Lolly Daskal's Blog, page 93

6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Leader

Leaders are the same as everyone else–they make mistakes, stray from the path and compromise their effectiveness because of ego, pride, or insecurity.

Having served as a leadership coach for more than three decades now, I’ve often seen great men and women not get the respect they deserve as a leader because they don’t understand the reality of their own leadership. Based on their experiences, I have collected some harsh truths that every leader must face before he or she can achieve greatness.

1. A title doesn’t make you a leader.

When you attain a leadership title, it simply gives you the opportunity to become a leader, so don’t mistake it for validation that you’ve already arrived. All a title does is buy you time–time to earn influence or to lose it, to get the job done or to fall short. Understand that titles are not the end but the beginning of leadership.

2. Leaders don’t come with followers.

As a leader, you don’t automatically have followers, only subordinates. It’s your behavior as a leader that determines whether or not those subordinates ever turn into followers. This is an especially harsh truth, but it’s also an important one.

3. Leadership isn’t about position.

For any leader to be effective, they must learn how to perform and get results. Leadership is not about your position but your performance–whatever your role. This small distinction is critical to your success as a leader.

4. Competence isn’t enough.

It’s foolish to think that competence alone can make you a great leader–or a leader at all. Competence is a requirement, but you also need to master a set of key leadership skills–vision, empowerment, and communication–to become a leader others admire and respect.

5. Just because you inherited it, that doesn’t mean you earned it.

Leadership is not genetic. If you inherit a title, it’s up to you to earn the position. That may mean working even harder than you’d have to otherwise. Set your privilege aside and focus on what you can do for your team.

6. Authority doesn’t make you a leader.

Many positions involve some degree of authority–police officer, judge, teacher, coach, parent. But even for people in those positions, leadership is not about authority or power. It is instead cultivated through character, competence, consistency, and compassion–traits that allow you to earn influence. And influence, not authority, is the foundation of successful leadership.

The bottom line is this: In order to become the kind of leader you aspire to be, you need to first understand and learn to live with some harsh truths. Once you make them part of your reality, you’ll be on the path to becoming a better leader.

 

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: Getty Images

The post 6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Leader appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

How to Leave A Great Leadership Legacy

When people talk about leaving a legacy, they’re usually thinking in terms of what they can do at the end of their lives to make an impact. But I strongly believe that your legacy will be measured by what you do every day, all day. The most influential people, the ones who leave behind incredible legacies, live on in the hearts of the people they’ve touched along the way.

When was the last time you went back and spent time thinking about the basic questions?

What is my role in life?

What am I good at?

How can I take stock?

How do I want to be remembered?

The best possible use of our lives is to spend them on something that will outlast us. And the way to create a great leadership legacy is to carve your name on the hearts and etch it into the minds of others, creating the stories that will make up your legacy.

You can start making your mark right now by defining for yourself these six pillars of greatness:

Your character will leave an impression. Character plays a vital role in leadership. Many people are concerned with their reputation when they should be concentrating instead on their character. Your character is who you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. Take care of your character and your leadership legacy will take care of itself.

The choices you make will leave a mark. Life is made up of an endless number of choices, and the choices you make add up to form your legacy. It’s important to always do your best—to make the right choices as often as you can and to try and learn from the wrong ones. In the end, your leadership legacy will reflect the choices you’ve made.

The way you conduct your behavior will make an impact. When you act with integrity it will be remembered; when you treat others with respect it will be honored; when you are trustworthy it will be recognized; and when you live by a code of conduct and your values, others will know what you stand for. They’ll admire you and realize the impact you made along the way.

The consistency with which you do things will be remembered. When you are consistent in your words and actions, when what you say is what you do, when you live up to your promises—that behavior is memorable. When your behavior is the same in unguarded moments as it is when someone is watching, you’re creating the kind of legacy anyone would want.

The confidence with which you lead will be admired. When a leader exhibits confidence, it becomes easier to trust that leader, and people want to work with leaders they trust. In reality, self-confidence is a more important asset than skill, knowledge, or even experience. Confidence comes from your competence, and capabilities equal confidence—an idea you can read more about in my new best-selling book, The Leadership Gap. A confident leader will be remembered as someone who helped others feel significant and empowered.

