Rudy Miick.com

Gear Up: Conscious Capitalism, Conscious Leadership

It's that time of year again in N. America.  The mornings are crisp, afternoons are hot; the sky has a golden glow to it, thanks to the refraction of light from turning leaves and trees in various shades of fall.  Above 9 thousand feet there's snow and it's not going to melt anytime soon from now on... I love it.  If you're reading this blog you likely do too.

The new SKI, Boulder based ski magazine, has just arrived and the last page is adorned with thoughts from Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard.   I am captured by what he offers in very simple terms:

"Everytime I'm stumped in a business problem, it doesn't matter what it is, the answer is always, "Increase the quality.  Always."  He goes on, "And that's not common in business."  Sales are low decrease the quality, make it cheaper." "If you increase the quality you never go wrong."

Chouinard then offers a quote that exhilarates me, "Whether its the quality of the employee benefits or the product itself".. ("if you increase the quality you never go wrong.")  I appreiate his reiteration that People ARE important!  The WE is important to my production and execution as a company!  Duh!

When asked about sustainability he screams of the less than intelligent use of the term... and offers you and me to be responsible, as responsible as we can be in any given situation.   This offers us the opportunity to ask a VALUES driven question in any work, guiding a client, in the back country ourselves, or in a boardroom with our own team... "How do we be the most responsible we can be here?"  More so, What does being responsible look and feel like here and now.  With THIS issue?  (what ever the issue is.)

Is Chouinard an optimist?  He says resolutely, "NO."   He states in so many words because the next generation is scared there is where his hope and optomism sit.   

....

As I read Chouinard's message, thanks "SKI", I find myself all the more saying to myself and to anyone with whom I'm in bounds or out, in a board room or dining room, BE responsible; make the choice to BE conscious instead of unconscious.   To Chouinard's point raise the bar rather than lower it.   What ever gear were riding, wearing or using, use it wisely, be awake.   

Each decision I or you make impacts a pond of people.  Each choice I make creates a ripple.  And the impact of my actions, our actions IS apparent somewhere.   For this winter season coming, I hope you can join me in consciousness, leadership that holds the whole of "WE" at the same time it holds "I".

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One quick plug in support of all the above, I'll be taking leaders and leadership groups into the high country beginning January, February and March 2012 in the Frazer Valley at Winter Park, Colorado.  Join me and my amazing team! ... drop a line or give me a call for more specific info!

You make a difference!  Own it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leadership, being choiceful...

Check out this web link to Rossi... Not a plug for them as a company, simply the BEST web site I've found to explain turn technology with rockered ski design...

The metaphor's for leadership will come later, in the moment, what comes to mind is simply BE choiceful.   The link below can likely assist understanding and hence, choice!

IF you ski and IF you're confused or just interested, this is a cool link... to the marketing folks and my peers... yes I know the link takes you away from my web site.   That said, call me naive, I'm more interested in support and success for you and yours than pretending to hold you hostage on our site!  

So, go get the info you need and come back when you're ready to USE the technology, ideas, possibilities to take you and your performance to a higher level!!!

http://www.rossignol.com/US/US/rossignol-innovations-alpine.html

Excuse the pun... "rock on!" 

More soon! - R

Leading: The Journey of Inspiring instead of Policing!

Those that know me are aware I've used the metaphor of high quality work performance being akin to Special Forces.   With Bin Laden "out" as of yesterday thanks to the efforts of US Special Forces, it seems appropriate to raise the metaphor again.  Please know I do so with no intention other than celebration of all it takes to be an elite force, with literal life and death in ones face.   

Over the years I've had the honor to know a number of special forces guys.  One I train with, in winter on alpine skis, is on active duty; yes, in Special Forces. He's a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and is a weapons specialist.  That's about all he'll say about what he does, no specifics, ever.  Don't ask.   At the same time, he is excited to talk about training, training design, and most of all to share the kind of expectations one has when it comes to training and the expectations of performance in general.

Discussing training and performance expectations of special forces has been deeply satisfying for me and more so, fun.  What I have believed to be true and have been told is true is resolutely confirmed yet again through first hand lengthy conversation with my training buddy:

For the Army special forces comprise about .5%, that's right 1/2 of 1% of the total fighting force.

