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Do you believe that your life and the work you do matter?
Leaders who believe they make a difference and are purpose driven, remain tirelessly engaged in work that produces purposeful outcomes. Research shows that 52% of purpose-driven companies experienced over 10% growth as opposed to non-purpose-driven companies at 42%. In addition, did you know that research also shows that leaders who clearly demonstrate their purpose are happier and more productive? The purpose driven leader recognizes four critical actions for achieving their purpose and performing at a high level. -> Clarity is imperative to achieve your or your organization’s purpose as clarity provides understanding. -> Articulate your or your organization’s purpose, just as you would with your goals, committing the purpose to writing, revisiting it often to keep it fresh for all stakeholders. -> Choose your people with care among those who share the purpose, while those leaders seeking opportunities should carefully choose organizations whose purpose aligns with theirs. -> Recognize that culture, economies, and contexts change, and it is necessary to adapt your principle based purpose to those environments without changing the direction and sense of purpose. Sol says… “The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.” ~ Proverbs 28:19 To have an organization of highly engaged and productive people, be sure that the mission and goals of your organization are aligned with its purpose. Make it a great day and keep being awesome.
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Have you ever run across someone who tells you how good they and their companies are?
Then, with just a little research, you find that their hyping attitude does not correlate with their poor business altitude. Immediately, you find yourself distrusting both the person and their organization, coloring a picture of them as a poor future partner in some capacity. What self-hypers don’t realize is that… -> 92% of those researching a company or person on the internet trust the online comments of those who have used the goods or services, even though they don’t know those people. -> When it comes to B2B decision makers, 84% start their process because of a referral who is typically a trusted resource of the person making the recommendation. -> Seventy-four percent of people see family or friends as a key influencers when making a decision on a product or service. Sol says… “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth — a stranger, and not your own lips.” ~ Proverbs 27:2 Good leaders recognize that good comments spoken by those with good experiences weigh more than good words spoken by themselves. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. As a leader, how do you handle change, be it wanted or unwanted?
Eric Hoffer said, “In a world of change, the learners shall inherit the earth, while the learned shall find themselves perfectly suited for a world that no longer exists.” Be it the culture, economy, politics, or business, the only constant is change. Change and uncertain times are scary, and continuing to do the same thing you did prior to the challenges is like doing nothing and accepting the results that come your way, typically not good. Three simple steps help in overcoming sudden change and difficult conditions while leading you to growth. -> Adapt – Take inventory of what is going on around you and learn the principles creating strength to endure the current crisis. -> Improvise – With your new understanding of the situation, develop principle-based actions that enable you to continue your operations with a growth mindset. -> Overcome – Using the principles you’ve learned, work with your team to develop new ways to survive and thrive in all the chaos, coming out stronger and better on the other end. Sol says… “If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited.” ~ Proverbs 24:10 Successfully lead in tough times by learning and acting rather than sitting and waiting. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Are you a business person who is constantly seeking new sales opportunities so you can raise your standard of living?
If you are focused on money and status, STOP doing that. You’re working way too hard for too little. Don’t believe me, believe what some of the most respected people in business have to say. -> Ross Perot said, “Business is not just doing deals; business is having great products, doing great engineering, and providing tremendous service to customers. Finally, business is a cobweb of human relationships.” -> Robert Kiyosaki says, “The richest people in the world look for and build networks. Everyone else looks for work.” -> Zig Ziglar said, “If standard of living is your major objective, quality of life almost never improves, but if quality of life is your number one objective, your standard of living almost always improves.” Three thousand years ago, Sol said… “Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; because you know better, stop!” ~ Proverbs 23:4 Make a decision today to set your focus straight on quality of life, not standard of living, setting a great example for those you lead to seek a better life, not more stuff. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Have you ever had the opportunity for a new position within your own organization or a new one?
The day you started your new position, did your immediate supervisor spend any time showing you the ropes and encouraging you to great performance, or did they simply tell you to get to work and then hold you accountable for your productivity? You may have seen supervisors send out new employees out to deal with the sharks without providing training and resources. Heck! It may even have happened to you. Failure to dedicate time and resources in the development of a new member to the organization is akin to constructing a building without first investing in a firm foundation that contributes stability for time to come. Developing new employees into long term productive members of the organization can be summed up in three simple activities. -> Invest in the new person’s assimilation to the culture and processes and resources associated with the job. -> Encourage excellence in becoming a solid team member and in the execution of their duties. -> Mentor them to new understandings of the power of engaging in the principles of people and business that lead to performance excellence. Sol says… “Start a youth out on his way; even when he grows old he will not depart from it.” ~ Proverbs 22:6 Starting a new employee is like starting someone youthful. They are young to your organization and you want them to maintain your culture and processes for time to come. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. As a leader, have you developed a culture of achievement among those you lead?
