tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13939300805791107682024-03-01T20:07:58.901-05:00Leadership & Team-BuildingI have created this blog to share my passion for leadership, business, entrepreneurship, success, and personal growth. You may encounter affiliate links and cookies on my page.Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-64543829774336949342022-01-03T17:01:00.008-05:002022-01-03T17:12:17.146-05:00Becoming an Impactful and Influential Leader - A Course By Pete Mockaitis<p> "The expert in the room is the one who learns the least, so if we can make ourselves the student of the room then we can be the individual who stands the learn the most" Pete Mockaitis</p><p><br /></p><p>This quote is perhaps the best take-away from the entire course on LinkedIn Learning.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-91185855045209487402022-01-03T03:25:00.003-05:002022-01-03T03:25:40.613-05:00Current Studies<p> Hello Friends,</p><p><br /></p><p>I have been spending a large amount of my time focusing on studying economics, marketing, and practicing homesteading. I am looking forward to reviewing some LinkedIN Learning courses that I am taking thanks to my educational institution's sponsored subscription.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have also been following various movements of cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens as their presence in the world economy increases. I have thrown around some ideas regarding minting documents that would otherwise be submitted to peer-review journals as NFTs and want to explore this further in the future.</p>Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-14997552435109875202020-03-15T08:52:00.001-04:002020-03-15T08:52:17.939-04:00Book Review: "The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player" by John C. Maxwell<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_TmL6n3Tcq9Du7Hf4Q-Bapv5gi_8aut8alVAvYbsEST284_YTIvutv1cHRopl224z0u-jx2eFccXsVrCjR4kkHweQklx3YK6apzrLFesMpd0neNL37FLqmFiG38wT-OTw3ayUnAkMV7o/s1600/3-15-20-17Essential.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="650" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_TmL6n3Tcq9Du7Hf4Q-Bapv5gi_8aut8alVAvYbsEST284_YTIvutv1cHRopl224z0u-jx2eFccXsVrCjR4kkHweQklx3YK6apzrLFesMpd0neNL37FLqmFiG38wT-OTw3ayUnAkMV7o/s400/3-15-20-17Essential.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Book Review: The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player by John C.
Maxwell</span></span></h2>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is no secret
that Mr. John C. Maxwell is one of my favorite leadership authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have previous reviews on other books that I
have read that are authored by him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
intend to read many more and review each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This time around I chose to read “The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team
Player”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began reading this book when
I came across a four-part collection by John C. Maxwell and crawled through
this one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose to read
“The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player” mainly because I had set out on a
journey to learn as much as I could about being a team builder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my earlier mentors took pride in
calling himself a team-builder and I intended to follow in his footsteps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that team building, and leadership
go hand and hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recognize John C.
Maxwell for recognizing and capitalizing on this, as well as being a great
teacher of the inherent connectivity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Layout</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John C. Maxwell
attacks the layout of this work in a way that makes me happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book is formatted specifically for the
reader that wants to complete a book in less than a month while reading a short
chapter each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The introduction is a
few chapters long followed by seventeen straight forward qualities that get
right to the point and do not contain much fluff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meat of the
text, where Mr. Maxwell is visiting and explain each of the qualities of a team
player one by one, one per chapter, he sub-formats the book in a very pleasing
patterned way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will find a brief story
that feels like an exciting history lesson (oxymoron?), all of which are well
chosen and well explained, followed by a series of formatted writing on the
quality following that story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
really intrigued by how the pattern respects itself and follows suit in every
chapter, which really pleases my inner obsessive-compulsive disorder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Formatting the Chapters</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first of the
subheadings is “Fleshing it Out”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During
this section John further explains the quality in discussion and then follows
that explanation with clear steps on how to progress towards mastery of the
quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does a good job at
describing what the quality is, what it entails doing, and how to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thoroughly impressed with how well he dives
into the detail without using a lot of fluff to create long sittings per
chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed each of the sections
the most and found myself walking away from each sitting after having read this
section feeling very enlightened with clear direction on what I should be doing
to further develop this quality in myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second section
within each chapter is a section for reflection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is literally called “Reflecting on It”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John poses a question and walks through some
inner dialogue to drive home understanding of what needs to happen to fertilize
the growth of this quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This section
is followed by “Bringing it Home” where there are more bullet points to further
illustrate how to apply the techniques of the quality directly to
ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The layout of the bullet
points makes reading immaculately pleasing and tidy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to the organization of this writing, I
rarely felt as if I was lost in the text.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last section of
each chapter is titled “The Daily Take-away”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here the author finalizes the ideas that he introduced in the previous
areas of the chapter and uses various techniques to tie them together for
application.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way he builds on the
idea from start to finish with a minimal amount of content but left me with
very full ideas is impressive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Pro’</span>s and Con’s</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always have time
to point out pro’s to John C. Maxwell’s writing, as I felt I have above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will take some time in this section to
explore what he could have done to making reading this even a better
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The volume of the
book itself is relatively small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
concluded at 150 pages in, and the formatting of the pages was in such a way
that kind of minimized content on each page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lots of spacing and captioning quotes reduced that 150 pages down by
about 15 percent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was clear that it
was intentionally formatted to deliver a lot of information very directly in a
little package.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I liked that, I
may have liked it so much that I wanted more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I found that even though I stretched the book out, like many good books,
once I got going, I began binge reading multiple chapters at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never had to mark the book and take a break
outside of the chapters, because they were so short and direct.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John C. Maxwell can
wrap me up in his story telling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
listened to some of his audio books that were narrated by him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time I read one of his texts, I can
hear him telling that story in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This fellow has a real soothing voice, and just the thought of this gets
me hooked every time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that
some of his supportive material outside of the direct tips and strategies
sometimes included additional information and fluff to make the strategies
stretch throughout the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In most
occasions I believe authors do this too much in order to stretch books out much
further than they should be stretched, however, I wish in this case that he
would have included a little more wordage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, I would
have liked to read about more direct applications of these qualities that do
not involve a grand history story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
many of the chapters John uses a famous piece of history to illustrate the
importance of why a certain quality is included in his list of seventeen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wished that there were less fame involved
in the stories and more personal application.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Rating</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as business
and leadership texts are concerned, I would give this a 4.5 out of 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is pleasing to read, especially if you
love organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The information is
rather direct, the bits of history augment the writing, and it is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is clear when you read this that this
isn’t some sales pitch or phony claim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every quality you review and study in detail rings that eureka bell in
your head and it becomes easy to tie it into the big picture of leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-38731630690757306622020-03-07T11:39:00.002-05:002020-03-07T11:39:26.917-05:00"The Myths of Innovation" by Scott Berkun Book Review
<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZ1WX72jWyc0pCSmZ7bhkM2P2hyB_AbfJ8mPrt0voWm9Duh1xCusVmn78n8nY-wIhsGuNT2x8CjFFcBXNUkNWx3vEHUwmqswI02uO6alA_Q0nZ5DIvQ5bAH6yMPryz74kIvqN7Qv2I4nQ/s1600/3-7-20+Innovation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZ1WX72jWyc0pCSmZ7bhkM2P2hyB_AbfJ8mPrt0voWm9Duh1xCusVmn78n8nY-wIhsGuNT2x8CjFFcBXNUkNWx3vEHUwmqswI02uO6alA_Q0nZ5DIvQ5bAH6yMPryz74kIvqN7Qv2I4nQ/s1600/3-7-20+Innovation.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“The Myths of Innovation”
by Scott Berkun</span></span></h2>
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<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;">Acquiring the Book</span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Myths of Innovation” by Scott Berkun
was a book that I happened to stumble across while trying to return another
book to a mentor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will call my mentor
Mr. C for referencing purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had
this book and another sitting on his desk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had admitted that he hadn’t read it yet and was interested in its
contents but offered me the first go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
took the opportunity of being the first human to read this copy of the book and
quickly grabbed it up and made my way back to my office with it.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can easily purchase this book from outlets
such as Ebay.com, Amazon.com, and Walmart.com for prices ranging between ten and
twenty dollars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a few relationships
in my workplace where we actively trade books for a prolonged period of time
because we spend so much of our time at work that it makes reading and
digesting books a costly pastime.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;">Overview</span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the book’s title infers, it is written
around the subject of innovation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
writing delivers a lot of facts about historical innovators and the challenges
that they faced long before they were known as innovators, inventors, or even
successful persons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flow of this
book started out pretty exciting for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I felt its invitational pull that drew me back strongly in the
beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This leveled off through the
middle portion of the book but then returned as strong as ever towards the end.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often found that the book would influence
me to want to pursue my dreams as an entrepreneur and inventor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had me comparing some of my travels and
journeys with those of historically famous innovators that were the subject of
the read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent quite a few hours lying
on my back on my living room floor looking up at the pages and thinking of how
I would apply the knowledge contained in the book to my own life.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In tandem to reading this, I was also studying
business law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My studies and the
contents of the book fit together perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have this knack for tying various things going on in my life
simultaneously together to provide a good jolt of purpose and drive to whatever
it is that I am trying to accomplish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
will forever remember this book for this chunk of time of my life.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
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<br />
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;">Annotated Bibliography</span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first thing that really surprised me
and sold me about this book was that it contained a complete annotated
bibliography that covered the entire span of the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literally every page donned reference material
to whatever it was that author Scott Berkun was writing about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was impressive as I am weak for
scholarly articles and citations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing them at the bottom of every page just made
me happy inside.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being surrounded by all the reference
material gave way to the feeling that what I was reading was true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew with a little bit of further research
that I could confirm what it was that the author was saying and follow up on
what I was reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I embarrassingly admit
that I did not do this much, rather, I took the book for face value and absorbed
the content within it without using the referencing material more than two or
three times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon finishing the book, it
had a larger complication of the bibliography’s references.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t take too much time to look through
these as I had already had the book an unwelcome length of time, however, it
still made me feel good that the author had taken so much time to provide
sources for what he was writing about.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was especially helpful in the subject
matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author used references to
point to the validity of his claims as they pertained to historical innovators,
their innovations, and their life stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I do wish that it contained more faction research on the process of
innovation and invention and followed up by pointing to journals and articles
that he based his information on, but nonetheless, any reference is better than
no reference at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biggest benefit
of the annotated bibliography is the feel of what you were reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did not feel like you were reading some
quickly scribbled and pushed self help book, however, it really felt like you
were holding a tome of knowledge.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;">Towards the End</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things really turned up towards the end of
the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author skillfully twists historical
inventors, inventions, their strategies, and their stories together for you and
allows you to look through their eyes and think how they think for a good bit
before giving you some real gems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Towards the end of the book Scott Berkun delves into very applicable
tactics and methods that the modern person can use towards improving their
skills as an innovator and as a person.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author wrote two excellent chapters on motivation
and pitching ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I previously hadn’t
realized how important pitching an idea was for an innovator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t tied innovation to salesmanship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also hadn’t realized all the little things
to keep in mind when bringing an idea to someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am truly enlightened for having read these
two chapters alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I admit that I wish
that the book was packed full of these gyms, and I imagine how exciting it
would be to read had I felt the excitement of reading the entire book as I had
felt during reading and digesting these two chapters.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author breaks down the sales pitch of
an idea in one of the later chapters into various components.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then explains that anyone delivering a
sales pitch needs to have the same pitch in various time-length formats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I took from this is that anyone pitching
an idea needs to have a ten second pitch, a one-minute pitch, and a ten-minute
pitch for the same idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then gives
strategies for applying each and going from the first to the last in a
progressive fashion.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;">Humor</span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that it is worth it to mention that
a lot of the fluidity and ease of reading this book comes from the passive
humor that the author possesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s
able to weave a very natural feeling humor in his writing that leaves you
smiling when you come across it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
not a forced humor or a book so injected with humor that you have to look for
the content, rather, it is genuine and imaginable that this is how you would experience
communicating with the author in real life.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of whether I mesh with these types of
non-fiction writings depends on if I find that through reading the book that
the author’s personality is compatible with mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this case, it very much was.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;">Overall Rating</span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like a pretty hard critic in giving
book a 3.5 out of 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This writing really
explored historical innovators and their challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like it spent a lot of time pounding
on history and not enough time delivering unique technique to overcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do like the level of encouragement to be an
inventor, but a lot of it came from pointing to the persistence of other
inventors who struggled a lot instead of pointing to ways to overcome these
struggles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall, I really enjoyed the
book and would recommend others read it if they are interested in business,
inventing, innovation, and changing the world.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;">My Headspace at the Time</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this time, I had been doing a lot of
dreaming in my spare and not-so-spare time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had crafted an idea of a licensing business based on research and
innovation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a hard sell in real
life, because of the inherent risk in hoping that research transforms into
profitable substance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, the
book had me thinking and dreaming in ways that I hadn’t thought or dreamt of
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is these influences in
our emotions and thoughts that really make books hang with us over the course
of our lifetimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only hope that my
next series of reads provides me with the same type of interface to my life as
I am currently experiencing it.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-80625237863836101772020-03-01T08:25:00.002-05:002020-03-01T08:26:48.260-05:00Networking Strategies and Theory Vol. 2 <meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY61Amp-5CMRgLriyiWQiIKUY98tD0_UQ9ErixbGGbuAZcoRujUxQbobgUUpHvd6S5TBdlunmajlq0kDWnHmOH8tXcFq3vlB5j7sM1XEpHhyphenhyphenQbLiwwXo0uh_qnM2_UQGF05-WnwDGAbtL/s1600/3-1-20-Networking2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY61Amp-5CMRgLriyiWQiIKUY98tD0_UQ9ErixbGGbuAZcoRujUxQbobgUUpHvd6S5TBdlunmajlq0kDWnHmOH8tXcFq3vlB5j7sM1XEpHhyphenhyphenQbLiwwXo0uh_qnM2_UQGF05-WnwDGAbtL/s1600/3-1-20-Networking2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Ani Kolleshi, Unsplash</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Networking Strategies Vol. 2</span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Understanding Networking</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Networking is one of those general terms
that may go misunderstood by individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I believe it extends a little further than the definition of just “acquiring
contacts”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we think of it in this way
though, it is far better than thinking that it is something that it is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been important in my journey to grow
my network that I think of the network as being “mutual contacts with purpose”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this definition could serve
everyone better for several reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understanding mutual contacts with purpose
requires us to avoid mass-friending and following others on social media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that defining networking in this
way gives us substance to what we are looking for when we refer to the purpose,
as well as gives a mutually beneficial relationship with the contact by
understanding that you cannot be networked with another without them also being
networked with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Premature Pitching</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A problem that I have encountered enough to
define it as a problem is the act of prematurely pitching your idea to a
potential network connection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
almost always fails in successfully securing another member of your larger team
or network because, even if they were on your network, they may not vibe with
your current idea. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important that
we don’t go looking for network connections for professional or even personal
use by trying to lure them in with a current pitch or idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is exceptionally important from the
entrepreneur’s point of view primarily because when you are salivating over an
entrepreneurial idea, this is a natural tendency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The network member relationship must
mutually exist between two parties before any ideas, pitches, or opportunities
can be presented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has been a showstopper
for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get all wound up about a recent
idea that I have been building on, go to grow my network, cant stop thinking
about network applications to this idea, and end up just delivering the idea to
someone I am trying to add to my professional network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chances are the individual that I’m speaking
to thinks that I’m a kook and likens me to a door-to-door amateur vacuum
salesman or trying to sell him a life insurance policy via a cold call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important to deliver your interest in
creating a network member relationship during that first conversation and avoid
discussing business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would also argue
that it takes some reinforcement of that relationship further before discussing
profession business especially as it applies to entrepreneurial ventures or
opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the receiving point
of a view, if you are trying to sell an entrepreneurial journey cold, the
individual on the receiving end of this conversation would probably think that
you are very desperate and if you indeed have a following that you have
acquired through your methods, you are probably created a cult instead of an organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Network Member Relationship
Theory</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like this idea just because it so very
well meshes with principles of leadership and team building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meat of this meal hovers around
individual relationships with members of your network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the difference between a cold call and
a warm call from a salesman’s perspective. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a theory that describes the process of
initially contact a potential future contact, gaining rapport by building a
simple relationship, growing that relationship, and then having an integrated
network-member that is more likely to actually hear any ideas that you have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is important in professional networks
because you want as much honest feedback as you can get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The better you develop relationships with
members of your network, the more fine tuned your feedback machine is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The powerful application of this is that
you can dial in exactly how much effort you plan on putting into various
network members before you intend to ask for feedback on an idea or problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On giant platforms like LinkedIn, you may
find that you must put a good deal of effort to build the relationship of your
various connections before you are able to extract any honest feedback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have found that smaller forums and message
boards of entrepreneurs and professionals usually are more willing to engage
you on the short term just because of the common ground of being a part of a
smaller community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been
capitalizing on this a lot and plan to do so much especially with the number of
growing small community forums that exist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Network Member Roles</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a network of contacts is an
important part of developing professionally in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all communicate and exist in and through
relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without doing this would
make life a very lonely experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
we study building networks for professional purposes, we need to keep some
attention on who our network members are and what roles do they fit for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we dive deeper into the realm of
building a very large multi-functional professional network, we are going to
encounter many different types of contacts and network members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be clear that some members may seem
to be better at giving advice and consultation while others tend to be more available
to give feedback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may find that some
are interested in current projects that you are working on and are eager to
learn about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some may just be there
for the drama, and some may be present to provide negativity or nothing at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key point in mentioning roles is that
while we are focused in growing our network, we should be growing it in the
direction that we want to use it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over
the course of the past year I had read a couple books that mentioned
networking, so I sought to network, and network I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so willing to have followers, network
connections, and friends on Facebook and Instagram that I was literally
connecting with anyone willing to click the accept button.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point here is that many of the people who
I connected with filled the role of nothing, ergo I never really created a
network, rather I created a few internet accounts that had a high number of connections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The solution to my problem here was to
identify a few roles of network members that I wanted to create and then
actively look for network members that could specifically fill that role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is still a lot of filtering through
people through various attempted connections and contacts, however, it becomes
clear when you find someone that can provide at least one aspect of the things
that you are looking for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important to not be too restrictive
in this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chances are if we are
honest with ourselves and set out to connect only with those who could help
push our current entrepreneurial venture forward, we would all end up with a
very small list of connections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
diversity here is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to
properly identify various areas that can be occupied by networking
members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is important to
create an email or contact list and list them individually by their potential
roles to be served in your network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think that if you are properly developing a network member relationship then
you could even discuss this with them, as well as ask them what roles that they
are wanting you to fill as a member of their professional network.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When thinking of specific roles, I like to
broadly define many categories. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mentors,
mentees, those that provide consultation and advice, those that provide
feedback, those that are able to help promote a venture, those that may be
directly interested in helping a venture succeed, potential partners, other
dreamers, general colleagues, and even unknown are all roles that I consider
when I initially meet someone new.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if we are going nowhere and doing
nothing, I think it is obvious that human beings are social creatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a network of contacts is essential
even in the dull activity of nothingness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we escalate this thought to the next level of having goals and
working towards them, it becomes even more clear that networking is
necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our success depends on the
success of our ability to effectively network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think focusing on the effectiveness of network should precede focus
towards an efficient system of networking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I do not believe that we should do one and completely avoid the other,
however, I believe that one should come before the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that once we are effective at building
our network, we need to continue this into a more efficient vehicle for
networking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Efficiency in networking
will be a topic of a future content submission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-5694251194423483372020-02-24T07:50:00.002-05:002020-02-24T07:52:37.166-05:00Networking Strategies and Theory Vol. 1<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BRjv5J6ZUMV6HWLaMK6xvrNLZlRKLKDQDrQ5NeTGy-JnrQ_KQVd0Wo_nNg8KybAPfXyHNkUZq95xvNuge3c7NQanBbd778XHp1ZzarIZdqDl7AGoDTmgTAIhSe0RpS31X6Kd6QZMMad_/s1600/2-24-20-Networking-Vol1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="700" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BRjv5J6ZUMV6HWLaMK6xvrNLZlRKLKDQDrQ5NeTGy-JnrQ_KQVd0Wo_nNg8KybAPfXyHNkUZq95xvNuge3c7NQanBbd778XHp1ZzarIZdqDl7AGoDTmgTAIhSe0RpS31X6Kd6QZMMad_/s640/2-24-20-Networking-Vol1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Athena Lam (Unsplash)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Networking Strategies and
