Tag Archives: personal-development

3 Essential Responsibilities of Effective Leadership

27 Feb

If you’re in leadership in any way, shape or form, regardless of position, be it CEO, midlevel manager, overseer of a project, or parent. You will want to reread, review, and meditate on what you are about to read. It’s my humble opinion from holding numerous and various leadership roles and positions there are three core responsibilities of any leadership role.

Leadership is defined as an action of leading a group of people. In writing about this subject or topic, the information could go on for pages. But my intent is to drill down to what really matters, the core responsibilities of leadership and what leaders need to know and to put into practice to be highly successful in their leadership role. There are three areas, once mastered that will create winning teams, develop other leaders along the way, build a culture of integrity, and create an incredible environment for continued success. However, you must remember as a leader being anything other than an exemplary example to the people you lead in these three areas is non-negotiable.

I’m going to take for granted that as a leader the end goal has already been created either for you or by you and thus, you are at a point of implementation or maybe somewhere in between the beginning or the end. No matter, these three areas of the core responsibilities are but a framework to be studied in more detail and expanded upon at your leisure. The more of an understanding you have of each will lead to greater success. Let’s get started!

First, understand that in order to be effective in leading, you must know and I mean know the people you are leading. Their strengths, weaknesses, personalities, hopes, dreams, hardships at home and in life, children, etc. Knowing the people you lead thoroughly really matters and being fair and just with each will create loyalty, trust, and a culture of caring for one another. This and this alone will lay the foundation for all things related to the success.

To begin with you must create belief in what you and your team are pursuing. If a positive expectation of a desired outcome is not encapsulated in belief, struggle and frustration are imminent. To be clear, creating belief can be challenging especially with the different personalities you are leading, so preparation is a must, which includes:

  1. The motivation for the goal… the team or company must understand the why. Why the goal and what will it mean for them, the target objective, and the future upon completion.
  2. Information and evidence that the goal matters.
  3. The goal resonates with those involved. There should be evidence presented arousing curiosity and belief.
  4. Overcoming and acknowledging the skepticism. Challenge the doubt. Address the issues with solution and answers that promote success.
  5. Creating a culture of belief by reinforcing your belief.

Next, there must be a confident expectation of a positive outcome. This expectation must consistently be feed to build confidence through:

  1. Stories… like the great adage says, “Facts tell but stories sale”. Always be prepared with stories that motivate, inspire, are positive, overcome doubts, are easily remembered, and that assurances a positive outcome.
  2. Goals that are realistic but challenging
  3. Managing the difficulties that arise, step by step, minus the trepidation.
  4. Celebrating the small victories along the way.
  5. WORDS… WORDS MATTER! There’s an old proverb that says, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue”. So, watch what is being said, from your mouth and the mouth of others. Words can either build up or tear down. If the words being spoken are not reenforcing a confident expectation of a positive outcome, you’re hindering your possibilities for success. ALWAYS be positive in your words, the stories told, and the difficulties that may arise.

Last and the final core responsibility, A FLURISHING CULTURE, which is consistent reveals itself through:

  1. Transparency… nothing should be kept from the team or group. To do so would create a negative environment. One of gossip, innuendos, weak relationships, and reduced trust. There must be transparency to build trust, relationships, and improve all aspects of the culture.
  2. Patience in reaching the intended goal, and with one another.
  3. Kindness toward one another.
  4. Not demanding its own way.
  5. Not letting jealousy, boastfulness, pride, or being rude dominate.
  6. Never giving up, losing belief, or sight of the confident expectation of a positive outcome.
  7. Enduring to the end, no matter the circumstances encountered.

A Leader that incorporates these three core responsibilities into their style of leadership. Along with complete preparation for each of these responsibilities and the actions required, will increase their opportunities for success. When implemented, a confident expectation of a positive outcome is assured.

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4 Daily Habits for Lifelong Success

26 Jan

If you can develop four, just four simple daily habits, you have just created a great recipe for success. Let me explain. First, we all are creatures of our habits. Second, our habits determine our success and failures in life. And third, our habits will dictate our destinies. For example, bad habits like smoking, excessive screen time, procrastination, and a poor diet are a short list of the many habits that can undermine our desire for any type of success in your personal or professional life. But there is hope for success in our personal and professional life. Success that others can obtain but will envy unless they too are willing to put in the effort of creating habits for the life they truly desire.

