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Day: November 6, 2018

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Growth Management Personal Development

Executive Leaders Should Put Down the Policy Handbook

So many business professionals and executive leaders think we need to have hard and fast rules applied across the board for every situation. Maybe it’s a backlash to the anti-discrimination laws, political correctness, or just fear of ticking someone off. What really slays me is when leaders, in their zeal to be consistent or “fair,” disregard the spirit of the rule or policy and completely forget the bigger picture. A truly effective leader is able to keep things in perspective.

As a “Recovering HR Director,” it always bothers me when leaders want to “legislate” their way out of having to make decisions. They want to create a rule for every occasion, every potential situation, and all circumstances. Each time there is an issue to be addressed, it’s simply stated and defined in the policy handbook and then filed away. The problem is, there are no identical situations. Just as there are no identical candidates for a job, there are no mirror image situations where a rule, policy, or procedure can absolutely be applied. Sure, there will be similar situations, where a guideline can easily be applied.

There will always be exceptions to every rule. And then, judgment, discretion, and yes, discrimination are required of the leader. If not, we wouldn’t need leaders. We could just create a system to apply and enforce rules, let the organization run on autopilot, and save money on those high-dollar salaries! By definition, executive leaders must be willing and able to make decisions. There will always be situations where discretion and judgment are necessary.

Rules alone will not suffice.

Make effective decisions using these tips:

1. Stop right there! Don’t react to a situation, but think about the big picture. Before reaching for the rubber stamp or just enforcing a policy, consider the spirit of the policy as well as the intent and context when the policy was created.

2. Take the time to research any similar situations and how they were handled. Compare those situations to this one, noting any unique conditions.

3. Analyze the situation from all angles and get input from appropriate individuals. Be prepared to take input into consideration, but make the final decision based on all factors.

4. Play the role of Joe Friday (of Dragnet fame), and get the facts. Ask open-ended questions to get the full picture. Open-ended questions typically require more than a one-word response, and therefore elicit more information. Find out what mitigating circumstances may be involved, if any.

5. Put on your “big boy drawers/big girl panties” and just do it! Make your decision and stand by it.

Share your thoughts on executive leadership decision-making and workplace policies. What tips would you add to this list?

What are some of the decision-making strategies that have worked for you?

For more resources on leadership and employee engagement, be sure to sign up for our monthly Ezine and you will receive our report: “7 of Your Biggest People Problems…Solved.”

You might also like:

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Jennifer Ledet, CSP, is a leadership consultant and professional speaker (with a hint of Cajun flavor) who equips leaders from the boardroom to the mailroom to improve employee engagement, teamwork, and communication.  In her customized programs, leadership retreats, keynote presentations, and breakout sessions, she cuts through the BS and talks through the tough stuff to solve your people problems.

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3 Ways to Build Influence Online

In my book, I.C.U., The Comprehensive Guide to Breathing Life Back Into Your Personal Brand, I talk about the three ways I believe we each live out our Personal Brand: Personally, Online, and Publicly. I often refer to this as: POP Your Brand™.

Our world today is submerged in living out much of our life online. We Google people before we ever meet them to find out more about them. What we discover online about others gives us a sense of the overall persona of that person. Often, it is the only information we have about the person and their business that allows our brain to form this mental impression.

Here are three ways to build an influential online brand:

Build Your Expertise.

One of the best ways to build your expertise is to create. Creating content gets your thoughts and opinions out there for the world to see. In many ways, the internet has leveled the playing field in this realm of building yourself as a thought leader in your industry. Everyone now can write articles and blog, generate videos, and be a guest on a podcast. The more places you can voice your opinion – whether that be in written, audio, or video format – the more you will rise to the top of your field. People need to know you before they need you. So how are you going to make yourself known in the sea of sameness? Get your opinions out there! By doing so, you will become a credible go-to resource.

Association Branding.

It is correct when our mothers tell us, “you become like the people you hang around” or “you are guilty by association.” Pay attention to who the influencers are in your field. Make a list of 10 of them that you want to be associated. Then start interacting with them online by liking, commenting, and sharing their posts and content.

Ensure your profile photos are professional.

Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov, researchers at Princeton University, found people make judgments about a person’s trustworthiness, competence, and likability within a fraction of a second after seeing someone’s face. As mentioned above, people will search for you online before they meet you and even after they meet you. Your photo is an essential element of any of your social media or website pages. In a sense, it is your logo. The headshot you choose speaks to your decision-making process and how you think of yourself. Do you care enough to put up a high quality and professional photo of yourself, or do you think a quick selfie emits a better representation of who you are? The choice is yours. Think about how you want to be perceived.

Incorporating these three tactics into your personal brand strategy will ensure you are in alignment with the brand you want to establish online. Be intentional, be consistent, and always be you.

I help executives create a powerful image and brand so they look and feel confident wherever they are. Contact me at sheila@imagepowerplay.com to schedule a 20-minute call to discuss how we can work together to grow your visibility through my return on image® services.