Leadership Awards

by Richard M Krawczyk · October 27, 2011 Leave a Comment

Leadership Awards Leadership AwardsLeadership awards for excellence is something every company should be using as a tool for better productivity and increase profitability of the company.

Many company leaders never think of using the award/reward system because they feel it may be too costly especially in today’s world of a stressed economy. However, it is my belief from past experience that this is something too vital in a company culture to dismiss. It may cost less to have an award/reward system that creates an atmosphere of eager employees vying for awards so they do all they can to out-perform one another than to make the decision not to put it in motion.

Employees who feel unappreciated and unrewarded for their excellent work soon join the ranks of those who just do enough to ‘get by’ and avoid being fired. Once that begins, it’s an insidious, unspoken mindset that says, “Don’t bother being great, no one will care anyway.”

This attitude can create a boring, uninspired team of slackers who only want a paycheck and could care less about great performance. Remember, the company culture and attitudes come directly from above.

There’s a large financial services company that was founded in the 70′s by an ex-high school football coach. He’s now retired to live in luxury but when he was at the helm of the company his team members would practically faint if they received a t-shirt from him during an award presentation at company conventions.

Imagine, a $10 t-shirt being more highly prized than thousands of dollars. Of course, it had to do with what he had created as a company culture but also the fact that he was motivating, uplifting and cared about his people and they knew it was from the heart.

He was no pushover by any means, but even when he was calling someone a “Dadgum Dead Butt,” people just accepted it, knew they had better shape up and it actually motivated them to perform better.

Giving Awards Can Go A Long Way
An award/reward signifies to the person receiving it that they are special and their hard work is being recognized. Naturally, if a company can afford cash rewards that is a huge motivator.

In this economy, imagine the excitement of receiving a few hundred extra dollars. Don’t you think when the other employees see the award presentation and know there is money to be made by improving and excelling at job performance more people will begin to shine?

Better job performance can bring in more money for the company and ensure longevity and improve the company “brand.”

New Hires
When people go to work for a new employer there is nothing worse than a low-level manager telling them, “Here’s your desk, here’s what you need to do so get busy.” No matter how many college degrees someone has earned and no matter how great a job they did at their previous company in the same position with a similar job description, each company has different rules and ways of doing different tasks.

Shoving a company handbook in a new employees hand and expecting them to be up to speed in the first week is not only a mistake, but unwise. Perhaps the new person is a self-starter and can figure out things on their own, but many aren’t so why start them off at a disadvantage?

If several new people have just been hired you could hold a few days of company orientation and they can support one another in getting up to speed. In the case of only one new hire, choose someone who has a similar job description, make sure they will be considerate, show an interest in the new hire and help them for a few days until they are familiar with the day to day tasks and projects.

Giving people a clear, concise pathway to success from the very beginning will make it easier for them to assimilate into the company and start off on the right foot. Giving them an overview of how competence and excellence will bring them rewards can have someone off and running, eager to please and the potential of becoming an employee most companies would love to have on the payroll.

By continually training your team, you will immediately give them the tools they will need for them to receive a leadership award.

Communicate What Is Expected
Make sure all employees are kept informed of the long-term plans of the company, the corporate vision, mission and any major developments that are in play. An open door policy does wonders for company participation and allowing workers to discuss issues or ideas with upper-management will help the team see the business and leaders as caring and compassionate.

Any new and innovative idea presented by an employee that could save the company money or increase productivity should be addressed immediately and if implemented, the employee with the suggestion or idea should be rewarded and done in a public setting during a company meeting or convention.

Higher levels of employee engagement and interest in helping the company move forward creates better productivity, better service and a lower attrition rate for workers. This can make the award/reward system even more important and worthy of some extra time and money.

Tips for Dynamic Recognition of Peak Performance
An established outline for what performance or projects completed would bring about an award or reward should be readily available so employees understand what it will take to receive the perks of a job well-done.

