#Beingaleader means you need to think about the future. You want to build towards something. A goal. A vision. A dream. The future that you want. But can you have the future that you want? The future doesn't just happen. At least it doesn't always happen the way you want it to. You need to … Continue reading The Future
Category: Self-Leadership
Timeliness
#Beingaleader means that timeliness is an important quality you have. When something happens, and in what order, often matters. Turning in an "A" paper late is an "F" in many cases. Timeliness matters. There is a sequence to life and to most projects. There is often a life cycle for the team. #Beingaleader means you … Continue reading Timeliness
Accountability
#Beingaleader means you need accountability. To others. For your actions, activities, schedule. I know. I know. You're a leader. But we're not perfect. We make mistakes and need someone to help us own them. Mistakes in time management or in priorities. Accountable. But wait, you say. I'm the top dog. The person in charge. Others … Continue reading Accountability
Yesterday
#Beingaleader means you have to deal with yesterday. Yes, we live in today. Yes, we plan for tomorrow. But sometimes it's yesterday that's holding us back. Keeping us from focusing on today. Keeping us from moving forward. Yesterday can be very powerful. Mistakes were made. Relationships harmed. Missteps. Hurt feelings. Regrets. All of these can … Continue reading Yesterday
Today
#Beingaleader means you need to be aware and focused on today. Yes, I know. Everyone says look to the future. And, yes you should. But you also need to take care of today. Don't look past it. Don't squander it. The future will come but it will look an awful lot like today when it … Continue reading Today
Active
#Beingaleader means you need to be active. Active with your mind. Active with your body. Active with your vision. Being active with your mind means you keep feeding it. Reading. Thinking. Analyzing. Not letting your mind get stale with old ideas. Looking forward to the future because better days are ahead. Active. Being active with … Continue reading Active
Transition
#Beingaleader means you have to work through transition. Transition is inevitable in some form or another. But you have to work through it when it happens so that the end result is better than where you started. In other words, while transition is inevitable, successful transition is not. Transition is about the process of change. … Continue reading Transition
Self-Aware
#Beingaleader means you need to be self-aware. Conscious of who you are. Your abilities. What you are capable of. Your leadership skills. An honest assessment. Not fabricated. Not believing your own press. Just, self-aware. One of the keys to success as a leader, is to know who you are. What you can do. What you … Continue reading Self-Aware
Depleted
#Beingaleader means you can often feel depleted. Energy crashed. Vision blurred. And your "care meter" very low. Have you ever had an energy crash? This can be physical or emotional. You just don't feel like you can keep going. The physical reasons are easier to fix. Get back to the healthy things that worked for … Continue reading Depleted
Uncertain
#Beingaleader means you are often uncertain. Uncertain about what to do. Uncertain about next steps. Uncertain about your leadership.Every leader has found themselves in a place where they are uncertain about what to do. They are facing a conflict they've never faced before. They are facing uncertain markets that they have never experienced before. They … Continue reading Uncertain
Dignified
#Beingaleader means you need to be dignified. Not crass. Not vulgar. Not boorish. Not overbearing. Dignified. Calm, impressive and deserving of respect. So how do you react to stress, bad things happening or difficult people? Are you calm, impressive and deserving of respect? Or do people cower and resent your involvement? Too many people equate … Continue reading Dignified
Curveball
#Beingaleader means you're sometimes thrown a curveball. Something unexpected. Something life altering. How will you react? Don't try to hide. Don't try to deny it happened. Embrace the suck as they say. Allow yourself time to grieve whatever loss you experienced with that curveball. Maybe it's a relationship lost. A position lost. A change in … Continue reading Curveball
Modernize
#Beingaleader means you need to modernize your thinking. You need to stay up-to-date. See what's working today since what worked before might not be working any longer. Continue to learn. Read. Listen. Go to conferences. Get information from every industry you can to see what is working in the marketplace. Your ideas might never change. … Continue reading Modernize
Courage
#Beingaleader means you have to have courage. Courage is defined as pushing through your fear and accomplishing your mission. Courage to start. Courage to finish. Having fear is fine. Everyone has it from time to time. Facing your fear and still doing the task is what courage is all about. Not letting fear stop you. … Continue reading Courage
You
