 Have you ever thought about what it takes to be a top CEO?
A recent Fast Company survey revealed that top CEOs read 60 books per year! How many books do you read per year? People in the United States read approximately five hours and forty-two minutes per week, ranking the United States 22nd in the world. Why do top CEOs read so much? Solutions! Being honest with themselves, top CEOs recognize that they do not have all the answers for solving the challenges that confront them on a daily basis, while recognizing that the multitude of leaders who have come before them may have documented a solution or idea that may lead to a solution. As a result, CEOs live a philosophy of lifelong learning in search of the tools that help them lead their organizations, tool like, ->Leadership ->Effective communication ->Negotiation ->Conflict resolution ->Entertainment, and more. Sol says… “I have not mastered human wisdom,” ~ Proverbs 30:3 CEOs recognize that. Invest a mere forty-five to sixty minutes daily to read an average of one book per week to help you become more and achieve more. Investing in yourself makes it a great day where you keep being awesome.
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Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
The great basketball coach, John Wooden taught his players, “Be quick but don’t hurry.” Almost sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? Being quick results from understanding principles and practicing the fundamentals that execute those principles. Hurrying tends to be the result of poor preparation or emotional reaction to a time or event, which on a basketball court takes place in seconds. While responding (quick) tends to be the result of training, practice, and experience, reacting (hurry) tends more often or not to be an emotional reflex. Leaders recognize that the same holds true with the way we use our words. Being quick is to draw off one’s learning, knowledge, and experience prior to speaking, while hurrying is a response begun, and often concluded without thought or knowledge. Sol says… “There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.” ~ Proverbs 29:20 As a leader, be quick to draw off your knowledge prior to answering questions or challenges. When you do, you will have a great day and keep being awesome. Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
Have you ever noticed in the workplace that when those who seem to have a streak of defiance in them never seem to understand why they are reprimanded or disciplined for wrongdoing? It is important for leaders to realize the implications of allowing consistent defiant behavior without the enforcement of boundaries. Continued acceptance of behavior that is inconsistent with the vision and values of the organization: -> Encourages “A” players to seek opportunities elsewhere. -> Discourages all employees from putting forth their best effort. -> Reduces product and/or service quality. -> Hampers productivity, leading to lost profitability. So, as a leader, what can you do to resolve the issue? -> Find the source for the contrary behavior. -> Show the defiant employee the right ways to perform. -> Give the defiant employee the opportunity to improve. -> Acknowledge improvement, or -> Release the employee into the marketplace to search for their life’s work. Sol says… “Evil people don’t understand justice,” ~ Proverbs 28:5 Good leaders strive to provide opportunities for all their employees to get onboard with the vision and values of the organization, with separation being the last resort. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
“Seek first to understand, then to be understood,” Stephen R. Covey advised in his national bestselling book, The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People. Are you a highly effective person? Do you practice understanding before being understood? As a leader, you are presented daily with challenges demanding immediate and effective solutions. Three things that good leaders understand is that ->Every conversation is an education. ->Questions are the pathways to a person’s soul ->The one listening the most learns the most. Is that you, or do you react emotionally, as many do, and jump right in with solutions? Sol says… “The wise are known for their understanding,” ~ Proverbs 16:21 Begin today, right now to ask questions to better understand before making decisions. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
Have you ever made a decision that brought forth a critical question from one of your direct reports? Did you listen to it or do as I once did and tell them that the decision has been made and it was time to execute? Yep! It hurts me to report that I did that. What hurts the most, is that I was known to surround myself with a team of managers who thought critically, and upon whom I depended to make good decisions and provide wise counsel. About two weeks after my “execute” comment, the manager who had the question to which I failed to listen, confessed that he did not execute as I had originally directed, and for a couple of good reasons which he would have shared with me had I listened. As it turned out, the manager not only took what we agreed to do, he improved it by incorporating the suggestions he originally wanted to make. The results were an exemplary display of organizational achievement. Valuable lessons will be learned, either willingly or not so willingly, as I found out that day. Sol says… “If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.” ~ Proverbs 15:31 If you aren’t listening to those you have chosen for your team, evaluate why you have them on your team and give them your ear. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Have you ever thought about how owning your own business or leading a business is much like being a parent.
