TrendSpotting: Research as a Department

Big Idea Shaping the Workplace of 2030: Adding a Research Department to Increase Utilization of Insights

The trendspotters at WWC see Research as department that Human Resources, Operations, and Marketing can go to for insights. This department will save companies money by decreasing guesswork. This is especially important when executing change within an organization. The research department would provide an objective third-party look at data. It would also provide reports to key departments to inform decision-making.

Why Research is Important for Organizations

Empathetic change management is the wave of the future. We believe that positive organizational change will only be made possible when change agents recognize the impact of internal research, process, internal communication, and people operations.

When companies execute change without objective insights it can result in costly missteps that could have been avoided by asking a few critical questions. This creates data-driven organizations responding to real-world insights, attitudes, and emotions. Change is more likely to stick when it is executed empathetically. Executing empathetic changes makes dollars and sense.

The Alternative: Utilizing Consulting Firms for Research

Companies will increase their usage of small consulting firms in the absence of a research department providing an objective source of data. This will help them understand their internal state to make vital business decisions.

Testing a change idea? Think you might need to research internal or external stakeholders before you innovate? Are you thinking of starting a research department? Dip your toe in the water before going all in. Connect with our Chief Management Consultant, Diane Dye Hansen, for 30 minutes to assess your research needs related to the change you are executing.

Mindset: 7 Positive Messages Provided By Procrastination

Do you procrastinate?

I can’t tell you how many times I have met with clients who initially resist telling me they procrastinate. They see procrastination as a poor leadership quality, something to train out of. I offer another explanation to my consulting clients. Set judgement aside and consider your procrastination may carry a message for you. Here are seven positive messages I have identified when analyzing my leadership coaching clients procrastination habits.

You are operating outside of your strengths.

When you operate within your strengths, you get brilliant genius energy. Genius energy activities propel you forward. For me, when I am in my genius energy, I am in strategy mode. I’m instructing a client on communication strategy or working in the background putting strategy together. I am looking at communications, scanning for inconsistency, and making words sing like music. When I am in my genius energy, I am building shared vision in teams. I’m watching it click for them. Whether it’s my team or one of my clients, seeing a team “get it” lights me on fire. When I am activating, making things happen, I am really in my zone. I can keep plates spinning knowing that the cooks are cooking up something delicious to go on them. I make things happen, for myself and for my clients. If I am stuck too long in strategy, I get listless. I like things to move! If they aren’t moving, I get out the scissors and I start cutting red tape. I pull out my personal bulldozer and plow through road blocks.

What’s outside of my genius energy? Sales. I can network once I have a personal connection, but I always go personal first and its a SLOW boil. Even then, procrastination kicks in, as does the SHOULD monster. I SHOULD be handling my own sales, right? Not necessarily. That’s why I’ve decided to bring on a sales team. By removing myself from the “doing” of the sales function and into a leadership role, I will empower my firm to grow.

Where are you operating outside your strengths? Where could you supplement that with team or vendor services?

You are operating outside of your passions.

Have you ever just felt that slog of, “I just don’t want to do it?” I think we all have. When you are jumping out of your shoes to do something, odds are you are passionate about it.

It’s kind of like this blog post for me. I just HAD to write it. And, once I started writing it, it just wrote itself. Writing is not my constant passion, however. Inspiration is necessary for me to write. I would not call writing a passion. Communicating is more of a passion for me. Communication strategy, coaching, teaching, consulting – maybe not the nuts and bolts production of it. But, when I get inspired to teach, I teach. Sometimes, passion and talent can get confused. When I get going, writing is a strength of mine. But, put me in a cubicle and tell me to write all day long. Suddenly, that inspired teacher becomes a factory worker. The flow stops because it’s not my passion.

So what’s one to do? Things need to get done, right? Blogs need to be written. If you can’t afford to grow a team to work only in your passions, give your other tasks a sand box to play in. Set boundaries with it and allow yourself to produce more, but not less. I commit to writing one blog a week because I know this blog might pique your interest about my firm. And I know, as the firm grows, I can teach someone to be my voice and to grow the content marketing, inbound marketing, piece of it. Good sandboxes keep procrastination sand from spilling out and ruining the playground of your business.

What non or quasi passions can you set a sandbox around? How can you play and get things done without getting stuck and sacrificing your precious energy?

You are depriving yourself of fun.