#Beingaleader means you need to check on yourself now and again. So how are you doing? Not just the leader you, but the you, you? How are you, doing? Are you in any pain? Are you reacting out of that pain onto your team? Do you have someone safe to talk to about that pain? … Continue reading You
Drama Queen
#Beingaleader means you should not be a drama queen. Or tolerate it on your team. Stop being overly dramatic every time something goes wrong or not exactly how you wanted them to go. Things happen. Some good. Some not so good. But you need to press through them without creating additional chaos or drama on … Continue reading Drama Queen
Giving
#Beingaleader means you need to be a giving person. Giving of your time. Giving of your finances. Giving of your emotion. And doing it cheerfully. #Beingaleader means you need to give of your time. Your family needs you. Whether it's work or play, whenever you are leading, they need your time. They need you to … Continue reading Giving
Sadness
#Beingaleader means you have to deal with sadness. Your own. Others'. Their actions that cause them not to reach their potential. What sadness are you carrying? Personally or professionally? This can affect your leadership of others. It's not about ignoring your sadness. It's about realizing its impact on you and your decision making. It's about … Continue reading Sadness
Weary
#Beingaleader means you often feel weary. Done. Tired. Plain and simple. Weary of what you've gone through. Weary about how you think it's going to go. We all get tired. Drained. Feeling unable to replenish. It affects everyone at some point. It's normal. Are you weary from what you've just gone through? We go through … Continue reading Weary
Stress
#Beingaleader means you have to deal with stress. All kinds. All of the time. Some created by others. Some by circumstances. Some by yourself. Stress from others. I think there are two kinds: legitimate and illegitimate. Legitimate stress from others are things that must get done based upon the job or relationship you have with … Continue reading Stress
Merit
#Beingaleader means you need to have merit. Merit means to be worthy of. Possessing good and worthwhile qualities. When something has merit, it is considered valuable. People view it will positivity. Something to seek after. To grow for sure. But you have it to begin with. What qualities do you have? Since you are a … Continue reading Merit
Advocate
#Beingaleader means you are an advocate. For others. For your project. For yourself. To advocate is to plead the case. To provide support. To cheer on the accomplishment of a person or project. To make sure others know about the situation and view it in a good light. Do you advocate for others? In order … Continue reading Advocate
Unique
#Beingaleader means you are unique. One of a kind. Broke the mold kind of leader. Whether you feel it or not. Whether you view that as a positive or not. Even whether you agree with it or not. It's still true. You are unique. Yes, we learn from others. Yes, we learn new skills. Yes, … Continue reading Unique
Busyness
#Beingaleader means you need to distinguish between busyness and business. Busyness is filling in time slots. Business is about getting the job done. Busyness is doing lots of stuff. Business is achieving lots of stuff. Do you find yourself filling in time with non-essentials? With busyness? Perhaps it's because you're procrastinating? Or perhaps you're simply … Continue reading Busyness
Teachable
#Beingaleader means you need to be teachable. You need to learn to learn from others. Be willing. Be intentional. Let's face it. You have much to learn. We all do. Usually the things stopping you from learning are either arrogance or complacency. Arrogance must be acknowledged before you can proceed. For complacency, you just have … Continue reading Teachable
Accessible
#Beingaleader means you need to be accessible. To your team. To your customers. More than just an 'open door policy'. Actually make them accessible to you. Your team needs access to you. They need more than orders from on high. They need to see you. To hear from you. And to be open to hear … Continue reading Accessible
Radical
#Beingaleader means you need be a radical. Or at least often act like one in comparison to others. Radical is being defined as someone with strong convictions that is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve the goal set before them. How radical are you? How much do you want something to happen? Are … Continue reading Radical
Fight
#Beingaleader means you sometimes have to fight. Fight for what you want. Fight to achieve success. Fight the naysayers that get in your head.Do you want to accomplish something? Goals? Dreams? Things the team needs to get done? Sometimes you have to fight for it.But what does fighting look like? It's about tenacity. Never giving … Continue reading Fight
Depth
#Beingaleader means you need to have depth. Time to think. Time to analyze. Time to problem solve. Depth of thought. Depth of focus. Depth of wisdom. Depth of thought. Do you take the time to think through things? Do you really? Or do you just react? Time to think requires you to go deep. To … Continue reading Depth
Brief
#Beingaleader means you have to control your words. Control the amount. Control the volume. Usually better to say less. Less is more. So choose to be brief.
