Lolly Daskal's Blog, page 70

How to Be Focused and Productive in a Crisis

In times of crisis, when everyone is anxious and uncertain about the future, it’s understandably hard for people to stay on track. In those moments it’s especially important that leaders work to keep everyone focused and productive while coping with ambiguity and uncertainty. Here are some tips for helping your employees stay healthy, connected, and focused:

Begin with yourself. You will be better able to support your team and model resiliency if you can acknowledge and manage your own stress and anxiety. As I have said for years, what you don’t own will end up owning you—so take the time to understand what you are feeling and name your emotions. Ask yourself, “As a leader, who am I going to be in this time of crisis?” and lead by example.

Tell the truth, even if it’s harsh. Some leaders think they’re protecting people by not acknowledging difficult truths or uncertainty, but that’s not an effective—or ethical—approach. Tell the truth. Acknowledge what’s happening—including what you don’t know—keep communication flowing, and let people know their concerns are being addressed. At the same time, work to help your team stay inspired, connected and motivated.

Help people manage their stress. Especially if your processes have changed dramatically, some of your team members may be feeling lost, unproductive and discouraged. Do what you can to let them know what they’re feeling is normal, and coach your people on stress management and self-compassion in unpredictable times. In your words and your actions, the message should always be “We’re in this together.”

Meet people where they are, not where you want them to be. It’s important to stay in close contact with your people. Talk to them and, especially, listen to them. Work to truly understand what they think and feel, and respond to their questions and worries. Genuine listening forms a bond of trust that motivates people and helps in resolving their concerns.

Focus on what you can control. When things feel out of control, it’s almost impossible for people to maintain focus. Do whatever you can to foster a sense of control in your team members, even if it’s only over their own actions and work schedule. Giving your employees a chance to shift their thinking to manageable issues and areas they can control will help them reduce stress and stay grounded.

Remind them to care for themselves. It may sound strange and awkward, but when people are caught up in a crisis and the anxiety of tough times part of the leader’s job is to remind them to take care of themselves. Help your team stay focused by encouraging them to sleep, eat, exercise and spend some time outdoors. Model good self-care habits for them and encourage discussion of innovative ways to stay healthy.

Lead from within: Employees often become unfocused and unproductive when a crisis hits. What you do in that moment will either help them or hurt them, so give them the words and example they need to stay focused so you can weather the crisis together.

 

#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.

buy now

 

Additional Reading you might enjoy:

12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
How to Succeed as A New Leader
12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
The Deception Trap of Leadership

 

Photo Credit: iStockPhotos

The post How to Be Focused and Productive in a Crisis appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

How to Self-Care in Tough Times

At a time when the world’s problems seem overwhelming, self-care may seem like a selfish concern—the last thing that should be on your mind. But the changes brought on by the pandemic take a toll on a personal level as well as globally. Isolation is stressful, especially for extroverts and those who rely on others for help and motivation—and even more so in a time of anxiety and uncertainty.

When we fly, we’re always told to put on our own oxygen mask before we try to help anyone else, because you can’t help others if you’re not OK yourself. So here are some ways to practice good self-care along with social distancing:

Identify your feelings and thinking. Working from home can be a big transition, especially for those who thrive on face-to-face interaction and gain energy from others. For them, working remotely may conjure up feelings of loneliness, isolation, depression and frustration. Others may be struggling to keep up with new technology and processes. Whatever you’re feeling, identify it and name it so you can deal with it.

Protect your boundaries. Put yourself first and manage your boundaries. That means being clear about where you stop and other people start. Take some time every day to disconnect from work obligations—and family, too, if you’re able. Boundaries help conserve your emotional energy and give you the space to care for yourself.

Manage other people’s expectations. When you work from home you tend to work harder and longer, but that can be a drain on your energy. Learn how to be protective of your time. Let people know when you will be available and when you will not. Manage others’ expectations—and your own—to stay focused and effective.

Take scheduled breaks. When you’re sitting at home, glued to your computer and phone without the usual breaks of office life, time can turn into a blur. Schedule breaks for yourself so you get up a few times a day and move around. Take a lunchtime walk or sit outside if you can. A routine that includes regular breaks will help you refresh and increase your productivity and focus.

