Mike Acker's Blog, page 3

25 Ways to Lead Others

25 Ways to Lead Others

Do you consider yourself a leader? Or wish you were a leader? Leaders have to inspire those around them while remaining strong. Uncertainty and difficult situations do not stop leaders from taking charge.

 

Leaders use many strategies to lead others. Using these techniques will help you to be a great leader:

 

1. Focus on the company’s goal. If you focus on the goal of your business, then it will be easier to lead others and show them how to achieve it.

2. Follow through on your promises. A real leader keeps the promises made during meetings.

3. Avoid micromanaging. Micromanaging can have a negative impact on the group you’re trying to lead.

4. Respect the opinions of others. Allow them to share their ideas.

5. Listen to the needs of others. If you listen carefully, you’ll discover more about what motivates your team members.

6. Avoid procrastinating. It can destroy your leadership goals.

7. Stay determined. Once you make a decision, stay with it.

8. Allow others to see your emotions. Your leadership will benefit from showing a human side.

9. Look for answers outside of the norm. The ability to think differently is a crucial leadership skill.

10. Admit mistakes. Pretending that a mistake didn’t happen will make your coworkers lose respect for you.

11. Use your coworkers to brainstorm. Your coworkers can help find solutions and feel like they’re part of the process to resolve issues.

12. Avoid intimidating others. Fear can prevent positive interactions.

 

13. Give your coworkers room to grow. They need to be able to make progress and set their own goals.

14. Let your coworkers make suggestions. As a leader, you can make better progress if the entire team is able to make recommendations.

15. Show your expertise. If you know the answers, don’t let others struggle to find them.

16. Spend time with your coworkers. Leaders need to know and understand the people around them.

17. Keep an open door policy. Let your team members know that you’re willing to listen to them at any time.

18. Keep everything transparent. Transparency can help you avoid rumors and gossip.

19. Stay flexible. A real leader can be flexible while still being in charge.

20. Understand the point behind an idea. If you dig deep into an idea, you’ll see how and why it was created.

21. Accept that some team members need more attention. Different personalities require different leadership strategies.

22. Stay confident. Confidence is contagious.

23. Ensure your team members know their responsibilities. This will encourage them to stay focused.

24. Work on weaknesses. If mistakes or issues appear, it’s important to work through them to find positive solutions.

25. Be willing to become a mentor. A real leader is willing to help the next generation.

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Why Being Busy Can be Unproductive

Why Being Busy Can be Unproductive

Busyness is practically a disease today. We all cram as much as we can into our seemingly limited time. Yet being busy isn’t the same as getting things done.

Haven’t you had a day where you felt like you didn’t have a minute to spare, yet you still felt like you didn’t accomplish anything? Nearly everyone has.

There are many reasons for this, but the most important is a failure to prioritize and focus on the tasks that will really make a difference.

These are some of the common symptoms of busyness without productivity:

· You’re worried today about how busy you’re going to be tomorrow.

· You’re annoyed that the people around you never seem to be as busy as you are.

· You spend your evenings thinking about all the stuff you didn’t get done today.

· You can’t pay attention during conversations because you’re too busy thinking about all the things you have to get done.

· You eat in your car.

If that sounds like you, try these ideas to free up time in your life and get things done:

1. Prioritize. Decide what the most important tasks are to accomplish today. If you don’t choose what you’re going to do today, you’re choosing to let the world decide your priorities for you. Dictate the direction of your day by making a decision before the day even starts.

2. Notice how you’re wasting time. Many times, we intentionally avoid doing what we know we should be doing. We don’t want to make that difficult phone call or work on that report we’ve been dreading for weeks.

 

· We are all excellent at inventing other things to do that don’t really have a lot impact. Notice the things you do when you don’t want to do what you should be doing. It might be cleaning your desk, checking email, or getting coffee. When you notice your ‘stalling’ behaviors, it’s easier to catch yourself and get back on track.