Theory Vol. 1</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should be no secret that I am using this
blog to catalogue my journey through business and entrepreneurship as well as
being a leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have currently tasked
myself with growing my network of connections and contacts to create an environment
conducive of easily reaching people that could help me along the journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One problem that I have ran into recently
is the actual implementation of actively networking with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an easy idea to ponder but grows more
difficult the more you think and the less you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that I have found myself in a rut of
complacency regarding where I am currently at with networking and due to this,
I am experiencing some troubles growing my span of influence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This exists on my personal blog as well as
various social media platforms that I use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I plan to actively shift this by implementing new strategies that I have
researched and plan on discussing here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my end-game goals is to create an
entrepreneurial network capable of supporting various ideas and ventures that I
may want to pursue either currently or later in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to accomplish this, I need a pretty
broad network of individuals across various fields with various specific and
general interests that mesh with my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It goes without questioning that convincing people to network with you is
a difficult task, as once you exhaust personal contacts the efforts grow rather
cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Limited-Platform
Approach</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the beginning, I began looking to
network across many different platforms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I distributed my time evenly across all these platforms, thereby
restricting my success on all of them due to my time constraints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe instead of being active on many
platforms I should focus on just a few and integrate them with one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The downside to this is the potential to miss
the big fish because I failed to cast the line into the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, I’m afraid that this is an acceptable
risk due to the time constraints of not being able to monitor and manage accounts
myself with consistency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the neglect
of certain platforms to maintain others results in the missing of a big fish,
then all other things aside, this approach may end up being less risky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My action in this is to throw away Instagram
and any other platforms that I haven’t currently invested a good deal of time
in developing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I intend to keep what I
would call my big three: Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also believe that it is necessary to keep
my Google based platforms, as I am publishing this content on one of Google’s
programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that the time spent
in developing the Facebook Group associated with this blog is enough to justify
keeping it as well, if for nothing else, to reverberate content that I publish
elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will suspend growing across
other platforms for the immediate future and continue to develop these.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Experience with Blogging
Circles and Their Exclusion</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past months I have become a part of
many groups of bloggers promoting their blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These are excellent communities to join and they all provide such great
tips and learning experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My biggest
problem with these now is that they are all other bloggers wanting to publish
content and have it recognized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Inherently publishing content and operating a website is a very time-consuming
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I run the math in my head,
an active blog manager only has a limited number of hours left in their
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This led me to the realization that
if you intend to produce substantial results from content, you may have to look
for horizons outside of others looking to attract people to join their purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This poses a challenging problem for an
entrepreneur with a currently limited network with a low capacity to grow due
to time constraints stretched across multiple platforms. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe the problem lies in direct relevant
engagement and then confirmatory engagement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Neither of these happen when you are a part of circles or groups
searching for something of their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am now going to actively practice limiting my participation in circles of other
content creates and try to expand my network in the direction of those actually
interested in the subjects that I intend to create a network from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Defining a Member of My
Network</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far before I officially add a contact to
my network, I have declared two requirements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first is that I have had a direct relevant engagement with that
person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would mean that we had an
exchange where the basis was topically related to a subject that I am
interested in including in my professional network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two key factors are engagement and
topically related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The subject of
interest must be present as well as enough interest from the other party to
engage in discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If these criteria
are not present, as I often found, I had a one-sided conversation that resulted
in boredom and frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made it a
habit to try to achieve this relatively quickly or try to forecast whether that
an engagement would be present.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe once a direct relevant engagement
has happened, you can tentatively include that person in your professional
network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe full inclusion
depends on whether a follow-up engagement happens which proves that they were
not just committing a nicety and were good conversationalists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I have defined these criteria for
building my network, I have found that I have a lot of potential networking
partners to re-evaluate and categorize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I found that I had thought a lot of people were a part of my
professional network related to my desire to become an entrepreneur, but were friends
appeasing me for conversation. (Which are good to have, and I consider myself
lucky to have them all!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion and Key to
Success</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe these and many other strategies
and networking theories are the key to succeeding with delivering entrepreneurial
visions to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of us is as
strong as all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In believing this I
truly believe that teams, teamwork, and team building are key to succeeding in
a lot of projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that especially
for entrepreneurs, the secret sauce here is in the quality of networks of people
that are built and relied on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is for
this reason that I will continuing publishing content and progress of my personal
networking journey to outline the knowledge that I have gained and demonstrate
to myself and others how I intend to apply it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-30933218478403952382020-02-17T08:51:00.001-05:002020-02-17T08:54:26.047-05:00A Call to Network: an Entrepreneurial Venture<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUYDVwg4A8GWm8K3m4r0gQYzPBC-wy0lRSQhipvcKhRmmsW0mOUUD0X9jNn5-NHT2rrLzrOx1w_uj7kjui-R77z_zsvxnoNjqC7pSDLNiqnjljVt9NedXZu422z1V0ZOMwu8AjhOeIbEo/s1600/2-17-20-Call-to-Network-Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="700" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrUYDVwg4A8GWm8K3m4r0gQYzPBC-wy0lRSQhipvcKhRmmsW0mOUUD0X9jNn5-NHT2rrLzrOx1w_uj7kjui-R77z_zsvxnoNjqC7pSDLNiqnjljVt9NedXZu422z1V0ZOMwu8AjhOeIbEo/s400/2-17-20-Call-to-Network-Banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Call To Network: An Entrepreneurial Venture</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the turn of the year I decided to take a
hiatus and re-think a lot of what I was doing in my spare time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had decided that I would begin networking
for future entrepreneurial ventures and begin building teams with people
interested in various areas of study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
knew that this would require a break from my writing and networking here, however,
I have begun further reconstruction of this website and began implementing
steps into tying it into my evolving project regarding leadership and business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I frequently conjure up ideas of business
models in my head. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fancy imagining
technologies and inventions that could potentially change the world for the
better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have made a commitment to at
least construct a complete model and framework for a business that is focused
on research and intellectual property licensing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Current Interest:
Networking</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this stage I am really seeking to expand
my network of peers to include students of business, law, chemistry,
accounting, economics, marketing, and physics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I would not be opposed to expanding my network into the realm of
professionals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My only concern with that
is much this would initially be in theory. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am wanting to network with individuals who
stand to benefit from the networking itself, as compensation for time spent networking
isn’t feasible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Future environments
resulting from networking producing future compensation is hopeful based on my
success with networking and finding like-minded people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Current Project:
Clean Energy</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In maturity the entrepreneurial venture
would be to support research and development of various scientific theories
that may or may not be in practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Revenue
would be generated initially from corporate start-up business strategy outside
of substantial initial direct investment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After infancy revenue will be generated by the licensing, selling, or further
developing novel technologies through self-licensing followed by marketing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Areas of Research</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the area that initially sparked my
thought that I believe to have a lot of opportunity for growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Areas of research would include thermal
electric generators and their amplification, the Lorentz Force and it’s affect
on various elements and ionic solutions, photogeneration via manipulation of excitable
electrons, and many others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously,
these subjects are not exclusive, and I intend to continue exploring other subjects
and areas of research, but these are the ones that have for a long time fascinated
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point I believe the knowledge
discovered itself will be valuable and the methodology used to obtain results
equally valuable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following Insights</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is widely accepted that the forces that
hold the building blocks of our universe together do so with much energy
hanging in the balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at the
different of energy released by say 100 kilograms of refined petrol next to 100
kilograms of refined uranium when approached a little differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine if we could take that 100-kilogram
explosion of uranium in a trickling, controlled way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not suggested that uranium is an element
of interest, I am interested in moving away from dangerous elements and into a
safer era of clean and green energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
reference to this is merely to point to looking for energy in areas where it
may be hidden, such as within the strong force exerted between protons and neutrons,
or the electromagnetic force that holds electrons in orbit around their nuclei,
and ways to experimentally determine if we are able to harvest that energy in a
way much more useful than that of chaotic nuclear fission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the event something like this was successful,
it may result in batteries for many of modern-day devices that would last for
not days, but years or decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine
a car that would not need to run on fuel, because the energy generation within
its battery would be enough to power it for 10 years?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not interested in the fluff, so to
speak, but rather in the journey of learning that could happen as a result of
curiosity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
not opposed to publishing findings via scholarly articles or submitting them to
journals, so long as it does not undermine the due course of success for the
organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Feel free to contact me
on any of the platforms that I have listed on my CONTACTS page, preferable via
email <a href="mailto:Jglennsturgell@Gmail.com">Jglennsturgell@Gmail.com</a> or
<a href="mailto:Josh@Joshuasturgell.com">Josh@Joshuasturgell.com</a> . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-62579373677432437422019-12-16T07:44:00.001-05:002019-12-16T07:46:05.430-05:00"Leading Groups to Solutions" Book Review<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwaDm6jdqyvG57U3kKW3zvtOSh7Fw7GOShb9ChrrzNwm-1Hz8pmzIIcJYh8SBkvmS9rsn4jdL6Fne9_uw1ffMJ8z_dAiCmQUPCxMUoiOwTHB4s363B-aR3MfMF3FC9Eej93qhMLZvL9Me/s1600/12-16-19-Leading-Groups-to-Solutions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwaDm6jdqyvG57U3kKW3zvtOSh7Fw7GOShb9ChrrzNwm-1Hz8pmzIIcJYh8SBkvmS9rsn4jdL6Fne9_uw1ffMJ8z_dAiCmQUPCxMUoiOwTHB4s363B-aR3MfMF3FC9Eej93qhMLZvL9Me/s400/12-16-19-Leading-Groups-to-Solutions.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Facilitation in Leadership: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Leading Groups to Solutions, a
book review</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Introduction</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was given this book to read by a mentor
shortly after he discovered that I actually like reading and further my wisdom
and understanding of leadership principles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One day he tossed me this book as well as a couple of loose pages that
he printed out on various topics related to leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He instructed me to share the pages but
return the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He challenged me to
return the book sooner than two months, jokingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, it took me about one of those
two months to get through it, and as it concluded this morning, I felt that the
appropriate time to review it would be right away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Leading Groups to Solutions”, is a book
generally about leadership as it relates to team building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately liked this notion because it is
right up my alley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easy to read
with relatively large print for non-fiction and has a relatively short length
at 169 pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is written in a way
that is easily understood with many take-away portions and wrap ups with bullet
points to outline the primary material.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="90" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?o=1&p=48&l=ur1&category=audibleleadersguide&banner=1FBZR5SDM1TZQ105JR82&f=ifr&linkID=5446b6d97bf2306dad7acd37e6169d1d&t=joshuasturgel-20&tracking_id=joshuasturgel-20" style="border: none;" width="728"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Recommendation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I am an affiliate marketer of audible and audible products. I do receive a small commission on sales and accounts generated through audible if you access the website through one of my links. It seems that this book is not on audible, however, another great book from this author is. Steven J. Stowell, PH.D. is also the author of a book titled "The Art of Strategic Leadership". I do a lot of travelling and I don't always like to listen to music or talk on the phone during my commutes. I love the fact that a good book can pack decades of learning and experience into just a few hours of reading and I recommend using audible to help. Not only do I really believe in this product, it has had a profoundly positive impact on my life and others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Diving In</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took off reading this book relatively
fast because of the way it is formatted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I initially thought it would be a quick and easy read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I typically stay away from these because I
tend to breeze through them and then spend a lot of time recalling what it was
that I read a week later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the
ease of the read, I found that I didn’t want to rush it and that I would rather
read a small portion before taking a good amount of time to reflect on what it
was that I read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often found myself
taking situations from the book and directly applying them to what I had
experienced during group leadership and group meetings within my organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book is divided into two larger
sections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first section is directly
related to facilitating, in fact, the meat of this book revolves around the facilitator
and how to best facilitate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last
half of the book consists of small chapters that focus on specific techniques
and situations that you may use or encounter while being the facilitator of a
group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are sections at the back of
each chapter that outline the material as well as a short summary for content
in the chapter that a team-member should take away if they are not able to facilitate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found this part exceptionally helpful as
while I find myself in the role of facilitator a lot, I also find myself in
meetings where I am a team player and not in a facilitator role at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Writings on Facilitation</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I read the title of the book, I had
assumed that I would be reading a lot of repetitive team building strategies
that most non-fiction group solutions books try to produce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was happily surprised when the authors took
a direct approach and identified one area to focus on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was enlightened by the end of the book at
just how much someone in a leadership role encounters situations where they act
as a facilitator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I count it a success
when I am reading a book and then during my daily routine, I recall something
that I read in that book and then apply it to my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This happened countless times during reading “Leading
Groups to Solutions”, and I am willing to bet that it will continue to happen
for some time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The authors take a good portion of the book
to write on topics related to facilitation such as engagement, clarification,
sustenance, and action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a bit put
off by how they seemed to always use a formal meeting setting in which to
describe how facilitation takes place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t believe that we should make the mistake of assuming this book is only for
that formal type of professional meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I believe that we can take a lot of lessons out of here for ground level
team-based leadership and apply them across the board, regardless of whether or
not we are the primary leader or an ordinary team member.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Wrapping Up</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latter half of the book takes us
through various strategies to use when addressing groups, once again, from the
leadership position or as a team member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It does a good job of walking through step by step the process from the
beginning to the consensus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a
lot of problem solving included during the latter half of the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like this because it provides us with a lot
of if, then information that we can add to our list of tools to use in various
situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again I felt that it
provided this information on the contextual basis that it is being used in a
formal meeting room, however, it is really easy to see how to apply it on a
production floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure that I liked the idea of
gearing the entire book titled “Leading Groups to Solutions” towards delivering
the chronological events of a formal meeting and various strategies and problem
solving techniques you may use to make sure you reach a productive consensus,
however, if that is what you are going for than I highly recommend this book to
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are looking for a book for
general team building with no specifics involved, then you may find your time
better spent elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t believe
that I can walk away from this without strongly emphasizing that even though
the book seems to be written for that formal meeting situation, that it is clear
how it can be practically applied to a variety of situations including
production floor, family dinner table, and sports or recreation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In Conclusion</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I believe that a specific
quote from this text does a really good job of defining it, “Most of all, our
best hope for leaders and facilitators of teams is that you’ll discover in real
and specific ways a grand truth: together we are better than the sum of
everyone individually.” <w:sdt citation="t" id="-467899670"><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>CITATION
Ste02 \l 1033 <span style='mso-element:field-separator'></span><![endif]--><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">(Steven J. Stowell, 2002)</span><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]--></w:sdt><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this book has a lot of teachable
information delivered in very small packages of words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of some of my dislikes of this book,
I did thoroughly enjoy reading it, and I hope to thoroughly enjoy its
continuous application in my professional life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h1>
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">References<o:p></o:p></span><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></h1>
<div class="MsoBibliography" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span
style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>BIBLIOGRAPHY <span style='mso-element:field-separator'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Steven J. Stowell, P. S. (2002). Leading Groups to
Solutions. In P. Steven J. Stowell, <i>Leading Groups to Solutions</i> (p.
169). Salt Lake City: CMOE Press.<o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><w:sdt docparttype="Bibliographies" docpartunique="t" id="675996541" sdtdocpart="t">
<w:sdt bibliography="t" id="-573587230">
</w:sdt></w:sdt></span><br />
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</div>
<br />Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-19206741618597377622019-12-09T07:41:00.002-05:002019-12-09T07:41:28.349-05:005 Ways to Continue Learning in Leadership<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">5 Ways to Continue Learning in
Leadership</span></span></h2>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmOYFb1GPXLfSSckpYOQ9o7g31zxbv21Oae1HUuTL4MUp8tn1nRpdbw6eavsVdJ5rlr2CaBTxklYx5D-AjVAjZerS7vvNiU5zzhGc81FbbG_DRrHkgLxXi9L3Hqyv8a8hhY1sQFPGKfAv/s1600/12-9-19-Learning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="124" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmOYFb1GPXLfSSckpYOQ9o7g31zxbv21Oae1HUuTL4MUp8tn1nRpdbw6eavsVdJ5rlr2CaBTxklYx5D-AjVAjZerS7vvNiU5zzhGc81FbbG_DRrHkgLxXi9L3Hqyv8a8hhY1sQFPGKfAv/s1600/12-9-19-Learning.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why Learning is Important as a
Leader</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In leadership often the key to our success
is our ability to learn, adapt, and apply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We must be able to learn new information and drive change by
disseminating that information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being
able to do the latter is a bit useless without the former.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A foundational skill that leaders must master
is learning, and believe it or not, it is often trickier than it sounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is kind of silly that in our public-school
system we devote a lot of time and resources on learning very specific topics,
however, very little time and resources teaching students how to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We encounter several situations where
individuals struggle with learning and as a society, we are quick to label them
as having a learning disability, when in all reality the case too often is that
the individual has never been taught how to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that with enough time, effort,
and self-understanding that anyone can learn anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t believe there are learning
constraints that prevent certain individuals from learning certain topics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would encourage every individual to
discover how they learn best and how to apply various techniques to improve
their ability to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would strongly
suggest that individuals interested in leadership take a much more aggressive
stance at understanding how they learn best to maximize their chances of success
as a leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A leader who is able to
learn any topic before adapting and applying it to their specific situation or
organization is unparalleled by an individual who is trapped within a set of
learning constraints.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What I mean when I say “Learn
how to Learn”</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When an individual who understands how they
learn best is introduced to new material that may be foreign to them, they
begin a set of practices that includes determining whether they should learn
this new material or whether they should discard it as unnecessary for them to
learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they determine that they want
to learn it, they actively use techniques that they know will allow them to
absorb and retain information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When an
individual engages learning in this manner, it could be said that they know how
to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understanding how our body and brain learns
best is a skill that can be acquired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This may seem like an oxymoron, because if we innately knew how to
learn, then we would just learn how to learn, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we didn’t than we never would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be confusing if you look too deeply
into it, but I suggest that we think about it more broadly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like many things, some people naturally take
to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems common-sensical to
some people that if they wanted to pick something up that they knew nothing
about that they would focus on that topic, use their inner dialogue to talk to
themselves about it, take notes on it, and immerse their lives in and around
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I say, “Learn how to Learn”, I am
talking about acquiring an inner self confidence that one can learn and apply
any topic to ones life or organization regardless of the complexity of the
topic or the public opinion regarding how “difficult” the topic is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While attending college I remember of the
horror stories of learning calculus, and how it was a deal breaker for many
college students trying to obtain a degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Often times, many students would change their majors to an “easier” one
that did not require this course, when in reality, the approach required to
learn this topic is much like the approach required to learn any topic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s explore some techniques in learning
how to learn, as well as techniques for the actual learning itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Recognize that learning is
a skill</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key word here is self-confidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to studying learning as a topic and
identify it as an actual skill that we can possess much like tying a shoe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you learn how to tie a shoe, you don’t
worry about whether you will be able to tie a different shoe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you stumble upon a different pair of
shoes to tie, you approach it in the same way to tie the very first shoestring
that you encountered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to look at
learning exactly like this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This involves identifying some techniques
that mesh well with our mind, and then when challenged with retaining new
information, begin applying them until an adequate amount of information on the
topic has been retained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we have
adopted this way of thinking about learning, we are empowered to desire to
learn things that we would have previously dismissed as un-learnable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also key here is simply the realization that
retention of information is just that, and successfully mastering this step has
to do with perception more than practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we allow a small paradigm shift here in order to view learning a bit
differently then we will have already begun the transformation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This applies directly to leadership because
often we are challenged to learn things that may not particularly interest us,
or that would otherwise seem too tall of a task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As leaders we will encounter many situations
where we are tasked to learn something new and then regurgitate this
information to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not want to
be the leaders that are the last to learn a new topic, after all, that would
aggravate the very definition of leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Taking Notes</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is no coincidence that some of the best
learners are also the best note takers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is widely accepted that taking hand-written notes is a highly effective
way to retain information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel that it
is almost a negative stigma to be “that person with a notebook” in a non-classroom
environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth is, if you want
to be prepared to learn anything on short notice, you would be wise to carry
around a notebook and a pen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The benefits of taking hand-written notes
are multiple. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just by having recorded something
down for later review is a benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would also count the slow inner dialogue that happens when we write something
down as a direct benefit due to the familiarity we gain by consciously talking
to ourselves regarding the information that we are recording.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also believe that something magical happens
when we craft the wording for our notes that doesn’t necessarily happen when we
just unconsciously copy something down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was given the opportunity to attend a broadcast by Jim Kwik, who is a
trainer of learning and speed reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.
