• Bears take a long winter break - they call it hibernation.
• The tulip bulbs in my front flower bed have recently begun to peak through the soil. They spend ten months of the year seemingly dormant, preparing for their annual coming out party.
• Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall and take a break, restoring their energy to grow and create new leaves in the spring.

Now - getting a bit closer to home - consider breaks that more closely resemble our vacations:

• Kids (and their teachers) get a break from learning around the holidays and in the spring, and, in most cases, a longer summer break as well.
• Sports teams take timeouts to consider where they are, decide what to do next and catch their breath. (I know, you hope your vacation is longer than a timeout!)

So, what do the results of the poll and all of these examples have to do with you and your vacation or the breaks you take?

Everything.

While there are many reasons to take a vacation - to be with family and friends, explore something new, get a suntan, or - most of us come back to R & R (rest and relaxation). All of these reasons are important, but the biggest benefit from any break (whether 2 minutes or 2 weeks) should be a third R – rejuvenation.

Bears, tulips and trees are resting over the winter; but more than that they are preparing to create their purpose in the following year. Bears couldn’t succeed, tulips wouldn't flower and the trees won't grow without their break to rejuvenate.

Kids and teachers return to school renewed and refreshed. The burnout from several week or months is erased and they are ready to go again! And while sports teams are getting hydrated and catching their breath during the time out they are also preparing for their future success - another part of rejuvenation.

Let me ask you a question.

If 87% of people surveyed say they need a vacation after their vacation, are they getting the rest and relaxation they sought?

More importantly, are they getting the rejuvenation that they need?

Even more importantly, are you?

Here are five things you can do to make sure that every break - long or short - helps you refresh and rejuvenate for greater vitality, energy and success.

Make it a goal. Whether a 7-minute power nap or a 7--day cruise, recognize that rejuvenation is a goal. On the cruise that might mean one less late night or a bit more exercise. It might mean a bit less stress over the details of your "perfect vacation" and a bit more time for serendipity. When you make it a goal you will determine what you can do to make your break refreshing and energy creating.

Think of the total you. You are more than your body. Rejuvenation is about refreshing your minds and soul as well as your body. When you think of it this way, you recognize that there are different activities and approaches that refresh each part of you. Which leads to the next point.

Recognize what works for you. Maybe you need exercise, time at the spa, a manicure, or a stack of books. Maybe you need the sun or the energy that comes from good friends or a great meal. Maybe you need all of those things to refresh all of who you are. Take some time to think about those activities and situations that refresh and rejuvenate you. And remember that you don't have to wait all year for these activities or try to cram them all into one vacation.

Don't wait for once a year. Hibernation and dormancy are not the lessons we should take from the trees, tulips and bears. We aren't wired the same way, and we don't need to take weeks and months to rejuvenate. Look for ways to spend a weekend, afternoon or an evening with the express purpose of replenishing your mind, body and spirit.

Start now. The end point of the last point is that you don't even have to wait at all. Consider what you can do right now to rejuvenate. A 7-minute power nap? 15 minute walk? Shooting some baskets? Knitting a sweater? Writing in your journal? Reading a great book? Talking with a positive or creative colleague? Make sure that you keep short breaks in your arsenal for creating greater mental, physical and spiritual energy and vitality in your life.

Potential Pointer: Rest and relaxation are fine goals, but limiting. To get the most from any break you must do more than rest and relax, you must use those activities as a way to rejuvenate to live every day more fully, happily and successfully.

Normally a book with this title wouldn’t make it to my reading list. But when the book is by Kevin Hogan, 19-time author and a colleague of mine, I'll take a look. In this case I am glad I did.

Kevin opens the book by addressing some of the reservations I had for reading a book about body language and nonverbal communication (and he defines the difference between them). Can we make this highly complex issue valuable without making it some sort of playbook of moves? Is there real research in this area that can point us towards greater understanding of these communications? In both cases, the answer is yes. This provided me with additional comfort in continuing to read.

The Secret Language of Business brings the science of nonverbal communication into the office, team, leadership and selling environments. It is based on Kevin's research in the area of influence and what seems to be an exhaustive summary of the academic research as well. While this research background is important to me, I don't want to read a textbook, and thankfully the book delivers in this way as well. It is written in a manner that is easy to follow and remember the lessons learned.

In fact, my favorite part of the book's format is the review section at the end of each chapter, called the Chapter Take Aways. These summaries remind you of the chapter's key points and serve as the perfect re-entry point for future review. Each chapter also has a worksheet with questions to help you further apply the lessons from the chapter.

I just received the book and haven't made it to the end - but I will finish before you read this.

