Month: April 2017

Leadership Quotes I Live By

On April 16, 2017

“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

By Nicole Monturo

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

By Nicole Monturo

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.