Nicole Monturo | Coaching & Development

Nicole Monturo is an accomplished executive and leadership expert.

Month: March 2017

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?

 

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