Corporate Communication Strategist

The 3 Levels of Sudoku Awareness

2008-02-12T05:54:00.000-06:00

Do You, Sudoku ?

In all of my travels, I have found that there are three levels of Sudoku awareness.

Those that say "Sudoku, no clue." To be in the 'no-clue' crowd you must not open a paper, you must not leave your home and you must not be too interested in the world around you. Life is either spinning too fast for you or has come to a stand still.

Then there are those that say "Sudoku, for you!" The 'for you' guys have either tried Sudoku and had their self-esteem seriously impared by the challenge so have decided that the stress is just too much for them at this time. Or, they have simply seen the numbers, thought the game would require math skills and remembered that they can't add or subtract without a calculator.

Finally, there are those that shout "Sudoku, wohoo!" The 'wohoo' crew have experienced the addicting rush of achievement and keep coming back for more. These are the grid junkies. It is at this level the Sudoku leadership principles can be understood and continually practiced.

Wouldn't it be nice to practice your leadership skills and not lose your job if you make a mistake?

Tell me your challenge and I will show you a Sudoku leadership principle that can help you meet that challenge.

The Patient Sudoku Player

2008-02-05T16:11:00.000-06:00

OK - you have been on a number rush in your Sudoku game. The voice in your head is screaming "I AM INVINCIBLE." Then you hit the wall of 'no clues' and the game begins to slow down. Patience begins to run thin and three things happen:

We make assumptions
We make bad decisions
We become impetuous

What happens to your game?

Sometimes I quit in frustration. Other times I slow down, follow my plan, and my patience always pays off when I finally see the clue that breaks the wall.

How's your leadership game? There is a rush we get with achievement and a wall we hit with challenges. Being successful depends on whether our patience runs thin or we slow down to follow a plan. If we become impetuous the rush controls our success - or lack of it. The wall is there for a reason and that is to teach us how patience can be an investement in our leadership success.

Sudoku Survival

2008-01-29T08:25:00.000-06:00

Every book I have read on how to solve a sudoku game covers the same 5 perspectives, but always in a different manner. They all mention some form of solving for a row, column or cube. Some start with the obvious groups having the most numbers while others start with the obvious number that occurs the most within the grid. None of them mention my personal key to success and that is to have a plan and stick to it.
Three things about a plan help me to be successful with my game:

I always start in the same place.
When I get frustrated it doesn't slow me down because I know the next step.
I always come back to the plan to be successful with my game. (no matter how long I have been away from it.)

Leadership is the same in many respects.

We all have our style of leadership. Some styles are successful, others are not as effective. If our 'plan' of leadership is not creating the results we want then maybe we need to change the plan to create a proven record of success.
Even the most successful leaders can become frustrated when their efforts are not producing results fast enough. Patience and perseverance helps to keep us focused that we are only one step away from the goal.
When challenged, we should always come back to our 'plan'. As a leader, the 'plan' includes those proven skills that have taken us to success before.

Change the approach to your sudoku game. Create a plan of approach. Use your past success skills it will support your future achievement.

Remember.... Effective change always begins within.

The 5 Sudoku Game Perspectives

2007-12-20T07:33:00.000-06:00

I am sure most of you went through a period of personal emotional devastation while you were learning the game. You remember when you thought you were doing so well, only to find two number 6's in a row !!!!! I became very frustrated but learned quickly that all I needed was a plan of attack to be successful. That plan starts with seeing the game from 5 perspectives.

A horizontal group
A vertical group
A single row
A single column
A cube

We all know the simple rule of sudoku - put the numbers 1 through 9 in each row, column and cube without duplicating numbers in any row, column or cube. This simple rule is what has hooked the world on the game. Numbers are understood across cultures, countries, demographics, and geographics which is why sudoku needs no translation. The game turns us into adrenaline junkies with it's ebb and flow of achievement. Stay tuned to learn the tricks of each of the 5 perspectives and have achievement adrenaline at your finger tips.

The Sudoku Leadership blog is back

2007-12-19T09:42:00.000-06:00

Over the last few months I have taken my passion for sudoku game theory from blogging to the print media. Now I'm back and will share those more developed theories with my blog community.
We all know that there are 5 perspectives to solving a sudoku game but did you know that those 5 views can teach you 9 basic leadership skills. Yes indeed, you no longer need consider your sudoku passion a waste if time.

Did you know you can learn how to create a vision for your team by playing the game?
I am sure you have noticed the decision making tricks you learn through the game. Right?
Have you picked up any relationship lessons during the "mindless" time spent?

You will get all of these answers over the next few weeks. You will also be the first to get the progress on the upcoming book, Sudoku Leadership. Meanwhile, you may just have to settle for a live keynote performance. I will keep you posted.

Sudoku Leadership Lesson #2

2007-02-04T13:25:00.000-06:00

Step Back to See the Vision of Success

When you play Sudoku, do you labor over filling each individual square with a number or do you step back and look at how the numbers relate to each other within a series of box clusters. Stepping back became a key factor in improving my Sudoku game and is also a key factor in developing effective leadership skills. Seeing the big picture allows leaders to share a vision with their team. The vision gives your team a purpose and that purpose gives your team motivation to have soaring performance. So, next time you play Sudoku, step back – see the big picture – see the vision of your fast, accurate puzzle completion – when playing in competition, see your score soaring.

Sudoku Leadership Lesson #1

2007-01-29T17:56:00.000-06:00

To win consistenty, you have to have a plan.

