Podcasts about tyann

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Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 57:03

This episode is sponsored by OwnerRez. You can discover more about OwnerRez at our Virtual Vendor Showcase: https://vacationrentalformula.com/ownerrez Listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS481 Want to get access to some of our best tools? Get The Toolbox >> https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/toolbox

What Hospitality is with the 2022 Direct Booking Success Summit Speakers

Direct Booking Success Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2023 25:15 Transcription Available

In September 2022, I hosted the second Direct Booking Success Summit, a three-day online summit for hosts, owners and managers in short-term rentals. It was packed with learning from top experts in the field, and today's episode is a recording of a live session I hosted with three of those experts about what hospitality is. They're all so knowledgeable and inspiring, I just had to share the conversation with you. In this episode, you'll get to hear from Di, Bob, and Tyann. Di runs a business called Wild Harvest that offers group-exclusive teepee rentals and activities in North Yorkshire, UK. Bob is the founder of Green VR events and runs a sustainable holiday department in Italy, as well as a new platform called Enviro Rental. Tyann is the Queen of Guest Experience for Touch Stay Digital Guidebooks and owns two property management companies in the USA. I hope you enjoy the episode!We talk about:Hospitality is about welcoming people into your space and making them feel comfortableA good host aims to over-deliver and prioritise the guest's experienceHospitality involves getting to know guests and finding out what they need and wantIt is important to be flexible and easygoing as a hostHospitality can be learned, even if it doesn't come naturallyIt is possible to provide hospitality remotelyHospitality involves going above and beyond for guests, even in difficult situationsHospitality is a significant factor in the success of a business, such as a glamping or events companyHosting guests can be enjoyable and rewardingProviding high-quality hospitality can lead to a positive reputation and repeat businessDo you want to be a guest on a future episode? Apply here: https://directbookingsuccess.com/onethingCONNECT WITH Jenn Boyles:Website: https://directbookingsuccess.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/directbookingsuccessInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/directbookingsuccessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennboylesMarketing Hub Free Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketinghubforholidayrentalsDirect Booking Success Summit:https://directbookingsuccesssummit.com/CONNECT WITH Bob Gardner:Website: https://www.casaldeifichi.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-garner-%E2%93%A5%F0%9F%8C%B3-75a73727/CONNECT WITH Di Hammill:Website: https://www.wildharvest.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetipifolkInstagram:

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TalkingREI - Maximize STR Bookings With A Standout Listing With Tyann Marcink

Resilient Real Estate Investing

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2023 26:34

In this week's TalkingREI we are joined by Tyann Marcink to discuss how STR Investors can win more bookings. Specifically how to optimize your listing to win more bookings. As Tyann will share this is an exercise in marketing all high performing STR operators are required to do. The best STR in the world will struggle compared to a mediocre STR with amazing marketing. This discussion stems from Tuesday's ResilientREI newsletter written by Lauren K. Aumond. Where Lauren breaks down 8 ways your STR listing can stand out. Every Tuesday evening we do a Twitter Spaces at 7pm CT where we hear from real estate pros on what they're doing in their business. Links: Lauren's newsletter: https://open.substack.com/pub/resilientrei/p/str-pro-8-ways-your-listing-can-stand?r=1xcok6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Lauren's Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdultingIsEasy Tyann's Twitter: https://twitter.com/tyannmarcink Steadily - Insurance Built for Investors https://resilientrei.steadilypartner.com Cash Flow University https://gumroad.com/a/963661011/ghprfw Signup for the Newsletter https://www.getrevue.co/profile/ResilientREI Hemlane - Property Management Software for Remote Real Estate Investors https://www.hemlane.com/all-in-one-property-management?utm_source=Resilient-RE Contact / Advertising Inquiry https://resilient-rei.com/contact-advertise-inquiry/

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TalkingREI - Short Term Rental Maintenance with Tyann Marcink

Resilient Real Estate Investing

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 24:08

Short Term Rentals are a very attractive investment. Who wouldn't love to charge $200 (or even $2,000) a night? Yet all that revenue comes with some strings attached - one being additional maintenance required. This discussion recorded via Twitter Spaces on 12, 4, 2022 is all about how to maintain that short term rental to ensure your unit continues to delight guests. Discussion based on the ResilientREI Newsletter written by Lauren K. Aumond: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/ResilientREI/issues/str-pro-maintaining-your-short-term-rental-1490335?utm_campaign=Issue&utm_content=view_in_browser&utm_medium=email&utm_source=For+the+Resilient+Real+Estate+Investor Co-Hosted by Tyann Marcink: https://twitter.com/tyannmarcink Steadily - Insurance Built for Investors https://resilientrei.steadilypartner.com Signup for the Newsletter https://www.getrevue.co/profile/ResilientREI DealMachine (7 day free trial + 100 free skip traces or 25 free mailers): https://dealmachine.app.link/rrei Hemlane - Property Management Software for Remote Real Estate Investors https://www.hemlane.com/all-in-one-property-management?utm_source=Resilient-RE Doorward - Social Media for Real Estate Investors https://www.doorward.com/ Contact / Advertising Inquiry https://resilient-rei.com/contact-advertise-inquiry/

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Ep 267: Streamline Your Guest Experience with Touch Stay's Guidebooks | Tyann Marcink

Fearless Flipping

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 32:27

Ready to take your guest experience to the next level… and make life as an AirBnB Host a little easier on yourself? Touch Stay's Queen of Guest Experience, Tyann Marcink, joins me on this edition of The Fearless Investor Podcast to share how their guidebooks can increase bookings and strengthen your relationship with guests! Get Mount 3 Months for FREE! Get started with Touch Stay: https://bit.ly/touchstaykyle Get 20% off your first year with Touch Stay by becoming a 6FF Member. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/6ffinfopage Want more tools, tricks, and resources? We have you covered! You can check out everything on www.fearlesskyle.com. Make sure to watch the video on the homepage to learn how to get your STR business started ASAP. Check out our Youtube channel where I bring you free long-form content to teach you exactly how I built my business: Click Here. And don't forget to subscribe and hit that "bell" icon to get notified every time we drop a new video. Follow me on instagram: @fearlesskyle And join one of the largest Facebook support groups for AirBnB hosts in the world! AirBnB Masterminds. This is my group, and I drop tons of tips in here. Click here to join. Disclaimer: None of the contents of this channel "The Fearless Investor" are meant as direct advice. The purpose of this channel is to inform and educate. It is the viewer's responsibility to decide if the education is something they will put into action. Kyle Stanley and the Fearless Investor Youtube Channel do not take responsibility for the results experienced by the listener/viewer.

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AIE 143: From Actual BANK to Short-Term Rental with Tyann Marcink Hammond

Adulting Is Easy

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 32:48

This week, Lauren brings you her interview with Tyann Marcink Hammond, short-term and vacation rental expert. Tyann answers the question right off the bat, what is a short-term rental? HINT: It's NOT an "Airbnb" or a "Vrbo." We learn how she got started, with some good, old-fashioned family rivalry. She started like many short-term rental (STR) hosts do, with long-term rentals (LTR) and house hacking. She had some issues with a tenant/drug dealer and that was enough of the LTRs. Lauren's favorite part is when she talks about turning a bank into an STR. The two run through the numbers in detail. Tyann takes guest experience seriously and she offers hosts great tips for communication. Finally, she gives you the push you need to take action (if you haven't already)! About Tyann: Tyann Marcink Hammond, the Queen of Guest Experience for Touch Stay digital guidebooks, co-host of The Guest Cast podcast, industry leader and consultant, co-creator of VR Mastered vacation rental boot camp, author, speaker, and owner/manager of two vacation rental brands: Branson Family Retreats and Missouri Haus. Her passion for the vacation rental industry and guest experience truly makes my eyes sparkle. Learn from Lauren and Tyann in Cash Flow University: https://launchpass.com/cfu/cfu-member/v2?via=lauren Connect with Tyann: https://twitter.com/tyannmarcink https://www.instagram.com/tyannmarcink/ https://www.facebook.com/tyannmarcink https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyannmarcink/ Tyann's tools: https://tyannmarcink.com/tools/ The Bank: https://missourihaus.com/bankhaus/ Subscribe to the Adulting Is Easy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@adultingiseasy Sponsored by Steadily Insurance: https://adultingiseasy.steadilypartner.com/

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The Queen of Guest Experience: Tyann Marcink Hammond, Touch Stay

Alex & Annie: The Real Women of Vacation Rentals

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 58:31 Transcription Available

Tune in for a fun look behind the curtain of this amazing gal that is changing the game for small and large vacation rental operators that want to provide an enhanced experience for their guests! Tyann wears two hats - she operates her own portfolio of properties, and at TouchStay her title is quite literally, the Queen of Guest Experience. Creating a memorable guest experience helps you build your brand and drive repeat business - don't miss this one!This episode is brought to you by Wheelhouse: The Ultimate Revenue Driving Machine. Wheelhouse is offering listeners of our podcast 50% OFF your 1st 2 months - use promo code ALEXANNIE or mention this podcast when you talk to them! http://www.usewheelhouse.com/?afmc=Alex%26Annie Wheelhouse is a proud member of Alex & Annie's List, presented by Rev & Research https://www.alexandannieslist.comCONTACT TYANN MARCINK HAMMONDLinkedinTouchStayCONTACT ALEX & ANNIEAlexandAnniePodcast.comLinkedIn | Facebook | InstagramAlex Husner - LinkedinAnnie Holcombe - Linkedin

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Becoming the Reigning Queen of the Guest Experience with Tyann Marcink Hammond (151)

Bombshell Business Podcast with Amber Hurdle

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 35:54

Tyann Marcink Hammond has truly earned her title in the Vacation Rental Industry as the “Queen of the Guest Experience.” Generous with her knowledge, Tyann freely shares just how she is able to drive direct bookings, repeat bookings and even capture guests' passionate testimonials because their minds are blown by their experience with her two brands: Branson Family Retreats and Missouri Haus. But life would not be nearly full enough for this leader with remarkable bandwidth with just that! In addition to being a vacation rental owner and manager, she is a mom, a wife, and oh yeah…also a brilliant ambassador for Touch Stay digital welcome books, the co-host of The Guest Cast podcast, an industry leader and consultant, the co-creator of VR Mastered Vacation Rental Boot Camp, an author and speaker…and she still the juice to be a good friend, too! (Shew, girl!) My team member and I were recently able to enjoy one of Tyann's pre-conference activities on behalf of Touch Stay, and I'm here to tell you that her “queen” title is legit. Her commitment to experiences is remarkable! One of the first in the industry to connect with me on a personal level, it's been amazing getting to know and learn from this Bombshell, who is equally driven and pulled in a million directions as I am, and who still co-fosters a friendship that honors the ultra-busy lives we lead. Ok, so want a fun fact? Tyann and her husband, Nat, communicate with their guests TWENTY times between their booking and arrival, creating emotional connections and building brand trust with their guests along the way. So tune in to learn how to up your guest or customer experience in any industry by listening to this final episode in the Vacation Rental Takeover of The Bombshell Business Podcast! Connect with Tyann: https://www.twitter.com/tyanmarcink https://www.twitter.com/touchstay https://www.facebook.com/touchstay https://www.instagram.com/tyannmarcink https://www.instagram.com/touchstaywelcome https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyannmarcink https://www.linkedin.com/company/touch-stay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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She Bought a Bank in the Ozarks and Transformed it into an Airbnb — How Tyann Marcink Builds Regional Vacation Rental Brands.

Behind the Stays

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2022 53:45

Meet Tyann Marcink — the Queen of Guest Experience at Touch Stay, a digital guidebook platform for short-term and vacation rental hosts. Tyann has a knack for charting her own path. She's a resilient creative who owns 2 rental management brands and has been active in the vacation rental industry since 2007. Discover Tyann's hot takes about the future of the hospitality industry, hear the story behind how she bought a bank and turned it into a vacation rental in the Ozarks, and learn about how she ventured off on her entrepreneurial journey after losing a college scholarship in this episode of Behind the Stays. Alright, without further ado, get ready to meet Tyann. You can learn more about Touch Stay here. Explore Tyann's Vacation Rentals here. Connect with Tyann on Twitter here. This episode is brought to you by BuildUp Bookings. SEO. Paid Search. Email Marketing. You know they are the marketing trifecta needed to build your brand and increase direct bookings to your properties... But, outside of watching a couple of YouTube videos and listening to a few STR podcasts, you haven't had the time to really understand how Google ranks content or what subject line and preview text combo are the best when sending an email to your list about last-minute availability. If you're listening to this podcast, chances are you're not just any run of the mill STR or vacation rental host — you're an entrepreneur who wants to see their portfolio of homes and the brand that encompasses grow. And this week's podcast sponsor, BuildUp Bookings, can help you do just that. BuildUp Bookings is the digital marketing team that some of the best players in the game use to scale their businesses. I had their founder, Conrad O'Connell on Episode 44 of the podcast...and let me tell you — this guys know his stuff! In just the last 12 months, BuildUp Bookings has helped their clients earn over $48 million in direct bookings. If 90% of your bookings are coming via the Airbnbs and VRBOs of the world, it might be time to audit and augment your direct booking strategy — and Conrad and his team have set up a special landing page for Behind the Stays listeners chock-full of free resources to help you do so. Head on over to www.BuildUpBookings.com/BTS to learn more. And be sure to request a free marketing strategy session with Conrad and tell him Zach from Behind the Stays sent you his way! About the Show Behind the Stays is brought to you twice a week by Sponstayneous — a free, biweekly newsletter that brings subscribers the best last-minute deals and upcoming steals on Airbnb. You can subscribe, for free, at www.sponstayneous.com. Behind the Stays is hosted by Zach Busekrus, co-founder of Sponstayneous, you can connect with him on Twitter at @zboozee.

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The Best Part

21st Century Solutions ... According to Kaylyn and Ramsey

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 9:02

Here's a fun and short one. Kaylyn and Ramsey and Tyann have had a nutty couple of weeks launching the new residential solar financing system and getting ready for their biggest conference of the year: RE-plus in Anaheim, California. Enjoy a few minutes of stress relief including the best part (?) of their otherwise serious webinar ... the first few minutes of chatter as Kaylyn's cats take center stage. Don't we all need a few minutes of friendly chatter? Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/tropicana License code: 3EABE0MBPKFZDSGS

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Succeeding by Making Others Successful

21st Century Solutions ... According to Kaylyn and Ramsey

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 34:45

Introducing ezSolarLoan's new Relationship Manager: Tyann Gausen! Kaylyn and Ramsey chat with Tyann about what her role as Relationship Manager will look like, her professional background, and what she is most excited about coming up. They hit on the idea that ezSolarLoan values communication between and among the financing team, the solar company and the homeowners ... and that a key to ezSolarLoan's success is helping others to succeed. It's an exciting time at ezSolarLoan, as the newly designed system is up and running for the first handful of companies, and Kaylyn and Ramsey and Tyann talk about how that's going and what's coming next! Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/tropicana License code: 3EABE0MBPKFZDSGS

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Blazing Your Own Trail With Tyann Marcink Hammond

The Short Term Show

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2022 36:41

Host Avery Carl chats with Tyann about filling the needs within your market, Touchstay, and 1031 financing. Tyann has been a vacation rental host since 2007, beginning with her properties in Branson, Missouri. She began Missouri Haus in 2017, renovated the Bank Haus and Katy Haus in 2018, and then began managing vacation rentals for other owners. Tyann is considered a leader in the vacation rental industry, mentors other vacation rental owners and hosts through the VR Mastered #vacationrentalbootcamp, and is the Global Community Ambassador for Touch Stay digital welcome books. How to connect with Tyann: https://tyannmarcink.com/ Instagram: @TyannMarcink Twitter: @TyannMarcink Podcast: The Guest Cast How to connect with Avery: The Short Term Shop - https://theshorttermshop.com/ Follow Avery Carl on Instagram - @theshorttermshop For more information on how to get into short term rentals, read Avery’s Book, Short-Term Rental, Long-Term Wealth: Your Guide to Analyzing, Buying, and Managing Vacation Properties - https://amzn.to/3Adg6PA Need lending for your Short Term Rental? Get Pre-Approved on a loan with up to 89.99% of LTV with The Mortgage Shop - https://mortgage.shop/ The Short Term Show is made possible in part by our sponsors. Relay is a no-fee, online banking and money management platform. Spend, save and plan more efficiently with unparalleled clarity into operating expenses, cash flow and accounts payable. Visit https://relayfi.com/theshorttermshop to get started.

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Trust Signals, Brand Purpose & Feedback that makes you improve with Catherine Warrilow

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Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 40:31

In this episode, Andy and Tyann talk to the MD at Days out - Catherine Warrilow. In a conversation full of takeaways from Catherines travel story as well as her work in marketing - this is an episode packed full of lessons for hospitality professionals of all kinds. As well as recounting her holiday booking nightmare, Catherine also talks about how her experience in marketing has led her to approach things differently in order to get on her audience's radar, and gives some invaluable tips for you to do the same. From improving your trust signals, to asking the right questions, all the way to how you organise your content - there's a lot to unpack in this episode. Tyann also challenges you to get in touch with that one thing you're doing differently to make your guests experience easier, better, or more positive. Join the conversation on Twitter and Linkedin.

What is your relationship with money?

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2022 92:15

Ashley & Tyann are sharing the role money has played in their lives, from viewing it as something to give them freedom, to feeling like they needed to hide success.. they are diving into the root of where money blocks start. Follow us on Tiktok & IGJoin the app: https://linktr.ee/peachmangosociety

Luxury Cabins And The Power Of Social Media with Jamie Sinton

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Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2022 32:40

This week, Jamie Sinton joins Andy and Tyann to talk beautiful cabins, travel influencing, and what luxury really means. Jamie's story starts with a cabin that wasn't even available for her to visit. Searching for a place to stay with her family, she discovered a cabin that was still being developed. She followed its story on social media, getting to know the owners and the story of the cabin as it came to life. When it was finally ready to rent, she booked it! On arrival, it truly met all of her luxury requirements. From the music playing as she entered, to the stunning furniture, to the labelled pantry. Jamie discusses what luxury really means to her, and the importance of storytelling in showcasing holiday accommodation to guests. Discover how you can use channels such as social media influencers to captivate guests before they book.

Bad lighting & why you NEED to get it right with Jill Starley-Grainger

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Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2022 26:52

In this episode of the Guest Cast, Andy and Tyann talk to travel journalist and content creator, Jill Starley-Grainger. In this "illuminating" episode (expect more puns like this...!), Jill talks about her wealth of travel experiences - and how there's a pet peeve she runs into time and time again... bad lighting. Join Andy, Tyann and Jill as they share several different "bad lighting" experiences, and discuss how something so seemingly small can have such a profound effect on guest experience.

"Feeling Like You Belong in a Place You've Never Been Before" - With Amber Hurdle

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 22:25

This week, Andy and Tyann speak to Amber Hurdle, public speaker, author and vacation rental industry influencer. Amber talks about how a journey to Europe to connect with her Italian heritage left her feeling completely at home - even though she'd never even been to Italy before! While Ambers' story starts with a deep longing to understand herself better through her ancestors, it unfolds into a conversation about ways vacation rental owners can tap into the history of their guests. She suggests that by focusing on the heritage, background and history of a property or area, hosts can provide a unique stay that evokes a far more compelling guest experience - and make you stand out of the vacation rental crowd. And - Tyann again challenges you to find the special, historical or cultural experience that is local to you - and make sure your guests know about it!

"Give yourself grace" - An Aha moment from Tyann Marcink, Queen of Guest Experience @ Touch Stay

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2022 4:46

This week, we're back to our A-ha moments, and the Queen of Guest Experience herself is sharing some of her thoughts. Tyann talks about the importance of giving yourself some grace when it comes to opening a new vacation rental - after all, not even the 5 star hotels get it right every time.

The Friendship wound- what is this and how do you fix it?

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Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 46:37

Have you ever endured betrayal through friendships? Or felt Jealous of others' friendships? In this episode Ashley and Tyann are breaking down what the friendship wound is.. because turns out, more of us have it than you think. As always, join us over in our corner of the internet: www.peachmangosociety.com

Episode 104 Keepin' Tabs on Peach Mango Society with Ashley & Tyann

Keepin’ Tabs with Tabitha

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2022 38:41

These women will inspire you and give it to you straight. They are sharing their story and empowering women along the way. Go check them out and try out one of their local events.

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Authentic Travel & Feeling like a Local with Drew Pearson

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Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 22:47

In this episode, our very own Touch Stay CTO Drew Pearson talks about two of his life changing trips to Italy - one where he to proposed to his wife, and another when he returned with his family some years later. He talks openly and lovingly about how his love of Travel writer, Rick Steves, influenced the way he travels. He explains how he chooses not to follow the tourist routes "just because" and instead, following his own interests, resulting in far more fulfilling, and memorable experiences In this episode, Tyann, Andy and Drew talk about how hosts can help their guests achieve this kind of experience. Tyann even challenges hosts to create a list of ways that guests can avoid the tourist traps and feel more Spanish, Italian - or, in Tyann's case, Missourian ;).

Self Compassion... do you have it?

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 53:55

Ashley & Tyann are talking about having compassion for themselves, the importance of taking care of your mental health and diving deep into why we awkwardly reject compliments.Check us out: www.peachmangosociety.com

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How to Avoid Delivering Bland Guest Experiences with Wil Slickers

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Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022 33:47

In this episode of the Guest Case, hospitality expert and influencer Will Slicker talks to Tyann and Andy about his extensive experiences staying in hotels and short-term rentals. Touching on how he feels that the hotel guest experience is dwindling, Will, Andy, and Tyann discuss what short-term rental operators can do to help keep the guest experience alive - not just during the more challenging times of covid, but on an ongoing basis. Listen in as they discuss everything from the importance of branding and how well your photos represent your accommodation, to the importance of health and safety - and how the latter of that list often receives less focus than it should. You can find out more about Will by following him on LinkedIn, heading to his directing booking website and you can even listen to his podcast The Slick Talk.

