Lolly Daskal's Blog, page 48
April 19, 2023
Suffering from Leadership Collaboration Overload: How to Fix it
Collaboration is a key factor in the success of any organization or team, but too much of it can lead to negative consequences. Collaboration overload occurs when multiple team members work extensively and collectively on a single issue, leading to burnout, unproductive meetings, and constant pressure to be available for questions from colleagues. If you’re suffering from leadership collaboration overload, this is what happens and how to fix it:
Burnout colleagues: When team members are constantly collaborating and working on projects together, they can easily become burnt out and overwhelmed. To prevent this, it’s important to take breaks and give team members the time and space they need to recharge.
Too many meetings: Meetings can be a great way to collaborate and discuss ideas, but too many unproductive meetings can lead to collaboration overload. Instead, focus on setting clear agendas and goals for each meeting, and limit the number of meetings to only those that are necessary
Tension during meetings: Collaboration overload occurs when multiple team members work extensively and collectively on a single issue. As a leader, it’s important to be attuned to the emotions of your team and to be aware of any tension that may arise during group meetings. By paying attention to this tension and working to understand its root causes, you can address collaboration overload and ensure that your team’s collaboration practices are effective.
Slow decision making: When there are too many opinions and stakeholders involved in the decision-making process, it can lead to a slow and extended timeline for reaching conclusions. To avoid these issues, it’s important to carefully evaluate the need for collaboration on each project and ensure that the right people are involved in the decision-making process.
Silo creation: It might sound like a paradox, but too much collaboration leads to working in silos. Because, when there is too much collaboration and not enough individual work time, team members may feel like they have no control over their own work and may become resistant to additional collaboration.To avoid this, it is important to balance collaboration with individual work time and to give team members some control over their own work.
Feeling the pressure: Collaboration overload can lead to pressure among team members. When colleagues are constantly cc-ed in each other’s interactions and expected to offer opinions and assistance at every turn, it can create a feeling of pressure to constantly be available and responsive. To prevent collaboration overload, it is important to find a balance between the benefits of collaboration and the need for independent thinking and work.
Bottom line, collaboration is a crucial aspect of organizational success, but when taken to an excessive level, it can lead to collaboration overload. To fix collaboration overload, it is important to find a balance and establish clear communication and collaboration protocols within the organization.
Lead From Within: To be a successful leader, it is crucial to strike a balance between collaboration and individual productivity.
#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 Suffering from Leadership Collaboration Overload: How to Fix it appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
April 18, 2023
How Investing in Your Top Leaders: Keeps Your Best Employees Around
As a leadership coach, I often work with organizations on strategies for retaining top talent. One key factor that can have a major impact on employee retention is investing in your top leaders.
Here are four reasons why this strategy is effective in keeping your best employees around:
Professional development: Providing opportunities for training, education, and professional development can help top leaders stay up-to-date on industry trends and improve their skills. This could include things like training programs, professional certifications, or leadership development courses.
Provide stimulating opportunities: Top leaders often have a competitive nature and want to see themselves succeed. Providing them with challenging and stimulating opportunities can help keep them engaged and motivated.
Assign high-visibility projects: Giving top leaders high-visibility projects can help them showcase their skills and expertise to the organization. This can also help them build their reputation and advance their careers within the organization.
Career advancement: Offering opportunities for employees to take on new roles and responsibilities within the organization can help keep top talent engaged and motivated. This could include promotions, new job titles, or expanded responsibilities.
Pay what they are worth: It’s important to pay top leaders what they are worth to ensure that they feel valued and motivated to stay with the organization. This can help with retention and can also help attract top talent to the organization.
Create a positive culture: A positive work culture is crucial for retaining top talent. This includes things like supportive leadership and open communication. Additionally, it includes appreciation and recognition for the best employees.
Make the boss accessible: Providing top leaders with accessibility to their boss and other senior leaders can help them feel supported and valued by the organization. This could include regular check-ins, opportunities for feedback and suggestions, and opportunities for collaboration.
Flexibility and work-life balance: Offering flexibility and work-life balance can help top talent feel supported and valued by the organization. This could include things like flexible work schedules, remote work options, or time off for professional development or personal responsibilities.
By investing in top talent in these and other ways, organizations can help their top employees grow and develop within their careers, leading to increased retention and overall success.
Lead From Within: As a leader, if you want to keep your best employees around, provide them with the necessary resources, skills, and tools to succeed.
#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 Investing in Your Top Leaders: Keeps Your Best Employees Around appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
April 17, 2023
Unlocking the Secrets of Effective One-on-One Meetings
One-on-one meetings are a crucial tool for leaders to connect with their employees and provide support, guidance, and feedback. If done effectively, these meetings can lead to increased productivity, engagement, and retention.
