What Great Leaders Know and Do: Engaging and Developing Your Staff

How We Lead

In my last blog I introduced the SERVE model from The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do—the first book I coauthored with Mark Miller that was just released in a 10^th Anniversary Edition.

In case you missed it, last time I talked about how the S in the model stands for See the Future and points out the importance of having a compelling vision of the future.

Now I want to focus on the first E in the SERVE model, which stands for Engage and Develop Others. As a leader, you must be able to put the right people in the right roles. This involves making the best decisions when recruiting people for your team. Of course you need to look for specific business skills required by the role—but you should also consider the character of the person. Will they fit in with other colleagues…

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Are your prospects dropping by or dropping in?

Managing the Mayhem

(Note: In every issue of The Vendor Guide, we print a “Maximizing Management” article—dedicated toward keeping property managers up-to-date on seasonal tips and trends. With the spring season now upon us, this issue’s Curb-Appeal theme was the perfect opportunity to use the article to remind everyone of some simple ways to boost your property’s appearance and bring prospects through the door. But we thought the topic warranted some further discussion, so here it goes again!)

Every management professional knows that curb appeal can determine whether or not a prospective resident or tenant chooses your property over another. With peak leasing season upon us, assessing the presentation of your property is essential. Now is a great time to put on your “prospect glasses” and try to visualize things through the eyes of someone who is seeing it for the first time.

Curb appeal starts at the entrance. Here are some of the…

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Four Steps to Developing Yourself and Others

Blanchard LeaderChat

Studies by the Hay Group, Aon Hewitt, Towers Watson, Gallup, and other consulting firms have clearly established the important role leaders play in an employee’s well-being, engagement, and performance.

In its own research into employee work passion, The Ken Blanchard Companies has found significant correlations between perceptions of leader behavior, employee affect, and subsequent intentions to stay with a company, endorse the organization as a good place to work, and perform at a high level.

So why don’t more organizations invest in developing their leaders? What keeps them from taking steps in the right direction?

“For a lot of organizations, it’s just not part of their founding DNA,” says consultant and author Scott Blanchard in the latest issue of Ignite. “Some companies don’t grow up with it.”

That can be a challenge for managers and individuals looking to grow and develop within those cultures. People who want to…

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Contentment, Happiness, and Living in the Moment

How We Lead

I was on the phone with my friend Phil Hodges the other day talking about contentment. Phil believes that contentment can only happen in the present, and I think he is right. Contentment doesn’t happen in the past by remembering the good old days.  Having nice memories is pleasant but doesn’t necessarily offer contentment in the present. Also, contentment is not in the future because we don’t know what that will bring.

Real contentment, enjoyment, satisfaction, and happiness happen when we are fully present and living in the now. If you have a positive feeling that you are exactly where you are supposed to be, doing what you are supposed to be doing, then you experience true happiness.

Spencer Johnson, my coauthor of The One Minute Manager, also discusses this in his brilliant parable The Precious Present. In this story, an older man’s wisdom launches a young boy…

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A Focus on Life!

Today’s Leadership Dare 2/21/14

Daily Leadership Dare

I dare you to…

Focus on your image.

Or, as one of my favorite leaders says, focus on your personal brand.

If you feel that you aren’t able to be authentic at work, or that your authentic style is holding you back, take a moment today to think about the image you’re projecting.

A long time ago, I realized that I will never be a “suit person.” It’s not me. I am casual, enjoy the fun side of things, and I like to be comfortable. But because of my casual style, I find ways to dress professionally while still being authentic. And I double up on my “value-add” results and discussions so that people still take me seriously.

Think about the image you want to portray, and how you can do that while remaining authentic. It’s what you wear, what you say, and how you respond to things.

It’s not…

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Today’s Leadership Dare 2/24/14

Daily Leadership Dare

I dare you to…

Avoid ambiguity.

Say what you mean, for goodness’ sake! Often, we try to soften our approach and lose our key expectations in the communication.

Or we delegate some details to a variety of people with no one getting the complete picture.

Or we hand off assignments to some unsuspecting person without processes and directives clearly shared.

Be clear. Set expectations and share information that is required to get a job done and not duplicate efforts. Today…. Avoid the ambiguous fog!

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Today’s Leadership Dare 2/4/14

Daily Leadership Dare

I dare you to…

Encourage growth.

When others look to expand their responsibility or influence, it’s in our best interest as leaders to support them. When we see potential and capability in someone who is afraid to grow, sometimes we might have to push them to do so.

As leaders, it’s our job to help others grow and change. To keep them marketable and relevant in the workplace. And to teach them.

Sometimes, we even help them grow to a point where their abilities and opportunities surpass our own. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It should be the goal of every leader, because it’s the result of a job well done.

Are you encouraging growth today?

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Today’s Leadership Dare 1/24/2014

Daily Leadership Dare

I dare you to…

Listen for cues.

You shouldn’t be taken by surprise as a leader. Chances are, there are signals every day of good things that are coming and challenges about to surface.

A team member is ready for more responsibility.

Another team member has become disengaged and is searching for a job with more meaningful work.

One of your leaders sees you as a high-potential candidate for the next level.

Your organization is about to be restructured.

Listen and watch for cues. Pay attention and act on what seems to be happening. Be proactive in addressing challenges and jumping on opportunities for you and those you lead.

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Today’s Leadership Dare 1/17/2014

Daily Leadership Dare

I dare you to…

Own your decisions.

Real leadership looks like accountability, strength and influence. If you’re someone who frequently finds a fall guy for decisions that don’t pan out, you aren’t doing yourself any favors in the long run.

Those who blame other people or circumstances for their situations create a perception of weakness and lack of character.

Only when you can own your bad decisions will you earn the right to take responsibility for your successes.

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