Dreamy Check-ins and Professional Hosting with Jasper Ribbers

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Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 34:04

In this episode of the Guest Cast, VR guru Jasper Ribber discusses his stand-out experiences as a guest, which always find a balance of professional efficiency and quirky warmth. A detailed check-in process in Singapore took the stress out of Jasper's trip before he'd even arrived in the country. Other trips, to Central and South America, stood out because of the enthusiasm of the local hospitality culture - Jasper's hosts really wanted him to have a wonderful experience. Join Jasper, Andy, and Tyann as they discuss the joys and the challenges of catering to modern vacation rental guests. They touch on how hosts can be both unique and professional at the same time - while highlighting the necessity of defining, and meeting the needs of, your "guest avatar".

Three Kids, Africa & The Power of the Tour Operator with Karen Beddow

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Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2021 41:32

Author and travel blogger Karen Beddow, talks to Touch Stay about some of her amazing adventures in Africa - and how she coped taking her young children along for the ride. In this episode, the Andy and Tyann touch on the importance of expectation versus reality, plus the power of the Tour Operator - and how having someone to guide you in an unfamiliar place enhances experience.

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#93 - How to Massively Increase Efficiency in you Vacation Rental Business - Andy McNulty and Tyann Marcink

Living Off Rentals

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 45:19

Our two guests for today have a ton of experience in the short-term rental space, and they are the hosts of The Guest Cast. We have Andy McNulty and Tyann Marcink on the show. Andy is the co-founder and CEO of Touch Stay. Tyann, on the other hand, is an owner/investor/manager and Touch Stay's community ambassador. In this episode, they introduce Touch Stay—what it is and how it works. They weigh in on the absence of clear communication between travelers and rental accommodation hosts, how Touch Stay fills that gap and the opportunities in the vacation rental industry. Tyann also talks about one of her rentals which is considered a unique stay. If you want to know how to maximize your guests' experience at your short-term rental property, this episode is for you! Key Takeaways [02:05] An overview of Tyann's real estate journey and how Andy came up with Touch Stay [07:30] Touch Stay is a progressive web app that creates digital guest welcome books [14:45] On the ROI that Touch Stay users get [18:55] Who Touch Stay is designed for [25:38] How Touch Stay can lead to repeat customers [28:18] On the future of the vacation rental industry [33:08] The responsibilities of owners, hosts, investors, and managers [36:05] About Tyann's bank-turned-vacation rental Links Touch Stay - https://touchstay.com/ Touch Stay on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/touchstay/ Andy's email - andy@touchstay.com Tyann's email - tyann@touchstay.com The Guest Cast - https://touchstay.com/podcast/ Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRpWXe2mWqBm5vvbO2R2AdA?sub_confirmation=1 Living Off Rentals Facebook Group - www.facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals Living Off Rentals Website - www.livingoffrentals.com Living Off Rentals Instagram - www.instagram.com/livingoffrentals

11.18.2021: Rev. Tyann Brown

The Greater Allen Cathedral

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2021 20:37

Pastor Elaine Flake, Rev. Tyann Brown

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Innkeepers & Sustainable Travelling with JoAnna Haugen

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Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2021 32:30

In her thought-provoking episode, JoAnna talks to Andy and Tyann about how a friendly innkeeper made her day, and how the length of her hiking trip reinforced how it's possible for guests to have amazing travel experiences in a sustainable and meaningful way - and how hosts can help tourists do this as part of their sustainability efforts.

Bucket Lists and Meaningful Places with Gethin Nadin

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 31:44

This week, we speak to Gethin Nadin, a UK based award winning psychologist & author, HR influencer - and avid traveler. Gethin talks to Tyann and Andy about his trips to New York and Tennessee, where he sought life-changing experiences and moments that would end up having huge impact on how he viewed his world.

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Pilgrimages, Communal Living & a Bunkhouse with Joette Reidy

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2021 28:20

Founder of Happy Apples, Joette Reidy, talks to Andy and Tyann about how her adventures on the Camino de Santiago made her less judgmental, and why she can't get enough of shared accommodation.

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5 signs you lack empowerment

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Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2021 30:36

What IS an empowered woman?Ashley & Tyann share 5 signs you could be lacking empowerment and how they realized it, plus what you can do to counteract that!

TYANN; INVIRTIO LA HERENCIA DE SU ABUELA EN LA MUSICA Y LO PERDIÓ TODO Y LUNAY LO ACONSEJA

KUZi

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2021 41:58

Tyann llega desde Chile a Estados Unidos para seguir tras su sueños y aprovechar las oportunidades que se le estan dando por acá. Esta bien cb que algun familiar te haya dejado una herencia y no lo inviertas en algo físico que puedas conservar para siempre. Este fue el caso de Tyann, lo perdió todo. Hablamos de esto, de la industria musical en Chile, su familia, y de como le gustan las mujeres! TYANN https://www.instagram.com/tyannhq/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXg_KaWoM6Y KUZI https://li.sten.to/r25SbKg Red Eye Entertainment #elojorojo https://www.instagram.com/elojorojoent/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kuzi/support

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TYANN; INVIRTIO LA HERENCIA DE SU ABUELA EN LA MUSICA Y LO PERDIÓ TODO

KUZi

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2021 41:20

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Tortilla & Tonsillitis in Galicia with Hannah Gardiner

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Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2021 29:12

Heading to Galicia in Northern Spain, Hannah's trip is interrupted when she falls sick, leading to someone very unexpected doing everything they can to help her. In Season 1's bonus episode, Touch Stay's Content Editor Hannah Gardiner tells the story of her first ever solo travel experience. Hannah heads to the north of Spain to enjoy the cities of A Coruña and Santiago de Compostela. After a few days of soul searching, eating “pulpo” and feeling free, she falls seriously sick with tonsillitis (and naturally thinks she's dying!). Alone, scared and bed-bound, Hannah explains how her accommodation host went above and beyond to help her, transforming what could have been a nightmare travel experience into an extraordinarily special one. She also explains how the experience gave her the confidence to continue travelling alone all over the world. In this episode, Andy and Tyann discuss the importance of being able to anticipate your guests' needs. They touch on the logistics of having procedures and teams in place to respond to even the most unforeseeable circumstances, without having to assume all responsibility when your guests get into trouble.

Strangers and Souvenirs in Morocco with Julie Dean

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Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2021 40:51

As an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) with a medal from the Queen, Julie Dean is no stranger to interesting experiences. In fact, she actively seeks them out. During their stay in Morocco, she and her daughter find themselves eating mysterious meals with unknown ingredients, saying yes to invites from strangers, and securing the most precious travel souvenir they could ever imagine. All this, while staying somewhere that was "not polished within an inch of their lives". In the last episode of The Guest Cast Season 1, hosts Andy and Tyann talk about the role the guest plays in making a trip memorable, and what hosts can do to help enhance it. WHAT TO DO NEXT Subscribe to the podcast Leave us a rating and a review Share on your social media Send to a friend Learn more about increasing the happiness of your guests through the guest experience at touchstay.com. Would you like to be a guest on The Guest Cast? Send your story to hello@theguestcast.com.

Velociraptor Robots in Tokyo with John McElligot

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 20:26

A velociraptor and the hum of robots greet robotics expert John McElligot on his arrival at a hotel in Tokyo run by a single person and a crew of robots. The absence of human interaction propels him to discover why he seeks out interactions with the local bartender and others in the community. In this fifth episode of The Guest Cast, hosts Andy and Tyann discuss the importance of human touch in guest interaction as technology rapidly increases in hospitality. WHAT TO DO NEXT Subscribe to the podcast Leave us a rating and a review Share on your social media Send to a friend Learn more about incorporating human touch into your technology stack at touchstay.com. Would you like to be a guest on The Guest Cast? Send your story to hello@theguestcast.com.

Offensive Signage in North Carolina with Wes Melton

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2021 25:01

Faced with a $150 fine for using Netflix, Wes and his family didn't feel welcome in their North Carolina vacation home. In fact, the strong fine for using the well known streaming service during their stay set the guest experience tone as stinky as a wet fish. Founder of Nokori tech platform, Wes Melton had brought his family to the beach for a "workcation" during the pandemic. The multitude of signs around the property warning the family of what not to do made Wes feel like he was constantly under scrutiny and not able to relax. In this fourth episode of The Guest Cast, hosts Andy and Tyann discuss proactive and welcoming messaging, human versus digital interactions, and setting expectations through positive guest communications. WHAT TO DO NEXT Subscribe to the podcast Leave us a rating and a review Share on your social media Send to a friend Learn more about brilliant communications with your guests at touchstay.com. Would you like to be a guest on The Guest Cast? Send your story to hello@theguestcast.com.

Planet D - Evacuation by Seaplane on the Amazon River

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2021 26:00

Travel influencers Dave and Deb (aka Planet D) traverse the South American jungle on a small tour where Dave breaks his back on a remote section of the Amazon River and must be air transported by a tiny seaplane during a ferocious thunderstorm. Not speaking the local language, Deb must rely on translators, the tour company, insurance agents, and local medical professionals for information on her husband's status as she arranges transports to safely get him home to Canada. In this third episode of The Guest Cast, hosts Andy and Tyann discuss the incredible importance and value of travel insurance, especially when faced with a life or death situation from a simple accident that could happen anywhere at any time. WHAT TO DO NEXT Subscribe to the podcast Leave us a rating and a review Share on your social media Send to a friend Learn more about communicating essential emergency information for a better guest experience for your guests at touchstay.com. Would you like to be a guest on The Guest Cast? Send your story to hello@theguestcast.com.

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Rand Fishkin - Beating Up a Vehicle on the Amalfi Coast

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Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2021 20:55

Rand mistakenly leaves a note saying that he "beat up" a stranger's car in Italy, then later struggles to find his parked car, leading to a surprising conversation with the hotel valet. The co-founder of SparkToro and Moz, Rand Fishkin and his wife Geraldine visit "the family" in Europe and get a deal on a high end hotel in the off season, but will there be savings when Rand crashes into a vehicle on their drive down the Amalfi Coast? In this second episode of The Guest Cast, hosts Andy and Tyann discuss how family heritage and hospitality skills are intertwined into the guest experience. WHAT TO DO NEXT Subscribe to the podcast Leave us a rating and a review Share on your social media Send to a friend Learn more about intertwining hospitality in the guest experience with your guests at touchstay.com. Would you like to be a guest on The Guest Cast? Send your story to hello@theguestcast.com.

Elliott Siblings (Scott, Kim, and Tyann)

So What Else is Going On

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 77:18

Kaitlin interviews Scott and his two sisters, Kim & Tyann, about growing up with a sister with severe Cerebral Palsy and then losing her when she was almost 30 years old. There's also LOTS of other stuff like pee in a squirt bottle, how Scott and Kaitlin met, Kirk Cameron...We cried, and then we laughed until we cried. It’s a party. You don’t wanna miss it. Show notes: Safe Families (Foster Program) The Chosen (TV Series) Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children Emotionally Healthy Spirituality The Simple Wild Maybe You Should Talk to Someone The Boys in the Boat Mully (Documentary)

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Alissa Cincotta - Dark Caves and the Louis Vuitton Experience

Keepin’ Tabs with Tabitha

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2021 27:20

We discuss how a dimly-lit cave and shopping at Louis Vuitton dramatically altered Alissa's experience as a guest – and how she now applies the VIP feeling to her own business. Alissa Cincotta is the editor of Behind the Shutter and the wife of world-renowned photographer Sal Cincotta. Her captivating story takes us to the depths of a small winery in Italy and then on to Napa Valley during the California wildfires. In our first episode, Alissa leaves Touch Stay hosts, Andy and Tyann, enthralled by a bottle of limoncello, and shares a simple technique that a luxury resort used to make her and Sal feel like VIPs on their honeymoon. WHAT TO DO NEXT Subscribe to the podcast Leave us a rating and a review Share on your social media Send to a friend Learn more about creating your own VIP experience with your guests at touchstay.com. Would you like to be a guest on The Guest Cast? Send your story to hello@theguestcast.com.

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A Lesson on Likeability

HERdacious

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2021 34:30

Getting Over Being Liked in An InterviewIn this episode, herdacious host Lorelei chats with TyAnn about prioritizing organizational fit in the job interview. Many women tend to approach interviews with an emphasis on charisma, but TyAnn explains why focusing on likeability above self-advocacy and intuition can be detrimental to finding an ideal fit. From dodging the good girl phenomenon to redirecting bad behavior, TyAnn reminds us we interview to speak on our strengths, skills, and expertise not to show off our charm. Let us go forth and abandon the “like me, like me not” daisy from the school days, and instead crack down on our homework to get the dream job!Host: Lorelei GonzalezCo-host: TyAnn OsbornTyAnn Osborn has spent her career enabling business leaders, managers and employees to improve their performance and effectiveness through innovative professional development and strategic talent solutions. Prior to launching her consulting practice, Ty was the Global Director of Human Resources for the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, an organization with a $2B+ endowment dedicated to improving the lives of children in urban poverty. She has also held executive and global leadership positions for Dell, PepsiCo Food Services, and CSC Consulting. Ty currently lives in Dripping Springs with her husband, 2 daughters and furry, farm family members. Things you will learn in this episode (chapter markers available): Organizational fit 1:55Likeability and its setbacks 2:55"Good Girl" phenomenon 6:36 From interviewee to interviewer 9:50Calling out misinterpretation (respectfully) 13:34Onions have layers 19:26Responding to red flags 23:00Homework: How to Nail the Interview 24:34Femme fact: Women’s History Month 28:20Resources mentioned in this episode: Gavin de Becker (author)The Curse of the Good Girl by Rachel Simmons (book)StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath (book)Go Put Your Strengths to Work by Marcus Buckingham (book)Own It. Love it. Make it Work. by Carson Tate (book)Where Are the Women? (report by National Women’s History Museum)Episode sponsors: HERdacity Moonray Looking for additional resources on this topic? Check out our blog “How to Show Off Your Strengths During the Job Search” by Dawn Shaw.Loved what you heard on herdacious and want to share with friends? Tag us and connect with HERdacity on social media:Twitter: @herdacityFacebook: @HERdacity Instagram: @herdacityLinkedIn: HERdacity Email: herdacious@herdacity.orgFor up to date information on HERdacity events, webinars, podcasts, and community activities, join our newsletter here. Disclaimer: While we appreciate our sponsors' support in making this show possible, herdacious content is curated with integrity and honesty.Support the show (http://herdacity.org/donate/)

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Episode 77 Keepin' Tabs on Tyann

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 27:42

Happy International Women's Day! This interview is perfect for today. Tyann shares her passion for empowering women. We talk community, photography, business, and self care. You will love this one.

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VRS379 – Boosting Short-Term Rental Income with Add-Ons – Upselling with Tyann Marcink

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2021 50:58

This episode is sponsored by NoiseAware. You can discover more about NoiseAware at our Virtual Vendor Showcase: https://vacationrentalformula.com/noiseaware Listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS379 Want to get access to some of our best tools? Get The Toolbox >> https://www.vacationrentalformula.com/toolbox

Women's Empowerment with Tyann Bjorkman

Holding Space with Whitney Jean

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2021 34:12

In today's episode I interview Tyann Bjorkman and we talk about my FAVORITE thing, Women's empowerment! Tyann and I find ourself with the same purpose of empowering women, just doing it in our own unique way! If you LOVE this episode and want to connect with Tyann and her community you will find the links below!FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/930521463781038/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyannbjorkman/If you are new to the episode you can find me on Instagram

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Breakfast with Bacon Episode #29 (TyAnn Osborn)

Breakfast with Bacon

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2021 13:33

In this week's podcast, Doug and Ty talk about the power of words and how we have to sometimes "adjust the volume" based on our Strengths and our audience.

