role model Archives - Dennis E. Gilbert

25
Mar 20
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Work Mode May Condition Work Mood

Tags : leadership productivity role model work work mood

Are you in work mode? Do you have your, “get things done” game face on?

Many things will condition what happens next for your productivity and effectiveness.

In case you haven’t realized it, there has been a disruption in what we do and how we do it. The disruption is based on an external event, and for many people, stress, worry, and anxiety have spiked.

Some people are still actively reporting to work, some have paid time off, and many have been furloughed or cut loose as a statistic of the disruption.

Maybe you’re working from home (WFH), and perhaps that is a brand new twist.

Work Mood

Are you able to get into work mode? What does it have to do with work mood?

We’ve probably all identified someone by their mood.

He is in a bad mood.

I wouldn’t go near her office today.

When he sees the results he is going to flip out.

Today and every day we all have an opportunity to condition our behavior and attitude. Certainly, external stimuli can add to the pressure for high performance, yet, the choice remains yours.

Work Mode

Getting into work mode is a responsibility. It is part of the job commitment for leaders.

What choices are you making about your work mode?

Don’t become one of the negative external events for your work team. Whether you are working remote or face-to-face, get yourself positioned for the proper work mood and share it. This is work mode.

Every day is a good day to be a positive role model.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

20
Jun 19
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The Truth Behind Workplace Authenticity

Tags : authenticity coaching mentor role model style

Workplace authenticity may be considered a core value. Are role models and leaders authentic in your workplace? Do organizational politics play a role?

In a recent seminar someone suggested that flexing your style is not a desirable attribute since you are not being the real you. The discussion point centered around workplace leaders serving as coaches.

Do you occasionally serve as a workplace coach?

Workplace Coach

Being a good coach is not about show and tell. A good coach is effective at inspiring change through questioning techniques.

Questioning techniques of course involve good communication skills and when you are working with your boss, a peer, or a direct report every situation may be unique. This uniqueness is what may require you to flex your style.

In my opinion, flexing your style to accommodate a situation and make things better is not the same as playing politics, being fake, or lacking sincerity.

Workplace Authenticity

Flexing your style means that you are willing to put in the emotional labor required to help improve the situation.

If your style is somewhat brash and direct, that won’t work for every situation. If your style is softer and more empathetic, that probably won’t work for every situation.

Working hard as a workplace leader to master the skills required to be a good mentor and coach means that with practice it will be the authentic you. Don’t confuse a strong work ethic that places value on harmonizing the workplace with a lack of honesty, integrity, or authenticity.

-DEG

29
Dec 17
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Being a Workplace Role Model

Tags : emotional labor leadership role model workplace

Great role models are hard to find. What may be even harder is to replicate them. Are you a good workplace role model?

Certainly, role models may be situational. The role model lifeguard is likely a much different skillset when compared with a role model at the local factory, hospital, or burger joint.

Admiration and Leadership

Role models are often admired for leadership traits. How well do they lead under pressure? What keeps them driven and yet well-grounded every day? How do they stay motivated and professional at all times?

People have many common characteristics. One person likes to have some down time as much as the other. Many have interests or hobbies that are outside of the normal scope of their work.

Discipline and willpower may guide some of the best role models. What are some things that great role models don’t do?

Great role models don’t:

act on impulse
tell other people off
show up late
lose interest easily
complain

This is a short list, the entire list is long. They are often great role models because they are masters of control, are willing to endure emotional labor, and care about the outcomes of their actions and behaviors.

Workplace Role Model

A great workplace role model doesn’t show up only when someone is watching. They are always watching for the next place to show up. They arrive and walk in like a pro. There is something in the air about their presence, not just when it aligns with something they love, all the time, good or bad.

The truly great ones will keep their promises, they don’t need to tell you that they are great, it shows. They are authentic, valued, and respected.

They do the work they don’t feel like doing, the work that is old, tired, and boring. Listening is important so they do it twice as much as talking.

Are you a good workplace role model?

– DEG

Originally posted on December 29, 2017, last updated on November 5, 2018.