Kwik advises that we should take notes directly by copying them down, and then
take our own notes of our notes where we further explore what we recorded to
ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can find more information
from Mr. Jim Kwik below as well as some books related to the topic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<a href="http://kwikbrain.com/recall-masterclass?gclid=Cj0KCQiA_rfvBRCPARIsANlV66PwDaZ2pyRC6w2itbZBn_0fB4oP-vFmuAuu-QdF27T-G7keTHwPyQwaAtn9EALw_wcB">http://kwikbrain.com/recall-masterclass?gclid=Cj0KCQiA_rfvBRCPARIsANlV66PwDaZ2pyRC6w2itbZBn_0fB4oP-vFmuAuu-QdF27T-G7keTHwPyQwaAtn9EALw_wcB</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just about everywhere I go I will have some
sort of media to record information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
only is this beneficial to learning new things, but we often overlook retaining
information about meetings, people, and events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We can use the power of retention and note-taking to maximize our
effectiveness as leaders by using this technique in various situations for reinforcing
retention of various things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Consistent Exposure</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe in consistent exposure to media
that we wish to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that if
we want a more thorough understanding of a topic, then we should seek to
immerse ourselves in that topic in as many ways as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spend a lot of my time on the road
commuting to and from work, and I do not like to think that I just waste this
time in travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from time
reflecting and listening to current news, I listen to a lot of books on
Audible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Audible has a wonderful credits
program where you are able to purchase books for bargain prices as well as a
wonderful software implemented to read these books to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jim Kwik also said that the
benefits to having a book is that an author is able to condense ten years of
experience into a few hours of reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If our goal is to compound the information that we have as individuals, we
should be spending a lot of our time learning the amassed information of
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this reason, I recommend
books as a source of information on just about any topic that exists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Audible isn’t just something that I blindly
market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I am an affiliate marketer
of audible and its products, I regularly use this as a core tool to reinforcing
my learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The amount of information
that I have extracted from audible during my commutes is immeasurable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it may not be for everyone, I highly recommend
it for anyone seeking to collect information from reading books, but due to
circumstances listening to the books is the most feasible way to digest them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="600" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?o=1&p=14&l=ur1&category=audible&banner=0QPN8EB30673E8BZ4282&f=ifr&linkID=853a9b2f1699a43b1951a11bb5470202&t=joshuasturgel-20&tracking_id=joshuasturgel-20" style="border: none;" width="160"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Continuing Formal Education</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now more than ever it is possible to
continue your formal education with smaller investments of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the proliferation of online courses, it
is possible to integrate obtaining a formal education in just about any
instance of life or living arrangement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I do not recommend over-booking yourself and stretching yourself so thin
that you live in a world of stress, however, I encourage everyone to constantly
be actively learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking one course
or so at a time is relatively inexpensive and provides direction to your life
as well as keeping the blade of your mind sharp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many topics that you can pick
up on that aren’t taught formally in grade school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look at all of the instances of finance and
money as they relate to life, and how ill prepared high school graduates are to
actually enter and succeed in the real world of money, bills, and finances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I don’t discredit being goal focused
toward a degree while obtaining a formal education, spot educating and taking
only courses that you are interested in for the knowledge that they can provide
is also very beneficial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of
your path, something here is better than stagnation and nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is also important to mention that
if you are degree motivated to not be dissuaded by the amount of time it will
take to accomplish this goal if you only have the time available for taking one
course at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Becoming Emotionally Invested</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recommend that anything it is that you
seek to learn that you become emotionally invested in that topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be tricky to do depending on our
personal interest in the subject matter, but with practice we can learn to
manipulate our emotions for our benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we begin the journey of learning something new, we need to tie this
to our emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best way to do this
for me is to allow the knowledge of the subject matter to excite me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was learning topics such as organic
chemistry, I envisioned myself being able to start entrepreneurial journeys
related to chemistry and felt the emotions related to success in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that using our imagination here is
the key to unlocking our ability to manipulate our emotions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recall back to the near distant past
where I was challenged to thoroughly learn the topic of calculus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t really interested in this topic and
did not particularly care for its complexity, however, I began to manipulate my
emotions in order to become emotionally invested in understanding calculus by
looking back into what some famous physicists were able to prove by knowing
calculus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagined what it must have
been like to use calculus to postulate theories and understand some hidden
meanings of our universe and then I used these emotions to drive the learning
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I allowed the emotions to flow
through me as I would engage new sections and topics of calculus, and allowed
those emotions to drive me forward as I was taking notes and reading content.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Take Away</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As leaders, we need to be well versed in
learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to understand how our
brain works and use it in order to retain new information as well as sort
through and analyze various bits of information from many sources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this is a facet of our mental
health that goes largely ignored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
believe this is a cultural problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
society we are so focused on so many specifics that we forget some very key
general points to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to keep
the blade of our mind sharp, and to do that requires constant work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that it is very easy to recognize
a leader who isn’t opposed to learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I believe that these leaders give the greatest contribution to their
organizations and have many opportunities that others do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would encourage every leader to become a
beacon of learning and drive the passion of learning and brain health into
others with passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that by
applying these techniques will give us a good framework for learning and
retaining information that will help us along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feel free to comment, email, or reach out to
me on any one of my various social media platforms if you would like to discuss
this further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-37796029152618014142019-12-04T09:31:00.001-05:002019-12-04T09:32:16.924-05:00Organizational Change: Lewin's Model of Change<meta property="og:type" content="https://www.joshuasturgell.com/2019/12/LewinsModelofChange.html">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwGbwEJk3fwHdS8sUJowNVeXIvHqb23SbCG2VK_17ZRuRhjhvTLaYiQvW-XxWsKrdu7KJM3DgMtLbFTORYlJFm4USbpLqsKuURIFj4ogRQMMD3uzoFKUz8Ky6Ds9xBaNsni48UIQjzRlX/s1600/12-4-19-Lewin%2527s-Model-Of-Change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="700" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwGbwEJk3fwHdS8sUJowNVeXIvHqb23SbCG2VK_17ZRuRhjhvTLaYiQvW-XxWsKrdu7KJM3DgMtLbFTORYlJFm4USbpLqsKuURIFj4ogRQMMD3uzoFKUz8Ky6Ds9xBaNsni48UIQjzRlX/s640/12-4-19-Lewin%2527s-Model-Of-Change.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@the_roaming_platypus?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">timJ</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/change?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h2 style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lewin’s Model of Change - Organizational Change in Leadership</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change is a necessary occurrence for
organizations to continually grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Change is very important in leadership because it is the leadership that
drives the change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A social psychologist
named Kurt Lewin developed a model for change that I am particularly fond of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I give credit to Lewin’s Model of Change in
helping me grow in my own organization as well as helping me tackle problems
and achieve goals as I have grown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
still today think of how to apply Lewin’s Model of Change to situations in my
organization and life that require change to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I intend to further elaborate on the stages
of Lewin’s Model of Change at a future date, because so much can be said about
the technique used to apply them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
really enjoy breaking down his ideology of change because it is extremely
applicable to situations where the change is required because of stagnation due
to culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Overview of Lewin’s Model</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To summarize, Kurt Lewin proposed that
change should encompass three steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
step of unfreezing, a step of actual changing, and then a step of re-freezing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can generally understand this by thinking
about what it is that we need to change and what change is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To need change that means we must have some
established practices that seem to be the norm that are undesirable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The norm may not even be undesirable, rather,
we may want to do things differently to achieve a different result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, we are met with much resistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The core of Lewin’s Model focuses on breaking
this resistance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To successfully apply Lewin’s Model of
Change, we must understand the series of events that need to happen for us to
effectively change some normal practices within our organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, we must identify what it is that we
want to change, and then unlearn those norms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After we have “un-frozen” the normal practices, we can then begin to
introduce the new norms that we want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once we have introduced the new normal, it becomes our job to further
normalize this, and freeze this into permanency.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My First Application - an Anecdote</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During what I would call one of the most
important interviews of my life, I had the opportunity to sit in front of two
of my mentors and try to convince them that I was the best candidate for a
job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this time a very key
questions in the interview came up, as my department and organization required
someone to help drive change, as many changes were required to succeed in the
coming years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not yet know the
terms or the direct strategy that Kurt Lewin proposed, however, I used the word
“normalize” and it stuck with my interviewers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that we intrinsically understand
what Kurt Lewin lays out for us, and that we know that to drive change to a
situation where there has been a reinforced culture of doing things, we must
first un-learn the autonomous repetition, introduce the new material, and then
set in place a program to establish the new material to become autonomous as
the old pre-change material was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mentor held me to Lewin’s final step in
his model for change and quoted me following my promotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has said to me many times since then, “Normalize
Josh, normalize.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I further study
topics of organizational management and come across strategies such as these
that I sought to apply in the past because of what seemed like common-sensical
knowledge, I am really pleased that I have been given the chance to grow and
apply what I have learned in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Step 1: Un-freezing</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This stage is the precursor to carrying out
real change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is best to think of this
like making frozen food malleable again via the thawing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no sense in trying to shape frozen
hamburger, rather, first we thaw it out so that we can shape it how we like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same is true for teams in an
organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If our team’s thoughts are
fixed and they are autonomously carrying out procedures based on an old norm
that we want to change, first we must prepare them for change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lewin advises that we do this by visiting
and re-visiting the need for change until the individuals itself recognize the
usefulness of the change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allow the team
to see why change is needed and allow them time to explore the why themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To release a locked set of ideals and prepare
that set of ideals for molding, we need to properly prepare our team as
individuals for a coming change and allow them to perceive the need for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlearning normalized behaviors take time
and attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We as leaders need to
stay attentive to the level of fluidity that our teams are exhibiting by
staying present and available for communication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Special attention is placed on the act of unlearning
because we do not develop an autonomous sense of functionality overnight, and
as such we cannot unlearn the autonomous behaviors that we may have been
performing for years overnight either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes the best tool to unlearn behaviors is to release fragments of
the change early and allow a preview of what is to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this period of executing a change,
we need to pay attention to those that will be resistant and focus some of our
efforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dig deep when trying to
convince the most resistant team members and use all the tools available to
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most beneficial tools to have during
this phase is undoubtedly positive relationships with rapport as well as the
foundational influence that comes along with leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of the reason why resistant team
members will follow you into change that they do not particularly like or agree
with is rooted in their trust in you as a leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring them on board early, explain the why,
give examples, and listen to feedback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The most damaging thing that a leader can do at this point is declare
the change just because followed by shutting down any types of feedback or
criticisms to the change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just because
we listen to feedback and criticism doesn’t mean that we are going to change the
organization’s game plan, however, it does result in a more widely accepted
attempt at executing the change desired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of time can be wrapped up in this
phase of change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is impossible to
tell exactly how long it will take to properly prepare an organization or team
for any change, however, it is recommended that we set goals and push to stick to
timelines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing wrong with adjusting
along the way so long as the adjustments aren’t ultimately detrimental to the
end game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is supported by a large feedback
loop that should extend from the floor to the upper management level where we
use a channel to communicate positive and negative feedback regarding the
preparedness for the coming change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Step 2: The Change</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we have spent a good deal of time
unlearning behaviors and preparing individuals for change the task is set to
officiate the change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the phase where
we deliver the information and the procedures, as well as the new expectations
and guidelines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be evident here
if we have rushed the change as there is no proverbial dog to eat your homework
when things turn upside down, and believe me, during change things often turn
upside down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The further things go astray, the more you
will see resistance begin to pop up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
patches of resistance will be strongest in those who were resistant from the
beginning, but the goal here is to communicate expectations, accept all
feedback and encourage others to work with you on discovering the various
properties of change that was foreseen and unforeseen, and finally to give
feedback yourself to superiors so that they are able to do their job in executing
the change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in the most unfrozen of situations, it
will seem evident that “we were just not ready for the change.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is kind of a fallacy to fluidity in
organizations, and the larger the organization, the more apparent this fallacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is typically a perception related to a
type of cognitive dissonance, and this is exactly where my organization was
when I suggested that we push forward to achieve a state of normalcy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is at this point where we see the true
drivers of change as well as the ones who want to hop back on the bus to do
things the old way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My organization has pushed through so much
change in the past two years that it seems we have an “old way” to do
everything, as a matter of fact, just about everything that we do has an “old
way” that seniority will refer to from time to time, even though we are well
into the re-freezing stage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Step 3: Re-freezing</span></span></h3>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final step in Lewin’s Model of Change
has to do with the very idea that I proposed during my interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far, we have taken an autonomous function
of an organization, prepared to change it, changed it, and now we are tasked
with making the change the new autonomous function.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important that we recognize this step
in executing the change and begin to move in order to successfully complete
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important that we don’t stagnate
during phase two, which is synonymous with just avoiding phase three, as then
it will become normal to have a duality in autonomously carrying out
organizational procedures, which can be more detrimental than avoiding the
change in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To re-freeze is to create a culture of
normality in executing functions brought about by the change, and to then make
these autonomous actions by all members of the team or organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is done by time, reinforcement,
feedback, and refining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To re-establish
culture is a tall task, and often we procrastinate by returning to the “old way”
of functionality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The drivers of change
will be the ones constantly attentive to course correction and identifying
problems and working towards finding solutions rather than avoidance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To jump start this part of the process, I
suggest identifying some of the strongest influencers and allow them to be
drivers of change with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Play to the
strengths of some of your quick learners and invest some time in explaining
some of the roots of the change in more detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Task these individuals with a clear goal of disseminating this
information to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When looking for
these associates, look for adaptable and influential team members that you have
a strong relationship with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the step in Lewin’s Model of Change
that we should get lost in and lose track of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often you only realize that you have begun to
make progress on this step once the progress is already made and you are
reflecting on the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have succeeded
in re-freezing after a change, you should be able to clearly identify some
fruits of your change and can reinforce the re-freezing by interacting with
team members of the organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">T</span>he Take Away</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every organization runs into stagnation and
requires an execution of change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How we
approach this need to change will determine whether we are successful in achieving
our goals that relate to the root cause of the change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many failures occur because of misguided approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can avoid failure and bolster our odds for
success by proper planning and using our leadership resources in the best
possible ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following Lewin’s Model
of Change doesn’t guarantee that our change will occur without resistance, or
that our change will be beneficial in the end, however, it does give us a road
map to follow in order to roll out new organizational functions that we believe
will benefit the organization in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This model of change is the means for
leadership to use in order to come to a concluding point in time where we can
further assess its effectiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
leaders, it is our obligation to best serve our organization and our team by bridging
the two together and being a facilitator of change deemed necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe by following structured systems
that we can introduce and reinforce change for the betterment of our
organization and our teams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-50602289916726793892019-11-27T10:19:00.002-05:002019-11-27T10:28:10.445-05:00Four Ways to Show Thanksgiving in Leadership<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvifaqIg9Ly1p5wnw7uIJwt0m-6Z3gyXUv-nHto5Q_1baowk1QRwdDAJsM1roBXH6mXc_rnfcrkmMtfma2k5Y-eMjqJqaDbkI8LchLy0hD1WgXf_m8dPcwLNFlrajtxM93qzzrx5rAcIoh/s1600/11-27-19-Thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvifaqIg9Ly1p5wnw7uIJwt0m-6Z3gyXUv-nHto5Q_1baowk1QRwdDAJsM1roBXH6mXc_rnfcrkmMtfma2k5Y-eMjqJqaDbkI8LchLy0hD1WgXf_m8dPcwLNFlrajtxM93qzzrx5rAcIoh/s1600/11-27-19-Thanksgiving.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Four Ways to Show Thanksgiving in Leadership</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Showing thanksgiving as a leader is a very important
task to do. It is important that our
teams realize that we share the successes as well as the failures. I am talking about more than just performance
appraisals and feedback. I am talking
about the showing of gratitude by leaders to their subordinates. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> It is far too easy for subordinates to feel
like cogs in a machine due to the everyday swing of operations. It is important as leaders that we instill a
sense of appreciation in our team, after all, they are the ones doing the work. As leaders, we need to explore the various
reasons why to show thanksgiving and then the ways to convey gratitude to our
team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why Show Gratitude?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> To some people this may seem silly, and
hopefully you are one of them. Showing
gratitude is a very important part of maintaining healthy relationships within
a team. Your team needs to know that you
appreciate them, and the benefits of them understanding this are many. A team that feels thanksgiving from their
leader or management are more likely to perform, respond to pressure to perform,
trust their management more, and have overall healthier relationships with
their management team. Teams who feel
that their leadership is thankful for their work are also happier to be a part
of a team, which directly boosts day to day morale. There is something to be said about how
individual confidence is maximized when team members believe that their superiors
are thankful for their service, and confident team members boost the overall
performance of the team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Four Ways to Show Thanksgiving
in Leadership</span></span></h2>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Immediate Follow-Ups</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The most applicable and used technique of
showing thankfulness as a leader is certainly the follow-up. When I refer to follow-up, I am talking about
delegating a task, and then following up to assess whether that task was
completed adequately. When you delegate
as a leader and follow up to find that the task was successfully completed, an
important relationship building tool is to then follow up with the individual
that the task was delegated to and let them know that you followed up. Expressing thankfulness for the successful
completion of the task yields multiple benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> The first benefit is one that impacts your
span of influence as a manager. If you delegate
a task to an individual and follow up, that communicates that you care about
the task and you are willing to see if it will be completed. It also communicates that the task that you
delegated was a chunk of important authority that deserved a part of your
attention, and it was not just some mindless drivel that you blindly sent
someone off to do in order to keep them busy.
