That’s me with my broken car in the old-school selfie (tripod and SLR camera). I was on my way to meet up with my friend Kenny who, at a young age, taught me a lot
It has been the “accidental teachers” in my life that has passed on some of the most transformative lessons. The education they’ve given me has been invaluable, not just in terms of the leadership lessons they’ve taught but in the realization that much of our leadership comes when we play the role of accidental teachers.
As a leader in the business world, you’ve worked hard to get to where you are. Your colleagues and professional contacts know your track record for results. But does the rest of the world? When you meet someone new, whether they may be a potential client or collaborator, does your reputation precede you? No matter
Here is some irony: You need self-discipline to build discipline. It is like a muscle. If you were to have no muscle, there would be nothing to build upon. If you have bigger muscles, then you can build them faster. Similarly, if you already have discipline, you can become very self-disciplined. “I have a book
I’m a procrastinator. Please help! How to manage your time? That’s easy. Just don’t procrastinate! Whenever someone says that to me, I feel like clapping them on the back and saying, “Thank you so much! You just solved all my problems. I will never procrastinate again!” If only it were that simple! The reality is, that there
What would Earth be without the qualities of a servant leader? Not the self-centered and self-serving kind of leadership, but radical leadership where one is willing to die for what they stand for. Now that’s servant leadership. A perfect example of a servant leader is Nelson Mandela, a man who fought along with others against
The soft skills of leaders are such an important part of being a successful leader. But they’re also very hard to pin down. Everyone knows when someone has them, and everyone can tell when they’re lacking. The difficulty lies in the fact they can’t be quantified like hard skills can be. To learn more about
Transparency in business is one of the most important signs of a good leader. This doesn’t necessarily mean they are liked, but there is a willingness to accept the leader’s authority and to help pursue organizational goals. General respect for someone in charge speaks volumes about their character and leadership skills. An important factor that
There is a common assumption that successful leaders achieve their success through working long hours, often sacrificing sleep. In other words, going to sleep late and working hard equates to success, right? This is a wrong assumption that you might be holding on to. There is a big relationship between regular sleep and effective leadership.
One non-negotiable thing is that anyone in a leadership position needs good negotiation skills. Whether it’s negotiating an employee’s salary or the terms of a critical business partnership, you must be confident in your negotiation strategies as a leader. Having sound negotiation techniques in your skillset can help you navigate challenging business situations. Here are
‘I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.’ – Nelson Mandela. From realizing your greatest weaknesses to tackling indefinite risks that would change the course of your life, you need courage.
In this day and age of voice assistants, and technology continues to offer innovative solutions, voice technology is taking off. Although the existing systems barely scratch the surface of voice technology, the possibilities are endless. While the systems in place cater to this very aspect of the trade, times always change. So, leaders must learn
This is an excellent story on how to regain motivation after a failure. In the early 20th century, a young boy left home searching for a brighter future. Predictably, he failed at almost everything he tried. He got fired from several jobs at different stages of his life. But just after his 40th birthday, he
An MBA Degree for top leaders is the most important competitive advantage a company can have. At the core of an MBA program is the preparation of ethical future business leaders. With these skills under their sleeve, students will be able to manage real-world problems in an environment of teamwork and partnership. You Gain Experience
Introvert leaders do have what it takes to be great leaders. In fact, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Warren Buffet, and Mahatma Gandhi are all introverts. And this didn’t stop them from being amazing leaders, each in their own right. However, being an introverted leader means that you might need to take a different approach to
Whether you are running your own business, having a team of hundreds of members, or being a father of two, being a good leader requires certain qualities. You can’t force people to follow you because you are a leader or in a superior position. True leadership comes from within. The good news is that leadership
How can music motivate leaders? Have you felt how music changes some of your perspectives? Let’s consider how music can promote a challenging task. Playing an instrument involves your complete attention, even when you have plenty of practice. Playing the piano requires you to get so many aspects involved, physical and emotional. Our response to
Leadership is tough. There is no doubt about it. With the ever-changing business environment, we all work in coupled with the changing needs of people, leading a team or business isn’t getting any easier. It is hard enough when everything is going well, let alone when things go wrong. That’s why there is no better
There are several things that you can be engaged in while in your gap year to build your leadership skills, from teaching English abroad to volunteering. The skills and experiences you gain while in your gap year can assist you in becoming independent and mature. For those who haven’t heard about the gap year phenomenon,