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a five-time author and some of his work includes, #CustServ The Customer Service Culture, and Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

30
Oct 17
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Avoiding The Copycat Customer Service Trap

Tags : competition customer service learning role model

When you want to become better, you often look for a role model. Someone may call it training, another person learning, and someone else may refer to it as coaching. Training, learning and coaching are a good idea, but make sure you aren’t falling into the copycat customer service trap.

Consciously or subconsciously sometimes we mimic what we believe is working. When we believe what we are already doing isn’t working, we often seek answers from what we believe someone else is doing to make it work.

Copycat Customer Service

When you aren’t sure which button to push on the new soda machine at the popular fast food restaurant you watch what someone else does. When you encounter a detour in an unfamiliar area while driving your car, you may decide to follow the direction everyone else appears to be going.

Some of these behaviors may lead us to get what we want, but in other cases, it may be the wrong path. Perhaps the person you chose to role model has it all wrong.

When we learn by watching, by reading, or by doing, it doesn’t guarantee that it is the right thing. In customer service, someone may be doing just enough to get buy. Is that the height of the bar you wish to achieve?

What is the height of your bar? Are you following the crowd? Do you do what others who have come before you have done?

Differentiate and Dominate

Winning the race by a tenth of a second is enough, but is that really much different from second place?

When you follow the leader the best you can hope for is second place.

The bar shouldn’t be yours to raise one notch higher than the competition. It should be yours to raise as high as possible.

You probably wouldn’t challenge an Olympic sprinter to a foot race, the bar is too high. However, you may challenge someone who with a good effort you believe you can beat.

Have you considered that being just a little better than the competition leaves a lot of open ground and invites others to join in?

When you want your brand to be known as the best make sure you avoid the copycat customer service trap. You may be able to jump higher than you think; which is completely different from jumping high enough to win.

– DEG

Originally posted on October 30, 2017, last updated on December 2, 2019.

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

30
Sep 14
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Too Hot

Tags : job promotion role model workplace culture

Too hot or too cold and we are uncomfortable. In the U.S. most of us live life with the comfort and convenience of a climate controlled environment. Many people go from their house, to their car, to their job, to the store, or nearly anywhere else, in a controlled climate. Our workplaces sometimes get too hot or too cold, but I’m not talking about temperature, I’m talking about people, culture, and job satisfaction.

On the job things can get hot. People are exposed to discomfort through rapid change, unexpected outcomes, and adverse conditions. When things get hot, some people get uncomfortable. Others deal with the heat well, by being flexible, adaptable, and self-controlled. They are often the workplace stars, role models, and those about to advance.

Sometimes things can get cold. People shut down, shut out, or find themselves in an organization that has gone stale. Everything around us is changing; and in a rapidly changing environment, the worst place to be is in the status quo. The status quo is where people and teams grow cold, go stale, and freeze up.

If you’re going to make something happen, you better not get cold. Be prepared to turn up the heat because you can never get—too hot.

– DEG

Photo Credit: Wesley Fryer

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

16
Sep 14
-

Model You

Tags : job promotion performance role model workplace

Do you stand a chance at modeling? I’m not talking about Miss America, or the runway platform, I’m thinking about modeling the behaviors and characteristics of someone who has already achieved what you desire. Role models are everywhere, but should their traits become yours?

Selling yourself for a job, a promotion, or in your business is likely not as easy or simple as mimicking someone’s behavior or performance traits. You are unique, and that is good. When you combine your style, personality, and life’s experiences with the qualities and representation of a role model things will probably only get better. However, when you eliminate your style, personality, and life’s experiences in an attempt to duplicate another person you’ll likely find yourself appearing—worse.

Role models are great, but you are terrific.

Model you.

– DEG

Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Tag Archives: role model

Mar 20

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Work Mood

Work Mode

Jun 19

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Workplace Coach

Workplace Authenticity

Dec 17

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Admiration and Leadership

Workplace Role Model

Oct 17

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Copycat Customer Service

Differentiate and Dominate

Sep 14

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Sep 14

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