breakfast bacon strengths osborn tyann

Stop The Soul Suck — Get Assigned Work In Your Strengths Zone

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2021 20:48

Work In Your Strengths Zone To Make Work Enjoyable How often you work in your strengths zone has a lot to do with living your best life. Here at Lead Through Strengths, we believe that choosing easy doesn't equate to choosing lazy. It means choosing efficiency and getting more of what works for you and what you enjoy focusing on. This may sound too good to be true. But what if the gap between you and your own strengths zone is actually shorter than you think? In this episode, Lisa Cummings and co-host TyAnn Osborn will walk you through some of the ways to get there. Read on and listen as they share stories and lessons that shaped their "work in your strengths zone" concept. Another spirited, inspiring and important discussion that you wouldn't want to miss. Here’s a full transcript of their conversation: Lisa: You're listening to Lead Through Strengths, where you'll learn to apply your greatest strengths at work. I'm your host, Lisa Cummings, and you know, I'm always telling you — it's hard to find something more energizing than using your natural talents every day at work. Well, something that's just about as energizing is when I get to hang out with my other host here in the room, TyAnn Osborn. TyAnn: Hi. Lisa: So today's episode is all about using your strengths to make things easier, to make life easier. It's about doing more work in your strengths zone. There's actually a very high return on effort from using your strengths to get things done. However, many of us do things the hard way. TyAnn: So true. Why do we do that? Lisa: Maybe we don't know we are. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: I know that I've done it in my career or out of habit... TyAnn: Me too. Lisa: … where as a younger performer, and I wanted to prove myself, I would work the longest hours, I would, you know, you have the stuff to learn so you have to go through the learning curve part. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: But then you get in the habit of doing everything through brute force. And there comes some time when it doesn't matter if you work 72 hours a day. That isn't the thing that is going to get you to the next level. If you work in your strengths zone, you're way more likely to crush your performance goals. You have to figure out how to not do it through your hours... TyAnn: Right. Absolutely. I think you have to really keep an eye on: What's the end goal here? What problem am I trying to solve? Am I trying to solve for “I need to work a lot of hours," or am I trying to solve for actually getting an end product done? But you know, this kind of reminds me of when we were in school and we were learning math, because I don't know if your math teacher was like this, but mine was where anytime you learned a new concept, you would learn it the hard way where you had to do it all by hand and write it all out. And then the next day when you came in, the teacher would say, “Okay, and here's the formula." Or, “Here's the shortcut.” And then invariably, you're like, “Why didn't you teach me that the first time?” And then there was always some answer about, “Well, you might be out without a calculator one day and…” — which no one's ever out without a calculator now. So anyway, but it's just one of those “We can get to the same place, and you can get there the hard way or you can get there the easy way.” And it's interesting that as adults or are in our corporate world, we tend to think that the easy way, that there's something wrong with it. And it's funny how many times someone will kind of fight me on this concept, or say like — “That's cheating. I have to do everything the hard way." Or, you know, "Go uphill both ways, little brother on my back, in the snow with no shoes, or else it doesn't count.” Like, where do we get that message? Lisa: It does make people feel awkward. There was a time when I was talking about strengths, making you feel like work is easier, that you could enjoy it, that you could be energized by it, that it makes you feel excellent with less effort. All of the E's you get when you work in your strengths zone. TyAnn: Right. Ease, enjoyment and effort. Lisa: Yes. And they're like, “So, making work easy?” It was this kind of cheating response, like, “So, where the goal is to make everything easy?” As if it's a shortcut that brings low quality. TyAnn: Isn't that funny that it can only be work if it feels like it's awful or hard, or like I have to trudge off to the salt mine every day and... No, that that's not how it's supposed to be. And frankly, if it feels that way, I would say maybe we ought to take a pause and look at what's going on because it doesn't have to be that way. But this is a concept you and I talk about all the time. And I use this almost daily in my conversations with clients and other people and even kids. It doesn't have to be that hard. And you're making it too hard. And so here's where I think having like a spirit guide or a trusted person you can talk to can really help because when you're the one making it hard, it's almost impossible to see that you're the one making it so hard. Lisa: Yes. TyAnn: It can be really hard to get yourself out of that. Lisa: Yes. TyAnn: Yeah. Because it makes sense to you at the time. Lisa: You even did it to me as an accidental coaching one time. I remember I was like, “But I need to do more of this because I want this on my resume. I need this credibility.” And then you said, “It's already on your resume. And it will still be on your resume if you don't do it anymore.” And I had this moment where I was like, “Oh right, it's draining me. There are other ways to build this career…” TyAnn: Right. Easy Doesn’t Mean Lazy Lisa: And I don't have to continue that one. Somehow, I got convinced. And I also think with people like Gary Vaynerchuk, and there's a lot of messaging about hustle, and I'm not saying that hard work isn't good. And I'm not saying that there isn't a time in your career or when you're new to something like in startup mode for something, a lot of times, it is a glut of effort at the beginning. So I don't poo poo the idea of hustle because I don't want that to mean, “Well, then I believe in lazy." But I think that's part of the problem. It is easy doesn't equal lazy. But for some reason, we tell ourselves it does. What seems to be missing is the idea that finding work in your strengths zone can really step your game up. TyAnn: Yeah, I think that's baggage associated with that. Or yeah, that if it's not a struggle, it doesn't count, or something like that. I think that's kind of an American thing, too. I don't know where that comes from. But I would just say, let's revisit that. I don't think that is the way it has to be. Lisa: Mm hmm. TyAnn: I don't think you have to work 28 hours a day. Lisa: How do you know when you're making it hard? So let's say I hire you as a coach, and I'm like, I'm totally overwhelmed. I'm working late into the night, I'm not seeing my family. It's just too much. And you're going to be assuming that I'm probably making something tougher than it needs to be. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: How do we even uncover what it is? TyAnn: I would say, the first thing you've done well is you've brought somebody else to help. So, spirit guide! Again, you don't have to hire somebody. But do ask for help, because being overwhelmed, and then just trying to muscle through — here's what I know to be true: More of what's not working is going to get you more of what's not working. Lisa: Oooooh. Tough truth. TyAnn: And I put that on a t-shirt. And so, and that's often what our natural response is — when something's not going well, like, “I'm just going to double down." Well, guess what? That's going to get you twice as much of what's not working. So good on you that you could recognize “I need help.” But after we don't know where we need help, so here's what I have people do. Just where's the crunchy? Where's the frustrating part? So here's a true story. I was working with an executive at a high-tech computer manufacturing place that we both worked at one time. And she was very frazzled, very frustrated, and you could just see it. She exuded this kind of hot mess energy, you know what I mean? Have you ever met somebody like that, just sort of, it was sort of repellent, honestly. It was sort of like, “I don't want that to get on me.” And you can imagine how that made her team feel and how that made her clients feel. And so I was asking her, like, “What is going on?” And the first thing she said to me was so funny. She said, “I can't get to work early enough.” And I thought, “Oh, maybe we're just looking at ’I work all the time.' Something like that." “So tell me more about that.” Which by the way is one of my favorite questions. “Tell me more about that.” Because never assume you know what they're going to say. I have to tell myself this all the time. "Tell me more about that." And she said, “Whenever I get to work in the morning, people are waiting for me in the parking lot. So they pounce on me when I drive in. I can't even get in the building and set my bag down before people are all over me and everyone is wanting a piece of me like there's nothing... I can't even get in the door and I've given myself away.” And then I, “Oh my gosh, wow." Whoa, I can write a whole book about that. There's so much there. And so we talked about that. And then I just asked her, “What would make your life better?” And she said, “I would just like to walk in the door and put my bag down and get a cup of coffee and have a few minutes to look at my calendar, plan my day, and then start.” And I said, “Okay, why don't we do that?” And so it was a little bit like that kind of doing it the hard way. Her solution was, “I'll just get to work earlier." And so literally, she had backed her work up to where she was showing up at 6 am. But then people kept showing up at 6 am. So whatever time she got there, that's what time they got there. Like, you're gonna start having a cut, you know, in the parking lot. This is crazy. "Why don't you just set a boundary and tell people what you need? And all you need is an hour or 30 minutes or whatever. So that's not unreasonable. Just tell people.” And she couldn't see it. But, so it was so easy for me and so “Aha” for her. So again, she was doing things the hard way. And like I was, “Just make it easy. Let's just set a real easy boundary.” Totally changed her life. Lisa: Hmm. It's amazing one thing — this might be one of your magic powers, because you did it for me, you did it for her... There are a lot of these conversations where you just need another person to help you see how simple it can be to shift into work in your strengths zone. TyAnn: You've done that back to me too. So I appreciate that. You’ll Never Know What’s Possible Until You Try To Work In Your Strengths Zone Lisa: You also have this other great, favorite question. So besides, “Tell me more about that,” one that I think that you've asked very well on this theory of seeing where you've made a barrier between getting to the life that you want and the one that you're in, where you're just like, “I'm making it all too hard and can't do it all," your question of: “What would you do if you were brave?” Now it gets, you have to get in reflection mode to really answer the question. TyAnn: Yeah, don't you love that question? Lisa: Yes. Because even for her situation, this isn't like... A lot of times when we're talking about this brave question, it's more like the “I'm self-actualizing and I'm trying to come up with ‘what would I do with my life if I were brave?’” TyAnn: Right. Lisa: That's deep and it takes a lot of reflection, and there are probably five great answers to it. But what about her scenario, if you just said, “What would your solution be if you were brave?” TyAnn: Yeah. And what's fascinating is, you know, we've talked before about fear, and I think she was afraid to set a boundary, because it was so easy when I asked what would make your life better. She's like, “I just want to put my purse down. I would like to have a cup of coffee. I would like to look at my calendar.” Okay, well, that all seemed super easy. None of that is crazy at all. She wasn't asking for a personal driver and, you know, a corner office or anything crazy. She was just asking basically for boundaries. And okay. Well, what was holding her back from doing that? Fear. Fear that if she told somebody no, what would happen? She would be seen as a bad leader. She would be seen as a manager who didn't really care, that a good manager gives everything to their team. And you know, whatever, all these things, all the “shoulds” she should be doing. And so I love that question. I wish I could take credit for it. I'm sure I heard it somewhere, though. But the “What would you do if you were brave?” because often again, your body knows the right answer, but your brain won't let won't let you go there because of fear that holds us back. So what would you do if you were brave? You're like, "You know what, I wouldn't even do this project.” “Okay, well, why not?” “Because it doesn't matter. This isn't really what we should be doing anyway. This thing is a waste of time. Our customers don't even want this. What would I really do? I would explore this other thing.” “Okay, well, how come we don't do that then?” “Ah, well, because we tried that once and it got shot down.” Or, “Well, you know, we're so far down the path now that we've expended all this time and energy. So I can't. I can't say no." Or whatever it is. And so we don't even let ourselves go there. That's a great question. Lisa: Yeah, it is. And you may not always use the answer, like, that's another really great practical example: "I would scrap the whole project." Well, we go back to this concept of where your personal preferences and your business priorities are that it may or may not align. But if you don't ask yourself the question, you can't discover the action that you could take to explore it. And even if the business decides, “no, that project is going to continue," what if by expressing it and thinking through it in a way that is mature and well-thought-through. Who knows, maybe you end up having a conversation with your leader about that project and they go, “You know, but Jane's been dying to work on a project like that. So if you want to just get reassigned, if this thing's dragging you down, I'd love to get you over on this one.” TyAnn: Right. Lisa: That's a possible outcome. TyAnn: There's always possibilities, right? And I think sometimes we're afraid. Again, fear underlies all this stuff. We're afraid of what the answer might be. By the way, the answer might be, “You know, we just got, we just got to finish.” Which by the way, is always going to be the answer if you never ask. Lisa: Oh, this is like the ultimate sales question. If you don't ask, the answer is no. TyAnn: Right. How Can It Make Things Easier For You? For The Team? For The Business? Lisa: So, you can always ask. Now, there are high-risk requests and high-risk things to put out there. But I think if you've thought through a process like this, like: What am I making too hard? Think about business terms. If I'm going to justify something in business terms, what would resonate with my leaders? What if work in my strengths zone actually translates into more revenue or more productivity (which it likely does). Well, being efficient. Getting a high return on our energy or effort or spend. TyAnn: Yeah, absolutely. Lisa: So if you can find a way to express that, you're more likely to get this new path. TyAnn: Is this something that can help us scale? Is this something that really drives internal productivity? Could we decrease noise in the system? Could we increase market penetration? Could we increase customer retention? And there's all kinds of things out there that could be helpful to you. And again, the answer is always going to be “no” if you don't ask or if you don't think about it. But I think this is actually a really fun, creative question too that I've seen some teams use as, you know, in a team meeting, not every time but maybe once a month. Ask as a team: What would we do if we were brave as a group? And see what comes up. And you know, usually, there's a big silence at first because it's always hard to be the first one to be like, “I think we should ditch that project,” Or you know what. But once you kind of get the ball rolling, it's fascinating. And it's a really cool creative thinking activity. Lisa: Yeah, it really is. And you could take that thinking activity and layer in strengths very literally as well, where you could say: How would you apply one of your strengths if you were brave this week? TyAnn: I love that. Be brave and work in your strengths zone. Lisa: That's like, real practical. TyAnn: I love that. That would be great. Lisa: And then I might say, “Oh, well, I would reach out to that colleague in Latin America, who is on a team and does a similar role. And I've been wanting to get to know him but I just haven't taken the initiative and felt a little awkward... Okay, I'll just… I'll do that and make that thing happen.” TyAnn: You know, it's interesting, and I'll bring up the Relator theme. And that one's a fairly common one, we see that a lot in team Top 5s. It's one of Gallup’s Top 5 for their overall database, and that is a particular theme that tends to get shoved aside because it's not an urgent theme, right? You’re usually not graded on your performance review for how your Relator skills are today. But that one tends to show up high in terms of personal needs, in terms of satisfaction for you. So that could be one of those things that — “You know what, it's not my job description to reach out to the guy Latin America, but that would actually kind of really be satisfying for me, and that would really help me build that relationship. And yeah, it's gonna take a little time and frankly, might feel a little bit awkward at first, but that's what I would do if I were brave.” Lisa: Yeah. And what a great way to circle back to this concept of, “Okay, you're making things too hard.” So I can imagine a scenario where that Latin America team you've been trying to pass your work off and say, “Hey look, we've localized it.” And they're like, “No, you're not localizing anything. You've made some poor translations into Spanish, and it's awful.” And they think you're terrible to work with. And the team is resisting everything you hand off to them. And meanwhile, you have this nice little talent theme, Relator, sitting there waiting in the wings for you to say, “Okay, what would make my life easier? Where am I making it too hard? Where I’m making it too hard is I'm trying to shove the way everyone else has already done it, and I'm not stopping to say, 'I have tools in my tool bag right here.'” TyAnn: Right. Lisa: My Top 5. TyAnn: Right. TyAnn: You’re trying to lead with execution as opposed to a relationship theme when that's your jam. So lean into that. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: And you can even, you know, blame it on us, blame it on the podcast. You can say, “Hey, I was listening to Ty and Lisa, and they said, you can kind of lean into one of your themes so I'm going to try that even though it feels a little weird.” You can use that. And that's a really good intro. And you can be like, “Okay, it didn't work so well.” Lisa: You're probably going to be at least back to where you were before. It rarely goes bad where you should at least ask or try. Just use it. TyAnn: You should give it a try. Again, first thing that can happen is you're back to where you were. Lisa: Yeah. When Work And Life Gets Hard, Lean Into Your Strengths TyAnn: And again, you know, you get better at things you practice. And so just, I would keep trying, but I would just say if something feels hard in life, or crunchy, or you really just feel like, “Man, why is this so hard?” And you hear that oftentimes on teams. I say that, like, “This shouldn't be this hard. Why is it this hard to get a decision made? Why is it this hard to get this thing approved?” That's a really good time to kind of stop and think, “Yeah, what is going on here?” And there is another way to come at this thing, where we can lean into our ease, enjoyment and you know, effort on, and have it just better spent. So that's a really good verbal clue to pick up on. Lisa: It is. Every time I talk to Ty, I think of song lyrics. So now I'm thinking of this Cake song, I think it's Short Skirt/Long Jacket, where they say “she uses a machete to cut through red tape.” And I'm thinking about your talent themes as your machete. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: And now you've got some red tape. You've got like, “I can't get it. Why is it taking so long to get this approved? Why is there all of this bureaucracy?” Yeah. TyAnn: There you go. Lisa: Start getting your strengths out. Start looking for ways to work in your strengths zone. TyAnn: When you talk about it, your easy button all the time, you have one lying around here somewhere, I mean, that's it. That's your way forward. And so if life feels hard, if projects feel hard, if communication fails, or whatever it is, go back to your strengths and like, “Okay, there's got to be a better way to do this. It doesn't have to be so hard.” There's no medal for hard. There's no giant report card in the sky, that it's going to be like, “Gosh, Lisa did everything the hard way. Well done.” That’s not how life works. Because if you spend all of your energy on things that don't matter, getting things done the hard way, you're not going to have energy for the stuff that does matter. And we're never going to get the best of you out in the world because all of your goodness has been sucked up on junk. Lisa: Hmm. TyAnn: Makes sense? Lisa: I mean, it's the end. TyAnn: That's it. Lisa: If you want the best of you, bring yourself the things that bring you ease, energy, and enjoyment. Remember to ask yourself that question: What would you do if you were brave? And we'll leave you for now. If you feel like you're getting sucked into the junk — I don't know, I just totally botched your saying right there — but that this is the way to rethink it. Ask those curious questions, and ask yourself, “Why not me and why not now?” And give them a try. Alright, with that, we'll see you next time. Bye for now. TyAnn: Bye. These Additional Resources Should Inspire You To Work In Your Strengths Zone We hope you enjoyed this episode with Lisa and TyAnn. Indeed, life can be draining when you don’t work in your strengths zone or not doing the things that you love. In the episode Can Working In Your Weakness Zone Lead To Burnout?, Lisa uses a plant that turned yellow as a metaphor for the poor attention to strengths. This important episode will especially help managers to detect the telltale signs of burnout in a team, and to discern their root causes, in order to address them ASAP. That comes with a caveat though, because life is not perfect, and in reality, work comes with some tasks we love and some tasks that live in the draining weakness zone. In the Strengths Are Not An Excuse To Avoid Weakness Zone At Work episode, Lisa points out that you can’t use your strengths as a reason to have bad performance or low accountability — by neglecting something you don’t like doing. There are results that still need to be achieved, but your talents can help you get them in a strengths-focused way.

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Save Time At Work With Your Strengths — It's Easy, Not Lazy