  • Each employee must be eligible and qualify equally for the awards.
  • Those who perform at a level above the others will be rewarded according to what they have done.
  • Make sure the reward/award is given soon after the performance or action was taken that met the criteria for excellence.
  • Never allow favoritism or let managers pick and choose from their “favorites” who receives the kudos and/or award. It should never be an “it’s my turn to be rewarded” scenario. When that happens, it smacks of favoritism and loses the power of something special.

 

The old “Employee of the Month” is so overused and rather meaningless in corporate cultures today.

Make it a surprise if possible unless it’s a contest. Of course, it never hurts to have an occasional company contest if possible, especially when sales is involved.

“Top Salesperson of the Week,” month or year can be exciting, especially when there is a money prize at the other end.

Going to lunch with the boss should be a special event to be valued. Sometimes, a boss has been kind enough to take all their employees, if it’s a small company, on a monthly basis.

Eventually, it becomes just one more thing to do and no one really appreciates it. Some may even begin to think of it as an entitlement and if and when the boss changes the routine there may be lots of resentment in the ranks.

In other words, think of something important like recognizing an employee who closes the most sales on the phone without having to go to a one-on-one meeting with the prospect. Or someone who comes up with an idea that saves the company thousands of dollars. Don’t announce a contest or let anyone know you’re even noticing, then check the records and call a company meeting in the boardroom and honor the employee with a few minutes of kudos then present them with an award/reward of some kind.

Be creative and always let them know you care.

Your employees will not only realize you’re very aware of who is performing well but additionally whose performance is average and ordinary because they didn’t get recognition.

Leadership awards could be enough to get their attention and even create an improved work ethic.

Filed Under: Business Development, Leadership Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Marketing Techniques

by Richard M Krawczyk · October 25, 2011 Leave a Comment

Marketing Techniques Marketing TechniquesIn the world of marketing techniques, whether online or offline, the business owner can make many mistakes and lose huge amounts of money that could be spent on hiring another employee, purchasing more products or simply keeping it safely in the bank. Profits can be reduced and what may follow could be stress and a lack of productivity.

The most important thing to understand is without a clear and concise marketing plan you’re out there floundering around throwing marketing ideas against the proverbial wall, “hoping something sticks.” No successful business person begins a marketing campaign without a plan.

It’s vital to do small marketing trials to using several techniques until you find one or more that is the most effective. Below are some tips for discovering what works and what doesn’t so you keep your losses to a minimum.

Define Your Market and Demographic
Who are the people most likely to purchase your product or service? What is the average age of your past client base or in general, the age of clients you are targeting? With laser-like accuracy you need to determine what works and hone in on that specific market.

When business owners or marketers use the “shotgun” method of marketing you will waste time and money contacting non-target market people who won’t even consider what you are offering.

Professional Marketing Materials
If you don’t have the software or programs to create business cards, flyers, tri-fold marketing pieces and other information you can physically place in the hands of potential customers you are making yourself and your business look cheap and cheesy.

Paying someone to create professional looking marketing pieces and having them printed at Kinko’s or other places (check around for the most inexpensive) will serve you well and even if you’re a one-person business you can look as up-scale as one with hundreds of employees.

Remember that a first impression is the most important impression. When a potential customer sees a simple, cheap looking flyer they know you made on your computer using the most rudimentary of software programs they have an immediate, visceral feeling of believing you’re “small potatoes.”

Obviously, a professional designed website is now a necessity in today’s online environment to conduct business.

However, the flashiest and most fancy marketing pieces can be useless if you don’t get your message across. Your prospect must be able to read it and within minutes completely understand what you are offering or selling.

I’ve seen marketing pieces that someone who didn’t quite ‘get it’ actually left off the phone number and/or the website. If a potential customer has no idea how to take your materials, go to the phone and pick it up and call you they will NOT bother trying to find you.

Your Marketing Plan
Sit down and create a marketing plan that has a purpose, a time frame and set your goals for how many sales or customers you would like to acquire in a certain period of time. Do your homework. It may take doing research online or by purchasing books, CDs or DVDs on how to set up a good marketing plan.

