What do leadership skills have to do with trade shows? Trade shows always seemed like a great potential venue for my marketing and promotion needs, but I had never quite gotten around to finally attending
Imagine there is a process for managers to solve impossible workplace conflicts. Not just any conflicts – but nasty, deeply rooted, and long-term conflicts – the kind of conflicts that rob everybody in your workplace of time and emotional energy. Now imagine this process taking less than an hour. I have facilitated this process seven times
I’ve had the opportunity to work with several leaders on having candid conversations and their overall leadership skills. One of the trends that I have noticed is there’s a tendency for leaders to put off having crucial conversations with people that are critical to organizational success. Examples include: If you are experiencing some of these
One-on-one meetings are a great way to get personal with your employees or clients. They provide an opportunity for open communication and feedback. One study found that one-on-one meetings have increased by over 500% since before the pandemic. Furthermore, 85% of millennials value professional development and growth in a job, with one-on-one meetings offering the
Whether you are an established professional or a fresh graduate looking for your first internship, the resume you submit will make or break your presentation. HR managers and interviewers often take less than 30 seconds to decide whether or not to invite you to an actual interview, meaning that your resume should be impeccable. According
Do you get goosebumps when it’s your turn to present? A nifty leader needs to be awesome at giving a presentation. A speaker’s fifteen-minute speech shouldn’t leave the audience asleep. It is unlikely that you will be given another chance. These five steps below will help you become an eloquent speaker: 1. Know Your Audience A month ago,
Online teaching is considered an alternative form of education. Online education and online learning systems have become extremely popular due to their convenience and flexibility. Online education has been existing for a long time. And the coronavirus pandemic only accelerated its development and increased the number of online teaching courses, materials, and software for online
Communicating effectively when interacting with customers, people at work, and family members, you want to communicate with them in the style of communication language they process and understand. But how are you supposed to know which communication approach to use to improve your results? In How to Get People to Understand Your Message, we reviewed the
Excellent team communication and collaboration are the ultimate aims of every company. With remote work flourishing, we face more challenges, as we are not sharing the offices with our teammates. Effective interaction between the employees and different departments is more critical than ever before. Establishing and nurturing cross-functional collaboration is a perfect way to foster
Using effective communication skills when working on a remote team is a challenge for many employees and employers. Communication is one key element of business, and with people working from remote locations, communication can be critical. If you want your team to work cohesively, you need to ensure that everyone is communicating properly. 1. Setup
You learn a lot from listening to leaders that are either business owners or entrepreneurs. Each one of them has an experience of their own, a unique perspective, and a set of qualities that put them in their position. However, all great managers and entrepreneurs have one thing in common: they are leaders. Without effective
The concept of active communication is not a new one, but there is more to good communication than just listening. What you say, how you say it, and why you say it is every bit as necessary, hence the broader concept of active communication. One of the biggest criticisms about youth today is their diminishing
Have you ever thought about presentation skills training? On average, people don’t pay as much attention to these skills as the general skills needed for their jobs. But 70% of employees agree that presentation skills are crucial for their career. No matter what your profession is, you might need to present your thoughts and ideas in
These writing tools are highly appreciated in today’s society because the written word has the power to influence people’s actions and beliefs. When people say something, it can often be attributed to emotions and rashness, and as such, people may not fairly evaluate the content. However, when something is written down, individuals tend to perceive
Build your brand profiles on social media to project the qualities of a positive, successful business leader. Doing so will help grow your career, confirm your professional qualities, show your values, and build better relationships with people from your company, your customers, and your industry. As a leader, how should you build your brand profiles
Is there a simple key that will lead you to a promotion at work? Can it be that particular skill that can advance your career? Your writing could be that key. Writing skills are listed in numerous job descriptions as a requirement. Mastering this skill will distinguish you from the crowd of applicants and could lead you
It usually takes no more than a few minutes to know when you’re in the presence of a strong leader. Strong leaders radiate an aura of confidence and respectability that helps them win hearts and draw listeners into their message. How does one command a room while maintaining a balance between authority and approachability? How
It’s essential to understand that all leaders’ communication styles are not their personality; it’s simply the way they deliver and process messages. One of these four communication styles is your language. Can you spot it? The 4 Communication Styles Usually, only two out of ten people are fluent in all four communication styles. Most of us tend
Collaborative culture defines how people within an organization communicate, relate, and work with one another toward a common mission. In other words, it is the heart of teamwork that makes it successful. Cultivating a collaborative culture is essential to achieving company goals. When there is a positive collaborative culture, employees work in cohesion, learning from
Only the sky is the limit for business development, and organic growth is a demonstration of the strength and potential of a business. Organizations that achieve such growth are most resistant to crises and constant market changes. Organic growth implies the ability to develop new products, expand market segments, and enter the international arena. But
Communication skills are the key to success and a necessary aspect for business leaders to create an impact on clients. One needs to understand how great leaders can inspire, motivate, and encourage. To run a successful business, one needs to seize the opportunity and communicate well. Strategizing with your communication skills can develop fruitful connections.
