Category: Leadership

Leaders

Leadership Is Foresight…

Being a leader is 24-7 job, and educational opportunities to improve yourself are everywhere. Learn from your friends and family and sometimes complete strangers, and you’ll find opportunities at every turn

 – Byron Scott and Charles Norris

Leader

Where are you now and where do you want to be? In the book Slam Dunk Success, Magic Johnson articulated in the Forward that most people think you win then you become a leader. But it’s the other way around. You’re a leader first, then you win.

Leaders Are Everywhere

Leaders are everywhere and so are leadership opportunities. Punctured or not, Magic urged that you may be an entry-level employee or a middle manager, but not to worry. Every department is looking for a leader. To have the courage to stand up and take the lead, you will become successful.

Leadership is Innate

Leaders are constantly changing the world around them. They may be involved in business or in the community. Opportunities abound.

Leadership Is Foresight

Manage yourself. Think of where you are now and where you want to be. Then take the steps ….one at a time. Try. Learn. Fail. Get back up and do it again. You will succeed with hard work and persistence. As always, don’t give up.

Cheers!

13 Things I Learned From Working With A Micro Manager…

team pic

 Give me guidance, not micro management

Micromanagement. It’s negative. Besides the organizational impact of higher turnover, stress, lowered productivity, team members suffer dire consequences when being micro-managed. We dare say that many still practice it… but is it wise? Is there a basis for micromanagement?

Micromanagement is a management style whereby a manager closely observes and/or controls the work of his/her subordinates or employees. Micromanagement is generally considered to have a negative connotation, mainly due to the fact that it shows a lack of freedom in the workplace

Below are some simple examples of reasons learnt from working with a Micromanager.

  1. Not to micromanage
  2. It’s frustrating
  3. Time goes by slowly and you long for weekends and holidays
  4. It induces lack of confidence
  5. You question yourself “am I doing it right?“
  6. You double and triple-check your work to make sure there are no mistakes
  7. You become insecure, often asking yourself; “am I going to lose my job today?”
  8. Productivity increases when the boss is absent because employees are ‘happier’. The opposite is also true because employees feel relieved, relaxed and become unproductive
  9. The micromanager rarely gives praise because he/she is focused on finding mistakes
  10. Micromanagement causes increased Stress which leads to health issues and absenteeism
  11. Individuals make irrational decisions when they become frustrated. Some even throw in the towel and resign without knowledge of the next steps.
  12. Turnover is high
  13. The micro manager is a control freak because he/she is often insecure 

Were you ever micro-managed? How did it affect you? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Little Leaders…

“Become the kind of leader that other people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position.” — Brian Tracy

 

We were waiting to have a required group photo taken for a while. After a few emails it was finally arranged. Whew! Today was the day. Personally, I didn’t know beforehand so did the best I could to ‘right’ the face, the hair, the clothes.

Then they arrived. The photographers. Three little ones. Three little leaders! Yup! They took the pics and did an amazing job too!

Leadership: Age Doesn’t Matter

Caused me to ponder about Leadership. Age doesn’t matter. It’s the qualities that count. Those developing and those seasoned. I fall in the latter and was intrigued by the little leaders. That’s how the journey begins.

How about you? Are you giving your young ones the opportunity to develop their leadership skills? It’s an opportunity that should not be missed.

Cheers!

Mistakes: Don’t Cling. Move On…

Don’t cling to a mistake because you spent a long time making it. Look back, connect the dots. Learn from it and move on.

Cheers!

Listen Leaders, Listen…

If you only listen to one side, I’ll never tell you the other unless you talk to me. ~Dr.Shelly Cameron

17 Signs You Have A Bad Boss…

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A Bad Manager can take a good staff and destroy it, causing the best employees to flee and the remainder to lose all motivation.

We have all had to deal with bad bosses at one time or the other throughout our career. We scream, complain, lose the Typical drive, become demotivated, do barely enough to get by, or inevitably jump ship. If you are dealing with a bad boss here are a few examples of characteristics that depicts the behavior.

