focus on the desired outcome, playing to win rather than playing not to lose.

BUT, a planner at heart, in many situations I feel irresponsible without a backup plan. While I don’t anticipate my computer crashing, for instance, I still regularly back up my data – and would be willing to bet you do, too. Does that make us Negative Nellies?

What do you think? If you plan for a variety of outcomes, winning and losing, are you well-prepared – or under-confident? Does having a Plan B mean you don’t believe in yourself enough – or that you feel strengthened by having your bases covered?

Does preparing Plan B mean you’ve already lost?

Please share your thoughts below and join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

How To Live The Good Life

Christi Hegstad March 25th, 2013

CLARITY KICKSTART: Week Of March 25, 2013

“To put it simply, the formula for living the good life is:

Living in the place you belong,

with the people you love,

doing the right work,

on purpose.”

~ Richard Leider & David Shapiro

Coaching Tip For The Week:

Do you agree with Leider & Shapiro’s definition of “the good life”?

If so, in what ways are you living the good life right now?

Many components come together to create a fulfilling, purposeful life – an important one being meaningful work. When your work makes a difference and you connect with the bigger picture, you likely reap the benefits in your level of success, skill mastery, relationships, even well-being.

Doing the right work – whether paid, volunteer, or in the home – makes up a significant part of a meaningful, purposeful life.

This week, rate your meaning at work on a scale from 1 (no sense of meaning and purpose) to 10 (incredibly meaningful and making a difference).

If the number isn’t where you’d like, decide what you want the number to be – then brainstorm a few actions you can take this week to move towards it.

Sometimes simply reminding yourself how your work positively impacts others (ripple effect) is enough to gain traction onward and upward!

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

Want to receive Clarity Kickstarts in your in-box every Monday morning? Click here!

How Do You Restore Your Energy?

Christi Hegstad March 18th, 2013

CLARITY KICKSTART: Week of March 18, 2013

“A ‘restorative niche’ is Professor Little’s term for the place you go when you want to return to your true self. Create as many restorative niches as possible in your daily life.”

~ Susan Cain

Coaching Tip For The Week:

Where do you go – physically, mentally, and/or emotionally – to refresh your energy and ‘return to your true self’?

You likely invest a good deal of your day in action: getting the family fed and transported, keeping work moving forward, serving on committees and helping others. Often, caring for ourselves winds up low on our list of to-do’s – if it appears on the list at all.

This week, intentionally schedule an act of self-care into your weekly plan.

Maybe it’s a quiet visit to an art museum, a one-hour massage, or an afternoon coffee date with your best friend.

Put it in your calendar and honor it like you would a business appointment. Take note of your energy afterwards and ask yourself if ‘restorative niches’ may need to become part of your weekly – or daily – life.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

Want to receive Clarity Kickstarts in your in-box every Monday morning? Click here!

Takeaways From QUIET by Susan Cain

Christi Hegstad March 14th, 2013

Are you an introvert or extrovert? How do you know? And if you’re an introvert, how on earth do you succeed when, collectively, we seem to talk nonstop?

In her bestselling book, Quiet: The Power Of Introverts In A World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain addresses these questions. Our neighborhood book club, which typically chooses fiction, recently read Quiet and (ironically, perhaps?) couldn’t stop talking about it! 🙂

With thorough research, well-known and “everyday” examples, and gifted storytelling, Susan has given us a resource that helps us personally, professionally, and in leadership roles.

The extroverts in our book club gained new appreciation and understanding for their introverted relatives and connections (for many, their spouses). And the introverts among us felt this book helped affirm that how they respond to situations is perfectly normal. The phrase, “I was relieved to know it’s not just me!” came up several times throughout our discussion.

A few significant takeaways:

Introvert ≠ Shy.

Whether you’re more introverted or extroverted depends more on where you gain your energy rather than how much you talk. Exceptional public speakers are often introverts – charismatic and boisterous on stage, then requiring days of alone-time to restore their energy.

Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover.

You really can’t identify an introvert or extrovert from their public actions. This became abundantly clear in our book club discussion, as we (incorrectly) guessed if each other’s spouses were introverted or extroverted.

One of the many examples Susan gives: Theodor Geisel (a.k.a., Dr. Seuss). Judging from his books, you might assume his personality was as colorful, loud, and entertaining as his writing. In reality, Quiet asserts, “Geisel was a much more quiet man than his jocular rhymes suggest. He rarely ventured out in public, fretting that kids would expect a merry, outspoken, Cat in the Hat-like figure, and would be disappointed with his reserved personality.” Geisel himself admitted, “In mass, [children] terrify me.”

Extroversion Isn’t Better Than Introversion (or vice versa).

