Posts Tagged "Leadership"

The Social Proof Secrets That Can Grow Your Business

April 8th, 2013 |no comments

In every training session I conduct, there is an interesting phenomenon that appears at morning tea. After a high energy, high interactive session, I announce the break for morning tea. People can get up, talk and get something to eat. But often they don’t…well not straight away. The participants look to each other to see who will make the first move. When one person moves, the rest take off. This is social proof. The first person to move has sent a signal to the others that it’s socially appropriate to move. The others then follow, feeling more comfortable that someone else took the initial risk.

This is a deep psychological process that marketers and leaders have been using for centuries.

How to Tap Into Your Personality to Find Your Leadership Style

March 18th, 2013 |Comments Off

You don’t have to be well known to be an influential leader. Most people haven’t heard of Greg Wasson, the CEO of Walgreens in the USA but he runs the worlds largest retail chain and influences millions of people every day. via Walgreens

Every great leader develops his or her own unique style to inspire, guide and influence other people. I recently came across Forbes’ 100 Best Quotes on Leadership, which shows how many approaches there are to making a difference. Leadership by example is one of my core traits so I can identify with the first quote by Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu:

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim is fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.

Of course, not every person works this way. Many of the most influential figures in history have been anything but passive or invisible in their methods of leadership.

5 Traits of the Best Leaders and Managers

March 11th, 2013 |Comments Off

The best leaders understand relationships. via Victor

As an executive it’s your job to be the leader. And it’s your leadership that will mean the difference between a a good company and a great company.

Leadership vs. Management

The “Manager” is usually a defined role in a company. The manager is typically responsible for a task and for employees, but not so for the leader.

Leaders do not necessarily have defined roles. A leader can have defined roles like the CEO of a company or the leader of a task force. Most times, though, leaders play key roles in the company without a formal title.

Leadership and management might be defined differently, but the two roles are linked.

As a leader you need to act the correct way to ensure success at your company.

To understand better we’ll look at the traits of the best leaders and managers.

How to Influence Like Billion Dollar CEO

January 28th, 2013 |1 comment

Zappos is the largest online footwear retailer in the United States. The company was founded during the tech boom in the US in the late 1990s and continued to grow even after the boom subsided.

Zappos made a change during its initial years to focus on getting the right people on board. The focus was built around ten core values. This focus became so intense that people are hired and fired based on the core values alone. It doesn’t matter if the person does an adequate job.

This might seem harsh to some, but it’s part of what makes Zappos successful.

A Lesson in Leadership from James Cameron

January 23rd, 2013 |2 comments

James Cameron has written, directed and produced some of the most successful films of all time.

The most recent was Avatar. The film had an incredible budget and required the work of a team all organised toward achieving the vision of the leader.

When budgets get high in the film industry the pressure builds. It’s not that people want to see the movie fail, but there is more pressure to deliver results. The final product can be the defining moment – good or bad – for the leader.

The same can happen in business. Outsiders will look for failure while the leader and the team tries to make something happen when not many believe.

10 Ways to Become a Better Business Leader

January 18th, 2013 |2 comments

First time leader? You need this.

Being thrust into a leadership position is daunting. No person is entirely prepared for their first leadership role. All leaders get a start somewhere. All had to learn how to communicate to achieve success.

Below are ways you can become a better leader by practicing your speaking skills. With practice, you can become a confident leader who inspires and gets results.

Obamas’ New Hampshire Concession Speech

July 21st, 2008 |1 comment

You might like this 4 minute video by Obama. He has some great speaking techniques that he uses well – very well. This is his New Hampshire Concession speech

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QS_-KSuyJE&hl=en&fs=1]

The first technique he uses well is Anaphora – repeating over and over again, “Yes we can.” There is no doubt to what his message is. The repetition draws us in to his message.

He then Draws JFK and Dr Martin Luther King Jnr in as examples to support his argument. He does not dwell on them – just mentions them in passing – but he does it very well. This gives authority to what he is saying.

He then goes on to mention specific examples to drive his message home to the audience. He mentions the textile workers in Spartanburg, the Dish Washer in Las Vegas and the little girl going to the crumbling school in Dillon – as almost to mention them by name – This helps the audience connect with his message. It helps the audience become emotionally invested in what he has to say.

He also lets the audience pay their part in the speech (granted that they are all paying supporters – but they play their part well). He lets the audience contribute to his speech through cheering, chanting and clapping. He then draws of their energy and incorporates it into his speech. What would it be like if he said “Quiet – I want to say something”? Whilst we may never speaking to this type of chanting, letting the audience laugh or stop to think is just as important.

He then ends a concession speech with the power of someone who had won the primary. This shows absolute belief in his message and what he stands for.

Cheers

Darren Fleming

Speak Motivate and Lead; How Real Leaders inspire others to follow

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