Great Leaders Strive For Improvement Daily

There is no place in effective leadership for resting on one's laurels, and being satisfied with past accomplishments or actions. True leaders understand that they are judged every day by what they are doing and in the process of doing, and not what they've already done. It is the paramount example of the what have you done for me lately scenario! Jim Rohn stated this precisely when he wrote, "You can have more than you've got because you can become more than you are." True leaders have an ongoing to- do list, with each accomplishment used as a stepping stone towards further greatness and achievement. Those individuals in leadership positions that become too satisfied with what has already been done generally doom the rest of their tenure to mediocrity or worse.

1. Great leaders have ongoing action plans, with contingencies and tweaks pre- set up along the way. They recognize that leadership greatness must always be an evolutionary- type procedure, where every step is but a baby step, and a transitional phase along the way. When someone in leadership rests on his laurels, he often misses valuable opportunities that arise daily, and when organizations are not constantly tweaking and evolving, they are generally taking a negative step backwards. In my over three decades of training and working with over a thousand leaders, I always stress the need for daily achievement. True leaders understand this, and commit to some concrete steps taken daily to become a better leader, as well as to make their organization better and more relevant.

2. One of the essential reasons that strategic planning is so essential for organizations is that it creates a road map towards constant improvement and reevaluation. As someone who professionally assists organizations in developing their strategic plans, as well as creating procedures to make strategic planning a permanent and ongoing part of the organization, it concerns me that while so many in leadership speak of strategy and strategic plans, so few truly commit to it on a daily basis. Without daily reassessment, one does not fully know if the strategy is working as planned, and continuous tweaking and reevaluation must be a part of a true strategic plan.

A true leader understands that he cannot just speak of improvement as a rhetorical matter, but must commit to it. True improvement occurs step- by- step, and requires daily review. I have observed far too many organization's where their leadership does periodical reviews, but all too often, by the time they do this needed review, they have lost numerous opportunities to become better. Simply holding a leadership position does not make one a leader. However, a daily commitment to improvement goes a long way towards leadership greatness and optimum effectiveness!

Richard Brody, with over 30 years consultative sales, marketing, training, managerial, and operations experience, has trained sales and marketing people in numerous industries, given hundreds of seminars, appeared as a company spokesperson on over 200 radio and television programs, and regularly blogs on real estate, politics, economics, management, leadership, negotiations, conferences and conventions, etc. He has negotiated, arranged and/or organized hundreds of conferences and conventions. He's a Senior Consultant with RGB Consultation Services, an Ecobroker, a Licensed Buyers Agent (LBA) and Licensed Salesperson in NYS, in real estate.
Richard has owned businesses, been a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of Development, as well as a consultant. He has a Consulting Website ( http://tinyurl.com/rgbcons ), and his company PLAN2LEAD, LLC's site ( http://www.plan2lead.net/ ), and can be followed on Twitter

Original article

Great Leaders Look Ahead

In my over three decades of working closely with over a thousand leaders, I have always stressed that their must be a delicate balance between the expertise received from past experiences and observations, and adapting proactively both for present needs, and for future adaptations. I have witnessed far too many who have over- relied on the past, as well as many who decide to opt to literally throw the baby out with the bath water (meaning attempt a complete overhaul). In almost all cases, the best leadership model is to learn from the past, but prepare for both the present with a keen eye on the future needs and developments. A famous Japanese proverb states, "He who can see three days ahead will be rich for three thousand years."

1. Great leaders understand that there are important lessons to learn from the past, and that there is no substitute for hands- on experience to gain true expertise. However, they also realize that while these lessons are important, things change, in life, in the organization, and in society at large, and those organizations who fail to adapt often either perish or at the very best weaken. True professionals therefore understand that continuous tweaking, and evolutionary change is necessary and prudent. When changes are too dramatic, organizations often risk alienating or turning off some of their present loyal members. Evolutionary and progressive changes almost always is the preferred method of updating, and upgrading an organization.