Introverts aren’t necessarily smarter than extroverts; extroverts don’t have better ideas than introverts. Susan busts many of these myths throughout Quiet while giving us a greater understanding of how to appreciate and nurture both types – within ourselves as well as within those we lead and live with.

As a leader, knowing the preferences of your followers can help you develop future leaders in a powerful, affirming way. Knowing that one-third of your workforce will become less productive in an open workspace, for example – even though that’s the hot trend – allows you to make decisions that support growth rather than stagnate it. Implications for leaders, teachers, and those connecting with diverse cultures abound in this book.

Above all, Susan’s book encourages us to embrace our authenticity and learn to thrive in all settings. Through concepts like the rubber band theory of personality, the orchid hypothesis, and the restorative niche, she provides sound actions for flourishing and replenishing.

How do YOU succeed in an extroverted world? How do you replenish your energy? Continue the conversation below or on our Facebook page!

You can learn more about Susan Cain, her TED Talk, and Quiet at www.thepowerofintroverts.com.

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

A Cure For “Time Poverty”

Christi Hegstad March 12th, 2013

A few years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Stephan Rechtschaffen, co-founder of the world-renown Omega Institute and author of Time Shifting: Creating More Time To Enjoy Your Life. As a holistic physician, Dr. Rechtschaffen has helped people through a variety of ailments. One near and dear to his heart, however, stems from our relationship to time – namely, how we never seem to have enough.

According to Dr. Rechtschaffen, over 90% of our stress comes from “time poverty.” Not sure if you suffer from this ailment? Here’s a quick test.

Do you ever feel like:

You don’t have enough time?

You’re under constant pressure?

Life is zooming by?

You’re trapped on a never-ending treadmill of activity?

No matter what you’re doing, you should be doing something else?

If you can answer “No,” congratulations are in order (and I hope you’re writing a book on this topic!). If “Yes,” welcome to a vast and welcoming club.

In order to overcome these nagging feelings and subsequent stress, Dr. Rechtschaffen suggests we change our relationship with time. One of the greatest tools I’ve used and shared over the years is what I call the Ideal Time Map.

You’ve likely heard of a time log, or a detailed assessment of where and how you spend your time. The Ideal Time Map follows a similar approach, however rather than logging how you’re currently spending your time (which is incredibly worthwhile), it prompts you to decide how you want to spend your time.

In an ideal world, when would you work? How much time would you spend playing with your kids? What life dimensions – spiritual growth, friendship, home care – would move to the forefront?

My business is founded on the principle that in order to pursue our ideal work, we must first envision our ideal life – then discern the role work plays in that picture. The Ideal Time Map allows you to do that.

You can create your Ideal Time Map in a few simple steps:

1. Identify your priorities. What matters most? No sense restructuring your time if you don’t know clearly where you want to invest it anyway.

2. Create a 1-week spreadsheet, broken down in hourly increments. In pencil, block out what you’d ideally do in a typical week, taking care to ensure your top priorities are honored.

Then, take an action. You may not be able to make your Ideal Time Map a reality right away, but what current activity could you replace with something more meaningful? What could you let go of? What could you invite?

One of my clients began working with me because she was stressed, spending too many hours in her business, not getting enough sleep – experiencing all the signs of time poverty. While we coached through a variety of topics, she said the Ideal Time Map was one of the most eye-opening she’d ever done – and also the one that prompted significant change. “I learned that I did have enough time,” she shared, “I just wasn’t using it in ways that mattered most.”

Author Sonia Choquette said it brilliantly: “I learned to organize my life around my dream, rather than try to force my dream into my chaotic life.” What would your Ideal Time Map include? What action will you take this week to begin making it a reality?

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

Do You Have The COURAGE To Lead Your Life?

Christi Hegstad March 11th, 2013

CLARITY KICKSTART – Week of March 11, 2013

“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage – pleasantly, smilingly, unapologetically – to say no to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside.”

~ Stephen Covey

Coaching Tip For The Week:

We hear it all the time: “YOU are in charge of our own life.”

Yet we also hear (and likely say ourselves) “I’m too busy!” “I don’t have time!” “When will things slow down?”

As Dr. indicates above, living your values and honoring your priorities doesn’t just require effective time management – it requires courage.

To live and work in fulfilling, meaningful ways, we must be strong enough to stand tall for what we believe in, take healthy risks, and say no to things that don’t align with our purpose and priorities.

This week, identify your top 3 priorities for the week. What matters most to you at this time? Pull out your calendar and make sure you’ve designated time for those 3 areas. Don’t leave those high-priority items (or people) at the mercy of, “When/if I have the time.”

Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches business owners and leaders to get unstuck and reach meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.

Want to receive Clarity Kickstarts in your in-box every Monday morning? Click here!

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