Eric Jacobson

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

A successful sales force transformation can mean increased revenue, increased sales productivity, and reduced cost of sales. But, up to seventy-five percent of attempted transformations fail, according to the authors of the new book, 7 Steps To Sales Transformation - Driving Sustainable Change In Your Organization. Transformation failures are often a result of an organization that neglects to address the human factor (skepticism, resistance, avoidance).

Resistance 51

Resistance Metrics Consultative Engineering 51

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 15, 2016

From John Blakey 's new book, The Trusted Executive , published just a couple weeks ago, here are these four tips from Jim Collins for how to be a humble leader : Demonstrate a compelling modesty, shunning public adulation and never be boastful. Act with quiet, calm determination and motivate others through inspired standards, not inspiring charisma.

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Charisma Collins Tips Motivation 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 10, 2016

Communication expert Bart Egnal reveals why jargon is so prevalent in the workplace, and why it usually undermines those who use it, in his new book, Leading Through Language. Step by step, Egnal demonstrates how effective leaders reject fuzzy terminology in favor of the language of leadership. And, by language of leadership, he means using language that clearly and powerfully brings ideas to life for the audience.

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Humphrey Audience Leadership How To 50

Eric Jacobson

NOVEMBER 16, 2016

Getting feedback is an important way to improve performance at work. But sometimes, it can be hard to seek out, and even harder to hear. “Feedback is all around you. Your job is to find it, both through asking directly and observing it,” says David L. Van Rooy, author of the book, Trajectory: 7 Career Strategies to Take You From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.

How To 50

How To Construction Report Learning-by-Doing 50

Eric Jacobson

NOVEMBER 2, 2016

"Questions help us break down barriers, discover secrets, solve puzzles, and imagine new ways of doing things, But few of us know how to question in a methodical way," explains Frank Sesno , Emmy-award-winning journalist, and author of the forthcoming book, Ask More. Set to publish in January 2017, Sesno's book teaches readers how the power of questions: Opens doors Uncovers Solutions Sparks Change More specifically, he reveals: The power and payoff of targeted diagnostic questions.

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Power How To Open-book Books 50

Eric Jacobson

OCTOBER 8, 2016

Change is inevitable. Change is good. Help your employees and team learn to embrace change. Here are some solid insights from Dr. Rodger Dean Duncan 's (Liberty, Missouri) book, Change-friendly Leadership -- How to Transform Good Intentions into Great Performance : The kind of behavior change that results in lasting (sustainable) change must accommodate people's feelings--feelings that involve trust, confidence, passion, and all those other intangible but very real things that make us human.

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How To Resistance Stress Influence 51

Eric Jacobson

JULY 30, 2016

A lot of companies struggle when creating their mission statement. Author Peter F. Drucker provides the following good advice in one of my favorite book's of his, The Five Most Important Questions You Will Ever Ask About Your Organization :" Every mission statement has to reflect three things : Opportunities Competence Commitment In other words, he explains: What is our purpose?

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Mission Statement Drucker Advice Commitment 50

Eric Jacobson

MARCH 28, 2016

One of my favorite books by leadership communication expert David Grossman, founder and CEO of The Grossman Group , won the 2015 Best in Business Pinnacle Book Award , announced earlier this year.* That impressive book is, No Cape Needed: The Simplest, Smartest, Fastest Steps to Improve How You Communicate By Leaps and Bounds. And, it’s for leaders at all levels.

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Books Hotels Insurance Executive Coaching 50

Eric Jacobson

MARCH 27, 2016

"The challenge for the organizational architect is to systematically create the blueprint for an organization that consciously connects everything to purpose ," explains author Clive Wilson , in his new book, Designing the Purposeful Organization. "The product of doing this are measurable results and, importantly, a felt sense of success. Wilson's book is packed with case studies and activities that help you put to practice in your organization the learnings from the book.

