Great Leaders Stop and Reflect now!

Great Leaders stop now and they reflect on the last year and they ask themselves how did I do?

Career - Think over the Challenges I have had this year.

What did I learn and what could I have done differently?

Did I reach my targets, my goals? If not why not?What could I do differently in 2013?

My Business Partner Relationships - Benchmark them? Who do I need to influence in 2013?

Personal development - What did I learn? How did I stretch myself? What do I want to learn in 2013?

Environment - What Culture do I have around me?  How did I influence the culture and what can I do differently in 2013 to bring a healthier Culture to my team and my business?

Health and Fitness - Am I fit to Lead? How stressed have I been and how did I manage the Stress in 2012. What am I going to do differently in 2013?

Am I living and being my Purpose?
Am I true to my Values?

How have I stopped my self from being the Best I can be? What am I going to do differently to realign, reset and just be me!

Perhaps it is the right time for you to do a check in with you. I know I will.

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Time for yourself is so important as you grow in your role, grow your team and improve your results. Seldom do we give ourselves that time - why not?

Research continues to tell us we cannot 'run on empty' and yet we continue to try. We would not attempt to drive our cars without filling up the tank - so why do we think we can continue putting ourselves at risk?

When did you last have fun at work, with your Team, with your colleagues and yet we know it makes a huge difference to engagement, motivation and achievement.

As we end the year perhaps it is time to do an inventory now - how fulfilled are you?

Benchmark them 1 - 10

Your Career
Your Finances - $/£
Your Health and Fitness
Your Relationships - Friends and family
Your Environment - work and home
Personal Development

What does it look like to you now and what would you like it to look like this time next year?

It will make a difference if you make the time to change what is not working.

Ask yourself the question - What do I want to change - and change it!

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So you do have emotions don't you?

Well Done to Andy Murray for showing us his emotions at last.It's great because at last you have connected with the public Andy.Now you can look us in the eye.More importantly you have connected with yourself and that will mean the difference between success and failure for you. Now we will see how your coaches help you to use that connection to drive you forward to win a Grand Slam. You can do it!

Great Leaders show their emotions! They know themselves from the inside out and are comfortable with who they are and how to communicate it to the outside world. They use every emotion to drive themselves forward when facing the toughest of obstacles. They use their power, their strength and their energy to ensure they succeed.

They know 'what' the emotion is.
They know 'where' it is in their body.
They know 'what' triggers the emotion to be there.
They know 'why' it is there.
They know it has a positive intention for them.
They know in short 'what' it feels like.

Vitally they know 'how' to manage them.

They don't just feel them they use them to drive them.They have high self control - not too much so they are distant and disconnected but enough to influence,connect and show their passion and commitment.They have enough self control so they don't;

Lose their temper
Shout and scream
Rant and rage
Storm out of meetings
Cut you off
Blame everyone else
Cry in meetings

Instead they spend time alone preparing themselves.Understanding their feelings and ensuring they tap into the energy they bring.They focus on success and they motivate themselves to achieve it.
They know that if the feeling is 'fear' or 'anger' then they need to go an exercise, take a walk , take some time to work it through.They remind themselves that over 66% of success is down to their Emotional Intelligence so they welcome their emotions.

Then they connect with you their stakeholders.They can build the empathy and rapport with you because they pay attention to you.The focus is off themselves and on to you.

So enjoy your emotions.They are normal. It is OK to feel them.They are there as a call to action.
They are there to look after you and keep you safe.

So build your EQ now.

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Network Holdings Group Conference

I was asked to be a guest speaker at the Network Holdings Group Conference on 21st March.

The title of my Presentation was ‘It’s up to you if your business succeeds or fails – Transform your team now’.

What a brilliant group of like-minded senior Recruitment Professionals. They were open and eager to learn how they could improve their leadership to survive and thrive in this tough climate.

So what did we talk about? It was to bring my recent book – Transforming Teams alive. Everyone received a copy thanks to Jon Smith, Director so they went back with a coaching tool which will be with them for many years to come.

Where did we start?

I start where I always start - with you! It is up to you, it will be because of you if you succeed or fail. So take ownership now, set yourselves apart and start thinking – what makes you different?

The Recruitment Industry does not have a great reputation so ensure you are different. Build that reputation. Build the trust firstly with your employees because they are the ‘touch point‘ with the candidates and the clients.

You will lead the culture in your business along with your senior team.

You are responsible for inspiring, leading and motivating your teams.