People want to follow thoughtful leaders because they are role models who inspire generations. So thoughtful leaders should acquire qualities that strengthen their leadership for the long term. Thoughtfulness is one such characteristic of every great leader as it is the root for other attributes like empathy, flexibility, and kindness. You learn to understand your
Chris Hadfield is an accomplished person. He has been the representative of Mission Control to communicate with the astronauts in space and served as the director of operations for NASA at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia. More importantly, he is the first Canadian to perform spacewalks and command the International
Leadership charisma differs from one person to another. But what all leaders have in common is undeniable and almost tangible magnetism. We aren’t born with leadership charisma. It’s something we develop along the way. Charisma and leadership should go hand in hand. You’ve probably noticed that leaders without charisma struggle. It’s not that difficult to
I have been working with entrepreneurs and CEOs for the last ten years as an HR Consultant. What I have learned from being in direct contact with the board level is that there are many executives who tend to think that fancy and complicated is always better, even if they make your life impossible. In
Success involves a commitment to activities and individuals who inspire you to jump into the grind and continuously evolve. Though working in the office provides opportunities to learn, showcase your skills, and collaborate, it’s essential to find creative and personal outlets outside of work to further enhance your aptitude. Here are five practices you can
Parents are often always on the search to provide the best for their children. Nowadays, education has become more challenging. It has become more important for young minds globally to be proficient in both their native tongue and in the English language to excel in what they do. Many of us struggle to master a
Goal management is often overlooked. So it’s a good time to take a fresh look at it and what it can do for your team and organization. What is Goal Management? While many people might think of goal management and automatically imagine a dull list of objectives tied to employee performance and metrics no one
There is no denying that life can be challenging at times. You will be confronted by many financial, legal, family, and other obligations every day, all of which place pressure on you to achieve more within very short time frames. This pressure often leaves you feeling overwhelmed and anxious. Things can get worse when pressure,
Whether you’re running an up-and-coming start-up or handling a small team in a big corporation, being a leader is one of the most difficult roles you can ever have. You need to be able to protect the company’s interests as well as meet the needs of your employees. You also need to make accurate performance
In recent years, it has become well-known that people aren’t always leaving their jobs but rather their bosses, who fail to manage their organization effectively. Let’s be honest; we all have seen such leaders. Very few people are fortunate to get a good boss who is an inspirational combination of mentor and friend. There arises
John Maxwell once said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Being afraid of leadership will block your thoughts, actions, and emotions. That will stand in the way of increasing your wisdom and gathering further leadership knowledge. Here are some tips on how to let go of
What do 95 percent of today’s Fortune 500 CEOs have in common? They all played sports as young adults. Whole Foods co-CEO Walter Robb played soccer at Stanford, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi played cricket at Madras Christian College, and even Mark Zuckerberg was a high school fencing star. This correlation should come as no surprise.
In the real estate industry, positive leadership and management must be present. The team has to perform a tremendous amount of work before a target can be achieved. Here are some characteristics of a good leader in the real estate industry: 1. Outstanding Communication Skills A true leader empowers people to help them maximize their
Effective work relationships are formed between individuals. However, these relationships are also impacted by the work environment itself. A corporate culture that embraces positive interpersonal relationships makes this easier for everyone. Thoughtfulness, active listening, and communication skills play a significant part in this process. They’re individual traits, but they can help you to become a
Leading people who are not “in it to win it” sucks! You just can’t get them to fulfill their duties effectively and efficiently. And you feel as though you have to take extreme measures to motivate them to act. That definitely sucks. But what if it’s actually a leadership problem? Now, before you stop reading,
One of the most important qualities that you need to have as a leader is an ability to make decisions that will have a positive impact on your organization, your employees, and, ultimately, on you. However, decision-making is easier said than done. You will have to bear the consequences of every decision you make. And
A quality that is highly required to thrive within a managerial position is the quality of leadership. Today, possessing leadership skills is becoming even more desired within organizations and stands as one of the key elements to being employed. But what truly is the meaning of ‘leadership’, and what sets it apart from being a
