Which Direction

It used to be that if you were planning a trip you would get a map and figure out a route. Everyone had a road map in their car and would pull it out if they were lost or needed to know how to get to the next town. You would have to have a state map and a local map and sometimes multiple states if you were traveling across the country. Now days if you want to get somewhere you can check Mapquest, Google Maps or if you have a GPS you can use that. This will give you precise directions on how to get to your location. So what does all this have to do with leadership?

As a leader you have to give directions to those around you. Just like finding your way to a destination in your car has changed giving directions to the people you lead has also changed. People learn differently so as you give direction you need to make sure everyone understands exactly what is expected of them.

Training people do do their job is a role you as the leader must play. It is important that you train them to be quality employees. The directions need to be stated clearly and accurately. Here are some steps to take to ensure you are giving adequate directions.

• State them clearly and accurately.
• Tell them exactly what you expect of them.
• If the task is open to independent thinking allow them to create some processes of their own. Guide them in this process without micromangaing.
• Check for understanding
• Re-train using a different approach if necessary.

Before leaving them to do their work make sure they absolutely know what they are doing and always leave yourself open to questions. Make sure they know to come to you with as many questions until they understand.

Successful directions create successful employees.

Vision Quest

Leadership requires vision but you can't keep the vision to yourself. A good leader is able to clearly convey their vision to their followers. The vision must also be relevant. Followers want to follow a leader who can give them a vision they can buy into. It can't just be a vision for the leader but the whole team.

Many companies have a vision and a mission and usually that vision and mission is displayed to everyone in the company. If you are a leader of a department within that company does your department have a vision? Have you let your people know what that vision is?

Here are some things to do that will help you as a leader create and convey your vision for your company or department.

• Have a vision creation session. - This will allow everyone to have a say in the vision.
• Let the department or the company create the vision. - They will have ownership of the vision if they can create it.
• Once created display it for all to see. - Everyone needs to see it so they can make their job relevant to the vision.
• Announce it and use it on your letterhead. - Making it visual everywhere is a great reminder.
• Make a big PR deal of the vision. - Announcing  to the public will help them to catch the vision. This really helps if you are also a company that markets to the public.

Go out and create that vision. You may already say that your company has one maybe it is time to re-evaluate that vision. Is it still relevant? Make sure everyone is involved in the vision and that they know what it is.

Leadership Legacy

Being a leader can be a difficult position to be in. A leader is someone who others look toward for vision, direction and of course leadership.

How do you do as a leader who conveys a vision that others can get behind and follow?

How are you at giving direction? Do you micromanage or do you allow your followers some independence?

How do you do at leading? How do you show your followers the way to success?

Over the next several days we are going to examine ways to step up ways to tweak and convey your vision to your followers. We will also look at ways to give direction to your followers while empowering them to reach their goals. We will also look at ways to lead while showing your followers how to be successful.

Today we are going to look at the one thing that will tie them all together. It is a legacy, you don't just want to be in a leadership position without making an impact and leaving a legacy. A legacy is something others will remember you by. You want to leave them with something so after you are gone others will say remember what so-and-so did. What do you want your followers or company to remember you by.

I am currently serving as the Area 21 Governor in District 6 Toastmasters. I said to myself when I took over for this year that I wanted to do something different. Sure it might have been done before and in other areas but I decided I would create a quarterly newsletter that highlights accomplishments from each club in the area.

My challenge to you is to find something you can do that will leave a legacy of your leadership role. Leave a comment and let me know what it is.

The Great Outdoors

Do you love the outdoors? Do you walk or jog outside regardless of the weather? Do you head to the lake anytime of the year to enjoy what the seasons have to offer?

When I worked two summers at a Bible camp I had the opportunity to teach intermediate canoeing. I loved getting out on the water and hearing the waves lap against the side of the canoe. I also enjoy the paddle slicing its way through the water as you move across the placid lake.

Yesterday we looked at escaping to the great outdoors and doing some fishing. Lake fishing, ice fishing or deep sea fishing, pick your pleasure and enjoy. Today I encourage you to stay outside but find something else to do. Do you like hiking along the many trails your area has to offer? Maybe you like biking those trails instead.

It doesn't matter what time of year it is if your hobby is enjoying the outdoors you will find something to do whether it is 40 below or 100 above.

If you enjoy the outdoors but don't like winter it can be a difficult season. If you like winter there is much to do especially if there is snow. Skiing, sledding, skating and snowmobiling are just some of the things you can do.

What is your great outdoors pleasure? Escape the stuffing leadership office and enjoy the expanse of the world around you and get out and find the outdoor pleasure. You will soon find the stress of leading escaping in the air.

I would love to hear what others like to do in the great outdoors?

Hobbies

Life is not just about leadership. You can't make leadership your life. Leaders need time to relax and renew and the weekends are your opportunity to do so. Over the past several weekends we have looked at enjoying the arts, music, sports, and family time. This weekend we are going to look at hobbies. What hobbies do you like to do?

There are a number of things you can do that constitute a hobby. I probably won't be able to cover all of them over the next two days but we will revisit this topic some other weekend. Here is a list of just some of the hobbies you could enjoy each weekend. Find your hobby and embrace it this weekend as a release to all of your leadership duties.

• Hunting & Fishing
• Outdoors - Walking, jogging, camping, and backpacking
• Collecting - Stamps, coins, cards or antiques
• Gardening
• Scrap booking
• Cooking

Where I live it is fashionable this time of year to drill a hole in the ice and fish to your hearts content. If this is your hobby (ice fishing)you can head out on the ice and spend hours relaxing and pulling fish from your favorite lake. Many people who ice fish have elaborate houses that they put on the ice for fishing. Many have televisions, refrigerators, bunk beds and of course holes in the floor for fishing through.

This winter has been mild here in Minnesota so there has not been a long period of time for ice fishing. It is however a great escape from the rat race of leadership. It is a great opportunity to get away from it all and enjoy something you love. You might love leadership but it is an alternative to the role of leadership.

This weekend drop a line in the water and relax with some fishing and escape from your leader responsibilities.

Growth Summary

A leader must grow to be successful. The problem becomes how does the leader grow? It is not always easy trying to evaluate your own shortcomings. The best way to approach growth then is to create an overall growth schedule. Find things that will help you grow in all areas. Find specifc things that will help you grow in each area thus creating a stronger leader. It is like going to a liberal arts college. You were expected to take classes that were not in your major, why? To become a well rounded citizen. Learning and growing outside your comfort zone helps strengthen your growth and will strengthen you as a leader.

The past ten days we have looked at things you can do as a leader to streghten and grow as a leader. Here they are again in summary. I suggest you go back and read each of these or ones that may be of interest to you.

• Communication - Grow in your communication, speaking and listening are essential to good leadership. 2/9 "Growing Up"
• Mentor - Find someone to mentor and be mentored yourself. 2/10 "Meaningful Mentoring"
• Find the right followers - Hire and train the best people for the job and they will make you look good. 2/14 "Surrounding Yourself"
• Donate time and money - Make the most of what you have by donating your time and money to worthy causes. 2/15 "Pay it Forward"
• Faith - Put your faith in God so you can seek the higher calling on your life. Growth will occur exponentially if you have a strong spiritual life. 2/16 "A Higher Calling"

These five things that you can do will help you grow as a leader and they will strengthen your ability to be the leader you were meant to be.

Grow strong and be a mighty leader!

A Higher Calling

Being a leader can be very rewarding especially when you can help others become leaders. Leading can also be a very difficult role and it has many challenges. That is why it is important that leaders continue to grow and find ways to grow. It is through growth that leaders become better.

You may find yourself being a leader at more places than just on your job. You may be a leader at home or at church. In all those areas you can find ways to grow your leadership skills.

The best way to grow your leadership skills is through your higher calling. Each of us have a higher calling through God and it is your faith in him and your spiritual life that will help you grow exponentially. You need to find out what your higher calling is and become a leader in that area.

Your faith is the most important aspect of your leadership role. You cannot be leader on your own you need to lean on the power of God. If you try to go it alone you will burn yourself out and you will end up making some mistakes.

Here are some things to do daily to stay focused on God and stay the course on your leadership and your higher calling.

