By Ben Needles
A few weeks ago I was visiting a client in the Phoenix area. We were having a conversation about leadership development and at one point he turned to me and asked, Why is leadership important to you? My answer was two-fold:
1. Leadership makes the difference between a good business and a great one.
2. Leadership creates an environment where people are excited to come to work everyday vs. just showing up to collect a paycheck.
Leadership Ability Determines Success
Author John Maxwell says, Everything rises and falls on leadership! That intuitively rings true. We’re all familiar with both positive and negative examples of leadership in our personal lives, in our work lives, in our communities, and in our world.
Some of us have probably experienced the effects of poor leadership firsthand in the workplace. How many of you have, at some point in the past, worked for or around someone who was generally regarded as a bad boss? How many of you are still working for that person right now?
The difference between a great business and a mediocre one boils down to one thing - leadership! I truly believe that a business with great leadership and an average product or service will still be a great business. And those with a great product or service and mediocre leadership will be just that - mediocre!
Lets compare average, good, and great businesses:
- Average Business No Changes
Nothing remarkable is going on there. Every day is the same old, same old. If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.
- Good Business Little Changes
Some progress is being made but it’s pretty slow and it’s taking a lot of effort to make it happen. It’s not one step forward, two steps back but sometimes it seems that way.
- Great Business Much Change
Momentum has finally kicked in and great strides are being made. Things are working smoothly, people are pulling together as a team working toward common goals, it’s like a well oiled machine. The business is making a significant impact.
The difference between good and great is the difference that makes all the difference!
That seems pretty obvious doesn’t it? It’s one thing to understand the importance of leadership but quite another to be an effective leader though, isn’t it?
One of the most persistent misperceptions about leadership is that the people who get to the top are leaders. That’s not necessarily true! Many people lack the self-knowledge, authenticity, or even the desire necessary for leadership.
People who make it to the top may have done so because of political or technical smarts, or a track record of achievement. Think of the outstanding sales rep who gets promoted to a management position or the receptionist who gets promoted to office manager. These people may or may not have the qualities required to be a good leader.
In reality, leaders are found all over our organizations, from top to bottom, from the president to the secretary. By definition, leaders are simply people who have followers.
The final requirement of effective leadership is to earn trust. Otherwise there won’t be any followers - and the only definition of a leader is someone who has followers. - Peter Drucker
If you think you’re leading, take a look behind you. If there’s no one there, you’re just out for a walk!
Law of the Lid
Maxwell also has a theory called the Law of the Lid: a person’s leadership ability is the lid that determines their effectiveness. In other words, a person’s potential for success is directly related to their leadership ability. This leadership ability puts a lid on how far the people in their organization, and the organization itself, can grow.
If the leadership is strong, the lid is high. But if it’s not, then the people and the organization are limited.
The McDonald’s story (you know - golden arches, sesame-seed buns, happy meals), is an example of this law in action. The McDonald brothers did OK locally but failed at their attempts to expand the business. Their lid was too low.
It wasn’t until Ray Kroc came along that the business went national and became one of the most successful companies of all time. Ray Kroc had the leadership ability to make it happen.
Working around a bad boss would also be examples of the Law of the Lid in action. Smart, talented, and potentially successful people can only go so far when they’re limited by someone else’s lid of leadership.
Article Source: http://www.articlehighlight.com
About the Author
Dr. Jeff Thoren, ICF Certified Coach and founder of Gifted Leaders, LLC, liberates individual and collective potential through a positive, strengths-based, team approach. Click here for his FREE e-Newsletter and e-book, deal on cruises
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
How to Build Your Online Presence: 7 Tips to Get Started
By Lynn Jordan
For writers, an online presence is essential for selling your book-length writing today. The publishing world has changed drastically in the last few years. Publishers seldom support their authors with much promotion at all.
Writers must take the initiative with their own promotion. Now editors are looking for writers that already have a platform.
Having a platform means the author has already built up a following of readers who will certainly buy the book. The good news is that the Internet makes building a platform and growing a readership easier than it has ever been before.
Web 2.0 is all about building relationships. For writers, that means building a relationship with your readers. Your first reader is likely to be an editor or agent.
If you are a writer, it's never too soon to start building your online presence. You can make the leap from unpublished to published with just a phone call or an email. I've had editors tell me that they "Google" writers who they are thinking of acquiring. When the publishing world comes looking for you, you want to be ready.
Here are a few simple steps to help you start building your online presence.