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2021 27:36

Take The Path of Least Resistance To Save Time At Work One of the best things that happen when you are aligned with your natural talents is that work ceases to feel like "work." This is that sweet spot where you accomplish your tasks feel like you're in a state of flow. This is when things on your to-do list energize you, rather than drain you. Since the work is easier and the results are more excellent, you save time and precious energy at work. It's totally different on the flip side when you work out of your weaknesses. You feel this inner resistance, which can lead to self-doubt and early exhaustion. As your energy dips, you feel like you have nothing to give. Which is not the truth, because you have it in you all along. Here at Lead Through Strengths, we want you to drive towards what you want to have more of, such as work that gives a sense of meaning, while managing all other tasks at hand. The more you use your strengths, the more you're able to offer your best to the world. But how exactly do you get more of what you want when your plate is already full of soul-sucking tasks, and for which you think there are no takers either? Certainly, you don’t have to get stuck in this situation for long. So, listen up as Lisa Cummings and TyAnn Osborn put together and share great insights that will help you build a career centered on strengths that you love. Here's their conversation. Lisa: You're listening to Lead Through Strengths, where you'll learn to apply your greatest strengths at work. I'm your host, Lisa Cummings and you know, I'm always telling you, it's hard to find something more energizing than using your natural talents every day at work. Well, something that's just about as energizing is when I get to hang out with my other host here in the room TyAnn Osborn. Today, the topic is, you know, stuff that happens at work, that is, a little weird or awkward "things that make you go, hmm." And that thing…. it's a ridiculous call back to Arsenio Hall. It was way back. No really, it's those things that make you go hmmmm because you can't figure out how to quit making work feel so hard. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: What if that thing is, “Hey, Ty, why is my manager keep giving me all the tasks that I hate? Hmm.” TyAnn: I think it's because they hate you. Lisa: (eyes widen) Hmmm. TyAnn: No, they don't hate you. That's what we're going to talk about today. Lisa: But this is a real thing. TyAnn: This does happen. This happens all the time. Lisa: I actually have an uncle who said from his corporate experience (shout out to Alan) he said that if you are doing a task that you can't stand, but you're the one who does it the best in the office, he's like, “Well, the next time they need to get that thing done, who are they going to come to to get the thing done? You, the one who did it the best.” TyAnn: Right. Doing A Great Job? Best If It’s On Tasks That You Love Lisa: So I do think this can happen because people get known for things that they don't even like, but they haven't worked on their career brand. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: They haven't talked to their manager about what they do like or hope for more of in their development. And I think that is one of the reasons you can be really good at something that you don't like. You're masterful because you keep getting it assigned to you. TyAnn: Absolutely. This happens all the time. This has happened to you and me. This happens to our corporate clients all the time and in a very innocuous way. There's no diabolical plot behind this. And especially when you're more junior in your career, where you might not feel like you can say, “I don't really want to do this, or, I don't really like this.” And so, here's what happens: Oftentimes, when you're smart, you can do a lot of things, and do it in a very proficient way. And actually, your product can be pretty good. And then guess what, because you did a pretty good job at that, next time, they have that horrible spreadsheet that needs to be done — “You did a pretty good job so you're gonna get known as the horrible spreadsheet fixer.” Lisa: And you don't want to be the one... I mean, if you're a hard worker... TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: ...yet you don't want to be the whiner, complainer... TyAnn: Right. Lisa: The purpose of this episode isn't to say, we're going to empower you to go tell your leaders all of the things that you just don't like. TyAnn: Yeah, don't don't do that. That’s not the takeaway from this section at all. That's a career-limiting move by the way. Lisa: High-risk conversation. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: It would be less risky to figure out a way to describe the stuff you do want more of that you would like to grow into. TyAnn: Yeah. So Lisa's got a great term that she uses about career crafting. She calls it "job shaping." So we're going to talk to you about how to lean your job more toward the things that you do like, and how maybe to get away from some of these legacy things, that kind of seems stuck to your shoe that you can't quite shake. Lisa: Oooh, that's a good way to say it. TyAnn: Or how to, how to avoid that thing you don't like. So, we'll give you some tips both ways. So how to lean more toward the stuff you want, and how to get out of this position of some stuff that you don't like. Lisa: Yeah. And I mean, I think the simplest concept for the gum on your shoe, (that's a good one), is like, it starts to fade away from assignments if you continue to get known for the things that you *do* enjoy. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: I call this concept, “don't expect your managers to be mind readers." Because it's easy to think, “They should know that that's a horrible thing, the horrible spreadsheet task, like they should know, I hate that. Why do the give the junk tasks to me? Yes, I might save time because it can turn into a mundane brainless task, but that's now how I want to save time at work.” TyAnn: How would they know? And what do you... Lisa: You call it something else, don't you? What do you call it? TyAnn: I call it "the psychic method doesn't work." Even though we might try to prove this over and over? Yeah, so and here's the deal, too. We see the world through our own eyes, because that's the lenses we were given, right. And we tend to think, "everything I hate, everyone else hates." Or the opposite: "everything I like everyone else likes." But that's not how the world works. And certainly in the strengths world we find there's all kinds of different things. So just because you like something or dislike something, somebody else has a completely different set of likes and dislikes. So if you secretly hate that thing you're working on, and you don't ever say anything, guess what? How would anybody know that? Especially if you keep doing a really good job at it. And the other factor is that if you're working in your weakness zone, it's not going to be as intuitive. It's going to take you longer. The way to save time at work is to spend more of your time in your strengths zone. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: And you never say anything. And then they're like, “Hey, Lisa, good job on that spreadsheet.” You're like, “Okay, thanks.” Lisa: Hey thanks. Hey, I'm a hard worker. And I keep getting more of this stuff that I don't like. It feels soul-sucking and time consuming. TyAnn: And think about this. What if you have a lot of Achiever and Responsibility in your top themes? Lisa: I had it. I had a client, example, recently where she led through Responsibility. And she was on a big global project, all people in all time zones, and she thought it was really important to get people synched-up that someone would capture the initial conversation. This is basically a note taking thing. TyAnn: Ahh Lisa: So she asked, “Who would like to volunteer?” TyAnn: Okay, usually the answer is going to be, “no one.” Lisa: That is pretty much what happened. Podcasts don't go well with me demonstrating the long cricket-silence she got in the meeting. But that's what happened. She asked, and all she heard was crickets. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: *no answer, *no answer. TyAnn: She probably felt like she had to do it. Lisa: She did. She leads through Responsibility. She can't let a ball drop. She was like, “I'll take it.” So she takes it. And she said she found herself time after time after time taking it and she was new to the company and new to the role and six months in, she said — “Do you know my career brand here is I'm the team secretary?” Oh, and she feels like it was that one decision that led to the next one, to the next one, to the next one. And now that's how they see her. So now work feels slow and clunky. She drudges through it. She's dying to save time at work because she's bogged down in tasks she hates. TyAnn: And now for her branding exercise, she has to undo all of that, which is a, you know, a much more difficult spin. Lisa: Our career-memories are long. TyAnn: Yeah. So that's going to be a whole ball of work just to undo just to get her back to neutral. Because then we have to replace all that with something else. Lisa: Mm hmm. Yeah. TyAnn: I mean, it can be done but that's just a harder way to go. Lisa: I think that's actually a good one for the example of what you were talking about. Like there's the how, how do you unwind from what you don't like and then build into what you do like? Now if you imagine this person walking around declaring: “By the way, I don't like note-taking.” “By the way, I’m not a secretary.” “By the way, that's not really what I want. I'm, I'm so much more.” "By the way, I'm actually trying to save time at work and be efficient here!" That would not go well. That would be awkward, whiny and bizarre. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: But if instead, she starts really knocking it out on these other three things that are a big deal (the ones that are in her strengths-zone), then over time, it doesn't take that much time. She gets known for other (good) things and the draining things fade away into a distant memory. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: And that is a path that is much more doable. And I like to give clients a script that is like a starting place for a career conversation with their manager. For example: “I just listened to this podcast episode and it got me thinking about what I would love the most to grow into next in my role. And so it made me think...I'd love to have more projects that require a person to create momentum on the team. I'd love it if you'd consider me next time a big change management effort comes up. (To TyAnn), give me another talent theme that she has besides Responsibility. TyAnn: Okay, let's say she also has, um, Communication. Lisa: Okay, so she also leads through Communication. And the team's doing a project where they need to roll it out to a bunch of end-users who aren't really going to love it. And it's going to take some real change management effort. TyAnn: What clients don't always love what you have to roll out? Sometimes there's change management? Lisa: And imagine how many people wouldn't like that? You know, I have to go out and convince a bunch of other people to do a thing, like most people go, “I don't want to do the dog and pony show. I just want to make the great thing.” And then if you build it, they will come, right? No, you need people who lead through Communication, who can spark momentum and get other people excited about it, and communicate the benefits of it and get out there and spread the message and recruit other messengers. This kind of stuff that would be really fun to her would be loathsome to other people. TyAnn: Absolutely. Lisa: So if she comes around now and says, “I just listened to this podcast. It got me thinking about things I'd like to grow into. I know we have this problem right ahead of us. If you see a part of that project, where I could contribute my Communication talent theme to to be the spark of momentum, I would love to help with that. So I just want to put it out there. If you see this opportunity, I hope you'll think of me.” TyAnn: Absolutely. Lisa: Any manager would love to hear that. TyAnn: They're probably, “Oh my gosh, thank you so much because I was cringing inside thinking how are we going to get all the engineers on board, or whatever it is. And hey, now that you've been working, you know, Pan Global, you've been, you know, all these people in all these different regions. You know, we can really tap into that.” So what she didn't do was go around and whine about it. So I would say from personal experience, not the best approach. So she didn't put on her t-shirt, “Here's all the things I hate about my job.” Again, not the best approach. And she didn't go to her manager with an ultimatum, “If you don't give me this I'm gonna fight.” You know, be, “I'm gonna quit” or whatever. That's not also good. What she did do is offer up something that she would like to be known for, she would like to lean into. And even in this case, she might not be saying “I have all this experience in this area.’ It sounded like she was saying, “I would like to get experienced in this.” And now she's getting assigned work she loves. Those lovable tasks feel like they save time at work because they do - they're easier. They're your space to get in flow. Lisa: Yeah. Sharing Your ‘Trash And Treasure’ List To The Team Could Fast-Track A Career You Love TyAnn: So that means I'm going to be great at it. First, right out of the box, I might need to partner up with someone to try to offload some of the trash-tasks. But it's a great way for her to lean into something as opposed to just leading with, here's what I hate about my job, which would be great. Here's what's funny: because here's this task now that she loathes, but there is someone else out there, I promise you, who would love the opportunity to do the thing that she hates. This is what's so hard for us. Remember, everything that we hate, we think everyone else hates too. But there's someone else out there who maybe you know, funny enough, maybe they also have Communication, but theirs show up in a written form. Maybe they are not the extroverted person out there, in terms of extroverted catalytic change. Maybe they are, you know, they are more introverted. They like the details, they want to keep everybody abreast through this great written form. It could be all kinds of things. But there's somebody else out there who would love this. And so a great, you know, really well-functioning team is able to talk about these things. You've got this great trash-to-treasure team activity, where again, it takes a little bit of vulnerability, but we can say, here are the top three things I love, or I'm looking forward to. Here are the things that I'm kind of ready to pass on to somebody else. Lisa: I mean, look at that, like we, we love talking with each other. And we don't get to the actionable takeaway this fast usually. This is, this is great. That thing that you just described, where if you share it as a team…. Here's an example the other day. A guy goes, (I introduced trash and treasure sort of things, like, what are some things that you really enjoy?), and he said, “I really like escalation calls." TyAnn: Which is funny, because a lot of other people are like, “Oh, my God, I would hate that.” Lisa: They thought he added in the wrong column. And then and you know, you just get a lot of that. “Why? Why?” TyAnn: Why? Lisa: “What are you talking about?” Like, “surely he wrote that on the wrong side.” And he's like — “I, I am a deep subject-matter expert. I love when there's a big challenge. It's gotten.... I don't love that customer services are flustered, but he's like, “I love that it's been too big and hairy for anyone to figure out, and I can come in and I know when they talk to me, it is over. Their frustration is done.” He said, “It's so satisfying to know that there is no escalation after me. It is always solved.” TyAnn: Wow. Lisa: And that thing just made him feel so alive. And instantly, in that moment, people are like, “Can I give you mine? Can I give you mine? Can I give you mine?” And he is like, “In fact, yes. If other things can get off my plate, yes, I would love it if my day were filled with that.” Imagine. He feels more productive doing escalation calls. He didn't study a time management book. He didn't even have to apply the Getting Things Done (GTD) method. He saved time at work because he loved it and that is a responsibility that lights him on fire. TyAnn: That's brilliant. Lisa: Now, it's not always that clean and easy. I mean, you can't just be like, “Yes, let me give you my worst tasks ever.” For many on the team, that's their worst well ever. But it works. There are moments. TyAnn: I love that like that. I love that. Or if we could find, usually there's somebody on the team who maybe highly Analytical or they have whatever skill, like the Excel skills, or the Microsoft Project skills. They love, you know, a good Gantt chart or whatever. Usually, there's somebody who, that’s their jam. And someone else wants to poke their eye out if that's what they have to do. So wouldn't it be great if you could just shift a little bit so that, you know, “Hey, maybe I can't just unload this task? Maybe I'm still responsible for it but hey, Lisa, can I go to lunch with you? And you could just give this thing a once over and you know, make sure I'm on the right path?” You know, and you're probably like, “That's awesome. Yes!” And I'll say I’ll buy your lunch. And you're like, “You don't even have to do that, I'm excited to help.” Lisa: Mmmm. TyAnn: I'm like, “Why would you be excited to help about this loathsome project?” But so you know, those kinds of things are easy ways you can ease into it, even if it's not possible for me to be like here at least. So you take it up. Lisa: And I think you're bringing up a nuance that's important is that you don't just want your manager, the person you report to, to be the only one who knows what you want to grow into. Now, your teammates know new things about, you and you know things about them. Maybe then you share with the leader like, “Oh, wow, he was so helpful to me in this way.” And now he's getting known for the thing that he likes. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: And he's getting more of it. And it really does have this virtuous.. TyAnn: ...virtuous cycle — my favorite thing about Significance, right. Uhhmm, share with each other, what is the thing you love best about your job because, in the words of my friend, Lisa, notice what works to get more of what works. And so if I don't know what works for you, I can't ever help you get more of that. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: And I can't ever point out because if I keep pointing out your spreadsheet looks really good, and you're like, “Oh my god, I hate that thing. I am going to go to my grave and have that spreadsheet etched on my tombstone.” And you never want to say, “Ah, I'd really like to do this other thing.” So again, coming back to the idea that your manager doesn’t automatically know what you want, and the psychic method doesn't work, and it doesn't work for your teammates, either. This is where I think being vulnerable, having that psychological safety, and I think also having that concept of, “just because I don't say, just because I don't love something doesn't mean I'm saying, “I hate this. I'm not going to do it.” Or, “I'm going to do it poorly.” Because again, I don't get to run my unicorn work. I don't only get to do the things I want to do all day long. I'm going to approach my work and always do everything with as much integrity as I can. But there are some things I would like to do more of, and probably have more of an act to do. Attract Opportunities By Striking A Conversation About Your ‘How’ Skills Lisa: Yay. Good luck on that, Ty. And don't make your take away, the refusal of the job... TyAnn: Don't do that. Lisa: ...or the excuse to get out of work or... TyAnn: Don't do that. But as you know, as we tell children, you got to use your words. So you've got to put it out there. Whether you call it the secret, or the universe, or using your words, you've got to put out there what you're hoping to do more of. Lisa: Oh, and you have to first decide what you want more of. If you're going to save time at work by doing work that puts you in flow, you have to reflect enough to know what responsibilities put you in the flow state. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: Strengths, reading the book StrengthsFinder, doing the CliftonStrengths assessment, these are all helpful things if you've never even thought of, “Oh, it's not just that I would like more of this skill, TyAnn: Right. Lisa: … but also, how I interact with people. Or like, in the Communication example, that was more of a ‘how’, not a ‘what’ skill thing” and... TyAnn: Right. Lisa: ...like, “Oh, I like to build momentum. Aha, I can ask my manager for things that require momentum building, that's not something that they've probably ever thought of using, as an assignment criteria.” And now they have a whole new realm of things to offer you instead of like that one specific job that you were hoping to move into next. TyAnn: I think that's actually a really good point because if you just look at, you know, let me find the magic job title, well, I'll just tell you, that's going to be a long hard search. Because that often doesn't exist. But these “how” skills exist in a lot of places that you might not even realize, right? But that's where you can, the more you put out there what you want, the more other people will start to help you and say — “You know, there's actually the thing you didn't even know, but they could use you on that project team.” Like I didn't even know that was a thing. And then, you know. But again, if you just sit there at your cube, or now you know, at your home office, hoping that the magical assignment comes your way and bluebirds into your, to your window, you're going to be sitting there a long time. So you can, you can have a little bit more control in your life when you do the right thing(?) Lisa: Yeah. So if we bring this all together, I would say one action is, you want to have a conversation with the person that you report to. TyAnn: Absolutely. Lisa: And and try to find a way to express, “Here's this thing I would love to grow into. And I would love it, if you would think of me next time you're considering assignments that relate to x, and if you use those “how” skills. TyAnn: Absolutely. And by the way, it's perfectly legitimate feedback for your manager to say, “Okay, I hear you saying that, but you know what, you don't have any of those skills today.” That might happen. And then you can have a conversation about, “Okay, how might I be positioned to get those skills? What would a path look like for that?” Lisa : Yeah. TyAnn: That is completely legitimate. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: Or for you to look up in the organization somewhere, and then just go talk to someone and say, “how did you get here?” How, and, you know, that's what, I kind of interview internal people all the time. Have, you know, and just have kind of an informational one-on-one. By the way, people love to talk about themselves, little tip, and people will meet with you all day long, for 30 minutes, just to tell you their story. And so that's where real growth happens. So I love that. So talk to your manager. Again, second method doesn't work there. So that's the first tip, communication. Lisa: I'd say, volunteering the talent out. So let's say for example, you lead through Learner and Input. And now your company is implementing Microsoft Teams, but no one knows how to use it, and they're resisting it. And you're like, “we're gonna have to get down with this program, because it's going to be the way of the world. Microsoft is embedded in everything we do, we need to figure it out.” And so you decide, “I'm going to turn on my Learner and Input. I'm going to find all the cool features and things that could make life easier for teammates and then I'm going to share it with teammates. So then you get an opportunity to get known for what you want more of because you've decided, “I'm going to do it anyway. I can tell it we'll have to figure it out. I'm going to turn on my Learner and Input which would be fun for me because those are in my top five. And then I'm going to use those, volunteer them out beyond myself to help the team." By virtue of volunteering it out, you can see where using the talent makes you feel more productive and efficient. It's an experimenting process. It is a process, yet the compounding effect can save you a lot of time at work over the course of months or years. In fact, the job itself can be totally different as a byproduct of these experiments. If the team does StrengthsFinder as a team thing, then they know the words Learner and Input and you're able to say, “Okay, you know, Learner and Input. I nerded out on this. So I thought you might find this helpful, here are all the things that I've picked up.” And you give them the tip sheet. TyAnn: I love that. I mean, that's so cool. You've made yourself the super user. You've... and it's not just about you, you've created, you know, you've positioned yourself in a way of service to other people. So by the way, anytime you're helpful to other people, they tend to want to come back to you to get more help, which is great, because you've, you know, you're killing kind of two birds with one stone, this is great. They're gonna be like, - “Oh, that you did such a great job that last time we had this thing. Now we've got to have this. You know, we're gonna put this in Slack. Nobody here knows anything about it. Can you help us with that?” And yeah, you would be the person. So I love that. It's volunteering your talent, not again, sitting at your desk quietly with your head down, waiting for someone to come tap you on the shoulder and say, “Hey, Lisa, I know you're a high Learner Input. So I was thinking maybe here's an opportunity, you could, you could do.” That, that's rarely going to happen. It's rarely going to happen. So you have to really keep your eye on the landscape and think, “How could I apply my top themes to what's going on here?” So... Lisa: Those are big. TyAnn: I know. Lisa: Okay. I have a third one, which would be, listen for what people kvetch and complain about. TyAnn: Hmm. Lisa: Not to join it? TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: Again, more career limiting. TyAnn: Yeah, don't do that. Lisa: But if you listen, you can hear like when Ty was explaining the spreadsheet with doing the VLOOKUPs. She was good at them but when she remembers this role that she had where she had to spend all day in the spreadsheet doing Vlookups, her nose crinkles up when she says “Vlookup” like there's an uhm! TyAnn: Yeah, there's a physical response when you don't like something. You're basically or even your body might hunch down a little bit. Lisa: Yeah. So watch for that because let's say I were the teammate, I lead through Analytical and Deliberative and I love slicing and dicing data and living in Excel put me in Excel all day long as my favorite job, when I see her react that way, if I'm listening to other people's responses, both tuning in... TyAnn: Yeah, Lisa: ...even just to watch, but I'm watching, “Oh, saw your reaction in the Vlookup there.” TyAnn: ‘Saw the nose crinkle. Lisa: “Not your BFF, huh?” She's like, “NO!” And then I go, “Ah, I start to get ideas. I could, I could take that on for you. And maybe you could swap something out with me. Or maybe I could give you a shortcut template or something like that, where I'm just volunteering it out.” She's thinking, yeah Vlookups are slow and cumbersome and awful. Meanwhile you're thinking that Vlookups are such a great way to save time at work and get really efficient. But beyond watch for things you could swap with others. And when you see others kvetching and complaining, you're often able to see — “Oh, that thing that I like, not everybody likes that.” “Oh, that thing that I'm good at, not everyone else is good at it.” TyAnn: Right. I think that's huge. And just thinking about that person with a spreadsheet, you know, maybe there's a meeting they have to go to every week where they have to report out on that spreadsheet. And that meeting causes them no end of angst. They get the pit in the tummy feeling, they get the flop sweat, they go in and even though they know it front and back, they can't communicate that to save their lives. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: And it's miserable for everybody. And you're like, “I could talk to those people cold.” Lisa: That is perfect. TyAnn: You're like, “How about I, you do the back end, I'll do the front end and together we are the Ty and Lisa show? Only if it was the two of us. There really wouldn't be a back end, we would only be to the front. Lisa: We’re going, “To the back. To the back. To the front. To the front.” It would be stuck — a skipping record. “To the front. To the front. To the front” TyAnn: We need to have a team. We would need Deena a lot with this, to help, to help round us out. Um, yeah. So again, the psychic method doesn't work. So you got to have that, those conversations, and I think that will really serve me well. Lisa: Yeah. So let us know, how did your conversation go? How did you bring it up? TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: And when you were thinking of the talents that you're trying to lead into, how did you phrase it with your manager. This is a scripting thing that I find a lot of people get stuck on. And that's why I like to give that thing where it's like, - “Hey, I've been thinking about what I want to grow into next.” Or even using this podcast because at least it's less awkward to say, “Hey, I was listening to this podcast. I was trying to learn more about being awesome at work," you know, in something that makes you sound like you're continuing to grow. TyAnn: Right? Lisa: “I've been putting a lot of thought into this and it gave me this idea.” And then you can offer it out. TyAnn: And then let us know and we'll talk about it. Let us know if you tried it and it doesn't work either. We'll come up with something else for you. There's more than one way here. Lisa: We can have the failure recapture. “Okay, here's a scripting idea that doesn't work. Don't try this because this goes back into that high-risk category that sits right along what... TyAnn: Lisa and I laugh about this because we have tried a whole bunch of things that haven't worked before. So we, you know, we can, we're right there with you on that. We can help prevent you from having those same experiences. Lisa: Yes. And although my stint in HR was very, very short, yours was much more significant. And the time that we got to spend with leaders saying, “All right, fire me.” Like, “We’re doing the roleplay. It's going to be an awkward conversation. I am now the person.” And then getting them to go through…. Scripting things out is tough. And there are so many hard conversations in the workplace. So even these when you're, you're trying to talk about yourself without sounding braggadocious. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: That's tough too. TyAnn: Right? Lisa: And it's not even awkward, and you're not telling someone they're about to… TyAnn: Right. Lisa: ...lose their job or be on a performance improvement plan. It's just simply like, “how do I describe something that I might be good at without sounding like an arrogant jerk? TyAnn: Like a braggy jerk. So it's fine. We, again, it feels a little uncomfortable, because we don't have these conversations all the time. So that's where you're just, you know, you can get a little index card and just literally write this out. And then kind of practice in a mirror saying this. You can practice with a friend. You can call a spirit guide to help you out. And the more you do it, the easier it will become. And again, we're not trying at all for you to say, “here's the list of things I'm not going to do.” This is just how can you lean your career, how can you steer it a little bit more toward the things that bring you energy, and a little bit less towards the soul sucker parts of the job. Lisa: Yeah. And if you do decide that you want to do this as a team exercise, where you're talking about it and you want a facilitator, Ty would be a great one for this. She can come into your organization and walk you through that trash and treasure exercise. She's great at helping you figure out what fills you up - even a personal branding exercise for each person on the team. We have one where you walk away with three words that describe how you would love to be known and describe how you want to show up in the organization so that you can actually take the time to reflect because it's hard to carve the time out, and then your teammates can know how you want to be known, and your manager. TyAnn: That's a cool exercise too, by the way. People feel really good about that. Lisa: Yeah. And it feels so good to hear them about each other. TyAnn: Yeah. Very affirming. Lisa: And it takes away that... TyAnn: Very affirming. I love that one. Lisa: Yeah because you're not being awkward or arrogant when some facilitators ask you to do the exercise. TyAnn: Yeah, absolutely. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: So give us a ring. Let us know what works for you and if you need help on this process. Lisa: All right. With that, we will see you next time. Bye for now. More Relevant Resources To Support Your Strengths-Focused Career Growth The previous discussion on strengths as easy buttons for better performance truly supports today’s episode. You turn on your "easy buttons" when you go for tasks or projects that you find enjoyable and energizing. This leads to a better and well-recognized performance at work. But going more for these tasks that you love also means ensuring you don’t end up sounding braggy. Not all people around you might respond well to it. Here’s Lead Through Strengths Facilitator Strother Gaines sharing tips on how to not sound arrogant when building a career around your strengths, so you can review your script before you talk to others about yourself. If you’re a team manager, you can help and guide your team members realize their full potential in whatever roles they express to lean more into by assessing their top strengths, along with their trash and treasure list. Revisit Lisa’s interview with Adam Seaman to pick up more tips.

god podcasts microsoft responsibility significance time management lazy excel slack strengths oftentimes bff aha input hmmm learner getting things done microsoft teams save time analytical scripting strengthsfinder achiever arsenio hall cliftonstrengths gantt it's easy getting things done gtd deliberative microsoft project strengthsfinders lisa cummings vlookup tyann lisa it lead through strengths lisa yes lisa what lisa yeah lisa so lisa oh lisa they lisa all doing a great job