Here are seven keys to unlocking the secrets of effective one-on-one meetings:
Prepare before the meeting: Before any meeting, take some time to review the employee’s work and performance. Make a list of any issues or concerns that you want to discuss. Additionally, think of any feedback or areas for improvement you want to provide. As a result, it can also be helpful to set some specific goals or objectives for the meeting.
Communicate the agenda: Make sure to clearly communicate the agenda for the meeting to the employee beforehand. This however, will help them come prepared and allow them to focus on the topics that are most important to them.
Determine the flow: While one-on-one meetings should have a natural flow, it can be helpful to have a general structure in place to ensure that all important topics are covered. However, it’s also important to stay open to a dialogue and allow for flexibility in the discussion to address any pressing issues that may arise.
Set the tone: The tone of the meeting can have a big impact on how the employee perceives it. Therefore, make sure to create a positive, supportive, and open atmosphere where the employee feels comfortable speaking openly and honestly.
Listen to understand: It’s important for leaders to actively listen and pay attention to what their employees are saying during one-on-one meetings. This can help to build trust and understanding. Additionally, it helps leaders identify any issues or concerns that need to be addressed.
Accountability counts: One-on-one meetings are an opportunity for leaders to hold their employees accountable for their work and performance. Make sure to clearly communicate expectations and follow up on any action items or goals discussed during the meeting.
Follow up: After the meeting, make sure to follow up with the employee to ensure that any action items or goals discussed have been addressed. As a result, this can help to reinforce the message of the meeting and ensure that progress is being made.
By following these keys, leaders can effectively leverage one-on-one meetings, and unlock the secrets to connect with their employees and provide the support and guidance they need to succeed.
Lead From Within: Unlock the secrets to one-on-one meetings, so as a leader, you can build strong relationships, have open communication and foster collaboration successfully.
#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 Unlocking the Secrets of Effective One-on-One Meetings appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
April 15, 2023
To Be a Great Leader, You Have to Learn How to Collaborate Well
Collaboration is a crucial aspect of effective leadership. To be a great leader, you have to learn how to work well with others and foster a collaborative team environment. This means actively participating in team discussions and activities, sharing your own ideas, and listening to the ideas of others. By demonstrating their willingness to collaborate, leaders set the tone for the rest of the team and show them that collaboration is an integral part of the culture.
Here are four ways great leaders excel at collaboration:
Lead by Example: Great leaders lead the way when it comes to collaborating well. They understand that to collaborate effectively, they must show their team how to work together as a cohesive unit. By leading by example, great leaders inspire their team to work towards shared goals and create a culture of collaboration.
Value the skills of others: Great leaders value the skills and capabilities of their team members. This means recognizing the unique experiences and perspectives that each person brings to the table. It also means incorporating these diverse viewpoints into the decision-making process. As a result, by valuing and utilizing the diverse skills and perspectives of the team, the team becomes more creative and effective with finding solutions to problems and challenges.
Invite People’s to express themselves: Great leaders invite their team to express themselves and share their ideas and opinions. This helps to foster a culture of collaboration and motivation. Inviting people to express themselves can also help to strengthen team cohesion and foster a sense of mutual support.
Give Credit to Others: Great leaders always give credit to their team members. This means acknowledging and celebrating their success, and recognizing their contributions to the team. By doing this, leaders show appreciation for their hard work and encourage them to continue to excel.
Overall, becoming a great leader requires a strong commitment to collaboration. By leading by example, valuing other people’s perspectives and opinions, and giving credit to others, you can foster a collaborative and successful team culture.
Lead From Within: By fostering a collaborative environment, great leaders are able to create teams that are more creative, efficient, and successful.
#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 To Be a Great Leader, You Have to Learn How to Collaborate Well appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
April 14, 2023
How Some Leaders Are Out of Touch With Their Employees
As an executive leadership coach, I’ve observed that some leaders struggle to connect with their employees and seem out of touch with their needs and concerns. This can lead to low morale, poor communication, and ultimately, a negative impact on the organization’s success.
Here are six ways that some leaders are out of touch with their employees:
Lack of presence: Leaders are out of touch with their employees because they are not accessible or available. As a result, leaders who are absent or disengaged may not be fully aware of the experiences and needs of their team, leading to a lack of connection and understanding.
Lack of communication: Leaders are out of touch with their employees because they don’t communicate effectively. This may involve not sharing important information or not being available to listen to employee concerns. As a result, when leaders are not transparent and open in their communication, it can create mistrust and a sense of disconnection among the team.
Lack of authenticity: Leaders are out of touch with their employees because they lack authenticity. Authentic leaders are genuine, transparent, and true to themselves and their values. As a result, when leaders are inauthentic, employees may sense that they aren’t being genuine and may struggle to connect with them.
Lack of empathy: Leaders are out of touch with their employees because they fail to show empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, and it is a crucial aspect of leadership. Without empathy, leaders may not be able to fully understand the experiences and challenges of their team members, leading to a lack of connection and understanding.
