You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.
                                    — Rosalyn Carter
This week’s action plan:  It’s easy to believe in yourself, when everyone around you believes in you as well.  But how often is this the case? 
Sometimes the people around us are looking to poke holes in our theories, subvert our decisions, and undermine authority.  How easy it is then to question our abilities.
Put a system into place today, so that you have the support you will need tomorrow.  Whether it’s a pep talk that you can give yourself, a series of affirmations …read more

How we deal with misfortune can make the difference between defeat and victory in our lives.
We’ve all heard stories about Thomas Edison.  He went through thousands of unsuccessful attempts before coming up with the filament light bulb.  When his factory was virtually destroyed by fire, he simply remarked that the disaster provided him with new opportunities to start again, and weeks later he invented the phonograph.
How many of us, when faced with misfortune, have that same outlook as Edison?  We view these misfortunes as failures.  We must learn, however, that these failures, properly handled, lead to great personal growth and professional success.
Here …read more

I’ve written previously about the power of praise, and how important it is to motivating and inspiring people.  One of the simplest was to extend praise is with two simple words — Thank You.
Think about the last time you extended and thank you.  Was it well thought out and sincere, or was it a throw away line?  Was is delivered in a respectful manner, or added as an afterthought?  Can you even remember the last time you said the words?  The last time you really meant them?
It seems like even adults need a reminder to say thank you these days, …read more

All too frequently today, people are starved for a little praise.  Whether we are willing to acknowledge it to others, or even admit it to ourselves, we all need a little praise in our life.
Awhile back, Milo wrote a post about his belief that a leader should not give someone a pat on the back because they need it, but only because they deserve it.
I disagree.
My leadership approach is different.  I believe that an effective leader learns how to best motivate an employee, team member, volunteer, etc., and then uses that information to help that individual succeed.  And sometimes, that …read more

It is inevitable.  At some point in your career, you will have to deal with the embarrassment of a blooper, public gaffe, or oafish moment.
Although you may think that you’re going to die, there are no recorded deaths from embarrassment.  However, embarrassment can undermine your confidence, ruin a prospective career, and destroy relationships. 
There are four conditions required for a true red-faced, full-fledged blushing moment:
There must be some event or failure for which you feel responsible.
The event or failure occurs leaving you no time to prepare or correct.
The event or failure takes place in public.
People whose opinions you value witness the …read more

A friend just received a fairly major career promotion.  It came about through her dedication to self-improvement, lots of hard work, and the guidance of a wise and trusted mentor.
The mentor is retiring at the end of the month, and a big celebratory party is planned.  My friend has been asked to make a toast at the event.  When I asked her what she was planning to say, she dismissed it with a comment that she’d just “wing” it.
Just “winging” it in any job responsibility is rarely a good choice. In this case, her toast will be one of the …read more

One of the most important skills for a leader to possess is the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately.
We frequently think of communication skills from a public point of view:  a press conference, interview, or speech, but some of the most vital communication occurs on a daily basis – the communication between boss and employee, co-workers, family and friends.
Although the stakes are different in every situation, most conflicts and disagreements among people result from communication misunderstandings.  When we aren’t clear about our words and meanings, we are likely to get stares, puzzled expressions, and confused looks in return.
A good rule …read more

When you a part of a team at work, or part of a committee in your community, your individual actions reflect on the greater team or committee.  Like it or not, how people view you is how they view your team or committee as well.  They reflect on your relationship with the team, and, in turn, the relationship with the team to the company or community.
Make sure that your words, appearance, and actions, reflect positively on your team and organization.

Body language is a vital part of your communications.  They send out a powerful message, and should be working to support your verbal message, rather than work against it. 
If you feel like you are always being misunderstood, perhaps your body language is contradicting your verbal message.
Do you find that your typical communication stance is with your arms crossed across your chest, shoulders hunched, and a sort of distracted look on your face?  If so, it’s no wonder that your message isn’t hitting the mark.
Take a look at some other nonverbal signals and see if these describe you:

Shrugging shoulders
Rolling eyes
The “look” …read more

Have you ever obsessed about something to the point where it took on a life of its own?  Where a small irritant became bigger than life?  When that one irritant consumed a disproportionate amount of your time?
When this happens within a team environment, it can destroy your individual productivity and motivation, as well as poison the relationships within the team.  Ultimately, the whole team will suffer.
Since it is inevitable that irritants will arise when working closely with others, how can you guard against the “mountain out of a molehill” scenario?
The first thing to do is identify the source of irritation or …read more