Ryan Shaw – Page 21 – thoughtLEADERS, LLC: Leadership Training for the Real World

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Entries by Ryan Shaw

How To Be a Great Innovator in Your Field

February 11, 2019 /0 Comments/in Books, Guest Blogger, Innovation, Leadership /by Ryan Shaw

Innovation in today’s society can be a difficult idea to grasp and an even more difficult idea to implement. In order to truly lead forward as an innovator there are a few key concepts to hold onto. Today’s post is by Dr. Joseph Walker, author of No Opportunity Wasted (CLICK HERE to get your copy). Lately, the term “innovator” conjures up the image of a young entrepreneur disrupting an industry with concepts like ridesharing, e-currency or meal-kit delivery. But it doesn’t have to. Whether you are 35 or 65, leading a start-up or a multi-generational business, you can be an innovator. In fact, you have to be if you’re going to keep succeeding. Being an innovator doesn’t just mean introducing a new idea; it also means tirelessly improving processes, finding solutions and refining techniques. And to truly lead with an innovative mindset, you must change the way you think – about success, about yourself and about your team. It won’t be easy. But it can be done. Here are the basics: Embrace Discomfort One of the biggest roadblocks to innovative thinking is discomfort. People – particularly people who already are successful – tend to shy away from it. After all, you achieved so much, and things have been working fine for you, so why change? But tradition is frozen success, not a roadmap for future opportunity. You can’t maintain success unless you adapt. Things change quickly today – tastes, priorities, people and peoples’ needs. So let go of any illusions that what worked in the past will work just as effectively today. It won’t.

When you have a high performer whose performance starts dropping, how do you handle it?

February 7, 2019 /0 Comments/in Entrepreneur, Leadership, Poll /by Ryan Shaw

Our reader poll today asks: When you have a high performer whose performance starts dropping, how do you handle it? I let it sort itself out — they know what they’re supposed to do: 6% I give them a pretty long leash but intervene before it goes too far: 47% I nudge them early to let them know something is off: 44% I jump in and start managing them much more closely: 3% To nudge or not? Folks seem evenly split on whether to nudge a high performer when they see something off in terms of performance. While many of you opt to not say anything, a large portion (44%) will make a small prod when they see performance slightly off track. Either approach is likely fine provided you give that high performer room to fix the issue. Sometimes just making them aware of something being amiss is more than enough to get things back on track. Regardless of which tack you take, know when they need to be bailed out. It’s a pretty terrible outcome to lose a high performer because you let their performance deteriorate beyond something they could correct on their own. Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below! – Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC Did you enjoy this post? If so, I highly encourage you to take about 30 seconds to become a regular subscriber to this blog. It’s free, fun, practical, and only a few emails a week (I promise!). SIGN UP HERE to get the thoughtLEADERS blog conveniently delivered right to your inbox!

You Might Consider Improving Your Executive Presence

February 6, 2019 /0 Comments/in Books, Communications, Leadership /by Ryan Shaw

Executive presence is an element of leadership that’s easy to recognize but difficult to develop, but might be the difference in your career progressing forward. Today’s post is by Rob Salafia, a principal at thoughtLEADERS and author of Leading from Your Best Self (CLICK HERE to get your copy). Executive presence is an element of leadership that’s easy to recognize but difficult to develop. In fact, in a recent study by the Center for Talent Innovation, it was found that feedback on executive presence is often contradictory and confusing and that 81% of those who are instructed to improve their executive presence are unclear on how to act on it. For instance, can you relate to any of the situations below? You have been passed up for a promotion—even though your record demonstrates that you’re smart enough and capable enough. No one can put a finger on exactly what the issue is, but it’s enough to hold you back. Your boss or someone higher on the food chain has mentioned to you that, “you might consider improving your executive presence.” You walk away thinking to yourself, ok, now what? You’re a manager with a team member who you know has the capability to shine but is struggling to find their voice. Having spent the last 20 years helping executives develop executive presence, I have found the process to be something that people (regardless of gender, industry, country, and culture) struggle to understand and develop.