Lack of support: Leaders are out of touch with their employees because they don’t provide the necessary support and resources they need from them to succeed. This may involve not providing employees with the tools or training they need to do their job effectively, or not offering opportunities for growth and development. Without support, employees may feel unvalued and disconnected from their work.
Lack of experience: Some leaders may be out of touch with their employees because they lack relevant experience. For example, a leader who has never worked in a certain industry or function may not fully understand the unique challenges and needs of their team. This can create a disconnection and make it difficult for the leader to effectively lead and support their team.
Developing leadership skills is not an easy task, but it is essential for effective leadership. While some people may be natural leaders, leadership skills can be developed and refined. This article has provided insights on how some leaders can become out of touch with their employees and how to challenge yourself to improve and become a better leader.
Lead From Within: To become an effective leader it’s important to stay connected with your employees and understand their needs and concerns at all times.
#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 Some Leaders Are Out of Touch With Their Employees appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
April 13, 2023
How to Develop Leadership Skills While Managing a Busy Schedule
As a busy person, it can be challenging to find time to develop your leadership skills. But the good news is that with a little bit of effort and some smart strategies, you can improve your leadership abilities even with a busy schedule.
Here are five tips for busy people who want to develop their leadership skills:
Set aside dedicated time for learning and development: One of the keys to developing your leadership skills is making time for learning and development. This might mean setting aside a specific time each week for reading leadership books or attending leadership workshops. By making learning and development a priority, you can continuously improve your skills and stay up-to-date on the latest leadership techniques.
Find a mentor or coach: Another effective way for busy people to develop their leadership skills is to seek out a mentor or coach. A mentor or coach can provide personalized guidance and support as you work on improving your leadership abilities. Look for someone who has experience and expertise in the area of leadership that you want to focus on.
Practice leadership skills in your everyday life: You don’t need to wait for a formal leadership development program to start practicing your leadership skills. Look for opportunities to take on leadership roles. By practicing your leadership skills in real-world situations, you can get valuable experience and feedback.
Seek feedback from others: Another important way for busy people to develop their leadership skills is to seek feedback from others. As a result, this means asking your team members for their thoughts on your leadership style
Lead From Within: Being a successful leader requires discipline and dedication; even when your schedule is busy, prioritize your tasks and make time for developing your leadership skills.
#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 Develop Leadership Skills While Managing a Busy Schedule appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
April 12, 2023
5 Authentic Ways to Gain Your Employees’ Respect
As a leader, gaining the respect of your employees is essential for building a positive and productive work environment. By spelling out the word respect, we can use this framework to guide our actions and behaviors as we work to earn the respect of our team.
Here are seven authentic ways to earn the respect of your employees:
Remember basic kindness: Small acts of kindness can go a long way in building trust and respect among your employees. Whether it’s offering a listening ear or simply saying thank you, these small gestures can make a big impact.
Encourage others: Encouraging and supporting your team members shows that you believe in them and value their contributions. As a result, this can help to build confidence and foster a sense of mutual respect.
Stand firm in your convictions: Employees will respect leaders who are clear and consistent in their values and beliefs. This means standing up for what you believe in, even if it’s not the popular opinion. As a result, it’s being willing to do what is right, not what is easy.
Play fair and smart: Fairness is a key component of respect. Employees will respect leaders who are fair and consistent in their decision-making. Additionally, who will treat everyone with equal respect.
Extend a helping hand: Being willing to lend a helping hand to your team members shows that you care about them and you are willing to go the extra mile to support their success.
Cause no harm: Employees will respect leaders who prioritize the well-being and safety of their team. This means avoiding actions that could cause harm or discomfort to others.
Think before you speak: Words matter, and employees will respect leaders who think before they speak and choose their words carefully. This means avoiding criticism or negativity and instead focusing on constructive feedback.
By following these seven authentic ways to gain respect, you can build trust and strengthen your relationships with your employees. Thus, creating a positive and productive work environment.
Lead From Within: The best leaders know that to earn the respect of their employees, they must show respect to their employees.
#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 5 Authentic Ways to Gain Your Employees’ Respect appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
April 11, 2023
How the Best Leaders Show Appreciation in Meaningful Ways
Showing appreciation is important to leaders, making it meaningful helps to create a positive and supportive work environment. When employees feel valued and recognized for their hard work, they are more likely to be motivated to perform at their best. As a result, they contribute to the success of the organization.
Here are some ways that the best leaders show appreciation in meaningful ways:
Appreciation aligned with core values: The best leaders understand that recognition should align with their company’s core values. Therefore, by doing this, they demonstrate that the core values of the company, should align with the values of their employees within the company.
