Leadership

Most adults believe they’re not very creative or they don’t understand how to express their creativity professionally. Somewhere along the way while growing up, creativity seems to vanish as children become adults. That’s my story. I had a very limited understanding of my personal creativity until I was well into my adult life and wrote my first book, The Way To Greatness. Perhaps that’s your story too. Maybe you still don’t consider yourself to be a creative person because of this misunderstanding.

The problem with not embracing and utilizing your creativity is that you’ll limit your options in decision-making. Leaders need to be creative problem-solvers in our increasingly complex world. Standardized answers and solutions rarely meet the needs of the situations we face. 

In order to express your creativity and become a more effective leader, implement the following three actions:

1 – Understand Your Contribution

First, you must understand the unique contribution that you bring to your team or organization. You are one-of-a-kind. There’s no one else on planet Earth like you. Your thoughts are different from others’. Your perspectives are different. You have unique knowledge, skills, and experiences. These are all extremely valuable when you are problem-solving or brainstorming new ideas. In order to understand your contribution better, begin listing anything you believe makes you different from your peers and followers. This list will lead to greater insights that you can utilize moving forward.

2 – Engage Your Imagination

When you begin to embrace and engage your imagination, it’s like finding gold or striking oil deep beneath the Earth’s surface. Your imagination is extremely powerful and valuable in your leadership. Finding creative solutions and ways to address challenges makes you more valuable. It gives you greater credibility and influence. While our imaginations are often suppressed as we become “responsible adults”, it’s vital that you reconnect your imagination with your decision-making. Change up your normal environment when you feel your imagination is lacking. Take a walk outside, visit an unfamiliar place, read a book that you normally wouldn’t pick up, listen to a podcast, etc. It’s amazing where creative ideas come from!

3 – Design Your Solution

Now that you’re clearer on your unique contribution and are intentionally engaging your imagination, it’s time to design solutions for growth or to address challenges. It’s critical to understand that everything created was first envisioned in the mind of the creator. A house begins in the mind of an architect as they create the blueprints. A car begins with an engineer’s vision. Products are designed first in the mind of the creator, then manufactured for use. Problems are solved first in the mind, then implemented in reality. When you need to find solutions, set aside time to pray, think, and dream. Once you have a clear picture of a product or solution in your mind, you can begin to turn it into reality. This only happens when you express your creativity in unique, tangible ways.

While it may not be normal or comfortable for you, it is possible to express your unique creativity more intentionally. 

Imagine how your team will feel when you bring creative solutions to them. 

Imagine the results of carving out quiet time to pray, think, and dream so you can help your team and organization become more successful. 

Imagine rolling out new creative initiatives or products to address organizational or customer challenges. 

This can be your reality when you choose to intentionally express your creativity. As you do this, you’ll better understand the power of and necessity for creativity in your leadership.

In my new book, The Magnetic Leader: 18 Essential Actions of Leaders People Love to Follow, I go much deeper into Essential Action #8 – Expresses Creativity. CLICK HERE to join the waiting list to get updates on when the book will be released and receive a FREE POSTER revealing all 18 Essential Actions!

Until next time…make today GREAT!

Have you ever ignored the feeling that something was “off” in a particular situation only to regret it later?

Do you ever sense that something isn’t quite right, but you can’t easily define it in the moment?

Many leaders reflect on past situations and wish they would’ve acted on these feelings or thoughts once the truth comes to light and negative results occur. They wish they would’ve “trusted their gut” instead of pushing down their feelings.

If you want to become a more effective leader who heads off inevitable problems, consider the following:

1 – Understand the Importance of “Insight” in Leadership

Insight is the ability to see what’s deep inside a person, relationship, situation, or problem. It’s a combination of wise discernment, examined experience, and revelation that comes from it. Results tend to prove the validity of insight after the fact. Without insight, leaders are dependent on external factors alone. With insight, you can head off problems before they arrive even when others don’t understand how you knew the dangers in advance. The more experiences you have, the more insightful you become. It’s a key part of maturing as a leader.