Ask people you know who are successful how to put a good marketing campaign in motion. Of course, your competition may not be on board with giving you advice on how to take away some of their business, but you will find lots of mentors in other fields who will be glad to help.

There are so many online “gurus” who do teleseminars and webinars on the subject you’ll have no problem finding someone who can give you some tips and ideas.

Whatever marketing tools and plan you use, make sure to follow through. The follow through is the big secret most people skip. You can’t just do one marketing campaign and expect success. Your first few may be dismal failures so don’t quit before you find the sweet spot that begins to bring you those valuable customers and clients you need.

Romance Your Prospects
This may sound strange but you need to ‘court’ potential clients, customers or business associates. The whole idea is to win the hearts and minds of those you have targeted as your perfect demographic.

In some business models there is no age group but instead, as in the case of those looking for people to join them in a home-based business, you’re looking for someone who wants and needs to make more money. That is a huge demographic, especially in this chaotic economy.

On the other hand, this group of people is continually hammered by your competition so you are in essence marketing ‘yourself’ to them.

They must like you, trust you and feel like you are someone they’d love to build a business together.

They cannot be pushed, rushed or feel pressured or they will turn the other way and run.

They won’t return your calls and you may as well lose their contact information.

Take your time (we’re not talking months or years here) but give them a chance to look over everything and come back to you, ready to get started. Of course, a small ‘nudge’ if they seem on the verge of a decision but don’t quite commit won’t hurt.

Your Target Market
Perhaps you’ve been chasing shadows or people who are more of a fantasy market. A friend of mine says, “Start collecting minnows before you go for the whales.” That means you may want to sell to or approach a high-powered business person who owns a huge company or at least has a high position within the organization.

You imagine bringing them on board as a client and with one fell swoop you’ve hit the Mother Lode.

Many people have chased and chased the big dream only to be bitterly disappointed when the deal falls through. Instead, go for the little fish and sell to them until you have built a quality and large client base until one day that big whale comes back around and agrees to do business with you.

All it takes is one and if you make them happy they will recommend you to their big-time associates.

Know Your Market
Don’t be so self-absorbed or blinded you don’t pay attention to a prime and potential client when one is staring you in the face. Become a student of human nature.

Turn yourself into an expert in your target market so you can recognize opportunity the moment it walks into your field of vision. Be ready to respond and engage them in conversation.

Do not ‘pitch’ them after the first “hello.” It is also a very bad idea to put the sales moves on someone you just met in front of a group of people.

You can develop a reputation as someone who will pitch anyone, anywhere at the most awkward moments in the absolute wrong settings. Trying to sell someone on your services at cousin Sue’s wedding is really a very bad idea.

Buying Signals
When someone begins asking you questions about what you do or what your products or services are for Pete’s sake tell them.

Be prepared to have professional and clear answers to their questions so you don’t stumble over your words. Be short, concise and get your message across in thirty seconds or less.

Pay attention to what they ask and be prepared to tell them what they need to know. If they are interested you will know it and then be ready to ‘let them off the hook’ and suggest you get together for lunch at their convenience.

By following these marketing techniques, you will respond professionally and your prospects will not only appreciate it but will probably become a client.

Filed Under: Business Development, Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

How a Well-Thought Out Leadership Strategy Creates Better Cultures

by Richard M Krawczyk · October 20, 2011 Leave a Comment

How a Well Thought Out Leadership Strategy Creates Better Cultures How a Well Thought Out Leadership Strategy Creates Better CulturesA great work environment is the result of a great leadership strategy. The culture in any company is created by the intelligent and thoughtful management of the organization. When staffers are friendly, proactive, have goals of productivity and make others feel warm and accepted it is the direct result of excellent leadership.

Whereas, if a company environment is staffed by angry, frustrated and continually agitated people who gossip and mistrust one another it is the result of sub-par and extremely poor leadership.

The latter company culture probably has a huge attrition rate of employees unless because of our economy they stay because they don’t think they can find another job. In that case productivity will suffer, people will be worn out, tired and unhappy, which also invites lots of people taking time off because their work environment can also make them physically ill.