• Pray - Communicate daily with God. Don't do all the talking, spend some time listening.
• Read God's Word - Spend time daily reading God's word.
• Think about how God's word applies to your leadership.
• Praise and Thanks - Give God praise and thanks for all He does to help you.

Your higher calling is God's plan for your future. Find out what it is and be a leader guided by God.

Pay It Forward

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend the morning in a 4th grade classroom teaching the 4th graders about business. I participated in JA (Junior Achievement) in a Day. This is a day many of the people from the company I work at spends the morning in a local elementary teaching kids about business.

The teacher really appreciates the program because it is skills and ideas that she is unable to teach because of time constraints.

Another way that a leader can grow is to pay it forward, Be a philanthropist in all that you have. Not necessarily money but also your skills and knowledge. Share with the future generations everything you have learned and you can already start to influence the future leaders.

If you can donate money to worthy causes then please do so. It is another great way to support the issues you care about. Maybe you have a passion for the United Way, get involved in their donation campaign at your company. If they don't have one then this is your opportunity to grow as a leader and start one. Maybe you prefer something outside of work. Heart association, breast cancer awareness, als, ms, the list could go on for ever, find one that fits your liking and get involved.

You might prefer a faith based organization, your church or something else that fits your faith. You can get involved with those as well.

Regardless of what you want to get involved with I suggest you do so because it will help you grow as a leader and it will help you flex those servant leader muscles. Get ready for a volunteer workout and pay it forward to others.

If you are interested on this blog page I have an opportunity for those who read my blog to donate to the American Diabetes Association. It is a way for you to get the ball rolling. It is a way that I can also participate by throwing my support behind something that has affected my family. If you feel like it I suggest you donate by clicking on the donate section on my blog page.

Surrounding Yourself

Thank you for allowing me a respite yesterday as I was much under the weather. Sometimes the leadership game can knock you out for a round or two. It will not knock you out permanently. Especially if you follow quality leadership practices.

Growth and leadership go hand and hand. Without growth leaders do have the potential to be permanently knocked out of the game. We have looked at communication through being actively involved in a group like Toastmasters to grow your communication skills as a leader. We looked at mentoring and being mentored as another way to continue to grow as a leader.

Today we are going to look at an unusual way to help you as a leader grow. That is to surround yourself with capable and aspiring followers. If the leader can hire quality workers. Then train and encourage those workers to be the best that they can be. Doing this will help produce future leaders and will help you grow as a leader.

It will help you grow because it will show others that you can help grow other leaders. If you as a leader can grow more leaders you will make the company stronger. It will go a long way in showing others that you have what it takes to take leadership to the next level.

Here are some things to look for to help surround yourself with the right people.

• Hire those with the right skill set or a passion for the job.
• Allow your employees to learn all they can about what they do.
• Provide them with all the training necessary.
• Give them tasks to show their leadership skills.
• Encourage, encourage and encourage!

I wishh you all the best growing those future leaders.

Leadership Blues

It would be nice if we never got sick. However that is not true. I promised myself that I would blog everyday of the year in 2012. As I write this I am under the weather and not too excited about expounding on the virtures of Leadership.

Even leaders get sick and have to take a break from their leadership duties. Maybe it is the leadership duties that have allowed them to get sick. Sleeping long hours may be just the cure for the leadership blues.

If I am feeling better later today I'll write what I was really going to write about.

The Name of the Game

From Monday - Friday we all put on our game faces and wear the uniform of a leader. A leader who is guiding others in business. Guiding them to be the best that they can be. A leader who is willing to roll the dice and take risks all for the success the followers.  The name of this game is leadership.

It is the weekend and that game is in an intermission it is time to play a game of leisure. Yesterday we looked at taking some time out and playing a family game with your kids. This weekend maybe you can also find time to play a game with your friends or even by yourself. What is the name of the game that helps you relax. Maybe you enjoy the pursuit of trivia, or challenge your mind with Cranium. What is the latest adult board game, maybe that is the one of choice. It is possible you like playing cards, bridge, 500, cribbage what is your card game of choice.

You might prefer playing something by yourself. Maybe you like to escape in the world of video games and you have a Call of Duty or you want to rescue the princess Zelda. I know what you are thinking adults playing video games, they can be a great escape from that real game of leadership.

Whether you like family games with the kids, adult games with your friends or individual games it is a great weekend to find something you like and escape from the world of leadership and into the world of relaxation.

Relax and lead!

Playing Games

It may often seem that sometimes being a leader and playing that leadership role is like a game. It is a tough game to play and can be very exhausting at times. That is why it is important to spend your weekends relaxing and doing things you enjoy. Then you will be able to jump back into the game with a fresh perspective and win those leadership battles.

This weekend take some time out of your busy leadership life and go back to playing those kids games. Set aside one of these evenings to have a family game night. Let your kids pick the games and enjoy some quality time with the family losing yourself in a game or two.

What is your favorite game? Are you a Monopoly fan, how about Risk or maybe even Jenga. Whatever your pleasure or in this case your child's pleasure is enjoy playing those games.

When you play these games with your kids be sure they assume the leadership roles. Let them be banking, or explain the rules. This will be an opportunity to start to shape the leaders of tomorrow. Let them be in charge and you can sit back and enjoy the game.

After a night of family games you will be refreshed and ready to jump back into the leadership game.

Meaningful Mentoring

We are spending a few days looking at ways that leaders can continue to grow even when they become leaders. Once you become a leader it is not the time to relax. You must continue to grow and learn that is the way you become a better leader. It is the only way to stay ahead of the game and improve your leadership skills.

Once you become a leader you need to make sure you find someone to mentor. You can mentor one of your employees or someone from another department or even a peer. Besides finding someone to mentor you need to continue to be mentored. It is always good to have someone who you can talk with and bounce things off of.

What are the benefits of mentoring.

• Gives you someone you can teach leadership skills that will help them be successful leaders.
• Allows you an opportunity to learn about a person's passions and vision.
• Helps you focus on leadership. Leadership isn't about managing people or bossing people around it is about leading others to do great things.

What are the benefits of being mentored.

• You have someone who will be able to share their wisdom with you.
• Allows you to see other leadership styles that might fit you better.
• Gives you someone you can ask advice during difficult leadership decisions.

Whether you are looking to become a leader or you have been for a number of years. Make it a goal to become a mentor to someone and also seek out someone who will mentor you. Be sure to make both sides of the mentoring process meaningful.

Growing Up

There are many people who believe that to be a leader you have to do all of your growing before you become a leader. That is how you become a leader you learn the tools of the trade and then you get the big break and become a leader.

There is the saying "grow or die". When it comes to our learning or education it is important to grow and learn every single day. Even if you obtain that leadership role you have always wanted it is not time to sit back and relax. If you don't grow in that role you will die.

What we are going to look at over the next several days is ways that a leader can grow. Things you can do as a leader that will help you grow in your role.

An organization I am involved with is Toastmasters. I have been for six years and it has helped me grow as a leader. A key part to being a good leader is being a good communicator and listener. Toastmasters can help with all those areas.

What are some benefits of Toastmasters: These apply to current and future leaders,

• Become a great communicator/speaker so you can communicate clearly and engage your followers.
• Become a great listener so you can hear the needs of your followers and you can respond with industry trends and changes.
• Opportunity to lead in other areas and help grow your leadership influence by gaining respect in leadership from others.

I am passionate about the importance of Toastmasters and will at some point write more about the important aspects of Toastmasters.

I have a link on this blog site to Toastmasters International check it out and join a club near you.

Leadership & Growth

We are going to change our focus a little bit in the next couple of days. We just finished looking at leadership styles. We didn't look at every leadership style we did look at a handful of them. We will revisit leadership styles again and look at some other types.

I would like to focus now on what it takes to stay fresh as a leader. Leadership isn't a destination it is a journey. Once you become a leader you can't sit back and think "okay I'm done". Leadership is something that must be worked at and improved upon every single day.

We are going to spend some time looking at ways you can help yourself to grow as a leader. To kick it off I found this great article that you should read. "If You Want To Lead You Have To Grow"


Ken Blanchard Article


Lead on and continue to grow.

