Welcome to Brunner & Associates, Inc.
Our passion is helping individuals and organizations to be all they can be.
Brunner & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in helping organizations and individuals with strategic planning, coaching, and other organizational and management issues. We also provide facilitation services to organizations and groups, helping them to address issues and reach agreement on important matters.
Fri
01
Jun
2018
Simple Wisdom Tip #79: Look to the Future
I recently heard from a woman with whom I’ve been working. She is weighed down with thoughts of all of her past errors in judgment about a failed marriage with an abusive man and so on. Another person is kicking himself for stupidly marrying a woman impulsively and is now troubled by disputes over their son and having more time with him. While these two instances happen to be about marriages, the challenge is the same – fretting over past mistakes.
My thought is that we should learn all we can about why we made such mistakes and resolve to be wiser going forward. Having said that, I love the expression: “Let’s give up all hope of a more perfect past.” In other words, we can’t change it so let’s learn to do better in the future and move on. The rest of our life is ahead of us.
Need some help with this? Let us know at mike@brunnerandassociatesinc.com.
Tue
01
May
2018
Simple Wisdom Tips #78: Manage Results, Not Methods
One of the main principles in delegating work to someone is to measure the results he/she achieves but not the methods. I love the expression, “manage results, not methods”.
If my board of directors had directed me to achieve an objective, that is totally appropriate. But if they had then spelled out the 12 steps I must follow to achieve it, that’s not. I would have told them they are paying me way too much to just follow 12 how-to steps; what they’re paying me for is my creativity. I’ll figure out how best to accomplish the objective and the board will hold me accountable for getting it done, or not.
If the employee follows the boss’ list of steps and things don’t get done, it’s not on him or her – it’s on the boss. For example, the employee might say, “Hey boss, I did exactly what you told me and it didn’t work.” The better way is to be clear on the end game (the result you want) and let the employee get there as he/she thinks best. Of course, the boss would help the employee brainstorm if he/she wishes but it’s up to the employee.
Need some help with this? Let us know at mike@brunnerandassociatesinc.com.