You are responsible for leading, achieving and celebrating great results.

They started by identifying key mentors they had in the past, their greatest leaders who had taught them the most. What was different about that person compared to their worst leader or manager? Values differentiated them. People who were consistent, who supported them, were honest with them - who had integrity and generated great trust and loyalty.

The group then started to think about what their vision of success would look like? Then I coached them through the 7 levels of Leadership Alignment which is in my book. That way everyone can set themselves apart from bad leaders and build greater trust and loyalty from staff, candidates and clients.

We then moved on to Part 2 of the book – Build your Teams and discussed how to avoid the 5 Roadblocks of team/business failure. The key area being to build deep trust with everyone you work with and do business with. One way of doing that is to have robust, clear and courageous conversations so there are no elephants in your office. We moved on to Part 3 of the book - Achieve your Results and I shared how vital it is to focus on the right results, have a clear vision of success and how you are going to get there and to ensure your thinking drives successful behaviours in your business. So if your business is underperforming – know what you want and change your thinking to change the behaviour!

Sounds simple doesn’t it but we all know it is not especially if you know your business is underperforming where do you start?

Start with the end in mind as Stephen Covey says. Your vision of success - create a shared vision with your team/s. Don’t tell them what your vision is – it must be created together so you gain their commitment.

Then have a Cultural Audit done by an external company so you know what the true climate is in your business, be open to know and do something to change it.

As a Member of the IOR Genius Team I was impressed, they listened, they connected and they shared – and they all committed to go back and do something different in their businesses.

So if you want to know more or you have problems in your team or with your clients then contact us..

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Leadership Morality - do you have it?

Well Done Greg Smith, previously an Executive Director, for standing up for Integrity in Leadership. At last someone is courageous and highlighting what is going on inside many organisations today.

The effect on normal intelligent, integral Senior Executives is profound when they are in a toxic culture. It's like a cancer spreading and deepening into the moral fibre of the company. They have little time for a personal life as their leaders expect returns overnight, whilst on holiday and over weekends. Their Global world continues 24/7. This puts huge demands on their physical and emotional health, their personal relationships and it causes huge amounts of long term stress. This can and does happen at the most senior levels in corporate organisations today. If this toxic culture is rewarded then you change the culture very quickly and the cancer spreads.

Of course if you are one of these corporate bullies, it's ok that you survive and perpetuate the behaviour and the culture, but if you are not, if you are an integral leader, then it is a horrendous situation to be in and in the end something breaks. Everyone who is integral must stand for real authentic leadership now or we will have more morally corrupt organisations who fail their people, their clients and their shareholders. Stand Up now - but how?

All senior leaders at the highest levels must stop and be open to assessing the true reality of the culture. Don't ignore what you are hearing, seeing and feeling. It starts with you - you define the culture of the business and so does every single person at senior level. Don't make excuses because it will be because of you that the culture becomes toxic, so take ownership now you can change it.

First Step - start with a Culture Audit. You cannot change the culture unless you know what it is really like. Don't be defensive. Great leaders always listen to their people and their customers first.

Second Step - take ownership for the future vision and values of your business. Words are not enough, they must be visible in the behaviours of senior leaders first. Hold yourselves accountable.

Third Step - cascade this throughout your business, involve the whole organisation, every team and every individual.

Changing the culture takes time, investment, determination and bravery. Do it before you destroy your team, business and your results.

The culture must be in the DNA, the moral fibre, visible in everything you say and do - not just corporate words. They mean nothing if not reflected in the moral fibre and there is no integrity to that kind of leadership. It takes an authentic leader to stand up and be counted and we need them now.

I have met, coached and developed some amazing leaders over my 25 year career. Each one has gone on to maintain their integrity even when times have been tough. As a result they have changed the cultures in their teams, made a stand for integral leadership and have achieved great results in their organisations.

It can be done but you have to be brave, courageous and very determined to stand for what is right.

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Mind Coaching for the Brighton 2012 Marathon Runners

Friday was the day – I gave my time back to Brighton.

My aim was to help the Marathon Runners supporting the The Whitehawk Inn to get their minds fit for the event. Body-fit is not enough as Sir Edmund Hilary said "It’s not the mountain you have to conquer - it is yourself"

Our mind can be our worst competitor. It can turn against us. It can stop us before we have started.