Social media can often be a time sucker, distracting people and limiting their productivity. But even the most productive and successful leaders are still using social media. So how are they using these platforms in a productive and useful way? 1. They Don’t Use Just One Platform There are numerous social media platforms. The most
Motivation techniques help you stay focused. Achieving success in life definitely takes focus. You can make your dream come true if you are determined to succeed with a passion for growth and a strong desire to do more and achieve more. Whether your goals are small or big, you should define what success means to
You can use your communication skills to deliver bad news without unduly concerning your audience. Toward the end of the year, organizations present their financial results. Inevitably, for some organizations, the financial reports will not be good, and the bad news will need to be presented carefully to avoid upsetting investors and internal staff. Bad
If you’re having a conversation with someone about leadership myths and great leaders, you will often hear a stereotypical representation of one specific kind of leader. They’re highly educated, great orators, and they have a natural instinct for leadership. While most of these things are traits that leaders can have, they aren’t a requirement for
Planning and executing your startup idea may sound easy. But it’s quite difficult. This is not just because of competition. Starting a business is hard because many ideas fail soon after they originate. This is due to several factors, including marketing the idea effectively but not tapping a potential market. Some ideas don’t fully develop
We know that leadership, positive vibes, and good communication go hand in hand. A good leader knows how to convince others and get their team members on the same page. They have great speaking skills which are admired by both their followers and opponents. Leaders can easily influence others if they have a grip on
A leadership position in a company requires leaders to learn how to improve communication skills. Once you’ve been chosen for the job, you have a myriad of challenges awaiting you. But while you might have the hard skills you’re going to need, what about the soft skills? One of the soft skills any leader should
Introverts make good leaders, but many people assume that extroverts are the ones who make the best leaders. However, this is not always the case. It’s no secret that extroverted people are known for being outspoken, loud, talkative, highly social, and outgoing. They are excellent public speakers, make connections, and are quick decision-makers. With these
Event leadership can run into a host of problems – everything from cost overruns and poor scheduling to poor resource allocation. These issues can cast a shadow on what could be an otherwise successful event. It is up to leadership to jump ahead of these problems, but sometimes that can be a challenge. Here are
Whether you’re preparing to pitch to potential clients or are working on bringing new employees on board, presentations are a part of every organization’s routine. You can be a cool and confident presenter. But having a strong digital presentation alongside can boost your overall public speaking experience. Presentations need to be designed thoughtfully as they
Open communication in the corporate workplace has traditionally been very formal. When most people think about the office environment, they think of suits, boardroom meetings, and briefcases. However, the newest generation of office workers is forcing us to reevaluate the way we think about corporate culture, communication, and expectations. As millennials continue to enter corporate,
Writing great speeches is a straightforward, step-by-step process. It is difficult to imagine a leader who is deprived of the ability to speak well. Indeed, the basis of the concept of leadership is charisma. A leader is able to lead crowds of people while remaining at the “top of Olympus.” A leader’s ability to give
When someone is promoted into a leadership position, they have to learn how to delegate authority. Because suddenly, there’s a heavier burden of responsibility. There’s probably a bigger paycheck. But the most important thing you should experience when moving into a leadership position is a change of priorities. From now on, your focus isn’t on
Good communication skills will help you handle difficult conversations with employees. So, how do you go about preventing conflict and positively motivating people? As a Servant Leader and Leadership Trainer/Executive Coach, I’ve learned how to effectively handle the most sensitive conversations. My first lesson, to avoid “going up the creek without a paddle”, is to
