Lolly Daskal's Blog, page 33
November 16, 2023
10 Ways To Have A Difficult Leadership Conversation And Succeed
Leaders play a vital role in guiding, motivating and directing their team members to achieve common goals and objectives. However, leadership is not always easy and leaders are often faced with difficult conversations they must have. In order to be an effective leader, it’s important to learn how to stay in control during these emotionally challenging conversations.
Here are ten ways to have a difficult leadership conversation and succeed:
Be strategic about time and place: As a leader, it’s important to be strategic about the timing and location of difficult conversations. Planning the timing and location of these conversations can help ensure that you are at your best and able to handle the emotions that come with them. Consider doing difficult conversations outside while walking to take advantage of the benefits of movement.
Validate difficult emotions early: As a leader, it’s important to recognize and accept difficult emotions, rather than trying to solve or avoid them, to reduce emotional intensity and tension. Difficult emotions, while uncomfortable, are not dangerous.
Criticize behavior, not character When addressing problematic behavior as a leader, it’s important to focus on specific actions rather than making general, negative character judgments. This approach can help prevent the conversation from becoming personal and defensive.
Use “I” statements: When expressing your own thoughts and feelings as a leader, it’s important to use “I” statements to take responsibility for your own perspective. This can make it easier for the other person to hear and understand your perspective.
Ask open-ended questions As a leader, it’s important to ask open-ended questions that encourage the other person to share their perspective and thoughts. This can help to foster understanding and create a more productive conversation.
Avoid interrupting: As a leader, it’s important to allow the other person to fully express their thoughts and feelings without interrupting. Interrupting can come across as dismissive or disrespectful and can make the conversation more difficult.
Practice active listening: As a leader, it’s important to show that you are actively listening by making eye contact, nodding, and repeating back what the other person has said. This can help to build trust and understanding between the two of you.
Take a break: If the conversation as a leader becomes too emotionally charged, it’s important to take a break and come back to it later. This can help you to regain control of your emotions and approach the conversation with a clearer mind.
Focus on solutions: As a leader, it’s important to focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems and negative emotions. This can help to turn the conversation into a more productive and positive one.
Follow up: After the conversation it’s important to follow up with the other person to ensure that any agreements or solutions are being implemented. This can help to ensure that the conversation was effective and that progress is being made.
In conclusion, as a leader, it’s crucial to approach difficult conversations strategically. By effectively navigating these conversations, leaders can build trust, foster understanding, and find solutions that can lead to progress.
Lead From Within: Difficult conversations are a part of every leadership journey, but with the right tools and mindset, they can become opportunities for 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 10 Ways To Have A Difficult Leadership Conversation And Succeed appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
November 15, 2023
6 Times When a Leader Can Go Overboard, but Should Stop
As a leader, it’s important to have a balance of care and accountability for your employees. While it’s important to have a supportive and motivating environment, going overboard in certain areas can have negative consequences for both the leader and the team.
Here are six times when a leader can go overboard and they should stop immediately:
When leaders are being a perfectionist: When leaders are perfectionists, they tend to scrutinize everyone’s work, disempowering their team members in the process. This can lead to disengagement and turnover and can also derail the process. The best leaders understand that perfectionism is a constant source of stress and that it’s impossible to achieve. Instead, they focus on setting realistic goals and working towards them.
When leaders are asking for too many options: Effective leaders make quick decisions, even if it entails painful consequences. Overboard leaders can get stuck in a cycle of asking for too many options, but the best leaders understand that indecision and over-analysis can lead to missed opportunities and wasted time. They take steps to avoid this and make decisions that will benefit the team.
When leaders are leading with autonomy: Leaders can also go overboard when leading with autonomy by not being inclusive and leaving talent behind. This can make their team resentful. The best leaders avoid this by leading with valuing the contributions of their team members.
When leaders care too much: Can leaders care too much, yes they can when it makes them avoid confrontation or giving honest feedback. A true caring leader understands that making difficult decisions and inflicting short-term discomfort can lead to long-term benefits for everyone, and the real caring is being honest.
When leaders are micromanaging: Micromanaging is a way leaders can go overboard, stifling creativity and initiative among their team members. Leaving the person feeling unimportant and not as a contributor. If you want to succeed in leadership then stop going overboard with your micromanaging and start delegating, allow your people to show you what they are capable of.
When leaders are constantly interrupting: The best leaders understand that while speaking and sharing their knowledge is important, it’s equally important to listen to others. By interrupting constantly, leaders risk missing out on valuable insights and ideas from their team members. Interrupting also creates an environment where team members may feel discouraged from speaking up and sharing their thoughts. The best leaders know that to truly succeed, they must actively listen to their team and create a space where everyone feels heard and valued.
