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Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
Reputation! Everyone’s got one. How’s yours? As a #smallbusinessowner, or leader of any size business for that matter, your reputation is tantamount to the level of success you have. If you find that you spend more time looking for new business because of the serial brand changers (Remember, I talked about them yesterday.), then you may not be building the trusting relationships with your customers or clients because they don’t feel that you operate in their best interest. In one of my corporate challenges, I took over an organization the was in desperate need of a change from “Its all about me” to “its all about the customer.” That unit’s reputation changed from lackadaisical and untrustworthy to professional and #teamplayers. Sol says… “Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.” ~ Proverbs 20:11 Do a reputation checkup for your organization, make it a great day, and keep being awesome.
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Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders Do you remember the saying, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me?” Back in the day, those words formed the strongest weapon someone had to offset mean or untruthful words spoken to or about them. The purpose of the words was to deflect any hurt you might have felt. No, words cannot break your bones. They can however break your spirit, regardless of how hard we work to not let them do so. The words themselves are not the culprit, but combined with the manner in which they are spoken, and the closeness of the person speaking them, they can be devastating. Because you can reject painful words, does not eliminate the pain brought by them. Good leaders choose their words carefully, speaking them in appropriate places, with the appropriate people. As a leader, you must know how your and the words of your team affect others and outcomes. Sol says… “The tongue can bring death or life;” ~ Proverbs 18:21 Be aware of your words and those of the people you lead to foster a productive atmosphere for growth. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
Have you ever wondered why there are some people who achieve their desired levels of success, while others don’t? It’s not the circumstances. Other than being committed to your tasks, and taking responsibility for your journey, one of those factors is the people with whom you surround yourself and by whom you are influenced. We all have five senses to take in outside influences, what you see, what you hear, tastes you experience, what you physically feel, and attention to what you smell. These senses are affected by those with whom you spend the most time and can influence how much you achieve. Sol says… “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” ~ Proverbs 13:20 If you aren’t achieving all that you would like, look at those with whom you spend the most time and influence you. You may need to make changes. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Have you ever heard of someone being referred to as a born leader?
I have and nothing could be further from the truth. Leaders are developed over time where the leader experiences many lessons from which insights are gathered that propel the leader to greater development. Having met and associated with many leaders, one common characteristic that I noticed was that they worked hard and with an attitude of excellence in everything they did, be it military, business, athletics, you name it. Sol says… “Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.” ~ Proverbs 12:24 One thing leaders do that followers don’t is to choose to work hard at bringing their best, resulting in the best kind of leader. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
Have you ever noticed that those who give a lot tend to never run out of things to give, be it time, money, or referrals? There is a simple principle alluding to this phenomenon, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Wow! If giving is tied to receiving, why do so many in business people clutch onto what they have, holding it tightly against their chests instead of sharing their wealth, be it financial, time, referrals, or knowledge? Notice that when you extend your hand with a gift to someone, your hand is left empty and open when the gift is taken by the recipient. While your hand is empty, it is ready to receive. Highly successful leaders understand that giving begins the receiving process, while the hands of those clutching what they have are not open to receive. Sol says… “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” ~ Proverbs 11:25 What can you give today that will benefit others and begin the receiving process for you? Make it a great day and keep being awesome. How do you feel about discipline?
You know that training that is meant to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement. Solid leaders understand the value of discipline both for themselves and their organizations. When I entered The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, one of the first lessons I received in discipline and thus responsibility was understanding the simple responses expected of me. Those responses? “Yes Sir, No Sir, and No Excuse Sir.” The purpose was to teach us to be responsible military officers or business leaders when we graduated. I must say, those lessons learned on the banks of the Ashley River paid off in my professional and personal life. Sol says… “People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.” ~ Proverbs 10:17 As a leader, be disciplined so as to be the example for a disciplined organization. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Have you ever wondered why some in leadership positions thrive while others barely, if at all survive?
There seems to be one element that permeates among the successful leaders. They learn from and seek the wisdom to be gleaned from every experience. Every conversation is an education and the one who listens with an interested and discerning ear gains benefits to keep them on their chosen path. You see, those in leadership positions who are successful share a clear vision that helps them and their team stay on the path to their objectives while others continue stumbling. Sol says… “For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.” ~ Ecclesiastes 2:14 Be clear about where you want to go and shed light on the activities that take you there. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
Clarity of vision is imperative for a leader to connect with the team, be it a group of leaders or the entire company. Without a clear vision, the direction of the organization is not readily understood, often creating misunderstandings, contempt, and even defiance. Those who spread such feelings are mockers and naysayers. They must be handled wisely in order to bring everyone back to center and refocused on the desired outcomes. Sol says… “Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but the wise will calm anger.” ~ Proverbs 29:8 Be clear in where you want to go and when challenged, take a breath, stay calm, and respond rather than react. 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
January 2023
Leadership
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