The Power of Sharing

One thing I love to do is share - this can be called collaboration, mentoring, connecting...at the end of the day - it truly is sharing.

Why?

Because it is not about me.  What I share is truly about what triggers something in my brain and/or my heart and I believe that it will resonate with my audience.

Some things that I share:

• Seth Godin blog posts - usually everyday through LinkedIn
• articles
• invites on email for webinars - may have been sent to me, but I think others may want to join too.
• Gaping Void - love Hugh's take on the world and it helps me see a different perspective + creativity ROCKS!!
• Triberr.com - this was shared with me by Todd Neilsen during a blogathon & I still use it, finding really cool things to share, and others share my stuff too.
• Todd Nielsen - I like what he says about leadership - and he is a real person, who knows what it means to reach out.

There is a lot more....you can see it on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and of course, in email boxes all around!

What do you share & why?

WIIFM

Turn up the volume, Leaders.  It is time to listen to WIIFM - that's right!  What's In It For Me ....the one station on your radio dial that will help you understand so many things.  Well, actually 2 starting points that can help change how you lead your team....or yourself!

1. What is in it for each of your team members?
2. What is in if for you?  Yes, you!  That does count...but in a different way than you realize.

Let's start with the team:  getting to know your team members will help you understand what drives each one of them.  Because each are individuals and very unique with their own skill sets and talents (face it, that is why you hired them - you weren't looking for clones), you will find that different things push their buttons.  To get the most out of each individual you need to tap into the 'button'. 

For example:  some may be driven by money, the bonus at the end of the job well-done; some may be motivated by the need to belong and participate on a high-performing team; other are driven by the opportunity to move up the ladder and this is a showcase opportunity. 

What's In It For Me is huge - once you know what drives each team member, your communication will change to include these dials for each one.  It will short cut any of the explanation to true facts that help align the team to the objectives.

Now - what about you?  Have you spent time to think about what you get out of all this leadership stuff?  is is really the title you were after - or is it truly something else?  Your objective today is to figure some of that out. Take 10 minutes of quiet time - with a coffee, tea or glass of wine, and think back to why you do what you do....what do you get out of it besides a paycheque.  What is it that drives you?  Understanding this about yourself can help you understand more about others.

Unique Start to 2012

Thinking about my business also means thinking about my unique abilities and understanding how to use them better and get rid of the other stuff (thanks Alynn for the work here).

That being said, I have focused more time on providing you with webinars and workshops, downloads and services that focus you on developing your leadership. One of my unique abilities is facilitation - so guess what?
The Goal Getter 2012 Webinar is coming to you on December 9th at 1pm EST.  You must be on this webinar - it will cost you nothing except for 1 hour of your time and a little head-space around your goals.

Check out all the information here - Goal Getters 2012.

Are you planning resolutions for 2012?  Join me and change that to goals - easier to accomplish, better for your self-esteem!

Welcome to Solstice Life

I am merging my blogs this week.

Please check out this link to see all the details:

http://solsticelife.blogspot.com/

When it becomes time to focus, all energy must flow in the same direction.

Look forward to some carry over from the old blog to compliment the topics on this one.

Leadership Not to Do will still exist on it's own as it is the opposite to this topic.

Visit that blog:  http://leadership-not-todo.blogspot.com/ and share your 'not' leadership stories.

Announcing Leadership DNA

Leadership DNA

Leaders are people.  People have DNA.  So therefore, leaders have DNA. 

All DNA is not the same.

Announcing the Leadership DNA Workshop Series from Solstice Group.

I am happy to announce this 5-part series that will give you a new perspective on your leadership - how you lead, who you lead, why you lead and more.

Making this 1/2 day per month time investment will help you to build highly engaged teams, drive increased revenue and attract clients like never before.

The 5 Workshops are:

1. the Visionary Leader
2. High Performance Leader
3. A Leader's Influence
4. YOU: the Leader-preneur
5. Leaders Connect

You have the option to take one or two of the workshop series or take all five.

Currently all workshops are scheduled for in-person events in Windsor, Ontario.  Please let me know if you would like to participate online - I would be happy to share this with you by webinar series.

Click here to see all the details.

The Help

Have you seen this movie yet?  My husband and I went last week. I have not, in a ver long time, sat and watched the movie credits through to the end.  The entire crowd in a very full theatre sat through the credits.  We were all in awe....or waiting for something to happen next and it never did.

