5 Tips to Keep Employees Loyal

1. Compliment them

Offer regular statements of praise for a job well done. Don’t forget your top performers. We sometimes overlook them because we feel they already know how good they are. And, you’ll be surprised what can happen with sub-standard performers after hearing words of encouragement.

2. Have regular one-to-one meetings with EVERYONE that reports to you

When surveyed, employees say more individual time with their boss is invaluable. Once scheduled, avoid canceling as the message you send can be interpreted that you don’t feel they are important.  Have too many direct reports to do this? Reevaluate how your team is structured to reduce your number of direct reports. This can open opportunities for Team Leads, Supervisors, Assistant Managers, etc.

3. Give honest, fair and consistent feedback

Let them know where they stand. Tell them when something isn’t going well. Give them an opportunity to improve by hearing your open feedback.

4. Ask what they need from you to do a better job

Find out how you can improve their work environment to make it an enjoyable place to come to every day. Identifying small things you can change quickly will go a long way toward loyalty.

5. Make them feel important

Bottom line, show you care about them as a person.  Respect and understand their individuality. There is so much talk today about teamwork …which is important. However, teams are made up of individuals. And, individuals are most productive when they feel they matter.

Five simple practices of great leaders. How many are you doing?

There is no such thing as time management!

Yes, you read it right.  It is impossible to manage time. There are always going to be 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year. No way around it. Managing time is a fallacy.

If you can't manage time, what can you do? You can manage how you spend your time during those 24 hours. That's it. Very simple, yet people struggle day in and day out between over committing and missing deadlines.

Here is one way to help dispel the myth of managing time and replace it with being more efficient with how you spend your time.

BE REALISTIC! 

Un-realistic: Poor planning.

Think about how many times we get caught being late for meetings. Often it's not realistic to physically go from back to back meetings when they are on different floors, or even worse - in another building!  When we were in high school, we had a bell that rang between classes allowing us 5 minutes to get from one place to another. Yet, today we book meetings every hour unrealistically expecting all of them to start on time. 

Solution? Try scheduling them to begin at the quarter hour... one from 8-9am and the next one starting at 9:15am. Another suggestion...be realistic when allowing how long a meeting will go. Too often they are scheduled for 30 minutes when the subject matter will take longer to discuss.

Un-realistic: Over committing.

Your good intentions to please can put more on your schedule than physically possible. Consider the last time someone asked you for something and you quickly replied “yes” only to question yourself later as to how on earth you would ever meet the commitment. What typically follows is a missed deadline resulting in your reputation suffering.

Solution? Learn these two phrases: "I'm sorry, I can't do that...but what I can do is..." and "What is the soonest and the latest you need it?" That first statement will get you started managing your time better. It shows you are still willing to please but mindful of your prior commitments. You will be surprised to hear the response on the second statement. We often put false deadlines on ourselves thinking someone will need something sooner than we thought.

Starting today, manage time by simply being realistic - and let me know how it is working for you.

The Kaleidoscope Leader

This is from my 2nd book on Leadership: The Kaleidoscope Leader which I hope you will enjoy!

A kaleidoscope is a circle of mirrors containing loose, colored objects, such as beads or pebbles and bits of glass. As the viewer looks into one end, light entering the other end creates a colorful pattern due to the reflection off the mirrors.

Read about the Six Styles of Leadership and see which ones are like you:

The Solutions-Based Leader * The Servant-Centered Leader * The Process-Driven Leader * The Financially-focused Leader * The Visionary Leader * The Charismatic Leader

Then explore the Six Beliefs of a Kaleidoscope Leader - a leader that believes their success is predicated on the success of others:

Put Other First * Take Ownership * Foster an Optimistic Attitude * Drive Results Through the Details * Inspire Others * Practice Lifelong Learning

Kaleidoscope leaders are individuals who embrace a multitude of leadership techniques to be successful. As they look within, their methods of leading change are due to the reflection they see in others. My book about how leaders can reach their peak through the utilization of a variety of skills, talents, and behaviors to guide themselves and others to greatness.