In yesterday’s post we talked about employee disengagement and how developing a culture of achievement significantly increases engagement and the associated productivity. In his leadership book, Lead Like Jesus, business guru Ken Blanchard and co-author Phil Hodges address the four aspects of a servant leader who understands the power of developing a culture of achievement based on four facets of servant leadership. -> The Heart – The best leaders serve those they lead to encourage and empower them to do the best possible job you hired them to do rather than seeking your own glory. -> The Head – Those who are the most successful in leadership see and share the completed vision of where they are going long before they begin the journey. -> The Hands – Your journey to effective leadership begins with your first leadership role in which you are a novice (follower) and progresses through the apprentice (learner), journeyman (practitioner), and ultimately the master (teacher) roles. -> The Habits – The real purpose of a leader is to develop leaders and the daily habits you employ will go a long way in achieving that purpose. The best leaders make time for solitude, reading for personal and professional development, rest at the appropriate times, and more. Sol says… “The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.” ~ Proverbs 21:5 To be a great leader, recognize that everything is not about you and focus on how you develop those you lead and make it about them. While you do that, make it a great day and keep being awesome. As a leader, what are you doing to counter the third consecutive annual drop in employee engagement, now 32% as reported by Gallup?
The great Zig Ziglar often asked that in cases where you are fully focused on a project and dedicated to completing it in a timely manner, “Have you noticed that when someone has nothing to do, they want to do it with you?” Many filling leadership positions continually look for the right program to resolve disengagement, while good leaders search for the opportunity to develop a principle-based workforce. The best way to raise engagement in an organization is to lead it into a culture of accomplishment, knowing that those who are dedicated to achieving their objectives have a work ethic of focus and determination. Remember when you momma taught you, “Birds of a feather flock together?” Those focused on their tasks have little desire to spend their time with those who are not focused. Instead, they invest their time in accomplishment. Notice one is spending time while the other is investing it. Sol says… “It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.” ~ Proverbs 20:3 When those you lead focus on achievement, only the poor performers will be left to meddle in others’ business. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. When you communicate with those you lead, what type of language do you use?
Yes, that is a loaded question that addresses everything from using vulgarity as many TV and movie writers would have you believe is prevalent in all business, to using flowering words that somehow is intended to reflect the brilliance of the leader. Dave Ramsey, mentor to millions of business owners, openly shares his failures as well as successes as a small business person as he grew into a corporate icon. While reading Ramsey’s book, EntreLeadership, I centered in on his view on five enemies of unity that may affect your team. -> Poor Communication – Not connecting well with timely and appropriate communication. -> Lack of Shared Purpose – Buy-in of the organization’s clearly articulated purpose and direction is a must for successful operation. -> Gossip – Talking behind another’s back is a sure way to destroy team unity. -> Unresolved Disagreements – Allowing discord among team members will destroy unity and productivity -> Sanctioned Incompetence – Nobody wants to work where the leader has different standards for different people, leading to lack of trust. Sol says… “Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips; how much worse are lies for a ruler.” ~ Proverbs 17:7 As you lead, keep you communication simple and easy to understand, building trust and strength. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. As a leader, do you have a vision of where you are going and the roadmap to take you there?
Unfortunately, too many people go into or run businesses believing that money is the end game. It isn’t! Money is the result of providing something beneficial to the marketplace, be it goods or services on a regular basis. Over 2600 years ago, a leader shared the value of writing down their vision to make the direction clear, and to share it with those who would be executing the actions to fulfill the vision. That leader also understood that visions are for a later time, not for immediate fulfillment, and shared encouragement to persevere along the right road to achievement, which will come at the proper time if the path is followed. Afterall, don’t fruit trees bear their fruit in season when properly cared for? Sol says… “The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life.” ~ Proverbs 16:17 Cast your vision in such a way that all of your stakeholders understand and execute their roles honorably and with dedication. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Have you ever thought about your role as a leader is also that of a teacher?
Afterall, training is an important part of demonstrating that you value those you lead and are preparing them for future challenges and roles. Oh, you don’t have to go deep into the weeds as their instructor, albeit you must remain aware and vigilant of the development and progress of those being instructed by your organization’s front line teachers. Sol says… “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.” ~ Proverbs 15:2 As the leader, you have the opportunity to effect learning when you… -> Ignite the fire of desire to be better everyday , -> Inspire the learning needed to bring a higher level of best daily, -> Instruct your team in the best principles and practices for executing those principles, and -> Encourage them through tough times, resulting in new levels of perseverance leading to the development of the type of character that brings forth hope. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. |
AuthorBrian Kennedy is an encourager who shepherds small business owners and entrepreneurs along the path of business success to preeminence by embracing time tested principles and executing the associated fundamentals daily. Archives
May 2023
Leadership
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