Posts tagged “resilient leaders” (Page 2)

Many of us do an excellent job of taking care of everyone else, yet neglecting our own needs. In fact, many people actually feel guilty about doing things for themselves, especially if it means they might have to say “no” to the need of another, even temporarily, to do so. However, what many people don’t realize is that those people who must take care of others, whether their family, or their business, can be more effective at being the caretaker if they care for themselves first. After all, as the saying goes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup”.

Here are three reasons why you need to make time for yourself and make your own needs a priority.

1. You can avoid burnout. None of us can go on indefinitely without taking a little time away. Eventually, your lack of attention to yourself will result in poor decisions, frustration or giving up on your goals. By taking a little bit of time for yourself regularly, you can stay recharged.

2. You can look at problems with a fresh eye. When you take a little time away, you can often find perspective on your biggest problems when you come back to them. Very often, the things that seem impossible to solve or catastrophic seem much less problematic once you’ve stepped away for a little while.

3. You can help others more genuinely. When you are constantly meeting only the needs of others, you can begin to resent those who depend on you. Once you’ve given yourself a chance to have a little personal down time, you’ll find you are able to take care of others happily again.

Giving yourself down time doesn’t always mean doing something radical. Sometimes taking a moment to enjoy a glass of wine before moving on to your next task can be the break you need. Rediscovering an old hobby you’ve neglected can help to refresh your mind. Having a date night with your significant other or reading a book just for fun are also ways you can recharge and take care of yourself. Do whatever works for you….but make it a point to make your own needs as much of a priority as the needs of others in your 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.

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.

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.

Time management is a much discussed topic among people with multiple priorities. We often thing we could get so much more done if we could manage our time a little better. However, this way of thinking may actually be hurting your efforts to get more done.

You see, managing time is impossible. Each of us has 24 hours in every day. Most of us devote 8-10 hours of that time to working, though many people who feel they don’t manage time well will work longer hours to try and get more done. Here are some questions you may be asking yourself if you feel that your time is not managed well.

How Do I Get It All Done?

Instead of trying to manage time, try managing your priorities within your allotted time. Start with the end of your day in mind, and work backward to build your schedule. If you need to go home at 5:30, plan your day with that assumption in mind.

Look at the number of hours you will devote to working and then review the tasks you need to accomplish. Rank them in order of importance. Basically, each day, you should have a list of “must do’s”, “should do’s” and “need to get to one day” tasks.

Plan your day around your “must do’s”. If you have time left over, work on the “should do” tasks. At the end of the day, take stock of what you’ve accomplished and prioritize your tasks for tomorrow. Some of those “should do’s” from today may have higher priority tomorrow.

What if I Can’t Get Through My “Must Do” List?

If you find yourself consistently unable to get through your “must do” list, it’s time to take stock of the number of tasks on your plate. Are there tasks you can delegate? If you plan to manage your life in a way that doesn’t allow work to completely take over, you have to pare your lists of tasks down to something that is manageable.

Do I Have Bad Habits?

Another item to consider, if you find yourself unable to get through your list of important tasks, is if you have bad habits that get in the way of your workday. Do you take long lunches or chat on the phone with friends? Do you find yourself jumping from task to task, without completing anything? If so, make sure to stay focused on the work at hand, so that you can get more accomplished in the time you have.

Managing time becomes much easier when you take the time to prioritize your work. Even if you don’t finish everything you wanted to do, you’ll go home much more relaxed knowing that the most important items were handled and that you know what needs to be accomplished tomorrow.

As business owner or leader in a company, you are certainly aware that you are in a position of leadership. Others around you, particularly those who work for you, look to you for guidance and to teach them how to be a leader.

There are many ways to display effective leadership, but none is more powerful than leading by example. Leading by example has many benefits both to you and to those you seek to lead. Here are some things to consider.

1. Leading by example makes you accomplish more. When you recognize the people are watching your actions, as opposed to just your words, you are likely to do more and better things. Recognizing that you are leading in your example makes you more intentional in your actions. You will see each action you take as having an impact on others. You will see the benefit of being more personally productive just because you hone in on the idea that others are learning from your behavior.

2. You project a more sincere image. The world is full of leaders who talk about what should be done and how it should be done, but then live their own life in a totally different way. Those who lead by example are recognized as people who “practice what they preach”. You’ll gain far more respect with this leadership style.

3. You set the ethics bar higher. When you know others are watching you, you are more careful about what you do and say. You are more likely to keep yourself in check when you know others are watching.

The fact is, you are leading by example whether you choose to lead this way or not. As a person in a leadership role, others are watching what you say and how you act. Your actions will have an impact on how these people conduct themselves, and on the type of leader they will become. So, make it a point to ensure that the example you set is one you can be proud of.

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And, I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” Edward Everett Hale

When you are busy with business and life responsibilities, it can be easy to neglect doing things in your community. We often think that because we don’t have a lot of time or a lot of money, our contributions are worthless. However, giving back to your community is important at all stages of your life and of your career. Everyone can give. And, every little bit helps when it comes to time and money. Here are three reasons why it’s important to give back to your community even when your time and money are limited.

1. It makes you feel good. The stress of everyday life can take its toll. We all need rest, but that rest shouldn’t necessarily be just sitting at home with our feet up. Doing work that is different than what we do for a living and that makes us feel as though we’ve made a difference can be relaxing and invigorating at the same time.