Limit the time you spend with toxic people. We all have colleagues and peers who are consistently negative. Instead of being supportive or reliable they’re critical, judgmental or demanding. If there’s anything good about working remotely, it’s that you can more easily avoid those people—and you should, as much as possible.

Embrace something new. Most of us are so busy that we don’t take enough time to reflect and observe. As awful as it is, the pandemic has given many of us a slower pace and more time, so make good use of it. Develop a new interest, try seeing things from a different perspective or look for a new approach to an old problem.

Lead from within: Prioritize your self-care, because it’s your first and most essential need in a time of crisis.

 

#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.

buy now

 

Additional Reading you might enjoy:

12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
How to Succeed as A New Leader
12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
The Deception Trap of Leadership

 

Photo Credit: iStockPhotos

The post How to Self-Care in Tough Times appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

How The Worst Of Times Can Bring Out The Best In People

As we spend even more time than usual glued to our screens, we’re all seeing people whose attitudes and behavior are disheartening—and in some cases, disgusting. But for every example of someone exploiting the pandemic for profit or airing divisive and abhorrent beliefs, there are many more stories of people stepping up in courage and selflessness. I truly believe that these terrible times are, for the most part, bringing out the best in people.

For leaders at every level, in every situation, bringing out your best means leading from within—thinking of others above yourself. And it’s something we all can practice right where we are. Here are a few acts of kindness you can do to help the worst of times bring out the best of who we are:

Reach out. If you’re feeling isolated and fearful, remember that many others are experiencing the same things. Make a list of people you can get in touch with to say hello and ask how they are—colleagues, neighbors, family members.

Don’t fix, just listen. Solving problems energizes many leaders, but in challenging times most people just want someone to listen and be there for them, to hear their words and acknowledge what is being said. Listening is often the best thing you can do to help someone feel better.

Be generous. Most people wait to give until they are asked. But especially in these tough times, look for ways you can help and places you can give. Don’t wait to be asked. Even if you have little to give, give a what you can.

Speak kind words. With so many people experiencing disappointment, loss and uncertainty, kind words are more important than ever. They make the world a softer, safer place—for the person hearing them and the person speaking them.

Be present. In difficult times we’re all inclined to focus on ourselves and our own survival and well-being, but being present with another does much more to defuse stress and disarm anxiety. Whether you’re physically distant or spending more time than usual in close quarters, work to stay connected and present in the lives of those you care about.

Practice gratitude. Challenges can either break us or build us up. The best way to survive with your spirit intact is by being mindful of what really matters and appreciating what you have.

At times like this, it’s easy to turn our thoughts inward toward fear and isolation. But if there’s a thread of grace in this moment, it’s the opportunity to slow down, reflect and engage in small acts of kindness. Take a moment every day to ask yourself what really matters, and the worst of times can bring out the best of what you have to offer.

Lead from within: When you lead from within, you allow your heart to guide you and your actions to serve humanity. Show love. Show compassion. Show that you care.

 

 

#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.

buy now

 

Additional Reading you might enjoy:

12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
How to Succeed as A New Leader
12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
The Deception Trap of Leadership

 

Photo Credit: iStockPhotos

The post How The Worst Of Times Can Bring Out The Best In People appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

The Best Way to Control Your Leadership Frustrations

Everyone in a leadership position experiences some degree of frustration from time to time—and for some, it’s nearly constant. In my work as a leadership coach I often see leaders express frustration. The reasons vary, from not knowing how to handle crisis or just plain having unreasonable expectations.

Whatever the cause of the frustration, you may find yourself wishing you could lash out and say exactly what you’re thinking. But leadership requires setting a good example with a response that’s calm and measured, one that points toward a positive solution even when the situation is challenging.

So how do experienced leaders control their frustration? Chances are, they best leaders are using some of these techniques:

They’ve learned to pause. instead of saying the first thing that comes to mind, they count to ten or take a few deep breaths until the first words they want to say have passed. Then, even if they need to express anger, they can do so calmly and reasonably.