Special forces is not for everyone. 

Yes, Special Forces follow orders.  

More so, EVERY element of their work is defined with explicit clarity.  Behavior "x" is excellent, any behavior other than "x" is not.  Expectation: performance excellence, nothing less.   Define this behavior consistency in business terms and you have BRAND.   More, BRAND consistency!

And more is true and this is where Special Forces IS unique, above and beyond the normal military brand.

When ever any leader is missing, the members of the team, take ownership/leadership of their actions.   They take their training to higher level and take charge.  This means they self manage, manage each other and support each other in their team/unit!  They do NOT need or require a manager, a boss, someone to tell them what to do.  They take charge and are accountable for each and every action and interaction. 

THIS is BRAND Magic!   

If we need to police each other to get our work done, somethings just "off."   At the same time, if we haven't defined excellence clearly enough for our team/unit to perform without perfect clarity, WE as leaders are the one's who have failed, not our team.   

Want BRAND excellence?

Make it tough to get a job in your business.

Make performance expectations resolutely clear.

Provide the tools needed to complete the job.

Support and celebrate accountability and WALK YOUR TALK!  Let me make this point clear:  As leaders we need to walk OUR talk!

There's a lot of pride in doing great work.   Define what great means, do NOT rely on common sense, because there is none.  The only way to develop skill is practice.  Without a shared definition or shared expectation, there is no such outcome as either special or magic.  

The more clearly you and I define our performance culture the closer we can get to Special Forces performance.   Then again, not everyone IS cut out to be Special Forces.   What do you want?  

Special Forces takes work, it doesn't happen by accident.   And the work is paradoxical at root: follow orders, take charge, both are true simultaneously.  Both ends of the spectrum demand clear definitions of excellence, hiring right, constant training and celebration rather than derision of performance.

Intrigued?  Be in touch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leadership Programs Partner!

In the coming weeks, we'll be posting our summer, fall and next winter programs for the Miick Institute.  

We're really proud to have Winter Park Resort as our high country partner for logistics, and "classroom" host... 

Oh ya... about the classroom, check out the link below with the wall photos!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Winter-Park-Resort/41780374729?sk=wall&filter=2

 

Stay tuned for what I will take the liberty to name the most dynamic high retention leaning (and applicable) management and leadership curriculum in the Country.   If you'd like to find learning that MOVES the profit and performance needle AND provides a smile on your face at the same time, come check us out!

Thanks for following us on facebook and twitter as well!

More soon!

 

 

 

 

More with Leadership on Purpose!

Check out this post from my blog on Posterous... 

It's fun to see and hear leaders talk about being conscious, uncomfortable and mindful... this is what Miick Institute is all about... 

http://morefrommiick.posterous.com/

 

In the Fall Line April 7!!!!

April 7 is coming fast…

 

For you as a leader, the learning and experience at In the Fall Line is as real as it reads.

 

More so, the program offers leaders NEW POSSIBILITIES, and NEW SELF AWARENESS.  This program supports leaders to THINK AND FEEL.  

 

Our program supports you to STEP INTO CONFLICTS of beliefs, yes, VALUES, and supports your own self awareness.  

 

What’s most potent is this is a program offered to leaders by leaders… bonus: there’s no judgment, no good or bad.  You are free to risk all you want to expand possibilities and to accomplish movement, thought and actions you don’t typically get support for.   Say it again in a slightly different way: This is program for leaders and facilitated by leaders.

 

Here’s what you get: support, clarity on what you’re doing and support for what you could be doing… the faculty is world class, the experience is challenging and all about movement and success, putting learning into action!  … leadership, performance and yes, the bonus is your skiing is going to improve too!

 

Oh by the way, what have you got to lose?  If you’re not happy you don’t pay.   If you are happy this program is most assuredly a tax deduction as an educational program.  

 

Here’s a link for you: 

http://www.miickinstitute.com/winter_park.html

 

Please note there’s a link within the link to Winter Park for specific pricing, accommodations and more.

 

If that’s not enough… call me directly: 303-413-0400! 

 

More thoughts on this program and others we have in the “miix”

See you there!

Rudy

 

In The Fall Line

April 7 - 10, 2011... 

