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Leaders Guide to Vision, Mission & Purpose

March 29, 2010 by coloradosuccesscoach

“Leaders take eagles and teach them to fly in formation.”
~ D. Wayne Calloway

Interesting quote! In today’s times, people tend to be scattered, distracted, fearful and definitely not “flying in formation”. So, how does a leader get their team back in formation? Back to the basics! Go back to the Vision, Mission and Purpose of the company. It is the foundation which will guide the formation of your staff!

• Vision:  The big picture, the ultimate goal, it is where you ultimately want to be, your greatest dreams and possibilities.
• Mission: All the “to-do’s” to accomplish the mission; the actions to accomplish the vision.
• Purpose: The heart of passion, what drives you from your inner being. You, personally bring the purpose to the vision and mission. Without purpose you will feel empty.

With all the negativity that most people are being bombarded with on a daily basis, it is the leader’s job to bring everyone back to the ground, get them grounded and refocus them on the Mission and Vision of the company and their Purpose, and its meaning to the company. Then, once again send them out in formation with the Vision in the back of their minds at all times, check in to make sure that all their actions are the correct actions to accomplish the Mission and be on Purpose with the heart of who they truly are and their professional purpose. The Vision and Mission are rooted in the Purpose, they all must be connected.

A great leader will continuously reconnect their flock to the Vision, Mission and help each staff member find their purpose. Then, they will all take flight, continuously flying toward the Vision, taking the correct actions and feeling fulfilled.

Actions a leader can take to reinforce the Vision, Mission and Purpose:

• You personally communicate the Vision in many different ways on a daily basis
• Review the actions being taken to be sure they are the correct actions, if not coach and redirect
• Meet with your staff, depending on the size of your company, if you have a large organization, train your management staff to be in touch with their staff and helping them find their professional purpose, this will help them be passionate, motivated and feel fulfilled.
• Training, Training and more Training!
• Assign all staff to read: The On-Purpose Business, by Kevin W. McCarthy, a quick and engaging book about Vision, Mission and Purpose…one of the best!
• Be the model for your staff, always have your eye on the Vision, your actions (Mission) congruent with the Vision, and your Purpose always visible through your passion. Be relentless, congruent and kind.

A great leader will continuously check in with their staff to make sure they are flying in formation and in the correct direction and redirect when necessary.

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Inspiring Change

February 3, 2010 by coloradosuccesscoach

When one thinks about Inspiring Change, people who may come to mind are Randy Pausch (October 23, 1960 – July 25, 2008), author of “The Last Lecture”, (check out Randy on youtube):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ya9BXClRw   and Nick Vujicic, a man with no limbs, who teaches people how to get up and not give in. (visit Nick on youtube):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ZuKF3dxCY

Perhaps Helen Keller and Walt Disney are people to think of who inspire change. There are many who, when we hear their stories, we feel inspired to “make it happen”, or “stick to that diet or exercise plan”. How long does that inspiration last? Where does the passion go? What will make us continue on to completion and success? Below are 4 steps to BE INSPIRED TO CHANGE!

1. IDENTIFY the Change: Rumi: “O, happy the soul that saw its own faults.” Self Awareness gives the ability to truly see strengths and challenges. Identify the challenges and decide to change, shift, move to a higher place. Ask true friends, who will tell the truth, what they see as challenges or blocks that prevent reaching the highest goals and purpose.

 2. BE the Change: Mahatma Gandhi says: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Be authentic, show the true self that is sometimes buried under “should be”, “would be” or “could be”. Identify the fears and let go of those fears of what others may think, say or do. Believe with the heart, soul and mind that it is the right way to be, and course of action to take. Write down the changes and goals and put them up to be seen on a daily basis.

3. DEMONSTRATE the Change: Lao Tse wrote in 600 BC: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Let go of control, decide on the goal and go for it…relentlessly, with passion, love and creativity. Create a “Board of Directors”, who will be mentors and guides to help stay on the path.

4. LIVE the Change: Henry David Thoreau: “I have learned that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Be consistent and persistent and at the same time, know when to shift so that “getting stuck” does not occur. One step everyday toward the goal of change.

Get fired up, succeed and become the inspiration for others to change by creating change in yourself! Don’t give up, failure is not an option!

