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.

Be an Effective Solo Business Leader

Business owners who fly solo need to understand their level of effectiveness. Each business would measure this differently so here is a quick list to determine two things-effective true or false and how effective:


1. Reflect upon experiences to become more discerning in selecting clients, projects and goals.

2. Understand what to let go of and what to pursue based on the goals of the business.

3. Create a like to do/don't like to do list and compare it against how each item affects attitude, motivation, ability to complete work, reach goals

4. Take time to reflect and consider what is working and why. Is there a pattern that links the 'working' together?

5. When I tackle the items that are in the pending file, what is the outcome in attitude and and performance?

6. Determine what projects build confidence.

7. Determine if ' the main thing is the main thing'.

8. Understand if where time is invested is paying back in revenue or leads.

Looking at every item on the list is really focusing on what is a nice to do versus a need to do. When nice to do produces cash, the need to do becomes easier. At the beginning, many entrepreneurs focus on the nice to do instead of the need to do to be effective and then move toward operating a nice to do business all the time.