They practice observation. Things never happen in a vacuum, and knowing the context of a frustrating behavior or situation can be the key to resolving it. The more closely they observe their team and its interactions, the better they can understand the big picture.

They work to always dig deeper. The very best leaders know that finding a solution to any frustration requires tracing it all the way back to its source. They don’t settle for superficial explanations but keep digging to find the underlying cause.

They’ve mastered the neutrality of a bystander. They know how to let someone speak without putting forth their own emotions, giving the other person the ability to say what they need to say and clear the air. It can be hard to do when you want to interrupt or argue or just walk away, but I tell the leaders I coach to listen like a bystander or someone watching a movie when someone is venting. Let them get it out of their system so everyone can start working together toward a solution.

They know how to put out fires. It’s easy to make a small fire big or a big fire bigger—it just takes a little fuel. The role of the leader is to control their own frustration so they can prevent the flames from being fed. Once the fire has died down, it’s easier to keep it under control and in time eliminate it completely.

Controlling your emotions is a big part of the emotional intelligence needed for great leadership, especially in times of change and challenge.

We all admire those people who can keep their cool in tense situations. Controlling frustration may be a demanding skill to learn, but it’s one that every leader should master.

Lead from within: At the end of the day, we all want to be around leaders who are saner, kinder, and more skillful in engagement than we are. This is part of why we admire great leaders and they have so much to teach us.

 

#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.

buy now

 

Additional Reading you might enjoy:

12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
How to Succeed as A New Leader
12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
The Deception Trap of Leadership

 

Photo Credit: iStockPhotos

The post The Best Way to Control Your Leadership Frustrations appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

According to Leaders Around the World This Is the Most Important Qualities

What are the most important qualities for great leadership? I have the privilege of coaching leaders from around the world who work in a wide range of fields, and not long ago I decided to ask for their thoughts on the question. Here are the top themes that emerged across all cultures and industries:

Leading with character and high standards. Across the board, every leader I asked said that having high moral standards—a code of conduct—and leading with character were the most important qualities in leadership. Leaders who prioritize morality have higher-performing organizations with less turnover and employees who are more creative, proactive, engaged, and satisfied.

Communicating often and openly. When leaders are open and regular with their communication, they provide a sense of security. Strong communication fosters a team spirit that says “we’re all in this together, through success and failure” and builds a strong foundational connection.

Staying flexible and agile. When a leader is flexible and willing to consider other perspectives and opinions, they show the kind of mental agility that creates a culture of learning and growth. Knowing that the leader doesn’t have to always be right and is willing to listen and learn, people at every level are encouraged to keep learning new things themselves and voicing their thoughts. And that sense of flexibility keeps the organization from becoming stagnant. The most successful companies celebrate agility and diversity, because they’re the source of the best ideas and innovation.

Developing and investing in others. When you invest in others you are empowering them to be more motivated, more productive, and more effective. When a leader develops and invests in their people, the people in turn will repay that confidence with a stronger sense of commitment and accountability.

Creating a sense of belonging. When a leader can make each employee feel they are part of the same team and understand that everyone is working toward a common goal, the result is a sense of community and shared respect where people thrive on doing great things together. When people feel they matter and belong, they are motivated to express their gratitude and loyalty by going the extra mile.

Provide safety across the board. Making sure people feel safe in their job has all kinds of positive returns. Employees are not afraid to speak about mistakes, not afraid to take risks, not fearful of messing up. Risk-taking is encouraged and failure is treated as a step on the way to success.

Ask yourself which of these qualities you already have and which you need to cultivate or strengthen. When you exercise the qualities of great leadership every day, those around you gain confidence from your example. If you’re in control, they’re in control.