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The Soul of Goals – Creating SMART Goals for 2010

December 30, 2009 by coloradosuccesscoach

“Oh, No!  It is December of 2009, soon to be January of 2010 and I have to write yet, another list of New Year’s Resolutions (goals) that I will probably forget about in a few short weeks and feel like a loser for not completing those goals!”  Sound familiar?  This time of year, a lot of people  agonize and stress over writing and committing to goals for the upcoming year.  Tired of that trap?  Tired of the feeling of failure?  Want to try something different and simple? 

What’s interesting is that most of us take more time in planning a vacation or a party than we do planning our futures!  Regardless of what format you follow for creating goals…do something and put it in writing!  There is an old proverb:  “Wishing consumes as much energy as planning.”  So, if you are at the end of 2009, wishing you had created a plan for 2009, wish no more for 2010!  Instead do something, create a plan.   Below is a process on how to create a plan that will lead you to success with this year’s goals and be sure they are in alignment with the spirit of who you are!  The Soul of the Goal is in the process!

Proverb:  He, who fails to plan, plans to fail.  You will plan one way or another, so you might as well give it a shot! 

Create a Plan:  I recommend to my coaching clients to use the SMART formula when creating a goal. 

S stands for Specific:  This is the what and the how.  What are you going to do?  Use words such as:  Create, Direct, Lead, Coordinate, Produce, Engineer and Organize.  How are you going to do it?  Use words such as:  By, Through and With.

For example:  “I want to lose weight.”  This is too general.  Be specific:  “To lose weight by watching what I eat and exercising.”

M stands for Measurable:  This is where you will quantify your goal.  If you can’t measure it, you will not be able to achieve it!  Use measures such as:  Numbers, Dates, Hours, Minutes and Steps.

For example:  “I want to lose 10 pounds by March, 2010 by exercising 4 days a week and eating 1200 healthy calories per day.”

A stands for Attainable:  Quote by Peter Drucker:  “Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hope, but no plans.”    Will you truly be committed to and passionate about this goal?  Is this something you are willing to work at to make happen?  What would be some of the road blocks you may come across?  Do you believe you can do it?  Look for the mental blocks that may hold you back!  Is this goal do-able?  Do you have the skills, knowledge and resources to accomplish this goal?  There is a balance between stretching and challenging yourself to attain a goal and making it extreme and impossible to accomplish!

For example (building on the statement above), Adding Attainable:  “I will lose 10 pounds by March, 2010 through exercising 4 days a week and eating 1200 healthy calories per day and by hiring a health coach to hold me accountable and break through barriers.”

R stands for Relevant:  What is the purpose of this goal?  Is this goal in alignment with your personal and professional mission statement? Relevancy is the authenticity check to be sure the goal is in alignment with who you are.  Is this goal relevant to your vision?  Is it harmonious, compatible and congruent with you and your purpose in life?  Is it pertinent to your big picture goals?

For example (continuing to build on the goal above), Adding Relevant:   “I will lose 10 pounds by March, 2010 through exercising 4 days a week and eating 1200 healthy calories per day and by hiring a health coach to hold me accountable and break through barriers.  This goal is in alignment with my core value of living a healthy life style.”

T stands for Timely:    Without a time commitment, we will tend to procrastinate!  A clearly defined time frame creates structure and urgency; it gives us a reason to take action…now!   Have a beginning, an end and landmarks to target along the way to keep the momentum going.

For Example (completing the statement above):  “I will lose 10 pounds by March 1, 2010 through exercising 4 days a week, for 45 minutes and eating 1200 healthy calories per day and by hiring a health coach to hold me accountable and break through barriers.  This goal is in alignment with my core value of living a healthy life style.”

That is a Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely Goal!

Robert Louis Stevenson said:  “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.”  Sometimes you may have a day or brief time period where you “derail” from your goal.  Don’t feel defeated!  Just start again, day by day, step by step.  You will reach your goals!  The most difficult step is the first step! 

You will quickly realize if the SMART goal is truly in alignment with your values.  If it is not, you will not be motivated and the energy you have at the start will dwindle and burn out quickly.  Then, you must re-evaluate the goal and go through the process again to find out which piece is not in alignment and rewrite the goal or perhaps let it go.  Don’t be afraid to say, this is the wrong goal or wrong time for this goal.   Goals are good for the soul so keep your soul happy!

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Apples & Oranges in the Workplace – How to Manage 4 Generations Under One Roof

October 27, 2009 by coloradosuccesscoach

For the first time in history, there are four generations in the workplace at the same time! Do you think this is causing some challenges? You bet it is!

