Why We Miss The Simple Things

(This blog is the temporary landing spot for Advisory and Consulting Services.  If you want to reach us, please contact us at richgrunenwald@columbus.rr.com, or 614-561-3412)

In my experience, many of our seemingly complex challenges can be distilled down to basics. We consult trusted advisors and mentors to tell us the obvious.  Chances are the solution recommended will be straightforward, and we ask "Why didn't I see that?" and the answer will be because we were too busy, distracted, too close to the issue, or maybe not fully confident in ourselves.

This is nicely illustrated  by Stephen Covey's Time Management Matrix (shown here by Sid Savara) from his book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People".  The reason we don't see the simple answers is we are often consumed by the "urgent"  items (quadrants 1 & 3) and dawdle on time-wasters or "mental chewing gum" (quadrant 4). Our personal and business worlds are consumed by the day to day activity that steals the quantity of time we have, and we do little to proactively improve the quality of  the time we spend.

Legitimately, there are times when our waking hours are consumed with items that are urgent and important (quadrant 1), such as personal health or health of a loved one, or a struggling business facing great risks and challenges.  We can be consumed with just getting by. These are the times to leverage a consultant or coach, whether informally through those you trust and respect, or formally via an advisor or industry expert.

However, we can proactively circumvent these times by paying attention to the important things as Covey discusses. If we exercise, then we avoid health issues.  If we set up KPI's for our business and manage to them, we identify trends and risks and can take actions that protect our interests and profitability. If we continue to develop skills and knowledge, we avoid becoming irrelevant in the world of work.

The key for us is to make it a priority to identify and act on the activities that will help improve and sustain the quality of our personal and professional lives, the activities that will "build muscle", so to speak. Whether that comes through our own thought processes or through the help of others is not particularly relevant.

The thing to remember is to make it a priority to devote time and energy to the activities that will improve the quality of our lives, our businesses, and our relationships with those around us.

When NOT To Use A Consultant (aka, "Keep the Simple Stuff In Mind")

(This blog is the temporary landing spot for Advisory and Consulting Services.  If you want to reach us, please contact us at richgrunenwald@columbus.rr.com, or 614-561-3412)

We have consultants for everything: career coaches, Life Coaches, spiritual advisors, personal trainers, golf coaches, business strategy consultants, sales consultants, etc.

While an advisor can be of tremendous help, we have the power within ourselves to do much of the same analysis on our own.  My experience is that at the root of many challenges is a situation where we perhaps forgot or did not pay attention to the simple things, the basics of positive habits and personal interaction:

• Why did that person react that way? Are they unreasonable or are there maybe considerations I did not take the time to uncover?
• How come this medication for my blood pressure isn't working?  Is it the wrong medication or perhaps I have lifestyle habits that are damaging?
• Why does my teenager not talk to me?  Are they withdrawn or am I too quick to judge or maybe do not really understand their world?
• Why do I have turnover in my staff?  Do people today not want to work or maybe how I lead them makes them feel unempowered?

Admittedly, this objectivity is often difficult to attain.   Simply getting to a frame of mind that enables us to be reasonably objective about our situations, especially when under duress, is a struggle.  However, we've all done it from time to time, and need to practice removing the clutter from our minds to gain clarity:

• Sitting alone, in a quiet place.
• Mediation and / or prayer according to ones beliefs 
• Reading a book and pausing.
• A drive in the country with a stop at a cafe' for coffee
• Listening to audio books.
• A walk

...or any other number of things.  Most of the time, we have the solution to our challenge within ourselves. We need to allow it to come to the surface.

There are times when we are limited by our own knowledge or skill or other resources.  We aren't aware of options or solutions, or legitimately don't have the time to think about it.  Recognize these situations, and turn to an advisor or mentor. This is when one can be of tremendous help, quickly cutting through the noise and distortion to get to the heart of the matter and providing a path to resolution.

It just shouldn't always be where you turn first.

The Sweetest Sound One Can Hear...

(This blog is the temporary landing spot for Advisory and Consulting Services.  If you want to reach us, please contact us at richgrunenwald@columbus.rr.com, or 614-561-3412)

Those that know me also know one of my favorite sayings:

"There is nothing so sweet as the sound of one's own voice."

I am not the originator of this saying, but most certainly I have been known to get carried away in presentations and conversations on topics I am passionate about. 

But, this saying is not quite true.  There is one sound that is even sweeter than hearing your own voice, and that is...

...the sound of another person speaking your name.

Whether it is in casual conversation or a formal business meeting, greeting another person by their name is a simple and effective acknowledgement of respect and makes the interaction much more personal.  Sadly, in the hustle of of our world, we all to often ignore this simple tool that always pays dividends.  As a result, our interactions with co-workers, clients, and even our friends and loved ones become transactions, essentially exchanges of information as if we were simply components of a machine accepting inputs for processing and giving outputs to move on to the next step.

The power of using a person's name in conversation is great, particularly with more casual acquaintances. My father was a master at this, almost to a fault. I watched him as he dealt with many people who were not naturally, let's say, pleasant individuals, and within a short time be able to work with them in a positive manner.  

