Category: Leadership

We are all Leaders, yes you to

Leadership


We are all leaders, yes you to. It doesn’t matter what your position or title is.
According to John Maxwell the definition of leadership is influence. I believe it is the ability to influence others but how do we do that?
We influence others by how we live our lives, how we carry ourselves, how we treat people, and the example of excellence we present to those around us.
Notice, none of these things require a title or position.
All of us can set an example of excellence in how we approach our jobs, our friendships, our parenting, and our relationships with our significant others.
I was talking with a young man who was asking what he should do about a career, he didn’t go to college and had been working service jobs, fast food, waiter, pizza shop while he was performing in a band. He was having a great time, they recorded a couple of albums, they even went on a few short tours, but he realized they probably weren’t going to make it to the big time and the years were passing him by. He was afraid he was falling behind.

He was thinking of getting into a trade to try and learn a skill. As an old Electrician I told him I was a little biased but if he wanted to get into a trade he should pursue the electrical field. I reached out to a Contractor I knew, and they hired him. He asked me before he started If I had any advice.

I explained to him my position on creating value, I believe creating value is what we all need to do to keep a job, to be compensated well, and to rise in the ranks. Anyone can do the bare minimum and most people do. Value is created after you do what’s expected of you, when you go beyond what’s expected. You need to do what is expected and then do a little more.

Leaders dont fear hard work, they set the example.

I shared with him these tips;

• Arrive early every day, if you aren’t early, you are late. Be there early and ready to work.

• Do everything you are expected and or asked to do with a great attitude. I told this young man, if they tell you to carry 4” rigid pipe (very heavy) from one side of the site to the other, you be the best 4” rigid pipe carrier they ever saw.

• Pay attention to the smallest of details. Excellence is in the details. If you have done a task and you think, that’s good enough, then its not good enough. In my mind if its “good enough” it leaves room for improvement. The task is not done until it is done and done right to the best of your ability. It typically doesn’t take much longer or not much harder to close the gap between good enough and done right.

• Be willing to accept extra work, responsibility, and staying late.

• Don’t get caught up in gossip, complaining, and negative talk with other employees.

• Be the example of excellence, over the long term it will pay great rewards.

If you live these principles it will be recognized, and you will be rewarded. These principles translate to work, relationships, and life in general. Be the example of leadership.

Top three Fears that keep us in the mediocre mindset

The top three fears that keep us in the mediocre mindset, that keep us from living out our dreams and keeps us from chasing and achieving our goals can be overcome. I have been doing a lot of thinking recently as to why many of us aren’t relentlessly pursuing the lives we dream of. Why do we stay in jobs we don’t like, that leave us unfulfilled, and aren’t our true calling. What would you perfect life look like? What would your career look like? Would you be working the same job or in the same industry you are currently in? What would your relationships look like? What would a typical day look like if you were living the life you dream of? If the life you dream of doesn’t look like the life you are living now its time to make some changes. But why don’t we make the changes necessary and chase a full and significant life?

Its too late for me


Its too late for me, my time has passed me by. We are too comfortable, We have settled for a space where we can pay the bills, we’ve established some level of credibility in our careers, and our thinking is in line with 97% of society. We stay in this mindset where its safe. We don’t dare risk being ridiculed or judged and we don’t dare risk the “security” of that paycheck coming in each week. Often we are fixated with what could go wrong if we chased our dreams and goals instead of being excited about all that could go right. So we stay safe and never truly live fully. I’m telling you its not too late, your time has not passed, and you can change your life right now.

I don’t know How


I don’t know how or where to start is what I hear often. What I believe is at the heart of this fear is we don’t see a clear path to success. The time will never be perfect and before you start you may never have a full proof clear cut plan that takes you from start to achievement. If you are telling yourself you are waiting for the right time and for everything to be perfect you are simply procrastinating. It sounds simple but its important to understand, the first step is to take the first step, begin with the end in mind. What would success look like? What would the perfect day look like on your journey. It starts there. Now with this mental picture of what success looks like you work backwards and create a daily, weekly, and yearly plan and goals that take you closer to your goal. Re-evaluate weekly, monthly, and yearly and adjust accordingly. Seems simple but you’ll also need to add heavy doses of hard work. Success come disguised as hard work and preparation. Important key here, surround yourself with people with this mindset.

