Every once in a while do a complete assessment of your and your team’s contributions to the overall mission, vision and purpose of the organization that you work for. During this process, ask yourself, are you providing strategic value? Are you contributing (directly or indirectly) to the main cause and main reason why all of you are there? If the …
Engage, listen, learn then lead
Embrace the ideas of others, invite and enable all to share their opinions, ideas and suggestions as only then you will begin to align and improve. Additionally, if your ideas get challenged (in a professional and respectful manner) publicly, appreciate and respect people’s ideas and suggestions and take them under advisement. Finally, don’t be vindictive towards those who respectfully present …
Customer service counts
Customer service counts in all industries more than ever. Bad experiences get shared across networks fairly quickly and poor customer service can significantly decrease your market share and profitability even if your product is superior to those of your competitors. Focus your attention on your clients, hire and train all staff with a customer-centric approach in mind as it will …
Include people and lead together
One can never be too informed. Get as much valuable and relevant information as you can so that you can act on that information, make decisions and lead people. The best way to do this is to actually include people and ask for their input, their ideas and suggestions. Include people and lead together.
Culture of evidence and collaboration
As you and your team go about your daily responsibilities it is important to create the culture of evidence and collaboration. Each team needs to be able to document their performance, progress, accomplishments and contributions. The value of such resource will continue to grow with time as it begins to serve as a knowledge management databases of source. This resource …
How to be a great leader
To be a great leader you must make your intentions, actions and decisions about others, not yourself. You also need to provide needed resources and create a safe and relaxed environment. Additionally, you also need management skills to build on as all members of your team must be aware of the policies, rules, guidelines and responsibilities. Finally, share responsibility, empower …
Lack of leadership? Fill the void
If you happened to be on a team or in an organization where leadership is lacking to provide what’s necessary for staff to be successful not everything is lost. While your options are somewhat “limited” you can do some of the following: you can accept your faith complain, which won’t do you any good leave (always an option) or do …
Work ethic and pride in quality
Work ethic and pride in ones work seems to have be diminishing across various industries and market segments in recent years. Reasons for this nonchalant behavior and lack of work ethic, commitment and quality can and often do vary. However, whatever they may be, it is up to leaders to perform full assessments (audits if you will) and determine these …
Don’t apologize for your opinions
Be authentic, transparent and most importantly, be who you are. Now, don’t confuse this with being confrontational or difficult for no apparent reason, what I actually refer to is sticking to your beliefs and opinions which are backed by facts, experience and values. If you have seriously considered all options and alternatives and you have formed an educated opinion don’t …
In-person conversations
The lost art of in person conversations is now more valuable than ever. It is especially important and effective when you are trying to understand causes of issues and challenges and when you need to communicate vision, values and motivate people. Take the necessary time and make the effort to meet with people to learn what makes them tick; what …