Categories for Leadership

How to Focus on the Present and Become More Mindful in 2015

January 8, 2015 2:12 am Published by Leave your thoughts

While the New Year is a time to set goals and plan ahead, what about staying in the present, focused on the here and now? Mindfulness is a conscious effort to be completely present, setting aside worries, expectations, judgment, and other thoughts and emotions to be fully aware of the current moment. It’s the opposite of automatic functioning, going through…

5 Fatal Flaws that Cause New Leader Failure

October 23, 2014 3:32 am Published by Leave your thoughts

It’s estimated that nearly half of new leaders fail within the first eighteen months on the job. The costs of recruitment, training, and orientation of the leader, as well as the negative impact on employee morale, makes this situation highly destructive. Organizations that are guilty of selection blunders often overlook behaviors known to contribute to a leader’s demise. Here are…

3 Steps to Gaining More Influence in Your Organization

October 2, 2014 3:32 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Influence is critical to the success of any leader. It means garnering enough power within your organization to gain support from others and achieve the results you are working toward. Effective leaders develop a strong base of influence. They know how to use high impact influence skills, causing others to want to follow their lead, rather than being coerced. Their…

Warning Signs that Your Communication Style is Working Against You

September 4, 2014 3:35 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Every leader has a preferred mode of communication that works well in many situations, while missing the mark in others. Both sending and receiving messages can be inhibited if the communicator is unaware of blind spots that create interference. Use the guidelines below to identify your communication style and be attuned to the warning signs when it’s working against you.…

How to Give Constructive Criticism with 5 Essential Steps

August 21, 2014 3:36 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Sometimes leaders have to be critical in an attempt to improve a situation created by staff, colleagues, or upper level leaders. How the message is delivered can make the difference between a productive conversation and a damaged relationship. Use this template to guide your thinking as you craft what you want to say when constructive criticism is necessary. 1. Describe…

3 Outmoded Leadership Practices You Should Reconsider Now

July 24, 2014 3:38 am Published by Leave your thoughts

It’s easy to cling to old, comfortable ways of leading that no longer make sense, once you pause to reflect. Ongoing research and current best practices teach us that it is time to discard the old and bring in the new. Consider these out-of-date practices and update your approach. 1. Using Old School Language Leaders give confusing, inconsistent messages when…

5 Productive Ways to Deal with Conflict Every Leader Should Know How to Use

July 9, 2014 3:39 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Conflict is inevitable when people work together in an organization. In fact, it’s a good thing because it most often means that those involved care enough about the situation to express their differences or discontent. If mismanaged, however, it can lead to undesirable outcomes. By using the right approach in the right situation, leaders can effectively deal with conflict, increasing…