Inside of us, we all have a pleasure-seeking, borderline hedonistic, 7 year old. This id driven archetype wants what they want, when they want it. This inner kid is the reason we turn on the TV, reach for Facebook or other social media, allow co-workers to drone on a little too long in the middle of the day, and stretch the limits on our work boundaries. It’s kind of like going on a diet. If you went on a diet that said, NO CHOCOLATE CAKE, what do you want? You might find yourself really wanting chocolate cake, even if it wasn’t your favorite to begin with. Why? It’s because you told your inner 7 year old you couldn’t have it.

Instead, try this. Don’t time your work, allow your fun and time your fun. Always be working toward your fun. Award your focus with a big proverbial lollipop of whatever you like to do for your 7 year old.

Are you guilty of inner child neglect? What ways could you fix that this week to increase your productivity?

You need to allow a break to inspire you.

Sometimes, you just need a break to gain fresh perspective. I travel a lot and, sometimes, I find myself working at coffee shops or co-working spaces. Two sometimes three times a work session, I will shift my location for a literal change in perspective. A couch versus a table is a good choice for me to work at. This allows me to put my computer down, lounge, and observe my surroundings for a bit. Sometimes this isn’t possible in a corporate environment. But you would be amazed how feasible it might be. Reserve a conference room. Work with a co-worker in their space for a bit. Take a pad of paper to the lunch room. Or, just move to a different area of your office. A break in routine disrupts your thought patterns just enough to jog inspiration loose.

Question to ask: How can you shake up your day to day to leave room for inspiration?

You need a physical break.

Bodies are not meant to sit in the same position for long periods of time. It’s the logic behind the standing desk trend. We don’t stand exactly the same way, in the same space, for long. If we do, muscle fatigue will set in fast. Standing desks encourage movement, collaboration, and variety. Now, I’m a sitter. I always have been and I always will be. I am not advocating you run out and buy a standing desk. What I am saying is, shaking it up is good for your body. It’s good to move. As much as moving around my work space helps my inspiration, it also helps my joints. I’m not as stiff. I’m also more energized when I get up. I’ll throw in a little stretch sometimes to.

What can you do to give yourself a physical break?

You need a mental break.

Last, but never least is your mind. Procrastination seeps in when your mind is just simply tired. Stop slave driving your mind. Genius doesn’t come from overwork. Generally what you get is exhaustion, overwhelm, discontent, and a general distaste for what you are working on – no matter how much you love it. Good self communication comes from understanding when you need a mental break. You might notice this from yawning (your body and mind asking for oxygen). When you need a mental break, you may tend to breathe shallow. Shallow breathing increases anxiety. It’s also exhausting. Set your work to the side and take three diaphragmatic breaths.

Do you feel better about procrastinating now?

Next time you do it, stop and listen to what the procrastination is communicating. You can use it as a productivity hack to increase your energy, effectiveness, and awesomeness at anything you do.

Need help as a leader or with your team? Contact us!

Teamwork and brainstorming concept with businessmen seated around a table each pointing to cards with colorful sketches of light bulbs conceptual of bright ideas and solutions arranged in a circle.
Collaboration: Building Shared Vision in Your Organization

Teamwork and brainstorming concept with businessmen seated around a table each pointing to cards with colorful sketches of light bulbs conceptual of bright ideas and solutions arranged in a circle.It can sound a little harsh, but it’s true. We live in a “what’s in it for me” society. This mindset is at the core of benefits marketing, where marketers need to be very conscious (and communicative) about what the benefit of their product or service is to their target market. However, what some leaders can overlook is how they can apply benefits marketing concepts inside the organization to create shared vision and, as a result, forward momentum.

Shared vision = shared results.

When a leader can build shared vision and specific benefits around a project goal, the buy in increases productivity, momentum, and passion behind the project. In essence, it gets done easier, faster, and better because people see why the project matters to them.

This was highlighted in one of our recent projects in state government. A grant directive was passed down with a short timeline. Although the grant was provided, no succession plan was in place for this great bit of public health communication that was being developed. What Works Consultants worked with the interested internal stakeholders to determine who needed to be involved. More than that, we researched what mattered to each of these stakeholders to develop benefits-driven shared vision for the project. The result: Everyone sees “whats in it for me” and they are bought into the project.

Are there places in your organization where your projects are stuck? Maybe they don’t move as quickly because they lack shared vision.

Here are some quick tips to develop shared vision and get things flowing.

