Kevin Eikenberry

APRIL 9, 2012

Surrender? When you think about surrender, you don’t likely think of great leadership. People who surrender, lose, right? The dictionary tells us that surrender, as a verb, means things like: “to yield possession or power,” “to give (oneself) up,” “to give up, abandon or relinquish.” These are hardly the ideas we connect with leaders we [.].

Power 232

Power Leadership Development 232

Kevin Eikenberry

FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Leading effectively is a complex mix of skills and behaviors that don’t all come naturally and can’t be mastered quickly (if ever). To put it simply, to be a great leader, you must be a continual learner. That is easy to say. It is easy to believe. But how do you do it? I believe [.].

Strategy 228

Strategy Leadership Skills Planning 228

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 31, 2012

It happens at this time of the year, every year. As the New Year arrives, people talk about making resolutions. In fact, the ritual of making promises or resolutions at the start of the New Year goes back as far as the Babylonians, and can be found in nearly every part of the world, in [.].

Influence 227

Influence Leadership Development Development Leadership 227

Kevin Eikenberry

OCTOBER 15, 2012

There are several basic areas of study that, as we study them, we can become more effective coaches and leaders. This long list includes both human behavior and learning. The psychological concept I want to talk about today comes from the intersection of these two fields of study. Don’t worry; I’m not going to go [.].

Leadership 225

Leadership 225

Kevin Eikenberry

AUGUST 1, 2012

Meetings are meant to be a time for people to exchange ideas and insights. While there are many components to effective meetings, one factor most people would put on that list is engaged participants. I mean, a good meeting can’t be quiet can it? Maybe, at least at times. Let’s start with my main premise [.].

Participative 222

Participative Team Leadership 222

Kevin Eikenberry

APRIL 23, 2012

Dear Learner, I don’t know why the training is on your calendar. Maybe you are being told to go. Maybe you don’t even really know what it is about. Maybe you’d rather go to training than be at your desk. Maybe training means a chance to get away from home for a day or two. [.].

Training 219

Training Leadership 219

Kevin Eikenberry

JUNE 11, 2012

I don’t really watch it, but the tenth anniversary of American Idol’s first show got me thinking about popularity. Millions of people watch this show, and engage with it by voting for the singers they like best. All of the contestants are vying to win the hearts and votes of the viewers. At some level [.].

Influence 218

Influence Leadership 218

Kevin Eikenberry

NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Some time ago, I was delivering two workshops in Toronto. During the first, there were a couple of comments about professionalism, along the lines of, “I want my people to act like professionals.” Others in the room nodded their heads, and while I considered asking a follow up, clarifying question, I opted to move on [.].

Workshop 218

Workshop Follow-up Leadership 218

Kevin Eikenberry

OCTOBER 22, 2012

Have you ever found yourself in a situation like these? You are sitting in the meeting, when your boss’ boss asks you – “what do you think?” Or you are asked to stand and share your thoughts on a topic you haven’t considered before or weren’t prepared to discuss. If you have, you’d likely agree [.].

Leadership 218

Leadership 218

Kevin Eikenberry

JUNE 27, 2012

While facilitating a Bud to Boss Workshop this week, one of the participants (thanks, Margaret) used the phrase “chin up” to describe the leader’s need to look further out and keep a broader perspective of a situation. The phrase got repeated within the class a few times, and now I can’t get it out of [.].

Workshop 217

Workshop Leadership Class Participative 217

Kevin Eikenberry

APRIL 4, 2012

Excuses. wear me out. Here are some examples from the workplace (though I could easily give you a longer list outside of work too): I can’t learn it that way (it’s not my learning style). I need to know this first, so until I know that I can’t. I can’t make it work because. No one will agree with me. I [.].

Examples 214

Examples Energy Mentor Influence 214

Kevin Eikenberry

APRIL 25, 2012

Everyone would like to be more productive (well, at least anyone who might be reading these words). Today, some simple and important ideas for raising your productivity, starting immediately. 1. Stop. Multi. Tasking. Seriously. It is an illusion if you think you can do it without hampering the effectiveness of either task. Want proof? When [.].

