HPISolutions

Monday Message from Jerry Houston, Chairman of HPISolutions

Over the past few weeks, I have been writing about the ideas of Leadership and Continuous Learning. Why do I keep harping on these two concepts, you ask? I’ll tell you why. They are indispensable.

After 56 years in the business world, with 30 of those years in Leadership Development, I have discovered that Great Leaders become Great because they never stop learning. I think you will all agree that being an effective leader is not easy. There are loads of Managers in the world but very few, True Leaders. I don’t know about you, but I am convinced that the way to Great Leadership is by learning from those who have come before us. Studying the great leaders of the past and present teach us many valuable lessons… if we are willing to learn them.

Here are some examples:

If you lead and no one is willing to follow, you are really walking alone – (unknown)
The true sign of a great leader is humility and will – Steven Collins
Listen 80% of the time and talk 20% of the time – (unknown)
Never Give Up, Never Give Up, Never Give Up! – Winston Churchill
Understand Your Why – Simon Sinek
There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity – Douglas MacArthur
Seek first to understand and then be understood – Stephen Covey
Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway – John Wayne
Believe first in Mutual Benefit, Respect and Trust – Jerry Houston

I could go on for days! What is important is that you keep your mind open to possibilities and believe that there is a solution to every challenge. Resiliency is an absolute characteristic of Great Leaders. A willingness to change and grow is a constant process and is necessary for long-term sustainability.

And, finally, remember that Knowledge is NOT Power…APPLIED Knowledge is Power.

Have a Great Week!

https://hpisolutions.com/leadership-and-learning-are-indispensable/

Leadership and Learning are Indispensable - HPISolutions Leadership and Learning are Indispensable. Why do I keep harping on these two concepts, you ask? I’ll tell you why. They are indispensable.

Read this week's Monday Message from Jerry!

The Entrepreneur as a Continuous Effective Learner… What’s That?

https://hpisolutions.com/the-entrepreneur-as-a-continuous-effective-learner/

Continuous Learner Entrepreneur -Monday Message- HPISolutions The Entrepreneur as a Continuous Effective Learner… What’s That? Being a Continuous Learner refers to the ability to continually develop and

ARE YOU AN ASPIRING ENTREPRENEUR?

Our friends at Trusted Advisors Network (TAN) have been entrepreneurs, literally, for most of their adult lives and have built an amazing national network of independent affiliates who use the curriculum and related services produced and supported by the TAN organization. This is the epitome of being in business for yourself, but not by yourself. I have been a member of this wonderful organization for over 30 years.

Below is an article the folks at Trusted Advisors shared, and we in turn want to share it with you.

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Do you want to start your own business, but aren’t sure if you have what it takes? If so, you’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs struggle with the same question: how do I know if I’m entrepreneur material?

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Everyone is different, and no two entrepreneurs are the same. However, there are certain traits and qualities that many successful entrepreneurs share. If you can identify with these, you may have what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

1. You have a Vision
The first and most important trait of any successful entrepreneur is vision. You must have a robust and clear vision of what you want to accomplish with your business. A vision drives you forward and guides the decisions you make. It will help you stay focused and motivated, even when things get tough.

2. You’re a Risk-taker
To be an entrepreneur, you must be willing to take risks. You must be ready to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. You may fail, but you also may succeed. The willingness to take risks is essential in business.

3. You’re Willing to Learn
Entrepreneurship is a journey of constant learning. You must be willing to learn new things and adapt to the ever-changing business landscape. You must be open to new ideas and be willing to try different strategies.

4. You’re Self-motivated
Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. You must be highly self-motivated to succeed. You must be able to push yourself, set goals, and stay focused on them. Self-motivation is key to staying on top of tasks and meeting deadlines.

5. You’re Resilient
The road to success is rarely a smooth one. As an entrepreneur, you must be resilient enough to endure challenges and setbacks. You must stay focused on the end goal and keep pushing forward, no matter what.

If you can identify with these traits, you may have what it takes to be an entrepreneur. But don’t forget: entrepreneurship is a journey. You must be prepared to work hard and stay focused on your goals. There will be highs and lows, but if you stay determined and don’t give up, you can succeed.

Want to know more? Reach out to [email protected] and we will be happy to introduce you to the Trusted Advisors Network.

Have a Great Week!
https://hpisolutions.com/aspiring-entrepreneur/

ARE YOU AN ASPIRING ENTREPRENEUR? - HPISolutions ARE YOU AN ASPIRING ENTREPRENEUR? Do you want to start your own business, but aren’t sure if you have what it takes?

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Ushering in a New Year is always exhilarating and brings with it the hope of new adventures, successes and overcoming challenges. The team at HPISolutions is so grateful for all of our clients, partners and friends, and the excitement of what is to come in 2023.

