Jun 29 2009
Leaders Make the Future - Ten New Leadership Skills For an Uncertain World by Bob Johansen
“Leaders Make the Future: Ten New Leadership Skills for an Uncertain World” by Bob Johansen is an interesting read for all those who wish to lead into the future. Johansen comes at leadership from the perspective of a Forecaster, something he has done for more than thirty years, and an over all premise that today’s businesses and organizations are operating in a world characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, often referred to as VUCA in the text.
As a forecaster, Johansen states that he studies the future to learn about leadership in the present. This book contains the ten emerging skills that Johansen feels will be crucial for leaders responsible for maneuvering their organizations through the next decade. He makes a convincing case as to why these skills are important. Additionally, he provides guidance with how the reader can incorporate the skills into their own leadership styles.
The ten skills include:
1. Maker Instinct focuses on how leaders need to draw out their maker instinct and apply it to their leadership. Johansen states that future leaders will need both a can-do and a can-make spirit.
2. Clarity is a must in confusing times and a leader must be able to create and communicate with clarity without being simplistic.
3. Dilemma Flipping is being able to succeed with challenges that cannot be solved and won’t go away.
4. Immersive Learning Ability focuses on immersing yourself in new physical and virtual worlds that may be uncomfortable to increase your learning.
5. Bio-Empathy is being able to learn from nature and use that wisdom to inform your decisions.
6. Constructive Depolarizing focuses on how a leader can constructively depolarize conflict to both calm and improve the situation.
7. Quiet Transparency is a skill by which a leader by being open but not self-promoting.
8. Rapid Prototyping deals with working through many scenarios during the process of development.
9. Smart Mob Organizing is a leadership skill of organizing people using a range of media.
10. Commons Creating within which both cooperation and competition may occur.
Each chapter has relevant examples to illustrate Johansen’s main points and concludes with a good chapter summary. The concluding chapter, Readying Yourself for the Future, starts with a great statement, “Leaders can make the future. Leaders can decide what kind of future they want to create and go for it.” I also like that the author admits that the ten skills he outlines in this text are challenging to master and there are other resources to assist you with them. You won’t learn everything from this book, but then no one single volume teaches everything. This book should be used as a catalyst. Johansen describes ten skills for future leaders, and it should get you thinking about the concepts he writes about and exploring ways to incorporate these into your leading.
The speed of change can be overwhelming, and things only continue to speed up each and every year. I agree with the author that the future will be loaded with opportunities and leaders must be ready to take advantage of the opportunities as they arise and be agile enough to sidestep the dangers. This book raises important skills that each leader should at least consider if not incorporate into their leading. It is a quick read and one I encourage any leader to not just read, but meditate on the described skills and seek ways to incorporate them into their businesses and organizations.
By Alain Burrese
Alain Burrese, J.D. is a mediator/attorney and an author/speaker through his own company Burrese Enterprises Inc. He teaches people to live with the warrior’s edge and make things happen through his writing and speaking on a variety of topics focusing on the business areas of negotiation and success principles as well as self-defense and safety topics. He is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks, several instructional DVDs, and numerous articles. You can find out more about Alain Burrese and read many more reviews, articles and more at his website http://www.burrese.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alain_Burrese
Jun 24 2009
Leaders - What Makes Them Great
History has shown that times of crisis produce the greatest leaders. Clearly 2009 is a time of crisis for not only the United States of America - but all the nations on earth. This is time when great leaders are needed. What are the characteristics of those leaders? Based on crises of the past, some of those necessary characteristics are vital in not just government but also business, education and other not-for-profit areas and science.
Lead From the Front
Throughout history the greatest leaders have led by example - sometimes described in the military as leading from the front (as in front of the troops rather than in the rear). Today we need leaders who lead by doing and not just by saying. George Patton the great World War II General was respected by his troops by often positioning himself in the front lines rather than in the rear. His men risked their lives daily and he knew they had to see that their commander was willing to do the same thing.
