What's Wrong with Work?

My next Quest...

At Taming Tigers we talk a lot about Quests. For us, the Quest (the journey) is more important than the goal. It is through going on this journey, facing up to your Tiger (that voice inside you that roars and says "Don't!") and acting boldly that you grow as a person and strengthen your ability to achieve any goal you want. 

For the past few months my Quest has been very much around the business. Growing at the pace we are growing with the ambitions we have makes my Tiger roar, no doubt about it. But I imagine that is true for anyone who wants to grow their business. 

It is time to add a more personal Quest alongside that. And, because it makes my Tiger roar to even think about it, I am going to tell you. One way of getting the momentum you need to act boldly is to tell people what you are going to do. For most of us, letting other people down is a far worse prospect than letting yourself down so it is very motivating!

For many years I have had bouts of psoriasis. Lately this condition has got worse (working hard to achieve the business Quest above is probably part of the equation). My Rulebook says it isn't possible to get rid of it, the best I can do is reduce it a little. However, that Rulebook has stopped me taking any action until now other than buying vats of moisturizer and applying twice daily. 

So, my Quest is to get rid of it. I believe you can't be cured of psoriasis - it can come back if you are prone to it. But I plan to get rid of the external symptoms by addressing the causes. I don't plan to resort to steroids as this just treats the symptoms and has unpleasant side effects. My Quest is, through natural means including diet, complimentary medicine, hypnosis, therapy, whatever it takes, to be psoriasis free. 

I am open to suggestions about treatments. I have already booked an appointment with a homeopathic doctor on my return from holiday. I am drinking 2 litres of water a day (which is tough for me). I am make-up free when I can get away with it. I plan to relax on my upcoming holiday (also tough for me!).

Any other ideas?

Follow me on Twitter
Become my friend on Facebook
Connect on LinkedIn
www.tamingtigers.com

Puppy update...again

Some of you are very keen on an update about my dog, Humphrey, who is fast approaching his first birthday.

What has this got to do with work? I will reveal all as we go. 

You may remember that we were determined to approach training our puppy using "natural" methods - we communicate with the dog like a dog rather than a human, being clear about the status hierarchy in our pack and reinforcing that every day. The idea was that he would take a low status place in the family meaning he would not bark excessively, jump on the furniture, mess in the house, steal shoes, dig up the garden or pull on his lead. 

I can tell you that the strategy has been partially successful although we have also reverted to more conventional ways to train him such as treats. The garden looks like the site of a Roman excavation, the sofa is torn (hidden under delightful throws) and he sometimes steals shoes. In other respects he is fabulous. 

Maybe I am making excuses here, but I think what we've done right is that we have adapted to the dog we've got (and the family we are) rather than adhering to a set of principles which make perfect sense but don't actually work for us. We are vigilant about some things (not pulling on the lead, not jumping on people for instance), and we have found a variety of methods for dealing with the occasional bark and jumping on the sofa (mainly involving bursting out at him unexpectedly and shouting "no"!). We've mixed and matched to get the right solution for us.

Today (and here is the link) leaders need to be adaptive to the needs of their people. You may read about the latest leadership theory in Harvard Business Review or the secrets of success by a famous businessperson. But in the end, how you lead is about who you are and who the people are that work alongside you. 

What matters isn't whether you comply with current trends but whether what you are doing works in the short and long term. Mixing and matching until you find the right combination for you, your people and the situation you are in is likely to be far more achievable and productive than looking for "the right answer" when, chances are, no such thing exists.

Follow me on Twitter
Become my friend on Facebook
Connect on LinkedIn
www.tamingtigers.com

When inspiration strikes...

We just finished a short programme of workshops with a financial services company where 16 leaders work on their authentic leadership style, their Quest (an inspiring goal) and communicating with gravitas and presence. The idea was to help these guys and girls step right up and embrace the opportunities in their business, a business which is going through significant culture change. 

Without our intervention, this group of 16 have decided to meet again to update on their progress and get challenge from each other. Taming Tigers isn't there. This is something they are doing themselves. 

We all know how momentum gets lost the moment you leave a workshop. This group felt that the Quests they had identified were so meaningful for them that they would ensure this didn't happen. They agreed, on the final day of the workshop, to put a date in the diary. Everyone got their diaries out and put the date in immediately. There was no "Email me after" or "Can we not just do this by phone?"

This is what inspiration, versus motivation, looks like. It comes from within. With the right goal (all of these goals were business critical, focused on the strategy and aligned to the values of the organisation and related to the roles these individuals had in the business), energy, enthusiasm, commitment and courage come naturally.

When we are connected to the goal we go above and beyond, we surprise ourselves. 

If you are ever tempted to commit to a goal you can't really get behind (which requires you to get behind it to be achieved) or to try to sell someone else on a goal they can't really get behind stop. 

Step back.

Ask - is this the right goal? If not, what is?

Because when inspiration strikes, you will find yourself capable of things you never knew you could do. 

Follow me on Twitter
Become my friend on Facebook
Connect on LinkedIn
www.tamingtigers.com