Carnival of Leadership Development

Welcome to the October 5, 2007 edition of carnival of leadership development. Here are various articles submitted by readers who want to help you achieve that career success that your potential deserves!

Louise Manning presents Reducing stress posted at The Human Imprint.

Charles H. Green presents Business Ethics and Self-Orientation posted at Trust Matters, saying, "Ethical business leaders are distinguished by their conscience and intrinsic orientation towards others."

Anna Farmery presents The Heart of an Employer Brand posted at The Engaging Brand

Warren Wong presents A Lesson In Standing Up For What You Believe In posted at Personal Development for INTJs, saying, "An inspiring story about a father teaching a son how to stand up for what he believes in."

The Career Counselor presents Four Ways to Recognize an Office Liar posted at ask the CareerCounselor.

Tupelo Kenyon presents Make Assumptions Obsolete by Communicating posted at Tupelo Kenyon, saying, "We assume because we don’t know. We don’t know because we don’t ask. We don’t ask because we act as if we already know. Or, we don’t want to appear stupid. So we make an assumption. Then we forget it is merely something we made up, and we behave as if it’s a fact. When the facts are known, it would never occur to us to assume. The solution is clear communication. When we know the truth, assumptions are forever unnecessary."

Arin Vahanian presents How One Quote Can Change Your Life posted at Super State.

Marc and Angel presents 15 Key Qualities that Offset Job Experience Requirements posted at Marc and Angel, saying, "Never let the supposed job qualifications or experience requirements stand in your way of applying. If you know you can handle the job, you are probably the employee the employer wants. All you have to do is make them aware of your potential."

Christopher J. Brunner presents What Successful People Do - Part 1 posted at GreatFX Business Cards, saying, "Part one in a two post series - According to Dr. Henry Cloud’s book, 9 Things You Simply Must Do to Succeed in Love and Life, successful people exude similar qualities that make them a success."

Terry Dean presents Finding Your Unique Ability posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry Dean.

Ivan Rios presents How To Make Your Team Happy posted at artofleading.net.

Randy Nichols presents Fast Paced Success - Considering a Career in Business posted at Career Advice by Randy, saying, "Whether you have relatives who have entered the field ahead of you or you are simply looking for a field that will always provide you with challenges, careers in business are definitely one way to go!"

Chris Tackett presents Cold Calling - Does It Work Anymore? posted at Direct Marketing News, saying, " Here are just a few of the different ways you can generate leads or prospects."

Jason Rakowski presents Critical Priorities for Extraordinary Service Quality posted at Learn Good Customer Service, saying, "What are the vital few ideas and actions that really made a difference with the customers and clients? There are thousands of tiny things that made a necessary and positive contribution, but here are five areas that are make or break."

Chris Russell presents Boldy Go Where No Has Before - Prepare to Do 20 Times More by Looking Five Years Ahead posted at Productivity Planner, saying, "The steps for creating a 2,000 percent solution (accomplishing 20 times more with the same time, effort, and resources) are listed here...

John W. Furst presents Touch It - Do It - Get It Done - Part 2 posted at E-Biz Booster Blog, saying, " I introduce very simple rules and exercises that will get you started quickly. Start using your time more effectively now."

GreatManagement presents Management Bureaucracy Gone Mad posted at The GreatManagement Blog.

Ralph Jean-Paul presents Develop Mental Toughness posted at Potential 2 Success, saying, "MVPs, CEOs, extraordinary leaders, and successful people of all kinds have it and so should you. Develop, strengthen and master your ability to perform under pressure, bounce back from failure, and excel in life."
Rodney Burge - Marketing Strategies presents Managing a Mutlicultural Workforce posted at Jinsoo Terry - Multicultural Education, saying, "Multicultural Education Expert Jinsoo Terry gives five tips to become a more effective manager within a multicultural workforce."

Luke Houghton presents 8 things I have learned about success posted at Luke Houghton, saying, "Success often is pictured as being material or financial. What I share in this article is eight things I have learned about success. I went from being a high school failure to being a lecturer."

Daylle Deanna Schwartz presents Don’t Reduce Your Price! posted at Lessons from a Recovering DoorMat, saying, "If you don't value yourself, people will perceive you as a discount brand. Making yourself priceless begins with knowing you're priceless. You can teach yourself to be that way!"

Arin Vahanian presents How to Build True, Lasting Confidence posted at Super State.