If you are a leader and want to learn about the stress busters for strengthening your leadership, then you are at the right place. The high efficiency of the 21st century is pushing leaders to earn more by using fewer resources. To tackle this situation, leaders need to learn effective approaches that will empower them
Everyone responds to music in a universal way. After all, they say music is the soul of life. When it comes to workplace efficiency and productivity, there’s an abundance of research that proves listening to music at work actually makes one happier, smarter, and more productive worker. When you are listening to your favorite tunes,
Walk into a company of any kind, and you’ll see the usual: long hallways, offices, people scurrying around with thick folders in their hands, perhaps enjoying their work, and some perhaps barely waiting for the next coffee break. Whether a brick-and-mortar or an online business offering anything from medical to coursework services, the outer mechanics
You are a competent and successful manager, and your tight-knit team works like a clock. One together and all for one. Are you sure? Chances are, your team members don’t follow you, but that guy whom psychologists call a natural-born leader. “The leader leads, and the boss drives.” These words of Theodore Roosevelt describe such
After hours of battling the demons of self-doubt during a sleepless night, I fell asleep peacefully thanks to this thought, ‘leadership requires us to silence our demons.’ A few years ago, after a long journey of self-reflection and soul-searching, I discovered that helping others lead positive change is my passion. After 15 years of managing
Thinking about remarkable leadership, it was over a decade ago, upon the recommendation of a friend, I read the book Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box (Arbinger Institute). I thought I was in for an intense course of remarkable leadership study from the title, but I was comforted somewhat by the fact it
There is no question that being a leader demands a lot from the brain. The better your ability to think clearly, analyze options, and remember details, the better you will be able to lead. This ability applies whether you are leading an established team, your family, or starting a new business. With leadership comes responsibility,
Entrepreneurship has become a highly marketed dream that’s being pushed around. Everyone wants to become an entrepreneur, start a business, and get financial freedom. The problem arises when you realize that many people make money by selling dreams. They teach you how to accomplish your dream because they expect money first, only to deliver the
Multiple intelligences are rarely if ever, talked about in leadership circles. Two that might be discussed are intellectual intelligence (IQ) and Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Frames Of Mind by Howard Gardner mentioned seven types of multiple intelligence in human beings. Gardner argues that there is a wide range of cognitive abilities and that strength or weakness in
There is much to say on the topic of soft leadership skills and leading your direct reports. Not only are typical leadership concepts at play, but you are also shaping future leaders, whether you intend to or not. Direct reports will teach values, practices, and interpersonal scripts. They will also pick up on subtle things,
Being a good leader means knowing who to follow and where to find inspiration. A tremendous source of inspiration can be found in powerful, successful women who are movers and shakers, changing things for the better for all of us. I happen to know one such woman. Her name is Amanda, and she has kindly
A healthy work environment is important for boosting productivity and morale while keeping employees involved. Employees are more likely to put effort into their job if their work environment is a fit. Leaders and managers have a responsibility to create environments where dignity, integrity, honesty, and compassion are keystones of the workplace. A healthy leader
For leadership to be exceptional, it must be integrated. To be integrated means every aspect of something is linked and well-coordinated. For leadership to be exceptional, your thoughts, words, and actions must be in sync and harmonized. Your actions must be based on your words, which must be based on your thoughts. This is what
Picture yourself in the latest leadership skills training event you attended. It was likely a mid-week event because most effective development professionals understand that Friday means you’re going to leave early. A prerequisite for the event was that no cell phones or notebooks could be brought with you. You sat for half a day or
Everything you do at work generally falls into three buckets: Bad Work, Good Work, and Great Work. Bad Work doesn’t need much of an explanation. It’s anything that is mindless, pointless, or aimless. Good Work is what keeps you productive, focused, and efficient. It’s the work outlined in your job description, the day-to-day, that needs
Let’s get focused on optimizing our lead-from-the-front strategy and implementing actionable insights to move our needle for month-over-month growth and enhanced buy-in. At the end of the day, it’s all about meeting our KPIs, executing a targeted pivot, bootstrapping internal success, and crushing our core competencies. A deep dive into our best practices is just
It may seem like great team leaders are born that way because they are able to make complex decisions under pressure and find their way out of complex situations. But leadership is a skill that can be acquired over time, just like anything else. It is the result of accumulated experience, skills, knowledge, and even
Future leaders, leadership is changing right before our very eyes. Those who are able to connect the dots to a more demographically diverse core group of people will emerge as the top leaders in all areas of American life. It is really an issue of our ability not to accept change but embrace change. Certainly,