Great Associate Experiences Start with Choice and Flexibility

February 4, 2019 /0 Comments/in Books, Career, Guest Blogger, Innovation, Leadership /by Ryan Shaw

The biggest change in the office environment is choice and flexibility. People are finding different ways and spaces in which to work that make them happy. Today’s post is by Ira Sharfin, CEO, Continental Office. It’s not a question of if the workplace will change. It’s a matter of when. The days of mundane 8 to 5’s while stuck in a grey, uninspired cubical are rapidly becoming obsolete. Today’s workforce is finding different ways and spaces in which to work that make them happy and more productive. People are always surprised when I tell them the biggest change I’ve seen emerge isn’t, in fact, the open office. The most notable change over the past decade has been the arrival of choice and flexibility in the workplace. Truth be told, the open office plan does happen to be a popular design given the amount of buzz in recent years. But what’s most important is giving people control over “where” and “how” they work. By creating dynamic settings, we can have the most positive impact on today’s workforce. I’ve seen what the addition of choice and flexibility can do for both our clients and our own team. I remember when I first came to Continental Office. I wanted to change a traditional conference room by removing the large board room table and 12 chairs surrounding it. I enlisted the help of Nick, our EVP of Design. We brought in several new pieces, including couches and a white Eames lounge chair. We installed embedded LED panels in the wall and created a whole new environment. Some people thought it was a bit crazy. Others asked for the old furniture to be brought back in. Most believed no one would ever use the updated room.

Have you heard the term “insecure overachiever” and if so, would you consider yourself one?

January 31, 2019 /0 Comments/in Entrepreneur, Leadership, Poll /by Ryan Shaw

Our reader poll today asks: Have you heard the term “insecure overachiever” and if so, would you consider yourself one? Yes. I have heard it, but I am not one: 18% Yes. I have heard it, and I definitely am one: 29% No. I have never heard the term: 53% Insecurity driving achievement. A term that’s been around for a long time is being an “insecure overachiever.” These people (myself included) have insecurities about their performance or their position and those insecurities lead them to invest disproportionate effort into their work. That effort often leads to great achievements. When kept in check, these dynamics can be stressful yet yield great results. Unchecked, they can lead to a complete loss of work-life balance and a loss of perspective on what’s really important. If you’re an insecure overachiever, set boundaries for your work efforts. Cut back on weekend work and late nights. Believe what they’re telling you in your great performance reviews. If you manage one of these people, be sure to let them know where they stand and how solid their work is. Keep an eye out for them losing a sense of balance. Burn out can lead to severe consequences. Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below! – Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC Did you enjoy this post? If so, I highly encourage you to take about 30 seconds to become a regular subscriber to this blog. It’s free, fun, practical, and only a few emails a week (I promise!). SIGN UP HERE to get the thoughtLEADERS blog conveniently delivered right to your inbox!

Leading Remote and Outsourced Employees So They Too Can be Part of the Team

January 28, 2019 /0 Comments/in Books, Business Toolkit, Guest Blogger, Leadership /by Ryan Shaw

Outsourced and remote employees often are expected to share the company vision but are not part of the team. Leaders take action to bring these workers into the team. Today’s post is by Dr. Richard Nongard, author of Viral Leadership (CLICK HERE to get your copy). As I walked by the reception desk in my executive center to get to the copy machine, the receptionist stopped me and said, “You know, I really am thankful for the Christmas gift you gave me in December.” The comment came from left field, it was May now, and I had only given her a red envelope with $100 in it almost six months ago. It was nothing extravagant, and she certainly deserved it for all the help she had given me over the past year. “Oh. Your welcome.” I responded, “And thank-you for always being so helpful.“ I took the next step forward to get to the copy machine, and she blurted out, “You know, it was a bigger bonus than I have gotten from corporate in more than five years.” “Really?” I questioned. She retorted, “Sometimes I think they don’t even know I exist. I am the only employee in this building; everyone else who works for the company is at the big office across town. They haven’t even invited me to the Christmas party ever!”