Of course, he was also known to take a person's name and break out into song, but that's a story for another day! 

Try it for a week. In your cube or on your monitor, pin up a note "C.M.B.N", short for "Call Me By Name" to remind yourself. Make a conscious effort to address others. The coffee shop server, the security guard at the office building, colleagues you don't work with but see in the hall every day. 

A simple "Good morning, Bob" or "Thank you, Sue" will go a long way in the quality of your interactions, and thus your relationships.

And, you will make a positive impact on your world. 

Networking Tips

(This blog is the temporary landing spot for Advisory and Consulting Services.  If you want to reach us, please contact us at richgrunenwald@columbus.rr.com, or 614-561-3412)

"Networking" is a topic all over the media for the past several years as a panacea for all of our professional and personal challenges:

• How to find a job
• Generating sales leads 
• Finding help for home repair 
• Getting a referral for a physician

Like a lot of buzzwords, there are different interpretations of what networking really is.  In my eyes, the following definition fits best:

“True networking – effective networking – is based on relationships that are cultivated and nurtured so that a mutual exchange of information, advice, referrals and support takes place.”

L. Michelle Tullier, Ph.D. Networking for Job Search and Career Success

I like the following words and phrases:

• "...relationships ..."
• "...that are cultivated and nurtured..." 
• "...mutual exchange..."

The first phrase, "...relationships..." is at the heart of it.  First and foremost, networking is about establishing relationships.  It is not simply meeting folks. It is about establishing a launching point for an ongoing dialog.

The second phrase, "...cultivated and nurtured...", means that it is not a one time activity. It is an ongoing activity.  Professionally, I have relationships that span decades.  Sometimes, the "...cultivating and nurturing..." is a phone call to say hello.  Other times it's an email to let a person know there name came up in conversation and made me think of them.  Yet other times, it's to get together for coffee or lunch to get caught up or go to an event of mutual interest.  The message here is that it requires ongoing investment.

The third phrase, "....mutual exchange...", implies that the benefits go both ways.  The folks most successful at networking generally give something first before asking to receive something back.  It could be as simple as facillitating a connect the other person to a resource or providing an email address.  The point is, give first - pay forward.

Reach out to somebody today.  Happy networking!

Paying Forward - Seeing Results

(This blog is the temporary landing spot for Advisory and Consulting Services.  If you want to reach us, please contact us at richgrunenwald@columbus.rr.com, or 614-561-3412)

I had coffee a couple of weeks ago with good friend and career coach guru Janice Worthington.  Janice and I are both, let's say, "seasoned professionals", and part of our discussion was about what we want out of the next ten to twenty years of life and  careers.

I told Janice that one of my motivators is do do something of "social benefit or value", something to make the world a slightly better place. Somewhat to my surprise, Janice replied, "You 50 somethings are all alike.  You all want to help the world!".   She's right as I have this same conversation with my contemporaries fairly often.

In my role as Managing Director for Experis, "paying forward" occurs during the normal course of business as we help folks find their next job and enable people to make connections to others as they navigate through the world of work. In my position as "Coach" in the TechColumbus CareerTrack program,  I am able to provide tools and techniques to folks who are looking to make their next career move, something most of us  learn through the school of hard knocks!

Engaging in a "Pay Forward" mentality and seeing the results is immensely rewarding, and helps make us see how our positive actions impact the world around us. Recent examples in my life, big and small:

- My neighbor's wife, "Kesang", is new to the country and coaching and guidance led to landing a great job. She's received two promotions in six months.
- At a recent Career Track meeting, I presented  "Networking for the Introvert".  "Bob" attended, and applied some of the techniques at his next event.  He walked out of it with four new connections and two follow up meetings.
- I received an email from "Nick", a young professional in his second year of real estate. He had his biggest month ever and is looking at hiring his own team of folks.  He thanked me for advice I gave him a year ago on selling as it has been a cornerstone of his success.

I have been similarly blessed as the benefactor of the efforts of others' good deeds, coaching, guidance, and favors. It all comes around.

Beyond the intrinsic rewards of helping out and seeing others flourish, there is business and professional benefit.  I have no doubt that at some point my path will once again cross directly or indirectly with those above, and the foundation of trust will be there that will enable us to collaborate.

We all have room for this in ways that may seem easy or small to us but collectively make a huge impact.  Make "paying forward" a habit, and enrich the lives of others as well as your own.

And, it makes our world a better place.

The Talent Mismatch - What To Do

(This blog is the temporary landing spot for Advisory and Consulting Services.  If you want to reach us, please contact us at richgrunenwald@columbus.rr.com, or 614-561-3412)

Today an article concerning the "The Talent Mismatch" appeared in the Columbus Dispatch. I offered some thoughts in the article, which deals with the phenomenon of relatively high unemployment coupled with an inability of employers to find suitable talent.  I posted the link on my Facebook page, and received a number of comments and questions.  These include: 

• "Why won't companies train?"
• "Companies are way too picky in what they are asking for, and therefore can't hire anyone that fits the description"
• "Companies won't take a chance so I am starting my own business"

The Employer

Let's give some thought as to how and why this happens, particularly with larger companies.  It is not generally by design or intent, but more by organizational roles and dynamics, and a lack of strategic vision for talent acquisition. 

