Tag Archives: Leadership

Building Strategic Alliances

Just yesterday I was reminded again about how wise it is for business people to actively build strategic alliances.  I had gotten a message through LinkedIn from a new licensed clinical social worker who was just starting her practice here in Reno.  She had gotten my name through a mutual colleague and wanted to meet me over coffee.  She explained that she was interested in my coaching work and wanted to share what she was doing – and then maybe we could refer to each other as needed. 

What’s the Benefit for Me?

Was I interested?  Absolutely!  First, I love to meet new professionals that are starting their own businesses.  I want to see them succeed and if I can encourage and support them I certainly will.  Second, I am always updating my own referral list – for local counselors, resume writers and consultants with specific expertise that I don’t have.  I enjoy being known as a “go-to” person and I’m delighted to connect others with those that can help them.   It’s a win-win for all of us.

How To: Building Strategic Alliances

Building strategic alliances that are mutually beneficial is a practiced skill.  It is identifying what you need to be more successful (just as this woman did), what someone else needs to be equally successful and then forming a strategic alliance to make that happen.  And it’s just as important to form these alliances inside an organization if you’re working for someone else as it is when you have your own business.  Here’s how to begin:

  • Identify 3 areas you want to improve or expand in your work
  • Ask around . . . “Who else does this kind of work?”
  • Keep asking to see who knows who – can you get a personal introduction?
  • Reach out and invite the individual to coffee – see if there is a positive energy between you
  • And then explore “How can we help each other be more successful?”

My Challenge to You

It’s the summer and work schedules are often more relaxed.  This is a perfect time to build contacts and relationships.  My challenge to you is to take this time to reach out and get to know at least three new professionals working in related fields.  Choose people that you think you would genuinely enjoy and that you see a possibility of your work mutually benefiting each other.  If one out of the three works out that is great success.  And then let me know how it goes!

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80% Works Fine Most of the Time!

Have you ever bogged down over a project because you just couldn’t get it exactly right?  It’s almost done but you keep going back and fine tuning it over and over and over again.  And then it never quite gets off your desk because you’re never really satisfied that  “it’s good enough”.   

Maybe you’re writing an article, working on your website, preparing a presentation or even just drafting an email.  Many of us are perfectionists – we want our work to be perfect each and every time.  And that is an admirable quality (and skill) for high stakes projects – where our expertise, experience and credibility is visible to others that matter.  But many times that’s not the case . . . 80% is actually just fine.

Kind of a Radical Thought

Perhaps you’re one of those naysayers who say it can’t be done.  Doing every project 110% has become your norm and in all honesty it has become your comfort zone as well.  But what does that standard bring you on a daily basis?  If you are like many professionals in today’s work world, you are being asked to do a lot more with less time, resources and support.  The result is often a nagging  feeling that you’re never going to catch up – you are that hamster running on the spinning wheel.  So . . . this may be somewhat of a radical different approach but it could make your work life a bit easier.

Give Yourself Permission

To stretch your comfort zone with this idea, give yourself permission to just play with it.  See if there are times when it doesn’t have to be perfect.  When you have something that needs to get off your desk and it’s relatively low stakes, do your best with it the first time through, brush it up one time and then hit the submit button.  And then move on to another task in your in-box.  It takes practice, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised that 80% actually works fine most of the time.  An added bonus . . . your stress level starts to go down, the work is going out the door faster and it actually looks pretty good.  Try it and let me know what you think!

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Be a Tribal Leader Every Day

So, who are your tribes in this chapter of your life? As the years pass and we live in more places, meet more people and experience more things, we have moved in and out of tribes sometimes without ever really thinking about it. It just happened. But for now, let’s take a moment and identify what tribes you are part of during this chapter. You could even call these your networks – don’t forget to include your Internet social network if you’re heavily into that way of connecting.

On a blank piece of paper, draw the image of the Olympic Circles. These are 5 ovals that overlap each other, creating a wonderful synergy amongst them. Now in each circle put one of your tribes – a group of people (usually 20 – 150) that you feel a part of. It may be your professional colleagues, your neighborhood, old college friends, your children’s school network, family connections, volunteer work associates, your church, etc. Pick the five that you enjoy the most. Draw these circles in colored pencils, on the computer or on a cocktail napkin – anywhere that feels right to you.  Now here’s my challenge to you . . . what can you do to positively support, encourage and influence those in your tribes?

What kind of leader are you?

  1. A leader who energizes and brings out the best in others?
  2. Or one who drains others so they only perform at a minimal level?

I want you to be one of the #1 leaders – And the best!

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Tribal Leadership by Dave Logan et al

Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization, by Dave Logan, John King & Halee Fischer-Wright, 2008.

This book has caused a buzz among those in the organizational development field . . . and for good reason.  The concept of Tribal Leadership evolved from a University of Southern California ten-year field study of 24,000 people working around the world.

Personal and Business Tribes

The study found that we all naturally form into tribes – both at work and in our personal lives.  These tribes typically range from 20 to 150 people and we either personally know everyone in the tribe or at least know of each other.

The unique piece is the description of the role of the leader in these tribes. That is what is so fascinating. Read this book – it will open your eyes to the incredible power of “tribal leadership” and what you as a leader can do each day to inspire, motivate and move others to be their very best.

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Build a Powerful Inner Circle

Success doesn’t happen in a vacuum

Exceptional achievement in both our personal and professional lives all comes down to peer-to-peer collaboration. It’s the truth. Look at any truly successful leader and you will see that they have built an inner circle of trusted advisors, mentors and colleagues. And it’s a relatively small circle. Maybe just 3 – 5 individuals that they have known for a number of years.

There is a shared history of being there for each other in the good times and in the bad times. And these people aren’t just detached observers – they care – and they are friends. Bottom line . . . they won’t let you fail and you won’t let them fail either.

But what does this have to do with your career success?  Everything. If you are ready to take your career (and life) to a new and more fulfilling level, then this core circle is critical to putting that fire under you and holding you accountable at the same time. Here’s how to start . . .

  • Pick 3 people who truly believe in you as a person, your potential & your future.
  • Now be willing to modify that list – add or delete – so you have a core group.
  • Ask them if you can connect with them regularly by phone, in-person or by Internet.
  • Tell them your intentions for 2011 and what success will look like for you.
  • Follow-through! Stay in touch. Listen to their feedback.

Appreciate them & thank them for sharing their time with you.

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