Mike Acker's Blog, page 7
June 26, 2020
Top 10 Personality Traits of Great Leaders
It’s not easy to be a great leader. Leadership requires a unique set of skills and personality traits. Few people are born great leaders, but everyone can maximize their leadership skills and qualities.
Many of us want to be better leaders, but don’t know where to start. There are many great books on leadership skills, but the effectiveness of skills is limited without the proper personality to execute those skills.
Develop these personality traits and be a great leader:
Boldness. Being a great leader takes guts. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to shoulder the blame for bad decisions and results. You need to set the course for your people. You’ll get most of the credit when things go well, but you must be strong enough to take the brunt of the negative attention for poor outcomes.
Assertiveness. You can’t be timid and be a great leader. You have to assertively share your ideas and opinions. You have to be able to tell people “no” and to give bad news. If you tend to be passive, your ability to lead is compromised.
Confidence. Confidence is intoxicating. People are willing to follow you if you’re confident. If you show that you don’t trust yourself or your decisions, they won’t trust you either. Being confident fosters confidence in others. Everyone is always watching you.
Emotional Stability. When you lead others, there are many ups and downs. You don’t have the luxury of feeling depressed, frustrated, or disgruntled. It’s your responsibility to keep your emotions under control and lead the way.
Tenacity. You can never give up. Persistence is one of the most important qualities a great leader can have. This trait goes along with emotional stability. Are you able to stick with your plan when things are going wrong? Do you double your efforts when faced with an obstacle, or does your will falter?
Inspirational. Leaders lead. If you can’t inspire others to follow you, intimidation is the only alternative. Learn how to inspire others to do their best and to demonstrate loyalty to you.
Humility. It can be challenging to be a confident leader and be humble at the same time. While arrogant people often rise to leadership positions, few of them thrive in those roles. Arrogance leads to poor decisions and causes your followers to both distrust and dislike you.
Dealing with complexity. When you’re leading a large group of people, things are complex. Every decision seems to affect everything else. Circumstances are constantly changing, and it’s challenging to deal with the complexity that arises.
Charisma. Charisma is a little hard to define, but everyone knows it when they see it. It’s a form of charm that inspires others to like and follow you. The most charismatic people are confident, make others feel good about themselves, and are dominant in a subtle way. Charisma can take you far.
Integrity. Without integrity, no one will trust you. You can’t expect your followers to be honest with you if you don’t do the same for them. It’s about remaining true to your values regardless of the situation. Leaders that lack integrity don’t last long and often jump from one company to another.
How do your own personality traits stack up? What can you improve to become a more effective leader? Not everyone is born with natural leadership skills and attributes, but everyone can become a good leader with development.
If you want to become a great leader, work on these traits, and become the best leader you can be.
The post Top 10 Personality Traits of Great Leaders appeared first on ADVANCE, COACHING AND CONSULTING.
June 22, 2020
Expert Tips for Coping With a Sudden Loss of Confidence
Self-esteem can be fragile, and it’s possible to lose it. A traumatic event can also be a blow to your confidence. How can you deal with a sudden loss of confidence? Is it possible to recover and regain the confidence that is gone?
Your confidence levels can fluctuate, but there are ways to cope.
How Confidence Can Disappear
In many cases, trauma or a negative event is behind this issue.
Confidence can disappear after an embarrassing or difficult moment. For example, your self-esteem can diminish if a presentation at work is mocked and ridiculed by coworkers. Your confidence can be hurt by cruel words and laughter.
Another common cause of low confidence is arguments. Fights with your significant other or family members can make you feel unsure and unhappy about yourself. They can lead to doubts about your abilities and skills.
How the Loss is Manifested
The loss of confidence can appear differently for each individual. You may react to it in several ways:
● Some people deal with a loss of confidence by freezing and not being able to make decisions. They’re scared of making another mistake, so they avoid all decisions.
● Others deal with a loss of confidence by becoming defensive and argumentative.