I read an article by the entrepreneurial leadership phenomenon Jeff Stibel. If you don’t know anything about Jeff, I recommend you Google him. He has an impressive background and accomplishments, a great outlook, demeanor, and personality. As impressive as Jeff’s accomplishments may be, it does not mean greatness is confined only to people such as
So how do you go from good to great? As John Maxwell states, “Everything rises and falls with leadership.” That means boosting your leadership skills is a great place to start. Leadership is real, it’s vital, it’s powerful, it’s regarded. But most importantly, it’s experienced, whether good or bad. As a leader, it’s critical for
Leaders use the butterfly effect to unlock the potential of others. Emerson demonstrates there is great potential in leadership skills. As Emerson clearly demonstrates, there is great potential in the human mind in each of us. Leaders are bewildered by the fact that individuals cannot grasp the premise that they can do greater things. What
Leadership success is about being a good leader and the challenge of developing leadership skills. For many, leadership is something that exists far beyond their field of perception and understanding. A boss is not always a leader, but a good leader always has the power of a boss. ‘A leader is best when people barely
There is an old saying about those who have climbed the ladder of success, which is “The higher the monkey climbs the tree, the more of his butt you’ll see.” What this means is that as you achieve higher leadership roles, the more you will be scrutinized regarding how you treat others, how you perform
There are times when people make a career change, even when they have no other choice. Businesses close, go bankrupt, downsize, or move overseas. All of a sudden, a job is lost, and a skill set is outdated. One individual will react with despondency, blames others, and ultimately takes a job with lower pay that is
Relationships require effective listening and are imperative to the communication process. Providing feedback through mirroring and using open-ended questions also facilitates the communication process. Communication is a shared responsibility. Let’s take a look at what constitutes quality human relationships. Every relationship is only as good as the people within it. Relationships between people are the
The quality of relationships and leadership is filled with ups and downs. It is a challenging and rewarding experience that includes a myriad of successes and failures. Through the experiences of this role, leadership has the power to evoke raw emotion along the way. Such emotions are demonstrated when leaders relish in the brilliant ambition
Sometimes, leaders must find solutions to performance problems requiring delicate and intuitive skills! Recently, I read a book that I felt was extremely important and a useful performance management tool. Analyzing Performance Problems: or You Really Oughta Wanna by Dr. Robert Mager and Peter Pipe is a no-nonsense and straightforward look at the issues related to
If a self-improvement plan is what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place. Search around the internet, and you’ll find all kinds of lists on becoming a better leader. You don’t often see the self-improvement plan tactics that will help you put those lists to use. This will not be a simple list
Are you searching for ways to increase your ability? Check your LEADitude! LEADitude is your attitude toward leadership. It is the mindset involving how leaders motivate employees, create a vision, and engage team members to achieve organizational goals. A tool to determine LEADitude success is an internal measurement called leader GPS. Understanding the power of
Emerging leaders, I want you to pause for a moment. Did you ever get caught up in the organizational chaos or the chaos of life? Have you ever bought into the noise fluttering all around you and then wondered how you got involved in it? One minute you are standing around a whirlwind of madness, then the
A friend of mine ran a successful software business in California. He was a popular man who won everyone’s trust. Clients agreed with him, and employees held him in high regard. My friend enjoyed leadership and its privileges. People thought he was the happiest person in the world. But this was far from the truth. I
Today our interview is with Bob Littell, who created the concept of NetWeaving. Read on to find out how Bob solves team conflict, the valuable leadership skills he learned in college, and why he thinks being content with the status quo is the mistake that’s made most often. Thanks for doing this interview! Could you
Entrepreneurship demands extreme passion and a lot of creativity. Entrepreneurs usually have to spend sleepless nights away from home to achieve their dreams. Entrepreneurs are blessed with the ability to create opportunities and utilize them effectively. But they also can get distracted after following a constantly hectic routine. This is a phase where entrepreneurs need
What is the meaning of innovation? That’s a big question because today, more than ever, businesses have to be innovative to be successful. Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner state that the meaning of innovation is taking creativity and transforming it into something that has valued use. The word innovation, like transformation, seems to be overused everywhere. It
Over the years, management experts have tried to find a relationship between leadership and intelligence, and the general consensus is that they are closely related. Emotional intelligence plays a great role in maintaining positive relationships with people around you and being a successful leader. Successful leaders are known to be emotionally intelligent and often tend