Scott Lee presents Creating Social Value in Your Identity posted at Scott Free Thinking.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
carnival of leadership development using our carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

3 Tips on How to Motivate Your Team

Motivation is a key part of improving productivity and therefore achieving your goals. Here are 3 quick techniques that I use to improve motivation

1. Spend a 30 minutes each day walking or talking to your team. Make sure you are asking them about how they are feeling, ask about their life outside of work, ask what is going well, what is their biggest concern. Time invested here is so important to show that you care, that you value them not only as a team member but as a human being.
2. Hold a monthly session with small groups of people who are direct reports of your direct reports.....no agenda...just ask them for their ideas...how can we make our work lives better, what is working well and we want to do more of, ask about their understanding of goals/objectives.....then act on the feedback.
3. Use surprises to break the monotony. Be it holding meetings outside, giving each person a small budget to woo their internal customers, thanking them with a treat, send cards to individuals with personal messages about achievement, go and work alongside during busy times....and understand their issues.
   

How to Keep Employees

Welcome to the July 26, 2007 edition of how to keep employees.

Cade Krueger presents 3 Questions To Make Your Business Enjoyable And Durable posted at Write To Right.

Jason Rakowski presents Humor in Customer Service and How It Can Help Your Business posted at Learn Good Customer Service, saying, "Your job is to sell something, not put on a clown act. How does humor fit into customer service?"

Marc and Angel presents Corporate America Asks Questions Without Wanting True Answers | Marc and Angel posted at Marc and Angel, saying, "The situation I am referring to involves a professional environment where multiple individuals in a strict business relationship disregard the truth in favor of delivering the ideal lie."

Penelope Trunk presents Trying to keep young employees from quitting? It’s not about money. posted at Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk.

Ivan Rios presents Self-Confidence to Be a Leader posted at artofleading.net.

Ivan Rios presents The Art of Leading / 5 Steps to Successful Leading posted at artofleading.net.

Health Chaos presents Interview Questions posted at Health Chaos.

Warren Wong presents How Much Money Is Integrity Worth? posted at Personal Development for INTJs, saying, "How much money is your integrity worth? Here's why integrity is your most valuable commodity."

Sue Massey presents Leadership - Managing Time For Maximum Profit posted at Business Management Life, saying, "In this article I'll tell you some ways to focus on what is important to maximize your profit in your business"

Chris Tackett presents Effective Direct Marketing posted at Direct Marketing News, saying, "I knew a guy that owned a vacant house once, and he always laughed at the amount of postcards he received every week. He said they all looked the same and he just threw them away."

Pawel Brodzinski presents How to Build a Team posted at Software Project Management.

Chris Russell presents Turning Coal into Diamonds: A Case Study on Customer Complaint Tracking posted at Productivity Planner, saying, "In order to reach the goal of fully utilizing customer feedback, a more comprehensive system for managing customer complaints is needed."

Tupelo Kenyon presents Communication – Friend or Foe posted at Tupelo Kenyon, saying, "Our communication skills can make or break us. This article includes some refreshing insights on communication from an unusual vantage point. Celebrate life with newfound attitudes about the art and science of communication.

Adam Pieniazek presents How Much Leadership Can $1 Buy? posted at Adam Pieniazek, saying, "Discussing the use of self-managed teams at Whole Foods, brought on by the visionary leadership of John Mackey."

Tupelo Kenyon presents Take Time for You posted at Tupelo Kenyon, saying, "Don't put yourself at the end of the list. You deserve to be first, at least some of the time. Don't let your entire life slip by with everything else (and everyone else) getting preferential treatment over your most important priorities. Their needs are important, but yours are important too. Celebrate life by taking time for YOU!

Ivan Rios presents 5 More Contradictions That Will Make You a Better Leader posted at artofleading.net.

Bhupendra Khanal presents Are you really paid enough? posted at Analytics Bhupe, saying, "Address the emotional issues of the employees first, then think of any secondary issues."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
how to keep employees using our carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Carnival of Leadership Development

Here is this months leadership development carnival which looks at articles that will inspire you to achieve your potential
Sagar Satapathy presents Feeling Unfulfilled? 37 Tips to Enjoy Work More posted at HR Lowdown.

Anna presents How I Share My Vision at The Engaging Brand

SpiKe presents What Influences Our Priorities In Life? » Advice on organized and productive living through lifehacks and GTD » Organize IT posted at Organize IT.

Jason Rakowski presents Cellular Retailers Must Greet Customers within 30 Seconds - Study posted at Learn Good Customer Service

Christopher J. Brunner presents Using Your Business to Serve the Community posted at GreatFX Business Cards, saying, "Taking community service a step further by giving more than just a donation to charity."

Charles H. Green presents Non - Linear Leadership Thinking vs. Behavior posted at Trust Matters, saying, "The most succesful leaders are able to hold two contradictory ideas in mind at the same time."

Jim Stroup presents Pay attention or pay a price posted at Managing Leadership"

Debra Moorhead presents The Power of Leverage posted at Debra Moorhead.com.