● Another ineffective coping mechanism is to pretend nothing is wrong.
If you feel like your confidence has been shattered, try these strategies to restore it:
1. Step back and evaluate. Experts recommend stepping back and evaluating the situation in a calm manner. It’s important to examine the situation without letting emotions take over.
○ Why did the loss of confidence occur, and how can you prevent the same issue from repeating itself?
○ You may benefit from talking to a therapist or good friend about the event and your loss of confidence. Get an unbiased opinion, so you can start to see the patterns.
○ Often, childhood issues are behind confidence losses. There may be deep rooted issues that need to be resolved.
2. Finish something else. Finishing a task that has been left undone for a long time can boost confidence.
○ Experts share that finishing a chore or work assignment can give an instant self-esteem boost. This is caused by the brain realizing that you can still accomplish great things.
○ Find something on your to-do list that is easy to complete.
3. Get help. Sometimes it’s necessary to get outside help to deal with low self-esteem. Be honest about your situation and sudden loss of confidence. You can’t receive help unless you’re open to it.
○ Look for local therapy groups that deal with confidence issues.
○ Consider going to a therapist and setting up weekly or monthly appointments.
○ Find a close friend or family member who can serve as a confidante.
○ Keep in mind that some people may need more help than others to regain their confidence. Don’t be discouraged if your confidence doesn’t return right away.
4. Review past accomplishments. After a traumatic experience or embarrassing moment, it’s easy to think that you’re a failure. However, remembering past accomplishments can serve as a reminder that you’ve done many things.
○ Go back and look at old rewards from school or college.
○ Talk to your parents or siblings and ask them to share something positive about your childhood.
○ Go through your old photo albums or journals to remember happy moments. Dig through your attic archives to unearth treasures from the past.
○ Try to remember that you have made a positive impact on the world.
It’s normal for your confidence levels to vary over time. Avoid letting a temporary situation turn into a permanent loss of confidence! Actively pursue strategies that can bring back the self-esteem you’ve been missing.
The post Expert Tips for Coping With a Sudden Loss of Confidence appeared first on ADVANCE, COACHING AND CONSULTING.
June 19, 2020
Walk the Talk – Practicing the Principles You Preach
How often have you run into a leader who’s been successful at guiding others by saying one thing and then doing something different? Not very often, right? That’s simply because it doesn’t work!
It’s highly likely that principles taught without the right examples being put into practice will eventually fall by the wayside.
Especially if you’re in a position of authority, it is of utmost importance to lead by example if you expect to gain compliance.
Leading by example will ensure these benefits:
1. Support of the principles based on results. For example, if you’re teaching honesty when people see for themselves that you gain the trust of others by being honest, they will likely see the benefits of being honest themselves.
2. Full understanding of the principles. Just imparting principles to others isn’t always enough. In fact, the majority of people may have a completely different understanding of what’s expected of them.
3. Cohesion and cooperation. This is particularly true whenever team effort is required. When everybody is on the same page, processes, departments, and families run more cohesively.
4. Respect. When others can see that you are fully complying with the principles you teach, you’ll ultimately gain their respect.
Disastrous Results of Not Practicing What You Preach
So what happens when you try to teach certain life principles but allow your actions to dictate otherwise?
You’re bound to run into any or all of the following situations:
· Those you expect compliance from will very soon grow to resent you, especially if the principles you’re teaching are a challenge for them to perform.
· You may end up with a negative reputation as an ineffective leader or teacher as you lose sight of the very actions you teach.
· Cases of rebellion will continue to grow as more and more people feel they’re being dictated to instead of led.
How to Start Leading By Example
It’s very easy to outline your expectations; it’s the simplest part of the equation. And that’s a start because at least you know what the principles are. As they say, “Knowing is half the battle” but in this case, it’s the smaller half!
It may take a lot of effort to really walk the talk and practice the behaviors that you want others to emulate. However, you can get started practicing this positive principle on a daily basis with only a small effort:
Start small and stick to your immediate circle of influence.