How well do your people behave as stewards of your organization’s resources?

January 24, 2019 /0 Comments/in Entrepreneur, Leadership, Poll /by Ryan Shaw

Our reader poll today asks: How well do your people behave as stewards of your organization’s resources? Crises are harder to lead in: 17.% Day-to-day environments are harder to lead in: 83.0% Harder to lead during the calm. It makes sense that it’s harder to lead a team during day-to-day calm periods. There’s no “enemy” to galvanize your efforts. There’s no crisis to rally the team around. It’s just the boring daily operations that have to be done, but they also have to be done well. Just remember the old military aphorism that how you train in peace defines how you fight in war. If you’re not maintaining standards and holding people accountable during the slow times, they’re more prone to mistakes that can be costly during a crisis. If you place the right focus on the details when things are slow, that will be one less thing to worry about during the crisis that’s inevitably going to come your way. Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below! – Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC Did you enjoy this post? If so, I highly encourage you to take about 30 seconds to become a regular subscriber to this blog. It’s free, fun, practical, and only a few emails a week (I promise!). SIGN UP HERE to get the thoughtLEADERS blog conveniently delivered right to your inbox!

Have you ever used online video-based learning for professional development?

January 17, 2019 /0 Comments/in Entrepreneur, Leadership, Poll /by Ryan Shaw

Our reader poll today asks: Have you ever used online video-based learning for professional development? Yes, all the time both for me and my team: 54% Yes. but just for me: 35% Not for me, but I have for my team: 5% Neither my team not I have ever used it: 7% Video is ubiquitous, but are you getting the value? 89% of you are doing some form of video training for either yourself or you and your team. It’s important to ensure you’re getting the value from those hours behind the screen. After a course, are you tying the course learning objectives to real-world projects? Are you checking back in on skill development for time periods following completion of a course? Are you holding yourself and your people accountable for using the methods they learn in the videos? If you’re not demanding application and reinforcement, you’re likely just logging more hours behind a screen. It’s important to find ways to put those great video courses into practice if you want to get the value out of them. Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below! – Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC Did you enjoy this post? If so, I highly encourage you to take about 30 seconds to become a regular subscriber to this blog. It’s free, fun, practical, and only a few emails a week (I promise!). SIGN UP HERE to get the thoughtLEADERS blog conveniently delivered right to your inbox!

What is your view of retirement?

January 10, 2019 /0 Comments/in Entrepreneur, Leadership, Poll /by Ryan Shaw

Our reader poll today asks: What is your view of retirement? I want to stop working ASAP and do absolutely nothing: 17% I want to work as long as I possibly can: 19% I want to cut back dramatically but still be gainfully employed: 30% I want to pursue a second career in a new field I love: 34% Keep on keepin’ on. The vast majority of you want to keep working beyond a retirement age. Whether that’s staying aboard in your current career, scaling back, or pursuing something completely new, most of you want to remain actively engaged. For those looking for a new field, ask yourself what you’re doing today to enable that to happen tomorrow. Are your finances in good enough shape to make that jump? Are you learning the skills you’ll need in that future role? Are you building your network in that industry now so it’s ready for when you make the leap later? A career shift won’t happen on its own. The better you plan for it today and prepare accordingly, the more successfully you’ll make the leap tomorrow. Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below! – Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC Did you enjoy this post? If so, I highly encourage you to take about 30 seconds to become a regular subscriber to this blog. It’s free, fun, practical, and only a few emails a week (I promise!). SIGN UP HERE to get the thoughtLEADERS blog conveniently delivered right to your inbox!

Have you ever taken a role you weren’t thrilled with rather than continuing your job search?

