Leadership Articles

Most people are reluctant to promote themselves and their work. Are you one of them? You might update your boss about a few noteworthy accomplishments, but usually you stay humble and keep your nose pressed to the grindstone. Heaven forbid anyone accuse you of bragging or brown nosing! "My work speaks for itself," you think to yourself. "I don't need to grandstand to get noticed and get ahead." Right? Wrong! Having coached hundreds of clients, I've learned that those who

There’s a pervasive belief in Corporate America—especially in a scary economy rife with layoffs and unstable companies—that you’d better conform if you want to survive. Not true! Being different gets you noticed, which is the first step to gaining influence. “Fearless fish” show their value by leveraging their own unique talents to shine on the job. But even more important, refusing to hide or downplay what makes you different makes you more authentic—and people

There is an on-going debate of whether leaders are born or whether they are made through trainings and experience. For those who are in the line of business, such an issue can be said as significant. Some says that good leaders are born, not made. It is believed that a leader rises to the occasion, even if without experience or background on how to lead the group or organization. However, there is also another statement that says good leaders are made. Trainings and actual ex

Read in The Economist that US President Obama's likeability factor amongst Americans is nearly 70%. Reminded me that in so many ways, leadership is a people sport. Fundamentals like being interested in other people, building bridges versus fences, lifting others up versus tearing others down and communicating with candor live at the very heart of what it means to lead. Though not as many agree with President Obama's economic policies, the fact that he's so popular as a person

If you make a list of leaders who have made a difference – whether the list is global and historical, or local and recent – you will find they all have one thing in common. Those leaders are bold. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines bold in part with these three definitions: not afraid of danger or difficult situationsrn showing or needing confidence or lack of fearrn very confident in a way that may seem rude or foolish Put your list of leaders against these criteria,

This title could ruffle a few feathers but I ask you to hear me out before you rush to judgment. I am reading a book by Brian Klemmer on leadership titles Eating the Elephant One Bite at A Time. Each week there is a lesson for me to work on as I develop as a leader. To improve your leadership skills you need to internally take credit for what is happening in every facet of your life. I want to see how this applies in three different areas of our lives. By taking credit or bla

An organization that does not groom its work force to meet the challenges of a dynamic work environment is bound to fail. It is very important to prepare today’s executives for future leadership. A 2nd line of defense of a fall back plan is required in every sphere of life. And organizations are no different. They have to groom their executives to take the charge of middle level management when the need arises. Similarly middle level management should be groomed to acquire

Most people remember Sir Winston Churchill for his dynamic leadership as the Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II. His bulldog appearance, his famous V for victory, his ever-present cigar, and his defiant speeches were his trademarks. But Churchill is much more than a historical so what. The man who saved the free world from disaster used a simple formula for success that can still transform our organizations and lives today. Winston Churchill was a resilient

It’s no secret that flying is no longer exciting or fun and it’s definitely not romantic anymore. I recently flew from Chicago to Vancouver and the chaos in the departure area reminded me how important it is to be clear about expectations. nnAs I stood in an endless line waiting to check in, I had lots of opportunity to notice that while the airline knew what they wanted the passengers to do, they made no effort to make sure we understood their expectations. This being an

There’s no controversy here: everyone knows that listening is important. In every training event I facilitate, conversation turns in one way or another to listening. We all realize it to be important because people are talking to us, and we need to understand the messages or information they are sharing with us. Beyond that, if we are listening we may learn more than just what they are saying, but how they are feeling as well. To be a successful communicator and leader, it

Why? We hear it all the time (especially from kids) and ask it often (more on that later). "Why?" is a question used in all sorts of situations, and its prevalence should hint to its usefulness. And yet, for all of its value, "Why?" can cause a lot of problems, miscommunications, misunderstandings and more because the "Why?" question is so like a double-edged sword. Therefore, we must examine and learn the uses and misuses of this powerful word/question in order to use it mos

I received an email from Sarah, a former client, today. She wanted to tell me a gentleman, who had attended one of the training programs I presented to her organization, over two years prior, had died of lung cancer. She wanted to tell me about Jim’s passing, because my program had made an ...