Buy a copy and let me know what you think!

Available from Amazon in paperback and Kindle edition along with all major online retailers.

Switch Your Thinking from Delegating to Developing

In the last week I have had several conversations with leaders regarding the challenges of delegating. Over the years I have found this is one of the most difficult practices to learn when supervising others. 

Bosses get caught up believing:

“I can do it a lot faster myself.”

“They’ll never do it as good as me.”

“How can I give them more work when I know they’re swamped?”

If you find yourself agreeing with any of these statements and want to change your belief about delegating consider this:

Switch the word delegate to develop. 

It is your responsibility as a leader to teach and cultivate your staff which you can do by developing them through delegation. When you don’t delegate work you deny others to grow.   

An easy way to get started practicing this concept is to list on a sheet of paper all of the tasks you do on a daily basis. Then draw three columns next to the list.

Entitle the first column Keep Doing – these are tasks only you can accomplish.

Name the second column Stop Doing – these are time wasters that have little to no bearing on your productivity.

Label the third column Give Away – this is the important column – look at each task and think about who you could delegate it to? Who needs to learn and develop a skill so they can take on this task? 

By changing your thinking from delegating to developing and breaking down your workload into the three columns previously discussed, you will be on the road to becoming a leader that is known for cultivating great talent. 

This one is dedicated to Avi and his team at Jarden Solutions: Carlos Christiana, David, and Ray and Diana from Aventura – some of the best growing leaders I know.

The simplest way to inspire others

I am noticing a trend in the workplace today that revolves around dissatisfied employees. They aren't unhappy with their jobs or the company. Instead, they are disillusioned with their boss. They tell me stories of canceled one to one meetings, performance appraisals without meaning and overall lack of attention.

 

Knowing how busy management can become, I have a simple solution for helping your staff feel engaged and appreciated. It is to simply believe in them.

That’s it! Yet as easy as it sounds, it’s often overlooked, rarely discussed, and for some difficult to implement.

Think back to the people in your life that believed in you. They were the ones who understood you could do things that you thought impossible.

Starting today you can become that same guide inspiring others to greatness by applying these 5 practices:

1. Learn what makes someone tick. Find out what they love doing and what they avoid. Understand their past to help set the path for their future.

2. Encourage them. When things are going well, compliment and praise often. When they are troubled, remind them of their greatness.

3. Remove doubt. Don’t let them own beliefs that aren’t true. When they can’t believe in themselves help to refocus direction by expressing how much you believe in them.

4. Stop and just listen. Be the one person that will stay present in the moment with them. Let them talk and talk and talk until they run out of fuel.

5. Keep them going. Be available when they need you. Check in periodically to offer words of reassurance to help stay on track.

Whether you are a manager, coach,  (even parent or friend), you can make a great a difference in the lives of others if you will just believe in them.

Hernando makes you think...

Let me introduce you to Hernando Nicholas, Sr. Customer Service, Call Center Representative at Jim Moran & Associates. He has been in customer service most of his life and was drawn to it because of his sincere intention to help others. Over the years as his desire to serve remains strong, his patience is starting to waver. Here is his story…  

“Customer service in the past is extremely different than it is today. With the popularity of mobile phones we receive more calls than ever from the unprepared customer. Callers of old phoned from their office or home where they had access to the information needed to complete the call. Today the call occurs at random times from random locations due to the freedom of their mobile device.  

Our dialogue now includes a variety of sounds which ranges from the wind tunnel effect while calling from outdoors to blue tooth calls that come with delays and echoes. Of course let’s not forget the endless calls that occur while the customer is in the store checkout line, trying on clothes, walking into a meeting, etc. Not only is the caller unprepared, they become annoyed with me because I can’t hear them or understand what they are saying.  This lack of preparation and poor use of equipment leads to frustration on both the part of the caller and the person receiving the call. 

What psychological/emotional tactics do customer service reps use to adjust our internal reaction to the unprepared, preoccupied caller?  