Productivity 214

Productivity Products Project Succession 214

Kevin Eikenberry

JANUARY 16, 2012

It is everywhere. Political leaders promoting changing policies. Organizational leadership touting new products or strategies. Team leaders outlining a process improvement. Leaders everywhere think their job is to create change across their team, organization or industry. And they are all wrong. You can create [.].

Politics 214

Politics Policies Industry Strategy 214

Kevin Eikenberry

JULY 16, 2012

For hundreds of years, people have felt the world was changing faster and faster. You can find writing from two hundred years ago lamenting the rate of change that you would believe was written yesterday, yet with the perspective of history, there is no question that the rate of change today, in nearly any category, [.].

Succession 213

Succession Leadership 213

Kevin Eikenberry

JUNE 25, 2012

Forgiveness. We all want it. And sometimes it is hard to grant to others. While there are psychological and spiritual reasons why forgiveness is important, that isn’t the focus here. Make no mistake; I am going to try to convince you why forgiveness is important for you and your business though. While I believe the [.].

Stress 213

Stress Influence Productivity Products 213

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 14, 2012

Perhaps this post will prove you can stretch a metaphor a long way (almost as far as a mother of six can stretch a pound of hamburger). The reality is that I decided to see what I could come up with because this week is National Hamburger Week. I spent some time thinking about hamburgers [.].

Leadership 213

Leadership Leadership Development Development 213

Kevin Eikenberry

APRIL 20, 2012

I had the chance to meet and hear the fabulous and wise Daniel Lapin speak yesterday. Daniel is a best-selling author, radio personality and is known as ”America’s Rabbi.” He spoke about faith and finances, leaving 1200 people with plenty to think about. Today’s quotation is one of the final things he said to the [.].

Positioning 212

Positioning Finance Influence Succession 212

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 3, 2012

Thomas Edison was a great inventor. But Thomas Edison was a greater salesperson. He and his team may have invented the electric light bulb, but without the support and resources (read investment) of others, that idea wouldn’t have moved forward from his team. The idea looks obvious now, but all successful new ideas look good [.].

Creativity 210

Creativity How To Resources Team 210

Kevin Eikenberry

APRIL 13, 2012

In this blog, I have shared quotations from William James, often called the father of American psychology, before (here is an example). Today, I share another one – this one, full of positive possibility. “Your hopes, dreams and aspirations are legitimate. They are trying to take you airborne, above the clouds and above the storms, if you only let [.].

Blog 210

Blog Examples Positioning Leadership 210

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 4, 2012

In workshops (including yesterday), I’m often asked how to raise confidence – either in ourselves or in those we lead. It is is a valuable question, yet it often leads to the question of balance – what’s the connection between confidence and humility? Today’s quotation addresses the humility side is a very simple and enlightening [.].

Workshop 209

Workshop How To Influence Development 209

Kevin Eikenberry

APRIL 18, 2012

Have you ever had a problem and needed to vent or just share what you were dealing with? When you are in this situation, are you always necessarily looking for advice, input, or counsel? If you are like most people, probably not. So why is it that when people come to us with their problems or [.].

Advice 209

Advice Influence Leadership 209

Kevin Eikenberry

APRIL 16, 2012

Eight year old Sam Baker was wondering about something, so he asked his parents, “How come our town doesn’t have a Christmas tree lit up for everyone in town to enjoy?” He reasoned that other nearby towns had trees, that they had a tree at the White House, and that he saw them light a [.].

Influence 209

Influence Leadership 209

Kevin Eikenberry

OCTOBER 10, 2012

Maybe you find yourself in a new team environment and leading a team for the first time, or maybe you have been working with and leading teams forever. Either way, the keys in this article – whether as new information or a fresh reminder – can make a world of difference in morale, productivity, and [.].

Team 208

Team Morale Environment Article 208

Kevin Eikenberry

OCTOBER 3, 2012

If I could give you a tool or resource that would change your life in positive ways, change your results, create more happiness in your life, and help you get better at anything you desired. And if I could promise you that this tool would cost you nothing, require only yourself, and [.].

