Tag: Leaders

Don’t Be Scared. Ask.

Don’t be afraid. Ask

Heart pounding. I reached for the phone ….10 times. Scared. How can I ask? They will say no or think I’m factitious. But the feeling of uneasiness, discomfort and pain would not go away. So pride aside, I picked up the phone.

They said yes.

Aren’t we all like that at times? Whether its a job, promotion, increase, entrepreneurial venture, or relationship, we encounter sleepless nights and stress because we are afraid to ask. Our wants, desires and needs go unfulfilled because we are afraid to ask.

But…

Asking alleviates confusion, conflict, clarifies, and resolves our challenges and issues. Most important it helps us grow and creates a feeling of importance and joy to the person who has the answer.

But what if they respond negatively? What if they don’t? Go ahead and ask….I dare you?

Cheers!

Writers: 50 Productivity Hacks For Entrepreneurs That You Can Use…

Paper, electronic or a combination of both? No matter your preference, you’re sure to find John Ramton’s 50 Productivity Hack’s For Entrepreneurs a great source of inspiration. Of his 50, here are my top 13 favs:

Top 13 Time Hacks

  1. Plan your day around your energy levels
  2. Optimize notification
  3. Schedule the time you actually need
  4. Plan themed days
  5. Pump up the jams
  6. The 2-minutes rule
  7. Don’t break the chain
  8. Just time learning
  9. Plan for interruptions
  10. Every Friday, review your calendar for the past week and the week coming
  11. Pencil in time to do nothing
  12. Unsubscribe and unfollow
  13. Give yourself a break

Which of the 50 did you like the most? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Goals: Sometimes You Will Just Have To Show Up Without An Invitation….

Sometimes you will just have to show up without an invitation where doors were never opened for you. Just Go. Don’t let anyone deny you the Opportunity. ~Henry Fernandez

Encouraged by this. Hope you are too.

As the sun rises daily without an invitation, we should rise in pursuit of our Goals. Let no one stop you. Go. Reach for the opportunity and if it doesn’t exist, create one. For only you can accomplish what you will.

Cheers!

New Mayor’s Historical Appointment. Success And The Challenges He Had To Overcome…

I was flying out of the Fort Lauderdale International airport to Washington DC for a conference when I heard the familiar voice of Broward County’s newly appointed Mayor VC Holness announcing welcome to visitors. Mayor Holness made history recently when he was unanimously voted to become the first Black Mayor to lead the county. Indeed an achievement.

Success Strategies Research

Personally I extend my own congratulations because years ago when I conducted my research on Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders in the United States with Nova Southeastern University, Mayor Holness quite willingly agreed to participate in the phenomenalogical study. At the time he was Commissioner. In the research he shared the strategies he used to become successful as well as the challenges encountered along the way.

Regardless of how we feel about politics, his appointment signifies a goal he went after and achieved.

Mayor Holness continues to strive. To work hard to show those who wish to achieve that it can be done through hard work and dedication.

More of his story as well as those of other industry leaders in healthcare, aviation, education, media and more can be read in the book Success Strategies of Immigrant Leaders In The United States.

Thanks again Mayor VC Holness for your willingness to go beyond the call of duty to share your experience to benefit rising millennial leaders.

Cheers!

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!