Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 16, 2012

As we count down to Christmas, I am creating 12 daily leadership tasks, designed to be completed in 12 minutes or less that I am calling the 12 (Leadership) Days of Christmas. You can see the premise and links to the others in the list here. The best part about these tasks is that in [.].

Leadership 193

Leadership Development 193

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 28, 2012

We’ve all read, heard, and likely used the term “blood, sweat and tears” Heck it is even the name of a popular band formed in the ’60′s. Today’s quote uses two of those ideas in a different, and to me, a more illuminating way. I share it today on the day after it’s author has [.].

Engineering 192

Engineering System Succession Leadership 192

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 30, 2012

By Dan Britton, Jimmy Page and Jon Gordon This is a very small and short book (and a short recommendation). Perhaps that makes sense since it promises that one word will change your life. The book doesn’t give you the word, but it helps you find your word, and gives you a reason why. Rather [.].

Gordon 190

Gordon Books Goal Planning 190

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 26, 2012

I live in Indianapolis, Indiana. When I travel and people find out where I live, one of the questions I get asked is, “Have you ever been to the Indianapolis 500?” The answer is, yes I have. I’ve been purely as a spectator several times and in 1986 I was there as a part of [.].

Travel 189

Travel Influence Leadership 189

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 13, 2012

Yesterday, I promised I would provide you with the 12 (Leadership) Days of Christmas. (If you haven’t read the starting point, take a minute to read that short opening). This is the first day – or from the song’s perspective, the 12th day (sorry, no drummer’s will be drumming). Your task today is to ask [.

Leadership 189

Leadership 189

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 5, 2012

Why do you hire new employees? Ok, this seems like an obvious question, and no, it isn’t a trick. We hire people because we have assignments that need to be completed, sales to be made, products to be created, manufactured, shipped, and billed. We hire people to be productive; to get work done. Yet, that’s [.].

Productivity 189

Productivity Products Succession Development 189

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 15, 2012

On 12/12/12 I outlined a process I call The 12 (Leadership) Days of Christmas. If you have been following along you know that. If not, check out the beginning (with links to the other days) to understand what we are doing and why. In the song there are ten lords a leaping. As a leader [.].

Process 189

Process Leadership Influence 189

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 1, 2012

This week, the world lost a legend; a one-of-a-kind salesman, author and speaker died. Zig Ziglar was all of these things and he was also one of my mentors and heroes. I read his books, listened to his speeches over and over, and attended his week-end workshop with my wife. Zig is one of the [.].

Workshop 188

Workshop How To Mentor Books 188

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 17, 2012

So I am counting down to Christmas, helping all the leaders who read this by giving them short daily tasks that when done are translated into gifts for them and those they lead. All the details came on on 12/12/12 – here is that background and a list of the previously posted tasks/gifts. I’ve tried [.].

Customer Loyalty 188

Customer Loyalty Loyalty Leadership 188

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 9, 2012

By Chris Brogan and Julien Smith A couple of years ago these two authors wrote a book called Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust. It became a best seller and moved the already very popular authors to the stratosphere in social media circles. I knew Chris before that [.].

Reputation 187

Reputation Media Influence Books 187

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 7, 2012

In the training I did this week, the idea inside today’s short quotation came up several times. It is an important idea, and yet one many people haven’t thought of or just don’t do (which is another reason to do it!). “It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which [.].

Training 187

Training Succession Management Leadership 187

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 19, 2012

Last week, I began a series of posts/leadership tasks designed to provide gifts to those who complete them (and when completed, they manifest gifts for those they lead). I built this 12 day series on the theme of the 12 Days of Christmas (probably my least favorite Christmas song). You can get the full idea/background [.].

Creativity 187

Creativity Leadership Innovation 187

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 18, 2012

I’m not a swan expert, but if I watch them, I don’t see them worrying about other swans (unless a mother with her young). I mean, look at this picture – the swans are “a swimming” on their own – focused on their surroundings and their needs. Given that observation, they aren’t a good model for our [.].

Influence 186

Influence Leadership 186

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 14, 2012

On 12/12/12, I outlined a process for a Leadership 12 Days of Christmas process, where each day I would give you a small task that, when completed, would bring gifts to both you and your team. While I don’t know the value of 11 pipers piping, I believe the value of the gift you will [.].

Process 185

Process Team Leadership Influence 185

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 2, 2012

Did I actually write don’t set a goal? I did. Because the way most people set goals is a waste of time – and if that is how you do it, you would be better off not setting them at all. When you set a goal, the purpose is to achieve that goal, right? But [.].

Goal 184

Goal Succession Leadership 184

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 23, 2012

We may differ on what and why we celebrate this time of the year. But one thing we don’t differ on. we all like to receive gifts! And the older I get, the more I agree with the adage that it is better to give than to receive. So today we are [.].

Leadership 182

Leadership 182

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 14, 2012

Sometime today, you will use a product that emanates from Spencer Silver’s invention, but you have never heard of him. The invention may be useful, but the point Silver makes in the quotation below is even more important if you are leading, creating, and, in general, trying to make a difference in the world (which [.].

Productivity 182

Productivity Products Creativity Leadership 182

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 21, 2012

This season is often described as a season of wonder. While that is an apt description, why wouldn’t any season be a season of wonder? Are there always things to marvel at and be in a sense of wonder for? Even in a week after the horrible events in Connecticut, this is still (and always) [.].

Influence 181

Influence Leadership 181

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 20, 2012

There are just five more gifts in our 12 (Leadership) Days of Christmas exercise that I have been unveiling one day at a time. (The details and past tasks/gifts can be found here.) The 12 Days of Christmas song says that on the 5th day, the gift is five golden rings. Few things in our [.].

Leadership 181

Leadership Influence 181

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 23, 2012

In the song 12 Days of Christmas, on the second day, the gift is two turtle doves. This is likely familiar to you. in the 12 (Leadership) Days of Christmas, the second day’s gift is the gift of improvement. If you don’t know what the 12 (Leadership) Days of Christmas are, you can get the [.].

Leadership 180

Leadership Process Innovation Development 180

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 21, 2012

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me. Four calling birds? I don’t want to give or receive any birds, but the gift I’m writing about today? That’s definitely a gift worth giving. If you don’t know how a Twelve Days of Christmas reference makes it onto a [.].

Definition 180

Definition Reference Development Leadership 180

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 16, 2012

One of my favorite places to shop is Costco. I love being able to get the high quality products I want at a lower price. The trade-off for the lower price is that you have to buy in quantity. This quantity thing works great for some items, less well for others. Take Jif peanut butter [.].

Training 176

Training Price Quality Productivity 176