Category Archives: Leadership

Alleviating ‘New Employee’ Anxiety

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You have a small business with a few employees and you are hiring someone new. You are filling a key employee position, someone that will work directly with you to move the company forward. How do you bring that new person into your existing mix?

It’s very easy to say you just introduce them on their first day of work and move forward hoping everything will flow just perfectly.

Reality is a bit different. In general, all employees are a little curious when you bring a new person on board.The longer your employees have been together, the more entrenched they are, the more curious (or sometimes concerned) they will be with the addition of a new employee.

Some offices are very open to new employees others are more closed- you need to know where on that spectrum your employees reside. Either way, there are things you can do to help alleviate any tension that may occur when you hire someone new- especially if that someone new is an outsider that will now sit higher on the organizational chart than everyone else.

  • Explain to staff why you need someone in that role and what their responsibilities are
  • Explain why you are bringing in someone from outside
  • Give staff an opportunity to ask questions and answer them as honestly as you can
  • Set up a time for staff to meet the new person in a relaxed environment
  • Assure staff that you will still be available if you are truly needed

Do you owe your staff an explanation – no. You do need to respect that they will have questions and that the more you can do to address their questions in an honest way the more likely they are to embrace the new employee.

These are by no means the only things you can do to help everyone feel more comfortable. Anything you do will help to ensure a more fluid, less turbulent integration for the new and existing employees.

Judging Others by a Better Standard

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Charles Gupton is a wonderful photographer and friend. He is our guest blogger today. Take a minute to check out his work!

Judging Others by a Better Standard

I have a business colleague who judges everyone else according to his own strengths. When people don’t measure up to his standard of strengths, they are dismissed as inadequate and unworthy of his business respect. Since his particular strengths are in the area of technology, I often fall short, in his view, of being the full measure of the man I should be.

After feeling the sting of this judgment a few times, I found myself getting fairly irritated in his company on every occasion. I found myself going into each encounter with a ready quip or two prepared to put him on the defensive by pointing out some of the shortcomings he might be overlooking. However, in a moment of clarity I realized, I am him; I have been that kind of person too. And in my heart of hearts, I still am.

I my heart, I have harshly judged people for how they choose to eat, spend their money, and spend their time. On many of those occasions, I have made comments that reflected my judgments in a way that stressed the relationship. Enough of those stress fractures and the relationship will be damaged beyond repair.

I’m not saying that we should not exercise our judgment – there’s far too little good judgment being used. What I am suggesting is that we decide how our particular insights can be of value rather than be demeaning.

I don’t believe that because I’ve not utilized technology to push my LinkedIn connections to 500+ that makes me an unthoughtful person. Nor do I believe that because my phone, laptop and desktop are not perfectly synced with identical folders, using automatic smart-mailbox routing so that I have every contact’s complete information at my fingertips at all times is the strongest indication that I don’t care about other people.

I desperately need to make improvements in all areas of life involving technology. I have a lot of improvements to make in other areas as well. What I need is guidance. And encouragement. And support.

But derision causes defensiveness to rise up. Emotional barriers get built. Connection is lost, perhaps permanently.

Again, discernment is a very good and important quality to possess. What is even more important is the end to which it’s used.

When we discover a weakness in a colleague or friend, do we merely point it out or possibly exploit it? Or do we use the knowledge as a means of building a bridge or a connection? As a means of building that person up?

By being more supportive of others growth, is it possible that we might become more open to others supporting our growth as well?

Charles

Charles Gupton photographs real people, really well. Clients include Newsweek, Business Week, Texaco, and Nike. His work can be seen at http://www.charlesguptonphoto.com.

How Big is Your Vision?

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I thought I was thinking big. I thought I had a grand vision of where I wanted the business and my life to be in a year, 2 years, 5 years….

Then I went to my mastermind group.

All of a sudden I was getting questions I had not thought about in a long time. The questions were pushing me to expand my vision past where I was today; past where I wanted to be in 2 years, in 5 years….

If you are not already involved in a mastermind group, a group that pushes you to expand as it supports, is hungry for the knowledge you can share- then create or join one today.