In either case, the company culture is in direct relation to the quality of the leadership.

Great Cultures Come from Great Leaders
Years ago when I actually worked a job, I can recall several companies that were a chore to work with each and every day. They had little or no leadership, just bosses who did everything they could to make sure someone had a miserable day just to make themselves feel better and give them that little power boost that told them they were important.

A great leader has an ‘open-door’ policy when it comes to subordinates they take lots of time and investment to hold themselves to a higher standard and without being aggressive, makes sure the staff desires to hold themselves to that same level of competence and performance each day.

Great leaders learn the names of their employees and they greet them as they pass in the hallways, lunch room or conference rooms. When an employee performs well on a project or task the leader takes the time not only to recognize it but may present a certificate of excellence or even a financial reward.

When an employee is not performing well and/or is making mistakes or slacking off, a great leader will not shame or embarrass them but instead will give them counsel along with retraining if that is possible.

In essence, a great leader is the heart and soul of the work environment and the company culture.

Work Environments that Leave Much to be Desired
It takes as much effort to create a poor, negative work environment and company culture as it does a positive one, so why not go for greatness?

When the ‘fearless leader’ of a company has ‘left the building,’ is unavailable both physically and mentally, has too many irons in the fire including reports, business trips, projects, budgets, you name it, they are not the picture of even a good leader. They are mediocre at best.

The humanity of the corporate culture must be attended to each and every day. Employees and customers alike take time and focus from a great leader instead of “stuff.”

The staffers will model their leader and may be arrogant, uncaring, rude and unavailable. Unfortunately, the “me” mentality will replace the team vision and mentality and sabotage and lack of caring will bring a company to its knees very rapidly.

When there is a lack of caring about co-workers and customers it shows to everyone on the outside. A cohesive company culture is non-existent and revenues will suffer as well as any employee who does care about doing a good job.

Eventually, they will leave if they can and all that will be left is a group of whiny, self-centered cry babies.

The self-absorbed leader may soon be forced to begin looking for other employment as the owners or board of directors becomes aware of the hostile work environment, lack of performance and a downturn in revenue.

Poor leaders are the ones who never know the names of employees and don’t really care. There is never eye contact unless they are berating someone. Should any employee do something exceptional there will probably be no recognition or reward because the poor leader simply expects everyone to do their job and don’t expect anything more than a paycheck.

Negative vibes occur when the poor leader finds out someone did something wrong or didn’t perform well on a project and fail to act appropriately.

Instead of a private counseling session, they would probably yell at them in front of the whole office and order them to clean out their desk and leave. In such a negative work environment, even the best employees soon lower their expectations and join the gang of slackers and mediocrity.

Are You a Great Leader or a Poor Leader?
Do you respect your employees and show them you care who they are, how they feel and get to know them on a personal level?

When they outperform others do you openly congratulate them and present them with a prize for excellence?

Are your staffers on board with your believe in a higher level of job performance and do they understand it is expected?

Is your staff happy and eager to come to work? How often do you hold company events like parties or picnics?

You can demand respect and at the same time be someone who your staffers admire and choose to emulate.

Be the Leader You’d Want to Have Lead You
It’s never too late to create a dynamic and successful company culture. Whatever mistakes you’ve made in the past can be fixed.

Imagine the surprise when you announce all the new changes that will make your company a place where applications are piling up from people who have heard about your company and can’t wait to be hired.

Below are a few tips you may consider should you desire to improve the working environment of your company.

  • Sit down and make a detailed assess of yourself and your company team so you can determine where any weaknesses might be hiding that are keeping you from creating that positive culture and work environment.
  • Create a battle plan to improve what is not working and figure out how to take yourself and team to a higher level of production in small increments until you have the big picture fleshed out first in your mind, then put it in action.
  • Invite your team to get involved in the planning and make sure to allow them to make suggestions for improvement. You may be surprised to find someone or several people who have brilliant ideas that could turn your company into one of power and super-performance.
  • Be the role model of the exact company culture you’d like to see come to fruition.
  • Make sure your plans include long-term ideas that will be permanent not just some new “program of the week.”
  • Never, ever compromise your ethics or expectations of creating a culture of success.
  • Make it understood that incompetence and sub-par performance will not be tolerated or excused. Keep note of any team member who is not on board with the plan and don’t allow them to get off message. If they are worthy of taking your time to counsel them on how to perform at the expected level, then give them that time.

