Lolly Daskal's Blog, page 31
December 13, 2023
How to Manage Your Leadership Frustration Successfully at Work
No leader can avoid or hide from adversity and frustration. Intelligent leaders are self-aware and emotionally intelligent enough to realize they can deal with frustration by exercising emotional control. Preparing for rough situations ahead of time allows leaders to respond to frustration rather than react to it.
Here is how you can control your leadership frustration successfully at work:
Be Responsive Not Reactive: Successful leaders manage their frustration by being responsive, rather than reactive, when facing challenges. This means taking a step back to consider the implications of their actions before responding. By being responsive, leaders can make calculated decisions that align with the goals of the team and organization.
Prepare Yourself for High Stress Situations: Successful leaders prepare for high-stress situations in advance. They identify potential issues and devise solutions, rather than running and hiding. Preparing ahead of time makes leaders less likely to react emotionally and more likely to make thoughtful decisions.
Manage Your Emotional Outbursts: Successful leaders manage their emotional outbursts by taking a step back in certain situations and considering the implications of their actions before responding. By managing emotional reactions, leaders can take calculated actions that align with the goals of the team and organization.
Seek Outside Counsel: Successful leaders understand the importance of having an outside perspective on their challenges. By talking to someone about the situation, leaders can gain fresh insights and new ideas that they may not have considered. Working with a leadership executive coach can be especially beneficial, as they can to help to boost a leader’s confidence. This can help to keep frustration at bay and ensure that leaders are able to make the best decisions for their team and organization.
Bottom line, while no one can completely avoid frustration and adversity, it is how one deals with these variables that defines their ability to lead and inspire others.
Lead From Within: Leadership frustration is the fertilizer for growth. It helps you identify your weaknesses and drives you to improve them.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
The post How to Manage Your Leadership Frustration Successfully at Work appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
December 12, 2023
The Habits of Highly Ineffective Leaders (And How to Avoid Them)
As an executive leadership coach, I have seen time and time again how successful leaders unknowingly sabotage their own success through certain habits that they fail to recognize as detrimental. These habits can hold leaders back from being effective.
Here are some habits of highly ineffective leaders, and how to avoid them:
Tempting to be funny: The desire to be witty and display wit can be detrimental to leadership if it involves sarcasm or remarks that hurt others. This can create a negative atmosphere and erode trust and respect among team members. The way to avoid this is to be aware of how your words and actions may be perceived by others.
Seeking to add value: Successful leaders may feel that their successes oblige them to chime in on every discussion and that their thoughts will add value. However, this can often lead to overstepping and interrupting conversations, which can come across as arrogant and dismissive of others’ ideas. The way to avoid this is to listen more and speak less, to give others space to express their thoughts and ideas and to be mindful of how your actions may be perceived by others.
Imposing personal standards: When leaders think they have the recipe for success, they may grow impatient with others and pass judgment on them, imposing their own standards and values on them. This can lead to feelings of resentment and disengagement among team members. The way to avoid this is to be open-minded, to be willing to learn from others, and to be respectful of others’ perspectives and values.
Being right all the time: The addiction to winning can lead some leaders to feel compelled to always emerge as the winner in every argument, discussion, or undertaking. This can lead to a toxic competitive environment where team members are constantly vying for approval rather than working together for a common goal. To avoid this, leaders should focus on creating a culture of collaboration, where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and working together towards a common goal.
Sharing negativity: As leaders, when things go wrong it is easy to have a tendency to constantly share your negative thoughts and opinions, even when they are not asked for. This type of behavior can create a toxic environment and discourage others from sharing their own ideas and suggestions. To avoid this, leaders should strive to maintain a positive attitude and to encourage others to do the same.
Withholding information: A common tactic used by some leaders is to withhold important information from others in order to gain an advantage. This type of behavior is not only unethical, but it also hinders the growth and success of the organization. To avoid this, true leaders should always strive to be transparent and open with their team, ensuring that all team members have access to the information they need to be successful.
Avoiding expressing regret: As leaders, we are often expected to be infallible and to always have the answers. However, this can lead to a fear of expressing regret or admitting mistakes. To avoid this, the best leaders know that expressing regret and taking responsibility for their actions is a crucial part of being a successful leader. It builds trust and respect with our team and shows that we are human and capable of making mistakes.