Extra
#Beingaleader means you have to give extra. Extra time. Extra energy. Extra work. You have to give extra. You can't expect it from others without giving it first. Extra time. Arrive first. Stay late. You are the example especially in a volunteer situation. You are setting the example. You are the one trying to lead … Continue reading Extra
Talent
#Beingaleader means you have a talent or two. Or three. Yes, you do. You have things you excel at. Things that you do better than others. Things that come easy to you. Why is it so easy to view others as having talent (s) but not yourself? I often see it as false humility, where … Continue reading Talent
Desire
#Beingaleader means that you need some amount of desire. For your goals. For the future. For yourself. #Beingaleader means you need desire for your goals. That seems obvious. But sometimes we take goals from others and place that burden on ourselves and they aren't really what we want to pursue. Get your own goals. Pursue … Continue reading Desire
Strong
#Beingaleader means you have to be strong. Strong for your team. Strong in your purpose. Strong in your message. #Beingaleader means that you have to be strong for your team. Don't be the weak link. Communicate effectively. Stick to your guns and the methods that you have chosen to use. Let everyone know that you … Continue reading Strong
Sanity
#Beingaleader means you need to keep your sanity in an often demanding and stressful role, and it's important to take care of your mental health and well-being in order to effectively lead others. But how do you keep your sanity during those periods that might seem overwhelming? #Beingaleader means you should practice some self-care including … Continue reading Sanity
Servant
#Beingaleader means that one must have the the ability to serve others. This approach, known as servant leadership, focuses on putting the needs of employees and customers first, rather than prioritizing the interests of the leader or the company. This can improve morale, increase productivity, and foster a culture of collaboration and trust. One of … Continue reading Servant
Drain
#Beingaleader means that you often have things, circumstances or people that drain you. Emotionally. Energy-taking. Whatever it or they can take from you. And you need to learn how to deal with those situations and people so they don't bring you down or drain the energy from you. #Beingaleader means you need to recognize the … Continue reading Drain
Reflection
#Beingaleader means you should take times of reflection. To see where you've come from. To see where you want to go. To identify new areas to think about and press into. Do you know where you've come from? Have you taken the time to reflect on the steps that got you where you are today? … Continue reading Reflection
Support
#Beingaleader means you need support. From other leaders. And you need to give it to them as well. Too many leaders go full on Lone Ranger and suffer for it. Leaders don't just need followers. They need traveling companions. To encourage. Challenge. And provide emotional support. Seek it out. Provide it to others. Leaders need … Continue reading Support
Weaknesses
#Beingaleader means you need to work with your weaknesses. Identify them. Use them. Grow them into something. Share your growth with others. We too often focus only on our strengths. We should not forget to work on our weaknesses so we accomplish even more than what we set out to do.So, are you able to … Continue reading Weaknesses
Strengths
#Beingaleader means you need to work to your strengths. Identify them. Use them. Grow them. Share them with others. We too often focus on our weaknesses. We should not forget to work to our strengths most of the time so that we can actually accomplish what we set out to do. So, are you able … Continue reading Strengths
Pause
#Beingaleader means you sometimes need to take a pause. Halt the process to reassess. Regroup even. Allow time to go by before moving forward. Pause.Things seem to be going well so why pause now? Well, perhaps on the surface things are going well. But how is everyone really doing? Have they been pushing too hard, … Continue reading Pause
Chores
#Beingaleader means you have to do a lot of chores. Chores that need to be done. Chores you see the value in. Chores you don't want to do. But they still need to be done and you are the person to do them. Just like being a parent requires you to do things that you … Continue reading Chores
Bitterness
#Beingaleader means you have to deal with your bitterness. Towards others. Towards yourself. Towards the circumstances that you find yourself in today. Bitterness can be defined as "anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly." How you deal with bitterness will have a huge impact on your success as a leader. How do you react when … Continue reading Bitterness
Testing
#Beingaleader means you will go through testing. Personal. Financial. Timing. Team members. There are many areas where you could be tested. Just know that you will be. Regularly. Testing can be viewed in multiple ways. In school, it's an attempt to measure where your current understanding of the subject matter is. In manufacturing, it is … Continue reading Testing
Rules
#Beingaleader means you have to understand rules. What they are. Clear and unclear. Spoken and unspoken. When to follow them. And when to sidestep them. There are so many rules in life and in work. You need to know the important ones and know how they apply. You also need to identify when they don't … Continue reading Rules
Opposite
#Beingaleader means you have to act the opposite of others many times. Counterintuitive. Against the grain. Often without explanation. Lead. Is someone being mean? Be nice. Is someone angry? Be calming. Is someone rushing ahead and making mistakes? Slow down and have a conversation. You will find that often people are reactive. You need to … Continue reading Opposite
Next
#Beingaleader means that sometimes you just need to do the next thing. Whether you feel like it or not. Whether you know the second step or not. Even whether you want to or not. Just take the next step. It will keep you moving in the general direction you want to go and will, over … Continue reading Next
Yes
#Beingaleader means you need to become comfortable with saying "Yes". It can be very freeing. Not being led down a path you don't want to go. Not being forced to spend time on things that you aren't meant to do. But focused on the things you say "yes" to. Sometimes the smallest things bring the … Continue reading Yes
No
#Beingaleader means you need to become comfortable with saying "No". It can be very freeing. Not being led down a path you don't want to go. Not being forced to spend time on things that you aren't meant to do. Sometimes the smallest things bring the biggest impact. "No" is a small but powerful word. … Continue reading No
Being A Leader 