Category Archives: Leadership

Is there always something to learn? Even for the expert?

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I did it. I got a coach. Why? Cause I don’t know what I don’t know.

I do know that if I want to continue to provide high value to my clients and to grow the business I need to have someone in my corner pushing me just like I do with my clients.

I know that for most of us a coach is a big commitment – you need to invest time and money to get the most out of your experience. Commitment by investment. I see it with my clients all of the time. You hear big time coaches and consultants talk about it. The more you pay the more committed you are to doing the work and reaching your goals.

Think about how many FREE teleseminars, articles, ebooks… you have gotten in the last year. How many have you actually used or even opened up!  Now think about the $3,000 program you purchased last fall. I bet you did everything that program suggested and got really great results. Commitment by investment.

Everyone has their investment threshold. Some folks need to spend $100 and others $10,000 before they feel like the program/coach/consultant is valuable enough that they will actually do the work.

It doesn’t matter how much it costs- no one is going to do the work for you. At the end of the day it all comes down to personal responsibility and how much you want to make the changes or reach the goals you are talking about.

I sometimes hear people say “Well, I don’t need to learn anymore about X or Y. I’ve been doing it for years, I’m good at it.” I’m sure you are. I’ve never met anyone that could not learn something. Even masters will tell you there is always something t o learn.

It becomes a question of how willing are you to learn;? To admit there might be just one more thing, one more bit that can make you even better at what you do.  Additional coaching doesn’t take anything away from the expert. I have found that people look up to others who continue to grow- if nothing else it makes the expert seem human, which builds rapport with their audience.

Let me know how you are growing by adding your comments.

Your Community Connection

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How much do you know about what is happening around you? I don’t mean right beside you or in your office rather in your community.

I had the opportunity to attend a ‘State of the County’ event hosted by my local Chamber. This is an opportunity to learn about the community you serve both on a micro (the city you live in) and state level.

I have a more concrete idea of how external factors are impacting local and statewide business. It also gave me some ideas about how I might be able to give back to my local community.

Even if you don’t have local clients it is helpful to understand your community- for instance, sales tax just went down and there is another tax increase on the ballot this fall- now I understand why that increase has been requested.

Even if the local economy doesn’t impact your customers it may impact your business. Local can mean anything from municipality to your entire state (province) or country depending on the scope of your business. Taxes, shortages, overages, environmental factors impact you regardless of the size of your ‘local’.

Participating in your community can bring rewards of its own and provide benefits that may not have much to do with your business. Then again, you never know until you get out there. I recently discovered that I have only 1 degree of separation between me and the Gates Foundation Board, another person I met has Oprah’s ear, and another regularly works with large oil companies. Do I have an immediate need for these contacts? Not today, but I may in the future and it is worth cultivating relationships with the people involved.

Stay connected to your community, the virtual and the real one.

2012 Cometh- Start Developing Your Business Plan

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Now is the time to start planning for 2012. It is not that far away and this is a good time to start thinking about what you want to continue or discontinue in 2012.

Some things you want to consider:

  • Revenue goals- start thinking about what is working well for you and what is not. Look at how you want to continue what is working well into 2012. Decide what you would like your revenue goals to be in 2012 and what you need to do to make that happen. Start crafting your business plan today- you probably will not complete it today but start seriously thinking about how you want the business to move forward.
  • Are you going to raise your rates at the beginning of the year? You need to prepare your customers and should start doing that in late November. If you need to update marketing materials and you website schedule the time to do that now. Keep in mind Nov/Dec are busy months for everyone. Scheduling time with you web master and marketing folks will help ensure a coordinated release of new pricing and that you have the right materials when you meet with that prospect on January 2.
  • Are you going to continue programs/classes you are currently holding? If they are working well and you enjoy doing them it is a great idea to continue. Take a look at the 2012 calendar and decide when/where you want to hold the classes.
  • Are you going to discontinue programs/classes you are currently holding? If you are you can always schedule a ‘last time ever’ promotion. You may pull in those folks that have been putting it off and put some extra revenue into your pocket as you leave 2011.
  • Do you want to create new classes? You have 5 months, put it off and it will suddenly be Dec. 30 and the class(es) will not be created. Put time on your calendar now to devote to creativity. Set a goal to have the class ready to roll out on a certain date. Remember you have to plan time for marketing, beta test, revising content before the class goes live.
  • Do you want to create new product? Follow a similar process to creating a new class. There are other things to consider and build into your timeline- packaging creation, setting up an affiliate program, do you want other companies/venues to offer your product for sale, getting reviews from respected individuals… Plan all of that into your schedule.
  • Do you want to discontinue product that is not selling well? Don’t just toss those left over CD’s into a corner. Have a sale! If the content is still relevant have a fire sale and sell as many of those CD’s/books etc. as you can before you release the new product. Consider using these products as giveaways during speeches, for great referral partners or for great clients.

Do your products make good holiday gifts? Consider putting together packages to encourage gift giving. Put time on you calendar to complete the packaging, marketing etc. or you may find the holiday season is upon you and you missed the window of opportunity.

Start planning today to meet your goals in 2012.

