the important thing is not to stop questioning. curiosity has its own reason for existence. one cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. it is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. never lose a holy curiosity – albert einstein
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Which Battle?
I’ve discovered that many people participate in competitions for different reasons. Not everyone is competing for the same prize. Some were willing to settle with making it to certain stages of the tournament. I think it is sad that while all could aspire to win the main prize, some were only glad to settle for what I think was the lesser. However diverse, every team that that competes has some [ultimate] goal in mind. Every effort in preparation and in actual games was centered on an ultimate goal of sort. The prize is why teams [should] compete.
Goals give purpose to effort. Imagine an athlete setting out on a race with no end or finish line! It would be wasted effort, energy and time. Without clear objectives it is easy to waste and even abuse resources. Goals can help us measure or place value on our efforts as we review our advance toward them against time. Clear goals also help us in determining what resources are required and or how to apportion them.
Clear goals will dictate to us what our focus should be. There are many ‘battles’ that will seek our attention and one of the keys to our effectiveness is in choosing our ‘battles’ wisely.
Don’t fight a battle if you don’t gain anything by winning – Erwin Rommel
It would be of great benefit for us to consider the ‘battles’ we’re engaged in at the moment and the potential results of our engagements and whether they are worthwhile. I think now would be a good time us to give thought to what we are going to give of ourselves and resources AND why.
I don’t run without a goal. And I don’t box by beating my fists in the air – Apostle Paul
Are your pursuits clear? Are they worthwhile?
How People Stop Caring About What Matters
For everything you care about you have an expression. You express how you care about your spouse by providing and being there for them. You express your love by serving your family. You express the value you place on a cause by the sacrifices you make for it. The value of what we place on something is in the time, energy & resources we devote to it. Sometimes we lose the sense of the value of some things not because they have lost value but that the way we look at them has changed. It is not difficult to stop caring about things that matter… How you stop caring about things that matter:
Sometimes we lose the sense of the value of some things not because they have lost value but that the way we look at them has changed
- People stop caring about things that matter when they do not guard their value or worth. This can apply to certain aspects of your organization or relationships with people. What you are not intentional to protect can be easily destroyed.
- We stop caring about what’s important when we start seeing the expression of the importance of something as a chore & not a privilege. It is a privilege to love & serve your spouse & family. It is a privilege to be part of something greater than yourself. It is a privilege you have the resources to make a difference in other people’s lives. You not only need to guard (defend) the value of something but need to constantly seek ways of constantly and creatively expressing the worth of something. It can be a relationship… or the values of your organization…
- You stop caring about the important when you take it for granted. You take your work for granted when you start thinking it is your right for your employer or boss to give you the position & the reward it comes with it and not a privilege. Leaders, consider it a privilege that people choose to follow you and the cause you serve.
- In the context of relationships and teams, you can stop caring about some people or some things by only seeing value in monetary terms. There are some things that are way more valuable than the money we spend on them. It could be a family trip or a team building get away. You will realize the real value of many things when you stop looking at them only through the lens of your bank balance! There are many times you need to look at money as a mere means of adding value of a different kind. A less paying job affording you to invest good time with your children matters more than a high paying one that will not afford you the same. It is important for organizations to stay out of the red but if the only value your organization guards is the bank balance, your organization does not have long to live.
- People stop caring about things that matter when they become selfish. This is how many collaboration and even marriages fall apart: when one party cares for and lives only for themselves. People stop caring about things or people that matter when they make themselves more important than another. When they care more for their own feelings than those of others… when only their agenda exits and no one else’s.
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illustration by Valerie Everett, flickr (cc)
What are some of the other things that make people or made you stop caring about something?
Navigating The Problems Maze
Problems are one of those things you are never going to completely avoid. They vary. Some are worthy of your attention, some are not. To manage your time and other resources well, you must decide which problems are worth your attention. Decide before they arise. Take a problem inventory; in retrospect, what have you experienced as a leader and organization? Which of your problems are recurring? How many of them need your attention as the leader? How many of them need to be delegated? Some problems can be solved once and for all time by putting in place clear systems. It is folly to keep watch for fires that you know are going to start instead of dealing with their source.
Crisis is often a result of our reactions and not the problems per se
How you look at the problem will determine your ability to solve it. The attention you give to problems is what determines the extent to which they will be magnified: greater or smaller. It’s your call! There are times when the problems we face are not really much of an issue. The way they actually become serious problems is because we make them that way. Crisis is often a result of our reactions and not the problems per se. Some problems may require urgent but not immediate attention. Effective problem solvers are comfortable with parking some problems to deal with ones worthy of attention. Parking a problem for a moment may also be necessary for getting a good perspective. Complications arise when you react to a perceived problem without first understanding it.
Be careful not to react out of the frustration or fear your team expresses when they encounter a problem. You cannot effectively lead your team out of challenges if you get caught up in the same anxiety as them. Keep in mind you lead yourself before you lead your team. How you lead yourself directly affects your team or organization. In fact, there will be many times you have to lead yourself out of frustration and helplessness before you can lead your team. Problems will appear solvable to your team when they hear you and see you act that way. Your team gets their cue on how to respond to challenges from you. Panic and they will too. Be honest and vulnerable, but do so with conviction you will not only survive but thrive beyond the problem and they will too.
illustration by joncandy, flickr (cc)
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What are some of the things that leaders need to take into account, in relation to their team, when they encounter problems?
The Double-edged Sword Of Branding and Communication
Worldviews are shaped by a myriad of dynamics. Hence one message can mean different things to many people. Fact! We do not have control over the forces that shaped the outlook of those we lead or communicate with before we met them or made initial contact. It would be spitting in the wind to challenge anyone’s outlook without first understanding what shaped it. You must be willing to understand before challenging them to change. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to walk a journey with people to challenge their outlook so that they are more receptive to the messages you send.
not all the people you will convey a message think like you
A delivery truck (picture above) I saw in traffic talked to me. (Don’t worry I’m not losing my sanity) It becomes imperative that you consider the many messages different types of people can draw from your marketing or brand campaign. Communication within your team or organization is included in this.
As you work on a new brand, marketing campaign or a vision communication strategy remember that those you desire to reach do not have as much background as you do. Some campaigns were dead before they were delivered because the campaign managers simply released the tail end of their internal conversation. You know what I mean… You know when someone has a conversation all by themselves in their head and they blurt out their conclusion? That’s exactly what I mean.
Other things to consider are the many other different ways that people will perceive your communication or brand. Because you have the background to your campaign it will be much easier for you to get the gist of your resultant slogan etc. Take the picture above as an example. My initial thought on what the brand was about would not be something considered as “clean” by some. (Think about it “Bull Brand”) In addition, I thought was odd was that nothing else clearly told me what the organization does. I thought they supplied beef or their business was livestock and could not come up with specifics. (It turns out Bull Brand actually supplies beef and allied products!)
For effective branding and communication you do not need to be too elaborate or vague. Your logo, billboard or other forms of communication must not be at the expense of what they are supposed to communicate. People must not get hung up on the logo rather what it represents. When you come up with your communication strategy always keep in front of you what you want people to remember and the action you want them to take. On the other hand, as in my case, if your “billboard” does not get anyone’s attention then there is no way a message can be conveyed. Your campaign must illuminate its object not draw attention to itself. You can think of numerous instances where people liked the campaign and did not “see” the product. Remember that the branding and communication sword is double-edged!
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