2 – Trust Your Insight

Once you understand that you have insight based on lessons learned from reflecting on past experiences, it’s time to trust your internal warning system. You’ll need to become courageous to trust what you “feel” rather than what you “know” or what is visible to everyone else around you. When others around you don’t sense what you do, it can be challenging to convince them otherwise. However, don’t back down when you believe something is off. Leadership requires bold decisions, even when things don’t make sense in the moment.

3 – Act Accordingly

As you trust your insight, sometimes you’ll need to delay decisions in order to do more research. When you don’t have the luxury of more time, you must step out in faith and make the call while hoping you’re proven right after the results play out. Trusting your insight isn’t for the faint of heart. Expect pushback or criticism. Stay the course while you wait for the results to verify your insights. The more experiences you have, the more confident you’ll become. The key is to keep acting on your insights until it becomes as normal as breathing. 

Becoming an insightful leader is extremely valuable in our ever-changing world. Things move so fast that you’ll often find yourself having to make quick decisions with limited information. Everyone would love to have all the data needed to proceed with confidence, but it’s just not realistic. We must make quick, insightful decisions which require boldness and courage. 

Imagine becoming the kind of leader people believe in because, even if they don’t understand why you make certain decisions, they know that you aren’t just “winging it”.

Imagine allowing yourself to tap into your years of experience and training to inform your important decisions in any given situation. 

Imagine being the kind of leader people trust because, even though they can’t define it, they know you will make wise decisions in the most critical moments.

This can be your reality when you begin to understand the importance of insight better, trust it in critical moments, and then take appropriate action to lead your team to greater levels of success. 

In my new book, The Magnetic Leader: 18 Essential Actions of Leaders People Love to Follow, I go much deeper into Essential Action #7 – Trusts Insight. CLICK HERE to join the waiting list to get updates on when the book will be released and receive a FREE POSTER revealing all 18 Essential Actions!

Until next time…make today GREAT!

Many people want to become better leaders, but make a fatal mistake along the way. They stop prioritizing continual learning and begin to believe they know enough to get by in their roles.

Years ago, I had key mentors instill in me the concepts that “leaders are learners” and “leaders are readers”. At the time they told me this, I didn’t like it because I hated reading as a kid! However, when I found my passion for leadership development and personal growth, I embraced this wise advice and have never looked back. I’ve read hundreds of books, attended numerous conferences, listened to countless podcast episodes, and have invested much time and money into courses and coaching programs. 

Remaining teachable is a key characteristic of the world’s best leaders and performers, regardless of how successful they become. 

So, the question is this – are you committed to continually learning and growing to become better personally and professionally?

Consider the following 3-step process for remaining teachable:

1 – Learn

First, you must commit to learning. Hone your skills. Pursue mastery of your craft. The best athletes in the world like Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, LeBron James, and countless others throughout the ages consistently hired coaches to help them become the best in their sport. Leaders can and should do the same. Read books. Go to conferences. Take courses. Hire a coach. Continual learning is crucial for sustainable success.

2 – Model

Next, commit to being a model for your followers. When you realize that others are watching, it challenges you to improve your skills and performance. It increases accountability. People don’t need “perfect” examples that are difficult to relate to. They need “living” examples who can help them become better by showing them what to do. Take action on the information you learn in front of your followers so you can show them the way forward.

3 – Equip

Finally, pass along what you learn to your followers. Don’t hoard your knowledge. Distribute it among those you’re entrusted to lead. Equipping followers for success is a foundational responsibility of leadership. While it requires an upfront investment of time and energy, it pays extremely high dividends down the road. 

Imagine having the confidence to take your team and organization to the next level. 

Imagine having a team of well-equipped leaders who can multiply their own skills and abilities in those they are influencing.

