Published by Robert A. & Vicki L. Prentice of Professional Development Systems
October 8, 2007 Issue 269
From the Desk of Bob
Dale Carnegie said if you make a mistake, "Admit it quickly and emphatically!"
This past week, I have been reminded again of how important it is to try to see things from others' perspectives and points of view! After receiving a couple of emails about last week's article from readers who were not very happy with me (one reader even quit subscribing) I feel I must respond to those of you who also may have been offended but did not say so.
If you were one who was offended by my retelling of a very true story in the Seeds of Success article last week, I am sorry. I was only attempting to make a motivational point from this life experience. Perhaps I should have toned it down a bit; maybe, I should have written about another subject. At any rate, I have learned a lesson, and in the future, I will try to be more careful to think of how others might receive what I both speak and write.
I did get one more response from a reader concerning last week's MMM. This reader had a bit more pleasant perspective I share with you in part here:
"Bob, Well, it took me until today (Friday) to finally read your Monday Motivations! It was well worth the wait! I just wanted to let you know that it brought a chuckle to my morning. I could visualize the scene being played out at your house! Thanks for continuing to share your thoughts and words of wisdom. Good luck with your continuing house build. Have a great weekend! LK, Real Estate Loan Manager"
Thank you again loyal readers and please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions, and ideas with me-positive or negative-and be assured that I will continue to share mine with you. Remember this: Life is a series of ups and downs and we must continue to press on when the going gets rough.
Have a FANTASTIC week! Bob
bob@mrattitudespeaks.com
In this week's issue
Life Attitudes
Seeds of Success: Let Go!
Sunny Side of Life
Mr. Attitude's Life Tested Tools
Life Attitudes
"Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out."
-Ronald Reagan
"Delegating work works, provided the one delegating works, too."
-Robert Half
"It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsiblity of individuals to contribute."
-William Pollard
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Seeds of Success: Let Go!
By Robert A. Prentice
How would you like to have less negative stress in your life and increase your productivity and efficiency? There is a way, and the good news is that you do not have to do it all by yourself! You just have to Let Go!
What I am talking about is what most would call delegation. I would rather refer to this letting go as releasing an opportunity. I often make lists of projects and tasks that I could have someone else complete for me, which then allows me to invest my time and energy in other ways that will bring greater success.
There are also obviously some of the more unpleasant or less favorite tasks I must do that only I can do, and there are also things that I enjoy doing myself (I still keep a good number of these to keep me sharp and continue to have fun with life and work) so I am not talking about those things. However, I do find that there are many tasks and responsibilities, which I enjoy, that I can let go of in order to allow someone else to experience the same joy that I get when I do them, while at the same time increasing my productivity.
Once I have decided which tasks I can let go of, I find someone I trust and respect and then present and release the opportunity to them in a very positive manner. I make sure that they do not see it as a chore or some drudgery that I am getting out of, but as an opportunity. I sell them on the opportunity and help them to see how taking on this opportunity will benefit them. As a leader, it is vital that I choose the correct person for the responsibility if the project is to reach successful completion-one who has the knowledge, skill, and right attitude to tackle the job and get it done right.
Then I always ask the person a number of questions to confirm their competency before completely releasing the project to them. If a person does not currently possess one or more of these key attributes needed to complete the task, I do not let them start on the project until they do. I do some teaching and training as necessary before releasing the project. I cannot emphasize this enough: If this process is to work, it is a must that a person be fully trained for the task before they take it on.
Clear communication is also a must. I give the person all the facts, the parameters and boundaries, the outcomes and clarity in my desires so that they will without a doubt know what is expected of them. I also make sure that the person knows they will be compensated generously for a job well done.
I love finding tasks, jobs, projects that need to be completed and matching them up with the right people to do them for me. As a result, my productivity has increased 100%, and I bet if you do what I do, yours will too!
I am updating my "Let Go" list daily. How about you? Go ahead right now and think of some things you know you can let go of. Identify one project/task each day for the next ten days. Choose the people to go with the project/task, confirming they are the willing and able to take on the opportunity you are releasing to them and watch what happens to your life and or business when you learn to simply let go.
On the Sunny Side of Life
A fire started on some grassland near a farm in Indiana and the fire department from the nearby town was called to put the fire out.
The fire proved to be more than the small town fire department could handle, so someone suggested that a rural volunteer fire department be called.
Though there was doubt that they would be of any assistance, the call was made.
The volunteer fire department arrived in a dilapidated old fire truck. They drove straight towards the fire and stopped in the middle of the flames. The volunteer firemen jumped off the truck and frantically started spraying water in all directions. Soon they had snuffed out the center of the fire, breaking the blaze into two easily controllable parts.
The farmer was so impressed with the volunteer fire department's work and so grateful that his farm had been spared, that he presented the volunteer fire department with a check for $1000.
A local news reporter asked the volunteer fire captain what the department planned to do with the funds.
"That should be obvious," he responded, "the first thing we're gonna do is get the brakes fixed on that stupid fire truck."
Bob "Mr. Attitude" Prentice is available for Keynote, conference engagements, and in-house company training assignments Call to schedule Bob TODAY! 800.437.9715
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