Fun with Flowcharts

Posted on 16 May 2012 by

Draw in Blocks!I love spreadsheets.

I admit that when it comes to spreadsheets – I have about two hundred of them via Google. They were my greatest internet based love..

Until I found the wonder that is the online flowchart.

Then it was like my entire world exploded. I know – I’m geeking out.. but hang with me for a second.

For someone like me who has their business based almost entirely in a virtual capacity, the flowchart has given me the ability to “build” a real structure into my business model and it can do the same for you.

Virtual flowcharts have a place in your business starting right now and here is why and how you should use them..

Why

So what’s a flowchart? A flowchart is essentially a diagram of your business so to make this easy, think about your current business plan and structure. If you are anything like the millions of entrepreneurs out there you’ve probably sketched out a 5 year plan and the organizational structure of your business. You know what your plans are, what the goals are, and the processes and people it takes to make it happen.

But this is all either in files on your computer or in random notepads isn’t it?

With flowcharts the entire process above becomes simplified.

Use flowcharts to draw out your business and visually brainstorm what it takes to make your company happen. You can use these to draw out boxes or circles (or anything you like) to take you step-by-step through the entire building process so instead of having just that text you have a clearly defined and charted out path that leads you straight to success.

How

  • Goal Structures – Use flowcharts to chart out milestones and goals as well as all the tasks or jobs associated with them.
  • Business Structures – Use flowcharts to run you step by step through the processes that need to be in place to build your business. This will help alleviate the confusion about where you need to be next in creating your dream career.
  • Brainstorming – Who doesn’t brainstorm about their business? With flowcharts you can draw out those ideas and separate them, then chart all of the ideas that come from THOSE ideas.. the inspiration is endless!

Where

There are various products on the market today. If you are using InfusionSoft you may find that the most recent function called “Campaign Builder” is exactly what you need. If you are on the net and looking for products, Gliffy is an excellent resource that is tailor made to create flowcharts that inspire you to work harder and more efficiently. DrawAnywhere is also a great program that you can use to make your flowchart and the great news – no downloading!

Trust me. Take the time out to look at how flowcharts can help you build a better business today.

Monday Mindset: What else can you do?

Posted on 16 April 2012 by

What do you do?I was reading a post on Bob Howard-Spink’s blog in which he compares to-do lists with Leonardo Da Vinci and suggests that as well as a ‘to-do’ list, we can all benefit from having a ‘things I’ve done’ list. (You can read the complete post at http://dld.bz/brfZr.)

So it got me thinking. Have you ever noticed that there’s something you find easy to do, but which other people admire and regard you as very skilled because you can do it when they find it hard?

Chances are, you acquired that skill in a completely different phase of your life or in a different context, but nonetheless it gave a capability that you can be proud of.
For example, in my 20s, when I did a lot of competitive debating, I never imagined that one day it would give me total confidence in front of a video camera! But when I trace back the origin of my ability to speak to camera without any notes, I’m pretty sure it’s a consequence of many hours spent at a particularly barbaric form of debating known as ‘2-person debating’. (Five minutes to prepare then the toss of a coin decides which side you’re on.)

Whatever the niche that you currently operate in, I’m sure there’s a lot more that you can do and many more activities that you enjoy.

What about making a list of your capabilities? Not the kind of list you make to impress a potential client or to put on a CV. Just a list for your own pleasure. A list of things you can do. To remind you how far you’ve come in your journey through life and to appreciate the opportunities you’ve had.

My list would include: Hanging wallpaper, baking a cake, reversing a canal boat into a berth (you don’t know how impressive that is unless you’ve ever tried it!), ballroom dancing and chairing a meeting with formal progress of a motion in line with Roberts’ Rules of Order. And I might add measuring a man for a bespoke suit but I wouldn’t want to brag…
So, come on, today celebrate the amazing skills that you’ve picked up over the years and revel in the variety of different things you can turn your hand to. There is more to life than niche marketing!

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Guest blog post – written by:
Dianne Lowther Master Trainer of NLP

Dianne Lowther is a Master Trainer of NLP and Principal of Brilliant Minds. She specialises in applications of NLP for leadership and business results.