The end game to this is that when you delegate in the future, this individual
as well as other individuals uninvolved will be more than willing to carry the
authority that you give to them with the delegation, and strive to successfully
carry out the task. The showing of
gratitude at the finality of this is the final stamp that seals this exchange. The delivery of the gratitude can be as
simple as a “Thank you”, or “Good job.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Huddle Meeting Topics</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Every day my team and I typically have a start-up
and final huddle meeting. By design
during both huddle meetings, on my agenda is a short time set aside to
recognize excellence, positive performance, or goals achieved. It is important that we show thankfulness in
this type of forum in front of our team as-a-whole. By doing this, we completely remove the
potential label of us being closed-souled slave-drivers and boost our chances
of being perceived by our team as thankful leaders of a successful team. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Taking time to recognize others and show
our thankfulness for their work will create an atmosphere for the positive
relationships that are required of a fully functional team and will create
great relationships between everyone. It is
important when doing group recognition to identify the correct behaviors to
recognize, and publicly thank those who are excelling. This will create an atmosphere of competition
among the team to strive to achieve this type of recognition while supplying
those who do excel with the delight of public acknowledgement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Despite many people showing bashfulness or
unwillingness to accept public displays of thanks and gratitude, I believe the
benefits are clear regardless. No matter
the degree of the individual rejecting the public acknowledgement, the benefits
of acknowledgement still exist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Performance Appraisal</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> A performance appraisal is a regular discussion
between a leader and subordinate where the leader outlines how the individual
has been performing. Even in the event
of a performance appraisal that contains criticisms and coaching for improved
performance, it is still important to show thankfulness. As leaders we should adopt a thankful
attitude to those who are willing to follow us, and even if for no other reason,
we should take this opportunity for thanking the individual for being a part of
our team. Depending on the flavor of the
performance appraisal, we may include this in the open, close, or both. We may also center the performance appraisal
around our gratitude for having the team member a continuing part of our team
in the case of high performing team members.
In any case, we should take a bit of time during our performance
appraisals to let our team members know how much we appreciate them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Often a performance appraisal is an
intimate time between a manager and an employee. These experiences are memorable and usually
either painful or extremely delightful.
A good manager is able to take a performance appraisal that would
otherwise be painful and turn it into a situation that both parties can walk away
from feeling enlightened and not confused.
Expressing thankfulness and gratitude during these events is one way
that we can have a positive impact on the situation in multiple ways. We can deepen the relationship with our
employees as well as create a positive atmosphere for the performance
appraisal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Human Conversation</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> All too often as leaders we are seen by our
team as just another cog in the machine of an organization. We are thought of just as managers and not as
humans, and managers can’t be thankful, right?
Sometimes we need to appeal to our team as fellow humans and reveal that
we have human emotions and feelings. I
believe we can do this by engaging in a normal human exchange of words, and
then once we are here, we are able to display gratitude. This will be in a different forum than the
other suggestions, and it will probably be more well received, because we are
communicating as people, and not as businessmen or businesswomen. Successfully interjecting thanks into a normal
human conversation with members of our team will allow us to deliver a
personally received message of thanks that is able to impact our team members
on a deeper level than a professional thanks.</span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Take Away</span></span></h3>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> As leaders, it is important that we value
our team members as individual humans that follow us in order to complete goals
that we subscribe to. The very act of
having those willing to genuinely follow you is a compliment. We should be thankful for this opportunity,
and while we are unable to hide this if it is the case, it is also impossible
to hide it if it is not the case. I
challenge every leader in the world to communicate a message of thankfulness
and gratitude to their team during this holiday season. I also challenge anyone who believes that
this isn’t tied to your goals to try it and assess your situation after you
create a culture of gratitude among your team.
I believe you, like myself, will have concrete proof in the development
of your relationships as well as the performance of your team clearly apparent
as a result of your show of gratitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-80899496525970669912019-11-26T09:15:00.000-05:002019-11-26T09:17:31.974-05:002 Key Questions a Leader Should Ask Themselves Before Leading<meta property="og:type" content="https://www.joshuasturgell.com/2019/11/2KeyQuestions.html">
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<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2 Key Questions a Leader
Should Ask Themselves Before Leading</span></span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4veXLJF0F0di8WO9Cxvp5xHowBG-EYGIuZYM8WOVsM-iBWgzbS_r8q-ink1FVK0sz5emqR9S2Mw6ILjYaMWs-m9LAmsfDnQqVrroIr0XBB9IsrExGcs-JiPWKIBtkkUvjdOHuPgfQSii4/s1600/11-26-19-2-Key-Questions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="700" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4veXLJF0F0di8WO9Cxvp5xHowBG-EYGIuZYM8WOVsM-iBWgzbS_r8q-ink1FVK0sz5emqR9S2Mw6ILjYaMWs-m9LAmsfDnQqVrroIr0XBB9IsrExGcs-JiPWKIBtkkUvjdOHuPgfQSii4/s640/11-26-19-2-Key-Questions.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we reach a point in our group,
team, or organization where we want to identify an opportunity to step up and
lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it may not be formal or
permanent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be a passing thought,
or a notion to help the current situation progress along for a short time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case, potential leadership is very
thought provoking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earlier in my career
I would say that it reminds me of going out on a date for the first time,
awkward and forced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As time has passed,
I would say that it becomes natural and easy, sometimes making what would be an
awkward situation one more bearable for all involved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I joined a collegiate organization some
time ago where I was required to complete multiple steps before induction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were maybe a dozen steps to
complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Towards the end of this period
of induction, I was randomly paired with a group of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among ourselves we had to develop a team
complete with assigned jobs and self-prepared meetings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel that this was in a lot of ways a test,
because in our first scheduled meeting, we all showed up having no idea what to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While my group members and I sat
around a table staring at each other and talking it became clear that there was
a lack of leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few members had
left early, some other broke off and began talking about life in general, and some
were scoffing about how poorly ran the organization was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all in the dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had no clue what to do or what we were
even meeting for aside from us understanding that it was a requirement for
induction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through this first painful
meeting, I had gotten only one thing, someone had to make the next one less
painful, assuming anyone even returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I decided to take the position of facilitator and prepare for the next
meeting, hoping that if nothing else we would have something to do besides
gossip about politics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it takes being placed in an
awkward situation with others before it is clear who the leader may be, and
sometimes it will be surprising to see who that person is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it is a blindly assembled group, or a
department in an organization, there should be only a few unorganized
gatherings before it becomes clear who the leader is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we look at some key questions to ask
ourselves to determine if we have identified an opportunity to lead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Do we have the functional or technical
knowledge required to lead?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having the functional knowledge to lead a
group is a key question to ask yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is not a black and white barrier that should direct whether you
pursue a leadership role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should,
however, give you the direction that you should take if you do decide to pursue
that leadership role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you conclude
that you do not have a lot of functional knowledge of the group that you want
to lead, then we must understand this if we decide to push forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Function or technical knowledge is the
boots-on-the-floor know how of getting a job done and demonstrating successful action
against the task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A leader that has a
load of technical knowledge and the skills related to successfully obtaining
the goals will approach leading a team a bit differently than one who has
little technical knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To this
leader I would suggest a teaching and mentoring strategy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot can be gained, and relationships can be
developed by a leader who has knowledge to distribute among a group of peers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lack of functional or technical knowledge
does not mean that we should avoid pursuing leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should be a factor in your decision
though, as opting to lead without having a broad span of knowledge of the tasks
at hand does make the job more difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To the leader without technical knowledge, I would advise taking a learn
together approach, and never shy away from the opportunity to learn from a team
member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is great value in allowing
a team member the opportunity to teach you something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my case, I chose the latter
approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that I had the ability
to publicly speak, as well as research and present information that I had
acquired, so I contacted my group and let them know as long as no one opposed
it that I would have something prepared for us to review at our next meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After scheduling the day with everyone, I was
nervous about what may happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. Do we have proper relationships established
with our team?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most difficult situations that a
leader can face is being thrust into a new team with the expectation of leading
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Success isn’t guaranteed, goals
are not understood, and the people can sometimes be strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is much more favorable to lead a team that
you have already had the opportunity to develop relationships with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Developing relationships is one of the key tools
of a leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is arguably one of the
most important things that a leader can do, and the flavor of these
relationships will often determine the level of success that a leader will
experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To a leader that has had the opportunity to
develop proper relationships with his team, I would suggest that he search
those relationships and make certain that they are facilitating good communication
as well as mutual respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If these two
qualities of a relationship aren’t present, then the leader should be doing
things to foster the growth of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without
these qualities in the relationships, success will be very difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If good communication and mutual respect are
present, the ability to lead will be readily available and from here it is
simply undertaking the task.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After being thrust into an environment with
strangers, and attending a dry pointless meeting, I knew that we had to turn it
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed clear that we were all
good communicators that had adequate mutual respect; however, our little
organization just required some leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In this informal situation, it was as simple as standing up and doing
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t believe it should be a
forceful or delegatory thing, rather, I first communicated that I had done some
research on how our group should be put together and suggested that if no one
else had any material, that I be allowed to present what I had learned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After playing a presentation that I had
found on my chapter’s website, I outlined what I thought the meeting should
include and led the discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked
questions and listened to answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we
continued and time passed, we all became more familiar with each other and felt
exactly what it was that this challenge was about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This wasn’t some formal
take-charge-and-conquer test, rather, it was a test of our ability to come
together as a team and hold each other accountable to being team members.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Take Away</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe these are two key questions we
should ask ourselves before we decide to venture into the idea of leadership in
any situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of our
direction of thought, or where we end up after pondering all the information, I
believe that the task of asking ourselves the questions better prepares us to
lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can further analyze and break
this down, however the idea itself is intended to spark the thinking that a
potential leader should be doing before undertaking the task.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some instances, we may decide that
leadership in the current situation isn’t for us, or that there is someone
better suited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To that I would say, even
a leader knows when to follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good
leader knows when to be led.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should
not be taken as a failure when it becomes apparent that there is someone more
qualified to lead a team than ourselves, rather, we should still fulfill our
obligation to be team members and continue to strive to achieve the
organizations goals, however big or small.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important as leaders that we continue
to think about these things as we travel through life and come across different
situations that require different things of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is important that leaders identify situations where we believe that
our service as a leader will affect the outcome of the group for the better,
and to allow ourselves to be a special part of the group, for the better of the
group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no more fulfilling thing
to be than a servant leader, and that will be a topic of future discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-48325010869901894362019-11-22T09:23:00.002-05:002019-11-23T03:58:01.714-05:005 Benefits of Blogging as an Entrepreneur<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8dL6bNRO2FZLO5Ma2U13c29xwIT4kwpdRdv8k07g7poYWtZhSRm8mAvkFNXtjpMlSrAGD4xuP7AZO7GBLxCMCH1GiEhirpEfYysUESIxPJvwHw3Peb-SVcv2Z-vluCQzamaT-HTM-2ta/s1600/11-22-19-Benefits-Of-Blogging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="155" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8dL6bNRO2FZLO5Ma2U13c29xwIT4kwpdRdv8k07g7poYWtZhSRm8mAvkFNXtjpMlSrAGD4xuP7AZO7GBLxCMCH1GiEhirpEfYysUESIxPJvwHw3Peb-SVcv2Z-vluCQzamaT-HTM-2ta/s1600/11-22-19-Benefits-Of-Blogging.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">5 Benefits of Blogging as an Entrepreneur</span></h2>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why Blog as an Entrepreneur?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking some time to think about
entrepreneurship and how I would approach the subject, my mind kept returning
to blogging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is probably because
starting a web log, or blog, is my latest venture that I have been dumping time
in, and I believe that it is a good starting point for articles on
entrepreneurship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A blog doesn’t have to
be an entrepreneurial venture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember a decade or so ago when online platforms such as Myspace and Xanga were
dominant blog-style social media outlets where a good bit of cultural
development happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From here we were
introduced to Facebook and a host of other social media websites that resulted
in the people of the earth becoming much more connected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fast forward a bit and we can see that
blogging has become a multi-faceted tool to get yourself out there, however you
want to be out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some use blogging
as a means of communication and connection with others, while some use it as a
tool to publish writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have found it
particularly interesting that there are those passionate about writing that are
using their blog to become entrepreneurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am amazed at all the different ways to monetize a blog and impressed
with the ingenuity of the generations that take part in this fun activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than just engaging an audience and
recording parts of their lives, bloggers are building a brand and starting a
business on just about everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is where I got hooked, because of the unlimited potential of what you can do
with a blog paired with all the powerful tools and techniques you can use while
writing about what you love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Create a Brand</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blogging really allows you to create a
brand that is you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It allows you to take
your passions and interests and turn it into hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creating a brand that is you also allows a
level of self-expression that is hard to match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When you identify the things that are yourself, you are actively
creating your own brand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you apply yourself
to the world via the many social platforms, you are distributing your
brand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is very fulfilling and
regardless of whether there exists the topic of monetization, the act of doing
it is very rewarding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By creating
yourself as a brand, this opens many routes of opportunity and potential that
you can tap into in the future as well as the opportunity to deliver the blog
into a full-fledged business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must understand what we mean when we say,
“to create a brand.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A brand is the
essence of one’s product or the mark placed upon it by the name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blogging allows us to define who we are and
thus fabricate our brand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can then
use this to pursue many avenues of entrepreneurship that we wouldn’t otherwise
be able to without a brand.</span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. A Deeper Understanding of
Your Content</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can literally choose anything to blog
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The subject that you specialize
in will commonly be referred to as a “niche”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You will typically find that even if you choose something that you are
very knowledgeable in, to write and deliver rich content that is fully
encompassing will require a little bit more research deeper into the
topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This need to research the topic deeper
is a great motivator to expand your knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This expanse of knowledge will undoubtedly lead to personal growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this reason, I believe that blogging
about anything will lead to a deeper understanding of something that you are
interested in, and this is intrinsically valuable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is commonly recommended that bloggers,
much like in other areas of marketing, find a niche to specialize in and focus
on that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more general your topic,
the thinner your audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By selecting
one ultra-specific niche or topic and sticking to it, you can focus on the
readers that are interested in this subsection or specific area of a subject.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am potentially breaking the rules
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I homed in on leadership as my
primary niche, but then follow it up with the term business, that may encompass
many things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do this on purpose but am
constantly evaluating my decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My reasons
for this are twofold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is wanting
to take advantage of the specific target audience that I am interested in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to grow as a leader as well as help
others grow as leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am very
passionate about leadership specifically and want to direct my content towards
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other is that I want to explore
entrepreneurship as a business student and use this as not only a method of being
an entrepreneur, but to explore the entrepreneurial scope of this adventure as
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3 Expand Your Knowledge and
Networks</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you begin blogging, one of the first
steps is to get involved with blogging communities in order to be heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This doesn’t happen accidentally, and it
requires effort on the part of the blogger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This requires time reading and absorbing other writing and content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time spent poring over others’ blogs and
reading their articles will increase our own knowledge on topics that we know
and enjoy, as well as give us plenty of opportunity to learn about topics that
we are unfamiliar with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting involved
with blogging will directly add value to you by opening you up to reading
material that you otherwise would not bother to read and learn things that you
otherwise would not bother to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are largely introverted as I am, you
simply do not communicate with people regularly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting involved in the blogging community
gives us an excuse to actively engage others with the same interests in us in a
very direct and positive way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my
short time blogging I have had the opportunity to become a part of circles that
I otherwise would not be a part of and reach out to several people that I would
have otherwise not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has provided
opportunity for connection to other real people that I would have neglected,
and the connection itself has proven healthy and beneficial to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="60" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?o=1&p=26&l=ur1&category=school&banner=0E2DHA84MN9YYMMXE802&f=ifr&linkID=f23b663922515917ea3358b934e684a6&t=joshuasturgel-20&tracking_id=joshuasturgel-20" style="border: none;" width="468"></iframe>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Present Entrepreneurial
Opportunities</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps my favorite, starting and committing
to a blog will open opportunities to expand your entrepreneurial horizons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is no secret that there are many
successful internet marketers out there that make a handsome full-time income from
presenting themselves as bloggers and dealers in e-commerce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starting and maintaining a blog is a hobby
for some, and a full-time job for others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Regardless of why you begin blogging, maintaining your blog will present
opportunities to expanding it into a business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By getting involved in blogging and
engaging the community surrounding blogging, we will make connections that we
wouldn’t otherwise make that are involved in industries that we wouldn’t
otherwise experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can easily see
where others have gained success and seek to mimic them, as well as try our own
strategies on an internet platform with relatively low monetary investment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The discipline of maintaining a blog in and
of itself allows us the opportunity to see a business in full swing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peering in at other businesses and studying
their models, I saw a lot of operations, but little of the other activities
involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t until I began
blogging that I realized how much went into marketing and marketing strategies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running your blog as a business is highly
beneficial in helping to understand the input required for becoming an
entrepreneur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From here, the sky is the
limit, and you may take the blog anywhere you wish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Grow as a Writer</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is no secret that being a writer takes both
discipline and skill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blogging regularly
exercises the muscles of your mind that correspond to writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This builds our creative muscle as well as
technical skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If being an author and
reaching an audience is a goal, then growing as a writer will only help us
achieve that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite thinking that
blogging is just sloppily recording some content and posting it on a message
board, it is much more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may
get as much or as little as we want from regularly blogging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With just two months into blogging, I already
feel its benefits on my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
downside to this is the discipline it takes to regularly create and submit
content for others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goal of growing as a writer should be
rooted in personal development, however, there is nothing wrong with seeking
the benefits associated with it as it relates to being an entrepreneur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many career writers that survive on
the income that they generate from writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are many more that wish that they could make a survivable income
from their writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blogging would be a
good place for these individuals to start to develop their skills and build
their brand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Take Away</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An entrepreneur is someone who organizes
and operates a business or businesses and assumes the risk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A blog is frequently treated as a business
and relatively easy to monetize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
are interested in entrepreneurship, I would recommend exploring blogging as a
possible avenue to begin your entrepreneurial ventures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many more reasons for this, and taking
this route really requires you to open your brain to begin solving some of the
most basic entrepreneurial dilemmas that you will face in any industry, such
as; how to make money, what you are going to do, and how you are going to do
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can further use our blogs to grow
as individuals and explore ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Addendum</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I had decided that I wanted to start a
blog, I was really aiming for a few certain things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted a potential avenue to make additional
income, I wanted to do something that would leave me feeling accomplished, I
wanted to do something that my family would be proud of and could readily see, and
I wanted to grow myself as an individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All these things are what has set me on my journey with my chosen niche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After exploring the culture of bloggers, I
noticed that there were a lot of people that were blogging about blogging and
were successful at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not want to
be a niche blogger about blogging, because it just didn’t mesh within me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still want to avoid this, and this bit of
content wasn’t intended to redirect my interests away from leadership and business
principles and toward blogging, however, I wanted this to be a lever of
entrepreneurial exploration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I explored the culture of blogging
the more that I discovered that there were blogs tied to a lot of
industries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I searched and researched
many topics and industries and found that many of them had a blog or some sort
of modern media associated with them as a part of their marketing strategy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I personally haven't begun an
entrepreneurial journey and then created a blog in order to support and drive
it, I like to think that I have done this backwards, and created a blog that is
now looking to drive an entrepreneurial journey, and this is exactly what this
is about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not discredit the path of
creating a business and then using a blog to support it, however, this is just not
the path that I am travelling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-65776786416904690642019-11-20T08:16:00.001-05:002019-11-20T08:16:34.573-05:00Group Decision Making<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 200%;">Group Decision Making</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As leaders and managers, we frequently
encounter problems that may be bigger than us and require more than us as
individuals to solve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must look
forward and determine if these situations would be better to call in a team of people
to attempt to solve the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
this is more common at certain levels of management than others, these
strategies can be applied in many different areas with as large or as small of
a team as you wish to use to conduct them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some intrinsic benefits as well
as disadvantages to using groups to approach problem solving and decision
making.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to keep in mind some
generalizations about employing a group to tackle issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 200%;">Pros and Cons to Using a Group
</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A group may be great in that it allows us a
larger amount of knowledge overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can
tap into multiple different perspectives on issues, stimulate one another, and
engage in meaningful discussion while building relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using a group usually gives us better
understanding of the decision in the end because of the exploratory process during
the exchange of communication during the group meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would agree that there is also a deeper
commitment to the solution of the problem so long as a real consensus results
from the conclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the members of
