The Power of Team

The all American sport of Baseball vividly demonstrates the Power of Team. Players practice to hone their personal skills, but also spend countless hours collaborating with teammates to master force plays, double plays, outfield relays and the like. They wear uniforms that signify their common purpose, and when they take the field they work together, even at the expense of individual statistics, in order to win the game.

Coping with failure is a fundamental part of the game. Even the best hitters do not succeed more than 30% of the time, with a 70% failure rate as a desirable norm. The success of a team hinges on how players help each other through tough times to concentrate on each game, one at a time.

To see the dynamic at work, just look in a baseball dugout. Players will be encouraging their teammates as they go up to bat. When a player comes back with a sense of frustration, there is no mood of blame or anger, just a friendly pat, and the words “get ‘em next time”. They are there to cheer each other on, celebrate victories, and remain a safety net of strength to each other when needed most. As baseball is uniquely played by innings, not time, there is always an opportunity to win as long as a single out remains, making the retention of each player’s focus every player’s priority.

If a player refused to practice, not only would his individual skill level diminish, but the dynamic of the team performance as well. A weak link may be exposed by the strategies of the opposition, to change the outcome of the game. A player who cannot be relied upon to embrace the unity of the team will soon find himself elsewhere.

What kind of player are you?

Do you make an effort to go to practice in order become the best player your position? Do you share your insights with others, and accept theirs in return? Are you there cheering your teammates on when they hit home runs, and being there to support them when they have just struck out?

Or, are you investing time and money to learn how to be a stand out player in your position, but failing to realize the “Power of Team”? Have you somehow become disengaged from your team, and drifted down a path of isolation? Have you fallen behind while your teammates work in tandem to get things moving? Have you even questioned your own ability to play your own position?

None of us is as good as all of us. There is so much power in what you can accomplish as a team. Don’t question your gifts or greatness…share them. If you are in a dark place, plug into teammates strength, and you will be illuminated. Your skill set will complement those of your teammates, and vice versa….this truly is “Power”.

Doesn’t everything we have come from “The power of Team”? Your family relationships, the car you drive, the home you live in, the clothes your wear, the food you eat…are all products of the team concept. If an individual tried to take any one of these from concept to completion on his/her own, the outcome would not be the same. “Together Everyone Achieves More”.

It doesn’t matter if you are an athlete, a family member, a business owner, or member of a group or a plethora of other things that include two or more people. If you don’t work together, your team will fall apart. But when you coordinate your talents and effort, you can build something much larger than yourself.
Your contribution will lend itself to overall success, not only for the growth of your team, but for you personally. The reward and outcome for those who take the journey together is unmistakably “The power of Team”.

© 2012 Jacqueline Hadden Enterprises, LLC

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Culture Transformation Specialist Jacqueline Hadden is devoted to helping you master your team, and maximize your bottom line. To learn how to create change, and increase revenue now, register for her free weekly articles at www.jacquelinehadden.com.

What are your Core Values?

How do your core values measure up? Do you realize that the foundation of how your employees behave at your workplace result from the culture that you create? Employee guidelines are a great start, however, those are not the heart of your organization.

Are you aware of your company commandments or culture fit?

The best comparison I can give you would be to look at the Ten Commandments. They were etched in stone, and the followers did not waiver. Have you set your team up to follow what is best for the culture of your company?

The modern day commandments don’t have to be so serious, but they do need to be followed. Take Zappos for example. I was fortunate enough to sit down for a two hour interview with Tony Hsieh, the CEO of this incredibly successful organization. Tony’s foundation for building the Zappos culture was his implementation of his10 core values. These are values that the Zappos executives base how they hire, and have even been known to let people go because they were no longer a culture fit.

From the core of Tony Hsieh

Tony has set precedence up of ethics, morale, and true Happiness in the workplace. His Core Values have created an amazing culture…one that every company should emulate. For the record, when I asked Tony how he created such an amazing culture, his response was “I didn’t do it, it was my team.” If you’ve ever read the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins, you will concur that Tony is a level five leader…and then some! Speaking of great books, Tony is now an author of a wonderful book called “Delivering Happiness”…this is a must read!

Authentic Values come from within

While taking on the challenge of developing your set of core values, think of it this way. If your employees were on camera, how would they behave? This is usually a great way to measure if you have plunged into the core of your core values. It’s not just coming up with these values that will make a difference in your culture. You have to practice what you preach, and make them a priority for the way your employees conduct themselves even when no one’s watching. The best way to do that is to first hire based on your company core values, and then make sure your values mirror an authentic and driven team. The only way to create a culture like Zappo’s is to implement your values live them, and treat them as if they are the “the law of the land” so to speak.

