Leadership Development Group Blog

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   Jun 04
   2011

   Solving Problems

   In life we are all paid to solve problems.  In fact, your compensation is directly related to the problem you solve.  This is simple math, if you want better compensation, solve more complex problems!  In fact, without problems we would never reach our full potential.  It’s the challenges we fact that allow us to grow and expand!

   One important principle we teach our clients is to spend 80 percent of your time on the solution not just focusing on the problem.  A common practice, when issues occur is for people to spend time asking themselves, “Why is this happening to me?” or “Why do I have to do this?”.  All this strategy does is to whip you into an emotional frenzy called overwhelm!  When you’re in overwhelm, you can’t fix the problem!

   Asking yourself these key problem solving questions will direct your focus to find the answer:

   1.  What is great about this problem?/ What could be great about this? Solutions are found when you stay positive.

   2.  What’s not perfect yet? This presupposes that it can be perfect.

   3.  What am I willing to do to make it the way I want it? Action is what separates winners from losers.

   4.  How can I do what’s necessary to get the job done and enjoy the process? Take action and monitor the outcome.

   You have the resources inside of you to solve the problem, you just have to ask yourself the right questions!

   
   

    

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   Dec 27
   2010

   Self-Coaching

   In our research on leadership, we’ve discovered that the great leaders have the sensory acuity to self coach themselves.  This means they are able to analyze their behavior by continually asking themselves these 5 sets of key questions:

   1.  What happened?  Who did what?  What was the sequence of events?

   2.  Why did it happen that way?  What was the cause and effect?

   3.  What were the consequences?  What was the outcome?

   4.  What would I do differently in the future?  What lesson did I learn?

   5.  What will I do NOW to implement this learning in my life?

   Your focus in life is directly related to the questions you are asking yourself.  Keep asking and you will receive, keep seeking and you will find, keep knocking and the door will open!

    

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   Dec 15
   2010

   The Law of Constraints

   Real success demands more than just talent and ability.  Most of the time people have plenty of talent, but they let their attitudes or behaviors get in the way of using those gifts. These constraints (behaviors) only limit us, when we ignore them.  But if we can identify them and seek to overcome, we improve our chances of success.  Here are 4 key facts about constraints:

   1.  We all have constraints.

   2.  We can’t rise above the constraints we don’t address.

   3.  Our personal constraints play themselves out in every area of our lives.

   4.  Those with the fewest constraints!

   The first step to growth is identifying constraints by using the power of feedback.  We’ve developed feedback tools that allow achievers to identify their key constraints and build a roadmap for growth.  As you begin your journey into a new year, make sure that you have a roadmap and continue to take the best route!

    

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   Sep 27
   2010

   Self Management is the Best Management!

   I think one of the greatest misconceptions when people think of leadership is the thought, that if I am not at the top I can’t lead.  My friend, John Maxwell, always says that leadership is not a position or a title but it’s influence.  I always remind myself that influence is earned not an entitlement!  As you grow and develop you actually earn the right to lead, no matter where you are in the organizational hiearchy.

   One of the greatest ways to increase your influence is simply to lead yourself well.  I believe that the best management is always self-management.  Self management is about making good decisions every day.  I know that nothing makes a better impression on people than the ability to manage yourself.  Here are a couple of quick areas to increase in self-management:

   1.  Manage your Emotions

   In order to bridge the gap between what you know and what you do, you have to increase your emotional intelligence.  Your emotions are an indicator of your core needs.  Learning to discern and dissect why you feel and act the way you do is a key indicator of high performance.

   Ask yourself, “what do I feel the way I do?”

   2.  Manage your Time

   Time is the most valuable asset you have.  I’ve seen that people that don’t value their time, really do not value themselves.  If you can begin to think of what you do and buy in terms of time not just money, your perspective really begins to change.

   Ask yourself, “what is worth spending my life on?”

   3.  Manage your Energy

   The older I get the more I realize that I need to ration my energy.  The #1 killer of effectiveness is busyness!  When you have activities without direction you end up doing things that don’t seem to matter.

   Ask yourself, “What’s the main event for today?