 

3. Keep your to-do list short. A good idea is to make a list of everything the really needs to get done, and then just focus on getting the top 3 or 4 things done today. That might not seem like enough, but imagine what your to-do list would look like today if you had been doing this exercise for the last 2 weeks.

· The Pareto Principle suggests that 80% of your work can be completed with 20% of the relevant actions. Focus on the most important stuff and you’ll be amazed at how much you can get done.

 

4. Eliminate the excess from your life. Avoid spending your time on activities that are optional unless you truly enjoy it. That means you shouldn’t spend your free time on that charity or club that doesn’t really matter to you. Strive to eliminate as many of the non-meaningful activities from your life as possible to leave room for meaningful things.

5. Limit yourself. If you only allow yourself a limited amount of time to work on something, you’ll be forced to do the most important tasks first. The fear of not getting done in time will increase your efficiency.

6. Measure yourself. At the end of the day, ask yourself how busy you were. Ideally, you should have a full day, but you shouldn’t have an endless list of tasks to complete.

 

Life should be full, but it shouldn’t be busy. If you’re too busy, it’s likely that you’re either spending too much time on things that don’t really matter to you or you’re spending too much time on tasks that aren’t productive. Prioritize your day and your activities, stick to those items, and you’ll enjoy getting more done in less time.

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Copy These 5 Communication Skills From Top Leaders

Copy These 5 Communication Skills From Top Leaders

Do you struggle with communicating effectively? Communication is a key part of success at work or in other parts of your life. Top leaders have practiced and mastered the skills that enable them to communicate so well. Luckily, you too can learn these same skills!

Follow these strategies to practice essential communication skills:
 

1. Learn to listen. Top leaders know that listening is a crucial part of communication. Learn to love listening and engage in the stories of others.

○ Try to really pay attention during a conversation instead of being distracted by your phone or other devices. Have one conversation at a time to give each person your full attention.

○ Practice retelling the person’s story in your mind to get better at listening.

○ Everyone wants to be heard. Others will notice that you’re listening to them and will go away from your conversations thinking what a great communicator you are, when all you did was listen.

 

2. Avoid slang and informalities. It’s normal to use slang or other types of informal language while talking to friends or family. However, business usually requires a more formal language set. Pay attention to who you’re talking to and make the necessary adjustments.

○ Slang, acronyms, and informalities can also make some people feel uncomfortable, especially if they’re not familiar with them.

 

3. Focus on being brief. Top leaders know that you don’t have to make a long speech to be effective.

○ Practice being brief and getting your point across with fewer words and less time. People appreciate brief conversations and respect others who don’t go off on tangents.

○ However, ensure you’re still providing enough information while you talk. You don’t want to be vague or miss important details.

○ This skill may take time to develop, so practice it often. The next time you have a conversation, try to get your point across with less talking. Try to summarize the important parts and only focus on them while you talk.

 

4. Pay attention to other’s emotions. When you talk, take note of how the other person is reacting. Words are powerful, and communication can affect people in many different ways.

○ You may want to learn psychology to understand emotions better.

○ Show sympathy and empathy when it’s appropriate during a conversation.

○ Look at things from the other person’s point of view without criticism or judgment.

 

5. Be charismatic. Communication is easier for charismatic people, but you can learn this skill.

○ One of the most important aspects of charisma is confidence, but not arrogance or self-righteousness. Confident communicators know their value and worth, but they’re also respectful of others.

○ Another facet of charisma is optimism, and it’s also a big part of communication. Even if you’re having a difficult conversation, focus on something positive. Top leaders are good at finding the silver lining.

○ Charismatic communicators are interesting, but they also share interesting information with others. They focus on innovation and new ideas that give people a spark.

 

You can learn to communicate more effectively by following these tips from top leaders. Practice these skills as often as possible. You’ll have many opportunities each day. Every time you have a conversation with anyone is an opportunity to practice a little more. And as you know, practice makes perfect!

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Achieving Balance in Your Life

Achieving Balance in Your Life

Finding balance in your life can be difficult to do, especially during these stressful days. There are family and work obligations, plus extra-curricular activities for your kids and unexpected situations. It’s no wonder that you’re feeling out of balance and overwhelmed!

