Author Archives: Nan Russell

For Titleless Leaders – Things That Got My Attention

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Posted on by Nan Russell

Photo - flower closeupEclectic items caught my eye recently in-between writing chapters for my new book, Trust, Inc.: How to Create a Business Culture That will Ignite Passion, Engagement, and Innovation (Nov 2013; Career Press), that I wanted to share with titleless leaders. Each gave me pause in a different way:

  • Titleless leaders do great work. But, what makes us feel good about our work? That’s the question asked and answered in this TEDTalk by Professor Dan Ariely.
  • Titleless leaders understand what others see on the outside happens on the inside first.  Yet, how we see ourselves and how others see us is not always congruent. This Dove video offers some perspective on how hard it can be to see us as others do:
  • Titleless leaders know what they’re for. They work toward what they want to bring about. No matter your position on Continue reading →

Work-Anywhere and the Trust Issue

Posted on by Nan Russell

Column21 - teaser - working from homeOperating with trust is the foundation of being a titleless leader. So the controversy erupting this week over the decision by Yahoo’s CEO requiring everyone to work in the office raised, I think, big questions about trust.

When your organization or boss shifts to a more controlling style does that indicate a shift in trust? Do you need to be physically around those you work with be able to trust them or have them trust you? In this age of technology are work-anywhere approaches being challenged by the trust deficit that plagues many workplaces?

These questions and more are discussed in my recent PsychologyToday.com article, “In the New Workplace: Trust Begets Trust.” I’d love to hear your thoughts on Yahoo’s decision and/or the topic of trust at work in general

Coaching-Tweets for Titleless Leaders

Posted on by Nan Russell

I like twitter. I find it a fun and interesting way to offer and receive info-tidbits, connect with and learn from others, and put a virtual toe into a river of trending happenings or information.Photo - communication

If you want to be a titleless leader, consider these a week of coaching-tweet reminders from me to you:

1. Ask yourself – how can I be of service? How can I best support the work and efforts here?

2. Your words matter. Use them carefully. Don’t forget, please, thank you, and good morning.

3. Paint a word picture of what you want achieved. Help people “see it” – then they can do it.

4. Don’t “hire” hands or heads Continue reading →

Questions build self-awareness

Posted on by Nan Russell

One of the reasons titleless leaders get results where others don’t is because they’re self-aware. They cultivate an inner skill of standing back and considering how their thoughts, words, and actions impact others, and themselves.

Man Using LaptopWant to increase your skill of self-awareness? Try asking yourself questions like these:

  1. Ben Franklin’s evening question, “What good have I done today?”
  2. Before telling a workplace tale, consider if your intention is positive or negative by asking, “Why am I telling this story, anyway?”
  3. When asked to serve on a committee or attend a meeting consider, “How can I contribute here? What skills do I bring? How can I help?”
  4. Before getting angry, frustrated, or escalating a situation ask “In the scheme of things, will this matter? In a week, six months, a year?” Continue reading →

Are You a Titleless Leader?

Posted on by Nan Russell

Titleless leaders are memorable, not by what they say, but how they operate. It’s their every day actions that get them natural followers and great results.

Here are a few actions that make titleless leaders stand out at work. How many apply to you?

  •  They value other people’s time
  • They operate with behavioral integrity
  •  They have an attitude of service
  •  They built relationship trust
  •  They’re self-aware, monitoring their own words and actions
  •  They listen with undivided attention
  •  They authentically show up
  •  They don’t see people as Continue reading →

An Essential Question Titleless Leaders Ask

Posted on by Nan Russell

Most people look to see whether they can trust others; whether they should give them their trust at work. But titleless leaders turn the trust mirror on themselves, realizing that trust has two sides. The essential question for them is a self-reflective one: will people give me their trust?

Operating with trust is essential for anyone who wants to get great results with or without title. And there are three types of trust these leaders need:

  •  Performance trust: the fulfillment of a claim, promise, or request.
  • Self-trust: the reliance on self, confidence in self and actions.
  • Relationship trust: the way of operating grounded in authentic trust.

Here’s a recent interview I did about Leaders Building Trust on LocalJobRadioNetwork.com with specific trust building tips:

Trust is an action. It’s something we do. Knowing how to build and operate with trust is an essential success ingredient for titleless leaders. Want to learn more? Download the first chapter of The Titleless Leader (on right side bar), Operating with Trust.

A Titleless Leader Would Have Handled It Differently

Posted on by Nan Russell

Last week, I conducted a workshop in Alaska on being a titleless leader. We’d planned a couple days of sightseeing before the event, so my husband and I found ourselves waiting in a long rental car line, after a five hour flight. It was early evening on a Friday, and we were anxious to get settled at the hotel and find a relaxing place for dinner.  Unfortunately that wasn’t to be anytime soon.

The single representative was struggling to resolve an issue for the woman at the front of the line. We were a few customers back, with more pouring in behind us as people made their way from the baggage claim area. Finally, the frustrated rep called for help, mentioning that she was new here.

Her boss arrived and fixed the problem she had been struggling with for 10 minutes. Barely glancing at the lengthy line, he walked back into his office, leaving an inexperienced young woman to handle everyone.

I’m amazed that someone who leads a customer focused operation would walk away from so many customers.

If he’d been a titleless leader, operating with an ego-detached attitude of contribution and service, the impressions he left would have been positive, not negative ones. A titleless leader would have:

  1. Anticipated the line might expand after a flight and been there to assist Continue reading →

What Titleless Leaders Know About Politics

Posted on by Nan Russell

Office politics, that is! No matter how you define it, the phrase “office politics” emits a reaction. What’s yours?

There are some who believe work is a game to win, and survival of the fittest necessitates “dark-side” politics. Others believe the way to win is not to play.

However there’s another option – one used by titleless leaders.  They believe that helping each thrive helps everyone survive.

Titleless leaders serve up something I call “dependable politics.” Their best-self ingredients yields trustworthy politics, resulting in a positive use of influence others can depend on.  These ingredients include:

  • Well-intentioned behaviors
  • Integrity, ethics, and trust
  • Positive influence designed to make a difference
  • Honest relationships focused on big-picture outcomes and common goals,
  • Sharing, cooperation, and collaboration.

These uncommon behaviors enable titleless leaders to get things done with help and support, no matter their role.

Quick Ways to Sample The Titleless Leader

Posted on by Nan Russell

How do you know if a business or career book will connect with you? If it’s real-world enough? If the content rings true for you? If it will help you? Inspire you? Challenge you?

My suggestion? Sample it! Here are 4 excerpts from The Titleless Leader:

Plus, download the first chapter (see side bar), Operating with Trust.

 

It’s Not the Place to Work it Used to Be. What Now?

Posted on by Nan Russell

I heard recently from someone who just finished The Titleless Leader, and was describing several changes in the workplace that troubled him. No longer was his organization a trusting and collaborative place to work. After layoffs and multiple reorganizations, the culture he enjoyed before had been crushed.

So what’s a titleless leader to do? He posed two questions:

“What are the strategies to lead people and survive in this environment?”

“How does a titleless leader affect change and avert this madness?”

I hear similar comments often in my work. Here are a few places where titleless leaders can start their thinking:

  • Define what it means to you to “survive in this environment” – i.e. what will it “look like” if you survive?  Without that self-understanding of what you’re looking to do, it’s hard to Continue reading →