The compassion you show others will be highly regarded. Compassion isn’t something you’re born with. It grows out of considerate behavior, and any leader who can show compassion for others will be held in high esteem and long remembered. Leadership, at its core, is about compassion—the ability to relate to and connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives. And that’s a sure way to show how much a leader cares.

Character, choices, conduct, consistency, confidence and compassion—these six pillars of your leadership legacy can determine how you build, how you create, how you grow, and how you are remembered.

Lead from within. Creating a leadership legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people.

 

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

 

The post How to Leave A Great Leadership Legacy appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

How to Improve Communication With Your Boss

Everyone is always looking to improve their communication and especially when it comes to communicating with the boss.

Your boss is an important factor in your success, the better relationship you have the more successful you will become.

But great relationships are based on having great communication, so what is the best way to improve your communication with your boss try these 10 effective ways.

1. Develop a relationship:

It’s very important that you not only have a cordial relationship with your boss, but one that feels like you are connected. make a point to connect- get to know your boss and communicate to your about what you are working on, it is always good to be interested in a person and to offer support. your boss is a person who I am sure is working very hard, by showing an interest the dividends will grow.

2. Always keep your boss in the loop:

No one likes surprises, especially your boss, if something bad happened, you need to be able to communicate it. it’s always better to find out from you, so you can manage the message, than if your boss has to find it out from someone else, the best relationship you can form with your boss is by keeping them consistently informed

3. Don’t give alternative facts:

It is important to get the facts right, your boss deserves to know and they deserve to get the facts, your boss doesn’t really need alternative facts or assumptions or opinions, there is a lot of opinions and misinformation all the time, become the person who your boss can rely on.

4. Habitually come prepared:

When it comes to having a better relationship with your boss, being prepared is a prerequisite for success. chance favors the prepared mind. if you think you will be prepared, if you are prepared then you will have no worries.

5. Recognize time is precious:

Don’t waste your bosses time, time is precious, it’s a commodity. Keep your communication short and specific. when you speak be concise and clear, so your boss can get the most of the time you spend together, when you increase your communication with your boss. you will increase your productivity and your boss’s productivity.

6. Don’t exaggerate or stretch the truth:

If you are excited about something don’t oversell, and don’t overstate it, because if you are so busy explaining it -your boss might just find that it’s not worth their while, if its good, be specific and concise and let your boss decide. after all you want to support your boss not make their job more complicated or difficult.

7. Be a problem solver:

Your boss has problems that is a fact, but what you do can be a game changer, you wallow with your boss on how bad things are- or you can become the problem solver the solution generator.

8. Acknowledge feedback Isn’t criticism:

You may not like it but there is some truth somewhere in the feedback you call criticism. Use the feedback to devise solutions and not to offer blame, or excuses. Even if you think you are in the right, your message is not getting communicated to the boss clearly. Fix the communication and turn the criticism into corrective action. all feedback is good feedback. take it in stride.

9. Always honor the chain of command:

Going over your boss’s head to their boss can be dangerous. Learn to pick your battles, and do your best to get your point across in your communication, and be prepared to be challenged and honor the consequences. Don’t do anything to jeopardize your relationship with your boss by doing something arrogant like going over their head. unless if you feel you have to, then inform your boss, remember your boss doesn’t like surprises.

Successful communication with your boss can be mutually beneficial. So learn how to communicate like a leader.

 

 

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: Getty Images

The post How to Improve Communication With Your Boss appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

How to Encourage Your Employees to Take Leadership Roles

Every organization needs strong leadership at the top—but that’s not enough. You need leaders throughout your company, in every area and at every level.

When you have people with leadership potential in roles where they can make important decisions, achieve goals, reach targets and feed the bottom line, you’ll have a thriving and strong organization.

One of the best things you can do as a leader is to encourage your employees to take on leadership roles. Here are some ways to make that happen:

Create a compelling vision tied to a strong sense of purpose.

It’s a combination that gives people the energy and passion to be creative, responsible and accountable. Thinking in terms of a mission greater than themselves, they feel empowered to bring out their best. Seek out and hire people who resonate with and are excited by the organization’s vision, and provide ways for them to help fulfill its purpose.

Identify the right people to do the right things.