Successful leaders often sabotage themselves through more or less subtle habits they fail to recognize as detrimental. Leadership coaching can help leaders recognize and rectify these behaviors. By identifying and addressing these negative habits, leaders can improve their interpersonal relationships and become more effective leaders.
Lead From Within: Successful leadership is not about being perfect, it’s about being authentic and constantly striving to improve oneself as a leader.
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
The post The Habits of Highly Ineffective Leaders (And How to Avoid Them) appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
December 11, 2023
How the Best Leaders Know Their Strategies Aren’t Working
Leadership is a complex and dynamic process that requires constant adaptation and evolution. The best leaders understand that their strategies may not always work and are willing to make adjustments to empower and engage their employees.
Here’s how the best leaders know when their strategies aren’t working:
Being too demanding: One way the best leaders know when their strategies aren’t working is by being too demanding. Productive work requires an atmosphere of psychological safety, and being overly stern can create an environment of fear and apprehension. This can lead to employees becoming more forgetful and doing less, rather than feeling empowered to step forth and take responsibility.
Micromanaging the workforce: Another red flag for leaders is micromanaging the workforce. Control-focused leaders may equate leadership with duties and need to control every aspect of a team’s activity. This behavior can lead to employee disengagement and inefficiencies.
The “know- it- all” attitude: Some leaders tend to believe that they have all the answers and want to dictate how things should be done. They come with a know-it-all attitude, but the best leaders understand that true leadership is about allowing those they lead to take ownership of their work and make decisions on their own.
Playing the blame game: Playing the blame game is a quick way to lose employees’ trust, respect, and participation. The best leaders take responsibility for everything that goes wrong, while giving credit to their teams for success.
Lack of employee engagement: The best leaders also know that if employees find no enjoyment in their work or see no value in hard work, they need to change the way they lead. A lack of employee engagement can be a sign that their strategies aren’t working.
Bottom line, the best leaders are always tuned into their employees and are willing to make adjustments when they realize their strategies aren’t working. Therefore, the best leaders like working with an executive leadership coaching can help identify gaps in skills and attitudes, and point leaders in the right direction to improve their techniques.
Lead From Within: Great leadership is about having effective strategies that empower and engage employees to execute them effectively.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
The post How the Best Leaders Know Their Strategies Aren’t Working appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
December 8, 2023
7 Questions Every Leader Needs to Ask Their Direct Reports
It’s crucial for every successful leader to understand the motivations and drivers of their direct reports. The best leaders take the time to regularly check in with their team members and ask the right questions to gain valuable insights into how to support and motivate them.
As an executive leadership coach, I have helped my clients come up with seven of the most important questions that will create a positive and successful working environment with their direct reports. And here they are:
How can we invest in your future here? As an effective leader, it is important to understand your direct reports’ career goals and aspirations. By asking this question, you can gain insight into what they need to grow and advance within the company. This can help you create development plans and opportunities that align with their goals, and ensure that they feel invested in the company’s future.
What do you need from us to do your best work? Successful leaders understand that every direct report has different needs and preferences when it comes to how they work. By asking this question, you can gain insight into what support and resources your team members need to be successful in their roles. This can help you create a more supportive and effective working environment for everyone on your team.
What additional resources do you need? As an effective leader, it is important to understand the resources that your direct report needs to do their jobs effectively. By asking this question, you can gain insight into what resources are lacking and make changes to ensure that your team has the tools they need to be successful.
What are we currently not doing for you, that we should do? Successful leaders are always looking for ways to improve their teams. By asking this question, you can gain valuable insights into what changes your direct report would like to see in the company. This can help you identify areas for improvement and make positive changes that benefit the entire team.
What is the best part of your job? As an effective leader, it’s important to understand what your direct reports enjoy about their work. By asking this question, you can gain insight into what aspects of their job they find most rewarding, and make changes to ensure that they continue to feel engaged and motivated in their role.