Negotiation
Dictators are not - in the long run - effective leaders. As a result, effective leaders need to be masters at the art of negotiation and compromise. If there is something in it for all parties then their will be a greater likelihood of acceptance or buy-in. The great leaders of history know what they want - but are willing to accept something less to achieve their long term goals and objectives. The greatest Presidents in U.S. history were masters of compromise. What they ended up with was often something less than what they desired at the outset of a program or a policy but they worked with Congress to achieve the larger goal and end up with legislation that would support their overall objectives. The same is true in business and in other fields also.
Vision
The greatest leaders in history have vision. They see what is not yet real and work - over time - to make it a reality. Not only do they formulate the vision - they have the ability to explain it in terms so that others can see and share in the vision. Franklin Roosevelt has a vision for saving the U.S. from the greatest economic disaster in the country’s history. He developed his vision; he shared it with those surrounding him and ultimately communicated it to Congress and the American public. Action followed which - over time- made his vision a reality.
Selflessness
The leader as selfless or self-sacrificing seems quaint and out of vogue today. Yet the greatest leaders in history were both selfless and self-sacrificing. Think of it as country or company or cause before self. The business leaders who offered their services to the US Government during the Great Depression and World War II for $1.00 per year are examples of this. Rather than increase their wealth on the back of these crises, they gave of themselves for something greater. The same can be said of Teddy Roosevelt who left the position of Assistant Secretary of the Navy at a relatively young age to create and help lead what became known as the “Rough Riders” during the Spanish American War in 1898. He left a job he loved, his wife, children and the comforts of home to face all the danger and hardship required to win a conflict in the front lines.
Humility
The greatest leaders in history were humble and self-effacing. They did not take themselves too seriously and they acknowledged their failings. No greater example of this exists today than President Abraham Lincoln who regularly poked fun at himself. This did nothing to diminish his effectiveness as a leader - or his place in history.
Knowledge
The saying goes that “knowledge is power”. Those who hold power great or small should have and constantly increase their knowledge. It was said that President John Kennedy has “ink in his vein” because he devoured newspapers. Thomas Jefferson’s library was great and diverse. It became the foundation for the Library of Congress. By 1941, General Douglas MacArthur had one of the greatest libraries of his day with both historical and military books and was intimately familiar with most of them. Unfortunately he ordered the library dynamited when the Japanese captured Manila in the Philippines. Great leaders need to have vast amounts of knowledge - both general and specific - at the disposal when making decisions. While staff is helpful, the decision ultimately often comes down to the leader’s combination of knowledge and experience.
Communication
The great communicator was the title often given to President Ronald Regan. While he did not have the greatest education or perhaps the best credentials (an actor then governor) for a U.S. President, he did have the gift of effectively communicating his vision, his philosophy, his policies and his world view. That ability to communicate has led to his ranking as one of the greatest Presidents in U.S. history. Communication means not only speaking but also listening. And the greatest leaders in history have been excellent listeners - whether to their staffs, their constituents, their troops, their employees or their adversaries. Communicating without effective listening is only half the equation.
Decision Making
Tough times require tough and timely decisions. And the greatest leaders know how to make difficult decisions and to make them in “real time”. With the American Civil War nearing its fourth year of bloody conflict, Union General Ulysses Grant committed to fighting the Confederates non-stop without pauses to “lick his wounds”. The casualties were staggering and caused outcries by politicians, the public and the troops. His men began pinning tags with the names to the back of their uniform coats so their bodies could be identified because they were so certain of their fate. And yet Grant stuck with his decisions and brought an end to the war in April 1865. While not all decisions are life and death, leaders need to be able to make the tough decisions, make them in a timely manner and stick with them in the face of harsh criticism.
