Take Some Dance Lessons – Effective Delegation Part V

By Action Coach Dave Beam

I love this analogy because it captures so many principles of effective delegation.  To create effective results in relationships, start dancing and quit wrestling!

Many business owners and managers struggle and strain with delegation.  They have the mindset that to be effective, you have to overpower your employees and force them into submission.  It is literally a wrestling match and the starting bell rings at the beginning of each shift or day.  It is a contest of will and strategy.  Sometimes your “best” employee is the strongest, the most talented, and the most self willed.  You feel like if you let up for a moment, “they” will gain the advantage.  Or you just “give in” and let them “have their way”.

Enough is enough!  Who has the energy or the desire to run their business or department like a military camp?  There is a better and more effective way to manage, and it follows the analogy of dancing vs. wrestling.

Positive Accountability – Effective Delegation Part IV

By Action Coach Dave Beam

When you hear the word “accountability”, what comes to mind?  Does it produce a positive, upbeat, exciting feeling, or a negative, uncomfortable, unpleasant feeling?

When I first start coaching with a person, they almost always have negative emotions and ideas associated with accountability.  They carry bad memories of annual evaluations with supervisors or bosses that were disconnected or on a power trip.  They have visions of tense meetings ending in probation and employee discipline.  They certainly don’t seek out  “constructive criticism” and “performance feedback evaluation” with delight.

The System is the Solution – Effective Delegation Part III

By Action Coach Dave Beam

Wouldn’t it be great when you are ready to delegate a task if you had a machine that could fully transfer your thoughts and brain into another person’s head with a simple flip of the switch!  Well, as far as I know, that one is still science fiction.

One of the key tools for effective delegation is systems.  How is it that McDonalds can deliver a consistent product from thousands of stores worldwide using teenage workers?  It is because they have created a detailed documented system for every detail of operating a franchise store.  You can create a written, documented system for your business as well.

Dropping Expectations and Creating Agreements – Effective Delegation Part II

By Action Coach Dave Beam

One of the most powerful distinctions that will help you effectively delegate is the distinction between expectations and agreements.  I am indebted to business coach Steve Chandler for teaching me this powerful concept.

Business owners and managers are often frustrated because the team often falls short of their expectations.  You expect them to show up on time.  You expect them to follow through.  You expect them to go that extra mile and bring some new ideas to the meeting.  I am certain that if I interviewed your team members, they would have their own expectations as well. 

Unmet expectations produce disappointment.

Facing Your Fears Concerning Delegation - Effective Delegation Part I

By Action Coach Dave Beam

A common challenge that I hear from business owners and managers is their lack of success in effective delegation.  I hope that you agree that learning how to effectively delegate is a key to your freedom.  Without effective delegation, face it, you have to do it YOURSELF!

Six Keys to a Winning Team Key #6 – 100% Involvement/Inclusion

By Action Coach Dave Beam

The sixth key to a winning team is 100% involvement and inclusion. Each member must know that they are accepted by the team, and each member must also choose to participate 100%. Those who are not fully engaged pull down the team's performance. 100% participation creates powerful team synergy.

So far I have given you the information to create a wonderful action plan to bring your team to new levels of performance and results. Every key is essential for maximizing your team performance, and this last key is absolutely no exception.

Six Keys to a Winning Team Key #5 – Action Plan

By Action Coach Dave Beam

A fifth key to a winning team is to have a written action plan. Great ideas, an inspiring vision, and even a happy work place don't automatically produce results. Results come from taking action. Each team member needs to know daily who is supposed to do what by when.

The name of our franchise is "ACTION COACH". There is a great reason for that. Nothing happens in life and business until someone takes ACTION. You can have a strong leader with a common goal and great, clearly defined rules, but with no action, nothing happens.

Six Keys to a Winning Team Key #4 – Support Risk Taking

By Action Coach Dave Beam

A fourth key for producing a winning team is to support risk taking. For people to maximize their potential, they need to try new things, even make mistakes! The only people who don't make mistakes are those who never try anything new. Winning teams will always be willing to stretch their limits. As long as you have defined the rules of the game, the team should be encouraged to innovate within those defined boundaries.

Six Keys to a Winning Team Key #3 – Rules of the Game

By Action Coach Dave Beam

The third key for winning is to know the rules of the game. Can you imagine trying to win a game if you didn't know the rules? Often employees lack motivation and productivity because the expectations are unclear. Do your employees know the company core values? Have you invested time in defining core values and communicating the company culture to every team member?

Six Keys to a Winning Team Key #2 – Common Goal

By Action Coach Dave Beam

Do you have a clear vision for your business or department? The second key for a winning team is to have a common goal. To win the game as a team, it is essential for everyone to share a clearly defined target, and it is the responsibility of the leader to effectively communicate that goal to the team.

Once you have a strong leader that has the respect of the team, the next logical question is "Where are we going?"

Six Keys to a Winning Team! Key #1 – Strong Leadership

By Action Coach Dave Beam

As a business coach, I often get asked by business owners and management staffs how they can get their employees to work together, quit blaming each other for problems, and take more ownership for their job. My response is often a bit abrasive. I ask the owner if he or she meets regularly one-on-one with their employees, if they blame their employees for problems, and if they truly take full ownership and accountability for what is going on in the business. It is interesting that the employees are a reflection of the owner.

The Power of Process Goals vs. Outcome Goals

By Action Coach Dave Beam

How do you feel about goal setting?  Is it an enjoyable experience, or an activity you avoid?  Most of us have heard about the “power” of having clear goals, yet how many of us actually set clear goals and use them?  If you are like me, the reason you may avoid the whole goal setting scene is because goals can actually lead to discouragement and even despair.  Being reminded of unfulfilled outcomes can produce questions like “Am I just kidding myself?” and “Will I really ever get there?”

Quit Wrestling and Take Some Dance Lessons!

By Action Business Coach Dave Beam

Greetings fellow Business Owners and Managers! Today I want to suggest an alternate to wrestling with employees – dancing!

Let’s compare wrestling and dancing. Both require energy. Both typically involve two people. Both involve close contact.