· Give yourself the opportunity to impart morals and good belief systems on your immediate family and close friends.
· Tackle each principle one at a time.
· Work hard at allowing it to become an integral part of your everyday life.
Once you’ve mastered one, move on to something else. However, it’s important to be able to give testimony to the fact that there are actually greater benefits to adhering to that particular principle than not adhering. There is an element of fulfillment when you can show others just what kind of actions, thoughts, and behaviors contribute to a better, more wholesome outcome.
Walking the talk is a lifelong journey. There may be times that you’ll fall below your own expectations and the principles you aspire to uphold. However, what’s important is that you recognize it and take the necessary steps to get back on track!
The post Walk the Talk – Practicing the Principles You Preach appeared first on ADVANCE, COACHING AND CONSULTING.
June 15, 2020
7 Habits of Ultra-Successful People
If you’ve ever known anyone ultra-successful, you know that they can appear to be a different breed. We’re not talking about someone that’s a straight-A student and goes on to make $250,000 per year. We’re talking about people that win gold medals, become billionaires, or impact the entire world in some way.
These ultra-successful people are all unique, but they share many of the same habits.
Mimic the habits of successful people and become more successful yourself:
1. Get up early. The vast majority of the most successful people in the world get up very early. They make great use of this time, too. They have a morning routine that often includes exercise and meditation or prayer. Try getting up an hour earlier and have a plan for using this time effectively. Do this for 30 days and evaluate the results.
2. Practice self-discipline. Success requires work. High levels of success require doing work that most people aren’t willing to do. It takes self-discipline to do difficult things day after day. Work on your self-discipline each day. You have countless opportunities to do this. If you need to lose weight, throw out 25% of your lunch each day. When you feel like taking a break, force yourself to work for another 15 minutes.
3. Become action oriented. People with mediocre levels of success often like to plan, but they struggle to actually take any sort of action. Successful people take intelligent action. They are the masters of getting things done. They’re also great at getting started on new projects.
4. Read daily. Reading saves years. Without reading, you’re forced to figure out a lot by yourself. A book written by a competent author is like a mentor. The world is full of experts. Why try to do it all yourself? Stand on the shoulders of the world’s all-time greats. Buy a good book and use the information in it. Life is too short not to take advantage of the expertise of others. Remember that it’s not enough to read and understand the information. You must apply it.
5. Get clear on your goals. Ultra-successful people know exactly what they want. The average person does not. You can’t make progress toward a goal if you’re not aware of your goal. Decide what you want. Make a list and be precise.
6. Say, “No” to practically everything. Highly successful people avoid distractions much better than the average person. Many of us say “Yes” to almost every opportunity. Successful people say “No” almost all the time. Decline offers that don’t assist you in the pursuit of your goals. Everything you do either brings you closer to or takes you further from, your goals. Before agreeing to something, ask yourself, “How does this impact the pursuit of my goals?”.
7. Persevere. The most successful people have a tenacity that most of us fail to demonstrate. We give up far too easily. Set goals that truly excite you. That will encourage you to continue when the going gets tough. Practice persevering when you want to quit. Learn how to grind and get things done. Perseverance is a combination of faith and pushing through discomfort.
Your habits largely influence how successful you’ll become. Effective habits result in great results. Poor habits lead to undesirable results. One of the most effective ways to take your life to the next level is to create habits that support your goals.
The most successful people in the world have the best habits for success. Pick up a couple of these habits and integrate them into your life. You’ll be glad you did!
The post 7 Habits of Ultra-Successful People appeared first on ADVANCE, COACHING AND CONSULTING.
June 12, 2020
How to Develop Leadership Skills
When you have high career aspirations, one thing you need to establish right off the bat is the fact that you can be a leader. In fact, you probably already are and just don’t know it yet.
Whether you’re new to a particular office environment or you’ve been thinking about a way to get to the position you really want, being a good leader is important. Everybody can think of at least one “natural” leader in the office, but how do you become a leader if you’re not born with those skills?
