Leadership Simplified: Doug Van Dyke

Leadership Blog

Staying Authentic

Recently, I met a fellow named Mark. Nice guy, talented, a fine professional. Mark works for an organization that is being challenged with some cutbacks – imagine that. In an effort to learn more about the cutbacks facing his organization, Mark decided to visit his congressman – in the State Capital. Mark was surprised at the ease with which he was able to make an appointment. In addition, he was pleasantly surprised that his congressman actually listened to his appeal. When he started his journey Mark admitted saving his job was foremost in his mind. During his journey he practiced what he would say to the congressman. Listening to himself, Mark questioned his motives and thought about his colleagues and the bigger picture. Mark jettisoned his speech, took a deep breath, and started saying what felt authentic. By the time he entered his congressman’s office he had reached this conclusion: “If my intentions are pure, I will be successful.” Isn’t that a marvelous mindset: “Pure intentions!” For many people, the current business climate is quite a challenge. It is during challenging times that we learn so much about ourselves, and about others. Far too many people are currently operating as lone wolves, adopting a mantra of “every person for themselves.” Frankly, it is hard to blame some people – they are faced with tough circumstances. Perhaps they would be wiser, however, if they recognized that “we are all in this together.” Good times, tough times, all times, we are collectively in this wonderful game together. Stand back. Take a breath people. Stop talking about the economy. Honestly, I challenge you, that’s right, you. Do not mention the economy at all today. Bet you can’t do it! And that is the point. Many of us have been driven off center by crap (note: this is a literary term for crap) that we have heard in the media and cannot control. Yet, we allow this “stuff” to negatively impact our demeanor. Keep in mind, when we are our most powerful we possess a confident, positive mindset. The good news is, we can choose the mindset of our liking. Let’s return to Mark for a moment. Did his actions solve anything? Well, rather than face a huge cutback, his organization settled for a palatable 4% cutback. Did Mark enable the savings? Who knows, but his actions certainly didn’t hurt. What Mark definitively did was inspire his colleagues. When they found out about his journey (from another colleague, not from Mark) they were blown away. They sat open-mouthed while he was asked to tell his story. They committed to each other to make a difference and to keep their intentions pure. So I submit to you, keep your intentions pure. Focus on the positives in your world. Then, go out there and make a big impact on them. No idea where to begin? Perhaps a visit to your State capital is in order.

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2009-02-09 at 08:11 AM
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What GM Being #2 Really Means

After a 77 year run as the largest automobile manufacturer in the world, General Motors is now #2 – just like they were in 1932. Unlike the depression era GM though, the current GM has little prospect of becoming #1 anytime soon. Savvy competitors and a majorly flawed business model will see to that. So just what went wrong for GM? Here is the story in a nutshell.

By the mid 1990’s Americans were falling in love with the SUV. These behemoth vehicles were fresh, with a cool design, lots of space, and huge profit margins. In addition, SUV’s made many people feel powerful as they rumbled down the motorway. Coupled with the percolating SUV craze was a solid economy that was being fueled by the dot com boom. No one blinked at gas prices. By 1998 GM (and Ford and Chrysler) had designed blueprints for huge SUV manufacturing plants to be constructed in Mexico. These multi-billion dollar projects were scheduled to be completed in 2002. That’s right, 2002. In other words, the brainiacks in Detroit bet the farm that SUV’s would be wildly popular four years hence, and beyond. In fact, the big three manipulated the automobile market from 1998 – 2006 by maintaining an extreme focus on SUV production and sales – consumers had a limited variety of choices. The result was huge net profits for the auto industry.

Side bar: Did GM hedge their bets by simultaneously designing smaller, fuel-efficient cars? Did they design their factories in a fashion that allowed them to be retrofitted for other, smaller vehicle production? The apparent answer to these questions is a stupefying “no”!

