Posts tagged “Leadership” (Page 5)

It’s really easy to get caught up in the details of everyday life without giving too much thought to the future. As you grow as a leader, however, and increase your visibility in your organization and community, it’s time to think about the legacy you’ll leave behind after you’re gone. Even if you’re still young, you can begin to plant the seeds for what others will think about you down the road.

Think About What’s Important to You

Your legacy should be a reflection of the things that were important to you during your life. To create the legacy you desire, you must devote time to the things that really matter to you. If you want to be known as someone who improved her community, for example, it’s important that you are making time, right now, to do volunteer work and support the causes you care about. When you’re building a new business, it can be tempting to focus all your energy in one place. But, no matter how busy you are, there is time to work for other things you really care about.

Create a Plan

Once you’ve listed the things that you most want to be remembered for, create a plan that ensures you are taking steps in the right direction. It may not be possible to put energy into everything you want to include in your legacy right away. However, if you have a plan, you can start small now and add on as time permits.

Consider the Cost

Part of your plan should include the cost of leaving your desired legacy. Maybe you want to be able to leave money to your family, a cherished organization or an alma mater. If so, plan early how you’ll ensure the money is available. A life insurance policy is a great way to ensure you can leave a financial legacy.

Even if your goal isn’t leaving a large sum of money, there will certainly be costs associated with your desires. Budget the amount you can spend promoting your cause or donating to charity just as you would any expense.

Make the Change

Your soul searching may lead you to see some simple changes that need to be made right away. For example, maybe you want to be remembered as a great Mother or Father, but you’ve been devoting an inordinate amount of time to work, at the sacrifice of your family. If so, determine how you can make this kind of change quickly.

Everyone wants to leave some sort of legacy. But not everyone takes the time to plan and devote resources to this desire. With a little attention to the details, you can leave the world a better place and ensure you’re remembered for all your contributions.

Distractions are an inherent part of every day life, but these can be one of the biggest time wasters in your day. Business success requires focus and an ability to stay on plan, even when life is trying its hardest to get in your way. When you allow the distractions to derail you, it causes you to slow down and impedes your progress. Here are some ways to stay focused in spite of all the things life throws at you.

1. Have a plan. It’s hard to stick to a plan that doesn’t exist. Writing down an overall all plan for your business, as well as having a written plan and schedule for each day will help you to stay focused. As you check off each accomplished item, you’ll see your work having results and be motivated to move forward. Knowing exactly what and how much you have to get done each day will help you to avoid distractions, as well.
2. Know in advance the distractions you’ll face. Some distractions are unexpected, but many are repeat offenders. When you’re planning your day, include expected distractions in your plan, so that you can be prepared to deal with them in some way. Do your kids come home from school at 3:00? Then, plan for a break at that time. Give them a few minutes to download their day to you, get them started on homework and get back to your duties. When a distraction is something you can plan for, it’s less likely to prevent you from accomplishing your day’s goals.

3. Learn to say “no”. Those unexpected distractions can really get in the way. Avoid answering unexpected calls, and stay off email and texting during the times you’re trying to get work accomplished. Media and technology’s instant gratification can cause a lot of distractions, so learn to turn them off to increase your productivity.
   

4. Delegate when possible. Having someone who can deal with some of the unexpected distractions that do need attention will help you to stick to your plan for the day. When someone interrupts you with a work issue, it’s important to determine if it is an issue you really need to handle personally, or one that can be delegated.

5. Give yourself permission to be distracted when the work is done. Some of the distractions are fun; so don’t eliminate these altogether. Instead, plan to indulge yourself at specified times. This eliminates your feelings of deprivation and ensures you stay in touch with the people and things that matter to you.

A focused, productive day is critical to building a business. Learn to plan your day in a way that allows you to minimize distractions when you need to be working, and that allows you to enjoy some down time when the day’s work is accomplished.

 Text, email and other forms of quick messaging have definitely made it easier to communicate with others in an efficient and timely manner. The ease and simplicity of shooting someone a quick text or email has allowed us to stay instantly in touch, which would appear to have increased our ability to stay in constant contact. However, as great as messaging is, there are times when picking up the phone is the better form of communication. Here are three reasons why it is often better to make a call rather than send a message.

1. The feelings behind your thoughts are more readily understood. The empathy, concern, laughter or even anger are significantly more evident in your voice as compared to tagging your text with an emoji! When you pick up the phone, it’s much easier to communicate how you feel, and to understand the feelings of the other party.

2. It allows for clearer communication. When an issue is detailed, or there are many questions and options to be evaluated, it is much clearer when this is done via live conversation. You can sort out an issue much more quickly by discussing it than you can trying to work it out via text or email.
   

3. It shows a greater level of interest and concern. The very fact that most people text and email rather than bothering to call gives your phone call a little extra weight. Making a call immediately communicates your level of attention to the person or the issue.

