How often do you find yourself saying, “You misunderstood me”, and getting caught up in a prolonged conversation to explain what you really meant? At best, the frustrating exercise costs you time. At worst, the repeated misfires erode relationships. What if you focused all that time and energy on becoming a communication chameleon? A chameleon always changes its color to adapt to its environment, not the other way around. You can immediately become a more effective and others centered communicator by doing the same. Instead of assuming other people need to understand you better, what if you assumed you need to understand them better? Although it will take some time and effort to study your audience and you have to believe they’re worth it, the impact can be significant. The effort alone will help establish a healthier connection that will serve as a conduit for better communication. As you master the…

Late one evening as I drove back into Austin some field lights shinning brightly off the road caught my attention. The location was peculiar. I did not think there was a baseball or soccer field located there and was curious about what it could be. The next time I passed by I decided to veer off and take a look. I discovered to my delight that the lights were used to illuminate a driving range. Being a golfer and lacking a nearby range, this was a welcomed find. The first time I patroned the place, the owner handed me a bucket of balls and suggested I pay on the way out since he was “using his internet connection to browse the web and couldn’t run my credit card until he was done.” I proceeded to hit my bucket of balls and returned to the office when I was done. I…

If you just share what needs to get done, you’re giving orders. If you explain when it needs to get done, you’re prioritizing and scheduling for someone else. If you explain how it needs to get done, you’re micromanaging. What if you always explained why something needed to get done, focusing on the importance and impact?  Saying why provides guidance that empowers the people around you to solve problems, make decisions and accelerate delivery.  Your team can figure out the when and how if you explain the why.  Are you leaving it out?

I avoid unscheduled meetings at the office.  If someone wants to meet to exchange information, collaborate or whatever the occasion, I usually ask that they add the item to the agenda for the weekly meeting I have scheduled with most of my team. What I do make time for are unscheduled conversations.  For me, this is one of the chief gains of being focused on efficiency and productivity.  I create room for conversations about life, relationships and matters of consequence without fretting about what I’m neglecting.  Unscheduled meetings are a distraction and are usually the result of poor prioritization or time sensitivity on the part of the requestor.  Impromptu conversations are part of the healthy cadence of life and present wonderful opportunities to invest in relationships. Say no to the meetings and say yes to the people.

Stories inspire. Rules constrict. Stories are memorable. Rules are very forgettable. You’ve seen them, or maybe you’re part of or are leading one now – an organization that is managed by rules. Do this and don’t do that, binary instructions that assume people operate like computers. Better organizations and leaders use stories to guide their people. Sure, a few rules may be needed here or there, but stories about a wowed customer, a loyal employee or someone or something you want to emulate are far more effective. Leading by telling more stories plants memorable reference points that provide inspiration and guidance for how to behave, in everyday situations and in ones never contemplated by a set of rules. So stop looking for bigger binders for that ever expanding book of rules, policies or procedures that everyone wants to burn. Start looking for and telling stories. Agree?