January 3, 2019 /0 Comments/in Entrepreneur, Leadership, Poll /by Ryan Shaw

Our reader poll today asks: Have you ever taken a role you weren’t thrilled with rather than continuing your job search? Yes. I just needed a job immediately: 45% Yes. I was getting sick of the job search process: 20% No. I’ve only taken roles I really wanted: 35% Sometimes we have to settle. Job searches are high stress, high pressure situations. Sometimes the need for income far outweighs the desire for a perfect role. While those situations will happen, look for opportunities to create your own opportunities. Constantly invest in building and strengthening your network. When you’re employed in a role you don’t like, see how you can change your role and make it something you love. Look for other internal postings at your company where there’s a better fit for you. Continue networking and job searching constantly. By doing so, you’ll keep your network fresh so when you do need that next role, your search process can be faster, you won’t settle because you’re sick of the process, and your chances of finding a job you love are much improved. Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below! – Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC Did you enjoy this post? If so, I highly encourage you to take about 30 seconds to become a regular subscriber to this blog. It’s free, fun, practical, and only a few emails a week (I promise!). SIGN UP HERE to get the thoughtLEADERS blog conveniently delivered right to your inbox!

How willing is your organization to invest in growth?

December 27, 2018 /0 Comments/in Entrepreneur, Leadership, Poll /by Ryan Shaw

Our reader poll today asks: How willing is your organization to invest in growth? Very. We spend freely to drive the top line: 12% Somewhat. We spend on focused areas only: 60% Not very. Our investments are few and far between: 18% Not at all. We never spend on driving growth: 10% It takes money to make money. Almost 30% of you report not spending much at all in your growth efforts. I’d venture to guess your companies aren’t growing. While it can be hard to carve out the funds to invest, you have to realize you can’t cut costs to achieve profitability forever. At some point, there’s nothing left to cut. To overcome this dynamic, be deliberate about setting aside funds in your budget for growth spending. With budgeting season around the corner for many of you, think about where your best growth opportunities are and make sure they’re fully funded. Then, don’t make the mistake of raiding those funds to make up for shortfalls elsewhere. Growth won’t happen magically. You need to invest it to catch up with the 70% of organizations out there who are freer with the purse strings. Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below! – Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC Did you enjoy this post? If so, I highly encourage you to take about 30 seconds to become a regular subscriber to this blog. It’s free, fun, practical, and only a few emails a week (I promise!). SIGN UP HERE to get the thoughtLEADERS blog conveniently delivered right to your inbox!

What is the biggest challenge you face with respect to focus?

December 20, 2018 /0 Comments/in Entrepreneur, Leadership, Poll /by Ryan Shaw

Our reader poll today asks: What is the biggest challenge you face with respect to focus? I simply get too many tasks given to me: 36% I don’t have clear direction from my leaders: 23% I have trouble saying “no”: 18% I don’t have any trouble with focus: 9% I struggle with something not on this list: 7% I’m not sure what our priorities are: 7% Too much to do, not enough direction. It seems like the lack of focus is the result of too many tasks being assigned without enough guidance from leaders. That leads to the third issue of not being able to say “no” because it’s not clear what should be said “no” to. If you’re having trouble focusing, force the prioritization conversation with your manager. Show them the comprehensive list of tasks you’re working on and let them know what you think the priorities are. Also show them how much you can realistically get done with the resources you have. They’re not going to prioritize your work for you – that’s something you’re responsible for. When you can show them the complete picture and tell them the priorities, it’s pretty likely they’ll agree with your approach which then gives you the ability to say “no” to low value work. Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below! – Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC Did you enjoy this post? If so, I highly encourage you to take about 30 seconds to become a regular subscriber to this blog. It’s free, fun, practical, and only a few emails a week (I promise!). SIGN UP HERE to get the thoughtLEADERS blog conveniently delivered right to your inbox!