Category: leadership development

I’m always looking for the next great local eatery that gives me good bang for my buck. Cheap eateries stay alive because of their nostalgia and raving fans. Here’s 3 ways you can follow their lead:

Whether it’s traffic, long lines or following a slow foursome in front of me at the golf course, waiting sucks. In business, slow times are discouraging and makes us question what we are doing…  

Every leader experiences a pivotal moment where everything changes. For me it was the day after Thanksgiving, November 26, 2004 . I woke up with my knee hurting and exclaimed:
 
“I must be fat!”

Those words motivated me to get up and go to the gym immediately.
 
At first, I started doing cardio and swimming. Next, I figured weights would be a good idea so I copied what people did at the gym. In addition, I adjusted my diet by eliminating: fried foods, starch, soda, sweets and beef.
 
Three months later I reached my goal of losing 20 pounds, but this was not temporary. It was a lifestyle change.
 
Two years later (2006), I decided to up the ante by becoming a certified fitness trainer. My goal was to understand how to workout correctly. The course was helpful and I use some of the same strategies to this day.
 
I’ve maintained my weight and benefited from increased energy and mood that I translate to my business life. Working out revealed my drive, strong will and desire to see results.
 
Everyone has the ability to shift to a better place. Make a choice to take action to your intentions. Start now by writing down a goal you intend to accomplish and act on it.
Your time is now…

When will YOU shift?

Career – Do you like what you do each day?
 
Boost your Career Wellbeing by making sure you use your personal strengths daily.
 
Social – Our best moments in life happen amongst friends.
 
Boost your Social Wellbeing by communicating 6 hours daily (in person, social media, e-mail, phone, etc.)
 
Financial – We tend to define our wealth by social comparison.
 
Boost your Financial Wellbeing by purchasing experiences (memories last; material things fade)
 
Physical – Every choice we make is a net positive or net negative.
 
Boost your Physical Wellbeing by exercising 20 minutes daily (it can brighten your mood for up to 12 hours!)
 Community – Get involved & give back.
 
Boost your Community Wellbeing by contributing towards others based on your personal mission (what appeals to your heart)
 
Improving your Wellbeing is about making short-term decisions consistent with your long-term objectives. Check out the book that includes an online assessment at: WellBeing

What are YOU doing to boost your Wellbeing TODAY?

How has the recession altered your dreams? Do you put more focus on surviving than thriving? Are you more likely to settle vs. fight?
 
How would positively adjusting your target affect the outcome?

Let’s look at a couple examples…
 
In sports, there needs to be dominant player/team to create excitement. The favorite becomes the bulls-eye. When sports lack a premier attraction, nobody cares to watch.
 
In business, there’s a leader in every industry. You are either being chased or chasing the frontrunner. Competition breeds success and innovation.
 
Maybe during these challenging economic times you need to re-evaluate your target. Be realistic, but aim high. Never apologize for having high standards.
 
The more motivated you are towards being the best – the better chance you have to succeed.
 
It all starts with defining your target…
 
What are YOU aiming for?

“How” LeBron James handled his free agency decision was heavily criticized. So what leadership lessons can we learn from his mistakes?
 
Respect the Game
You are not bigger than your career. Treat others with respect. Abide by the rules and don’t expect special treatment. Be part of something greater than yourself. Respect the game and it will respect you back.
 
We vs. Me
Surround yourself with strong players, but crucial times call for leaders to step up. Within your team, individual ownership must be taken. Be willing to accept responsibility for your mistakes. Take initiative, absorb the consequences and move forward.
 
Communicate!
When possible, choose face-to-face or a phone conversation as the way to communicate. Don’t rely solely on social media, it can dilute the quality of your communication. Misinterpretation occurs when layers such as non-verbal cues, emotions and tone are removed. Improve your interpersonal skills and you have a distinct advantage over the competition.
 
Entitlement means you believe you deserve special treatment. Earn the respect of your colleagues by working hard. Lead by example and let your actions speak about your values.

How do YOU deal with entitlement?

As a Leader, how do you balance being respected vs. being liked?”
Here are my thoughts:

Leadership is getting things done through people.
 
If respected, you may not be liked…
If liked, you may not be respected…
 
Which one can you live with?
 
Everyone wants to be liked, but sometimes you care so much you become a people pleaser. In your attempt to gain approval, you fail to take a stance. You become “dust in the wind”, blown in the direction of others’ opinions.
 
In order to gain respect, you make the best decision which can be the unpopular one. By choosing what is right, you may loose favor.
If you’re disliked because you don’t “go with the flow”, live with it. Life is not a popularity contest.
 
Most leaders make the mistake of trying to do both. The happy medium is doing what’s best for your people and living with the consequence(s) of your decision.
 
Value people, but honor the purpose behind your decisions more than the acceptance of them.
 
Today, ask yourself…

Do YOU desire to be respected or liked?

My goal is to be a mentally, emotionally and physically “fit” leader. How do you train for that? What does that look like? Train like a V.I.P.!
 
Visualize – What is your desired outcome? Winners start their day by identifying goal(s). Prioritizing what’s important will make you more efficient. Try story-boarding your daily tasks using a whiteboard. We comprehend better through visual imagery.

Initiate – Get started, but plan for distractions. Your ability to manage your emotions determines effectiveness. Next time you get distracted, label (negative feelings) and re-frame (re-interpret positively). Changing your interpretation changes the outcome.
 
Perform – Execution is the result of preparation. Visualizing creates an urgency and alertness to achieve the task. Initiating action activates momentum. When your mind is clear of distractions, your body can perform at it’s optimal level.
 
Athletes train and rest better than executives. As a professional, put more emphasis on mental and emotional development for better results. A Strong Mind + Strong Emotions = Strong Performance.
 
Do YOU prepare for optimal performance?

Leading others is important, but who’s leading you?
 
You can only lead others to the extent that you can lead yourself.
 
Whether you are a current leader or aspire to be one, focus on developing yourself before you try to change others. Great leaders challenge themselves. Personal growth is a never ending journey.
 
Self-leadership is the process of influencing oneself to establish the self-direction and self-motivation needed to perform.
 
On a scale of 1 – 10, how hard do you push yourself? What will it take to get to the next level?
 
Your ability to influence yourself determines how effectively you lead others.
 
Start leading yourself the way you want to lead others…
 
What are you doing to lead YOU today?