Balloon Ride

Have you ever taken a hot air balloon ride? I haven't but I hear you can see for miles on clear days and it is a fun and exhilarating experience. I would like to tell you about two leadership styles that I came up with based on the following story. This story is not my own I found it on-line and unfortunately I do not remember where I found it.

I took a hot air balloon ride and there I was floating over the landscape and enjoying the scenery when I realized I was lost.

Fortunately I saw a man on the ground so I reduced my height so I could speak to him. I got closer to him and I shout

"Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?"

The man on the ground replies "You're in a hot air balloon hovering thirty feet above this field."

"You must work in Information Technology." I reply back to him.

"I do," says the man "How did you know?"

"Well," I said back, "everything you told me is technically correct, but it's no use to anyone."

"You must be in business," said the man.

I told him I was and I asked him how he knew.

"Well," says the man, "You don't know where you are, you don't know where you're going, but you expect me to be able to help. You're in the same position you were before we met but now it's my fault."

I like to call these two styles the Balloonist and grounded style of leadership. Both are not the best kind of leadership styles. The balloonist style is the type of leader who is lost and doesn't know what to do. They have no direction or vision and instead of accepting the blame they look for someone else to blame.

The grounded leader is the type of leader who knows a lot of useless information. They don't really offer any information that helps the business grow or helps the workers grow. Instead they spout information and making it look like they know everything.

If you are one of these types of leaders or know someone who is find a better leadership style because these styles will drive people away.

Exemplary Leadership

We spent the last week looking at various leadership styles. We will continue to do so this week as well. I would like to try to focus on ones that I have come up with and given names to.


Exemplary leadership is part of a speech I gave on leadership. It is similar to a servant leader however it isn't all about serving it is about setting examples and then making sure your followers are guided by your examples, integrity and unselfishness.

Being an exemplary leader means you forge a path through the storm. You are the front runner setting examples for your followers and through it all maintaining a high level of integrity and honesty. An example of an exemplary leader are those people who were willing to sacrifice it all to help those devastated by the earthquake in Haiti. They went to Haiti and gave of their time and money unselfishly. They lead by example carrying with them the following principles.

·         Exemplary leaders set the example for their followers

·         Exemplary leaders live by a moral code that breeds humility and unselfishness.

·         Exemplary leaders have a positive attitude and give all they have to overcome the storms in life.

If you live by a humble moral code and set an example with a positive attitude you are an exemplary leader.

If you are interested in hearing this complete speech please get in contact with me.

The Big Game

It is Superbowl time again. For leaders all over the world it is an opportunity to relax and enjoy the biggest game of the season for the NFL. But it isn't just about the game it is also about the experience.

In Indianapolis they have what is called the NFL experience for the fans to enjoy some activities. You don't have to be in Indianapolis to enjoy the NFL experience. Create the atmosphere wherever you enjoy the game.

Today take some time out of your busy leadership week to enjoy the Patriots and Giants in SuperBowl XLVI. If you can't go to the big game then create the atmosphere at your home. Here are some suggestions to give yourself the the ultimate at home SuperBowl experience.

• Big screen high definition television - You have to make sure it looks like you are there.
• Decorations - Decorate your house in the colors of your favorite team.
• Food and Beverages - Make sure you have ample supply of your favorite snacks and beverages. If you are making a meal make something like sloppy joes or chili.
• Apparel - Make sure you dress in your teams colors and wear a jersey of your favorite player.
• Interruptions - Make sure once the game starts you avoid all interruptions. Don't answer the phone unless it is your friend trash talking.

Enjoy the game!

If you like sports visit my sports only blog. Look for the link on this blog site.

Movie Pleasure

It is the weekend again and as usual it is time for all the leaders to take a break from the rat race of leadership and find something relaxing to do.

Regardless of the type of genre you like everyone must admit that taking in a good movie is always a great way to escape. What is your pleasure when it comes to movies? Do you like the old black and white classics. Are you a music man or woman and you love a good musical. Maybe you like the an action packed film, a comedy or a drama. Possibly a chick flick meets your needs. For me I like the old Hitchcock movies but I also like all the super hero movies that they have been making.

Now that you have found your movie of choice where are you going to watch it. Some people love to hit the theatres for the current releases and see the movie on the big screen. Other people have designed movie rooms in their homes and getting a DVD or blue ray and watching it at home is a wonderful alternative to the big screen.

Now that you have the movie and the location it is time for the snacks. Popcorn is my snack of choice for movies. Nothing beats some warm buttery popcorn and a cold glass of soda. Maybe candy is your selection for what to eat at the movies. Whatever it may be get it ready.

Today, relax with your favorite movie at your favorite location with your favorite movie snack and escape from your world of leadership into the land of leisureship.

People-Oriented Leadership

Today we will look briefly at People-oriented leadership. We have looked at a number of leadership styles already this week and will continue to do so next week. There are billions of people in the world and each one is confronted with a leadership role sometime in their life. Many will not have that role in their careers but may be confronted with leading in the community, church or activity. Whatever the position is those people need practical information that will help them discover the right leadership style for their role.

People-oriented Leaders are focused on developing their team and the members of their team. they take an active role in making sure their members are successful in their jobs. This type of leadership style really helps with the building of the team and the growth of those within the team. It is a good style to use if you want to bond a team together on your quest toward a goal.

If this style is used exclusively you may run into problems with the team being able to complete tasks because they may not understand what the tasks are. The leader and the team become so people centric that they forget their are task to be completed. This is a great style for building the cohesiveness of the team but you may have to implement the task-oriented style along with the people-oriented style so you build a cohesive team that can complete the tasks.

If you are a people person this may be the style of your leaning. Especially if you care about the team and those who work for you. If you want them to be engaged and find success this style will help you achieve that goal.

Autocratic Leadership

Autocratic Leadership is a style that is not conducive for most situations. The autocratic leader is someone who really controls the workers. It is almost like a dictatorship in which the leader tells the workers what they have to do and it better be done.

If you are in an office setting this style of leadership may lead to worker despair and high turnover on the job. Majority of people do not want to be controlled by an autocratic leader. The workers end up looking for something else because they cannot work under those oppressive situations.

This style also will not allow the workers to have a say in their jobs. The motto "It's my way or the highway" is adopted by the leader. Following them and respecting them becomes a difficult task.

However, not all is bad in certain situations where routine is king and unskilled labor is present it may be necessary to implement this style of leadership. This style can be used but in small doses and under very controlled circumstances. Be careful to not get so power hungry you may find yourself using this one quite often. The results will not be good.

Show your true leadership and avoid the autocratic leadership style.

Transformational Leadership

I believe that being a servant leader is the ultimate leadership style there isn't one particular leadership style that should be used all the time. Depending on the situation you might find it necessary to employ different leadership styles. There are many different kinds of leadership styles and I won't examine each one.

Today's selection is Transformational Leadership. A transformational leader is someone who can transform a company, team or project. they can inspire others to do great things. If you are a transformational leader and you are able to inspire your followers they will work at a higher level.

A transformational leader is someone who is able to get their vision and mission communicated to the team and inspire them to follow. The transformational leader tends to have some charismatic elements to their leadership style. It is that charisma that helps them become the engaging leader that motivates the team.

Many politicians can be categorized as transformational leaders. They are able to inspire their constituents and share their vision. Some tend to be stronger leaders then others and those are the ones who get elected.

Do you inspire? Do you motivate? Maybe you are a transformational leader. Become that agent of change and transform your world.

Servant Leadership

This week we are going to look at various leadership styles. I will look at a few that are commonplace within the leadership institution and a few unique styles. Today I want to look at Servant Leadership these won't be deep dives into the styles but more of a general overview and my opinion of the style.

The phrase “Servant Leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay that he first published in 1970.  This is from the following webpage Greenleaf Center.  The term "Servant Leadership" has only been around since 1970 but the concept is been around since the beginning of time. Jesus was the ultimate Servant leader in that He was willing to lay down His life for others.

It is that mentality that a leader should have if they want to drive success in their followers. Servant Leadership isn't a me first leadership style. Instead it is a you first leadership style. The leader is always looking for ways to improve and grow those around him/her. They are willing to serve first and lead second. By doing this they really become a leader.

