Yearly Archives: 2016 (Page 5)

As a business leader, it’s likely that you spend most of your time focused on your day to day actions. Of course, this is important, but it can be just as important to ensure you’re having the right thoughts throughout the day, as well. When was the last time you examined your daily thoughts?

Your inner voice has a powerful effect on your overall attitude and outlook. If you are constantly having negative thoughts, you could be setting yourself up for a number of unhappy experiences. Negative thoughts can contribute to the following bad habits:

• Procrastination – If you’re constantly telling yourself that your work doesn’t matter, or that the outcome will probably not be what you want, you’ll likely find many reasons to put off getting that work done.

• Stress – Constantly dwelling on the negative or assuming that the worst will happen creates stress, which can lead to many different emotional and physical health issues.

• Negative Effect on Others – If your inner voice is making you feel negative about yourself and your work, your attitude is likely visible to others, at least in subtle ways. Even if you don’t voice your negativity, you are likely putting out a “negative vibe” to others. This can demotivate employees and affect your personal relationships, too.

Check Yourself
Take the time to write down the negative thoughts that plague your mind. Then, write down the thoughts you should use to replace the negative ones. Keep the list where you can see it for a few days. Whenever you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, force yourself to replace them with the kinder words on the list. It will take some discipline on your part, but you will find, over time that you have reprogrammed your brain to be more positive in your thoughts and outlook. When you reach this point, you should find yourself happier and sporting a much more positive outlook on life.

One of the hallmarks of a successful person is perseverance. The most successful people have proven themselves to be able to meet their goals simply because they do not give up easily on those goals. They show the discipline and commitment to continue to move forward toward a goal even after making several failed attempts and even when the odds may seem impossible.
However, there are times when it doesn’t make sense to continue to pursue a goal. Making the decision to stop working toward a goal is often very difficult for people who are accustomed to always reaching the goals they set. Here are some tips to help you know when it’s time to take a new direction:

• You’re pursuing it only because you said you would. If you’ve lost your passion for a project, it’s time to reevaluate whether you should continue to pursue the goal. For a goal to be worth continuing to pursue it is important to know that you will still find fulfillment in achieving it.

• It is no longer financially feasible. If you’ve begun a business or project and determined that it doesn’t make financial sense to continue. You should pursue another path or begin to recognize it as a hobby.

• It infringes on things that are more important. If you have found that reaching your goal requires that you put in so much time that you neglect things that, in the long run are even more important, it’s time to reevaluate. It may not require completely giving up on your goal, but rather reorganizing your life and changing your timeline, so that you can move forward at a pace that allows you to keep up with the other important things in your life.

Giving up on a goal is never easy for those who are accustomed to always reaching their goals. However, sometimes it takes more character to know when to change direction than to continue to pursue a goal that is no longer appropriate for your life.

Indecisiveness can cripple a business leader. Often, we find ourselves doing nothing simply because we are unsure of the right action and are fearful of making the wrong choice. Sometimes, we find ourselves particularly fearful of taking action after having made a decision we now regret.

It’s important to remember, however, that delaying action can be just as bad, or even worse than making the wrong decision. When we fail to make decisions, we pass up opportunities, and we allow something, or someone, to control our business inadvertently. Here are five things you need to know about taking action.

1. It is stressful. Don’t wait for making hard decisions to get easy. That generally doesn’t happen. Occasionally, you will find that delaying a decision will allow circumstances to play out and make the decision easier. However, more often than not, delaying the decision only delays the stress; it doesn’t eliminate it.
2. Taking action is empowering. Making a decision and moving forward makes you feel in control of your situation and your business. Sometimes, you will make the wrong decision. But as long as you learn from those decisions and take corrective action, you are still exercising control.
3. The more you take action, the easier it becomes. Each time you make the right decision and move your business forward, you will gain confidence. This confidence fuels you for the next hard decision. Even when you fail, you will gain knowledge and experience that will help you make a better decision next time.
4. It’s ok to ask for help. Seeking counsel doesn’t make you weak; it makes you wise. Turn to mentors and trusted advisors to help you make the best decisions rather than always trying to go it on your own.
5. You will gain respect. Peers and employees have more respect for leaders who aren’t afraid to take action, even when there is risk involved.

Everyone has fear when it comes to making hard decisions about important matters. Over time, the decisions may not get any easier, but your skill and confidence in making them can definitely grow, leading to greater and greater strides forward for both you and your business.

As a busy leader, you’re no doubt asked to do many things, from appointments with clients, to community events, and even family events may get added to your calendar without much thought. You may promise to get back to a client or employee within a certain amount of time. It is important that you do not make such commitments lightly, as being unable to honor your commitments may tarnish your reputation.

