Leadership Solutions

Leadership Solutions: Curfew

It's ten o'clock.

Do you know where your employees are?

Because they could be in trouble.

Someone could be stealing their time in a pointless meeting.

Someone could be leading them astray with bad communication.

Someone could be holding them captive with a boring presentation.

So, hurry.

Check their offices to make sure that they are safe and sound, at their desks, working on tasks that make money for your business.

And by the way, my workshops on Effective Meetings, Workplace Communication, and Business Presentations help make the office a safe place to work.

Then you can sleep soundly knowing that your employees are where they belong.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
One Great Meeting
714-528-1300

Meetings that matter. Workshops that work.
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Leadership Solutions: The Real Problem With Going Naked

Actually, the emperor in the fable who bought the new clothes had two problems.

The first was being foolish enough to buy something that wasn't there.

This problem is forgivable.

As human beings, we experiment our way through life. It's easy to be fooled by a well-packaged promise. And sometimes we need to explore a new idea to determine where the edges are.

But this works only in an environment of honest, candid communication.

Otherwise, the second problem occurs: the emperor lives in an environment where lies are more welcome than truth.

This problem is deplorable.

There must be channels so that others can talk to the boss. And the boss must be receptive to honest feedback. Such communication leads to adjustments that correct mistakes and optimize strategy.

Thus, an emperor who obstructs (or misses) honest communication, presides over a disaster.

Eventually, truth prevails. And then the emperor is stuck at the front of a parade, naked. Or bankrupt, fired, in court, . . . .

Much success,

Steve Kaye
One Great Meeting
714-528-1300

Meetings that matter. Workshops that work.
Website

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Leadership Solutions: Detours

Like any good leader, you set out on your journey with a specific destination and a well-drawn map.

But along the way, something unexpected appears.

It might be an obstacle that's not on the map.

Or it might be a better destination.

So what do you do?

Good leaders will change the map.

After all, every destination is simply an inspiration to take action.

And every map is a rough draft of a better map.

Thus, changing the map is more important than following it.

So, enjoy the journey, because that's what really matters.

And keep comparing where you're going with where else you could go.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
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Leadership Solutions: Acceptable Answer

Life's exam is difficult.

And the questions that really matter may be impossible to answer when you first read them.

You may not know the answer. You may be afraid of the answer. You may not want the answer.

But the question is still there, on the page in front of you, demanding an answer.

So, what do you do?

First, simply say, "I don't know."

Then go to work on that question.

Explore variations of what it means. Write long lists of possible answers. Consult others who have dealt with the same question.

And come back.

Because those good questions will keep repeating themselves until they get a good answer.

They are, after all, the keys to being extraordinary.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
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Leadership Solutions: Winning

Anyone can win the game of life.

Really.

All that's required is that you define winning in your terms.

For example, owning a comfortable house (instead of a palace) may be winning.

For example, becoming a respected worker (instead of CEO) may be winning.

For example, earning a modest income (instead of billions) may be winning.

Yes, achievement is good. Success is good. Winning is good.

And we can all have these things if we give them to ourselves.

It's simply a matter of definitions.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
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Leadership Solutions: Foundation for Successful Meetings

Here are four basic principles for effective meetings.

1) Time spent on preparation pays huge rewards in terms of efficiency and effectiveness.

To do: Always set a clear goal and prepare a complete agenda. Then send these to the participants at least a day before the meeting.

2) The greatest loss from a bad meeting is the lost opportunities related to NOT having a decision, agreement, or solution. These can exceed the cost of wasted effort and time by many magnitudes.

To do: Learn how to conduct effective meetings. Or bring in a professional facilitator when the meeting is especially important.

3) Every human activity is a blend of fast and slow, strong and weak, big and small.

To do: Manage the mix to optimize results.

4) People work best in a safe environment. They are more honest, more creative, and more candid. Hostile environments scare people into protecting themselves.

To do: Create a safe environment by treating everyone with courtesy and respect.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
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Leadership: Ultimate Goal for Every Leader

Every business owner, every leader, has the same goal.

It is: To be unemployed.

If you own a business, your job is to sell it. This means you must build a business that is so good someone will want to buy it.

If you are an executive, your job is to be replaced. This means you must create so much success among your staff that someone can be promoted into your position.

And then you are unemployed.

Which is a good thing because now you can:

1) Start another business, or

2) Replace your boss (either in your company or somewhere else where success in appreciated).

So, are you working to be continuously unemployable?

It's the key to expanding success.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
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Leadership: New Life

Let's suppose you could shop for a life.

Given what you know, would you buy the one that you have?

Or would you buy another one?

I expect you would read the list of ingredients, study the warnings, and consider the benefits.

Then what would you do?

Would you buy rock star fame? Political power? Regal wealth?

Realize each package comes complete with all of its parts. So you have to take everything that's in the box. You can't assemble the best from each to make something new.

But you can change the way that you are using the one you have. And perhaps, you can add some of the enviable qualities found in others without also adding their flaws.

So, that's your puzzle for today: How can you do that?

Because this is what life mastery is all about.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
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Leadership: Air

Last week, Apple introduced the MacBook Air.

It's the thinnest laptop in the world. But not by a little -- by a lot.

Really.

If you haven't seen it, you need to.

And then ask yourself: What's the point?

You see, it's more than just another increment in new technology.

It's a statement.

This computer is so incredibly beautiful, both technically and aesthetically, you wonder why anyone would want to own anything else.

It's that good.

And from that comes inspiration.

Because this demonstrates the triumph of human intellect.

So, as a visionary leader, what are you going to do next?

Because the world is waiting.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
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Leadership: Three Doors

It's an old fable.

You have to choose one of three doors.

One door leads to spectacular success, another opens to nothing, and the third holds back a horrible monster.

So, you pause (obviously) because the consequence of guessing wrong is, well, horrible.

Let's rewrite the fable.

There's only one door.

And it opens to the outside.

There is NO fairy tale reward or monster waiting out there.

All you'll find is a new experience. One that provides learning, some reward, and good memories.

Of course, there is still a monster -- but now it's on your side of the door.

And the longer you wait, doing nothing, the more likely it is that this monster will appear. Then . . . you know the rest.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
blog
Website