Focus
It does not good for a leader to have a vision if that vision changes daily or weekly. A great leader must have focus. That means a few key issues, concepts, programs or initiatives. In spite of many distractions and problems, General George Washington was able to get his army and the government he served to maintain a focus on whatever was necessary to keep the army trained, equipped and fed in the field. While he did not win many battles, the on-going and relentless presence of the Continental Army (rather than local militias) in the end caused the French to acknowledge and support the American’s cause and ultimately gain independence from the King of England. While there are always hundreds if not thousand’s of details and issues facing leaders, the great leaders spend the majority of time on a few critical ones and delegate the rest to competent subordinates and staff.
History is a great teacher. The great leaders throughout history had a number of key characteristics in common. The leaders of today - and tomorrow - should share those traits. All leaders whether in government, business, not-for-profits or the local PTA or food bank - should learn, understand and develop the characteristics exemplified by the great leaders of the past.
By George F Franks III
George F. Franks, III is the President of Franks Consulting Group - a management consulting and leadership mentoring practice based in Bethesda, Maryland. Franks Consulting Group is on the web at: http://franksconsultinggroup.com
George Franks can be contacted by e-mail at: gfranks@franksconsultinggroup.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_F_Franks_III
Jun 18 2009
How to Build Up Your Leadership Skills
Do you want to become a leader in your business or your community? First you must ask yourself exactly why you want this position? Is it for the respect or prestige? Or do you genuinely want to be able to help others and to show others by your example of what they should and can do with their lives?
If you have a genuine interest in helping others and not in glorifying yourself, you are already on the right path. So let’s take a look at some of the skills you need to qualify as a true leader:
1. You have to be able to step to every challenge. Challenge should be looked at as an opportunity fro you to really benefit other people. If you are the kind f person who tends to shy away from challenges, then you may want to work on that. Great leaders prove just how great they are in their role in times of crisis. Everyone can look back on a John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis and understand what it takes in order to really be an example of a true leader.
2. You have to be able to convey a message so that everyone understands. You are not just leading a chosen few, you are leading everybody you are representing. Every member of your team and your community should be able to fully understand your message and objectives and should feel represented by you in your role as a leader. A boss who only listens to a chosen few employees has really failed his entire staff. He has overlooked their role that they play and that their voice should be heard.
3. You have to have charisma and charm. You don’t have to be the next coming of John F. Kennedy, but you do have to evoke a certain element of what he embodied. A poignant and warm smile and a confident but relaxed walk and posture will help you convey this quality. Think of what it would be like to have an arrogant leader or one with absolutely no charisma whatsoever. It would not cause people to really stand and take notice of this person at all.
4. You have to learn how to gather information from other people and trust their judgment. There is a reason why high level political leaders have aides and staffs around them. You will not know everything and at times you will need the guidance and information that other people can provide. F.D.R. was known to have many people around him guiding him during World War II. Ultimately he made the final call but not without gathering the proper insight and influence from those people around him.
5. You have to know when to step back. At times your leadership skills will call for you to really show the trust in other people by allowing them to have some control and to exercise their talents and expertise. If you are running an office team of employees and they know what they are doing and they are contributing and producing, then at those times you will have to know when to just step back and be an observer.
Use these five skills as a starting point and a foundation to build upon. Ultimately there can be many more markings of a true leader, but without these five basic skills, you will not be nearly as effective and efficient in your role as a leader whether it is in business or community situations or even your own families.
By Bryan Appleton
For more on how to live and attract a more successful life, go to http://www.successfulfather.com and SIGN up for the FREE newsletter. BOOKMARK the site and return as often as possible. And choose to lead in whatever way that you can, but do so in a way that benefits everyone around you.
Bryan Appleton is an author of self-help motivational literature as well as an entrepreneur and investor. He is a single father and has made it one of his life’s goals to try and help other people live the lives they are dreaming of.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Appleton
Jun 11 2009
Heart of a Warrior - Leadership Marine Corps Style
The night is dark; a deep, bone-chilling darkness without a single star, no moonlight, no lights outside the windows. It’s June 21, 1988, somewhere around 2:30 AM and you’ve been traveling since noon the day before. You’ve been on ‘em all: planes, trains, automobiles-and now a bus-a BIG bus. The biggest bus you’ve ever seen in your short 17 years of life. This is the farthest you’ve ever been from home-the farthest you’ve ever been alone. But you ain’t scared; you’re a teenager! You know it all and you’ve got something to prove-to yourself and to the world.
