Leadership Articles

"Something we were withholding made us weak, until we found it was ourselves." - Robert Frost Becoming familiar with The Law of Attraction (LOA) is powerful in manifesting your desires for something more. Simplistically, the LOA is a synchronizing of thoughts, beliefs, feelings and ...

"Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one where they sprang up." We have all heard this old saying to encourage the team in work, but what does involved together really do for you? Competition is increasing day by day one can thrive off strong competition, but the use of teamwork is better in the workplace for influential income. The solution to bring value to your organization Synergy assesses your requirements beyond operational advantages to

There’s a difference between leaders and bosses and that difference is that essentially, leaders have certain traits, such as determination, compassion and several other qualities that boost your employee’s confidence, love for work and dedication, without compromising their overall lives, quality of life variables and so on. But many business owners or managers seem to be unable to differentiate between being a boss and being a leader. Due to this reason, you may

As you try to manage your current work environment and all of its responsibilities, you may notice how hard it is to say no to new projects or assignments. Most people accept new responsibilities at work without any resistance, feedback, or push back. Often I hear clients say, "It's only one more thing" or "I can handle it" or "I want to prove myself." You say yes when you know you should say no. Here are four ways to say no and provide feedback and push back at work without

Employees are the backbone of any business. They are the ones who serve the customers, who manage your daily operations and provide you with the profit that has made you successful enough. In return, to their efforts, you provide them with remuneration. But is that really enough? Why would someone want to spend his or her effort for your success? How could they keep going with a limited amount of wage that they get? They definitely need something extra, which could help them

The March 2006 issue of the Harvard Business Review had a great article by Robert Morison, Tamara Erickson, and Ken Dychtwald entitled "Managing Middlescence." Their article addressed the mid-career employees, aged 35 to 54, who "should be at their peak of productivity," but instead "are the ...

1.Empower Your Employees to Shine By Helping Them Own Their Gifts at Work ·As you interact with employees, see every one as unique and gifted, especially the star employees. Your role is to find the innate gifts within each one of your fellow employees as you interact with them. ·Work with your employees to identify their top two gifts and help them bring those gifts to the projects they are currently working on. A sample list of possible innate gifts includes: Creativity,

Do you work 11, 12, or 14 hour days and never get ahead? Do you believe that the more tasks you physically do yourself, the greater your chances are you can inspire your staff to do more? Yet, do you wonder why no one seems to be working as hard or caring as much as you? One reason for your ...

Almost everyone I know has a desire - whether in the back or the forefront of their minds - to become wealthy. The Universe is a place of abundance and every person has a right to and access to that abundance. So why isn't everyone wealthy? People become stuck at levels of existence because ...

In some circles, I say that I am in the business of communication--but the bigger truth is that I’m in the business of developing leaders of change, who of course must communicate with extraordinary skill. Throughout most of history, leaders of change were confined to the political, academic, religious and corporate stages. In fact, for thousands of years, all power resided in these arenas, and the “little person” had virtually no voice.

I thought I'd take a moment to simply clarify the difference betwee Advisory Boards and Boards of Directors. People often believe they're one-in-the-same and use the terms interchangeably. In reality, they're very different entities. Both are valuable, but they wield different levels of ...

Is your organization one for whom “business as usual” no longer works? Whether that result is precipitated by fewer customers, budget cutbacks, employee layoffs and/or furloughs, or some other unplanned change, the point is that you find yourself having to do more with less. The question I hear most often is, “How do we operate given our new reality?” There are three important reasons why the answers to this question are critical: 1. The organization’s short-term su

Changing careers, going back to school or going back to work is a wonderful life space to be in. Yet it can be so scary leaving what we know and are familiar with. In fact it can scare the heck out of you! This familiar place is often called your "comfort zone". However, isn't it strange to use ...

It's almost a waste of ink to say these are uncertain times. We hear it everyday. No matter what business you are in, you've probably experienced ups and downs lately and your employees are probably asking or at least wondering: - Is my job safe? - Is the organization financially sound? - What does the future hold? During a time of budget cuts and layoffs, employees look to you, their manager, for the critical information they crave. The reality is that you may not know the

The two FBI agents stared at me from across the table. The woman’s blue eyes narrowed and her forehead wrinkled as she aimed her next question, “If you teach leadership, maybe you can tell me how important all these leadership tests the FBI makes me take really are?” Me, “Depends how they use them.” Her, “They use them for promotions, reviews, screening… lots of ways.”

“It is not so much that we’re afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it’s that place in between that we fear…It’s like being in between trapezes. It’s Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There’s nothing to hold on to ” –Marilyn Ferguson Change is forever and unlimited. We ...