Not Feeling Very Worky Today? Get To The Truth About Why

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2021 26:10

If You're Not Feeling Very Worky Today, Your Feeling Is Valid If you woke up not feeling very worky today, you're not alone. All around the world, this happens for reasons that are either obvious or hard to dig. Being in a funk is a real struggle that can last from days to months and can impact many important decisions that you make. It happens in the workplace and beyond. Being in this situation may lead you to deliberate whether to stay in a job or not, to stay in a relationship or not, to adopt a certain lifestyle or not, and so on. This feeling is valid, but when it does happen, do you usually deal with it from a place of fear, or from a place of strength? In another fun and insightful episode, host Lisa Cummings and fellow StrengthsFinder facilitator TyAnn Osborn share their personal and professional take on what it means to be in a funk, and effective ways to turn that "funky monkey" situation around. (Expect some hints of Beastie Boys along the way too.) Here’s their conversation. Lisa: You're listening to Lead Through Strengths, where you'll learn to apply your greatest strengths at work. I'm your host, Lisa Cummings. And you know, I'm always telling you, it's hard to find something more energizing than using your natural talents every day at work. Well, something that's just about as energizing is when I get to hang out with my other host here in the room, TyAnn Osborn. Today, we are going to talk about being in a funk. So very often, we go to strengths events, we get invited in to deliver training, and often it's from an inspirational standpoint. We want to get to know each other better, we want to communicate better, we want to get to know a new team... TyAnn: Right. Lisa: Team building... TyAnn: Very positive. Very fun. Lisa: And then the reality of the world is we have days when mojo meter is level zero. We have seasons, times, months, weeks, where sometimes you're just in a funk. Once, I had an entire, probably six months of a job where I was in a funk and I was like, “What is wrong with me? I like the people, I like the job, the pay is good. Life is good. Everything on paper sounds so right. What is wrong?" And almost never do people think, “Well, this would be a great opportunity to use my strengths!” It just doesn't come up for people. But I know that you have ideas for this, and you've talked about them being one of the best things you could do for yourself when you find yourself in a funk or you think someone else might be in a funk. Step 1: Acknowledge When You’re Feeling Funky Lisa: So, if you are going to even begin applying strengths to this concept, what would you start with? TyAnn: I think that's so true. And like Lisa said, often when we come in, we've done a big team building event, everyone's all jazzed up, this is exciting. And then you go back to your desk, and work happens. Or life happens. And you're like, “Oh, that was fun.” But meanwhile, Now my customer is upset with me. My kid’s upset with me... My spouse is upset with me... I have to make dinner... Whatever it is, and life just happens. Or, like she said, sometimes you can't really put your finger on it. And for whatever reason, you're just like, “Oh, I feel like a funky monkey, I don't know why.” That sounds more cute than you might actually be feeling. Lisa: Sounds like Brass Monkey. Makes me think of Beastie Boys. TyAnn: ‘Love Beastie Boys. Yes, that's my jam. Lisa: (sings) TyAnn: So I think it's really easy to use strengths when things are going well. But I think really a powerful application is when you're not feeling that great. And so what do you do? So I would say the first thing is, be able to recognize when you are feeling funky. And sometimes we don't want to intellectually allow ourselves to even go there. Or like you said, “I shouldn't be feeling bad about myself. I'm getting paid good money!" Lisa: "My thinking skills tell me that does not make sense and therefore I must feel great!" TyAnn: "This must be a first world problem because look at me, I have a job and on paper, everything looks fine... I'm not hungry. I'm able to feed myself, I'm able to provide for my family..." And whatever. And here's the deal. Lisa: "You just feel like you're being a baby!" TyAnn: "You feel like you're being a baby." And again, you might say like, "Oh, this is a first world problem." But here's the deal: feelings are valid, because they're your feelings. And if you're feeling funky, you don't have to explain that away to yourself. It's okay. It's okay. I mean, nobody can discount your feelings because they're your feelings. It's okay. So I would say the first thing is just to put that baggage aside for “I shouldn't be feeling this way,” because that's the quickest way to really start some problems internally. Lisa: Let's break that piece down, like you're saying, Step 1 is to figure out that you're feeling like a funky monkey. And then what actually is it. Well, if our client base is representative of many more people in corporate, which I think they are, like, if you're feeling wimpy about it, or feeling like you're being a baby, it's easy to want to discard it, push past it pretty quickly, or to not really spend any time going, what is it actually? Lisa: When I ask people, “What do you think you're really feeling about the situation?” And people will be like, “Well, I'm anxious about it, it's stressing me out.” Those are the two... I think they're the easy words: stressed, anxious. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: I know you can tell me if you hear others are saying like anything past it. TyAnn: They're socially acceptable to say. You know, what is not socially acceptable, is to say I'm scared. And usually, if someone's angry about something, almost always fear is underneath that. And anxiety? Fear is almost always underneath that. And so when you peel it back, you're like — “What's making you so stressed about that?” “Well, I'm afraid I'm not going to do a good job.” "Okay, so what if you don't do a good job?” And so you can kind of follow this line of thinking. “Well, if I don't do a good job, I'm gonna get a bad performance review, right?” “Okay. So what if you get a bad performance review?” “Well, then you know, I'm not going to get a raise.” “Okay, so what if you don't get a raise?” “Well, then, you know, this might happen.” And we tend to have an irrational fear. And sometimes I call it like the “bag lady” fear — that you're going to end up as a bag lady sort of pushing the shopping cart living under the overpass. Lisa: This is a real fear. TyAnn: This is a real fear. Lisa: I had a situation where I took a wrong job. I took a job that was a bad fit for me. TyAnn: By the way, this happens all the time. I have also done this. Lisa: Yes, and you've also written blog entries about the Mondays, the case of the Mondays that you get. TyAnn: That's right. This happens. Lisa: Yes, this happens. So when I picked that role, and I thought, “I think that the answer is to leave.” But then there was so much baggage hanging on to the leaving. So I was in a funk because I got myself stuck in a thought circle. And we actually went through a process, kind of like what you described. "What is the worst that could happen there? And then what would happen there? And then what would happen there?" So I just played it out off of quitting. And what would happen? "Oh, well I just, I would disappoint people because I put them through an interview process. How could I do that to them? They went through this whole thing. They picked me!" TyAnn: They would be mad at you. Lisa: Yes! I didn't want to be viewed unfavorably. I didn't want them to be angry with me. But also, I didn't want to be a jerk to them. I thought what if I'm not giving it enough time? TyAnn: Hmm. What if you're a quitter? Lisa: What if I'm a quitter? What if I'm a poor decision maker? TyAnn: [7:05] ***You're branded with the scarlet Q that you'd have around for the rest of your life.*** Lisa: Yeah. I mean, these are things. And then it was... Okay, and then what? Let's say I quit. Well, normally, I'm a planner. I think ahead. I think far ahead. I would have been deciding what I am going to do next. And then I would get myself lined up for it. And then I would have it all lined up, and I would have an acceleration lane all planned up. I didn't have any of that. So this would be all new territory. I decided, well, this would be a good time to start a business. Not this business but it was a different one. But I was like — okay, what if I don't get any customers? What if I have no revenue? What if I… TyAnn: And now I have to make a business plan. And now that's a huge project. Lisa: Yeah. And I was like, “Oh, we had just purchased this land that we wanted, that was the forever plan. What if I ruin, what if I single-handedly ruin the forever plan because I took one wrong job?” TyAnn: Oh, that's a lot of pressure. Lisa: But you know, even when you go through the worst, when I realized I was really just being a chicken, and that the worst that could happen...you know what we came to when we stayed up really late that night, just talking about, “No, seriously, what is the worst?” TyAnn: What was it? Lisa: We were going to live on an RV and be camp hosts in a lovely State Park, and it was like, “Oh, this is okay.” TyAnn: Which by the way, I have not one but multiple friends who are doing that right now. Lisa: On purpose? TyAnn: That is their dream. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: Yeah. Like that's the thing. Lisa: Yeah. And at the time, it was just like, “Well, we had an RV. So we literally wasn't something to purchase. It was just like we take the thing that we have while we lost the house, because remember, I lost the whole dream farm. We lost the farm. TyAnn: It burned. It burned up overnight. Lisa: Yeah. I brought it crashing down in flames. And then it was right there. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: So the answer was there. I'm not saying it made it unscary, but that was a funk breaker. So I know it was a bit of a long story to support your point, but I was in a funk — because I was stuck in a decision. TyAnn: You were afraid. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: It was fear. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: But you knew the right thing to do. Lisa: I guess so. TyAnn: You wanted to leave. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: You were just afraid. Lisa: But we fire ourselves on that often. I know. I do. And I know that a lot of customers do... And many smaller things because, well, you know, we work with plenty of people who are not in a funk because they're making self-actualizing giant life decisions. That does happen as well. You know who you are. If you're listening to the show and you stayed after one of the sessions, and we’re like... TyAnn: Right...which we love by the way. Lisa: Oh my God, this made me realize... TyAnn: I made the complete wrong job. Lisa: But also it happens in the everyday mundane. TyAnn: Yeah, absolutely. Identifying The Root Of The Funky Feeling Is Not Magic But A Process TyAnn: I hear this a lot. And believe me, this is kind of what keeps coaches in business, is working with people who kind of get to even like the 40, 50-plus category who are like: “You know what? I've worked all this time, and I've sort of made it. I've gotten to wherever it was in the career in the company. I've gotten to whatever level job that I thought was the place I wanted to be, and kind of, is this all there is?” Or like, “I thought somehow I would be riding my unicorn to work and playing with puppies all day. And you know what? I don't. I don't like it. I don't like what I do... I don't really like who I've become.” Or, “My kid drew a picture of the family and I'm not in it.” What we've heard from a colleague of ours... Or something else happens. This is why people have a midlife crisis or a complete breakdown. Talk about a funk. And that's something where you know that there's that little voice whispering in you, of discontent, and you have shoved it down. And you know, when you push that bad boy down, just like feelings, it is like your jack-in-the-box analogy — that thing will shoot out in a very ugly and untimely way. Lisa: That's true. And you know, it's like, once you've been shoving it down, long enough people know. And you're like, I have the pit in my stomach. I know it's off, but I don't know what is off. I can't put my finger on it. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: And then boom, Jack in the box jumps out. TyAnn: Or people feel scared because “I have set up my life now where now I have the big house, or I'm supporting my whole family.” Or I mean, whatever it is. And we kind of make it bigger in our head sometimes. Lisa: Oh, I had one of those recently in a Strengths session. She said, she called it her "big kid bills." And she was like, “I have the house, I have the car, I have the stuff, I have everything. And I've got my mind all wrapped up in keeping with the Joneses.” And she's like, “All I want to do is just go buy a Honda Accord and live in a one-bedroom apartment and unravel it all. And I can't even do that.” TyAnn: So like, “more money, more problems.” And I mean that's why I think there's such a pull right now for downsizing, for minimalism, for “let's chuck it all and go live in that RV and go be the camp host...” And there's a huge movement for that right now. I mean, even in the design world, there's you know, “Minimalism is in!" Not "Rococo is in.” You know what I mean? Lisa: I don't even know what that is. TyAnn: "The heavily layered look is out!" So you see this, there's a real pull and desire for that. And so it's real. It's a thing and it's okay to just sit back and think, “I've worked and maybe I've been the one pushing this, and I feel funky. I don’t know if I want this.” Lisa: Okay, so I'm your client. We've been talking Strengths. TyAnn: Okay. Lisa: I do the CliftonStrengths assessment. I am in fact, in a funk and I did do my assessment. I know my top strengths. I think I'm gonna talk to Ty as my coach. So I'm going to start to open up to the concept and kind of like, talk through what's going on, so I can figure it out because I can't put my thumb on what is making the funky monkey situation happen. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: So what do you do, like if you're in a corporate office, you know, most of our customers are, and they're like living through the funk, and they've acknowledged the funk isn't gonna go away in a one conversation sort of thing. This isn't a magic dust... TyAnn: And I wish it was. I would charge a lot more. Lisa: No kidding! Poof! Life is amazing! TyAnn: For $20,000, I will solve your funkiness! Lisa: 1 hour! TyAnn: Shazam! Yeah, sadly, a little bit more of a process. Lisa: So I know like in one podcast episode, we can't end it and say, “And here…” TyAnn: Here's your 30-second easy answer. Lisa: It will be jerky if I'm like, “Go pay Ty $20,000 so she can get you the answer.” That's not the most fun. TyAnn: But there are some things you can do, for sure. Lisa: Yeah, So getting a coach is a great one. But what else, like what actions can people take away when they're living through the funk, they're in the middle of it, and they're getting to the other side? Look Up To A Coach Or Your Strengths Report As Your 'Spirit Guide' TyAnn: So one thing you said, getting a coach. So I would say absolutely. I'm a huge fan of that, not just because I'm a coach, but because I believe it works. So if your company supports that, awesome! But if they don't, see if you can reach out to a trusted person, because often when you're in it, it can be really hard to see. You know what I mean? So it can be helpful to have spirit guides — somebody to walk beside you on that. So that's a) if you can, you know, put your hand up, and that takes being a little bit vulnerable. But it's okay to just say, “You know what, I gotta get some help here." Because there's no prize for doing that hard and by yourself. Just a little clue to life here. And something too that when you can pull out your Strengths — and again, I realized when you're feeling funky, you might not be thinking Strengths, I mean, that might not be it — but I encourage you, like reach back in your desk and pull up that report. And there's going to be a piece in there about Brings & Needs, that I really like. And you know, often when you first read it, you kind of blow through some of that. But oftentimes, when we're feeling funky, it's because we have a need that's not being met. And each one of our strengths themes has a really specific thing that we need in order to feel fulfilled in that way. And so almost invariably, when I find myself in a funk, I can go back and like literally put my finger on the thing that I am not getting. And it is illuminating to be able to give language or a word to, “Oh my gosh, I thought it was just me. I am not getting this. This is what I need.” And life isn't about putting your needs on a shelf and doing it, again, the hard way. You are at your best and the world needs the best of you, not the most mediocre funky version of you. That's not helpful to anyone. Does that make sense? Lisa: Yeah, absolutely. And if they have the full 34 report, the version that you get the lesser themes at the bottom, you might look at the bottom 5 to 7. And you might notice, if you don't think of these as weaknesses, you think of these as potential energy drainers. Well, you look at that list. And you might think, “Oh right, look at that one. It's number 33 of 34. And I'm using that all day, every day. It's taking a lot of me to give it.” TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: Because you can be totally competent in those areas. By the way, if you're new to Strengths, it can be at the bottom of your list in the stack rank of 34. You can get competent, you can do the thing, but it's sucking it all out of you and you're empty by giving it. TyAnn: Right Lisa: And it can really make you feel funky if you're having to do that over time. TyAnn: Absolutely. And you know, Gallup’s got these engagement metrics that we talk about with our clients. And you know, the data shows that people who are able to use their strengths during the day — six times as likely to be engaged, three times as likely to have a better quality of life. And as I tell my clients, this doesn't mean I only get to work on fun stuff all day long, that really, you know, it is the Ty land. That's not life. But what the research behind this shows is that something in my day brings me energy. And because it does, it lifts me up enough so that then I can get through that noise and deal with some of that stuff that might be pulling on my themes that are at the bottom of my stack. Does that make sense? Lisa: Yeah. So gas in the tank. It gets you back up there so you can get through the day doing things that you're paid to do even if you don't like those things. TyAnn: That's just it. Because sometimes clients are like, “Oh, well, this means I don't have to do those other parts of my job I don't like.” I'm like, “Yeah, no, it's still work.” Now if 100% of your job you don't like, that's not something. But there needs to be something every day that kind of fills your tank, and then you can get through that other stuff. But I think that's where you can start to kind of put some analysis around the funk and then say, “Oh, my gosh, I didn't realize 75% of my job is doing that thing that takes so much energy. I can do it because I'm smart, I'm competent, I mean, I got to this point, I can do it. I just don't want it to take so much of my energy." And then, "Frankly, I don't even have enough energy left to do the things that do excite me." Which then, that becomes sad, you know. I don't even have enough energy to play the drums. Or, I found this happening with me. I love to read, that's kind of my thing. I found if I get in a funk, I'll stop reading. And that's when I've noticed that, man something's really wrong with me. Because I love to read. So if I don't have enough energy to read... Lisa: Okay, you know, we're into these analog tools in the list, this would be a good list like, "Can you remember back to times when you were in a funk and what might the signs be?” And some things like that. You stop reading. I might skip my drum practice for the day I notice. I let myself get a little disorganized, like if my trash starts to overflow because I'm Mrs. Cleanly, I'm Mrs. Tidy is basically me, so I noticed... Oh, if a couple of little signs, like my fingernails are very chipped and my trash is overflowing and I'm playing Tetris waiting for it to fall out — I know, I'm not in my normal game. TyAnn: Isn't that interesting? Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: So kind of know that about yourself, like what are these little signs, little guideposts along the way so that you can pay attention to those before you get to sort of the edge of the cliff, and you've fallen off. Unleash Your Best You — The World Needs It Lisa: Okay, this is good. So we have to-dos for them. Okay, we've got lists to make.... What are your early warning signs guideposts? TyAnn: Absolutely. Raise your hand if you're feeling funky and see if you can get a spirit guide to help you out. Lisa: Yeah. And if you need a coach Ty, is really amazing. One thing I love about your style in this regard is, well, depth, obviously. You get corporate, you get people's busy lives, but you're both empathetic and tough at the same time — not empathy in the Gallup sense of the word, but like, you feel the person for how they need to be seen and heard and appreciated in the moment. But then you can also tell the truth. You're not afraid of... TyAnn: I definitely have huge compassion for people because — especially with the clients we work with — I've been there. You know, we've had these jobs. I have had the job where I felt like I had to be on 24/7. I've had the ex-pat job where I literally felt like I was on 24/7 because I had a whole job on the other side of the world, and just when that job was ending, the US was coming online. I've had the job where I got 300 emails a day. I've had the job where you go into the Ops review, and you have to prepare a 75-page deck that you get yelled at about. I mean, we've lived this, right? Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: I've been in a place where you get promoted to a position that you're like, “I don't want this. I don't want my boss's job. I don't want any of these jobs.” Lisa: “Why did I do this?” TyAnn: “Why did I do this?” But you know what, I've also had things that are great. And I'm just saying, life can be awesome. And you have tremendous and powerful skills. And we just want to harness those so that we can unleash the best of you in the world — because that's what the world needs. Lisa: Yeah. Okay, that is a perfect end to this. One thing I am going to put in the show notes for you is a link to http://leadthroughstrengths.com/negative. There's one called /positive and there's one /negative. And it's a list of emotions. It's like an inventory of emotions. And so if one of your takeaways is coaching — great, bring on Ty. If you are more like, “Hey, I just need to DIY this right now, and I'm going to go back to the very beginning of this episode and do that thing where I'm trying to figure out beyond saying I'm stressed or anxious, what's going on with me with this funk... That list, it just gives you a whole different set of words to say — "Oh, yeah, I think I'm just angry about this thing that got switched up on me at work. And I've just had the bee in my bonnet for a while, using an old saying, and now that put me into a funk.” So that will be a good resource as well, if you have trouble naming it. And remember Ty’s wisdom, I will call it, which is — you don't have to look at these emotions and name these emotions so that you can go tell your boss you're feeling it. This is actually you just doing it so you can understand what is making the funk. Right? TyAnn: Yeah, absolutely. And it could be, I mean, I've seen this before, you could be mad because you're not getting recognized, you know. You're mad, you worked on that project and somebody else got the credit for it. You know, all these things. And you might think, “I can't say that out loud, because that sounds really petty.” You know, then someone's going to be like... But that's a valid feeling. That's totally valid. So I love that lists can help spark that for you. So write that stuff down so you can help in your mind...just get kind of granular on what specifically is it that's causing the funk. Because once we know, and we can drill into that, then we can help start building bridges to get over the funk. Lisa: Yeah. And you layer that with what you described about going back through your report and reading the needs. And if you have the full report, looking at the very bottom, so you might see something that is a soul sucker for you that you didn't know. You have a pretty good inventory either of, “Oh, I've got my early warning signs”, or, “Oh, I've figured out what might have spurred this.” Like that moment where you didn't get recognized, maybe you're annoyed for about 30 seconds, and then you're like, “Yeah, [24:33] ***I'm a grown-up*** so I'm over it.” And then you move on — but you didn't get over it. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: You just told yourself you did. TyAnn: Right. Or maybe that's like the 5th time that that's happened in this job, and it's just like, it's like your bee in your bonnet. It doesn't go away. It's there. And then every time that happens again, it's just that confirmation that's like see, this is in here. And maybe one of your themes is Significance, and maybe yours needs to be recognized. And so that's a really good starting point to think... What's going on here? How can I put more Venn in this diagram than these things that are totally opposite? So I think that's just a great place to start. Lisa: It is. And speaking of starts, we're stopping. [Laughs] So even though we're at the end of the episode, you know we always talk about how using your strengths will make you a stronger performer. And in this time, if you're listening to this, if you are in one of those moments where you are in a funk, don't forget that your strengths do strengthen your performance. Because, I think to Ty's point, it is not the first thing that comes to mind. But if you're experiencing the funk right now and you're feeling like the brass monkey-funky monkey, get over to your CliftonStrengths report and get...reflecting? Is that what you would call it? TyAnn: Yeah. You’re reflecting. Yeah, go back and dig into those Brings & Needs, and I think you'll find some wisdom there. Lisa: All right. With that, we will see you next time. Bye for now. Need More Resources To Help You Further Beat Those Funky Blues? Check These Out Lisa mentioned how being in a funk is largely linked to being “stressed” and “anxious,” based on her experience discussing the situation with her clients. Listen to her as she explains how having a bad day, a person/team who frustrates you, and an environment where you feel mismatched might bring out the shadow side of your strengths in What Do Strengths Look Like Under Stress? Here you will learn how to reframe them from bad to better. Or listen to Lisa’s grandma Venetta as she shares 5 career lessons. In one of the lessons, she encourages listeners to simply step back, get some perspective and look for the good in things even when stressed at work and feeling overwhelmed. The rest of her shared nuggets are just as golden! Funky moments, whether major or minor ones, are all part of life, as the path towards our goals is not always straight and smooth. Our episode on How To Start Living Your Best Life with Lisa and Strother Gaines will inspire you to embrace situations that can throw you off your path yet lead you to reroute or arrange new ones. All this points to the importance of anchoring on your CliftonStrengths talent themes in life. See you in the next episode with Lisa and TyAnn.

god fear talk diy raise work life balance significance rv strengths funky makes tetris minimalism gallup beastie boys ops venn joneses state parks tidy strengthsfinder poof cliftonstrengths honda accord strength finders brass monkey cleanly lisa cummings tyann lisa it lead through strengths lisa what lisa yes lisa yeah lisa so lisa oh strother gaines lisa all

