Mike Figliuolo's Blog, page 72

Creating Galaxies Not Pyramids

The top-down hierarchical structure of organizations is limited and outdated.  Here are four tips for leaders to adjust their strategic planning process to support a networked model. Today’s post is by Chris Yates, author of Share (CLICK HERE to get your copy). During my work from home life, kids have been teaching me how to win Battle Royale in Fortnite.  For my 10-year old son, it’s all about taking the high ground to snipe at your opponents.  My 12-year old daughter, on the other hand, builds networks and alliances. She is already conditioned by societal gender stereotyping to win not through force or the relentless focus on the high ground.  She seldom loses, and is perhaps better prepared by that same stereotyping to win in a future world.    In most organizations, there is a basic...



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When someone on your team pesters you to get something low priority completed, how do you react?

Our reader poll today asks: When someone on your team pesters you to get something low priority completed, how do you react? I firmly tell them, “No, I’ll do it when it’s time. Please don’t mention it again.” 34% I ignore their pestering and get to it when I get to it. 22%  placate them and keep saying “I’ll get to it soon.” 32% I give in and just do it. Anything to get them to stop pestering me. 11% Maintaining focus and priorities. It looks like most of you try to get the distraction to stop – either by being direct, ignoring the distraction, or placating with a “not now” response. Recognize that if they’re pestering you, they likely won’t stop until they get a firm answer either way. Whether that’s you giving in and just doing it or...



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Leading With A Story

In this episode of Innovating Leadership Maureen Metcalf, thoughtLEADERS Principal, sits down to discuss with Paul Smith, a fellow thoughtLEADERS Principal, about the power of stories. Paul talks with Maureen about his perspective and thought process on the power of story for leaders. He shares his insights about what works, why it works and how you will be more effective as a leader if you master the use of story as one of your skills. Paul recounts a compelling story told by Bob McDonald, CEO of Proctor and Gamble and connects it to a primary leadership and parenting lesson for him. Through his use of story he illustrates a couple of things like what is a great leadership story? What are the primary elements the make up a great leadership story? He also breakdown why you should use...



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Who is the Best Coach in the World?

A critical part of effective leadership and success means the understanding of including all stakeholders and total collaboration in your leadership model. Today’s post is by Antonio Garrido, author of The 21st Century Ride Along (CLICK HERE to get your copy). Ask a bunch of top executives who they believe is the best coach in the world, and they will likely reel off the names of ‘the usual suspects’ – you know, the ones that pay millions a year to their SEO-agency in order to occupy that cherished top spot on any of the most common coach-related web-searches. …And, they’d all be wrong. The very best coach that you (or anyone else, for that matter) ever knew was your mom – or whichever family member spent the most time bringing you up when you were a tiny tot: the one who was with you...



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Applying Storytelling to Sales

Paul Smith, thoughtLEADERS Principal, sat down with Jim and Jan of The Leadership Podcast to discuss storytelling and how it can make your role as a salesperson easier and more effective. In continuation of our new collaboration with The Leadership Podcast, Paul breaks down just how storytelling can make you a better and stronger salesperson in this short form “chalk talk.” These chalk talk series are bitesize sessions on a common (but challenging) leadership issue. After his previous breakdown of storytelling for leaders, Paul takes some time to differentiate storytelling for leaders versus storytelling for salespeople, and how the storytelling really affects the emotional decision making that we do as human beings. Paul goes into the framework for a great story that works in...



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Personal Empowerment and Why It Matters

Blanca De La Rosa discusses how people can take control of their careers through personal empowerment. Today’s post is by Blanca De La Rosa, author of Empower Yourself for an Amazing Career (CLICK HERE to get your copy). Are you in control of your life and your career? Is your life what you imagined it would be? Or have you somehow allowed yourself to be deterred from your chosen path? Did you know that nothing changes unless you change it? No matter what you seek, it can only happen if you do something about it. Take charge of your personal power. To be empowered you must know what you want for your life and why. Personal empowerment is a collection of beliefs, actions and skills all working together to help you achieve your goals and it begins with two things: self-awareness and a...



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How does your company handle times of extreme challenge?

Our reader poll today asks: How does your company handle times of extreme challenge? We hunker down and don’t do anything different until things calm down. 16% We play defensively but take on small new initiatives with low risk. 37% We aggressively seek new opportunities and invest behind them. 48% Seizing the moment: While the poll is split on those playing offense and those playing defense, the implications are pretty clear. For those acting defensively, you need to factor in how other market participants will behave when calculating your stance. If you’re not factoring in the aggressive 48% into your expectations, your defensive stance might cost you more than you anticipate. Strategy isn’t just about your actions – it’s about your actions in relation to other players in the...



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How to Develop Resiliency During Times of Stress

Finding ways to be resilient during difficult times is a key factor in what makes a strong leader. Today’s post is by Maureen Metcalf, a thoughtLEADERS principal. Resilience is a key factor in leadership success during times of stress. Our ability to manage our own energy and thinking have a significant impact on our ability to deliver personally and on our ability to inspire our followers. By building our resilience and creating a culture where others are expected to build theirs, we can make a significant impact on driving and sustaining our success as individuals and as organizations. Jon and Maureen start with defining resilience then move to the critical aspects of personal resilience. They include a focus on how brains and bodies react to stress and practices that will reduce the...



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The Shocking Trait That Undermines Your Leadership Credibility

Credibility is the foundation of effective leadership. Today’s post is by Alain Hunkins, author of Cracking the Leadership Code (CLICK HERE to get your copy). Clint is the co-founder of a software company that’s experienced rapid growth over the past three years.  He’s smart, outgoing, and great in front of customers.  In fact, Clint is the sales team’s go-to to close big accounts.  The sales team has nicknamed him Midas, because everything he touches turns to gold. On top of all that, Clint’s a genuinely nice guy. However, for all of his strengths, Clint has a tragic flaw.  He’s consistently late for meetings.  Ten, twenty, thirty minutes late is par for the course with Clint, and sometime more.  Clint is also the master of coming up with reasons why he’s late—this customer meeting went...



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How Smart Leaders Get Their Teams to Exceptional Results

In this episode of Innovating Leadership Maureen Metcalf, thoughtLEADERS Principal, interviews Victor Prince, a fellow thoughtLEADERS Managing Director, about guiding leaders to exceptional results. In today’s interview, Victor talks about the power of applying the “Leadership Matrix” -the box- to team management. He will describe what exactly the Leadership Matrix is, how it works, and how it will help you get the best out of yourself and your team. Victor, through all of this, will also answer a few of the below questions: Who should read Lead Inside the Box? What problem does it help them solve and how do you help people solve that problem? He will walk us through the different parts of the Leadership Matrix, explain the four boxes and how to utilize this tool to allocate...



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