Archive for the ‘Leading’ Category

Decisions, as we all know, are the catalysts for action. When we make a decision we make a positive and active choice to pursue a particular course of action.

So what are 7 key benefits of taking decisions as a leader?

The first benefit is that the more action you take the greater your chances of success. If we think about it very few things work out perfectly first time around. At the same time we can always tweak and adjust which is always easier than starting with a blank canvas.

Secondly, you build self-confidence. We all have moments of doubt and this is perfectly normal. Yet sometimes even people who are highly successful lack self-confidence. Taking decisions usually leads to actions, which produces a result. When we feel like we have achieved, we become more confident.

Next, you get feedback on what is working and what is not working. Often people see feedback, especially negative feedback, as being bad and so resist asking for it. On the other hand, if we change our perspective and see it as an opportunity, then things seem very different.

Fourthly, decisions get you on course to delivering results. Yes, you might have to change course many times along the way but so does the pilot of an aircraft.

Next is that people are more likely to view you positively if you get a reputation for being someone who gets on and makes things happen, rather than standing on the sidelines.

Benefit six is that you are going to find it much easier to have more followers if you get a reputation as being someone who delivers, breaks through the barriers and pushes the boundaries.

Finally, every time you take a decision that doesn’t quite work out as well as you expected, you get a ton of learning. In some ways setbacks are where the real learning is, even for the most successful.

The truth is that as a leader, the ability to make decisions is not optional but key to your success and results.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people to beome highly effective leaders and managers.  Sign up for his free audio e-course Leadership Success

Innovation, change and service improvement are big issues in many sectors and industries right now.

In fact a recent survey of my own list of subscribers revealed that one of the biggest challenges they face is in delivering change.

We all know that delivering change is a big challenge for leaders and managers.  It’s also tough for those who are impacted by change.

Trawling the net recently I came across a webinar from the Harvard Business Review all about the Innovators DNA and thought I would share it here.  It contained some interesting insights into some successful innovators.

You can find the link to the webinar here

As always it would be great to hear your thoughts and experiences of innnovating and what worked.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people to become highly effective leaders and managers and organisations to achieve more success through people.  You can sign up for his free audio e-course here

If you are a middle manager it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that as you move into senior management you will be doing a very similar role.

In their excellent book The Time Trap, Alec MacKenzie and Pat Nickerson share some interesting data about the stark difference between how senior and middle managers spend their time. While both are involved in some common areas, the analysis is enlightening.

So what exactly did they highlight in different areas?

Planning

When people are in a senior manager role, they are spending somewhere in the region of 30-40% of their time on planning. Middle managers are typically only spending 5-10% of their time on planning. So if you are the type of manager who likes to be doing a lot of things, perhaps senior management is not for you.

Organising

Senior managers it is claimed spend 20-30% of their time on this compared to the 10-20% spent by middle managers. I have to say that this surprised me a little as when you are on the detail of managing it can feel like you are spending a huge amount of time organising.

Measuring, Controlling And Performing Routines

It is in these areas we see the biggest differences. Middle managers can spend up to 85% of their time on this compared to a maximum of about 30% for senior managers.

What all of this means is that if you are looking to climb the career ladder you need to start get experience and exposure to operating with this very different focus. One way of doing this might be to take a short term secondment or perhaps cover the senior role when a post is vacant.

Don’t fall into the trap of believing that being a senior manager is just more of the same with greater responsibility. As the analysis shows there are some vital differences in focus.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements Ltd helps professional people become great leaders. Sign up for his free 6 part audio e-course.

Being in a leadership role is tough. There are many demands on you to consistently deliver results. Once you achieve a specific result, a new and often bigger, challenge comes along.

One thing I know that many leaders struggle to make time for is their own development. As someone who previously worked in big organisations at Director level, I know that it can be so easy to put your own growth to the bottom of the list.

On the other hand, is it really wise to put your development to the bottom of the pile? Perhaps if you can answer “100% yes” to all of the following indicators, it might be that you have nothing more to learn.

Indicator 1: You Achieve All Your Targets All the Time

If that is you, congratulations. You are definitely exceptional and maybe even unique.

Indicator 2: You Are Crystal Clear About The Direction Of Your Organisation, Function or Team

In other words you have no vagueness about what you are trying to achieve personally and for your organisation function or team.

