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March 13, 2018

If At First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again

It is rare for anyone to be an overnight success. While some may believe these are nothing more than empty words said to make another feel better about their shortcomings, it actually is a good lesson in perseverance. One only need look as far as many of the products they own or see advertised today. Below are three people who started at zero and through hard work became successful entrepreneurs.

Vera Wang

Vera Wang is a big name in the fashion industry today. Before the beautiful wedding dresses, however, she was a figure skater. When she failed to make the Olympic team, she dropped it and tried to break out in the writing industry with Vogue. She attempted to become an editor-in-chief but was ultimately turned down for the position. Afterward, she turned her attention to the fashion world. Now, no one can look at a wedding magazine without seeing several of her stunning dresses.

Arianna Huffington

Articles on Huffington Post are shared daily on social media sites, earning thousands of hits. The creator of the site, Arianna Huffington, wasn’t always so successful. Before launching the site, she wrote books. The second book she authored was rejected a whopping 36 times from different publishers. When Huffington Post was born, it was originally criticized for its poor quality. Today, it is one of the most visited sites on the web and continues to release more content.

Milton Hershey

Hershey’s chocolate is a staple in every holiday treat. However, in the beginning, Milton Hershey wasn’t so well-received. In fact, he tried to start up three different candy companies before the one everyone knows and loves, and all three ultimately failed. It wasn’t until several years later that he created a formula that was a hit, first with primarily caramels, and then Hershey’s.

It is rare for anyone to get everything right their first try. Many people, even those who are now some of the biggest names in the world, got it wrong time and time again. Whether, like Huffington and Hershey, they knew what they wanted to do at the end of the day, or, like Wang, they dabbled here and there until they found their niche, it took a large amount of skill, patience, and most of all, dedication.

February 10, 2018

Leading Your Team in Times of Crisis

During times of downsizing and uncertainty in the workplace, a manager has no more important job that keeping his team in the loop about what is going on while ensuring that morale stays high and the job gets done.

But this can be hard to do, especially when the world seems to be falling apart and everyone is worried about their future. Here are steps a manager can take to lead their team through times of on-the-job crisis.

1. Keep an open line of communication and honestly let your team know what’s happening. Whether the news is good or bad, the truth should never be sugarcoated or avoided.

2. Be aware of lessons learned. Good managers know that the errors that led to the job crisis can be repeated. The cause of those problems should be studied and learned from. It is important to learn from your mistakes so you can overcome similar situations in the future.

3. The way ahead. Be crystal clear and transparent about exactly how the company plans to move ahead in the future. For this message to be effective, your team will probably have to hear it several times in order for it to sink in.

4. Keep it steady. In times of crisis, it can be difficult for everyone to remain calm and not give into their emotions. As a manager, your team is looking for you to lead and if they see you as being nervous and unsure, that will have a negative impact on them as well. After all, as a manager, your team is looking to you to keep a clear head and to make good decisions.

5. Job and people first. If a manager is asking his team to make sacrifices, he must visibly demonstrate that he is sacrificing as well. Never ask your team to do something that you yourself are not willing to do. If you are asking them to work harder and to do with less, as a manager you should be doing the same thing.

6. Use what you have wisely and well. Managers should use whatever resources they have — the talents of team members, equipment, and money — in a way that gets the most out of them. Mimic those who have inspired you.

January 19, 2018

How to Be a Leader in the Digital Age

Leadership in the digital age is different than leadership was before the onset of integrative technology. Although traditional leadership qualities haven’t been supplanted entirely, those qualities express themselves in different ways.

If you want to be a leader in the digital age, let’s take a look at some of the ways traditional leadership has evolved, and some of the 21st-century skills most in demand.

Knowledge is a different game

Before the internet, it was important for leaders to know a great deal. They had to be well-studied and likely surrounded themselves with other highly knowledgeable people.

Today, it’s less about your memory and more about your ability to research. The hallmark of a great digital leader is recognizing key gaps in knowledge and knowing how to fill those in. Today’s world is less about what you know, and far more about understanding what you don’t.

Communication is key

More than ever people are reaching across borders and cultures to communicate in the realm of business and technology. The ability to disseminate information in an effective way is more important than ever.