What part of your job would you eliminate? Successful leaders understand that not all aspects of a job are enjoyable or fulfilling. By asking this question, you can gain insight into what your direct report finds to be the least enjoyable or most tedious parts of their job. This can help you make changes to make their work more enjoyable and effective.
What is the one area where you think the company could improve? As an effective leader, it is important to continuously look for ways to improve your company. By asking this question, you can gain valuable insights from your team members on areas where they think the company could improve. This can help you identify areas for improvement and make positive changes that benefit the entire team.
When leaders make checking in with these seven questions a regular part of how they interact with their direct reports, it helps ensure that people feel seen and valued. And when leaders help their direct reports feel that way, they’re more likely to be rewarded by employees who become advocates for the department and organization, no matter how long they stay.
Lead From Within: By asking the right questions and actively listening to the answers, leaders can create a positive and supportive team of direct reports.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E RThe Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
The post 7 Questions Every Leader Needs to Ask Their Direct Reports appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
December 7, 2023
How The Best Leaders Handle Situations They Can’t Control
Leadership is a challenging task, and it can be easy for leaders to fall into the trap of feeling the need to control everything around them. However, in the real world, there are many things that are simply beyond our control.
Here are a few ways the best leaders handle situations they can’t control, and as a top leadership executive coach, I provide tips on how you can become a more effective leader in the face of things you believe are out of control:
Control what you can: As a leader, it’s essential to have a clear and unbiased perspective when evaluating situations that seem out of your control. By taking a long, objective look, you may discover opportunities to take control of the situation. Cultivating self-awareness is crucial for understanding your own abilities and limitations, and for identifying the actions you can take to positively impact the situation.
Shift your mindset: One of the most important things a leader can do in situations they can’t control is to shift their mindset. Instead of focusing on what can’t be done, focus on what can be done. As a leader, this shift in perspective can open up new possibilities and help you find creative solutions to problems and challenges you may be experiencing.
Curtail micromanagement: Leaders who are prone to micromanaging often struggle in situations they can’t control. To be effective, it’s important to suppress your micromanagement tendencies and give your team the freedom to work independently. As a leader, this can help to build trust and empower your team to take ownership of their work.
Assume the best: In uncertain situations, it’s easy to fall into a negative mindset. However, the best leaders assume the best and approach challenges with a positive attitude. As a leader, this can help to keep morale high and inspire your team to work together to overcome obstacles.
Be consistent: Consistency is crucial for effective leadership, regardless of the situation. Don’t become more lenient with certain employees or when you feel tired. This can lead to employees choosing not to follow regulations. As a leader, a consistent approach to leadership can help to build trust and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Leadership can be most rewarding, but it can also be one of the most difficult. By understanding what you can and cannot control, you can become a more effective leader in any situation.
Lead From Within: The ultimate measure of a great leader is not where they stands in the moments of comfort, but where they stands at times of challenge.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
The post How The Best Leaders Handle Situations They Can’t Control appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
December 6, 2023
The Most Important Skills for Building and Leading Effective Teams
Leading teams successfully is important because it enables leaders to achieve the goals and objectives of an organization.
When leaders are able to effectively lead their teams, they can foster a positive and productive work environment, and they can maximize the talents and contributions of their employees.
But not many leader know how to build effective teams, as a executive leadership coach I coach my clients on the important skills needed to create effective teams, here are my suggestions:
Concise communication: Effective communication allows leaders to listen to and understand the perspectives and needs of their team members. By engaging in open and honest communication, leaders can foster a culture of collaboration and support. Consequently, they can improve relationships and trust within the team.
Emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence allows leaders to effectively communicate with and motivate their team members. By understanding and managing emotions, leaders can create a positive and supportive work environment. As a result, they can foster collaboration and trust within the team.
Strategic thinking. Strategic thinking is the ability to analyze, plan, and implement strategies that support the goals and objectives of an organization. It is essential for leading teams. Therefore, it enables leaders to develop and execute effective plans and strategies.
Decision-making. Decision-making is the ability to evaluate options, consider consequences, and make choices that are aligned with the goals and values of an organization. It is essential for leading teams. As a result, it enables leaders to make sound and effective decisions.