You may have heard the phrase "Do as I say not as I do". A servant leader uses the motto "Do as I do and say". Showing others how to serve is in my belief the ultimate in leadership skills. If you look at the Gospels and read about everything Jesus did it was all about serving. He healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the hungry and washed his disciples feet. He served and the more He served the larger the crowds became who followed Him.

Are you a servant leader? Are you willing to lay down your life for your followers? Do you have what it takes to be the ultimate leader, a servant leader. That is not to say all the other leadership styles are no good or don't work, because they do work. I just believe that Servant Leadership is the best way to lead a group of people. It shows you care about them and not your own special interests.

Go and find a group to serve.

Following the Leader

Whether you have been a leader for many years or you are just starting in your leadership adventure it is always good to find out what type of leader you are. Some people might think a leader is a leader what does it matter about the leadership style.

The style of leader matters quite a bit because if you can identify what type of leader you are or your boss is then it will help with those doing the following. Once you become a leader you do not stop following. Everyone has someone they are accountable to so it is important to understand the various leadership styles.

Over the next several days we will look at the various leadership styles. Some leadership styles are the same across the industry but there are other unique styles depending on who you ask. Every expert has some unique styles they have identified. I will look at the main types of leadership styles and also offer a couple of my own unique styles.

This will not be a comprehensive list but it will help you to have a better understanding of the styles and which one you might fall under.

Tomorrow we will look at the Servant Leader.

Music to My Ears

As a leader finding ways to relax can sometimes be a challenge. I hope to give you many alternatives every weekend of the year. Yesterday we looked at the arts and gave you some options for viewing the visual arts, movies excluded. Today we are going to look at music

I am currently listening to some great music on my computer as I write this blog. I can create a playlist and start it playing. Then I sit back, write and enjoy the inspiring music. In this day and age with Ipods, MP3s, cell phones and tablets we have the option to carry with us hundreds even thousands of music titles and listen to them on the go.

One day this weekend I would like for you to not take your music with you. Instead I want you to dock your ipod or create a computer playlist, find a comfortable easy chair in your house, get something soothing to drink, sit back and escape for an hour in some of your favorite music.

Leaders need that time to just unwind and listening to your favorite music in a relaxing chair can help calm the most stressful situations.

Whether your music choice is classical, jazz, blues, rock, christian, rap, folk, country or a mix of many genres, spending time listening to your favorites will energize you for the coming work week. I occasionally listen to music at work to help me focus on a difficult task or an extensive project or assignment I am working on. Don't just leave the music for the weekends. Make it part of your daily life.

The Arts

Each weekend we spend some time looking at ways leaders can escape their leadership role and just relax. Two weekends ago we looked at spending time with family and friends. Last weekend we looked at sports. This weekend our focus is on the arts.

If you live in or near a large metropolitan area you may have many art opportunities. Winter may be a time when you can't attend outdoor art shows or festivals. There should still be plenty for you to do.

I live in the Twin Cities and one thing we have done as a family is to take in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Every month they have a family Sunday and it is a great time to expose the children to the world of art. They have special hands on events for the kids during that family day. If you don't have children take a venture anyway to the art museum. Nothing is more relaxing than casually walking around an art museum and admiring the wonderful works of art.

As the weather gets better and summer is upon us you may have many opportunities to take in local art fairs and have a nice walk in a park viewing the local art.

One day this weekend enjoy the art that is around you.

Sow and Reap Wrap

For the last two weeks we have been looking at giving quality business presentations through the concept of sowing and reaping. The sowing was the presentation and the reaping was the audience. I hope that you found this information valuable.

During our examination of the audience I am sure you found yourself described in one of the four audience types. Are you reactionary, energetic, apathetic or processor when you hear presentations? It doesn't matter which one you are you will have to make sure if you are creating a presentation that you cater to all the audience types.

Here is a summary of what we discussed.
The Presentation
S = Substance
          Mission/Vision
          Details
          Facts
O = Ownership
          You are the Driver
          Road Map to Success
          Passengers
W = WOW Factor
          Bells & Whistles
          Not Necessarily PowerPoint
          Think Outside the box

The Audience
R = Reactionary
E = Excited
A = Apathetic
P = Processor

Look for more to follow on this as I am in the process of creating worksheets to help guide you in creating a great presentation for a idea or project you want to work on.

Processor

I hope you have enjoyed our look at audience types. When I say audience I am talking about those you might meet if you were making a business presentation. During this series we have looked at the business presentation and now we are looking at the audience who you will be presenting that presentation to.

We are using the concept of Sow and Reap to understand the business presentation and the audience who sees it. Today we are looking at the P in REAP. It stands for Processor. These are the people who upon hearing your presentation can't immediately make a decision. They have to think things over. They like to analyze everything they are presented with. Sometimes they almost come across as apathetic but that is not true they just want to process the information.

How can you as the presenter address this group of people? Make sure your presentation is solid. Make sure it has all the facts and details in your presentation. Make sure you show that you are in charge and show that in your presentation. Also blow them away with the wow factor. If your presentation is solid from beginning to end you will have given the processors all they need to make an informed decision about your presentation.

They will come back wanting to help you and they will also have some great ideas to help make your project a success.

Remember if you SOW a great presentation you will REAP the accolades of the audience.

Apathetic

This week we are working our way through audience types when you are giving a business presentation. We are using the acrostic REAP. Today we are going to take a look at the A. It stands for apathetic. That's right you will have people in your audience who are apathetic. They won't care what you have to say or what you are presenting. They are those who sit with their arms crossed looking at you but not really hearing what you have to say.

Just because they are apathetic doesn't mean they won't be receptive to what you have to say. This group of people you may have to work a little harder to get them engaged. Working harder means making sure your presentation really has a great WOW factor. That presentation needs to knock them off their feet. As you are presenting if you wow them it will get their attention and they will become engaged.

Once engaged the apathetic people in your audience will be sold on what you have to say. You've got their attention they will want to get on board with what you have to offer. After the presentation don't forget about them. Follow up with them on how they can get involved. Make sure they stay engaged.

Tomorrow we will look at those who are represented by the R. Then on Friday will will finish with a summary.

Excited

I hope everyone had an opportunity to read about those in your audience who are reactionary. It is important that any time you give a business presentation you will be confronted with a potpourri of listening and reacting styles. We are understanding these styles through the acrostic REAP. They are the ones reaping what you are talking about or selling so it is important to understand who they are and what you can do to get them excited about your presentation.

Yesterday we looked at the R for reactionary. Today we tackle the E which stands for Excited. This is the group of people in your audience who immediately get excited the moment they hear your presentation. They get jazzed and ready to tackle the project you have presented.

The excited ones you definitely want on your side because they will talk up your idea and get others excited. They will be the cheerleader for your project. The thing to be careful about is that they can sometimes get so excited about the idea or project that they try to take over.

In order to prevent the taking over of your project you need to really emphasize the ownership aspect. You need to show them that you are in charge. Your presentation should clearly show how you are the driver of the project and that you have all of the pieces ready to make it a success. However be sure to include them and make sure that they feel their part is important. If you do this you will have them cheering on your project and getting others excited about it as well.

Reactionary

We have been looking at what it takes to give quality business presentations. We are looking at it through the concept of Sow and Reap. The sow portion of the concept is the presentation itself and we looked at those last week. This week we will be looking at what the REAP stands for.

Each of the letters in REAP stands for a different type of person you might encounter in your audience when presenting your presentation.
R = Reactionary
E = Excited
A = Apathetic
P = Processor

Today we are looking at the reactionary audience member. Those who are reactionary and hear your presentation are immediately going to have something to say about your presentation. These people usually react with negatives about your presentation and idea. They will offer positives as well but more often then not it is the negatives you will hear.

How can you hear only positives or very minimal negatives from the reactionary types? Make sure you have done your homework. Make sure your presentation has covered all the information necessary to make it a viable idea. Make sure your facts a complete and that you have looked at and determined all the stumbling blocks.

If you do this and present it correctly those reactionary types will have glowing things to say and they will be champions for your cause.

Tomorrow we will look at the excited audience members.

Sports Sunday

This weekend we are looking at spending your leisure time enjoying sports. Yesterday we looked at going to your favorite venue to watch your favorite team live or stay at home and watch them on TV.