Digital leaders care less about their status and more about engaging people on their team, their customers, and their own leadership. Technology has brought people closer together in regards to accessibility, but it’s made us less likely to form real relationships.

A digital leader understands how to use technology to build a relationship, not just to communicate information. They bring a human element to tech.

Curiosity is necessary

Tech moves fast and someone who isn’t curious about things won’t be able to keep up. Digital leaders have an understanding of past technology and a hunger to understand new tech advances. This characteristic keeps them ahead of the curve and ensures that their leadership sets the tone for everyone who works with them.

This is a critical advantage in a rapidly changing world, and one will ensure innovation at every turn.

Digital leaders are not much different than leaders of the past. They rely on people skills to get them through the impersonal nature of tech and utilize technology to their benefit when researching and synthesizing ideas. It isn’t about who is the most knowledgeable, but rather who can bend technology to their most human advantage.

January 10, 2018

How to Motivate As a Leader During Tough Times

In a professional environment, leaders are often faced with various challenges. Sometimes such difficulties are overcome quickly, while others can take a few months to conquer. Most businesses face some sort of tough time during their existence. These scenarios can often put the most pressure and weight on those in leadership roles. Teams are relying on their managers and superiors to guide them through such hardships and that can take a toll on a person. When in a leadership role, it is crucial to set the tone for your group and do your best to keep them on track. Here are some tips for keeping spirits high, even during a tough span of time.

Transparency

One of the most important qualities a leader can have during rough patches is transparency. Although there may be information that remains within management, being as open and honest with your team as possible give them optimism. Often, people need reassurance through multiple channels. If you can provide them with what they want or need to hear right away, it could alleviate some of the stress and nerves. Being candid can save you from a harder conversation down the line, should things take an unexpected turn.

Remain Positive

One of the worst things a leader can do during a tough time is panic or cause panic. Sometimes, you don’t realize that you are creating such an environment for your team. When you act in a manner different than usual it could result in a trickle-down effect. You might be getting brutal treatment or words from your superiors. However, don’t take the same actions towards your team. Being a leader includes directing your team on how to present themselves. If you are acting out and being demanding, they will likely lose respect and continue to worry.

Importance of Roles

Even when times are not hard, it is so vital to remind employees of their value to the over company. From the most entry-level to upper management, everyone has a role that makes the business thrive, and they need to know it. If there is room for movement within departments, take advantage. It can help to keep people motivated if they are able to take on new responsibilities. If you see someone not fulfilling their duties to the best of their abilities, have an open discussion and find out what they are feeling. Making your team aware of their worth and keeping moral as high as possible should be of the utmost importance to you as a leader.

November 14, 2017

Being a Role Model as a Leader

Is a leader expected to be a role model or should his motto be, ‘do as I say and not as I do’?

Leadership involves motivating and directing a group of people towards achieving a set objective. A leader is a strong figure of influence within an organization who is looked up to for guidance, hence it is important for them to model behavior and actions that can be emulated organization-wide. For this reason, as a leader it is crucial to acknowledge that you are a role model; your words, actions, behavior, and attitudes set the standard for the whole organization. Therefore, to achieve organizational success, you must be a positive role model.

How to Be a Good Role Model

Have a clear vision

Being a role model as a leader begins with having a crystal clear image of where you want the organization to go and how that will be achieved. This will enable you to create a strategy, provide direction, as well as organizing your team to achieve the set goals.

Be Inspirational and Charismatic

A role model should be inspirational in order to bring out the best out of their followers, and charismatic in order to attract the attention of the members of the organization such that they willingly desire to follow the set example.

Be a Person of Integrity

Positive leaders do not do the right thing sometimes, they do it all the time. Good character is key in leadership. As a role model, you must provide an example of the actions, behavior, and attitude you want in your organization. You can do this by modeling good work ethic and not misappropriating the organization’s time and resources.

Be Humble

To be a positive role model, you have to have a high regard for your mission and vision, and as a result, respect the team which you essentially need to achieve these. A leader also needs to lay his ego down to a great extent so that he can trust that his team is just as competent as he is, and this, in turn, will help him achieve his vision.

