Comments on: Leadership Caffeine-Bringing Confidence Back http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/ Leadership, Management and Professional Development Tue, 22 May 2012 00:57:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/#comment-13908 Art Petty Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:24:23 +0000 http://artpetty.com/?p=2827#comment-13908 Nick, Patrick, Gwyn and Ajo, thanks as well for your thoughts. Gwyn, I'm sorry to have perpetrated yet another sports analogy as leadership example. Thanks for your thoughtful perspectives! Patrick, Nick and Ajo, some nice value adds! Thanks to all for jumping in! And Wally, thanks so much for including this post in your "Five Best" listing. I'm always honored to be in such fine company. Best to all, Art Nick, Patrick, Gwyn and Ajo, thanks as well for your thoughts. Gwyn, I’m sorry to have perpetrated yet another sports analogy as leadership example. Thanks for your thoughtful perspectives! Patrick, Nick and Ajo, some nice value adds! Thanks to all for jumping in!

And Wally, thanks so much for including this post in your “Five Best” listing. I’m always honored to be in such fine company.

Best to all,

Art

]]> By: Wally Bock http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/#comment-13907 Wally Bock Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:11:02 +0000 http://artpetty.com/?p=2827#comment-13907 Congratulations! This post was selected as one of the five best independent business blog posts of the week in my Three Star Leadership Midweek Review of the Business Blogs. http://blog.threestarleadership.com/2009/11/04/11409-midweek-look-at-the-independent-business-blogs.aspx Wally Bock Congratulations! This post was selected as one of the five best independent business blog posts of the week in my Three Star Leadership Midweek Review of the Business Blogs.

http://blog.threestarleadership.com/2009/11/04/11409-midweek-look-at-the-independent-business-blogs.aspx

Wally Bock

]]> By: Ajo Cherian http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/#comment-13900 Ajo Cherian Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:00:36 +0000 http://artpetty.com/?p=2827#comment-13900 This is a good list of points on how leaders can instill confidence in their team members. I agree that confidence is in short supply during this recession. You are right that planning not to fail is different from planning to win. Many companies and teams may be focused on just surviving now. I think the leaders that show confidence and in turn instill confidence in their team members during these times, will make their workplaces much more engaging, boost morale, and be in a better position once this downturn passes. This is a good list of points on how leaders can instill confidence in their team members. I agree that confidence is in short supply during this recession. You are right that planning not to fail is different from planning to win. Many companies and teams may be focused on just surviving now. I think the leaders that show confidence and in turn instill confidence in their team members during these times, will make their workplaces much more engaging, boost morale, and be in a better position once this downturn passes.

]]> By: Gwyn Teatro http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/#comment-13893 Gwyn Teatro Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:10:44 +0000 http://artpetty.com/?p=2827#comment-13893 Art, while I have come to loathe sports analogies, I love this post! there are three things that I particularly like about it. First, I love the reminder that focusing on not failing is not the same as focusing on winning. In times of stress and uncertainty is it not difficult to get the two confused. Second, the advice to leaders not to engage in empty "rah rah" talk is so important. People can smell and empty "pep rally" a mile off. And thirdly, I love the practical and doable things to do that build confidence, not only in the leader but also the rest of the folks too. A great post. Thanks Gwyn Art, while I have come to loathe sports analogies, I love this post!

there are three things that I particularly like about it. First, I love the reminder that focusing on not failing is not the same as focusing on winning. In times of stress and uncertainty is it not difficult to get the two confused.

Second, the advice to leaders not to engage in empty “rah rah” talk is so important. People can smell and empty “pep rally” a mile off.

And thirdly, I love the practical and doable things to do that build confidence, not only in the leader but also the rest of the folks too.

A great post. Thanks

Gwyn

]]> By: Patrick D Kelley http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/#comment-13887 Patrick D Kelley Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:05:32 +0000 http://artpetty.com/?p=2827#comment-13887 Great post--and some great advice for leaders! I think that people tend to really underestimate the importance of confidence in the workplace. You can have a gifted employee capable of producing great work, but if they do not believe in themselves then they are never going to maximize their potential. It really is a big circle--your employees need to see that you have confidence in yourself and in them, which in turn should feed the employee to become more confidence in his or her own abilities. And, as you pointed out, employees need to see that their teammates have confidence in themselves as well. Nothing poisons a team environment faster then the majority of folks on the team seeing a particular individual as being the weak link. Great post–and some great advice for leaders! I think that people tend to really underestimate the importance of confidence in the workplace. You can have a gifted employee capable of producing great work, but if they do not believe in themselves then they are never going to maximize their potential. It really is a big circle–your employees need to see that you have confidence in yourself and in them, which in turn should feed the employee to become more confidence in his or her own abilities. And, as you pointed out, employees need to see that their teammates have confidence in themselves as well. Nothing poisons a team environment faster then the majority of folks on the team seeing a particular individual as being the weak link.

