Monday, 19 January 2015

Connecting creativity, arts and workplace performance...

Art

It’s amazing what people ask…There’s so much value you will find if you raise your hand and “wonder aloud” like a Get Momentum member did recently. She is leading a global team of customer relationship managers, and she wrote in to ask:

Is there a connection between appreciation of (or participation in) the arts to creativity in the workplace?

There’s a LOT to that question, so I wrote a lot over at the Get Momentum blog (click here to read more…)

I especially appreciate what Steve Jobs wrote, “Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because the didn’t really do it, they just saw something."

Click here to read the post...

Thursday, 8 January 2015

“What are you working on?"

How fast, and how far, are you going?

A colleague of ours in Omaha, NE sent an email a while back. In there, he listed out a few questions for Jodi and I, and this is the one that got me thinking:

“What are you working on?"

On the one side, I can get all proud of myself and make a LONG list of my areas of focus, my projects and deliverables, and the oh-so-many tasks I have to do...

On the other hand, I had to stop and think. Several journal pages later, I wrote this question “Who are you working for, Jason?"

This changed things up a bit, and thinking continued. I wrote down the names of people, of associations, of communities, and of organizations. I was positively overwhelmed.

Positive: consisting in or characterized by the presence or possession of features or qualities rather than their absence.

Overwhelm: have a strong emotional effect on

Did you ever see that Brene Brown TED Talk on Vulnerability? (LINK here) In her work, Brene poses very specific questions. As you read these two, I invite you to identify “your own who.” That is, think about the people around who impact/affect YOU being the best you you can be...

How do we learn to embrace our vulnerabilities and imperfections so that we can engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness? 

How do we cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection that we need to recognize that we are enough – that we are worthy of love, belonging, and joy?

So, here’s the answer to that question:

We just launched our 21st Get Momentum Theme at www.TimeToGetMomentum.com. 

The Get Momentum Coaching program is for a global community of leaders. It is the most exciting product we have to offer.

Each month we serve as coaches to leaders, entreprenuers and friends around the world. What do we do? We identify a “Leadership Skill" that we all need to improve such as "Public Speaking," "Managing Meetings Effectively," or even "Health and Wellness Choice Making."

Throughout the month, we offer a Master Class online, a one-on-one coaching call, and a Momentum Module workbook that members write in as they learn how to Be Better.

On top of that, http://www.WhereIsWomack.com, I travel around the world leading workshops on topics of Leadership, Momentum and Creativity in the Workplace. But, again, it’s not necessariy the “What?” of what I’m doing, but the “Who?” I get to work with throughout the journey. 

Get Momentum attracts life-long learns, self-starters, and people who know that they make a difference every day. 

Wednesday, 7 January 2015

Make Every Meeting Count

It's the first Wednesday of 2015, and I'm heading to a "calendared event," call it a meeting if you will...

And, I'm writing specifically to invite you to join Get Momentum today.

Can I tell you why?

Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that there are 11 million meetings held every day in America. How many of those did you attend or lead?

Have you ever stopped to ask, “What does a successful meeting look like?"

Do you have big decisions to make this year? This month?

Are the meetings you attend as effective and efficient as possible?

This month, leaders like you are becoming more effective Meeting Managers.

Get Momentum members worldwide are learning the secrets of more successful meetings.

Click here to download the ENTIRE Get Momentum Leadership Coaching curriculum.

 

There are FOUR areas leaders need to focus on to become excellent meeting managers. This month, we cover how to:

Prepare for an effective meeting

Lead an effective meeting

Attend an effective meeting

and Follow Up effectively

 

Imagine if your meetings were more efficient and effective.

Join Get Momentum today and you can attend tomorrow’s 45-minute Master Class titled: 

“Plan, Lead and Attend Better Meetings."

I know that meetings have a bad reputation. Think about it, everyone loves to complain about meetings. But here’s the thing…meetings aren’t going away anytime soon.

 

And Get Momentum members I’ve talked to say they spend 20-30 hours a week planning and attending meetings. If your schedule is anything like this, you know how consuming and important it is.

Having more efficient, effective and productive meetings could save you 20% of the time you’re currently spending. That equals 4-6 hours that you could get back into your life.

During tomorrow’s Online Global Webinar “Master Class,” Get Momentum members will learn:

1. How “Decision Fatigue” negatively affects your ability to lead effectively.

2. At least 3 of the 5 skills effective managers know about running meetings.

3. The impact that “Checklists” - and examples - have on meeting management.

 

AND, studying the month-long Momentum Module this month, you’ll learn how to effectively plan and prepare for a meeting, keep the meeting on track, manage any problems that arise, and properly follow up afterwards.

There is plenty of time to sign up as a member so you can be on the live Master Class that's happening this Thursday, January 8th. We present the Master Class as a webinar twice each day, once early in the day, and once in the evening…we RECORD the Master Class so you can watch it later when you have time.

 

Basic monthly Get Momentum Membership is just $99/month. I know you'll get more than 10X the value you pay to be a part of it.

Click here to join...

Monday, 5 January 2015

3 Ways Leaders Build Trust

People work better with people they trust.

Effective leaders know that there’s a lot to be gained (and learned) from listening, but they don’t always have the time to “go there.” Three questions make it easier to build trust at work.

LeadershipRetreat

1. What do they need?

When meeting with someone, it’s easy to fall back on traditional “negotiation skills” as you seek the end goal. On your way to the meeting consider their needs, and where they are coming from. This is a way to build rapport without really having to “do” anything.

2. How can I notice them? 

Most of the people you interact with are starving for positive attention. Specifically, they want to be noticed for the contribution they make, for the good work they do. Notice what people are doing and catch them doing something right. Acknowledge them with a specific example of how their work is helping the company.

3. What “worry” is on its way?

During an especially difficult part of a hike I was on last year (the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim, 52-mile/2-day Grand Canyon event) one hiker was struggling. He did not stop talking about hard it was. So, I asked him to tell me what he could imagine his kids (ages 9 and 13) would be doing in a decade. He refocused his energy! For 2 hours, he thought and talked, hiking through the difficult uphill section of the climb.

Effective leaders notice when the people around them could use a little support, need to be noticed, and are challenged by what’s right in front of them. It’s your job as their trusted leader to make it easier for people to do their best work.

Practice asking these three questions, and see how it improves your interactions this week.

Friday, 2 January 2015

So, what ARE reputation economics?

I bought and read the Kindle edition of “Reputation Economics: Why Who You Know is Worth More Than What You Have” during the few weeks after Joshua and I began emailing each other back and forth in late 2014. And THAT was after I’d seen his TED Talk on “Crows” years before, heard him speak live in Camden, Maine at the PopTech conference, and followed him for a while on Twitter.

Before I read someone’s book, I like to know a little about them if it’s possible!

While I was reading Josh’s book, I emailed him to ask if he’d ever have time to meet while I visit New York (I’m still working in The City 3-5 days per month…). Success! He said yes. So, I read and highlighted my way through his latest book. I highly recommend all the Get Momentum members read this book; it offers a user-based case study on WHY we need to be conscious of our “Reputation,” both personal AND professional.

“So what are reputation economies? It’s actually pretty straightforward–they’re exchanges that use more (or other) measures than just financial currency.”