Monthly Archives: November 2014

Collaboration, Communication, Engagement, Leadership, Leadership Development, Organizational Culture

Making a Leadership Difference

1 Comment

file0001768686577

“Make a difference about something other than yourselves.” —Toni Morrison

By Elizabeth Stincelli, DM

 

Time to Evaluate

As we approach the end of the year, what a great time to evaluate the difference that our leadership is making. The difference I am talking about is not on the bottom line, it’s in the lives of your employees. Do they look to you for direction? Do they know you have their back? Do they feel that you value them as individuals? Does your leadership last in your absence? Maybe it’s time to hone some of your leadership behaviors.

Communication

Communication is one of the most powerful forces in leadership. Yehuda Berg explained, “Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate, and to humble.” How would your employees rate your communication? Your ability to communicate openly and effectively determines how well you connect with others. This ability consists not only of how well you speak, but how well you listen. Are your communications inclusive? Do you approach your conversations with curiosity and engagement? Show employees that you value their input by asking and expressing appreciation for their opinions. Listen with the intent to understand; acknowledge your own biases and keep them in check. When you, as a leader, communicate well, your organization will be more efficient, your employees will give their best efforts, and you will have a stronger culture with higher morale.

Respect

Estelle Parsons said, “It is so important to get respect for what you do and at the same time give it.” Is there mutual respect in your organization? Estelle’s quote applies to your employees as well as yourself. As a leader, it is so important that you acknowledge, respect, and appreciate the contributions that each of your employees make to the success of the whole. Show that you are interested and see value in each of them as individuals. Tune into their needs and invest your time and energy to their development. Show that you respect their ideas by inviting them to challenge your thinking. Respect your employees enough to be authentic and open with them. Be willing to share your wisdom, but also to learn from their experiences and knowledge.

Courage

How courageous are you as a leader? Robert Green Ingersoll believed, “The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.” Do you have the courage to stand behind the right decisions made by either you or your employees? Your employees need to know that you have their back. As a leader, you must also have the courage to seek new opportunities and challenge the status quo. You must admit your faults but not let your failures discourage you. Show enough confidence to make the tough decisions while sticking to your core values. Have the courage to let your employees see that you are open to constructive criticism and new challenges.

Collaboration

Mattie Stepanek explained, “Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration wonderful things can be achieved.” As a leader, don’t just dictate what is to be done, use collaboration to help your team come up with the best solutions. Do you anticipate the needs of your employees and are you proactive in meeting them? When you give your employees the tools they need and put the right people in the right roles, as Mattie said, wonderful things can be achieved. Engage and encourage employees to actively participate in organizational improvements and decision-making. Set an example by placing the good of the whole above your own. Be transparent and keep team members well-informed. Foster debate and value differing opinions throughout your organization. And, make sure you develop a vision that your employees can buy into and work toward together.

Making a Difference

If you want to make an impact as a leader, make a difference in the lives of your employees. Use communication as a means for sharing your wisdom with others while showing curiosity and appreciation for their opinions, skills, and knowledge. Develop mutual respect. Have the courage to stand behind your employees 100%. Encourage collaboration to achieve wonderful things. Engage in these leadership behaviors and you will be making a leadership difference.

 

 

© 2014 Elizabeth Stincelli

 

Elizabeth Stincelli is passionate about recognizing and inspiring the leader in each of us. She is the CEO of Stincelli Advisors where she focuses on helping organizations engage employees and improve organizational culture. Elizabeth holds a Doctor of Management degree with an emphasis on organizational leadership.

Learn more about Elizabeth by visiting her website, stincelliadvisors.com and connect with her on Twitter @infinitestin, Google+, and LinkedIn. You can contact her by email at stincelliadvisors@gmail.com.

 

Leadership, Motivation

Keeping Motivated

file000825352067

“When you look at people who are successful, you will find that they aren’t the people who are motivated, but have consistency in their motivation.” —Arsene Wenger

By Elizabeth Stincelli, DM

 

The Problem

As leaders, we set the tone for motivation. The problem is, sometimes we struggle with keeping ourselves motivated. We can’t effectively motivate those we work with if we lack motivation ourselves. So, how do we stay motivated?

Attention

We must give motivation our conscious attention. Jim Rohn said, “Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention.” You should focus on increasing your strengths. Giving your attention to the areas you are strong in is more motivating than focusing on overcoming weaknesses. Look for opportunities that leverage your talents. Again, it’s easier to stay motivated at things you are good at. Set small measurable goals to help yourself keep your eye on the ball and then set deadlines. Purposefully create a practice that builds focusing on your goals into your daily routine. Determine what is important to you and why it is important. Then ask yourself if you want it bad enough to put in the hard work necessary to achieve it. Finally, identify where you are, where you want to go, and then focus your attention of what you need to do to get there.