  1. Have a meeting of the minds: Take the time to sit down and discuss the challenges, aspirations, and goals of the people who you would like buy in from. This will show you “what’s in it for them” in regard to your project.
  2. Assess their position: Will they be involved, kept informed, uninvolved, or perhaps they are a supporter who can provide ideas and open doors?
  3. Enlist in their role: Once you see their role, gain buy in on time commitment and responsibilities. Set process around how they prefer to be communicated to and commit to fulfilling your communication promise.

Building shared vision can lead to great collaboration. Do you need help doing this within your organization? Set an appointment to connect with us!

 

HR Views: Hiring to Company Culture

Is your company culture more than writing on the wall?

Unfortunately, at many companies, company culture is something that is written down by the leadership, placed on an inspirational plaque, and left for the dust bunnies to eat. When the leaders are asked about company culture, they point to the wall, not understanding that its the work and not the walls which create the culture.

I have a culture for What Works Coaching and What Works Recruitment that is expressed in how we do business. If you ask those who are part of my company, they don’t just recite the culture, they work it!

What Works Coaching helps individuals and companies in crisis or transition discover opportunity and take action to create results.

THE WHAT WORKS TEAM IS:

Passionate: We are passionate about what we do and why we do it.
Enthusiastic: We radiate enthusiasm. Our clients love our energy and they love to work with us because of it.
Proactive: If we see something that needs to be handled, we do so proactively. We openly and freely exchange ideas.
Original: We come up with original processes and utilize those versus someone else’s cookie cutter. We treat every client as the individual they are.
Empathetic: We put ourselves in our clients shoes and offer solutions with compassion.
Supportive: We are our clients biggest cheerleaders and supporters. We support each other the same way.
Responsible: Civic and social responsibility and responsible client service is at the core of all we do. We always act with integrity.
Honest: Rigorous honesty, internally and with our clients, is our constant policy.
Culture checks come with honest inquiry at the time when the culture itself is challenged? When a team knows to culture check on the parts of the culture they are most challenged by, they can improve themselves AND the service the company provides.

Is your culture infused in your human resources, operations, and communication – or is it just writing on the wall? Let us help you instill the culture your clients deserve.

Our values define us
Culture: 5 Reasons Why Values Matter

Our values define us

In doing my research on my theory of Crappertunity, the moment where crisis generates more opportunity than would have existed without the crisis, I keep stumbling on a major theme. Values are the compass individual and companies use to guide their journeys. Unfortunately, too many lie about their why. They justify what they are doing to society, to their colleagues, to the board, all while ignoring the internal compass that says no no no.

I wrote about values and beliefs in my Carson Now column today, a column I write for a local news site in Carson City, Nevada. In the column, I talk about my mom, how she had to reinvent herself at age 46 after her divorce. She was married 25 years, a housewife, and had to do it all again from scratch. Growing up with this influence, this resilience, I was inspired.

What I Believe

I believe we all have the power to impact, change, and improve what happens in our lives. I believe we are not victims of our circumstances. Rather, those circumstances can benefit us and the world, if we allow it. We can be called to reinvent ourselves at any time. I value connection, with myself and others, and to maintain that bond no matter how rough the seas get. I value integrity, and not letting my solution be someone else’s pain. I value intense passion for life and career. The two to me are not separable. I believe in the power plant of personal growth and how it can change lives and the world.

Some of these values I formed growing up. Others I formed as a result of my own struggles and life experience. But here are seven reasons why values matter.

Values are more than just about Sunday school.

Sure, that’s where some of us learned them. However, what we value is really our truth. We have to know our truth to turn on that internal GPS, make decisions, have confidence, and take action. Without clarity on our values, we turn into people pleasers. When we people please, we cheat people out of knowing who we really are. We cross and break boundaries we didn’t even know we had. Values are life.

Values help you choose a partner.

Life partners can have different hobbies, different ideas about the world, and differing preferences. But where a relationship can fall into trouble is when the values are off kilter. Questioning employees, colleagues, friends, romantic interests, and partners about their values is an exercise in understanding and alignment.

Values dictate happiness in a career.

Have you ever said, my heart’s just not in it? I have. And when I have, for example, when I was working in corporations in marketing and I did not believe in what I was promoting, I was unhappy. My value of integrity butted up against what my job required me to do. Look at your company’s annual report. If they don’t have one, ask them questions about their company values. You will find out quick if you are a fit or not.

Values help you have more fun.