Self Care Ideas: Simple Ways That Strengths Can Fill Your Empty Tank

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2020 27:25

Self Care Ideas That Most Corporate Professionals Haven't Considered You can't go very far when you're running on empty, no matter how hard you push. And that's why we've come up with this fun episode for you — consider it a virtual "filling station." All you need to do for now is hit the brake, find clarity, and refill your tank with self care ideas that use your natural talents. Just like operating from your unique strengths, practicing self care makes a world of difference. Self care is not self-ish, because it results in giving your world the best of you [very punny, right?]. No matter your role in your team, your strengths can guide you in choosing the tasks that replenish you so that you can contribute your best - and achieve goals with less effort. Our host Lisa Cummings is joined once again by TyAnn Osborn, and together they will guide you towards the things that could re-energize you. As you'll find out, filling up on self care ideas doesn’t have to be limited to studying mindfulness, meditation, and massage. Surprisingly, self care can feel really practical in the workplace, despite the typical connotation, which seems to live outside of the office. There are many self care ideas that come right out of your natural talents - ways you can approach your work to re-energize you while you simultaneously get things done. Here’s their conversation: Lisa: You're listening to Lead Through Strengths, where you'll learn to apply your greatest strengths at work. I'm your host, Lisa Cummings, and you know, I'm always telling you, it's hard to find something more energizing than using your natural talents every day at work. Well, something that's just about as energizing is when I get to hang out with my other host here in the room, TyAnn Osborn. TyAnn: Hi! Lisa: Today, we're talking about... We don't know yet what we're talking about, because we're doing a spin-the-wheel, where it tells us what we're talking about for the day. So let's spin. TyAnn: Okay. Lisa: Ooh, this one is talking about self care ideas... TyAnn: Self care. Lisa: When you run empty. TyAnn: Well... Lisa: No, you should just start this Ty, because you've talked about when the cup is empty, you have nothing to give. We definitely need some self care ideas up in here. How These Self Care Ideas Can Help You Avoid Burnout TyAnn: That's it. So I think this is a really important topic right now. And, you know, we're all facing different struggles, no matter what it is. Depending on when you listen, there can be any number of things happening. Maybe you've got a personal health struggle, maybe you're facing job troubles, potential job loss. Maybe you've got some family stuff going on, kids stuff going on. I don't know, maybe there was a global pandemic. There's all kinds of things happening in the world right now, and something is probably happening in your life. And here's the deal. You know, we have a lot of demands and pulls on our time and our energy. And often, we're trying to give so much to other people. If you're a manager, a people manager, you know, you're really trying to show up and be the best for your team. If you've got kids you're trying to give. If you're a volunteer, you're trying to give. But the truth is, you can't give from an empty cup. And so this is really where we've got to build self care ideas in our own life so that we can have our own replenishment - things that help us so that we can help give to other people. Because, believe me, if you're just gonna keep pouring, nothing's gonna come out. Lisa: That's a good point. It's kind of like, if you use your cup metaphor, I'm going to drink, there's nothing there. I'm trying to take a sip, there's nothing there. TyAnn: Yeah, you're still slurping on that straw, like (slurps)... Nothing happening. Lisa: And I, I see this with a lot of clients where we want to be it all. We want to give it all. We want to do it all. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: I have very high expectations of myself that I never meet. I see customers who have high expectations of themselves that they never meet, and they feel crushing expectations from other people around them, so that same family member, teammate, boss, all of those situations, and they are like, "Everyone wants a piece of me, and I've got nothing." TyAnn: Yeah, "I've got nothing to give." And believe me, that is the number one recipe for burnout right there. Because, you know, we're people and a lot of us are strong in terms of achievement, and being able to really, you know, move forward. That's why we're successful in our careers. And we've kind of gotten to these points. But believe me, there's only so far you can push this before you will just hit a wall. And often, you and I've talked about this before, oftentimes your body will tell you you've hit a wall before your brain will intellectually let you believe it. And, you know, I heard this one time on Oprah, she said, the universe speaks to you. And first, it'll be a whisper. And if you don't listen, then it'll start tapping a little louder. And finally, you know, if you keep not listening, it'll smack you upside the head. So I think it's really important to generate self care ideas, and create a practice. And we can talk about, "What does that look like from a strengths perspective?" Lisa: Yeah. When I think about self care ideas, I think about fitness. I think about fuel in the body, like what you're eating and drinking. I think about, "Am I consciously trying to direct my work to allow energizing things?" TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: I also think about hobbies. Am I doing things in life that fill my cup back up? TyAnn: Yeah. Different Energizers For Different Folks — Scrap The Judgment Lisa: There are a lot of things I think people can list if you ask, "What things energize you?" TyAnn: Yes. Lisa: But then how many do you allow yourself to do, and how do you know the payoff, like, “Okay, if I allow myself to sleep 9 hours a night, which my body thinks it wants…” TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: We can have self care ideas, but we might not give ourselves permission to try them. It feels self-indulgent. TyAnn: So true. Lisa: ...I think, "I don't have time for that. I have too much to do." But I think I also would like to drive to a gym and go do yoga in the morning and then, start work around noon, and... TyAnn: Play with your dogs and the drums and take a nap. Lisa: Yeah, I have songs to write. I have drums to play. I have dogs to take care of. I have a husband to hang out with. I have a lot to do. And that takes up a whole workday all by itself. These are beautiful self care ideas, yet I need to bring home the bacon too. TyAnn: Right?! Did you time for work? Lisa: Who's got time for that? TyAnn: Yeah. So how do you fit these self care ideas into your day? And how does this feel like not just one more thing I have to do? And then where can I get the biggest bang for my buck? Lisa: Yeah. Good point. You can have self care ideas, but they can also feel burdensome because they take up time. So what's the first step? I mean, and we're doing this related to strengths. TyAnn: So what are all the answers to this mystery? So a few things. I will just offer a personal bias. I think this word "self care" is used a lot now. It's thrown around. And sometimes when I hear it, it feels a little soft. Or it's all about like taking long hot bubble baths or something. And I think that feels a little squishy to me. So how about we just say, things that replenish you? Whatever that is for you. Lisa: The magic wand, we are now turning "self care ideas" into "things that replenish you." Very simple. That definitely makes it less squishy. TyAnn: Yeah. And I also think we can take away judgment on that, because something that makes you feel good might not make me feel good. So it's very personal to you. Lisa: Well, I think that we have one of those because I think that you're making fun of bubble baths, but that you actually do like them. And you like to read in the bath. TyAnn: I do. Lisa: Meanwhile, when we built our house, we built a bathless house because we don't take baths. TyAnn: Hey, interesting trend in real estate, right? Lisa: Is it?. I didn't realize that. TyAnn: As someone who just went through that process, now you go in, it's kind of polarizing. Bath person. No bath person. Some people have the big freestanding bathtub, it's a whole spa. Other people are like, "No, that's big waste." So it is a good metaphor for this topic. Lisa: It totally is. TyAnn: Because one person's replenishment is another person’s waste of space. So that's something that I do for myself and actually recommend for my clients as well. It’s just...take out a white sheet of paper. I'm a big believer in like analog tools, or get a whiteboard, and then just list out stuff you like. And here's what's interesting. Sometimes that can be paralyzing to clients, like, “Oh, my God, where do I even start?” So just take away all of the judgment. It can be little things like, "I like chocolate ice cream." That can't be my entire self care regimen, by the way, or I'd gain 50 pounds. But, you know, just start listing without judging the list. Creation and editing are two very different processes. Separate them so we can start listing out things. Start with the creation of a list. Write all of the things that replenish you. If that feels too limiting, just write things that you like - activities you enjoy. Lisa: Don't judge it while it's landing on the page. TyAnn: No judgment. As Planet Fitness says "this is a no judgement zone," (even though they misspelled judgment). So... Lisa: They did? TyAnn: Some judgment... Lisa: You’re judging the judgment spelling, that is. TyAnn: I know, judgment, right? Slightly judgy. So I would just say, try that, or I get clients stuck on... "I can only list work things that I'm excited about..." Lisa: Ha ha. I hear your Maximizer talent coming out. Maybe we can do categories for their self care ideas. Tyann: Yeah. Lisa: Let's come up with some categories. You could list work things that you like, TyAnn: Could be... Lisa: Work people that you like. TyAnn: (laughs) That's a big one. Lisa: Because people are like, “You replenish me. When I'm around you, my energy goes up.” TyAnn: But there are some people who don't replenish us. So they wouldn't go on the list. Lisa: Right? Ha ha. Okay. So we've got work...tasks or responsibilities. We've got people. TyAnn: Maybe workplaces. Lisa: Ooh, like physical places? TyAnn: Yes. Or maybe if you get to travel somewhere that's fun. Or maybe traveling for you to some location you dread that maybe you have to go once a quarter. And that's really a de-energizer for you. So don't put that on your list. Lisa: And you might know, "Hey, I'll make another list of things I need to get my energy up because I know it's going to be drained more...when these things happen." TyAnn: So this is the “things that bring me energy” list. So work stuff... and get as granular as you can in terms of work tasks. So I don't recommend putting things on there like, the XYZ project, because that's way too big. So get very granular about what specifically about that project did you like? Did you like interacting with the project team members, because it was just that awesome team where you really felt like you clicked with everyone? Or was it because you got to be out front? That would be me. You know it to be out on stage or I get to be the one making the presentation. Or maybe you're that spreadsheet jockey and you came up with just a brilliant thing that you pushed a button and all these magic happened, and it was the coolest thing ever. That would not be me. But for someone that could be. Lisa: You can also see trends after the list is complete...if you make yourself stick with the list-making when it gets tough for a minute. Then you can see bigger trends. Like one that I know for me I've figured out is, I like making things, but I like making a class. I like making an audio file. I like making a song up. I like making all sorts of different types of making. Some are very tech-focused. Some are super creative, but I couldn't see that trend until I listed a bunch of the details. That's when you get self care ideas that you never expected. They don't come out on the first pass. TyAnn: That’s great! I love that. So then you can go back and say what is it about these things that are similar? It's a creative process. Embracing What’s 'Weird' And Improving On What’s 'Standard' Are Self Care Steps Too TyAnn: Yeah. And this is for people who are like, "Oh, I can't list that, because that...that doesn't count. Or, I don't want anyone to know that I secretly like to….[insert whatever crazy hobby it is]. I was working with a group of chemical engineers. And this one gentleman, he stood up, and he said, “I like Dutch oven cooking.” And I thought, what a brave thing to say in front of a room of other chemical engineers. And I'm like, “You go! Dutch oven cooking! What a specific niche thing to do.” It's a brilliant self care idea, but he never would have called it that. Lisa: Yeah. It makes me think of "things you do to decompress" as another category for the list of self care ideas. Tyann: I didn't even know that was a hobby. And I like to cook too. And whatever it is, it doesn't matter. It's all about what rejuvenates you. Lisa: Back to your analog self care idea list: I facilitate an activity like this. I'll put the timer on two minutes, and I'll say, “Don't let the pen stop... keep going as a stream of consciousness thing." What did I like doing when I was 9? What am I doing when I lose track of time? What activities are fun? Who is fun to be around? What am I good at? What comes easily to me? What makes me feel alive? What am I saying when I crack myself up? What topics to I love to learn about? What makes me different from the average person? If you just can't think of an answer, keep the pen going and move to another angle." What you brought up for me is my follow-on, that I'll often have people do, which is: Keep this out for a week, because you need to grab the little moments that you didn't even know, “Oh, I got a little spark out of that idea and it reminded me of a whole new set of self care ideas.” And one of them that I think is really cool is: What makes you weird? And if I just ask you that, like, how many things could you list? Well, I might be able to add more than a normal person. But the little things like, what has anyone ever commented on? Because they'll come up. They'll pop in your head later. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: Okay, a weird thing about me is I eat canned things, because I like to eat vegetables and I like to be efficient. And I don't like spending a lot of time on my food. But I do want quality food in me. So somewhere in the middle, I found a jar of beets that I eat for my snack or my lunch. That's weird. I just stick my fork in the jar of beets and I eat it. Isn't that bizarre? TyAnn: Lisa eats green beans out of the can as well. Lisa: I will. Green beans are doable... but.. some of them are too squishy, like canned asparagus and spinach. Those are a no-go… Green beans, corn, beets — all workable for moments of vegetable efficiency. But that is very weird. But if you start looking at it like, what energizes me? The energizing part isn't the beets. It's finding new efficiencies. Finding ways to break a rule, like that rule makes me think about how I don't have to cook because other people do. I remember a moment when I got feedback at my house that I was not running the dishwasher as often as it should be because we were running out of forks. And so my answer was *not* to wash dishes more frequently or run the dishwasher more frequently. It was to buy more forks. And I got a real kick out of that. It was my special way of being efficient and effective. So these weird things about you can generate surprising self care ideas. TyAnn: I love that. Lisa: When you see “Oh, I love coming up with something that is a solution to a problem that is not normal, that no one else would think of.” And I'll get a jazz out of that that will give me an hour-long high. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: So being able to write down those things, like the moments where you got a boost or you got a kick out of yourself. TyAnn: This is so great. So you've said a couple of things that I think are brilliant. Life is made up of all these little moments that are punctuated by the big thing. But 99% of life is...just we go through life, right? So that's where we can look. And so much of what you said is like a Maximizer coming out, which by the way, I'm that as well. But two examples for you in the food realm. So we started getting those home boxes that come with the food and the recipe. The box comes in, you have the recipe and you put it all together. Usually it's my job to put the ingredients together. Occasionally, my husband will put it together but he takes the recipe and goes exactly step by step and it comes out and, you know, it's fine. I'm different. I take the recipe and use it as a launchpad. It's like a starting point because I'm often thinking, "Hmm, you know, what would make this better?Just a little bit of shallot, a little bit of garlic, you know, a dash of cinnamon..." And then I’ll present it to him, he's like, “This is not the recipe.” I'm like, “I know. It's better. It's better.” That's like a hallmark of Maximizers: "I’m gonna make this better!" Lisa: And it makes you really excited. TyAnn: Oh, huge, huge jazz out of it. 'Cause I sort of have this image of myself back at the test kitchen of whatever company being all like, “I made it better,” even though that's not my job and I would never do that. Anyway, in my head, it's pretty exciting. So, and a long time ago, back when the interwebs were still very new, I had this website, and one of the things I did was reviews of restaurants and products. This is really crazy to think about now. But do you remember flight — I know, we'll get back there one day — and in the in-flight magazine, how there were always those lists of like, top 10 steak houses in the United States.... Well, I took that as a challenge. And so I decided to go visit all of them, and then do reviews on them and see if I really thought they were the top 10 steak houses. So then I had a whole thing on. Lisa: And you had this whole energy... TyAnn: I do! Lisa: ...about it. TyAnn: And I'm 100% sure no one ever read that. But it didn't matter. I wasn't doing it for the audience, I was doing it as, like, a quality kind of thing. Lisa: Hmmm. What's your take...you're making me think of...on the topic of self care ideas...how fulfilled we feel as humans and how alive we feel as humans, because I think there's a difference between being alive and feeling alive, like feeling alive for what you're doing. And that so much of it can come from striving and having a goal and that there's something around it even if it's something like, “I have this thing, I'm going to visit these 10…places." TyAnn: Whatever… Lisa: Whatever that thing is, so even making one of those lists...instead of it being an inventory of things you've found yourself get a charge out of it, could be like, “Oh, that sounds fun. I'm actually going to go do that.” TyAnn: You know, there was research that was done about, and this was really done on couples and families. And something that was particularly bonding was something they came up with and called it a quest. But it works for individuals too, that whenever you have a quest, something that you're doing together, and it doesn't have to be like, “We're gonna go visit every continent,” even though that could be fun, but that might be a little unattainable for a lot of people, it could just be, “We're gonna go check out all of the state parks in a 30-mile radius from our house.” Lisa: Yes! TyAnn: Or we're gonna find a public fishing hole near where we live. I mean, it doesn't, it literally doesn't matter what it is. It's just something that's a common goal for you. Bringing Strengths Into Self Care By Focusing On Things That Energize You Lisa: I like that as a very actionable thing that you could do with this, where you're like, "How can I do self care? Can I bring my strengths into it?" And by the way, you can look at them and say, "What would light these up?" And that can be part of your list making. But also, if you do things that feel easy to you and energizing to you, they probably are in alignment with your strengths naturally. TyAnn: That's a clue to strengths, too. Lisa: Yeah! TyAnn: Usually your strengths are things that bring you energy and you feel naturally attracted to. So it doesn't matter if it's, "You know what, I'm going to try a seasonal fruit or vegetable this month. This is going to be the month of asparagus, and I'm going to go try that.” Whatever. Or, "We're going to try a new place." You know, you often hear this, "We're going to try something new." Because if you put yourself out there a little bit, but it's a new adventure of some sort, it kind of satisfies a lot of this neat thing. And that's what really gets a lot of cool juices flowing for you. Doing the same thing over and over tends not to stroke that same area for you. Lisa: Yeah. And I like how you do the... If you're going to come up with a quest as one of the action items like, what could your quest be? And could you have a quest that would be a workplace quest or a family quest? And then could you do one that would feel really enlivening to one of your strengths? And then even if you wanted to have a work or family conversation around it, how could this quest be really fun for this family? TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: Or how could this quest, this big aspirational goal that the team is heading toward, which… How could you find a way that one of your strengths comes alive through it? It would be a really cool conversation. TyAnn: Absolutely. Lisa: I don't know if this is the same video you were talking about with research? Jane McGonigal was a researcher and she was recovering from a concussion. She started a quest to get better. There's a TED talk where she describes what she did to power up. She called it Super Better. And it was how she gamified getting better. She was also a gamer and she figured out a way to get super better, but bits at a time. And this quest notion, whether or not she used those words. TyAnn: I love that. Lisa: ...it was baked into it. And it gives you a way to get there. Instead of feeling like, I think when people are bad at self care, when we're doing ourselves wrong, it's because I'm like, “Well, I'm, I haven't worked out this week, so I'm going to eat tater tots for breakfast.” TyAnn: We like tater tots in our house as well. Gotta say. Tater tots loving family. And then someone might say, well, and if I had tater tots for breakfast, I might as well just go all in and have cake for lunch. And... Lisa: Oh, and I put ice cream on my list of self care ideas. So we have that and then you're all downhill. TyAnn: But it's an interesting kind of this concept too. So you know, a lot of people have workout on their list because they think that's what should be on the list. So I would say stop shooting on yourself. What brings you energy is what brings you energy. No one's creating this, by the way. And so if you feel like a natural attraction to you would like to get more activity in your life, that doesn't have to mean I have to go to the gym for an hour and a half, and get on some torturous piece of equipment that I don't want to be on, that makes me feel icky... Or, I have to go to a Body Pump class where I'm embarrassed and don't know how to do it. That's not what that means. Lisa: Yeah, I think that thing, like remembering, there's a notion, maybe it's one that other people have put out there for you. Or maybe it's something you've made up about what that word means. Workout is a good example of one that's loaded. TyAnn: Yeah, a lot of baggage, Lisa: I think quick shout out to the book, Eat, Move, Sleep. That’s a really good one for self care ideas. TyAnn: Absolutely. Lisa: …asking yourself, how are you on your eating and moving and sleeping? But okay, like if you said, “Okay, I want to move.” TyAnn: Right. Lisa: What kind of moving is fun for me? Maybe for one person, it's taking a walk with a friend, and you got to have the social connection while you were power walking. For the next person, it’s going to a group exercise class. Like I had... I went and hooked up my Xbox again, for the Kinect, to dance to Fergie. I mean, it's silly, but that's a fun workout for me. So why don’t I do it? TyAnn: That counts. That counts. Lisa: And then you go, “Oh, well. Well, I do. Why don't I hook that back up? TyAnn: Right! Lisa: Why do I have that unplugged? TyAnn: So if you want to be Dance Dance Revolution, man, knock yourself out! Lisa: I love Dance Dance Revolution. TyAnn: Or if you just want to crank up the music, or take a walk, or if you want to try some, you know, whatever new class is out there... Lisa: Take a whole new class! Whatever sounds fun for you. TyAnn: ...there’s something. So I think it really is trying to get away again from, if you write something down because you feel you should, I would say take another look at that, because that's not bringing you energy. And this is supposed to be a self care list about things that are exciting to you and bring you energy. So if you feel like you should call your mom every day and spend an hour on the phone with her, but that doesn't bring you energy, don't put that on your list. Don’t put that on your list. Or even working out. If that doesn't sound so great to you, think about, “What does sound great to me? Hanging out with my friend sounds great. So maybe, I get an accountability partner at the gym. Then, that can be where I go to see my friends, I've kind of paired something I'm a little more iffy at with something I'm excited about. So together, I'm sort of killing two birds with one stone in a way that still feels awesome." Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: So I think that's part of that self care. So I would just say, get back to that creative space. Think about those things which bring you energy. Try to get down to those micro-segments. I like organizing, that brings me energy. And so if I'm feeling a little out of sorts, Lisa: Labeler. TyAnn: If I'm feeling a little out of sorts, I might just literally pull open my desk drawer and just get it sorted out. Lisa: Oh, this is the perfect closing to this. Self Care Need Not Be Hard Or Inconvenient — Grow On Micro Habits Lisa: On the best self care ideas: My favorite TyAnn concept of the universe is “stop making things so hard.” I make life hard because I think of all of these things I should be doing or want to do or that would feel great. But then they feel too gratuitous. It just feels like too much time. I don't have that much time for these eight hours of things I would prefer to do during the day. TyAnn: It's too much. Lisa: So the opening one drawer, and organizing one little space... TyAnn: Right. Lisa: The reading one page of a book, not even one chapter, but I like reading, I read one page. TyAnn: Yoohoo, ‘crushing it! I’m winning. Lisa: If you’ve read Atomic Habits, have you checked out that? TyAnn: Yes. Yeah. Lisa: It's like, I will put my workout shoes next to my bed, and I will put my workout shoes on and then maybe...I will do 10 push-ups, and that's your only expectation for yourself — 10 push-ups, just something that is... TyAnn: ...that you can crush, you can win... Lisa: ...very small and doable. TyAnn: Micro-habits. Lisa: ...and let it grow. TyAnn: And you're like, I want to eat more vegetables. Great, I ate one asparagus. Winning! (laughs) Right? As opposed to, “Well, now I have to become a vegan.” ...which seems like a big thing. Lisa: That is so funny as a closing thought too because I have some like vegan experimenting things that… TyAnn: Vegan-curious? Lisa: Yeah! Say I’m plant-curious. If you're listening, hey, Becky Hammond from Isogo Strong! TyAnn: We love Becky! Lisa: Becky's a vegetarian. I was talking about well, you know, if I were to do it, I would just go vegan because I don't eat dairy so I would just like, that's the big battle with going vegan to me anyway, is I can't eat dairy anyhow. So I got past the vegetarian vegan thing. But I don't know about that. And I started giving all of these reasons: "This gets in my way...this makes it a precarious approach...and this makes it inconvenient. And she's like, “Just have one more plant-based meal per day." I said, “Oh, hello!” I hadn't thought of that. TyAnn: Something doable. Lisa: Stop making everything all or none. Stop making everything have a mutually exclusive this or that. TyAnn: Stop making it so hard. Stop making it so hard. Lisa: And with that, I think it is…the perfect ending. So you've been listening to Lead Through Strength. As you think about not making it so hard and bringing your strengths into your self care practice, walk away with your list. Log those moments over the next month, maybe just a week or a few days. But catch the moments that were fun to you. Come let us know on social what they were for you because it is fun to hear the energizing moments for other people. TyAnn: Absolutely. We'll talk about all of the self care ideas. Lisa: We will. Because the variety is so much fun when you learn one person's trash is another person's treasure - in hobbies and in tasks at work. So with that, let us know which ones you're starting to implement. We would love to hear how you took five more minutes for your self care so that you can fill your cup because we don't want you out of water. With that, we'll see you next time. Bye for now. Resources: Self Care Ideas To Help You Fuel Up Your Strengths And Fire Up Your Life Vital to self care is staying at your top form and performing better at work by knowing what keeps your strengths honored and insulted. Visit Lisa’s insightful episode about finding energizing tasks at work to discover what situations (or cultures) can either drain or motivate you based on your strengths. But simply knowing what honors and insults your strengths or talents cannot complete a self care process. Lisa’s Strengths Blind Spots episode serves as a great reminder to “feed our talents the same way we feed our body." Spend time developing and nurturing them instead of squashing them down so they can best serve your performance and, ultimately, that of the team. Finally, check out this episode on Wellbeing: Bravely Build a Fit Body and Mind Through Strengths with Lisa and Matt Swenson. You’ll learn to create healthy strengths habits around the 5 essential elements of wellbeing: career, social, financial, physical, and community. Life-changing self care ideas!