If you know a lot of information about a particular topic and you know how to express it in an appealing manner, then you’re on your way to becoming a thought leader. Thoughtful leadership has been getting a lot of attention lately, mainly because people have easy access to knowledge and they are ready to
Leadership fears are quite common, and most of them are unconscious. Here are some helpful solutions and guidelines for overcoming certain obstacles. These three aspects can hold people back from leadership: Lack of Confidence This problem affects many people. People with impressive talents and excellent skills are often afraid to showcase their value. They do
Out of all the businesses ever started, only a small percentage of them last. Much of the success of any given company lies in the hands of a successful CEO. It is a job that requires innovation and the ability to evaluate problems from all angles. There are surefire routes to success, and being able
How do you define the leadership characteristics of great leaders? It is not enough to simply spark innovation in your respective field. Great leaders must inspire the next generation of thinkers and innovators. Are the true greats born into leadership or taught the skills to become who they are today? This is a question that
Be a better leader by looking at history and the great leaders that rose to the occasion when it was needed most. In 1948, when discrimination ruled in South Africa, Nelson Mandela and other activists fought for their rights through nonviolent methods. But when police killed his fellowmen during a peaceful protest, they retaliated by
Procrastination can be your greatest enemy. But what would be a greater enemy than that? Not being able to manage your time. If you’re unable to prioritize your tasks, things will be delayed. Long hours at the office and not being able to focus on work are some common complaints. However, work is not the
Take pride in your work… you’ve heard this advice a thousand times I’m sure. To leaders, the English language is a language of qualifiers: “perhaps”; “maybe”; “possibly”; “potentially”. It is a language of disbelief, uncertainty, and limitations. In a previous article, I mentioned what I feel is one of the most prevalent and restrictive of
Over many years of managing web design and development teams, I have had the honor of working with some amazing artists who carefully craft beautiful imagery and engaging graphics for their web projects. The concept of high production values and the importance of good quality visuals as leadership skills was something I learned from these
Grit. It’s a wonderful, pithy word that people don’t use much anymore. It is most often defined as resolve, courage, commitment, and fortitude. It speaks to seeing things through, even when the going gets tough. It means that striving to achieve goals is not an option, it is a given. Grit is a result of
Although there are always going to be project management failures, the software can help avoid this. Unfortunately, it usually takes quite a bit of time to wind up one project. Of course, not all projects have the same issues and dilemmas, but the results of said issues are often the same. There is no doubt
Leaders work on self-development to become better and challenge themselves to learn as much as they can on their journey to being the best. One simple avenue of self-development is to read books. Leaders Are Learners I have had discussions with people who wanted to become better leaders that understood they needed to grow. The
One of the major differences between strong, successful leaders and the average leader is in their ability to turn failure to success. As you know, everyone makes mistakes. But a lot of people are not open to looking at or trying to change their weaknesses. With good leadership, you will be open to self-reflection and
When it comes to leadership thought and management, nearsightedness or myopia is a common occurrence. What does that mean? Since effective leadership is part art as much as part science, I see too many managers taking a nearsighted look at their roles and responsibility. By this, I mean we place more emphasis on the duties
Dr. Stephen M Covey, the legendary motivational speaker and author, said, “Leadership is a choice, not a position.” When observing students, few will emerge as a leader and play roles such as classroom monitors. They will easily lead sports, study groups, or cultural teams sans any hesitation, while other students will hesitate before assuming the
Procrastination is an enemy of productivity. It is also somewhat inevitable. There are certain times we just don’t want to do what we need to do. For those times, there are actually ways to use procrastination to your advantage and be more productive. Here are six things you can do to become productive while you’re procrastinating: 1. Do
What makes an experienced and frequent traveler someone who can take charge in a conversation and be a great leader? Let’s take a look at a few reasons how frequent traveler’s experiences help them with communication and leadership: 1. Being Adaptive and Having Few Complaints To travel is to adapt continually: to a new country,
Accountable team leaders are a great example to their teams. Just a quick glance at any of the recent business headlines will make one think that accountability is quickly becoming a rarity within many organizations. This should be cause for some concern. Why does holding people accountable seem like such a difficult task? As leaders,
Why does a compelling story in books, movies, and television shows captivate us? Because of the stories they tell. Most of the time, it is a story that we can connect with in some manner. Influential leaders recognize the power that stories have to capture our attention and often use them to connect their vision