PrimeGenesis Blog
The New Leader’s Journal: Step Down Meetings
First full week marked by a series of meetings with: - David’s team - Ellen’s team - Faith’s team The differences between the various...
Are Obama, Boehner, and Cantor going to follow their principles off the cliff?
The burning imperative is a sharply defined, intensely shared, and purposefully urgent understanding from each of the team members of what they are “supposed to do, now.” Get this created and bought into early on—even if it’s only 90 percent right. You, and the team, will adjust and improve along the way.
An absolutely essential part of this is alignment around mission, vision, and values: what you have to get done; what things will look like when you get that done; and the principles you will not give up on along the way – no matter what it costs.
Onboarding is All We Do
Peter Helmer put up an article in his Sales Lead Dynamics talking about PrimeGenesis' niche marketing. We spend our time trying to contribute to individuals, groups, and knowledge. Peter did a nice job of capturing how we do that with a) our...
Derek Jeter has a good day
We all have good days and bad days. Often it seems that the bad days are the ones that get the most attention and scrutiny. So it's nice to be able to take note of New York Yankee Derek Jeter's crossing the 3,000 hit milestone. In a...
The New Leader’s Journal: Week One reflections
Definitely feel like I was drinking from a fire hose this week – particularly since it was only four days. All-in-all it went well. Did a LOT of listening, resisting the temptation to have an opinion on anything. Met with Gerald at the ad...
Positive Misdirection Instills Confidence
It started out as an offer to help find a place for an event. But as Sail to Prevail CEO Paul Callahan got into it, he strengthened his own leadership skills to go beyond the surface and impact people in ways they never expected. And all it took was some positive misdirection.
Understanding that International Federation of Disabled Sailing (IFDS) President Linda Merkle was looking for an event location, Callahan suggested exploring Charlotte Harbor in Florida, and partnered with Merkle to secure local support, assist in planning to raise the funds, as well as help put a logistical plan in place. As a result, IFDS World Championships will be hosted by the Charlotte Harbor Regattas, Inc. in January 2012.
Along the way, Callahan realized why Bridgewater Associates CEO Ray Dalio had been pushing him so hard to focus on the greater impact. Dalio is a major supporter of Callahan’s Sail to Prevail, helping fund its mission to create opportunities for disabled children and adults to overcome adversity through therapeutic sailing.
What Callahan finally saw was that the impact goes far beyond the actual sailors and can “affect very large masses of people”. Certainly, as Callahan puts it, “Sailing can be a platform to teach anyone with a challenge to overcome adversity.” In Charlotte County, FL, Callahan and Merkle started with an event. With local support, they used that to rally the community. This is giving members of the community increased confidence, and in turn leading the members of the community to achieve greater meaning in their day-to-day lives.
The New Leader’s Journal: Day one
Day one went well! Started the day over coffee with Jack (my boss). Got his perspective on my priorities. I like him. Then I bought the whole office coffee and bagels, providing a perfect opportunity to casually meet and greet with...
Assume Good Faith in Onboarding
"Assume Good Faith" is one of the fundamental principles of Wikipedia. In general, it works for them because most people are indeed trying to help the project, not hurt it. Can we apply that principle to onboarding? I vote yes. In...
Job #1 of a Leader: Show Up
While everything communicates, many won’t believe what you say. They’ll wait to see what you do. When leaders truly believe something is important they don’t trust in words alone.
Pause to Accelerate Onboarding Impact
Everyone starts out wanting to make a difference. Then they get sucked into the day-to-day routine. Their schedule fills up with meetings and stuff. Soon they are so busy doing busy work that they don't have time for the things that really make...