Benefits

Napoleon Hill explained, “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” Being clear about the benefits is a big factor in motivation. Keeping the benefits in mind will help you to remain motivated when times get tough. Great successes are often preceded by obstacles and failure. Use these failures as learning opportunities, remind yourself of the benefits you will experience once you succeed, and keep moving forward.

Visualization

Harvey Mackay said, “I believe that visualization is one of the most powerful means of achieving personal goals.” It helps keep you motivated when you can literally see your goals. Many contribute much of their ability to achieve success to using a visualization board. You can remind yourself what all the hard work is for by creating a board that illustrates not just what you are working towards, but also why. It also helps to create a mantra that reinforces a positive mindset. A visualization board and mantra can be very effective because your brain responds to the way things make you feel, not the things or actions themselves. Get a clear vision of where you are going and then see yourself on the journey; that’s where your motivation will come from.

Consistency

Jim Ryun explained, “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Consistent motivation is about thinking long-term. It requires conscious commitment. Your real motivation will come from having a clear vision what is important and why, and then developing the self- discipline that allows you to focus your attention on a consistent basis. It helps if you commit to your goals publically so you have a sense of accountability. Consistent motivation means you never let yourself become complacent and content with the how things are currently. Make the commitment to continuously motivate yourself to reach your goals and fulfill your dreams.

Keeping Motivated

Les Brown said, “Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way.” When you find your motivation is lacking, remember that what you did yesterday will not be sufficient tomorrow. You must fan the flames of motivation on a daily basis. Build attention to your goals into your daily schedule. Clearly identify the benefits you will experience. Use visualization and mantras to preserve the positive feelings of you purpose. And be consistent. The better you become, the easier it gets to keep motivated. It’s your life, you are in control. Once you learn to keep yourself motivated, then and only then, can you start motivating others.

 

 

 

© 2014 Elizabeth Stincelli

 

Elizabeth Stincelli is passionate about recognizing and inspiring the leader in each of us. She is the CEO of Stincelli Advisors where she focuses on helping organizations engage employees and improve organizational culture. Elizabeth holds a Doctor of Management degree with an emphasis on organizational leadership.

Learn more about Elizabeth by visiting her website, stincelliadvisors.com and connect with her on Twitter @infinitestin, Google+, and LinkedIn. You can contact her by email at stincelliadvisors@gmail.com.

 

Inspiration

Inspiring Others

1 Comment

IMG_3401

“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” —Kobe Bryant

 By Elizabeth Stincelli, DM

 

Inspiration

Whether you like Kobe Bryant or not, his quote shows that he’s definitely on to something. What an incredible purpose, to live your life as to inspire others to give their absolute best efforts toward achieving their goals. You have the opportunity to inspire those around you on a daily basis. If you can learn to understand their motivations, you can inspire them and ignite their passions. You must first build authentic connections on a personal level. Offer your time and energy to help others grow and flourish. Spark their curiosity and inspire a passion for participation, innovation, and problem-solving. Your ability to inspire others is dependent on how they perceive you; make sure they see you as mutually trusting, authentic, and encouraging.

Trust

Booker T. Washington explained, “Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him and to let him know that you trust him.” The influence you have with others makes you a leader, and to be successful in that role, formal or informal, you must develop relationships based on trust and commitment. Trust is a two-way street. You must earn the trust of those around you, but you must also demonstrate your trust in them. Trust provides the foundation from which you build the relationships that allow you to influence and inspire others. Get to know others on a personal level and show genuine interest in them. Include them in goal setting and decision-making processes. Ask for their input and give them the autonomy that shows you trust their intentions and abilities.

People look to those they trust and admire for inspiration. Be open and transparent in all your interactions. Be authentic and show you care. As you earn trust, you will also earn the opportunity to serve as an inspiration to others.

Set an example

Rupert Murdoch said, “In motivating people, you’ve got to engage their minds and their hearts. I motivate people, I hope, by example – and perhaps by excitement, by having productive ideas to make others feel involved.” The day-to-day example that you set plays a big role in your ability to be an inspiration to those around you. Everyone is looking for someone to inspire them. Act as a mentor to those looking for guidance. Show them how to set and then work toward goals. Make sure you’re available and willing to help those in need. Be authentic and live your life so that when others see your behaviors they will be inspired to model them.

Encouragement

John C. Maxwell tells us, “If you are a leader, you should never forget that everyone needs encouragement. And everyone who receives it – young or old, successful or less than successful, unknown or famous – is changed by it.” What better to be known for than as someone whose inspiration and encouragement changed the lives of those who came in contact with them? People are most satisfied when they feel empowered with a sense of control, independence, and value. They are encouraged when their contributions and ideas are respected. If your want to inspire others, help them to see the value and meaning they have to offer. Encourage them to be active participants in their own success.

