Have a great Day!

]]> http://willyoufail.com/nfl-inspiration/feed/ 0 http://willyoufail.com/start-taking-control/ http://willyoufail.com/start-taking-control/#comments Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:47:12 +0000 rallenthompson http://willyoufail.com/?p=175

“Who’s the Boss?” 10 ways to start taking control (time management, goal setting, record tracking)

Practicing positive thinking allows people to focus on our strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation. This, in turn, allows us to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down and stuck. The following tips provide practical suggestions that you can use to help you shift into more positive thinking patterns:

1. Take Good Care of Yourself

It’s much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest.

2. Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For

Stresses and challenges don’t seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference.

3. Look for the Proof Instead of Making Assumptions

A fear of not being liked or accepted sometimes leads us to assume that we know what others are thinking, but our fears are usually not reality. If you have a fear that a friend or family member’s bad mood is due to something you did, or that your co-workers are secretly gossiping about you when you turn your back, speak up and ask them. Don’t waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.

4. Refrain from Using Absolutes

Have you ever told a partner “You’re ALWAYS late!” or complained to a friend “You NEVER call me!”? Thinking and speaking in absolutes like ‘always’ and ‘never’ makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that certain people are incapable of delivering.

5. Detach From Negative Thoughts

Your thoughts can’t hold any power over you if you don’t judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don’t follow it.

6. Squash the “ANTs”

In his book “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,” Dr. Daniel Amen talks about “ANTs” – Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, like “Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me,” or “The boss wants to see me? It must be bad!” When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and squash them!

7. Practice Lovin’, Touchin’ & Squeezin’ (Your Friends and Family)

You don’t have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up. One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn’t touch!

8. Increase Your Social Activity

By increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!

9. Volunteer for an Organization, or Help another Person

Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.

10. Use Pattern Interrupts to Combat Rumination

If you find yourself ruminating, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Rumination is like hyper-focus on something negative. It’s never productive, because it’s not rational or solution-oriented, it’s just excessive worry. Try changing your physical environment – go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.

When it comes to the corporate world, protocol is pretty much the religion. To know the things needed to do are the basics of productivity, but interaction and having a steady mind makes up the entire thing to true productivity. There are those who seem to work well even under pressure, but they’re uncommon ones and we are human and imperfect. To get these little things like stress under our skins won’t solve our problems. Sometimes it takes a bit of courage to admit that we’re turning to be workaholics than tell ourselves that we’re not doing our best.

Much has been written about leadership: rules, pointers, styles, and biographies of inspiring leaders throughout world history. But there are certain leadership ideas that we ourselves fail to recognize and realize in the course of reading books. Here is a short list of things you thought you knew about leadership.

1. Leaders come in different flavors.

There are different types of leaders and you will probably encounter more than one type in your lifetime. Formal leaders are those we elect into positions or offices such as the senators, congressmen, and presidents of the local clubs. Informal leaders or those we look up to by virtue of their wisdom and experience such as in the case of the elders of a tribe, or our grandparents; or by virtue of their expertise and contribution on a given field such as Albert Einstein in the field of Theoretical Physics and Leonardo da Vinci in the field of the Arts. Both formal and informal leaders practice a combination of leadership styles.

·Lewin’s three basic leadership styles – authoritative, participative, and delegative

·Likert’s four leadership styles – exploitative authoritative, benevolent authoritative, consultative, and participative

·Goleman’s six emotional leadership styles – visionary, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pace-setting, and commanding.

2. Leadership is a process of becoming.

Although certain people seem to be born with innate leadership qualities, without the right environment and exposure, they may fail to develop their full potential. So like learning how to ride a bicycle, you can also learn how to become a leader and hone your leadership abilities. Knowledge on leadership theories and skills may be formally gained by enrolling in leadership seminars, workshops, and conferences. Daily interactions with people provide the opportunity to observe and practice leadership theories. Together, formal and informal learning will help you gain leadership attitudes, gain leadership insights, and thus furthering the cycle of learning. You do not become a leader in one day and just stop. Life-long learning is important in becoming a good leader for each day brings new experiences that put your knowledge, skills, and attitude to a test.

3. Leadership starts with you.

The best way to develop leadership qualities is to apply it to your own life. As an adage goes “action speaks louder than words.” Leaders are always in the limelight. Keep in mind that your credibility as a leader depends much on your actions: your interaction with your family, friends, and co-workers; your way of managing your personal and organizational responsibilities; and even the way you talk with the newspaper vendor across the street. Repeated actions become habits. Habits in turn form a person’s character. Steven Covey’s book entitled 7 Habits of Highly Effective People provides good insights on how you can achieve personal leadership.