Monday Mindset: Are you a Multiplier or a Diminisher?

Posted on 02 April 2012 by

Multipliers: How The Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter I’ve just finished reading a GREAT book: Multipliers: How The Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown.

The book is written primarily for leaders in corporate organizations – but the messages and lessons are equally applicable for you as a coach, if you have any kind of team. (And if you’re a Mum with any number of kids, as I’m finding out in my own household!)

The main premise of the book is that managers who work with people by being Multipliers get 2.1 times MORE from their people than people who think and behave as Diminishers.

Now don’t get me wrong – I know I need to work on many of these myself so I’m not sharing this with you from a place of ‘this is what I do’ but I’m certainly determined to progress along this path from this point forward. In fact I’m even a little nervous of my team reading this post as I know they’ll recognize many of the Diminisher traits in me right now – but that’s great – I’m up for being challenged on them as I grow into  Multiplier.

My hope is that you get this book and decide to join me on this journey.

Are you up for it?

So with that said – here are the main beliefs and assumptions of a Diminisher – (the other end of the spectrum of the Multiplier) – see if you recognize yourself in any of these…

  1. “Really intelligent people are a rare breed and I am one of the few really smart people.”
  2. “Other people will never figure things out without me.”
  3. “People who don’t ‘get it’ now never will therefore I’ll have to keep doing the thinking for everybody.”
  4. “I need to tell people what to do, make all the important decisions and jump in and take over when someone appears to be failing”

And the results of these assumptions? You will almost always be right because your assumptions cause you to manage in a way that produces subordination and dependency.

Contrast this with the mindset and behaviours of the Multiplier:

  1. “People are smart and they will figure it out and get even smarter in the process.”
  2. “People get smarter by being challenged.”
  3. “If I can find someone’s genius I can put them to work.”
  4. “I give full ownership of the task to this person AND allow them to experience the natural consequences of their actions, whether good or bad – I don’t step in and ‘rescue’ them”

Phew! A pretty tough challenge eh? Especially if you’re a bit of a ‘recovering lone ranger’ like me! The authors have a great 30 Day Challenge to help you move along the continuum to become more of a Multiplier – go check out the book.

There’s also a test you can take right here to see if you’re an Accidental Diminisher – love to know what you find out! http://multipliersbook.com/accidental-diminisher/

Monday Mindset: What can we learn from Vince Cable?

Posted on 26 March 2012 by

Time to Learn!Last week the newspapers in the UK were full of the latest story about Vince Cable, the Business
Secretary. A document had been ‘leaked’ to the Press, in which Mr Cable criticised the government
for having ‘no vision’ for business.

So what?

Well, as Business Secretary Vince Cable is part of the Government. As Business Secretary he is the
person who leads the Government’s involvement in private business. So from where I’m sitting, he
may as well have leaked a document saying, ‘I’m not very good at my job’!

There are two lessons in this for all of us:

Firstly, whenever you feel like criticising someone else over a problem, consider what your own
responsibility might be. Have you really done everything you could to resolve the issue or prevent
it? Is it really and truly only down to that other person or is it possible that you have contributed in
some way to the situation you’re now complaining about?

The good thing about accepting responsibility for creating a problem is that it shifts you into the
mindset where you can create the solution. (Known in NLP as being ‘at cause’)

The second lesson is this: If you are going to speak to the world at large, (or your customers,
or your organisation) think about what you’re saying first. Be clear about the purpose of your
communication; think about exactly how to phrase your message. Consider some of the possible
ways that what you say can be interpreted and make sure that none of them are damaging to your
purpose.

Actually, there is a third lesson here as well. If you’re part of a team and you criticise the team, who
comes off worst?

(Please get in touch if you’d like me to work with you on crafting or delivering productive
communications in your organisation)

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Guest blog post – written by:
Dianne LowtherMaster Trainer of NLPDianne Lowther is a Master Trainer of NLP and Principal of Brilliant Minds. She specialises in applications of NLP for leadership and business results.