Short notice, no doubt.  Regardless I'm offering you a recipe for success:

Integrate

a. the most potent elements of your personal leadership skills

b. your passion for excellence

c. your desire to get the performance you expect and more so, the NEED for that performance in your organization.  

Next,

d. integrate your own ability to look in a mirror and own your own challenges as a leader

e. add to a. - d. the ability to explore, build on, learn and take your own skills as a leader further than you thought could be possible.

f. now step outside in April, on snow, in the sunshine and high country, put on a pair of skis and begin to explore the possible and what you thought likely impossible...

Add to your efforts and exploration, world class coaching on skis and equally skilled business coaches with proven track records... and you have "In the Fall Line." 

Your CFO might think this thing sounds like a ski vacation.  Don't be fooled.  We go from 6:30 in the morning to 9pm at night.   Constant dialogue, exercises, tools that will provide metrics for soft skills like communication and cutting drama in the work place by 90%... I'm not kidding here...

Check out this link... and click on "Skiing"

 

http://www.miickinstitute.com/leadership.html

 

Call me or write and find out more... 

And... If you know ANYONE that works for a living and who skis, please pass this on.   The learning AND application from this event has proven over the years to be retention that lasts for a career... 

We're proud to have Winter Park Resort as our official partner at the Miick Institute.   And we'll be offering more programs over the summer, fall and next winter too... for now, this IS an event not to be missed even with the short notice!

Thanks for taking the time to read this... 

 

 

 

 

 

In The Fall Line

The Miick Institute has just partnered with Winter Park Mountain Resort to provide you or a leader near you, an amazing learning opportunity!   

Winter Park is at the heart of the Rocky Mountain, Continental Divide.   Is beautiful beyond words and high enough to take your breath away... oh and by the way, the world of work shows up here in vibrant ways!

Our first leadership program on skis is being offered in little more than 30 days from now, April 7 - 11, 2011.   If you're interested in building sales by 50% in 6 months or learning how to quantify soft skills like communication or delegation... you'd be smart to attend.   All the more if you love skiing.  And if you don't... come anyway.  

Ya right... 

Your CFO may think this is a ski vacation... head's up folks, it's anything but.

In the fall line is jargon in the ski world for the most direct line down a mountain... straight down.   The steeper it is, the more challenging, the faster you move.   The steeper it is, the more courage it takes to stay on course.  Oh ya, the metaphors are endless and so is the counter-intuitive nature of alpine skiing.

So, what looks like a vacation is actually a vibrant learning field.   

Come with a leadership goal, a company goal, maybe a team goal and, oh yes, come with your personal skiing goal... you want to improve?  Maybe you want your team to improve in some way... 

Show up.  For little more than a vacation price, invest in yourself and learn to quantify soft skills, build performance and oh yes, move down the fall line more effectively than you thought possible.

No bull here.  If you're not happy, it's a money back guarantee.  If you are happy its a tax write off.  You can't loose either way.  So... 

The Winter Park Resort web site will be posting info later this week... 

Dates are: April 7, 2011 with an evening check in.  We're on snow, rabid learning the 8th - 10th, you're headed home the morning of the 11th... 

Last, doesn't matter if your team loves or hates snow or skiing, the learning is tangible and potent.

 

I'll be posting more this week, with video clips to follow as well as much more.

In the interim, here're a couple testimonials that are, very real and very appreciated... these could be from, ... you:

“The tools that I have learned (from Miick) through Safe Space, and developing Purpose and Values for our business are skills that have also improved my life… I am now awake to many places where I miss the mark.  However, the tools also point me to how I can course correct and improve.  …My increased awareness through working with Rudy has made me a better father and husband, as well as better co-worker.  … There is another aspect of my experience with Rudy that stands out. FUN.  … He has such a positive and infectious SPIRIT.   I just enjoy my time with him so very much.”   - Jim Weisgerber, President, $35M DC Restaurant Group

 

 

“Let me first share with you that the work Miramont Lifestyle Fitness did with Miick and Associates fundamentally changed the culture of our Business.  …Our choice at Miramont is to create our culture proactively, grounded by our Purpose and guided by our Values.  That is where our work with Miick and Associates began.  From there, we implemented new accounting practices, daily expense tracking, op’s cards, the Miramont hiring system, Six Systems change management, Miramont 101, 201, and 301.  The results are irrefutable from a place of pure data.