I have no experience in the field of my dream


Many of us find ourselves in a line of work we may not have chosen, we fell into a job that satisfied a need at the time and now we believe we are stuck. Maybe we don’t think we have the educations, or knowledge. I’m here to tell you none of that matters. Your will, determination, and tenacity will be the determining factor. I can tell you from experience, most people would say with my back ground I have no business writing book let alone a successful one. My book was an Amazon #1 hot list book in its category. You have to be smart about how you start and go about shifting into a new area of focus but you can do it. All the information you need is out there for you, the internet, books, mentors, etc. You can transform yourself, I am proof. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can. It will be uncomfortable, it will be hard, it will be worth it.

Step out side of your comfort zone and go after the life you dream of. This life is not a practice run, make the most of it. Keep in mind no matter how slow progress is, mistakes made, and hard times you will be ahead of the 97% who wont even try. Get after it.

Faith Through Adversity

Faith through adversity is the story of my brother Chris and I and the adversity we both faced in 2011. I published and released the book December 28th, 2017. Chris was diagnosed with Cancer in February of 2011. I spent to entire spring trying to tell Chris how he she think, act, and feel about being sick. Who was I to tell him how to react to this diagnosis. I was healthy, always have been. Then I received a phone call that changed everything.

As I wrote and re-wrote this story over the last five years I struggled with my confidence. The negative thoughts ran wild in my mind and that voice in my head would tell me , your no author. I thought a lot about family and friends, what would they think? Thoughts of doubt, it not long enough, I have to come off more intellectual and astute if I expect to be taken seriously.

Step out of your comfort zone

Finally I decided the final product didn’t need to be any of those things. I just wanted to share my story just like I was talking to a friend. My hope was that this story would help others who are facing adversity. It doesn’t have to be life threatening situations but any adversity can be faced with courage, dignity, and faith. My writing was never going to be perfect. The timing was never going to be perfect. So I stepped out of my comfort zone and I and published it

Two lessons learned

I learned two things with this experience. First was more of a reminder, greatness is created outside your comfort zone. While I don’t claim that my book is a great piece of literature, Its a great story, and I believe it can help those who may be struggling. And it has given me the confidence to pursue more goals and dreams.

Second, I have received a lot of support and praise from friends and family since releasing and announcing the book, its actually been overwhelming. What is a little troubling, I’m not angry at all just disappointed, there will be those who will not be happy about your success. There will be those who will not acknowledge your accomplishments. Tony Robbins says. “No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying”. I would add, your ahead of those who are rolling their eye at you for trying.

Keep your head up, do the work, and the rewards will come.

Your Potential, Your free will

Potential

We all have been blessed with God given talents and potential.  This is fact. It is also true that we have free will.  This is where the great divide occurs between greatness and mediocre.

It is your job to pursue those talents and stretch the very limits of your potential.

It is your responsibility to seek it, to cultivate it, and to consistently expand and test your limits.

Freewill

This is what free will is all about. You can sit on the couch and know every detail about a silly TV show or you can create a life others dream of.

You have all the power

Once you decide to choose greatness, seek out your God given talent. Maybe you already know what it is, but you are afraid of failure, or fear what others think. That’s where courage comes into play.  Push through the fear, the fear of failure, the fear of ridicule, the fear of being uncomfortable.  Push on with your passion.

Its a shame that so much power in the form of human potential goes untapped and is wasted. Tap into and push your potential to the limit.  We are more capable than we can even fathom if we just dare test our limits.

 

LEADERS GIVE THE CREDIT AND TAKE THE BLAME

leaders gives the team the credit

I was in a meeting with roughly 100 project managers recently. These are the leaders of a fairly large and well run business.  They were taking turns briefing the President of the company on the status of their projects.

On two instances the President stopped the meeting to give praise for projects well done. These  projects had aggressive schedules and were high profile. The projects were completed on time and the President had received great feedback from stake holders.  It didn’t surprise me that the President stopped and acknowledged the accomplishments of his people because he is a true leader.  The growth, revenue, and moral of the company reflect his strong leadership.

What did surprise me was that in both cases the Project managers never mentioned their teams, they simply took all the credit, said thank you and left it at that.  No one from one of the PM’s team was present but wouldn’t it have been a great opportunity to put in a good word for the team.  I know this team worked seven days a week 12 and 14 hours a day for weeks to make the project a success.