Boston is the most famous city and also pops up in our minds whenever we are thinking about wars and everything. However, as it has been involved in these wars a lot previously, it has changed a lot already know, and the new city can now be known as the freedom trail.

Transformational Leadership - If we look back towards the beginning of this current century, the phrase that marked the ending of the previous era in our evolution was “Rapid-Change”, human beings have piled upon their stacks of knowledge in an exponential manner during the past five decades or so, some have even claimed that the number of scientists working today around the globe in various areas is greater than those that have ever been mentioned in recorded history! Al

Here in the southern U.S. where I live, we’ve finally thawed out from a week of solid (pun intended) ice covering the roads and sidewalks, virtually shutting everyone in for almost a week. The freakishly strong storm and lasting arctic chill seemed to give people permission to break some rules – or at least create new ones – to help them both work and live better despite harsh conditions. rn rnPeople were walking a lot – cars were a definite disadvantage. Kids were pl

"Back to school" has many meanings - some positive and some maybe not-so-positive. In my mind, those three words together conjure a whole swirl of thoughts emotions and memories from shopping for school clothes, to new teachers and friends, to fresh notebooks and more than a little anticipation of what is to come. And while you are likely reading this as an adult and you aren`t preparing to put yourself back in a classroom this fall, I`m suggesting you should, though perhaps

We're surrounded by examples of great, and not-so-great, teamwork. Recently I flew to Los Angeles, visited relatives, took in a parade with floats, bands and street performers, saw a football game and attended an opera. Countless teams made it all possible, whether on stage or back stage, seen or unseen. You too are a part of a variety of teams. How well you work together tells me how successful you are. Are you teaming with success?nnTrue teamwork takes time and a willingnes

If you want to test the true character of a person, see how they respond to adversity. Watch how they handle the pressure of a lost sale, an angry client, or a difficult boss. What do they say? How do they act? What is their emotional state? Do they freeze up and get angry, or do they buckle down and increase their focus and commitment?n nThe same holds true for those who would assume the mantle of leadership in business. When adversity hits, how they respond in the market wi

10 Top Reasons that stops the average leader from becoming a Great Leader. We’re focusing 10 articles on each one of these reasons. Today’s article focuses on not having an emotive vision for the team to buy into. I have been an Executive Coach for over 10 years and whether its CEO development or senior executive development, the same key issue often arises. That is that when I ask the team what their team vision is, they either don’t know, or each have a different answ

The regularly scheduled one-on-one has been called the most powerful management tool we have. Yet many public sector managers are not having regular one-on-one (O-o-O) meetings with employees. To make the O-o-O effective, it should be regularly scheduled (every other Tuesday at 9AM or every Monday at 4PM or whatever works). It should be rarely missed and its primary focus must be on the employee and their performance. Notes should be taken by both the employee and the manage

5 Top Leaders throughout History There have been many leaders in history, but here are five whose greatness has stood the test of time. Learn more about the 5 top leaders throughout history. 5 Top Leaders throughout History Julius Caesar Caesar is the quintessential ruler and one of the most emulated and celebrated figures in history. A brilliant General, he was also a political mastermind and facilitated the end of the Republic and the birth of the Empire. He also deserves s

The term “transformational” is used because any successful individual or organization needs to have the ability to adapt to change. Transformational leadership is all about creating a positive change in the team while taking care of each other’s interests as well as the interests of the whole team. It is an approach of leadership that values each member of the team as an individual and inspires .the growth of the organization. Qualities of a leader are always there to b

What is the one thing we all have in common? White black, rich poor, young old, male female, handsome unattractive; there is something we all have in common – pain! And we all have the desire to overcome it. Our common denominator for pain is the result of the universal experience of problems. The source of the pain may be different but in some way we all encounter it; and we remember the experience because of it. Can you recall the last thing that caused you pain? Why do do

Here are some thoughts for finding and experiencing joy in your life. If there were one thing I could wish upon my family, friends and the readers of this Ezine, it would be joy in everything the do! Know your purpose. Nothing will bring you joy more than knowing what it is that you are about ...