Lead from within: The future of your leadership lies in knowing which qualities give you the biggest return on your 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.

buy now

 

Additional Reading you might enjoy:

12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
How to Succeed as A New Leader
12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
The Deception Trap of Leadership

 

Photo Credit: iStockPhotos

The post According to Leaders Around the World This Is the Most Important Qualities appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

The Best Way Leaders Can Lead People Remotely

Sometimes events force us to change how we work together and do business. It’s a challenge for everyone—and leadership poses particular challenges. How do you keep communication flowing when people are scattered geographically and distracted by the upheaval of their daily life? How do you keep your team connected and focused, healthy and hopeful? Here are some of the ways top leaders address the challenges and keep their teams strong:

They’re more supportive than ever. Being supportive is always important—but in times of crisis and separation, it’s critical. It’s harder to show support from a distance; you have to provide a source of strength and solace from where you are. Send frequent messages of support and gratitude, and let people know you’re there to help them solve whatever new problems arise.

They’re more present than ever. The best leaders are accessible, available and connected, so it’s easy for people to feel their presence. When hallway chats and open office doors aren’t an option, show your presence by checking in frequently. Email’s easy, but when you need real connection, phone and video conferencing build a stronger sense of connection.

They keep people more informed than ever. Keep information flowing by communicating constantly and consistently. Especially in times of change and crisis, people want to know what’s happening and have a way to share their thoughts, concerns and ideas. You may want to establish a daily update by email or video chat to keep people informed.

They show they care more than ever. It’s harder to show caring from a distance, but a time like this, when people are feeling anxious and isolated, is when a personal touch is most needed. The best leaders make an extra effort with every decision and action to show they sincerely care. They’re willing to show vulnerability and spend more time asking people open-ended questions about family and other concerns, listening to the answers and helping find solutions.

They bring more clarity than ever. When people are working as a team in an office, it’s relatively easy to keep track of workflow and priorities. When the team is scattered, it’s important to set out goals and expectations clearly. Be more explicit and detailed than usual so your people will understand what they need to do and where they need to focus. At the same time, remember to be realistic and flexible in your expectations.

They lead by example more than ever. Setting a strong example when working remotely is one of the most meaningful things you can do. Model the attitudes and behavior you want people to emulate. If you want them to be focused and productive in a changing environment, make sure you’re showing them how it’s done. Give them something positive to emulate.

Lead from within: Working away from the office is the new normal, at least for a while. As a leader, you can help make sure that everyone on your team stays successful in this time of change.

 

#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.

buy now

 

Additional Reading you might enjoy:

12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
How to Succeed as A New Leader
12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
The Deception Trap of Leadership

 

Photo Credit: iStockPhotos

The post The Best Way Leaders Can Lead People Remotely appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

How to Be A Great Leader When Crisis Hits

Times of crisis are the moments when leadership is most needed. But what happens when we’re required to maintain social distancing and teams need to work remotely? How can we lead in ways that make a positive difference? Here are some of the thoughts I’ve been sharing with my clients:

Maintain a leadership presence. Many leaders are fearful of overreacting, and some wishfully hope that a crisis will resolve itself. Great leaders, however, know that in crisis you don’t overreact but neither do you let yourself be passive. You show your presence as a leader by reassuring those who count on you that you are there and doing everything in your power to make things run smoothly.

Forge a plan but keep it fluid. In crisis, you must create plans but balance those plans against the knowledge that they may need to change if the crisis escalates or changes direction. It’s the leaders who can adapt, those who know how to go with the flow, who are the most successful. Crises tend to be fluid situations, so you need to plan on the fly and be ready to make adjustments as new elements arise. Don’t look for perfection—look for actions that work.

Decide and act quickly. Many leaders try to get away with a “wait and see” attitude, but the best are decisive and act quickly. They don’t wait until things are really bad to act; they respond from the onset and do what it takes for people to have faith that thoughtful, clear decisions are being made.

Communicate constantly. The worst thing any leader can do is trying to hide behind bad news. Crisis management requires communication—the vulnerable and honest kind, where you stay in touch with what is happening and keep people informed often and consistently. Leaders who hold back in these moments lose trust; those who keep people informed are admired.

Stay positive and productive. In times of crisis people get anxious and have a hard time staying calm and getting things done. Leaders who can remain positive and productive through the storm are the most successful and set a strong example for those around them. Great leaders keep a level head by remaining optimistic and forge ahead with constructive ideas and a disciplined focus.