Though it is clear there are times when a phone call is the better way to resolve an issue or simply get in touch with a person, many people still use messaging to save time. If you find that you have limited time to make phone calls, use these tips to help you make the calls you need without sacrificing time management.

1. Determine which issues and relationships need a phone call rather than a message.
2. Set aside time in your day to make the calls. For many people, scheduling an hour each day on their calendar to make the day’s phone calls helps to ensure both that the calls get made and that these do not take up too much time.
3. Learn to keep it short. One reason many people avoid phone calls is the fear that these will drag on too long. Learn to be friendly and polite without letting what should have been a five-minute phone call turn into a marathon chat session.

Don’t forget the power of the phone call. When used appropriately, making phone calls can help resolve situations more quickly and ensure that people feel important to you, too.

Good listening skills are one of the most important traits of a successful leader. By listening intently to what others say, you can learn a great deal of valuable information that can help you learn, and that often can help the person talking to you, as well.

One way to improve both your listening skills and your credibility as a good listener is to learn to listen without judgment. When others can trust you to listen without judgment, they will be more likely to confide in you and seek your feedback.

Listening without judgment means not jumping to conclusions or forming opinions about what is being said. This form of listening allows you to absorb all of the material being presented to you, rather than making a decision about what you hear midway through the conversation.

To improve your skills in listening without judgment, try the following tips.

1. Don’t interrupt. Don’t jump in to finish the person’s sentence, even though you may think it shows that you understand what the person is saying. Don’t ask questions, unless these are absolutely necessary to clarify what is being said.

2. Ask appropriate clarification questions when the person is finished in order to ensure you understand what is being said.

3. Ask “Why” a person feels the way they do if you don’t understand.

4. Do not give feedback, unless specifically asked.

5. Never tell a person he or she is wrong for their feelings.

Of course, you will form opinions on the things you hear. You may need to take action on what you hear and even decide if what you’ve heard is inappropriate or outside important rules in some way. However, by listening without making judgment until the end of the conversation, you will have a more complete perspective before you form an opinion. You will give yourself the opportunity to understand the person’s motives and feelings behind their words.

Learning to listen without judging will make you a better and more respected leader. It will also give you better decision making skills because you will have a much better understanding of circumstances before you decide. Take the time to hone your listening skills- it’s a practice you will be happy you did.

Decision making can often be stressful for anyone in a leadership position. We are often concerned that we may not take all the facts into consideration or may not have the correct perspective on the issue at hand. One tip to help you ensure you make the best decision possible is to be certain you have asked all the right questions. Asking the right questions helps ensure you are best prepared to make the decision at hand. Here are some ways to ensure you’ve asked all the right questions before moving forward on an issue.

1. Did you talk to the people who will be most involved? Often, the people who will carry out the day to day tasks or live with the day to day consequences of the decision you’re about to make will have a different perspective on the situation. Have these people give you the questions they would ask – you may be surprised at the new perspective you receive with this simple step.
2. Did you consider both the best and worst case scenario that could come from the positions you’re considering? Rarely do we see either the best or worst case scenario come to fruition. What actually happens usually falls somewhere in the middle, between the two. By considering both ends of the spectrum, you’ll be better prepared for the eventual outcome.
3. Did you question the timing? Sometimes, we feel rushed to make a decision that doesn’t really need to be made just yet. Sometimes, we make a decision that never really needed to be made. One question you should always consider is whether this is something that you need to take a stand on, or should you just let the situation play out.
4. Did you question the details? The old saying that “the devil is in the details” is quite true. One tiny detail you failed to consider could be the difference between the right and the wrong result.

It always pays to take a little time to ask the right questions. Not only will you make a better decision for having done so, but you will feel more confident in the decision you made and be better informed about the situation, and the results you can expect.

In today’s business world, there are many buzzwords surrounding the idea of effective leadership and executive management. One of the most recent catchphrases is “authentic” leadership. The phrase has been coined, in part, out of a realization that many business people act more as “bosses” rather than “leaders” and may struggle with the concept of leading in a way that is true to themselves. Here are some traits that help set apart “authentic” leaders from those who are in leadership positions, yet continue to act as bosses.

1. Authentic leaders create change. Anyone can become unsatisfied with the status quo when he sees it isn’t working. A true leader, however, creates change when the status quo isn’t working. Leaders are people who have tangible results.
2. Authentic leaders operate with integrity. The most effective leaders have a moral compass that guides their behavior. They are true to their word and have a genuine desire to make a positive difference. They treat other people the way they want to be treated in business and in their personal lives.
3. Authentic leaders act. They don’t ask others to do what they are not willing to do themselves. They work hard, without waiting for others to step up. One of their greatest qualities is their ability to inspire others to work hard because of their initiative.
4. Authentic leaders are involved. The best leaders usually have many other activities outside of work. They often raise families and are deeply involved in their communities. This variety of priorities and commitments gives them the motivation they need to keep making a difference. The best leaders are busy doing things they want to be doing.