When you are in alignment with your values, life is just more fun in general. If you value peace, you may notice you enjoy peaceful activities. If you value learning, you may find yourself learning for fun. But the point is this. If you know your values, you can be real with yourself about what you enjoy and what you don’t.

Values focus you.

When you know your values, you can laser focus and measure your activities against them. When I coach a company while they are doing their strategic plans, I talk to them about the company culture they want to cultivate. I help them discover this because these values dictate hiring practices, company strategies, and how the company behaves in a crisis.

I do more research on values in my theory of Crappertunity. To learn how you can get updates, participate in the research, or be interviewed, click here to receive information.

Sales Strategy: Take the Pain out of Making Sales Calls

Sales is a five-letter word.

Sales – it’s the five-letter word that seems like a four-letter word to entrepreneurs. When Adams Hub surveyed its entrepreneurs, they discovered that fear of sales calls was a top reason for business stagnation. So, if that’s you, know that you are not alone. The phone can weigh 500 pounds sometimes. However, not making sales calls is a pretty good non-action to take if you plan on tanking your business. Oh, you don’t want to go out of business? Then perhaps you should read this.

There are a few reasons why entrepreneurs fear sales calls.

  • They don’t know the market they are selling to.
  • They aren’t clear on what they are selling.
  • They don’t know how to start the conversation.
  • They have poor conversations because they fail to listen and ask questions.
  • They are fixated on the outcome of the conversation.

Let’s take these one by one.

Research: If you don’t know who you are selling to or why they might be interested in what you have to offer, you are sinking yourself before set sail. Often, when your sales strategy is too broad it can produce anxiety. Narrow your target and you can fine tune your message.

Clarity: Once you narrow your target, you can get some real clarity around how you can serve them. Without this clarity, you may set yourself up to have an awkward conversation with no direction.

Icebreakers: Questions are great icebreakers. Be sure, whatever icebreaker you choose, it helps you connect in a reliable way. If you were at the same conference, you may want to connect about what you are learning.

Connect: Look for ways to come together and see eye to eye. This will help build rapport and connection. Curiosity + Connection + Conversation = Cash. I have a whole presentation I put together on this which is available when you join the Explore Momentum community. Contact me for an exclusive invitation.

Outcome: Let go of the outcome. Sometimes a connection will result in a referral. Sometimes it will result in a sale. Yet other times, traction develops down the road. Get out of the outcome and let the natural flow of the situation surprise you.

Do you find sales calls challenging? Share your best tips in the comments below.

If you are missing some motivation, log on to YouTube and check out workshops, keynote speeches, and Q&A sessions from Diane Dye Hansen
Management: Working On Versus In Your Business

I am jumping out of my strappy sandals right now. I have finally done something I have needed to do for so long it’s silly. I launched my YouTube channel. That’s right, the days of sending future clients and companies who need keynote speakers or workshop facilitators to a Dropbox are over. I am both doing a happy dance and breathing a big sigh of relief.

Why didn’t I enter the modern century until now?

The “Doing” Trap

Well, I fell into the “doing” trap. As entrepreneurs, we tend to get so into the doing of business we forget that businesses need to be taken care of. They need infrastructure, process, promotion, love, lots of love, to grow. What happens, though, is the job of the business becomes big. Revenue comes when I’m coaching, facilitating, on the phone, on video, and speaking. In other words, it’s the doing that creates the revenue. Or, so I thought. That’s not really true.

The doing creates the revenue but without the leadership, infrastructure, process, all the good stuff, my business won’t grow. I will be so stuck in blissful doing that I will create a job for myself. A business is something you work on. A job is something you work in. Successful leaders work on their business so others can work in it more than they do. It’s only then a business can scale, or become bigger than the sum of its owner.

So, launching my YouTube Channel was just that. It was a way to put technology to work for me. It’s a way to coach without being present, to capture interest, and to leverage all this great content that I’ve been producing and then throwing down the black hole of Facebook.

I’m proud. I’m taking my own medicine. Honestly, a coach should take their own medicine and the medicine of others multiple times a day. It’s healthy for them and your company as well. After all, we are all products of the product.

Enjoy my new product. Subscribe to the What Works Coaching YouTube Channel.

Even a coach need motivation.
Mindset: How do you motivate yourself?

Even a coach need motivation.
Even a coach needs motivation.

When it comes to motivation, do you coach yourself to success or paint yourself into a corner? Part of business is learning how to coach and motivate others. But you also have to motivate yourself if you are going to drive the success of your company.