Stay Organized

For many people, the inability to keep commitments is not intentional, nor does it stem from a lack of concern. Rather, many people simply fail to stay organized, allowing commitments to slip through the cracks, or double booking themselves unintentionally. If this is your issue, take steps to find and use the tools you need to stay organized about your commitments. Use an online calendar that alarms you for appointments and commitments, making sure to consult it before you commit to an event. Use its reminders to keep you informed about commitments you make to clients on getting back to them with answers, just like you would for booking physical appointments. Once you begin to use this tool religiously, you will easily be able to prevent being over committed as well as prevent missing a commitment. When you see that you have too many things planned, reschedule or delegate something immediately, so that you don’t let anyone down.

What To Do When You’ve Missed a Commitment

 Even with the best of intentions and organization, you may find that you occasionally let something slip through the cracks. When this happens, it’s important to contact the other party right away. Reschedule immediately and make amends. If you owe a customer an answer, get in touch with them right away even if you still don’t have the answer, and reschedule for a new time. Being quick to act and sincere in your apology goes a long way to maintaining your integrity in this situation.

Being a person of your word is critical in the business world. Keeping your calendar managed to help ensure you don’t overcommit will help you to stay organized as well as keep up with the true number of commitments you’re facing. Being quick to make amends when you do miss something will help you to maintain your reputation as a leader with integrity.

As a business leader, there are many reasons why you need to surround yourself with people who are loyal and who are committed to your success. One of the most important reasons to have the right people around you is to gain the benefit of their feedback. Feedback that you can trust can help you grow as a person and as a business leader. Here are three things you can gain from authentic feedback:

1. Perspective – It’s important to see how your words and actions come across to others. If someone in your circle reports to you, so much the better. He or she can help you see how employees view you as a leader and help you ensure that are the kind of leader that is able to retain valued employees and create an open environment at work. This kind of relationship can take time to develop, as people are naturally reluctant to criticize the actions of their boss.
2. Advice – Sometimes you just need to know what someone else would do if faced with the same situation. Someone in your circle who is more experienced than you can help you explore all your options and make the best choices. The mentor who has already walked the path you’re traveling is priceless.
3. Support – Feedback is designed to help you grow. Sometimes the feedback that is most important is the “cheerleading” kind of feedback. It’s important to have people in your circle who will remind you that you are capable and that you have overcome obstacles in the past. Ideally, the person or people who give you this kind of support will know instinctively when you need it.

Select your trusted circle carefully. Your most valued advisors should have no hidden agendas, and should be capable of being honest with you, even when they may have to tell you something you don’t want to hear. When you do find those people, safeguard your relationship. These kinds of friends and mentors are extremely valuable in helping you to reach your goals.

Most of us suffer from having too much to do in a day. Prioritizing all those tasks can sometimes seem overwhelming. As you’re working through your plan for the day or week, don’t forget that thinking through your intentions can help you to clarify exactly what actions you need to take and help you determine which actions have the highest priority.

Think About the Results

This means beginning with the end in mind. Decide first what you are trying to accomplish today. Then rank those plans in order, marking your “must dos” first. Once you’ve determined the goals that must be met today, you can get a much better idea of what actions you must take to complete the day’s intentions.

Beginning your day or week with this sort of focus really clears the clutter from your mind and helps you to stay on task. You’re less likely to find yourself working on whatever someone puts in front of you or asks of you, and more likely to work on the tasks that really make a difference to your business.

Plan for the Unexpected

Of course, it is important to factor in some time for distractions each day. In any business, unexpected things come up that must be attended to. When you plan some time in your day to handle these issues, you are less derailed when these happen. You can handle the surprises and then get right back to the work you’ve already identified as most important for the day. This kind of plan minimizes the risk that an “emergency” will ruin your day.

This intentional focus on the day requires a change of mindset. It means you’re creating your day, rather than letting the events of the day control you. It may take some special focus in the beginning to learn to structure your day this way, but once you have mastered this routine, you’re certain to find that you not only accomplish more, but accomplish more of the really important tasks each day.

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Each of us can look back and remember times when we got news for which we weren’t prepared. Happy unexpected news generally elicits a pleasant response, however, sometimes bad news elicits more of a reaction than a response.

Do you know the difference? The details that differentiate a response from a reaction may be subtle, but these can make a big difference in the decisions we make and in how we present ourselves to those around us in the face of bad news. Here are some differences between the two.

• A reaction happens immediately, a response may take a little time. In the face of bad news, it can be a good idea not to react too quickly. Your immediate reaction may be different than your response would be if given a little time to process the news.

• Reactions are emotional; responses are thought out. We have reactions; we formulate responses. When you respond you have come to some decisions about how you plan to handle the situation. When you react, you say the first thing that comes to mind, and you aren’t careful, you may act on that initial emotion.

• Reactions shouldn’t always be shared, but responses can be important to share. When you are a business person, it’s critical to be careful about sharing your initial reactions to things that happen with others. For example, let’s say you just found out that you have lost your largest client. Your reaction may be one of panic, but if you share that panic with your employees, they may fear for the business and for their jobs. Certainly, you will have to share the news with them, but by waiting until you’ve had a chance to determine how you will handle the situation, you can formulate a response that is measured and that appropriately communicates the situation.