a group working on the problem, there usually exists a feeling of one-ness or
belonging that brings members of the group together.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the opposite side of the coin, there are
some disadvantages to using a group to problem solve or make decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Groups take time to put together, and even
more time to come to an agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
time it takes for a group to come to a conclusion is usually exponentially
longer than it would take an individual to make a decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this reason, we need to make sure that we
select the correct situation to employ a group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Groupthink is a term we use to describe when all members of a group
agree with each other regardless of their personal beliefs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Groupthink can undermine the ability of a
group to do what it set out to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
common disadvantage of employing a group is that a few tend to frequently
dominate or intimidate the discussion which prevents others from really being
heard.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should also explore the tendency for a
group to engage in goal displacement, where the initial goal of the group
meeting is replaced by another goal, which may be as simple as winning an
argument that arose during the meeting between two coworkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to avoid such things as this as well
as satisficing, or, settling for a sub-optimal decision and not allowing the
group to produce the most optimum result.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 200%;">Analyzing the Cons</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we can see there are a lot of cons to creating
a group forum to take on a problem or issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What this means is that when we decide to employ a group to engage a
problem, we need to do so strategically and take advantage of possible
benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The benefits listed above for
using a group need to be maximized, and the group chosen needs to be chosen
with exploiting those benefits in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We must exploit the benefit of having a larger pool of knowledge by
choosing group members that each contribute something unique to the group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must minimize the cons when we begin our
journey into using a group by </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">understanding that groups can be less efficient
because they take more time to come to a decision than a single person would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to realize that the size of the group
will play a direct role in the quality of the decisions made by the group, as
well as the communication contributed by each member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot allow overconfidence to appear as a
burden on our group, with the members going into the meeting thinking that they
need to contribute less because, after all, a group is working on it that could
afford them an opportunity to slack.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 200%;">Considering the Group Approach</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A group approach should be considered when
it can clearly increase the quality of the outcome or decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must honestly ask ourselves when we encounter
a decision, “are we able to make a quality decision without the help of others?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is no quality perk, then why wouldn’t
we just make the decision ourselves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
also need to take acceptance of the decision into consideration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often a decision is more widely accepted if
more than one person is involved in its conception, and people may feel like
jumping on board if they know that a group of people took time to come together
to reach it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also a developmental factor that
should be considered when we are thinking about applying a group approach to
solving a problem or making a decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We need to ask ourselves if there is opportunity for the development of
the organization or the individuals of the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should take some time on this part of
considering the group approach, because often the development of the leaders of
an organization may be more of a benefit of the group forums than the
conclusion or the reason for meeting in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This affords us a multi-shot strategy for
organizational improvement in a lot of cases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
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<br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">The Take Away</span></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really enjoy the discussion and comradery
involved in a group setting, and I enjoy being a part of group meetings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is beneficial to team members and
leaders alike to feel like they are considered when an important decision is
being made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think too little focus is
put on the development of the team, organization, and individuals when we allow
a foster of group thinking to be created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Too often we focus on the cons to using a group and for that reason we
avoid using one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I think it may be
silly to employ a group to make every little decision, we need to have a
consistent group dialogue tackling some important decisions along many
different fronts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There should be common
forums where groups meet to make decisions that may be outside of the box, and
that is fine, because this still takes advantage of the developmental benefits
of allowing a group to engage in the decision making and problem-solving
process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-45678320301248604912019-11-18T11:42:00.003-05:002019-11-22T09:24:27.436-05:00Using Intuition in Decision Making<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Intuitive Decision Making in
Leadership and Management</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is Decision Making?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A fork in the road, options, and choices
all afford us the opportunity to make decisions.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Making decisions, and more importantly,
making effective decisions is a staple in leadership.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is difficult to be a leader or manager and
continue to make bad decisions.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is
also true that it is hard to continually make good decisions and not be looked
at as a leader.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Decision making is the process
of identifying and choosing alternative courses of action.” “A decision is a choice
made from among available alternatives.” (Kinicki et al, 2020)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">A System of Decision Making</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobel Prize in economics winner of 2020, Daniel
Kahneman authored <i>Thinking, Fast and Slow.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his book he summarized systems of decision
making.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be focusing on his first
system of decision making, known as the “intuitive and largely unconscious” system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recommend his book for a read if you are
interested in researching this further and have included the link immediately
below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009JIF284/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009JIF284&linkCode=as2&tag=joshuasturgel-20&linkId=6a2aaccf9ad9fe5427856a626ac39958" target="_blank">Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman 7th (seventh) Impression edition by Kahneman, Daniel(Author) published by Doubleday Canada (2011) [Hardc</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=joshuasturgel-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B009JIF284" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Leaders and Managers Making
Decisions</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There exists a rational model for decision
making, that boasts completely acquiring information, removing emotion from the
equation, and coming to the most optimal decision for the organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this is ideal in a perfect world, we often
find that this is unrealistic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We run
into problems such as the inability to accurately collect all the information,
as well as completely removing our emotions from the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many problems and issues here that
can hold us back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time, money, and
values are just three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to this, we
look at the way managers make decisions in the real world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
making decisions in the real world, in a real organization, managers and
leaders turn to a system of non-rational decision making.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While referring to it as non-rational, it may
have a negative net effect on us consciously, but all this means is that we are
not compiling and analyzing all the information to make the most optimal
decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should strive to do this,
however, as managers and leaders with deadlines, schedules, and other
requirements, it is difficult to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Satisficing Model</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herbert Simon, a 1950s economist who
received the Nobel Prize described the satisficing model as “managers seeking
alternatives until they find one that is satisfactory, not optimal.” (Kinicki et al, 2020)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we study this, we
understand that sometimes there is efficiency in coming to a decision that satisfies
the current situation, however, may not be the optimal decision at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a level of sacrifice here in that we
are not making the most effective decision, but we are making one effective
enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trade off is that we are
able to then distribute the saved time, money, and other resources to focus on
other decisions and tasks that need to be addressed as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There may be times that we are able to come
closer to making an optimal decision depending on the circumstances, however,
there is a large varying degree of middle ground depending on the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While a lot of organizations and leaders
want to believe a real pie in the sky idea that good leaders and managers
always make the best, most optimal decisions that they can for their
organizations, the truth is that this isn’t always the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is also the case with life in
general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are often pulled in many
different directions, and that results in us not being able to completely
analyze all situations and requires us to be able to make a decision that
satisfies the current situational goals and necessary outcomes while affording
us more time to tackle other problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even in parenting, it is common to shortchange adding up all the
nutritional value of baby foods to ensure that the child is getting one hundred
percent daily value of all nutrients in lieu of scheduling a visit with the
doctor to address a persistent fever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are not making a complete sacrifice; however, we are making a determination of
what is satisfactory and then moving on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we shortchange the decision-making
process too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Situations where we do
not give ourselves proper time to analyze even for a satisficing type decision
can be referred to as snap situations, where snap decisions are made. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, we find ourselves in situations where a
quick decision is required and there is no getting around making one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot allow ourselves to be beat up by these
situations, and as I always say, “You win some, you lose some.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times, you will find that a poor
decision is better than indecision, especially in leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would suggest that you try to foresee these
decisions so that quick draw decisions are kept to a minimum, as forced quick
decisions carry the most risk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Intuition, the Intuitive Model</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Intuition is known as “going with your gut”,
or “Making a choice without the use of conscious thought or logical inference.”
(Kinicki et al, 2020) This is a shoot from the hip approach that can be honed
to accuracy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would describe intuition
as the awareness of unconscious self-talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pure intuition carries no knowledge, experience, or expertise in the
area where the decision is made and is said to be extremely risky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In leadership and management, however, we
want to be well informed on the topics that we are making intuitive decisions
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our experience and expertise in our
areas paired with an intuitive approach allows us to make a decision known as a
holistic hunch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When afforded the opportunity to make a
decision that relies on intuition, we should always allow our knowledge in the
general area of the decision to play a role in that decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This keeps us from shooting in the blind as
well as allows us to develop our intuition and increase our chances of using
intuition and reaching a close-to-optimum decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This takes practice and courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s face it, to make a decision in an important
or high-pressure setting based on a gut feeling is very bold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we continually refrain from using this
approach and always take say, a rational approach, our team will quickly notice
this lack of intuition and at least subconsciously think it as a mark against
our leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Recognizing Your Intuition</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first step at developing our intuitive
senses is to be able to accurately identify situations where they should be
applied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We shouldn’t force this search,
rather, we should strive to stay mindful in all situations and search our own
feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must be able to recognize
when we feel a certain way about something in terms of an innate
right-or-wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is achieved by first
finding what just feels wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone
has been placed in a situation where everything feels wrong, and your guts are
screaming at you to turn and run the other direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is in this place that exists in our mind,
but referred to as our guts, that is the platform for intuitive thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we recognize applicable situations, we must
learn to listen to ourselves, and not only in those situations that tell us to
run away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most difficult part of
developing intuition is knowing when we should strive for something or go for
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gut feeling to pursue is usually
a much duller sensation than that of the feeling to flee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. Using Your Intuition</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we can mindfully be aware of when we
are communicating with ourselves subconsciously, we are able to use this self-communication
to make decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is powerful
because it removes having to use our conscious mental resources to make
decisions that are optimum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This when
developed allows us to make optimum decisions with little effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fallacy here is that undeveloped
application of intuition is akin to shooting in the dark, and we should seek to
develop our intuitive abilities in order to make the best use out of them and take
our leadership and management skills to the next level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the initial recognition of intuitive
thought, we must extract what we have told ourselves subconsciously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is achieved by assessing our feelings
about the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With practice it
becomes clear, but at first it may just be a feeling that we have to identify
through trial and error.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first it may
seem that your intuitive thought is clouded with emotions and other subconscious
clutter and that trusting these thoughts will result in very muddy decisions
that don’t help much of anyone, much less the organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recommend at first, we use lower profile
situations in order to develop our intuition to a satisficing level before applying
it to more important decisions within your life and organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one of those skills of development
that just by acknowledging it gives you a boost in ability to practice it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. The Feedback Loop: Did My
Intuition Serve Me Well?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third step in developing and using your
intuition is to then engage in a feedback loop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is probably the most important step because this is the step that
facilitates development and growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
need to recognize that we encountered a situation where our subconscious minds
engaged in self-talk that led us to make a decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to follow this up with how that decision
performed for us in order to determine the accuracy of the intuitive gut-feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is important, because if we are making
poor decisions based on intuition, we may not be making them on true intuition
and instead making them based on other feelings or emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is as important to recognize that we are
making intuitive decisions as much as it is that we do make intuitive
decisions, and even more so, because what is the point in constantly shooting
in the dark?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Take Away</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Intuition is a very useful tool to help us
as leaders and managers make decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Intuition is subconscious communication within us that analyze problems
and produce decisions immediately and without our knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These decisions and analyses present
themselves in the form of “gut-feelings” that persuade us to consciously act or
decide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can learn to trust our subconscious
analytical self and its products as decisions after understanding what they are
by remaining mindful of three things; recognizing intuitive situations, actively
using your intuition to come to conscious decisions, and then analyzing the
results to determine whether your subconscious mind came to a satisfactory
conclusion in the form of a decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This provides the foundation of developing a powerful skill in
leadership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSmtkyJtxO7X-Z0aEWjniioPCeZgeoWcHaJ_r-tuW8bOV_zY3qtWImDXvJtywXn9At3jDrVu7UDJ7C7FAqONrZWbXOY92ohr6URPl6p0S5zHUNa1jNNk50njs8uXy_PddMAjDJ69FBUsB/s1600/11-18-19-Decision-Making-Intuition2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="550" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfSmtkyJtxO7X-Z0aEWjniioPCeZgeoWcHaJ_r-tuW8bOV_zY3qtWImDXvJtywXn9At3jDrVu7UDJ7C7FAqONrZWbXOY92ohr6URPl6p0S5zHUNa1jNNk50njs8uXy_PddMAjDJ69FBUsB/s320/11-18-19-Decision-Making-Intuition2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">References</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kinicki, Angelo, Williams, Brian K. (2020) Management:
a practical introduction, 245-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>247 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
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Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-3807359200419553322019-11-15T10:49:00.000-05:002019-11-17T05:39:35.646-05:004 Activities to Develop Strategic Thinking in Leaders and Managers<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">4 Activities to Develop
Strategic Thinking in Leaders and Managers</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What is Strategic Thinking?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strategic thinking according to “Management,
A Practical Introduction” by Angelo Kinicki and Brian K. Williams is “Envisioning
what might happen in the future and then applying that to our current
circumstances.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strategic thinkers tend
to be more proactive people rather than reactive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to this nature, one of the best skills to
develop if you have the tendency to be a reaction person is to develop your strategic
thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The term itself is rooted in strategy and
the skill is universally applicable in all aspects of an organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strategic thinking is a skill that is a must
for a leader or manager of an organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This skill is rarely listed on any applications for management or
leadership, because most hiring managers believe that strategic thinking is
implied if you are seeking a management level position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is true that the strategic thinkers will
be the ones up for promotion, while those lacking in the ability to think
strategically will be the ones lagging behind.</span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What Are the Benefits of
Strategic Thinking?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perspective and orientation are two key
benefits of thinking strategically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
skill allows its user to see a much larger picture which is a precursor for
manipulating a situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strategic
thinking in general makes you more informed and prepared to handle not only the
current situation, but any number of situations that may be produced from the
present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It goes without saying then
that strategic thinking produces a problem-solving atmosphere, this becomes
visible especially when difficult-to-solve problems present themselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Application of Strategic
Thinking</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that the application of strategic
thinking requires that we be rooted in a business or organization, or at least
have one of focus in order to grow our ability to think strategically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure that we could apply this to other
areas of life, however, with business being the platform here, I will shift the
focus of the application of strategic thinking to only businesses and
organizations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Understanding the Business</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Understanding the business that you are
involved in is key in order to grow your ability to think strategically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recall that strategic thinking is envisioning
what may happen and then applying this to our current circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best way to predict future scenarios is
to thoroughly understand what is going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a business, we must know what should be happening in order to predict
what may happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is true for any
level in a tall or short organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is achieved more easily in some
businesses than others, because, lets face it, some businesses get incredibly
complex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more complex the business the
more general our understanding should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If the business is relatively simple, then perhaps we can afford to investigate
understanding it more meticulously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
first, we should probably begin by studying the mission, vision, and value
statements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should follow this up by researching
the products, goals, and services that the organization offers as well as its
methods of marketing, sales, and revenue collection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, we should study the structure and
operations of the business to achieve a thorough understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would follow this up with any financial
statements or reports if they are public, as well as any other written public
documentation or media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be overwhelmed
and take this process slowly, as things get more complex and interwoven the
deeper you probe to understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I first joined my organization and
entered a warehouse that I was not familiar with, it seemed like I had entered
another world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The language and product
codes seemed some ancient cuneiform text that I couldn’t decipher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The product codes were some sort of hellish maturity
of the binary programming language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
felt lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I couldn’t continue
being a part of my organization unless I became familiar with my surroundings,
and so I began to understand the business from my perspective outwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is different than originally described,
because I used my place in the business as a starting point and then worked my
way outwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suggest this to anyone
that is plunged into a new business or organization and then acknowledges that
they need a deeper understanding of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once I was able to thoroughly understand the area of the business that I
was directly involved in, I was able to pick up bits and pieces of information
outside of the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still today I
collect information daily, ask questions, and repeat what I believe I
understand in order to reinforce my knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Broadening Functional
Knowledge</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Broadening your functional knowledge has to
do with making connections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we must
understand the importance of relationship between ourselves and the industry
that we are involved in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important
that we engage everything that is a part of our organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to engage the people, processes,
ideas, and events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This activity is one
of doing, and in order to practice this, we need to get out and do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Key to this is not to remain </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">complacent behind a desk but go take a stab at learning that company software after it has
been recently updated so that you are more apt to thoroughly understand how it
works.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Engage the industry itself to practice this
activity in order to strengthen your strategic thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meet people and force conversation about the
industry and its specifics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dig down
deep into some areas so that you understand more of the underlying properties
of the functions and tasks of the organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some experts suggest thinking of this as the letter “T”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The upper portion of the letter refers to
your broad amount of general knowledge while the base of the letter represents
a tendril of specific information and depth of understanding into a very focused
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seek to increase the number of
tendrils of specific, functional information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am involved in the logistics side of my
organization, specifically shipping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
could averagely perform the functions of my job just by knowing the job and the
things that I need to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
understanding some of the specific details of my job, I can predict future
situations and pre-formulate solutions to these situations regardless of their
complexity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So long as my understanding
runs as deep as the complexity that I am referring to, I will be successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the essence of utilizing critical
thinking and it is here that we unlock its power as it relates to
leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A leader skilled in critical
thinking appears to be able to act in an instant on situations that would take
a normal responding person much longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Things like this get noticed.</span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Setting Aside Time to Reflect</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This activity is often overlooked but
remains my favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Setting aside time
for reflection is the precursor to strategic thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is during the reflection time that we grow
the areas of our mind that allow us to postulate the scenarios and develop the pre-solutions
in order to allow strategic thinking to manifest itself in our actions on the
job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the reflection time that
allow us to grow our ability to deeply connect thoughts with scenarios and
potential outcomes to potential solutions in an arena where we have time to
sort out information instead of on the fly as things happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the proactive platform that strategic
thinking affords us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we do not take
great advantage of time for reflection, we are throwing away our potential
before we even have it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from developing our strategic
thinking skills, time for reflection helps us grow as leaders, managers,
partners, and individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an
important activity for multiple areas of growth in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The texts that I have read suggest setting
aside time at least once a week for critical thinking, however, I believe that some
time once a day is ideal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this time,
you should be thinking about what you accomplished, what you have done during
the day, what you could have done, and really focus on the connection of how
acting differently would have produced different results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really try to crunch how finely tuned changes
in your actions would have finely changed (or drastically) the outcome of the
situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ponder on how future
situations of this flavor are connectable to this situation and how the pattern
of actions and events with your decisions could be translated into future
manipulation of situations for the overall success of your team and
organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a lengthy commute to work that
affords me about an hour of travel time there and an hour of travel time on my
return trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of my days I spend
time in reflection on the previous day during my trip there followed by
reflection of the day spent on my return trip home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn’t an everyday occurrence, as I spend
a good deal of my time listening to audiobooks from my favorite authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have recently completed “The 101 Collection”
by author John C. Maxwell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have found
that this reflection is incredibly helpful and has fueled my growth as a leader
in my organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was during this
reflection that sparked my ideas of sharing what I have learned as well as many
pursuits in other rewarding areas of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400203953/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1400203953&linkCode=as2&tag=joshuasturgel-20&linkId=af9e5296154c59c11490294da579c7c6" target="_blank">The Complete 101 Collection: What Every Leader Needs to Know</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=joshuasturgel-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1400203953" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Engaging in Lateral Thinking</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a concept that was developed by Dr.