When you’re trying to become an excellent leader, you have to first make a name for yourself. Avoid looking like someone who is overbearing or ridiculously ambitious. So, how do you find the balance between the two? Take some time to consider the tips below to help you become a great leader at work without looking like a fool.
Get to Know Everyone
No matter who they are, or what they do, whether they’re related to your projects or not, make it a point to really get to know everyone you come in contact with. This means getting out and mingling a little bit.
For example:
Go to company gatherings.
Stop and talk to people; show a true interest in their work.
Ask others about themselves – let them do most of the talking.
Even if they’re not people who can help your career directly, getting to know those you work with will teach you a lot about how the business works and what is going on. You can start making connections between the different individuals you come in contact with and this can lead to wondrous things later when you need to put together a team.
Know When to Turn Down Work
Leaders are often considered the go-to guy or the go-to gal, so you might think a leader needs to accept every proposed project. In reality, this isn’t true. If you look over a project and determine you can’t handle it well, you’re going to be in a much better place by not accepting it.
Show respect to your colleagues and client by helping them find a capable person to complete the project if you’re not able to do so.
You should never avoid a project just because it is too much work. Always cite specific reasons you can’t complete a project. This shows that you are able to take ownership of your schedule. Plus, it proves that you only want to provide top quality results to others, not just rush jobs.
A simple “no” can be a great way to get others to take notice, especially if you’re otherwise very agreeable.
Here are a few positive ways to turn down a project or assignment.
“I’d really love to help out but I’m just swamped right now. I’d be able to do it next week, or perhaps I can help you find someone else who can get it done for you. I don’t want to do a crummy job just to get it done on time for you.”
“Thanks for thinking of me! I want to help out but I have a lot on my plate this week. What about we set up a quick meeting to discuss the task and see if I can help you get on the right track, that way you can get it done on time?”
Work as Hard as Anyone Else
One of the great traits of good leaders is their willingness to work as hard as any of their teammates. If your team is working long hours, work with them. Lead by example and show them you’re willing to work and not just sit back and receive the credit.
By showing your team this kind of respect, you’ll find they’ll respect you in return.
Offer Solutions
While you should strive to tackle problems before they happen, from time to time this isn’t possible. When things are problematic, make sure you step in with a solution that you’re willing to work on to improve the situation.
Being remembered as someone who came forward with a solution will go a long way to earning respect as a leader in the workplace.
You can become a leader in your workplace, it just takes a little bit of time and effort, but it’ll be worth it!
The post How to Develop Leadership Skills appeared first on ADVANCE, COACHING AND CONSULTING.
Say Goodbye to Impostor Syndrome
When you have high career aspirations, one thing you need to establish right off the bat is the fact that you can be a leader. In fact, you probably already are and just don’t know it yet.
Whether you’re new to a particular office environment or you’ve been thinking about a way to get to the position you really want, being a good leader is important. Everybody can think of at least one “natural” leader in the office, but how do you become a leader if you’re not born with those skills?
When you’re trying to become an excellent leader, you have to first make a name for yourself. Avoid looking like someone who is overbearing or ridiculously ambitious. So, how do you find the balance between the two? Take some time to consider the tips below to help you become a great leader at work without looking like a fool.
Get to Know Everyone
No matter who they are, or what they do, whether they’re related to your projects or not, make it a point to really get to know everyone you come in contact with. This means getting out and mingling a little bit.
For example:
Go to company gatherings.
Stop and talk to people; show a true interest in their work.
Ask others about themselves – let them do most of the talking.
Even if they’re not people who can help your career directly, getting to know those you work with will teach you a lot about how the business works and what is going on. You can start making connections between the different individuals you come in contact with and this can lead to wondrous things later when you need to put together a team.
Know When to Turn Down Work
Leaders are often considered the go-to guy or the go-to gal, so you might think a leader needs to accept every proposed project. In reality, this isn’t true. If you look over a project and determine you can’t handle it well, you’re going to be in a much better place by not accepting it.
