When you hear the word "habit," what comes to mind? Something negative that you need to "break," perhaps? That tends to be the general consensus. This is often the time of year when we set resolutions and goals, usually to do away with our bad habits or form new good ones. As you think about your own habits, I'd like to offer some food for thought. Habits are often … [Read more...]
5 Exercises to Help You (Finally) Hit Your Goals This Year
You’ve got your goals for 2019 set. You’re excited about them and the prospects of achieving them. Whether those are true statements for you personally, for your team/organization or both, congratulations! They’re both necessary and important steps. But they aren’t enough. I’m guessing you’ve heard about visualizing your goals. Many tell me it seems silly, others think it … [Read more...]
Start Searching for Your Replacement Now
According to one study, 60% of small business owners lack a succession plan, but larger organizations don't seem to be doing any better. Experts again and again say that a lack of a proper leader succession and transition plan is one of the biggest issues organizations of all sizes face. While it can be very difficult and costly to replace someone in the C-suite, the problem … [Read more...]
Lonely Leader Blues? Build a New Network of Confidantes
It is "lonely at the top?” For many, yes. As you move up the ladder in any field, your peer groups grow smaller, and that can be a very lonely feeling. Before you were promoted to a supervisory position, if you had a hard day or a difficult decision you needed to talk through, you probably had a variety of people to turn to: your immediate supervisor, your team members, your … [Read more...]
Avoid These 7 “Flowbreakers” That Are Killing Your Productivity
If you're concerned about your own or your employees' productivity, you may be dealing with one of the following flowbreakers, say James Manktelow and Julian Birkinshaw, coauthors of Mind Tools for Managers: 100 Ways to Be a Better Boss. Keep reading to learn their advice for managing distractions so that you all can be more productive: Personal technology Smartphones and now … [Read more...]
4 Things You Should Do This Holiday Weekend
In the U.S., we are about to begin a three day holiday weekend for Labor Day. It's a day created to honor American workers and the contributions they make to our great nation. You're one of those workers, and while I hope you've done something special to honor your employees and the contributions they've made, I also don't want you to forget yourself. Start by taking full … [Read more...]
4 Really Great Reasons to Write Positive Feedback Down
Every leader has been told that offering positive feedback is one of the most valuable things you can do. You've heard of all the benefits. You may have heard that you don’t do it enough. If you’ve been reading this blog, you've likely learned the basics of giving positive feedback successfully, such as: Make it timely Make it meaningful. Make it about the behavior, … [Read more...]
Is Your Focus Too Narrow?
Focus. It is one of those words everyone says is a good thing and something most people would like to be better at. Yet, focus alone, isn't enough. What you focus on is what really matters. Take some time to think: What are you focused on right now? What are your priorities? To become the best leader you can be, and to best serve both your team members and your … [Read more...]
5 Tips for a Successful New Beginning
Congratulations, you just accepted a new job as supervisor! After celebrating the victory, reality sinks in and you wonder whether you even know what to do. Your primary role is now staff management, so how do you begin? The best way to start a new chapter is to lay a good foundation. Establish important building blocks that will help you manage and communicate more … [Read more...]
The Power of Practice
In today's video, I'm building on an idea that I touched on in last week's video, Building Confidence as a Coach. And that idea is practice and the power behind it. https://youtu.be/10iBfH_nX50?rel=0&showinfo=0 Tweet it out: Practice. Done well, it is how we grow, improve, and build successful habits. @KevinEikenberry Check out the Remarkable Podcast episode on … [Read more...]