Lolly Daskal's Blog, page 34
November 2, 2023
6 Things Leaders Should Never Stop Doing
Leadership is a vital aspect of any organization, and leaders play a crucial role in shaping the direction and success of their teams. However, leadership is not a one-time task, but rather a continuous journey of learning, growth, and development.
Here are some leadership behaviors that leaders should never stop doing:
Being accountable: Leaders must hold themselves accountable for their actions and the success of their team. By being accountable, they demonstrate their investment in the success of their team members and create a culture of accountability.
Providing clear direction and guidance: Leaders who set clear goals, expectations, and priorities for their team will never regret leaving their team without direction. Clear direction is essential for a team to succeed, and leaders who provide it will have a team that is more focused and productive.
Challenging people to think: Leaders must empower their team members and challenge them to think creatively and put their strengths to use. By promoting personal growth, leaders also address the succession needs of their organization.
Displaying a positive attitude: Leaders must have a positive and inspiring attitude in order to create a culture of positivity and psychological safety. They should act as role models, be likable, and invest time and resources in their relationships with team members.
Setting high standards: Leaders who lead by example and set high standards will never regret being lackadaisical or having low expectations. Leading by example sets the tone for the team, and high standards ensure that the team is always striving for excellence.
Building strong relationships: Leaders who invest time and effort in building strong relationships with their team members will never regret neglecting their team. Strong relationships are the foundation of a successful team, and leaders who prioritize them will have a more engaged and motivated team.
Bottom line, leadership is an ongoing journey, and therefore, leaders must constantly work to improve themselves. They must stand firm in what works and never stop doing those things.
Lead From Within: Leadership is not a one-time task, but rather a continuous journey of repeated habits that give them the most return on investment.
#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 Things Leaders Should Never Stop Doing appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
How Different Leadership Styles Can Best Drive AI Adoption
In the ever-evolving landscape of business leadership, the question that arises is how to navigate the importance of Artificial Intelligence adoption. As a leadership executive coach, I understand the significance of finding the right leadership style to guide leaders and their organizations toward embracing AI intelligently.
Here are four distinct leadership styles, each offering a unique approach to driving AI adoption. Which one will you adopt?
The Visionary Leader: In AI adoption, visionary leaders are the trailblazers. They possess the uncanny ability to see beyond the horizon and envision how artificial intelligence can revolutionize their organizations. They understand that AI is not merely a tool but a transformative force. As leaders, they communicate this with enthusiasm that resonates with all.
The Empathetic Leader: Recognizing that employees may feel apprehensive or uncertain about AI’s impact on their roles. As leaders you must approach this challenge with compassion, actively listening to concerns and providing the support needed for a smooth transition. Therefore, their empathetic approach fosters trust and openness, making the integration of AI a collaborative and empowering experience.
The Strategic Leader: Strategic leaders know they must invest in teaching and training to ensure that their decisions regarding AI are grounded in sound judgment. With a blend of profound wisdom and strategic thinking, the strategic leader guides their organizations toward making informed choices that maximize the benefits of AI.
The Inclusive Leader: The strength in utilizing the collective wisdom of AI lies in its ability to augment human capabilities. Inclusive leaders create a culture where every team member feels valued and included in the AI transformation process. Through their inclusivity, they harness the collective power of their workforce, ensuring that AI becomes a collaborative endeavor rather than a divisive one.
AI must not just be adopted but embraced as a powerful ally in achieving your leadership goals. So, if you want your leadership style to succeed, lead with your heart, wisdom, and vision, and watch your organization thrive in the era of artificial intelligence.
Lead From Within: Embrace the ever-evolving landscape of AI with unwavering determination, for it is your leadership that will lead to a future of boundless possibilities.
#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 Different Leadership Styles Can Best Drive AI Adoption appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
November 1, 2023
Why Leaders Must Stay Positive Even When the Future Looks Bleak
Leadership is not just about having the necessary skills and abilities, but also about having the right attitude.
The best leaders understand that having the right attitude is a crucial aspect of their leadership that shapes their impact on others. As Charles Swindoll said, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” A positive attitude is a superpower that leaders can harness to react to any situation in a positive and productive way.