Even as my vision was expanding there was acceptance within the group for that vision. As entrepreneurs we all need support and acceptance. If you are not getting the support where you are find individuals who will support you.

If those around you think small you will continue to think small, to act small. Surround yourself with those who have reached your vision, those who have reached beyond your vision.

Pay it forward by sharing your lessons with those who have not reached you current level.

We are all responsible for our growth and for helping those around us grow. Grab the reins; hang on for the ride!

People can Change- Make the Choice

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I have the privilege of working with a wonderful Egoscue practitioner in Chapel Hill NC. She’s wonderfully talented and building her business.  (If you are interested in improving your athletic performance or relieving aches and pains contact me and I’ll pass along her information.)

We’ve started using the Energy Leadership Assessment to drive our discussions. As an Energy Leadership Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) I know how powerful the tool can be. It is always beautiful to see a client experience the power of a tool and embrace the change the tool can move them toward.

If you receive my newsletter you know I encourage everyone to learn something every week. That may mean you take a class, capitalize on a coaching session or read an industry magazine; learning is what keeps us fresh and provides ideas for your growing business.  Perhaps the most challenging learning you can do is about YOU.

Self-awareness is the gift that keeps on giving- the more self aware you are the more you realize you have areas of challenge and areas you are truly proud of.  Developing both of those areas will propel you forward. The Energy Leadership Assessment is a wonderful way to get a brand new perspective on the areas impacting your life.

Some of us embrace changes we would like to make and some of us choose to ignore them. Or we simply are not self-aware. Being self-aware is a choice you make. It’s the first choice you need to make when exploring change. Self-awareness allows you to consciously ‘see’ how you act and react. Whether those actions are internal- your self-talk and internal monologue- or external- the information you share with individuals and your actions toward them- becoming aware of those actions and WHY you take those actions can change your life.

Does it help to have a coach, or at least a good friend, help you through those changes- sure. And if you have the right information and are willing to look honestly at who you are today and how you got there you can make some of those changes on your own.

My client made shifts on her own after taking the Energy Leadership Assessment and there are areas that go much deeper we are working on together. Yes, those areas impact her business and personal life. You would be surprised how many seemingly ‘personal’ issues impact your business.

Growth and change go together- people can change. It’s a choice. Make the choice.

Click here to learn more about the Energy Leadership Assessment.

The Mindset of Business Ownership

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Freedom is a beautiful thing. It’s one of the reasons I have my own business. I can create my own schedule, spend time with friends and family when I want to or do nothing if I feel like it. That didn’t happen immediately; first I had to take ownership of that freedom.

After working for 15 years for someone else it can take some time to take ownership and advantage of the gifts business ownership can provide. Since I have taken ownership amazing things happen. Just as I want to spend large chunks of time regularly with a friend beating breast cancer my schedule opens up a few hours at a time. I have the freedom to go to the hospital and spend time with her without thinking about meetings I have to rush off to or feeling like I am missing out on some business opportunity.

If I decide I want to spend a day at the beach time just opens up. My income is not impacted and the opportunities are still there when I return. What did I do to take ownership of my freedom?

First I truly embraced that I am responsible to no one but myself. I have a responsibility to my clients and by living my life to the fullest, embracing who I am and what I want I put myself into a position to provide them with the best possible parts of me.

It’s not necessarily easy to shift your mindset from employee to owner but doing this can make a huge difference. You stop looking at your business as a hobby, take responsibility for building the business, own your time and the freedom the business provides and every other benefit (and challenge!) that comes with business ownership.

If your not sure if you completely own the ‘business’ of your business ask yourself what your driver is to complete a project, write a blog or create new marketing material. If the driver is that feeling that someone is looking over your should you probably haven’t taken ownership of your business mindset yet. Stop and really think about what is driving you, how old behavior may be impacting you and find a way to own the benefits and challenges of business ownership.

Your Energy Impacts Your Business

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Energy Leadership™ is a unique form of leadership. The basic premise is that everyone is a leader and that you can lead using energy to your advantage rather than allowing it to work against you.

