Leadership Toolbox

While parents, teachers and even Barney the dinosaur tells us that saying 'please' and 'thank you' are magic words that can really create wonders in relationships, expert speakers and authorities in public speaking and presentations tells us to drop it for a more effective and powerful delivery. Majority of speakers are guilty of over-using the word Thank You during a presentation. Usually after an introduction, in an opening statement and mostly as a conclusion. Well, it's understandable since the use of thank you is not only a nice way to acknowledge the importance of each individual in the crowd but is also a short polite statement that speakers often used as fillers or as a default statement to open or to end a speech or presentation. However, there's a much better way. Instead of saying Thank You as an opening statement, why not start with a story, a short anecdote, a nice fun factoid or some mind boggling trivia or activity to get the attentio...

How To Boost Your Job Interview Chances

The interview is one of the most decisive steps in the job-hunting process. If you ace the interview, your chances of getting the job undoubtedly increase. But in order to secure your shot at an interview, it’s not enough that you’ve done well in the exams and presented an impressive resume. Here are three pre-interview pitfalls you need to look out for so you can improve your chances at an actual interview: A Dirty Online Presence These days, it is common HR practice to conduct an online “reputation check” with their applicants before they invite them for interviews. So, to be on the safe side, clean your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts by removing all negative material – posts, blog entries, and especially compromising pictures. And by “negative,” we mean anything from statements that are derogatory towards another person, group, or entity; words that have double meaning or sexually suggestive. It is therefore recommended that you delet...

The 5 Killer Habits of Highly Unproductive People

UNPRODUCTIVITY is defined as the quality, state, or fact of not being able to generate, create, enhance, or produce. It is often used to refer to objects or people that generates inferior, sub-standard or even mediocre output or results. Of course, people will choose to be productive than unproductive but in real life and due to bad habits and wrong orientation, we tend to embrace unproductivity more without us knowing it. The best way to avoid this, is to observe the daily habits of highly unproductive people and make it our personal mission to make certain changes in our lives so that we will not get caught in the same web that they got themselves into. 5 Killer Habits of Highly Unproductive People 1. No Game Plan No plan-No game! It's as simple as that. Like what Benjamin Franklin said, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail". If productivity is linked to achieving worthwhile planned goals that leads to where you want to go then highly u...

How to Develop the Happiness Habit

What is THE HAPPINESS HABIT? The Happiness Habit is your very own intellectual, emotional and spiritual thermostat. The Happiness Habit does not mean looking for a person or a place to find happiness with or in, but to find happiness inside, inwards, which you carry anyplace, at anytime and with anybody. The Happiness Habit means taking everything as is, where is, what is, why is and understands the how is. The Happiness Habit is a lifetime tranquilizer against the "so-they-say" harsh realities of life. Happiness is your birthright. So take it. Lastly, The Happiness Habit is as easy to pick up as the common cold and it's very contagious too. It can easily go around. So keep the contagion going. Here it is: FOLLOW YOUR SENSES See more, hear more, smell more, taste more and touch more. Feel and experience as much as you can about everything around you. Discover those heightened moments, capture these beautiful experiences and then rec...

SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE NEVER SAY THESE THINGS

There's an old saying that says, "Successful people make a habit of doing what unsuccessful people don't want to do." This is true, now here some things that unsuccessful people usually say that YOU should avoid saying: THEY DIDN'T get back to me or 'They are getting back to me.' Both are equally disastrous. Expecting someone to get back to you stops the action. Take the initiative. I THOUGHT someone else is taking care of that. Excuses indicate a roadblock to action. Always ask questions to keep things moving. NO ONE ever told me. Let a supervisor hear you talk this way very often and you will have made a very clear statement about the way you work. You operate in a tunnel, oblivious to everything that is going on around you. I DIDN'T have time. And don't bother with 'I was too busy,' either. If you find yourself saying things like this, you are writing your employment obituary. I DIDN"T think to ask ...

PROFESSIONALISM AT WORK

PROFESSIONALISM is a set of internalized character strengths and values directed toward high quality service to others through one's work such as: Inner-Strength, Sound Judgment, Know-How, Business Savvy, Mature Responsibility, Problem Solving Skills, Perseverance and Ingenuity. Demonstrate PROFESSIONALISM at any level of work by the ATTITUDE you bring. Ask yourself if you can answer TRUE to the following statements: I do the job to my best ability. I take pride in the job I do. People are better off because of the way I do my job. I make a difference. I start my workday neat and clean. I report for work on time and stay for my entire shift or scheduled workday. I honestly earn my pay. I treat my customers, clients and co-workers with respect and dignity. I employ good manners in my interactions with others. I respect my work and myself.

Five Major Time Wasters

Here are five major time-wasting activities and behaviors. Spreading yourself too thin by trying to do too many things at once. You must set priorities for each day and, if necessary, each hour. Get the most important things done first. Being afraid to delegate. Convince yourself that it's not necessary to do everything yourself. Not wanting to say "NO" to requests. Decide what you must do - and want to do - and say "NO" to all other requests. Being a slave to distractions. If possible, have someone screen your calls and appointments. Schedule a time to return all calls. Plan your day wisely. Stick to your schedule while making room for important and urgent matters that may arise. Be firm on your priorities but make your schedules flexible. Procrastination. Get those unpleasant chores done first - if they are important. Divide large tasks into smaller ones. Reward yourself when you accomplish something. sou...

Honor and Integrity | The Story of Long-Distance Runners Ivan Fernandez and Abel Mutai

Kenyan long-distance runner Abel Kiprop Mutai was a few meters away from the finish line, but got confused by the signals and stopped, thinking he had finished the race. The Spanish runner, Ivan Fernandez, was right behind him and, realizing what was happening in front of him, began shouting for the Kenyan to keep running. Motai did not know Spanish and did not understand. What happened next astounded the world! Fernandez started to push Mutai all the way to the finish line. One reporter asked Ivan, "Why did you do this?" Ivan replied, "My dream is that one day we can have the kind of community life that pushes ourselves and others to win as well." "But why did you let the Kenyan win?" the reporter insisted. Ivan replied, "I didn't let him win, he would win. It was his race." The reporter insisted and asked again: "But you could have won!" Ivan looked at him and replied, "But what is the merit of my victory? Wha...

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

According to Stephen Covey, the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People will lead all of us through the staged of maturity to interdependence. The 7 habits are an orderly sequence of growth which starts from achieving personal victor ies to attaining public victories. Habit # 1 - BE PROACTIVE Habit # 2 - BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND Habit # 3 - PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST Habit # 4 - THINK WIN-WIN Habit # 5 - SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD Habit # 6 - SYNERGIZE Habit # 7 - SHARPEN THE SAW Habits 1, 2 and 3 lead to private victories that allow us to achieve self-mastery and dominion over self. Habits 4, 5 and 6 lead to public victories that allow us to achieve success with others. These habits forms a continuum because private victory precedes public victory. Meaning, that unless we develop self-mastery, it is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve success with others. Together these habits cultivate personal character, which is the foundation of eff...

Introduction to PLANNING

Planning for organizational effectiveness or planning for personal success? Well, whatever the case may be there are some effective tools that you can use to help guide you in planning your new year! I am pretty sure that most business organizations are already done planning their 2014, but for those who have not yet started - always remember that It is never too late to plan. Planning is an essential ingredient to success if not the most important and like the old saying goes: "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." - Benjamin Franklin But how do we define effective planning? Effective planning according to the Seven Habits book of Stephen Covey is, "To start with a clear understanding of your destination, to know where you are going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction." Let us begin. First you must remember that there is a Planning Framework that you mu...

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