Back on task: A funny thing happened around 2006 – gas prices began to escalate. In addition, real estate began to meltdown. As Americans grimaced every time they filled up their tanks, they began to fantasize about owning a Yugo, or a bicycle, or at least something smaller than the juggernaut they were driving. Of course GM and the big three were ready for the shift in demand, right? Nope. Caught with their pants down, or rather with an arcane business model, they looked like deer in headlights as consumer demand shifted away from their hulking inventory. GM leaders seemed dumbfounded that people would not continue to by their SUV’s. Shockingly, it took almost two years for GM execs to get the message. Kind of makes you wonder what is in the water in Detroit? So what does the future hold for GM? Answer: short-term pain and long-term humble pie. If GM hopes to remain a viable economic concern they will have to embrace the following: - A plan to get much smaller, quickly - A wage that pays people what they are worth, rather than what people negotiate - A focus on the foreign markets that have embraced their brand - A way to connect with people under 40 in a meaningful way Is GM up to the task? Strong injections of open-mindedness, enlightened strategic planning, regime change, and luck sure would help.

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2009-01-22 at 07:38 AM
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Behavioral Recession

In early 2007 the core mechanics of the U.S. economy were pretty sound. Pundits began a drum beat that a recession was on the horizon and, sure enough, by the end of 2007 our country was in recession. Now granted, we were in the midst of a real estate meltdown, but we were a year away from the financial collapse that has put some real teeth in the current recession. It would be interesting to know just how much sociology, group behavior, had to do with catapulting us into this recession. A recession was inevitable – the economy has its cycles, and we had a nice positive run. But group mentality can be a powerful influence. What is a current, growing group mindset? Answer: that the economy will turn positive by July of this year. Is there any good reason for this? Well, yes, there are some. Do detracting factors remain? You betcha. What will July 2009 look like? Perhaps a massage dose of sociological positivism, coupled with no other good reason will lift us out of this funk.

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2009-01-15 at 07:23 AM
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Manage the Top and the Bottom Line

Many business owners seem obsessed with sales growth. Increasing sales volume will probably be a popular 2009 New Year’s resolution. A focus on sales growth, in most instances, should be reinforced. But don’t lose focus of the bottom line. Several years ago a study revealed that the best performing Fortune 500 companies shared equal focus/management of their top and bottom lines. The companies that only focused on sales growth frequently found themselves with little or no profit due to lack of expense controls or deep discounts that eroded net income. Think smart – and play a balanced game!

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-12-29 at 07:44 AM
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Facing the Public

The best leaders possess the ability to positively move groups of people. Yet, statistically public speaking is one of our greatest fears – even more so than death. While many good public speakers have natural acumen, most speakers are created, not born. So how do you become a great speaker? Quick answer: become a student of speaking publicly. In other words, carefully observe public speakers that you admire, emulate their strengths, and in the process, develop your own style. Oh yes, and practice the craft of public speaking as much as possible.

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-12-26 at 08:02 AM
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Corporate Teambuilding

During 2008 many businesses downsized, right-sized, upsized, and, well you get the picture. So as we head into 2009, corporate teambuilding may be quite the rage. Trimmed down staffs will seek to reorganize, become in synch, and move forward. There is plenty of opportunity during a teambuilding initiative to introduce tools and techniques that enhance collaboration and quickly set and adjust priorities. The key to teambuilding success though, may be centered in the communication plan and the execution thereof that companies put in place.

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-12-21 at 02:26 PM
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HR Directors – How to Handle Layoffs

1. If your company is going to experience a reduction in force of more than one employee, you should first check your federal and state labor laws. Specifically WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification). This may impact your decision on the extent of the layoffs.
2. Create and implement a severance plan. Assuming that you are providing severance, require the employees affected by the layoff to sign a release in order to receive severance and/or extended benefits. Treating all employees the same under a severance plan limits the company’s exposure and sends a consistent message to the group.
 