Let’s take a look as to what the challenges are by first identifying the four generations:

Matures: they are traditionalists; they value respect and quality, they like being told they did a good job (brief and to the point) and they like to be acknowledged for their experience. They are the WE First generation.
Baby Boomers: they are optimistic, they value acknowledgement and control, they like their “wall of fame” (awards and plaques), the term “workaholic” was created for this group! They are the ME First generation.
Gen Xers: they are skeptical, they value knowledge and skills, and they like to get things done, and like to make things happen now! They are the Prove it to Me generation.
Millennials: they are eager; they value time with friends and a unique identity, they like instant praise and achieving their goals and being recognized as unique! They are the Instant Gratification generation.

Do you see any possible conflicts that might arise with these four generations working under one roof! You betcha!

So, how do we mix and manage these four groups who function from a different place, have different values and want to be motivated differently?

Reality Check: The management style of what works for one will work for all is out the window! You will have to raise your awareness around whom you are speaking to, and how you address them, specific to their generation!

Here are some Do’s & Don’ts for each generation:
Matures:
Do: focus on quality, ask what has worked in the past, and encourage them to talk about their experiences
Don’t: Wow with data or newness, force technology unnecessarily.
Baby Boomers:
Do: Focus on the team, Acknowledge they are busy and help use time wisely, help them feel victorious (they are competitive!)
Don’t: Assume technology is the answer, assume they will tell you if they are struggling – check in, assume you know and understand their needs
Gen Xers:
Do: Answer “why”, give them ways to increase their knowledge and skill base, follow up and meet your commitments
Don’t: view questions as a challenge, be vague with directions
Millennials:
Do: spend time providing information & guidance, offer customization – a plan for them, acknowledge them often, and earn their trust & respect
Don’t: Create a stressful environment; forget the importance of the individual

And guess what, apples and oranges do get along! What I have found in working with many organizations is that mentoring relationships between Matures & Gen Xers and Boomers and Millennials is a win-win match. They tend to naturally gravitate to each other and truly appreciate what the other has to offer and most importantly value and respect each other.

So, get out the tongs, mix the fruit salad and remember each piece of fruit has a unique flavor and purpose!

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Getting Rid of the Weeds in Your Life

June 24, 2009 by coloradosuccesscoach

I live out in a rural community of Colorado.  It is beautiful and I feel as though I have found my “little piece of heaven”.  When I first bought this home, it was literally a “box on a lot”.  There was not one tree, one garden or any out buildings on the property.  

Slowly, I began to add gardens around my home and I started adding trees, some deciduous and some evergreens.  I now understand why landscaping is so expensive, it is not the cost of the trees and plants it is the back braking work!  Digging a hole in ground that is like concrete is hard work!

 I now have 12 beautiful trees on the property and lots of gardens all around my home.  In addition, to a great 2-stall barn, which houses my 2 wonderful horses, Athena and Zeus (I will write another Blog about those two interesting characters!)   And, I added an arena to exercise the horses in.  Which brings me to my weeding experience!

 This year we have had lots of rain and therefore the grass and weeds are growing fast and big!  So, the last 2 weekends have been spent going from garden to garden pulling and digging up weeds.  Which for me is more like therapy, this type of work helps me to think deeply about life and create great Blogs!   

 Unfortunately, the arena grows these big, tall, prickly weeds in one corner.  These weeds are about as tall as I am (5’2”) and have sharp, very sharp thorns on them and they grow a deep root into the sand.  

 So, as I was pulling these big, tall, thorned, weeds one at a time, I started to think about the weeds we each have in our lives.  And, if we don’t stay on top of the “weeding in our lives”, the weeds can grow larger and larger and become more difficult to face and handle. 

 Each time I would pull out one of the really tall weeds, which happened to have the biggest thorns on them, which would inevitably stick me, right through my leather gloves, and would have the deepest root, so I would really have to put all my weight into pulling that sucker out, the weed would of course prick my fingers!  This was a painful process!  Had I handled those weeds when they were small, and had smaller thorns, the weed would have been much easier to handle!

 I started to think about how each of us has “weeds” in our life that may include situations, people or tasks that must be faced, assessed, handled and perhaps weeded out of our lives!   And, for one reason or another we don’t want to face it and so it gets bigger and bigger and more difficult to confront.  The longer we let that weed stay in our lives, the deeper it gets entwined in our lives and we tend to simply get used to it being there and accept it even though we know it is not the best thing for us!  What is up with that?!  In addition, that weed may have some pretty painful “thorns” that continue to hurt us, hold us back or prevent us from being who we truly are.