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My Manager Hates Me: The 'Not Savage' Strengths Approach

breakfast bacon strengths tyann

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2020 23:47

How Can I Turn Conflicts Around When My Manager Hates Me? Certain situations can highlight the stark differences within a team, especially when your strengths seem opposite of others' strengths. For example, you might think “my manager hates me” when they seem to value other team members' ideas and blow off yours. To conform or to stay true to your natural talents becomes a tough choice to make. When you’re the manager, it takes some skill to build a balance between honoring your team members' strengths and honoring yours, especially where you think the business priorities and values are at stake. And when you manage a team with a very different set of top 5 or top 10 strengths, how exactly do you do it? Welcome to this episode, the first in a series with TyAnn Osborn, who role-plays and reflects with our host Lisa Cummings on the difficult scenarios where team members may have conflicting strengths. How do they handle the situation and turn conflicts around? Here’s the transcript of the episode. Lisa: You're listening to Lead Through Strengths, where you'll learn to apply your greatest strengths at work. I'm your host, Lisa Cummings, and you know, I'm always telling you, it's hard to find something more energizing than using your natural talents every day at work. Well, something that's just about as energizing is when I get to hang out with the other host here in the room, TyAnn Osborn. TyAnn: Hi! Lisa: Today, we're going to talk about a topic that we haven't decided yet, because I am going to use this spin-the-wheel thingy thingy, to tell us. *Spins the wheel* TyAnn: I like the sounds. Lisa: Oh, it says: ‘You don't like a teammate.’ When Someone On The Team Drives You Crazy Lisa: So today, we're going to talk about what you could do with your strengths when you don't like one of your teammates. Has this ever happened to you, Ty? TyAnn: No, I've always loved everyone that I worked with... No...[hint of sarcasm] Lisa: But I bet one of your clients has had this situation since you've never had it, 'wink-wink...' TyAnn: Of course, there's always someone that - for some reason - rubs you the wrong way. You just, you know, they're not your love language. And I work with clients all the time who have... there's always seems to be someone on the team who they just can't seem to get along with. Has this ever happened to you too? Lisa: Definitely. I mean, it's funny because I feel like a big thing about me is that I love people. And I love most people. TyAnn: Right. Me too! Lisa: But there are people that I don't jive with as well. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: And it takes some extra effort to understand where they're coming from, or really feel like, ‘Oh, I fully get them,’ or something like that. TyAnn: Which, you know, that's interesting when you're an individual contributor, when you feel that way, because you're like, ‘yeah, maybe that's just him’, you know. But when you're a manager, and you think, ‘Oh, I'm supposed to like everybody on the team’, or, ‘I need to not show favoritism but, eh, I kind of don't like that person. What do I do?’ It's kind of like being a parent; you're not supposed to not like one of your kids. So... Lisa: Or not have a favorite. TyAnn: Or not have a favorite. So, what do you do? Lisa: Okay, so let’s do a scenario? Let's do it like, you’re a manager. It will allow us to see the perspective of the manager thinking, "Ugh, that person is high maintenance on the team." And it will allow us to explore the flip side where a team member is thinking, "Ugh, my manager hates me. What should I do?" TyAnn: Yep. Lisa: You happen to have done CliftonStrengths as a team. TyAnn: Because you're a great manager. Lisa: 'Cause you're awesome. And there is a person on your team that you appreciate as a human, but as a performer, they feel very high-maintenance to you, they drive you kind of crazy. Let's pick some talent themes that might be seemingly opposite each other so we can make it a real scenario. TyAnn: Okay. Lisa: Does one pop up for you as one that is least likely to be paired with another? TyAnn: I see Deliberative being perceived as a problem child, especially when a lot of other people on the team might be more, say Activator, or something that's very forward in motion. Either Achiever, Activator, something like that. So maybe you've got a team that's like, ‘Oh, we're always ready to go!’ And there's one person who seems like they never can just get on the bus. And they're always the one dragging their heels. Lisa: Yeah. Oh, we should do this on both directions. TyAnn: Okay. Lisa: Let's take Achiever-Activator. TyAnn: Okay. Lisa: And then let's take Deliberative. Say these are the two different people. And we can start with the manager, having Achiever-Activator, wanting stuff to get done quickly, and wanting to make decisions quickly. And the person who wants to take a little more time is the team member who reports to you, and then we’re gonna swap it. TyAnn: Okay. Okay, I've got a real life example on that. Lisa: Awesome. Okay. TyAnn: Absolutely. Lisa: So you're my manager. TyAnn: Okay. Lisa: You're Achiever-Activator [role play begins you can also watch the video version to get the subtleties]. TyAnn: Woohoo! Let's get going, man, come on! Lisa: And I'm saying, "Well, bad news. I'm going to miss that deadline that you gave me." TyAnn: Lisa, what's going on? I gave you the deadline. Come on! Chop, chop! Lisa: Well, the thing is, I *could* get it done, but I can't get it done *properly* right now, because we don't have all of the information. I've been trying to work with this other department. They've been dragging their heels. I’m waiting for them. If I do it now, I might just be giving you completely incorrect information because I'm seeing three or four ways this could all go wrong if I blaze ahead today, and it feels like I'm just gonna be wasting time…. TyAnn: Lisa, all I hear is excuses. I have stuff to get done too. We owe the marketing department this information. They're waiting on us to get this stuff into print. We're behind already and you know what, you're never going to have 100% confidence in what you do. So just give me something. Lisa: Uhum...[hangs head]. Okay, now that we've come out of our characters from our roleplay, I would say, you were kind of playing like the in-between our manager where you were trying to give the people listening to the podcast, like a little bit of a glimpse of inside your head, but also be somewhat mature, like, in how you... TyAnn: Right, right. Lisa: ...because you're balancing the two - and that the inside voice and the outside voice are really different. TyAnn: That’s true. My Team Member Frustrates Me: How Can I Moderate My Message To The Person? Lisa: Can you explain what was going on fully inside voice? Unfiltered. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: ...and then how, if you wanted to maturely talk to me, and still keep me engaged...how that might look? Tyann: I think that's a good point because hopefully, as you progress in your career, you just don't say the first thing that pops into your head. I always say, there's the reason why there's a little space between your head and your mouth. Yeah, have a little filter in there. But inside your head, it's very normal be like, "Oh, my God, you are so frustrating! I gave you the deadline. Arrgh, why didn't you say something sooner? You, you always do this. And all I'm hearing is excuses. Now you're throwing this other department under the bus. I cannot count on you. The rest of the team - we're getting it done. And we have to deal with the same things." So typically, what I see when I see this combination of strengths is a lot of frustration. That is usually the emotion that I see a lot, it’s frustration. Whoever has the action, it's like, "Oh, I'm just really angry with you." And whoever's on the receiving side, well, we can debrief how you feel. But usually it's a lot of frustration on that side, too. So that's kind of what's happening inside. And then on the outside, but I'm trying to be a good manager, and I'm trying not to just say, "Oh my God, you're such an idiot, and I hate you." 'Cause I would never say that to someone. But I'm trying to say, "You know, of course, we're never going to have 100% confidence in what we do, because that's not real life. So we have to get to a point where we may feel 80% confident, and how do we do that? And too, you can't always have an excuse for why things aren't happening. You have to take ownership of something, too." So that's what I was trying to moderate in the message. So you could feel some of that? Lisa: For sure. And I put you on the spot and I know this person is thinking, "I know my manager hates me, but I still don't want to deliver shoddy work." TyAnn: Right. Lisa: It's easier when you have time to think out the words for the feedback. It's simpler to give the vibe that, "I've been thinking about how I'm going to coach you and how we can improve this over time." What we've been doing is the in-the-moment heated feeling, "Oh, we just missed a really important deadline. You didn’t tell me. I am so upset." Tyann: Right. And now my butt's in the sling because of you. Lisa: Yeah. And I hear things from managers, like, "Everybody else can do it. You're the only one…" And then you don't want to give that as feedback... TyAnn: Right. Or you start hearing that relationship language like "always," and "never," which we say, you know, anytime you start hearing, "always," "never," that should be a clue. But when you definitely start feeling... Lisa: Alarm bells. TyAnn: Yeah, alarm bells should go off. But when you start feeling inside, like, "Oh, my God, you're always the problem. You're the problem employee. Everyone else can get it done on time, how come you can't?" And that's when you start hearing things like, you know, "Lisa's got to go." Lisa: Right. The employee also feels the My Manager Hates Me alarm bells. TyAnn: Absolutely. From the manager, perspective they're already thinking of firing the person. I always call it "my employee’s broken, I want a new one" syndrome. And, you know, that might be an answer. But I don't want that to be the first answer. To me, I want that to be the last answer. And I would like to try and see, "Can this marriage be saved before we go to it's broken?" Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: Because it takes a lot of effort to get another employee. Lisa: Oh, yeah. And I have something valuable to offer you with the Deliberative talents when they're dialed in well. TyAnn: Right. Yes. Absolutely. Lisa: I might sit in the seat... Okay, here's what I would say, like, what would be in my head if I were this team member? I would be thinking, "Yeah, other people get it done on time. And all of my teammates, ‘always’, ‘never’... all, all my teammates, give crappy work. I'm on a team where no one cares about quality, all they care about is speed. We do so many things three or four or five times because we were refused to do it right the first time because we won't take an extra minute to get the information from the other department, or fix that relationship that's creating the block that won't let us get the information. My manager hates me and hates my style. "And anytime I bring up the ‘what ifs’ or ‘this might go wrong’, people treat me like I’m the negative Nellie so I just shut down and don't say anything. But it doesn't mean I want to give you bad work." TyAnn: Mm hmm. So yeah, so you're surrounded by people that you think are...yeah... Lisa: Half-assing it. TyAnn: Half-assing it. And I like to say why half-ass when you can whole-ass? [smiles] Because you're right - then you're pretty probably seeing a bunch of rework that has to happen. When if we just put in the correct effort to begin with, you know, that wouldn't happen. But meanwhile, you've shut down. Lisa: I've shut down. TyAnn: ...because you've been shut down. Lisa: Yes. And I might be thinking, leading through Deliberative, seeing all of the activity that is resulting in, in my opinion, bad quality work out there, now I'm thinking, "Oh, look, the whole team is running around like chickens with their head cut off. Looks totally foolish. I'm the only one actually putting reasoning behind what we're doing. I'm the only one who's thinking I'm the only one who is bringing some rigor to this process. How is it that my manager hates me when I'm the voice of quality and avoiding a crisis that we're bound to experience if we don't pump the brakes?" TyAnn: Right. Lisa: And no one's valuing it. And then I'm thinking, "Well, clearly, I'm not a good fit for the job, or the company or the team, or maybe my manager. But if the whole team I perceive it like that…" TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: And maybe they are like that. Or maybe they've just conformed to your behavior, because as a manager, you've been so strong in your speed. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: At least you're clear. So that I'm grateful for. You know, opposites. My Manager Hates Me: Do I Conform And Please, Or Do I Look For Another Team? TyAnn: So you said two things that were really interesting. In this scenario, you talked about this, you were waiting on something from another team, so you were the only person who brought up even an interaction with another team. So to me that says you were thinking a little more systematically and holistically. So maybe these other guys should have been interacting with this other team, and they haven't been, so there's something going on there that should be paid attention to. But you also said something about maybe the rest of the team, they actually know things should be being done differently too, but here's what you find in a team. People want to please the manager. Because why? Because we are self-serving creatures. We do self-preservation activities, because that's what help... helps keep us alive. And at work, that's what helps keep us employed and... Lisa: You’re writing my performance review! TyAnn: You’re writing my review, you're helping me keep this job, you're helping me get paid more. And so it's not that there's a diabolical plot, it's just we are human beings, and we are doing these behaviors because if that's what you want for me, that's what I'm going to deliver. Even if I know there's something else that's possibly better. Lisa: Oh, it could even be especially if. What if I think I need you to think I'm a good performer? Because if I want to change roles, because this one isn't a good fit for me, I need you to... TyAnn: ...to support me. Lisa: Yeah, I need your support to move into another team. And when the next manager asks how I am as a performer... TyAnn: Right. Lisa: ...I want you to just say how amazing I am, not that I was your highest maintenance team member, right? TyAnn: So even if I thought you would be good for another role, they're going to say, what was Lisa's performance on your team? And I'm going to have to say Lisa was the worst performer. Who's going to want to take my lowest performer? That's going to be a much harder sell. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: And so you end up with kind of these, I always call them like aberrant behaviors. And again, not because people are diabolical, or someone sitting around trying to figure out, you know, the worst way to do things. It's just...it's self-preservation in action. And so if we don't make a conscious effort to really stop and think about things, this is what happens unintentionally. So at the end of the day, you have good ideas, probably that aren't being heard. People are running off half-cocked. And you know, there's a bunch of rework - probably not very high quality. You know, ultimately, it's just not the best product and not the best environment, or certainly not as good as it could be something. That's what we tend to see. Lisa: Now even though this could be a perfectly good place to end this example, let's make sure that we've flipped the scenario. Because I think it's a good example for people to experience when the same situation exists, but the themes are flipped around, because it can just change the whole scene of how the team culture looks. You actually said you have a real example of this. So... TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: Is that, is that a shareable example if it's anonymized? Leverage Communication To Resolve StrengthsFinder Talent Theme Conflicts TyAnn: Absolutely. So I had this happen. And it doesn't often happen this way. But it did. And I thought it was a good story. I was working with a news crew, so the people you see on TV to put out the news. And the manager was very high Deliberative. Lisa: Okay. Nice. TyAnn: And the news people as you can imagine, very high action-oriented. I mean, and it was a newsroom. It was very much "we have to get this on the air right now." I mean, it was very high-pressured. And so Deliberative, you know, doesn't like high pressure, needs time to think, really wants to make sure that all the facts are correct, I would hate to put something out and have it be wrong. So the manager was feeling like, "I am working with a bunch of people who don't care about quality, are willing to be excessively risky with the reputation of our brand, because we might have to put a retraction out on the air. And that we're just going to be putting stuff out there that's half-baked, and I work with a bunch of people who I can't trust." Meanwhile, the reporters are saying, “Our manager is a wet blanket. Every time we take him a really cool idea, his first reaction is ‘no’, or he asks me 17,000 questions that I haven't fully thought through, I don't have the answers to. So he makes me feel stupid, or he makes me feel like, by the time I get through all of his questions, you know what, the moments passed, like, it doesn't even matter anymore. Or he'll never get back to me at all.” And so there was this just huge conflict between them with none of them feeling valued on the team. But you know, the funny thing is, I wasn't called in because there…to do a remediation or a problem. I was called in, because they were all high performers. That was a really interesting one to step into. Lisa: Wow. What you're bringing up for me is this idea that it really doesn't matter what the themes are, or what the job is, because you can take any of your top CliftonStrengths talent themes, and they could be applied to serve any role. Because it's easy to get caught up in this thing, where we're like, "On this team, this group of them feels bad and this group of them feels right, or for this manager, this, this serves me, and these are not serving me. But the reality is that our natural talents are (if we allow them to be) our easy buttons to performance." TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: It's this concept of, well, maybe it's gone wild. You know, strengths gone wild. So if they could be honed in a little bit, both things that you were just bringing up in that scenario, are valuable to the organization. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: It's just all of them can't be on blast... TyAnn: ...All the time. Right. So, Lisa, you often talk about keys on a keyboard, and when we play them together, and they're harmonious, we've got some good chords going. It sounds awesome, right? And so you're right, it's not that there's good strengths and bad strengths, or that, you know, these things are naturally in conflict. It's just kind of finding that right level, because I don't think anyone would say, "Yeah, we're just gonna slap junk on the TV. And if it's not, right, well, who cares?" I mean, no one's gonna say that, right? And no one's gonna say, "Well, we're going to chase down every possible lead until we get a 100%, you know, confidence in this. And meanwhile, it's just gonna be black on TV until we feel like we're 100% confident." Because that's not realistic, either. So ideally, it would be great to feel like, we can work with the pace that we need to and put out really quality content that I feel good about. And in the event of an escape, you know, or a quality issue, we have a good process in place to catch that and to do whatever we need to to make a quick correction. Lisa: Yeah. TyAnn: And so what I got him to do was, actually, to codify his thinking process. I said, "What are the top three questions you usually ask when someone comes to you with a new idea?’ And he said, ‘Well, I just wish people had thought through things a little bit better. So I wish they would think about this, this and this." And I said, "Great, let's capture that. Let's get that out to the team so that they can do that thinking and you don't have to." And that's it. That's easy. And I said, "How long would it take you to get back to the team then when they come to you with ideas? What...what would feel good and realistic?" And he said, "I could get back to people within 24 hours." So okay, so we went back to the team said, "Is that a commitment that's workable for you?" So we had both sides in a satisfied position. I wouldn't even say it's a compromise because it didn't feel like anyone was giving something up. It just felt more like communication. And so that together, we're better. And it was like a light bulb went on in terms of, now It didn't feel like I was just doing things the hard way, like it didn't feel like a struggle every day. It felt like people were almost looking for that next opportunity so that they can test the stuff out. Find Out Where One Is Coming From And Assume Positive Intent Lisa: Love it. So when you think about action items to give listeners, lets see what they can do with this. Maybe a person is thinking, "my manager hates me, so what are my next steps?" Or a manager is thinking, "Jim wears me out, so how can I give him a chance to show up at peak performance?" It's too bad that this becomes a recurring theme at the office. It's the same frustration over and over again, it's just that they haven't figured out how to talk about it yet. Often they'll bring in Ty to say, “Can you help us communicate better because we haven't been facing the tough conversation with each other - now it's messing things up." Tyann: Right. Lisa: I love that there's the facilitated process that could happen. And by the way, you can bring Ty into your organization to do this, if you need help. Sometimes it just still feels awkward for you to do it because you can't be neutral like a 3rd party. TyAnn: I'm always happy to come in and facilitate awkward conversation [all smiles]. Lisa: You are the number one awkward conversation facilitator. TyAnn: I could totally do that. But you can start this on your own as well. Lisa: Yeah. I think if I were to leave any parting words for the person who's trying to do it on their own first before they blow up to the team, or before they verbalize the feedback to someone else, it would be, really get clear. “Is it because my personal preferences are different from the business priority?” It's personal preference, business priority, which is which? Are they not the same? And if they're not, that can be okay. You just have to get clear with yourself to go, “Ah. I get it - this is why it wraps my gut up in a knot.” This is what I would rather it be like, but it's not like that, because it's real life. TyAnn: Right. Lisa: So I need to proceed like this. And then as I proceed like this with the business preference, because it's my job, it's what they're paying me for, then can I see some positive intent coming from that other person? Like, what are they actually aiming for here? Even though it's making me upset or making me feel frustrated, what are they trying to do that has good intent? Because nearly always, (sure, not always, there are nefarious characters out there somewhere), but nearly always people have good intent. TyAnn: Yep, absolutely. That's one of my favorite things, is assume positive intent. Because believe me, your life will be much better when you do. It's amazing how many people that I run into don't or do think someone's out there trying to get them. Believe me, the vast majority of people go to work, and they want to do a good job. So let's assume positive intent. And I think that's just when you feel yourself getting... getting anxious, or you see that team member and you can just feel yourself getting triggered, or that thing happens again, and you feel it in yourself, that's a really good moment to think, "What is it specifically that is triggering me about this?" And again, it doesn't have to be they are an awful human being, it's just something in them is different than how you would react in that situation. So I think, stop. Think about what it is. Think about the good thing that they bring. And then again, what problem are we trying to solve? What's our ultimate goal? And how can we both get there together? Lisa: What a perfect way to end this one. TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: So next time that comes up for you, be thinking of the other person, what's the positive intent? Where are they coming from that is good and how could that, if you know CliftonStrengths talent theme language, then what are they trying to accomplish? And since you already have the talent themes in a list (or the StrengthsFinder 2.0 book), you might get some ideas about where they're coming from. Tyann: Right. Lisa: Because sometimes you do feel a little baffled... TyAnn: Yeah. Lisa: ...at the beginning, like why do they act like this, or why do they think like this, or why do they approach work like this? Or why does my manager hate me like this? Just going to someone else's CliftonStrengths report and going, ‘Oh, they think this way, aha. This makes sense now.’ TyAnn: Reading the reports is a really good place to start. Lisa: It's great for helping you understand the other person. Alright, with that, you've been listening to Lead Through Strengths, where you've been learning to apply your greatest strengths, to make your work stronger, and now also looking at other people's strengths and trying to notice those so that the whole team can get better together. Thanks, Ty. TyAnn: Thanks, Lisa. Hate Is Unproductive — Understand More With These Additional Resources Whether you’re a manager or a team member, you can stop any tendency to hold a theme bias against others’ so-called “bad strengths." Listen to our conversation on that for more. Of course, most teams don't have true hate, but when a team member thinks that a leader dislikes them, their engagement and performance can take a quick nose dive. With the premise that conflicts arise in any widely diverse work environment, Lisa and Lead Through Strengths Facilitator Strother Gaines exchange views and tips in another episode on how to Ignite Better Team Collaboration Through Strengths. All this highlights the importance of energizing tasks at work. What can fuel or discourage best performance lies in how much CliftonStrengths talent themes are allowed and supported within the team — a challenge for some teams but highly doable.

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Breakfast with Bacon Episode #25 (Doug and TyAnn)

Breakfast with Bacon

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 23:45

TyAnn Osborn turns the tables on Doug as he becomes the interviewee in this week's Breakfast with Bacon. Listen in as they talk about Strengths superpowers and how to hire objectively to identify the best fitting candidate with complementary Strengths. There's even a "lightning round" Q&A to close it out.

Breakfast with Bacon Episode #22 (TyAnn Osborn)

Breakfast with Bacon

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 10:32

In this week's Breakfast with Bacon, hear how TyAnn Osborn is utilizing (and adapting) her future-oriented CliftonStrengths in these times of uncertainty.

