Leadership Solutions

Leadership: Slow Down

We're so busy being distracted we have no time for the things that really matter.

Consider the activities that you "must" do, such as the TV show you must watch, the event you must attend, the game you must see.

After all, if you miss one of these, what will you talk about?

Rather than leave you with a dead-end question, here are some possible answers. That is, you could talk about:

1) The book you read. Successful people read books on a wide variety of topics. They read to gain new ideas, to stimulate their minds, and to play.

2) The ideas you developed. Thinking is a deliberate process that requires consistent application. The results include plans, solutions, and decisions.

3) The conversation you had. Every relationship is built upon and maintained by conversation. When the conversation stops, the relationship ends. So, spend time talking (or listening) to the important people in your life.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
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Leadership: Absolutely Amazing!

I've phoned AT&T four times to talk about my business phone service, and each time their line was busy.

Why?

Too few employees.

Is that happening in your company?

That is, has clever cost cutting made it impossible for people to buy from you?

Because, if you're too busy, there's a chance that your competition isn't.

Now, this could be good. Soon you will have enough staff to accommodate the few customers who are left.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: Do You Have a Name?

Lately, I've been receiving e-mail messages signed with an initial.

And then the message is so brief (cryptic) that it's almost useless. For example, in response to a list of questions I received something like,

- - -
Sure,

m
- - -

This leaves me with more questions than I sent.

Points to consider:

1) Your name is your identity. It's not something to play with, ridicule, or minimize. Write out your full name on all correspondence. Unless, of course, you have branded yourself by an initial like a rock star, which I think is a bad idea since it conveys arrogance.

2) You're a human being. I'm a human being. Communicate like a human being to another human being. That means, include polite niceties such as complete sentences, correct grammar, and basic courtesies (i.e., Hello, Thanks, Sincerely, and so on).

3) Realize that an e-mail is a letter. Take the time to make it a respectful message.

4) Yes, I know that you're busy. I'm busy too. Everyone is busy. And while sending garbage may save you some time, it wastes everyone else's time. In fact, their reactions to an incomplete message will cost you more time than you saved.

5) Some business systems save all e-mail on a server. Forever. And it can be opened by anyone who has just cause. Make absolutely sure that all of your e-mail could appear written in the sky above your business for the entire world to read.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: Tattoos?

Let's pretend.

Suppose that you're 21, single, and have tattoos that cover your neck, arms, and legs.

If you were to go to a party seeking someone to date, what kind of person do you think you'd end up with?

Answer: Obviously, it would be someone who likes (or at least accepts) tattoos.

Question: What does this have to do with leadership?

Answer: Everything.

How?

You will end up with a staff that is attracted to the image that you project. You will end up with customers who are attracted by the marketing message that you send out. And so on.

You will also repel people who dislike the image that you project.

And that brings us to the big question: Are you attracting the type of people who will help you the most?

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: Now We Know Her Secrets

Within a few minutes everyone knew that she:

1) Was dating a guy named [ *** ] who lived in Yorba Linda, CA, whom she considered a step up,

2) Had been taking Vicodin (an addictive pain killer) for enough months to have become dependent upon it,

3) Had been to the hospital for some horrible procedure where the anesthetic failed,

And so on. (I'll omit the rest as well as the man's name because this is enough to make the point.)

You may have guessed that she was talking on her cell phone with a very loud voice.

Which makes you wonder how anyone could be so careless to broadcast such personal information for others to hear.

But this does lead to an important point about communication.

A conversation is a private exchange of ideas between (usually) two people. It is not a public announcement.

And you betray the other person's privacy as well as your own when you carry on a conversation in public.

If you must use a cell phone, use it in a private place. Because no one wants to hear your conversation.

Really.

Unless they're collecting ideas for articles that will appear on the web.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: The Day After

Most likely people did some nice things for you on Thanksgiving.

They might have invited you over for dinner, phoned to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, or visited your home to celebrate the holiday.

Now it's your turn to do something special for them.

Write them a note expressing your thanks. And, yes, write the note with a pen rather than send an e-card or an e-mail or a text message.

After all, gratitude is a human activity, and as such it should be expressed without a computer doing the job.

Key point: good leaders express gratitude often.

In fact, exceptional leaders help people succeed so that they can write Thank You notes all year long.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving.

I wish you the very best.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: Gratitude for Now and for Tomorrow

Take a moment to make a list of everything that is good in your life.

Most people could easily name a few good things. And that's too small. So, we need to go beyond that because there really is more.

Strive to find at least 30 things (50 is better) that you are grateful for. These can be big things, such as:

I woke up today.

Or, they can be simple things, such as:

I am able to read.

You will find that making such a list helps you find a huge panorama of good news that people often take for granted.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Use your list to lift your spirits. And share it with others, especially if their names are on it.

Then, in the weeks ahead, make another list of the things that you want to be grateful for at this time next year.

This second list is powerful because it becomes the foundation for the goals that will guide you in creating a wonderful 2008. You see, vision, planning, and action are the keys to having an abundance of good things.

And so next year your gratitude list will be even longer.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: 5 Ways to Maximize Learning

Here's how to gain the most from training events.

1) Know what you want

Before the workshop, set learning goals for yourself. What do you want to learn? How can this program help you? What would make you feel that your time was well spent?

2) Ask for what you want

As the program unfolds, ask questions that guide the presentation toward the information that you need. Also, seek out specific ideas that will help you.

3) Focus on your success

Rather than fight against new ideas, greet them as possibilities. If the ideas seem unworkable, seek out ways to modify them so that you can use them.

4) Encourage the speaker

Learning succeeds best when you become involved. Thus, ask questions, make comments, participate in the projects. Let the speaker know that you are interested. This encourages the speaker to do a better job.

5) Be grateful

Thank the speaker after the program. Either write a note or stay to express your appreciation. Also thank the people who organized the event in your company. Seek them out to express your thanks.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website

Leadership: Leadership Test

Use meetings to develop the leadership skills of your staff.

How?

Delegate the planning and conduct of your next meeting to a member of your staff. Use this to: 1) free your time for other tasks and 2) assess the person’s leadership skills.

Watch for basic planning (did the person set a goal and prepare an agenda?), coordination (did the person set up key issues for success?), effectiveness (did the person obtain results?), and leadership (did the person guide the participants toward a team effort?).

All of this helps you select future leaders based on abilities that add value to your business.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website