I remember being on the edge of a very challenging ski slope many years ago and becoming terrified by thinking I could not turn. My mind had stopped me, every part of me was terrified, so frightened I could not turn – but because of my training I could train my brain to let me go and eventually after a great deal of discussion with myself and visioning success, I got myself down that slope and have never looked back.

So I wanted to give some hints and tips to help the runners to get in control of their minds.

What did we do?

I helped them get clear on their 'Purpose' – the 'why' they are running the Marathon. You must have a clearly defined purpose - the reason why.

We then got clear on their 'Vision of Success' – what would be happening when they were successful. Successful people have a very clear 'Vision'. They are able to go forward in their minds and act ‘as if’ they have already achieved success. We did that.

We discussed their strengths and capabilities – the 'what' they had already that could help them. Using the resources you already have available make it easier than working without them. Use them to help you to be successful now.

Then we talked about their Beliefs! Thinking drives behaviour, so it is vital to think for success, not failure. We identified what might stop them? How they might stop themselves? Once we knew the answers to that question, then we started the process of changing some self-limiting beliefs and behaviours. I selected one of the participants and took them through a 'belief change cycle'. It was amazing for her and great for the others to see ‘how’ to change your thoughts. She came out with a clearly defined belief structure which will enable her success.

Finally, we focused on the timeline and what and how they organised their minds in relation to time. Some were well planned, whilst others were not and had done very little preparation. So knowing what success looks like, start with the end in mind and act as if you are already there – that could apply to any thinking for any sport or business.

Train your mind for success, not failure and don’t be your own worst enemy.

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Are you a Bad Boss?

So you think you are a great Leader do you? What if you are not really, what if you are portraying the first signs of bully leadership - what can you do about it?

Bad Leaders are made, not born. I believe that everyone has the capacity in them to be an amazing Leader both of themselves and of others. Sadly in today’s competitive world, in a climate of fear we are seeing the return of the corporate bully. It starts with you. It is down to you and it will be because of you that the people you lead succeed or fail.

First step is to improve your self-awareness. It is no good blaming others or pretending you don’t know what you are doing or the effect it has. Stop and think about who you really are. What are your strengths and what are your gaps? What stresses you? What are your triggers? What are you afraid of? Where did this come from? What makes you angry and where did this come from? Know how you are feeling and why? Don’t let the past control you.

Second step is to improve your self-management. You may have intense responses to the triggers but do not let yourself down by responding unprofessionally. Stay calm. Take time before you respond. Read the poem ‘If‘ by Rudyard Kipling and take note of it all. Don’t shout, don’t raise your voice and don’t say or do anything you will regret later. Don’t lie to yourself or others. Listen to feedback; hear what someone else is really saying. Exercise to clear yourself of the anger and fear which is driving you.

Third step is to build your awareness of others. Notice all the cues. See, hear and notice the effect your behaviour is having on them. See the change in expression, a change of body language, posture, eye contact. Don’t ignore what you are seeing before you. Ask questions, take an interest in someone. Find out about them, put yourself in their shoes. The person who is causing you the most issues is there for a reason. They are there to teach you something about you – what is that? Build rapport with them.

Fourth step is to build strong relationships with all the key people in your business. Build the trust, have open debate, talk about what really needs to be talked about. What are you not saying that if said would make the difference? Have ‘clean and clear’ conversations. Build your influence; make a positive impact on everyone you meet in your life because the legacy you leave will stay forever. Make sure it’s a positive one.

So in summary;

• Do take responsibility for your behaviours and your actions
• Don’t blame anyone else. Don’t make them wrong and you right
• Talk about the real issues. Don’t avoid the elephants! Don’t have half a conversation
• Don’t manipulate for your own justification,self-belief and confidence
• Stop being controlling. Stay calm inside and ask open questions instead
• Stop using the ‘must’ ‘have to’ ‘should do’- Empower and coach someone to make their own decisions as they will grow and learn quicker
• Stop deleting, distorting and generalising the facts of a situation. Instead be honest. Replay what exactly happened not what you made of it
• Don’t take the credit for what someone else has done. Be brave and recognise them
• Don’t call, email them at all times of the weekend, night or when they are on holiday. Give them space to recover and reenergise
• Don’t belittle, dis-empower and ‘bully’ anyone
• … and if you still know deep inside that you have the potential to be a bad leader then get some professional help before it’s too late and you have destroyed the spirit of your team, your organisation and personal careers

Take personal responsibility now and make 2012 the year you focus on ‘how’ to lead.

What is your Vision of Success?

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