Nicole Monturo | Coaching & Development

Nicole Monturo is an accomplished executive and leadership expert.

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Leadership Quotes I Live By

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On April 16, 2017

In Leadership, Nicole Monturo

“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” – William Shakespeare

I love this quote. No matter who we are, where we’re from, or the path life has us on, it is possible to achieve greatness. For me, I feel that the greatness I experience in my life has been the experiences I’ve had helping and guiding others to actualize their full potential.

It’s not the only leadership quote that I love, either. There are some words that are spoken in such a way that they touch you at your soul and inspire you to be more than you are. Throughout my life I’ve heard and read different quotes that have struck a chord and stuck with me. To help others find inspiration in these words, I’ll share them with you!

  • “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
    • Not all leaders see themselves as such. Not all leaders aspire to be leaders. This quote from our sixth President reminds us that it’s not our positions that help lead others but rather our actions that inspire others to look towards us.
  • “You don’t lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case.” – Ken Kesey
    • This quote illustrates the confusion that many people see between leadership and power. People in leadership positions sometimes assume their roles purely for the power that they perceive comes along with it. However, this quote illustrates the fundamental difference. People with power can just point to things and make them happen; people who are leaders are the one down in the trenches, guiding and showing others the way to make things happen.
  • “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” – Rosalynn Carter
    • The idea of leading others to greatness is inspiring. However, in practice, being a leader is more often difficult than it is rewarding. It requires you to see more in others than they do and help them actualize their potential, even when they’re resistant to the path.

Why Positive Reinforcement Matters

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On April 7, 2017

In Leadership, Nicole Monturo

Treats, candy, ice cream, pats on the back, and compliments. These rewards probably bring a puppy or child to mind, which are the audiences most commonly affected by positive reinforcement. Not as common, is the concept of rewarding in the workplace. Those holding managerial levels should take note from parents and pet owners, as the benefits of positive reinforcement can move mountains when it comes to employee satisfaction.

Giving praise and even rewarding, when deserving, has the ability to not only make an employe smile but ultimately gives them a sense of self-worth. The Houston Chronicle specifically highlights giving praise in areas previously needing improvement. Such actions allows the employee to realize that any strives they have made in enhancing their work has been recognized. Alleviating any self-doubt presumably creates a healthier work environment for the employee.

In particularly tedious jobs, creating and maintaining morale amongst team members is often difficult to achieve. When they see hard work being praised or rewarded, often times a trickle down effect takes place. Similar to dominos knocking down one another, when one employees receives positive reinforcement, others are likely to follow their lead and take actions they know are appreciated. Specifically when a working environment requires teamwork and reliability from employees, positive reinforcement can become a driving force behind the coexisting nature of the group. Not only can morale become affected but levels of productivity are prone to improvement as well. Good luck finding a boss who isn’t satisfied with higher levels of productivity!

Engaging an employee by opening lines of communication in regards to work performance gives them confidence they may not have previously possessed. With the newly added confidence, an open relationship can come to light between supervisor and employee.

Empowering employees at all levels of the company gives even the most entry level position a voice. There are countless stories of world-renowned innovation coming from the lowest tier of a team, all due to the boss having faith in his employees and allowing their creativity to flow.

As a leader, it is important to remember the hardships it may have taken to get where they are and the support system needed along the way. Positive reinforcement is crucial in maintaining work morale, productivity and innovation. Employees feel more inclined to dedicate their efforts and time to an organization when they feel their work is being recognized and appreciated. The power of positive reinforcement goes a long way for just a little bit of effort.

How To Develop A Leader

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On April 1, 2017

In Leadership, Nicole Monturo

Contrary to the common idea that people are “born leaders,” many who hold leadership roles needed some kind of support prior to being given their role. There may be no secret formula to magically make a person become a strong figurehead of a business or group, however, there are practices best suited to help  develop an individual into a leadership role.

Communications and Networking

Regardless of whether one is leading a company or a sports team, a good  leader must possess excellent communication skills. Having the ability to express a single idea to a large group of people can pose a challenge. A successful leader knows their audience and best practices for effectively communicating the message across the board.

