---Free Video---
Offer extended due to a technical glitch!
Problems and decisions. Everyone has problems to deal with and decision which must be made but dealing with them doesn't have to be hard. This 25 minute video describes two processes that make decision making and problem solving easier, more efficient, and less stressful.
For the next 30 days, this program will be available to newsletter subscribers only. Just click the link below and watch the video. Then, download two outlines to help jog your memory as you become familiar with the process.
This is free to you, but I do ask you take one additional action. There is a link to a short survey (only 5 questions). Please go to the survey after you've watched the video.
Thank you and enjoy. You'll be making better decisions and more effectively dealing with problems in no time.
Watch the Video Now!
Get your copy now!
Balancing the Generations: A Leader's Guide to the Complex, Multi-Generational, 21st Century Workplace
The book examines each generation, dispels common myths, and gives leaders tools to build a more effective organization by helping them recognize and take advantage of each generation's strengths.
If you were born between 1900 and 2000 and are in the 21st Century workplace, you need to read this book!
< |
End of Year Leadership Thoughts
By Bob Mason
As another year draws to a close, it's customary to review the last year and make plans for the next. As you probably realize, I'm a bit of a contrarian on these things. So, if you aren't reviewing your mission, goals, and objectives on a regular schedule, it won't do you any good to look at them now. Same goes for those New Year's resolutions. Most fitness centers will tell you they sell year long memberships in January because if they only sold monthly memberships they'd be broke by May, since very few people ever keep their resolutions. I made a resolution years ago not to make any more resolutions and it's the only one I've ever kept. That doesn't mean that I don't set goals and objectives. I just don't wait until January.
Here in the United States, we begin the holiday season with Thanksgiving, except for retail which begins the Christmas holiday season in February. It's great to have a day set aside to be thankful and count our blessings, but how about doing that more often? As we ride the economic roller coaster into next year it might be a good idea.
Mentor is a current buzzword that I know you've all heard. It simply refers to helping someone be better than they are. In leadership we call that, well, leadership. Who are you mentoring? Who is (are) your mentor(s)? Are you helping at least as many people as are helping you?
I very seldom recommend movies. I'm going to make an exception though for Lincoln. The movie follows the last month of Lincoln's life as he labored to pass the 13th amendment abolishing slavery. Lincoln is partly based on the book, A Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin which I reviewed in August of 2011. The movie illustrates some important leadership traits: a vision and passion for that vision, strong leadership toward a specific goal, and an ability to take in advice from others, but sort the good from the bad and not be swayed from the course. If you haven't seen Lincoln go!
A special end-of-year shout to Daniel O. Jacobs. Daniel is one of the earliest subscribers to this newsletter. He founded the Center for Creative Youth International in Nigeria to help young people learn the basics of leadership to accelerate their county's development. I can't think of a much higher calling.
Last month I offered you, the readers of this ezine a free look at my new problem solving video. Unfortunately there was a technical glitch (which means I messed it up) and some of you were not able to access the site. So, I'm extending the offer to you for another 30 days. Get the program here. All I ask is that you take a few minutes to answer a very short survey about the program.
I'm writing this in a hotel room in between sessions to create even better leadership seminars. I strive to constantly improve what I present to audiences, both live and in writing. What else would you find useful in this ezine? Please send me your thoughts. I really want to know.
Happy holidays to everyone.
Get a fresh new article every week to help you on your leadership journey.
Go to www.planleadexcel.com/Bobs-Blog
See all the past video blogs on the YouTube channel
|
Great Leaders Take People Where They Ought To Be
By Richard Brody
It is not an indication that someone is a true leader is he simply abides by the will of his constituents, and blindly follows the directions that they give. Real leaders understand that effective leadership must always be about showing others the way, rather than simply following the masses. In other words, leaders must lead, and not follow, and true leadership is about understanding that doing the right thing, having a viable vision, and motivating others to follow are necessary components. President Jimmy Carter described leadership as well as I have ever seen when he stated, "Leaders take people where they want to go. Great leaders take people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be." Therefore, if one wants to be a superior, rather than a mediocre leader, he commits to showing others the way, whether it is the popular thing to do or not, because it is the right thing to do. 1. It is generally far easier to simply preside over an organization, without ruffling feathers, and making any types of significant changes. However, because something may be the easier and more convenient thing, surely does not make it better, and great leadership comes about only when a leader places what's best for his organization as his highest priority. True leaders must never be ego, or self - driven, but rather must be committed to implementing a vision that he earnestly believes is the best and most important for his group. In over thirty years of identifying, qualifying, and consulting to over a thousand individuals in leadership or pre - leadership positions, I have come to realize that it is indeed rare to come upon an individual with the inner fortitude to go against the tide when he is convinced that the tide needs to be redirected. 2. Great leaders are strong - willed and right - minded individuals, who always prioritize the needs of his organization over his personal responsibility. Some of our greatest leaders, those who made a substantial real long - term difference, were not at all popular during their tenure in office. However, in many cases, if it were not for their inner fortitude, persistence and commitment, many an organization would have risked lapsing into irrelevance. In my personal experience, I have been in situations where I was nearly the only one in a group that saw that there were certain needs, and fought on and spoke out, despite almost unanimous opposition. In just about every case, my predictions came true, and the organizations eventually came about to enacting and doing what needed to be done. Leaders must be willing to speak up and to speak out. True leaders are always the first ones to analyze and realize certain realities that have significant ramifications. Richard has owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, and Director of Development, as well as a consultant. He has professionally run events, consulted to over a thousand leaders, and conducted personal development seminars, for over 30 years. Rich has written three books and well over a thousand articles. His company, PLAN2LEAD, LLC has an informative website http://plan2lead.net and Plan2lead can also be followed on Facebook http://facebook.com/Plan2lead
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Brody
http://EzineArticles.com/?Great-Leaders-Take-People-Where-They-Ought-To-Be&id=7418652
|
Communication
Communicating with other people is an absolutely critical part of leadership success. In fact, you're communicating all the time, whether you realize it or not. If you want to be a better leader, you need to constantly improve your ability to communicate well. I recommend you join a Toastmasters club. Toastmasters is about the best program I've seen for learning to express yourself to others. Go to Toastmasters.org
|
A QUESTION ON LEADERSHIP
Why do so many leadership development programs fail?
The problem with leadership development is often rooted in the definition of leader and therefore where the program starts. If leadership development doesn't begin until one reaches the executive levels, it's too late. Leadership development needs to begin at the lowest level supervisors and be a continuous process throughout a leader's career. Also, leadership development must be a combination of events, both education and training, not just a couple of seminars.
Also, there are plenty of leaders in the world who seem to have some success, but most of us wouldn't want them to be emulated. Leadership development must be a program that sets the right example.
Please send your thoughts and questions to comments@planleadexcel.com. I'll post them in the next edition.
|
| |
Some Random Thoughts
Remember how much time we used to have before we had all these time saving devices?
Remember when there were only one or two phones in the house and none on our belts, or purses, or cars. If we were outside and the phone rang, we didn't answer it. Somehow the world continued to function.
I don't remember anyone ever demanding laws to stop junk mail.
Does anyone realize that many things were created before there were computers? Like computers.
Remember how we used to just roll our eyes when older people talked about how things used to be? Some things never change.
| |
|
