Leadership Solutions

Leadership Solutions: E-mail Safety

This happens too often.

Someone sends an e-mail with more than one address in the To: field. Sometimes they put their entire mailing list in there, which can include all of their employees, friends, members, relatives, or combinations of these groups.

So, what happens?

1) Everyone on the list knows who else received the e-mail. Certainly, you have found it fascinating to discover who else knows (or is related to) the sender.

2) Anyone can copy that list and then use it for something else, such as spam, advertising, or junk e-mail. And if the e-mail was sent to someone with a business e-mail address, that e-mail is now saved forever in the company's archives. Then someone, such as an HR manager (or a police officer with a warrant), can request a copy at any time.

3) If anyone forwards the e-mail, then the distribution of this address list expands to the great unknown universe. Now, you can guarantee that the list will be misused.

So, what do you do?

Use the BCC: field. Then each recipient receives an e-mail with only their address on it.

And (more important) you will protect the privacy of the people in your contact list.

Key Point: E-mail requires more care than any other means of communication.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

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Leadership Solutions: Business Turbulence

What happens when there is a problem in your business?

Most likely, someone calls a meeting to figure out a solution.

And what happens in that meeting?

Most likely, people talk about everything without reaching an agreement on anything. Often, the person who talks the most (or the loudest) convinces the rest to adopt an idea.

And then what happens?

The business struggles with a bad idea, which leads to more problems.

First, let's recognize that a meeting is a team activity where the participants work together to find solutions that provide the greatest good for the business.

Second, let's recognize that repeating an idea does not make it become more worthwhile.

Third, let's recognize that holding effective meetings is critically important to the future of your business.

If your meetings take too long or produce too little, it's time to fix that. Otherwise, your business could be one of those that investment advisors refer to when they talk about "market corrections" (i.e., casualties).

Key Point: A meeting is more than a random discussion. It's a deliberate business activity that produces useful results.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

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Leadership Solutions: Discomfort

We've all had this happen.

The situation is this: We delay doing something that we know needs to be done.

It may be writing a report, making a phone call, fixing a problem, and so on.

Recognize this: It takes more energy, more effort, and more time to avoid working on these tasks than it takes to finish them.

In addition, not doing something that you know needs to be done, causes you to feel disappointed with yourself. That leads to feelings of guilt. And that drains energy that you need to manage the important things in your life.

Deliberate, decisive action is a huge time saver.

So, do it now.

Key Point: Procrastination costs more than implementation.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Author, Speaker, IAF Certified Professional Facilitator

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Leadership Solutions: One Key Question

All of time management can be summed up with one question.

It's this: What is the One Thing that I absolutely must do today?

Find that one thing and then make it your Number One priority. This means you will work on that task first and keep working on it until you finish it.

If you are working on anything else, you are wasting time.

Really.

Key Point: Your Number One task is your Number One task. Work on it first.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Bringing life to dreams

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Leadership Solutions: Ultimate Outcome

On average, businesses waste 20% of their professional payroll on bad meetings.

That means, for every million dollars worth of payroll, the company is wasting $200,000.

And this cost is only the beginning.

People usually hold meetings to make plans that are supposed to take their business into the future. With no results, there are no plans. Or, with incomplete results, they end up with bad plans.

Otherwise, people hold meetings to find solutions, reach agreements, and make decisions.

In any case, bad meetings take a business backwards. And that costs much more than wasted payroll money.

I show leaders how to fix that.

Specifically, imagine what you could accomplish with only a 50% improvement in your meetings. That means you would be getting more real work for your payroll money. And the results obtained in these meetings become a profit center in your business.

Interested?

Call me.

Key Point: A meeting is more than just a bunch of people sitting in a conference room talking about something. It's the future for your company.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Bringing life to dreams

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Leadership Solutions: 10 Pounds

Goal accomplished!

One of my personal goals this year was to lose ten pounds. As of late September, I did it.

Here's how:

1) Set a goal. Obviously, I had to decide to do this and formalize that decision with a goal.

2) Small steps. Ten pounds amounts to about 35,000 calories. So, I figured that I'd have to reduce my food intake by about 100 calories per day over the year.

3) Science rules. Weight change follows the classic energy balance. That is, Accumulation = Energy in - Energy out.