The ability to network is also a key component of what constitutes a strong leader. Having the confidence to approach strangers in any scenario benefits not only the leaders but the group they oversee.

A contributor for Forbes shared their experience attending networking events, stating though boring at times, they ultimately benefit others in the future.When coaching a team member to fill a leadership role, networking remains a fundamental skill to teach.

Experience

The transition of power between one leader to an emerging one can be done in various degrees of success. Ideally, the veteran leader takes the time and energy to support his replacement:

this may include a variety of tasks and training to make sure they are adequately equipped to properly fill the role.

Here, experience comes into play. By providing them with a vast amount of experiences in many different areas as gives the trainee the best chance to succeed. Alongside experience, having knowledge of the ins and outs of the entire organization also benefits a new leader, as they are able to sufficiently assist in all areas required.

A great deal of knowledge regarding leadership can arise from participating in training sessions. There is a large assortment of training styles from online sessions to exercises that can take place right in the office. Some companies provide an in-house training course, while other outsource and send team members to an off-site assembly. The Muse provides a few examples of training courses to participate in during free time. Consequently, being proactive and completing such courses shows a superior a possession of motivation and determination. Both are  examples of great leadership qualities.

Challenges

As any supervisor in any field would share, overseeing a group of people likely presents challenges on a regular basis. Knowing how and when to handle obstacles is an important skill a leader should possess. As a current leader, looking for ways to challenge future leaders is a great way to put their potential to the test. Creating intricate problem-solving scenarios and only assisting when absolutely necessary creates a great challenge. Allowing an up and coming leader to oversee and complete a project from start to finish gives them the motivation to prove their competence.

Being a natural leader is definitely not a trait all people are born with, and becoming a great leader takes effort. Having the ability to communicate effectively and network elegantly are strong stepping stones on the path to success. Paired with Not only does a great deal of experience help to prepare upcoming leaders, but facing them with challenges along the way ensures building of confidence and readiness to take on a leadership role.

3 Powerful Female Executives

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On March 30, 2017

In Leadership, Nicole Monturo

It’s no secret that, when it comes to success in business, women have more hoops to jump through than their male counterparts, and it shows. Of the Fortune 500 companies, only 4% — a grand total of 21 — are run by women, and of the 29 companies that were new to the list in 2016, only one is headed by a female. Although there are numerous obstacles and roadblocks women must circumvent to reach the top, it hasn’t stopped the driven women who have climbed their way up the ladder and earned their place as powerful female executives here in the United States. Let’s take a look at some of them.

  • Sheryl Sandberg
    • This social media mogul is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Facebook, where she has helped the revenue increase 66-fold since 2008 when she first stepped into the role. She is a passionate supporter of women in business and women in general, and her book Lean In, which was inspired by a TEDTalk she gave in 2010, calls for us to change the way we view women in general and instead look for ways to help them succeed. She is an outspoken opposer of the current government administration, and has pledged a portion of her $1.4 billion fortune to help women progress in the world.
  • Beyoncé
    • It’s unlikely that there’s a person in this country who’s not familiar with the name of this entertainment giant. TIME Magazine’s runner-up for Person of the Year in 2016, Beyoncé’s industry shattering visual album Lemonade brought to the foreground issues that the black community faces throughout their lives that often get swept under the rug. She has a personal net worth of $265 million and, together with her husband Jay-Z, the couple is reportedly worth $875 million and was the highest paid couple of 2016. Aside from her performance career, Beyoncé is also the founder of Parkwood Entertainment, a recording label which she hopes to use to level the playing field of the music industry which is currently dominated by men.
  • Susan Wojcicki
    • There is a lot of competition out there when it comes to social media and streaming sites, but Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube, has kept the business not only afloat but thriving. Susan first got into the tech game in 1998 when she joined Google as its 16th employee; the business actually operated out of her garage for a time at its inception. She was also behind the 2006 Google acquisition of YouTube for $1.65 billion and, 8 years later, she took the place of CEO for YouTube in 2014 where she has worked wonders for the business. This feat is all the more impressive when you consider that she is a mother to 5 children.