By improving on the atmosphere and working conditions within your company you can implement your leadership strategy and find yourself at the helm of an outstanding company others begin to notice and emulate.

Filed Under: Business Development, Leadership Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Financial Rescue From The Multilevel Marketing Industry

by Richard M Krawczyk · October 18, 2011 Leave a Comment

Financial Rescue From The Multilevel Marketing Industry Financial Rescue From The Multilevel Marketing IndustryWould you believe there is a possibility of improving your finances through multilevel marketing? This is an industry that has been around for decades, many people have tried and failed yet it still thrives. There are reasons for those who succeed and for those who have failed miserably. In this economic environment, we must all look for a way to turn our dismal financial and economic situation around and get back on track.

Over 54% of Americans are underemployed, millions out of work and many have no hope. They’ve stopped thinking about the “American Dream.” It’s hard to dream if you feel you have no hope. But allow me to suggest that there is always hope and if you are tired enough of the struggle you can find ways of improving your finances and possibly bringing that American Dream back to reality in your life.

Most of Americans know about network marketing or multilevel marketing, also known as MLM. Mention the company name Amway or Mary Kay to just about anyone and they immediately have a vague understanding or misconception of the industry.

Many belong to what is called the “NFL Club,” or “No Friends Left Club.” That’s because over the many years they’ve joined and quit so many MLM opportunities, all the while bringing in their family, friends and co-workers, promising quick wealth and hardly any work because certain unscrupulous people have convinced and cajoled them into believing the hype of an ‘easy buck.’

Well, nothing is easy, there are ‘no free rides’ and as it has been said many, many times before, “If it was that easy, everyone would be rich.” Truer words have never been spoken.

Give It Another Chance – with Certain Conditions
Do your homework and due diligence. Talk to the people you know who are in the industry and have actually found success. Look around at dozens of different opportunities and decide which one is most appealing.

Is it in a product or service?

What excites you from the very beginning and holds your attention?

Is there product or service something you would be proud to show others?

Talk to their company’s leaders to make sure they have an excellent training model and get a commitment that they will not only sponsor you but from the beginning be there or assign someone in their organization to work with you personally for a few weeks until you are up to speed about the company, their products and the best way to market what they offer and how they find prospects.

Make sure they agree to do 3-way conference calls with you with prospects, if necessary, so you can get enough new associates in your first 60 days to pay for your initial cash outlay and your monthly autoship of products, if you have one set up.

Listen to the Experts
Donald Trump, Warren Buffett, Sly and Jennifer Stallone and Dr. John Gray are a few notables involved and working in the MLM industry. Of course, Donald Trump or Warren Buffet are not actively recruiting new associates, but they have put their names on certain companies and Warren Buffet reportedly owns a few MLM companies.

Donald Trump even stated that MLM is the only business that could possibly get the average person through this economic crisis.

To get started, there is little up-front expense. There may be from $50 to around $100 monthly fees for ordering product each month, but the company must move its products or be out of legal compliance. It is usually enough products for one or two people to us up without piling up in a closet or your garage.

Instead of sitting around and waiting for the economy to turn around (good luck with that), you seriously have no time to waste. Unless you’re getting used to unemployment and can’t imagine having to work again or you’re underemployed and happy allowing someone else to use your brain-power and abilities to enrich themselves while you just get more frustrated by the day, then it’s time to take action.

Added Cash for Life’s Necessities
Do you have teenagers nearing college age with no idea how you’re going to provide the money for their education?

Have you just told them college is going to have to wait so “Go out and get a job to help out the family?”