It is human nature to react to news quickly. However, it is important to sometimes avoid the temptation to react out loud, especially in front of others. Taking the time to formulate a well thought out response will help you to keep things in perspective and to share that perspective with others when the time is right.

Tis the season!!! Of course the holidays are past, but this season is as recognizable as the one we just left. The gyms are full and bottled water is flying off the shelves. January is traditionally the time of year we recommit to healthy habits……….at least for a few weeks.

To provide you with a little extra incentive to keep those New Year’s resolutions about eating right and exercising, here are a few more benefits you’ll gain besides just looking better and living longer.

1. You’ll sleep better. Busy business people are often tired, and often have difficulty finding enough hours in the day to get the sleep they need. Eating right and exercising can help you get better sleep, so you will likely find you need less sleep to feel rested. Just remember not to eat or exercise too close to bedtime to ensure the most restful night.
2. You’ll have more energy. You will find a little extra spring in your step when you get regular exercise and avoid unhealthy foods. You might just find that you are able to work a little longer if needed.
3. You’ll have better focus. The improved sleep, along with the energy from exercise and healthy food will usually provide mental clarity and a better ability to focus on the task at hand. When you sit down to work on a project, you’ll almost certainly find that you can give it your full attention more easily than before.

The little extra time you take to plan your meals carefully and get some exercise can pay off in so many ways. In the beginning, you may feel that all this healthiness takes time away, but you may soon find that you have time to spare because your newly found energy and focus allows you to get through your day’s mundane tasks quickly and efficiently

As you strive to excel as a leader in your company, you’ve no doubt been inundated with prescriptions on how to be a good leader. There’s no question that you can learn valuable skills from the leadership advice you’ve read and heard. However, it’s also important to understand that there really is no “one size fits all” when it comes to leadership. If you try to lead exactly “by the book” or exactly as prescribed to you, it’s really difficult to be true to yourself. Being an authentic leader means learning to lead in your own style, being true to your personality, while still ensuring that you practice positive leadership traits.

There are essentially five leadership styles. It’s common to be a mix of one or more, as well as to be true to a single style. Which of these styles is most authentic to you?

1. The Visionary – The visionary leader is inspiring. He or she is quick to tell the team where they are headed as a group, but they leave it to each individual to determine their own path to get there. Visionaries are very empathetic.

2. The Coach– Coaches love to bring out the best in their teams. These leaders are encouraging and tend to spend a lot of time talking with their employees, getting to know them well, and helping them focus on their individual goals.

3. Affiliative – This leader focuses on the group, rather than individuals within that group. They emphasize teamwork and harmony.

4. Democratic – Democratic leaders look for consensus among the team on where the group is going and how it should get there. This leadership style works best when the group is experienced, and each member is able to make a significant contribution.

5. Commanding – This is the authoritative, military style of leadership. It focuses on correcting things that are going wrong. This style should be used with caution, as too much of it can cause employees to be dissatisfied. If this is your natural style, be certain to learn the art of praise to ensure your employees know that you appreciate them and their skills.

Once you determine your authentic leadership style, those “how to” suggestions may seem more relevant to helping you improve your skills as a leader. You’ll be able to adapt suggestions to your own personal style, making yourself the leader you were meant to be.

As you move into the New Year, you’re likely looking for ways to make your business even more successful in 2016. You may be considering elaborate marketing plans or increasing your advertising budget for the next year. But, before you start spending loads of cash to increase business, remember to give some attention to how you treat the customers you already have.

In today’s fast paced world, exceptional customer service is a rare luxury instead of the basic expectation it was in years past. You may be able to put your business head and shoulders above your competition just by making a few simple changes to your customer service strategies. Going the extra mile is far less expensive than a bigger marketing budget or new advertising strategy and it can yield even better results. Exceptional customer service yields repeat customers, which costs you far less than having to win new customers over and over due to attrition. Here are some simple ways to improve your customer service.

• Anticipate the customer’s desires. Think about the product or service you provide and consider what you would require from a business like yours in order for you to consider it exceptional service. Would you want shorter lines or telephone hold times? How about proactive calling before letters come in the mail? Would you like to be offered coffee while you wait for your appointment? All of these things are simple, but make customers feel special.

• Keep your promises. Did you tell the customer you would have their answer today? If so, it’s important to call that customer today even if you don’t have the answer. Let them know you didn’t forget, and give them a new estimation of when you can give them the answer they’re waiting for. When a customer knows you’re a person of your word, they will be loyal to your business.

• Thank your customers for their business. Many businesses fail to let their customers know they appreciate the business. When a customer knows you really value their business, they are loyal. Send holiday cards, and offer rewards to your customers. But, most of all, thank them for their patronage in person as often as you can.

All of these items are simple, yet all can have a big impact on how your customers view you. When they know that you value their business and will go the extra mile to ensure their satisfaction, you have the opportunity to create a lifelong customer.