4 Best Blogs on Leadership

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On March 25, 2017

In Leadership, Nicole Monturo

The internet is a wonderful thing. It provides us with boundless resources on any topic you can conceive all available with the press of a finger. However, this is just as much a curse as it is a blessing, because with boundless information comes the burden of sifting through irrelevant, poorly written, and dishonest content until you find what you’re looking for. That’s why I’d like to make your lives (a little bit) easier by sharing a few of my favorite blogs that cover the topic of leadership. While this is only one subject and there are millions out there for which I cannot offer any assistance, leadership is something about which I am very passionate and well-informed. If you are interested in reading more about leadership, check out a few of the blogs on leadership that I regularly like to read!

  • Great Leadership
    • If you’re looking for a go-to resource for information and opinions regarding leadership and management, Great Leadership is your answer. The blog was created by leadership development expert Dan McCarthy who sought to share his 20+ years’ worth of knowledge with other, aspiring leaders. For the past two years, he has earned the honor of being named among the Top 10 Digital Influencers in Leadership. His expertise makes for one informative read.
  • Michael Hyatt
  • Leadership Now
    • At Leadership Now, they’re seeking to change the narrative that “leaders” are people we only see in professional settings to one where leadership in all its forms is recognized and celebrated. The site is run by Michael McKinney, who wants to tear down the notion that the only people who can lead are figures of authority, and his blog offers tips on how to look outside the context of yourself and lead those around you.
  • Extreme Leadership

Monkey See, Monkey Do: Why Your Employees Follow You

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On March 22, 2017

In Leadership, Nicole Monturo

Have you heard of the term “leading by example”? It essentially means how leaders intentionally or inadvertently set the standards in their business. As the leader, their leadership style filters down to their employees as they adapt to their surroundings — and sometimes mirror their leader’s actions for various reasons. The phrase “monkey see, monkey do,” is highly applicable here. Most bosses lead by example, without them even realizing it! So why does it seem like your employees are following you? Below are some reasons why.

Your Employees Want to Fit In

Say for example someone new starts in the office. They don’t know anyone, they don’t know how to act in their new surroundings, and they’re probably quite nervous. The first instinct to kick in would be to find a way to fit in — and the first person they will look to will be their leader. To fit in with the rest of the office, employees may:

 

  • Copy dress. Does the boss wear a fitted shirt, dress pants, and no tie? Or does the boss wear jeans to work every day? Regardless the type of dress the boss wears, employees will wear likely wear the same. “Fundamentally, fashion is about relating to each other in groups,” says Julia Twigg, professor of social policy and sociology at the University of Kent. “Most people are very concerned at the idea of not fitting in.”
  • Adapt to Talking Styles. Does the boss speak eloquently, or does the boss use curse words in the office? Is there a phrase the boss often says, like “cool beans”? Bosses set the tone in the office, and that also includes speech patterns. According to The Telegraph, human brains imitate the speech patterns of other people without meaning to. It’s a subconscious action because as people interact with one another, they mimic each other’s speech patterns to “empathise” with their conversation partner. And yes, that even includes employees who have a different accent than their boss, then will adapt their speech style!

Your Employees Want to Be Liked

Call it brown-nosing, call it sweet-talk, or call it kissing up, but employees want to be liked by their leaders. In fact, in a survey conducted by Debenhams, two-thirds of managers admitted to a “heightened awareness” of staff with a similar style to themselves — and may give kudos to employees who are similar to themselves.

Your Employees Might Be Looking for a Promotion

And if employees are trying hard to be liked by their bosses, they might be looking for a promotion. “Bosses often appoint and promote people who are like them,” says Dr. Karen Pine, a psychologist from the University of Hertfordshire. “Boards are renowned for electing members that resemble existing ones.” Employees want to find commonality with their bosses. This can include ways of dress and speech patterns, and even going so far as to having the same tastes in food or hobbies.

nicole monturo humility

Why Humility is an Important Trait for Leaders

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On March 15, 2017

In Leadership, Nicole Monturo

Leaders are everywhere you look. There are leaders in government, leaders in the workforce, and even leaders among groups of friends. Quality leadership requires certain traits that make followers support a leader. The power of a leader resides in ethic, performance, ability, strength and more. However, behind all of those traits lies humility.