Imagine having a reduced work load and lower stress level because you have a team of equipped followers who can help carry the weight of your projects and responsibilities.

This is all possible when you remain teachable by implementing this three-step process of learning, modeling, and equipping.

In my new book, The Magnetic Leader: 18 Essential Actions of Leaders People Love to Follow, I go much deeper into Essential Action #6 – Remains Teachable. CLICK HERE to join the waiting list to get updates on when the book will be released and receive a FREE POSTER revealing all 18 Essential Actions!

Until next time…make today GREAT!

Many leaders chase perfection while overlooking excellence. Excellence and perfection are not the same things. Be careful not to confuse the two.

Perfection is rarely achieved while excellence can be sought after daily. At its core, excellence can be defined as “doing the best you can with what you have”.

If you want to become the kind of leader people love to follow, consider these three key actions for leading with excellence each day:

1 – Reject perfectionism.

As stated above, perfection and excellence aren’t the same things. One characteristic of those who fall prey to perfectionism is “analysis paralysis”. They struggle to make decisions and take action because they’re afraid they don’t have the perfect answer or solution. If you want to achieve excellence, you must avoid the trap of perfectionism and take productive action.

2 – Demand quality.

While you don’t want to fall into the trap of “it has to be perfect before I start”, you do want to demand quality of yourself and your followers. The word “demand” may sound strong (and it is), but that doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk in holding a high standard. Quality often sells itself. No one wants to buy junk that doesn’t last. No one wants to receive poor service. Quality requires attention to detail and giving your best effort. When you operate this way consistently, you produce excellence.

3 – Pursue improvement.

Nothing is perfect. Everything can be improved upon. Author and speaker John C. Maxwell often shares the concept of getting 1 percent better every day. Think about it. It seems that “New and improved!” has been a strategic marketing tactic forever. Why? Because everything can be improved! The best you do today can be improved upon tomorrow. That doesn’t make today’s best bad or wrong. It just creates a new foundation to build upon for future success. Excellent leaders pursue improvement consistently.

I hope this reframes your mindset toward “excellence” for yourself and your team. Too many leaders fall into the trap of perfectionism and hold themselves back from greater levels of success. Don’t let that be you.

Imagine being the kind of leader others automatically think of when the word “excellence” is mentioned. 

Imagine leading a team that is committed to becoming at least 1 percent better every day. 

Imagine building a team or organization that is recognized as excellent in your industry. 

This can become your reality when you implement these three key actions daily.

In my new book, The Magnetic Leader: 18 Essential Actions of Leaders People Love to Follow, I expand on this idea in much more detail in Essential Action #5 – Pursues Excellence. CLICK HERE to join the waiting list to get updates on when the book will be released and receive a FREE POSTER revealing all 18 Essential Actions!

Until next time…make today GREAT!

While many leaders can and have been successful throughout the centuries without demonstrating quality character, doing so can be a game-changer for your leadership impact. 

Even though we don’t use the word “noble” much these days in our society, demonstrating nobility has the power to revolutionize your leadership credibility. 

If you’re like me, the word “nobility” takes you back to history class where you learned about the dignitaries of the medieval era. Kings, queens, Sir Lancelot, and the “Knights of the Round Table” come to mind. However, that’s not what I’m talking about.

Nobility is an esteemed character quality. Dictionary.com defines the word “noble” as “of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence”. Unfortunately, this isn’t a definition that defines many of our well-known leaders in the world today.

With that being said, how can YOU demonstrate nobility as you lead your followers? Implement the following 3 key actions and watch your leadership soar:

1 – Aspire to greatness.

While this may at first seem antithetical to being a leader who treats others “nobly”, your personal effort and focus do matter. If you don’t set your sights high on what you want to accomplish personally and professionally, you may not get the opportunity to lead others. People want to follow those who aspire to be better every day.

2 – Excel in character.

