[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]. Books LLR Daily Application MORE

W ords freely flow from our mouths. We say things we think matter and, more often than not, we say words that don’t matter. It’s messed up I tell you! Why are we saying things that don’t matter instead of things that truly matter? MORE

We''ve Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: [link] If you haven''t already done so, update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. link]. Female Entrepreneurs Statistics, Facts & Research Women Business Owners female business owners NAWBO women entrepreneurs Women small business owners women-owned businesses MORE

What undermines far too many leaders is that they don’t want feedback; they don’t like to be or feel they should be questioned. Unfortunately, this position takes them out of “leading” and into their own heads. They become focused on their own one-dimensional thoughts and agenda. MORE

T here have been many people who were called leaders yet they never truly led. They were only out for themselves and no one else. Not their team. Not their coworkers. And sadly not even their family. The only one who mattered was covering their own butt, numero uno. MORE

My first book, Overcoming an Imperfect Boss is now on Amazon. I want to express deep gratitude to all in the LGL community who have grown with me in my Imperfections. Your insights are woven throughout this guide. Why Talk About the Imperfect Boss? MORE

One of the responsibilities of a leader is to be consistently looking forward for the organization. A leader has to continually be asking the question: What’s next? That’s a critical key to continued growth of the organization. The problem for me comes with the immediate demands on my time. MORE

Gallup is a very smart organization and they do many things well. They also provide great services to organizations and those that lead them, especially in understanding the problem, challenges and solution to employee engagement. MORE

Guest post from Dr. Greg Alston : “Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes.” - Peter Drucker This quote by one of the most respected management theorists of the last 100 years crystallizes the essence of how to determine whether someone is a good leader or not. Good leaders find a way to get the job done. MORE

Okay, this one will get me into trouble. Especially if the shoe fits. Wait for the comments on this one. But I have to ask…. When did Christians become so mean? Not all Christians. Most Christians I know are nice. Very nice. But, I’ve met some mean ones lately. Now, let me be clear. I am one. MORE

By Brian Layer. Chief Executive Officer, N2Growth. March Madness resumes tonight and in a pressure packed weekend of excitement, the Sweet Sixteen will shrink to the Final Four. Only the strongest teams will survive and while their defensive pressure, explosive running game or deep shooting might define their style, their success rests on five obsessions. These obsessions are common to champions and may very well help your team in your competitive endeavor. . MORE

T he first thought that pops into my head when I think of a bad leader is Michael Scott from The Office. I know he’s not necessarily a bad leader but his actions place him into that category. Michael was always well meaning, or at least his character came across that way. MORE

Guest post by Great Leadership monthly contributor Beth Armknecht Miller: We all have our blind spots, those things we either can’t see or choose not to see. These are behaviors that you mismanage and often become more intense and harder to manage during change and stressful situations. MORE

By Joel Garfinkle. Chair, Executive Coaching, N2Growth. What does a leader look like? Think of two leaders, famous or not, whom you admire and respect. What do they do that is so different? What traits do they have that help them excel at a high level? Leadership is not a great mystery. Great leaders have specific traits in common. These traits can be learned and developed—by you! MORE

He was the poster-child for passive aggressive (at least that’s my side of the story). In an effort to keep the peace, I’d tried to shake it off. I’d kept my mouth shut, and encouraged my team to take the “high road.” MORE

By Joel Garfinkle. Chair, Executive Coaching, N2Growth. Employees want feedback. They want an honest assessment of their behavior to help them improve their work. They know that if they listen to, and take action on, clear and constructive feedback, their overall performance will improve. And so will their job satisfaction. However, most managers feel uncomfortable delivering feedback, especially when it involves a problem or concern. MORE

Delegation is something that every leader has feelings about. Some feel they do it well. Some don’t even know where to start. Some have seen a good example of it. Some feel like every time someone has “delegated” to them, it felt like they’d just been dumped on. MORE

once worked with a leader who had purchased a competitor’s highly successful product and took it apart to see what all the fuss was about. His company was behind in the marketplace for this particular item, and he felt it would give him some insight. MORE

