Libby Gill's Blog, page 3
July 19, 2021
3 Ways to Effectively Lead and Motivate Your Workforce by Warby Parker
Motivation can be a fluctuating feeling that many employees face throughout their careers. This is where good leadership comes in. When employees lose the drive to complete their tasks, the assumption is that they are stuck in a rut or need a better incentive. The process of determining if an employee is properly motivated isn’t black and white. There have been studies that dive deeper into the analysis to determine employee engagement and motivation, compared to employee happiness. Although some employees may be happy working for their employer, they still may not be 100% motivated. Therefore, companies need to take the time to discover the most effective ways to motivate and inspire employees.
Here we will discuss a few simple leadership techniques that will help employees become more engaged in their careers.
Provide Functional Tools and Resources
An often overlooked tactic that motivates employees is supplying them with updated and relevant tools that will help them complete their tasks more seamlessly. Employees can lose motivation for a myriad of reasons and leadership should be able to recognize the cause. A recent study reported that the main reason why employees have left their jobs is that leadership didn’t listen to their concerns and lacked empathy. These qualities are key principles of good leadership and an important factor in leadership success.
Providing employees with updated tech devices and tools can help them complete tasks more efficiently, communicate better, and broaden their abilities. In some cases, employees work from outdated office spaces or remotely, which can disrupt their motivation and productivity. Companies should reassess and determine what employees need most and work to supply them with the appropriate equipment and resources, within reason.
Functional tools that drive employee motivation can include an updated computer and keyboard. Also, with increased use of technology and the risk of sedentary employees, management might also consider investing in workspace upgrades, like ergonomic office chairs. These can reduce the risk of work-related injuries and increase comfort and productivity when sitting at a computer for the majority of the day.
In addition to ergonomic chairs, supplying employees with protective blue light glasses can make a big difference in their overall health by preventing them from experiencing chronic headaches and eye strain, which may arise with heavy use of digital screens. If management were to enforce the use of workplace tools like these, they could create a healthier office environment for employees by supporting not only their performance but their physical and mental health as well. Actions like these can help motivate and drive productivity even further.
Set Weekly Goals and Incentives
Companies should be transparent with employees about their long-term goals. However, when creating deliverables to support those goals, leadership should set more tangible weekly goals as it will motivate employees to finish tasks in a shorter amount of time while also promoting accountability.
Many employees lose motivation when goals and expectations are too vast or unmanageable. If a leader sets a weekly goal it will give employees something to strive for each week, which will help them achieve higher productivity rates quarterly. Active leaders can try using one of the many time tracking services that are available today to help employees simultaneously manage their time weekly and review their success quarterly.
Management should also recognize a job well done as it will motivate employees to strive for success more often. Once weekly and quarterly goals are met, offer performance-based rewards to employees. This will drive them to work harder to meet their goals and decrease their apprehension to certain tasks. Companies should offer rewards that take into consideration the employee and the company’s budget. The three general categories that performance-based rewards fall into are cash, gifts, or experiences. Although certain rewards will motivate different employees, a dedicated leader will need to determine what those might be.
Understand Employees
A common mistake that leaders tend to make is grouping employees together, rather than treating them as individuals. If the team has aligned incentives they will happily work together to achieve a common goal, however, it’s the responsibility of a leader to understand what will drive each employee individually.
Framing the strategy in multiple ways ensures each member of the team has a clear understanding of how working together benefits them. This technique allows you to motivate employees as individuals and bring them together as a team.
Similarly, take the time to discover which leadership style drives certain employees. Management should engage with employees during one-on-one check-ins to get a deeper understanding of what pushes them to go the extra mile, what their personal growth goals are, and what ideas they may have for the company. This will allow great insight into how you, as a leader, can effectively lead your team based on their individual identity.
Let your employees’ individual needs shape your leadership style. The more you know about your workforce the more effectively you can lead them to success.
Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels
July 13, 2021
Tips from the Relationship Practitioner with Juli Geske-Peer
This week, Libby is joined by Juli Geske-Peer. Juli is the founder and president of Peer Performance Solutions, a company focused on enhancing individual and organizational performance. Her particular expertise is on facilitating exceptional leadership and relationship skills. With a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and over 20 years of successful consulting and management experience, Juli works with companies ranging from local nonprofits to multinational organizations. They discuss what it means to be a relationship practitioner and how to leverage and improve the quality of relationships in the workplace.
Libby and Juli share on:
Challenges that Juli frequently sees when people are trying to increase the quality and/or quantity of relationshipsRelationships building for introverts vs extrovertsThe best ways to establish trustJuli’s five sense approachHow to improve/work on a relationship that may not be going as well as hopedRelationship building in the workplaceAnd much more!Since beginning her career as a self-employed consultant, coach, and trainer in 2014, Juli has helped dozens of individuals and organizations enhance leadership, repair damaged relationships, find common ground, and achieve success through interpersonal improvement and financial gains.
Connect with Juli:
www.peerperformancesolutions.com
Order 5 Senses for Success: Strategies to Thrive in Any Arena by Juli Geske-Peer
Free 45-minute coaching session with Juli: email juli@peerperformancesolutions.com
July 6, 2021
Is Your Business Lean, Luxe, or Both? with Crista Grasso
In this episode, Libby discusses going lean with Crista Grasso. Crista is on a mission to help entrepreneurs simplify success, get off the hustle hamster wheel, and run lean businesses where they optimize what’s working and eliminate anything not adding value to their clients and profit to their business. Early in her entrepreneurial journey, Crista felt like she was doing all the right things but no matter how hard she worked, her big goals and vision seemed just out of reach. Upon reflection, she realized her jewelry business was far from lean. She had scaled it way too quickly, and without having taken the time to lean out the business first, she ended up scaling noise which resulted in making everything more expensive, more difficult to manage, and more difficult to sustain. From the outside, it looked like the business was wildly successful but it wasn’t until she actually leaned out the business that the behind-the-scenes matched the outside illusion of success. This brought about the realization that so many big businesses were implementing a lean and agile way of working but so many small businesses had never heard of it. There was a whole world that they weren’t leveraging, and sadly neither was she before this epiphany. So she created the Lean Out Method (LOM), which she designed specifically with the busy entrepreneur in mind to utilize the same principles and practices that large companies had been using for decades to significantly scale beyond their competitors, skyrocket profits, and reduce complexities and overhead.
Libby and Crista discuss:
What the Lean Out Method isWhy you should be utilizing lean practices no matter what size your business isLean vs luxe, and how to be bothThe importance and necessity of measuringWhy you have to be practicing lean if you want to crack the 7-figure mark in businessHiring for fit over hiring for skillHow she went from barista to consultant overnightConnect with Crista:
June 29, 2021
How to Create a Successful Business Partnership with Meredith Bell
Libby shares a conversation with leadership expert and author Meredith Bell on creating successful business partnerships. Meredith is the co-founder and president of Performance Support Systems, a global software company providing assessment and development tools for the workplace. Their award-winning software and books guide leaders and team members to make the shift from KNOWING to DOING and the result is permanent improvement in the way people interact with each other at work.
Libby and Meredith discuss:
The origin story of Performance Support Systems and the unmet need it filledThe importance of shared vision and valuesWhy a business should value relationships over transactionsCreating safe and honest structures within the workplaceCreating a foundation for successful communicationWhy listening is more than just sitting in silenceExpression appreciationMeredith is an expert in leader and team communications, the author of two books, and host of the popular Strong for Performance podcast.
Connect with Meredith:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithmbell
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Yqt-i8ehRSj5pEb1VEgSA
Meredith’s Books
Connect with Your Team: Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills
Strong for Performance: Create a Coaching Culture with Learning & Development Programs That Stick
June 22, 2021
Why You Should Only Work with Premium Clients with Carl Gould
This week Libby is joined by worldwide authority on business and entrepreneurship, Carl Gould. Carl built three multi-million-dollar businesses by the age of 40 and has created the farthest-reaching business mentoring organization in the world. His methodologies are practiced in 35 countries and he has trained, certified or accredited over 7,000 Business Coaches and Mentors since 2002. Through trial and error Carl learned the key aspects to creating success in business and teaches other entrepreneurs how to reach their objectives.