Honesty and Accountability

A role model should be transparent and genuine in the way he deals with both himself and others. He holds himself accountable for his actions and this rubs off on the team he is leading.

Conclusion

The leader sets the tone for the whole organization, and therefore being a positive role model is a highly effective method of leadership because it helps to shape the behavior of your followers without your coercion, hence increasing the success of the organization.

October 10, 2017

Leadership Blogs You Should Know

Effective leadership is something that people around the world are striving to accomplish. It can often be hard to discover leadership tactics on your own accord. Luckily, there have been many leaders before us, who have experimented and put in place, the most efficient tactics. As we all face challenges in our various leadership roles, it is comforting to know that we are not alone. Those who have chosen to express their opinions and strategies for leadership can often be blind to truly how much they are helping those to come after them. Here are some leadership focused blogs that should be on everyone’s radar.

Michael Hyatt

The former CEO of Thomas Nelson has been giving out advice and wisdom for years. Through his books and podcasts, Michael Hyatt has inspired thousands of people to live out their dream. His main focus is to give people the courage they need in order to succeed. The blog that he has created is known as the “Virtual Mentor” and he has proven time and time again that he knows his stuff when it comes to leadership. Running a large publishing company for so many years has allowed him to see which tactics can help someone truly thrive in this ever-changing world. The blogs have become so successful that he has been able to develop a full-fledged magazine to discuss various leadership topics and challenges. Check out Michael’s site here.

MIT Sloan School

One of the top-rated schools in the country has pushed out some of the best leaders through their Sloan School of Management. Some of the world’s most influential leaders have gone through the ranks at Sloan and their blog is truly proof of why. The online content provides insights an collective wisdom from some of the school’s most prestigious faculty and alumni. Through these blogs, developing leaders can learn about everything from innovation to the proper work-life balance. Even if you aren’t currently in a leadership role, the blog series can help set anyone up for pursuing future goals in a higher role.

Stay tuned for more of the best leadership blogs out there!

September 11, 2017

Leaders Who Shine

Much the same as empires, pioneers or leaders can go back and forth with the circumstances. In any case, there are some that keep going for a very long time, and great leadership is the secret. Incredible pioneers can spur followers with motivation, help other people see and put stock in a dream, and lead well. Having an awesome leader in charge is something that humankind needs.

The following are some of the best pioneers that have had positive effects on the planet earth:

Martin Luther King Jr.

Named Michael King Jr., he was an American Baptist priest and dissident who turned into the most unmistakable representative and pioneer in the Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his part in uplifting social equality utilizing the strategies of peacefulness and common rebellion in light of his Christian convictions and motivated by the peaceful activism of Mahatma Gandhi. He was assassinated on April, fourth 1968 at 39 years old in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa, the Nobel Peace Prize champ in 1979, went for caring for the people who had no one to take care of them through her own request “The Missionaries of Charity.” She worked energetically towards her aim until her poor state of well-being – that included two heart assaults, pneumonia, and jungle fever – constrained her to venture down in March 1997 after which she took her last gasp in September 1997.

Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi was the pioneer of the Indian autonomy development against British control. Utilizing peaceful common insubordination, Gandhi drove India to autonomy and motivated developments for social equality and flexibility over the world. The honorific Mahatma (Sanskrit: “high-souled,” “revered”) — connected to him first in 1914 in South Africa — is presently used around the world. In India, he is likewise called Bapu (Gujarati: for “father” and Gandhi. He is informally called the Father of the Nation.

Warren Buffett

Buffett is a standout among the best financial specialists on this planet. A few people have alluded to him as the “Wizard of Omaha” (his origination is Omaha, Nebraska), and he is reliably named as one of the wealthiest people in the world. He has additionally vowed to give away about 99 percent of his amassed riches to magnanimous causes after his passing.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates established Microsoft, the world’s biggest PC programming organization, and every year, he is reliably close to the highest priority on the rundown of the world’s wealthiest people. Throughout the years, Gates has gradually progressed far from Microsoft and into humanitarian endeavors. His establishment, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is attempting to give clean water and sanitation (in addition to other things) to underdeveloped nations. Like Warren Buffett, Gates has likewise guaranteed to leave by far most of his riches to philanthropy.

