Why you need an introvert on your team.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a TEDx at the University of Oregon.  This was my first experience with the TED organization.  I came away exhilarated and full of ideas.  It wasn't just the presentations that stimulated new thoughts, but also the ability to interact with faculty and students to hear what they are thinking and the paths they are taking today as well as what they view as important for our future.

At the end of the day I was asked what presentation I enjoyed most.  I couldn't choose just one, as all of them were thought provoking and enjoyable.  I did however, find the presentation by Susan Cain, to be one that needs to be given serious consideration as we look to develop teams and management groups in the financial services industry today.  We need to take care and make sure that we are looking at the make-up and personalities of every team member so we will have diversity of thought and process in our business models.  I hope you take twenty minutes to watch Susan's presentation and I hope that if you have the chance to attend a TED or TEDx session that you do so.
Susan Cain's presentation to TED

Overlooked potential?

Often times when companies are looking to hire leaders, they look for the most dynamic personality.  As the attached article discusses, they may be missing out on some great talent.  I hope this article gives you a new perspective on hiring and developing leaders:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/11/29/introverts.leadership/index.html

RIchard Branson's Five Secrets to Success

Every once in a while you come across an idea or an article by a successful business person that causes you to pause and think about your business or how this would apply to you.  This is one of those articles.  Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, wrote an article where he shared his five secrets to success.  They are simple and something I believe everyone can benefit from.  I have included a link to the article, but I will also share the five for you:

1. Enjoy what you are doing
2. Create something that stands out
3. Create something that everybody who works for you is really proud of
4. Be a good leader
5. Be visible

I hope you find something from the article and lessons that you can use in your business or your daily life.

The Journey Begins

After spending 29 years in the financial services industry with one company you would think that my career path was set and taking me where I wanted to go. But in the words of Coach Lee Corso, "Not so fast". I have spent the last few months trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! The past 29 years have definitely helped me determine what I don't want to do and what I want to avoid! However, it has been fun to really stop and think about what gave me the passion to continue and what motivated me to show up every day ready to do it all over again. Sometimes we need to step away from our career and reflect on what we have been doing, a check point if you will, to really determine what is important to us and what it is that we would like to change or work on in the future. My reflection helped me to identify what I want to spend "version 2.0" of my business life focused on. With this I can now start to develop the roadmap on how to get there. Too many times in business today people have great aspirations but they fail to plan and create a roadmap that will help them reach their destination. Let me share a quick story.

Early on in my career when it was time to do our annual business plan, I would determine what I wanted to accomplish during the coming year (which was always more than last year), write it down on the "business plan" forms and hand it in. At the end of the year I would pull out the paper and see if I achieved my objectives. If I had we celebrated. If not, well better luck next year. A training session I attended changed the way I planned and had a dramatic impact on my business going forward. You see how can you get to where you are going without having a road map that will guide you through the territory you have never been. As part of your "journey" you also have set "check points" to make sure that you are still on the correct road. If not you need to make adjustments to bring your course of travel back in line. Upon committing to having a plan in place with check points along the way I was able to see my business grow and I was in greater control not only of my business but of my emotions as well. If you would like help developing your own "road map" or in reflecting on what your focus should be, don't hesitate to reach out.