Manage your relationships. It’s especially important in unsettled times to be mindful of all your relationships: employees, customers, clients, colleagues, neighbors. What you say and do in these moments will be remembered long after the crisis is over and may come to define your leadership and your success in the long run.

Crises happen. But it is what you do with your leadership that matters.

Lead from within: In a crisis, your team, your colleagues, and your customers all need your leadership. Show them what great leadership is by being the confident leader you know you are.

#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.

buy now

 

Additional Reading you might enjoy:

12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
How to Succeed as A New Leader
12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
The Deception Trap of Leadership

 

Photo Credit: iStockPhotos

The post How to Be A Great Leader When Crisis Hits appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

What To Do When You Exceed Your Leadership Abilities

Whether you’re a first-time manager, a senior executive, or a CEO , there may come a time in your leadership when you feel you’ve reached the limits of your own leadership abilities. You may realize you’re in over your head, or begin questioning your own capabilities, or feel overwhelmed or burdened by all that you need to do and questioning how you can get it done.

It can be a devastating feeling, but there are steps you can take to work through it. Here are the best approaches when you hit a leadership wall:

Understand and admit your limitations. Most leaders are compelled to mask their limitations, wanting others to think they know it all or they can do it all. But the harder you try to conceal your limitations, the more they’ll catch. up with you. I am a big believer what we don’t own ends up owning us. And you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where everyone but you is aware of your limitations.

Size up the situation. Awareness is an important leadership skill. Know how to evaluate and asses the state of affairs. As the leader, do you need to cut back or find a way to push ahead?

Delegate to the talented. If you can’t do what is expected of you, follow the cue of the best leaders and surround yourself with talented people who can do it for you. Delegate to those who are equipped to bridge the gap between your limits and the demands of what needs to get done.

Seek good guidance. Smart leaders will seek out guidance and counsel, usually from a mentor or a coach. Find someone you respect who can guide you with the wisdom and insight that not only help you steer through the current situation but also grow and develop your leadership capacities.

Get schooled. It’s never too late to learn what you need to know. When you find a gap in your knowledge, address it by reading books or taking classes. The willingness to keep learning is a great sign of leadership—it shows that you’ve never stopped being a student, that you have an inquisitive mind. The worst leaders, on the other hand, are grounded in their own ego, acting as if they know everything even though everyone around them knows otherwise.

Great leadership is a constant process of growth and development, and it takes the best kind of leadership to be able to admit that what got you where you are won’t get you where you need to go.

Every leader is better suited for some roles and capacities than others. Being able to admit it when you’re at the limit of your knowledge and skill takes a humble heart, but it’s essential to success.

Lead from within: Reaching the limit of your leadership capabilities is not a failure but the first step in taking yourself to the next level.

#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.

buy now

 

Additional Reading you might enjoy:

12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
How to Succeed as A New Leader
12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
The Deception Trap of Leadership

 

Photo Credit: iStockPhotos

The post What To Do When You Exceed Your Leadership Abilities appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

This Is What CEO’s Really Want From Their Coach

It might come as a shock, but two thirds of CEOs don’t receive any form of outside counseling on their leadership skills. Yet most of them say they would welcome the support of a leadership coach. However skilled and competent they may be, they still have blind spots. And addressing those blind spots is the core of good leadership coaching.

Here are the top areas CEOs would like to address with a leadership coach. Whatever your current level of leadership, use this list to guide you as you work with your own coach, mentor, or support team.

Assistance with Self-awareness. It can be hard to assess your own strengths and weaknesses—our most dangerous blind spots are the ones we aren’t even aware of. That’s why it’s essential to build your self-knowledge with someone who can maintain a neutral point of view.

Coaching in conflict assessment resolution. Leaders who can’t manage conflict tend to shy away from it, and the outcome of conflict avoidance is never good. But a leader who can manage conflict in a constructive way can get to the root of issues and create win-win solutions.

