Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

Literally.

Yesterday I had to walk through a revolving door to get into the airport.

• It was a big revolving door.
• Only two sections.
• Each could hold several people at one time.

I rolled into my section.

• As a team we moved forward.
• All focused on making our flights.
• And the door stopped.

We shuffled our feet.

• There was an UGH or two.
• And then it started moving.
• Until it stopped again!

After the third stop, I started to look around.

• It was getting old.
• Tempers were rising.
• What was going on?

Discovered a lady who did not travel often.

• (It was obvious.)
• Who did not move with the door.
• The door stopped when it hit her bag.

With a little coaching, she started to move.

• The door finally swung around enough so we could pour out.
• I’m not sure if she was just clueless.
• Or liked the power?

Either way, she definitely held up progress yesterday morning!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…when the world is moving forward, do you keep up so doors will open? Or refuse to move and stop your chapter’s progress?

Filed under: Savvy Leadership | No Comments »

Leave me alone.

Yesterday I flew home from Tampa.

• Got settled in the plane.
• Man next to me started the social chat.
• I shared I do leadership development.

He started to talk about himself…

• His job.
• A woman he knows who does what I do.
• And about Oscar night.

He launched into a description of his favorite movie.

• I gave all the clues that I didn’t care.
• I was grumpy getting on the plane.
• And he wasn’t helping my case.

He shifted to how his daughter-in-law is not sharp.

• His son was smart to not marry a professional woman.
• A non-driven woman who is silly.
• But knows her job is to stay home to raise children.

He then, knowing that I travel for a living, asked me if I have children.

• I couldn’t help myself.
• I said yes, I have one.
• (Raindrop counts, right?)

He sputtered in disgust, how old?

• So I shared - my baby was four and a half.
• Her dad stays home with her.
• And works on her skills every day. (Sit, stay, down!)

The guy got mad and made some crack about my warped world.

• Because of how I lived my life.
• According to what he thought he knew about me.
• (Was I terribly bad?)

The good news: he stopped talking to me - for the rest of the flight.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…Can you take a hint on when to press your members and when to hold?

Filed under: Savvy Leadership | 3 Comments »

   I won!

Last night I was comfy in my chair.

• Good book in hand.
• Adoring dog snoring near by.
• All was well.

Until I heard the scuffling noise…

• Scratch, scratch, shuffle, scratch.
• Some critter was invading my house.
• No way was he going to stay.

I knew exactly what to do.

• I ran for the kitchen.
• Grabbed the oil of peppermint.
• And doused a few pieces of cotton.

Zipped back in the front room.

• Placed the cotton on strategic vents.
• Turned the heat up just a smidgen.
• Peppermint wafted.

In a matter of minutes…

• I was in the peppermint palace.
• The critter high-tailed it out.
• And Raindrop snored on.

Another victory for the Peppermint Queen!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…are you prepared to take action when challenges come your way?

Filed under: Adventures of Raindrop, Savvy Leadership | No Comments »

   UGH.

My computer is playing tricks on me.

• It’s connected to a big screen.
• And has decided to amplify everything.
• I mean everything.

Working on my computer is a challenge.

• All the fonts are 24 point - or more.
• Normal screens shots don’t work.
• I only see a tiny piece of the big picture.

As a big picture person, this is driving me NUTS!

• How can I see relationships?
• It’s too much emphasis on too little!
• I’m making some dumb mistakes as a result.

I’ve got a crazy busy day.

• I don’t have time to play with my computer.
• And yet, I’m so slowed down.
• Maybe I don’t have time to NOT play with my computer to get my normal view!

I can’t imagine living life with such small blinders on.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…are you leading with a big picture view - or a tiny piece amplified?

Filed under: Board challenges | No Comments »

   Do you trust me?

My answer?

• No.
• I like you lots.
• And it’s still no.

Got a promotion today for a conference.

• The focus is something I might be interested in.
• The registration fee about $1,000.
• Probably $2,000 with travel.

I go to the site for details and find only program titles.

• Some are sort of snappy, but…
• No speakers identified.
• No learning objectives.

How am I supposed to know if…

• If I want to hear the speakers?
• I need to be away from home a few more nights?
• It’s worth the money?

I won’t be going based on that promotion - would you?

Makes me think of chapter leaders…do you give your members the information they need to feel they are making a great decision in saying “yes” to you?

Filed under: Magic Meetings | 2 Comments »

   Inbox treasures.

The second and third email bugged me.

• Same basic content.
• Same call to action.
• Same lack of interest from me.

Here’s the third email “John” sent me.

I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion, but I wanted to confirm you’d received my previous message. My company, XYZ, helps other companies turn paper documents into digital data to lower costs and increase productivity. If you have any interest in learning more, please simply reply to this email or call us at xxx-xxx-xxxx. We look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
John

Why start out with an apology?

• Especially if this program is all it’s supposed to be.
• Didn’t need to read beyond first phrase.
• I don’t hang with losers.

It’s all one paragraph.

• A blob.
• Not easy to skim.
• But easy to delete.

Finally, the call to action needs CPR.

• He has one - and it’s terribly weak.
• If I’m interested, call.
• I wasn’t, so I didn’t.

No more apologies please!

Makes me think of chapter leaders…do you need to apologize for the emails you send to your members?

Filed under: Savvy Leadership | 2 Comments »

   It’s all about me.

Yesterday we grabbed lunch with a friend.

• Decided to try a new restaurant.
• Just opened.
• No reviews yet.

The place was pretty empty.

• We were greeted by the manager.
• He offered a booth up front.
• Told him we wanted a table.

He took us to the table in front of the kitchen window.

• It wasn’t one of those fun, watch-the-kitchen kind of places.
• It was the cook’s window.
• And server stand.

I was shocked.

• What was he thinking?
• Especially with lots of nice tables beyond the window.
• We felt un-special.

He lost points for his restaurant before we took our first bite.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…do you take a moment to view your actions through your members’ eyes?

Filed under: Getting More Members Involved | No Comments »

At Disneyland.

I spent this week speaking at Disneyland.

• Came in a day early.
• As a snow precaution.
• And to check out the park - my first time.

Disneyland is a pretty neat place.

• A wealth of history.
• Fascinating service.
• And fun rides.

Also a ton of lines.

• Long lines.
• That may take more than an hour.
• For an ride that may take less than five minutes.

And yet the treatment of lines was fascinating.

• They wound back and forth in various patterns.
• In and out of rooms.
• With amusements along the way.

We didn’t just stand in lines - we experienced them.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you make the mundane an experience for your members?

Filed under: Board challenges | No Comments »