Author Archives: Kimi Ziemski, MBA, PMP, CSM

Wow.  Talk about unsportsmanlike conduct.

Last night Myles Garrett dealt a blow that will reverberate for at least the immediate future of his career.  Why do I believe it is only the immediate future?

We don’t seem to have much of an attention span these days.

If there is a lesson to take from this event, then, we’d best take it quickly.

Let’s start with the immediate participants.  Garrett and Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph are both, albeit in unequal portions, to blame for this getting out of hand.

Didn’t anyone teach either of them to walk away?

Garrett is quoted as saying all sorts of things – all of which are considered ‘appropriate’. Here’s what I keep looking for.

Why hasn’t he apologized to Rudolph?

If John Maxwell’s principle of 360° Leadership is anything to go by, Garrett shouldn’t have to wait to be told what to do.  His conscience and values should have already informed him.

The NY Times coverage, being my primary source of information here, also cites Brown’s coach and Mayfield, the Cleveland quarterback, as weighing in as well.

Still no apology to Rudolph.

Leadership is not about ducking responsibility. It’s about owning up to the harm your action has caused. And it’s not about you – it’s about the people you have harmed by your actions.

A culture that is truly leadership driven is about everybody.

What is your team’s culture? Does it celebrate the collaborative spirit of each of the individuals or does it tempt people with the rewards for ‘rock star’ standards?

Learn more about how team leaders can create and support higher performing teams at leadershipdrivenprojectmanagement.com or on the KSP Partnership channel on YouTube.

Or, of course – you could always contact me directly! kziemski@ksppartnership.comNFL - Penalty called forNFL - Penalty called for

There is another term for death in work culture. That word is ‘meetings’.

You know I’m right. You just smiled. I don’t mean to suggest you haven’t had wonderfully productive, engaging meetings that took exactly the amount of time needed and gave all in attendance an energetic boost similar to a fruit smoothie.

You have had those meetings. But counting them only takes a few fingers.

There are zero reasons why a meeting has to be long, tedious and implicitly disrespectful of everyone’s time.

I’m not suggesting it has to be a wild ride. But it does have to be a participatory sport!

You can’t complain about a boring, tedious meeting if you’re making your shopping list or, even better, texting colleagues about what a boring meeting it is.

Unfun Fact: You may be part of the reason the meeting is a de facto torture chamber!

You have to find the edge of your seat in a meeting. It is not a time for multitasking. Meeting with your colleagues requires a single focus. It’s not just about respect (but that’s part of it), it’s about pushing the meeting to its close, topic by topic, minute by minute. Your time is valuable. The best way to make that clear is by leaning into the meeting.

If you’re chairing the meeting, then all the better. I once knew a man who survived a serious heart attack. Post-hospital stay, he was intently focused on not wasting his time as well as others. Being in one of his meetings was a joy. He kept everyone focused, politely managed people who repeated what had just been said and decided and moved quickly toward that wonderful agenda item called ‘Adjourn’.

They were meetings where everyone had to lean forward to keep up and were all the better for it.

Are your meetings bracing or boring? If they’re the latter, you can shift into a higher gear now!

If your team meetings are roadblocks rather than driving results we’d love to talk with you about a few practical things you can do – info@ksppartnership.com