The actions of a leader are what separate them from those who operate as bosses. Leaders motivate others to be their best selves because of the example that they set. If you strive to be a leader in your own business, find the activities and outcomes that speak to you and then set up your own life to have the authentic tone that will not only make you your very best, but will inspire others to be their best, as well.

Staying successful in business requires constantly evolving to stay in step with the market, the competition and the trends. One of the obstacles that can get in the way of growing your business and keeping it successful is your own unintentional narrow thinking. It is human nature to want to continue to do things the way you’ve always done them.

Making a conscious effort to break out of your normal thinking routine is one of the least expensive and best ways to see opportunities and possibilities to improve your business. Here are a few simple ways to help break your regular thinking routine.
1. Take a look outside your industry. We tend to evaluate our own processes, procedures and even our goals by how others in our own industry do business. Sometimes, however, you can find new and better ways of doing things by looking at other industries. In particular, it can be helpful to see how other industries measure their success and how they market to their customers.

2. Take a look at anything you haven’t changed in the last 24 months. Most of the time, we have the attitude that if something isn’t broken we shouldn’t fix it. However, when we fail to routinely evaluate our ways of doing things, we run the risk that we won’t notice something that actually is broken. For example, are you still running advertising through exactly the same channels? If so, when did you last evaluate how much business you receive from those channels? Take a look and see if it makes sense to switch up your advertising routine a little.

3. Look at a business that failed. Conversely, it’s a good idea to evaluate a business that didn’t make it to get ideas from a negative perspective. Evaluate the reasons a similar business failed to see if you’re making any of the same mistakes. This can be a really eye opening tool and can help you to fix problems before these become significant.
The key to keeping your business fresh and up to date is making sure you don’t get too comfortable in any of your routines. A successful business person is always looking for new and better ways to do even the most routine business tasks.

Learning to increase your productivity at work is a great way to improve both your professional and your personal life. When you can accomplish more in less time, you feel good about the work you’ve done and you make it home in time for dinner! There are many ways to work smarter rather than harder. One is to hone in on your own strengths. When you work using the tools and processes that work naturally with your natural abilities, instincts and personality, you will find that you get more done with less stress, and in less time.

Here are some examples of how altering your work habits to match your strengths might make you more productive.

1. Learn your learning style. Are you a visual learner, hands on learner or auditory learner? If you key into your own personal learning style, and then incorporate this style into your daily learning pattern, you should see yourself master new skills more quickly. This applies even if you’re not a full time student taking classes. For example, if you’re an auditory learner, you’ll find that you absorb more material at a faster pace if you listen to a book on cd as opposed to reading.

2. Assign tasks that are more difficult to you. As a leader, it’s certain that you delegate some tasks to others. Be intentional in how you assign tasks to others. Do those things that you are proficient at, and assign out those that don’t suit you. Not a numbers person? Find someone else to do the books.

3. Surround yourself with the right tools. There are many ways to accomplish some of the same tasks. If you need reminders, for example, you may function well with a calendar to keep you on task. For others, a structured day that includes certain tasks in the morning and others in the afternoon may work better.

Learning to adapt your work life to your natural strengths may seem a little selfish at first. But, when you realize an increase in productivity, you’ll see that working with your strengths and your weaknesses is just a smart way to get business done.

The more you learn about the people surrounding you, the better you will become at developing their skills, your own skills, and the better you will be at satisfying your customers. One of the most important pieces of being a good leader is being a good communicator. And, one of the most important aspects of being a good communicator is being able to ask great questions.

Knowing What to Ask

Asking the right questions helps you to get to the bottom of a situation, so that you can learn from it. This aspect of asking questions involves the “who” “what”, “when”, “where” and “why” that helps you to truly understand the situation. Asking the right questions involves digging deeper to understand the reasons behind the simple answers.

Learning to ask the right questions can help you to get to know employees and customers better, so that you can target your conversations and actions for the future, as well as helping you to focus on the important details of right now. Alternating factual questions with questions about feelings and perspectives will help you to get to the bottom of any situation. You’ll learn more about how people think and about their culture and belief systems, since these things affect their overall behavior and perspective.

Knowing How to Ask

Asking the right questions is important, but so is asking the questions the right way. When you take the time to phrase questions properly and ask them in the right tone of voice, you are certain to get more and better information. It is important to make your audience feel comfortable. When others are threatened by your questions, or how you ask them, you’re certain to miss out on some of their reasons, their concerns and their motivations. Keep your tone calm and friendly. Learn to mask irritation in your voice and facial expressions that give away your thoughts.

Body language is also an important part of knowing how to ask questions. Pay attention to your posture and how you hold your body when talking to others. It is critical to not look or sound confrontational when asking questions.

Asking the right questions in the right way can help you develop into the leader and communicator you desire to be. As you learn more about those you work with, you’ll find more and more ways to improve yourself and your business.