There are things you can do to achieve balance in your life. Below are great starting points to get you on the road to a well-balanced life.

 

1. Start using a central calendar for every member of your family.

This calendar can be a shared calendar online using Google Calendar, or it can be a paper calendar stuck on the fridge. Either way, have each family member write their activities on the calendar and be sure to include the time, location, and mode of transportation. This way nothing gets missed and you can plan your schedule accordingly.

 

If there are conflicting activities, this is a good time to teach your family about compromises and the give and take in relationships. There are ways to work things out and a little lesson in selflessness never hurts anyone.

 

2. Take a look at your daily routine. Are there activities you can cut out to make your life more balanced?

 

In this society of rush-rush, convenience, and got-to-have-it-all or do-it-all, you may be feeling overwhelmed by all the extracurricular activities you’re involved in. As you look at each activity, ask yourself:

Is this activity necessary for my well being?

Can I live without being involved in this activity?

Is this improving my life or is this overwhelming me?

Is this helping others or is it purely for self-gratification?

Is this going to help me achieve my career, family, and personal goals?

The answers to these questions will help you clean up your schedule and continue to enjoy the things that are really important to you and your family.

 
 

3. Establish a daily routine.

 

Routines help us stay on task and get things done without procrastination. Without a daily routine, you tend to wander aimlessly, instead of engaging in tasks that take you down the right path toward your goals.

If you work from home, it’s easy to wander away from your daily routine because you can set your own schedule, so it’s especially important to have a routine and work diligently at sticking to it. Whether you work out of the home or you’re a stay at home mom or dad, a daily schedule is vital. Following an agenda will help you achieve your daily, monthly, and yearly goals.

4. Set goals for yourself, your family, and your career.

 

Without goals, you have nothing to work for and you’ll feel lost without purpose. Talk about making things feel out of balance! Some worthwhile goals to reach for might be:

 

Losing weight

Starting your own business

A new house

A new car

Establishing a budget and sticking to it

A pay raise

A promotion

Learning a new skill or trade

Writing a book

Those are just a few ideas to get you started thinking about all the possibilities available to help you achieve more balance in your life.

 

Balance in life is something that requires constant attention and resilience. Don’t let the busyness of life get in the way of living your life to the fullest. You can accomplish it when you work at it. Keep trying and you’ll be amazed at the stability that comes your way.

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Become a Better Leader: 4 Steps to Boost Your E.Q.

Become a Better Leader: 4 Steps to Boost Your E.Q.

Most of us think of a leader as someone with a great deal of education and experience in a certain area. While knowledge and experience are important qualities, one’s ability to communicate and work well with others is just as important to being an effective leader.

Having a high degree of emotional intelligence (E.Q.) allows you to be able to inspire and motivate others to co-operate with you to accomplish a shared objective and vision. There are several ways that you can strengthen your interpersonal skills.

Try these methods to dramatically raise your E.Q. and accomplish more together:

1. Increase your self-awareness. Self-development is the foundation of excellence. Before you can lead and inspire others, you must first understand your own motivations and behavior.

 

· Develop your vision by learning to listen to your inner values and dreams. Trust yourself. Try not to compromise your values to achieve a goal or for other temporary gains.

· Embrace passion by learning to be motivated by your internal compass rather than external forces and situations.

· Keep your energy fully recharged, so you can give your best effort. You can stay energized by taking the time to learn what activities re-energize you and which ones drain your energy.

· Respect yourself. Know the limitations of your body, mind, and spirit and strive for balance between your responsibilities in all areas of your life.

· Become aware of your flaws and limitations. Seek ways to improve yourself and be open to change.

 

2. Strengthen your discipline and self-management. Learning to be responsible for your behavior, attitudes, and actions can raise your performance level as well as help you to build trust and authority with others.

· Seek the input of others. Ask how you can help them, or what you need to do differently to communicate more effectively and manage them better.

· Hold yourself accountable for your actions and performance.