When You Thrive Your Business Thrives

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I had tons of things to do this weekend. Work to catch up on- which is usually a sign of a good busy week- social media posts to line up, general weekend ‘stuff’ we all have to do. Yet, I did not want to move all weekend. The phone rang, I was annoyed, the dog wanted to go out- I had to get off of the couch, go to bed- again get off the couch (or not), hungry get off of the couch…

If it involved more than picking up the remote I really did not want to deal with it.

Rather than force myself to do all of that ‘stuff’ I allowed myself to simply ‘be’.

I woke up Mon. morning ready to go. By noon I had done almost everything on my ‘must get done list’ and was on to not quite so critical or immediate work. I was interested in everything, excited to get things done and happy to be working.

So what happened?

This happens to many of us. We are so busy during the week, doing the work we love, catching up with friends, completing projects that we don’t allow ourselves to power down for a few minutes and recover.  I gave myself the gift of recovery this weekend.

What if you cannot ‘be’ for an entire weekend? (I admit it was a luxury.) Find an hour. Find 15 minutes. Just be still and quiet, meditate if you want, stare at the trees, just ‘be’. To avoid the crash I had over the weekend take some time to ‘be’ every day.  I know better than to miss that ‘be’ time and, like you, I get so engrossed in my work I lose track of time occasionally.

The ‘be’ time will help you keep the creativity flowing, keep your more even tempered, more grounded and more relaxed. That is a gift you give yourself and your business. Remember when you thrive your business thrives.

Have you started succession planning?

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Succession planning is not on the top of anyone’s fun list but it is essential to ensuring you have a healthy business. Your only 30? What could possibly happen?

Just this past week a friend had a cast removed from his leg. Within days a blood clot broke loose and went straight to his heart. He died instantly. He left behind a wife, two young daughters and a vibrant business. He was 35. Still think it can’t happen to you?

Hopefully he had some kind of contingency plans in place. He has a handful of employees that are speaking with clients and trying to carry on the business. The question remains how easily could your employees/family carry on the business without you?

Have you made certain more than one person knows where important information resides? Knows how to run the business?

Imagine what might happen if you are unable to show up at work every day for 3 or 4 weeks. If you do not think the business would continue to thrive during that time or being away is ‘simply out of the question’ you need to do some succession planning AND put a plan in place that will keep the doors open and profitable if you must be away for a while.

If you are not sure where to start with succession planning a good business attorney can get you going in the right direction.

Emotional Intelligence is part of Your Business

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I had the privilege of delivering an Introduction to Emotional Intelligence class today. I was lucky to have very insightful people in the class. The organic discussion that occurred kept the class interesting for all of us and has me wondering how many of us realize the part emotional intelligence (EQ) plays in our business?

Every interaction we have with clients, vendors and employees requires that we put our emotional intelligence skills to use- or perhaps we don’t and our interactions are questionable at best? Your EQ skills will help calm an upset employee, can help someone make a decision or save the account you thought was walking away.

Self-awareness is key to all EQ. If you do not realize how your actions and emotions are impacting those around you it is difficult to manage those same actions and emotions. Blissful ignorance is not a recommended state.

Most of us realize our business is built on the relationships we make and foster. If we are not aware of how we interact it is much more difficult to create long-lasting win-win relationships.  Think of the people you know who have difficulty keeping friends and it is always the other person’s fault.  There may be a few EQ issues that, once addressed, could change the way this person relates to everyone in their life.

Blissful ignorance can lead to hurt feelings, disappointed or disillusioned customers, and family members left wondering what all of the hubbub is about. Increasing your emotional intelligence benefits not only you personally but everyone around you.

Speaking of ‘everyone’. EQ is not just for work. Those same skills can pay huge dividends with your family. You can create more trusting and intimate relationships if you are better able to manage your own emotions and to understand the feelings behind other people’s emotions.

You can be the example you want your employees and family to emulate.  It all starts with self-awareness.

 

Do You Have The Right to Lead?

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I have been struck by how often you hear the word ‘leadership’. It seems like everyone and their brother is tossing around ideas on what it means to be a leader, the role of a leader, and how to become a leader.

Growing into leadership does not need to be cumbersome and maintaining a leadership attitude is not rocket science. The rocket science is maintaining the attitude you cultivated while becoming a leader once you are in a leadership position.

As sometimes happens I received an email that addressed exactly the topic I was thinking about. I receive emails from Simple Truths- a motivational and inspirational book store- the book they introduced is The Right to Lead by John Maxwell. John is an amazing leader. In The Right to Lead he shares simple guidelines to help you become a better leader.  Below is the introduction to the book including guidelines that will benefit us all.

“Introduction” from
The Right to Lead by John Maxwell

What gives a man or woman the right to lead? It certainly isn’t gained by election or appointment. Having position, title, rank or degrees doesn’t qualify anyone to lead other people. And the ability doesn’t come automatically from age or experience, either.

No, it would be accurate to say that no one can be given the right to lead. The right to lead can only be earned. And that takes time.

The Kind of Leader Others Want to Follow

The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go.

