Why is Your Leadership Credibility SO Important?

When busy leaders fail to establish credibility for themselves and their companies, it leaves others wondering about them personally and professionally. Credibility influences the loyalty of internal and external customers. If the marketplace’s perception is that the business, its leader, their products or services are untrustworthy (not credible), this perception drives purchasing decisions whether the perception is accurate or not.

As a leader, your employees emulate you. The keys are to Honor:

  • Your word. Follow through. “I’m too busy” is one of the biggest excuses busy professionals use to justify their behavior. Have you considered, if you’re too busy to follow-through, you’re probably too busy to provide the quality of products and services promised? Get yourself well-organized to keep track of your commitments and find the money to hire necessary support. Develop a dependable system to follow-up and follow-through. Then, follow it!
  • Your company’s vision and mission. Credible leaders consistently make decisions that support their companies’ values. Implement them in a manner that promotes positivity. Too often we follow our ego (aka as our own self-interests) and this quickly limits sustainable company growth. Others will shy away from doing business with you if they perceive association with you could limit their own success.
  • Your commitments. We judge others by their behavior and ourselves by our intentions. What are your commitments? Are you conscious of them when making decisions that impact others? Most people make decisions based upon the tiniest fragments of information and forget about their values and commitments. As a leader, this can be excruciatingly painful if you need to defend your decisions. Instead, apologize and admit when you are wrong. Encourage others to provide you with their opinions and fact-based solutions in the future – don’t forget to include the impact on others. Simply make good decisions based upon all the information you have; your credibility hinges upon them.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2011-2015

I specialize in straight talk with immediate results. With proactive and extensive “people” management experience, I have been particularly successful in coaching and training business owners, their executives and managers, to achieve unprecedented results by working with and through others. 

Build faster credibility when introducing yourself — get your “brag” on with a copy of my book, It’s Time to Brag! http://Time2Brag.com

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Are Your Superstars Getting You Down?

As a boss, it’s challenging to manage high performers. Most of these superstars know they know their stuff and can produce more than 3x that of other employees. Since they believe others are less knowledgeable and less capable than they are, it sometimes taxes them to listen to others. Even their boss!

If they’re causing you sleepless nights, most likely you aren’t the only one. As their boss, it’s up to you to manage them and their egos, to keep them engaged and growing with your company.

Depth and breadth of experience. We falsely believe that if a top producer does well in one area, s/he will do superbly in other areas, too. Provide them with challenges — not to be confused with busy work, which they are quick to spot and resent. Assign them as a team member in different groups to develop new systems and products. Also, encourage their membership in trade and other professional groups to expand their awareness of industry challenges.

Fail forward. Superstars hate failure and need to learn these inevitable and invaluable lessons. Start by having them assess what worked and didn’t work on a project. This will build insights for future ventures.

Expect good people skills. We often overlook our superstars’ interpersonal skills, even when we see others running from them. When we step into a dispute to resolve it for them, it creates more animosity between the superstar and their co-workers (or clients). Instead, expect them to work it out themselves and learn how to work with and through others to get the job done.

Coaching is essential. Every successful star, in every professional pursuit, has a coach.Provide your top talent an internal mentor and external coach to help them develop their business acumen. Use qualified assessments to help them broaden their skills, particularly in people and project management by including a 360-degree feedback system.

Money is NOT a motivator. While your top producers may demand more and more money, higher salaries will not provide the incentives necessary for them to continue to excel, or stay. Find other ways of compensating them based upon results (e.g., perks, vacations, gift certificates, etc.).

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

©Jeannette Seibly, 2010-2015

Do you Pounce?

You will know you are a pouncer if your employees run for cover every time they see you coming!

When you manage by manipulation, blame or other negative behaviors, employees fail to trust you. Pouncing on mistakes rarely builds teamwork, positive morale or job satisfaction. It’s a sign that you need to improve your leadership and management skills. It also signals a low EQ when you come across as a critical parent.

Sadly, many bosses believe this “gotcha” mindset builds loyalty. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It only alleviates your own boredom with the ongoing challenges you experience when working with people and/or systems. Your emotional frustrations should be shared one-on-one with a coach or therapist. Failure to do so can lead to an executive meltdown and limit your career options.

