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Thoughts to inspire
growth and greatness.
Are You Listening to Understand or Merely Reply?
Effective listening constitutes one of the most fundamental and powerful communication tools of all. The first step to improvement is to have a good understanding of what you can do or stop doing to become a better listener. From here, the ill effects of your ineffective listening are all but eliminated. Interactions become more successful and pleasant as you learn to stop talking or thinking and develop the habit of truly listening.
Go from Good to Great with Exceptional Service
Most customers and team members have attitudes that contribute to a positive two-way experience. When you hire people with great attitudes and then supply them with training, support, and a positive work environment, you’ve set the stage for exceptional customer service — the kind that leaves customers feeling great about your business. Give yourself and your business the gift of an honest self-appraisal. If you discover your leadership style, team, work environment or customer service could benefit from the support of a qualified coaching professional, take that next step and invest in excellence. The success of your company and the happiness of everyone involved is on the line.
Deal With Bad Apples Before They Sour Your Team
Most businesses employ skilled team members with decent and even great attitudes. They come to work, perform their jobs to a satisfactory or higher level, and contribute to the work environment in mostly positive ways. But what about those team members who have the skills to do their jobs, but damage culture, morale, and operations with their bad attitudes? Chances are, you’re thinking of these people right now.
Are You a Leader or a Boss? There’s a Big Difference.
There’s a vast difference between being a leader and being a boss. A leader influences, collaborates, guides, inspires, mentors, and supports others to foster movement in a desired direction. Conversely, a boss controls, dominates, demeans, and uses fear and intimidation to get even more out of the individuals he or she oversees.
Take a Timeout from Professional Stress and Thrive
When people bring their professional baggage home, their personal lives are affected, too. The adverse effects of this situation can damage and even destroy marriages; alienate children; and cause others to avoid these unhappy, frustrated, and often angry people. Realizing that life is not all about your work — that work is only a part of your life — will help you strike a successful life and work balance that leads to greater levels of happiness and success both on and off the job.
Seek Harmony in Life and Work and Find Happiness
Tremendous amounts of time, energy and effort go into running a business. With everything there is to do, it’s easy for those who own businesses to sacrifice many aspects of their personal lives, if not the entirety, in pursuit of success and happiness. As a business owner, you’re the foundation of your enterprise. The more energized, inspired and balanced you are, the stronger your company will be. Live your life with the intention of creating harmony among its different aspects. You’ll not only be successful, but also — and perhaps more importantly — you’ll be happy.
Leave Personal Baggage at Home and Excel at Work
Some people believe there’s a distinctive barrier between personal and professional lives that keeps the two separate. If you step back and take an honest and discerning look at your own experiences and those of others with which you’ve worked, you’ll recognize that’s not the case. In fact, it’s common for people to carry their personal baggage through the front door of the business, unpack and spread it throughout the workplace.
Family matters, parenting challenges and relationship issues often weigh heavily on the hearts and minds of those affected. When not managed effectively, they can have negative and lasting effects on attitude; morale; performance; and, ultimately, the business.
Turn Team Members and Customers Into Raving Fans
It’s important to realize customer loyalty starts at the top — with business owners. Who you are and how you treat people in the process of doing business will be the ignition point for customer satisfaction, loyalty and success. As you begin to involve, value, care for, recognize and support your team members to a greater degree, the quality of your business will rise along with them.
Change Your Perception of Change and Thrive
Change is a reality in business whether we like it or not. Business environments change. Economies change. Team dynamics change. Technology changes rapidly. In fact, life in general is about change. And if we habitually resist change, we limit the potential of all that’s available to us.
Change is much easier when we choose to see it in a positive light. As we embrace change, we alter our perception of it from a bad thing to a positive thing filled with potential and opportunity. Human beings are amazing, and they can accomplish great feats once they open their minds to possibility and then decide to take action.