One of the best ways to empower people is to recognize their talents and give them jobs that feed their strengths. It begins with having the right people—those who can elevate themselves into leadership roles via their competence and capabilities—doing the right things and gaining confidence along the way.

Encourage decisiveness and accountability.

One important trait of being a leader is the ability to make decisions and to be accountable for your actions. When you give your employees autonomy and authority, you’re telling them you trust them. And when you show trust, most—if not all—will step up and surprise you with how much they can do if they know you are counting on them.

Promote collaboration and cooperation.

It’s frustrating and difficult when an organization is structured in silos; the best companies foster cross-functional teams that cut across departmental boundaries to take full advantage of the ideas and expertise of all employees. Any time you put people together, encourage teamwork, collaboration and cooperation, and reward those who take on extra initiatives. This practice will encourage people to display their leadership skills and is a great investment for the business at large.

Communicate often. If you want people to take on leadership roles, communicate with transparency and share information freely. Only when they have information can employees make sound decisions, achieve their goals, reach their targets and step up to their leadership roles.

Lead from within: The more you support your people, the more support your people will provide you.

 

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: Getty Images

The post How to Encourage Your Employees to Take Leadership Roles  appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

9 Easy Ways to Show Your Employees You Value Them

Employees who feel appreciated feel valued. And when people feel valued, they’re more likely to go above and beyond for the organization. They’re quicker to hold themselves accountable for their part of a project. Most importantly, they’re happier in their roles, which means they’re less likely to leave.

When leaders disregard opportunities to connect with their team and show employees their appreciation, they lose a secret weapon in building a dedicated, long-term team.

The first Friday of every March is Employee Appreciation Day, but don’t wait until then to celebrate and appreciate your most important asset. Make employee appreciation not an annual event but a daily habit.Here are nine great ways to show your employees some appreciation:

1. Do little things that make a big difference.

Appreciation doesn’t require big extravagant gestures. Send a handwritten note of appreciation, write a quick email, make a call of encouragement. Even little gestures can make a big impression.

2. Create new opportunities.

One of the best ways to win the hearts and minds of your employees is to give them as many opportunities as you can. Let them take on big challenges like a highly visible project or a new leadership role, or pick up the tab for a workshop or conference.

3. Make it personal and specific.

Be specific about your expressions of appreciation and recognition. Don’t just say “good job”; give a bit of detail about what impressed you. For example, “Thanks for having the courage to speak up in the meeting. It made a big difference in breaking the ice when everyone else was too fearful to talk about the problem.”

4. Show you trust them.

When you can show your employees you trust them, it sends a very important message. In essence, you’re telling them their work is good enough that they don’t need you looking over their shoulder.

5. Make internal improvements.

Make sure your team has the tools they need to do their job–up-to-date technology, good lighting and HVAC, and comfortable, ergonomic fixtures. Consider taking suggestions and adding extras like a break room or lounge.

6. Make time to connect.

Leaders have a lot of responsibilities, and it’s easy to get caught up in your own work, without paying much attention to your team. But one of the best ways to show your employees you appreciate them is making the time to connect with them. Find out how they’re doing–including their lives outside work.

7. Make mentorship part of the culture.

In almost any organization, there are newer employees who could benefit from being paired with an old hand. Whether you establish a formal mentorship program or a more casual buddy system, there’s no better way to transmit helpful information and give newbies a support system right from the start.

8. Give them ownership.

A surefire way to motivate people to bring their best is to hand them the keys to a project close to their expertise and interest. If possible, let the project be based on the employee’s own ideas. Not only will the employee be empowered to grow and succeed, but other employees will be inspired by seeing their colleague’s creativity rewarded.

9. Be honest and transparent.

Honesty should be a given, but it’s easier at some times than at others. Many people believe you shouldn’t talk about the bad news, but those conversations–difficult as they may be–prove you care enough to deliver even hard truths. Truthful and transparent feedback will gain you respect and garner the best possible results.

The bottom line: Once you your employees know how much you value them, there’s nothing they won’t work to accomplish for you and the team.