4. Leadership is shared.

Leadership is not the sole responsibility of one person, but rather a shared responsibility among members of an emerging team. A leader belongs to a group. Each member has responsibilities to fulfill. Formal leadership positions are merely added responsibilities aside from their responsibilities as members of the team. Effective leadership requires members to do their share of work. Starting as a mere group of individuals, members and leaders work towards the formation of an effective team. In this light, social interaction plays a major role in leadership. To learn how to work together requires a great deal of trust between and among leaders and members of an emerging team. Trust is built upon actions and not merely on words. When mutual respect exists, trust is fostered and confidence is built.

5. Leadership styles depend on the situation.

How come dictatorship works for Singapore but not in the United States of America? Aside from culture, beliefs, value system, and form of government, the current situation of a nation also affects the leadership styles used by its formal leaders. There is no rule that only one style can be used. Most of the time, leaders employ a combination of leadership styles depending on the situation. In emergency situations such as periods of war and calamity, decision-making is a matter of life and death. Thus, a nation’s leader cannot afford to consult with all departments to arrive at crucial decisions. The case is of course different in times of peace and order—different sectors and other branches of government can freely interact and participate in governance. Another case in point is in leading organizations. When the staffs are highly motivated and competent, a combination of high delegative and moderate participative styles of leadership is most appropriate. But if the staffs have low competence and low commitment, a combination of high coaching, high supporting, and high directing behavior from organizational leaders is required.

Now that you are reminded of these things, keep in mind that there are always ideas that we think we already know; concepts we take for granted, but are actually the most useful insights on leadership.

]]> http://willyoufail.com/leadership-exposed/feed/ 0 http://willyoufail.com/something-from-nothing/ http://willyoufail.com/something-from-nothing/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:44:18 +0000 rallenthompson http://willyoufail.com/?p=128 by: William Frank Diedrich
To make something from nothing is what visionaries do. In the 1970’s few entrepreneurs were looking for opportunities in Bangladesh. What opportunities could be created with millions of poverty stricken people? Yet one man saw something in what appeared to be nothing to most people. His name is Muhammad Yunus, and he founded the Grameen Bank. Dr. Yunus, an economist, and his bank have been awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. How and why did a banker win this year’s Nobel Peace Prize? He won the award because he made something from nothing.

Dr. Yunus began Grameen Bank by loaning $ 27 to a poor bamboo stool maker and 41 other desperately poor villagers in Bangladesh in 1975. A whole new industry of micro credit, loaning small amounts of money to poverty stricken people, was born. As of August, 2006, Grameen has loaned over 6 billion dollars to over 6.6 million borrowers, 96 percent of them women. Interest rates on Grameen’s loans are about 16 percent, and 98 percent of them are repaid. (Typical independent money lenders in poor countries charge 50 percent.) Grameen now employs over 17,000 people.

As Grameen has grown, hundreds of other micro credit institutions have been created to serve the world’s poorest people. This year 3110 institutions have made loans to 82 million of the poorest people in the world.

This bottom up economic growth in Bangladesh has had an impact on other factors. CCN Matthews News Distribution reports “…the 20 largest micro finance institutions in Bangladesh reach 21 million clients affecting 105 million family members in a country of 140 million. According to UNICEF, the number of deaths of children under five per 1,000 live births has fallen from 239 per thousand in 1970 to just 77 per thousand in 2004 and the fertility rate in Bangladesh has fallen from 6.4 in 1970 to 3.2 in 2004.”

Grameen has proved that money can be made when lending to the poor, thus giving the world’s banks incentives to focus on the weakest links in society. This approach ensures inclusive growth so that virtually everyone may have access to finance.

The Grameen model is based on peer pressure. Money is loaned to individuals in groups. If one person defaults, the whole group is cut off from further credit. If someone is behind in their payments, the group members apply social pressure or help the person pay in order to keep the group’s credit standing high.

Grameen Bank is an example of a business that truly serves its customers through loans and other programs that help people to gain prosperity, end poverty and suffering, and increase the quality of life for the community at large. Less poverty and suffering decreases the tendencies toward violence, terrorism, wars, and disease often found rampant in poorer countries.

Dr. Yunus teaches us the power of a vision. He envisioned that he could help millions of people who had no collateral to develop and grow their visions. As a result tens of millions have started businesses, gone to school, and purchased housing that never would have been available to them without Grameen and the micro credit movement. While much of the world dismisses poor people as a problem to be solved someday, Dr. Yunus envisions real people with dreams and abilities. “I believe in the capacity and capability of human beings,” he states. “Handouts take away initiative and help maintain poverty. If you give a woman a loan worth about $75 to buy a cow, she can start selling the milk. She might make about $2.50 a week. Her installment payment on the loan would be about 50 cents. So the other $2 could be used to buy food and other necessities. As amazing as it sounds to people in the world’s rich nations, $2 a week can mean a lot in Bangladesh.”