Inspiring Others

Harold S. Geneen explained, “The best way to inspire people to superior performance is to convince them by everything you do and by your everyday attitude that you are wholeheartedly supporting them.” Inspire others by showing trust, setting a good example, and being of encouragement. Develop trusting relationships where you can inspire individuals to collaborate, share knowledge, and innovate on their own or in a group. Be authentic in your words and actions so others can see exactly what is inspiring about you. Help them become the best that they can be. Ignite passion and commitment which will inspire them to put forth their best efforts. And, the bonus is, the people who are inspired by you will turn around and share that inspiration with others.

 

 

 

© 2014 Elizabeth Stincelli

 

Elizabeth Stincelli is passionate about recognizing and inspiring the leader in each of us. She is the CEO of Stincelli Advisors where she focuses on helping organizations engage employees and improve organizational culture. Elizabeth holds a Doctor of Management degree with an emphasis on organizational leadership.

Learn more about Elizabeth by visiting her website, stincelliadvisors.com and connect with her on Twitter @infinitestin, Google+, and LinkedIn. You can contact her by email at stincelliadvisors@gmail.com.

 

 

Focus, Leadership

Leadership Focus

3 Comments

file1441279893431

“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.” —Tony Robbins

By Elizabeth Stincelli, DM

 

What’s Important?

With so many priorities fighting for our attention, how do we know where to direct our leadership focus? While many situations require temporary focus, there are some areas that warrant consistent focus. You must focus on your people and your vision for your organization. You must also focus on yourself and your personal mission. As a leader, how do you know if you’re focusing on the right things? How would you answer the following questions?

Are you leading with you head and your heart?

Are you contributing to the personal and professional growth of your employees?

Are you including others in your leadership?

Are you encouraging your employees to challenge the status quo?

What do you want your legacy to be?

How will you impact the world?

Do you know what your goals are?

Can you see the route for achieving them?

Are you developing and maintaining a strong character?

Once you can see where you need to focus you will be less distracted by day-to-day busy work. You will experience less stress and frustration. You and your employees will be able to maintain a better work/life balance. Focus keeps you from drifting off course. It allows you to keep a finger on the pulse of your organization and your life. Make the commitment to focus on what’s important.

Your people

Sabrina Bryan explained, “You can do anything as long as you have the passion, the drive, the focus, and the support.” Sabrina Bryan’s quote is a two-way street. As a leader, you need passion, drive, focus, and the support of your people to succeed. Your people also need you to inspire passion and drive, they need you to guide their focus, and they need your support. Only when your people receive what they need from you will they give you what you need in return. Focusing on your people is an investment in mutual success.

Get out on the floor and really connect with your people. Engage them in participating in leading the organization and developing solutions to real problems. Encourage the creativity and collaboration that builds strong teams that can work together to achieve mutually beneficial goals. Celebrate accomplishments. Align the individual goals of employees with organizational goals. Focus on making sure every employee knows how their decisions and actions contribute to achieving organizational goals and give them the skills and tools necessary to be successful.

Yourself

Venus Williams said, “I don’t focus on what I’m up against. I focus on my goals and I try to ignore the rest.” It is easy to get distracted from what’s important by the chaos that surrounds us. Concentrate on goals that guide you toward making a positive impact on the world. Develop a plan; when you have a plan to focus on you can respond rather than react to situations as they arise. Focus on pushing yourself to think and act differently and to seek opportunities where others see only obstacles. Always consider the “what ifs?” to ensure that your focus doesn’t become an excuse to put on blinders.

Focusing on yourself is not about what you do, it’s about the type of person you want to be. To be that person you must be authentic and consistent in both your professional and personal life. Remember to always keep a picture in the back of your mind of the impact you want to make. Knowing where to keep your focus will help prevent you from straying off course.

Leadership Focus

Denis Waitley suggested, “Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.” As a leader, develop a plan; know which direction you are going and what your objectives are. Then, focus on supporting and developing your employees and developing goals that will have a lasting impact. Focus will help you remember why you’re doing what you’re doing and will keep you heading in the right direction. Minimize distractions and maximize your leadership focus.

 

 

© 2014 Elizabeth Stincelli

 

Elizabeth Stincelli is passionate about recognizing and inspiring the leader in each of us. She is the CEO of Stincelli Advisors where she focuses on helping organizations engage employees and improve organizational culture. Elizabeth holds a Doctor of Management degree with an emphasis on organizational leadership.

Learn more about Elizabeth by visiting her website, stincelliadvisors.com and connect with her on Twitter @infinitestin, Google+, and LinkedIn. You can contact her by email at stincelliadvisors@gmail.com.