Negotiation is always an opportunity to add value to your business, and having strong negotiation skills is a surefire way to become more successful in your career. Strong leaders know how to take control of a negotiation and make it happen on their terms. There’s no single way to negotiate in all situations, and there’s
Communication mistakes are, without a doubt, communication problems that are among the key attributes that have held many leaders back. After all, the top executives in your company and your colleagues won’t see your potential as a leader if you haven’t been communicating effectively with others. Once you have taken on a higher position, you
When hiring a person for a leadership position, companies often have specific criteria and elements that “give away” the right person. These people are essential to big companies since they are the workers that drive changes and progress, thanks to their leadership qualities. Among the essential features of a leader are high emotional intelligence, equanimity,
So much has been written on business leadership. The topics covered in these books include business management, training, team building, productivity, leadership styles, and many others. However, few of them touch on writing skills, a vital yet undervalued aspect of leadership. Writing in the workplace is unavoidable. As a leader, you are required to write
As a leader, you are responsible for your team running smoothly. This refers to all business activities, meetings included. It may sound easy, but a meeting is an excellent opportunity to showcase all of your skills. These skills include time management, people management, and presentation. So what makes an effective meeting? The Purpose Ensure that
Nonverbal communication is powerful. It is this nonverbal language that is often your deciding factor in closing those business deals, landing that dream job, or simply being recognized for your true potential. It is imperative that you learn to carry yourself. So, where do you start? Take note of the following five things in your
A place where you can learn presentation and communication skills are TED talks. Featuring the world’s most creative, innovative, and inspirational people, TED talks have been known for high-quality presentations and targeted communication. People who want to speak at TED events need to go through a long selection and testing process, and also the guidelines
Have you ever felt the dread that comes along with making a presentation to your boss? Do you remember the heights of anxiety you reached while preparing for it? Making a proposition can be stressful. Your job may be on the line, and any misstep might have adverse consequences. Here are a few tips to
Sometimes it’s necessary for a company to change and head in a new direction. Perhaps it’s because the current direction isn’t working or because the market is changing. In these situations, you’d love to have your team be enthusiastic cheerleaders for the new ideas. Of course, that’s easier said than done. The truth is that
Hiring leaders is a tricky business. Recruiters also need to keep in mind that the leaders they recruit will also need to ably adapt to the team they’ll be leading in a timely and effective manner. The only problem is how to successfully spot candidates with leadership potential in the first place. A recent study
Hiring top managers as well as executives and talented leaders is one of the biggest challenges faced by a lot of recruiters. A small percentage of CEOs throughout the world are actively interested in employment, while others might go by hundreds of offers without paying any attention to them. This is why it might be
The new leadership paradigm shift: “Change – Just Do It!” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it was that easy? My Navy career change was easy because the change normally came in the form of an “order or command” that was quite natural and robotically followed. There was no discussion or reasoning behind the change. It
I’m sure everyone has epiphany moments of realization as a leader when you realize something both obvious and important has been sitting directly in front of you. I had one of those moments, and I’m glad that I did. Leadership Notes To explain this particular “epiphany,” I have to return to a train trip across
Humans function the way they do because they are motivated to do so. Without a concrete plan or the will to do anything, people would be incapable of performing simple tasks. Many people live this monotonous lifestyle. However, there are some who do not follow the norms that our world has laid out for them.