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Open-book Case Study Commitment Books 50

Eric Jacobson

AUGUST 14, 2016

If you haven't read, Good To Great , by Jim Collins, do so. Near the top of virtually every list you'll see of the best leadership books, you'll find Good To Great. The book, five years in the making, and published in 2001, addresses the all-important question of: Can a good company become a great company, and if so, how? Some of the lessons from the book are : "Leadership is equally about creating a climate where the truth is heard and the brutal facts confronted.

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Collins Entrepreneur Books Follow-up 50

Eric Jacobson

JULY 10, 2016

"Teamwork is literally a matter of live and death for the members of the US Air Force Thunderbirds ," explains Colonel JV Venable (USAF, Ret) and former Top Gun (USAF's Fighter Weapons School) instructor for the Thunderbirds. "Overcoming the barrier of trust to fly less than an arm's length away from another jet moving 500 miles per hours at 400 feet off the ground is no small challenge," he adds.

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Teamwork Commitment Advice Process 50

Eric Jacobson

JUNE 28, 2016

From Jay Miletsky's book, 101 Ways to Successfully Market Yourself , here 10 tips for projecting an effective professional image : Discipline yourself to be positive and enthusiastic. In tense situations choose positive responses by maintaining perspective and getting along well with others. Acknowledge mistakes and shortcomings and learn how to correct them.

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Project How To Reputation Definition 50

Eric Jacobson

JUNE 23, 2016

You can't lead if your employees, team or followers don't trust you. Building trust takes energy, effort and constant attention to how you act. To help build trust, follow these 16 tips , recommended by author Susan H. Shearouse: Be honest Keep commitments and keep your word Avoid surprises Be consistent with your mood Be your best Demonstrate respect Listen Communicate Speak with a positive intent Admit mistakes Be willing to hear feedback Maintain confidences Get to know others Practice empath

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Tips Energy Commitment Positioning 50

Eric Jacobson

JUNE 19, 2016

In addition to Laurie Sudbrink's, Leading With GRIT , being a great book for leaders, it's packed with powerful leadership and life quotes. Here are some of my favorites: Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are - Kurt Cobain The respect you show to others (or lack thereof) is an immediate reflection on your self respect - Alex Elle You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - Harper Lee People only see what they are prepared to see -

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Simon Leadership Training Energy 50

Eric Jacobson

JUNE 12, 2016

The real gems in John C. Maxwell's book, Everyone Communicates Few Connect , are the abundant leadership and communication quotes, such as these: To add value to others, one must first value others. People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude. All good communicators get to the point before their listeners start asking, "What's the point?

Leadership 50

Leadership Audience Learning-by-Doing Books 50

Eric Jacobson

JUNE 10, 2016

From the book, Anticipate, the Art of Leading by Looking Ahead , by Rob-Jan De Jong, here are 13 energizing verbs the author recommends we use more often : Discover (instead of See) Explore (instead of Discuss) Radiate (instead of Display) Uncover (instead of Show) Transform (instead of Change) Engage (instead of Involve) Mobilize (instead of Gather) Stretch (instead of Develop) Boost (instead of Increase) Propel (instead of Move) Deliver (instead of Give) Grasp (instead of Understand) Connect (

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Advice Books Development Management 50

Eric Jacobson

APRIL 24, 2016

Fortunately, most of my career I’ve worked in effective corporate cultures. If I put together the best of each, here is what made those environments effective: • Leaders led by example on a consistent basis and were willing to roll up their sleeves, particularly during tight deadlines or challenging times. • Employees clearly understood how what they did made a difference and how their contributions made the organization more profitable and/or more effective. • The workforce included a blend of

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Company Committee Long-term Education 50

Eric Jacobson

APRIL 17, 2016

Bullying in the workplace is the "silent epidemic," says Lynne Curry , author of the new book, Beating The Workplace Bully: A Tactical Guide To Taking Charge. How big an epidemic? According to a nationwide 2014 survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute, nearly 66 million American adults either suffer or witness "abusive conduct" during their workday.

