A few weeks ago I discussed the importance of being authentic and avoiding the trap of accidental inauthenticity caused by mimicking others instead of developing and leveraging your own unique strengths. Of course, in order to act and speak authentically, you must first develop a clear picture of who you are and what your strengths …
Whether it’s a gravesite visit, an in-person visit, a phone call or letter, or simply some time alone to think and reflect over cherished memories and express your gratitude in writing, make the time and do it!
...In our effort to improve ourselves, we might start changing our behaviors to mirror those of a mentor, or try to follow a list of prescribed actions we read in a book. But in our pursuit of greater success we must be careful not to lose our authenticity.
...It’s a simple concept, but following through on promises made—big or little—is a challenge for a lot of people. Even if it’s “little stuff,” friends, colleagues, employees, and customers alike quickly lose confidence in people who over-promise and under-deliver.
...It takes courage, self-discipline, and practice to resist the urge to give an excuse and not just an explanation. But an essential strategy for achieving greater success is to be fully accountable, and to do that you must refrain from giving excuses.
...I believe it is far more effective to focus on your strengths than your weaknesses. Don’t aim for well rounded, aim for sharp! Then surround yourself with an excellent team of people (or group of friends) who shore up your weak spots and are sharp where you are blunt.
...Inspirational leaders don’t just point the way, they labor alongside those they lead. There’s nothing quite as powerful or influential as serving side by side with those you lead. So if you desire to be a truly inspirational leader, you better grab an oar and row!
...Inspirational leadership is less about world renown and more about individual impact. Many leaders are considered ‘inspirational’ because of the remarkable things they appear to have accomplished and the success they’ve achieved. But offstage, behind-the-scenes and down in the trenches, their attitude and character may be anything but inspirational.
...There is no one-size-fits-all system for establishing lasting, valuable habits and achieving your goals. However, there are definitely some general principles that can be helpful for creating and applying your own success system. Here are 6 tips.
...We can learn from Benjamin Franklin’s personal method to improve in specific areas through very intentional focus and repetition.
...In my book, Be An Inspirational Leader: Engage, Inspire, Empower, I spend an entire chapter on the concept of leveraging the power of habit to become a better, more effective inspirational leader. Here are 8 examples I include in that chapter of habits you might want to develop as part of your journey to becoming a more inspirational leader.
...This time of year many of us are thinking about the habits in our lives that we want to change—or new habits we want to establish. What habits do you want to work on this year?
...I have long admired the leadership and wisdom of the late General Colin Powell. I had the privilege a number of years ago to spend about thirty minutes alone with the General, and my positive perception and respect for him did not diminish one bit – in fact, it increased exponentially! He was a man …
What does your personal mission statement look like? Do you know where you’re going? Do your current actions and goals align with the place you want to end up? I encourage you to take a reflective moment and figure out just what you want to accomplish out of life.
...A key component of empowering those you lead is to give them appropriate authority. This is the area most people think of when they hear the word empower, and it is a vital component of inspirational leadership.
...Investing in the life, wellbeing, and growth of those you lead is one of the greatest elements of inspirational leadership. Don’t let fear of losing them prevent you from investing in your employees!
...When done well and offered consistently, honest feedback is one of the most effective tools for facilitating growth and further empowering those you lead. Here are 9 tips for doing it well.
...Inspirational, accountable leaders readily respond to problems and take action to correct them. Or as Eleanor Roosevelt so eloquently put it, these leaders “Light a candle instead of cursing the darkness.”
...Leading by example may seem like an overly simple (and endlessly repeated) concept. So much so that you likely haven’t spent much time thinking about it in recent years because you already know that leading by example is important.
...Humility is considered by some to be more of a weakness than a strength. But I don’t think humility is a weakness, I think it is an essential quality of a strong leader. In fact, I think it takes strength to be humble!
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