-          record sales numbers

-          record member retention numbers

-          a fourth club

-          a Purposeful and substantial reduction in expenses

-          an improved bottom line

 

…Believe me when I tell you this is a major shift for our growing Company. …Because of Purpose and Values, Safe Space, and the other tools that Miick and Associates brought to us.

 

While I am energized by the results Miramont has experienced, what I am most thankful for is the personal impact that Rudy Miick has had on me.  As a result of the learning I have stepped into with Rudy, I am a more effective leader, manager, husband, father, brother – a more effective man. 

 

The tools that Miick and Associates brought to Miramont are business tools.  At the same time, the tools are life tools as I choose to let them be.  You should know that my learning has not come without pain and affliction.  This journey has not been some utopian free-ride.  And, it is a wonderful ride!

 

I realize this is a lengthy email.  My intention is to communicate to you the profound impact that Miick and Associates has had on Miramont Lifestyle Fitness and on me personally.  - Shane Hunsinger, CFO, Miramont Lifestyle Fitness 

 

 

See you there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lessons on leadership from skiing... chaos and care

What a week this last one has been.   I've watched those of us in the Christian world move through Christmas and all of us on the globe move into the New Year.  Amazing no, 11 years ago, we thought the tech and banking connections of the globe would collapse, it didn't... 10 years ago the trade center towers did; this last year the banking world did collapse and still came out with bonuses and still holding "all" the money.  And in 1 more year the Mayan's say we're all done... Chaos is constant.  

Fundamental Capitalism is in a fight for its life as the complexity of the world and our interwoven nature of life simply demands social care at the same it demands free enterprise... 

Enter skiing... again... 

I'm struck that the skier/rider responsibility-safety code has relevance here.  When its followed, the code provides us some pretty amazing wisdom on this second day of 2011.  I paraphrase below:

• I am, we are, responsible to stay in control.
• I am, we are, responsible to not hit or impact the skiers or riders below me.
• I am, we are, responsible to look uphill before we start moving to avoid becoming a target.
• I am, we are, responsible to have some sort of brake system, protective device on our gear to avoid gear becoming a random missile.
• I am, we are, when stopped, responsible to stop in a place that is out of the way of others, safe for us and "them."
• I am, we are, responsible to know how to safely load and unload (get on or off) any lift onto which I journey... 
• I am, we are, responsible to read and understand, posted signs and warnings.

Seems to me that these simple guidelines have some relevance to life in general.   And, yes "stuff" happens.

Yesterday, I was on mountain, and the air temp without wind chill added, was -10F.   When I took my young guest and his family in to warm up, there was a patrolman handing out hot cocoa to folks; young competitive skiers were there with coaches and volunteer moms/dads changing layers, hugging kids hard pressed to practice their skills to someday make it to a national team, regardless of frozen conditions; lift operators, perhaps the least thankless job on the mountain, yet critical for everyone's safety and happiness, as we move to keep warm, they stand, and smile and talk and somehow work to maintain their body temperature... all these folks at once sharing the common bond of what is at once both fun and hardship.   

Okay, we're all skiing and riding... this wasn't an earthquake or tsunami or flood... but it was community, smiles of common bond, head nods and assistance when and wherever, without having to be ordered or cajoled into some way of behaving.   

The skier/rider safety code doesn't take much to put into place... awareness yes, consciousness yes, choice yes.   

Imagine if we stayed conscious about each other as community as a way to lead; as a way to get to profit as we step into 2011 and on... 

This awareness of code, awareness of excellence and care for team in support of care of production... this collaborative journey's been a compass for me, my team, and our clients for two and half decades.   My intuition is that this collective conscious awareness is the future if we are to do more than survive and actually... thrive.

Best to you this new year, 2011!

 

And oh, by the way...

Just in case, here's the actual skier/rider code:

1. Always stay in control.
2. People ahead of you have the right of way.
3. Stop in a safe place for you and others.
4. Whenever starting downhill or merging, look uphill and yield.
5. Use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
6. Observe signs and warnings, and keep off closed trails.
7. Know how to use the lifts safely.