While producing results is critical for successful leadership, how you live and treat others truly matters. A productive person with poor character will not attract the kind of followers that they want or need to accomplish bigger goals. When you guard your character so that you are trustworthy and honorable, people will be more attracted to your team, mission, or cause.

3 – Do what’s right. 

Right thinking must be followed by the right actions. If you only say noble things but don’t act nobly, you’ll be labeled a hypocrite. Hypocrites won’t attract or retain high-quality team members once they’re found out.

These three actions begin in your heart and mind, then are manifested outwardly. 

Imagine being the kind of leader who others quickly assess as the kind of person they want to follow. 

Imagine waking up and working each day with peace of mind because you know you’re focused on being a high-quality person even as you’re motivated to produce results. 

Imagine earning the respect of your followers and colleagues because they trust your character as someone who is authentically excellent in all you say and do.

This can be your reality when you implement these three actions consistently.  

In my new book, The Magnetic Leader: 18 Essential Actions of Leaders People Love to Follow, I explore these three key actions more in-depth in Essential Action #4 – Demonstrates Nobility. CLICK HERE to join the waiting list to get updates on when the book will be released and receive a FREE POSTER revealing all 18 Essential Actions!

Until next time…make today GREAT!

Many people desire to be generous but rarely do it intentionally. They simply overlook where they can give or are unsure of how to go about it.

Leaders who are generous quickly win over the hearts and minds of their followers because generosity communicates value to people and causes that matter. And generosity can be contagious, which can make a greater impact in the world.

Consider the following three questions to either begin being or upgrade your generosity:

1 – What do I have?

Many people hesitate to be more generous because they don’t think they have much to give. While generosity can certainly include giving money, it can be so much more. You may not have a lot of cash to give, but what about your time, talents, or unused possessions that others could utilize?

2 – What is the need?

Another reason generosity is stifled is that we don’t do enough research to understand what the true needs of others are. Rather than assuming what is needed, ask questions. Seek to understand if a person or organization needs money, material goods, training, etc.

3 – How can I help?

Once you understand what you have and what the need is, then it’s time to determine how you can best help. I know many people who don’t have much expendable income to give but are extremely generous with their time. My family has had the privilege of giving material possessions away that we don’t use or need anymore. Others around us have been able to use these items immediately.

Generosity is a character quality that will set you apart as a leader. Whether you’re being generous inside or outside of your organization, generosity expresses value to those around you. And when you lead your followers to be generous alongside you, it multiplies your impact. 

Imagine being known for your generosity and having others who want to match it for greater impact. 

Imagine having a team of followers overflowing with generosity toward one another and those around them with needs that can be met with intention.

Imagine the influence you and your team can gain by serving others whose needs you can meet with the resources you have to offer. 

This can be your reality when you consistently ask these three simple questions and then take action.

In my new book, The Magnetic Leader: 18 Essential Actions of Leaders People Love to Follow, I go much deeper into these three questions of Essential Action #3 – Gives Generously. CLICK HERE to join the waiting list to get updates on when the book will be released and receive a FREE POSTER revealing all 18 Essential Actions!

Until next time…make today GREAT!

Opportunities abound, but many leaders miss them due to burying their heads in their workload. When this happens, they miss out on a key way to multiply their credibility with their followers. 

If you want to become a leader people love to follow, it’s critical to lift your eyes up consistently in order to see what’s happening around you and how you can lead your team to victory after victory.

If you want to anticipate opportunities better and multiply your credibility, implement the following three steps:

1 – Open your eyes.

You can’t discover opportunities if your eyes are closed or looking down on your current tasks at hand. Yes, those things must get done, but take the time to look up consistently to see opportunities you may be missing.

2 – Scan your environment.

Once you’re looking up, take a 360-degree view of your surroundings. Look for details others are missing. Look for new angles to market your product or service. Consider fresh ideas that others may be overlooking. 

3 – Include your team.

Anticipating opportunities doesn’t have to be a solo act. Ask your team members to open their eyes and scan their surroundings as well. The more eyes (and ears) looking outward can multiply the success of your team or organization.