Show respect to your colleagues and client by helping them find a capable person to complete the project if you’re not able to do so.
You should never avoid a project just because it is too much work. Always cite specific reasons you can’t complete a project. This shows that you are able to take ownership of your schedule. Plus, it proves that you only want to provide top quality results to others, not just rush jobs.
A simple “no” can be a great way to get others to take notice, especially if you’re otherwise very agreeable.
Here are a few positive ways to turn down a project or assignment.
“I’d really love to help out but I’m just swamped right now. I’d be able to do it next week, or perhaps I can help you find someone else who can get it done for you. I don’t want to do a crummy job just to get it done on time for you.”
“Thanks for thinking of me! I want to help out but I have a lot on my plate this week. What about we set up a quick meeting to discuss the task and see if I can help you get on the right track, that way you can get it done on time?”
Work as Hard as Anyone Else
One of the great traits of good leaders is their willingness to work as hard as any of their teammates. If your team is working long hours, work with them. Lead by example and show them you’re willing to work and not just sit back and receive the credit.
By showing your team this kind of respect, you’ll find they’ll respect you in return.
Offer Solutions
While you should strive to tackle problems before they happen, from time to time this isn’t possible. When things are problematic, make sure you step in with a solution that you’re willing to work on to improve the situation.
Being remembered as someone who came forward with a solution will go a long way to earning respect as a leader in the workplace.
You can become a leader in your workplace, it just takes a little bit of time and effort, but it’ll be worth it!
The post Say Goodbye to Impostor Syndrome appeared first on ADVANCE, COACHING AND CONSULTING.
June 8, 2020
Say Goodbye to Impostor Syndrome
Do you feel like a fraud in danger of being exposed when someone praises your work? Do you think your achievements are just a matter of luck? If so, you may be experiencing Imposter syndrome.
That’s the term psychologists invented in the 1970s when they were studying successful women. Now, they know that men are just as likely to be affected.
In fact, an estimated 70% of adults experience the symptoms at least occasionally. You may be especially vulnerable when you’re trying something new or celebrating an important occasion like a job promotion.
Impostor syndrome may be caused by your personality or the way you grew up. Whatever the reasons, you can stop undermining yourself. Learn to experience doubts without letting them interfere with the happiness and success you deserve.
Changing Your Thinking:
Remember your achievements. Review your track record. Putting your victories in context will show you that they’re not flukes.
Give yourself credit. Change your self-talk. When you catch yourself becoming critical, congratulate yourself, instead. Reframing your thoughts will help you to view yourself in a more positive light.
Accept uncertainty. Impostor syndrome is often associated with perfectionism. Embrace yourself unconditionally, including your strengths and weaknesses. Set realistic goals and expectations.
Validate yourself. Live up to your own standards rather than relying on approval from others. Be mindful of your thoughts and feelings so you can manage them effectively.
Appreciate effort. Do you regard struggling as a sign of weakness? In reality, success often requires careful planning and hard work.
Changing Your Behavior:
Talk it over. Impostor syndrome can be a difficult cycle to break because your first impulse is to cover it up. On the other hand, revealing your insecurities will help you to put them in perspective.
Build support. Ask family and friends for help. Having the courage to be vulnerable will boost your confidence and strengthen your relationships.
Fight stereotypes. Feeling like an outsider can contribute to impostor syndrome. For example, maybe you’re much older or younger than your coworkers. Look for ways to turn that diversity into an advantage instead of feeling awkward about being different.
Be spontaneous. You may be putting unnecessary pressure on yourself if you frequently over-prepare for various events. Throw a party with takeout pizza instead of spending an entire day in the kitchen.
Accept compliments. Can you receive praise graciously or do you secretly want to run and hide? Practice saying thank you sincerely. You’ll create a more pleasant experience for yourself and your admirers.
Find a mentor. Changing long-standing habits can be tough work. Working with a mentor will give you the benefit of ongoing feedback from someone you trust. You may also feel more accountable knowing that someone else is monitoring your progress, too.