Are you alarmed by the frequency of ethical scandals in recent years? No doubt, you have seen the headlines about Wall Street greed, but ethical problems are just as prevalent on Main Street where bookkeepers, purchasing agents, and business owners violate the trust that others have placed in them. MORE

Some days it’s really hard to be an optimist. Especially on that day when the Big Leadership Mistake hits you. Take a look at the illustration on the right ( or below, if you are looking at this on a handheld ). MORE

What’s your view of leadership? If you’re like most people, you have an underlying belief that leaders should be out in front of the line, leading the way. The Hierarchical View of Leadership. MORE

I finally got around to reading the book Lean In by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. It was a good read and it got me thinking about my journey as a female leader. The interesting fact is that I never thought about my gender while studying or while working in the corporate world. Focused Thinking While studying […]. Coaching Corner Leadership Lessons Learned Leading & Developing Other Leaders Practical Steps to Influence leadership Sheryl Sandberg. Lean in women leaders MORE

In an industrial age, people went to factories and worked together to produce the outcomes. When required, they collaborated in person. Supervisors commanded and controlled others and leadership was often equated with “taking power”. MORE

From Development Dimensions International (DDI): Mentoring Still Not Happening for Women in the Workplace New Research Reveals Subject Matter Expertise A Key Factor PITTSBURGH—Many mid- to senior-level businesswomen have never had a formal mentor even though mentoring is widely considered a critical component to career success, according to new trend research conducted by Development Dimensions International (DDI) titled, Women as Mentors: Does She or Doesn’t She? MORE

Ever wonder why the introvert on your team isn’t talking? Introverts can be highly creative. They have original ideas. They think things through thoroughly. You need to hear from them. Chances are, if they aren’t sharing, you’re missing out on some good participation. MORE

“I''m not a role model. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn''t mean I should raise your kids.” - Charles Barkley When you’re a manager, like it or not, you ARE a role model. All eyes are on you. The example you set has an enormous impact on your direct report employees and those around you. If you are a newly promoted or hired manager, your employees will watch, listen, and learn about what matters to you, what’s important, what to do and what not to do. MORE

You know you made a mistake. It’s just a matter of time before someone finds out. What do you do now? I have often watched leaders struggle to recover from a mistake made that probably didn’t have to be as personally or professionally damaging to them as it was. MORE

Yup, I really did quit my day job to purse my dream full-time. No, this is not an April Fools joke (although last years was fun in case you missed it). I will spend my days helping companies grow confident, competent and creative frontline leaders. MORE

Yesterday I shared 7 Reasons the Introvert Is Not Talking in Your Meetings. I committed then to share some suggestions. Read that post first, or this one will be harder to follow. MORE

In leadership circles, we’re constantly on the lookout for sage advice on what it takes to succeed; of what skills, competencies, and/or strategies leaders should employ and exemplify to succeed in today’s challenging, ever-changing work environment. MORE

Shy, but eager, employee lets success go to her head. Part of being a good manager is coaxing average performers to overachieve. And generally that’s a good thing. MORE

This is a guest post by my friend Jordan, who lives in Louisville, KY where she works as Account Coordinator for Heartland Communications Consultants, Inc. She enjoys blogging on a variety of topics including career, family, God, or most often, the awkward moments of the twenty-something life. MORE

We’ve all faced this moment in our personal or work life. You’re in a work culture where your priorities and values are being challenged, and you have to make a decision. MORE

Guest post from Joe McCormack : Brief breakthroughs can come at any time. “I I wish I knew how important brevity was for me 30 years ago.” That’s a powerful confession to hear from an accomplished Fortune 500 professional. MORE

These days, we talk a lot about the benefits of embracing diversity in the workplace. Of how intermingling people of different cultures, beliefs and nationalities can allow us to tap into the diversity of thoughts, ideas, and perspectives that go with these unique demographic elements. MORE

Leaders can inadvertently derail productivity and innovation through their design of organizational systems. Structural conflicts between people and departments are often one of the unintended consequences of this. And leaders are the only ones with authority to do something about it. Poor Leadership According to Gallup’s 2013 State of the American Workforce report, poor management […]. MORE

There are some moments in your career that leave an indelible imprint - moments that end up defining WHO you are. They are moments where you literally plant a flag and say “This is it! This is where I’m going!!” MORE