Managing staff can be tricky. Jealousy of superiors can creep in when team members feel unappreciated. This can be triggered by a pay raise or promotion of their boss, but it could also be the result of mere frustration with their own progress. Some jealous employees will aim to bring others down, making the work
It’s always easier to spot bullying behavior in other managers. What we should be focusing on is our behavior and the fact that we may be intimidating our staff and developing cultures where fear definitely exists. In this article, I want to share two steps that supervisors can take to determine whether or not their
Persuasion and influence are leadership skills, but persuasion is not the same thing as influence. Convincing someone to do what you want them to do is persuasion. On the other hand, influence is part of your identity. Influence is your presence. Influence is a part of who you are. When you are being genuinely influential
A good part of our leadership skills development work has been with a non-profit food bank organization. They perform a tremendous service in providing low-income families and three million seniors with nutritious food, both fresh and packaged. In their expansion efforts, they wanted to be more visible and recruit more volunteers and sponsors from their
Getting buy-in on tough decisions from team members is a challenge for many leaders when the change initiatives may be unpopular. For example, let’s say that a company’s owners have made a tough decision to change their employees’ health insurance carriers. This could be a real hassle for many workers—it might mean having to change
Always show your leadership experience on resumes, and never underestimate the importance of a well-written resume. This seemingly simple or irrelevant document can land you a job interview, or even the job itself. It can mean the difference between starting off your career in your dream job or having a job at all. It’s essential
Is there such a thing as “overselling,” especially if you are a new business trying to make an honest buck? Unfortunately, there is. And you can experience the conundrums of it first-hand when you are bullied into buying something you didn’t want or need. Overselling is one of the reasons “sales” and “marketing” got such
During my early days in the Air Force as a young non-commissioned officer, I began to wonder why airmen would feel motivated to please one leader and not another. Why “yessir” invoked positive emotion for the former and negative for the latter. How could I be the kind of leader that motivated like the former?
Are you familiar with the term “nomophobia”? Nomophobia is what happens to people when they don’t have access to their cell phones. It stands for No Mobile Phobia. Is this real? People actually get nervous when they are out of touch and will experience anxiety if they don’t have a way to communicate with others?
“Are you listening to me? What did he call it again? It was an interesting word,” remarked the promoter. “I don’t know. I wasn’t listening to him. He was talking on and on,” responded the speaker. That was a snippet of a conversation I heard recently while attending a leadership conference. The main speaker was
When we meet with potential clients, the first thing we hear is, “If we could all just communicate effectively, we could accomplish anything!” Most people feel the same way— that the number one problem they have in their organization is a lack of communication skills. But what people think is a lack of communication is
While people under 35 seem to be taking the world’s transformation to social networking in stride, I am finding a trend of indifference or even resentment toward social networking among my fellow Baby Boomer Generation business leaders. These are the kind of comments I’ve heard: “Oh, this is just a fad – remember all those
Speaking techniques are an important part of being a leader. Being a leader also means motivating other people and generating enthusiasm in order to achieve goals. To become a leader, it is important to learn the art of communication, as it is a significant element of relationship-building. Believe it or not, the percentage of people
When it comes to enterprise changes, communication is key to creating clarity and ensuring that everyone is on the same page as far as the goals of the change are concerned. Well-planned communication of change will help you to make people feel positive about it and reduce the impact of potential resistance. Poorly planned communication,
When you don’t have clear conversations with employees, work performance declines. Many people tend to just give in to the stress of poor performance and complain that “people don’t work the way they used to.” Part of the problem here is that team members don’t know what is expected of them—and often do not get
Being a leader, you need to have great leadership questions to have a productive, happy team. Because of the success of your project, the work atmosphere, and the well-being of every individual in the team – that’s all on you. No wonder many prioritize one leadership aspect and forget another. You will either push your
Regardless of what industry or profession you are in, if you’re a leader, you’re a writer. Think about it, how many emails have you sent today? How many internal memos have you drafted? What about creating a presentation for the board or the mission statement for your company? Sloppy or ineffective writing in any of