 

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: Getty Images

The post 9 Easy Ways to Show Your Employees You Value Them appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

10 Simple Ways to Relieve Your Stress

Most of us feel frazzled on the job these days–from entry-level workers to CEOs to entrepreneurs. No matter where you work or what you do, there is always too much to do and not enough time. It’s hard to feel calm in such a stressful climate– so how do you combat stress so you can be your best?

Here are some of the best stress busters I share with the leaders I coach:

1. Track your stressors.

A great way to begin relieving your stress is to track where it’s coming from. Keep a journal for a week or two to identify which situations create the most stress and how you react and respond to them. Keep an account of your thoughts and feelings, including the people and circumstances involved and how you responded. Knowing the sources of your frustrations and stresses lets you better understand how to eliminate or prevent them.

2. Practice mindfulness.

Meditation and deep breathing exercises can help melt away stress. Start by spending a few minutes each day in the simple activity of sitting still and concentrating on your breathing. Mindfulness helps you focus purposefully on a single activity without distraction, a practice that can calm you mentally and physically.

3. Establish boundaries.

These days it feels like we have to be available 24/7. That’s why it’s so important to establish boundaries. Some options to consider: not checking email from home in the evening, not answering the phone during dinner, not doing work on weekends. When you create rituals and establish boundaries, you establish calm.

4. Learn to let things go.

Don’t let something that’s long done and over with continue to bother you. A big part of managing stress is learning to turn loose of the things you cannot control–and that includes everything in the past. You can’t change the things that have happened, but you can control your attitude and how you deal with those things.

5. Get moving.

One of the best ways to reduce stress is to work it out. Being outdoors is especially beneficial, so hike or bike if you can. But any form of exercise, indoors or out, is good for you. Moving your body is a mood booster and produces endorphins that will leave you feeling more relaxed.

6. Learn to say no.

Stop trying to be a people-pleaser; simplify your life by learning to say no. The more you say no to unimportant things, the more time you have to say yes to the things you care about deeply.

7. Have a good laugh.

Studies have found that laughter can reduce stress and actually strengthens your immune system. Find something to laugh about.

8. Focus on the positive.

Positive thinking isn’t about expecting the best to happen every time–it’s about accepting what happens and making the best of it. Building positive rituals will help you keep negativity at bay.

9. Learn not to take things personally.

If you take everything personally, you’ll remain offended for the rest of your life. What other people do is usually a reflection of their own issues and doesn’t have anything to do with you.

10. Take time to recharge.

To avoid stress and burnout, everyone needs time to replenish, recharge and recuperate. The process of switching off from time to time is critical in a way that fits your needs and preferences. When possible, take time off to relax and unwind, so you can come back feeling reinvigorated and ready to perform at your best.

 

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: Getty Images

The post 10 Simple Ways to Relieve Your Stress appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

5 Signs You Have Fallen Out of Favor with Your Boss

Has your boss stopped returning your calls?

Have they stopped asking you for your opinion or introducing you to new clients?

It’s time to consider the possibility that you’re being frozen out from above.

Here are some surefire signs that you’ve fallen out of favor–and, on the positive side, what you can do about them.

1. You’re being assigned to menial tasks instead of good projects.

You have worked hard and been putting in long hours–maybe even more hours than most–but you’re not seen competent or capable and get assigned to tasks far below your ability level.

What to do: Become your own advocate. Make a list of all the things you have done well and approach your boss with clear concise communication. Let your boss know that you want to grow and develop and do more than you are doing now. Ask directly for an opportunity to showcase your skills and talents, then give it all you’ve got. Make a big enough impression that your abilities will never again be in doubt.

2. You’re experiencing radio silence in place of feedback.

There’s only one thing worse than constant micromanaging feedback, and that’s not getting any feedback at all. The absence of feedback may mean your boss doesn’t view you as a valued team member and so doesn’t particularly care what you do. Or it’s possible that you’re not being coached up because your boss believes you won’t be around much longer.

What to do: Again, speak up. Ask directly for feedback. Show an interest in improving and in your boss’s thoughts, and let them know you value their them.

3. You’re encountering insults and rebukes instead of praise and validation.

If your boss is throwing insults at you, rebuking you and saying disparaging or discrediting things, you don’t have to ask yourself if you have a problem. You do.