How can we raise consumer awareness around placing a call?” 

Hernando makes some very interesting points. Today, we are more preoccupied with who is answering the phone from where than how we conduct ourselves.  

The next time you are the caller think about Hernando’s desire to help you and how you can positively impact the transaction by being prepared and mindful of your surroundings.

IIWII – It’s not a radio station!

Instead IIWII is one of the most popular phrases being used today. It stands for: It is what it is. Think about how often you have heard it or said it in the past few weeks.  

It is used as a confirmation of facts. A statement validating a truth. An acceptance of a situation offering a sense of finality. More often than not IIWII is typically aligned with a negative account of things.

“This has been one of the worst winters."– IIWII
“My rent just went up!” – IIWII
“Traffic is backed up for miles.” - IIWII
As you are making the statement, IIWII, you obviously understand the situation you are in. You realize the predicament.

The question is: What are you going to do about it?
Can you influence the circumstances or are you paralyzed to do anything?  
Are you in a position to accept the predicament and move on – releasing the outcome without looking back?
Or, are there factors within your control that offers alternatives to outcomes?

As human beings, we have been blessed with the ability to make choices how we will react to the situations we face on a daily basis.
With that in mind, the next time you find yourself stating “IIWII” follow it with: “and here's what I'm going to do about it.”
Or...let it go.

Garbage in-Garbage out - Emptying the Head Trash in Your Mind

When computers were born there was much discussion regarding data.  The term “garbage in – garbage out” referred to the quality of the information being input.  The theory was if you entered bad information, you would yield bad results. Take that same philosophy and apply it to the things you think about every day. Are they focused on good thoughts or negative?

A good friend and colleague, Brian Norusis, introduced me to a concept he calls “Head Trash”. He and I agree that too often we allow negative thoughts or “Head Trash” to control our feelings which in turn affects our reaction to the circumstances we face daily.

The more I explored this idea the more I realized how it ties directly into our surroundings. The more Head Trash in – hearing horrific news stories, dealing with pessimistic people and reading negative press – the more our mind begins to process it as a truth. We become depressed, angry and unhappy.

Conversely neutralizing Head Trash by replacing it with uplifting articles, positive affirmations and upbeat people, the more energized we become.

Within the receptacle of your brain, you are the only one that can make a deposit. You are the only one in control of what you think about.  Disappointing circumstances may always be around the corner. It is the manner in which you process your thoughts that drives your reaction.

For once in your life be happy to take out the garbage and remove Head Trash before it starts to build up!

Give the Gift of Significance

Last week I spent time with Fred Wilson, CEO, East Florida Division of Parallon Supply Chain Solutions and his Leadership Team discussing Customer Service.  One of our conversations centered on the word “Significant” which has prompted me to share a few thoughts with you.

Merriam Webster defines Significant as: “Have meaning; being important”

As you think about the definition consider who you made feel significant in the last 24 or 48 hours.

Are you surrounded with family members arriving for the holidays that feel welcomed into your home?  Have you offered a holiday greeting to those who serve you on a regular basis, perhaps your mail person or UPS driver? Have you given a compliment to a complete stranger?

Each of us has the ability to make someone feel special. We can do it instantaneously with a text message or email. We can offer a hug instead of a handshake. We can stay present in conversation by listening with both our ears and eyes. We can simply smile at others.

Will you join me as we begin to close out 2013 in using your influence as your gift for helping others realize they are important?

What better time of the year to practice making someone feel significant?

5 Simple Strategies for Coaching for Success

Later today I will spend time with the Leaders at e-Builder, a construction program management software company based in Plantation, Florida. Ron Antevy, President and recently selected as one of South Florida Business Journal’s Ultimate CEOs for Broward County, has asked me to conduct a series of Leadership Training Workshops as part of his on-going desire to grow the company through the success of his team. 

Here are my five coaching strategies for success I will be teaching: 

1.     Establish Trust - Without trust, the coaching relationship will falter and often result in negative outcomes.  It must start with trust.