Appreciation aligned to purpose: The best leaders make sure to connect appreciation to the larger purpose of the organization. By doing this, they help employees see how their work fits into the bigger picture and how they are contributing to the success of the company.
Appreciate frequently: The best leaders understand that recognition should be a regular occurrence, not just something that happens once a year during a formal performance review. The most effective leaders make an effort to show appreciation to their employees on a regular basis. As a result, they not only show appreciation for their employees’ hard work, but they also create a positive and supportive work environment.
Empower constantly: The best leaders empower their employees by giving them the autonomy and resources they need to succeed. They understand that their employees are the driving force behind the company’s success. Therefore, they make an effort to give them the support they need to do their best work. As a result, empowering their employees they show appreciation for their hard work and dedication to the company.
Appreciation to be specific: The best leaders know that generic praise doesn’t have the same impact as specific, targeted recognition. They make an effort to be specific in their appreciation, pointing out specific actions or achievements that they are proud of. By doing this, they show that they are paying attention to their employees’ work and that they value their contributions.
Appreciation to be transparent: The best leaders are transparent in their recognition efforts, making sure that their employees know exactly how they are being recognized and why. Therefore, they understand that transparency builds trust and helps employees feel valued. As a result, by being transparent in their recognition efforts, the best leaders show that they value their employees and want to recognize their hard work.
The best leaders show appreciation that are meaningful to their employees. By doing so, they demonstrate to their employees that they value their hard work and dedication to the company, which helps create a positive and supportive work environment.
Lead From Within: Meaningful appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others become a part of what is important and purposeful to all.
#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 the Best Leaders Show Appreciation in Meaningful Ways appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
April 10, 2023
How The Best Leaders Deal With Their Fears
Fear is a natural and common emotion, and it’s something that leaders experience. However, they must learn to deal with their fears in order to be effective and successful.
Here are some very effective ways that the best leaders deal with their fears:
Acknowledge and acceptance: When Leaders are dealing with their fears, it’s always best to acknowledge and accept it. This involves recognizing and accepting that fear is a natural and normal emotion, and not to judge it in anyway.
Identify the source of fear. When Leaders are dealing with their fears, it’s useful to identify the source of the fear. This involves examining the specific causes and triggers of fear, and it involves understanding the underlying reasons for fear.
Develop coping strategies. When Leaders are dealing with their fears, it’s important to develop coping strategies. This involves learning and implementing strategies that can help leaders manage and overcome fear, such as deep breathing, positive self-talk, and mindfulness.
Seek support and guidance. When Leaders are dealing with their fears, it’s helpful to seek support. This involves seeking the advice and guidance of others, such as mentors, coaches, or colleagues, who can provide support and guidance in dealing with fear.
Take action and make decisions. When Leaders are dealing with their fears, it’s important to take action. This involves making decisions despite the presence of fear, and being courageous and confident in the face of fear.
Learn from experiences. When leaders are dealing with their fears, it can be beneficial to learn from their experiences. By reflecting on and learning from their experiences of fear, they can develop resilience and adaptability in the face of future fears.
Overall, these steps can help leaders effectively deal with fear, and they can enable leaders to overcome fear and be more effective and successful in their roles.
Lead From Within: Leaders are not immune to fear, but they have the power to overcome it by learning from their experiences and using that knowledge to develop resilience and adaptability.
#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 Deal With Their Fears appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
April 7, 2023
The Best Leaders Actually Use This Psychology for Engaging Employees
As an executive coach, I have helped clients globally achieve results through discussions on effective employee engagement. I believe psychology plays a key role in successful employee engagement and motivation, specifically by understanding employee needs.
Leaders who prioritize engagement actually use this psychology to make it work. Here are the five psychological needs that make a significant difference in engaging your employees:
Personal needs: This psychology involves an employee’s self-expression and the desire to reach their full potential. When an employee believes there are opportunities for growth and advancement within their organization, they are more motivated and inspired to perform their best.
Safety needs: This psychology involves an employee’s emotional safety and their sense of belonging within the workplace. When an employee knows that they are financially secure through stable employment and fair compensation, they feel more safe and secure.
Functional needs: This psychology involves an employee’s perception of professional growth and success. When an employee is making progress in their career and are satisfied with their growth and development. They are more likely to be committed and driven.
Social needs: This psychology involves an employee’s strong desire for social connections and relationships. When an employee has a strong sense of connection, they are likely to be engaged and empowered to build strong relationships with determination and passion.
Work-life balance needs: This psychology involves an employee’s ability to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life. When an employee achieves a good balance between their work and personal commitments, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated.
Engaging your employees effectively involves understanding their needs and desires. When these needs and desires are identified, it’s important to acknowledge them to foster a positive and productive work environment.
Lead From Within: By addressing these five psychological needs and wants of your employees, it’s guaranteed to have them more engaged.
#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 Best Leaders Actually Use This Psychology for Engaging Employees appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