   Everyday you are creating your personal leadership culture.  This starts with managing yourself well.  The culture you are creating…is producing the results you enjoy!

    

5. -

   Aug 27
   2010

   Coaching Questions for your Team

   The Pull Model is a coaching mindset of high performance leaders that makes all the difference in the world.  Instead of basing your leadership on having to push your team for performance, you can actually use attraction to empower them to fulfill their potential.  Instead of trying to force them for certain outcomes using fear, consequences or threats try tapping into their personal vision, goals and talents.  In fact, if you haven’t realized it already…you can’t make people do anything, people do things for their own reasons!

   Here are some questions for tapping into people’s internal drivers:

   1.  What do you want to be doing that you aren’t currently doing?

   2.  What areas do you want to improve?

   3.  What is most important to you in your life/career?

   4.  How can I best hold you accountable for achieving the results you want to achieve?

   5.  How do you want me to approach you if you don’t follow through with the commitments that you make?

   Questions help people uncover their personal “Why’s”.  When people understand their Why’s they will use their own energy to achieve the goals.  This definitely beats using your energy to try to drive them.

   Keep Leading, Keeping Growing!  The culture you’re creating is determining the results you enjoy!

    

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   Aug 03
   2010

   3 High Performance Behaviors

   In studying high performance organizations and people I’ve discovered that our behaviors are driving our performance and our performance is what creates our results. So the results I am achieving are driven by behaviors. Here are 3 behaviors to incorporate into your life today!

   1. When you find a problem, provide the solution

   Just about anyone can see the problem but it takes creativity to develop the solution. Don’t be a fault finder be a remedy provider.

   2. Do what others won’t do

   Have a whatever it takes mentality. The goal is always more important than the role

   3. Pay the price

   Everything in life has a price attached to it. You might have to give up some personal goals for this season but the prize is worth it.

   Integrate these behaviors and keep giving your best. One thing I know is that no one who ever gave their best ever regretted it!

    

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   Jul 28
   2010

   Defined Passion + Refined Process = Your Life Product!

    

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   Jul 06
   2010

   Re-discover your WHY

   Great achievers know WHY they are here!  I’m convinced you have the know the WHY before you know the what.  Hidden inside of your WHY is the secret to passion and energy.  WHY are you doing what you’re doing?

   Motivation is a by-product of a clear WHY.  If you’re lacking motivation today, re-discover your WHY.  Why did you start that business?  Why did you get married?  Why did you have kids?  Why do you want to be successful?  Having a clear WHY invigorates your passion.

   “When your heart decides the destination your mind will draw the map”

   When you really decide what you want and why you want it…when you’re totally congruent in your heart that you deserve your dream…it’s at that point that you mind begins to go to work to create that which you’ve envisioned.  The sad truth is that few people ever get to the point of congruency in their heart.  The place where they are completely convinced that they are destined to accomplish their dream.

   Take minute today and ask yourself WHY.  When you have a strong WHY you can endure the how!

    

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   Jun 24
   2010

   Decisions are Personal but Never Private

   I was talking the other day about how to motivate your team with Mark Lay, the president of AA TEX LAWNS in Charlotte, NC and was reminded that there are many variables that play into motivation. Honestly, if you are only tying motivation to compensation you are missing the boat! Your decisions as a leader tremendously influence the motivation of those around you!
   
   Even though our decisions are personal, they always affect more people than just ourselves. If I decide to make a career change, then that affects my family and many others! I’ve realized that because two of my main drivers are significance and uncertainty I tend to make quick decisions without thinking about the consequences. The question I’m asking myself this week is:
   
   Who is affected by this decision?
   How are they affected by that decision?
   Is this the right decision?
   
   In my discussion with Mark I realized that the greater responsibility you have…the more powerful your decisions become. This is part of the price of leadership! It’s quite a responsibility!

    

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    May 04
    2010
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    Marketplace Forum

    Sarasota, FL  June 5th  http://marketplaceforum.eventbrite.com/

    Our Marketplace Forums are a one-day learning experience that help leaders get more focus, build better processes and receive fresh ideas to move your organization forward!

    When you learn more…you earn more!

     

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