Poverty is a problem that social programs have been unable to solve. In 1975 Bangladesh had recently fought a civil war and experienced a famine. It’s future looked bleak. Poverty was rampant. Dr. Yunus came up with a solution to poverty for millions of people that cost no tax money, required no government programs, and that inspired people to take personal responsibility. He created a banking system based on mutual trust, accountability, participation and creativity.

Every individual has an imagination. Every employee has an imagination. There are ideas, solutions, and possibilities, some small, and some great. We are quick to dismiss people who seem unimportant and ideas that seem impossible or not sensible. Instead of thinking of all the reasons why something cannot happen, how about asking the question: “How can it happen?” How about asking: “What are the possibilities here?”

In summary, Dr. Yunus shows us the following:

Everyone is important and has something to offer.

Your ability to see someone as capable and successful can uplift them.

Something can be made from nothing. Thirty years ago poverty stricken people had no access to credit except through usurious money lenders. Today millions are thriving because of micro credit. Where others saw hopelessness and despair, Dr. Yunus envisioned growth.

People are motivated by meaning. Dr. Yunus has treated each “poor” person as “someone”. His actions have created meaning in the lives of millions of people.

Tendencies toward conflict and violence are reduced when people find meaning in what they do and who they are. Graneen and micro credit are a positive influence for peace.

Believing in your self and in your vision combined with courageously taking action can lead to great success. Dr. Yunus did what no one had done before. He broke through the prevailing assumptions of the financial world (that poor people are not good credit risks) and consequently created a positive impact on the lives of millions of people.

This is great leadership–doing well while doing good.

By : Chris Farmer

All leader managers share six common characteristics:

1. Purpose
2. Communication
3. Plan Ahead
4. Conflict
5. Inspire Self towards the positive
6. Inspire Others towards the positive

These six can be summarized as;

Be clear, treat people and problems according to the laws of reason and then, within reason, maintain a positive mental attitude.

Clarity

Clarity is the most important characteristic of the leader manager.

Clarity relates to developing two specific forms;

1. purpose
2. communication

It means knowing what goals you want to achieve and the ability to focus your mind without distraction for months and years.

Any person, who takes the necessary time to achieve a state of definite purpose, has the potential to lead others to that purpose.

Communication
You may have clear ideas, but you may not be able to express those ideas to others such that they understand the full meaning.

Anyone wanting to develop their skills as a leader should develop their ability to use language:

* With accuracy
* With persuasion

The leader needs to be able to simultaneously be able to clearly explain complex ideas, and do so in language that will inspire other people to act.

Reason is the ability to think clearly

It means developing the ability to build plans of action that are likely to achieve the goal.

There are two main aspects where you may want to use your powers of reason;

1. Planning
2. Conflict resolution.

Planning

Planning is the ability to;

1. Priorities tasks according to value and deadline
2. Delegate relatively lower value tasks
3. Handle interruptions
4. Make accurate decisions
5. Get the maximum value from every hour spent

Planning is a prerequisite of continued achievement.

Conflict

Conflict is inevitable and even beneficial, provided conflict is resolved rationally with no anger or enmity.

If conflict remains rational, better solutions emerge. When two people’s ideas contradict each other, through synthesis, a new idea emerges.

The team leader must be able to resolve conflict;

1. Quickly
2. Objectively
3. In a factual way
4. According to rational principles

This takes careful thought and careful language.

Emotions

The Positive emotions such as;

1. Enthusiasm,
2. Confidence
3. Energy

Are the spark that transforms logical plans into action.

Most people live in the hope that something outside of them will inspire positive emotions inside of them.

But the environment has a tendency to demotivate, because bad news sells more copy than good news.

We are fed fear messages

To keep going through the disappointments the leader must create enthusiasm

The ability to manage the emotions has two aspects;

1. Your own emotions
2. The emotions of others

Manage your own emotions

If it is the leaders job to inspire others, then who inspires the leaders?

Nobody.

The leaders inspire themselves.

That means;

1. Constantly being positive
2. Setting up challenges that they can meet
3. Expecting things to be better in the future
4. Refusing to accept the words I can t and replacing them with We can, if…
5. Taking defeat as temporary and always coming back stronger with a better plan.

This is each person s individual choice: to be as confident in the future as his or her present circumstances reasonably permit.

This takes mental discipline, the ability to control your own mind, and the constant practice of the art of positive affirmation.

The ability to inspire others.
In this regard there are three types
The person who does inspire you. You may know at least one person that you can rely on to raise your spirits,
These people represent the ideal.

The second type is the person who is up one day and down the next,
On a good day this person is optimistic.
On a bad day this person is equally negative.
This does not represent the ideal because the moodiness creates uncertainty.