Here are the four simple habits, when put into daily practice that will change your entire life and the lives of others.

  1. Gratitude: “Gratitude will unlock all virtues and is something you can get better at” (Kevin Kelly). If, when you first awake you think of one thing you are grateful for and then verbally expressing that gratitude before you get out of bed, you will be happier, healthier, and have a better positive outlook on life. Just a simple statement of gratefulness for the new day, or a relationship, or life itself has wonderful benefits. For instance: Psychologytoday.com say, gratefulness improves of our physical and mental wellbeing, along with strengthening our relationships. And has also been shown to lower blood pressure, strengthen our immune systems, reduce symptoms of illness and make us less bothered by aches and pains. So, developing the simple habit of gratitude before our feet hit the floor in the morning will change everything.
  2. Exercise: “Movement plus variety equals health” (Kevin Kelly). Did you know that creating the habit of exercise will boost your energy and enhance your mood. The Mayo Clinic and healthline.com say, “regular physical activity can improve muscle strength, boost endurance, helps maintain a healthy body weight and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. It also has a positive effect on our mental health by reducing stress, anxiety and depression.” So, if you want to feel better, look better, fight off possible illness and have a heathier overall attitude about life, exercise! Start by just going for a walk but make that walk a habit. Robert Collier said that “Little Steps can lead to great things when taken consistently and with determination.
  3. Reading: The habit of reading everyday develops knowledge, improves focus, strengthens memory, and vocabulary. It also makes you interesting to talk with during friend and colleague conversations. Jim Rohn said, “Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary” and Frederick Douglass said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” Many say if you want to standout, become extraordinary, and create a better future for yourself, develop the habit of reading at least 10 pages of any good book each day. Then take would you learn and make application about what you read.
  4. Helping Others: Every day look for some way to help someone. Be it a smile, a lending hand, or a positive remark. This habit alone will change their world and yours. Ann Frank said, “No one has ever become poor by giving” and Jesus said, “It is better to give than to receive”. Many have said that in putting others ahead of oneself one becomes rich. The habit of helping someone in some way daily will positively put you in a better mood, help with understanding your purpose, strengthen relationships and make new relationships. It even helps with your overall health.

Developing these for habits would be a life changer and very satisfying to say the least. The amount of time could be anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour a day, with exercising and reading being most of that time. Start today with developing the habits, stay consistent and preserve. Remember keep your eye and the prize and you will reach your destination.

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How You See Yourself Matters

23 Dec

Most of us go through life getting by from day to day. We find ourselves lost in the despair of providing for ourselves and our families. Being consumed by worry, fear, and doubt, and our need of being esteemed, liked and loved, makes it even more difficult. So, what can we do?

Did you know that how you see your situation and even yourself, has consequences? If you see your situation as one full of gloom and doom, that is what it will be. If you see yourself in a negative light, negativity is what you will produce. It’s the law of what you see is what you get. Have you ever heard the saying, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”? Well, there have even been books written on the subject. One is “As a Man Thinketh” by James Allen.

Other quotes, include, “As you think, so shall you become”, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is”, and “What you focus on grows”. Each of these sayings, conclude that thoughts will shape one’s character and life. For example: If you think that you will fail, you will fail. If you have thoughts of yourself as inferior, that low and negative opinion will hinder you until you change the way you think. If your old enough to remember the Star Trek series, Commander Kirk would say, “Think man, think!”, what and how you think matters. It reveals to others how you see yourself.

So, instead of thinking scarcity, think abundance. Replace thoughts of inferiority with superiority, and failure with success. See yourself as being a lover of people and you will be loved. If you have anger issues, begin seeing yourself as a person of peace and good humor. You see, changing your thoughts will change your life and the lives of those around you.

As you begin this new journey of changing the way you think, you will have good days and not so good days. But never give up, your perseverance will be rewarded. Your life will be transformed, your character polished, and your friends and acquaintances astonished. Remember, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

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