Power 208

Power Tools Cost Resources 208

Kevin Eikenberry

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

As a child one of the first things we are taught to do is to share. We don’t do it naturally; and we may learn this habit grudgingly (you probably don’t remember this for yourself, but if you have kids, you’ve seen the pattern repeated, haven’t you?). Some things don’t change much as we grow [.].

How To 208

How To Leadership 208

Kevin Eikenberry

DECEMBER 12, 2012

Today is the last of the “triple days” (i.e. 12/12/12) we will see for about ten years (2/2/22 is next I think). Hard to realize that when one has happened every year for the past number of years… and we are now entering the Christmas season as well. Putting those things together, and borrowing the [.].

Leadership 208

Leadership Development 208

Kevin Eikenberry

AUGUST 6, 2012

Every two years the Olympics come onto the collective consciousness of the world. And while some watch for the pageantry, the human drama, the patriotism or the actual athletic competition (all of which can be compelling reasons), I believe there is another universal and more useful reason. We watch to be inspired when we see [.].

Succession 207

Succession Leadership 207

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 7, 2012

Have you ever enjoyed the sounds of a rock and roll band? Would you like to have a team that performed as well as your favorite band? With the five tips below you can be on way to creating that rock star team. Have a clear vision and purpose. The band needs to know the [.].

Team 207

Team Tips Team Building Leadership 207

Kevin Eikenberry

MARCH 5, 2012

Have you ever been in the woods, walking on a trail? If so you know that while you see the trees in front of you it is hard to describe the whole forest. At that moment, the forest for you is the trees – because you just see the trees around you. Patterns, dimension and [.].

Leadership 207

Leadership 207

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 11, 2012

In the last 10 days, I have spent time with three groups, totaling well over 500 people, talking about change – how to understand and lead it. Change is an important topic for us today, as there is so much of it around us. What I find in both my study, work, and through observation, is that we have [.].

How To 205

How To Leadership 205

Kevin Eikenberry

FEBRUARY 6, 2012

I first read See You at the Top (Zig Ziglar’s classic first book) over Christmas one year during college. I had heard of Zig, and checked out the book from the library. I took pages of notes since I couldn’t write in the book. I still have the notes. Soon after, I started listening to Zig’s [.].

Library 206

Library Power Books Goal 206

Kevin Eikenberry

OCTOBER 8, 2012

A few weeks ago I wrote an article about the importance of expectations in the workplace and the four basic areas where expectations are required. As I was writing it, I knew people might want the logical next step. once we realize the ultimate importance of expectations, and the areas in which [.].

Article 205

Article Leadership 205

Kevin Eikenberry

JULY 2, 2012

Since at least 1894, the US Department of Agriculture has created guidelines and models for creating a balanced diet. With each iteration of their recommendations the dietary experts try to give us an easy-to-use guideline for eating in a healthy and well balanced way. This is a useful practice and one worth emulating for other [.].

Guidelines 205

Guidelines Books Leadership 205

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 21, 2012

During an unlikely 1973 comeback from last place to first place in the final month of the season, a New York Mets pitcher was credited with the phrase that became the rallying cry of the team and city – “ya gotta believe!” That phrase was widely credited with helping the team go 20-8 to finish [.].

Team 205

Team Mentor Development Leadership 205

Kevin Eikenberry

MAY 25, 2012

I love this quote because it is addresses a challenge I often hear about – and experience myself. “Stop waiting until things are perfect. Obstacles will always be there. They’ll never just go away. Find a way through them.” - Ralph Marston, author Questions to Ponder What are you waiting for? What is the worst thing [.].

Succession 204

Succession 204

Kevin Eikenberry

NOVEMBER 7, 2012

George was seen as an up-and-coming leader in the organization. People that worked for him liked and respected him. Those in Senior Leadership saw his potential, so he was slated to attend the company’s leadership development workshop. George was ecstatic! He loved the organization and wanted to move up and contribute as much as he [.].

Leadership Development 204

Leadership Development Development Leadership Workshop 204

Kevin Eikenberry

AUGUST 15, 2012

If you are a parent, you are familiar with this thoughts and feelings. Who is my child hanging out with? Do I know the parents of those kids? What kinds of influences are they subject to? These are natural considerations of a loving parent. After all, we know that children are influenced [.].

Influence 203

Influence Development Leadership 203