Negative feedback doesn’t mean that any of us wakes up in the morning and thinks, “I can’t wait to hurt a co-worker today.” The sad truth is that we may be doing just that, depending on the approach we take when delivering negative feedback. While our intent may be to help, giving feedback indirectly may
Self-affirming communication takes more than writing and speaking skills and it takes more than contact and eye contact. It is a highly self-rewarding skill often manifested in the best and most effective organizational leaders. According to a McGill University study in the International Journal of Management and Business Studies (IJMBS), “Great leaders are always considered
When you think of effective communication for leadership, what comes to mind? Dictionary.com defines communication as the interchange of thoughts through speaking, writing, or signs, but what do most managers think of as powerful and effective communication? Far too often, communication can more accurately be viewed as the imparting of information or data in a
In a world where so much communication happens through texting with incomplete sentences full of emojis, you can imagine why the importance of writing skills in leadership is being questioned. Much can be said through videos and podcasts. And tools such as Skype and Google Hangouts are a daily part of many businesses. Many employees are happier
If you don’t send your message in the right way, people will not be able to understand you. Many people grasp the concept of adjusting their communication style to other people by either: What they don’t get is just how much it can improve performance levels and make a difference in results. It Feels Phony
Academic writing is an integral part of your studies. It is a way of showing that you have understood and can apply the knowledge you have acquired. Academic writing is done in a variety of different contexts. Leaders can do academic writing to present an argument with evidence to back up their standpoint. You might
Leadership skills and organizational communication skills are at the foundation of making great leaders. Communication has matured over a relatively short period, changing from customary face-to-face dialogue to the use of innovative technology to increase efficiency and effectiveness. With the introduction of the telegraph and telephone to more contemporary means such as email, text messaging,
Genuine leaders always back up their words with deeds. But before proceeding to endeavors, your team would crave an inspiring captain’s speech. In the modern business environment, written words remain the adamant core of all high-tech communication means. By polishing your writing skills, you will gain a steady reputation as a leader among allies and
The way we work has massively changed in the past decade. Remote work has become a new-age standard of work. And what’s best: companies and employees love it. On the one side, companies are saving a lot of money on office supplies. They are able to decrease sick leave by giving more freedom to their
Think of team empowerment and leadership and then about how difficult it would be to corral a horde of feral cats! It would take a tremendous amount of time, patience, ingenuity, negotiation, persuasion, and maybe even a bit of bribery. And you still may not be able to gather them! As a leader of an
As many of you know, my focus of research has centered on workplace incivility and toxic, unethical, abusive, and narcissistic leadership. Many ask me why I focus on such a negative topic. Why Not Focus on Happy Leadership Thoughts? Disruptive leadership is a topic that is often ignored in the literature. Think about the times
Social media sentiment analysis helps empirically define what your audience thinks and says about you online. Their voices have the power to sway opinions on your brand or company, for better or worse. Consider that a single customer complaint posted on social media can influence others up to five times more than a positive comment.
When you talk about starting a business, it goes without saying that it needs a good leader to run it successfully and make good use of resources. But when it comes to marketing a business, you need leadership combined with strategy, trust, and planning. You have multiple mediums for you to make your business well
Fear of public speaking, for better or for worse, is what hinders most leaders …meaning they don’t like it, but they are evaluated by how well they perform when they’re in front of a crowd. It’s why far too many brilliant and valuable leaders shy away from the title – despite adding tremendous value to
After venturing into the business world with a magazine, Richard Branson went on to launch a record store named Virgin Records. The immense success of the business established him as a business tycoon, and he went on to diversify his business in various other areas. Today, Richard Branson is the owner of over thirty-five companies, rendering
Introvert entrepreneurs need to get very creative when it comes to networking. But now, you are certainly not alone. Most of Silicon Valley is made up of introverts, and they possess powerful connections that drive their success. Introverts are certainly more reserved. Mark Zuckerberg is an example of introverted success. In fact, Facebook brass has