We all make mistakes. If you and your employees are not periodically making mistakes, no one is growing with the business. But if the same mistakes are being made over and over, it’s time to review systems and create a plan for improvement. Often training is missing, or the person is in the wrong job. No amount of pouncing or complaining will fix these problems without positive tactical and/or strategic intervention.

Don’t expect your employees to take the blame when you make an error. It’s up to you to apologize quickly and work with your employee(s) to clean up issues. Learn to laugh at yourself. Have compassion for others. Take responsibility early and be accountable to get a problem resolved. How you handle setbacks is an example that your employees will mimic or use against you. Remember, every problem contains an inherent solution. Your job is to be open to finding it along with your employees.

Walk it out. Write it out. Talk it out.  It can be lonely as the boss. If you are someone who lets your frustration get the best of you, regardless of the reason, take time for yourself. Get enough exercise. Keep a very private journal (not at work). Hire a coach for confidential conversations that will reduce your stress level and generate solutions. (http://SeibCo.com/contact)  Simply talking out issues can help you resolve them quicker and improve your management style. Don’t forget to include practice sessions of talking with your coach or boss before you have those uncomfortable conversations.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

©Jeannette Seibly, 2010-2014

#1 Energy Zapper

Excuses, excuses, excuses!  It takes the same amount of energy to entertain the internal and external chatter about why you shouldn’t need to do something, as it does to simply get it done. It’s amazing how much time we waste with our excuses.

Want to be more effective?

  • *Schedule Use your cell or Outlook to schedule time to get the task done, and honor it as an appointment with someone important. YOU.
  • *Do or Delegate Just because you don’t want to do it, doesn’t mean others may not welcome the opportunity. Give them the chance to shine.
  • *20 minutes If you’re still finding excuses, set a timer for 20 minutes. Focus on the task during that time and see how far you progress. It’s amazing how small steps lead to big accomplishments.

Now, get into action!

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

© Jeannette L. Seibly, 2010-2014

What do you trust: data or instincts?

Successful leaders have to grapple with this dilemma often. They believe their intuition is telling them what the true answer is. Or, they want to trust the numbers. However, intuition can be wrong and 100 percent reliance on data can send you down the wrong path too. Developing a strong business balance between statistics and your sixth sense takes experience, time, and practice. As business owners and executives know, making the wrong decisions can cost the company more than money. It can also cost their reputation, clients, and top talent.

What do you do when you don’t trust the data? Trust the process. For example: When you hire a person based upon your gut reaction, even when the facts disagree, you didn’t trust your selection system. The truth is, failure to pay attention to good objective information will negatively impact your decisions.

Better questions to ask yourself:

  • Do you know how to correctly use qualified hiring tools?
  • How well do you follow a strategic selection process? (http://BizSavvyHire.com)
  • Do you have an unconscious habit of hiring and firing until you find the right person? (Hint: Honestly look at your turnover numbers.)

Asking these types of questions can help you determine the underlying (aka real) reason you may not trust the data.

Which one do you trust when your data or intuition is contrary to others’ opinions? Trust yourself and be open to being right and wrong. For example, many times when a company is experiencing difficulty achieving results, it’s because a controlling leader or dominating team member made erroneous judgments based heavily on facts or feelings. Learn to ask good business questions and listen to people’s responses. Being open to changing your mind doesn’t mean you have to. However, being adamant that you are right is usually a sign of impending disaster.

Strong leaders trust themselves and know how to develop win-win outcomes by working with and through others. They are prepared for the downside of any decision. They use their results as dashboards to develop trust in themselves and others when making balanced factual and intuitive decisions.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

©Jeannette L. Seibly, 2013-2014

Leadership Starts Inside

Strong leaders understand their success starts from within and is built on genuine confidence, not false bravado. They do their inner work by hiring a coach to help them recognize and fine-tune their blind spots, while achieving breakthroughs in their leadership style.

These amazing leaders:

  • Take responsibility for themselves first.
  • Trust their inner voice to guide their words and actions.
  • Value others’ ideas, and use them to build solutions.
  • Listen without blame, judgment or criticism to elicit the best in others.
  • Ensure others are comfortable following their lead.
  • Recognize the impact of their strengths and weaknesses when working with others.
  • Set aside their ego and celebrate the successes of others.
  • Create positive learning opportunities out of failures and mistakes.