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Open-book Human Resources Tactics Books 50

Eric Jacobson

APRIL 4, 2016

As explained in John Baldoni's, book, Lead With Purpose , Marshall Goldsmith suggests all leaders make it a habit to regularly ask their employees these six questions: Where do you think we should be going? Where do you think you and your part of the business should be going? What do you think you're doing well? If you were the leader, what ideas would you have for you?

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Books Management Leadership 50

Eric Jacobson

MARCH 24, 2016

The real gems in John C. Maxwell's book, Everyone Communicates Few Connect , are the abundant leadership and communication quotes, such as these: To add value to others, one must first value others. People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude. All good communicators get to the point before their listeners start asking, "What's the point?

Books 50

Books Leadership Audience Learning-by-Doing 50

Eric Jacobson

MARCH 16, 2016

In the new book, The Optimistic Workplace , author Shawn Murphy , explains that the following beliefs are essential to helping create a positive work experience : The team is more important than any individual. For optimism to be strong, a cohesive team is vital. People need to believe the team will be there for them when needed. A team is weakened when the first priority is the needs of each person, or when ego dictates a team's actions or inaction.

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Positioning How To Cooper Open-book 50

Eric Jacobson

MARCH 14, 2016

In their book, Millennials Who Manage , authors Chip Espinoza and Joel Schwarzbart explain that there are nine managerial competencies essential to managing Millennials. They are: Be Flexible - Focus more on what gets done than on how it gets done and give Millennials the leeway to work how they want when possible. Create the Right Rewards - Rewards don't need to be overdone for every accomplishment, but Millennials should be recognized when things go well.

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Management Construction Objective Advice 50

Eric Jacobson

JANUARY 30, 2016

Knowing why an employee leaves your company can help you to reduce your employee turnover rate. That's because you can use the reasons a departing employee provides to gather information about processes, people and departments that might need some redirection to correct situations that may have contributed to the employee's reasons for leaving. So, do an exit interview whenever possible with each departing employee.

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Armstrong Handbook Human Resources Cooper 50

Eric Jacobson

JANUARY 13, 2016

David S. Pottruck 's book, Stacking the Deck , teaches readers a nine-step course of action leaders can follow from the first realization that change is needed through all the steps of implementation, including assembling the right team of close advisors and getting the word out to the wider group. This book tells the in-the-trenches stories of individuals who led bold, sweeping change.

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How To Metrics CEO Energy 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 31, 2016

With only one one day left of 2016, it's time to identify your New Year's Resolutions for 2017. To get you started, how about selecting one or more of these 70 New Year's resolutions for leaders? Perhaps write down five to ten and then between now and tomorrow, think about which couple you want to work on during 2017. Don't micromanage Don't be a bottleneck Focus on outcomes, not minutiae Build trust with your colleagues before a crisis comes Assess your company's strengths and weaknesses at all

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Mentor Micromanagement Consensus Policies 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 29, 2016

In their book, Millennials Who Manage , authors Chip Espinoza and Joel Schwarzbart , quote Donna Hicks 's explanation about how dignity is different from respect. Dignity is different from respect in that it is not based on how people perform, what they can do for us, or their likability. Dignity is a feeling of inherent value and worth. Therefore, Espinoza and Schwarzbart recommend that leaders treat those they are leading with dignity and follow Hick's 10 Essential Elements of Dignity : Accept

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Active Listening How To Commitment Motivation 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 21, 2016

Too often, businesses don't have clearly defined goals and even less often specific plans to reach those goals. When you set a goal for your business, be sure it is SMART : S pecific M easurable A ttainable R elevant T ime-related Share that goal with your employees, so they understand all of the five attributes of the goal. And then for your plan (sometimes called "program"), keep these tips in mind : Realistically assess the obstacles and resources involved and then create a strategy for navig

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Goal How To Tips Planning 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 20, 2016

Here are 10 important questions business leaders should ask, according to Ken Blanchard and Garry Ridge , authors of Helping People Win At Work : Does my business have a clear, meaningful, and easily understood vision/mission? Do I have the right people in the right seats on the bus? Do I have a BHAG (big hairy audacious goal), and have I communicated it to my employees?