The ability to acquire the right talent at the right time is an increasingly strategic differentiator for companies, and one that few have figured out. A typical large company has a division of labor and workflow that lends itself to solving pieces of the talent mismatch but not the complete challenge.  

For example, the Hiring Manager is judged on their ability to get things done. They need a person to be productive quickly and hence looks for the perfect candidate.  The Corporate Recruiter, on the other hand, is judged on number of hires they get a month.  The Corporate Recruiter is typically working on 40 to 50 openings at a time, and so the Corporate Recruiter will direct their efforts towards the candidates that are easiest to hire and openings that are easiest to fill.  If the concept of training people comes up, that involves a Corporate Trainer with their own set of priorities.

The net is the overall talent mismatch challenge is never really examined and addressed.

During past recessions, it was feasible to find and hire the "ideal" candidate that met the laundry list of, say, 12 technical skills and five years of specific experience. With the recovery that began late 2011, these "ideal" candidates have found new positions and are no longer on the market.  The candidates on the market tday maybe are 70% fit. But the Hiring Manager is still faced with getting projects done so they continue looking for the "ideal fit" rather than the "teachable fit" as their organizations are not equipped to accommodate the "teachable fit".

Few companies are taking a look at this, and even fewer are taking action. Those that figure it out will win.

The Employee / Candidate

At the same time, it is not just the employer that has challenges. From the Employee / Candidate perspective, we need to think of the implications of the "talent mismatch". I believe we can agree that the days are gone where job requirements and workplace demands stay relatively stable, and the economy and industry allow the job to remain relatively secure.   

Given this, why should we feel that it is a company's responsibility to train and educate prospective talent?  In fact,  it is our personal responsibility to be lifelong learners, adapt, and position ourselves for tomorrow's world of work .  

What does this mean for the Employee / Candidate?  Here are some thoughts: 

• Acknowledge the pace of change in the world of work. We don't have to like it, but we do need to acknowledge it. What we are seeing today are industry sectors, product lines, and related jobs that arise and decline in short periods, maybe as short as 10 years.  The pace of change across industries are unprecedented. 
• Seek and develop a basic understanding of your industry, company, and job from the perspective of how changes in the economy might impact your world of work. Is the industry growing or shrinking?  What products / services are competing with your industry? How is it changing?  What is your  company doing to deal with this?  How might it impact your job and profession?  
• Personal and professional development is key.  Whether it be something as simple as exercising or reading professional / business books, or formal training and development, with every bit of acquired knowledge and capability comes benefit.  Even if not directly applied, you add a tool to your toolkit that allows you to do more than you could before.  I've tracked this by creating a career tracking and assessment summary that relates job, compensation, and personal development activities.  I find that successful people share a common habit of continual self development. 
• Networking and personal branding play into it.  We all owe it to ourselves to be continually talking to others to understand what is happening in the world around us so we can take advantage of opportunities and trends as they arise. 

Summary

Resolving the talent mismatch will take institutional effort on the part of industries and organizations, and personal investment on the part of individuals.  It is not an easy path for organizations, but as individuals we can certainly make a difference in our own professional lives.

Pursuing Dreams / Achieving Goals

(This blog is the temporary landing spot for Advisory and Consulting Services.  If you want to reach us, please contact us at richgrunenwald@columbus.rr.com, or 614-561-3412)

I started to title this "Pursuing Dreams", but I didn't particularly care for the title. "Pursuing Dreams" implies trying to reach for something that isn't real, that is a figment of your imagination and conscience, something that will never really happen.

What brought this on is the recent accomplishments of friend and motorcycle racer, Pete Cline. Pete has raced bikes at the amateur level for 15 years or so, and has achieved multiple regional championships and numerous victories. By any standard measure, he has had strong success. Yet, he's also one of those folks that has been just on the cusp of being able to make it to the professional ranks, and probably would have made it if a couple breaks had fallen his way.

 Pete made his dream a goal, and executed the steps needed to get there. I got involved with him several months ago, advising on his sponsorship proposals and how to fund this effort. From there, he pursued numerous avenues, and creatively involved the Wounded Warrior project in his race team.

The end result is that Pete competed in the AMA Pro Racing XR1200 race over the past weekend, in front of 50,000 spectators and hundreds of thousands more via television coverage. He turned his dream into a goal, and executed the steps to achieve it.

Too many of us envision where we want to be, our "dreams" if you will, and never take the step of turning our dreams into goals. We treat them simply as things we want to happen, and over time, the dream becomes dulled and we give up on it.

 In fact, we all have the ability to turn our dreams into goals, and set a path that will take us there. We all have the power. It is a matter of conviction and execution.

Make it happen.

For more on Pete Cline, Team Ohio, and the Wounded Warrior Project, go to http://www.facebook.com/TeamOhioRacing and http://youtu.be/whzpTdjYHR8