Most of us have experienced leaders who were all about themselves. Using the skills of others to reach their current position and then calling themselves a leader. These leaders who boast about being a leader are often a leader in title only, not a leader of people who chose to follow them willingly. Leadership is not about the position we…
Just last week I had a conversation regarding procedures for a business office. When asked why a business didn’t write phone call information down, he said the conversations were relayed to the necessary person when they saw them. “Didn’t information get lost, forgotten, or mixed up?” I asked. I suggested a phone log with name, phone number and main point…
Every day I make time to learn something new. Whether I ask for feedback on my work, listen to other’s suggestions, or read up on business trends. I love to ask questions and strive to understand new material. In our constantly changing world, it’s necessary to keep up to date on current trends in our business. We want to stay…
You have a dream for the future. Only by sharing that dream can you turn that dream into reality through a shared vision. Walt Disney had a huge dream of building a park where families could have a great time together in a clean environment. Disney struggled with financing as bankers didn’t look at his dreams as collateral. He turned to…
Within leadership seminars, conferences, and workshops there’s a lot of talk about “staying human” as a leader. When someone says to ‘stay human’, what exactly does that mean? In a nutshell, to ‘stay human’ is to stay true to ourselves. We are not mindless robots. Before taking action, think about what others ask us to do. Should we follow directions…
Empathy is an essential characteristic of successful leadership. It helps you understand why someone has a specific action or reaction to a situation. Though empathy sounds similar to sympathy, they are not the same. When a leader shows sympathy, they are expressing feelings of sorrow for someone else’s misfortune. When a leader expresses empathy, they are demonstrating the ability to…
A leader in today’s world needs freedom to make decisions based on the situation. More importantly, leaders must trust their employees to create their own solutions and complete their tasks successfully. Previously, we discussed how different types of rewards encourage employees to work without direct leadership. Intrinsic rewards such as choice, responsibility, skill recognition, challenge, and celebrations encourage employees to engage with their…
Today’s leaders know their employees want more than to plod along in a 9 to 5 job. Some employees want to see tangible results from their efforts and expect recognition of work well done. Others want more responsibility and advancement opportunities. Knowing what your employees expect from you is important for the success of your business. You can’t walk into…