In conclusion, going overboard in one area or the other can have negative consequences for both the leader and the team. By being aware of these potential pitfalls, leaders can take steps to avoid them and create a more effective and productive team.
Lead From Within: Many leaders can go overboard, but the best leaders know when their leadership is infringing on their own potential and learn to stop.
#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 6 Times When a Leader Can Go Overboard, but Should Stop appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
November 14, 2023
4 Critical Times A Leader Must Keep Their Leadership Distance
Leadership is all about connecting and relating with those you lead. It’s about building trust and fostering a positive work environment. However, there are certain situations where it’s crucial to keep your leadership distance.
As a leader, here are the four critical times you must keep your distance:
When you play favorites: Favoritism is a surefire way to erode trust and create division among your team. When you show favoritism, it sends a message that some employees are more valuable than others, and this can lead to resentment and negative feelings. As a leader, it’s important to be fair and impartial in your decision-making and interactions with your team.
When your judgement is being questioned: As a leader, your judgement is crucial to the success of your team. However, there may be times when your judgement is called into question. When this happens, it’s important to keep your distance and listen to the concerns of your team. Take time to reflect on the situation and consider different perspectives. Be open to feedback and be willing to make changes if necessary.
When you have crossed boundaries: Boundaries are essential in any relationship, and this includes the relationship between a leader and their team. When you cross boundaries, it can make people uncomfortable and damage trust. As a leader, it’s important to be aware of your actions and to be mindful of the impact they may have on others. If you find yourself crossing boundaries, take a step back and reassess your actions.
When you have the inability to lead: Leadership is not just about being in a position of power, but about having the ability to lead and inspire others. When you lack the skills or experience to lead effectively, it’s best to step back and let someone else take the reins. As a leader, this allows you to focus on developing your leadership skills and learning from those who are more experienced.
In conclusion, employees need a leader they can trust, not someone who makes them feel uncomfortable. As a leader, it’s important to be aware of these critical times when it may be necessary to keep your leadership distance.
Lead From Within: At the end of the day, leadership is about making those they lead comfortable and trusted if they cannot do that, a leader must distance themselves.
#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 4 Critical Times A Leader Must Keep Their Leadership Distance appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
November 13, 2023
Why You Shouldn’t Neglect Leadership Development
As a leadership executive coach, one of the most common mistakes I see leaders make is neglecting their own leadership development. They become so focused on their day-to-day responsibilities and the needs of their team that they fail to invest time and energy into growing their own leadership skills. However, neglecting leadership development can have serious consequences for both the leader and their organization.
Here are four reasons why leadership development should not be neglected:
You’ll struggle to adapt to change: Change is a constant in today’s business environment, and leaders who neglect their development will find it difficult to adapt to new challenges and opportunities. Without ongoing learning and growth, leaders become stuck in their ways and are less able to think strategically and creatively.
Your team will suffer: Leadership development isn’t just about the leader, it’s also about the team they lead. A leader who neglects their development will struggle to inspire, motivate and guide their team effectively. Without strong leadership, teams can become demotivated, disorganized, and unproductive.
Your career will stall: Leadership development is essential for career advancement. High-level positions require strong leadership abilities and neglecting to develop these skills will limit your opportunities for advancement. Investing in your own development will help you position yourself for more senior roles and greater responsibility within your organization.
Your organization’s performance will suffer: Leadership development isn’t just good for the individual leader, it’s good for the organization as a whole. Effective leadership is crucial for driving organizational performance, and neglecting leadership development can have a negative impact on overall performance.
In conclusion, as a leader, it is important to understand that leadership development is not a luxury, but a necessity. Neglecting leadership development can have serious consequences, not just for you but for your team and your organization. It’s essential that leaders make leadership development a priority and commit to ongoing learning and growth in order to meet the challenges and opportunities of today’s business environment.
Lead From Within: Leadership development is investing in yourself as a leader it will not only benefit you but also your team and organization.
The post Why You Shouldn’t Neglect Leadership Development appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
November 10, 2023
How to Lead Teams Through the Roughest Times
Leading a team through tough times can be a challenging task for any leader. Despite being stressful and taxing, crises are opportunities for leaders to rise to the challenges and prove the value of their stewardship. Great leaders know how to steer their organizations through the roughest times by doing the following:
Effective communication: As a leader, it is important to be transparent with your team about the challenges and opportunities that the crisis presents. By keeping your team informed and involved, you can help to build trust and promote a sense of collective responsibility.
Reserving the culture: An important aspect of leading teams through rough times is maintaining the culture of the organization. Crises can test the resilience of even the strongest cultures, but it is important for leaders to work to preserve the values and vision of the organization, even in the face of adversity.
