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Surround Yourself With People Who Have
Your Weaknesses as Their Strengths
I have done a number of radio interviews for my new book “Starting
Over – 25 Rules When You’ve Bottomed Out” (on Amazon.com)
and what strikes me about people in this economy aside from the
fact that they are realizing unemployment at a staggering high of
10.2%, is that they are indeed inspired to re-create their lives in spite
of great challenge. I applaud this energy and forward thinking that is
indigenous to people today. This is still an era for hope and
dreams. Opportunity still abounds. We are a society where hard
work still pays off if it is channeled in a strategic way. I truly believe,
as I did, that you can become anything you set your mind to – as
long as you are dedicated to two things: 1) you are fearless not
reckless, and 2) you ask questions or figure it out.
I wrote the book to help guide the fearless energy of dedicated
people with answers to the roadblocks that have been keeping them
from success. What I learned from the people I profiled who had
overcome immeasurable odds to realize triumph is that passion for
success is not enough. You must strategize a career move as
seriously as you planned a career choice. You must focus on
prescriptive exercises, methods and action steps that will guide you
to a new tomorrow.
Here are some of the tips from my book that helped me go from
public assistance to CEO: Begin with a “Success Sketch” and Hang
It Where You Will See It Everyday, Surround Yourself with People
Whose Strengths are Your Weaknesses and Give Away the Glory,
Make Your “Wheel of Fortune” Spin on Balance, Offer Solutions to
Problems – Name the Company’s Pain, It’s Not Who You Know – It’
s Who Knows You, It is Important to Fail Early, Start Everyday As If It
Were the Last Day Before Vacation, and When Everything is
Negotiable Everybody Wins.
Below is an excerpt from “Starting Over” on the Rule: "Surround
Yourself with People Who Have Your weaknesses as Their
Strengths and Give the Glory Away":
Human nature calls us to surround ourselves with people like
ourselves. That’s great if you are talking about with whom you’ll
watch the football game or sit with at the pool. We are comfortable
around people like ourselves. But if you are talking about change
that will bring about a greater good for you and those around you,
you need to define your weaknesses and then surround yourself
with people who fill in those gaps. They may not be the people you
call when you want a sympathetic ear. But my guess is that you will
need a sympathetic ear less often if you are successful in what you
do thus leaving more time to be with true friends.
Think about it, if you are wonderfully creative and a risk taker you
probably front run in the innovative aspects of your work and life. But
you may not have clear processes and accountability in line when
you are being innovative. As a matter of fact you probably let things
slip through the cracks because you forget about the details or aren’
t even aware that they needed attention. Surround yourself with
people who can help you strike a good balance between innovation
and structure. Often times in a marriage one spouse will be creative
and less structured and they will find a spouse that is more left
brained and organized. A good balance is a bonus.
Or you may be very organized and methodical and are the person
that provides the information needed to make clear and concise
decisions. But the path those decisions lead may not be clear to
you. The pitfalls and risks may seem too great to move forward. If
that is the case, surround yourself with creative energy that is able to
articulate the affects of different scenarios.
Let’s assume that you have the right people around you and you are
poised to succeed. Goals need to be defined in order to meet
success. You can’t get somewhere if you don’t know where you are
going. Chances are that the main goal you want to achieve is going
to remain your goal unless you can involve the team in setting and
defining the parameters of the goal. If you engage the team in the
goal setting process, they will want to be a part of the success and
work harder toward it. Let them own the rewards of the team’s
success.
Once you reach your team’s goal do you feel as if you have done a
great job? No. The team did a great job. You were simply the
leader.
Just because you lead a team does not mean that you solely own
the team’s success. The team owns the success. As a matter of
fact, I suggest that you give away the glory of the success solely to
the team. “I want to thank all of you for the work that you did to make
this possible. Your outstanding dedication to the mission at hand is
what made this happen.”
Being able to motivate people is one of the best skills you can have.
It will multiply your effectiveness. It will engage people to buy. It will
engage people to follow you. It will engage people to trust you. It
will engage people to help you. The single best way to motivate
people that I know of is to continue to reinforce their positive
contribution by applauding them personally. Validate their efforts.
Giving them the glory is an excellent way to do this. And do so
publicly.
As my former hospital president once told me, “What do you care if
others get the credit? You are measured by what it is that you can
accomplish. If you can motivate others to help you get there, you
don’t need the credit. The results are what matters.”
Surround yourself with people who not only have your weaknesses
as their strengths; surround yourself with people from whom you
can learn to be a better leader.