 So, what are some of the weeds in your life?  Do you have people in your life that cause you pain?  Do they pull you down?  Are there situations in your life that are not serving you and your vision and mission of what you want to accomplish?  Are there tasks that you have been avoiding, brushing under the carpet and refusing to deal with? 

 It is amazing how simple life gets and how much more we can be productive when we, as Brian Tracy says “eat that frog”!  Take a look at your life and consider the people who perhaps are “thorns” in your life and not contributing and or supporting you and your goals.  Survey some of the tasks on your to do list that you have been avoiding…take action now!  Do one step towards that task and “just do it”! 

 The people who we keep in our lives that are energy suckers need to go!  The tasks that you are not taking action on must be completed!  You will be amazed at how “lighter” and how much you will enjoy “smelling the roses” when you weed your own personal garden!  What are you waiting for…get weeding!

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How to Attract More Clients in 3 Steps – It’s easy as A B C!

April 1, 2009 by coloradosuccesscoach

 

Are you struggling with how to attract new clients?  Do you want to grow your business?  Go back to the basics!  Do your homework, gather your information! 

·          Analyze the market for a group of potential customers

·         Be able to solve their problem with your product and or service

·         Clarify they have the desire and ability to pay for that service

The first one is the most important!  If you can’t identify who your potential client is, then you don’t have any qualified customers to even talk too!  Through the internet, you can do all kinds of “free” research on geographical areas, specific markets and industries and financial surveys that establish the ability to pay.  Analyzing the market for your group of potential clients and clearly identifying that group is the most important!

Now, that you have Analyzed the market and identified your potential customer and know they exist, you can move onto Step B.  Be able to solve your potential customer’s pain!  People take action for 2 reasons:  1. They are running away from pain, or 2. They are running towards pleasure!  Clearly identify your potential customers Pain and Pleasure, and be able to solve and or address those issues with your product and or service. 

Be clear about how your product can help and serve your client.  What is the benefit for them?  Ask them, what is the greatest difficulty they are facing in their business about “xyz”?  Make “xyz” something your product or service can solve.  Ask them how they will feel once that “challenge” is solved (the pleasure).  That way you can leverage both their pain and pleasure with your product.

You have Analyzed the market and identified your client; you are able to Solve their Pain with your product and or service, what’s next?  Clarify they have the desire and ability to pay for that product or service.  By identifying their pain and pleasure, part of this step has already been implemented.  Some people will be more motivated by the pain they are currently experiencing and will be willing to do “whatever it takes” to solve that pain, some will be more motivated by the pleasure, being able to “relax and enjoy” once the challenge is solved. 

You will be able to identify which they are more motivated through conversation and observation with that person.  Pay attention to their energy level, body language and tone of voice throughout your conversation.  Ask persuasive questions.  What is most important to you right now about “xyz”?  What would that be worth to you to have that problem solved?  What would prevent you from taking action right now to correct this challenge?

Finally, ask for the business!  So many people I work with in my coaching practice, get to this point and then walk away and wonder why they don’t get the business!  You must ask for the business!  Find questions and statements that work for you.  Would you like to start moving forward today?  Would you like to pay for this in full or make payments?  I am really excited to work with you; this will be a fun project! 

If they do not “put pen to paper”, go back to Step B, reestablishing the pain and pleasure. Somewhere along the line they were not convinced about the pain and your ability to solve it with your product and service.

To attract more clients have a process, a system in place that you use over and over again! Stick to it, don’t deviate or skip any steps.  A.  Analyze the market and identify your potential customer  B.  Be able to solve their problem with your product and or service and C.  Clarify they have the desire and ability to pay for that product and service! 

Best of luck attracting new customers and building your business, let me know how I can be of service to you in helping you grow your business! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Business Development, Coaching, Communication Skills, Personal Professional Development | Tagged , , | 1 Comment »

How To Remember “What’s His Name?”

March 25, 2009 by coloradosuccesscoach

How often do you forget someone’s name immediately after being introduced? 

 

At last, there is a solution!  

 

It doesn’t matter what type of business you are in, if you are dealing with people… names are important!  It doesn’t matter if you are in a networking function, social setting or business meeting, remembering names can make or break you in business!  Dale Carnegie wrote in his book, “How To Win Friends and Influence People”,  “…the sweetest sound to a person’s ear, is their own name!”  This is still true today, people want to be called by their correct name!  How often do you meet a Mark and call him Mike, (close but no cigar!)