2.      Learn the Past - In order to help an employee develop for the future, you must be aware of their past.  It is vital that you have a complete understanding of their work history, successes and failures. 

3.     Define the Future - You must align the employee’s personal and professional goals with organizational goals. This will enable you to uncover gaps between the employee’s strengths and opportunities for growth.

 

4.     Create a Plan - Successful development plans follow the SMART philosophy – they are Specific, Measureable, Action driven, Realistic and within a Timeline.

5.     Offer Support - Staying in touch, measuring progress through one-on-one meetings, phone calls, texting and emails are crucial and often forgotten.

A few more Coaching for Success tips:

·         Market and promote talent

·         Reward progress, not just results

·         Find the right size challenges

·         Gradually raise the bar

·         Let them go ahead of you

Let me know what works for you when Coaching for Success so I can expand my tips!

Enjoy meeting people that are different from you!

I am getting close to the finishing touches of my new leadership book The Kaleidoscope Leader and thought you would enjoy a preview. 

As you know a Kaleidoscope is a circle of mirrors containing loose, colored objects such as bead or pebbles and bits of glass. As the viewer looks into one end, light entering the other end creates a colorful pattern, due to the  reflection off the mirrors. 

The Kaleidoscope Leader is an individual that encompasses a multitude of leadership techniques to be successful. As they look within, their methods of leading change due to the reflection they see in others.   

One of these demonstrations is the fact that they enjoy meeting people that are different from them.

One of the most beautiful things we have on earth is the fact that nothing is the same. Snowflakes, fingerprints, zebra stripe and DNA cannot be duplicated. With atoms always moving energy around nothing stays the same.  Change is constant and different is normal. If you will agree with this, consider why. Think about how boring our world would be if there were no differences, if flowers looked and smelled the same, if all dog lovers had only one puppy to choose from, and if there were only one type of fruit to eat or vegetable to cook.  But this isn’t our world. Instead we have many pets to love, fruits to grow and vegetables to eat. And, we have many people different from us to enjoy.

The Kaleidoscope Leader understands the uniqueness of the Universe and how we all connect even when we feel disconnected. They realize the advantage of surrounding themselves with like-minded and unlike-minded individuals.  They welcome thoughts different from their own, appreciate another point of view and respect people that disagree with them.  They relish in the differences considering an alternative way of thinking as exciting. They are curious as to how someone processes information different than their method.  They are genuinely interested in learning new customs and traditions.  They are not threatened by diverse thinking. They are respectful of those who dress, speak and act in ways that are dissimilar to themselves.

As they move through the process of seeking out all types of people, they maintain a clear understanding of their core beliefs.  They will consider alternative views and may even adapt one or two. But, they have the strength and will power to stay firm when their beliefs cannot be altered.  This is when they will agree to disagree. They will accept and respect those that are different and yet realize the importance of staying true to themselves.

STOP! Take a moment…

If you read my blogs you know right now it has been awhile (at least I’m not annoying sending you stuff that you don’t read cause you don’t have time). If this is your first one, what the heck has taken you so long? Where have you been?

Ok…sorry for that small Dennis Miller rant…(not Rodman…Miller) – if you;re absolutely clueless about either, don’t worry, You'll still understand my message, which is...

Take a moment.

The minute you get done reading this I want you to take a moment to give a hug, make a call, send a text…show your preferred form of love for that one, two or many that mean something to you. That one person, group, or team that you would be lost without.

Sit for a bit and think about those who mean the most to you. I mean really THINK about them. Keep thinking. Pay attention to how you feel. Tears forming? Insides feeling warm? Heart beating a tab bit faster? When you are overcome with the joy of loving someone you know exactly what I am getting at.

And, now, for this second and the rest of the day be thankful for those who give you a reason…are there for you when you don’t ask, love you unconditionally and those you haven’t even met yet.

This one is for…

everyone that is reading and thinks that maybe…just perhaps, I would be typing in your name.  And, for the one I haven’t met yet…this one’s for you, Kailey.