Staying positive as a leader can bring many benefits to themselves and those they lead in the following ways:
Positivity keeps things in perspective: When leaders maintain a positive attitude, they are able to look at difficult situations with a clear and balanced perspective. The best leaders are able to maintain this perspective even in the face of adversity, and they use it to guide their team through difficult times.
Positivity builds resilience: A positive attitude helps leaders build resilience, which is the ability to bounce back from adversity. The best leaders are able to build resilience in themselves and in their teams, which allows them to handle difficult situations with grace and poise.
Positivity keeps leaders focused: A positive attitude helps leaders to maintain their focus, which is essential for achieving goals and making progress. The best leaders are able to maintain a positive attitude even in the face of adversity, which helps them to stay focused and make steady progress towards their goals.
Positivity motivates people: Positivity is contagious, and when leaders maintain a positive attitude, they inspire others to do the same. The best leaders are able to maintain a positive attitude even in the face of adversity, which helps them to inspire and motivate their teams to achieve great things.
Positivity turns challenges into opportunities: When leaders maintain a positive attitude, they are able to see challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities for growth and development. The best leaders have the power to see past problems and spot potential solutions.
Positivity helps build relationships: Positivity allows leaders to be more empathetic and understanding towards team members, which can lead to better collaboration and cooperation. When leaders maintain a positive attitude, they are more approachable and easy to work with, which can help to build trust and improve communication throughout the whole organization.
In summary, the only way to move an organization forward when times are bleak is to be a positive leader. Without a positive attitude, challenges may prove insurmountable.
Lead From Within: Staying positive as a leader has its benefits. It helps leaders navigate difficult times and guides them out of bleakness.
#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 Leaders Must Stay Positive Even When the Future Looks Bleak appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
October 31, 2023
Top 5 Unconscious Biases to Avoid In Your Leadership
All of us have biases, but as a leader it’s essential that we are aware of the potential biases that can influence our decision-making and actions. Unconscious biases are those that occur without our awareness and can have a significant impact on how we interact with others and how we lead.
Here are the top five unconscious biases that leaders should take steps to avoid:
Gender Bias: Gender bias refers to the unconscious belief that one gender is superior to the other. This can manifest in a variety of ways, such as assuming that men are better suited for leadership roles or that women are less competent in certain areas. As a leader, to avoid gender bias, it’s important to be aware of your own biases and actively work to counteract them.
Halo Effect: The halo effect refers to the tendency to form an overall positive impression of someone based on one positive trait. This can lead to leaders placing undue emphasis on a single characteristic, rather than considering the whole person. As a leader, to avoid the halo effect, it’s important to evaluate each individual based on multiple criteria and not to let a single characteristic influence your perception of them
Horn Effect: The horns effect is the opposite of the halo effect, where a leader forms an overall negative impression of someone based on one negative trait. Like the halo effect, this can lead to leaders placing undue emphasis on a single characteristic, rather than considering the whole person. As a leader, to avoid the horns effect, it’s important to evaluate each individual based on multiple criteria and not to let a single characteristic influence your perception of them.
Confirmation Bias: Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to search for, interpret, and favor information that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs. This can lead to leaders ignoring or discounting alternative perspectives, which can be detrimental to effective decision-making. As a leader, to avoid confirmation bias, it’s important to actively seek out diverse perspectives and be open to new ideas.
Affinity Bias: Affinity bias refers to the tendency to favor individuals who are similar to oneself. This can manifest in a variety of ways, such as favoring individuals of the same race, gender, or background as oneself. As a leader, to avoid affinity bias, it’s important to be aware of your own biases and actively work to counteract them. This can include seeking out diverse perspectives and actively working to build relationships with individuals who are different from yourself.
Bottom line, unconscious biases can have a significant impact on how leaders interact with others and make decisions. By being aware of these biases and taking steps to counteract them, leaders can improve their ability to lead effectively.
Lead From Within: We all have biases, whether we are aware of them or not. Therefore, it’s crucial for leaders to possess self-awareness in order to recognize and address them.