3. Have a clear plan for communicating the layoffs to the employees. Make sure the managers deliver a consistent message and coach them on exactly how the meeting should be conducted.  If there are any inexperienced managers delivering the message, draft a script to help them with the process.
4. Make sure that you are prepared for the unexpected.  If necessary, have security on standby to assist with any possible disgruntled employees or disturbance.
5. As soon as possible after the layoffs occur, communicate with the remaining team members. Either managers should meet with their employees, or a company meeting should be held to let people know what just happened and to give them some direction on the future. This will help stem rumors and keep productivity going.
 
6. Finally, managers need to be compassionate, clear, and consistent with their messages. Depending on your company’s size and industry, you may want to have a termination policy/procedures document in place.

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-12-14 at 06:48 PM
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The Keys to Staying Positive

1. Surround yourself with positive-minded people who believe in themselves.
2. Surround yourself with can-do type people who believe in you!
3. Distance yourself from negative people.
4. Push negative head trash from your mind.
5. Purposefully place positive thoughts in your mind.

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-12-08 at 07:26 AM
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Deep Recession - A Comparison

Just where is this economy going? And how long will it stay in the doldrums?

While our current economic predicament may feel quite unique, there is actually a case study that we can examine to try to get a predicative handle on this beast. Take a look at Japan in the late 1980’s. Their economy, the second largest in the world at the time, was percolating along. Many economists in the mid-80’s projected that Japan’s gross domestic product would surpass the United States within fifteen years due to Japan’s efficiency and business work ethic. By 1990, however, Japan’s economy was not humming along. They suffered a huge real estate bust. In reaction to falling real estate values and activity, the Japanese government lowered their equivalent of the Fed Funds rate to zero (that’s right, zero). Then their stock market lost more than 60% of its value. Sound familiar?

So what the heck happened to Japan? The answer: for the next ten years (i.e., all of the 1990’s) they experienced comparatively low real estate values and a languishing stock market that basically went sideways as opposed to cascading upward. For the Japanese people it was financially painful.

Are we in for a worse experience? Well, Japan had two huge advantages over the United States current situation: 1. They were, and still are, a net exporter of goods. 2. Their population was, and still is, voracious savers of money. In other words, the general population actually had non-401K cash savings to fall back on during hard times.

Are the next ten years going to be gloom and doom for us? Perhaps not. While the government certainly got involved in Japan’s recovery, their efforts paled in comparison to the capital infusions that Uncle Sam has ponied up. With proper stewardship of recovery dollars, coupled with some healthy behavioral changes by the general population, there is a good chance that we will emerge from this mess a shaken, but strong nation.

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-12-07 at 09:33 AM
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Quick Productivity Boost: Fitness and Stretching?

High performing professionals are always looking for a competitive edge. They read a ton of books and are voracious consumers of educational seminars (by the way, my current favorite book and seminar is Leadership Simplified). So what are some non-business activities that people can engage in that are actually possess the subtle bonus of helping business professionals perform better? Well, the answer lies with stretching and some cardiovascular exercise. That’s right, at a minimum stretch for 10 minutes each day. Yoga and Pilates also counts in the stretching category. If possible, get 12 – 15 minutes of cardio four times a week. From a business standpoint, do these things early in the morning. They help your lymphatic system and get tons of oxygen flowing to your brain. Make sure you drink lots of water as well. Our brain needs lots of oxygen and water to think optimally.

Okay, stop reading and start moving. Remember: stretching your body makes hitting those stretch goals much easier!

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-12-02 at 07:07 AM
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You Must Win

One of the delicious byproducts of a tough economy is the thrill that can be enjoyed by flourishing during it. This statement may read like an oxymoron, but for those of you who are sports oriented ponder this: which is more satisfying a blowout victory, or a tough, hard-fought battle from which you emerge victorious? Whether you actively participant in an athletic contest or view a game on TV, there is nothing like the nail-biting tension of a close game, coupled with the ultimate supremacy of you or the team you are rooting for.

Okay, so economic times are tougher than we have experienced for a long time. Are you going to roll over, hide, or worse yet, lose? No way. Stand tall, work hard, think ultra creatively, work smart, and WIN. And, oh yes, help others win along the way. You know, we are not in this alone! 