]]> By: Nick Halen http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/#comment-13885 Nick Halen Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:59:57 +0000 http://artpetty.com/?p=2827#comment-13885 Great post, I totally agree with Wally in that everything does start with you. Not just in the workplace but also in life. I always have people coming to me and telling me about all of their problems and 99% of the time, at the end of the conversation, I conclude with how are YOU going to change YOU. I always am telling myself and others that we have no control over what others do but we can only control ourselves and what we do. This ties directly into what you are saying about being confident as a leader and also as a member. If one person is not positive then it brings down the entire group. The moral of the story, change how YOU are and YOU will be surprised how the people around YOU change. Great post,
I totally agree with Wally in that everything does start with you. Not just in the workplace but also in life. I always have people coming to me and telling me about all of their problems and 99% of the time, at the end of the conversation, I conclude with how are YOU going to change YOU. I always am telling myself and others that we have no control over what others do but we can only control ourselves and what we do. This ties directly into what you are saying about being confident as a leader and also as a member. If one person is not positive then it brings down the entire group. The moral of the story, change how YOU are and YOU will be surprised how the people around YOU change.

]]> By: Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/#comment-13880 Art Petty Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:49:02 +0000 http://artpetty.com/?p=2827#comment-13880 Bret and Wally, thanks for jumping in! Bret, we will have to have a good-natured debate on my definition of toxicity. I have no qualms about instantly executing those that poison the work environment. Dissenters are not toxic..., so I think we are more in agreement than less. My hire slow, fire fast comes from a lot of years of practice and owning the responsibility for building great teams and driving results. Wally, as always, you distill my long posts down to the essence with a much more economical use of words. Thanks to both! -Art Bret and Wally, thanks for jumping in!

Bret, we will have to have a good-natured debate on my definition of toxicity. I have no qualms about instantly executing those that poison the work environment. Dissenters are not toxic…, so I think we are more in agreement than less. My hire slow, fire fast comes from a lot of years of practice and owning the responsibility for building great teams and driving results.

Wally, as always, you distill my long posts down to the essence with a much more economical use of words.

Thanks to both!

-Art

]]> By: Wally Bock http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/#comment-13879 Wally Bock Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:44:15 +0000 http://artpetty.com/?p=2827#comment-13879 Great post, Art and you hit the high points. I would underline the advice that "It starts with you." If you're the boss and you aren't confident, there is no way that you will inspire confidence. So take time, away from the team, to build confidence by playing out success scenarios and plans in your head, but looking for positives, and by remembering past successes. Great post, Art and you hit the high points. I would underline the advice that “It starts with you.”

If you’re the boss and you aren’t confident, there is no way that you will inspire confidence. So take time, away from the team, to build confidence by playing out success scenarios and plans in your head, but looking for positives, and by remembering past successes.

]]> By: Bret Simmons http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/#comment-13878 Bret Simmons Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:43:35 +0000 http://artpetty.com/?p=2827#comment-13878 Love it, Art, but I always bristle at advice to eliminate "toxic team members." This often becomes the fastest way to actually SINK your team by driving out people that question, dissent, and push the boundaries. A sure ticket to groupthink, in my mind. I actually teach that you should purposefully suround yourself with people you KNOW will disagree with you on issues from time to time. "Those that share the organization's values" might be nothing but yes men. There are times when an organization's values no longer serve them well, and unless the organization changes and adapts, it will find itself in peril. Keep up the good work! Bret Love it, Art, but I always bristle at advice to eliminate “toxic team members.” This often becomes the fastest way to actually SINK your team by driving out people that question, dissent, and push the boundaries. A sure ticket to groupthink, in my mind. I actually teach that you should purposefully suround yourself with people you KNOW will disagree with you on issues from time to time. “Those that share the organization’s values” might be nothing but yes men. There are times when an organization’s values no longer serve them well, and unless the organization changes and adapts, it will find itself in peril.
Keep up the good work! Bret

]]> By: Art Petty http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/#comment-13877 Art Petty Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:26:54 +0000 http://artpetty.com/?p=2827#comment-13877 Steve, thanks for reading and sharing your valued and well-practiced insights. I agree. Overcoming the inertia of standing in place requires extraordinary effort on the part of the leader. The leader that looks for everything to become clear does a tremendous disservice to his/her team and the clock is definitely running! -Art Steve, thanks for reading and sharing your valued and well-practiced insights. I agree. Overcoming the inertia of standing in place requires extraordinary effort on the part of the leader. The leader that looks for everything to become clear does a tremendous disservice to his/her team and the clock is definitely running! -Art

]]> By: Steve Wallin http://artpetty.com/2009/11/02/leadership-caffeine-bringing-confidence-back/#comment-13876 Steve Wallin Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:18:25 +0000 http://artpetty.com/?p=2827#comment-13876 Great post Art. I think the most critical aspect is that once you have asked the clarifying questions, and feel confident you have alignment, urge them to move. Of course that requires having a clear point-of-view of your own and having the risk tolerance to point and shoot. The lack of confidence rears its ugly head through leaders who need to wait for other factors become more clear before they can be "sure". They paralyze their teams into doing nothing and stifle further creativity as people wait around for the craziness to settle down. Meanwhile, the clock is still running. Steve Great post Art. I think the most critical aspect is that once you have asked the clarifying questions, and feel confident you have alignment, urge them to move. Of course that requires having a clear point-of-view of your own and having the risk tolerance to point and shoot. The lack of confidence rears its ugly head through leaders who need to wait for other factors become more clear before they can be “sure”. They paralyze their teams into doing nothing and stifle further creativity as people wait around for the craziness to settle down. Meanwhile, the clock is still running.
Steve

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