The legend of King Arthur is a truly classic tale. Young Arthur is destined to be king from birth, preordained to assemble the Knights of the Round Table, and fated to seek out the Holy Grail. It is not until you read between the lines that you discover the real lesson behind this fairytale. Arthur was not a king from the start; even after pulling the famed sword from the stone, it took years for him to hone his abilities. Even then, without the help of many other great knigh

Listening is a skill we’d all like to get better at – I can’t think of a time when I asked someone or a group if they wanted to be a better listener and someone said, “no”.rnIt is a life skill that impacts our ability to communicate, build relationships and get things done. It helps us learn. Doing it well can save us immense amounts of time, effort and frustration.rnWhile in some ways we think about listening as an act of not talking, actually, to be a highly effec

For many people, the ability to lead is a learned skill developed through years of trial and error and observation of those around them they consider to be good leaders. However, the capacity to lead is ingrained in some people, and the best way to discover any potential leaders within your staff is to perform a leadership assessment. You may wonder what is involved in such an assessment, and if it’s truly worth company time and money to find out the results. There are seve

Teachers in schools and colleges teach their students the theory that they are intended to know following the choice of the school in which they are located. Have you ever wondered what important things we learn through experience and life, and not in the school we are in? Experience builds every person. When you find yourself in a situation, you will often need knowledge from life experience more than what you learned in school. Formal education is very important, but there

My company is working with several clients who are at that stage of their business planning process where we're analyzing their marketing strategies. An obvious component of this step is revising or developing marketing materials that convey the "right" message, to the "right" target market, to ...

What makes a good leader? What are the qualities that a good leader possesses? Some leaders possess the skills of a leader without any training, whereas some people need to be trained to make good leaders. Not everyone is a born leader; therefore training is necessary for some. What are the qualities that a leader has to possess? rnThe first most important skill that a leader should possess is to be able to manage. Now by being able to manage, we mean manage work, time, peopl

I recently realized that I have a story (yes, I have lots of them, even though I've written at some length about letting go of our stories so that we may more fully embrace our spirituality). This particular story says that in order to be "spiritual" I need to stay above the fray of messy human affairs such as politics. The truth is, in spite of my best efforts, I do have strongly held views on any number of issues. I just usually keep them to myself. But something happened t

Hiring new employees is a costly and timely venture, one that should be approached seriously and methodically. How do you know if you have found the right person for the job? 1. What Position are You Hiring For? Make a detailed list of duties that are to be performed by your future employee. Keep this list private. When advertising for a job or approaching a potential candidate regarding the position try not to give out too much detail. Often, people cater their resumes and

Customer Relations Establishing and Maintaining Good Customer Relations ISSUE: Customers don’t hire firms or engineers, they hire people. Unless an engineer is willing to appropriately start and then nurture the customer relationship, the customer won’t come back and they certainly will not refer their friends. ABSTRACT All structures are built upon a foundation. Truly successful engineers build their practices upon a foundation of strong customer relationships. As with e

Recently I wrote about why as leaders and coaches we mess up when we focus all (or far too much) of our coaching time on lower performers. In that piece, I made the argument for spending at least 50% of your energy, focus and time on coaching and further developing your top or best performers.rnYou might agree with that idea, but wonder how you can actually do that.rnFear not!rnI am about to give you seven tangible and practical ways to shift your focus and time to your top p

Have you ever found yourself in a situation like these? You are sitting in the meeting, when your boss’ boss asks you – “what do you think?” Or you are asked to stand and share your thoughts on a topic you haven’t considered before or weren’t prepared to discuss. impromptu speakingIf you have, you’d likely agree that they aren’t your favorite moments of your day. After all, public speaking, especially when you are unprepared or the pressure is on, isn’t most