Maintaining visibility: Great leaders are visible and accessible to their teams during crisis. They lead by example, showing vulnerability, seeking help when needed, and helping others. This helps to instill a sense of trust and confidence in the team, and can prevent the loss of valuable team members.
Establishing inclusivity: The most effective leaders are great at establishing an inclusive environment that encourages participation and collaboration. By giving everyone a voice, leaders can tap into the collective wisdom and creativity of their teams, and develop solutions that are more effective and sustainable.
In summary, the most effective leaders are always working on developing skills they need to lead through the roughest times, they know navigating their organizations through crisis will help them emerge everyone, stronger and on the other side of the crisis.
Lead From Within: The challenge of leadership is to be strong in the roughest times and to keep their fears to themselves but share their courage with others.
#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 How to Lead Teams Through the Roughest Times appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
November 9, 2023
6 Habits Of Leaders Who Are Great Communicators
Leadership and effective communication go hand in hand. In order to lead a team successfully, leaders must be able to communicate effectively with their team members, stakeholders, and other key individuals.
There are habits that great leaders do to be great communicators:
Active listening: Great leaders are active listeners. They listen to their team members and stakeholders with an open mind, and actively seek out their opinions and feedback. They understand that communication is not just about speaking, but also about listening.
Clarity: Great leaders are clear and concise in their communication. They are able to convey their message in a way that is easy for others to understand and act upon. They avoid using jargon or complex language that can be confusing.
Empathy: Great leaders are empathetic communicators. They understand the perspectives and feelings of others, and are able to respond accordingly. They are able to put themselves in the shoes of their team members and stakeholders, and communicate in a way that is respectful and understanding.
Openness: Great leaders are open and transparent in their communication. They are not afraid to share information and are willing to be honest and upfront about the status of a project or situation. They understand the importance of keeping their team members informed and in the loop.
Confidence: Great leaders are confident communicators. They speak with conviction and authority, and are able to inspire and motivate their team members. They understand the importance of body language and nonverbal communication, and use it to their advantage.
Consistency: Great leaders are consistent in their communication. They are able to maintain a consistent message and tone, regardless of the audience or situation. They understand the importance of consistency in building trust and credibility.
In conclusion, by developing and maintaining these six habits, leaders can become great communicators.
Lead From Within: The best leaders know that communication is a two-way street, and true leaders not only speak, but also listen, empathize and be open to feedback.
#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 6 Habits Of Leaders Who Are Great Communicators appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
November 8, 2023
How to Turn Leadership Weaknesses into Strengths
Leadership is a complex and challenging role, and even the most experienced leaders have areas where they could improve. However, recognizing and addressing your leadership weaknesses can help you turn them into strengths. Here are some tips for turning your leadership weaknesses into strengths:
Identify your weaknesses: The best leaders are skilled at turning their weaknesses into strengths. To do this, they first identify what their weaknesses are by taking an honest look at themselves and seeking feedback from their team, colleagues, and mentors. They are open to constructive criticism and take note of areas where they could improve.
Embrace your weaknesses: The best leaders, embrace their weaknesses as opportunities for growth and development. By understanding their limitations, they can set realistic goals and take the necessary steps to improve.
Establish accountability: The best leaders hold themselves accountable for their actions and decisions. They do not use excuses to avoid accountability and instead promote accountability within themselves. By doing so, they demonstrate strong character and integrity as a leader.
Seek out feedback: The best leaders recognize the value of seeking out feedback.By regularly seeking feedback and actively listening to the perspectives of others, they can better understand their strengths and weaknesses, and make adjustments to their leadership style accordingly.
Practice to improve: The best leaders understand the importance of practice in improving their weaknesses. Reflecting on what worked and what didn’t, helps them make adjustments to improve their weaknesses.
Develop a Plan: The best leaders develop a plan to address their strengths and weaknesses. This might include taking a course, working with a coach, or seeking mentorship. They are specific about what they want to achieve and set realistic goals with the help of others.
Bottom line, when leaders embrace both their strengths and weaknesses, they stay vigilant of themselves and in doing so, lead others to greatness.
Lead From Within: Strength and weakness are not limitations, they are a leader’s framework for self-improvement.
#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 How to Turn Leadership Weaknesses into Strengths appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
November 7, 2023
How to Train Yourself to Be a Great Leader
Leadership is a skill that can be learned and developed, even for those who may consider themselves “born leaders.” In order to attain long-term success in leadership, it is important to train yourself to become a great leader and you can do it in the following ways:
Building trust: Building trust is crucial in leadership. One of the most important ways to do this is by consistently keeping your word. This consistency and reliability leads to discipline and integrity, two more cornerstones of successful leadership.
