http://mergespeaks.com/blog/">Turning Managers into Leaders

The most popular business books of the last two decades all advocate workplace excellence and organizational achievement.  No quarrel there.  But this constant emphasis on being “the best” causes many to think that perfection is the ultimate goal.  After all, perfectionism is positive, right?  It’s synonymous with being an over-achiever; the kind of person who sets bold goals and blazes new trails to momentous achievements.  But the unvarnished truth is that in the workplace, there are more downsides to perfectionism than there are benefits.

In this month’s issue of CGA Magazine, I lay out five reasons perfectionism is NOT a plus,  AND if you happen to be “guilty as charged”, five specific things that you can do to break the pattern.  Read Perfectionism is Not a Plus: The business case for 80 per cent results.  And once you’re done, c’mon back and share your views about perfectionism right here on the blog.

Last month, we conducted a fun online poll – “What are your biggest time wasters at work?” we asked.  And the top two answers were (drum roll please) …

#1 – Other people

#2 – E-mail

For the rest of the results, click on the poll box to the right.

So, do you agree?  What are you doing to overcome these obstacles and manage your time better?

If you’re a leader, then you know you are busy, no one has to tell you!  You have a multitude of responsibilities that keep your schedule overflowing.  From dealing with the day-to-day issues to participating in long-term initiatives; from putting out smoldering fires to responding to the never-ending stream of e-mail in your in-basket; you are tasked with juggling numerous projects and meeting a myriad of deadlines!  No one has to tell you that your schedule is demanding, you already know that you are being asked to do more with less: provide better customer service, greater productivity and stronger leadership, all while your time and resources dwindle.  No one has to remind you of how much you’re trying to juggle; what you really want are practical, positive and effective strategies to cope with your escalating workload.  And I can help!  Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re a leader, then you have a multitude of responsibilities that keep your schedule overflowing. Dealing with day-to-day issues, addressing long-term initiatives, putting out fires, responding to email, juggling numerous projects, meeting a myriad of deadlines – you’re constantly being asked to do more with less – provide better customer service, greater productivity and stronger leadership, all while your time and resources dwindle. Boy, it’s enough to make you lose your breath (and sometimes your sanity!)

What obstacles do YOU face when it prioritizing your responsibilities and managing your time? Tell me about your most difficult challenge at www.AskMerge.com, and I’ll do my best to answer as many questions as I can during my live Audio Conference coming up on Wednesday February 16.

While you’re at www.AskMerge.com, be sure to participate in our fun poll: what’s your biggest time waster at work? (Click on the link on the bottom left of the screen)

You don’t need me to tell you that you’re busy!

If you’re a leader, then you have a multitude of responsibilities that keep your schedule overflowing. From dealing with the day-to-day issues to participating in long-term initiatives; from putting out smoldering fires to responding to the never-ending stream of e-mail in your in-basket; you are tasked with juggling numerous projects and meeting a myriad of deadlines!

You don’t need me to tell you that your schedule is demanding, you already know that you are being asked to do more with less: provide better customer service, greater productivity and stronger leadership, all while your time and resources dwindle.

You don’t need me to remind you of how much you’re trying to juggle.  You already know.  But … wouldn’t it be fun to find out whether your biggest time waster at work is the same as everyone else’s?  Participate in our fun (and highly unscientific) poll and you’ll find out!  Click on the polling box below.

Earlier this year, I visited China for a speaking engagement.  As a first-time visitor to Shanghai and Beijing, the juxtaposition of modern skyscrapers and ancient temples, coupled with the sheer volume of millions of inhabitants, fascinated and overwhelmed me at the same time!  Teeming masses of people, a constant military presence, and skies that never saw a ray of sunshine contrasted starkly with friendly welcoming faces, efficient subway systems and chaotic traffic that was superbly organized. Read the rest of this entry »

So if you’ve been following my blog posts over the last couple of weeks, you know that my fractured foot has traveled the world!  The accident occurred in Canada, the foot was cast in India and I spent a couple of weeks traveling there; then I visited the United States and finally came back to Canada.  By then, it had been almost three weeks since the cast had first been put on, and I figured it was time to make arrangements to have it removed.

First call was to my regular doctor in Calgary.  “Sorry, we don’t have a cast saw,” came the response.  “You’ll have to call the cast clinic at a hospital.”

Second call was to a nearby hospital’s cast clinic:

“I’d like to make an appointment to have my cast removed.”

“Which doctor?”

“It doesn’t matter.  The cast was put on while I was on a trip in India, it just needs to be removed and probably x-rayed once again.”

“Sorry, if you didn’t have the cast put on by one of our doctors, then we can’t give you an appointment.” Read the rest of this entry »

Last Monday was not a good day!  My 77-year old mother had a nasty fall in her home, and as a result, was rushed by ambulance to the emergency ward of the nearest hospital.  When I arrived at the hospital, she was on a stretcher waiting in a line of stretchers in a long hallway, her neck in a brace and her small frame tightly strapped to a body board.  The two paramedics accompanying her explained that because she might have a spinal injury, they had braced her back and neck.  They were now waiting for her turn to get a CAT scan, x-rays, and a bed in the emergency room.  For the next five hours, the four of us – the two paramedics, my father, and I – waited in the hallway, leaning up against the wall, while the wheels of the healthcare system turned slowly.  Eventually she got her CAT scan, then we waited some more.  Finally, she went in for x-rays, then we waited again.  It was impossible to move her off the stretcher until the results of the CAT scan and x-rays came in; besides there were still no open beds in the emergency ward, so where could they have moved her to?  Eventually, almost five hours later, a bed opened up and they moved her, neck brace, body board and all, into the emergency ward.  At last, the paramedics were able to complete the transfer of custody and leave the hospital. Read the rest of this entry »