Neither scenario is a happy one or something you would ever have expected a few years ago.

Unfortunately, those days have come and gone. The excesses of the 90′s and most Americans ability to give their children anything they want no matter the cost is no longer the norm in the average family. Three cars, a boat, several vacations per year are now out of the picture for most people.

Even among those who were considered moderately wealthy have stopped buying that vacation home, don’t shop quite as much at all the upscale boutiques they frequented before the financial debacle.

Would you believe in Beverly Hills, CA there is a Pawn Shop for the rich and famous? Of course, it’s hidden and they sneak in a back door to pawn their valuables so no one will know they are also experiencing financial woes.

Yes, there are truly those who are “Down and out in Beverly Hills.”

“Too Much Month Left at the End of the Money?”
That saying has been around forever, yet right at this moment it seems too real and not funny at all. Many families are juggling their bills, “robbing Peter to pay Paul” and those among us going hungry have risen to a frightening level.

There are families who have lost their homes because they were underwater — living in a house worth 50% of what they paid for it so they were either evicted through foreclosure or decided to simply walk away. Cheap motels have become permanent homes for too many families. This is not the America we envisioned.

The pride in our country is at an all-time low. What many don’t realize is that our country is not at fault, it’s those who run it or at least that’s what we sent politicians to do. Politicians in Washington, DC live in a “bubble,” not seeing or understanding the plight of the average American and don’t seem to care as long as they keep getting the perks from the lobbyists.

So the answer is simple yet not easy. Find a good home business that peaks your interest, don’t fall prey to empty promises of instant wealth, do your homework and prepare to go to work. So you have to set aside what was formerly some television time each night (if you’re working) to devote to building your business. You also have the weekends. Starting out part-time by working only a few hours a week is the safest way to get started.

Even if it takes you six months to create a $500-$1,000 per month income or even a bit longer, how could an extra $500 per month or more impact your life.

Of course, if you are willing to go the extra mile and find a good mentor in your company, you could build your home business and have an income that exceeds that amount. There can never be any guarantees. Your home business is yours and yours alone. The amount you earn will be in direct proportion to the effort you put into creating the life you desire.

Not only could a home business bring you more income and a better lifestyle, it can create home business tax deductions and many other perks. Naturally, you should consult your tax professional for all the pertinent details of what and how to deduct certain expenses.

You are the starting point to a better life if that’s what you decide. Just make sure it’s something you enjoy, have fun doing and feel honored presenting your multilevel marketing opportunity to others.

Filed Under: Business Development, Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How to Define Leadership

by Richard M Krawczyk · October 13, 2011 Leave a Comment

How to Define Leadership How to Define LeadershipThere are many ways to define leadership. Each one may come from a completely different perspective and core beliefs.

Leadership may mean you are the dominant person in a group or organization, it could mean getting things done by having the ability to bring in others to assist you. Leadership can also mean challenging who or what has set up a set of rules by providing a better way of doing something.

The “Alpha Leader”
Both in higher species of animals and primitive tribes the leader is always the most dominant amongst the others. That dominant person or animal has and shows the power necessary to reach and hold on to the “top dog” position until they either retire or someone younger comes along and takes over.

A leader can be passive or proactive in any given situation. If things are moving along smoothly and holding the status quo, it isn’t necessary for the leader to assert themselves if everything is stable. As long as everyone is following the rules and obeying the set of rules created by the leader there’s no reason to step in and upset the proverbial apple cart. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” would be the rule of the moment.

If you simply took the position of leader by seizing power, most of the group would never assume to confront you if you’re doing a good job at keeping things running smoothly. So, becoming a leader in this respect means you’re the ‘Top Dog’ and most people will respect your take charge attitude.

Being a Leader by Recruiting Helpers
Modern businesses are the model for leadership through “delegation.” Bosses, managers and others in corporate leadership positions get the best results by choosing the right person for the right task. Those who want total control and insist on doing everything themselves are never able to hold the reins of power for long.