These are just a few leaders who have greatly affected the world today positively.

August 2, 2017

Leadership Practices Around the World

The world has indeed gotten smaller, and with that has come changes in leadership. Many corporations have gone multinational, both marketing their products and outsourcing labor overseas. This means that leaders are increasingly having to learn to navigate different cultural leadership norms.

Many leaders learn to lead steeped in the values of their home country. They then come to the conclusion that their own country’s method of leadership is the most effective way to run a company or department. These leaders struggle abroad when they discover that different cultures respond differently to different forms of leadership. If they are unable to adopt their style to the needs of their workers, they will not be effective in their position.

Many differences in leadership come down to how a culture views hierarchy within a company. Some cultures value charismatic, autocratic leaders. They trust one capable person to make the best decisions for the company, uncomplicated by too many conflicting viewpoints. Others value democratic leadership that is open to ideas from ground-floor level employees.

Both theories of leadership work, but only because there is an understanding between leaders and their employees that uphold a particular leadership style. If employees expect their leaders to be decisive and autocratic, they will lose faith in a leader that is constantly asking for input. If they expect a leader to be accessible to lower-level employees and open to feedback, they will become frustrated with one who does not live up to that expectation.

For example, in France and Spain, employees like autocratic leaders who motivate their workers through charisma and a clear vision. Top execs may consult with others on big decisions, but the final choice is theirs, and they expect it to be final. This fascination with charismatic, powerful leaders can be seen in history and folk heroes like Napoleon.

On the other hand, in Japan, many suggestions within a company come from the bottom level and are then brought up through the rungs to upper management. The top executives then decide which suggestions to ratify, based on popularity and projected success. Swedish companies put an even heavier emphasis on democracy. Leaders are easily accessible, and important choices are discussed by all before a final decision is made.

In the middle of the road are countries like Germany, which value a clear hierarchy much like the ones seen in France or Spain, but also have routes for feedback to come from lower-level employees to top-level leadership.

Leaders who operate internationally need to have a good understanding of their personal leadership styles, and the ability to flex that style to fit the situation. Leaders new to international leadership often benefit from trainers or advisors in their new country or countries. With practice, truly international leaders can learn to gauge the needs of their workers and adjust their style naturally.

July 12, 2017

The Importance of Delegation

“If you really want to grow as an entrepreneur, you have to learn to delegate.” One of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, Richard Branson, spoke these wise words. He has taken great strides to achieve all that he has and as many leaders do, Branson hasn’t done it alone. As a leader, it is important to make decisions that will better the organization you represent. Sometimes, those decisions include allowing other to take on some of the responsibilities that you hold. Knowing the right time and situation to delegate is a crucial aspect of successfully leading a group.

Delegation must come in the form of trust. While many leaders choose to delegate to those in manager roles, giving important roles to others is also key. Authoritative figures should be constantly looking at their team, for those who have a potential future in leadership. Even young CEOs and Presidents look to their team with hope for the future. Not only does delegating give responsibility to up and coming employees but it also instills confidence and sense of purpose. For many employees, reward in the workplace comes less from monetary means and more from praise and promotion. Delegating work is a way of showing team members that you, as their leader, trust their work ethic. You also show them that you have faith that they will accomplish the task at hand.

In addition to employee empowerment, delegating also provides relief for those whom the work normally falls upon. As the leader of an entire organization, delegating almost becomes necessary. If your organization begins to develop from its roots, you are going to want someone along for the ride. The path to success should not be lonely. Delegating authority to those around you provides support and enthusiasm. This group of people all want to achieve a common goal of a thriving organization. The alleviation of tedious tasks allows you, the leader, to focus on the pressing matters. The smaller issues, though still important, can then fall to those who support your cause.

A leader will always face challenges. How they handle such situations is a testament to the kind of leader they are. Delegating responsibility to those team members that you trust gives them a sense of purpose while allowing yourself to lead the best organization possible.

June 20, 2017

The Difference Between Leadership and Management

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