Tight Budgets Don't Have to Mean Tight Minds

Natural cycles occur in nature---expansion followed by contraction; contraction followed by expansion. In both cycles we may experience a bit of amnesia. In expansion, we act as if things indefinitely will remain good. In times of contraction, we have a tendency to reduce life and possibilities to a postage stamp.

Success in 2011 may well depend upon employing lessons from both cycles. In a year of “fiscal responsibility” we will hear a lot of “what we need to do without”. I propose that what we need to guard against is tightening our minds and attitudes. Here’s why— we may very well slam doors shut that can lead to innovation, trust and motivation. What to do? Consider the following 5 things…

1. Expand ways to positively challenge yours’ and others’ potential. For certain people are challenged with “busy” and “a lot to do” but that doesn’t mean their minds and hearts are stimulated. Find something of interest to stretch knowledge, talent and skills.

What’s in it for you? Energy and momentum spill over which can be applied to the less attractive tasks. For instance, one customer’s team wanted to know more about the “business” side of administration. A team leader easily shared their expertise. Competency and career advancement was strengthened in the person who shared and ones who received.

Many clients find that learning coaching skils or offering coaching services to emerging leaders or key employees is one way to maximize talent, improve morale and retain good people.

2. Contract attitudinal extremes Avoid being a Negative Nate or Susie Sunshine. Things are not all good or all bad. Distinguish valid concerns that while uncomfortable need solution from immediately thwarting dialogue and flipping issues to --Now let’s not get negative--let’s be “sunny side up”!

3. Expand connection. In tight times, it’s easy to shrink our connection with others. Fact is we are fortified with informational, emotional, physical and spiritual support. Creating spaces to talk it out, arranging fun activities that involve staff and customers, holding a pot luck lunch day contribute to feeling part of something, elevating spirits and nurturing relationships that pave the way for more trust.

4. Contract shooting ourselves in the foot. Frustration and apathy abound when we continue to make the same choices by not allowing a “time out” to look at the big picture. Frequently too much time is spent attending to “urgent” and not enough time contemplating what’s important—planning, goal setting and reflecting. In our need to “do something--anything” we pile changes upon changes because we didn’t allow enough time for initial changes to work and we end up roller coaster changes and “Coulda had a V8” regrets.

5. Expand a formal process for encouraging and capturing ideas. Contributing new solutions jazzes people, ignites innovation and lifts energy. Consider involving customers, businesses and community to expand the pool of ideas. Different perspectives add dimension to possibilities and inspire a “we’re not the only ones facing this stuff” attitude and “we can work this out” solutions. Note the difference...

Every quarter one of my customers invites and accepts innovative idea proposals from staff on how to improve performance and systems. Proposers are given discretionary time to plan, execute and test their ideas over predetermined period of time. The company acknowledges contributors’ report of their story and concrete outcomes at Quarter’s end with pop, pizza and presentation. Thousands of dollars are saved as a result of these ideas.

Given a similar task, a medical center supervisor took a shoe box, cut a hole in the top of it for submissions and labeled it “Opinions”.

Tight budgets don’t have to mean tight minds---or hearts for that matter!