Humility is important for leaders for a multitude of reasons. It protects a leader’s credibility. Building credibility takes time and effort, but caught in the wrong and that can all diminish.

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think like that, you’ll do things differently” – Warren Buffett

The spotlight is on leaders constantly. One mistake and there’s potential for disaster to strike. Humility among leaders shows that a leader can admit when they’re wrong. By human nature, people make mistakes. Owning up to it takes strength and humility.

To be humble, one must know when others are right. Not that a leader may be wrong, but when it comes to a matter of opinions, humble leaders accept ideas and explore possibilities other than their own perspective. This also shows that a leader doesn’t have a tight grip on control. Often leaders get caught up in control that they lose part of their ethics or dignity. Sometimes a leader has to take a step back, and to do so it takes humility.

Successful leaders need humility to keep them in check. If a leader gets too confident it may hold them back or slow down their progress. A humble leader accepts success and continues to look at the bigger picture.

Humbleness also allows a leader to take a step back and ask for help. Leaders can seek expert opinions in areas beyond their own to combine knowledge and wisdom to get the job done in the most effective way.

Think of a leader you look up to and trust. What makes you like them and believe in them? Most people look up to leaders because of their quality, what they have to offer to their followers, their sincerity and compassion towards others.

A humble leader doesn’t shy away or put themselves down. A humble leader shows dignity and confidence while remaining thankful for all their accomplishments. Although humility can be hard to learn, the trait is a great quality for any leader to attain.

How to Define a Great Leader

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On March 4, 2017

In Leadership, Nicole Monturo

According to vocabulary.com, a leader is the one in the charge and the person who convinces other people to follow. But they define a great leader as one inspires confidence in other people and moves them to action. There are many ways to define a great leader — just ask Entrepreneur, Inc. and Forbes! Below is a short list what being a great leader means to me.

A great leader is accountable for their actions.

When something goes wrong, great leaders take responsibility for everyone’s actions by putting it upon themselves for the company’s failure, and they don’t put the blame on anyone else. To alleviate the problem, leaders jump in with their subordinates to help find a solution and get business back on track as soon as possible. Even when business is smooth sailing, great leaders give praise when it’s appropriate, look for ways to improve their company, and consistently check on their employees to see there are any small issues that can be addressed before it becomes a bigger problem.

A great leader believes honesty is the best policy.

Leaders who are ethical and honest with their subordinates believe in the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. Leaders want the whole truth, and nothing but the truth from their employees, regardless if it’s good or bad news. Leaders set the standards by being completely honest and ethical with everyone so their employees will reciprocate the gesture. By building a relationship based on trust, openness, and ethics, great leaders believe honesty is the best policy.

A great leader is empathetic to their employees.

Great leaders keep the thoughts and feelings of their employees in the back of their mind, and are understanding to their employees when personal or family emergencies arise. If an employee’s work performance suffers because of an external factor, great leaders may privately inquire about the employee’s personal life, and are often supportive.

A great leader sets clear guidelines.

Nothing is worse than a leader who doesn’t set clear expectations — it sends their employees into a frenzy! A great leader sets guidelines from day one, follows through with said guidelines, clearly communicates what they expect, sets deadlines, and doesn’t give anyone special treatment. Clear guidelines will minimize frustration and confusion among employees, and they will feel more at ease and confidently do their jobs. Clarity is the pathway to solid results.

A great leader is approachable.

Everyone has different communication styles. Some employees come from a different cultural background and their people skills might be different than what you’re used to. Some employees might not speak your language as fluently, and therefore have difficulty understanding workplace expectations. Some employees may have different personality than you. Some employees may respond well to a certain leadership style, while others may not and feel pressured. Regardless of the differences, a great leader is approachable and shows flexibility. Leaders who adopt the “door is always open” policy are viewed at the most approachable leaders.

How do you define a great leader?