The bus glides to a stop; the airbrakes “hisssssss”; then silence; a silence so profound that you can actually feel it. The only sound you hear is the sound of your heartbeat and the heartbeats of the other souls on the bus with you. You finally acknowledge the FEAR.
All of sudden, the loudest voice you have ever heard bellows,” GET OFF MY STINKIN’ BUS AND PUT YOUR FEET ON MY YELLOW FOOTPRINTS-NOW!!”
That is how I remember my arrival at Marine Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. I had arrived at Marine Corps Boot Camp. Let me tell you, in that moment (and plenty of other moments throughout the course of boot camp!) my heart pounded with fear.
Fear changed my life.
I was afraid I had made a huge mistake. I was afraid I couldn’t handle the challenges I faced. I was afraid to make the drill instructor mad. I was afraid I wouldn’t be good enough. I was afraid of my thoughts, so I quit thinking and did what I was told to do. I got off the bus.
When I heard that first unforgettable bellow, I thought to myself, “What am I doing here? Do I have what it takes? I have never really tried to do anything that I didn’t know FOR SURE I would be good at. Do I have the heart of a warrior?”
First I had to find out, what being a leader even meant.
Emerson said, “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.”
Are you good enough to be a leader?
The United States Marine Corps defines leadership as the sum of those qualities of intellect, human understanding, and moral character that allow a person to inspire and control a group of people successfully.
Leadership principles are general rules that have guided the conduct and actions of successful leaders of the past. Generations after generation of American men and women have given special meaning to the title United States Marine. These same men and women live by a set of enduring core values and principles that form the bedrock of their character. These principles give them strength and regulate their behavior; they form the foundation that allows them to meet any challenge.
Are you good enough to be a leader?
You BET YOU ARE!!
And guess what? You have the potential to be an even stronger, more confident leader than you already are. Marines know that leadership skills take time and discipline to develop, but the payoff is worth the dedication. As I learned during boot camp, to become a better leader, there are four things that you can do everyday to improve your leadership abilities:
1. Lead as you are-Know yourself and seek self-improvement.
2. Don’t play the Blame Game-Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.
3. Take care of your own-Take Care of those you lead.
4. Set the example-Practice what you preach.
1. Lead as you are-Know yourself and seek self-improvement
One thing I learned in the Marine Corps is that a leader must have self-awareness and seek self-improvement. You have to know yourself in order to be a good leader and the easiest way to do that is to sit down and honestly think about your strengths and weaknesses. Invest in a personal coach. Take behavioral and personal interests assessments. Ask your immediate supervisor and close family and friends to provide you with feedback.
Are those “easy” conversations-No! And it doesn’t mean you have to change who you are - it just means that you have to become a better you. Begin to learn your strengths and weaknesses and work to capitalize and improve upon them as needed. Lao Tse said, “He who knows others is learned. He who knows himself is wise.”
Marine Corps boot camp is thirteen weeks of situations where a recruit must really learn about themselves and how to adapt, improvise and overcome. The marine’s very life may one day hinge on the training and their depth of knowledge of themselves and what they can accomplish, and sometimes more importantly, what they aren’t yet capable of achieving.
If you are shy, and would like to be more outspoken, think of environments where you can practice voicing your opinion, or if you have a great sense of humor, make sure that humor is a part of your leadership style - people around you will appreciate your good nature. As you begin to learn about yourself, you build character. You also become better equipped for the ups and downs life throws your way. Marine Corps boot camp taught me to dig deep within myself and truly recognize my abilities and my limitations. I learned that true leaders are ordinary people with an extraordinary skill-to continuously reach beyond and continuously grow.