We wish for all of you a year of blessings and only good things.

Have a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year!

The HPISolutions Partner Team

This week's Monday Message from Jerry:

Valuing Others… The Secret Ingredient

Ok, I will let you in on a little secret… it’s no secret!

The truth is that all this stuff you hear from us consultants is horse puckey (well, maybe not ALL of it!)

The truth of having a happy and engaged workforce that doesn’t want to work anywhere else is:

VALUE THEM

If you are totally honest with yourself, what is it that you want from others? Do you want to feel that you make a difference and that what you say is important? Do you want others to appreciate your efforts and contributions to the cause? I think we all know the answer.

When you value another person, it is an affirmation that they matter. That they are important to you, and that you will sincerely consider their input to the decisions that you must make in the business, even if that decision doesn’t go their way.

In the end, when people feel valued, everything else falls into place, because succeeding as a team in your business becomes important to everyone. Remember the old saying, “stopping one man who is running down the field is one thing, stopping a hundred is another story!”

Have a Great Week!
Jerry

- HPISolutions Ok, I will let you in on a little secret… it’s no secret! The truth of having a happy and engaged workforce...

This week's Monday Message from Jerry

How Well Can You Read Other’s Emotions?

In the last Monday Message, I introduced you to Tom Lemanski, a long-time industry colleague and friend. In the last article, Post-Pandemic Hangover?, we talked about the idea of a Pandemic Hangover, or the impact that this challenge has had on all of us.

In this week’s message, I’d like to invite you to complete a quiz with us that will answer the question: how well can you read other’s emotions?

This simple quiz demonstrates that you must pay attention to others to understand where they are really coming from. People’s eyes are highly expressive. They provide valuable clues about their emotions in play. We invite you to take this NY Times survey to learn how well you read other’s emotions. Let’s see how you rate. (The link to the quiz will be in the message on our webpage).

The average score for this test is in the range of 22 to 30 correct responses. If you scored above 30, you may be quite good at understanding someone’s mental state based on facial cues. If you scored below 22, you may find it difficult to understand a person’s mental state based on their appearance.

Have a great week!
Jerry

https://hpisolutions.com/how-well-can-you-read-others-emotions/

How Well Can You Read Other’s Emotions? - HPISolutions How Well Can You Read Other’s Emotions? I’d like to invite you to complete a quiz with us that will answer the question.

Monday Message from Jerry Houston, President and CEO of HPISolutions

Post-Pandemic Hangover?

Long-time colleague and friend, Tom Lemanski of Leadership Breakthroughs, recently wrote an article and was happy to allow us to share some of it with our readers.

The question is, Are You Now More Risk Adverse? The answer is, how could you not be affected by what has gone on over the past few years? People everywhere have experienced endless uncertainty, fear and doubt over the recent past. We are all on a seemingly endless roller coaster. Here are some of the symptoms that point out this fact:

The Great Resignation
Decline in Work Ethic
Quiet Quitting (i.e., disengagement)
Reversed Work/Life Balance (stronger value for family and personal time)
Decline in Social Skills
Social Injustice Anxiety
Covid Brain
Increased Risk Aversion

That’s a lot of symptoms. For the sake of brevity, our friend Tom focused on just one… Are You Now More Risk Averse? To deal with this issue it is best to:

Admit that it has happened to you
Realize it has also happened to those you lead
Utilize your awareness to seek ways to regain your mojo and encourage others to do the same

As Warren Buffet has been quoted to say “Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.” To overcome our Pandemic Hangover, the symptom of Risk Aversion, consider swapping the word “greed” in favor of “assertive.” So… Be Assertive when others are fearful.”

So, the leadership challenge is, how will you help your followers to first discover and then let go of their fears in favor of being more assertive in the face of lingering fear? It’s all about the power of positivity vs. negativity.

Have a Great Week!
Jerry

https://hpisolutions.com/post-pandemic-hangover/

Post-Pandemic Hangover? - HPISolutions Post-Pandemic Hangover? Long-time colleague and friend, Tom Lemanski of Leadership Breakthroughs, recently wrote an article and was happy to

People Just Can’t Be Trusted! - Power Idea from HPISolutions Executive Strategic Partner, Laura Dillingham
The world of work is changing and it’s going to continue to change. Do you have a hard time with people working a hybrid schedule or remotely? Are they getting the work done and meeting the goals? Do you feel uncomfortable if you can’t physically monitor them? Do you try to reach them and can’t? There are answers to all these concerns.

I have learned from working with leaders that they know their team. I use an activity when I coach. I ask the person to write down the names of their employees. Then I tell them I am going to take one person away at a time. I then ask them to put them in the order they are going to give them to me. Do you think they give me their best person first, second, third or even fourth? The leader has just ranked their staff.