NSAA copyright

 

 

Lead and Follow; being part of a group or team; and more...

It's fast turning into winter in the northern hemisphere, over 2 feet of snow above 10K elevation.   The mtn. resorts are blowing snow like crazy, at least at night.   We'll be skiing and riding in bounds all over the rockies in just a matter of days now.   The snow makes me smile every bit as much as a warm beach day with a six foot swell grinding.   Both offer amazing fields of learning.   The cool thing about the mountains is that they're always there.  The fickleness of waves is even when they're running there's only one set at a time and each set creates sincere competition... the phrase "fighting for a wave" is just, real.

All the above is swimming in my mind as I get ready for another winter season of class offerings using skiing, riding and mountains as metaphor for leadership and life lessons.   The Durga Institute has evolved into Miick Institute.  Our leadership offerings have evolved to also include training and development for facilitators, trainers, coaches, and managers.  More and more I see great leadership as having the ability to also be a great participant... active, engaged, aware, awake, conscious of attitude and actions that get "us" somewhere.  

Another lovely irony of the working in the mountain environment is that getting somewhere is sometimes going inside, not indoors, but inside, looking in a mirror, watching, feeling, paying attention to, personal choices, attitudes and actions.    The other way cool thing about the mountains, especially in winter is that if I pretend to be oblivious, unconscious, I can easily end up, uh, dead.  Even, inbounds a resort.   This would not be my personal choice, likely it wouldn't be yours... 

What else as we begin our winter training sessions?  We have a series of 1 day sessions being offered as well as our multiple day programs.  Come and join me and my team.  Learn how to move a group, facilitate a meeting, deal with conflict, provide feedback and delegate more effectively.  Oh, by the way, you'll get more adept at moving down a mountain and through varied terrain at the same time.

Over the northern hemisphere summer and fall, I've been thinking long and hard about what Miick does, and why what we do works.  Here's a quick summary (and I promise I'll get back to the mountains and adventure sports as a teaching/learning tool): 

I am finding myself interested in the group dynamic of why our work works.  What keeps getting clearer is that regardless of the kind of organization, the more clearly I/one can pre-define what we're about to step into, the more likely I/you will not be caught by surprise.  We're more likely to end up with a fit.  

The same outcome will be as effective in conservative, passive, do what you're told types of organizations.  In my experience, these types organizations tend to be more likely to have you figure their culture out through trial and error.   My choice is "no surprises thank you very much," we create dynamic-highly active participatory leader-follower-leader type organizations that move fast, smart, looking for minimal mistakes and constant course correction, with high reliability!!!

Tied to this high performance thing, a colleagues asked me this morning, if some of my references to high reliability and high performance had anything to do with "Managing the Unexpected"?  Yes, what a great book!  And what a great model!  I do my best to live by this... !!!!  Paying attention to "Bolts on the deck" (get the book and you'll know what I'm referring to) and all that... NOT zero defect... 

I am beginning to realize that most "miick tools" are superb tracking systems, designed to build energy and focus.  Each and all keep us on course, constantly vigilant and actively engaged at the same time! I personally love the proactive, rather than reactive.  All we're doing in what we're sharing is in the name of supporting leaders, teams, and facilitators all to create an experience, that blows the mind in anticipatory service and care, excellence in product.  Doesn't matter the industry.. really.

The mountains provide us an adventure play ground. The adventure playground provides a class room in which one is simply unable to stay only intellectual. The environment and adventure sport elements demand total engagement: mind, body, heart soul.  So, each of us, gets to be more conscious of choices. Is what I'm doing effective?  Am I in balance, centered, moving with forces beyond my control or fighting them?   BIg questions here, equally big opportunity for fun, real learning... 

I'm more convinced all the time that the real choice in our 21st century, eco/econo-shock world is to be conscious or not.  If I'm conscious, I will have choices, If I'm oblivious and simply stay in my old habits, unconscious... watch out dudes and dudettes, there's an avalanche right around the ridge line, just waiting for us to slide into obliviously. 

Come and join me!  www.miickinstitute.com

Let me know if any of this random thought writing is making sense for you!  I'd appreciate hearing.  I am doing my best to be conscious after all!

R