Lead as you are - always.
2. Don’t Play the Blame Game-Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions
While there are many differences between life in the Marine Corps and life outside of the military, there are also lots of similarities. After taking note of the differences, it is clear that the leadership principles that guide our nation’s most elite organization will also prove successful in your life. I’ve found that having the courage to take responsibility for your actions is respected both inside and outside of the Corps. The difference is, in the Corps it was expected, in the “real world” it is often the exception. As a Marine when I made a mistake, I owned up to it immediately- I was trained to do that, and as a Non-Commissioned Officer it was expected of me. I also expected my troops to do the same. Now that I no longer wear the uniform, I have to work hard to remind myself of the importance of taking responsibility and resisting the urge to blame others for my problems. It’s a tough world out there for the person who wants to accept responsibility- society, your co-workers, your family- heck; everyone loves to get on the blame bandwagon. It’s much easier to blame others for your problems then to recognize that you likely had something to do with them.
A couple of weeks ago I was speeding down the interstate. Suddenly, the red lights of an approaching police car flashed in my mirror. I’m sure you all can relate to that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you know you are being pulled over by a cop.
We’ve all been there, right? It usually goes something like this:
You maneuver your car to the side of the road; start plotting your defense and developing a scheme to get out of the ticket.
“You are tired; it’s early in the morning!” “Other cars were going just as fast!” “This speedometer must not be calibrated correctly.”
You might even blame the officer…
“Don’t the police have something better to do then pull over nice, law-abiding citizens?”
Then, through the fog of all of these excuses, the leader in you asks,”Were you speeding?”
“Well, uh…Yes.”
Okay, then why blame the cop or the speedometer when you were speeding? If we chose to accept responsibility only when convenient, are we leaders?
Deep thoughts-thoughts I actually had that early morning a couple weeks back; thoughts that were soon interrupted by the officer’s presence at the car. It was the leader in me who spoke was once the window was down.
“Officer, I admit I was going a little too fast back there.”
Was that really me saying those things?! Where was the excuse, or the standard denial?
The officer was speechless at first, and then he smiled as we chatted. I’d like to say that my ability to accept responsibility somehow excused me from the ticket, but it didn’t. The officer was surprised I’d admitted my wrong doing, and even apologized as he explained that he had to ticket me since he had already called it in on the radio. I accepted my fate, and paid $223 to the city of Irving, Texas. My gut reaction had been to take the easy path and blame others, or try to use persuasive words to avoid responsibility. But in the end I did the simple, yet difficult thing. I owned up to my fault. Even when there was no reward, pat on the back or free pass, I did the right thing and accepted responsibility. In that one small act, I was a leader.
As a leader, avoid placing blame. Look to see where you contributed to a problem and, once identified, move forward with a solution. Placing blame wastes time and it damages valuable relationships. If you are focused on influencing outcomes, the blame game will only slow you down. Make sure the word “accountability” is in your vocabulary.
Don’t Play the Blame Game!
3. Take care of your own-Take Care of those you lead
Leadership is about service — take care of those you lead. The primary objective of Marine Corps leadership is to accomplish the mission-GET THE JOB DONE! Good leadership gets the job done in the quickest, most effective and efficient way.
The secondary goal of Marine Corps leadership is to provide for the welfare of Marines! Mission accomplishment in the Corps really stands for protecting the American people and protecting the welfare of our nation. Yes, the Marines place mission accomplishment before troop welfare-but that merely means that all responsible military personnel must be prepared to risk their lives for the lives of those they have taken an oath to defend. Many of you are relieved that you never took such an oath.
Yes, you did.
You took an oath of friendship. You took an oath to your church. You took an oath when you married or entered a committed relationship. You even took an oath when you went to work where you work. Are you doing everything you can to care for your spouse, family members, co-workers and friends? Continually ask yourself what else you can do to help someone out. This might mean helping your colleague with her resume, or driving your elderly neighbor to the store. The more willing you are to help others, the more your relationships will be built on trust and respect.