You will reap what you sow

The law of attraction is a perfect example of the culture you should be aiming for. By creating and implementing core values within your organization, you will create an atmosphere filled with positive energy. This will detour bad behavior, and attract your employees to thrive on the energy of your core values. You will not only see a change in your organization, but the law of attraction will profoundly increase your bottom line.

You may realize that when you implement the values that you have created, some of your employees no longer fit in. If you have one bad apple…it truly will affect the entire bunch. Again referring back to Tony Hsieh, he will let people go if they are a threat to his culture. It does not matter how great of a sales person they are, if their actions are destructive, negativity will spread throughout the company like cancer and affect the morale and growth of the entire organization.

Create the exact culture you desire

Visualize your ideal culture, and then begin to write down your “ideal employee”. This will help you come up with the core values that you need in order to have the company you want. Include your team in brainstorming for fun titles. Sometimes the simplest verbiage will ignite the most powerful values.

As you go through this process, don’t forget to have fun. You will feel empowered and your energy will be infectious. When you step into your core values, you will attract the employees and customers that will electrify your team, and your bottom line.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Culture Transformation Specialist and connection expert Jacqueline Hadden is devoted to helping you master your team, and maximize your bottom line. To learn how to create change, and increase revenue now, register for her free weekly articles at www.jacquelinehadden.com

©2011 Jacqueline Hadden Enterprises, LLC

Are you a Seminar-aholic?

Hi, my name is Jacqueline Hadden, and I’m a recovering seminar-aholic! In the past seven years, I have attended, and invested tens of thousands of dollars in hundreds of seminars, events and workshops. This doesn’t include all of the products that I have purchased that are still sitting shrink-wrapped in my shrine of the things I say “I’m going to” get to. A revealing truth that I’m a bit embarrassed to admit, but am sharing with you in hopes that you may break your chain…if you’re linked.

Sound familiar?
How many events do we really need to attend? How many products do we really need to buy? I would love to share five tips that will save you thousands of hours, dollars, and get you to where you want to go faster than ever.

1. Due Diligence: First, know who you’re following. Do your research and make sure that the messenger has the message that you need. More importantly, make sure that the leader is credible, and will give you exactly the experience you desire. Be aware of what is being emphasized on stage. If you are learning how to build a house from someone who is a skilled writer…have your caution cap on. Just because this leader may have taken a few classes on architecture or own a house doesn’t mean they can teach you how to build one…they are a writer for goodness sake!

2. Investing time and money: If you are needing insight into a specific area, target events that support your vision. Don’t make a decision on the number of events you want to attend per year, but how much you want to invest in the right events. You will then want narrow which events you will attend down to only the events that will feed your mission. This will enable you to spend less time event hopping, and more time growing personally, with your client base, and of course monetarily.

3. Curb your Impulse: Do you really need it? If you click on a link and up pops what seems to be the most amazing product ever…just breathe. Do your homework before you impulse buy. Find out if anyone you know has benefited from it. Get into research mode and be aware of what you are investing in. If it’s a product from someone you know and trust, just make sure that you’re buying it because you know that it is something that you REALLY need. Most importantly, remember- if it does not add value, it’s not worth the investment. Rule to live by…seek to implement, not to gather more information

4. Network deeply and wisely: When you plan out your annual event calendar, be mindful of who will be attending these events. Target events both for what you need to build your business mindfully, and socially. Approach as many people as you can, but have meaningful conversations with each of them. Not every person you meet is going to be your ideal client. As you ask them the right questions, you will soon figure out who to spend time getting to know better, and who to have short and sweet conversations with. When you begin a conversation with the RIGHT potential client, lead the conversations exactly where you want it to go. Crucial piece…LISTEN to what he or she says, paraphrase key points back to this potential client and make them feel heard. Use his or her name at least twice, and show genuine interest in what he or she does. The main objective is to establish a relationship. When people feel like they know you and can trust you, chances are…if you have what they need, they will also desire to work with you.

5. One week rule: The biggest mistake most entrepreneurs make after having a strong bonded connection is NOT following up within one week of the initial contact at an event. You have got to follow up and follow through by offering a complementary strategy session within that one week window…the sooner, the better! As they say…”strike while the iron is still hot”… a brand will not stick if the iron is cold.