As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:

  1. Let go of your ego. The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, “Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I’ll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things.”
  2. Become a good follower first. Rare is the effective leader who didn’t learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first – and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.
  3. Build positive relationships. Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today’s generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.
  4. Work with excellence. No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.
  5. Rely on discipline, not emotion. Leadership is often easy during the good times. It’s when everything seems to be against you – when you’re out of energy, and you don’t want to lead – that you earn your place as a leader. During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion.
  6. Make adding value your goal. When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership – and its highest value.
  7. Give your power away. One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You’re meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.

In The Right to Lead, you will hear from and read about people who have done these same things and earned the right to lead others. Because of the courage they found and the character they displayed, other people recognized their admirable qualities and felt compelled to follow them.

The followers who looked to these leaders learned from them, and so can we. As you explore their worlds and words, remember that it takes time to become worthy of followers. Leadership isn’t learned or earned in a moment.



Who is on Your list of Most Influential People?

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Time released their list of 100 Most Influential People this week. After I scrolled through their list I started thinking about my most influential people.

Some of the standard characters are on my list- family, close friends. There are folks on my list for their negative example. People I want to learn from but NOT emulate. For example, Donald Trump – love him or hate him you have to admit there is a whole lot of ego tied up in everything he does. The way he does business leaves bodies in his wake- that is not how I want to do business. He is a constant reminder that power and wealth can bring out the worst in us.

Bill and Melinda Gates are on my list. Love or hate Microsoft the Gates are trying to make a positive difference in the world. While I may not have the impact they have- yet- I strive to make a positive difference every day.

Who are your most influential people? Share your short list of influentials in the comments. I am always surprised at who influences us in our personal lives and in business and there just might be someone on your list that my readers and I can learn from. Maybe they will make my list next year.

Thanks for sharing!

 

The Screamer, Disrespect and You?

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This week I had a troubling experience. I was attending a meeting of a professional group- we were getting together to resolve an issue that had come up. The attendees included members of the leadership team and organization members.

The meeting started with a reiteration of the intent: to move forward and come to resolution. One member of the organization started yelling, aggressively gesturing, and refusing to hear questions or to allow others to speak. When reminded we were trying to move forward he started yelling again. This went on for about 10 minutes until a member of the leadership team removed him from the meeting to ‘take a walk.’

I have never, in almost 20 years of business seen a display that was so unprofessional or disrespectful of everyone in the meeting. We only have control of ourselves, we cannot control how others act, and we are individually responsible for behaving in a business-like professional manner. This person stepped far out of the bounds of professionalism

My question to you- Are you that person? Do you know that person? If you answered yes to either one you have other questions that need to be answered. If you are the offender (and it was offensive to everyone involved) you may want to take a look at your self- awareness and ability to handle conflict.

How you treat others is an indication of how you feel about yourself. If you have little or no respect for yourself or are driven solely by ego it is easy to disrespect others. If you respect yourself and believe you should be treated with respect, without being ego centric, it is easy to understand everyone wants to be and should be treated with respect. Think about your actions. Do they indicate how you feel about yourself? How you feel about others? Perhaps your treatment of others stems from a frustration or slight not associated with that specific person. Does you anger come from knowing you are doing something similar and in fear of ‘being found out’ (it doesn’t have to immoral, illegal or even unethical- you just need to feel uncomfortable about doing it). Are you acting out instead of resolving another situation?

If you are getting angry reading this you might be the person I am describing. And that’s ok- as long as you take the opportunity to rehab your actions. We all have things we need to work on. I encourage you to take a close look at how you interact with others and how you might improve those interactions. No one on the receiving end of that disrespect and un-professionalism will walk away with a good impression of you.

If you know someone who routinely acts in an unprofessional manner you could approach the person in a non-confrontational manner. The important thing is to approach them in a manner that is friendly, conversational, and not overly critical and to have genuine concern for the person you are speaking with. Any kind of aggression may be met with more aggression or derision. I suggest only approaching someone if you already have a trusting relationship with them and if you are prepared for the potential that they may not appreciate you pointing out a perceived fault.

We all deserve to be treated with respect regardless of how you feel about the person you are addressing. The bottom line is unprofessional and/or disrespectful behavior creates a negative environment and does not allow anyone to shine. The person displaying that behavior, whether they know it or not, is not creating a good impression of themselves or their business acumen.

You do the math, if you are not leaving a good impression people will certainly not take advantage of your other skills and that means few clients..

 

Are you ready for Coaching?

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That is a tough question for some of us. You may feel like you are struggling, know that you want to shift the way you feel and find more productive or different ways of doing things. Coaching can help with all of the above. How do you know if you are ready?

1. Are you willing to invest the time and money into being present for regular coaching sessions?

2. Are you willing to make the effort to try new things, to build on what you discover in the session on your own time?

3. Are you willing to be honest about what is working and what isn’t?

4. Are you willing to stretch beyond your comfort zone?

5. Are you willing to change any negative self-talk or attitudes in positive beneficial direction?

6. Are you open to honest feedback?

7. Are you willing to invest in YOU?

If you answered ‘Yes’ to these questions you should consider talking to a coach. I am here to help you decide if I am the right coach for you or if you would benefit from a different coach. It is time to make an investment in your growth.