Conflict resolution. Conflict resolution is the ability to identify and address conflicts and disagreements in a constructive and collaborative manner. It is essential for leading teams. Therefore, it enables leaders to resolve conflicts and maintain a positive and productive work environment.
Coaching and mentoring. Coaching and mentoring are the ability to provide guidance, support, and feedback to help employees develop and improve their skills and abilities. It is essential for leading teams. As a result, it enables leaders to help employees grow and succeed.
These are just some of the many important skills needed for leading teams effectively. These skills are essential for enabling leaders to be successful, impactful, and effective in their roles.
Lead From Within: Having the right skills is essential to build successful teams and make a positive impact. Investing in your team’s skills is important for their growth and success.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
The post The Most Important Skills for Building and Leading Effective Teams appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
How to Prepare Your Workforce for the Future of Work
As the landscape of business undergoes seismic shifts due to technologies like AI and blockchain, leaders face the challenge of future-proofing their workforce. The responsibility for navigating this uncharted terrain rests on the shoulders of those in leadership positions. Here, we delve into unique and compelling strategies to help leaders forge a workforce that is ready for the future.
The Rise of Holacracy: The trend towards decentralized leadership—sometimes known as holacracy—challenges the traditional hierarchy of organizations. In this model, teams function more autonomously, guided by a shared purpose rather than a top-down directive.
Champion Digital Fluency: Ensure all employees, especially leaders, have basic technical proficiency. Hold beginner workshops on trends like AI, automation, and cybersecurity. Digital fluency is a must-have.
Building a Moral Framework for Machine Decisions: With AI making more decisions in the business, ethical considerations are becoming crucial. Leaders should work on creating ethical guidelines for AI operations to ensure fairness and transparency.
Preparing the Workforce for Virtual Reality: As virtual and augmented reality technologies mature, the possibility of working in a ‘metaverse’ is becoming more real. Leaders need to anticipate the implications and opportunities of this transformative shift.
Crisis Management in the AI Era: Whether it’s a global pandemic or an AI-induced market disruption, crises are part of the business landscape. Leaders must build teams that can adapt to and recover from these challenges quickly and efficiently.
Communicate Transparently and Empathetically: Be open about coming changes. Show how disruption will benefit workers through upskilling, safer environments, and more meaningful work.
The future of work requires lifelong learning and adaptation. With foresight and compassion, you can lead your workforce to thrive amidst transformation.
Lead From Within: True leadership lies in preparing not just yourself but also those you lead for what lies ahead. As we navigate this new frontier, remember that the best way to predict the future is to invent it.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow OldA Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness 11 Powerful Ways Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Leadership Forever 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves How the Best Leaders Help their Remote Employees Thrive The One Quality Every Leader Needs To SucceedThe Deception Trap of LeadershipThe post How to Prepare Your Workforce for the Future of Work appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
December 5, 2023
Why Charismatic Leaders May Not Be As Effective As We All Think
Charismatic leadership is often seen as the ideal leadership style. Charismatic leaders are confident, outgoing, and have the ability to inspire and motivate others. However, while charismatic leaders may have the ability to rally a team and achieve great things, there are also many disadvantages to this leadership style.
Here are four reasons why charismatic leaders may not be as effective as we all think:
Charismatic leaders may be more focused on their own goals and desires than those of the team: As a charismatic leader, you may be so focused on your own vision and goals that you fail to take into account the needs and concerns of your team. This can lead to a lack of trust and respect among team members, which can ultimately hinder the success of the team.
Charismatic leaders may be more prone to making decisions based on personal biases: As a charismatic leader, you may be so convinced of your own ideas and beliefs that you fail to consider alternative perspectives and options. This can lead to poor decision-making and a lack of creativity and innovation within the team.
Charismatic leaders may be more likely to become arrogant and dismissive of others: As a charismatic leader, you may be so convinced of your own abilities and expertise that you fail to listen to the ideas and suggestions of others. This can lead to a lack of collaboration and teamwork, which can ultimately hinder the success of the team.
Charismatic leaders may be more likely to become complacent and fail to adapt to changing circumstances: As a charismatic leader, you may be so convinced of your own abilities and success that you fail to recognize the need for change and adaptation. This can lead to a lack of innovation and progress, which can ultimately hinder the success of the team.