Why is 'The Help' a subject in a leadership blog?  Go see the movie.  It is about change - changing times, changing attitudes, changing believes and the difficulties that come with change - getting others to understand the change, being the lone trailblazer, against all odds sticking to your beliefs, your values....holding your values up and holding onto them in the face of crisis and emotion and knowing that you could run and be just like everyone else, or be yourself.

An amazing story.  An eye-opener.  A true miracle to watch.

Right Foot, Left Foot

Which foot do you start with when you walk or run?  We tend to favour a specific starting point. And it goes with the saying 'put your best foot forward', well is that the right foot or the left foot.
When we learned how to walk, it goes in order, one foot at a time, right?

What does all of this have to do with leadership?  Feet in leadership? 

Absolutely - people follow leaders  - this is usually an action that takes place with your feet. 
Leaders need to 'walk their talk' - give action to their words.
My favourite is LBWA or CBWA (Leading by Walking Around or Coaching by Walking Around) - getting out into the trenches and being with the team, encouraging, supporting, eliminating roadblocks...and the rest.
So which is it, right foot first? Left foot first?  Best foot first?
And how do you show others how to do this too?

Leadership DNA

So....what are you made of?  What can you say, comprises you, or your leadership?
How do you know that what you have is what it takes to be a leader?

Leadership DNA is a project that I have been working on for a while.  It has been living in the back of my mind - germinating - so to speak.  It has come to light in the form of a series of half- day workshops that will begin in the Fall of 2011 in my local market.  But this is not a commercial, more of an introduction to what has been developing and why.  (If you would really like to read more about it go to my website http://www.solsticegroupcoaching.com/ and look at 'Leadership')

I have discovered (and I don't usually write about myself, but I am today) that leaders come in all shapes and sizes, experiences and inexperiences, and -as if you didn't already know - a variety of interests and ideologies that make them up.  At the same time, they seem to all be focused on one particular outcome - that the service of others - their company, their team, their community, comes before their ego.

I have also discovered that there is a lack of understanding about leadership - what it is, what it can do, how it can influence and connect with others.  All off the leadership traits are personal and reflected outward in a manner that creates a positive and motivating environment. 
It is sharing what you know. 
It is providing value without further intention.
It is being yourself and responsible for your actions, accountable to the world around you.

Look at yourself - what do you think?

My Ideal Client

Can you describe your ideal client? Developing my business, I have learned to narrow this down so that I am not tracking after prospects that really don't fit my niche....for reasons of expectations, money or even personality. I like to click with my clients. I like to feel the energy and excitement for eir business as we talk and discuss next steps. Frankly, it leaves me energized and I love that....that is the click.


My ideal client has been in business, in either a leadership capacity or starting their own business. I work with entrepreneurs and executives. My clients love their work, their business, their team and their family. They are looking to create an awesome business that has longevity for their people, their family and then, at the end of the day, themselves!

My clients are about their people and moving forward. My clients are full of energy and have a million ideas all at once. My clients have heart....huge heart. It is what drives them...to care, to learn, to grow and to connect.

My clients like to take risks, have goals, are self-aware and want to grow beyond their current place -in mind,  in body and in business.  They want to move from 'good' to 'great' - with their teams, their business and of course with their bank account.

My clients are also solo-preneurs - and make their team consist of the network of relationships they build with others - vendors, suppliers, clients, advisors and more.  This is where they focus energy for growth, guidance and true learning.


Does this sound like you? Perhaps you are my ideal client.
Think you are? Let's talk.
Call me at 519-735-6820 or email me at lora@solsticegroupcoaching.com.

The Success Formula

Leadership+Management=Success

Delivering on vision + dealing with the here and now= Success

What is your formula for Success?

The X's of Leadership

Hard to find X words so I made up my own

Xtreme - maxed, focused

Xtra-goes further for everything

The W's of Leadership

Wonder-has a sense of exploration


Will-tries, helps

Work-ready, willing and able

Why-asks all the time, wants to discover underlying issues or opportunities

Which-gives options, never settles

Walk-the talk

The V's of Leadership

Values-the basis of life, lives and breathes, makes all decisions with them as the sounding board

Vision-has it, helps others to see it


Verve- has zest for life

Vibrant-personality, projection, full of life

Vigor-energetic

Visible-out with the team, with clients, investors

The U's of Leadership

Understanding-thinks things through and asks questions when things are not clear, offers a shoulder

Umpteenth-has patience...goes over and over again  ( I know, I made the word up!!, but it's true!)

