Personal Growth

Goals – 3 Free Leader Tools to Accomplish Your Goals This Year

You’ve probably already heard about all kinds of stuff that people are selling to help you improve in this year. But have you heard about the big giveaway I have going on?

Yep, when most people are selling stuff, I decided to do it a little different – I’m giving stuff away instead. Think of it as a gift – from me to you. I’ll tell you how to get it in just a moment.

Most people wait for life to happen to them. They plod along – reacting to the circumstances along their path in their life and work. Sadly, many end up never accomplishing important life or career goals for one simple reason – they never paused long enough to give some thought to where they were headed and how they were going to get there.

About 15 years ago, that was my story. I wanted my life to matter but couldn’t figure out how to make it happen. And few people understood my passion and fewer challenged me to pursue it with abandon.

Let me tell you – that’s not the life you were meant to live. And it’s not how your career is supposed to go.

When you purposefully set aside time for reflection and planning you are far more likely to accomplish your goals.

3 Things I Learned About Life From an 85-Year-Old Man

The first house I ever owned belonged to an elderly couple. I bought the home just a few months after Fred’s wife, Andree’, passed away.

One day Andree’ went to the hospital for a routine procedure and died suddenly from complications during the surgery.

Fred was devastated. He later told me, “When Andree’ died, I lost every reason to live.”

With all the memories, it was simply too painful for him to stay in the home.
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4 Reasons Your Team Thinks You’re Not Listening

If you’re going to lead a team, you must listen. No excuses. No exceptions.

Some managers naturally focus on tasks and projects. Yet, the best leaders focus on the needs of the people they serve. Always.

Although some team members may be subordinates, they are also partners. And they need to know – without a doubt – that they have absolute freedom to contribute their unique perspective to the organization. Even when it differs from yours.

And their perspective will be different than yours – regularly. So if you are going to influence people, you must slow down and listen – long enough to understand and consider their perspective.

If you are going to lead, you must listen.

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Most employees think their boss is deaf to their recommendations, their observations, and their pleas for more resources. And few managers realize that their team feels this way.

Here are 4 reasons team members think their manager isn’t listening…

4 Ways to Respond When Your Team Thinks You’re Crazy!

I am task-oriented. It’s easy for me to identify a project that needs to be done and to focus on getting it accomplished.

And I’ve learned that there are times that my “driven” nature frustrates and intimidates other people.

A couple of years ago, I sensed a rising level of frustration within our organization. So I sat down with several of team members and asked them to help me understand how my actions were being perceived.

While I expected some of the responses – others surprised me. Some hurt deeply. Not because the team members were being unkind – I simply had a hard time believing what I was hearing. They said things like…

When You Think You Can’t Give More – Give Anyway

When I feel like there’s nothing left, when I’m under enormous pressure, when my life and work are chaotic – even then, I can give more – to my family, to my team, to my friends, to future leaders. And so can you.

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I wrote previously about a life-changing experience that taught me I could give more. Check out that article – it will add value to this one.