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Category: Leadership (Page 9 of 19)

Four Biggest Myths About Being a Great Leader

29/09/2015 /

A lot of people who think they understand leadership have fallen for some common myths and misconceptions. According to Lolly Daskal, it would be better to learn what these myths are so one can uncover the truth.

The truth is that ‘leadership is a privilege—maybe even a calling. It’s something that has to be earned and learned over time’.

To be a real leader, make sure you’re not building your own leadership on any of these commonly held myths:

1. The myth of entrepreneurial leadership

It’s easy to assume that all entrepreneurs are leaders, but just because someone has a great and timely idea and can organize and operate a business, the truth is they aren’t necessarily a leader.

2. The myth of management as leadership

Leadership cannot be equated with management, even if it often occurs. If you’re a manager, you’re focused on maintaining systems, processes, and best practices. But if you’re a leader, much of your time is spent working to influence people. They’re both important roles, but they’re not the same thing.

3. The myth of trailblazer as leadership

Just because you’re standing in front of the crowd, you’re not necessarily the leader. The best leaders take their place alongside their people, helping propel them forward to a shared mission and vision. They may even be behind them, watching their backs.

4. The myth of position as leadership

The No. 1 top myth about leadership is the idea that leadership resides in certain positions. If you’re a at the top, you’re a leader. If at the bottom, there’s no room for leadership. In reality, the truth is that leadership has absolutely nothing to do with position.

Every business and work group has a boss, but only some have a leader at the helm. So if you’re in charge, or if you aspire to be, you have a decision to make: are you going to be the boss or are you going to be the leader? If you’re going to choose the second approach, remember that:

1. True leadership is about influence, nothing more and nothing less.
2. True leadership cannot be awarded, appointed or assigned.
3. True leadership can never be mandated, only earned.

And the best proof is not the leader’s personal success but the success of those who follow.

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Image source: Getty Images

Eight Deadly Ways to Kill Employee Motivation

15/09/2015 /

In this article, Lolly Daskal singles out eight ways that can kill employee motivation. In order to avoid this risk and to provide your employees with an environment in which they can thrive, it is important to pay attention to the following aspects:

  • Minimizing the damages caused by toxic people in the workplace. They spread negativity and suffocate the positive;
  • Encouraging the professional development of your employees. They will learn and grow every day;
  • Understanding the “big picture” and sharing it with your employees;
  • Showing people you value them by showing them you value their time;
  • Showing that a clear flow of communication benefits everyone;
  • The more collaboration, the more investment and the more motivation!
  • Rewarding your employees by saying ‘Thank you!’;
  • Starting with developing your own leadership, then hire and grow the best leaders at every level.

Allagash Bee Hive has a new queen!

Image source: Flickr – Allagash (CC BY 2.0)

 

 

09/07/2015 /

In this interview by Meredith Bell, Denny Coats explains why it takes time to ingrain a leadership skill. Every action that we do comes from the brain. It is only by repetition that we can strenghten the neural pathways in our brain in order to make our behaviour pattern more natural.

How to master leadership skills

Image source: Flickr – Borghy52 (CC – BY – NC – ND – 2.0)

 

Be a better leader, have a richer life

16/06/2015 /

Stewart Friedman, in his book Total Leadership: Be a Better Leader, Have a Richer Life argues that leadership in business cannot be merely about business anymore: it has to be about life as a whole.

The purpose of Total Leadership is to improve performance at work, at home, in the community, and for the private self (mind, body, spirit) by creating mutual value among these four life domains, to produce what he calls “four-way wins”.

Friedman explains how three simple principles can help to become a better leader and have a richer life.

  • Be real: act with authenticity by clarifying what’s important
  • Be whole: act with integrity by respecting the whole person
  • Be innovative: act with creativity by experimenting with how things get done

3763861311_516b54efac_zImage source: Flickr – kevint3141 – (CC BY 2.0)

Being a Better Leader: Four Exercises

02/06/2015 /

According to Roxi Bahar Hewertson, every choice you make in your daily worklife has a ripple effect throughout your team and organization. Here are four exercises that will make you a better leader, by ensuring that these effects have intended consequences. Such exercises concern the following issues:

  1. Start with you;
  2. Practice listening;
  3. Team dynamics;
  4. Culture is like air.

To discover more, visit here!

800px-Ripple_effect_on_water

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons – Serge Bacioiu (CC – BY – 2.0)

What happy people do differently (and why they become great leaders…)

21/05/2015 /

At first glance, some might say this article is not related to leadership skills. In my opinion it is actually the opposite: the author explains 7 fundamental differences between “happy” and “unhappy” people that reveal how attitudes and the way we see the world and the others are decisive to succeed in whatever we do. Succeeding is not just a question of method: first of all, you should have the right approach to daily life and see things the good way. This is the reason why this psychology-oriented article gives good hints about leadership.

The author talks about seven differences in particular (my short comments in brackets):

1. Your default belief is that life is hard (as a consequence, every task will seem impossible)

2. You believe most people can’t be trusted. (this way you won’t be able to delegate)

3. You concentrate on what’s wrong in this world versus what’s right. (this will cause a lack of motivation: why should I get things better if everything around me will always be wrong?)

4. You compare yourself to others and harbor jealousy. (the good leader is never jealous, he appreciates and knows how to exploit for the best other people’s qualities instead)

5. You strive to control your life. (planning, planning, planning!)

6. You consider your future with worry and fear. (this way you’ll remain paralyzed in the process of decision-making)

7. You fill your conversations with gossip and complaints. (those who always complain are just losing time instead of how to solve the problems that caused the complains…)

Read the full article here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201306/what-happy-people-do-differently

Janus_coin

image: Wikimedia (public domain)

 

 

Combined skills to be a senior manager or leader

19/05/2015 /

Ed Gelbstein, former director of the United Nations Computing Centre with long experience in International management, has summarized in a table what is expected from those who want to be a senior manager or leader in international activities.

Here is the summary which is the combined skills of Leonardo da Vinci, Machiavelli, Peter the Great and Houdini!

want to be a senior manager

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