The strength of their leadership is a reflection of the natural compassion they have developed for themselves and others.
Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

©Jeannette Seibly, 2014

Why are some people lucky?

“Most people live and die with their music still unplayed. They never dare to try.” Mary Kay Ash

You have goals, dreams, desires and wishes. People who write these down, create action plans and execute their plans are the ones more likely to achieve the results. It’s not luck – it’s not trying; it’s creating, taking focused action and enjoying the results.

The secret for helping you achieve your goals is to write down three must-have’s. For example, if you want a new job, what must the job offer? It could be an increase in pay, certain benefits, job responsibilities, etc. If you want a new home, what must the home possess? Does it need to be located in a certain school district, have hardwood floors, or be a ranch-style home?  These must-have’s will clarify and support your goals.

Next, share your goals with others and refine them as appropriate (for example, the right home may not have hardwood floors and you can have them installed after you buy the home). Don’t be concerned if others don’t readily jump on board to support you. Watching you achieve your goals may cause them to remember their own and realize how far away they are from achieving them. Luck is creating and fulfilling your own opportunities and is available for everyone who gets in action.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

What does it take to become a courageous leader?

 

    1. Break outside the constraints of how it’s been traditionally done – required to achieve amazing results.
    2. Build on everyone’s ideas — listen and listen some more.
    3. Provide unbeatable service to internal and external customers — each time.
    4. Express your thoughts and feelings responsibly — apologies work wonders.
    5. Manage your ethics and integrity – the impact can last forever.
    6. Oversee your projects for the human experiencenot just the product creation and execution.
    7. Enjoy gratitude for everything and everyone – regardless of the circumstances.
    8. Being respected usually outlasts likeability — people’s feelings can be fickle.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

What Do You Allow to Stop You?

You have goals, dreams, desires and wishes. Too often, you allow fears, doubts, lack of self-worth, and other circumstances to stop you! They get in the way of your commitments. You find excuses for not moving forward. Some people create black and white expectations of what must happen first. There are times these demands work, but usually they get in the way of seeing new ways to pursue your future. As a result, you are usually left feeling limited and your real potential is not fully realized.

What is stopping you from taking action? Take a few minutes. Create a list of your top five fears and write down the reasons why they are fears.

You could have the:

  • Desire for a promotion and your fear is leaving your current employer.
  • Goal to earn more money and you doubt your ability to find a better job.
  • Dream to live in a particular geographical area and you’ve never been there for fear of moving.

The challenge for many of you is that you are waiting until your children get older, or you no longer have to be a caregiver for others. So you use them as the excuse to not take action.

Regardless of the seemingly valid reason, create your list. Now, turn it around! What are the top five reasons it could work! Then, list ideas to bridge the gaps between now and achieving your results. Talk them over with a committed coach, friend or acquaintance to see where you are making it harder than it needs to be.

Jeannette Seibly has been an international business and executive coach for over 20 years. She has guided the creation of three millionaires. Are you the next one? http://SeibCo.com/contact

Are you listening to the criticism?

It always feels good to get compliments, have others think highly of your interactions with clients, or be lauded for the goals you’ve accomplished. In fact, most of us expect to hear that everything is great and wonderful—even when it’s not.  Unfortunately, unadulterated praise rarely provides you with the inside information you need to advance in your career. Every success has its learning opportunities, such as overcoming poor communication habits, correcting ineffective project management skills, adjusting biased attitudes towards others, and becoming more resourceful.

Climbing the corporate ladder requires being open to hearing what you don’t want to hear from co-workers, bosses, and clients. It’s important to learn from your mistakes and learn how to manage perceptions by seeing yourself from others’ point of view. Instead of thinking people are being super critical or are unaware of what you had to do to achieve results.  Failure to welcome the truth can stymie your upward mobility.

The truth is you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge! 

Successful leaders listen instead of defending themselves. They seek out constructive criticism and learn from others’ perspectives about what is working and what needs to be improved. In addition, they rely on the expertise of an executive coach, a trusted advisor who can help them develop their natural strengths and overcome their inherent weaknesses. http://SeibCo.com

When we listen to criticism, we can hear the gold. When we respond appropriately, we improve our leadership.

(c)Jeannette L. Seibly, 2014