Edward De Bono.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had the idea of using
this to encourage insight and creativity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What Dr. De Bono created was the idea of assuming six different mental
viewpoints and visualizing the situation using one of these viewpoints at a
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his teaching, he refers to them
as hats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He uses color correspondence in
order to help the visual connection with wearing a hat and the type of thought
that will occur when one is assuming thought from that viewpoint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A wearer of the white hat would be fact
oriented, and their primary purpose would be to gather information required, or
state information that they know to be true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A wearer of the yellow hat would express the
view of an optimistic person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
person would focus on positivity and explore value.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A wearer of the black hat would be the devil’s
advocate, presenting opposition and argument.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A wearer of the red hat would view the
situation from an emotional viewpoint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They would use feelings and intuition to conceptualize the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A wearer of the green hat would focus on
creative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This hat-bearer would explore
ideas and alternative views to the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A wearer of the blue hat is a type of fail-safe
or control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blue hat would be the
one to make sure that a cyclical fashion of rotation has occurred fairly
between all hats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lateral thinking is important because it
allows us to step outside of ourselves and view the situation from another location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is called lateral thinking because we are
still analyzing the same situation, we are just doing it perched above it from
a different position.</span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Take Away: Making Progress</span></span></h3>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you practice these activities and begin
to grow, you will begin to notice things indicative of your growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the key indicators is your preparedness
for odd situations that you would normally be stumped or overwhelmed by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In leadership and management, we can
encounter some really weird and off-the-wall things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of the time, new leaders especially,
will describe leadership as just rolling through a lot of crazy situations and
trying to hold on for dear life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
one of my explanations of it to my wife when I first became involved in
leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of things have changed
since then, and I feel like the ride is much more enjoyable now, and much less
crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you are able to take away some
of the beneficial truths from these activities, and I hope you begin to soon
notice that your strategic thinking has improved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Gu9VdBcMjRMdLE5wVy2HhemsOUxUx6lKcOYnnGgIERySdaIaftlQPVPFknh5F5ICCMsi2pgo3Y9jJc_4jam7BBGYBmxXpwkV1UaSaklzDpL2Z77pLyjei3Jx5x4XzoZ1BH0X9XMSrFwS/s1600/11-15-19-Strategic-Thinking2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="700" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Gu9VdBcMjRMdLE5wVy2HhemsOUxUx6lKcOYnnGgIERySdaIaftlQPVPFknh5F5ICCMsi2pgo3Y9jJc_4jam7BBGYBmxXpwkV1UaSaklzDpL2Z77pLyjei3Jx5x4XzoZ1BH0X9XMSrFwS/s640/11-15-19-Strategic-Thinking2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-54731828626113558992019-11-14T11:43:00.001-05:002019-11-17T05:46:13.765-05:00Investing in Public Corporations<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.joshuasturgell.com/2019/11/Investing1.html"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="880" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAycOVYV_FisqNFa9lV6v_L_v1S1KdXLv52ZI2sXU23cIABB5Y4hnLfqgMuVzFajQ9t3TZ9luJ_rKXnqa33w5IZt2wBbgovPxXBBvvt0wWv2SNSsLkMIR1jvrDXDPz7p3Z_ZjKcRn_NqW/s640/11-14-19-Investing.jpg-880w.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Investing in Public
Corporations</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Investing in public corporations has become
an important part of my life in the past year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will digress from my normal writing on leadership and related topics
occasionally to take time and share my investment strategies and companies that
I am watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that if we
value personal success, then we should prepare for the long term and I find
that investing in public companies is a fun way to accomplish this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not getting away from my passion of
leadership, rather, I believe that sharing my views on public corporations may
be helpful to some of my audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I am not moving into primarily
blogging on financial topics, however, I do want to pepper my blog with my
thoughts on current markets and companies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also want to get into the habit of spreading public awareness of where
successful organizations are and how they got that way, as it ties to their
leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will just be a general
article warming my readers up to some of my ideas and is no way going to be written
like I am some expert financial analyst, rather, a hobby stock trader. If you are not well versed in the language and would like to learn more, I recommend to start by learning.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1099617200/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1099617200&linkCode=as2&tag=joshuasturgel-20&linkId=92328cba24e403792f307047b4637b90" target="_blank">A Beginner's Guide to the Stock Market: Everything You Need to Start Making Money Today</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=joshuasturgel-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1099617200" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why Invest?</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use a few vehicles for savings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I save for retirement, emergencies, and
personal needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to find saving
money in an emergency fund and 401K quite boring although I do it anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like the process of researching and
learning about public companies before purchasing stock and find saving through
investments exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I invest as a
hobby and to save money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from this
it just feels good to own a piece of a really large organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the many routes of investing money
into public corporations now readily available, cheap, and easy, it seems silly
not to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many apps that you can
use that avoids the hassle of having to use a stockbroker and pay
commissions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not an affiliate of Robinhood;
however, I have found that it is the easiest to use if you are new and is
commission free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many others
that have positive reviews and a wide range of customer support tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Robinhood you can simply download the
app, connect your bank account, transfer funds, and begin to purchase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can sell your purchases and transfer the
money back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="90" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?o=1&p=48&l=ez&f=ifr&linkID=5e0837cee6688361fdff65eaa3900435&t=joshuasturgel-20&tracking_id=joshuasturgel-20" style="border: none;" width="728"></iframe>
<br />
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Strategy</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My primary strategy when investing is a
hybrid one that leans much closer to income investing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find investing in dividend stocks really
attractive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have this utopian vision
that upon reaching retirement, I will have an income equal to a modest annual
salary through the dividends of all my collected stocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I focus on this and try to keep my ratio
of income stocks to other stocks high, I still make purchases of growth stocks
often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I do decide to purchase
growth stocks, I usually do so for personal reasons so long as the risk isn’t
too high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still measure and apply risk
in determining how far I should position myself within that company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My style is more buy-and-hold rather than
the quick catch and release of a day trader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I like to purchase and forget about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d like to think I forget about it forever, but this isn’t true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find myself looking for strategic position and
when I find a more attractive stock that I want to gain a more significant
position in I’ll typically get out of the old stock and into the new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what I love about trading stocks for
fun as opposed to trading as a means for primary short-term income or immediate
cash flow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It allows me to make decisions
based on what I am interested in and not have to worry about making a bad move.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div id="amzn-assoc-ad-87be864d-6b63-4019-8818-0da45c23220b"></div><script async src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=87be864d-6b63-4019-8818-0da45c23220b"></script>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Portfolio</span></span></h3>
<h4 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ford (F)</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my portfolio, I have the most significant
position in Ford.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Ford is a very
attractive dividend stock because of its history in declaring consistent
dividends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently the dividend yield
for Ford is 7.84 and it boasts a price-to-earning ratio of 21.41.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that investors are willing to pay
21.41 dollars for every dollar of company earnings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that the recent announcement of Ford
to use the name Mustang, previously used for the old American muscle car as the
name for a new electric SUV has the potential to fuel some of the growth that
the PE ratio suggests will happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ford
has set itself up as a primary competitor to Tesla in the class of high-powered
electric vehicles, and I am really interested to see what the two giants will
come up with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Coca-Cola (KO)</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being one of Warren Buffet’s favorite
stocks, I couldn’t resist the urge to follow suit and get in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a pretty consistent dividend stock
that pays quarterly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It pays above
average compared to other consumer goods stocks and has an impressive 55-year
dividend history with growth every year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s not forget about the valuation of this giant either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coca-Cola has impressively valued upwards
24.43% in the last five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a relatively
high current P/E ratio of 29.19, we expect to see this company continue to grow
in spite of signs of revenue decline.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">British Petroleum (BP)</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really liked this company’s production
growth rate of 5% per year through 2021.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This paired with its dividend yield of 6.40 made BP an attractive income
stock for me to take a position in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was down about 6 from its 52-week high when I got in and while it hasn’t
performed, I am interested to see where it is at in 2022.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was hesitant to acquire BP stock because I
so closely followed the oil spill in the gulf years back and while the event is
sour to me, I really was inspired by their effort to clean it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I concluded to get involved with BP based on
this and my familiarity with this company from following the Deepwater Horizon
oil spill in 2010 as well as diversification because I had not acquired any oil
or resource related stocks before this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h4 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pfizer (PFE)</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently, I became interested in further
diversification of my portfolio and decided to get involved with research and
pharmaceuticals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their price-to-earnings
ratio is currently sitting low at 12.80, which could indicate that stock price
is low in relation to their earnings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This paired with the historical dividends that Pfizer paid out has led me
to acquire a small position in Pfizer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
plan on keeping an eye on this company in the next year or so to decide on
whether I want to stay or look to other potential pharmaceutical industry candidates.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
(FCAU), Twitter (TWTR), and Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are all potential growth stocks that
I have gotten involved in for personal reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I just enjoy holding a piece of these companies and probably will not
trade them off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I primarily will
continue to deepen my position of the income stocks I have listed above until I
decide to trade them for other income stocks, however, want to remain invested
in some growth stocks that I just like having a piece of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I acquired them all because of different
reasons and don’t intend to trade even if they perform poorly apart from maybe
Twitter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twitter was not able to make its quarterly
earnings recently and has since suffered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was able to take advantage of this by getting deeper into twitter at
this time relatively low, and I have faith that they will be able to turn it
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of my reasoning for supporting
Twitter is that I have recently committed to learning more about using the
platform myself for this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just
feels right to have a position in the platform.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Stocks I am Watching</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone has a wish list and a watch
list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really support Elon Musk and
what he is doing with SpaceX and Tesla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Currently SpaceX hasn’t made an initial public offering of its stock,
and I am already holding a position in other automobile related stocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been pondering on the idea of trading
them off for Tesla stock, however, I would be sacrificing a pretty significant
portion of my dividend stocks if I did for a relatively small position of Tesla,
currently a growth stock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have kept a close eye on the giants
Microsoft and Facebook as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Microsoft has been proven as a sustainable income stock with valuation
over the years, and I am incredibly interested in getting involved with the
technology superpower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also been
watching Proctor & Gamble as well as the ETF Vanguard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last two stocks that I have on my watch
list are Bank of America and Johnson & Johnson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both are attractive income stocks that I am
looking to take position in but haven’t found the time to strategize my
involvement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Conclusion</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether you are a leader or interested in
business, want to use stock investment as a vehicle for savings, or growing
your money, I believe that being a part of the public financial world is very
beneficial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from potential
financial success, it feels really good, and it is really fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-15011008418608151702019-11-13T11:14:00.003-05:002019-11-17T05:46:21.786-05:00Goal Setting in Leadership and Management for Success<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">SMART Goal Setting in
Leadership and Management for Success</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the common topics in leadership and
management is goal setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I originally
thought that this may be something that everyone engages in and is straightforward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After having sat through management meetings and
college lectures where this is the topic for hours long, I have learned that properly
setting goals requires some effort on the part of the goal setter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Setting goals is fundamental to success in exactly
the way that you think it would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
order to be successful generally, we must be successful in many independent
areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This doesn’t occur by accident,
rather, it occurs because we have achieved many small victories in order to
have won a war.</span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why Set Goals?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set goals for the same reason that we
want to achieve things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we have an
undeveloped mind, we typically just want things, and then we try to get
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we further allow ourselves to
develop, we will come to a point where we acknowledge that we desire things,
and then we state this desire to ourselves before deciding that we will try to
get them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This acknowledgement is very powerful,
but more so, the statement to us that we will set out to achieve them is more
powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is something about the
acknowledgement and statement within us that really makes manifest the journey to
obtain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would dare to say that anything that we
want is closer to obtaining if we set a goal to obtain it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us want what we want right? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not unlock the power of achievement that
is within all of us just by acknowledging it and stating it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe now after practicing goal setting
that this is akin to booting up some software of the mind and allowing it to do
some of the work for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly, all
of the organizations and education centers cannot be misleading us right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">How to Set Goals</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that first we need to understand
that the goal itself is just an acknowledgement, and from that it is built.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us set goals without even knowing
what we are doing until we become self-aware enough to be able to quantify what
we are doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In its youth, goal setting
is telling ourselves that we want something and that we are going to set out to
get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In its maturity, it is a multi-step
process of acknowledgement and declaration that results in a concentrated
effort of action until we either achieve or fail and then continue to further set
and attempt to successfully achieve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The endgame of goal setting may not be just
acknowledgement and statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe
that we must find other ways of declaration to make our most important goals
real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this is usually achieved
most simply by forming teams and sharing our goals to which we are held
accountable as well as writing them down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a student, this happens frequently on discussion boards and in
classrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the workplace, this
happens in forums and meetings and is usually a central part of the
organization’s activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Introduction to SMART Goals</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first time I heard of the system of setting
SMART goals, I recall dismissing it as some sort of motivational talk
jargon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t really listen and apply
it to any of my personal goal setting strategies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the course of attending different
conferences, forums, and meetings, SMART goals became a recurring topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realized that this was indeed a thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t until I took a pair of courses in
college where both of them outlined the process that I really started paying
attention and adjusting my methods of goal setting in order to try to benefit
from the teachings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SMART goal setting became a strategy that I
memorized just because of the frequency subject matter being passed in front of
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third course that I took that outlined
the important of setting SMART goals convinced me that this was highly
beneficial for several reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I
began re-evaluating all of my goals under this system, I began to understand
why some of the principles of setting a SMART goal is so important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What is a SMART Goal?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SMART is an acronym.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SMART stands for Specific, Measurable,
Attainable, Results-Oriented, and Target Dates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each one of these letters in the acronym serves a very important purpose
in the process of setting a SMART goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h4 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Specific</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important when we set a goal that we
are specific in what it is that we want to achieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are too vague or the goal is too broad,
it may be unclear when we have achieved success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may also be impossible to realize that we
have not actually achieved the goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
specificity is important because it is a benchmark that we have to use in order
to determine what it is, and have we obtained it yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bad example of setting a goal would be to “Arrive
on time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good example of this same
statement would be to “Arrive at work on time”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here, we are doing the same thing, however, the latter example gives us a
specific event that we want to occur, eliminating the generality of the former
goal that we could then apply to anything in our day or week and consider it a
success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we could make it to the
parking location on time, but never make it in the door, and use some clever
wordplay in order to make it sound as if we have achieved the goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are unable to pinpoint what we have
achieved by analyzing what the goal is against the outcome, we may not have
nailed down the S for specific in SMART.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Measurable</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our goals must be measurable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t lace ambiguity in the wording of our
goal when we state it to ourselves or others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If a goal is too ambiguous with nothing to measure it against, we again will
be unable to determine whether or not we have succeeded or failed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important to understand that even
though I mention failure so often, that it isn’t intrinsically a bad
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we fail at achieving a goal,
so be it, however, we must know that we failed, or we will not be able to
improve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we use the example from
above, a measurable goal must have some assigned metrics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Arrive at work on time”, implies that we
know what “on time” is, and if are unable to immediately understand that
implications, it would be beneficial to us to state it so that it can not be
mistaken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Arrive at work at 10 pm”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is over-simplifying and avoiding a lot
of the specifics, but I believe that the flavor has been communicated here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Attainable</span></span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must take care to set goals that are achievable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no benefit to setting ridiculous
goals for we and putting ourselves through the continued commitment and failure
from setting unattainable goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
mentor once told me that if we are to choose between setting goals too easy or
too hard, opt for the goals too easy, because there is at least a subconscious benefit
to achieving an easy goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Setting a
goal and then failing may be marked by a conscious and/or subconscious net
negative response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then must use our
skills in dealing with failure in order to continue moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are habitually late to work, it may be
unattainable to declare that “I will never be late to work again, ever”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would much rather set smaller attainable
goals, such as, “I will arrive on time to work every day this week”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start smaller if it makes sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Results-Oriented</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make your SMART goal action oriented, we
must tie it to the goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to use
the word “To”, and follow it with action verbs such as complete, acquire, or increase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should avoid using verbs here that are not
direct, such as “engage in” or “begin”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Target Dates</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the most important for me to
understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important to assign a
time, deadline, or target date to the goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is important here to not be afraid when doing this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we get caught up in worrying about
whether we have given ourselves enough or too much time to complete the goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are correct in thinking that if we haven’t
given ourselves enough time that it would make the goal too challenging as well
as if we give ourselves too much time, then the goal becomes too easy and not
challenging at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important that
we have an attainable ideal time, set it, and work towards it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we set a time for our goal, we begin to
see the real benefit of goal setting, because we usually experience the drive to
make it happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if we erroneously
set a time and make our goal unattainable, we will see the results produced
from the increased drive of putting ourselves on a schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Using Goal Setting</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can use this system to strive for excellence
or obtain whatever it is that we may want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I challenge everyone to begin to be aware of the goals that we set and
to more mindfully set them while taking note of changes in our behavior that
would lead to an increased success rate of attaining the goals that we set for
ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would be willing to bet
that if you practice and try these methods, that you will notice some positive
changes in yourself and what you accomplish over a period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep in mind that this is a skill and we can
get better at it in order to more efficiently and effectively accomplish
whatever it is that we set out to do.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tools</span></span></h3>
<h3>
<br /></h3>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Setting goals doesn’t require any
tools.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I would be silly though if I said
that I didn’t use any aids when laying out new goals.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I keep a log of my most important goals and
have a success network team that holds me accountable to them.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I use many forms of technology including the
internet, social media, my iPhone, as well as a daily planner.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Here I have included a link to a very helpful
tool for anyone that finds it beneficial to write things down.</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 200%;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=joshuasturgel-20&marketplace=amazon®ion=US&placement=B071FS2CQ3&asins=B071FS2CQ3&linkId=88fd957ac6eadb9e5c11b7067389f9be&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff">
</iframe>Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-40885428647310861622019-11-11T17:06:00.001-05:002019-11-17T05:46:31.873-05:005 Steps to Planning and Strategizing in Management and Leadership<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<br />
<h2 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">5 Steps to Planning and
Strategy in Leadership and Management</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Getting things done can be difficult in any
platform of life. In leadership or management,
it can be even more difficult. It is important
that we are able to develop plans and then implement them in order to be
effective at completing various tasks or projects. There is a specific management process that
outlines the importance of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling that
I refer to a lot because it helps us not only organize our actions in a way
that is fruitful, but also to organize our thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Step 1: Establish the Mission,
Vision, and Values</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Establishing the mission, vision and values
is the foundational step to planning and strategizing in management and
leadership. Here we think about what we
are trying to complete as well as identifying the direction that we want to go
and how we will get there. If we do not
identify where we want to go, then we can never really direct our efforts to
get us there. When we spend time in this
step we really want to use our creative brain to dream about possible outcomes,
and allow ourselves to fantasize about what it should look like once we
arrive. From this vision we are able to
determine what we actually want and where we actually want to end up. It is important that we do not skimp on this
step because it allows us a returning point if we encounter any failure. The old saying, “Back to the drawing board”,
usually refers to returning to this step.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Step 2: Identify the Current
Situation</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> It is important to be able to identify
where we currently are as leaders, managers, or an organization. It is important to be honest with ourselves
in assessing our current situation as it is, and not confusing it with where we
want to be or trying to make mental concessions that give us a false
position. Our success in this step will
be determined by our ability to be brutally honest with ourselves. The more honest we can be the more successful
we will be here and the more prepared we will to be to successfully execute the
following steps in rolling out the plan and strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Step 3: Formulate the Strategy
and Plan</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> This is the step where it happens. We have established our mission, vision, and
values and have taken the time to figure out where we currently stand against
that mission. Here we get to use our
imagination to come up with action steps to emerge successful and group those
steps into a recognizable strategy from start to finish. The keyword to success here is to be
thorough. While it is important to get
through all of the steps, it is not uncommon to draft and then re-draft in
order to make sure that you have covered all of your bases and identified
potential problems along the way. Use
various note taking techniques and multiple sources of media in order to help
you along. This step is the step where
it feels like the magic is really happening, and if you are able to find some comfort
in existing in this step, you will feel enlightened through the rest of your
journey.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Step 4: The Implementation
(The Big Step)</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> It is no secret that plans fail because
they are just those, plans. So many
leaders and managers have grandiose plans that exist for eternity but never
become reality. The reason most plans
never see this stage is because in order for them to become manifest, the
action steps outlined in the strategy actually need to happen. This takes effort, will, and energy. When we realize that we are done with the
formulation of the plans and strategies, however complete or incomplete that
they feel, we must begin taking the steps necessary to bring them into
existence. A common issue here is that
plans never “feel” complete with the leaders or managers that formulate them,
so the implementation part of the process is never given a chance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> There is a two-fold truth to this. The first part is that it is important to
complete step number three, so that we feel confident in executing the
implementation. It is commonly true that
we never attempt implementation because we are not comfortable with our plans
and strategies and would feel silly in trying to implement them or going for
the goal. The other side to this coin is
that we are just unwilling to jump out there and begin, regardless of how we
feel about the plan or strategy. Both
truths are important and what is also important to realize is that there is a fulcrum
that swings both ways. It is possible to
have an under-developed plan or strategy, but be willing to jump out there and
set it in motion and still achieve success, and it is also possible that we
have an overly thought out plan and strategy to the point of delaying real results,
and still feel as if it hasn’t properly matured into a plan that we are willing
to act on, so then we do not act on it and it never experiences implementation. What is important here is doing. Realize that you have arrived at the moment
of implementation and take one step in front of the next and begin to do
through will, energy, and desire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Step 5: Strategic Control</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> As we work through the steps of implementation,
we will encounter that old saying, “Back to the drawing board”, and have to
indeed, return to the drawing board.
