Make sure that you follow plan. So if the plan is for you to be in the office on Monday making appointments for the week, then don't go see any customers on Monday unless you have the required number of appointments set for the week. Otherwise if you see customers Monday when you should be setting appointments you may not reach the number of appointments for the week to be as productive as possible, and you'll always be playing catch-up throughout the week to set more appointments. There is a reason that the company or manager set the schedule the way they did for the week, because it works. You just need to make sure you follow it so you can be as productive as possible and win. It's the right thing to do and it models the way for others.
Be willing to talk, even when you don't feel like it. Being willing to talk through any situation is important instead of putting it on the back burner and not talking now or today. All that does is postpone a conversation that should've happened sooner. And by postponing the conversation, certain feelings arise that maybe were not necessary. Now you might say, if the conversation happened now then you would say things that you might regret, and depending on how you are wired, that may be true. But being able to get the conversation out on the table today is a sign of maturity and knowledge. Make sure you are willing to talk and if you don't think you should talk now, then make sure it's today. After all being willing to talk is the right thing to do and your ability and understanding the importance of communicating now models the way for others. On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. 1 Corinthians 12:22 Make sure that you don't get defensive when you get feedback. Feedback is only a gift if the gift is received and used. Feedback to help you become better is just that, it's someone else's perspective that may see things from a different point of view. Being defensive when someone asks you a question only further raises suspicion that the person asking was originally correct in their thought or idea. If you continue to be defensive you may just stop receiving feedback and may not grow or get any better than you are right now. Be open to feedback and take the gift feedback is and use it. After all it's the right thing to do and it models the way for others. When you're dealing with a situation where emotions are strong make sure you look at the facts. The facts can tell you if your e motions are in check or not or possibly if you could have done something or should've done something different to not end up where you did. Sometimes emotions can get the best of you, but it's important to put your emotions on hold and look solely upon the facts because it is possible that your emotions are not equal to the facts of the situation. The situation may not really be as bad as what you think and possibly something could have been done by both parties involved to have different outcome. Regardless of that, the bigger question becomes what are you going to do now? And how will your character and integrity be tested in trying times. Will you lose your cool, become confrontational, or want to go to court? How you handle these situations can be a growing opportunity for you and can ultimately become a great example of doing the right thing and modeling the way for others. Push through any difficult situation and don't be a victim. Look for the positives and a way to overcome the challenges you are faced with. I believe it truly boils down to if you think you can or you can't, you're right. As Brian Tracy said yesterday in his blog, "Failure is an absolute prerequisite for success. You learn to succeed by failing." For me it's what do you do when you fail or things don't go right, then what? What you do next helps determine your success. Choose your attitude and look for solutions so you can win versus losing and be a model for those around you. As a child, my father taught me that when you make a mistake, own it and work to make it right. Don't lie about it, don't try to cover it up, but work towards a solution. You can't go into the past and change what's happened in most cases and when you can't do that, work towards a mutually beneficial solution. Ask questions to find out what is the most important outcome from the situation and work towards a solution that can work for all involved. Honest mistakes do happen sometimes, and it's in those times that true character is revealed. It's all how you handle times like these that shows your true spirit. Handle these situations as best as possible and realize there are lessons to be learned in times like these and an opportunity to model the way for others. To build a winning team, you have to search out talent instead of waiting for talent to find you. If you want to grow your team, look for talent that may already have a job or may not be aware of your company or the opening with your company. Then you just need to share the opportunity and see if it is a mutually beneficial fit. Be open to potential candidates that have been out of the workforce, whether it be for staying home to raise their young children or even retiring early from another company. Look for the best talent and work to build a winning team. In my opinion, it's a better way to build a diverse team that will make your organization stronger and can result in a winning team. Once you have the team in place, then it's about the leadership that challenges them each to become better. And that part is up to you. Growing up in Florida I never had the opportunity to shovel snow. But after moving to Kentucky several years ago I have had the opportunity to do a fair amount of shoveling snow. With all the snow we have had this winter, I have learned that there is a better way to shovel snow and that you have to change up the techniques depending if there is ice or snow, a mixture of the two or even layers of the two. Understanding that you may need to change up your technique under different circumstances doesn't just apply to shoveling snow, but it applies to life. Make sure that when circumstances warrant you change up your technique that you do so that you get the best result or outcome. After all, it's the right thing to do and it models the way for others. So I say you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. -Luke 11: 9-10 |
"Modeling the Way" BlogMark A. Watkins is a Region Sales Manager in the Midwest with Rollins, Inc. and strives to Model the Way as a Sales Leader, Teacher, Visionary, Innovator, Problem Solver, Coach and Mentor. Archives
August 2018
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