GarthBox

Less may be easier. Less may be more manageable. But less may also be less fun.

It’s worth a pause the next time you say or think of saying the words: “let me take this off your plate.”

It’s human nature that overcoming challenges bring people more joy than overcoming, well, a non-challenge.

If there’s panic and pain and failures; then yea, it makes sense to lessen the load.

But a slight squeak? A complaint here and there? A little vent?

That’s a signal that they’ll celebrate the achievement more, not a signal to be saved.

Stay Positive & It’s A Fine Line, But That’s Where Leaders Dance

Everything we do has an emotional impact on someone, but we often overlook it.

In marketing, it’s a bit easier to remember it. We have briefs that we have to document “how should this person feel” as it relates to our initiative.

But in real life? It’s easy to forget.

Consider looking back at the last 24 hours. Replaying the day. What emotions did you ignite in others?

The way you drove impacted people. The way you walked into the office (or if you were smiling when you logged into your first video call) had an emotional impact. The text versus a call. The way you took ownership of a mistake. ….and so on.

Emotional impact is real. It’s on us to ensure we’re cognizant of the impact we’re making throughout the day.

Stay Positive & People Wear Their Heart On Their Sleeve For A Reason

Reading the room still has to happen, but fewer rooms are being occupied.

There’s no shortage of lines, though.

Lines for events. Lines for tickets. Lines for online orders. Lines for restaurants. Lines for trying something new. Lines for trying something old. Lines for who want to take your spot. Lines for the spot you want to take.

When was the last time you tried reading the line?

Reading it can influence design, setup, hiring practices, educational stipends, incentives, feedback loops, and ultimately make the thing they are in line for better.

And better is the goal.

Is the line happy? Scared? Low energy? Frustrated?

Stay Positive & Line It Up

There’s a lot of good moves we can make when we have nothing or little to lose.

It’s why Vaynerchuk says to start a business when you’re in college or young – for less to lose.

On the other hand, what put Minnesota Wild head coach into fame this week was he pulled the goalie in overtime for an extra attacker. He had everything to lose by doing that. Fans, news, and management would have tore him a new one if his team lost because of that call.

But they won.

There’s magic to progress when there’s risk. If we’re only seeking out “nothing to lose” moments, we’re still moving, but it’s either slow or in circles. Remarkability happens when people leap. And when one leaps, there must be something at risk.

Stay Positive & Everything To Lose, But Everything To Gain

Putting on a play is different than putting on a show, even though it’s called the same thing.

The greatest singers of our time don’t just sing, they perform.

Remarkable authors don’t just tour and do book signings, they throw an event. (At least, this category of artists is starting to catch on to the importance of a performance.)

If we want to stand out – and by extension, be remembered – we have to give a performance.

Anything less and we might as well just call it a hobby.

Stay Positive & Do You Care Enough?

Sometimes we’re so focused on our shot that we forget that we can move the target up.

Through the journey, it should be a dance.

How to move forward in the moment, but how do you make it more likely for the end goal to move toward you, too?

Simple example: someone wants to make a friend. Forward movement would be that they merely need to start acting as a friend to others. And to move the target closer? Host a social event at the local library.

Our job when it comes to progress is to both push and pull.

Stay Positive & Create, Don’t Wait

I haven’t been able to put my finger on it, but someone knows when you are asking them for something vs when you are involving them in a decision.

Asking a team member “what do you think of X” sounds like it’s involving them, but it’s unlikely you are; even if you’re trying to, it won’t be perceived that way.

Involvement requires a few variables:

• They’ve gotta be part of the ideation phase of the original/big idea; the thinking stage before any action is taken. Ideation of a piece of the core idea is not involvement.
• They’ve gotta be engaged with, conversed with, collaborated with in the middle of a project. They need tasks and to-dos; not just being asked what they think of a decision or what they’d recommend.
• They’ve gotta be recognized as a key player in the completion of the project. This is the one that is easiest to evaluate throughout and helps the us nail the first two bullet points. Envision you’re at the end of the project tomorrow and you’re giving a speech: are you complimenting your team member to start? If not, you’re likely not involving them.

It’s not a perfect structure but it’s directionally accurate and will help you become the leader people both need and want.

Stay Positive & Involvement Is Key To Retention, Connection, Meaningful Execution…