· Don’t be afraid to delegate responsibilities and tasks. Be confident enough in yourself to surround yourself with talented, qualified people.

 

3. Develop your social awareness. Be aware of your own attitudes and the power you have to motivate others.

· Show genuine concern for others and learn how to actively listen. Doing so will create lasting bonds and a strong team that will work with you rather than against you.

· Give others a reason to support you and your vision. Let others know when they have done a good job and look for ways to openly recognize and reward excellence.

· Help others to buy into your vision by making them stakeholders in the attainment of your goals. Seek their advice when setting goals and making plans on how you’ll achieve them.

· Help others to increase their abilities and fully utilize their talents by providing opportunities for training, scholarship, and self-development.

 

4. Emphasize greater relationship management. Learn how to bring out the best in yourself and others. Utilize everyone’s best qualities and minimize their limitations with effective assignment of tasks and delegation of responsibilities.

Regardless of your education or experience, you can achieve greater success by learning how to use your people skills to fully harness the talents and energy of others. These strategies will allow you to increase your E.Q and inspire others to fully enlist in your cause of their own free will.

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How to Work Smarter, Not Harder

How to Work Smarter, Not Harder

Ever since computers have become such a large part of our lives, it seems that workloads have dramatically increased. Now, instead of things getting easier, we’ve gotten busier and more hectic than ever before.

This may cause you to feel overburdened with your heavier workloads, especially when it comes to tasks you have to do repeatedly. Finding better ways to accomplish your to-do list can save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.

How do you “work smarter, not harder?” Look at what you do on a daily basis and develop ways to get the same amount done with less effort and struggle.

Here are some ways you can work smarter, not harder:

1. Simplify repeated tasks. Forms and templates can save time on a lot of tasks. For example, if you have to send out a lot of the same email, create a template email so you can just fill in the specific parts for each person individually.

2. Delegate. Delegate some of your responsibilities to other people. If you have too much housework, give the kids some chores and set up a schedule. Four people doing four things will get them done faster than one person doing all four things alone.

3. Automate. If you’re in a position that requires the same thing done every day, at the same time, then try to find a way to get the process automated so it happens without you there. An example would be to back up your computer every night, automatically.

4. Eliminate the useless. There are unproductive things you do on a daily basis. In fact, you probably already know exactly what these distractions are! Once you identify your time-wasters, remove them from your routine, and focus on those tasks that are truly productive.

5. Focus. Stay focused on your responsibilities, not the responsibilities of others. If everyone focuses on their primary responsibilities first, the large portion of the job gets finished and then minor details can be taken care of later.

6. Learn to say “no.” Many people take on too much work because they’ve never learned to tell others “no.” Before taking on extra duties for someone else, make sure you schedule time for your own needs first.

7. Know your limits. Avoid taking on more than you can handle in order to please someone above you. If you do this on a regular basis, you’ll ultimately be working twice as hard because you’re not performing at your very best.

Learn how much you can handle while still being productive. We all have limits, and respecting our own limits leads to greater productivity.

Working smarter, not harder is all about planning, executing and knowing your limits.

Planning saves time and money. It allows you to delegate and assign tasks to those most qualified to complete them. Using systems and automation to execute tasks eliminates repetition and assures quality control. Wisely considering limits prevents burnout and late work.

All in all, working smarter, not harder does just what it says. Not only does it save you valuable time, but your production levels will soar as well!

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Be the Boss Everyone Wants: Super Boss

Be the Boss Everyone Wants: Super Boss

Maximizing your leadership skills can positively impact your professional and personal life. Developing these skills is one of the surest ways to enhance many aspects of your life. This worksheet outlines these skills:

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A Remote Worker’s Guide to Balancing Home and Work

A Remote Worker’s Guide to Balancing Home and Work

Balancing your home and career can be a challenge for any employee, especially when you live and work in the same space. How do you allocate your time between personal and professional responsibilities? How can you focus on conference calls when you’re surrounded by dirty laundry?