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BHAG Blanchard Goal Information 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 19, 2016

To find the best business, communications and leadership books to add to my "to read" list for 2017, I reached out to some of the best experts in the field. Individuals I admire and respect. Here is what they read this year and recommend adding to your 2017 "to read" list: Paul Smith Organizational Storytelling Speaker, Trainer/Coach, Author The Elegant Pitch: Create a Compelling Recommendation, Build BroadSupport, and Get It Approved , by Mike Figliuolo.

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Books Storytelling Consultative Brand 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 16, 2016

Be Decisive A manager who can't make a decision or who can't make a timely decision will frustrate his/her employees. Equally bad, a lack of decision will impede the progress of the manager's team. Some managers make endless requests for data as a way to postpone their having to make a decision. Employees end up spinning in circles, slicing and dicing the information far beyond what is truly needed for the manager to make a decision.

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Skills Tips Leadership Follow-up 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 14, 2016

If you are leading an organization and are the last person to interview a candidate, focus your questions more on trying to see if the person is a cultural fit. Here are a few questions to pose to potential new hires (from the book, Advisory Leadership : What motivates you? What are you passionate about? (Finding out what people are passionate about and why is a great window into someone's personality.

Motivation 50

Motivation Books Positioning Organization 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 11, 2016

To help you bring out the best in your team, you need to get close and understand their skills, abilities, and motivations. So, the authors of the book, Your First Leadership Job , recommend you hold getting-to-know-you conversations with each of your direct reports. Ask these open-ended questions. Let each team member know the purpose of the meeting in advance.

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Report Open-book Stress Content 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 10, 2016

The Cycle of Winning has five parts: Decide, Overdo, Adjust, Finish, Keep Improving. These are the five actions that winners take to get on track and to help stay on tract. Theses actions create Serial Winners, explains Larry Weidel in his book, Serial Winner. "Serial Winners leverage a cycle of winning action to make progress," says Weidel. "They do something every day that puts them on a course for the things they want in life.

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Succession How To Loyalty Books 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 9, 2016

If you are a leader already engaging with an executive coach, or contemplating engaging one, here are four ways to make your coaching experience a success, as reported in a relatively recent issue of Fortune magazine: Find the right match. Find someone to push and challenge you. To encourage you and to hold you accountable. Be sure the person you engage with is a person you can trust and can talk to easily.

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Executive Coaching Execution Succession Magazine 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 9, 2016

I really like these 10 guiding business principles that San Antonio, TX headquartered insurance company USAA lives by: Exceed customer expectations Live the Golden Rule (treat others with courtesy and respect) Be a leader Participate and contribute Pursue excellence Work as a team Share knowledge Keep it simple (make it easy for customers to do business with us and for us to work together) Listen and communicate Have fun You can find more examples of companies with impressive guiding principles

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Sample Insurance Participative Examples 50

Eric Jacobson

DECEMBER 6, 2016

Near the top of virtually every list you'll see of the best leadership books, you'll find, Good To Great , by Jim Collins. The book, five years in the making, and published in 2001, addresses the all-important question of: Can a good company become a great company, and if so, how? Some of the lessons from the book are: "Leadership is equally about creating a climate where the truth is heard and the brutal facts confronted.

Collins 50

Collins Entrepreneur Books Follow-up 50

Eric Jacobson

NOVEMBER 30, 2016

With only one month left of 2016, it's not too early to start identifying your New Year's Resolutions for 2017. To get you started, how about selecting one or more of these 70 New Year's resolutions for leaders? Perhaps write down five to ten and then between now and December 31, think about which couple you want to work on during 2017. Don't micromanage Don't be a bottleneck Focus on outcomes, not minutiae Build trust with your colleagues before a crisis comes Assess your company's strengths an

Mentor 50

Mentor Micromanagement Consensus Policies 50