Posts Tagged ‘leadership’
Leadership Development Is Vital To Your Business
Executive coaching and leadership training are two great ways to improve productivity in the work place. These techniques can help train employees to perform at a higher level and raise the overall value of the company. In order for this to happen, the employee must be willing to take direction and constructive criticism.
Many times, we have had managers and leaders ask us, What do you do when you have tried to coach and counsel an employee about a performance concern, and the employee has not responded? This can be a very uncomfortable situation for both the employee and his superior. It is essential that the coach and the employee have a sit down talk and get everything on the table.
We have seen far too many cases when the leader has not tried to communicate his concerns into words. Many leaders look for the quick fix and lack on explaining important specifics. When the problem does not improve, the supervisor is mad, and the employee is confused.
One of the most important things to having a successful company is communication between employees and their managers. The only way leadership training and executive coaching will be effective is with trust and communication between team members.
Many people in leadership positions don’t understand the entire principle of coaching. Unfortunately, we have seen many cases when the leader coaches his/her employees in a one shot effort. The manager is usually disappointed when he does not see good results. Inspiring and training your employees takes a lot of effort and time. It is a significant investment, but can be the difference between taking your company to the next level. Coaching requires regular ongoing discussions and experiences to achieve the level of support and cooperation needed.
In some work settings employees have become extremely use to heavy authority and strict procedures. Many times, this is not an environment conducive to leadership development. In this situation, employees usually don’t feel attached to the job or organization. They lack true desire to improve and become an active part of the team. There are many examples of organizations that have very low performance in this type of a firm. Probable the best thing a leader can do is pull back and reexamine the entire working setting. Management needs to reestablish the company goals and implement a new strategy to be successful.
Establishing the right setting for your firm is a major part of having a successful company. When the employees feel a sense of security and loyalty towards the company, they will be prepared to improve their performance through executive coaching and leadership training.
Tags: coaching, Happy Career & Business, leadership, leadership development, team building, team work, training
How to Turn Persistence into Dynamite
Ever noticed that when youre working feverishly on a new idea you hit a point where it looks impossible? Its easy to become discouraged when you hit that wall, but that’s not the place for discouragement.
Many entrepreneurs only see the obstacles at this juncture. They lose sight of their original vision.
More people give up and quit at this point. They give into the discouragement created by those obstacles. Unaware a breakthrough lay over the horizon. The vehicle of persistence drives thought those barriers to make your idea a reality.
Persistence means continuing firmly or obstinately. Persistence is a frame of mind.
In the words of Thomas Edison, “Just because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn’t mean it’s useless…. Reverses should be an incentive to great accomplishment. Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is just one more step forward…. There are no rules here, we’re just trying to accomplish something.”
Thomas Edison had boasted he would invent a safe, mild, and inexpensive electric light. After spending $40,000, and performing 1200 experiments, he succeeded.
When he hit the Discouragement Barrier, what if he had quit? The world would be sitting in the dark!
Before you can have success, you will definitely have obstacles. Even the dictionary puts the word obstacle before success.
Obstacles are there to strengthen you and offer progressive measurement of your growing strength. Discouragement sets in when you misunderstand the purpose of struggles and obstacles. Dwelling on struggles, can cause you to question your goals and the faith to believe in yourself. This leads to self doubt. When you allow self doubt to creep in you become susceptible to the fear of criticism. Criticism will stop you from pursuing your ideas and dreams.
Good news… you can train yourself to develop a persistent mindset. This mindset empowers you to make a conscious decision to stay with it.
Napoleon Hill’s Book,Think and Grow Rich, shares 8 steps to a persistence conscientious:
1. Definite goal – know exactly what you want.
2. An Intense Desire
3. Self-reliance -the belief to carry out your plan
4. Definite plans – written organized plan.
5. Accurate knowledge – you use experience and observation to create a sound plan.
6. Cooperation – being with others who will help you develop persistence.
7. Will power – focus your thoughts on obtaining your goals.
8. Habit – persistence is a direct result of making it a habit.
How to Develop Persistence
1. A written purpose is a must along with a burning desire to obtain it.
2. Have a plan of action. How will you make it happen. What do you need to do.
3. Watch your self talk. Negative self talk causes a lot of damage. Get rid of all negativity and discouraging influences in your life.
4. Develop a group of people who will encourage you but also hold you accountable to follow through on your actions.
More than 60 years ago, on Oct. 29, Winston Churchill gave a speech. His words are still vital today: “Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yielded to force; never yielded to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
Believe in yourself. Believe in your goals. Stay focused. Never change your goal-just your plans, replace the plan if necessary, but not your goal.
Overcoming struggles, problems and barriers will take you down the road of greatness but only if you embrace persistence as your success partner.