2. I often stress the need for a true leader to have an essential vision, and to set his goals and his course of action based on the needs to achieve that vision. That permits the leader to focus everything done on a priority oriented method and approach, and to stay on course, instead of emphasizing and getting bogged down in far less essential issues. In observing hundreds of organizations over my more than thirty year career, it has always amazed and disappointed me that the vast majority of organizations spend excessive time and effort discussing less important, even somewhat menial/ trivial items, while spending insufficient time, energy or resources on their real, true needs.

True leaders must always look forward in terms of all their planning and action. Many go askew because they only look narrowly on present needs, while others seem to fixate on the past (the way we've always done things). In order for a leader to achieve greatness, he must understand and appreciate the past, identify and address present needs, but most do these things in the context of its impact on the future. Too many in leadership adopt a myopic point of view, and seem not to fully realize the big picture. In organizational leadership, everything done or avoided today has a dramatic impact, and ramifications for the future.

Richard Brody,with over 30 years consultative sales,marketing,training,managerial, and operations experience,has trained sales and marketing people in numerous industries, given hundreds of seminars, appeared as a company spokesperson on over 200 radio and television programs, and regularly blogs on real estate, politics, economics, management, leadership, negotiations, conferences and conventions, etc. He has negotiated, arranged and/ or organized hundreds of conferences and conventions. He's a Senior Consultant with RGB Consultation Services, an Ecobroker, a Licensed Buyers Agent (LBA) and Licensed Salesperson in NYS, in real estate.

Richard has owned businesses, been a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of Development, as well as a consultant. He has a Consulting Website ( http://tinyurl.com/rgbcons ), and his company PLAN2LEAD, LLC's site ( http://www.plan2lead.net/ ), and can be followed on Twitter

Original article

Great Leaders Must Be Time Managers

I was brought up often being reminded of the adage, "Both the rich man and the poor man each have twenty four hours in their day. The difference between them is often how they use that time." One of the challenges of leadership is always managing time, or at least finding a way to manage one's time to get those things that need to be done, done in an effective manner. Charles Bruxton wrote, "Thought will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it." In my over three decades of working closely with many hundreds of leaders, I witnessed the equivalent of years, perhaps decades of time squandered by these individuals. Because of these observations, I dedicate an entire unit of my leadership training programs to time management (and exactly what it means, and what to do to handle it better).

1. Not enough leaders put their plans down in writing (or in the equivalent digital form). Many seem to have the attitude that to do so is a waste of their precious time, and they often feel pressed for time already. I could not disagree more! The planning stage for a new leader is perhaps the most crucial. By clearly identifying one's agenda, he can then formulate a plan, that includes prioritizing, delegating, time lines, goals, backup or contingency plans, and then clearly articulating and communicating those ideas in a transparent, motivating matter. The time management process and planning is to effective and meaningful leadership, what a properly formulated and utilized budget is to an organization's fiscal well- being.

2. How does one make time? By using the planning process to eliminate unnecessary redundancies, and creating priorities, visions, and goals for one's tenure in office. A leader must look at his organization as a whole, analyzing both its strength and weaknesses, and come up with a plan to build on the strengths, while minimizing and reducing the weaknesses. I have observed many begin their term as a leader in a gung- ho, positive, energetic matter, only to eventually become burned out, often predominantly because he has not used his time in an efficient and effective matter. Effective leaders realize they cannot do everything themselves, and must depend on others, but they must be careful to only delegate things to individuals they can count on to get the needed work done (otherwise the delegating ends up being counter- productive and a time waster). The first thing a wise leader does after his initial review of the needs of the organization, is to create a list of priorities, and emphasize top priorities himself.

3. A leader must also know his personal strengths and weaknesses, and put his most concerted personal effort and time into areas where he can do the most good. Simultaneously, he must formulate an inner circle of trusted and capable advisers and assistants that have their own areas of expertise. By doing this, a leader can balance his time most efficiently.

