Archive for August, 2009
Collaboration vs. Manipulation
Posted by: |Coaching Question: What is the distinction between being “collaborative” and “manipulative”?
We define collaboration as “the mutual engagement of participants in a coordinated effort to achieve a common end goal.” When building and nurturing relationships, we look for the following integrity-driven behaviors:
- Honorable and genuine intentions
- Collaborative spirit
- Company agenda advancement
- Add value and give first
- Transparency
- Long term, mutually beneficial
The definition of manipulation is “to change by artful or unfair means so as to serve one’s purpose.” (Merriam-Webster) The clues that we look for that point to less than integrity-driven behaviors would be:
- Dishonorable and disingenuous intentions
- Exploitative bent
- Personal/hidden agenda advancement
- Take first
- Opacity/opaqueness
- Short term, personally beneficial
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Delegation Challenged? (Part II)
Posted by: |Tip: As we’ve been helping our clients transform their organizations and teams, we’ve identified our Time Robbers’ ”Top 12 Usual Suspects” list. They are:
- Chronic problems
- Escalations
- Dropped batons
- Decision defense
- Customer complaints
- End runs
- Infighting & territorialism
- MIA/adversarial business partners
- “Squeaky wheel” requests
- Fire fighting
- Knee-jerk reactions
- “In-the-weeds” interactions
The above problematic Time Robbers can usually be traced back to the absence or incompleteness of one or more of the following key organizational sub-strategies:
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Demand Intake and Fulfillment Management
- Talent/People Optimization
- Complaint Management
- Internal Marketing
Is this tip helpful? Do you have other delegation tips? Please share your comments with us! And don’t forget to check out Delegation Challenged? (Part I)!
Delegation Challenged? (Part I)
Posted by: |Technique: As we’re helping our clients transform their organizations and teams, we typically find that those holding formal leadership positions continue to struggle with effective delegation. Actually, leaders tell us that it’s one of their #1 challenges – “If I could just stop doing everything myself and start delegating, I would have more time to…”
- Think and plan strategically
- Develop new and nurture existing customer relationships
- Lead and coach my direct reports and their organizations
- Take on more leadership responsibilities
- Achieve my professional and personal goals and desires
If you’re a leader confronted with too many tactical challenges and who never seems to have or find the time to think, plan and lead, there’s hope and it starts with our simple 4-Step Time Investment Inventory…
Click to continue reading “Delegation Challenged? (Part I)”