Today we are going to get personal with the sports. Another way you can relax is to watch you child participate in their sporting events. It is an opportunity to watch them grow and learn about a sport they love. It is also fun to watch children whether grade school, middle school or high school compete in sports. It helps to build character and it helps you as a leader to enjoy something your children enjoy.

If you don't have children maybe you participate in sports. This weekend is an opportunity for you to unwind by playing a sport you love. Spending time expending physical energy is a great change from all the mental energy you used during the week. Any form of exercise will do as a great way to expend that energy.

Be sure this weekend you spend some time burning some physical energy. After that get some quality sleep and you will be ready to hit the ground running on Monday morning.  Burning that physical energy helps clear the mind for the tough leadership decisions you will have to make in the coming week.

Enjoy your sports Sunday.

Leisureship

Every weekend we will look at how leaders can find ways to relax from the hustle and bustle of a busy leader life. Every Saturday and Sunday I will give you some things to do that will help you relax and just enjoy life. Put the busy work life behind, sit back and enjoy some easy ways to decompress.


Last week we looked at relaxing with family and friends. This weekend we are going to look at sports. If you are a big sports fan and you live near a major city in the United States you have access this time of year to watch Basketball or Hockey. If you don't like pro sports then find a local college and watch their teams play.

This weekend take time to relax by watching your favorite team in action. If you aren't interested in spending money and going out to watch them play then enjoy a number of games on TV.

If football is your thing that season isn't over. We have two great match-ups this weekend Giants vs. 49ers and Ravens vs. Patriots. Enjoy the football match-ups this weekend, the winners will be facing each other in the Superbowl.

Tomorrow we will look at other sports opportunities for your weekend of relaxation.

The Audience

Any time you give a presentation it is not only the presentation that is important but the audience may be just as important. It is the audience that you are selling your idea to and presenting the information to as well. It is important to make sure you are meeting the needs of your audience. In that regard you need to understand the types of people that could make up your audience.

We are looking at the concept of SOW and REAP. The SOW portion was the presentation itself and it included Substance, Ownership and WOW Factor. The REAP is the audience, starting Monday I will address what the R stands for.

First lets look at the principle of sowing and reaping. The idea is that whatever you sow that you will also reap. If you plant corn you should reap corn. In our little scenario if you plant a quality presentation with great ideas you should be able to reap success. If you present a bland and boring presentation your will probably put your audience to sleep and your idea and presentation will not grow.

It is important to plant a presentation and understand your audience when doing so. That is what we will begin looking at on Monday.

Don't go anywhere this weekend because we will continue our weekend look at leader leisure.

WOW Factor

How is that business presentation coming? I hope you have been crafting some substance for your presentation and taking ownership of the project you are presenting.

Remember we are looking at business presentations using the idea of SOW for the presentation and REAP for the audience. Yesterday we looked at the O in SOW. Today we will look at what the W stands for.

The late Steve Jobs was the king at presenting Apple's new products in a way that blew people off their feet. Steve Jobs used what you might call the WOW factor, that is what the W stands for. It is essential in any presentation that you create some sort of WOW factor that will blow the audience off their feet.

There are three things you need to think about when creating that WOW factor. If you follow these three things you will have a presentation with that WOW factor.

• Bells and Whistles - If you can show off what your project or idea might be able to do that is out of the ordinary then be sure you ring that bell and blow the whistle. Something fancy in your presentation will get the audience attention.
• Not Necessarily PowerPoint - Don't think just because you are giving a presentation that you need to use PowerPoint. I have seen many boring PowerPoint presentations. Make them fancy and spectacular if you have to use PowerPoint.
• Think Outside The Box - Think of something unusual to do. Get audience participation or do something they wouldn't expect. But make sure it is legal. It is your presentation get creative!

The WOW factor is an opportunity for you to blow them away. You have given them the substance in the presentation. You have shown them that you are the driver and owner. Now blow them away with "The Greatest Show On Earth". If you do those three things your presentation is guaranteed to get the audiences attention.

Tomorrow we will start to look at the audience through the word REAP.

Ownership

This week we are looking at how to give good business presentations by looking at the principle of Sowing and Reaping. Yesterday we looked at the S in SOW which stood for substance. Today we will look at the O. The O stands for Ownership. Anytime you have an idea or project and you are giving a presentation on the idea you want to take ownership. You want to show that ownership in your presentation. Take that idea and show that you are the owner of the idea.

You can show ownership in your presentations by showing the following three things.

• You are the driver - Show that you will take ownership of what you are presenting. Show your knowledge and that you will be the leader of the project.
• Road Map to Success - Show exactly how you the driver has a plan in place to make this project a success. Show how you will get from the infancy of the project to the successful culmination.
• Passengers - Show who will be the key players in the project. Who are you taking along for the ride. Make sure they know that you have thought of department.

When presenting the Ownership portion of SOW you really need to sell them on the fact that you will be the driver of the project and that you have laid out everything for success. If you don't do that your presentation will fall flat.

Tomorrow we will look at the W.

Substance

We are starting to look at what it takes to create and present winning presentations. If you have ever had an idea or project an you wanted to sell the idea to your boss you may have to create a winning presentation.

The tool you need to make sure your presentation is a winner is to use the simple concept of SOW and REAP. Each letter of these two words stands for some aspect of the presentation. The SOW relates to the presentation and the REAP relates to the audience.

Today we will look at the S. It stands for Substance. Every presentation must have substance. It can't be vague and general. You really have to give details and back it up with facts. There are three things you must have in order to establish substance within your presentation.

• Vision/Mission - Have a vision as to where your idea or project will go. Convey that vision in your presentation.
• Details - Back up your vision with details. Supporting your idea with details in your presentation will give it credence.
• Facts - Back up those details with facts. How does it affect the bottom line or what are the cost savings? Put these facts in your presentation.

Follow these three things and your presentation will have exceptional substance. Tomorrow we will look at what the O stands for in SOW.

It Is All In The Presentation

Monday morning, fresh off a weekend of relaxation with family and friends. Are you ready for a week of leading others and helping others find success?

 This week we are going to focus on business presentations. I know what you are thinking "I give presentations all the time, what help do I need?" That may be the case for many of you but I am going to hopefully give you a tool that will help you understand your project and then help you create a winning presentation that will get your project the audience it deserves.

If you ever have to give presentations about projects or ideas that you have then this is the blog to read over the next several days. This won't be your ordinary here is how to do it blog. I will present this in a fun and memorable format.

This will be only a condensed version of a more in-depth process. If you are interested in hearing more and if you want your company's leaders to benefit from this, please contact me and I'll gladly come in and give the full presentation live.

First we will focus on the presentation and the components necessary for a presentation that is worthy of acceptance. Then we will focus on your audience. Understanding your audience will help you create a presentation that will match their needs.

We will look at these using the concept of SOW and REAP. I'll explain SOW tomorrow.

Leader Leisure part 2

How is your weekend going? Are you spending time unwinding from the busy week you had leading others to success? I hope Saturday's blog helped give you some ideas to try. Today I am going to give you two more things you can do to help yourself relax and unwind on the weekend.

This weekend we are focusing on family and staying around home.

Make one of your weekend nights a movie night.
      If you have kids watch a movie early that the whole family will enjoy. Depending on their ages a classic animated Disney or Pixar one is always a good choice. If you want one that isn't animated I recently saw Mr. Popper's Penguins that was a funny and entertaining movie. After the kids are in bed watch one that you like, make yourself popcorn and just lose yourself in the story.

On Sunday be sure to go to church.
     Hopefully you don't have a leadership role at church. Regardless of what religion you are faith is important to refreshing yourself. Tap into  your beliefs and make sure your faith is an important part of every weekend. You will find it will make a big difference in the week ahead. Use that time to also pray or meditate.

Doing these four things the two on Saturday and the two listed here will help you be ready for the week ahead.

Leader Leisure Part 1

All hardworking leaders need some leisure no and again. The weekend is the time for leisure. This weekend we are focusing on the time you spend with family. The leader needs time to rest, rejuvenate and relax and release yourself from the duties as a leader.

What things can you do this weekend with your family that will help you avoid those leadership decisions? Here are two suggestions. I'll give you two more on tomorrow's blog.

