At Enerpace, we know that the only way to elevate your company is to elevate your people and your teams. So how do you know if your team is functioning well? By asking one very simple question: does it achieve the purpose for which is was created? By definition, a team should have common goals and objectives. The different members play different roles but they are dependent upon each other for success. Some questions to ask: Why does this team exist? What ...
As a Leadership Development Expert & Executive Coach at Enerpace, I find that many of my clients find taking time off challenging. So how do you do it? Here's how to take full advantage of your necessary time off. In planning out the year and quarter, I proactively block vacation time. For example, I hate Chicago in February – it’s cold with grey snow and few sunny days. So I automatically block a week to someplace warm and sunny each February. I ...
A simple Google search or a visit to Gallup’s website will reveal the most common factors that motivate employees. However, that’s employees in general – NOT necessarily the people you manage. Employees are individuals. Some want to be in the office because they feed off the energy of being around people. Others are motivated by being able to work at home with the flexibility to better handle all areas of their life. In fact, many employees say they work longer hours for the ...
The most common leadership styles are autocratic, democratic and delegative. So, how does each style affect a crisis in a corporation? The autocrat will need to make all the decisions in a crisis, keep everyone in fire-drill mode and require continuous updates. Many times they insist on being the point person for communications, not trusting anyone else to handle it. They may prefer to release very little information and keep full details close to the vest to be shared only with a few ...
It's a topic that I have discussed before but important enough to repeat. The #1 rule is to remain professional at all times. You worked hard to create those relationships! You want to leave with integrity and with your head held high. Here are "3 Do's" when resigning from your job. Write a short letter of resignation and express appreciation for the opportunity to work with the firm and the people. Next, make sure that you tie up as many loose ends ...
What is Team Accountability? I define team accountability as shared ownership of team goals. In fact, what differentiates a team from a mere group of people IS their common interest in shared objectives. Let’s say a group of VPs report to a SVP. Even though every VP may not have a huge role to play in a project, if it’s a goal of the SVP, the entire team is responsible for doing whatever they can to achieve it. Sometimes that means sharing resources, brainstorming ideas, or transferring ...
The reality is that a huge portion of the jobs that will exist 5 years from now don’t exist today. So it’s a bit of a farce to say “in 5 years I want to be Director of this specific area” or “VP of that product”. The best way to answer that question is to reply something like this: “That’s a really valid question, and, I’m not sure I can answer you specifically. The pace of change in technology and globalization, along with the trend ...
A truly introverted boss is someone who is energized internally and drained by being in groups with other people for an extended period of time. This can be challenging if they don't proactively seek to be included in conversations and meetings where important relationships are formed and where key information is shared. That can really hinder the boss' ability to get things done and can prevent his/her employees from having the information and connections to advance their projects or even in their career. What's ...
The most distinguishing trait of a true visionary leader is their ability to craft an emotionally engaging picture of a desired end state, one that motivates and enlists their followers in believing it is truly possible. History has provided amazing examples, like our Founding Fathers creating a democracy, Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and more recently, Obama’s original campaign founded on the “Audacity of Hope”. Visionary Leaders have high levels of emotional intelligence and are able to influence others to ...
Many successful entrepreneurs are so busy growing their business that they neglect continued development for themselves and their teams. However, it’s just common sense that the leadership skills you need when you run a $100K business are very different than when it’s $1M or $20M or higher. The entrepreneurs I’ve worked with recognize this. The first step is to become aware that there are some things that you don’t know that you don’t know! Here are some places entrepreneurs can go for ...