 

Like anything else, recalling names is a learned skill that requires you to use the skills in order for the techniques to work.  There is no miracle pill that we can take and have a perfect memory.  There are some herbal supplements that are great for enhancing memory, however the real memory power comes from skills and techniques that work!

 

Here are some Tips on:  How to Remember What’s His Name?  These tips will get you up and running and give you a 30% increase in recalling names…TODAY!

 

·         Have a firm hand shake, let the person you are meeting, know you are alive and present.  How do you feel when you receive the “wet noodle” hand shake?  Most people respond “yuck!”  What does that “wet noodle” handshake say about that person?  Possibly, not having a lot of self esteem, lack of confidence, not interested.  What do you feel when you are on the receiving end of this type of handshake?  So, be sure to have a firm, not bone crushing handshake!

 

·         Have direct eye contact, again, let the person you are speaking with know you are speaking with them not anyone else!  Most people tell me they feel unimportant, not valued, not fully listened to, maybe the person is hiding something or has somewhere else more important to be.  What does a lack of eye contact say to you when you are meeting someone?  Have great eye contact, let the person you are talking with know they are important to you!

 

·         Repeat the person’s name immediately!  This technique forces us to listen when the name is first stated.  We all have a lot going on in our lives, we tend to always be moving onto what is “next”, and so our minds are not fully present when we meet a new person.  Some people tell me, they are internally processing about what the other person is thinking about them and in turn misses their name!  Some suggestions for repeating a name are:  “Nice to meet you, Eric”, “Kathy, is that with a C or a K?”  “Bob, that’s my Dad’s name!”  Repeating their name will work!  Come up with statements and questions that you are comfortable with.  Make sure you are present, and truly listening when that person says their name.  Don’t be thinking about anything else but their name, really focus!

 

·         Notice something visual about that person.  What is your first impression of that person?  What color is their hair, do they wear glasses, are they wearing a polo shirt or a button down shirt?  You can focus on one of two areas, facial features or clothes.  Obviously, facial features will be longer lasting.  Clothes are effective to use in a networking, social gathering or meeting situation; typically we are meeting a lot of people in a short amount of time and clothes allow us to easily scan the room and review the names of people we just met!

 

·         Repetition is the Mother of Memory.  The best way to recall names is to meet 5 people and then do a brief review of those 5 people you just met.  If you are in a business meeting or networking function, meet 5 people, review those 5, meet 5 more people, review those 10, meet 5 more review the last 10.  Groups of 5 seems to be the most effective!

 

The above tips will give you an instant increase in recalling people’s names. Everyone likes to be remembered.  Increase your confidence – learn to remember names accurately and easily.  For more information and the full technique for recalling names, contact me at Marguerite@IgnitingSuccess.net for my book, How to Remember What’s His Name?

 

When you remember people’s names…they remember you!!!

Posted in Business Development, Communication Skills, Customer Service, Memory Skills, Personal Professional Development | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

What’s Your Style?

March 16, 2009 by coloradosuccesscoach

Personality styles have been around a long time!  Way back when…in 450 BC Hippocrates created a Personality Styles assessment using body fluids to include Choleric, Phlegmatic, Melancholic and Sanguine.  Paracelsus, in the middle ages, created a Personality Assessment using Nymphs, Sylphs, Gnomes, and Salamanders!

Today, we have some very well known Personality Style Assessments, Myers Briggs, Disc, and many more!  I have a Personality Assessment that I have used for years….it actually includes 5 different personality types.  Of course, we are all a combination of the different styles depending on the Environment we are in, our Genetic traits and our Core Personality.   However, typically we have a Primary Personality Style.

This personality style assessment uses geometric shapes!  Below is an overview of each of the shapes.  What is your primary personality style?

Triangle:  This personality style is into Power and Control.  These people are the delegators, they know how to keep others on task.  They take action and make decisions quickly!  They are Strategic Thinkers.  They come from a place of Get it Done!  They accept challenges and they believe they control the environment; they are competitive and like to win!  They are leaders not followers.  They can manage trouble and take charge in a crisis situation.  They know how to solve problems quickly, they are Bottom Line Focused.  They are Smart!  There communication style is Direct!  Their leadership style is Results Driven. Their favorite thought is “Get to the point!”