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06.23.2020: Rev. Tyann Brown

The Greater Allen Cathedral

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2020 22:09

Rev. Elaine Flake, Rev. Tyann Brown

rev tyann

Core Concept #8: Honored or Insulted

The Greater Allen Cathedral

Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2020 11:56

Finding Energizing Tasks At Work We’re almost at the end of our STRENGTHS series, where we discuss a total of nine concepts that will help you implement strengths with your team at work. In this episode, we'll explore one of the most interesting topics in this series: Honored and Insulted. This topic always generates the liveliest conversations. Why? Because people generally have this special keenness over what might honor or insult their talent themes. If you're a manager and you assign energizing tasks at work, imagine what it could do for productivity and employee engagement. Win-win! Read on to learn how to keep your team motivated using the strengths perspective. If you know what honors their talent themes, then you likely know their personal values. When they work on a team where they can see the fit between the work and their values, they feel more motivated and energized. Imagine a pyramid-like structure, where strengths are at the top, natural talents come next, and values form the base. Strengths are the talent that you've already developed well, while natural talent is how you think or feel or act in your default situation. At work, there are situations (or entire cultures) that either insult or honor your talent themes at a human level. We don't meet many teams that talk much about personal values. The thing is, if your values are insulted, work can feel like soul-sucking drudgery. On the flip side, if your experience at work feels totally aligned with your values, you'll feel pumped. It actually acts like a fuel to keep you motivated and performing at your best. Energizing tasks at work - the concept might seem doable, yet it might seem far from your current situation. Hang in there because it is totally possible, regardless of your role. How To Keep Your Team Motivated: Know What Might Insult And Honor Their Talent Themes Within a team, there are lots of small moments that can suck the energy from you. You know them: draining tasks, things you procrastinate, or people who wear you out. Worse, these scenarios could make you want leave your job if you're not actively addressing them. These are sneaky de-motivators. Let’s look at these examples. If you're a people manager, definitely look at these examples. Think about your team members and what energy takers might be foiling their plans to show up as a top performer. This is a super practical way to apply CliftonStrengths at the office. In fact, the energizing tasks at work might spill over into energizing responsibilities at home. The more you find these energy makers, the more you can bring them into your life. 1. Leading Through CliftonStrengths Responsibility. Imagine that you lead through Responsibility, and you’re working on a team where people are constantly showing up for meetings 5 or 10 minutes late. Because it's part of your DNA that you do what you say you're going to do, these people who disrespect other people’s time annoy you big-time. In general, no one likes it when someone misses a commitment, but it’s a different (deeper) level of insult to someone's talent of Responsibility. While you learn to get over it after a while, and rationalize that it's just how the working world seems to be, you also might tag these moments as your “red line” or “red-faced” moments. They lead you to wonder why people can be downright flippant about it. That's an example of an energy taker for those who lead through Responsibility. These are the de-energizing tasks at work, or in this case, the de-energizing moments and interactions that can drain you and make work feel like the hardest of hard work. 2. Leading Through CliftonStrengths Analytical. Imagine leading through this strength and someone regularly pulls random anecdotes out of the air. You would, of course, wonder if this person ever fact-checks or uses reasoning skills. “Do they ever vet their comments to see if they're actually true?” When you keep encountering moments like this, it can get to your nerves. When people seem to be making decisions that feel highly emotional, this would be insulting your talent theme of Analytical. When teams work on problems that come from things like, "this doesn't feel right" you will expect them to validate that gut feeling before investing gobs of money or time on something that might not be a an actual problem. Maybe it's just that one vocal customer's opinion - not an experience shared by others. Imagine how helpful it would be to know that your talent theme of Analytical is getting insulted. You can say, "Aha - no wonder this meeting is always so frustrating for me. Maybe I can spin that around by offering to vet or validate the gut feelings that come up so often." 3. Leading Through CliftonStrengths Includer. Imagine you’re leading through this talent theme. You’re really good at identifying who among the team a) has given a voice, b) has not said anything, and c) might want to comment but hasn't been given the chance. But when people talk over each other and ignore what one or two other people have to say, it would be an insult to your talent theme. This could feel quite rude to you even if you’re not the person that’s not being included. Consequently, you develop this dislike and distrust of the people who are excluding those others and their ideas. These are just some of those “red line” or “red-faced” moments that might happen when your talent (or values) are insulted. These may be small but they can add up over time and lead to feelings of disillusion, until you think, “Ah, I'm not valued here.”, or “This culture sucks. I don’t want to be a part of this team.” These are the kinds of conversations that can put you in a dilemma of whether to deal with it or leave, as far as your talent theme is concerned. That's exactly why it's so important to honor your talents, and also learn to honor the talents of teammates. When their strengths and values are honored, they can show up at their best. They can contribute something the team needs, and it may not be easy for others to do that thing. If you're a people manager, you can assign them as their most energizing tasks at work. They literally act like a fuel. Your Team Challenge: Acknowledge Each Other's Talents This is where strengths-focused conversations, done consistently, become very useful. It's a practical way to apply StrengthsFinder. Over time you build the trust that allows you to share with the team what honors your themes and what can make the workplace feel ideal or “the best.” Your team members will be able to avoid the difficult dilemma that can make them decide to leave their job. When values and strengths are in alignment, the team feels motivated and valued. Even if this isn't part of your team culture today. You can be the person who helps the team begin to notice (and say aloud) what already works well. These small acknowledgements help every person understand what puts their teammates at their best. With some conscious effort, you can slowly shape your job description toward these energizing tasks at work. Go Beyond 'Give And Take' When You Apply StrengthsFinder Lisa, our founder, once shared that her troublemaker talent is Maximizer. At the same time, she also works closely with someone in her team who leads through Activator. So, while being a Maximizer, Lisa would pore over her work and polish things to make them better. Those are energizing tasks at work for her - making things better and better and better. On one side, the Activator talent would wait on her and prod her to “just move on with it” or "just ship" the product. Lisa understood where the input was coming from. In some cases, where the quality output was high-stakes, she acknowledged the person by saying, “This is going to kill your Activator, but I need one more day on this.” In other cases, when good (and done) was better than great, she'd do the hand off. It all depends on the business outcome that the team agrees upon. This is where you can apply CliftonStrengths to get the best business results. Of course, there are times when give and take is the reality. Although it feels good to live in your personal strengths panacea, you can't let your personal preferences trump the business priorities. You should constantly be looking for ways to get better results by using your strengths. At the same time, be careful to not let them be an excuse. It would be unhealthy to be so obsessed with finding energizing tasks at work that you refused to do things that drain you. If you did that, you'd appera selfish and not results-oriented. Strengths get more powerful when you think beyond yourself. It makes total sense. Strengths work in relation to other people and other contributions being given on the team. Practicing “give and take” comes handy within your team because when you become familiar with each other’s talent themes, you have a short code language to use. But you can also extend it to your stakeholders, your customers, and your colleagues outside of the team. You may not know what their talent themes are, given your much shorter engagements, but imagine how much stronger your working relationships would be if you start getting a feel for what honors them or what insults them. Internally on our team, we find a regular flow of #goinput or #thatwasmyrelatortalking type of hashtags to keep it lighthearted and acknowledge the good sides and the dark sides that can come out from a talent. 3 Reasons To Apply CliftonStrengths Conversations Regularly and Informally This whole concept of exploring what honors or insults talent themes is important for 3 key reasons: 1. To get a well-rounded team. In any given team, there’s a clash of perspectives that are not discovered until they are actually talked about. Suppose you brought your whole team of 10 direct reports together to apply StrengthsFinder in a virtual strengths discovery training. Imagine watching their conversation in the chat box about the things that honor or insult their talent themes. You’d probably realize that some of the things that drive them crazy, you yourself are doing sometimes. Is it an "Oops, I'm frustrating you and I'll stop" moment? Is it an "Uumph, that really drains you, yet it's a reality of our team's responsibility" moment where you try to mitigate the pain or impact? Regardless of the type of insight, the important part is that you're talking through them so you can address the situation with mutual respect. You have opposing views of things because, for example, what you would view as common sense may not come as common to how others think. What would come easy for you may not come as easily for others. It’s also the reason why some people don’t bother letting their strengths out because they don't think those contributions are a big deal. If you can find those hidden gems and let them out, the whole team is better. With that strategy, you get a well-rounded team and you can stop obsessing over being a well-rounded person who is good at every possible thing under the sun. 2. To get your job matched to strengths. Conversations like these also allow you to discover what aspects of one’s job could lead to that person disengaging from that job. If you apply StrengthsFinder to uncover what honors a person's talents, you'll uncover their easy buttons for performance. You'll find that a job matched to strengths feels easier to perform. A job matched up to talents also brings energy to the person doing it. In fact, if you're using your natural talents, the work can even feel easy. At a minimum, it's easier to get into flow. Contrasting that, if your job is not matched to strengths, it will likely feel draining. You can usually do the work. You can get the results, yet it will feel effortful. You may procrastinate or feel drained and you can't figure out why. If you've been feeling that way, ask yourself if you've been working out of your weakness zone, or out of your non-talents. Often, it's an unexpected cause of burnout. As our colleague TyAnn often says, when your job is matched to your weaknesses rather than strengths, it can give you "a case of the Sunday nights." 3. To get more energizing tasks and get fewer draining tasks at work. Conversations like these become an opportunity to turn a “Man, this culture is awful” experience into a “So, if this is what other people value, which runs against my values, then here's how I'm going to cope.” So, think of what strategies you can come up with to convert a workplace experience into a positive and enriching one. You can't always pick your responsibilities on the job. Of course, you want a job matched to your strengths. And you want energizing tasks at work, but sometimes the role is the role. Even if you can't to a lot to shape the job description, you can adjust the way you approach the work. At a minimum, you can adjust the meaning you make out of it. This might sound like a Jedi Mind Trick (and maybe it is), yet it's effective at bringing your energy and motivation back. Key Things If You're A People Manager Applying CliftonStrengths Here are key pointers to note before conducting a conversation with your team on what might honor or insult their talent themes. Make sure the conversations are well-facilitated as you apply CliftonStrengths. Sometimes, these team chats can result in a venting session about all of the "other annoying departments" or issues at your company. We're not saying you should squash or hide issues, yet it does take some skill to keep the conversations aimed at specific performance - and the things you can actually control or influence. Aim it right and lead the team to productive conversations. One useful tip is to ask them to list 3 energizing tasks at work and 3 draining tasks at work. We call it the "yucks and yays" list. That makes things specific, and it helps you cover both the Honored and Insulted. In this case, because you're trying to uncover their deeper values and reactions, focus the yucks and yays on situations rather than job duties. For example, someone might feel honored (or insulted) by the situation of an urgent interruption. But if they said "customer calls" you wouldn't understand why it's a yuck or a yay. Be specific as you work toward the goal of getting their job matched to strengths. Get to the in-depth scenarios and situations that happen in an average work day. Apply StrengthsFinder using some of the tools and language behind them, as modeled by our examples involving the Responsibility, Analytical, and Includer talent themes. For example, the difference between, "I hate all of the emotion in our ops meeting" and "I'd love to help us pinpoint the depth of the problem we identified in the ops meeting" is night and day. The first one is venting. The second one is getting the job matched to strengths. It's action-taking for Analytical. It's volunteering and contributing the talent to a team who needs it. It's practical application of CliftonStrengths at work. Ready For The Final Concept? Now that you're loaded with energizing tasks at work, let's get to the next topic. Up next is the last in this series of nine core concepts: the Starved And Fed Continuum. See you there!

May's Listener Encounters 2020

3 Spooked Girls

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2020 20:40

Hey Spooksters! Today we are bringing you another installment of your stories! Today will include paranormal tales about a fabulous & crafty grandma ghost, an imaginary friend story (or is it...), a heartbreaking true crime story involving one of our Spookster's family, and then we'll wrap things up with a story of inmates being haunted by their victims. We want to give a shout out & thank you to our newest Spookster Club members: Phylicia, Alyson, Yari, Jessica, Keri, Laura, Madisen, Kathy, Tyann, Brianna, Macarena, & Jason! We also want to thank our current Patrons who upped their donations: Mindy & Ashley! If you'd like to write to us we have a PO Box! Our address is: 3 Spooked Girls PO Box 5583 JBER, AK 99505-0583 Check out the following link for our socials, Patreon, merch & more! https://linktr.ee/3spookedgirls Have a personal true crime story or paranormal encounter you'd like to share with us? Send us an email over to 3spookedgirls@gmail.com Thank you to Josh Monroe for our theme music! If you'd like to contact him for any of your music needs you can do so at josh@gravenroguestudios.com

encounters ak macarena po box yari madisen tyann josh monroe hey spooksters

05.13.2020: Rev. Darius Thomas, Rev. Tyann Brown, Min. Donald Garner

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2020 25:24

Rev. Elaine Flake, Rev. Darius Thomas, Rev. Tyann Brown, Min. Donald Garner

rev garner tyann

ITV 109 | Strengths in Crisis with TyAnn Osborn

Isogo TV :: Fuel Your Story, Live Your Strengths

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2020 49:46

Let's help each other cope in crisis. We all have the tools we need to thrive, through the power and intentionality of our unique strengths. In Episode 109, my jaw dropped as TyAnn Osborn described the impact the coronavirus had on her business and her home. And yet then, to hear of her position of grace for her clients and her kids and even herself -- I was so encouraged, and you will be too.

crisis strengths osborn tyann

ITV 109 | Strengths in Crisis with TyAnn Osborn {audio}

Isogo TV {Audio} :: Fuel Your Story, Live Your Strengths

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2020 49:46

crisis strengths osborn tyann

How to Take Better Photos for your Hospitality Business with Tyann Marcink S7E16

The Boostly Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2020 29:37

The Boost Hospitality Podcast is back for another season! We are now in Season 7, and we are currently on the sixteenth episode! Today, I've invited Tyann Marcink to talk about how to take better photos for your hospitality business. 00:52 Guest Introduction 02:30 Let's Begin 11:29 Free e-books 24:06 Quickfire questions • Boostly.co.uk • Boostly.co.uk/5steps • instagram.com/boostlyuk • Boostly.co.uk/guidebook • Boostly.co.uk/website • BookdirectMap.com • Boostly.co.uk/podcast

hospitality photos quickfire boostly tyann

Interview with Tyann Williamson-Dixon

B.A.D. Queens of the Round-Table

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2020 26:43

Tyann talks with us about her book Trapped: No Way Out and what is coming in 2020. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/badqueens/support

dixon williamson tyann

VRS311 - Tyann’s Take – Getting into the Large Group Short Term Rental Market

short term rentals rental market large group tyann

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2019 48:55

Listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: http://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS311

TYANN THE CRAZY GIRL!! EPISODE5 PART1

THENERDTALK

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2019 9:20

HEY WE GOT A GREAT FRIEND OF MINE ON HERE TYANN WHO JOINED US FOR THIS EXCITING EPISODE IF THE PODCAST ! HOPE YOU ENJOY THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THIS ONE CAUSE WE HAD SOME DIFFICULTIES AGAIN BUT WE HOPE YOU ENJOY!! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

crazy girl tyann

TYANN THE CRAZY GIRL!! EPISODE 5 PART2

THENERDTALK

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2019 51:50

PART TWO OF EPISODE 5 AND STAY TUNNED FIR TONIGHT WE GIT SOMETHING BIG AND YOULL HEAR ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE!! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

crazy girl tyann

Airbnb Photo Tips from the Vacation Rental Photography Expert w/ Tyann Marcink

Short Term Rental Success Stories

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2019 60:34

Today I had the honor of speaking with Tyann Marcink. Tyann is a powerhouse in the vacation rental community as she manages 10 properties, runs a photography business focused primarily on maximizing earnings with vacation rentals, is a community ambassador for Touchstay, cofounded the VR Mastered Bootcamp, and is a frequent speaker at VR events, educating the audience on marketing and photography tips. Tyann shares her experience of over 13 years in the industry as well as super actionable tips on how you can increase your Short Term Rentals conversions by taking better photos. Podcast show notes available here: https://shorttermsage.com/str21 Learn how to start, automate, and scale a Vacation Rental business. Vacation Rental Machine: https://shorttermsage.com/vrm

VRS286 - How the Personal Touch Wins Business with Tyann Marcink

Momentum | The marketing podcast for photographers

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2019 53:27

Listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: http://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS286

personal touch tyann

Tyann Marcink | Getting Started with Vacation Rental Photography

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2019 34:15

I'm excited to have Tyann Marcink back on the show today. It's been a while since we've talked and I'm excited for you to hear how her Vacation Rental Photography Business has grown and where it's taken her. Tyann is the industry expert and she has some great tips that will help you expand your business into this profitable and fun niche.

photography getting started vacation rentals tyann

HYH-49 Meet Tyann Marcink!

Hosting Your Home - Airbnb host stories

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2019 49:57

Debi Hertert talks with her friend and colleague Tyann Marcink about how Tyann got started in the vacation rental hospitality business, and the many hats that Tyann wears. The two spoke in October, 2018 when Tyann participated in the Host2Host Vendor Fair in Portland, Oregon. So listeners will find a wealth of information about vacation rentals, coming from a person who has now spent 10 years in the business and who teaches it in bootcamp workshops. Tyann is also the Community Ambassador for the TouchStay Digital Guidebook product for short-term rentals. Right after this interview, Tyann Marcink spoke at the international Vacation Rental Management Association on the Guest Experience, because it's a passion for her and she knows what she's talking about! 1:45 Welcome Tyann! – She talks about being from a large midwest family and says she began writing a historical romance novel about the family moving from Germany in 1860. One of her brothers just moved into the 1872 rock house built in Missouri – he’s the 6th generation of their family to live in the house! How she got started, and how she copes 4:30 Tyann's hosting story starts in Branson, Missouri. Her aunt and uncle bought a small, 4BR house there to rent out, and did pretty well. Her parents saw the opportunity! They bought several houses there over a few years, selling their commercial real estate property to solely invest in vacation rentals. Tyann signed a contract to have a house built. She had her listing up with floor plans and photos from a model home. And four months (plus one newborn) later, the day it closed they had their first guest! It’s definitely a family affair: she and her family own 16 vacation rental houses and are building more. 8:30 Debi and Tyann talk about how Tyann manages her houses with all the other things she has going on in her life. The housekeeping business that she hires is the key, critical element because she lives a couple of hours away. She talks about the company, what they do, and answers Debi’s question about what it costs. She makes a special point of recognizing and remembering them. One of her housekeepers even makes sure the TV modes are set correctly. She sends him brownies. Vetting guests, security deposits, putting things in perspective 12:30 Vetting guests, security deposits, guest pictures. She may surprise you, but she has years of experience. 15:00 The rare guests who didn’t work out…Tyann’s electronic lock sends her notifications of when the door is opened, and that helped trigger some alarm bells in her head, so she gave a heads up to her housekeeping company. Cigarette and marijuana smoke inside the house, among other things. 20:00 So what happened when Tyann reported the cleaning costs to Airbnb? Debi knows that Airbnb is increasingly supporting the guest, versus the host, even in some egregious situations. But Tyann still says that in 10 years, she’s only had to bill guests cards for damage twice, and the marijuana people. Because of this experience, she stopped taking same-day bookings, which is often an alarm for vacation rentals. Tools of the trade 22:30 Using a Reservation Management System. Tyann avoids using Instant Book on more than one site to avoid double bookings. The Reservation Management System does update every 30 minutes. And she wishes she had used a system even way back when she had only a couple of properties – the system has automated emails that are personalized. There are many good companies providing these systems, with different prices. Tyann uses “Owner Reservations”. She recommends looking closely them to choose the best fit. This varies from a Channel Management System, which pushes out the rates to the various channels such as VRBO, Airbnb etc. These software systems do cost money, but she is a busy mom and business person and values her time. 29:00 So how does Tyann hold it all together? She manages 5 houses, is a professional photographer, has three teenagers, co-teaches the “VR Mastered” bootcamps, and is the Community Ambassador for TouchStay Digital Guidebook, a UK-based company that is now including community information in it's guidebooks. Tyann told Debi that in the case of The Little Elephant company, her line of room décor, she created the painted designs and taught a person how to do the painting, and that person now runs the little business for her. She and Alanna Schroeder of The Distinguished Guest have held three VR Mastered bootcamps. The sessions are 5 days long, only 25 people allowed, and it’s an intense 5 days of hospitality, newsletters, Facebook ads, Social Media, photography. Their participants have varied in experience from none to 10 years. Everyone learns at these camps. TouchStay Digital Guidebook 35:00 TouchStay – Tyann went through the history of the product and described the company as super ethical, and has a great Digital Welcome Book. It’s completely web-based, don’t have to download an app. And after it’s set up, the guests love it and the host can easily print it out and bind it to keep in the rental space. Troubleshooting tips for the TV, coffee maker, good restaurants etc all go into the guidebook. 40:45 Ask for help when you need it! Form a team, don’t expect perfection, value the team. People remember how you make them feel, even if they don’t remember what you said. Tyann spoke at the International Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA) in Las Vegas in October, 2018, a week after this interview with Debi, along with Heather Bayer (Cottage Blogger), and Andy McNulty (Touchstay). The topic was the Guest Experience. The presentation was based on Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages, and practical ways to include all five when interacting with your guests. See the links at the end of the show notes if you want to see what your love languages are. LINKS: Tyann's links: Love language quiz: tyannmarcink.com/love tyannmarcink.com bransonfamilyretreats.com missourihaus.com bookthebankhaus.com nattymedia.com littleelephantcompany.com loveofthegameart.com Other links from the interview: Andy McNulty, TouchStay Digital Guidebook: touchstay.com VR Mastered bootcamp workshops: vrmastered.com Host2Host Portland Oregon: host2host.org Owner Reservations ("Owner Res") reservation management system: https://www.ownerreservations.com/ Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA): vrma.com Heather Bayer, the Cottage Blogger: cottageblogger.com Alanna Schroeder, The Distinguished Guest: thedistinguishedguest.com

tv love social media las vegas germany tools united kingdom oregon portland missouri airbnb cigarettes gary chapman troubleshooting five love languages vetting vrbo guest experience community ambassador tyann little elephant heather bayer instant book

VRS256 – Getting On Your Vacation Rental Guests Wavelength with Tyann Marcink

vacation rentals wavelength tyann

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2018 46:06

Listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: http://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS256

#7 Autism - A Mom's Perspective

Autism In The Wild

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2018 28:26

In this episode Chris and Noah interview Tyann (Wife and Mother) to get her answers to the same questions answered by Chris in episode 5. The discussion covers several topics, including the diagnosis, challenges as a parent, opportunities because of autism, and some fun stories as well. Tyann's Blog Post about Hy-Vee: http://tyannsheldonrouw.weebly.com/blog/being-seen-at-hy-vee Learn more about us and the podcast at http://autisminthewild.com. Music credit goes to Jahzzar.

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VRS241 - When the bank safe becomes the laundry room, and other vacation rental renovation stories with Tyann Marcink

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Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2018 54:44

Listening to this podcast on the move? Get to the show notes here: http://www.vacationrentalformula.com/VRS241

61 - SEAS Community Partners and Allure & More

RIA Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2017 55:56

SEAS Community Partners founder Danita Doleman joins us to talk about mobile apps for your business! Tune in to find out how they can help your business grow. Of course we hear from Philip at Good Food Markets - new in-house brands of prepared foods are coming to the store! Then we visit with Tyann Hodges, creative genius behind the new Allure & More salon (2127 Rhode Island Ave NE). This is more than a simple salon - Tyann has a hair specialty that really makes her stand out in the industry. Tune in for the full story!

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VRS013 - Creating Killer Vacation Rental Photos with Tyann Marcink