Time can either be a leader's friend or enemy. The greatest and most effective leaders invariably are those that manage and balance time the most effectively, and use it as their friend.

Richard Brody,with over 30 years consultative sales,marketing,training,managerial, and operations experience,has trained sales and marketing people in numerous industries, given hundreds of seminars, appeared as a company spokesperson on over 200 radio and television programs, and regularly blogs on real estate, politics, economics, management, leadership, negotiations, conferences and conventions, etc. He has negotiated, arranged and/ or organized hundreds of conferences and conventions. He's a Senior Consultant with RGB Consultation Services, an Ecobroker, a Licensed Buyers Agent (LBA) and Licensed Salesperson in NYS, in real estate.
Richard has owned businesses, been a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of Development, as well as a consultant. He has a Consulting Website ( http://tinyurl.com/rgbcons ), and his company PLAN2LEAD, LLC's site ( http://www.plan2lead.net/ ), and can be followed on Twitter

Original article

Powerful Leadership - 5 Crucial Skills Required to Become a Great Leader!

Powerful leadership requires a commitment to developing key personal skills and abilities. Great leaders must have a driving desire to make things happen. If you want to be the head and not the tail, then you must fine tune key leadership skills in order to become effective so that others will want to follow.

Some people are born with natural talents that lend themselves to becoming a great leader. But despite the fact that you may have been born with some of these talents, it still takes continual enthusiasm, drive, and experience for true development as a leader to occur.

5 Crucial Skills Needed to Become a Great Leader

1. Vision

Leaders need to know the vision of their group or organization. They must have a clear sense of purpose. Knowing the organization's goals and objectives, how the organization works, and being able to communicate the vision to others, helps put everyone on the same page.

Leaders need to help others catch a personal vision of the big picture, so that everyone is moving in the same direction on the road to success.

2. Encouragement

Leadership is not about using harassment or fear as a driving force to get others to take action. Great leaders encourage others to accomplish the goals of the group. Encouragement is contagious and it benefits everyone when it is flowing freely.

3. Trust

Trustworthiness is vital to great leadership. Your followers must have trust and confidence in you. And if they do, they will go to great lengths for you and the group.

Strong relationships, trustworthiness, and high ethics build trust and confidence. Leaders that deal with people in a positive way, lay a foundation of strength for the group. Stronger relationships equal a stronger measure of trust and confidence in the capabilities of the leader.

4. Communication

Communication is crucial skill of a leader. You must be able to clearly communicate the goals and objectives that you are all about to undertake as an organization. A leader's vision and plan must be clearly communicated to others in order to keep everyone on the same page.

5. Judgment

Great leaders have great judgment. If you want to grow as a leader, you must continue to improve and develop your judgment and decision making skills.

Leaders need to make wise decisions in a variety of situations. Your followers will come to rely on your judgment. Good, wise decision making is crucial to the success of a leader and the organization.

Keep in mind: In life we all eventually find ourselves in a leadership role, in some shape or form, big or small. And the Lord wants to see His children become strong leaders and He gives them instructions and tells them how they can be.

"And the LORD shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if that you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God to observe and to do them." -- Deuteronomy 28:13

Conclusion: Leaders lead. Leaders have followers and you're not much of a leader if no one is following. Being a great leader is about constantly growing, developing, and setting an example, because you are a reflection of what your followers must be. Develop these five crucial skills and demonstrate powerful leadership.

May you develop your skills to grow into a powerful, effective leader and experience much growing prosperity!

And now, get a Free life changing "How to Attract Prosperity" download. Plus enjoy Christian and Self-Improvement Resources along with Motivational Videos and a Meditation Podcast.

Check this out: http://www.growingprosperity.com/.

B.K. Smith seeks to provide resources to help you prosper in all areas of life - including your spirit, soul, body, finances, and relationships.

Original article