Rule Break: Employers give personality profile tests to prospective
hires in order to tell their strengths and weaknesses. Interviewees
are used to these tests and know what an employer is looking to
see. If you truly want to get to know someone in any situation, ask
him or her open-ended questions that are behavioral in nature and
will give you insight into how they respond to unanticipated
situations. “What was the biggest disappointment in your life – both
personal and professional and how did you deal with it?” “What
was the most gratifying thing that ever happened to you?” “What is
the culture of your corporation?” “What was the best compliment
you ever received?” “What was the worst criticism?”
I applaud you for being dedicated to constantly improving your
career and personal choices. That is what makes you not ordinary
but exceptional. Keep it up!
Follow Mary Lee's tips on Twitter at StartingOverNow.
For the FREE article Strengths - Free Tools to Help You Define
Them rengths or Change - Here's How! go to Mary Lee's Articles
and Tips Sheets page.
Mary Lee Gannon is a cultural turnaround and leadership expert
who went from being a stay-at-home mother with four children living
in an unpalatable marriage behind the facade of a country club life
to the reality of divorce, homelessness, and welfare. As a national
guest speaker she demonstrates turn-around strategies that
transform corporate cultures and took her from an earning capacity
of $27,000 to the president and CEO of a hospital foundation. Her
book “Starting Over – 25 Rules When You’ve Bottomed Out” is
available in bookstores and on Amazon.com.
Your Weaknesses as Their Strengths
I have done a number of radio interviews for my new book “Starting
Over – 25 Rules When You’ve Bottomed Out” (on Amazon.com)
and what strikes me about people in this economy aside from the
fact that they are realizing unemployment at a staggering high of
10.2%, is that they are indeed inspired to re-create their lives in spite
of great challenge. I applaud this energy and forward thinking that is
indigenous to people today. This is still an era for hope and
dreams. Opportunity still abounds. We are a society where hard
work still pays off if it is channeled in a strategic way. I truly believe,
as I did, that you can become anything you set your mind to – as
long as you are dedicated to two things: 1) you are fearless not
reckless, and 2) you ask questions or figure it out.
I wrote the book to help guide the fearless energy of dedicated
people with answers to the roadblocks that have been keeping them
from success. What I learned from the people I profiled who had
overcome immeasurable odds to realize triumph is that passion for
success is not enough. You must strategize a career move as
seriously as you planned a career choice. You must focus on
prescriptive exercises, methods and action steps that will guide you
to a new tomorrow.
Here are some of the tips from my book that helped me go from
public assistance to CEO: Begin with a “Success Sketch” and Hang
It Where You Will See It Everyday, Surround Yourself with People
Whose Strengths are Your Weaknesses and Give Away the Glory,
Make Your “Wheel of Fortune” Spin on Balance, Offer Solutions to
Problems – Name the Company’s Pain, It’s Not Who You Know – It’
s Who Knows You, It is Important to Fail Early, Start Everyday As If It
Were the Last Day Before Vacation, and When Everything is
Negotiable Everybody Wins.
Below is an excerpt from “Starting Over” on the Rule: "Surround
Yourself with People Who Have Your weaknesses as Their
Strengths and Give the Glory Away":
Human nature calls us to surround ourselves with people like
ourselves. That’s great if you are talking about with whom you’ll
watch the football game or sit with at the pool. We are comfortable
around people like ourselves. But if you are talking about change
that will bring about a greater good for you and those around you,
you need to define your weaknesses and then surround yourself
with people who fill in those gaps. They may not be the people you
call when you want a sympathetic ear. But my guess is that you will
need a sympathetic ear less often if you are successful in what you
do thus leaving more time to be with true friends.
Think about it, if you are wonderfully creative and a risk taker you
probably front run in the innovative aspects of your work and life. But
you may not have clear processes and accountability in line when
you are being innovative. As a matter of fact you probably let things
slip through the cracks because you forget about the details or aren’
t even aware that they needed attention. Surround yourself with
people who can help you strike a good balance between innovation
and structure. Often times in a marriage one spouse will be creative
and less structured and they will find a spouse that is more left
brained and organized. A good balance is a bonus.
Or you may be very organized and methodical and are the person
that provides the information needed to make clear and concise
decisions. But the path those decisions lead may not be clear to
you. The pitfalls and risks may seem too great to move forward. If
that is the case, surround yourself with creative energy that is able to
articulate the affects of different scenarios.
Let’s assume that you have the right people around you and you are
poised to succeed. Goals need to be defined in order to meet
success. You can’t get somewhere if you don’t know where you are
going. Chances are that the main goal you want to achieve is going
to remain your goal unless you can involve the team in setting and
defining the parameters of the goal. If you engage the team in the
goal setting process, they will want to be a part of the success and
work harder toward it. Let them own the rewards of the team’s
success.
Once you reach your team’s goal do you feel as if you have done a
great job? No. The team did a great job. You were simply the
leader.