What to do: Talk to your boss promptly. Some aren’t great with people or social skills, and they might not even be aware of what’s happening. It’s a tough tightrope to walk, because you don’t want to come across as a complainer. Lead the way and speak to your boss with respect, giving them a chance to return it.

4. Your boss is available or accessible to everyone but you.

If they ignore you but have no problem making time for others, you have a problem.

What to do: Speak from your heart and try to find out why things are the way they are. Ask what you can do to prove yourself and make things right, and let your boss know their guidance and input are important to you.

5. Your boss is always micromanaging instead of trusting your judgment.

If everything you do seems to be wrong and your boss has started not to trust you, you need to save yourself and your reputation.

What to do: Before it becomes a bigger problem, talk to your boss. Be inquisitive and open, not defensive and confrontational. Ask how you can do better and let your boss know you will do your best so you can earn their trust again.

There are many reasons why you may have fallen out favor with the boss, but the worst thing you can do is pretend it’s not happening. The sooner you realize the relationship isn’t working is the moment you have to make it right. Do what you have to do to communicate with your boss and start making improvements immediately.

 

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: Getty Images

The post 5 Signs You Have Fallen Out of Favor with Your Boss appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

9 Stressful Things You Need to Stop Tolerating–if You Want to Be Successful

 

There are many things that can stress us out, especially when we want to create our own success stories.

Unfortunately, most of us end up tolerating some of our own bad habits, even though they cause much of the stress we experience.

So what are the stressful habits we need to stop tolerating? Here are the worst:

1. Toxic relationships.

Stop spending time with the wrong people. Life is too short to waste time on people who are toxic. The people in your life should support you, help you, and lift you up. If not, they are likely causing you uneasiness that you don’t need and shouldn’t have to tolerate. To succeed, you need relationships that will make you feel good about yourself.

2. Lying to yourself.

Everyone lies–that’s a fact–but lying to yourself can cause unnecessary concerns. If you want to be successful, you have to take chances and risks, and above all, you have to be honest with yourself.

3. Not parting with the past.

You’ll be less frustrated with yourself if you can let go of the past. You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the old one.

4. Settling for less.

A surefire way to cause stress in your life is to start putting your needs last and keeping them on the back burner.

5. Believing in perfectionism.

Trying to be prefect only provokes anxiety. The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists; it rewards people who get things done and make things happen.

6. Holding on to your fears.

If you’re scared of making a mistake, you’ll never succeed. Doing something and getting it wrong is 100 times more productive than doing nothing at all, so don’t allow your fears to get in the way of who you are meant to be and what you need to accomplish. Every success story has a trail of failures behind it; every mistake can lead to success.

7. Cutting yourself down.

Stop talking down to yourself–trust me, there are enough people who can do that job that you never have to do it yourself. Change your small-minded thoughts to big-picture goals and build yourself up instead of cutting yourself down. Refuse to lower yourself or your standards; instead, constantly raise yourself up.

8. Accepting your own excuses.

Sooner or later, you’ll realize that excuses don’t get you what you want. And if you want success, you’re going to have to take things into your own hands and make it happen. Excuses cause tension, while power creates determination.

9. Being jealous.

Don’t be concerned with who may be more successful than you. Instead, concentrate on beating your own records and surpassing your own goals. Success is a battle between you and yourself, no one else. Make it worth your while; make it about you.

At the end of the day, don’t have tolerance for the things that stress you and stand between you and your greatness.

 

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: Getty Images

The post 9 Stressful Things You Need to Stop Tolerating–if You Want to Be Successful appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

5 Proven Ways to Be More Influential at Work

Most people, at some point in their professional life, feel that they’re not really getting anywhere but just kicking the can down the road.

Sometimes that’s nature’s way of saying you need to be working in a different organization or even a different field. But often it simply means you need to ramp up your influence.

Becoming more influential at work, or in any environment, is largely a matter of managing relationships. That means taking a careful look at all your workplace relationships–top to bottom, side to side.

Think of each person and situation as a chance for you to be something new, something different–to bring what you have to offer. And when you bring your best, you increase your influence.

Here are five proven ways you can make it happen in virtually any setting:

1. Influence your boss.

Build a great relationship with your boss by being engaging and effective. That means you don’t go to them only with problems, but also to brainstorm about solutions and visions and new creative ideas. Become a person who can be counted on, who can solve problems and create solutions. Being held in high estimation by your boss is one of the best kinds of influence.