Being a leader can be hard work. So hard, in fact, that many people give up on developing their leadership skills early in their career. Leading and managing are difficult, and they certainly are not for everyone. For those who are thrust into a position of authority, whether you feel that you are totally prepared or are scared out of your mind, I have put together a short list of tips that I have learned along the way. This list is not comprehensive, nor is it going to make

I just got off the phone with a prospective client. They have serious employee and management retention issues. They have few managers with the right skills to be effective managers, let alone develop into effective leaders, they have a multitude of staff with less-than-effective front-line ...

The two FBI agents stared at me from across the table. The woman’s blue eyes narrowed and her forehead wrinkled as she aimed her next question, “If you teach leadership, maybe you can tell me how important all these leadership tests the FBI makes me take really are?” Me, “Depends how they use them.” Her, “They use them for promotions, reviews, screening… lots of ways.”

I live in Indianapolis, Indiana – the only town in America that doesn’t have Memorial Day weekend - we have Race Weekend. This doesn’t mean we don’t honor those who gave their lives for our country (in fact, we honor them in more ways than most), it just means that the last weekend in May is when we host “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – the Indianapolis 500.rnI’m writing this before the race takes place, and you are reading it after it has finished. Regard

Why do your customers come to you? Why do they pay you money for your products or services instead of another organization? Why you? It's a short, two-word question, but its answer could transform the way you operate your business. You see, the answer is what sets you apart from everyone else. ...

In a survey of 359 corporate officers and 6,900 managers from 77 firms, the McKinsey organization reported that only 7% of respondents agreed that their companies had enough talented managers. (1) Even more alarming was the mere 3% who agreed with this statement: "We develop people effectively." The question then becomes, how might you take personal responsibility to become one of the talented managers or leaders? The answer, learning agility. I think it is the number one leadership best practice.

Like many, I spent hours this summer enjoying the feats and activities of the Summer Olympics, and I was especially amazed at the accomplishments of Michael Phelps. After one race, I noticed something especially interesting from a performance management standpoint: immediately after completing a race and earning yet another gold medal, Phelps' swim coach was right there with a couple of words. Were they words of encouragement, of praise, of support? I can only imagine. Throug

Delegation is something that every leader has feelings about. Some feel they do it well. Some don’t even know where to start. Some have seen a good example of it. Some feel like every time someone has “delegated” to them, it felt like they’d just been dumped on. Some think it is something they should do. Some resist it. Regardless of your feelings and experiences, there will be something here for you. What follows are five keys to making any delegation experience more

A middle manager recently reported that she was very disappointed that her division head was giving her only a 1% raise this year, despite the fact that the middle manager exceeded all her goals. Her boss told her that she was hired at the high end of the pay scale (a few years ago) and there was little room for salary growth. This Fortune 500 company has a turnover rate of 25%, and they are about to lose another good manager because they don’t know how to retain top talent through engagement. Do you?

Today’s complex, dynamic, and global world presents both challenges and opportunities. We are required to understand and practice leadership in new ways. We are called to expand the paradigm of leadership to encompass and integrate knowledge and experience from many fields and traditions. If leadership can be viewed as our individual and collective response to change the world for the better, then leadership for the 21st century must be re-imagined if it is to be of service

Strategic management, or a lack thereof, can make or break a business. The way Blackberry ended showed the world what happens when an organization lacks a strategic framework and wise decision-making. While Apple foresaw the opportunities and challenges the future held, Blackberry didn't. The result was BlackBerry being taken down by Apple. Sure, you won't want the same for your business! Strategic leadership and management have become an integral part of the ever-evolving gl

Someone has observed that we are always free to choose, but we’re not free to choose the consequences of our choices. We see proof of this principle in Washington and on Wall Street. The present state of the economy is the consequence of many years of bad fiscal choices. Recovery will depend on better choices. Young people also demonstrate the accuracy of this same concept. Unfortunately, though they are free to sow wild oats, they have no choice regarding the crop with whi

Dear Learner, I don`t know why the training is on your calendar. Maybe you are being told to go. Maybe you don`t even really know what it is about. Maybe you`d rather go to training than be at your desk. Maybe training means a chance to get away from home for a day or two. Maybe you are really looking forward to attending and are excited about it. Or maybe it is some combination of these (and other) reasons. Regardless of the circumstances and your reasons why, the reality is

If you grew up in the United States, you know what I`m talking about. Every child learns the Pledge of Allegiance in elementary school . . . "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." We recite it, perhaps without giving it too much thought, but if you read it, you can see that we are pledging our allegiance to things that matter to us. Francis Bel

Where the Best Coaches Focus Their EffortsrnI have the good fortune of working with lots of leaders, and often have the chance to talk with, teach or consult with them on a variety of issues including their role as a coach. The vast majority of those I work with truly want to be more effective and make a difference for their people and their organizations.rnWhen the subject of coaching comes up, invariably the conversation moves to how to coach underperformers. This makes sen

Notice, I didn’t ask the question: “Are you a teacher?” Each and every one of us is a teacher. Let me explain. As a young child growing up, who gave you instruction, taught you to function normally in the world, and created your boundaries? I’ll bet your answer is your parents and a host of ...

