Tag: Leaders

Leaders Discover Yourself…

Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple and it is also that difficult.– Warren Bennis

At a family social 9-year-old RJ was asked to be the leader for his little brother and cousins at the park. He looked shocked. He’s never been asked to play that role formally before. Yet unknown to him he has always done it. He was a natural born leader.

Discover Yourself

When we reach for a goal that is beyond our usual capacity we discover great things about ourselves. Things that surprise, encourage, and please us. Things that make us go aghast. Leadership opportunities are all around at work, school or play. You don’t have to have that official title of leader.

Stretch Yourself

But these leadership discoveries can only happen when we step outside our comfort zone. When we are scared but do it anyway.

Step outside your comfort zone today. Stretch yourself. You’ll discover great things. Read more in my book Success Strategies of Leaders.

Cheers!

Silence…

Be silent, or say something better than silence. Pythagoras

My three-year-old nephew was playing hide and seek with the other boys when one of the boys came over to hide near where I was sitting. He started giggling. I told him not to because it’s a secret. Maybe that was his first time being exposed to the word because he started shouting secret! Secret! It was hilarious!

Think Before You Speak

But what about us? Do we do the same in our daily lives, jobs, business or entrepreneurship endeavors? Do we publicize or quietly share what others tell us in secret? Do we know when to speak and when to be silent? Do we know what to to share and when to share it? Communication is key to relationships and knowing the right time to speak is even more important.

Many are the secrets that have been espoused that have destroyed organizations, relationships and families. Remember speech is silver, silence is golden.

Let’s make it a habit to think before we speak.

Cheers!

4 Strategies To Beat The Over-Qualified Syndrome…

The fear they seek becomes their own

The Qualified are haunted and hunted by the overqualified syndrome. One recruiter even went so far as to say she would not hire someone who she believes is ‘over-qualified’ for the job. But has that recruiter examined the reason the so-called over-qualified applicant is searching? It could be for a career change. It could be to start a family and the person chooses to take a step back. It could also be an empty nester with a desire to simply slow down.

Give the Peeps a Chance

Here’s where it becomes necessary for the well-experienced candidate to use strategies to convince recruiters that you have no intention to come in to wreak havoc. Your desire is to join forces and work hard for the organization and/or department’s benefit.

Be warned Recruiter, one day you may be get there and then you will understand…when you’re misunderstood.

4 Strategies to Overcome

In her Wall Street Journal article the overqualified trap can hit you at any time, Sue Shellenbarger shared several strategies to combat the syndrome. Here I share my top 4 favs:

  1. Explain upfront why you’re applying for a position that seems beneath you
  2. Be consistent in explaining your reasons for applying throughout all interviews for the job
  3. Line up references who will vouch for your commitment
  4. Network with contacts who also know insiders at the target company

As a HR practitioner myself, I tend to be open to diverse applicants and our society certainly expects it. However, not all organization’s search process is without idiosyncrasies. So if you are an experienced job searcher as The power of Resilience when things go wrong in this depiction, the strategies listed before will help.

If you are on the hunt and find that there’s something that works for you, do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers!

 

The Rush For Time…

Nature never rushes, yet everything gets done.

“You’ve got to drive around ma’am. We have a time to customer service that we have to meet”, drawled the drive-through clerk.

Growing kids have appetites that sometimes seem never-ending. So auntie drove into Burger King. Ordered stuff for the boys amidst repeated requests “will that be all ma’am?” With each question, she felt rushed. She wanted something herself but not one for fast food, she decided to ask for help when she got to the drive-through window. While paying for the kids’ order she asked whether she could get a sandwich. That’s when she was told that she would have to join the line of traffic again to get another sandwich. What in the world? She thought she misunderstood so she sought clarification. That’s when she was told that the employees have a set-time-to-meet-each-order and she was affecting it. In disbelief she asked again. Seven minutes later same response then from supervisor, Patricia on duty. Out of consideration for the growing line of famished drivers waiting behind her, auntie drove away. Lose-lose situation for sure.

The Rush For Time Two

In another incident, the Fedex delivery guy tossed the package at the door. Without ringing the doorbell, he quickly made his getaway. This act repeatedly done over his 6 hour route as he tried to meet his targeted goals. Oh the haste to deliver packages door to door.

Where’s The Service?

There are many more situations that can be shared about the new focus on meeting deadlines to the detriment of Quality service. Dismantled packages. Incorrect orders. Broken pieces. All creates havoc for service departments. So goes the new trend on delivery, Uber-eats and all. Compliance divisions pay thousands of dollars to dissatisfied customers in their attempt to correct terrible behaviors.

