Everything Can Go Wrong. You Can Still be Thankful!
I suppose the breaking point could have been when the TSA agent pulled Sarah out of line and required additional information to prove she wasn’t taking a child on a plane against their will, which apparently is standard policy whenever they see a “child in distress.” Indeed, Sadie was pitching quite a fit, protesting the […]
Waiting on the World to Change?
I have noticed an alarming trend in society, and even in our business, that can be summed up by what a recent retiree said to me in their exit interview: “It seems like a lot people are waiting for everyone else to do THEIR job.” I can relate to this comment, and unfortunately at times […]
Why it is important to show up!
I begin this post with the reality that I haven’t felt well the last few days. Multiple canker sores, a cold, and sinus issues had me tempted to rest and “work from home” today. But we had a 30th anniversary for one of our Plant Managers, so this was not really an option. I decided […]
#TheoThursday – The Mission Statement
Much has been written about an organization’s need for a well-written mission statement. It should not only provide clarity on the driving force behind the work the organization does, but its contents should be easily digestible to everyone in the organization, as well as everyone the organization attempts to serve. Simply stated, it should simply […]
The Power of Story
Earlier this year, I was afforded the opportunity to hear filmmaker Jon Erwin talk about storytelling. His discussion of a concept I had never heard of before, called “emotional jamming,” is what stood out the most. “Emotional jamming,” as Erwin defined it, is how a narrative creates disorientation between one’s heart and head. This disorientation […]
The Rat Race is a Journey to Fool’s Gold
For the last ten years, I defined my strongest ability as my willingness to hustle. I answered emails immediately, even around the clock when I could. I returned phone calls from customers within minutes. And I always pursued “inbox zero,” the holy-grail of Outlook and email productivity. It didn’t stop with work. In addition to […]
Lessons on Accountability
Accountability is like getting a colonoscopy (so I am told!): Everybody knows it is best to have it done, yet no one wants it done to them. As I have shared before, I went through a 360-degree review last fall. Those interviewed suggested that I hold other people more accountable. Since receiving my results right […]
#TheoThursday – The Gift of Momentary Silence
Theological thoughts about the workplace “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 The last two weeks I have written about how I pray for Hoffer Plastics, and how Bible reading impacts my leadership. These “disciplines” are easy for someone with a Type A personality because both involve “doing.” Solitude, the last discipline […]
Let People Chew You Out
Leadership is about listening. In the manufacturing context, this means that you should be approachable to anyone on the plant floor. You might not agree with the feedback, it might even irritate you, but you should listen to it. Even if people feel the need to chew you out, let them. Recently, I had this […]