#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 Top 5 Unconscious Biases to Avoid In Your Leadership appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
October 30, 2023
The One Trait Every Leader Should Eliminate
Leadership is all about making decisions, but sometimes the best leaders can fall victim to indecision.
Indecisiveness is a weakness that can sneak up on the most respected leaders, and it can have a detrimental effect on the organization.
Here are a few reasons why this one trait of leadership should be eliminated, it causes the following:
Disengaged employees: Indecisiveness can disengage employees by creating a sense of uncertainty and lack of direction within the organization. When leaders are indecisive, employees may lose trust and motivation to work towards the goals of the organization.
Ruined morale: Indecisiveness can ruin morale within the organization by creating frustration and dissatisfaction among employees. When leaders are unable to make decisions, it can lead to a sense of stagnation and lack of progress within the organization.
Frustration among employees: Indecisiveness can also cause frustration among employees. Leaders are responsible for making decisions that drive the organization forward, and when they are unable to make decisions, it can lead to a sense of stagnation and lack of progress.
Poor decision making: Indecisiveness can lead to poor decision making. When leaders are unable to make decisions, they may make hasty or ill-informed decisions. This can have a detrimental effect on the organization and its employees.
The consequences of leadership indecisiveness are dire. Indecisive leaders action and attitude comes at a great cost and every leader should work on eliminating. Because, when leaders choose not to act on problems, employees lose confidence and interest in the organization. The damage caused by indecision lasts a long time.
Lead From Within: The key to quick decision-making is understanding your inner values and aligning your decisions with them.
#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 The One Trait Every Leader Should Eliminate appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
October 27, 2023
5 Successful Ways to Build a High-Performance Team Culture
Building a high-performance team is essential for achieving success in any organization. As an effective leader, it is important to understand that high performance doesn’t happen by accident; it requires careful nurturing and effort. By doing this well, the results will be a more productive, effective, and efficient team. So, how do the best leaders create high-performance team cultures? They do the following:
Get to know your team: Take the time to understand each team member as a person, not just as a resource. Learn about their strengths, motivations, and what conditions bring out the best in them at work. Schedule regular one-on-one meetings and make time in the agenda to explore these things.
Reflect on team performance: Schedule time as a team to take a step back, reflect on what is working well and identify areas for improvement. As a leader, it is important to make time for these conversations, whether it’s through regular team meetings or half-day sessions, where the focus is on team dynamics and how to function better as a team.
Set clear expectations and reward good performance: As a leader, it is essential to make sure your team knows what good looks like and what behavior you want to encourage. Reward good performance regularly and give specific, meaningful feedback. This can be done through small, thoughtful gestures, such as handwritten notes or other forms of recognition.
Let your team own the problem-solving process: When your team members face a problem, provide guidance and coaching, but allow them to figure it out themselves. This will help them learn and will lead to greater commitment and ownership.
Build trust within your team: Trust is essential for high-performance teams. Create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, ideas, and weaknesses. Lead by example and model vulnerability-based trust.
By following these steps, you can build a high-performance team culture that is motivated, engaged, and committed to achieving success.
Lead From Within: When it comes to successful teams, the best leaders understand if everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.
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 Successful Ways to Build a High-Performance Team Culture appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
October 26, 2023
Why The Future Of Work Is Hybrid And How You Can Lead In It
The future of work is shifting towards an employee-centered approach, where businesses must adapt to meet the changing priorities and needs of their workforce.
The past few years have seen significant changes in the workplace, with many employees placing a greater emphasis on health and wellbeing, family, and personal life. As a result, employees are seeking out workplaces that align with their values and allow them to work in a way that is most comfortable and efficient for them.
In response, businesses and leaders must adopt technologies and strategies that support this new employee-led model of work.
Here are successful ways leaders can lead in the new hybrid workplace:
Make collaboration important: Collaboration is becoming increasingly important in the hybrid work environment, as employees are working from different locations and may not be able to meet in person. As a leader, by investing in tools and technologies that support remote collaboration, such as video conferencing and project management software, businesses can ensure that employees are able to work together effectively.
Create more automation: Automation can help businesses to increase efficiency and productivity in the hybrid work environment. As a leader, by automating repetitive tasks, businesses can free up employees to focus on more important and strategic work. This can include using automation tools such as chatbots and artificial intelligence to handle customer service inquiries, or using software to automate time-consuming tasks such as data entry.