Training in effective communication. Most leaders are good speakers. But not many know how to listen, and listening is one of the most important elements of communication. If you aren’t communicating well, you aren’t leading well.

Mentoring in delegation and planning. Leaders are great at getting things done, but many have a hard time letting go of tasks and delegating to others. Planning and delegation fuel efficiency and professional growth for teams and individual members.

Guidance in talent and building dynamic teams. Encouraging talent and building strong teams is a complex process that’s constantly in motion, with different needs at different stages. It’s one of the greatest challenges in leadership to keep all those elements in balance.

Education in Interpersonal skills. Every leader needs interpersonal skills in their toolkit. Leaders are called on daily to motivate, inspire, and coach their team to work together effectively, and that means building strong relationships at every level.

Support in development and growth. It’s impossible to move ahead while you’re standing still, and too many leaders focus exclusively on their team’s development while they neglect their own. Learning to leverage your weaknesses and build on your strengths keeps you on track toward your individual goals—and prepares you to keep your team and organization moving in a positive direction.

Leaders who have benefited from coaching know that the process may start with a few specific actionable themes but in time can grow into an essential partnership, one that provides trusted guidance and a clear, objective reality check.

To gain the most from a coaching relationship, make sure your coach is smart, intuitive, a great communicator, and able to tailor the training to your individual needs instead of applying a canned approach.

Lead from within: A good coach never makes you feel bad about yourself but leads you to a sense of excitement to try something new or to do things in a different way.

 

#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.

buy now

 

Additional Reading you might enjoy:

12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
How to Succeed as A New Leader
12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
The Deception Trap of Leadership

 

Photo Credit: iStockPhotos

The post This Is What CEO’s Really Want From Their Coach appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

The Best Ways Leaders Quiet Mind Chatter

On average, each us has around 50,000 different thoughts a day—and some have many more. Thinking is an important part of being a good leader, but knowing how to control and quiet your thoughts is important in preventing stress and mental exhaustion. Knowing how to quiet mind chatter is a valuable skill—and one that’s often overlooked. Here’s what top leaders do:

Make time to check out. Engage every day in a time of meditation, prayer or deep breathing, and develop shorter techniques to help you anytime the chatter becomes overwhelming. Great leaders know that their mind is their most important asset, and keeping it healthy and strong it is essential. Part of that is practicing a time of stillness.

Quiet the mind with concentrated focus. Many people find that focus is the only cure for a chattering mind. It’s almost impossible to think about two things at the same time. Great leaders conquer overthinking and mind chatter with focused thought and action.

Don’t get lost in your fears. I believe in the acronym that describes fear as false evidence appearing real. If you want your mind to stop running wild from one fear to another, address your thoughts. Ask yourself what’s the worst that could happen and work through your fears instead of allowing them to take hold. Just spending a few moments going through and naming your fears can bring you clarity.

Spend more time in the present. By being in the present moment in your everyday life, rather than replaying the past or projecting possible futures, you can replace much of the time you spend overthinking with genuine connection. Sure, it sounds simple—but having the ability to live in the moment is an effective way to reduce stress and foster control over mind chatter.

Remember you have control. Stop a rapid train of thought with an emphatic mental STOP!, then take several deep breaths and move on. It is important to remember that you’re in control of your thoughts, not the other way around. Keep your thoughts on your side so they don’t interfere with your success.

Practice gratitude. Starting each morning with gratitude will help set the tone of your day. Reflect on what you are grateful for, which will shift your focus from what you don’t have to what you do have. With time, the practice of gratitude will train your mind to reflexively find the positive. Take some time each day to give thanks for the good things in your life.

The best leaders know that it’s normal—and occasionally even beneficial—to have a lot of thoughts dancing through your head. The trick is to learn how to quiet it down so you can have a more calm and purposeful life.

Lead from within: Mental noise is the constant chatter of the mind that never stops. It is the inner conversation or monologue that goes on constantly in the mind, and what we do with it makes a big difference in our leadership.

 

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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.

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Additional Reading you might enjoy:

12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
How to Succeed as A New Leader
12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
The Deception Trap of Leadership

 

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