Follow these five tips, and you will save yourself time, money, will become a much better networker, and can easily improve your client base. If you wish to go deeper into all or any of these five elements, please feel free to contact me for a complimentary strategy session. Jacqueline@jacquelinehadden.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Jacqueline Hadden is devoted to helping you master your network connections, passionately engage your business relationships, gain cohesion with teams, and increase your bottom line. To learn how to create change, and increase revenue now, visit Jacqueline online at http://www.jacquelinehadden.com.

Is My Dad Going to Die? Facing Death and Reality

Shift your mind drift

Several days ago, my dad went in for shoulder surgery.  The supposed” two hour” surgery turned into a very intense eight hour procedure.  They kept him overnight, then sent him home the very next day.  Less than 24 hours of returning home, he spiked a fever of 102, and was becoming delirious.  He was re- admitted and diagnosed with pneumonia and a severe bladder infection.

My stepmother called me shortly after he had gotten there and told me that she was calling the priest.  My feeling of helplessness began to crank out tears that made the recent Southern California rains look tame.  Entertaining the thought of losing my dad was not an option…but was a thought.  I closed my eyes and thought of what my mentor would say to me…“Just Believe!” Giving in to this destructive mindset was not an option, so I instead went on Facebook and posted a request for prayer and spiritual Mojo…yes, I do believe in the power in numbers!

Reality is what you make it!

Why do we do this?  How can we be in such an utter state of what seems like despair and give ourselves the “one two” slap to snap out of it?  That would be called “Making a Decision”.  My mentors have been in alignment with this powerful message in my life. ..”Your reality is what we make it”.  In this situation, I can choose to either give up by giving in, or look at my very alive Dad & set the intention that he will be just fine!

“Everything is perfect and exactly as it should be” Kevin Nations

I can choose to create my own reality.  I am making a decision to instead of fall apart, pull myself together.  I am choosing to believe and fuel the positive energy that can feed both of our souls instead of send any acknowledgment into the Universe that there is any dire circumstance.  I have also made the decision to prepare myself for the outcome I don’t want, but feed the energy of the outcome I desire.

It’s your story…you decide how it plays out!

What is your story and where is the “helplessness” showing up in your life?  Chances are pretty great that the decisions you’re making right now are the exact reasons you are where you are…or are not.  You can be the change in your own life…but first, you’ve got to decide that you want to.

“You can change your story anytime you like. Just start a new chapter and begin again. It’s your story” ~Dorothy Mendoza Row

The Hokey Pokey?

Life may not be all about the “Hokey Pokey”, but…it can be exactly what you decide you want it to be.  Even though I started to, I decided NOT to put my left foot in… but instead jumped in with both feet!   What are you going to decide to do?  You are either in, or out…your answer is either yes, or no.  It really doesn’t matter what you decide to do, but that you make a decision and do something.

“You can’t get to where you’re going with one foot out the back door” ~David Neagle~

I welcome your comments and would love for you to authentically ignite some fire to this post.

My pile is bigger than your pile!

The hot steamy pile that could be worth tens of thousands!

I was cleaning out my desk, and was shocked to find literally hundreds of business cards rubber banded together with little notes attached telling what event they were from.  I am so not proud to admit that I have kept these for so long with absolutely no idea what I was ever going to do with them.  Until today!

Five warm calls a day keeps the cold calls away!

No…these cards are not meant to be kindling, nor a patchwork quilt, however…leads, yes warm fuzzy leads!  You see, I decided to take five cards a day, go online, pull up the website of each contact and learn a little something about the person on the card.  Then, I took it one step further…I pulled them up on Facebook to see what they were posting, and who they were engaging with.  Are you with me???

Glorified Stalker…or  a real smooth talker?

I know, kinda makes me look like a stalker, but really…I am just in preparation mode to make real connections. This is what I call investing time in a potential collaboration, or client. After I had finished my research, I was excited to call each of these people and have a conversation with them.  I discarded all of the cards of people that I had no interest in contacting…not everyone is my ideal client, nor do I want to connect with everyone.

Do you realize how easy it is to call someone and say “Hey Jane, I met you at Manny’s event…you probably don’t remember me…I’m the one that fell off the chair on stage…yeah, that one” I was going through my notes from that event and had you highlighted as someone that I wanted to get to know better, do you have a minute?”  If they don’t have a minute, I’m sure they will be happy to find time to re-connect with you…after all, they think they know you.  Make sure you make an appointment before you hang up the call!

