Winning at Execution

post-it maniaDo goals and plans fail more due to strategy or execution? Execution is the primary reason why most plans fail. We are taught in school how to create strategy but most of the time devoted to reaching a goal is done in executing the plan, and we are not taught good methods of execution. If we want to make progress we need to focus on a good process for execution and establish it upfront with our team.

Here are a few ideas to help you with winning at execution and increase the percentage of time you reach your goals: Read more

Perception Matters: Tips on Being Seen as an Expert in Your Field

expertYou’ve put in years of work to grow into your leadership role.

You’ve invested time and resources, you’ve learned from your failures, you’ve mentored others and now, you’re at a point in your career where you’re ready to share what you’ve learned.

But what if you’re not perceived as an expert in your field? In many ways, perception is reality—your reputation will help you grow your business in many ways.

But if you’re not one of the first people who comes to mind when people are looking for an expert, you’ve got some work to do.

One person who’s well-known as an expert on leadership (I mentioned him in a post just last week) is best-selling author Michael Hyatt. He wrote about how to be perceived as an expert in your field, and said it’s not as difficult as we sometimes make it out to be.

In his post, he outlined five steps to being seen as the expert in your field—and in my view, the first four are an excellent foundation: Read more

Inspire!

InspireDo you remember the last time you were inspired by someone else? What did that feel like? Think about it for a moment…I am sure it was a great feeling.

As a result of being inspired, you may have been ready to start your own business, run a marathon, fearlessly make a sales call on your biggest prospect or sign up to serve others less fortunate.

We have the ability and opportunity to do the same for others. All of us have the occasion to inspire others to do things that they otherwise may not have attempted.

Here are a few ideas to get you started on your next inspirational opportunity. Read more

The Value of Living in the Present Moment

living in the momentAre you living in the present moment? Many of us would like to think we are but unfortunately are weighed down by the past or anxious about the future.

We may have regrets or guilt over our past and we need to let these go because they are circumstances that we may not be able to change.

We may also be anxious about the future and what will happen to our families, our businesses or us.

When we are able to let go of the past and realize that most of what we are anxious about will never happen we can begin to just focus on where we are now: The present moment.

Here are some reasons why we need to let go of the past, not worry about the future, and practice living in the present moment. Read more

How to Make the Right Hire the First Time

the right hireMaking a bad hire can be incredibly expensive—not only do you end up spending recruiting and training money on someone who’s not going to work out over the long haul, but it’s also expensive when you think about the opportunity cost.

What could you have been doing with your time had you not been investing it in an employee who wasn’t a good fit for you and your organization?

That’s why it’s so essential to make the right hire the first time.

This is arguably one of the most important things you can do for your organization.

Imagine having staff on hand who will not just get the job done, but will also surprise you by doing the job better than you would have done it yourself? That’s every manager’s dream. But how do you make the right hire? Read more

The Value of a Stewardship Attitude

stewardshipWhat is stewardship? In its simplest form it is managing what we have for someone else.

In other words, it is the management of something or someone entrusted into our care. We are given many gifts and abilities that we are to use to help others whether customers, employees or suppliers.

From a personal and spiritual perspective, I believe that all I have has been given to me by God and I am a steward of those things: My wife, Joy; my three boys, our business, my knowledge, my skills, my abilities, my time, my money, etc.

As a steward of all of those things, I have the responsibility to manage those for the benefit of the owner or others. This attitude can have a profound impact on your people and your business.

Here are a few ideas on the impact of a stewardship attitude: Read more