Teach others. Recognizing your areas of expertise can be tricky when knowledge and skills build up slowly over time. Instructing others is an excellent way to learn more about yourself while providing a valuable service.
Stay relaxed. Challenging situations are likely to trigger any defense mechanism. You’ll find it easier to be authentic if you manage daily stress. Block out time for meditation and physical exercise. Slow down and take a deep breath if you find yourself starting to question your worth.
Take risks. Impostor syndrome can hold you back from trying new things. Make a list of projects that excite you and take pleasure in learning as you go along.
Build your confidence and sense of belonging. Overcoming imposter syndrome will help you to feel more comfortable with yourself and take more satisfaction in your achievements.
The post Say Goodbye to Impostor Syndrome appeared first on ADVANCE, COACHING AND CONSULTING.
June 5, 2020
EP. 07 | APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE
[avia_codeblock_placeholder uid="0"]
What will you do next?
If you always do what you’ve always done, then you will always get what you’ve always got.
Do something different – stand out!
Learn a new skill – invest in yourself – try something new. Now is the time.
It’s like the scene in the boardroom in HITCH with Will Smith.
@willsmith #hitchthemovie
What are you going to do? How will you challenge yourself to take a risk?
We would love to work with you – to STRATEGIZE your next steps.
Tell us about your goals – ask us questions! Talk with us for free to learn more, and to see how we can specifically work together.
Schedule with Mike here: https://advance.as.me/start
Turn your potential into actual.
The post EP. 07 | APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE appeared first on ADVANCE, COACHING AND CONSULTING.
May 29, 2020
EP. 06 | IMPROVE YOUR LIFE’S CURRENCY
[avia_codeblock_placeholder uid="0"]
What are areas in your life that you are hoping to focus on – to improve?
How will you increase the currency in these areas of your life?
Developing better communication will translate to better health, better relationships, and advancing in your career. The team at Advance has created a program to work with you on bettering your communication. To help you to Engage, to Prepare, and to Know.
Tell us about your goals – ask us questions!
Set up a free call with us to learn more, and to see how we can specifically work with YOU.
Schedule with Mike here: https://advance.as.me/start
Turn obstacles into opportunities.
The post EP. 06 | IMPROVE YOUR LIFE’S CURRENCY appeared first on ADVANCE, COACHING AND CONSULTING LLC.
May 22, 2020
EP. 05 | KNOW THE MESSAGE
In our exploration of the 3 Verbs – Actions to Improve Your Online Communication, Mike talks with us what it means to KNOW:
The more you understand, the better you’ll be able to communicate.
So, whether you are presenting to one person in an online meeting, on Zoom with a whole gallery of other faces, or delivering a webinar where you’ll see no one – you’ll be secure in what you are communicating. You should KNOW your message, and HOW THEY WILL HEAR your message.
How do you organize your message for yourself and for others to pick up what you’re putting down?
1. Ask Questions.
Why am I doing this? Who am I talking to? What is my overarching idea? What is your central idea?
2. Choose Your Big Idea.
You could talk about anything. But it’s really important to choose the Big Thing. What is the overarching idea? What is at the center – the heart – of your presentation?
3. Brainstorm.
Make a mindmap, spread it all out on post-its, and then step back and consider it all. What are all of the different points you can cover?
4. Organize Your Points.
Look for your key points. Not all points are created equal. Work to narrow down the ideas into just three points. Simplify.
5. Script Your Conclusion.
Your conclusion is your Landing. This is where you want your audience to go. After you have your three points, you script your conclusion.
6. Write Your Introduction Last.
Your Take-off is what you work on AFTER you have the rest of the speech or presentation figured out. You’ll be able to introduce your premise because you now know where you are going.
[avia_codeblock_placeholder uid="0"]
The post EP. 05 | KNOW THE MESSAGE appeared first on ADVANCE, COACHING AND CONSULTING LLC.
