K.I.S.S. or Don't Tell

Yeah, I know that this is ancient but one of the reasons it's out there is because it is SO true. I'm always amazed by how much more lessons "stick" when its delivered in a simple manner versus a complex manner. If we could always reduce our message to the simplest form all of us would be much better teachers. On of the goals of teachers should be to Keep It Simple Stupid or we shouldn't deliver the message until we can.

I was in a meeting the other day observing one of my managers explain a needed task to a 1 month employee. The task was to replicate a spreadsheet from an example he had. He wanted to make sure all formulas were correct so he had found a printed example for them to follow...simple enough right? Wrong, I listened to a technical explanation for 20 minutes that included the history of the enterprise's structure, ownership relationships and the reference of multiple income tax codes and state laws and interpretations that had my head spinning and I've been doing this work for 22 years. Remember I'm a CPA, the tax law can get pretty hairy!

After my manager realized that he had just about made himself dizzy, I jumped in and asked "So what part of this project do you want her to do, create the spreadsheet?". Low and behold his answer was a simple "yes" and off she went happy as a lark and did a great job. Why do we think we need to show the world how smart we are? Was that truly the intent of my manager? Was any of that information of value or interest to the new employee? Was it to impress the employee? In this particular case the manager was in need of some help and all he needed was someone that could create a spreadsheet for him. Why not explain that he needed help and that even though she wasn't even in his department he would sure appreciate her being a team player and giving him a hand with a spreadsheet? Now there's a lesson worth teaching...help people when they ask if you can.

Enjoy your day and KISS, we'll all be better off!

Clear Message

Well that sure was a long break....I recommend not catching the flu if you want to be productive....ouch!

So right after I  posted my first blog "Teach to Win" I started getting comments about the real ability to teach someone how to win.  It didn't take long for me to realize that I hadn't been clear enough in my original message.

I'm not sure if you can teach someone how to win and that isn't what I intended to communicate. My message is that if you teach people what you know then they get ahead (win) and you fulfill what I believe is each and everyone of our obligations to society (educating).  So when you teach someone you fulfill that obligation and that is winning in life, hence the title "Teach to Win".

You see, I believe that everyone has something of value to teach someone else but we never know when or what that might be.  Those of us that can look at our lives and feel like we've done "OK" and have a sense of accomplishment probably have actually achieved quite a bit.  Whether you have graduated top of your class, reached middle management, raised a family, become a politician or started and run your own business you have experienced many things and struggled through things that thousands of others that follow that path will undoubtedly struggle with and experience too.  Why not share your struggles and experiences with them so that they need not struggle as hard?  Isn't that what you wished would have happened to you?  Maybe it did happen to you, so return the favor!  If so, then you too believe in Teach to Win and I thank you and so does your fellow man.

I hope my message is clear now.  I want to share my experiences as a business owner, a husband, a father and a student.

Please give me your thoughts and share your wealth of knowledge with us all.

 

Value the Human Element

Good morning and Happy New Year to everyone!

I'm grateful I've reached the stage of my life where I'm not my worst enemy on New Year's Eve! Some might think I'm old and boring now but I think I finally got tired of missing the first day of every year and realized I had a lot more to do with my life....boring shmoring I say.

Yes, back to the reason I started this. People. Yes people. I want to make sure that business owners, managers, leaders and anyone else that is in a position to work with people understands that the most valuable part of their business is the PEOPLE that work for them or work with them. It amazes me how many times the focus turns to the product or service being produced and the people actually producing get treated as second class citizens.

Those that become extremely successful have learned how to teach, motivate, care, and mentor their people. It is just way too easy to tell the difference between a product that was created with care AND knowledge and one that was created only with knowledge. In the professional services arena, just ask the person that received the service. If they really had a really good experience the response will be something like "...is a great person and they seem to care....". What's the single largest reason businesses loose customers...PERCEIVED INDIFFERENCE. Well who do you think makes the difference...the PEOPLE they deal with.

Please please please, everyone that manages, mentors, teaches, educates or trains people, remember to treat those you work with farily, with dignity and respect. Take your time with them, let them know you care about them. Put your arm around them every once and awhile, give them a pat on the back and explain to them why they are to do what you ask of them. They are your biggest fans and supporters, just give them the chance to prove it to you and thank them when they do....your and their successes will explode.

Lou Holtz gave a great motivational speach yesterday to the football players of a bowl game that he wasn't even coaching. It's no wonder the man was a huge success....he definitely gets it, I only hope that through my daily actions and this blog more of us get it and that all of us live more enriched lives because of it...Happy New Year!