* Register your name
Reserve your own name as a domain. Be sure and use a .com extension. If you need to, use your middle name or initial to make your name unique.
* Register any names of pseudonyms you are thinking about using
Once again be sure to grab the .com extension.
* Create a long bio for yourself
Make it around 200 words long. Focus on reasons a reader or editor would be interested in your work.
* Edit your bio down to 50 words
You will need a shorter version for some websites.
* Set up an account with Twitter.com
Post your profile on Twitter. Tweet at least once a day with reports of your writing activities.
* Find out where your fellow writers and their readers hang out
If you're writing YA, it's probably MySpace. Older audiences have moved toward Facebook.
* Set up an account and post your bio on whichever site your audience favors
Start building a relationship with people on that site.
Follow these simple steps to get started building your online presence.
Article Source: http://www.articlehighlight.com
Lynn Jordan helps writers use technology to write and promote better, faster, and easier. Find out how you can make Web 2.0 work for you at Authors Tools Blog
For writers, an online presence is essential for selling your book-length writing today. The publishing world has changed drastically in the last few years. Publishers seldom support their authors with much promotion at all.
Writers must take the initiative with their own promotion. Now editors are looking for writers that already have a platform.
Having a platform means the author has already built up a following of readers who will certainly buy the book. The good news is that the Internet makes building a platform and growing a readership easier than it has ever been before.
Web 2.0 is all about building relationships. For writers, that means building a relationship with your readers. Your first reader is likely to be an editor or agent.
If you are a writer, it's never too soon to start building your online presence. You can make the leap from unpublished to published with just a phone call or an email. I've had editors tell me that they "Google" writers who they are thinking of acquiring. When the publishing world comes looking for you, you want to be ready.
Here are a few simple steps to help you start building your online presence.
* Register your name
Reserve your own name as a domain. Be sure and use a .com extension. If you need to, use your middle name or initial to make your name unique.
* Register any names of pseudonyms you are thinking about using
Once again be sure to grab the .com extension.
* Create a long bio for yourself
Make it around 200 words long. Focus on reasons a reader or editor would be interested in your work.
* Edit your bio down to 50 words
You will need a shorter version for some websites.
* Set up an account with Twitter.com
Post your profile on Twitter. Tweet at least once a day with reports of your writing activities.
* Find out where your fellow writers and their readers hang out
If you're writing YA, it's probably MySpace. Older audiences have moved toward Facebook.
* Set up an account and post your bio on whichever site your audience favors
Start building a relationship with people on that site.
Follow these simple steps to get started building your online presence.
Article Source: http://www.articlehighlight.com
Lynn Jordan helps writers use technology to write and promote better, faster, and easier. Find out how you can make Web 2.0 work for you at Authors Tools Blog
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Custom Logo Design - Branding Tips For The Business Owner
By Gen Wright
Many business owners ignore the subject of branding simply because it's an elusive subject that is hard to grasp. The understanding is that branding cannot be seen or touched, and therefore cannot be measured. But this is certainly not true, as you shall see later. First, let's explore a little bit more about branding and see what it really is.
Branding, no doubt, is just a concept. It's a concept about superior quality. And this depends heavily on perception. A successful brand means that when someone thinks of a product of service, they will immediately think of all the commodities associated with a certain brand. For instance, what brands do you think of when you feel like eating cheese? Are there any good brands, and not so good brands that come to your mind? You get the idea. But what really shapes this perception? Is the product really of higher quality? In reality, that may or may not be true.
Of course, successful business owners know that for a brand to be successful long term, its products have to be of superior quality. But when we are speaking strictly in terms of perception, the quality in reality doesn't really matter. What matters is the perception of the customer. If a person thinks that it's a superior brand, he or she will buy the product or service. That leads to revenue, and it's the desired end result that all businesses want. But before that result is achieved, what actually helps to shape the perception of the consumers?
Anything that the consumer sees, hears, or touches will affect the brand. For example, if a consumer sees a professionally designed website, he or she may form some kind of impression about the company and the product or services that it delivers. Whether its a good impression or a bad impression depends on the quality of the website. And the website is just one example.
The consumer comes in contact with many forms of physical items such as receipts, invoices, stationery, etc. Some may appear to be minor items on the surface, but when a consumer is exposed to these items constantly, each and every experience will help shape the impression that the consumer has on the company. And a successful brand is built upon countless contacts with the consumers through these different means, so much so that even on a subconscious level, the consumer remembers the company as an entity that offers truly quality products and services.