Disconnect

There is a severe disconnect. Why not marry the two? Stress to employees and external contract service providers the importance of optimal Quality service while meeting delivery deadlines

Be assured that one cannot exist without the other.

Have you experienced the negatives of the Rush For Time? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Leading Leaders: Feedback That Engages…

When it comes to feedback, clear is kind. Unclear is unkind ~Brene Brown

11 Top Habits Of High Achievers…

 

Small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results. ~Robin Sharma

Inc shared Christina DesMarais 25 Simple Daily Habits That Separate High Achievers From Everyone Else Here I Share my top 11 favs from her list.

Top Habits of High Achievers

  1. Every morning, delegate, defer, and delete.
  2. Start every day very early
  3. Get outdoors for physical activity.
  4. Focus on quality, not quantity.
  5. Set aside 30 minutes to focus on long-term improvements
  6. Make time for joy.
  7. Start the day with meditation.
  8. Listen, read, and create something new.
  9. Never book more than half your day.
  10. Put creativity back on your to-do list.
  11. Visualize success

Personal Favs

Of the traits the two that stand out are delegate, defer and delete. Too often we try to do everything ourselves without delegating or deferring to those aptly capable. Often too we hold onto stuff that we have been doing for years not realizing the process is no longer applicable and should be …yup…deleted.

My other fav is Never booking more than half our day with meetings. I have have known colleagues who book their entire day without thinking about when they will find time to check emails or communicate with issues awaiting their approval. What then happens is the rush to work late nights, weekends and holidays. Years ago I was as guilty as charged. Then I learnt. Balance is important.

How about you? Any that stands out for you? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Book Talk Shares Business Tips For Caribbean Americans …

Where there’s purpose, there’s meaning. Reflecting on my Book Talk on Caribbean Americans and the Excerpt from Caribbean National Weekly Newspaper.

“Entering the business world in American can be a hard task when you’re a Caribbean immigrant, from navigating a new culture of commerce, to establishing your own value in the marketplace. Addressing this tricky quagmire, African-American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) hosted Dr. Shelly Cameron as she discussed her book, “Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders.”

The talk, explored strategies on how to be successful, inspired by effective traits from Caribbean-American business leaders, from the challenges they encountered after migration, to the factors that most influenced their success.

The project, said author Dr. Cameron, was inspired by the familiar confusion over “why some immigrants are successful yet others are still struggling?”

The book breaks down findings from a study at Nova Southeastern University, collaborating with successful Caribbean-Americans in the United States, who succeeded in business, media, healthcare, education, government, aviation, politics, and other fields.

Dr. Cameron hopes this book can help the next generation of entrepreneurs, particularly minorities.

“I wanted to outline what the youth of America and ethnic minorities could learn from those who came before, who were born under similar circumstances as they were, and yet became successful,” said Dr. Cameron.

Cheers!

Recognizing Millennial Change-Makers. The Difference They Make…

Always an absolute pleasure to serve as chief Judge and be a part of the Leadership team that propels the Ignite Caribbean 30 Under 30 Change-maker Awards which recognizes young Caribbean-American talent and creates inter-generational dialogue between professionals. This event is held annually at the Inter-American Development Bank, Washington DC.

The energy this year spells promises of Great things to come among youth leaders. In the words of a stalwart awardee “find the grit to unbox yourself.“

The 6 Signs It’s Time To Change Your Direction…

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Ever felt that nudge when you know something is off. That nudge that just won’t go away. We ignore it. Distract it. Do everything we can to procrastinate or avoid that funny feeling that we get. The feeling that only you can identify.

Yes we have all been there. It might be that change in our career, relationship, finances and more. Knowing when it’s time to make that move–to do something different. It’s important to do it and not wait until your circumstances get drastic and the change is forced upon you as can happen when we are forced out of a job.

The Daily Positive shared the 6 Signs For You To Change Direction.  Check out the YouTube video or take a look at the list as it is captured and shared here.

  1. You keep pushing and nothings happening. It’s like your Head is against a brick wall
  2. Everything seems to be falling apart
  3. You consistently don’t feel good and the only time you feel good is when you escape for a moment …be it for the holidays, vacation, a night out or other
  4. Life sends you signs. Recurring themes keep showing up
  5. Your intuition keeps nudging you and you keep ignoring it
  6. Your body is sending you signals that something is not right.

Great list right? Reflect today and take the step to change your direction because its needed. Forge your path using Success Strategies   Need help? Lets connect.

Cheers!