Make more technology available: Technology will play an increasingly important role in the future of work. From virtual reality and augmented reality to 5G and IoT, technology will help to connect employees and enable them to work together more effectively, regardless of where they are located. As a leader, that invests in technology will be better positioned to succeed in the hybrid work environment.
Generate more holistic solutions: Businesses must adopt a holistic approach to the hybrid work environment, taking into account the unique needs of employees and the organization as a whole. For a leader, this can include offering flexible work arrangements, providing training and support for remote work, and investing in technology and tools that support collaboration and productivity.
Embrace shift in thinking: The future of work is hybrid and businesses must shift their thinking to adapt to this new environment. As a leader, this means listening to the unique needs of employees and finding solutions that meet their needs, while also ensuring that the organization is able to achieve its goals. By adopting a strategic and flexible approach, businesses will be better equipped to succeed in the future of work.
The future of work is increasingly becoming hybrid, where employees work both in-person and remotely. By embracing this new model of work, leaders will be better positioned to succeed in the future of work, while also meeting the unique needs and priorities of their employees.
Lead From Within: The future of work is constantly evolving, and the most effective leaders are those who are able to adapt and prepare for what’s to come.
#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 The Future Of Work Is Hybrid And How You Can Lead In It appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
October 25, 2023
How to Resolve Conflict Effectively with High Performing Teams
Conflict is an inevitable part of any team dynamic. Whether it’s due to competing priorities, clashing personalities, or simply the stress of a heavy workload, conflict is something that every team leader and member must learn to navigate effectively. But how do you resolve conflict effectively with high-performing teams?
Here are some effective key strategies for resolving conflict and creating a culture of collaboration and mutual respect:
Embrace conflict: Conflict is that it is a natural and necessary part of any team dynamic. According to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management:
29% of employees deal with conflict almost constantly34% of conflict occurs among front-line employees34% of conflict is caused by stress in the workplace.These numbers demonstrate how often conflict is present on teams. Instead of trying to eliminate conflict entirely, make the goal of the workplace to be “conflict-embracing.” By acknowledging the role that conflict plays in driving progress and growth, teams can learn to navigate it more effectively.
Bring people together: An effective ways to handle conflicts is by fostering collaboration and building a sense of community among team members. By providing opportunities for team members to come together and work towards a common goal, conflicts can be resolved more efficiently and stronger relationships can be built among team members.
Avoid assumptions: When team members make assumptions about one another’s motives or intentions, it can lead to misunderstandings and further conflict. To avoid assumptions, team members should strive to communicate openly and honestly with one another. This can help to build trust and understanding, and ultimately lead to more effective conflict resolution.
Advocate for change persuasively: A great way to resolve conflict effectively is to advocate for change persuasively. This means presenting your ideas and concerns clearly and calmly, and making a compelling case for why change is needed. By doing this, team members can help to build support for their ideas and ultimately achieve a resolution that is in the best interest of the team.
Plan to make it successful: When it comes to resolving conflict, it’s important to plan for success. This means identifying the root causes of the conflict, setting clear goals, and developing a plan of action. By taking a strategic approach to resolving conflict, teams can ensure that they are able to achieve a resolution that is in the best interest of all parties involved.
Always keep improving: Conflict resolution is an ongoing process, and teams should continuously strive to improve their skills and strategies. This can involve seeking out training, seeking feedback, and learning from past conflicts. By doing this, teams can build a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, and become more effective at navigating and resolving conflict.
In conclusion, high-performing teams and successful leaders understand that the key to effectively managing conflict is for all team members to work together towards a common goal. When a team loses sight of this shared objective, conflicts tend to arise. By keeping the team’s goal in mind and working towards it together, conflicts can be resolved effectively.
Lead From Within: Conflict is a natural part of any team dynamic, but how we approach and resolve it as leaders and team members will ultimately determine the success of our high-performing teams.