Go out to eat with your spouse or a loved one.
          Find a restaurant that you both enjoy and go spend some quiet time away from the home and the office. Enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant and pick your favorite comfort food that is on the menu. Mine is fish, any meal I eat that includes fish and I'm not talking shrimp is comforting and relaxing for me. What is your comfort food?

If you have kids play a game of their choice. If you don't have kids either play a game with some friends or enjoy an individual game.
           Let the others decide what to play and if it is a game that requires a banker let them be the banker. Just sit back relax and enjoy the quality time with people you enjoy. If it is an individual game that you play find something that relaxes you not one that causes stress.

There are your first two things to try this weekend. Let me know how those work for you. Sunday I will give you two more to try.

Leader Life

It is Friday and soon the weekend will be upon us. It is sometimes hard for leaders to pull away from that leading and just relax and enjoy the weekend. It is however very important to do so. If you find yourself being a leader during the week and then on weekends volunteering for projects that require your leadership you may find yourself burning out.

It's okay to volunteer but find some time for yourself. As a leader you need the weekend to refresh and renew, decompress a little so you are energized for the week ahead.

In this blog I am going to try and spend every weekend looking at ways leaders can escape from the life of leading and become just another face in the crowd. This will be an opportunity for you to find places to go and things to see that don't require your leadership abilities.

This weekend I am going to focus on family time. Every Friday I will introduce the topic and then on Saturday and Sunday I will address two to three items that can make your weekend memorable and non-stressful.

Sit back and enjoy your weekend and take time to read my blog for some practical tips.

I'm Listening

Now that we have looked at three stumbling blocks to overcome to be a great communicator let's look at one more essential item that will make you a leader in communication. It is not a megaphone or a t-shirt that says you are a great communicator. It is actually being a good listener. 

Listening is essential to being a great communicator. It doesn't matter if you have eloquent words to say or a great idea to convey if you aren't listening to the audience you won't be able to meet their needs. Being a great communicator means being able to listen to others and then speak to their needs and their points. It is the best way to make an impact on who you are talking to, listen to what they have to say.

How are your listening skills? Are you hearing what the audience wants you to say? Become a great communicator and start listening to your audience. It is the best way to also improve your leadership skills.

Compelling Communication

How many of you remember the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"? If you recall the teacher in that movie who gave a question and conducted his lectures in a monotone voice. They showed one student asleep on his desk with drool coming out of his mouth. There are many people in positions of authority who speak like that teacher, boring and monotone. It makes me want to rip my ears off. It almost hurts the ears to listen to someone like that. Have you ever been in a meeting or at a conference and someone spoke like that? I hope you determined in your mind to not speak like that.

It brings us to the third stumbling block to overcome, make your voice interesting. Don't bore your audience with a boring tone and no excitement in your voice. If you are talking about something or communicating to someone about a subject I would hope you have some passion for the subject.

As a leader you want to be able to engage your audience with a compelling voice. You almost want to make it sound like you are telling a story in dramatic fashion. Here are three things to do to make your voice more interesting.

• Change the volume and pitch when appropriate.
• Show passion and excitement in your voice
• Use clear and concise sentences that don't repeat.

Remember your voice is what they hear not the words. If you want them to hear the words make your voice exciting!

Great Communicator

Ronald Reagan was known as "The Great Communicator". He knew how to explain things clearly and concisely. Do you want to be a great communicator like Reagan? Yesterday we looked at the first step to becoming a great communicator, eliminating filler words from your language. Today we look at the next step to becoming a great communicator, using the right words.

When I was in college earning my undergrad degree in math education I sat through many math lectures where the professor couldn't explain how to do the math. These were great minds and knew math like the back of their hand. They could do the problems but couldn't explain how to do the problems. The problem was they were horrible communicators and couldn't convey their message. If you want to be a true leader you need to be able to explain things so people understand.

It doesn't happen overnight it is something you really have to work at. You have to understand the person or audience and you have to know the topic. If you know both of those things you should be able to communicate effectively. The key is to be able to explain something so they will understand what you mean. If they don't understand you may have to approach it from a different angle.

Two other things you can't do if you want to be a great communicator. Talk over someones head or talk down to them.

Talking over their head they will not understand what you mean and will quickly tune you out. Talking down to someone will insult them and they won't care what you have to say because you insulted them by treating them as a child.

In conclusion: The second step to being a great communicator. Use the right words by following these four principles.

•          Know your audience
•          Know your topic
•          Don't talk over your audience
•          Don't talk down to your audience

It's Not What You Say

Every single one of us are given an opportunity to communicate. However, not everyone who communicates, communicates effectively. Have you ever heard the saying "It's not what you say, it's how you say it". Communication isn't about talking it is really about conveying a message. Getting that message across can be the challenge.

We will spend the next couple of days exploring how to overcome those communication roadblocks. Then we will spend some time looking at ways to improve what you say.You want your message to be clear and concise but you must first get rid of some problems before improving what you have. It is like selling a house, you have to fix some things to make it worthy of selling. If you want to convey a clear message you will need to clean house.

There are three stumbling blocks to becoming a great communicator.

• Removing filler words
• Using the right words
• Making your voice interesting

Have you ever listened to an interview and the person being interviewed is using ahs and ums every other word? If so they have a problem that almost everyone has. It is a problem that can be cured or at least reduced. Nothing hurts the ears more than listening to a lot of filler words. The audience looses interest fast and will become disinterested in what the person speaking has to say. One of the first steps to good communication is removing those filler words. The best way I have found to do that is to pay attention when others speak and make note of those filler words. Toastmasters has a role called Ah Counter. During each meeting someone is assigned this role. Their job is to count all the filler words they hear. Once you have done this a few times you start to notice them in yourself and you will make an effort to avoid them. Use a pause instead.

Tomorrow we will look at Using the right words.

Communication

For the next several days we are going to take a look at an essential need of leadership.  That need is communication. It is imperative that if you want to be a leader you need to communicate and you need to communicate well. Communication goes beyond just talking it also involves listening and it includes how you say the words. We will look at all of these things of the next several days.

Today I want to give you a background and offer a place you can go to become the great communicator that you want to be. I have been involved in Toastmasters for six years and it is a program that helps build communication skills and leadership skills. The value you receive from Toastmasters is unmatched. You will have an opportunity to speak at every meeting you attend. Some of the speaking will be in formal speeches, impromptu speaking and leading meetings.

I suggest if communication is something you want to get better at then join a Toastmasters group near you. Here is the link to Toastmasters International to get you started. http://www.toastmasters.org/

Reaching Your Goals

Did you create all your SMART goals this week? Remember, no more resolutions only goals. How are your goals looking? Are you satisfied with them?

We discussed this week the idea of not creating resolutions but SMART goals because that will give you a better chance of reaching your goals. The other thing about goals that you need to remember. It doesn't just take January 1st to get you motivated to create those goals. Something might come up in June and you will want to create a new goal. Now you have the tools to do so.

You can also use your goal setting on your job. They might help you get the raise or the job promotion. Keep me updated on how your goals are coming for you.

T is for Trackable

T
Hopefully for all of you it has been a great week of goal setting for 2012. Today we will be looking at the final letter in SMART.

The T stands for trackable or timely. When setting that goal make sure you have an end point to accomplish the goal. Let's look at our weight loss example, instead of saying you want to lose 20 pounds put a date that you want to lose those 20 pounds. Lose 20 pounds by April first. Maybe something is happening in April and you want to look your best so you set that as a timeframe.

What this does is helps you focus on the goal gives you something to strive for and an end in sight as you work toward that goal. It also allows you to track the progress of how you are doing. Twenty pounds by April will allow you to weigh yourself every week and know that you are making progree toward your goal. Of course be sure when you set that time to complete your goal that you also follow the SMAR portion as well. You could set a goal and an end date that is not reasonable then you will never reach that goal.

All of the ideas in SMART goals work together to make your goal setting a success. Tomorrow I'll be back to summarize the goal setting. I would like to hear from each of you on how your goals for 2012 are coming along.

R is for Realistic

R
We are almost done with our SMART analysis. How is the goal making coming? I hope the goals you have created are specific, measurable and attainable.

Today we are looking at the R it is for Realistic. You need to make your goals realistic. It needs to fit in line with who you are and within the scope of the project. You don't have to try to leap that tall building in a single bound. You aren't Superman. Take it one floor at a time. However you also can't make it too easy.