Upstanding-emulates dignity, honor, respect

Uncluttered-has compartmentalized and prioritized

Ultimate-to the max, effort, play, work, everything

Unceasing-gives all, never ending

Undaunted-does not let things get in the way, unafraid

Unlimited-sees potential in others and the organization


Unity- is the center, hold it together - people, company, focus

Urgency-has this sense, innate understanding

The T's of Leadership

Trustworthy-can keep confidences locked up, holds the keys


Touching- thoughtful

Track record-proven

Teamwork- insists on it, lives it, breathes it

Tact-diplomatic

Talk-can do it well, also listens

Target-has numbers to meet and executes to do so

Teach-works with others to help them learn

Tenacious-hangs on when needed, does not give up

Thank you-shows gratitude often

Think-uses their brain, engaged with their heart

Thoughtful-thinks of others, takes time to reflect, contemplate

Thrive-is happy and excited to work

Time-spends it as efficiently as possible, makes space in their day for others

Total-commitment level

Tough-gets through things, makes the hard decisions, has the difficult conversations

Treasure-is one

Transparent-same person in every role

Truth-lives and breathes it

The S's of Leadership

Smart- uses the resources available


Sincere-you can trust what they say

Servant-serves others through leadership

Sound-solid judgement

Social-takes part in activities in the organization and community to get to know others, build relationships, provide support

Selfless-puts others first

Say-has one, listens to others

Steps-measured goal setter

Storyteller-knows the culture and repeats the stories to ensure it endures, tells own story to help others grow, is an active participant in the story of others

Strive- looks for excellence, to grow, get better

Sacrifice-makes them, helps others understand them

Secure-confident

Seeds-sows and reaps, cultivates others

Self-esteem-not lacking and uplifting

Significant-makes a contribution

Skills-uses all they have

Spirit-giving, inspiring, good-natured, encourages the spirit of others

Stability-provides this to others and the organization

Stamina-goes the distance and them some

Straightforward-does not dance around the truth, honest

Stretch-works tom push beyond reach

Studious-always a student of business, community, family, life

Suggest-looks for ways to share ideas but is not overly attached to them

Succession plan-ready to help others grow, looking for their own replacement

Success-wants it for the organization, the stakeholders and finally, understands that it is measured in so many different ways

Support-provides it for others

Sure- confident

The R's of Leadership

Right-knows to do what's right and do it right too

Ready-always prepared

Roots-knows the history and culture of the organization and cherishes it

Run-moves quickly and still can slow down

Regular-consistent and also normal, like everyone else

Reach-stretches themselves beyond, the organization too

Respect-gives it, earns it

Reputation-understands the importance of a sterling one, strives to uphold it

The Q's of Leadership

You know, there are actually more Q works than N words!



Quick- moves with speed, decisions, actions


Quiet-makes time for peace, reflection

Question-asks them all the time, answers even more

Quality-provides top-notch products, responses

Qualified-has put in time to gain the necessary experience to be a good leader

The P's of Leadership

Practical -thinks in terms of what is required by all


Persistent-works through issues to resolution

Productive-gets things done

Pro-active-looks ahead to see obstacles and prepare in advance

Peak performance- in good shape, mentally ready to perform

Passionate-focused and fired up

Possible-thinks anything can be done

Perspective-keeps focused on reality

Peace-quiet time to reflect, also keeps calm in sticky situations

Perceptive-can read people, events

Play-takes time out for fun, also has fun at work

Positive-looks on the bright side...

Power-understands that leadership brings responsibility to get things done

Potential-has room to grow and realizes that others do to

Promote-looks for succession planning, ability to move others ahead

Promise- his word is his bond

Push- moves ahead, projects, people, agendas, organizations

The O's of Leadership

Optimistic-finds the positive side of situations

Opportunity-looks for a way through in every situation


Over and over --what gets repeated gets remembered, leader do over, go over whatever it takes to get the job done
Original-unique experiences, one of a kind

Open- listens to others, shares stories about themselves

Objectives-focused on results

Objective-can see many sides to an issue

Observe-pays attention, can sit in the background and watch, understand

Outgoing-ready to participate, build relationships

Own- takes it, wants it