A friend of mine who was attending the South by Southwest festival in Austin emailed this summary of one of the sessions he was attending: “Blockbuster had it all figured out. Kodak was America’s favorite company. Tower Records was the place to be. Cunard was the fastest way to travel. Alas, no more. Each of these companies were blindsided by innovation. In the blink of an eye, their entire reason for being disappeared into thin air. Every day companies new and old, small and large, start down the path to obsolescence.

There are people in my life that make me want to be a better person. They’re not perfect. They too have grumpy days, bad hair days, self-doubting days. They too are incredibly human, with all that entails. But they are the leaders of leaders. They step up when nobody else does, without being asked. They focus on what can be done, when the masses are focused on can’t. They are the people who light the way with their generous spirit. Our organizations need more leaders like this. Our communities need more leaders like this. Our world needs more leaders like this.

Do you remember that little toy many of us had when we were little that supposedly “answered” questions? It was a black eight ball like one you would play pool with that had a window in it that, when turned upside down, would display a floating unit inside with pre-scripted answers to your ...

Seven Great Questions to Ask OthersJust this morning, in a coaching conversation, I asked a question that, as stated by the other person, was exactly what would help them past their obstacle. I’m gratified that I could help.rnThe same question, without trust between the other person and me, might have fallen flat. The intention and purpose of our questions, as viewed by the other person, impacts the impact and value of the question greatly.rnWhy do I open with this point in

To support the envisioned accomplishments of a group or collective, someone is required to lead them to victory. To effectively take the reins on a project, a leadership philosophy should be written out and followed by the person taking the commanding role. This helps to ensure that you know the direction you'd like to take, as well as the steps you'll likely take to once you're headed there. However, a leadership philosophy can be used in more than just corporate and group-b

You`ve got your goals set. You`re excited about them and the prospects of achieving them. Whether those are true statements for you personally, for your team/organization or both, congratulations! They`re both necessary and important steps. And, they aren`t enough. I`m guessing you`ve heard about visualizing your goals. Many tell me it seems silly, others think it doesn`t help. Most don`t understand how or why they should do it. By the end of this article I`ll show you how to

Recently someone asked what I thought about "servant leadership." My short answer was that using the word servant is redundant. Don`t misunderstand, I believe in the concept of servant leadership, and what you read or learn about leadership from that prism is extremely valuable. It`s just that I believe being of service is an underlying component of leadership. Leaders, by definition, are trying to move towards a desired future - and hopefully a future that is desirable to th

Your leadership styles will effect the growth of your home business. If you are leading the right way, your business will grow, others will become leaders, and it will reflect throughout your organization.nnHowever, lead the wrong way, or not lead at all, and your business will cease to grow.nnLeadership styles vary but there is one style that without a doubt will bring success: Be the example, not the exception.nnI have learned that when I am working my home business everyda

Recently I had the opportunity to lead an orchestra. It’s an experience I recommend to all. Admittedly, I had my doubts. With no formal training I wondered:n n- Would I lead correctly?n- Would others respond, and if so, how?n- Would I look foolish?n n Follow My Lead n nI did look foolish — but somewhat by design. My orchestra was a conference audience whom I was training to step into their own leadership. And follow my amusing lead each guest conductor did…magnificently

Not everyone values history or the past in the same way. In the quotation books on my book shelves, for every quote that echoes “history is bunk” (from Henry Ford), I can find a “those who cannot learn from history are bound to repeat it” (from George Santayana).rnI don’t know if you liked U.S. or World History in school, or whether you tend to agree with Henry or George, but for me, I’m much more in the Santayana camp. And it is my goal here to tell you why – b

Questions are one of the most powerful tools we have at our hands as leaders. They can help us engage others, gather information, set the stage for coaching and feedback, and allow us the opportunity to listen rather than talk. The power of questions is undeniable.rnI am a big fan of collecting questions, and in a workshop this week I talked with people about that very point. One of the participants asked if I would share some of my favorites questions (which I will share wit

Leaders need to learn continuously. In fact, this is why so many CEOs and business leaders enrol in executive leadership development programs. One reason is that you qualify for a higher job or a higher salary. But another most important reason is to improve the quality of their leadership so that they become more effective and efficient in their work. What is included in the Executive Leadership Development Program? First of all, it should include building relationships for

The tires screeched, the 1965 blue Chevy fishtailed around the corner, and came straight at us. My 8th-grade best friend Ricky froze. I grabbed his arm and yelled, "RUN!" A split-second later, we heard the crash of twisting metal. We turned around and watched the Chevy roll, slow-motion-like, backwards into the main road. Soon horns blew, sirens pierced the air, and the police arrived.