It might be important to create smaller goals that are realistic that will eventually lead you to your ultimate goal. Be sure that if you set small goals that they too follow the same SMART formula.

By now you may have realized the if you have created a specific, measurable and attainable goal that it is realistic. That may very well be the case. The idea is to create these goals that will work for you yet challenge you to be successful. It is only you who can determine whether the goal is too easy or too difficult. That is why you must follow the SMART formula.

Don't make a goal you can't reach or you are setting yourself up for failure. Make it realistic and you will find success.

Tomorrow we will look at the T.

A is for Attainable

A
Today we are going to tackle the A in creating SMART goals. Remember don't make 2012 a year of loosely defined resolutions make it a year of SMART goals and you will be more likely to reach success.

The A stands for Attainable. Your goals need to be able to be reached. You can't set goals that are so far fetched that no one could reach them. So far this week you have created some specific goals that are measurable. Often when we set those specific goals we make them unattainable because we want to reach them quickly.

Take a look at your goals you have set for 2012. Are you able to reach these goals in a reasonable amount of time? For example: If weight loss is your desire in 2012 you don't want to say you will lose 20 pounds this week. That seems impossible to reach unless you are going on a complete fast. On the other hand you do want to push yourself with the goals so think of an attainable amount or goal that will still push you to success.

How are you doing on creating those goals? Let me know if the SMART goals technique is working for you. SMART goal setting is not new and not created by me but it works.

Tomorrow we will take a look at the R in SMART.

M is for Measurable

M
Today we are going to tackle the M in the SMART goals. M stands for Measurable. Simply put your goal needs to be able to be measured. If you can't measure the progress and how it is going for you it will become too easy to give up and quit.

How do you know if your goal is measurable. Take a look at the ones you wrote down yesterday when you made them specific. Are these specific goals measurable.  Are you able to track the progress of your goal and is there an ultimate end in sight?

For example if you had the goal of losing weight first of all that is not very specific but it is also not measurable. You haven't listed an end date or an amount of pounds. As I said yesterday being vague about your goals will increase your chance of failure. Be sure that you are able to see progress along the way. That will help encourage you to reach that goal.

Use this slogan when designing your goal to help you remember the M. "Make it Measurable and Measure the Makeable"

Tomorrow we will look at the A in SMART.

S for Specific

S
Day 2 of 2012 and we are trying hard to make the most of those resolutions. As I said yesterday they should be goals not resolutions. We want to create SMART goals for 2012 so we can stick to them and make them last. Today we are looking at the S in SMART. The S stands for specific. Your goals need to be specific, they can't be general and vague in nature or you will quickly forget about them and not reach that goal.

How exactly can you go about turning your resolutions into goals? First go ahead and write down everything you want to be a resolution for 2012. Remember yesterday I told you to have a Word document ready. Here is the first steps:

• Go ahead and write those resolutions (goals) down.
• Read them over a few times.
• Identify which ones need some re-wording. Maybe all of them do.
• Make sure they are specific.

For example if you want to lose weight for the year and you have made a resolution to say lose weight. That resolution isn't going to get you out of January. Re-word it so it is specific. I plan to lose 20 pounds by April 1st. Now that is a specific goal.

Go ahead and re-word your resolutions into specific goals and let me know how you did. I'll be back tomorrow and we can tackle the M in SMART. Happy goal setting.

New Year, New You?

It is 2012 and I suppose everyone is blogging about new year resolutions. Of course many are also making new year resolutions and others right now 1 day into 2012 have broken their new year resolution. The problem with so many being broken so quickly is that while the definition of resolution is a strong and firm definition most people take it as just a suggestion or an idea. Thus making it more difficult to be resolve in adhering to the resolution.

If we are going to make resolutions we need to be firm in what they are. We need to write them down and we need to keep that vision in front of us. Instead of calling them resolutions make them goals for the year. Make sure your goals are SMART goals, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Trackable. For example don't just day you are going to lose weight this year. Make it a goal to lose weight and put a specific weight that you want to get to and put a plan in place on how you will achieve that goal.

One of my goals for the year is to blog everyday. so for the next week I am going to breakdown each specific part of a SMART goal hopefully it will help all of us to achieve our goals in 2012.

When you are reading my blog this week have a word document open so you can start to put your SMART goals in writing as we build our goals for 2012.

Kids and Christmas

It is this time of year that brings a sparkle to children's eyes. That belief in something beyond the daily life, an escape from reality. For those of us with kids it brings special feelings that make having children worthwhile.

Christmas is about faith and family. The reason we celebrate Christmas is for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. As we all gather in our houses to celebrate Christmas reflect on the true meaning. Share the real gift of Jesus to those around you and soak up the time you get to spend with family.

You see I have five children and I am going to enjoy every moment spent with them.

I am going to enjoy seeing my older daughter and her husband. It is their first Christmas as a married couple and I am proud that he is serving our country and I am proud of what a strong and smart woman she has become.

My second daughter will be here as well and I really enjoy spending time with her. I am very proud of how hard she is working and that she continues to forge ahead to her dreams. Her sense of humor makes me laugh.

My third daughter is a delight to have around. She still lives with us and it has been great watching her grow up. I love her unique style, her artistic ability and her love of animals. She is growing into a wonderful young lady.

My fourth daughter is never at a loss for words. She has a passion for life and she has poured that passion into her love for swimming. She amazes me with how fast she is in the pool. Her passion will take her places.

Then there is my son, the youngest and my biggest fan. It is humbling to know that someone so little could find such joy in hanging out with his dad. He follows me like my shadow and would probably come to work with me if we let him. I can't wait to see the man he will become.

Children bring such joy and it wouldn't matter to me if I didn't receive anything for Christmas. I have Jesus in my life, a fantastic wife, five glorious children and a wonderful son-in-law. What more does a man need!

Two Rules to Change

As I sat and watched the Rodgers led Packers dismantle the hapless Vikings last night I was struck by the fact that the NFL has no clue how to write or enforce rules of the game.

A rule is defined as a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure. They have been created to bring some order to an otherwise chaotic world. The NFL in their infinite wisdom has created two rules that bring chaos to the game instead of order.

The first one is the excessive celebration penalty. What exactly is excessive celebration and who determines exactly what excessive celebration is? I have watched game after game of players getting called for excessive celebration for spiking the ball or dancing in the endzone. I've also seen these same things not be called excessive celebration. So what exactly is excessive celebration when it comes to a football game? In the case of the Packer Viking game I would think the infamous Lambeau leap would constitute excessive celebration, afterall the players are actually leaving the playing field and partying with the commoners.

The second rule is intentional grounding. If a QB is in the pocket he cannot throw the ball away unless there is a receiver close by but if that same QB moves outside some imaginary lines of the pocket and throw the ball away it is not called intentional grounding. Who thought of this one! Throwing the ball away is throwing the ball away whether you are in the pocket or not. In the game last night Rodgers clearly threw the ball away with nary a receiver in sight but didn't get called either time because he supposedly was outside of the pocket.

It is time to change these and other NFL rules. My proposal if they insist on having excessive celebration then anything aside from handing the ball to a ref constitutes excessive celebration. Or just do away with this stupid rule. As for intentional grounding. Define it better, if the QB throws the ball away even out of bounds it is intentionally grounding regardless whether they are in the pocket or not.

I would like to hear your thoughts.

Cherish The Cabin

There was a Seinfeld episode that talked about cherishing the cabin. This was George's future in-law's cabin and in Kramer fashion he accidentally burned down the cabin. There is some truth to that phrase, I sit here this weekend at my in-law's place at Grand View Lodge. I am reminded of three things that make coming here enjoyable, family, fun and food, with faith being the bond that binds it all together.

I have never been part of a group that is so closely knit together as this family is. The six younger cousins are all very close and get a long so well. My son who is four absolutely adores his 12 and 14 year old male cousins and they don't mind hanging out with the little guy. Even when my two older daughters are around they are welcomed with open arms. There is rarely any incidences among the cousins.