Learn how to set priorities and reduce distractions whether you’re new to remote working or you moved out of your cubicle years ago. Use these tips for staying peaceful and productive when you work from home.

Steps to Take by Yourself:

Follow a schedule. Set a start and end time for your day. Tackle your most challenging tasks during the hours when you’re at your peak. When it’s time to quit for the day, leave your job behind.

Design an office. Designate a separate space for business. It could be a whole room or a corner in your dining room. Decorate your space with pictures, art, and objects that you find inspirational and uplifting.

Change clothes. You may not want to wear a suit and tie but changing out of your pajamas will help you to feel more professional. Hang up your bathrobe and get dressed each morning.

Limit distractions. Do you waste time watching TV or checking social media? Ban leisure activities during business hours except during break times.

Take breaks. Speaking of breaks, take them. You’ll be more productive if you refresh your mind and body periodically.

Wind down. Do something at the end of each day to help you transition into an off-duty mindset. You might listen to classical music or take a walk in the park.

Get organized. Create routines and systems that encourage efficiency. Buy a cabinet for your office supplies. Use an online calendar to block out your time.

Continue learning. Career development matters whether you work at your dining room table or in a corner office. Take a course online or order a catalog for the adult education program at a local university. Read industry publications and general business news.

Evaluate your performance. Conduct your own job evaluations. Look for ways to increase quality, save time, and manage stress. Update your strategy as your goals evolve.

Steps to Take with Your Family, Friends, and Colleagues:

Talk with your boss. It will be easier to balance your life when you and your boss agree on overall expectations. Negotiate the flexibility you need to succeed.

Post your hours. Ensure your boss and coworkers know the hours that you’re available. Discuss arrangements for how to deal with emergencies that occur outside of those times.

Go out for lunch. Your midday meal is a daily opportunity to stay connected while you work at home. Plan a weekly date at a local cafe to catch up with your office friends or other employees who work from home.

Remain visible. Make business lunches and other events part of your strategy for cultivating your network. Show up at the office on a regular basis for staff meetings, birthday parties, and other gatherings. Volunteer at the local chapter of your professional association.

Pull together. A strong support network helps you to build your confidence and accomplish more. Ask your family and friends for the emotional and practical assistance you need. Let them know how much you appreciate them and pitch in when they need a hand too.

You don’t have to give up life balance when you give up your commute. Enjoy more health and happiness by drawing sensible boundaries between your personal and professional activities.

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7 Attributes of Great Leaders

7 Attributes of Great Leaders

Leadership is a daunting task, and there are many theories about how to best lead others. But regardless of the theory employed, there are attributes that great leaders share. With the right blend of attributes, you can thrive within any leadership system. It’s possible to develop these characteristics with study and effort.

Ideas are easy. It’s the execution that’s so challenging. Big ideas require multiple people to bring them to life. Leadership is all about getting everyone on the same page and moving them in the same direction.

Consider developing these qualities that enhance leadership ability:

1. Confidence. Confident people inspire confidence in others. When your team sees your confidence, they believe that you know where you’re going and how to get there. Confidence is contagious and elevates morale. No one else will be confident if you’re not.

· Keep up morale by dealing with setbacks confidently.

2. Trustworthiness. One of the most important attributes of a great leader is character. People need to trust someone before they will follow him. This is accomplished through honesty, walking the talk, and showing respect. Keep your word and follow through.

· It’s challenging for a team to accomplish anything without trust.

3. Enthusiasm. Be enthusiastic about the task at hand, your position, and the opportunity to lead. No one will be more enthusiastic than you are. Demonstrate the type of enthusiasm you’d like to see in your team members. Let everyone know that you believe in your mission and its importance.

· Sometimes a break is in order. Enthusiasm can wane under a never-ending workload.

4. Steadiness. There will be obstacles and times of uncertainty. Great leaders can weather these situations and demonstrate the steadiness necessary to keep the rest of the team focused. These are the times your team will look to you the most. Be positive. Be confident. Be a rock.

