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Leadership Lessons From The Book TouchPoints

Some of my favorite parts of   Douglas Conant 's and   Mette Norgaard 's book,  TouchPoints , are these lessons for leaders: You need to have dual vision. You need to be able to address the most pressing need and do it in a way that makes your employees more capable and ready to take on the next issue. No leader can succeed by being only tough-minded or only tender-hearted . The perfect balance is to be both tough-minded on the issue and tender-hearted with people. Leading with heart doesn't mean you always decide in favor of the individual. It just means that when you need to make a tough-minded decision, you are acutely aware of how it will affect the people involved. The people who are the most committed to mastering their craft are often the most humble . That is because, instead of comparing themselves to others, they are moved by an inner vision of what they might achieve. Ask often, "How can I help?"  Doing so at the start of an interaction opens up space f

Best New Leadership Book Of 2021

  This time each year, I select my pick for best new leadership book for the year. For 2021, my pick is, Heart First , Lasting Leadership Lessons From A Year That Changed Everything , by David Grossman , published in July 2021. Written by a wise, award-winning leadership and communications expert, Grossman supplies clear, timely, critical, actionable advice, how-to’s and tips for leaders as the pandemic continues to challenge us...and as we get past the pandemic. I selected this book because the book is easy to read, incredibly engaging, and is filled with inspirational and powerful stories of lessons learned by a wealth of leaders with diverse backgrounds. Plus, it covers today’s pertinent topics for workplace leaders, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and culture.  It’s a playbook you’ll want to read and then refer to time after time. And, if you read only one leadership book next year, make it this one . Reflecting on the past year during the COVID-19 pandemic, David say

How To Be The Best At What You Do

Prepare to be inspired and then to work hard as you read  Bo Eason ’s book on how to be the best in the world at what you do. The book, published a few years ago, and is called,  There’s No Plan B For Your A-Game . Former NFL All-Pro and now one of the most in-demand motivational speakers and trainers, Eason provides you the four-step, real-world, game plan to help you reach your goals (declarations) and to play your A-game. Packed with uplifting personal stories, action steps and writing exercises, you’ll learn how to be accountable for developing your character, integrity, and commitment to reaching your goals. Plus, you’ll learn: Why obstacles are a good thing. The value of a “Never Do Again” list. How to leave behind those who don’t help you move forward. Why writing your success story in reverse is the best approach.  Bo Eason Eason shares the following great advice: Question: How can a person stay focused and not let distractions take her/him off course? Eason : When you hear peo

How History’s Awesome Twentysomethings Got It Together

  Prepare to be enlightened, fascinated and inspired by the stories of some of history’s iconic men and women that show where they were at near the age of 25 . And how they overcame obstacles, defied their critics and forged ahead to attain success.  Author Robert L. Dilenschneider tells these stories of 25 men and women from around the globe who shaped the world in his new book, Nailing It .  You’ll learn how these individuals : Came from modest means and went on to help change the world. Went on to do what put them in the history books. Used their unique personal traits to enable them to beat all odds and persevere. The stories offer some perspective on what young people are experience now. The pandemic has turned young adulthood upside-down. For millions of millennials, what should be a key transformation period, full of adventure, freedom, and self-exploration, has been temporarily halted. Key life events have been put on hold, delayed, or outright cancelled. Now they

Be Verbal About Being Thankful

You and your team may not hit your revenue or profit goals this year. Or, perhaps your organization won't accomplish all its goals during this tough time. But, as a leader, you likely still have plenty to be thankful for in 2021. So, be thankful. And, most important, verbalize your thanks ! Take time to say "Thank You" to: Your employees  who took pay reductions. Your customers  who still did business with you, even though they had tight budgets. Your vendors  that worked with you on pricing and terms. Your partner businesses  that banded together with you like never before. Your team  that helped you think of ways to reduce expenses and repackage your services to drive sales. Your co-workers and peers  who encouraged you to hang in there. Your team that put in more hours and tackled additional duties beyond their job descriptions.

The Three Pillars Of Executive Presence

After two years of research, forty focus groups and a national survey, author  Sylvia Ann Hewlett  contends the  three pillars  of  Executive Presence  are: How you act ( gravitas ) How you speak  (communication ) How you look ( appearance ) All three work together to help you  telegraph  (signal) to others that you have what it takes and that you're star material.   "One thing to note at the start is that these pillars are not equally important--not by a long shot," explains Hewlett.  "Gravitas is the core characteristic." And according to the senior leaders that Hewlett researched the  top aspects of  gravitas are : Confidence and "grace under fire" Decisiveness and "showing teeth" Integrity and "speaking truth to power" Emotional intelligence Reputation and standing/"pedigree" Vision/charisma In her book,  Executive Presence , she teaches how to act, communicate and look your best while  avoiding the most common blunder

How To Get Hired

Headhunter,   Rob Barnett , distills everything he’s learned about getting hired into his new book,   Next Job, Best Job .  His timely  11 strategies  will take you from any current state of confusion about what’s next to a new destination that will become clear and achievable as you seek your next best job.   Candidly and step-by-step, with a book chapter devoted to each of the 11 strategies, Barnett teaches you how to:   Regain confidence and optimism after a job loss. Create a focused job search game plan. Clearly communicate your career goals (your true North Star). Brand and market yourself with a unique resume and strategic LinkedIn profile. Navigate and effectively incorporate social media during your job search. Master networking. Score a perfect 10 interview in-person and online. Get immediate replies and callbacks. …and then Pay it forward.   Rob Barnett Earlier this year, Barnett answered these questions for us:   Question: Why did you write your book,  Next Job, Best Job ?