A blast from the past could make a difference in your future!

Genuine, yes…if you do your research, and find that this person is someone you would like to connect with, by all means it is of complete integrity to use that “I know you” line…and make that call.  You can turn it into a sales call if that’s your intent, or, you can simply cultivate a relationship that may turn into a Joint Venture partnership, or referral.

Do you realize how much your piles of cards could be worth?  Get creative in generating leads, connecting with the right people, forming the right partnerships, and even finding the right clients.   I encourage you to play with your piles…I bet one in five are bound to become a client, connection or collaboration!  And to think…these leads were literally under your nose.

I would love to know you better, please allow me that honor by adding your comments below.

Get Scrooged

Recently, I took my kids to go see the 3D version of “A Christmas Carol” story based on the book by Charles Dickens. As the story I have loved for years unfolded before my eyes, I was struck deeply by the behavior of Scrooge, and how it correlated with people that I have come across in my life.

First of all, have you ever tried to watch a 3D movie without the 3D glasses? It is like trying to read under water with no goggles! The person with the “I know it all mentality” is the one who will struggle through a 3D movie without putting on the 3D glasses. She will refute advice simply because it is more important for her to do things her way…and to be right. She would rather watch an entire movie…blurred, than to take the glasses from someone who says “if you put these on, you will have a better experience watching the movie”!

Are we aware of our actions?
As the story is told, many people approach Scrooge giving him chances to make a difference in the lives of others. Instead of acknowledging the good deeds of those who approached him, he lashed out at these people and clung to his self fulfilling need. It was more important for Scrooge to hold onto his money, than to pay it forward and make a difference.

The correlation I see here is this. Has someone done something wonderful for us that changed our lives in some way? Have we denied the opportunity to pay our appreciation forward, for fear of looking less like the expert? Has someone done something for us that we probably should have paid them for, but did not? This payment does not need to be of monetary value, it can be an accolade as well.

What are our intentions?
As Scrooge went through the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, things became even clearer. What impact have our negative intentions had on others? Have our actions hurt or hindered the growth of others? If we had the chance to change something right now, what would it be?

Are we ignoring our conscience?
These ghosts are equivalent to our conscience, and if ours is making us feel icky, it is because we need to make something right…right now! It is so easy to make excuses for the wrong we know we are responsible for…the very thing we need to OWN. It is much easier to turn the tables, and manipulate the situation than it is to acknowledge our indiscretions, accept them, learn from them, and grow. Even more difficult is stepping away from our own ego, and either apologizing to someone we have hurt, or thanking someone for making that obvious difference in our lives.

Are we adding links, or freeing our soul?
When a friend, family member, colleague or pupil has been honest enough to shed light on truth, we need to open ourselves up to receiving it instead of lashing out. We don’t want to add another link to our chain as Marley (Scrooges late partner, the ghost from Christmas past) did. We must begin reversing that curse, and dissolving those links. If we become the cause of new links, we are adding torture to our soul.

Do we want to be celebrated for what we have contributed, or for the fact that we have gone away?
Change the perception of Christmas future. There was a scene where the ghost of Christmas future showed to Scrooge people celebrating his death. This is a powerful message, and one that we can change the ending to. We need to set people up to celebrate in our success by lending a hand in giving, not lending a hand to applaud our exit!

Are we ready to embrace change?
Wake up as Scrooge did! Look at the message that the ghost from Christmas present had gifted him, the gift to change, to become, to live. Scrooge woke up, and felt like a new person…he wanted to change the world, one good deed at a time. He did not stand there and say “wow, those ghosts really made me look bad”. Instead he took ownership of his shortcomings, and stepped out into a world that would soon embrace him, and into a world that he would have a positive impact upon. Scrooge thanked every one of those spirits for showing him the error of his ways.

We can all learn something from Mr. Scrooge. We need to take ownership of OUR shortcomings, learn from them, overcome our need to be right…and then and only then will we make a difference in this world.

Is there someone in your life that has become a link in that chain? Do you need to dissolve that link, and make things right? If you can listen to your ghosts, and make things right, you will “be the change you wish to see in the world” Gandhi

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Culture Transformation Specialist Jacqueline Hadden is devoted to helping you master your team, and maximize your bottom line. To learn how to create change, and increase revenue now, visit Jacqueline online at http://www.jacquelinehadden.com.