Best of thoughtLEADERS 2014: Seriously Our Awesomest Stuff Yet

It’s time again for our annual year in review list of the BEST posts we’ve published in 2014. Welcome to the 2014 edition of The Figgies (our SIXTH of em!  Wow!) which are the awards we give ourselves for writing awesome blog content (here are the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 editions of those awards).

This is an annual event at the thoughtLEADERS Blog. This list is comprised of our most viewed, most forwarded, quirkiest, most provocative work. Enjoy. Share. We’ve loved writing them. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading them. I don’t ask a lot of you folks so I have two small requests as your holiday gift to me (you are getting me something, right?):

1. Invite all your coworkers, friends, and family to come check out the blog and become readers. The only way we all get better is by raising everyone’s game. I’m not asking a lot here. If you found this blog helpful at all this year, here’s your chance to return the favor for all our hard work. Just email folks and tell ’em to come take a look.

2. Pick up a copy of One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful Personal Leadership (especially if you’re looking for last-minute holiday gifts for bosses, team members, or your mom – she’ll love it). I talk a lot about the book because I’m evangelical about the topic. Buy it. Read it. In the words of Roland Smith (former CEO of Wendy’s/Arby’s) “It could change your life.” To get a sense for what the book is about, read this free ChangeThis Leadership Manifesto which is based on the book. If you like the manifesto, you’ll love the book.

Thanks for your incredible support in ’14 and best wishes for ’15! We hope to be a part of your future success!  Now on to the best of list!

Best Set of Leadership Secrets: 3 Secret Phrases Every Leader Must Know.  This set of simple phrases can help you influence other people, unstick conversations, and generate helpful insights.  They’re amazingly easy to use and once you start using them, you’ll be surprised by how much you learn.

Best Things to Stop Saying: 5 Phrases That Make You Sound Ridiculous.  I’m sure you hear and probably use some of these phrases every day.  The thing is, when you use them, you sound ridiculous.  They’re worthless filler words at best.  At worst, they make you sound arrogant and pompous.  Stop saying them.  Now.

Best Guest Post: How to Lead with Relaxed Intensity.  You don’t always have to be aggressive, high energy, and excitable as a leader.  Sometimes the opposite approach of being relaxed yet intense can yield far better results.  Learn how you can adopt a more zen-like approach to leading your people.

Best Daily Inspiration Post: Finding Your Daily Motivation.  Some days are harder than others.  As a leader, there are fewer and fewer people there to motivate and inspire you.  That task rests on your shoulders.  If you’re able to find your daily inspiration, your days will be more enjoyable and you’ll be more effective in your job.

Best Presentation Advice: 3 Things You Should Never Say when Presenting.  I’ve seen way too many presentations about awesome ideas go totally off the rails because someone said something they shouldn’t have.  There are a few phrases that will instantly turn off an audience – or worse, they turn on you.

Best Advice from My Kids: A Coxswain’s Advice for Leading Your Peers.  My daughter is a coxswain on the crew team at Ohio State (National Champs 2 years in a row).  She’s learned a great deal about the challenges of leading her peers.  You would do well to take her advice and heed her suggestions on how you can lead your peers too.

Best Dealing With a Crappy Boss Post: How to Deal with the 8 Worst Kinds of Bosses.  We’ve all had, or currently have, bad bosses.  They come in different forms and require different approaches to managing and surviving them.  Here are the 8 worst offenders and suggestions on how you can deal with them.

Best “Get Your Head on Straight” Post: Stop Being a Victim of Your Work.  It’s easy to fall into the trap of being a victim of our circumstances.  What you need to realize is you have more control over your circumstances than you care to admit.  It’s time to get your head on straight and make some changes!

Best Advice for Entrepreneurs Post: 10 Things it Took Me 10 Years to Learn.  Sure, I’m a slow learner but over the course of a decade of running thoughtLEADERS, I’ve learned a lot of great lessons.  Whether you’re new to entrepreneurship or you’re a veteran, you can probably learn a thing or three from this one.

Best Post-Heart Attack Retrospective on Balance: A Balanced Life is Achievable – if You Work at it.  I had a heart attack over a year ago.  I made a lot of fundamental changes in my life.  They’ve paid off.  You too can make some simple daily changes that will extend your life and make it more fulfilling.  Reading this post is your first step down that road to balance.

So there’s the best stuff we published this year. I hope you enjoy them. Thanks for all your support this year. I’m really looking forward to sharing more ideas with you in 2015!

Again – please invite your friends to come check us out (just share, tweet, or email this post for starters) and also grab your copy of One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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