Taking care of those you lead reminds me of the story of Geese and why they fly the way they do. You see, researchers have discovered that geese fly along in a “V” formation because as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. When the lead goose gets tired, they rotate back in the wing and another goose flies point. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gun shots and falls out, two geese follow to help and protect. They stay with that goose until they are either able to fly or until they die. Only then do they launch out on their own or with another formation to eventually catch up with their group. Geese instinctively take care of their own! Geese instinctively know they can’t go it alone!
Take care of those you lead.
4. Set the example-Practice what you preach
Marines instinctively look to their leaders for patterns of conduct which they may follow, emulate or use as an excuse for their own shortcomings. Sounds kind of like our kids, huh???
Leaders have one standard - a high standard they ask others to keep. The same high standard they keep for themselves.
As a leader, you have to set the example for your friends, kids, coworkers and relatives. You also have to have integrity, which is the ability to do the right thing all of the time. It means that you are honest and truthful in what you say and do. You put honesty, sense of duty and sound moral principles above all else.
Stand up for what you believe to be right!
When you lead by example, you are able to create a strong team among those who surround you. Remember things like:
1. Don’t use profanity just because others do.
2. Be loyal to your family, friends, your boss-don’t talk about them behind their backs and trash them.
3. Set the example of moral courage and remember the good ole golden rule we were all taught in kindergarten-treat others as we want to be treated. Begin to live that rule.
4. Be courteous and cheerful-polite.
5. Practice the art of unselfishness-avoid making yourself comfortable at the expense of others and be considerate and give credit to those that deserve it. Remember that golden rule!
Think of the benefits in your world when you acknowledge that you already are a leader. Imagine the possibilities when you begin leading as you are. You will gain more confidence by being yourself - rather than the person you think everyone else wants you to be. When you begin to focus on your strengths, you will discover your passion. When you acknowledge your weaknesses, they lose their power and you can take action.
By accepting responsibility for your actions and not playing the blame game, you can start focusing on solutions rather than excuses.
By becoming a better caretaker, you sleep well at night knowing those you love have everything they need.
And finally, by practicing the golden rule and setting an example of integrity, kindness and service you will have a lasting impact.
As darkness turned to light at the end of boot camp, I realized I had always been a leader. I had always known I should be responsible; that I should always try to better myself, that I should tell the truth and be considerate. You know these simple truths, too!
Start believing that you are a leader today!
When you commit yourself to becoming a stronger leader, your perspective on the world changes - you begin to feel more in control of your life, and you start to see opportunities in areas where you never looked before. By being a better leader, you will surprise yourself with the success and gratification you have discovered in your life…and your leadership potential will amaze you!
Reach beyond what you have already mastered-you will GROW!
Semper Fi!! (Always Faithful!)
By Kelley Moore
Kelley Moore
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelley_Moore
Jun 07 2009
Five Leadership Skills
Each skill is critical to “Owning Your Life!”
Skill 1.
Attitude in order to be effective in anything you desire you should have the proper mindset. Your Attitude has to be in the correct frame of mind. You can achieve anything if you tell yourself you can. The mind is a powerful tool to use. If you want something you must first envision it with feelings and emotions attached. If this thought is (almost obsessed) in your subconscious mind, eventually your mind can’t tell the difference whether it is a dream or whether it is reality. With the correct attitude take on anything in life. Attitude can make your wildest dreams come true because you believe! Through autosuggestion you can get the results you want by telling yourself it can be done. What you speak will in fact be! Top athletes see the finish line before they arrive at it. They have the correct attitude and mind-set.