The fun extends in many areas from taking the kids swimming or to town or finding a number of other things to do depending on the season. The fun of course always includes my brother in-law and I golfing with our mother in-law or trying to always beat our father in-law in cards. The amount of fun is endless and nothing beats hanging out in the north woods and relaxing with the family.

The food is always delicious, from the big breakfasts to the expansive dinners my mother in-law always out does herself, she is truly a treasure. Of course the desserts and the pirate booty ice cream at the Chocolate Ox is unbeatable.

The bond that brings us all together is the faith in Jesus Christ that we all share. Praying together, praising together and playing together binds the family, fun and food together to make this an unforgettable place and experience.

Don't forget to "cherish the cabin".   

Bin Laden

Bin Laden, the mastermind behind 9/11 has been killed. After almost ten years since the devastating attack of 9/11 a covert operation by American special forces have found and killed Osama Bin Laden. This is great news, good job!

Two questions arise from this monumental incident. Will this drastically change the face of terrorism in the world? I do not believe it will. America and the world should still be alert and on guard. I believe that this incident may even increase the possibility of terrorism. It will be viewed as retaliation for the killing of their leader. Don't let your guard down, stay vigilant America.

The second question: Did Barack Obama just solidify himself a second term as President? I think he did. This may seem callous but President Obama just accomplished what America has been trying to do for almost ten years. This will be a huge feather in his cap. The only way he could mess it up is if he continues to lead our nation down the primrose path of socialism. If he continues to tax all of us to death and spend our tax dollars like a drunken sailor. Wait, maybe he won't get re-elected, after all this seems to be the path he wants to take us down.

Now that Bin Laden is dead lets focus on getting our economy back. Cut spending, and cut taxes that will jump start the private sector, increase jobs and help the economy grow.

Cooperstown Conundrum

Recently the new inductees to Cooperstown were announced, Bert Blyleven and Robby Alomar. The interesting thing is that it took Blyleven 14 years to make the hall. His numbers were equal or better than other pitchers that were already in the hall. Why did it take him so long? Why does it take other deserving players so long? Is it because the baseball writers vote? Why do they get to vote and is there criteria that they must follow when they vote?

There is where the conundrum comes in. There is no consistency in who the writers vote for, they have turned it into a popularity contest. Now that Blyleven is a member of the media it has become easier for the writers to vote for him. He should have been in the hall on one of his early ballots.

What can we do to ensure the right players enter the hall at the right time? Not sure there is an easy answer. Writers see them everyday and write about them but there is always the personal side to that equation. Do you base it strictly on stats and have benchmarks that must be met? If this is the case those whose careers were cut short because of injury may not make it even though they are deserving. Maybe a combination of writers, stats and current living hall members and each of these have the same weight as the other.

What are some of your thoughts? I'd like to hear from you.

Cardboard Gods

If you grew up in the 70's and 80's and you loved baseball you will enjoy this book. Josh Wilker shares his life through the eyes of his baseball card collection. It will make you pull out your baseball cards and relive the joy and sorrow of your childhood.

Who are some of the cardboard gods that come to your mind as you recollect your childhood. For me, growing up in Minnesota it was my childhood idol Tony Oliva. He played baseball with an unbridled passion and an all out hustle. His knees cut his career short but he continues to be an ambassador for baseball and the Minnesota Twins.

I remember 1965, not the World Series between the Dodgers and the Twins but my first game it was a rainout and there was tornado warnings. We had to line up in the interior of the stadium until we received an all clear. Needless to say the game was a washout, weather 1 Twins 0.

As you peruse your cards let the memories flood back and escape to a bygone era. Relive your past and read this book and relive Josh Wilker's past and laugh at the styles of the 70's and 80's. Let the cardboard gods take you on that journey you will not want to end.

THUNDEROUS LEADERSHIP

This is a condensed version of a speech I gave.


The clap of thunder, the flash of lightening, a storm is coming, are you prepared.

Storms occur on a regular basis whether they are weather related or life related we have all encountered a storm at one time or another in our life. The question is “are you prepared and will you survive?

In the movie “A Perfect Storm” George Clooney plays a captain of a fishing vessel that gets caught up in the storm of the century. He has to make a quick decision about what to do under the circumstances. He had to react to a situation and make the best decision possible for all parties involved. During these perfect storms of life, decisions like these can be life changing.
People get caught off guard during the storms of life because they are either ill prepared or they lack the leadership to make positive life changing decisions.

In order to survive these storms in life we must follow strong leaders or be a strong leader ourselves.

I am going to address three types of leadership styles (Reactionary, Visionary and Exemplary). These styles and their principles will help guide your ship through the storms in life to the calm after the storm.

REACTIONARY LEADER:


• They have a clear head because they make an emotional decision in a stressful situation and wrong emotions can spell disaster.

• They must humble themselves and do not think they are bigger than the situation. They cannot overcome the situation by sheer willpower.

• Reactionary leaders make positive and quick decisions.

If you can humble yourself, remove yourself from emotion and make a positive decision you could be a good reactionary leader.

VISIONARY LEADER:


• A visionary leader prepares for the best but plans for the worst.

• A visionary leader can see beyond the storm.

• A visionary leader gets buy in from the followers.

If you are respected by your followers and can see the end of the rainbow after the storm then you are a visionary leader.

EXEMPLARY LEADER:


• Exemplary leaders set the example for the followers

• Exemplary leaders live by a moral code that breeds humility and unselfishness.

• An exemplary leader has a positive attitude and gives all they have to overcome the storm.

If you live by a humble moral code and set an example with a positive attitude you are an exemplary leader.

Are you one of these types of leaders? Are you ready to lead others through the storms of life by applying the principles of reactionary, visionary or exemplary leadership? If you are then become the captain of the greatest ship of all leadership and sail through the storms of life.

The Birds

Watched The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock. It is a timeless classic. It gives you the suspense and thrill of a horror picture but it isn't just about blood and guts like the movies of today. It gives you something to think about. It gives you that thought "what if". What if a group of animals, in this case birds rose up and decided they were not going to take it any longer. Could humans fend off an attack if all birds united against us. How about other animals? Or all animals came together.

Humans are the most intelligent beings on this planet but we are not the most numerous. Makes you think that you might not want to do anything to make an animal mad.

What other classics leave you thinking and wondering "what if". If you have never seen this movie I recommend you do so. I won't give away the ending. Go out and read it and then come back here and leave me your comments on what you think about the movie.

Borrowing Brillance

I have been reading the book "Borrowing Brilliance" by David Kord Murray. It is fascinating to think that everything we do or have invented or created is just something taken from someone else and enhanced to make it better.

If this truly is the case each and everyone of us have borrowed to make something better. What have you used to improve your work or your play?

Murray is applying the idea to business innovation and gives steps on how we as business people can borrow from others to make innovative and creative ideas.

If you have read the book I would like to hear your comments on whether you believe this is an acceptable practice or plagiarism. If you have not read the book I recommend the read, he writes it like a story so it is a easy read.

Winter Olympics

You may disagree with me but I think the Olympics are one of the most enjoyable sporting events to watch. The excitement and the drama of the events are unmatched in sports. We get an opportunity to see sports that we normally don't get to watch.

If the luge isn't crazy enough they have the skeleton 90 mph on your stomach, face first. Won't catch me doing that but I applaud those athletes who take on the sport.

Then there is the chills and spills of short track speed skating. How they stay on their skates going around those turns beats me. It is very exciting to watch.

Ice Dancing is really not a sport it is dancing on ice. How do they score that activity anyway? Going into the final round the 1-5 places didn't move after the free skate. How are they supposed to move up in the standings? It doesn't make any sense.

What do you think of the Olympics?

A Nation in Transition

For those of you who are fans of my blog I am going to make an effort to blog nightly, or at least every other night.

A lot has happened since I last wrote and far too much to talk about today. We live in a country that is changing daily and much of it for the worse. This is turning into an America we will not recognize. America needs to get back to business by relying on small business and the innovation of the nations citizens.

America cannot become a nation dependent upon the government to meet the needs of the citizens. We all need to rise up and reclaim our nation by fighting for capitalism and starting businesses that show the innovation and drive of Americans.

I would like to hear what you are doing to combat the purveying sense of socialism that is overcoming our nation? Are you embracing socialism or fighting against it by getting back to the roots of America, capitalism?