2. Influence meetings.

Every organization has meetings, and most of us dread them. But meetings can be a great opportunity to grow your influence. You can become the person who listens when everyone else is speaking and expresses ideas when everyone else is silent. When people are confused, you can repeat the gist of things, adding in your own two cents. The idea is to be present when others check out, to be heard when others aren’t listening, and to listen when others are speaking.

3. Influence your colleagues.

It’s likely that most of your peers just want someone to listen to them–someone they can vent to. When they do, it’s best to stay neutral and not get caught up in the drama. Try to be the person who listens to others, shows appreciation, validates their work, and chips in when they need help.

4. Influence your team.

Teams are made up of individuals, each with their own style, cultural background, experience, and work style. One way to exercise influence in your team is to make sure that everyone feels valued. If you can be the person who appreciates everyone’s opinions and viewpoints, you’ll be seen as someone who appreciates others, and in turn you’ll be well respected. People are grateful to those who acknowledge and appreciate them, so be kind to your team, and in turn, they will give you stature.

5. Influence yourself.

As you’re supporting, engaging, and enabling others, don’t forget about yourself. Take the time to work on your own needs and growth.

Becoming influential takes effort and inclination. As we know, great, influential people can change the world, but first you have to start changing from within.

 

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: Getty Images

The post 5 Proven Ways to Be More Influential at Work appeared first on Lolly Daskal.

7 Ways People Will Hold You Back–If You Let Them

Think about the people you’ve encountered throughout your professional life. There’s probably a range, with some who have gone out of their way to help you learn and grow, others who may have helped a bit when it wasn’t too much trouble, and perhaps a few who seemed to actively be working to hold you back.

If you’re working with someone in that last group, it’s important to respond to their actions in a way that helps you get the best out of yourself and others instead of reacting to their negativity.

Here are seven of the most toxic weapons ways these people wield, with strategies to overcome them. With a little help, you can overcome anyone who’s trying to stand in the way of your success.

1. They make you doubt yourself.

Don’t allow someone else’s doubts about you to turn into your own. If you find yourself doubting yourself because of something someone said or did, remember how far you have come and how strong you have grown. Whatever you believe about yourself is what you will manifest in your actions. Believe unwaveringly in yourself and others will have no choice but to believe in you too.

2. They keep reminding you of your faults.

If others find fault in you, you can consider their criticism objectively and then move on. If it’s valid, you can let it help motivate you to learn more, know more and be more. And if not, you can ignore it. But never allow it to become a reason to get stuck or play small.

3. They are constantly criticizing your ideas.

Some people almost can’t help responding to any new idea with negativity. But even unworkable ideas often have elements that are worth preserving or that lead to something that does work. Find others who can help you explore new ideas in a spirit of discovery and invention.

4. They discount your strengths.

The best way to combat someone who tries to undermine your strengths is simply to know yourself. When you have a clear sense of your own strengths and weaknesses, you’re well situated to ignore the uninformed opinions of others.

5. They minimize your contributions.

Often when people minimize the contributions of others, it’s because they’re trying to take more than their share of the credit. Lead by example–give credit to others ahead of yourself, knowing that shining a light on another’s efforts does nothing to take away from your own. Meanwhile, continue to do great work.

6. They try to make you feel unimportant.

The first thing you have to get past when someone puts you down is this: it hurts. So feel what you’re feeling. Allow the pain to make you stronger, the fear to make you braver, and the heartbreak to make you wiser. Then go invest in the opinions of others who know better.

7. They want you to think you have no options.

Negative people sometimes enjoy backing others into an imaginary corner, maybe to make up for their own feelings of being trapped. But of course the truth is that life is full of alternatives and choices. Simply choose to live your best life, every day, no matter what the options before you may be. Even if you don’t have a choice about doing something, you always have a choice about how you do it and what you learn from it.

The bottom line is this: Don’t take to heart the negativity of others. Remember that it has more to do with their own situation than with you. Stay tough and know what you’re worth.

 

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: Getty Images

The post 7 Ways People Will Hold You Back–If You Let Them appeared first on Lolly Daskal.