Local business Wings of Success LLC has been honored as an Inscape Publishing Diamond Award Winner, Inscape’s highest award level. In 2011, less than 1% of Inscape Distributors earned the honor of Diamond Award.rn rnWings of Success LLC brings insight and practical tools to help individuals be more effective in the workplace. To be successful in workplace relationships, people need to have a memorable framework to understand themselves and others,” says Jeffrey Sugerman p

In an interview, comedian Joan Rivers was asked how she stayed so thin and trim and the interviewer said, “Do you do a lot of exercising?” “Oh, my Lord no,” said Rivers. “If God had intended me to bend over, He would have put diamonds on the ground.” When actress and screen writer, Mae West, was asked about dieting she said, “I never worry about diets. The only carrots I’m interested in are the carats in a diamond.” Hungarian born American film and stage act

Transformational leadership is the ability to guide a team on day to day activities to achieve a common purpose. This can be achieved through various methods: Idealized Influence: This is about winning confidence from followers or employees and providing modeling roles and influencing them to accept any change in an organization. This is true since employees who trust their leader's virtues will more likely accept changes proposed by that leader. This is an ideal form of tran

“One’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” -- Oliver Wendell Holmes Did you ever get so deep into despair that there seemed to be no way but up – and yet you could have chosen to sink deeper into victimization. Oh, I have been there so many times when I ...

Have you ever been hungry for lunch and not able to focus on anything, let alone accomplish anything, until you get some food? Your focus is on one thing: getting food -- now. That becomes your foremost goal and the direction of your actions. Everything else is put aside or is addressed only ...

I've just started working with a client who desperately needs to increase sales. His company hired a new sales representative over a month ago. Together they identified key current customers to visit and penetrate further. They decided to focus on this group first, then they'd focus on getting ...

There are many reasons you might want to tell a story. You could tell a story to entertain, to inform, or to get a laugh. You could tell a story to a friend, write it in a blog post, or include it in a presentation. While there are many situations when a story can be a powerful communication tool, for now I want to focus on one particular use of a story. This is a particularly powerful use of a story and one that I`m confident, because you are reading these words, is importan

The most important quality of leadership, the one quality for which you want to be known, is extraordinary performance, with the goal of achieving extraordinary results.nnThese results then serve as an inspiration to others to perform at equally exceptional levels. People ascribe leadership to those men and women who they feel can most enable them to achieve important goals or objectives.nn Why People Respect You nWe develop great perceptions of those men and women we can cou

Have you ever heard the old quotation, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears”? It has a Zen-like quality to it, and inside those few words is the answer to the question posed in the title. The best time to coach is when the student is ready. At that moment of readiness, we are most open to new ideas, most aware of our shortfalls, and most desirous of improvement. This is the coachable moment. The quotation implies that the teacher will appear. I’m suggesting y

In my earlier work and life I was sure of what was right or wrong, black or white, correct or wrong, and the best way or the worst way to do things. I was a confident judge. Judgment was my enemy and I didn’t know it! Not now! Life has imparted some wisdom to me and I know that whatever I ...

How well perceived is your company and brand? Your primary target is obviously to attract the maximum number of customers - and retain them. Unless you are able to retain customers, your business will remain shaky. Given the kind of volatility, markets have been displaying, it becomes even more critical that you build public perception of your brand should be positive. If you are finding it challenging to conceive, produce, and manage paid messages to influence the public, yo

Traffic lights are also called signals because they provide information that directs our future action. They “signal” us to stop, go, or in the case of yellow… hit the gas and race through the intersection. (Maybe I don’t have that last signal quite right.) Emotions are signals too. They contain information that communicates direction. Just as in traffic lights, we can only understand emotional signals if we detect the signal, judge its intensity (akin to how far you are from the light), and evaluate our options accurately. How well do you understand emotional signals?

It's happening again. I'm witnessing a new "leader" become ineffective and the senior team's confidence in him is starting to lag. The leader is losing his effectiveness even though he's already implemented several much needed programs for the organization. He's losing his effectiveness because ...