Skill 2
People Skills will help you to know how other people are feeling. It has been said, this is a “People Business, so study people!” Knowing the basic four types of personality traits will help you to understand what is most important to that individual and what their needs are. The four basic types are the dominant, inspirational, supportive and the cautious. We all have a personality type. These characteristics can change with our moods and most of us have a combination of the four basic types. To know a persons type when you meet them will help you to better understand and relate to them. For example, when you come in contact with a cautious type, they will talk in a slow manner, if you talk slow back to them you will get a better response out of them. each you each color and help you to know the “secret” to communication and building relationships. edwardcadams@yahoo.com Just put the word “Colors” in the subject matter and I will send you the link to access the training. Some of the best training I have ever come across. Lets face it, its all about understanding people and finding out what is most important to them so we can help them to achieve it! Always remember that each person you meet is unique and has special characteristics that make up who they are.
Skill 3
Relationship Skill Study People! Like I mentioned, it’s all about finding out what is important to that person and then focusing on helping them to attain it. Each skill is critical in building up people. To have a good relationship with co-workers, your spouse or those you come in contact with. In every relationship I make I am always asking myself this question first, “What can I do to benefit this person?” Relationship skills will take you far in life and business. Effective relationship skills will build integrity and get you respect from those you meet and associate with. A good relationship will create repore and attracts those around you . Building a relationship with those you meet daily, such as a clerk at the store or the mailman that walks through your yard everyday will create friendships that are priceless. Build your spider web and you will have friendships that will last a lifetime!
Skill 4
Business Skill is like it sounds if you can have the correct attitude you can find out about people and build a relationship. Your relationships with those you associate with will build your business. A business skill will show and teach you to find the solutions to problems by asking those you know, who have the answers you are looking for. Ask and you shall receive, right? It’s important to know who and where to find what you need to run your business. A business skill is knowing how, where and when. If you went up to an individual and demanded results you will get rejection. Always build your spider web of relationships because you will always have someone to help you accomplish any task you are out to achieve.
Skill 5
Leadership Skill is the real key to success. To be a leader is to be able to know all the above skills and to be able to know what to do with them. The ultimate goal is to be able to teach others to lead, as well. The top leaders will create leaders to replace themselves . Once this has been accomplished, that leader will go find someone else to help and start moving them through the different levels of leadership. A leader always looks for people who are coachable someone who they can depend on. If that person is coachable, they will “Own Their Life!”
Blessings to you,
Ed Adams
By Ed Adams
Online marketing is a skill that you can master. I coach and train online marketing.
http://www.profitwithautoresponders.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ed_Adams
Jun 03 2009
Developing Leadership Skills in Others
Businesses thrive when employees and managers alike are effective leaders. Once management and supervisors are in place, they can easily begin developing leadership skills in others to provide growth and learning experiences for their subordinates. The benefits of developing these skills in the rest of the team include the ability for all employees to work as a cohesive team, even in the midst of challenges, change, and future opportunities. Teaching leadership skills is not that difficult, though there are a few key points that should always be followed.
Always Be Constructive with Comments - Using constructive criticism is something we are all taught as kids in school, and it is something we should all use throughout adulthood as well. Managers and supervisors especially should keep in mind that they will quickly make enemies within their team if the cannot guide with tact and diplomacy. Remaining positive about changes that need to be made is a great way to guide those you are leading.
Provide Opportunities for Growth - Leaders can only be created through their opportunity to lead. Giving those in training for leadership the chance to learn through experience and leading is the best way to develop future successful leaders. Instead of completely taking over a project, supervisors and managers should delegate generously and appropriately. This will allow their team to have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to be a great leader.
Share the Vision and Common Goals - When training leaders, it is important to avoid giving orders and making the team feel as if they are on the “outside” of the picture. Share the goal and vision of the company with them and work toward it as a team. Dictatorship is not going to help develop the type of leadership qualities in your team that you desire.
When managers and supervisors begin developing leadership skills in others, they must first take a look at their own leadership style. Are they harsh, accepting, demanding, or domineering? A self-inventory should be done before beginning any leadership training, and then the above tips can be implemented for development effective leaders. The end benefit is that managers, supervisors, and the rest of the team will be able to maintain a positive working relationship no matter what challenges should arise. Avoiding conflict and other difficulties such as this will keep business flowing smoothly as workers remain efficient.