The Chicken or The Egg?

The chicken or the egg dilemma is commonly stated as "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" To ancient philosophers, the question about the first chicken or egg also evoked the questions of how life and the universe in general began.
 
Metaphorically the question can be reformulated as: "Which came first, X that can't come without Y, or Y that can't come without X?"

Let’s apply this dilemma to the workforce. The Employee or The Customer?

I offer my opinion in my book: The Pied Piper Principle; Lead, and They Will Follow

“Principle #56 – What is more important – The Customer or The Employee?

Although there may be lots of reasons to pick one over the other there is one important difference. Without a customer, you have no business.  Yet without employees, you have no product to sell or service to offer. The employee is the most important aspect of your business.

Picture the customer that knocks on the door and there is no employee to answers. Or, the client that makes the call with no one to pick up the phone.

When you have employees you will always have someone to create the merchandize, sell the service and collect the money. 

Of course a business without customers closes. The customer must be valued and treated like gold.  An interesting thing occurs when a leader treats their employees like a priceless gem. The employees in turn, do the same with the customers.”

Show me happy employees and I'll show you happy customers!

Let me know who you think comes first.

The Door of Opportunity

By the middle of January most of us are well on our way accomplishing our New Year’s resolution. Or, we have already decided they just weren’t worth the effort.  Whether you are in the first category and looking for one more goal or feeling down that you didn’t keep a commitment, I have an effortless one for you this year.
 
It is simply: Open the door of opportunity for someone.

I imagine each one of you reading this can think back to at least one individual that gave you a chance, offered you a break – believed in you when no one else did. For many, that one vote of confidence was all it took to begin your journey to greatness.

Some of us may have had several doors opened over our life time…by teachers, friends, supervisors, neighbors or family members…they saw something we didn’t see. They sensed our ability to do more, understood that we had it in us even when we may have been at our darkest hour.

Today I encourage you to open the door of opportunity for someone.  This year find at least one person that can use the inspiration to be more - needs a little help to advance to the next place in their life.

Once you do, stand back and let them walk through. For as great as the deed it is to open the door, it is up to them to go through.

One of the best holiday gifts this year…

Over the past few months I have been thinking about a friend/colleague I worked with for a long time.  We had lost touch with one another due to the all of the reasons one stops from communicating…busy lives.  Yet, I hadn’t forgotten her. In fact I probably thought about her more than she imagined.

So, knowing she is an early riser, I called her one morning last week and was greeted with that great voice of hers once again.  Our conversation started where we left over long ago. There was the same amount of energy as before, the same laughter, sharing of trying times…just two good friends reuniting. She, too, mentioned how often I entered her mind and how much she has missed me.

After I hung up I realized that call would be one of the best holiday gifts I could give AND receive this year. 

Before the month runs out I encourage you to do the same.  Think of someone that made your life brighter, was there when you needed them, and for one reason or another has dropped out of sight. 
Give them a call. Not an email nor a text. A phone call.

Make this holiday season one that you give and receive with that special someone that did and still does make a difference in your life.

This one’s for you Missy!

Eight Things Remarkably Successful People Do

My friends, Tim and Cindy Stockman, owners of Studio 19 (www.studio19fineart.com) are hosting a fund raiser tonight for Kids and Distress. With all of the preparation that goes into this type of event, Tim still had time to send me the article below.  Although it is longer than my usual post I think you will enjoy reading it.

Eight Things Remarkably Successful People Do  By Jeff Haden

 

1. They don't create back-up plans.
Back-up plans can help you sleep easier at night. Back-up plans can also create an easy out when times get tough.

You'll work a lot harder and a lot longer if your primary plan simply has to work because there is no other option. Total commitment--without a safety net--will spur you to work harder than you ever imagined possible.

If somehow the worst does happen (and the "worst" is never as bad as you think) trust that you will find a way to rebound. As long as you keep working hard and keep learning from your mistakes, you always will.