#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 Resolve Conflict Effectively with High Performing Teams appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
October 24, 2023
7 Signs You Have Low Emotional Intelligence In Your Leadership
Leading effectively requires emotional intelligence, which involves being able to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions as well as other people’s emotions. A leader with high emotional intelligence can build strong relationships, build positive working environments, and achieve results. However, leaders with low emotional intelligence may struggle in these areas. This blog post explores seven signs of low leadership emotional intelligence.
Here are seven signs of low leadership emotional intelligence:
Difficulty managing stress and emotions: Leaders with low emotional intelligence struggle with managing their emotions, anger, frustration, or defensiveness. Therefore, a leader should work on developing emotional intelligence by gaining self-awareness, managing emotions, and seeking growth opportunities.
Poor communication skills: Leaders with low emotional intelligence may have difficulty communicating effectively and misunderstandings and conflicts may arise. Therefore, a leader should work on improving communication skills through active listening and clear, specific communication.
Difficulty building trust: Leaders with low emotional intelligence struggle to build trust with team members, partners, and other stakeholders. Therefore, a leader should work on building trust through transparency, honesty, and reliability.
Inability to empathize: Leaders with low emotional intelligence may have trouble understanding and relating to the feelings and perspectives of others. Therefore, a leader should work on empathy by understanding perspectives, seeking feedback, and actively learning about others.
Difficulty with feedback: Leaders with low emotional intelligence may have trouble giving feedback in a constructive and sensitive manner, and they may also struggle to receive feedback. Therefore, a leader should work on giving and receiving feedback by being open to it, understanding its importance, and giving it in a clear, specific and non-threatening way.
Resistance to change: Leaders with low emotional intelligence may have difficulty adapting to change, and they may be resistant to new ideas or ways of doing things. Therefore, a leader should work on becoming more adaptable to change by embracing uncertainty, being open to new ideas, seeking diverse perspectives, and continuously learning.
Lack of self-awareness: Leaders with low emotional intelligence may have trouble understanding their own emotions and how they affect their behavior and decision-making. Therefore, a leader should work on self-awareness by reflecting on emotions, seeking feedback, and engaging in self-improvement activities.
In conclusion, recognizing the signs of low emotional intelligence is an important step in working to improve your leadership if you want to be an effective leader.
Lead From Within: Emotional intelligence is not everything, but without it, nothing else matters.
#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 Signs You Have Low Emotional Intelligence In Your Leadership appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
October 23, 2023
How You Can Improve Your Leadership Skills Almost Instantly
Leadership skills are essential for success in any field, and they can be changed instantly. While some people may be naturally inclined to be strong leaders, leadership skills can also be learned and honed through practice, training, and real-life experiences. By actively working on developing your leadership skills, you can instantly become a more effective leader and achieve greater success in your field.
Here are some ways you can improve your leadership skills almost instantly:
Identify your strengths and weaknesses: As a leader, it’s important to be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses. By understanding what you’re good at and where you need to improve, you can take steps to develop your leadership skills and become a more effective leader.
Communicate effectively: Strong communication skills are crucial for effective leadership. Make sure to listen actively to your team members, and provide clear and concise instructions. Practice active listening, ask questions, and provide feedback.
Empower others: Good leaders don’t micromanage their team members; they empower them to make their own decisions. Encourage your team to take ownership of their work, and provide them with the resources and support they need to succeed
Keep learning: The world is constantly changing, and to be an effective leader, you need to stay up-to-date with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in your field. Reading industry publications, attending conferences, and participating in training programs are great ways to keep learning and growing as a leader.
Stay humble: Great leaders are humble. They don’t let their ego get in the way of their ability to lead. They are always willing to learn from others, listen to their team members and be open to feedback. They acknowledge that they don’t know everything and that they can learn from others.
Be adaptable: As a leader, it’s important to be able to adapt to new situations and challenges. Be open to new ideas and perspectives, and be willing to adjust your approach as needed.
Remember that leadership is a continuous learning process, and it takes time to master it. So keep working on it, practicing and you will see a positive change in yourself and those you lead instantly.
Lead From Within: The greatness of a leader is measured by the achievements of the led. This is the ultimate test of their effectiveness and skill.
#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 You Can Improve Your Leadership Skills Almost Instantly appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