Just because you lead a team does not mean that you solely own
the team’s success. The team owns the success. As a matter of
fact, I suggest that you give away the glory of the success solely to
the team. “I want to thank all of you for the work that you did to make
this possible. Your outstanding dedication to the mission at hand is
what made this happen.”
Being able to motivate people is one of the best skills you can have.
It will multiply your effectiveness. It will engage people to buy. It will
engage people to follow you. It will engage people to trust you. It
will engage people to help you. The single best way to motivate
people that I know of is to continue to reinforce their positive
contribution by applauding them personally. Validate their efforts.
Giving them the glory is an excellent way to do this. And do so
publicly.
As my former hospital president once told me, “What do you care if
others get the credit? You are measured by what it is that you can
accomplish. If you can motivate others to help you get there, you
don’t need the credit. The results are what matters.”
Surround yourself with people who not only have your weaknesses
as their strengths; surround yourself with people from whom you
can learn to be a better leader.
Rule Break: Employers give personality profile tests to prospective
hires in order to tell their strengths and weaknesses. Interviewees
are used to these tests and know what an employer is looking to
see. If you truly want to get to know someone in any situation, ask
him or her open-ended questions that are behavioral in nature and
will give you insight into how they respond to unanticipated
situations. “What was the biggest disappointment in your life – both
personal and professional and how did you deal with it?” “What
was the most gratifying thing that ever happened to you?” “What is
the culture of your corporation?” “What was the best compliment
you ever received?” “What was the worst criticism?”
I applaud you for being dedicated to constantly improving your
career and personal choices. That is what makes you not ordinary
but exceptional. Keep it up!
Follow Mary Lee's tips on Twitter at StartingOverNow.
For the FREE article Strengths - Free Tools to Help You Define
Them rengths or Change - Here's How! go to Mary Lee's Articles
and Tips Sheets page.
Mary Lee Gannon is a cultural turnaround and leadership expert
who went from being a stay-at-home mother with four children living
in an unpalatable marriage behind the facade of a country club life
to the reality of divorce, homelessness, and welfare. As a national
guest speaker she demonstrates turn-around strategies that
transform corporate cultures and took her from an earning capacity
of $27,000 to the president and CEO of a hospital foundation. Her
book “Starting Over – 25 Rules When You’ve Bottomed Out” is
available in bookstores and on Amazon.com.
StartingOverNow.com
Articles
FREE e-book.
Get Mary Lee's FREE
e-book "Make Your
Wheel of Fortune
Spin on Balance" by
clicking here. Mary Lee
Gannon's work as a
newspaper reporter,
trade association
executive director,
public relations
consultant,
entrepreneur, and
hospital foundation
president and CEO are
the basis for her free
e-newsletter with tips on
"Starting Over."
Get Mary Lee's FREE
e-book "Make Your
Wheel of Fortune
Spin on Balance" by
clicking here. Mary Lee
Gannon's work as a
newspaper reporter,
trade association
executive director,
public relations
consultant,
entrepreneur, and
hospital foundation
president and CEO are
the basis for her free
e-newsletter with tips on
"Starting Over."
People who use the
FREE resources on
this site are:
* Starting over in
their career or
personal life
* Empty nesters
* Entrepreneurs
* Networking
* Job Seekers
* Starting all over
again
* Going through a
divorce
* Looking for career
opportunities
* Seeking FREE
career advice and
education
* Finding mentors
* Setting new life
goals
To chart your road
map to success
click here for FREE
"Worksheets and
Articles."
FREE resources on
this site are:
* Starting over in
their career or
personal life
* Empty nesters
* Entrepreneurs
* Networking
* Job Seekers
* Starting all over
again
* Going through a
divorce
* Looking for career
opportunities
* Seeking FREE
career advice and
education
* Finding mentors
* Setting new life
goals
To chart your road
map to success
click here for FREE
"Worksheets and
Articles."
Mary Lee Gannon's
Book "Starting Over"
is in bookstores now or
can be ordered from
Amazon.com.
Book "Starting Over"
is in bookstores now or
can be ordered from
Amazon.com.
Follow Mary Lee's tips
and information on these
Social Networking sites:
and information on these
Social Networking sites:
Turnaround Solutions for People & Organizations
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone contact info@startingovernow.com.
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone contact info@startingovernow.com.
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FREE Resources
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
| Mary Lee Gannon is interviewed on Mind Your BIZness |
Listen to Mary
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Get the FREE e-Book "Make Your
Wheel of Fortune Spin on Balance"
and the Starting Over Now FREE
e-Newsletter. Start now!
Wheel of Fortune Spin on Balance"
and the Starting Over Now FREE
e-Newsletter. Start now!
StartingOverNow.com
Executive Leadership Coaching - Turnaround Solutions for People and Organizations
Executive Leadership Coaching - Turnaround Solutions for People and Organizations