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-12-01 at 02:09 PM
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Public Speakers, and our Fears, are Made not Born

 

How to overcome the fear of public speaking and reinvent yourself as a crowd pleaser

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By Doug Van Dyke, Leadership Coach

Approximate Read Time: 7 minutes

"Fear, the air is ripe with it.” - Orc General, The Lord of the Rings, Return of the King As we enter this Halloween season, it's much easier to get caught up in the fears that come with being the managers and executives of our business. It's like losing our flashlight in the corn maze all over again - we experience all the fright, but none of the fun. There are a lot of fears out there can stop us from motivating our team and winning over a new client – some merited, but most not. According to phobialist.com the following are actual fears that people experience:

  • Knowledge - Gnosiophobia
  • Money - Chrometophobia
  • Expressing Opinions - Doxophobia
  • Wealth - Plutophobia
  • Speaking - Laliophobia

Let’s take a detailed peek at the last phobia listed, the fear of speaking, specifically the fear of public speaking. After reading through the post, feel free to share any memorable public speaking moments that you relish, or would rather forget. Many speaking fears arise from witnessing colossal public speaking blunders that others have made. Now, who can forget some of these jewels?

Consider organizing your thoughts before you speak:

Focus Rudi, focus:

Work on the beginning, as well as the content:

Sometimes silence is the best path:

Statistically, the fear of public speaking is our greatest fear – even more so than snakes, going to the dentist, and death! But it does not have to be that way. Armed with powerful tools and a positive mindset, public speaking can be turned into something fun and meaningful. Keep this in mind: while many speakers have natural acumen, most great speakers are made, not born. So how do leaders raise the bar with regard to their public speaking skills? Well, based on my experience with coaching thousands of leaders who frequently speak publicly, there are five core ingredients to reducing your fears and delivering successful presentations.

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

The most important ingredient is to practice! When I say practice what I mean is to rehearse the presentation, out loud, in a setting similar to the one in which you will be speaking. Also, practice your presentation at least three to five times prior to making the presentation. In other words, if you are going to speak publicly for fifteen minutes and you want to be successful, practice a minimum of 45 minutes. While practicing, inject humor and side comments – just like you will during the real presentation. It is important to take note of what practice is not. For instance, silently reading your presentation is NOT practice. Saying your presentation aloud in the car while you are driving is also not practice. Remember: it is only practice when you are in a similar setting and practice your presentation aloud – in a manner just like you are going to deliver it to your audience.

2. Deep Breathing

The second core ingredient for success is breathing. Now, maybe you are saying to yourself: “breathing is something I like to do frequently.” Well, some speakers talk fast as though they want to complete their public speaking experience as quickly as possible. A fast pace can have a speaker panting three minutes into their presentation. Remember, speaking is an endurance sport. Do not start off in a blur and blow it at the beginning of your talk. For many speakers, a case of nervousness causes us to take rapid, shallow breaths. All shallow breathing does is make us even more nervous because our system is not receiving adequate oxygen, which is a natural relaxant. We need a lot of oxygen in order to appear calm to our audience. As such, prior to beginning your presentation, and in an area where you won’t be obvious, take four slow, deep breaths and fully exhale. This action will assist you in gaining critical oxygen and in allowing you to relax during the beginning of your presentation. An additional item to keep in mind is planning for deep breaths during your presentation. They are easy to slip in during a brief pause, or while the audience is laughing.

3. Hydrate

Before or during a presentation many speakers experience a dry mouth. In order to eliminate this problem, I recommend drinking 8 – 12 ounces of water one-hour prior to your presentation. Something very important to remember is to go to the bathroom five minutes before speaking publicly. Having to go to the bathroom five minutes in to your presentation can cause a great deal of stress – and, we don’t want that. Drinking water prior to delivering a presentation ensures that our brain has adequate fluids. When our brains are hydrated they perform at their highest level. We want to make certain that we are sharp while speaking publicly. One more tip: make certain that a glass or bottle of water is handy so that you can take sips during pauses in your presentation.