You set the processes and procedures to be followed, care for your people to help them grow and flourish, and continuously strive to keep bad influences out of their work and lives, resulting in successful performance in both. Keep in mind however, children seek to extend their boundaries, and many workers do the same, requiring you, as their leader to take some form of corrective measures to maintain orderly growth. Sol says… “Don’t fail to discipline your children.” ~ Proverbs 23:13 Encourage growth while watching for wrongdoing that can be unwittingly sanctioned when appropriate boundaries are not enforced. Make it a great day and keep being awesome. Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
Last week I shared some insights about gratitude and how the grateful heart rises high. A form of gratitude is sharing some of what we have with those who don’t have much, and what better time to be generous than Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for all we have. Don’t have much, you say? Generosity is not determined by the material things you have. Noooo! Generosity can be given in the sharing of time, offering work, sharing ideas. Sol says… “Blessed are those who are generous,” ~ Proverbs 22:9 Good leaders are grateful every day for the things they can generously share with those around them. Be a good leader, and make it a great day and keep being awesome. #generosity #leadership #gratitude #shareideas #briankennedyglobal #briankennedy #smallbusinessowners #entreprenurs #managers #parents #athletes Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
Do you ever find yourself being too busy being busy to be a producer? According to an Inc. Magazine survey, 92% of those who set goals do not achieve them. What? Are you kidding me? We have all been told that the key to achievement is setting goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and have a time for completion, so how can only 8% of the people who set goals be achievers? Achieving a goal requires one simple activity that too many fail to do, focused work. At the beginning, you set your goal and the pathway to achieving it, only to find that the world and your competition don’t comply with your game plan. In addition, you must remain consistent in the execution of the principle-based fundamentals associated with the desired outcome. Too many prefer the idea of success over the effort required to achieve the success, leading them to lives of unachieved goals. Sol says… “Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!” ~ Proverbs 14:23 Be sure you remain focused on executing the steps to your desired outcome, not the outcome itself. By doing so, you will make it a great day and keep being awesome. #achievement #results #briankennedy #smallbusiness #entrepreneurs #management Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
Think about the last time you came into the audience of an arrogant person. If you desire to meet other leaders in an effort to weave your own cobweb of personal and business relationships, you have crossed paths with someone who was prone to exaggerate their own importance, often demonstrating an attitude of superiority. Because of their arrogance, these folks often meet negative outcomes not of their choosing. Sol says… “Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.” ~ Proverbs 18:12 Beware of believing that you are the answer to end all answers. ->Surround yourself with a team of critical thinkers. ->Seek and listen to your team’s input with an ear of understanding. ->Give credit to your team for wins, while accepting the responsibility and being accountable for losses. When you do that, you will make it a great day and you’ll1 keep being awesome. Sol’s Wisdom for Leaders
The great Zig Ziglar famously taught, “Your altitude is determined by your attitude of gratitude.” How is your attitude? Are you grateful or do you harbor resentment? In your career, you will cross paths with those who have been wronged, yet are grateful for the lesson learned rather than resentful for the pain. If you are like most of us who don’t live in a cocoon, you have also come across some who seek vengeance for wrongs they may have suffered. Last week I shared a story about a manager who sought to wrong me as well as the way I dealt with the issue. When all was said and done, I was blessed to walk away with a leadership lesson that I could not only employ, but also share with those whom I led and was responsible for developing into future leaders. Sol says… “If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.” ~ Proverbs 17:13 Release any of your painful memories today with a grateful heart for lessons learned, so you can make it a great day and keeping you 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
March 2024
Leadership
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