Dennis McIntee

10 Questions To Take Your Relationships To The Next Level

May 16, 2013 — 1 Comment

What Money Can’t Buy

I’ve come to realize that the most important things in life are those things that money can’t buy. Money can’t buy my wife and kids loving me. Money can’t buy respect from co-workers. Money can’t buy lasting friendships. I like what money can do, but it’s important to realize it does have it’s limitations. Love, respect, friendships, these are the things that make life worth living. Not another house, boat or car! What makes life worth living for you?

Relationships Are More Important Than Money

When I was in my early twenties I remember hearing from Dr Lester Sumrall say that if you had 5 good friends at the end of your life, you were truly a blessed person. The more I live, the more I believe that. When I was young, I chased after opportunity but now that I’m a little wiser, I’m chasing after relationships. Money can create opportunities but it can’t buy friendships.

Questions Are Tools to Deepen Relationships

One of the most valuable tools in developing relationships are questions. Questions are what unlocks people’s hearts and minds. The Book of Proverbs says, “Wisdom in the heart of a man is like deep waters, but a man of understanding draws it out.” Wisdom and knowledge are hidden inside of people and I’ve learned to use questions to draw it out of them. When I use questions I can take a peek into someone’s heart. Their answers allow me to see inside of them and develop trust.

10 Good Questions To Deepen Relationships

If you could be anywhere doing anything a year from now, what would it be?
What’s something you’ve always wanted to do with your life?
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
What’s the core messages of your life?
what difference do you want your life to make to the world?
What’s the wildest, most out-there vision you’ve ever seriously thought of launching into?
What do you want to be doing to help others in 10 years?
What’s the coolest project that you’ve ever been a part of?
What’s one thing you feel God has called you to do or be in your life?
Wen you are at you best, functioning in the area you are most effective in, what are you doing?

What Other Questions Do You Use To Deepen Relationships?

In Connecting With People Dr Lester Sumrall, friendships, money, Questions, relationships

If You Want To Accomplish More, Do Less

May 10, 2013 — 1 Comment

The Less You Do, the More You Accomplish

It’s a dirty little leadership secret, but it’s true, the less you do the more you accomplish Gaining clarity on what brings the most value to your organization and focusing energy there, accelerates growth. When you’re young, you try to prove yourself by doing everything. This was true about me. I thought I could do it all. One of my biggest mistakes was allowing my time to be eaten up with things that were not my core competencies. I was devoting time and energy to activities that I would never be good at. All it did was frustrate me and my team.

Do Your Thing

The biggest leadership myth is that a good leader has to be good at everything. My leadership changed when I realized I didn’t have to be good at everything. I just had to be good at MY thing. One of the secrets to success is discovering YOUR thing. Here’s three questions to discover your thing:

What are the 2 things that you and only you are responsible for?
What is success in your position?
What comes easily to you that other people think is hard?

Become Great At Your One Thing and Accomplish More

The answers to these questions direct where you focus your energy. It’s where you excel and add the most value to your relationships and organization. Discover what your good at and become great. I’m a good communicator but a horrible manager. My core question is, “How can I be a great communicator?” I’m a good visionary but a poor follow-up person. I ask myself, “How can I be a great visionary?” Don’t settle for good, but improve your one thing and become.

What Do You Need To Be Great At?

In Igniting Your Passion accomplish, clarity, do less, great, leadership, one thing, success, value

People Feel Care

John Maxwell says, “People don’t care how you know until they know how much you care.” I’ve realized that I can make alot of mistakes in dealing with people but if they simply know I care, they will still help me. As a speaker and trainer, I know that I can’t help people if I don’t care. People feel care. It’s not just the words you say but it’s an attitude. Have you ever felt like someone didn’t care? If you’re like me, you ran from their presence. Sometimes, people really do care but they don’t know how to express it. Have you told someone today that you care? Care just might be the hidden puzzle piece you’ve been missing!

Care Creates What Money Can’t Buy

People always perform better for leaders that aren’t just interested in their production but who also express an interest in them as people. If others feel that I have them around only for what I can get, they eventually leave. As a leader, I not only need to have people buy into my dream, but first, I’ve got to buy into their dreams. Do you know the dreams of the people around you? Maybe they want to buy a new house or to send their kids to college? When you assist them in achieving their dreams, people will not only give you their time, but also their passion and loyalty. These are the things money can’t buy.

Care Produces Results

Great coaches have the ability to draw the best out of people. One of the best college coaches, Mike Krzyzewski said, “I can never get results if my players don’t know I care for them.” Ask yourself, “How can I help each team member accomplish his or her personal goals?” As a leader you have to care for the interests of your people. When you do this, people give you results.

Transparency Creates Care

My secret technique to showing care is practicing the art of transparency. When you’re transparent with people and show them your heart, they will want to share their thoughts and ideas with you. One mistake people make is trying to convince people through their strengths. The opposite is true, you touch and convince people faster when you show your humanity. I’m not say you tell all your secrets to everyone, but as a leader, people need to know you’re just like them! At times, you’ve got struggles and challenges. Great leaders have perfected the art of transparency. They show just enough to let people see into them and touch their hearts. In return for touching their hearts, people give them their hands.