4. Host Mentality

Imagine that you are hosting a mixer. The people in the audience are your guests. Make certain that you arrive early so that you can greet people as they arrive. Shake lots of hands and smile. In other words, seek to build rapport with individual audience members prior to the presentation. Even if you know everyone in the audience, shake hands and greet them. By bonding with your audience you will reduce your nerves and ensure that many members of the audience are in your corner.

5. Be Positive and Optimistic

Remember, no one in the audience wants you to fail. Have you ever gone to see someone speak and hoped that they were terrible? Of course not! We selfishly want speakers to be good so that we are entertained. Your audience wants you to be great – feed off that. In sum, if you believe in yourself and act confidently, your audience will relax and respond appropriately. Alright leaders, time to overcome your fear of public speaking. Your team needs lots of communication these days. Show great leadership by frequently speaking to groups of people, and giving them a good dose of your confidence. Move your team in a positive direction. In the process, look in the mirror and realize they are lucky to have your inspired leadership.

Keep these points with you all the time or share them with your coworkers.

Download the five tips for public speaking.

Doug Van Dyke is an executive coach, speaker, and training expert. His new book is entitled Leadership Simplified – The Field Guide for Savvy Leaders and is for sale at our Productivity Store and Amazon.com.

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-10-21 at 02:19 PM
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Pragmatic Optimism

Perhaps we could all use a little review of five items that I believe are particularly important these days. If this gets a little preachy, I apologize unreservedly. Indulge me, please.

1. Honestly assess the business environment. Seek to see things the way they are, not the way they are painted by the media or pundits.
2. Stop worrying about things you cannot control.

3. Focus on what we can control.  

4. Look for opportunities. In Mandarin, the literal translation of the word crisis is “danger/opportunity.”

5. Practice pragmatic optimism. What I mean by pragmatic optimism (and this is not from Webster’s) is this:
 
Pragmatic Optimism: Maintaining a positive state of mind and acknowledging that the world offers an amazing amount of opportunities, while embracing the relevant realities of your business situation.     

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-10-02 at 02:38 PM
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Performance Evaluations - No Surprises

It is befuddling that organizations continue to engage in age-old annual review processes that offer little employee input, are sprinkled with surprise ratings, have barely a discussion about skill development, and contain no clear-cut future success path for the employee. 

While I could state many enhancements to current systems, I will share one area that stands out. No Surprises. Organizations should demand a “no surprises” commitment from the leaders conducting the annual evaluations. There are several items that if executed properly will lead to no surprises come review time:

Coaching. Daily and ongoing coaching is paramount to high level team member performance. For more on this topic please review some of my recent newsletters, newspaper columns, and blog entries.

Informal Quarterly Reviews. Dovetailing on coaching, leaders should consider informal, individual meetings with each of their direct reports on a quarterly basis. These reviews should serve as a compass to ensure that both parties are pointing in the same general direction.

Self-Assessment. Without input from team members the entire review process is a sham. Prior to each quarterly review, request that the team member mark up a copy of their annual performance plan. In this regard, realize that often team members rate their performance more critically than you do.

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-09-29 at 02:36 PM
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Priority Management

How do you like to manage priorities? I prefer a model called a Priority Communication Tool (PCT). A PCT seeks to enable leaders to communicate top organizational priorities in an effective way and on a regular basis. Often times, a company’s top priorities are the same from month-to-month. Other times, however, particularly during periods of rapid change, priorities can frequently shift. Even though top leaders believe they have effectively communicated new priorities, a PCT ensures that a clear message regarding the changes has been delivered. A PCT lists priorities and then ranks them according to status: Mission Critical, Important, On Hold, Low, Deleted. It should be noted that the number of items listed on the PCT may vary from 5 to 25, or more. What is important is that mission critical items are listed, and items that are no longer a top priority are deleted.

Posted by Doug Van Dyke on 2008-09-25 at 02:36 PM
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