2. They do the work...
You can be good with a little effort. You can be really good with a little more effort.

But you can't be great--at anything--unless you put in an incredible amount of focused effort.

Scratch the surface of any person with rare skills and you'll find a person who has put thousands of hours of effort into developing those skills.

There are no shortcuts. There are no overnight successes. Everyone has heard about the 10,000 hours principle but no one follows it... except remarkably successful people.

So start doing the work now. Time is wasting.

3.  ...and they work a lot more.
Forget the Sheryl Sandberg "I leave every day at 5:30" stories. I'm sure she does. But she's not you.

Every extremely successful entrepreneur I know (personally) works more hours than the average person--a lot more. They have long lists of things they want to get done. So they have to put in lots of time.

Better yet, they want to put in lots of time.

If you don't embrace a workload others would consider crazy then your goal doesn't mean that much to you--or it's not particularly difficult to achieve. Either way you won't be remarkably successful.

4. They avoid the crowds.
Conventional wisdom yields conventional results. Joining the crowd--no matter how trendy the crowd or "hot" the opportunity--is a recipe for mediocrity.

Remarkably successful people habitually do what other people won't do. They go where others won't go because there's a lot less competition and a much greater chance for success.

5. They start at the end...
Average success is often based on setting average goals.

Decide what you really want: to be the best, the fastest, the cheapest, the biggest, whatever. Aim for the ultimate. Decide where you want to end up. That is your goal.

Then you can work backwards and lay out every step along the way.

Never start small where goals are concerned. You'll make better decisions--and find it much easier to work a lot harder--when your ultimate goal is ultimate success.

6. ... and they don't stop there.
Achieving a goal--no matter how huge--isn't the finish line for highly successful people. Achieving one huge goal just creates a launching pad for achieving another huge goal.

Maybe you want to create a $100 million business; once you do you can leverage your contacts and influence to create a charitable foundation for a cause you believe in. Then your business and humanitarian success can create a platform for speaking, writing, and thought leadership. Then...

The process of becoming remarkably successful in one field will give you the skills and network to be remarkably successful in many other fields.

Remarkably successful people don't try to win just one race. They expect and plan to win a number of subsequent races.

7. They sell.
I once asked a number of business owners and CEOs to name the one skill they felt contributed the most to their success. Each said the ability to sell.

Keep in mind selling isn't manipulating, pressuring, or cajoling. Selling is explaining the logic and benefits of a decision or position. Selling is convincing other people to work with you. Selling is overcoming objections and roadblocks.

Selling is the foundation of business and personal success: knowing how to negotiate, to deal with "no," to maintain confidence and self-esteem in the face of rejection, to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, to build long-term relationships...

When you truly believe in your idea, or your company, or yourself then you don't need to have a huge ego or a huge personality. You don't need to "sell."

You just need to communicate.

8. They are never too proud.
To admit they made a mistake. To say they are sorry. To have big dreams. To admit they owe their success to others. To poke fun at themselves. To ask for help.

To fail.

And to try again.

If you would like to support this fund raiser, please email tim@studio19fineart.com

How to build Goodwill and Trust

Today I will be attending the final day of a User Conference being held by one of my best clients, e-Builder. They are a construction program management software company based in Plantation, FL. Attendees are from all over the country – the farthest traveling from Alaska to Ft. Lauderdale. As I listened to owners Jon and Ron Antevy speak to various audiences, they had one resounding theme– “To build Goodwill and earn the Trust of others.”

This is the exact same message being followed by a networking group I belong to, BNI Premier (Business Networking International). Lead by President Julie Hough, Bankruptcy Attorney, the goal of each weekly meeting is to establish connections among members based on “Goodwill and Trust”.

When you think about it, building Goodwill and Trust is a must for long lasting relationships. It rings true professionally and personally. It is the driving force for turning prospects into customers. It is the magnet that keeps us attached to create a partnership that thrives over time.