To give a more specific example, consider the company logo. This is an image that appears to the consumer more often than anything else. You see it on minor items such as invoices, stationery, posters, and you see them in major advertising campaigns. Consumers are bombarded with logos, and they start to form impressions about the company. So are you starting to see what this is going? Do you now realize the importance of a company logo?
Differentiate your business from your competitors. And reflect these differences in your logo. That is truly powerful branding at work.
Article Source: http://www.articlehighlight.com
For Custom Logo Design or Professional Logo Design, please visit our website. There are also free logo design articles and videos.
Many business owners ignore the subject of branding simply because it's an elusive subject that is hard to grasp. The understanding is that branding cannot be seen or touched, and therefore cannot be measured. But this is certainly not true, as you shall see later. First, let's explore a little bit more about branding and see what it really is.
Branding, no doubt, is just a concept. It's a concept about superior quality. And this depends heavily on perception. A successful brand means that when someone thinks of a product of service, they will immediately think of all the commodities associated with a certain brand. For instance, what brands do you think of when you feel like eating cheese? Are there any good brands, and not so good brands that come to your mind? You get the idea. But what really shapes this perception? Is the product really of higher quality? In reality, that may or may not be true.
Of course, successful business owners know that for a brand to be successful long term, its products have to be of superior quality. But when we are speaking strictly in terms of perception, the quality in reality doesn't really matter. What matters is the perception of the customer. If a person thinks that it's a superior brand, he or she will buy the product or service. That leads to revenue, and it's the desired end result that all businesses want. But before that result is achieved, what actually helps to shape the perception of the consumers?
Anything that the consumer sees, hears, or touches will affect the brand. For example, if a consumer sees a professionally designed website, he or she may form some kind of impression about the company and the product or services that it delivers. Whether its a good impression or a bad impression depends on the quality of the website. And the website is just one example.
The consumer comes in contact with many forms of physical items such as receipts, invoices, stationery, etc. Some may appear to be minor items on the surface, but when a consumer is exposed to these items constantly, each and every experience will help shape the impression that the consumer has on the company. And a successful brand is built upon countless contacts with the consumers through these different means, so much so that even on a subconscious level, the consumer remembers the company as an entity that offers truly quality products and services.
To give a more specific example, consider the company logo. This is an image that appears to the consumer more often than anything else. You see it on minor items such as invoices, stationery, posters, and you see them in major advertising campaigns. Consumers are bombarded with logos, and they start to form impressions about the company. So are you starting to see what this is going? Do you now realize the importance of a company logo?
Differentiate your business from your competitors. And reflect these differences in your logo. That is truly powerful branding at work.
Article Source: http://www.articlehighlight.com
For Custom Logo Design or Professional Logo Design, please visit our website. There are also free logo design articles and videos.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Is "Nichemanship" Still a Critical Component of Business Success?
By Wayne Messick
What exactly is nichemanship and is it still relevant to organizations and individuals attempting to develop or refine their strategic marketing plans and actions?
According to an online marketing directory, nichemanship is a term used to refer to the art of skilful selection of market segments in which a firm can compete effectively.
I think it also means the ability to accurately determine what your unique strengths are, who your ideal customers - the people you are uniquely positioned to serve are, and then seizing and holding tight to the top position - the perception of superiority you create in their hearts, minds, and checkbooks.
Nichemanship is about positioning your products and services so that, in the minds of your customers, there could not be a suitable substitute for the services you provide and the products you sell.
The first step is to study and thoroughly analyze the top companies throughout a broad range of industries - not just other people like you, looking for successful strategies you can use in your organization. You've got to think outside the box when you are looking for ways to set yourself apart from your competition.
The Internet with its vast resources and a group of your peers, perhaps from around the country, can help you do that.
Why would you want to investigate companies in industries other than your own? Because you can learn a lot from what others are doing successfully - whether it seems to be directly relevant or not.
For example, let's say your company sells and services tractors, various other types of outdoor power equipment and accessories. If your study and analysis focuses solely on your industry, your dealership will become more and more like those of your competition leaving the only differentiation, other than brand preference, is price. You will miss what others are doing successfully that you could integrate into your organization.
By asking the members of your peer group for suggestions you may learn that a Mercedes dealer, one of them knows provides their customers a 24/7/365 pick up service when they have a problem - no matter where the car is located. A Ford dealer in another town gives waiting customers a coupon for 50% their meal at a nearby restaurant. And you may learn about a Jeep dealer that moved an unused swimming pool into one of their buildings and converted it into a fly casting practice tank for their service center's customers.