Square:  This personality style is into Quality and Accuracy.  They can handle enormous amounts of detail.  They will dot every “i” and cross every “t”.  They love research!  They are methodical and systematic.  They are Analytical Thinkers.  They are rule oriented.  They are Organized!  Their communication style is a bit slower, they weigh out the pro’s and con’s and do not respond quickly verbally or in writing. They have a subtle approach to conflict using Facts and Figures to support their position.  Their favorite thought is “It’s the principle of it!”  Their leadership style is Process Based.  They will create processes and systems to keep everyone on track. 

Circle:  This personality style Loves People!  They are loyal, helpful, great listeners and will take care of others before themselves.  They are patient, calm and predictable.  They like a Harmonious Work Environment with lots of collaboration, cooperation and a sense of community.  They are an Emotional Thinker.  They base their decisions on how others will react to those decisions, not necessarily what is the greatest good for the greatest number of people.  They have a Collaborative Leadership Style.  Their communication style is very caring, Empathetic and understanding.  They do not like conflict.  Their favorite thought is “It’s the relationship that is important!”  They are great Networkers and Relationship Builders!

Squiggle:  This personality style looks for the Fun and Excitement in life!  These people are Abstract Thinkers, they think outside the box and are Idea Oriented.  They are very creative and passionate.  Their leadership style is based on high Motivation and excitement.  They are Influential and Persuasive.  They are Optimistic and Spontaneous to the point of being fickle!  Their favorite thought is “Where is the party?”  They are extremely Bright and can think fast on their feet.

If you are familiar with the Disc personality assessment, the reference below will help you make the connection!

  • Triangle = D = Dominant
  • Squiggle = I = Influencers
  • Circle = S = Steadiness
  • Square = C = Conscientious

There is one more personality style that can show up and “lay over” any of the other personality styles!  The Star!  The Star has two (2) sides to it:

  • Circumstance Star
  • Leader Star

 

The Circumstance Star

This personality style can show up at many different times of our lives.  For example:  puberty, adolescence, job change, career change, promotion, marriage, divorce, loss of job, loss of a loved one, being in an abusive relationship, birth of a child, etc.   This person is in reactive mode, also know as Survival Mode.   They are reacting to a circumstance in their lives, a situation that has caused chaos and change in their lives. 

What will we see with a person in the Circumstance driven star? 

A person who jumps chaotically and irrationally from one personality style to another for no rhyme or reason!  They are trying to survive through a difficult situation and they unconsciously jump from one personality style to another to survive!

“ Leaders are not born, they are made!”  Vince Lombardi

The Leader Star

This personality style comes from proactively developing leadership skills!   A leaders star is constantly reviewing, evaluating, and shifting to strive for the best of who they can be and how they can help others be the best they can be! 

They have the ability to quickly evaluate any situation, and know which personality style will serve the situation and people the best.  They can sincerely, consciously and smoothly shift from one personality style to another with grace and effectiveness to lead any group of people where they need to go. 

People are naturally attracted to Leader Stars, they emanate a sense of calm power and control without being overbearing.  They know how to delegate tasks without being a dictator. 

They are reflective and able to evaluate data and at the same time able to take action quickly.  They are dynamic thinkers and have a strong ability to follow through and make things happen.  They are intuitive, kind and create powerful, effective teams. 

They constantly strive to improve themselves and learn more to be more to all those they come in contact with.  They have a servant leadership mindset.

If you are interested in a Personality Assessment, let me know.  I will be happy to offer you the Disc Profile Assessment!

 

 

 

Posted in Business Development, Communication Skills, Leadership, Personality Styles, Team Building | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

Mastering the 30 Second Elevator Speech

March 7, 2009 by coloradosuccesscoach

You are on an elevator, the elevator stops at the 10th floor, Oprah Winfrey walks on, you have 30 seconds to share what you do, capture her attention, and entice her to want to meet with you for more information. What do you say?

Amazing opportunities show up in our lives everyday and it is important for us to be prepared for those moments! So what are the key pieces of a 30 second elevator speech?

Things to consider:

1. Energy, Voice & Body Language:   Energy: Be positive and passionate, up lifting. People are attracted to and will listen to people with a positive energy! Voice: Speak with confidence, clarity and authority, without overwhelming the listener, watch for the listeners body language and adjust accordingly. Body Language: Have an open body posture, smile, have great eye contact and project positive energy through your eyes.