· It’s natural to have doubts. It’s not effective to share them. If you need someone to talk to, reach out to your spouse or best friend. Keep all negativity out of the workplace.

5. Focus. It’s easy to become distracted, especially when things start going wrong. Learn to ignore the noise and stick to the relevant facts. Avoid looking too far ahead. Deal with the current situation and maintain your commitment.

· Focus can begin to creep when projects drag on for an extended period of time. Return to your mission statement frequently to keep your focus fresh.

6. Flexibility. Nearly anyone can hold the course, but only a great leader can change course without tipping over the ship. Be open-minded enough to find the elegant solution to the challenges that arise. A few course corrections are the rule rather than the exception.

· Avoid confusing steadfastness with stubbornness. It’s important to realize when it’s time to make some changes.

7. Communication. Be able to effectively communicate your vision to the others in your group. Be willing to listen to new ideas. Provide the information required for others to do their best. Communication skills are paramount to all leaders. If you’re looking for a single skill to enhance, this is a great place to start.

Regardless of the leadership strategy followed in your company, these attributes will serve you well. Great leaders share many of the same attributes. Learning to demonstrate these attributes will enhance your leadership abilities and increase your power and influence at work.

Leadership skills can’t be learned and developed in a day. Bringing an idea into the marketplace requires a leader. Make yourself the obvious candidate.

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7 Advantages of Taking Breaks

7 Advantages of Taking Breaks

The Western world views breaks as a tool to promote laziness. But your effectiveness and efficiency will improve if you take regular breaks. You can work more intently and for more hours each day if you’ll give yourself a break at least once per hour. You won’t just get more done, you’ll be happier and less stressed, too.

Learn about the many advantages of taking breaks:

1. You’ll get more done. Try a little experiment at work. First, spend a day attempting to do nothing but work for the entire day and note how much you accomplish. The following day, focus on your work for 30 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. Notice how much more you accomplish.

· This applies to physical activities as well. Studies have shown the average marathon runners actually complete the race faster and more comfortably if they take regular walking breaks of up to a mile each.

2. You’ll feel much better at the end of the day. While performing the previous experiment, notice how you feel physically and mentally at the end of the day. You’ll feel nearly as good at the end of the day as you did at the beginning if you take breaks. Without breaks, you’ll feel exhausted.

3. The quality of your work is improved. The ability to focus is limited. Your mind begins to wander at some point. The quality of your work is compromised when your focus begins to wane.

· Taking regular breaks is an effective way to ensure the quality of your work doesn’t suffer.

 

4. Breaks provide opportunities for evaluation. It’s important to regularly assess if you’re working effectively. If you put your head down and never look up, you can find yourself lost in the weeds. A break is an opportunity to reevaluate the situation.

5. Taking a break can lower your stress. It’s important to intermittently disengage from any activity that causes stress. Your ability to work is compromised as your stress rises beyond a certain level.

6. Breaks help to prevent boredom. Studies suggest that it’s more effective to regularly disengage and reengage with goals rather than focusing on them for long periods of time. The same idea applies to your work. Avoid spending too much time on one task before taking a break. You’ll maintain a higher level of interest in your work.

7. You can use your breaks to get other things done. Imagine how much you can accomplish with 8 or more 10-minute breaks each day. You could spend those 10 minutes performing an exercise or two, meditating, staying in contact with friends and family, tidying up, paying bills, or practicing the violin.

· A break is a change in activity. Breaks don’t have to be spent daydreaming, though that’s not a bad way to spend a break.

You might be wondering how long a break should be and how frequently they should be taken. Science has an answer. For most people, the ideal break schedule is a 5-minute break every 30 minutes or a 10-minute break every 60 minutes. It can also be helpful to take a longer break every 2-3 hours.

Try a few different schedules and see what works for you. As a general rule, tasks that require more brainpower or muscle power require more frequent breaks.

Breaks are an enjoyable way to add hours to your day. Your output will increase and you’ll also enjoy your free time more since you won’t be exhausted. Give yourself a break today and enjoy the many benefits taking regular breaks provides.

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