Libby and Carl discuss:
Why Carl became involved in the coaching and consulting businessHow to build your own ‘fandom’ to attract your ideal clients and customersThe best way to gain a surplus of ideal client leads in your business The most common problems Carl sees within the businesses he consults onCarl’s ‘Fix It In Five’ problem-solving abilityWhy female entrepreneurs should embrace their feminine energy in businessWhat it means to ‘Quit and Get Rich’Through his company, 7 State Advisors, Carl has worked with companies like Allstate, American Idol, USA Olympic Track, IBM, McGraw-Hill and the US Army. He has also written numerous books on the subject of business strategy, leadership and sustainable growth. He has written and co-authored several books including “Blueprint for Success” with Stephen R. Covey and Ken Blanchard; and his best-selling book, “The 7 Stages of Small Business Success,” and Amazon #1 Best Seller, ‘Biz Dev Done Right.”
Resources Mentioned:
Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant: Guide to Financial Freedom by Robert Kiyosaki
Listen to the Quit & Get Rich Podcast
Connect with Carl:
https://carlgould.com/7stagegrowthacademy/
June 15, 2021
Healing Workplace Wounds with Susan Schmitt Winchester
This week Libby is joined by Susan Schmitt Winchester. Susan is the Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer for Applied Materials, a Fortune 200 company, and its more than 24,000 global employees. She has more than 30 years of experience in HR providing executive leadership, most recently at Rockwell Automation and the Kellogg Company.
But her path was not always easy. For many years Susan dealt with a strong case of “people pleasing” and perfectionism that she now realizes was part of an old script from her childhood replaying as she entered the workforce. Once she realized this, she took action to eliminate those old stories and now helps others find the ability to live more joyful lives.
Libby and Susan discuss:
The conscious healing path vs. the unconscious wounding pathUnderstanding our own triggersHow to release people-pleasing mentalitiesFinding self-responsibility and self-acceptance“Bumper car moments” in the workplaceWorkplace conflictsHer new book, Healing at Work: A Guide to Using Career Conflicts to Overcome Your Past and Build the FutureSusan continually looks to meet today’s global business challenges with creative HR strategies that engage people, support a dynamic, inclusive corporate culture, and enable exceptional performance. Her passion is teaching and inspiring executives, leaders and professionals in how to succeed by discovering greater self-acceptance, fulfillment and joy at work and in life.
Connect with Susan:
June 8, 2021
Women Building Wealth with Linda Cao
Libby speaks with wealth advisor Linda Cao about the many ways women can build wealth. Linda is the President of Silver Oak Wealth Advisors which has been providing clients with comprehensive wealth management services since 2005. In her role as advisor, Linda works closely with each client to develop a customized financial plan centered on their core values. Linda consults on wealth protection, wealth enhancement, and wealth transfer, and designs an investment portfolio that reflects each client’s unique risk profile and financial needs.
In this episode, Libby and Linda discuss:
“Human capital” and how to maximize earning potentialNegotiating like a manCommon mistakes Linda sees women make with their financesPreparing for life’s difficulties when it comes to finances (death, divorce, etc)Building financial resilienceWays to seek financial advice The single most important factor that determines a successful retirementIn addition to her strong analytical skills and financial knowledge, Linda brings with her a deep and genuine interest in helping clients to achieve a balanced and fulfilled life with the resources they have. She strives to support and inspire her clients to make sound financial decisions by infusing their life dreams, goals, and purpose into their spending, investments, risk management, and estate plans. She is a licensed Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Certified Financial Transitionist (CeFT®). She actively hosts Women’s Circle to “change the conversation” about personal finance for women and participates in advisory communities to empower, educate, and engage women in the management of their personal finances. She also specializes in empowering widows to lean into life, build resilience and make a positive difference in the world.