As an ELI-MP (Energy Leadership™ Index Master Practitioner) I see businesses that have great energy working for them and businesses that aren’t doing quite as well.

What exactly do I mean by energy? I’m referring to your level of consciousness, your level of awareness, of your actions and reactions, your perceptions, the sum total of all of the experiences you have ever had and how that information creates your realities. Your reality is based on your perceptions. Your perceptions create your energy level and that creates the world you know- your reality.

Your level of consciousness or energy level influences everything you do. Your energy draws to you similar energies. Within Energy Leadership™ there are 7 levels of energy. Each level has specific properties. We all operate from an ARL- Average Resonating Level.

Your ARL is your baseline. In any situation your natural tendency will be to view it from your ARL. The important question is: how does that ARL affect my business, clients and employees?

Your level of energy attracts like levels of energy. The 7 levels of energy vary from interacting with your world from a place of being the victim to interacting with anger, interacting with a focus on opportunity to interacting from a place of total non-judgement and simply enjoying the ride.

If you tend to work from a place of anger you will attract people and situations in to your life that validate and enhance those feelings. If you work from a place of wanting to help others you will attract those that want help and that have a similar focus.

Like the stock market your energy level goes up and down during the day depending on how you perceive and respond to what is going on around you. Learning to change your energy level will change your personal relationships, your business relationships and impact every area of your life.

The Energy Leadership™ Assessment identifies your ARL and pinpoints areas you can choose to change.

Click here to learn more about Energy Leadership™ and the Energy Leadership™ Assessment.

Blog readers have the opportunity to take the Energy Leadership™ Assessment and receive a 1 hour debrief for only $247*!

This is a $397 value!

*Please include your contact email in your order. We will contact you by email to schedule the assessment and debrief.  Please add Jennifer@JenniferConaway.com to your address book.  (If we do not receive a response within 3 months of the original order date all funds will be forfeit and we will not be required to honor the assessment/debrief request.)

Boost Your Business with Partnerships

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One of the most beneficial actions you can take as a business owner is to build partnerships. Too many times business owners and entrepreneurs feel like they must go it along. Whether it is to prove you can ‘make it work’ or because you think no one is willing to partner or because you just don’t realize the value of partnership you choose to go it alone.

Most of us realize there is power in numbers. Think about our electoral process or buying power with stores like Costco. Yet, we don’t translate that idea to our business.

I’m not talking about running a business with a partner, I’m talking about building collaborative relationships that allow both of you to reach more of your target market with minimal effort while providing value to your clients.

You want to partner with people that have a product or service that is meant for the same target market you address. The product should not be competitive but provide additional value.

The partnership can be as simple as setting up an affiliate program. An affiliate program allows interested parties to promote your product, program or service to their audience and to receive a commission every time one of their contacts purchases. With tools like Eventbrite and 1 Shopping Cart an affiliate program is easy to set up, introduces to you an entirely new audience, builds good will with the affiliate partners, and results in increased sales for you.

Take advantage of other businesses affiliate programs. This is an opportunity to share additional information of value with your clients. People remember when you shared something that helped them, even if it wasn’t your product. You build good will and people will keep coming back to you. You make a commission on everything your client’s purchase.

Build a partnership to hold a live seminar or a teleseminar. There are all kinds of things you can do with a partnership. Every partnership opens up the potential of new clients, more partnerships and bigger opportunities.

I always hear ‘Partnerships don’t work for me.” Most of the time this is because there was no structure in place, nothing in writing and an eventual breakdown in trust.

Structure your partnership. Put everything in writing and know exactly how you would like to work together. Have conversations about how money is handled, when people are paid, who does exactly what work, deadlines etc. Put it in writing. That protects you and the partner. At any time you feel like part of the partnership is not being honored address it with your partner. Do not allow frustration to build- have the conversation.

The outcome of any partnership is your responsibility. It is much better to end a partnership and maintain the relationship than to push through and destroy the relationship in the process.

I’ve had partnerships I have ended after 2 years- we had the tough conversation and remain friends. I have other partnerships that have lasted over 5 years because we are honest and open with each other.

Productive partnerships are well worth the effort.