And yes, the human body can frustrate this by becoming more efficient when there is less energy going in. So, I had to reduce my food intake by about 300 to 500 calories per day. I also increased exercise by going for walks (four to six miles) a few times each week.

4) Common sense. Avoid junk food, fast food, and fat food. These fill you out without filling you up. For example, one of these happy meals can contain a full day's worth of calories, salt, and fat. Some deserts contain more.

5) Make changes. I almost stopped eating snacks, ice cream, and deserts. I say almost because the frequency of these dropped to about a fifth of what they were in the past. Also, I now eat half of a restaurant meal and then bring the leftovers home to eat the next day.

6) Tolerate hunger. It can be uncomfortable (at least at first) when you eat less. And that's okay. You'll survive. Every animal on this planet endures periods of being hungry.

7) One push up. The most important exercise you can do is pushing your plate away. Then stand up and brush your teeth. This tells your brain that you have stopped eating. Soon afterwards, you will feel fine.

Notice that this accomplishment follows the same principles that apply in any business situation. It begins with a goal, requires specific actions, involves some discomfort, and eventually becomes a routine part of the culture.

Key Point: Every achievement results from applying basic principles.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Bringing life to dreams

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Leadership Solutions: Quick Test

Here's today's homework:

1) How many changes have you made this year?

Write a list.

Then evaluate the list for the value of each change in terms of how it added value to your life.

2) What changes do you want to make during the rest of the year?

Write a list.

Then prioritize each change in terms of value added and ease of implementation. Assign action dates to those that are most critical or that score the highest in each area.

Key Point: Results require action.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Bringing life to dreams

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Leadership Solutions: Time Saving Tips

The ads are wrong!

Actually, driving your car is not a form of entertainment; it's an expensive waste of time.

Here are time saving tips.

1) Make every errand count. Combine trips and plan the stops in a circle to save driving.

2) Keep a list of errands so that you can combine them with other trips.

3) Use stores, restaurants, and services that are close to home.

4) Avoid traveling long distances to shop for bargains. Consider the cost of gas plus the value of your time versus the actual savings.

5) Avoid driving if an errand can be accomplished by any other means.

6) Shop early when there are fewer people in the stores.

7) Avoid errands during rush hour traffic times.

8) Plan shopping to avoid shopping. That is, buy a supply of critical goods so that you can resupply when convenient instead of having to make a special trip.

9) Always test if an errand is absolutely necessary. Can you wait or do without?

Key Point: Less driving leaves you more time for those activities that matter.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Bringing life to dreams

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Leadership Solutions: Just How Much Is a Trillion Dollars?

Just in case you want something to talk about at the water cooler, here's the inside story.

For many people a trillion dollars is just a number. In fact, it's so big that it defies comprehension. They sort of dismiss it as just another piece of ho-hum news.

So, let's put it into context.

Based on a US population of 304.8 million people, a trillion dollars of debt becomes $3281 of debt per person in the US.

Of course, we're not going to be expected to pay that. So, you can relax.

But we are going to pay the interest on it.

That interest amounts to about $138 per person each year at current interest rates.

So, continue the math: count the number of people in your household and multiply by $138. That's your annual share.

And to pay it, one of three things must happen.

1) We have to borrow more money to pay for the interest.

2) You get less (e.g., roads, schools, etc.) in return for your tax dollars.

3) Your taxes increase, either from the IRS or from your State.

Key Point: Increasing the National Debt increases your taxes.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Bringing life to dreams

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Leadership Solutions: New Science

People have found a way to defy physics.

That is, now people can be in two places at the same time.

They do this by using Bluetooth (c) technology.

So now, for example, they can sit in a meeting AND conduct a conversation with someone. Or, they can conduct a sales transaction in a store AND conduct a conversation with someone. And so on.

It's absolutely mind-boggling.

It's also rude.

Why?

Because these people are really in neither place.

A conversation requires complete attention, not the part that's left over from working on another task.

So, save those cell phone calls for times when you're alone and can give the other person the courtesy of your complete attention.

Key Point: Conversation is a respectful exchange of paying attention to what the other person is saying.

Much success,

Steve Kaye

714-528-1300

Bringing life to dreams

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