Compare results of implementation against the established mission,
vision, and values in order to see if we are achieving what we actually want to
achiever, or if we have to exert some strategic control in order to correct our
direction. The only truth here is that
things will go and go as they may we must make sure that their direction is in
line with what we intend. In the
situations that things seem to be going in a way that we would rather them not
go, we must adjust the strategy in order to correct the destination. This is the step that established plans will
spend most of their time in. Something
that we had set in motion years ago may re-surface and need some strategic
adjustment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> As a leader or manager in an organization
one of the most difficult things to do regarding this step is to realize a
mission and vision that was born of another leader or manager going
astray. This is particularly difficult
if that leader or manager is no longer with the organization. Here it is important to be a good member of
your team that you tap into the mission, vision, and values that was used as a
drawing board for implementing a past plan in order to exert strategic
control. I think of a project of
warehouse management systems in my organization that was set up years ago. We encountered a problem with this system and
needed to correct it, while also staying aligned with the vision that it was
originally intended for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why Planning and Strategic
Management are Important?</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> It is key as managers and leaders that we
focus on the critical problems, choices, and potential opportunities. From here we can use our decided direction in
order to tackle the multitude of problems that we may face. On teams this creates motivation if it is
delivered correction, and leadership is motivation. People are aware of being led by the blind,
and we do not want to allow ourselves to slip into that category. We are able to maintain a position of
leadership if we are able to successfully plan and strategize in order to lead
our team to completing missions and goals.
With every successfully implemented strategy as a leader or manager, you
will build rapport with your team. If
you use this rapport that is being built, you will eventually get to experience
some of the great joys that come along with managing and leading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some tools for the process:</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> When it comes to the very basic level of
planning and strategizing, I recommend some basic tools in order to keep one’s
life as simple and clear as possible. I
am an iPhone user, but believe you can use any technological software in order
to organize your own life. Keep in mind
that what I am getting at is we have to first plan and strategize our own lives
before we can expect to be leaders and plan and strategize others. In my phone calendar I keep my work schedule
as well as any important appointments. For the rest I use a daily planner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=joshuasturgel-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07HGF3D23&asins=B07HGF3D23&linkId=accf76c8f2001fb7cd904e5e02ea8096&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"><br />
</iframe>Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-42696076811544664632019-11-10T09:10:00.004-05:002019-11-17T05:46:39.576-05:00John Maxwell's 5 Levels of Leadership<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNAC62x2oFlVivAFtpY2_1yfiGpjc-OqyGZ4pRZEVnimqh7r25QDQnJ3DtNk9mnECC3UlEKHkbqjHZPkih2YinE_SijmeNiwEhwO8hwE_CoAGMVFepKRtOeoBb1MBkjh9k6fOP5vtgrM0/s1600/5-Levels-of-Leadership.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNAC62x2oFlVivAFtpY2_1yfiGpjc-OqyGZ4pRZEVnimqh7r25QDQnJ3DtNk9mnECC3UlEKHkbqjHZPkih2YinE_SijmeNiwEhwO8hwE_CoAGMVFepKRtOeoBb1MBkjh9k6fOP5vtgrM0/s1600/5-Levels-of-Leadership.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">John Maxwell's 5 Levels of Leadership</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> There are a few books and collections of writing that I can admit changed my life. When I was thinking which of these books most impacted me, the answer was clear. In this book John outlines the various levels that we may occupy while we are leaders. He does a great job at starting at the very base level, which is a level where people follow you because they have to, and concludes with the pinnacle of leadership which is a level where you consistently churn out other leaders which is nearly unattainable. In this book you will find plenty of real-world applications of how to improve your level of leadership, and a good understand of what it means to be a leader and how to improve. I have included links that would lead you to the location where you could get this book yourself and learn some of the timeless teachings of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Who is This Book For?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> This book is for anyone who currently occupies a leadership position that is looking to improve their influence on other people. This book is also for the amateur leaders that are trying to get a deeper understand of what leadership is and why people lead others. John does a good job illustrating the various platforms that one can be a leader in, and how his teaching is relatively universal through all platforms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">What I Took from This Book</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> While I read the book and watched a live broadcast of him speaking to this book, this is the book that really transformed my leadership. I am a self-help-book guy, and love to take the opportunity to self-educate when I run into a new task or hobby. Once I learned that I was the probable candidate to get promoted to a team leader at my place of employment, I began to search out all of the information that I could find on leadership. After a Youtube search while on my commute to work, I found myself listening to John talk about this book and was immediately entranced. This was really my introduction to John Maxwell and I have been a huge fan ever since.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> The book itself is easy to read and the concepts are clearly displayed in literary form and fashion. His teachings are always direct and laced with plenty of anecdotal stories from his life. I was able to go from a very vague baseline knowledge of leadership to having a clear understanding about the task that I was going to under-take. Immediately after starting this book I felt enlightened and prepared for my journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Important Concepts</span></span></h3>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> I still apply some important concepts that I learned from reading “The 5 Levels of Leadership” by John Maxwell. I especially pay attention to the second level of leadership, where he explains you have arrived at when people follow you because they want to. This really transformed my view of leadership after my promotion. I realized that I didn’t want people to listen to me because of some authority or position that I had achieved in my company. I wanted people to follow me because I wanted to lead them, and I wanted them to want me to lead them. This allowed me to begin to shift my outlook on leadership and relationships in order to achieve this. When I realized that this was the case, I was amazed. I took a lot of time reflecting in real life and thinking about how true some of this is and how easy it is to apply.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What Level am I At?</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Since becoming a leader in my organization, I re-visit some of my thoughts that were originally generated from this book. I would like to believe I am around the level three to level four leader, as I feel that I have taken a direct role in finding other leaders in my organization. I understand level five is unattainable, and I would not be so bold to say that I have arrived at the apex of leadership, however, I believe that there is still more to level four that I could accomplish. I find it fascinating that I so often return to thoughts and concepts from this book, as I have read a lot, but this seems to hold some recurring principles that I visit often.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=joshuasturgel-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0986022012&asins=0986022012&linkId=ba7f71fba8a6fbf644f9b3c0db2d5132&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-86742856340884971542019-11-08T11:07:00.002-05:002019-11-17T05:46:47.514-05:00Fumbling Leadership<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Fumbling Leadership</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I was nervous. I had been given the knowledge that I was a
new front-line manager of my team. I had
just been promoted to team leader. I
felt that I had to come out swinging, after all, this is what leadership was
right? I mount my powered industrial
truck, turn it on, take off, and then crash.
How embarrassing. I had an
accident. I dropped materials and
fumbled the entire gig. I didn’t just
little fumble, I realized that my introductory day as a leader would be putting
together a team to pick up a mess that I had just created. I was sure that my boss, who was just happy
to promote me, would be taken aback and beating himself over the head for what
a silly decision that he had help make in my promotion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> If you find
yourself in this position, and you will, although it may not be as immediate as
my experience, this is where you get to show your leadership potential. Follow my actions through my first big fumble
and walk through the lessons that I learned in order to unlock your leadership
potential. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Assessment</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Any time there is
an issue that needs addressed during operations, take time to assess the
situation. It is important not to allow
yourself to act with emotions. Acting
emotionally will be clearly apparent to everyone around you and give a visual
display of a lack of control of the situation.
This is exactly what we do not want as leaders. Instead, allow others to see you collecting
information about what is going on.
Allow your team to bare witness to you taking in metrics and information
so that you can complete the problem-solving process and work on a solution. If others engage you, they are probably
trying to help. At this point it is in
your best interest to allow them to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> In my case, I had
just dumped some valuable product from the forks of my lift. Inside, I was panicked. I knew that I had to come up with a solution
and a million thoughts raced through my head.
I first thought of how I could cover this up so no one would know, and
my boss would not find out. I decided
that this wasn’t reasonable, as it happened at a busy intersection inside of
the factory. Contingency plan? Yes. I
had to come up with a solution to this situation that entailed taking ownership
of what had happened as well as repairing the damages and returning the high
traffic area back to normal operating conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Problem</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Any time that we
encounter a situation that needs our attention, it is important to first identify
the problem. Once we have identified the
problem and assessed the situation, we must allow ourselves to think freely in
order to sift through potential solutions to find the best solution. In any case, we shouldn’t be spending a large
amount of time during a crisis determining what we should do. We must act and sometimes this is where we must
engage in an area outside of our comfort zone and take risk. Risk is associated with further possible
failure as well as possible success and reward.
Adopting a good strategy for assessing risk is essential in order to be
able to project the likelihood of countering a catastrophe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Positioned in a
tough situation, I had the availability of a partner and trainer. I admit I sought guidance and learned what to
do in this specific situation. As a
newly promoted leader of my team, I was not aware of all the tools that I had
available to me or the possible strategies to fix the problem that I had
created. Sometimes utilizing others,
including partners or other team members for their knowledge is one of the most
powerful tools that we have. In many
cases, even other team members can help us navigate tough situations and find
the best solutions when we find ourselves stumped and without direction on what
to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Solution</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Often when we find
ourselves in a pickle or an operational disaster, the solution is right in
front of us and is a matter of some technical know how and relying on
others. In almost all situations a team
effort is required to bounce back from a disaster or other unfortunate
circumstance. If we do not know the
action steps to take in order to solve a problem, the important part is that we
know how to get them. If we cannot rely
on our own knowledge to remedy an issue or situation, we need to be able to find
that information from another source.
Once we understand the problem that we are facing and how to solve it,
we can begin implementation of a solution to that problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> My partner advised
me on the technical aspects of the solution.
We needed to involve quality, acquire the materials needed to clean up
the mess, and then perform the groundwork in order to do it. Once we had the steps understood we began the
work and soon returned the area to normalcy.
It involved getting our hands dirty and doing some manual labor, but in
the end, all was well, and we continued our night through until the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I went home that
night feeling a little defeated and overwhelmed. I had questioned whether I had it in me to
continue leading the team. After all, I
created that disaster and felt that I couldn’t take care of it myself. This is a core lesson that we can all learn
in leadership. Regardless of the
situation or circumstance, our solution to any problem isn’t in ourselves, it
is in the ability of us to lead our team to a solution. Even in appealing for help, which may be
difficult in certain circumstances, we are acting as leaders. If we were able to do everything ourselves in
all situations, then we wouldn’t need to lead anything, would we?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Take Away</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I had to report
this situation to my superior. I had to
report everything. This included the
root cause, that I had been in a hurry and caused the incident. I also had to report the steps that I had
taken to remedy the incident. In the end,
this was a display of leadership. Even
in difficult circumstances that seem to have a net negative outcome, we can
display leadership and learn. The
important part of any circumstance is that we learn from the happenings so that
we are better equipped to deal with them at a future time. This identical situation has happened many
times since this incident, with the difference being that I was not the cause
of the accident. One thing that I can
assure everyone is that I knew how to respond.
Sometimes we attain knowledge by our own misfortunes. It is important that we take away from our
own misfortunes the same as we would take away from misfortunes of others. It is equally important that we allow
ourselves to be leaders through these events so that we can learn and apply
solutions to future events based on the outcomes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> My mentor in this situation
is still a dear friend and helps me whenever I come to him. I have had many opportunities to help him as
well as both of us have furthered our development as leaders in our
organization. This catastrophe turned
into an opportunity to build a relationship with a partner that has been long
lasting and mutually beneficial. I
believe that this is the true take away from any unfortunate event, and if we
miss our opportunity to further our relationships with our team, we miss the
opportunity to grow as leaders as well as people. I find myself now collecting situations like
this as trophies in my history as a leader.
I use catastrophes as tools for growing and enabling others to grow
while allowing myself to be led as well as lead others to learn new things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span></div>
</span></div>
</span></div>
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Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-86286253387119676222019-11-07T12:38:00.001-05:002019-11-17T05:46:55.443-05:00Front Line Leadership<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front Line Leadership<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Front Line Leadership and Management</span></h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
A lot of organizations have unique structures. Some are very tall, with a long chain from
the CEO to the employees, while others are relatively flat that consist of few
positions between owner and employee. It
is important to understand whereas leaders that we fit into our organization
and how to leverage this position to be most effective as a leader of our
organization. There is no doubt that our
position as a leader determines how we lead.
Some truths remain through all levels of leadership but here we will
focus specifically on front line leadership and how to be an effective front-line
manager of an organization.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What are Front Line Leaders?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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When we refer to front line leaders or managers, we are talking about
lower level management. This is the
level of management very close to the employee level. These managers may be team leaders or
supervisors of crews. Front line leaders
typically have many reports and directly lead floor level operations. This is undoubtedly one of the most exciting
levels of management and leadership because it is one of the most critical when
it comes to displaying core attributes of leaders.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">How Do We Become Front Line Leaders?</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Front line leaders are in high demand.
This is due to the large variation of experience and skills that current
front line leaders possess. There is not
a clear median when judging a front-line manager and one may be light years
ahead of the next in experience level, effectiveness, and efficiency. This is what drives companies to hire outside
in order to find talented front-line managers to fill their open
positions. An exciting fact here is that
the front-line manager is one of the roles that companies tend to opt to
promote from within their ranks. It is
not uncommon to find many of the front-line leaders of a company are promoted
from within, which is highly beneficial to both the company and the employees
working for the company.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
We find companies that promote front-line leaders and managers from
within have increased morale and competition among team members. There exist additional goals for employees of
these organizations which boosts their hope that they will not always be floor
level hourly laborers. In turn the
company benefits by having a pool of competitive people striving for excellence
because they have opportunities in front of them throughout their life of
employment with the organization. This
is a win-win situation that we as leaders can also take advantage of to drive
performance up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What Do Front Line Leaders Do?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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Front line leaders pursue leadership of course. The goals of a front-line leader are
primarily to tie in the employees and human assets of an organization to the
middle management of that organization.
They do so through utilizing their team of reports to achieve
organization goals and objectives. These
may vary from type of organization and the specific department, but the definition
therein and general function remain the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Front-line leaders are the action leaders of an organization. They are the leaders and managers associated
with doing and getting things done. This
makes the position of front-line manager one of the most exciting positions of
leadership to hold and can lead to many unforgettable experiences. When a leader utilizes all of the resources
available to him and properly satisfy this position of leadership a
transformation happens within that leader that allow them to grow into other
leadership roles. I think it is
important for any middle or upper level manager to have experienced the life of
a front-line leader, as there are unique skills that you will learn here that translate
into deeper skills that are required to successfully lead at other tiers of a
tall organization.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Identifying Front Line Leaders</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Any time you accept a position at any organization or workplace, the
front-line managers are apparent. They
are typically the individual or individuals that you directly report to, as
well as your co-workers. They will
typically handle day to day attendance and staffing as well as make operational
decisions that directly impact the area that they manage. They may lead a small team, of only one or
two reports, or a very large team of hundreds of reports. In my experience I have come to find the
average number of reports for a front-line manager to be about twenty to forty. If you are an employee in an organization,
these leaders, typically called supervisors or managers are the individuals
that you would go to with any problems, issues, or questions. There are typically team leaders, that exist
right underneath the actual front-line manager but are front-line managers themselves. </div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Promotion</span></h3>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
If you are employed by an organization and you have hopes of climbing
the proverbial ladder, this is where you want to expend your efforts. Many organizations find it a joy to be able
to promote a team member to a front-line manager for many reasons. Some of which include understood technical
competencies for performing the jobs, established relationships and rapport
with existing team members, as well as a substance of work history between the
organization and the newly promoted leader.