Asking for feedback: Feedback is essential for intelligent leadership. Instead of waiting for others to provide feedback, leaders should actively seek it out and provide constructive feedback in return. By doing so, leaders can head off potential problems and show their team that their opinions matter.
Embracing personal growth: Business coaching professionals understand that the expansion of enterprise hinges on two variables: the growth of your team and your personal growth. Focusing on your team and the support it needs is important, but don’t forget to train yourself to be a better leader as well.
Treating others the way you want to be treated: A leader should always treat their team members and colleagues with respect, fairness, and kindness. This will foster a positive work environment and increase the chances of good relationship with your team.
Keeping your promises: Keeping your promises is a key part of building credibility. When leaders make a promise, they must follow through with it, regardless of how challenging it may be. Backtracking on a promise can ruin years of trust and credibility that a leader has built.
In summary, there are many ways to train yourself to be a great leader, and with the right mindset, training, and support, anyone can become a successful leader.
Lead From Within: When it comes to training yourself to lead, it is important to model the behaviors you want to see in others in your organization.
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 Train Yourself to Be a Great Leader appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
November 6, 2023
5 Important Tips to Help Leaders Avoid Overwhelm
Leadership can be a demanding role, and it’s all too easy for leaders to become overwhelmed by the pressures and responsibilities that come with the job. However, there are steps that leaders can take to avoid or manage feelings of overwhelm.
As an executive leadership coach, here are five important tips I coach my clients, to help them avoid becoming overwhelmed:
Prioritize self-care: Leaders need to take care of themselves physically, emotionally, and mentally in order to be able to lead effectively. This means taking time to exercise, eat well, get enough sleep, and engage in activities that bring them joy and relaxation.
Learn to delegate: As a leader, it’s easy to feel like you need to do everything yourself in order to ensure that it’s done right. However, delegating tasks to other team members can be a great way to reduce your workload and build the leadership skills of others.
Set boundaries: It’s important for leaders to set clear boundaries around their time and energy. This means learning to say “no” to tasks or requests that aren’t essential, and being mindful of the time and energy that different tasks require.
Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment, without judgment. By focusing on the present moment, leaders can reduce feelings of overwhelm and anxiety, and make more effective decisions.
Seek support: Leaders don’t have to go it alone. It’s important to seek out support from others, whether that’s through mentorship, coaching, or simply talking to a trusted colleague. Sharing your concerns and experiences with others can help to reduce feelings of isolation and provide valuable perspective.
In summary, being a leader is not an easy task, but with the right mindset, skills, and support, leaders can avoid feeling overwhelmed and continue to lead effectively.
Lead From Within: One cannot expect to guide others effectively, if they themselves are not taking care of their own well-being. True leadership begins with leading by example.
#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 5 Important Tips to Help Leaders Avoid Overwhelm appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
November 3, 2023
When Leadership Is Essential: Knowing When to Lead the Way
Leadership is an essential aspect of any organization, as it sets the tone and direction for the team. A good leader not only ensures efficient use of resources, but also inspires, encourages, builds trust, and boosts morale. They act as mentors and empower their employees to reach their full potential.
Here are some key times when leaders are especially needed:
Creating a purpose: Leaders play a vital role in setting the purpose and goals for their teams. They provide clarity and direction, which is essential for a team to function effectively. They also motivate and support their team members to achieve these goals, by clarifying roles and creating an environment that allows them to do their best.
Setting values: Leaders are responsible for setting the values and culture of an organization, and they must lead by example. They must model the values and behaviors that they expect from their team members, which helps to build trust and reinforce the strength of the organization’s values.
Empowering employees: Leaders must empower their employees by delegating work and giving them the freedom to come up with solutions. This leads to employee engagement and retention. Leaders must also be able to identify when to delegate and when to handle work themselves.
Facilitating decision-making: Leaders must coach their employees to become strong decision makers. Decisiveness helps leaders make effective decisions, and they should facilitate and coach their team to becoming really good at making decisions in a timely manner.
Guiding with commitment: Leaders must provide guidance to their team members to ensure that their efforts align with the goals of the organization. They must also display a strong commitment to the long-term goals of the organization, which inspires their team members to buy into the mission and take ownership of the organization’s goals.
Leadership is an ongoing journey, and leaders must constantly work to improve themselves. They must be able to identify when they are needed the most by focusing on these key areas, leaders can lead their teams to success.
Lead From Within: True leadership lies in the ability to navigate the delicate balance of leading and knowing when to take charge and when to empower others. This is what sets the most effective leaders apart.
#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 When Leadership Is Essential: Knowing When to Lead the Way appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