 

nicole monturo twitter

Leadership Twitter Accounts to Follow

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On February 15, 2017

In Leadership, Nicole Monturo

With the internet being the wealth of information that it is, it can sometimes be hard to even know where to start looking for things. If you simply search for “leadership advice,” you’re going to be greeted with a barrage of ‘how-tos’ and advice from people ranging from well-seasoned professional executives to high school students. So how do you know where to find timely, knowledgeable resources that will give you the answers that you need? Well, many people use Twitter.

Since I’m also a huge foodie on top of my day job, I regularly tweet about primarily recipes I’ve tried or foods that look particularly yummy. However, as much as I turn to Twitter for food inspiration, I also use it as my source of daily inspiration and resource for all things leadership. While I follow a lot of accounts, there are a few leadership Twitter accounts that I’ve found to be particularly helpful and insightful. Here are my favorite leadership accounts to follow.

If you’re looking for prime leadership advice from all the top experts in the field, the Forbes Leadership Twitter account is one for you. Their bio boasts “Insights on leadership in every aspect of business and life for executives, aspiring leaders, and everyone else from Forbes,” and they live up to their words. Their most recent tweets include tips on dressing like a leader, the importance of connecting as a team, and how to navigate company culture, all important things to consider and be aware of as a leader.

Rosabeth Moss Kanter is a Harvard Business School professor, so it’s not surprising that she re-tweets the Harvard Business Review regularly, but her curated tweets are a wealth of information on being a leader and inspiring change in others. She’s also the author of the book MOVE: Putting America’s Infrastructure Back in the Lead.

Bill George tweets often on the importance of collaboration and teamwork in business. He is a Senior Fellow at Harvard Business School and previously served as the CEO of Medtronic, so he’s got many years of leadership under his belt. George is also a bestselling leadership author; his book, the wildly popular “True North,” features interviews with over 100 other leaders on the merits of “authentic leadership” and has earned a place on the Warren Bennis Books Series.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker from the great state of New Jersey tweets a lot about politics – obviously – but it’s his leadership insights and words on finding the best in one another that really make his account worth following. He’s a proponent for the underdog and advocates for equality and positive change.

 

nicole monturo kindergarten

Leadership Lessons You Learned in Kindergarten

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On February 8, 2017

In Leadership, Nicole Monturo

Becoming a leader of any form takes practice, patience, skill, insight, and time. It’s not something that happens overnight. While it does take a lot of specialization to become an effectual leader, a lot of the fundamental ideals and principles taught are not new concepts; many of us have been receiving little lessons in leadership from the time we were old enough to go to school. Although we were not being told explicitly that what we were learning were leadership based, these more or less ‘common sense’ lessons we’re taught at a young age lay the groundwork for some important leadership ideologies. While we may not have become experts at the time, here are a few of the leadership lessons that you learn as early as kindergarten.

  • When you mess up, you say sorry.

When a child makes a mess or breaks something that belongs to someone else, they’re taught to own up to their failure and say that they’re sorry. When it comes to being a leader, by this point you’ve likely realized that human beings, yourself included, aren’t perfect. Unfortunately, there’s no leadership tip that tells you how to be perfect, so the best that you can do is take ownership of your errors and apologize for any resulting problems.

  • Sharing is caring

One thing that effective leaders know is the importance of helping others, and this simple human kindness is one we’re taught as children. Leaders must demonstrate sharing in several different ways. First, most leaders are looked to as sources of knowledge or information. To effectively lead those looking to you for guidance, you need to share the wisdom and lessons you’ve learned with them. The second type of sharing is more external: as a leader when someone on your team does a particularly good job or finally overcomes a hurdle, it’s your job to share in their excitement, share their good news with the rest of the team, and have them share particular insights about what made them successful. Your job as a leader is to call forth the best in your team and help them actualize their potential. This includes encouraging them during moments when they excell.

  • Slow and steady

Much like the classic fable taught to children about the tortoise and the hare, in life most things cannot be rushed. Children are taught the importance of hard, consistent work over rushing through tasks, and this lesson carries importance through life. Good things take time, and if you try to rush them, your work at the end won’t be your best. When planning a project that will require input and assistance from multiple people, take the time to make sure that everyone fully understands his or her responsibilities. While some people will be chomping at the bit to get started, it’s more important to make sure everyone is up to speed than to get a speedy start.

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