The value of going through this study and analysis process is the innovation that comes next. It is critically important to keep in mind that regardless of what others are doing, regardless of what you've done in the past, and regardless how crazy an idea seems at first - there is really no such thing as a bad idea.
There are only good ideas that may be combined uniquely with others and enhanced into dramatic tools for your organization's differentiation from your competitors.
The key for you is to continually innovate and adapt your strategies - always keeping your competition guessing.
Once you announce that your dealership is the only one in your area that sends someone out to your customers' farms and picks them up when their tractor has been repaired - your competitors will have to step up or lose out.
Then, you add cable TV and high speed Internet access in the waiting room. Next you extend the range of your free pick up and delivery service. And on and on keeping your competitors off guard by using innovative strategies that you picked up from the insights of your peers.
Nichemanship is alive and well in the 21st Century, the Internet and long distance peer-to-peer collaboration make the necessary study and analysis easy.
The key is to harness the power of the people you can always count on for unbiased help and insights, always strive to think strategically, innovate continually, and do the best you possibly can to execute your strategies flawlessly.
Article Source: http://www.articlehighlight.com
Wayne Messick reports on how Main St. businesses are poised to succeed in the 21st Century on his blog http://www.waynemessick.com. His updated peer-to-peer collaboration report can be found at http://www.selfdirectedpeergroups.com
What exactly is nichemanship and is it still relevant to organizations and individuals attempting to develop or refine their strategic marketing plans and actions?
According to an online marketing directory, nichemanship is a term used to refer to the art of skilful selection of market segments in which a firm can compete effectively.
I think it also means the ability to accurately determine what your unique strengths are, who your ideal customers - the people you are uniquely positioned to serve are, and then seizing and holding tight to the top position - the perception of superiority you create in their hearts, minds, and checkbooks.
Nichemanship is about positioning your products and services so that, in the minds of your customers, there could not be a suitable substitute for the services you provide and the products you sell.
The first step is to study and thoroughly analyze the top companies throughout a broad range of industries - not just other people like you, looking for successful strategies you can use in your organization. You've got to think outside the box when you are looking for ways to set yourself apart from your competition.
The Internet with its vast resources and a group of your peers, perhaps from around the country, can help you do that.
Why would you want to investigate companies in industries other than your own? Because you can learn a lot from what others are doing successfully - whether it seems to be directly relevant or not.
For example, let's say your company sells and services tractors, various other types of outdoor power equipment and accessories. If your study and analysis focuses solely on your industry, your dealership will become more and more like those of your competition leaving the only differentiation, other than brand preference, is price. You will miss what others are doing successfully that you could integrate into your organization.
By asking the members of your peer group for suggestions you may learn that a Mercedes dealer, one of them knows provides their customers a 24/7/365 pick up service when they have a problem - no matter where the car is located. A Ford dealer in another town gives waiting customers a coupon for 50% their meal at a nearby restaurant. And you may learn about a Jeep dealer that moved an unused swimming pool into one of their buildings and converted it into a fly casting practice tank for their service center's customers.
The value of going through this study and analysis process is the innovation that comes next. It is critically important to keep in mind that regardless of what others are doing, regardless of what you've done in the past, and regardless how crazy an idea seems at first - there is really no such thing as a bad idea.
There are only good ideas that may be combined uniquely with others and enhanced into dramatic tools for your organization's differentiation from your competitors.
The key for you is to continually innovate and adapt your strategies - always keeping your competition guessing.
Once you announce that your dealership is the only one in your area that sends someone out to your customers' farms and picks them up when their tractor has been repaired - your competitors will have to step up or lose out.
Then, you add cable TV and high speed Internet access in the waiting room. Next you extend the range of your free pick up and delivery service. And on and on keeping your competitors off guard by using innovative strategies that you picked up from the insights of your peers.
Nichemanship is alive and well in the 21st Century, the Internet and long distance peer-to-peer collaboration make the necessary study and analysis easy.
The key is to harness the power of the people you can always count on for unbiased help and insights, always strive to think strategically, innovate continually, and do the best you possibly can to execute your strategies flawlessly.
Article Source: http://www.articlehighlight.com
Wayne Messick reports on how Main St. businesses are poised to succeed in the 21st Century on his blog http://www.waynemessick.com. His updated peer-to-peer collaboration report can be found at http://www.selfdirectedpeergroups.com
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