How do leaders rank their team? Well, it’s really pretty simple. Some of the criteria they use may be:
• Who has good communication skills
• Who meets the goals and objectives
• Who works smarter, plans, and uses time management
• Who does what they say they’re going to do; they can be counted on every time
• Who is a strong team player, partners and works well with others
• Who steps up when there are issues to try to resolve them
• Who steps up to help others to ensure the work gets done and deadlines are met
• Who makes good decisions
• Who is dependable, consistent, and trustworthy

A good rule of thumb is past behavior is a good indicator of future behavior. If the employee has consistently met all the criteria above, what would make you think they won’t continue to do that in the future? The bigger question is if you don’t trust someone why are they still working for you?

There are steps you can take to build a hybrid and a remote culture. These are just a few:
1. Create an exceptional onboarding process; be explicit about your work policy
2. Communicate the vision, mission, and goals clearly
3. Prioritize meaningful work; set clear goals, objectives, and due dates
4. Specifically define how you work together
5. Schedule face time using current technology
6. Set a foundation built on trust and psychological safety
7. Always assume best intent

Allowing your employees to thrive and reach their full potential is a way to build trust while strengthening organizational culture. Your organization may also need to establish a new strategy that fosters collaboration, equity, and visibility.

Have a great week!
Laura

People Just Can’t Be Trusted! - HPISolutions - Power Idea Do you have a hard time with people working a hybrid schedule or remotely? There are steps you can take to build a hybrid and a remote culture

The Only Certainty is Change

I am a big fan of the book, Who Moved My Cheese?, by Spencer Johnson and Ken Blanchard. Written in 1999, was so far ahead of its time in explaining how people tend to deal with change in their lives… usually not well!

But as I say in the title of this Monday Message, the only certainty is change. Don’t believe me? Ask yourself if something is changing, right now, in the world around you, every minute of every day. It is inevitable.

So what do you do? As Johnson and Blanchard point out, you can sit and wish that the old cheese would remain as it always has, or… you can embrace the new cheese and find a way to make it work for you.

Another truth is that not everyone reacts to and accepts change at the same rate of speed. And yet, we as leaders, announce or pronounce change to everyone, at the same time, and expect universal acceptance… it ain’t gonna happen! If we know our people well, we can add lead time to the announcement of the change for some folks, or, at minimum, give more time to accept the change. On the other hand, we all have a responsibility to understand that the only certainty is change and get on board as quickly as possible. Why? ‘Cause somebody moved your cheese and the old cheese isn’t there anymore.

Have a Great Week!
-Jerry

https://hpisolutions.com/the-only-certainty-is-change/

The Only Certainty is Change - HPISolutions The only certainty is change. Don’t believe me? Ask yourself if something is changing, right now, in the world around you, it is inevitable

We are Thankful

It is at this time of year that we can reflect with grateful hearts for all that we have received.

This is especially true this year as we, at HPISolutions, reflect back on 30 years in business.

It takes a great deal to sustain a business, through both good years and not good years.

Yet, I think it is incumbent on all of us to take a longer look at our businesses and careers.

How is the track record over the long haul?

What about all of the wonderful blessings we have received over time?

We are thankful for all of the wonderful clients we have served and built relationships with.

We are thankful for each other in our partnership, and for our families and friends.
Yes, we are thankful and we are blessed. We wish the same for you and yours this season.

HPISolutions offices will be closed Nov. 24-25 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

#2022

WHERE DO YOU WORK?

One thing is for sure, the world of work is changing at a pace more rapid than anything we have experienced in the past…and it will continue.

The name of the game, I believe, is to be flexible and open to new possibilities. There is the traditional go to work five days a week, of course, that helps to ensure that we will all be sitting on the freeways in traffic early morning and evening every day, and then there is the work-from-home model, where it is business clothing optional from the waist down, and finally, the hybrid model where there is some work from home and some office-bound work.

Whichever model you are currently in, be flexible as organizations struggle to determine the best model, each bringing its own set of challenges. Among these challenges is making sure that everyone stays connected. As great as tools like Zoom are, they aren’t a complete replacement for connecting with others face-to-face. Organizations need to work hard on creating opportunities for the team to get together periodically, to conduct teambuilding in a remote or hybrid environment, and also to be sure everyone understands the changing rules of communication that are required in these diverse environments.

As a 100% virtual company, HPISolutions makes sure that we maintain high touch in a high-tech environment. It isn’t as difficult as you might think. Feel free to reach out and ask us how at [email protected] We would be happy to help.

Have a great week!
Jerry

https://hpisolutions.com/where-do-you-work/

WHERE DO YOU WORK? - HPISolutions Where do you work? One thing is for sure, the world of work is changing at a pace more rapid than anything we have experienced in the past…