Often organizations will only look to hiring on front-line managers from
outside of the organization if they have a reasonable assumption that no one
that currently works on the team has the necessary qualifications to fill the
role. This is not always the case, but
in my experience happens to be the case for most of the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
If you are a team member working for an organization where you would not
mind accepting a higher level of responsibility, there are some guidelines that
you should follow so that you do not disqualify yourself. I would maintain positive relationships with
everyone I work with, other team members and managers alike. I would avoid making enemies or engaging in
shows of hostility even over things that you would think could advance your
position for promotion, such as work performance. Being a team player is such a key trait that
managers look for when promoting leaders.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I would also suggest that if you are an employee looking for a
promotion, you do not try to obviously push yourself into the spotlight trying
to win the bid of your superiors.</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">This
often times will come off as a type of fakery and result in you being reviewed
by the very people with the potential to promote you negatively.</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Instead I would suggest that you manage your
relationships positively and be seen promoting companionship and teamwork.</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Allow yourself to be seen offering solutions
to situations and following others proposed solutions.</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Execution is trump here though, and the more
you can successfully execute your team’s plans and be a key player in the delivery,
the more likely that you’ll draw the kind of attention that you want.</span> </div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Take Away</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The end game here is that if you are a member in an organization
searching for a position of front-line leadership, there is a high likelihood that
you will be offered this opportunity if you do your homework, follow up, and never
stop trying. I would recommend that if
anyone is interested in leadership that they begin to look for positions of
front-line leadership and enjoy the thrills of this level of management. I would advise anyone currently in a position
of front-line leadership to continue to develop their skills and to close the
gap between them and the upper echelons of front-line leadership. Remember that the gap between the new
front-line leader and the highly skilled front-line leader is so large, that
most will exist in the middle, forever. Enjoy
the climb and the information take-aways even once you are in a position of
this magnitude and remember, that leadership is a lifelong conquest of
positivity, influence, values, morals, and achievements. <o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-58924572230732748502019-11-06T10:56:00.000-05:002019-11-17T05:47:03.906-05:00Ethics In Leadership<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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</div>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ethical Behavior In Leadership & Management</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ethics are a key topic among leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethics are also often misunderstood or not
understood at all by many in these fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is important that we have a good grasp of ethics in order to reach a
deep level of understanding in leadership and management.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethics are more than a set of rules or guidelines
of behavior, they are an outline of conduct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We must delve deep into the why of practicing ethical behavior in order
to really unlock the level of relationships desired in order to lead efficiently.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What are Ethics?</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Ethics are the standards of right and wrong that influence behavior,
while ethical behavior is the behavior that is accepted as “right” as opposed
to “wrong” according to those standards.
I have retrieved this definition from “Management 9<sup>th</sup> Ed.” Written
by Angelo Kinicki and Brian K. Williams.
Right and wrong are not meant to be understood as subjective social interpretation,
rather they are meant to be underlying principles known as common-sense to the culture
and population. What we need to
understand here is that ethics are standards that are understood from culture,
and in order to practice them we first need to be versed in the culture that we
are practicing them in. This is universally
applicable so long as you are practicing leadership, management, or
entrepreneurship in the United States, however, this still applies all around
the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What is Being "Unethical"?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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Behaving unethically refers to exhibiting behavior that is “wrong” as
opposed to “right”. Once again we are
using the culturally accepted moral definitions of “right” and “wrong” here. Theft is the most common example to use. We all know that it is considered “wrong” to
steal, yet many people do it anyway.
There are many reasons that employees steal from their employer, and
every employee when deciding whether to do this has encountered an ethical
dilemma. They recognize that they stand
to personally benefit from the theft, however, that what they are doing is
intrinsically and culturally “wrong”.
Other common unethical behaviors include stealing company time, abusing
co-workers or reports, or cheating in the workplace often to earn benefits that
you otherwise would not receive.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ethical Dilemmas</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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We encounter dilemmas frequently in life and leadership. When we begin to enter the realm of management,
leadership, and entrepreneurship we tend to encounter them a lot. Ethical dilemmas are situations where we must
decide on whether to act in a way that benefits us or our corporation. We will frequently run into situations where
we may have clear paths to benefits for ourselves, our company, or others that
just aren’t “right”. The decision sounds
simple, but when placed in these real-life situations, things may get hairy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Most texts on management refer to four approaches to resolve ethical
dilemmas. I will summarize them as Utilitarian,
Individual, Moral-rights, and Justice approaches. The utilitarian approach is the strategy of
deciding on what will cause the greatest good for the largest number of people. This is a common favorite and usually the one
that an average person would turn to when attempting to act ethically and faced
with an ethical dilemma. The individual
approach is the process of solving an ethical dilemma by choosing the course of
action that will result in the individual’s best outcome. This decision usually results in better
outcomes for everyone if properly applied.
The moral-rights approach respects morality in the decision making of
solving the ethical dilemma and taps into the individual’s morals and standards
guided by what they believe to be correct regarding the fundamental rights of
human beings. The justice approach to
solving ethical dilemmas refers to being guided by respect for impartial
standards of fairness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ethics in Leadership</span></h3>
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<div>
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What this means for leaders of organizations is that we must be able to
understand our culture and act accordingly.
We will be constantly judged as leaders based on our decisions and
courses of actions when we encounter ethical dilemmas. It may feel as if no one is watching and we
could decide whichever route we wish without any consequence. If this is the way you are thinking, then you
are wrong. Leaders especially are always
under a lot of scrutiny. If no one else
is paying attention, you can always bet that the ones that you lead are. Your team will be looking to you as a model
and guide to their own behaviors, so when a member of your team takes notice
that you are about to encounter or are currently encountering an ethical
dilemma, their attention will shift to you and your behaviors.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you are a leader of a team in an organization and you allow your team
to witness you choose the unethical route out of an ethical dilemma, you are
voluntarily shaping their own values regarding the team. That is, you can devalue your team by not navigating
ethically through dilemmas at any given time.
This is also true in situations and encounters outside of work that
involve your team, be it an organizational team or even your family. So often leaders, or people in general, find
themselves in unfavorable circumstances in life because of their teammates actions
that are direct results of their own poorly navigated dilemmas in life where
they acted unethically themselves. Take
full advantage of this team building opportunity inside and outside of business
by taking a self-inventory every time you encounter an ethical dilemma and ask yourself
who is watching, and who are you influencing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Self Preservation Through Ethics in Leadership</span></h3>
</div>
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We can hold claim to our position as leaders by practicing ethical
behavior. As stated above, our decisions
influence others, especially in positions of leadership. People will continue to follow an ethical
leader. An ethical leader will be a
leader that the people want to follow.
Our level of influence grows as others witness our ability to make “right”
decisions in arenas other than work performance. The deeper we venture into morals and values,
the deeper in impact on any team member witnessing the dilemma. Aside from this, we connect more deeply with
ourselves and our leadership potential as we encounter and act ethically
through management and ethical dilemmas encountered during management. Each encounter builds on the other and allows
us to gain an ethical mentality that makes the next dilemma easier to navigate
than the former.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Acting Ethically to Grow</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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Demonstrating ethical actions in front of others is important for any
leader, however, it is specifically important if you are a leader that is
searching for a higher leadership role.
I speak a lot about promotions, because, no one is born a leader. I was a floor level factory laborer promoted
into a leadership position. Some of us
may have gone to school and discovered leadership there, however, this was not
the case for me. I started out on a team
at a job and became a leader long before a position of leadership. If you find yourself in this position and do
want to see a positional level or title of leadership, demonstrating your knowledge
and willingness to act ethically could dramatically improve your chances of
seeing this come to fruition. Managers
want to promote those of good ethical character. Sometimes you may get lucky and land a
promotion on work performance alone, however, this is usually not the
case. This is especially not the case in
situations where there are many candidates applying for the same job. Ethics, morals, values, and character all
play a huge part in the promotion process and in some circumstances far
outweigh job performance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ethics in the Home</span></h3>
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I think of my wife and children whom I love all very much and reflect on
ethical dilemmas that they have witnessed me navigate. I think of the tough times and how I handled
them and the impact that I had on them when I displayed ethical action that did
not seem in our best interest. How could
a child understand if they are not taught ethics? How does this make sense to such an
elementary brain? Imagine if we weren’t
taught morals, values, or cultural norms.
What do you do when you encounter a bill that is truly yours, but you
could escape from if you so choose, however, make the ethically sound decision
and pay it anyway because it is your responsibility and your child asks
why? Situations like these offer the
perfect environment to begin to teach ethics to our children so that we can
have a more ethically sound society. Practicing
ethics far exceeds the reach of business, management, leadership,
entrepreneurship, and work. Practicing
ethics has an impact on the entire world and I believe it starts in our home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Take Away</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
If ethical behavior is a new concept to you, I suggest that you begin by
looking for ethical dilemmas that you encounter in your day to day life. I suggest that you begin to think about
cultural and society norms and think in terms of right and wrong. I don’t suggest that you pick a strategy to solve
ethical dilemmas and only focus on applying that strategy to life, however, if
you had to pick one or two, I would suggest to go with the Utilitarian approach,
which nets the greatest good for the most people, or the Moral-rights approach,
which yields the decision that respects the fundamental rights for human
beings. If we start with these two we
will end up with positive decisions that are easy to arrive at based on the
simplistic way to deduce what is wrong.
Ethical action is one of those things that just by paying attention you
are going to see improvement and begin to view dilemmas in a way that will beg
you to act accordingly. There is a lot
of self-discovery here. You may be the
type of person that encounters some resistance from yourself when you are attempting
to make the ethical decision. If that is
the case, you have discovered an area of self that you need to work on to
improve your leadership ability and potential.
Just remember that an ethical world is a good one, and we should all
strive for good, because this will yield a positive place for our families to
thrive in.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-5090463224087454062019-11-04T06:21:00.002-05:002019-11-17T05:47:14.150-05:00Growing Into Leadership : My Story<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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</div>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Growing Into Leadership : My Story</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Introduction:</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us have
this nagging ache of ambition inside of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A lot of us are unable to satisfy it and end up with this lifelong
struggle of uncertainty and dissatisfaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was able to find my passion for leadership and discovered that through
it I can channel my ambition, and my dissatisfaction in life has been reduced.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea that
leadership would be my calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
always indulged in self-help books that presented ways for me to improve upon
my skills, but never connected that to anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s be honest though, that is a pretty
vague connection isn’t it? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a teenager
I would always tell my grandmother that nights were harder than days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still didn’t understand why, however, I have
come to figure out that it was during the nights that I pondered so much about
what I would do with my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
during a time that I had no clue what it is that I wanted to do and only
dreamed of whatever it was my mind wondered to when I closed my eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through life you
encounter certain circumstances that gives you a taste of leadership and can
temporarily satisfy the craving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember when I was able to forge relationships with others during my time
playing softball with some of my best friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In these relationships I was able to coach them about the rules of the
game and how to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really felt my
best at these points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so unaware
as to what it was that I enjoyed about the moments, and if I had to figure it
out from there, I would have never figured it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t play much softball despite the
satisfaction that I received from this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps it was because of my team’s horrible record that season, or that
my time and living circumstances did not allow me much recreation, however, I
did archive those feelings and they have recently re-surfaced while I have been
pondering leadership.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Outlet For Leadership</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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While I was a
laborer for a logistics operation, my responsibilities were like many shipping
operations. I had to memorize product codes,
learn a warehouse management system, warehouse product, and pull product from
the warehouse onto the shipping dock and stage the product in proper locations
so that it could be loaded on the correct trailer in order to arrive at the
customer’s business. I spent many hours
stacking boxes on pallets as they would almost endlessly roll down a conveyor. These boxes weighed between fifteen and a
hundred pounds, so many nights I would stumble in my door and fall over from all
the manual labor required of me. This led
to my family wondering why I was so tired and wondered why I did not seek other
employment when I explained this to them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On those conveyor
lines I had many personal revelations about what life was. I would frequently ponder about life and the
meaning of it. I would find myself in a
deep internal discussion about economics and the importance of every member of
a team. I would envision the bigger
picture and what part I was in the process of distributing this product all
over the world. It seemed that my job
was so little and insignificant. This is
where I had the revelation about teams.
Individually I would struggle to place the box on the pallet, however,
as a part of a team, our achievements were many. We were supplying the world with our product
in very large amounts. This revelation
was flooring. I could not believe that I
was a part of such a project that could do so much. I had to delve deeper into how this worked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">A Part of The Team</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I became more
interested in what this job that I was performing was, I was forced to look at
everyone else that was doing it with me.
There were teams of people on the floor driving lifts transporting
product from place to place, as well as teams of people stacking other boxes,
as well as teams of people handling those boxes as we stacked them. We had a team of people in an office taking
care of administrative duties as well as duties that I had no clue about. Everything seemed like a well-defined ant
hill. People were moving all about doing
things that I had no clue about; however, I did know that it was a part of a
larger process that involved distributing our brand all around the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I became
fascinated with teams right here. How
were we able to work so well together?
How were we able to have no idea what was going on overall, but still
manage to accomplish the task set before us.
At this specific time, I had no idea what the task set before us was. All I knew in this moment is that I had one job
or set of tasks, and my completion of them contributed to the over all efforts
of my team.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Many employment
ventures start out like this. We are
assigned a job and a wage and expected to perform this job, and as we perform
this duty, we learn so much more about the organization that we are a part
of. This held true for me, as I sought
to immerse myself in the information all around me. Seeing so many people working together to
achieve a common goal every night was awe inspiring. I wanted to know more. I frequently would ask questions that I knew
had answers that I may not understand just to be able to learn another part of
the process. Usually, my co-workers were
more than interested in taking a short break to stop working and explain to me
what they were doing. They probably saw
this as an unauthorized break with good reason, little did they know, they were
doing a critically important function of their job.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Conclusion</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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Wherever we may
end up, or whatever duty that we may performing, chances are that we are
performing as a part of a team. While we
are a member of a team we are working as a single unit inside a group of units
that seek to accomplish a task that is too great for any one person to do. It is important that we understand the larger
goals and it is good to be curious about the specifics. Organizations should reward this curiosity by
feeding it and allowing the person to grow.
In my case, curiosity grew into leadership and a developed employee for
the company. In all cases, the
information will allow a person to grow and self-develop further than they
could have under other circumstances.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393930080579110768.post-64545890013199955072019-11-01T10:31:00.002-04:002019-11-17T05:47:22.530-05:00Dealing With Adversity In Leadership<meta property="og:type" content="www.joshuasturgell.com">
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<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Adversity On Our Path To Leadership</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> There will always
come problems when we are on a path to becoming the best leader that we can
be. Adversity is generally defined as difficulties
or misfortune. I will bear this in mind
when I refer to adversity, although, sometimes we relate this word to adversary
which personalizes it a bit. I will
address dealing with adversaries and competitors at a different time. I believe adversity in leadership is anything
that causes you to question your ability to lead and persevere through
challenges. We must stay vigilant
against adversity because it can come in many forms and cause much damage to
our ambitions, goals, and future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3 style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Identifying Adversity</span></span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 150%;"></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> First, we must be
ready to identify any adversity. This
can be troubling because adversity doesn’t always directly relate to an issue
we must eliminate. Often adversity, taken
from its definition, is just that, a difficulty or a misfortune. It is important to keep this in mind because if
we follow our thought to overcoming adversity, the key technique here is to
weather it, not defeat or eliminate it.
I believe there are key techniques to keeping ourselves mentally strong
as leaders when faced with adversity of many types and the knowledge of them is
the weapon we use to overcome adversity when faced with it. </span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<h2 style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Techniques to Conquering Adversity</span></span></h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></h2>
<h3 style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prepare Yourself for Adversity</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 150%;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Do not allow
yourself to be caught off guard by the big whopping fist of adversity. If you are living in a perfect world frolicking
in a pasture of posies and believe this is the golden road of leadership, you
are in for some walloping blows. Begin
your strategy for overcoming challenges and adversity by knowing now that they
will come and that their flavors will be many.
Understand that they will come from the least suspecting of places taking
on the least suspected of forms. Do not live
your day to day life hovering at a level of mental fatigue that is one flat
tire away from your breaking point.
Strengthen yourself so that you are prepared to take a hit and not
stumble backwards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> An application of
this strategy is in the knowledge rather than in the action of preparation. This makes this strategy one of the most
passive, yet important steps a leader can take in order to secure their
position of leadership within themselves.
We must remember leaders aren’t titles or positions. Leaders are people comprised of mind, body,
and spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stand Your Mental Ground</span></span></h3>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Anytime we
encounter misfortune or difficulties while we are in a positive mental state,
we run the risk of losing footing of where we are at mentally. Keep in mind the best strategy to use here is
to survive the storm, not eliminate the clouds.
I suggest positive affirmation or reviewing original reasons for
pursuing leadership. Revisit ambitions
and dreams as you dreamt them during the initial discovery of your interest in
leadership and personal success. The
goal here is to not allow this encounter with adversity to cause you to
backpedal and lose mental focus. The
strength of a leader lies within their mind and their passion for leading. Stand your ground with misfortune and remind
yourself that no event can compromise the entire collective experience that
defines you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> The core of this
technique has to do with understanding oneself.
In order to allow adversity to affect us negatively, we must allow it to
force us into a mindset of self-doubt.
We can prevent this from happening by deepening our connection with
ourselves. Self-leadership is a topic that
I am particularly fond of that I will delve into more later, but the essence of
this is being a good self-motivator. It
is okay to feel brief setback when dealing with adversity. We must identify these feelings and then
begin our role as leaders of ourselves in order to stand back up exactly where
we fell from and begin to take that next step forward again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make Your Next Move</span></span></h3>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> The best way to
overcome adversity as it presents itself is to make your next move in the face
of it. Whatever you were doing at the
time, take the next step. In the former
section I mention that it is very important that we do not lose our
footing. It is equally important that
even if we stumble, we take our quivering leg, lift it up, and set it back down
with some change in distance in front of us.
It is important here not to allow adversity to stagnate us. Eventually with time, even leaders not well
prepared for adversity will make their next move, the question involves how
much time will have elapsed from the crippling blow of adversity to their next
step of progress toward whatever goal that they are trying to accomplish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> It is hard to see
through the mental pain and fatigue of adversity sometimes. Let us be honest, misfortune and difficulties
can cloud our mind. In order to see
through the fog, sometimes we must discard the adverse circumstances to look
past them. We shouldn’t acquiesce to a
state of total blindness, sometimes adversity has causal properties that must
be addressed. One example of this is being
too focused on tasks and work and not spending enough time with family. If family gets upset, then there is a causal
circumstance to the adverse reaction of your family. This causal circumstance may need addressed rather
than ignored if we fail to properly apply this strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Analyze Adversity</span></span></h3>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> The key strategy to
moving past adversity here is to accurately analyze and understand it. It is important when difficulties or
misfortune are faced that we have a good grasp of why they arose in the first
place. I don’t recommend performing a full-length
root cause analysis and then report on why they arose unless this is a
workplace incident and your boss requires it.
I suggest that we try to determine if the adversity that we experience
arose from causal circumstances, such as circumstances that had an indicated
cause and the adversity became its direct effect. When these happen, we can better understand how
to move forward and implement our understanding to prevent the misfortune or
difficulty from becoming a constant occurrence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> The most troubling
manifestations of adversity occur when it is spontaneous. Spontaneous adversity is difficulty or
misfortune that we as leaders or people face that arise from seemingly no
causality. If we do not identify the
spontaneity here, we will find ourselves battling ourselves with trying to
identify causality. I would imagine if
we looped this than we would have stumbled upon the definition of insanity or a
host of other mental illnesses. If you
are experiencing spontaneous adversity, do not further exhaust your mental
energy on trying to discover the “why”, just press forward and begin to apply
other strategies for weathering the storm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Conclusion</span></span></h2>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> We as leaders will
be challenged with adversity an estimated infinite number of times. There is no one adverse event that can stop
us if we are well prepared. The preparation
to overcome adversity is within ourselves and our determination to still be who
we want to be at the end of the day.
There is no type of adversity that should compromise who you are, and it
is only able to do that if we allow it to by not preparing ourselves to
encounter it. Counter to this, if we are
ill prepared to face adverse situations and challenges, then we are one adverse
event away from losing everything that we wanted to be yesterday. While we may remain in the dumps about this
for today, tomorrow we are still going to desire what we desired previously
lest depression and anxiety take hold.
It is better to get up than to catch up, and who wants to always be
returning to a place where you were before because you allowed yourself to be
knocked back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Joshua Sturgellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11302118254873138451noreply@blogger.com1