By Jason Wilton
Developing Leadership Skills!
It can change everything. If you’re looking for more insight and exploration of developing leadership skills, I strongly recommend this website:
http://www.leadershipmadesimple.com
I think you’ll be more than pleased at what you find there!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Wilton
Jun 01 2009
The Leadership Challenge - Attracting and Keeping Good People
The reason that employes stay or leave has much to do with the leadership that are are under. Here are some insights as to how to hire and keep good employees
It seems lately that the individuals and groups I have been working with are going through some unique challenges. The prediction that there would be shortage on skilled workers is coming true. Recently while working with a health group in Alberta the VP of HR mentioned that the need for increased staff in the healthcare sector in Canada is increasing rapidly and in Southern Alberta alone there will be a need for 35,000 skilled workers in the next ten years. A home builder client in Oregon is experiencing the same challenge and many industries have to come up with new and creative ways to attract skilled workers. Attraction is only part of the picture however as the next challenge is then keeping the good people and preventing them from being scooped by competitors with better offers.
This means that leaders are preparing to deal with the emerging attitude within the workforce of ‘the employers need me therefore they better make it worth my while’.
For employers looking to attract employees from the Generation X or Y segments this is a new and different dynamic then they have experienced. Generation X comes with an attitude of pay me what I am worth and I will come and work for you, if I prove myself in six months give me a raise and a promotion, don’t make me wait. Any baby boomers reading this might respond with a disdainful response that in order to get promoted and a raise you have got to do the time.
Well, news flash, the Generation X group has a whole lot of confidence coming in to new jobs as they know they are needed and their attitude reflects this confidence. We can resist this or we can harness and use this new energy and attitude to our benefit. For leaders and companies to attract good people they need to look at what they offer their employees in terms of pay, holidays, benefits and perks. For instance a ski hill group I worked with a few years ago on Vancouver Island builds ski perks into their employee packages. They have a variety of options available that employees can pick and choose from such as increased use of the ski hill for the avid skiers or reduced use benefits for those who ski less or not at all.
On the TV news a month or so ago there was a gentleman from the baby boomer segment pushing for an ‘a la carte’ benefits option for those who do not have families or who have alternative lifestyles. This all makes sense but can drive the most good natured business owner and its leaders over the edge.
The main thing that attracts employees based on a 2005 survey done by AMA (American Management Association) is good leadership, good work and strong recognition. Brand recognition is important to employees as they want to be working for companies that are branded as top in their industry.
5 things that make employers attractive:
1. Great brand reputation in the marketplace
2. Listed in the top 100 employers list for US and Canada
3. Great leadership with focused attention to leadership growth within the company
4. Great programs and benefits that are a la carte
5. Top performers included in strategic planning and creative planning for the company.
Attracting employees is one thing, keeping them quite another-here is what some of the Fortune 500 companies do to keep their employees from jumping ship:
5 things that keep employees with their employer:
1. Good leadership
2. Recognition programs that reward results with customized rewards
3. Good compensation with opportunity to profit from extra efforts
4. Good benefits and choices of benefits
5. Energizing, fun environment with an enthusiastic CEO
With the current situation of a shortage of good workers the other vital component that employers need to be aware of is the need to be willing to invest in training and support. The American Management Association also states that one of the top issues leaders will need to face as well is the globalization of the work market with different cultures, languages and work ethics.
The good news is that the diversity will increase creativity and for now it seems it is a worker’s world. If you are a baby boomer and reading this, my prediction is that you will never be without the opportunity to work if you are good at what you do! No matter how old or young you are :
By Cheryl Cran
Cheryl Cran, CSP President of Synthesis at Work Inc. works with organizations in significantly increasing productivity and profitability through communication strategies that improve employee performance, leverage team synergy and build extraordinary leaders. Many of Synthesis at Work’s clients are award winning industry leaders. www.cherylcran.com