Tags: entrepreneur, Happy Career & Business, leadership, motivation, online business, persistence, personal development, productivity, self help, self improvement, small business, solo entrepreneur, success, time managemen
Getting Gratitude Abundance
Practicing the art of graciousness is powerful in your life. Focusing on the things you have keeps your mind off of what you don’t have in your life. When things go wrong, it’s hard to stay focused on those things. But, you can still live graciously.
Why Gratitude is Important
Gratitude changes your perspective on the life that you’ve been given. When you have gratitude in your life you:
Look at faults as potential blessings. It’s easy to lay blame at someone else’s feet and leave it there. It is a lot harder to look past someone’s mistakes and see their potential. That goes for your mistakes too.
Look at others with your heart instead of your eyes. Find that compassionate part of yourself and use it to connect with others even if you don’t have anything in common. Instead of the bitterness that accompanies a closed heart you will experience a more abundant and happy life.
Don’t pass judgment on yourself or others. See people for who they are and have the potential to be. Praise them and be grateful for their strengths.
Look at your own life and show mercy to others. Be grateful for the chance to change someone’s life.
Live your life looking at what you have rather than what you don’t. As you begin to become aware of what is good and positive in your life, what is good and positive will grow. Why? We attract what we pay attention to, what we focus on. When you’re focused on what is good in your life, more good will show up.
How Do You Attain Gratitude Abundance?
Use a journal to record the things in your life that you are grateful for. Identifying your blessings makes you aware of them. We don’t give enough thought to such things and usually take them for granted. Think about the breaths you take each day and the food you get to eat when you are hungry. What about the people who make your life great and the pleasant surroundings you life in? Once you learn to recognize them, you’ll be amazed at how they begin to outnumber your challenges.
Practice gratefulness. You won’t become an expert overnight but with practice you will see a difference in your attitude and your life. Instead of going to sleep feeling weighed down, you can use that abundance of gratitude you have developed to sleep well and wake up unencumbered by worry.
Incorporate it into your daily life. There are many rituals you can incorporate into your life and your daily routine to bring gratitude abundance into your life. Gratitude jewelry, journals, rituals like taking a bath every night or having a massage weekly, meditation and good food and friends also help us recognize and celebrate the positive.
Find ways to help others. Paying it forward puts the focus on others and not us. Give to charity, volunteer at a shelter, or show support on a case by case basis. Change the world one person at a time.
Clear away those things which are not important to you. Finally, to invite more gratitude into your life consider removing those things which do not make you feel good. Eliminate those things which make you feel negative about life and which detract from your life.
You can attract gratitude to your life if you want it. Learn to embrace your gracious nature and change your life and the lives of those around you.
Tags: business, empowerment, Happy Career & Business, health, inspiration, jewelry, leadership, motivation, self help, self improvement, shopping, women
Show your Gratitude with Jewelry
Gratitude brings a new perspective to your life. See the glass as half full and realize that you are beginning to change for the better. The world opens up when seen through the eyes of a gracious heart. Challenges in your life become manageable and little inconveniences seem unimportant when the focus is on an attitude of gratitude.
There are many ways to express gratitude. A journal is perhaps the most common method and is a great start, but gratitude jewelry is a fantastic way to take what is a once a day gratitude routine and make it part of every moment.
Why Gratitude Jewelry?
Jewelry can be created from various metals like gold and silver or other gems, crystals, and beads. Whatever its composition jewelry can add positive energy to your life through symbolism.
Jewelry can be symbolic in the life of a gracious person. Each time you wear the piece of gratitude jewelry, you remember what it means to you and your attitude changes.
Gratitude jewelry is a good way to build a gracious life. Every time you wear the jewelry you are reminded of what it symbolizes for you. Journaling does the same thing, but the task can turn into a chore if you let it. Because it is something you have “to do” missing it can create unnecessary stress which takes away from feeling grateful. An attitude of gratitude is not just something you do. Putting on a piece of jewelry is not a strenuous task but it speaks volumes to you and to others.
Earrings, Necklace, Bracelet or all Three?
How do you choose the type of gratitude jewelry to wear? Consider where you’d like to focus your attention and what area of your body feels the most powerful. Many women love to feel earrings dangling. They’re proud of their necks or hair and earrings just make them feel good.
Some women like bracelets. Bracelets make a jangling sound that easily reminds you of all that you have in your life right now. They are always in view and readily admired by others. Bracelets come in many colors and styles depending on your tastes.
Necklaces have always been a favorite adornment for hundreds of centuries. The metal or beads draw attention to the length and beauty of the neck. It makes a woman feel powerful and in control of her being.
To enhance your gratitude power, wear a matching set. You can dress yourself in all three pieces of jewelry or just two. Some days you might need extra reminders of the gratitude in your hear and wearing all three will strengthen you for the challenges to come.
Expressing gratitude, by whatever means works best for you, is a life changing and very positive experience. Expressing gratitude allows you to appreciate all the good in your life, to celebrate life, and to be thankful for each and every moment. Gratitude jewelry is one great way to bring this practice into your daily life.