Connect with Linda:
June 1, 2021
Attitude is a Choice with Carey Portell
Libby is joined by speaker and author, Carey Portell. After surviving being hit by an impaired driver, Carey has learned to thrive despite the pain and disabilities the accident has caused her. Her ability to recognize that every day her choice in attitude will determine whether she succeeds or fails, has taught her to wake each day and ask the question,” What choice will you make?”
Libby and Carey discuss:
How she transitioned her work after the accidentHow she stays focused and moving forward dailyFinding purpose and accomplishment Her entrepreneurial spirit (and all the exciting endeavours she’s involved in)Why she chooses to only look forward How she continues to break through her limitationsCarey is a professional speaker by circumstance and has inspired thousands to change their perspectives by sharing her triumphs and challenges of her four year recovery. She has become an expert of breaking through limitations and guides her audience on a journey of self growth.
Connect with Carey:
Facing Life Head On: Healing with Courage, Gratitude, and Attitude by Carey Portell
May 26, 2021
DEI: A Guide for My Non-Black Friends with Connie St. John
Libby is joined once again by friend and former colleague, Connie St. John. Connie is founder and president of No Weapon Productions, which specializes in change your life entertainment 
for film, television, stage productions, and live events. As an award-winning writer/director, she has written and directed over 100 stage and screenplays that have been produced and screened all over the world. She also heads the St. John Consulting Group and the Game Changers Experience, which provide leadership, training and consulting services for business leaders and individuals all over the world.
This week, Libby and Connie discuss Diversity and Inclusion and share in topics like:
Seeing black people as individualsGiving the benefit of the doubtChanging language in the context of racismWhen you should be asking yourself “would I say this about a white person?”Seeking to understand versus seeking to confirm stereotypesWhen to fight injustice with your walletDifferent types of organizations when it comes to D&IThrough her companies, Connie and her team have developed a unique blend of entertainment and business strategies to enhance productivity, strengthen employee engagement, develop successful branding and communication campaigns, and create innovative solutions for corporations and entrepreneurs. Connie proudly serves on the Foundation board for the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where her son is an alum. She also serves on the board of the Women in Film & Video-DC organization, and is an advisory board member for NexxtOne Academy, a national nonprofit that prepares young people for careers in athletics, entertainment and fine arts. Based in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, Connie is a frequently sought-after public speaker, workshop leader, and business consultant.
Connect with Connie:
https://noweaponproductions.com/
https://stjohnconsultinggroup.com/
https://gamechangersexperience.com/
https://constantsthoughts.blogspot.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/connie-st-john-stjohnconsultinggroup/
https://www.instagram.com/conniesaintjohn
May 19, 2021
Talking Ethics with Rabbi Goldson
Libby is joined by Rabbi Yonason Goldson. Yonason is the director of Ethical Imperatives, LLC, where he works with leaders to create a culture of ethics that builds trust, sparks initiative, and drives productivity. He’s a keynote and TEDx speaker, trainer, coach, and community rabbi, as well as a podcast host, columnist and author, repentant hitchhiker, world traveler, and retired high school teacher in St. Louis. He’s published hundreds of articles applying ancient rabbinic wisdom to the challenges of the modern secular world, and six books, most recently “Grappling with the Gray: An Ethical Handbook for Personal Success and Business {rosperity.”
Libby and Yonason discuss:
How and why he became a rabbiWhy ethics are crucial to a successful businessHow becoming a rabbi taught him a lot about businessMorality versus ethicsUnderstanding rights and responsibilitiesThe first recorded advice in history for a CEOWhy Yonason goes out of his way to not invoke religion (and why you don’t need a religious foundation to implement ethical principles)Compliance as the enemy of ethicsWhy he’s hopeful about the future of our world and ethicsConnect with Yonason:
https://www.yonasongoldson.com/
https://www.yonasongoldson.com/books
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yonason-goldson/
https://www.youtube.com/c/yonasongoldson
https://www.facebook.com/yonasongoldson/