Raj Dash presents Bootstrapper » Seven Characteristics of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs posted at Bootstrapper.

Randy Nichols presents Learn to Invent and Reinvent Your Future posted at Career Advice by Randy, saying, "Learn to invent and reinvent your future with carrer advice from Randy."

Christopher J. Brunner presents Differentiate Your Business With Quality Customer Service posted at GreatFX Business Cards, saying, "What you can do to provide quality customer service and make your business stand out in the crowd."

Brad Trnavsky presents Choose your attitude! posted at Brad M. Trnavsky - Sales & Management Blogger.

Tupelo Kenyon presents How to Keep Your Word posted at Tupelo Kenyon, saying, "Celebrate life through the creative power of your word."

edithyeung presents I Have Confidence posted at Edith Yeung.Com: Dream. Think. Act..

Debra Moorhead presents Accept Responsibility posted at Debra Moorhead.com.

Lori Prokop, Blog Manager presents Building Relationships as You Are Selling posted at J Mark Walker - Sales Training, saying, "Would this be of service to your readers?"
CA presents Business life lesson - Don’t let anyone steal your dream posted at Atlantic Canada's Small Business Blog, saying, "Dream BIG. And don’t ever let anyone tell you, you cannot achieve it. Your dreams are yours to achieve. But you have the dream to begin with."

Ivan Rios presents Self-Confidence to Be a Leader posted at artofleading.net.

Ivan Rios presents Why be a leader? posted at artofleading.net.

Jimson Lee presents How to build a winning team posted at Speedendurance.com, saying, "7 Critical steps to teamwork and leadership"

edithyeung presents When you turn 30… posted at Edith Yeung.Com: Dream. Think. Act..

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
carnival of leadership development using our carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Would you play a game with no rules?

When you play any kind of games you make sure you understand the rules so that you don't become frustrated. If you feel someone has cheated then you can become disillusioned or even give up playing.

The same is true for business. You need boundaries to ensure that people know how to behave, how to act, what they can do, what they can't do....otherwise resentment will grow. Boundaries are not there to restrict people instead to motivate them, motivation comes from people feeling fairly treated.

When faced with a new team or a new department, make sure that people understand the "rules of the game". You would not play sport or a board game without them....

Motivating People Carnival

Here are some ideas from readers that may inspire you ready for next week.
almomento presents 9 Ways To Incorporate Win-Win Philosophy Into Your Business posted at BurstCreativity.

CA presents Leadership mistakes made by small business owners posted at IQI Strategic Management, Inc., saying, "Having worked with a number of small businesses, I find a common theme among the many mistakes they make - most of them people related. Here is my most important list."

Charles H. Green presents The Sacred Cow of Retention posted at Trust Matters, saying, "Retention that is cost driven, instead of loyalty driven, doesn't work."

Amy Pedersen presents Back Injuries at Work and Your Office Chair, Preventing Injury posted at Sit On This Office Chair ...., saying, "One of the most common work-related injuries is back pain. It will also help employees maintain a healthy back and not take work home with them at least in the pain part of the job."

Hueina Su presents Life Balance Lessons: 7 Keys to Avoid Burnout posted at Intensive Care for the Nurturer's Soul, Here are some proactive steps you can take today to prevent burnout and return to balance.

Debra Moorhead presents Manager of Life posted at Debra Moorhead.com.

Editor - Dave Prouhet presents Workplace Stress Busters posted at Business Advice Daily,
Here are 6 Ways to Improve Workplace Performance by Reducing Stress."

Aniq Rahman presents Listen to the Employees Before You Buy Up The Employer: Better Means Bigger posted at Fiscal Times.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
how to keep employees
using our
carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our

blog carnival index page.

Talent is all around you

This is a true story. Yesterday I was speaking to a manager who ran a team of 65 people. He was depressed because he had been looking to extend some social media tools to help communication across his team. The trouble was that budget was tight, and IT had different priorities. Then a junior member of his team came in and resigned. He said he was leaving to use more of his IT skills, he had a passion for social media and wanted a role that used his skills that he had developed in his spare time.

The manager was depressed, he had never asked the question to his team, he had never thought that the talent might be in his team. People are paid to excel in their role but never forget that might NOT be the extent of their talent. Get close, be curious, look for that hidden talent....before that talent looks for another manager.

Making a difference

Here is a quote from George Bernard Shaw

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who look for the circumstances they want and if they can't find them, make them"

This is a powerful quote - how often do we blame everything around us for not being "successful"?

I believe that we all make a difference, if we want to.....making it happen can be hard but that is what makes achievement feel so great. So if you are faced in your team with people who say "I can't because...." then ask them "How can we create the circumstances.... or What do we need to do to ensure success"