  1. Lack of vision and inability to communicate effectively
  2. Micromanaging
  3. Thinking you have all the answers and that you must have all the answers
  4. Working late everyday
  5. Poor Hiring Decisions
  6. Failure to Admit Mistakes
  7. Takes the credit but gives the blame
  8. Provides little/no feedback or coaching
  9. Shows favoritism
  10. Task-focused vs team-oriented
  11. Selects and leads based on “like me”
  12. Ignores diversity of thought or varying opinions
  13. Past focused vs present/future
  14. Being a friend instead of a leader
  15. Failing to delegate and demonstrate trust
  16. Allowing ego and pride to get in the way of good decisions
  17. Personal agendas/motives

If you are a new manager, reflect on these characteristics. Recognize the signs and plan to change. You will then be on your way to becoming a good leader.

Need help? Lets connect.

Cheers!

The Color Of Identity….

Here’s CNN video interview with several individuals expressing their journey on deciding whether they identify with a particular race or another. Discrimination abounds and can get Messy.  So to some they are thrilled to avoid the upfront open decision of sharing who they really are. Some are thrilled, but later become confused as they are confronted by issues that they need to deal with.

You Are You

As an Organizational Development practitioner, the choice now exists for people to choose when doing background checks. They must choose what gender or race they identify with. No longer can it be taken for granted face-to-face to identify. You are you. You decide which you, you want to be (tongue twister). Such a Fabric of our imagination.

In my research conducted on Success Strategies, this was one of my findings. Leaders when asked what ethnic group they identified with, expressed choices. Some were taken aback by the simple question because they thought it obvious, while others who were of mixed race and could identify with one group or other based on their preference, selected whatever they wanted. The conclusion from the findings of that research…more work needs to be done on this area.

So as I conclude this simple discussion, the question remains….who are you? Do you know? Do share.

Cheers!

Take The Risk: Jump

Sometimes in life you have to just make the move. I jumped 14,000 ft from a skydive high above the sea. The open air, sea, and clouds were all I could perceive. No easy feat. Like a Rube garbed in Costume, I was as scared as ever. But, with a trained guide affixed to my back and the wonders of a reliable parachute, I did it! (yikes)!

Today, I encourage you to step out and do whatever you want to do. Simply plan it, and with wisdom…do it even when you’re afraid.

Here’s a synopsis of my journey through the eyes of my youngest.

Go, make yours happen!

Cheers!

The Leader In You…

What do we do in a crisis? When things change within a minute….when there is little or no warning? That’s when Leaders jump in. They take control. Does it matter if they wear the leadership hat? No, it doesn’t. That’s when Quiet Leaders step up; they jump into action.

So what does being a leader have to do with you?

You may say, I am not a leader so this does not pertain to me. But reflect on your life. Are you a parent? Do you have responsibilities on the job? Do you play sports? Are you a sibling? Are you a part of an association, club, church, or more? If you reflect on these, you will find that all these call for some form of leadership skills. At its inner core, we are responsible for leading our own self.

Leadership Lessons

John Wooden’s memoir titled Lessons From a Legend revealed Wooden’s success as a person and as a coach. Lessons included:

  • The stance that sports do not build character but reveal it
  • Individuals must pay attention to details
  • Individuals should be careful of complacency by being quick, but not hurrying
  • Individuals should also act with integrity
  • Individuals should build a foundation for success.

Wooden’s Pyramid of Success indicated that at the top of the pyramid was competitive greatness. On the levels leading up to it were key milestones such as loyalty, friendship, and team spirit. Winning or losing is a byproduct of individual preparation.

So are you Waiting on the formal leader to show your potential? Please don’t. Arise from Underground. Step up you Quiet Ones. Strive, take the lead. It’s in your potential.

Are you waiting to take the lead on your career but afraid? Let’s Connect

Cheers!