Why the rush? Because if you buy your copy today, you can get some great bonuses too! Pick up your copy of the Secret Language of Business and forward your receipt to slb@kevinhogan.com.
Kevin's team will then email you the secret website where you can pick up all kinds of bonuses and gifts.

Learn more and purchase at Amazon.com.

Labels: interviews

Labels: mistakes, risks

Farmers and ranchers put fences up primarily to keep their animals where they want them. The fence defines the boundary of where it is OK for the animals to live and graze. Fences serve several practical purposes - as I said, they keep animals where they want them and, as important, out of where they don't want them. They keep the animals safe and help maintain the herd (with no fences farmers might have trouble keeping track of these animals!).

While we aren't animals, managers and leaders have always created fences (or boundaries) for employees as well. They are set up for much the same reasons: to provide safety and exert control, as well as to define where people can't go. Fences or boundaries can be helpful, but when set unclearly or too narrowly, they can cause significant problems. After all, we aren't sheep or cattle!

Here are five things to consider when placing your fence posts or setting the boundaries for your team and organization.

Define the fence line. People need to know what and where the boundaries are. Since leaders aren't always clear when setting them, or are they aren’t visible like a real fence, much energy is lost when people make assumptions about those boundaries. When you aren't sure if you can make that decision or adjust that process or call the Customer or any number of things, your energy is sapped and your motivation affected. As the leader when you clearly define what behaviors and decisions are inside the fence and which ones aren't, you make life and decision making much easier for your employees.

Expand the boundaries. More often than not, in the name of control, leaders set the boundaries unnecessarily narrow. Ask yourself what would happen if you gave people a bit more freedom to make decisions and cover some additional territory. While there might be errors (once or twice), there might also be new ideas, approaches, energy and ownership. All farmers still have fences, and you definitely need some boundaries. The question is: are your boundaries as broad as they could be?

Clarify the goals. When you help people understand the goals and purpose for the organization or their team you are taking an important step towards empowering them. With a clear goal they are better able to work within the boundaries to achieve better results.

Trust people more. When you trust people more - assuming the best in their intentions and potential - you will be more willing to expand the boundaries. We all need boundaries, but if trust is heightened, results will improve and those expanded fence lines will stay intact.

Give more responsibility. When you grant more trust and couple it with greater responsibility and accountability, you accelerate people’s passion, interest and ownership in their work. It is important to give people more responsibility as they develop the skills and experience to manage it effectively, but most leaders are too tentative in expanding responsibility. Do it intelligently, but consider doing it sooner rather than later.

As you have read these points you may be thinking that not everyone on my team is ready for a bigger field and more responsibility. Effective coaching and leadership requires that we provide people the support they need to be successful - no matter the size of their field, consider these points as general guidelines.

As you clarify the boundaries, expand trust and responsibility you are empowering people in ways that perhaps you haven’t before. That heightened empowerment will often lead to people standing by the fence, looking for more opportunities and challenges.

Remember, most people are thinking "don't fence me in." When you move the fences outward, expanding the boundaries, you will find greater productivity, passion and results on the other side.

Make the fences clear, but be willing to expand them. You won't regret it and your team will thrive.

Potential Pointer: Fences and boundaries are needed, but set unclearly or incorrectly, they can inadvertently stifle productivity and creativity rather than the support and help they were designed to provide. Take a look at the fences you’ve put up in your business and determine if they are supporting - or hindering - the results you are aspiring to.

• Frequent
• Accurate
• Specific
• Timely
  

Labels: goals

Michael is a very smart guy who has written a book that can make all of us much smarter as well.

The book's subtitle is How to Reignite Your Team's Passion, Creativity, and Productivity. I don't know that I've ever met a leader who wouldn't want to know how to do this! (Even if your team already has passion, creativity and productivity - wouldn't you want more of these things?)

This book is written in a very enjoyable style and outlines three keys to help all leaders create what the subtitle promises - more productivity, passion and creativity.

I also love the book's overall structure. At the end of each chapter, Michael provides a brief checklist called Review, Reflection and Application. Anyone who knows me, or has read my work, knows how much I appreciate these types of tools. The book closes with a section designed to read one short chapter a day for twenty days. Each of these brief pieces offers important lessons from other leaders.

This is an outstanding book about an important topic.

Learn more and make your purchase at Amazon.com.

As a side note, I've also had the opportunity to read an Amazon Short written by Michael called No Long Alone. It recounts the story of his wife’s battles with cancer. Through that story he continues to share some of the points he makes so well in this book. I recommend it as well!

Labels: Boilermaker Ball, Purdue, Purdue Alumni