2. It gives you a fresh perspective. You may learn some very valuable lessons for your business while volunteering. You may see new ways of doing things or managing resources. You may also meet some potential customers.

3. It looks good for you and your business. In today’s society, people desire the chance to do business with people who are part of the fabric of the community. When you volunteer and give in your community, others will see you as being willing to make a contribution, as opposed to being someone who is only in the community to make money from it.

You may feel that you don’t have one more minute in your day to add another activity. Your purse strings may be stretched so tight that you can’t imagine making a contribution to anything else. But, once you get out in your community and see what a difference you can make, you’ll be hooked!

The ability to influence others can put you at a significant advantage in the business world. When you are influential, you are able to gain the results you desire without directing another person’s actions. This is a powerful ability.

Many people have no idea how much or how little influence they have nor how to increase their sphere of influence. If you are wondering about your own ability to influence others, here are some things to consider.

1. Under what circumstances do you attempt to influence others? Are you conscious of yourself trying to influence others? If you pay attention to your everyday activities and find that you are never attempting to influence other people, you may be putting yourself at a disadvantage.

2. Are your attempts to influence transparent in regard to being clearly for your own good? Being conscious of how often you try to influence others and why can give you insight in whether or not your motives are self serving, and potentially damaging to your reputation.

3. Do people do what you want them to do? If you regularly find that people follow your advice and steer toward your preferences, you clearly have influence. Learn how to develop that influence further. On the other hand, if people tend to do exactly the opposite of what you suggest, then your influence is negative. Maybe it is, again, the result of you using your influence only for your own benefit.

Using Influence Appropriately

People who are good influencers offer great benefit to the world. When you have the ability to steer others in the direction of doing the right thing, your influence can improve many situations in both the business world and your personal life. This is why it is so important to be aware of your own ability to influence others and how often you use it.

Don’t sell yourself short. Many people have no idea how much influence their opinion and actions have on others around them. You may have the potential to help create great things, without ever realizing it.

The key to being able to influence others is sincerity. This is why so many people who have great influence never realize it. Their sincerity is what makes them so influential, yet they never attempt to use it for gain.

Take the time to think about your own influence in the world around you. Using your influence appropriately can be a great benefit for increasing the good your organization does on a day to day basis.

It takes great character to issue a heartfelt apology. However, apologizing when you are wrong is critical to being a good leader and to being respected by those around you.

Of course, the first step in an authentic apology is the realization that you do, indeed, have something you need to apologize for. Sadly, many people never make it past this step. But, once you do, here are some tips for ensuring your apology rings true with the person you’ve wronged.

1. Apologize right away. As soon as you realize you’ve made a mistake, apologize. When you wait, the person you’ve offended may assume you only finally apologized because they seemed hurt, rather than because you did the wrong thing. In addition, when you’re in no hurry to apologize, it leaves the impression that your wrong is not bothering you.

2. Don’t make excuses. Your apology should never contain the word “but”. When you make an excuse part of your apology, you imply that it wasn’t really your fault. Owning up to your transgressions wholeheartedly shows maturity.

3. Let them know what you’re doing to fix it. If it is possible to fix the situation, do so. Let the person you’ve wronged know what steps you have taken or will take to correct the situation and when.

4. Acknowledge how your action was wrong. If you were rude, say so. If your behavior was insensitive, let the other person know that you know it was insensitive.

5. Don’t apologize if you don’t mean it. If you are insincere, it is usually fairly obvious. If you don’t think you owe someone an apology, then don’t give one.

6. Move on. Once you’ve apologized and corrected the situation, don’t continue to linger in the problem. Neither you nor the person you’ve wronged wants to be constantly reminded of something negative.

The ability to apologize when needed is critical growing as a leader. When you apologize authentically, people recognize that you are human, yet are mature enough to acknowledge your failures. Your sensitivity to the feelings of others only makes you more appealing and respected.

Life and work are busy. When we’ve a long list of things to do, it is easy to make assumptions about how duties will be handled, who will handle tasks and other little details. However, when you make a lot of assumptions, you can also create a lot of mistakes. Here are three reasons why it’s always better to take the time to clarify.

1. Everyone’s perception is different. Many words leave room for interpretation. For example, your definition of “clean” or “busy” might be very different from mine. When you don’t spell out what you mean in detail, you leave lots of opportunity for someone to truly believe they did what you asked, but have fallen completely short of your expectation.

2. You create extra work. When something must be done over again because the task wasn’t clarified properly in the first place, productivity is lost. Avoid tasks having to be performed twice by ensuring that everyone understands the expectation from the beginning.

3. Work goes undone. One of the biggest assumptions made is that “someone” is going to handle something, without clarifying who that someone is. Making sure everyone understands their responsibilities is key to ensuring nothing is missed.

4. You foster ill will. When employees feel as though they completed a task, only to find out that they fell short of expectation, they feel frustrated. Most people are more than happy to do a job well the first time, as long as they understand the requirements. Over time, when people are told over and over that expectations weren’t met, they will become disgruntled. Before you get upset with someone for not performing to your standards, ask yourself if you made your standards clear.

When you learn to clarify projects, expectations and tasks you will find that there are many positive results. Relationships with employees and customers will improve. Your workplace will become more productive because there will be a reduction in work that has to be repeated. In addition, you’ll find that people have greater satisfaction in the work they complete.

It can be very easy to assume that everyone understands requirements the same way. But, when you learn to clarify every time, you’ll find that getting work done right the first time gets much easier.