It is the foundation for a good marriage, long-lasting friendships and successful parenting.  Friends rely on Goodwill and Trust without even knowing it. Teachers and Coaches use it to drive peak performance.

And, it comes down to 3 basics:

1.      Be true to your word

 

2.      Be giving

 

3.      Be thankful 

As you go about your day think about how you can lead a fulfilling life by building Goodwill and Trust with everyone you encounter.

How to stay in business...for 15 years!

Today my company, The Raven Group, Inc. enters its 15^th year in business. And on a recent trip to Orlando, my husband and co-owner, Bill, and I were asked how we stayed in business this long.

The answers came easy to us so I thought I would share them with you below. They are in no particular order.

1.      Surround yourself with great people: clients, employees, colleagues and friends

2.      Be thankful for all you have

3.      Continue to add new business while retaining your existing clientele

4.      Be involved in at least one group or organization outside of your company

5.      Have a mentor or confidant

6.      Stay current of trends in and out of your industry

7.      Embrace change

8.      Examine your P&L monthly

9.      Fulfill your commitments with honesty and integrity

Since we came up with 9, what one do you have to round out the list to 10?  Please let me know what you would add to our list.

To all of my readers, thank you! You are the number one reason we are celebrating today.

Achieve Great Success as a High Performer

Ever think about why one person seems to get ahead over another when they have similar skill sets? Do you wonder what is stopping you from becoming all that you can be? Well, I have a suggestion for those of you who want to achieve great success by becoming a High Performer.

After studying countless executives, top producers and business leaders, I have found High Performers significantly outperform their peer groups in a variety of settings and circumstances. While achieving superior levels of performance, they exhibit positive behaviors that reflect their values. And, they have a strong capacity to grow and succeed throughout their careers.

I’ve broken this down to three basic elements of a High Performer.

1. Deliver strong results – credibly
High Performers know results must come with building trust and confidence, remaining objective, and having high standards. They:
a) Develop goals and plans with others in mind
b) Operate in a productive manner
c) Facilitate dynamic interactions

2. Build value through relationships
High Performers understand behaviors count and work collaboratively with the success of others in mind. They:
a) Work to “complete” others versus “compete” with them
b) Develop and maintain positive relationships
c) Successfully manage conflict

3. Master new types of expertise
High Performers embrace lifelong learning, are willing to change and be different. They:
a) Become a possibility thinker
b) Always look to improve
c) Keep up-to-date

If you are ready to be a high performer, don’t forget: Performance always counts, but your behavior matters more and more as you grow your career.

Leadership Basics…10 Tips on Body Language

Leadership is all about connecting with others. Over the next few blogs, I will share with you some of my favorite tips on increasing your personal power. These are from Inside CRM editors at http://www.focus.com/:

BODY LANGUAGE - Like it or not, your body speaks volumes, even when you are silent. Here's how to express an attitude that's appropriate for a leader.

1. Stand tall. Keeping your shoulders back and holding yourself up to your full height will give you an air of confidence.

2. Take your hands out of your pockets. Putting your hands in your pockets is often seen as a sign that you have something to hide.

3. Stand with your arms crossed behind your back. This will help you adjust your posture, and it leaves your hands in a position that is open and not intimidating.

4. Make eye contact. Always look directly into the eyes of the people you are speaking with. This shows you're interested and also gives you a sense of confidence.

5. Sit up straight. Even if you're at an 8 a.m. meeting and feeling tired, it's important to sit up straight in your chair. Slouching makes you look disinterested and can give off an unwanted air of laziness.

6. Face the person you're talking to. This shows you are interested and engaged in the conversation.

7. Shake hands firmly. For many, a handshake is a reflection of the person you're shaking hands with. You don't want to come across as unsure or overbearing, so make sure yours is professional and confident.

8. Always smile. Smiles are contagious and will make others feel positive when you're around.

9. Look your best. You don't have to be model perfect every day, but you should dress appropriately and neatly. Clothes can have a big impact on the way you're perceived.

10. Walk confidently. Keep your head up and take even strides.