Leadership Solutions

Leadership: Hope for the Incompetent

One fascinating question is:

How can people succeed when they refuse to apply skills that they have?

For example, how could any business survive when the executives know that an agenda is essential for an effective meeting, and yet they don't prepare one?

The answer is, simply, their competition is equally incompetent.

Of course, this is a dismal operational strategy. As soon as their competition starts using real business tools (such as agendas), this poor company is doomed.

So, do you rely on your competition to stay in business?

By the way, I show people how to prepare an agenda that really works (among other things).

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
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Leadership: So Smart They're Stupid

Last week Olivia Felini received mail.

This is important because it could cost your business money.

The mail came from Microsoft adCenter. It's an impressive piece: expensive card stock, attractive graphics, good ad copy. It cost a lot of money to prepare and mail this.

The problem is Olivia does not subscribe to magazines, fill out product warranty cards, or belong to associations. And (most important) she does not have a credit card or a check book.

But she does have a web page.

The brilliant wizards at Microsoft have invented a web technology that can harvest names with addresses off of web sites.

And that brings us to a disturbing possibility: there are millions of web pages dedicated to pets, toys, and virtual friends. So a computer generated mailing list could contain names like Spot Barkanoff (a dog), Daisy Pinkshoes (a doll), and Olivia Felini (a cat). None of them have money.

So, be careful.

Of course, every mailing list contains trash entries that are obsolete, inaccurate, or wrong, and computer-compiled lists will contain a larger fraction of useless entries.

Consider this:

1. You will be more successful contacting people who have an interest in your products and services. Focus only on qualified buyers.

2. Compare results with costs. A mail campaign is supposed to make money for you. Sending out tons of mail is impressive only when it brings in tons of orders.

3. Mail campaigns are the least efficient way to contact people. Most people sort mail near a waste basket, tossing the junk mail in the trash unopened.

Unless, of course, your mail is sent to Olivia Felini. I save her mail as an example of poorly-targeted advertising.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: Young (and Smart) Entrepreneur

She's standing on a street corner with her classmates, jumping up and down, holding a sign that shouts: Car Wash.

As I ride past on my bike, she waves and calls out, "Wash your bike?"

And I think, "That's smart."

You see, leaders are always seeking ways to use existing resources to increase cash flow.

So, how can you use what you have to expand your success?

PS > It's a new, clean bike. Maybe I'll stop next month.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: 5 Leadership Lessons

She came to the conference as my guest to watch my presentation.

And she did more than that.

1) She arrived early.

Point: Leaders manage time well. They travel on their schedule without stress.

2) She visited every booth in the expo.

Point: Leaders seek out new ideas and resources that they can apply to their business.

3) She networked with other attendees.

Point: Leaders know that the key to their success is other people. Thus, they always seek to expand their contacts.

4) She sat in front.

Point: Leaders value learning. They maximize their opportunities to adsorb every nuance of a presentation.

5) She stayed to thank me.

Point: Leaders are strong enough to be grateful.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: Put Them to Work

It's unlikely that you hired people so that they could goof off.

That is, goof off by sitting around, munching on treats, trading stories, telling jokes, arguing over trivia, complaining, bragging, text messaging friends, day dreaming, and stuff like that.

But wait!

Does this describe your meetings?

If so, then you have people on your staff who were hired to do nothing.

Instead: plan short meetings that put them to work. And when the meeting is over, send them back to their desks where they can work on other tasks that earn money for your business.

If that's impossible, then hold the meetings outside where the attendees can pick up litter, pull weeds, and stuff like that. At least this way they'll be contributing something to your business.

Fact: Businesses waste 20% of their professional payroll on bad meetings. That's equivalent to spending a day doing nothing each week.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: Three Ages of Leadership

Consider leadership as moving through three ages.

1) Vision

Every leader begins with a vision. It's the image of how things could be better than they are.

Then the leader's success depends upon the ability to sell and implement the vision. This requires clear communication, passionate dedication, and ethical persistence.

2) Reflection

Somewhere, during the middle, it's useful to reflect on how it's going.

Specifically, leaders ask questions such as:

Why did I start this? And am I still true to that optimistic vision?

Am I really doing what I set out to do? And if not, what changed?

How am I going to feel about this when I reach the end? And how will I explain what I did to those who follow?

3) Significance

Leaders do more than create the future by reaching goal-related milestones.

They also create a future that extends after they leave. And that future can last for centuries.

The type of future and the duration of its influence depends upon whether the leader focused on success (personal gain) or significance (enduring value for others).

This becomes the ultimate proof of the leader's worth.

Action: Strive for significance.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: The Gift of Receiving Graciously

Suppose someone compliments something that you did.

What would you say?

Some people respond with:

"No problem." (which suggests that it could have been a problem)

"It was nothing." (which suggests that the other person misunderstood the value of what you did)

"Don't mention it." (which suggests that the other person made a mistake)

Note that each of these replies contains a negative message. And negative messages are always punitive or weak.

The replies above, for example, either discredit the person who offered the compliment or diminish your worthiness to receive a compliment.

Instead: Give the return gift of letting the other person be grateful.

Then respond by saying,

"Thank you."

"My pleasure."

"I'm glad to help."

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: It Makes You Wonder

Everyone knows that the worst possible meeting technique is discussion.

It seldom produces a result.

It takes too long.

It favors the loud and quick.

And yet, people use it.

Why?

Really, why would anyone use a technique that has a well established history of producing nothing?

Answers:

1) It requires NO preparation. Anyone can gather a group and ask them, "Well, what do you want to talk about?"

2) Attendance is mindless. Anyone can sit around a table and talk.

3) It requires no accountability. With no results, no one ends up being responsible for anything.

Instead: Plan meetings based on structured team activities that make methodical progress toward results.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: Forever Young

It's the third dance at a wedding reception.

First the bride and groom danced.

Then the bride and her father danced.

Now the groom is dancing with his mother.

Imagine the scene. Just one couple on the dance floor. And there's an element that makes this priceless.

Certainly, the mother is older.

And tonight her feet are 20 years old. Each step is light, artistic, and proud.

It just shows that some things stay with us, regardless of our age.

Be well and celebrate.

After all, this day is your moment to show the world how good you are.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: Ultimate Test

As a leader, you must have a vision.

It might be a vision for your business, your career, or your life.

Now, imagine that a four year old asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up.

What would you say?

That is, could you explain your vision to a four year old?

Why?

Because if you need complex jargon or trendy terms that confuse a child, there's a chance no one can understand it. And if the four year old runs away before you finish, there's a chance no one cares about it.

Realize that if no one understands or cares about your vision, you are alone. That's bad because every success is a team effort.

So, what's your vision?

I'm waiting for your answer.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website