Compassionate leadership is an approach that emphasizes the importance of showing empathy, understanding, and kindness to others while maintaining a focus on achieving results and meeting goals. It is an approach to leadership rooted in the belief that leaders who can...
When I think about a culture of accountability I think about how it relates to integrity. If you’ve been following my Wednesday Morning Memos, you have heard me talk about T.R.I.P. The I stands for integrity, meaning you do what you say you will do. That relates to...
Building trust and resilience This topic is something you might not have considered. Promoting honesty and dealing with the inevitable changes in an ever-changing world is of primary importance for every leader. Creating relationships built on trust and having the...
Small business owners face a unique set of challenges in running and growing their companies. From managing finances and employees to providing excellent customer service, it can be a juggling act to keep everything running smoothly. One crucial aspect of running a...
To become a more likeable boss, it is essential to practice several people skills. Here are ten ways to be more likeable and improve your leadership skills. How many of these traits are you practicing with your people? Become a more likeable boss 1: Address...
Taking initiative is essential to leadership because it demonstrates a willingness to act and make decisions without being prompted by others. A leader who takes initiative proactively seeks out opportunities to improve their team or organization rather than waiting...
If you could solve your single biggest leadership challenge in your organization this year what would it be? What has prevented you from achieving it? You may find that these four things have been at play: Distraction and lack of focus on the issue The way we see...
Attention Management Strategies for Every Leader Every company and every manager wants to increase productivity. The world is competing for our attention. Constant access to information and the expectations to do more with less overwhelm the workforce. People are...
Facilitation skills for leaders are often referred to as the new cornerstone of management philosophy, but it can be one of the essential leadership skills you can develop. With its focus on fairness and creating easy decision-making, facilitation can make...
I was interviewed not long ago and out of the conversation emerged some of my insights into the challenges leaders face in today’s environment. I get many questions in my practice when coaching and mentoring leaders. I hope you enjoy these insights. Leadership...
Employee motivation has never been a more important topic. Employers often find it hard to keep a full workforce and avoid turnover in today’s business environment. The happier and more professional employees are, the better the results they will deliver for you....
When you consider change management for leaders you realize that change is a constant in our lives. Technologies, processes, people, ideas, and methods often change around us, affecting how we perform daily tasks and live our lives. Here are some ideas on how leaders...
Let’s face it problems are just a part of life. What kind of problems and challenges are you facing every day where you have to devise a solution? Here are a few ideas on how to practice good creative problem-solving. What is the problem? How can leaders implement...
What does it mean to be a great self-leader? Outstanding leaders have mastered the art of being able to lead themselves first before leading others. Self-leadership involves working on yourself, developing your abilities, and taking responsibility for your...
What is the biggest challenge when there is conflict in communications? Conflict can be defined when one party says something upsetting, does something offensive, or not doing something one is expected to do by others. Simply put, disagreement with someone...
Leaders wanting to hire employees now know there is a labor shortage. According to Forbes Magazine, “Next to rising costs, the biggest complaint from American businesses is the shortage of workers.” What are the main reasons that it’s so hard to find employees...
When you think about developing a healthy company culture, what does that mean to you? It involves the shared values, beliefs, goals, and attitudes that influence how people behave in the workplace. How are results achieved, and what methods are utilized to accomplish...
Leader retention and keeping the top leaders in your organization can be challenging. It is a highly competitive market for top talent. In today’s environment, it can be challenging when leaders leave. Keep leaders walking toward opportunities within your...
What is situational leadership? You might find your company is at an impasse and stuck in classical thinking and approaches when a more radical treatment will produce the change needed. This situational leadership offers a more flexible approach to leadership. Instead...
Working from home permanently is a leadership dilemma. The pandemic has subsided and sixty-two percent of Americans have worked from home. Many workers who left their offices vacant to work remotely don't want to return to traditional work environments. According to...
Develop great leadership traits by studying others successes. As a leader, you can learn from the success of others by watching and observing what they do. You can then model their leadership qualities and learn from them. In football, leadership is displayed during...
What does it take to lead in uncertain times? When you feel faced with uncertainty, what is your strategy? You may feel anxiety, fear, depression, discouragement, and not know where to turn. Here are some tactics to help you push through and come out the other side...
Boost your leadership E.Q. Most of us think of a leader as someone with a great deal of education and experience in a specific area. While knowledge and experience are essential qualities, one's ability to communicate and work well with others is just as crucial to...
When it comes to leadership speaking you’ve all heard Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream.” John F. Kennedy’s speech, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” Those are all landmark speeches that are remembered and...
Self-awareness in leadership begins with knowing yourself. You need to know your motivations, emotions, strengths, and weaknesses. The question you may ask yourself is: Am I a self-aware leader? When you have self-awareness, you feel more creative and more confident....
Leaders know how to persuade teams to take action because it is the only thing they can use to grow a powerful team. When you teach your team the “why,” they become better at making a similar decision the next time naturally and without your influence. The team learns...
One factor can differentiate you from everyone else as a leader. It is called executive presence. The definition of executive presence is elusive, as it can mean different things based upon whom you ask. If you ask several people what it is, you may get the...
When it comes to attracting and hiring great people, one of the top defining factors is the subject of ethics. Company culture and values have become the most important thing on the applicants’ list. A recent ethics study showed that 82% of professionals said they...
Setting priorites in leadership is a critical skill. What do your people love in a leader? They are looking for someone who sets clear expectations and identifies top priorities. A good leader can look at the skills and talents of their people and create a successful...
Small business team building can have a big impact on your organization. When great teams work together in sync, outstanding results can be achieved. Creating a collaborative environment takes work; challenges and obstacles can sometimes undermine the process. Perhaps...
