Taking a Hit

Somedays you are blindsided by life - leaders, team members....everyone! 

What to do?

Suck in your abs and take it? You may tear up a little, get the breath knocked out of you, but if you try to be calm, try to be positive, stand up...brush yourself off and get back going wherever life was leading.

An effective leader can help the team take the hit too.  Leaders shoulder the brunt, the fall out will trickle down...usually.  Leaders need to learn to communicate the hits with facts, action steps and honesty.

How can leaders tell if a team member has taken a hit?  Do you look for body language, change in work performance, difference in social interactions in the group?  Take steps now to learn about your team so that when they take a hit, you can be there to help them regroup.

Definition of Entrepreneur

The belief that an entrepreneur is someone who sets the world on it's head is out there in the universe.
If we dig a little deeper into the thoughts and methods, even inspiration of entrepreneurs, the true definition evolves...

"An entrepreneur is someone who takes part in the lifelong effort to create value for others."

The fact that they may turn everything upside down is simply the process of how they create the value.

What do you do that is entrepreneurial?  Do you have entrepreneurs in your organization?  How do you help them thrive?

Attitude Reflects Leadership

Ever wonder when you walk into a business - a restaurant, an office, a store, a bank - why there is an atmosphere? Not just the cleanliness or the smell in the air but a palpable feeling amongst the staff?


It's the attitude.

You need to understand that the underlying tone is any business, any community, any household, is really the reflection of the attitude of the leader.

If you have a leader who throws change at you at the checkout register, doesn't say thank-you, treats customers poorly, you will see the same from the employees in that location - if the leader can do it so will the staff.

What to do? Always be aware of your attitude towards your team, your clients, those around you. It will come back to you in attitude from your team, your clients and those around you. Attitude reflects leadership - always!
 
Take into consideration the companies that you deal with regularly...I can easily name a few that make working with them a joy - whether as a client, a vendor or just a passer-by:

• Zappos.com
• Indigo
• Sephora
• Wheeler's Printing & Copying
• The Ryegate

just to name a few....who can you name?  Would you like to be your own client?

Get Going

Know that feeling at the end of the day...just before the workday ends and knowing that the evening routine is about to begin?

Just when you thought your day was over, it is really just going to start....make or go to dinner, homework with the kids or the latest networking event.  We have so much to juggle that the finish line seems miles away.

How do you get going at the end of the day?  And not simply plodding along, but with renewed and refocused energy?
Here are a few tips:

1. go for a walk
2. listen to music and sing really loud all the way home in the car
3. create goals for the evening - giving you that sense of accomplishment when you are done
4. make a list of 'have to do' versus 'nice to do' and decide where to start

......and my favourite way - a small piece of really dark chocolate - like 85% Cocoa!
Heck, I feel better, have an energy boost and am refreshed.

Give in....sometimes you just have to do it!

The Step Before You Start

Are you thinking about starting your own business?  Ready to take on the challenges of solo-preneurship?
The first step is usually the hardest.  There are so many things to consider, even before you start a business plan.

Usually it starts with an idea.  You know you can solve a specific problem for a specific group of people.  The idea germinates from here and becomes a full blown business (ad)venture!

I took these steps.  My clients have taken these steps too, and sometimes many times over.
Here are some things to consider even before you think about taking that first step:

1. are you ready for the insecurity of no secure, steady pay cheque?
2. is your family ready for that?
3. do you have any idea where to start?
4. do you have a role-model?
5. what will it take for you to tackle all of this?  there is quite a lot to do

Have I attacked your passion enough?  You may really be sitting there saying "I'll show you EXACTLY what I can do!!!"

Awesome!
That's what I wanted to know.  Are you passionate enough to get this plan in motion and get it in motion NOW?

Here is a new tool I have developed.  It is called 'Get Started - 7 Steps to Get to the Heart of Your Business'.  This download will definitely make you think through all the heart-centred, passion-focused issues that you could be facing or need to consider as well as provide you with a go to list of other things that need to be addressed in your business planning sessions.

Let me know how I can help.  You can always use a complimentary 30 minute Clear Vision session to start talking about your new business (ad)venture with me, and get clear on how to start

Take A Stand

There are many ways for leaders to take a stand. Most of the ways are not usually bad ways. In fact, we would expect our leaders to take a position on many subjects, decisions and projects so that we can understand our alignment to the overall business or organization. What happens when a leader refuses to participate in a major corporate initiative, and meanwhile, by default eliminates the team from participating? Take it even one step further, throughout the initiative, how can the leader ask the team why they are not participating?


This is truly a question of running-off-at-the-mouth. This leader has put the team in an awkward position - do they participate, knowing the leader's position and therefore potentially become the object of ridicule or punishment from the leader? Or does the team not participate and look like they are guilty of silo-thinking, not being part of the grander scheme of the company? In either situation, the team is not able to properly function within the larger group.

What to do? Ask the leader to advise on his position or re-think it. Provide the leader with the perceptions that could follow for the entire team relating to their stand.

Getting Through the Mid-Day Slump

What do you do in the middle of the day to get the blood pumping and energy flowing?




How do you get through the mid-day slump?

Here are a few things I do.  As a solo-preneur (and leader of the team of ME) I need to refocus and get the afternoon off to a great start so that I can stay productive...or if meeting with clients and prospects, stay focused and present with them.

1. I take a few minutes to review my afternoon agenda and the next day too.  This helps me to see where I am at, what is left to accomplish and most importantly, see how much I have done so far.
2. I add in or delete whatever is necessary because some things tend to pop up that need to be dealt with immediately. I feel the sense of accomplishment...get psyched for what is next and jump right in.
3. If I don' t feel totally ready, I walk outside for some fresh air, or grab a green tea and then get moving.  I find that walking away from my desk (or car) to stretch and breathe gets me re-energized.

If all else fails, I pick up the phone and call a good friend or colleague and ask for help to get back on track....this helps to eliminate any mental blocks I may be having....talking it through gets the job done.

How do you get through the mid-day slump?  What do you do to avoid the slump completely?