In a corporate setting, leadership entails coordinating a group of highly skilled people with many specific skill-sets. Knowing how to utilize and place these people in their perfect positions takes someone able to think out of the box and make something that could be very complex look easy.

A good leader is not the embodiment of what used to be called “managers.” Of course there are still people in business settings with the title of manager, yet the reality is they are more than those who simply tell others what to do.

The old days of the ‘Boss,’ barking orders and threatening everyone on a daily basis is normally not acceptable in today’s corporate environment. Large, bureaucratic and controlling workplaces create an atmosphere of frustration, fear and lack of inspiration and innovation.

Being a leader is more than being a ‘cheerleader.’ There’s always room for motivation, but as it is often said; “A true Leader leads by example.” A boss who sits in his or her office shouting orders with a closed door policy will not last long in the 21st century business model. Neither will one of completely turning over the running of the company to the employees.

‘Casual Fridays’ are fine and can be incorporated in the dress code of the company as a special day of the week, but it must be clear who is running the company and who makes the final decisions. Casual dress does not mean including a casual attitude when it comes to work that must be completed even on Fridays.

In a well-run company there must be someone others can turn to for advice or counsel, knowing that person is in charge and due the respect they have earned by being creative and having an understanding of how to recognize their most dependable and valuable people.

Leaders Understand the Importance of Promoting A Better Way of Doing Things
We all know how to recognize a leader. Heads turn when they enter a room. They have a “look” about them that exudes confidence and power. They’re approachable and respectful of others, no matter how small a role that person plays in the corporate structure.

They build up their people instead of wearing them down. They invite suggestions and innovative ideas. They’re willing to listen but at the same time they are respected and appreciated.

A quality leader looks for ways to improve company and individual performance in the workplace. Many times something that seems like a novel idea can be a brilliant move that improves the flow of cash and efficiency to the company. And if the idea came from an employee the leader will not take credit but put the person who came up with the idea in the spotlight and perhaps give them an award and/or reward for their creative thinking.

21st Century Leadership
For any company to achieve greatness no matter on what level it will take someone at the helm who may be a “larger than life” personality who shines in the spotlight. They may almost become the ‘brand’ of the company as they go out and network with other executives, appear on radio, television and print media, representing the company and its services or products.

Within the confines of the company, there can be leadership shifts in various areas. If someone sticks their head up above the others and shows a particular talent or expertise it may make it necessary to move people around to different positions.

The leader of the company needs to keep on top of identifying those who show promise, talent and be prepared to offer them a higher position within the company. This can also motivate others to excel.

The Reinvention of Leadership
•   A leader doesn’t always have to micro-manage people to get the job done.
•   Being a leader means being the captain of the corporate ship. The leader chooses the crew and brings them aboard, then guides the ship as the “sailors” do what they need to do to keep the ship afloat.
•   A leader promotes efficiency and a better way of doing certain things
•   As a leader the responsibility for failure lies squarely on their shoulders

A successful leader urges employees to feel free to think creatively and assist in promoting company products and its’ services. A “thought leader” is someone who promotes better ideas in the industry. Knowing how to present new and innovative ideas takes a person with knowledge and excellent communication skills yet the common sense of emotional intelligence.

Someone who comes across as arrogant and unable to hear what others have to say does not embody a good leader. They must have the ability to articulate and demonstrate the depth of their ideas or those of others.

This type of talented individual has a monumental influencing style. They exude power and show others a sophisticated leadership model.

However, if the content of what they are presenting lacks substance it can be viewed as fluff and having less value than what the company and its leadership are trying to sell to the public. Make sure your product or service has the content to back up the hype.

In addition, a great leader understands the importance of fostering leadership among the rank and file of company employees, especially those already in moderately higher management levels. You never know where the next brilliant idea comes from.

As a rule, innovation comes from employees and occasionally from the most unlikely of people. Never, ever dismiss out of hand a suggestion or idea from anyone on the payroll.

True leadership also ensures the line between leadership and management is well-defined. Those with the skills will step up and the others will be left behind. Striving for excellence without being overpowering is something a real leader understands.

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