If your goal in playing Sudoku is to finish faster and with greater finesse then you need a plan. Once I developed an organized approach to my Sudoku game I was able to reach my goal faster and look like a pro at the same time. Successful leadership has a similar foundation, it requires a plan. Leadership skills can be learned if you just have a plan. Some people put their plan in place earlier than others and practice the plan until the skills are second nature and it appears that they are born leaders. Seeing the big picture, making effective decisions, team building, motivation, and goal perseverance are skills that leaders are made of. Recognizing and focusing on building those skills is the first step in becoming a successful leader. And to think, playing Sudoku planted the seed that in order to win consistently you have to have a plan!

Subliminal Sudoku Secrets

2007-01-21T22:19:00.000-06:00

Are you one of those intellects addicted to the latest number game rage, Sudoku?

Well, unbeknownst to you, you are being taught several skills that can be translated to leadership characteristics. I have identified six subliminal messages that are learned as we struggle to perfect our Sudoku game. Over the next few blogs I will share those six skills, and who knows – as I perfect my game I might even find more.

For starters, I challenge you to think about your game.
Do you “see the forest” when you play or are too busy looking at the “leaves on the trees”?
Do you make little notes in the squares of what numbers could possibly qualify or do you write your number choice in pen?

Feeling a bit self-conscious? Check back for the translation to leadership skills.

Indecisiveness is the Key to Flexibility

2006-09-23T17:05:00.000-05:00

In one of my recent seminars, a participant used the title phrase in his defense of his decision making style. We were discussing the 4 appproaches to decision making used by the 4 basic behavioral styles. Those 4 decision styles are :
- The Driver or Director is quick and decisive with no looking back once the decision is made.
- The Socializer or Initiator is slow, and the decision maker has to feel good about the choice but will be doubtful if challenged.
- The Relater will make collaborative decisons being democratic in his choice but will remain open for discussion once the decision is made.
- The Thinker or Analyzer will be very detail oriented, a victim of paralysis by analysis but once the decision is made, it will be solid.
Our decision making style can be changed if it does not serve us well. The obvious barrier experienced is that of indecisiveness. Even if you are in the process of making the decision, when the deadline for action is missed the expected goal or result is altered.
So, what is expected in your workplace? Is "done better than perfect" or is "accuracy worth the wait"? Depending on the industry, your style may need to be adjusted for you to be successful.

Verbal Profiling

2006-07-07T17:32:00.000-05:00

Is music motivational? It’s like a Starbucks Venti® Double Espresso or the nitro in a street racers supercharge. It’s not meant to be sustained just to get the adrenaline pumping. During a recent work session I needed some ‘motivation’ from my favorite rock station and realized they had not played my favorite ‘nitro charged’ tune, so I called the request line. As I asked to hear ‘Ridin’ by Chamillionaire the DJ said “From the sound of your voice you must be a closet Chamillionare fan”. BUSTED!!! How did she know I was middle class, middle age, white, female and not typical of their fan base? I had been profiled by the tone of my voice. She was a ‘Y-Gener’ and probably couldn’t understand WHY a Baby Boomer wanted to hear such an outrageous tune. There are 3 parts to the music experience: the image, the words and the beat. The beat is the adrenaline. It works for me and as I use to blast my adrenaline to my co-workers or team members it always worked to get ‘em pumped up …. or at least give 'em a break.
Whether your music choice is Chamillionaire or Chopin,
music is motivational.
By the way, the DJ never did play my 'nitro charged' tune. BUMMER

Growing in Greenwich

2006-06-12T07:41:00.000-05:00

It's all good!
Everything happens for a reason and it's all good. If you can't find growth in every day you are not looking close enough.
All of these statements talk straight to our attitude. Attitude is a choice...and a lifestyle. It takes daily practice to choose a growth attitude in challenging moments. What could possibly be the growth message in difficult situations ? How about humility and patience. Since my professional presentations focus on 'Effective change ALWAYS begins within', what a blessing to have the opportunity to practice what I preach.
It's all good in how we perceive and use what happens to us. Personal or professional, our attitude is a choice and I choose growth.

Driving Positive Change

2006-05-29T21:30:00.000-05:00

Our window of perception sets our attitude for change and that attitude will determine the speed and success of the change.
Perception => Attitude => Speed/Success of change
The more positive experiences we have with change, the more positive our attitude toward change and the faster any change will be made.

So, the question is:
How can we make change a positive experience?
And, the answer is:
Maintain structured, dependable and open communication.

Successful change in the workplace has to combat a lifetime of good or bad experiences that make up the perceptions of each individual involved in the change. Personally, I change cautiously, often belaboring the options and possible outcomes. The key to each successful change has been a structured, dependable, and open communication connection to a supportive source. Whether the change was personal, professional, or organizational, success was assured when I -
1. set a structured communication plan,
2. knew I could depend on the communication being honest
3. had the opportunity to express my thoughts, concerns and successes
Professional and organizational change is often team driven. Personal change is a different challenge because effective change ALWAYS begins within. While some of us are slow off the starting block we have developed a positive perception of change that drives us to the finish line.

Hopping in Houston

2006-05-16T16:06:00.000-05:00

Business is cooking and seminars are being marinaded. I am expanding my presentation of one of the Communication and Leadership Programs we are doing. Today, I am working on the section about giving and accepting criticism productively. Some of my research says that criticism should not be sandwiched between praise. I would challenge that statement. I am an avid believer in praising a persons strength, then telling them how that strength can support a requested change. I see that as supportive criticism not sandwiched between mindless praise. If criticism is presented in this supportive manner it is easier to give and easier to receive. The change might even happen if someone believes they have the ability to make the change.