Are you an over-achiever or a perfectionist? The difference may surprise you. Leaders who are over-achievers aim high and hit their mark. They succeed because they are motivated to do their best in everything. Perfectionists want to achieve, but fear of failure stops...
Leadership for small business is critical if they are to expand and grow. Larger companies can often survive without strong leaders for short periods, but smaller companies could fall apart without effective leadership. Here are a few reasons why outstanding...
We recently celebrated the 4th of July, Independence Day, which is one of America’s most significant traditions. It helps unify the people of this country behind one purpose. Purposeful Leadership Rituals Could you develop purposeful rituals as a leader in your small...
You can find great leadership ideas everywhere. Here are some of the best leadership tips from Top Gun Maverick. If you see this Summer blockbuster movie you’ll walk away with some great leadership tips. See if you can relate and take away some new ideas. Here are a...
Most of us are lucky if we find a leader people follow. The type of leader that we would do anything to help. They inspire, challenge, and enrich our lives in long-lasting ways. They listen to us, make us feel valued, and include us in their inner circle. However, we...
Leaders can lead with a clear purpose. What comes to mind when considering the most critical decisions you make as a leader? I often have said the goal of a leader is to be easy on people and ruthless on business challenges. Some of the most critical choices we can...
The secrets to how leaders motivate others. Since the amount you can accomplish on your own is limited, it’s necessary to have the assistance of others. Someone that can motivate others to do their best has an incredibly valuable talent. When you can inspire...
To keep a viable, thriving culture within a small business organization, many companies are hosting ongoing communication meetings. Leaders who want to avoid poor communications between managers and employees organize the sessions. An open-door communication policy is...
Small business momentum for many company owners the last couple of years has been challenging. Fast forward to today, it looks like record inflationary times will bring additional challenges to our business environment. Yet here we are. We can decide to let these...
This question is one to contemplate. We can look at Elon Musk’s business strategies that he’s implemented in the companies he owns. Look at Elon’s track record: All of them have been hugely successful. What would Elon do with your small business? This exercise...
The ten typical small business problems are defined as either current or long-term challenges facing a business. These problems are often counterproductive in terms of goal achievement. In some cases, these challenges can threaten the survival of a company. As a...
Strategy execution map, I’ve never heard of such a thing! You’re not alone. An (SEM) is a great visual tool to show you how customer outcomes align with your company’s objectives and activities. It can highlight and provide insights on where your organization needs to...
The leadership strategies of Steve Jobs have been written about and discussed for the last few decades. He has been considered one of the most innovative leaders of his time. What made Steve Jobs a fantastic leader?...
Every business could do more with its messaging. A failure to communicate seems to happen in every sized company. Look at the advertising you watch on TV from even the largest corporations, which have you end up saying, “what was that ad even about”. All projects we...
You cannot build a successful business without engaging and learning to navigate conflict. People who avoid conflict at all costs are rarely chosen to be leaders in an organization. When you have ambition, you will always have some form of resistance that you will...
Small business leaders, here are five traits that will support you in reaching success in your company. You'll find they are characteristics all leaders aspire to achieve. Here are the five traits: Five successful leadership traits 1. Vision - one of the critical...
As we come out of the pandemic and begin hiring more staff, you should consider a few critical conversations with every new hire. Setting expectations for new hires is essential as a basis for moving forward with new people....
Company owners are looking for practical solutions for protection from cyber threats. Small businesses have a growing concern over cyber threats. Perhaps some that you haven’t considered. The hybrid-remote workforce environment has created urgent data exposure...
In most parts of the country, we are emerging from the pandemic. It's time for new directions for small businesses. Masks are not being mandated, and deaths from Covid and the variants have been declining. With obstacles to business success falling away, what are your...
3 Common Small Business Problems and Their Solutions If you’re a Small Business with between 10 and 50 employees, you may find these issues resonate with you. Here are 3 common small business problems that companies are facing in today’s business environment: Finding...
The path to success in a small business can be complicated. When you learn how to find a good small business coach you can accelerate your path to growth and success. The challenge is that if you haven’t had a coach before, you may find that it is difficult to find a...
How to get more customers for your small business can be a real challenge. Small businesses don’t have a big budget for advertising and social media ads. The opportunities from public speaking have the edge over everything else you might do. Speaking can involve a...
Knowing your customer should be on the top of your “Things-To-Do-List”. It is one of the areas that many small businesses seem to struggle with, and because it is frustrating, they ignore it. With a better understanding of your customers’ needs and wants you’ll have a...
When you started your small business, you may have been motivated by many of the advantages of owning your own company. Total control over your destiny, the ability to manage your own time, the potential to grow your own income were just a few of the perks behind your...
We see and hear how small businesses are struggling to find good employees. Not every company is experiencing these same issues. What are some of the best practices that small businesses can implement that will help them overcome the struggles of attracting good...
If you’re a small business owner you are not a stranger to the feeling of overwhelm at times. It takes more to overwhelm some people than others, but the feelings and the impact are the same. You can end up distracted and off your path of running a profitable small...
By Henry Chidgey Having difficult conversations. Think of a conversation you've been putting off. Got it? Great. Then let's dig in. A lot has been written on the subject of difficult, important, challenging, crucial discussions and conversations. Those times...
This is the time of year many people set New Year’s Resolutions. What we’re doing is determining goals for the foreseeable future. Goal setting can appear differently depending upon a person’s way of life, values and meaning of success. Your objectives are...
You can learn to lead a team effectively Learning how to lead a team effectively is arguably one of the most important skills you will develop as a leader. After all, the people that you choose to work with can make or break a project. It is crucial, therefore, that...