The third type is consistent but they are consistently down and pessimistic.
You can present this person with any situation and they will see the reasons why it is bad news.
This type represents the antithesis of the ideal.

In summary these virtues are;

1. Clear Goal
2. Clear communicator
3. Planner
4. Rational conflict manager
5. Ability to inspire self
6. Ability to inspire others

Our suggestion to you is;

Memorize the above six, and consciously develop yourself in each area.

Author Resource:- Chris Farmer is an expert in http://www.corporatecoachgroup.co.uk/testing-effective-leader.asp Leadership Management Training. His training courses through the Corporate Coach Group have helped hundreds of managers become immediately more effective.

What does a leader look like, sound like and do? There is no one correct mold. Great leaders come in all shapes, sizes, voices and styles. However, great leaders share a common outcome – they oversee getting important things done!

While leadership is hard to define, you know it when you see it, feel it, and hear it. An effective leader creates clarity about where the business is headed and how each team member can contribute to the cause. Such clarity helps reduce confusion and wasted actions and energy. Clarity also helps your employees to make better decisions within established boundaries. As a result, you can breathe more and supervise less.

Additionally, a leader motivates individuals to work together optimally as a team for a common cause or vision. A real leader pulls others along rather than push others around. Leadership is about communicating, not shouting out commands. You cannot coerce people to follow you for long. Command-and-control leadership never earns the hearts, minds and will of others.

Real leadership is all about influence, the ability to make others want to follow you and your cause. Proof of leadership is found in the loyalty and commitment level of your followers. When you turn around, are your employees eagerly and energetically following you and your vision? If not, commit to improving as a leader.

In addition to creating clarity of purpose and direction for the organization, a leader also creates the right conditions and climate for her/his team to succeed. It’s simple; you cannot succeed on your own. You need energized and committed followers as much as they need an effective leader. It’s a partnership in pursuit of a common cause. You are nothing without engaged followers. It’s a symbiotic relationship – a leader needs his/her followers to get important things done.

To help you develop a solid foundation of knowledge, here is a list of some fundamental leadership practices.

A Leader Creates Clarity of Purpose & Direction by:

o Knowing where the company is going and why;
o Developing and articulating a compelling vision for the business;
o Selling the benefits of this vision to employees with facts, emotions, stories, symbols, etc.;
o Establishing direction, strategies, and objectives for the company;
o Developing a simple business plan;
o Defining roles for and responsibilities of your employees;
o Establishing clear expectations for individuals;
o Developing processes to hold employees accountable for getting results;
o Encouraging individuals to work as a team; elevating the needs of the team over the needs of the individual;
o Focusing employees on key priorities and results (organizational focus);
o Setting standards, monitoring performance and giving feedback;
o Reminding everyone that the business exists to serve and satisfy customers as well as to earn a healthy profit;
o Influencing the thoughts, feelings and behavior of employees.

A Leader Creates the Right Conditions (climate, culture) for Success by:

o Being a true leader (CEO), not another employee – taking the time to think, plan, see the big picture, and solve problems;
o Building and maintaining a strong, healthy team;
o Marshalling resources to support the strategy of the business;
o Allowing others to do their jobs, not micromanaging them;
o Allowing employees to share ideas and in the decision-making process – avoiding command-and-control leadership;
o Getting others to believe in themselves and the mission of the company;
o Serving and caring for others – being a giver, not a taker;
o Getting the right people on board and the wrong people off;
o Establishing a goal-oriented environment;
o Maintaining open and honest communication; being open to positive and negative feedback;
o Helping the company to face reality – the good, the bad and the ugly;
o Accepting 100% responsibility for the results of the business;
o Being bold and decisive even in the face of limited information;
o Driving out fear of mistakes; encouraging experimentation and innovation;
o Teaching and motivating others to reach their potential;
o Monitoring financial performance and taking decisive action, when necessary;
o Maintaining a positive culture through interviewing, hiring, reviewing and rewarding the right type of employees;
o Ensuring the company is a fun place to work;
o Being a competent, caring and connected leader of good character;
o Creating a sense of urgency.

A company without a leader is like a sports team without a head coach and without a game plan. Both scenarios will result in players (employees) doing their own selfish thing, running around without a purpose, with no sense of accountability, making repeated mistakes, posting lackluster performance, and most likely losing the game.

Your business doesn’t need more defensive linemen; it needs an in-charge head coach. Let your employees do the daily “blocking and tackling”. Create the game plan and let your employees play the game. Watch and coach from the sidelines, do not get in the trenches – you will lose vision of the whole field. Focus on creating clarity and conditions for success for your team.

Article Source: http://www.webcitymarketing.com/articles

Daniel M. Murphy is the Co-Founder and President of The Growth Coach, who is committed to re-educating and re-focusing business owners to lead more, work less, and enjoy greater freedom, financial success and happiness.