I love Audible. I pay a subscription fee and I get to download anything I want for one credit. The subscription is motivation to keep consuming information. After all, a coach is only as good as the information they can provide. Hiring a coach is like taking a football team filled with coaches and committing to one to give you personal attention. I listen to a lot of books because I multi-task. I made it through seven chapters of Jen Sincero’s “You are a Bad Ass” between Coloma, CA and Carson City, NV. I could not have done that with a paper copy. In fact, I think this coach would have killed her business and herself in the process of trying. To save lives and expand minds, I am gladly giving away a 30 day Audible Free Trial [Digital Membership].

See, I am always on the look out for tools to motivate me. I see motivation as the gas that makes my business engine run. My company is healthier when I do the work to motivate myself. I motivate others better when I motivate myself. I have always used vision boards to propel my business forward. In fact, everything I coach I do myself. Go figure. Want to see if What Works Coaching works? Look at how healthy What Works Coaching is! Basic business 101 – no contractor’s dilemma here. I know I must fill my own cup first before filling others.

Yes, that means you need to motivate yourself and that will fill up your cup. So, how do you motivate yourself when energy is low, ideas are short, and time is shorter? Well, you might want to consider looking for a coach. For me, I downloaded “You are a Bad Ass.” I do highly suggest you read or listen to that book. You might like the You Are a Badass 2017 Day-to-Day Calendar. But, since Jen Sincero may not be on your speed dial, maybe consider putting me on there.

Schedule some time with me. If you are super convinced already that coaching is right for your business, go all in on one hour. If you want to stick your toe in the puddle of motivation and risk 20 minutes of your time to possibly motivate the hell out of yourself, schedule a complimentary 20 minute session.

Whatever you do, do something – anything. Take action. Because action is what motivation is really all about. Unless you can think of a company that stayed in the black doing nothing. I’m waiting… No company can do that? You would be right.

So my question to you, right here, right now, is this. How do you motivate yourself? Share in the comments below. Who knows. The way you motivate yourself might motivate others, which will great sweet rapids of motivation we can all raft. Let’s go!

Career: 5 tips for keeping your groove when you lose your job

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Losing your job is no fun. It comes with a mix of emotions. In fact, studies show you will go through a full cycle of grief when you lose a job. This includes: shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and, finally acceptance. So how do you avoid getting stuck in one stage of the cycle? How do you keep your groove when you lose your job?

1) Breathe (and cry if necessary): Tears may come and, if they do, it is best that you don’t try to stuff them. Delaying your grieving process may leave you stuck. Take deep breaths and cry as much as you need to, alone or with friends. Just let it out.

Read the rest of my article on PuckerMob.

 

yoga prop
What yoga taught me about business

yoga prop
Using props is important, in yoga and in business.

The other day I was taking Theresa Simmons’ yoga class at Eagle Fitness in Carson City. We were doing what I considered to be a basic pose. I don’t remember the name right now. However, it was a pose where I didn’t feel like I needed to reach for my blocks. “Use the blocks, that’s what they are there for,” she said.

Immediately my ego shouted at me “No!” “I won’t use blocks for this pose!” “I don’t want to look like I don’t know what I am doing.” “I don’t want to appear weak.” “I can do it without help!”

Yet, the one thing yoga practice has done for me is that it has helped calm my monkey mind. And boy can that thing chatter! It has taught me to challenge my ego. Sometimes, challenging my ego means accepting help from a block made of cork.

Immediately, the pose felt better. I wasn’t straining as hard. I could breathe. Even in the simplest of poses, utilizing my props made it easier.

Suddenly, it all came together. I haven’t been using my props (my support system) in business!

The ego shouting sounded the same in a business context. “No!” “I won’t sub-contract this out!” “I won’t ask for help. I don’t want to look like I don’t know what I’m doing!” “I have 20 years of experience. I don’t want to appear weak.” “I can do it without help.”

I have been blessed to have a great support system. This system grows every day as I open myself up to possibility. When I use my blocks in yoga, I don’t hurt. When I use my support system in business, I also don’t hurt. Things…. flow.

Coaches are like blocks, too. We are business yogis of a sort. We help correct your poses. We connect the asanas. I used to hate it when a yoga teacher would provide an adjustment or correction. That, too, provided a business lesson. Sometimes, we need our teachers. We need our blocks, our straps, our bolsters, our blankets, to help get us to the next level.

That, my friends, is going with the flow of business.

Daily Exercise: Choose one area where you will ask for help today. Comment about it below.