The second project manager had two team members in the room. What an awesome opportunity to call these two members out in front of the crowd and acknowledge their contribution.  Instead these two received no recognition.  Despite what some may say, everyone wants to be recognized, acknowledged , and appreciated.

These PM’s had the perfect opportunity to build respect, trust, and loyalty but they missed it.

Powerful leadership

Leaders give credit and take the blame; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ykCykMUcCA

If you are going to lead and want to build dynamic teams grounded in trust and loyalty give your team all the credit.  Keep empowering others, lifting others up, lead by example , and give your team all the credit.  That’s the leader who gets recognized as a winner

 

 

 

Leader VS Boss, which are you?

boss-yelling-at-employee-high-resolution-istock
Bosses find blame, build insecurity, point the way

The Leader

Leaders assess a problem, they look for the cause of the problem to determine the most efficient cost effective method of correcting the problem.  The leader if at all possible will allow the person who has made a mistake that has caused the problem a way to save face.

 

whoismyboss
A Leader leads with vision, build trust, show the way

The Boss

A boss seeks to blame first,  escalates the situation, makes sure the person who has made the mistake knows he is to blame. The Boss lets

others assume responsibility for their mistakes or problems.

 

 

The boss in the short term may make progress but in the long run the true leader leads by setting the vision and strategy for long term strategy for success.  The leader then shows his/her people how its done leading by example and building trust. Be the true leader if you want to build a team that is enthusiastic and achieve long term successful results.

What is the Number One Personal Development Book

Dale Carnegie
How to win Friends and influence People Dale Carnegie  A personal development classic

We are well into the new year and its a great time to re-read Dale Carnegie’s personal development classic, How to win Friends and Influence people.  If you haven’t read this book I suggest you stop what you are doing right now and order it on Amazon or run to the nearest book store.

This book is a must read for anyone who works with people, has any relationships business or personal, wants to excel in a career and or as an entrepreneur. Okay I think that covers all human beings.  This is more than just a book that you read once and maybe pick up a few ideas you could apply in your life. Its more of a life and relationship manual that you need to keep on your desk to refer to once a month to review and hold yourself accountable to the teachings.

We live in a day and age where soft skills and being able to lead people in the true sense of the word is paramount.  You have got to have the people skills to be able to inspire and influence other to buy into your vision, perform at high levels, or to buy your product.  Dale Carnegie was way ahead of his time and that is why this book is more relevant today than when it was written in 1936.

You will find that there is a lesson on every page, you will need a new high lighter and a pen. My copy is high lighted, marked up with notes in the margins with many dog eared pages. While its highly educational its really interesting as well. The anecdotes about the tycoons of industry in the 30’s and 40′ like Charles Schwab, John D. Rockefeller, and Carnegie himself are fascinating.

How to win Friends and Influence people is a book for the individual who wants to succeed in business and in his/her personal relationships. If you want to improve your leadership and interpersonal skills this is a must read personal development classic.  We suggest reading it once a year and then refer to it once a month and scan over your highlighted passages and notes to keep the lessons fresh in mind.

 

Are you a Leader or a Boss?

business-woman-thinking-61
A Leader inspires

A true leader who is confident in his or her self doesn’t rule over his subjects.  The good leader respects others and is especially careful to treat those working under her direction with respect.  The person with the title whom treats his people disrespectfully is a boss and not a leader. There is a difference and the results the two get are typically a lot different.

  • A leader treats his employees just as respectful and courteous as he does his clients.
  •   A leader recognizes the work load and time constraints his people are working under and respects the effort of a loyal and hardworking employee.
  • A Boss has two personalities, a respectful cheerful tone with clients brimming with politeness and concern.  And then the less respectful easily frustrated tone.  The Boss types are famous for the do as I say not as I do or do it because I said so management style.
  • A Boss comes in and barks out orders and direction with out ever determining what the employee is currently working on. He often doesn’t know what it is, when it needs to to be done, or who the work is for. All that is on his mind is what is important to him at that moment with no respect for the others.  There are situations when a fire needs to be put out and priorities need to quickly change. I’m not talking about these cases. It is the boss I’m talking about who manages through the lenses of his own ego.

Be the leader who shows respect, courtesy, and understanding. Obviously as the leader and being in a managerial role there are times where you have to be firm with people and you have to make tough decisions and have frank conversations.  But this can be done with respect. By building trust through the day to day operations treating your people firmly but respectfully the tough conversations are easier, people want to perform for you, company moral is high, and the work environment is better for all.