Tags: empowerment, health, inspiration, jewelry, leadership, motivation, self help, self improvement, shopping, women
Follow the Leader
As far as leadership is concerned, there is a case to made for personal charisma or even the ability to inspire those around you, but true leadership, the kind that rallies nations, is a refined, learned skill. Military intuitions, like West Point, have long believed that leaders are trained, not born. Leading men and women into battle or into the boardroom, the skills are essentially the same. How does one explain the disproportionate amount of military-trained individuals in leadership positions in the corporate sphere?
Humans have always been concerned with their personal security and survival. Now, they spend an inordinate amount of time in the employment of organizations, typically corporations. Yet, humans are still driven to affiliate themselves with one another to protect their security and belongings. Indeed, even within the corporate structure people are compelled to protect one another from being fired or protecting the “herd.” Amidst all this they are still looking for a leader.
Leaders are designated in informal structures, seldom from rigid institutions. So, despite the military’s emphasis on leadership, true leaders of men and women are unofficially and seemingly randomly appointed. The theory as to why one person is held up as a leader and another is not is still subject to much speculation. They are never appointed or respected because of their position within the organization; they emerge by means of influence. This influence is the ability to gain co-operation from others by means of persuasion.
A theorist, Abraham Zaleznik, identified substantive differences between leadership and management. According to Zaleznik, leaders are inspired visionaries, concerned with substance. On the other hand, managers are planners who are concerned with process. Another leadership theorist, Warren Bennis, further explained the difference between managers and leaders.
Bennis alleged that managers administer, while leaders innovate. Managers ask how and when, while leaders ask what and why. Managers imitate, while leaders originate. Furthermore, he argued managers emulate the classic good soldier, whereas leaders are their own person, preoccupied with originality. Indeed, it seems leadership, though a skill that can be learned is a way of living. Leadership programs can teach you how to lead, but it seems a leader simply knows how to lead.
Tags: business, education, Happy Career & Business, leadership, leadership programs
Tips for Women: Find Your Inner Power Source
When times are tough there may be many ways to get support but the most successful people achieve their ambitions by finding strength within them. No amount of wealth or support can substitute for inner resources.
Many women already have the skills necessary to become an empowered woman, and are well on their way to having their goals and needs accomplished; personally, for their families or even their community. This self-empowerment depends on what skills women can learn. It’s possible that you already have these skills and only need to work on their development.
The Elements of Empowerment
There are many different facets when it comes to empowerment. Whether it is economic, political or social, many women seek self-empowerment as an option of personal development. This empowerment helps women find in themselves the resources needed to get over the hurdle of a setback or difficulty. Becoming pro-active will not only improve your self-esteem and effectiveness, it in turn boosts your confidence, self-image as well as earning you respect from others.
People who are disempowered are often struggling with forces that appear beyond their control-these forces could in fact be the family, the workplace or even the community. With each particular scenario, individual empowerment is a necessary occurrence. Any group empowerment leans heavily on individuals who have already developed their own positive outlook, skills and motivation required to take the steps that can make a difference.
Women Empowering Themselves
Even with all that has been done regarding gender discrimination, women are still more likely to experience being disempowered in a multitude of various situations, most often falling into the categories of family and the workplace. There is a solution that is quite clear: women need to take the steps required to search out, build upon and claim their power. This may entail much thought and work in order to achieve a particular goal, but starting with personal empowerment is a great first step.
By realizing self-potential women can take on other, and bigger, problems. Proof of this can be seen in marginalized communities in African and other under-developed countries where women’s initiatives have empowered not only themselves but whole communities.
Strategies for Empowerment
Education: Education enables women to discover ways to achieve their goals. Knowledge is power. Knowing the options available for the tasks we want to accomplish is essential to making the best decisions.
Make positive choices: Education can provide the analytical skills necessary to decision-making and the evaluation of different risks. When you hold a good knowledge base of available choices you have, confident decisions are easier to make.
Positive thinking and attitude: A defeatist or pessimistic attitude can destroy motivation and stop people from even starting to try to improve their lives and circumstances. Numerous psychological studies have shown that patterns of negative thinking can be altered with cognitive therapies. A simple gratitude journal can help maintain a positive attitude.
Building Self-esteem and confidence: Initiative is a matter of creative thinking, knowledge and confidence. With education and some manner of keeping track of achievements, no matter how small they may seem, you can be provided with a positive boost of confidence, foster initiative as well as improve your self esteem.
Interpersonal/communication skills: Good skills in the area of communication can make it easier for things move forward in life, especially those things that require you to have the ability to be persuasive and co-operative with others.
By developing their skills and awareness, individually or collectively, women can empower themselves in order to realize their potential, with benefits for themselves and their loved ones.
Tags: empowerment, health, inspiration, jewelry, leadership, motivation, self help, self improvement, shopping, women