Finding new opportunities and taking action will multiply your credibility because your followers will realize you’re not fixated on keeping the status quo. Leaders must confidently move forward consistently in our ever-changing world. New opportunities abound, but many miss them. Think of how many things are created that others say, “Hey, I had that idea first!” but they missed their window of opportunity by not taking action. 

Imagine being the kind of leader people respect because you’re always seeking fresh ways to market or create products and services to advance your mission or grow your business. 

Imagine having a team full of “anticipators” who keep their eyes up and scanning around so your team can have multiplied success.

Imagine having a competitive edge to help your ideal clients and customers before others even consider what’s possible.

This can all be your reality when you implement these three steps.

In my new book, The Magnetic Leader: 18 Essential Actions of Leaders People Love to Follow, I go much deeper into these three steps of Essential Action #2 – Anticipates Opportunities. CLICK HERE to join the waiting list to get updates on when the book will be released and receive a FREE POSTER revealing all 18 Essential Actions!

Until next time…make today GREAT!

Gaining trust is a critical component of leadership. However, many leaders overlook the importance of this reality as they roll up their sleeves and get to work. They get so focused on the tasks at hand that they miss out on the “low hanging fruit” that can increase and enhance their influence.

But when you invest the time and energy to meet the needs of your followers, trust can develop quickly and your leadership impact can multiply unimaginably.

Consider the following four simple ways to intentionally meet the needs of your followers:

1 – Slow down long enough to pay attention to your surroundings.

It’s easy to be or feel so busy that you rarely slow down. It can feel like you’re losing ground every second that you do. However, when you pay attention to what’s going on around you, you can see opportunities to help your team members that can pay long-term dividends.

2 – Schedule focused time to listen to team members’ needs or concerns.

Intentional, focused time can reveal many things that your followers are dealing with. It doesn’t have to be hours on end, but rather small focused blocks of time where you can ask specific questions so they can give you specific answers.

3 – Don’t overlook simple, obvious needs that can be easily met.

Sometimes things that seem small to you are big frustrations to others. Simply removing the obstacles and frustrations of your team members speaks volumes about how you value them and that you’re noticing their pain points.

4 – Take action immediately to meet needs you become aware of.

Once you’re aware of needs you can meet, don’t sit on the information. Take immediate action. This expresses care and concern while communicating that you truly did hear what your followers are saying. 

Imagine having a team full of people who feel valued and respected. 

Imagine having the reputation of a leader who truly hears and addresses employee issues. 

Imagine the attractiveness that being this kind of leader would display when you’re seeking high-quality team members. 

This is all possible when you decide to implement these four simple ways to learn about and meet the needs of your followers. 

In my new book, The Magnetic Leader: 18 Essential Actions of Leaders People Love to Follow, I go much deeper into Essential Action #1 – Meets Needs. CLICK HERE to join the waiting list to get updates on when the book will be released and receive a FREE POSTER revealing all 18 Essential Actions!

Until next time…make today GREAT!

“Mission drift” is a critical problem in many organizations. Leaders often spend countless hours crafting the perfect mission statement only to paint it on the wall only to have it forgotten about. 

If you desire to have an inspired, focused team, you must keep the mission in front of your followers at all times. The busyness of each day’s tasks can easily overtake the mission of your team or organization if you’re not careful. 

Does your team know your mission by heart?

Have they memorized it?

Have you clearly and consistently communicated it and shared why it matters?

These are key questions if you are going to lead a successful organization, campaign, or initiative. 

I recently heard the story of an executive team bragging about their mission, but when the consultant working with them asked what it was, the CFO couldn’t remember it. They had invested 48 hours during a dedicated retreat to create the mission statement shortly before this meeting occurred! 

How can team members forget so easily? 

1 – In their busyness, it can quickly disappear from their minds. 

