The Recovering Engineer

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You Have to Have a Goal to Achieve a Goal

The Recovering Engineer

I do not remember the exact timeline, but I do remember that before the week was over, I had written a goal weight, developed a weight loss plan, and started implementing it. Then, I set a new goal. As soon as I set the goal, I created a plan and started following the plan. You have to share your goal with someone you trust.

Goal 211
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Leadership Lesson From General McChrystal: Get Onboard or Get Out.

The Recovering Engineer

I am simply observing the outcome of a leadership act: a high level leader who reports to a higher level leader within an organization took his discontent public and he had to leave the organization as a result. I do know what happened, and I believe it demonstrates a valuable leadership lesson: Disagree in private and agree in public.

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Use the Right Style at the Right Time

The Recovering Engineer

In From Bud to Boss , Kevin Eikenberry and I reference the Tuckman Model of team development as a useful tool for understanding what is happening in your team at each stage of development as it moves from a group of individuals working in the same location to a high-performing team working towards a common goal. Always Have a Pen.

Tuckman 153
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You Cannot Sell What You Do Not Own

The Recovering Engineer

Is my concern with the implementation specifics or with the overall goal? Am I focused on avoiding the struggle and frustration I might experience as I “sell” this procedure to my team or am I focused on the end goal? John was able to agree with the stated goal even though he did not really like the added work the procedure demanded.

Ethics 179
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Employee Motivation Tips: The Why Matters

The Recovering Engineer

When she got her guitar, I also thought about my goal of learning to play the guitar. Suddenly, the goal that first surfaced over 30 years ago had a new meaning. The “why&# of the goal moved from the sort-of-a-neat-idea category to the I’ve-got-to-do-it-now-because-it’s-very-emotional category.

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Emotions are the Greatest Barrier to Change

The Recovering Engineer

Previously, I wrote about the power that having a weight loss goal had in driving my choices with regard to diet and exercise. Even though I had a weight goal in mind at the time of that change, the greatest barrier I faced in achieving it were the emotions triggered by the “loss” of some of my favorite foods. Write them down.

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Using Detours To Get Where You Want to Go

The Recovering Engineer

In the picture above, the desired goal is somewhere on 9th Street. We just take the detour, enjoy the scenery, and move on towards our goal. Here’s what I’ve learned at this point in my life: stay focused on the end goal and take the detour. Earlier in my life, these road blocks discouraged me.