Bottom line, charismatic leadership can be a powerful tool for achieving great things. However, it is important to be aware of the potential downsides and mistakes that can be made by charismatic leaders.
Lead From Within: The most effective leaders can use their charisma in a positive way, rather than allowing it to become a hindrance to their leadership.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E RThe Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
The post Why Charismatic Leaders May Not Be As Effective As We All Think appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
December 4, 2023
The Different Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest
The best leaders have a different mindset than most leaders, which enables them to effectively lead and inspire their employees and teams.
Here are some key mindsets that distinguish the best leaders from the rest:
Growth mindset: The best leaders have a growth mindset, which is the belief that they can grow and develop their skills and abilities. Open to learning and development, they are willing to challenge themselves and take risks to improve and grow. Consequently, this enables them to continuously improve and adapt as leaders, and to effectively respond to changing market conditions and customer needs.
Emotional intelligence mindset: The best leaders have high levels of emotional intelligence, which is the ability to understand and manage their own emotions and the emotions of others. They are self-aware, empathetic, and able to effectively communicate and connect with their employees. Therefore, it enables them to create strong relationships and build trust and respect among their employees and teams.
Strategic mindset: The best leaders have the ability to think strategically. This allows them to create and implement effective business strategies. They are also innovative and able to think outside the box. As a result, their organizations are able to grow and thrive.
Adaptable mindset: The best leaders are adaptable, which means that they are able to quickly and effectively respond to changing market conditions and customer needs. They are open to new ideas and approaches. Additionally, they are willing to challenge the status quo and take calculated risks. As result, this enables them to create a more adaptable and resilient organization. Thus, better able respond to uncertainty and challenges.
Collaborative mindset: The best leaders are collaborative, which means that they are able to effectively work with and lead teams. They create opportunities for collaboration and teamwork, and encourage their employees to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences. Therefore, it enables their employees to learn from each other, and to develop strong relationships and in return, it gives them a sense of community within the organization.
The best leaders have a growth mindset, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking abilities, adaptability, and collaboration. By developing these mindsets, leaders can effectively lead and inspire their employees and teams, and can help their organizations to grow and succeed.
Lead From Within: Having the right mindset is key to successful leadership. A growth mindset can help you become the leader you want to be.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
The post The Different Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
December 1, 2023
Unleash Your Inner Leader: Learn to Develop Your Leadership Style
Having a leadership style is important because it defines how a leader approaches their role and interacts with others.
To develop your leadership style, it’s important to unleash the inner leader within. This will allow you, as a leader, to become more effective and impactful not only with yourself, but also with others.
Here are some tips and techniques for developing your leadership style:
Identify your strengths and weaknesses. To unleash your inner leader, it’s important to identify your strengths and weaknesses. This can involve conducting a self-assessment, soliciting feedback from others. Additionally, it might take seeking advice and guidance from mentors and colleagues. As a result, identifying your strengths and weaknesses, you can gain insight into your leadership abilities and areas for improvement.
Understand your values and beliefs. To unleash your inner leader, it’s important to understand who you are and what you stand for. Therefore, knowing your values and beliefs are important. By understanding your values and beliefs, you can ensure that your leadership style is authentic and genuine. Moreover, it will help you get aligned with your personal and professional goals.
Learn from others. To unleash your inner leader, it’s important to learn from others. This can involve observing and studying the leadership styles of successful leaders. Additionally, it can involve seeking feedback and advice from mentors, colleagues, and experts. As a result, learning from others, you can gain valuable insights and perspectives on leadership, and you can develop your leadership skills and abilities.
Reflect and evaluate. To unleash your inner leader, it’s important to reflect and evaluate. This involves regularly reviewing and reflecting on your leadership style, and it involves evaluating the effectiveness of your leadership style based on feedback, results, and goals. By reflecting and evaluating, you can continuously improve and refine your leadership style. As a result, you can ensure that it is effective and successful in achieving your goals.
Lead From Within: Unleash the leader within and learn to develop your leadership style so you can maximize your impact with self and others.
The post Unleash Your Inner Leader: Learn to Develop Your Leadership Style appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