2 – The leader doesn’t reiterate it often enough. 

It’s been said that it takes at least eight times of communicating something before people finally HEAR a message. It’s after the eighth time that it actually begins to sink in!

As a leader, you must continually “beat the drum” and remind people of the mission in various ways. Speak it, write it, and explain it. Use speeches, emails, videos, and memes to keep it in front of your followers. Whatever you can think of that will connect with them, do it. It’s too valuable to let the mission fall to the wayside. When this happens, “mission drift” occurs and soon your team will be busy doing meaningless work that doesn’t accomplish the mission.

Leadership is challenging. 

Leading people can be downright exhausting at times. 

Navigating different personalities and tasks can feel overwhelming. 

Despite these realities, keeping the mission top-of-mind is a critical component of leadership. There’s no way around it. 

Imagine your team members immediately reciting your mission statement back to you at any given moment.

Imagine all decisions of your team being filtered through the lens of your mission. 

Imagine followers holding themselves and their peers accountable for pursuing the mission above all else. 

It’s possible when you take ownership of keeping it top-of-mind.

Leaders need safe spaces to refuel and be encouraged as they pursue and promote the mission. That’s why I created the Magnetic Leadership Community. If you’re a leader who wants to attract quality team members and keep them engaged, this is your opportunity to join a community of like-minded business owners and executives who are committed to their personal growth. 

CLICK HERE to learn more and to join. If you join by March 31st, 2021 you’ll receive a free copy of my upcoming book, The Magnetic Leader, which is scheduled for release this spring.

I believe you have a valuable mission, but do your people know it well?

When they memorize it, own it, and work to fulfill it amazing things can happen.

The more you and your followers are aware of the mission, the more successful you can become. CLICK HERE to join the Magnetic Leadership Community today!

Until next time…make today GREAT!

In the busyness of daily responsibilities, it’s easy to overlook the very people whom you’re called to lead and care for.

However, when this happens, you begin to lose your team. They begin to disengage and mentally check out. They begin to feel frustrated and devalued. They begin to underperform rather than going the extra mile to accomplish goals.

The reality is that valued people become more valuable to any team or organization. When people know their leaders care about them, they are more likely to perform at higher levels and work with more energy and enthusiasm.

If this is the case, how can you express more value? Consider the following:

1 – Ask them how they’re doing personally.

2 – Pay attention to their attitudes and overall performance.

3 – Schedule time to invest in their growth and answer their questions.

4 – Make people a priority each day when you get to work. 

Showing you value people isn’t as difficult as you may think. It starts by paying attention to those you lead, addressing concerns you see or hear, and investing your valuable time in them. 

Yes, you have important tasks to accomplish in your role, but as a leader, there is no greater task than caring for your people. A team that feels valued performs at levels most leaders only dream about. 

Imagine your followers not just hoping they are cared for, but truly knowing it.

Imagine an organizational culture that attracts high-quality people because they want to work where they are valued. 

Imagine being the kind of leader that people love to follow each day because they know they matter.

This doesn’t have to be a dream. It can be your reality! 

In my new book, The Magnetic Leader, I teach the 18 Essential Actions of leaders people love to follow. But reading a book often isn’t enough. Getting training, having a supportive peer community, and receiving the personal coaching you need are key elements that will take your leadership to new heights. 

That’s why I created the Magnetic Leadership Community. If you are a leader who wants to attract quality team members and keep them engaged, this is your opportunity to join a peer community of like-minded business owners and executives who are committed to their personal growth. 

CLICK HERE to learn more and join. If you join by March 31st, 2021 you’ll receive a free copy of my upcoming book, The Magnetic Leader, which is scheduled for release in 2021.

I believe you care about your people. But do they know it?

That’s the million-dollar question. 

The more you grow as a leader and show you care about your followers, the more successful you, your team, and your organization will become. CLICK HERE to join the Magnetic Leadership Community today!

Until next time…make today GREAT!