2. Benefits Vs. Features: Speak in benefits not features! We are all busy and have a lot on our plates. Most of us come from a place…”what’s in it for me?” “How will this save me time, money, create less stress in my life”.  For example:  A seat belt in a car is a feature. The most important benefit of a seat belt is that statistics show that more lives are saved by people wearing seat belts. You can share the benefits that you personally have experienced with the product or service. Or share a story about someone you know that has used the products or services you are marketing/selling.   People want to know how your product or service is going to help them in some way, what the benefits are for them!

3. Engaging Questions: Ask open ended questions that lead to a dialogue/conversation. Stay away from close ended questions – these are questions that only require a yes/no response. For example:  How are you currently attracting clients?  What is your greatest challenge around attracting new clients?

4. Ask for what you are looking for: What I am looking for are people who want to learn how to attract more clients through professional speaking and using professional speaking to market their product and services. Who do you know?

Summary: The next time you are at a networking meeting or social event and someone asks you “What do you do for a living?” Keep the following in mind!

My Name is:

My Company is:

What we do is: (Talk in benefits or ask engaging questions)

I am looking for:

Who do you know?

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The Power of Perception

February 21, 2009 by coloradosuccesscoach

The Power of Perspective

I recently created a program for a group of folks who had experienced a set back with their company which created a question around trust for both employees and customers.   This was a company with a long standing history and a high level of trust for both employees and customers.  Once again, the saying comes to mind:  “It takes years to build up trust and only seconds to destroy it.”  Anonymous

How do we rebuild the trust when it has been broken with the employees so they can rebuild the trust with the customers? 

For me, it starts with taking a close look at ourselves.  Our attitude determines our altitude!  What are our perceptions about a situation and how can we shift our perceptions to move forward in a positive way?  Let’s take a look at The Energy Model from the book, The Power of Full Engagement, by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz.   This book talks about energy management.

“Energy, not time, is the fundamental currency of high performance.”  Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz.

Physical energy is measured in quantity from low to high and emotional energy is measured in quality from negative to positive.  So that gives us four possibilities to look at:

  1. High Positive
  2. Low Positive
  3. High Negative
  4. Low Negative

Let’s take a look at each possibility individually and some words that would describe the characteristics of people in those modes.

High Positive Mode:  Engaged, focused, elated, ignited, glass is overflowing, optimistic, passionate, high positive energy, proactive, confident, active, happy, energetic, zest for life, excited, external way of being.  Maximum performance occurs here.

Low Positive Mode:  Relaxed, mellow, peaceful, tranquil, serene, calm, centered, content, at ease, restorative mindset, recovery phase, re-energizing, refueling the tank, internal way of being.  Reflective mindset.

High Negative:  Angry, aggressive, impatient, intolerant, argumentative, rage, anxious, disturbed, arrogant, interruptive, confrontational, emotionally charged confrontations, abusive, reactive mindset.

Low Negative:  Depressed, detached, withdrawn, burned out, exhausted, hopeless, mentally and emotionally checked out, survival mode, insecure, passive, defeated, complaining, procrastinator, unfocused, victim mindset.

Take a look at each of these possibilities, identify where you are right now and ask yourself if that mode is serving you and what you want to accomplish.   Most people will be attracted to those in the High Positive and Low Positive modes.   Take a look at some of the people you know and identify which mode they are in right now.  What mode are your customers in?  What mode do customers buy in?

So, how can this information help us rebuild trust?  If you are moving a customer from Low Negative or High Negative, (which is where a person would typically go if trust is broken).  Meet them where they are and shift them slowly to the positive side of the model by asking questions, being honest, and sharing information to rebuild the trust.  Trust starts with the people who have the face to face contact with the customer.  Let people share their insecurities and fears, listen empathetically, be sincere and rebuild their confidence one step at a time!  Slowly but surely they will move back over to Low Positive  or High Positive and once again believe in the company and you as the companies representative!

To be fully engaged it requires us to draw on 4 separate but related sources of energy:  Physical, Emotional, Mental and Spiritual.  Physical being the most fundamental and spiritual being the most important.  The next time you notice your energy level being low or negative, ask yourself:  Where am I depleted in my life?  What is your energy level right now?   Be conscious of your energy level and consciously feed yourself so you stay balanced between High Positive and Low Positive.

So, what 3 things will you draw upon to replenish your energy?  Who will you spend time with to reenergize yourself?  How do you recharge yourself, when you start to feel yourself feeling depleted?

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