Indicator 3: You Get The Buy-In and Support of Everyone For Every Initiative

Leaders don’t make change and initiate success personally but what they do is facilitate the success of others by getting the buy-in they need. In my experience there is always going to be a critical mass to influence.

Indicator 4: You Are An Expert Listener

Most leaders excel when it comes to verbal and written communication while the exceptional are great listeners too.

Indicator 5: All Of Your Teams Are Working In Perfect Harmony

By this I mean all the different functions are working together, collaboratively and pursuing a common agenda with no silo working or turf protection.

Indicator 6: You Always Work At Optimal Productivity

If this is you, the chances are you are someone who gets things done without the need to put in continuously long hours.

Indicator 7: You Get Rave Reviews from All Stakeholders

Your employees, trade unions, the media, customers, suppliers, lobby groups, shareholders, analysts and others.

So how did you do? To how many of the 7 indicators were you able to say a resounding “yes”? If you are like most, the chances are that it is likely to be a mixed picture.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements Ltd helps professional people become great leaders. Sign up for his free 6 part audio e-course.

Being successful as a leader is much more than just acquiring knowledge, skills and experience. While these all matter, what really makes a difference are the personal attributes.

Here are 10 of my key attributes of successful leaders:

1. An action focus. Talk is cheap but at the end of the day action speaks louder than words.
2. They make choices. They understand that the results they achieve are a direct consequence of the choices they make. Rather than being passive they make active choices.
3. They understand the what and the why. Most leaders understand what they want to achieve. The best leaders know what they want to achieve and why they want to achieve it.
4. They are glass half full people. By that I mean that they have a positive attitude even when the circumstances or situation are challenging.
5. They don’t see goal setting as a chore but an essential component of delivering results.
6. They take imperfect action. In other words they don’t hold off waiting for the perfect information or time as they know it never arrives.
7. They use language that empowers themselves and inspires others as they know ultimately that they need the help and support of others to deliver success.
8. They invest in themselves as they know that this is the way to stay at the top of their game and unlock their real potential.
9. They have clarity about what constitutes success for any goal which allows them to measure progress and results effectively.
10. They understand that sustained success is rarely about luck but as a result of clear, consistent focus.

I wonder what else you would add to the list?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements Ltd helps professional people become great leaders. Sign up for his free 6 part audio e-course.

We all have our moments of doubt and it is completely normal to have them. On the other hand, if you allow those moments of doubt to turn into continual procrastination, the results and success you achieve diminish.

So how can you stop procrastinating and start achieving?

Stop Over-Thinking

Any time we have to take a decision there are going to be areas of uncertainty. Of course you need to be mindful of pitfalls as a leader. At the same time, if you over-think, you worry yourself out decision and action taking.

Ask Yourself Key Questions

At the end of the day there are two simple but highly effective questions you can ask yourself. The first one is what is the worst that can happen? The second question is what is the best that can happen? In my experience asking these questions can get you from stuck to action.

Recognise That You Are In The Risk And Reward Business

Leadership is all about making things happen and to make things happen you have to be ready and willing to take balanced risks. Once you accept that this is just how it is you reduce the pressure on yourself.

Develop The Action Habit

Taking action builds confidence, just in the same way continuous repetitions with weights builds muscle. Start becoming an action taker and building the action habit. Small successes lead to more action and more achievement.

The Bottom Line: Everyone has fears and doubts. The most successful push through despite their fears and doubts.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements Ltd helps professional people become great leaders . Sign up for his free 6 part audio e-course .

Leadership is one of those odd areas. Unlike the detailed technical and professional work that many of my clients undertake, it can appear really simple. Yet the reality is very different.

So I was thinking about my take on leadership and what I have learned and discovered personally through my own experiences and those of my clients. Here is my top 25 and I would love you to share your experiences too.

1. It is not always the smartest people who progress to the more senior roles. The reason being is that your success at a more senior level is as much about you as an individual as it is your knowledge.
2. Knowledge is just one dimension in being a successful leader. Interpersonal, or what are sometimes oddly referred to as ‘softer skills’, really count.
3. If you cannot get along with people it is always going to be a struggle. The idea that you can do it all by yourself is a complete myth.
4. You have to take action. Ideas are great and creativity is marvellous but it is action that translates ideas into results.
5. Good leaders make plenty of mistakes. No-one is perfect and we all make mistakes. The key is to learn from them.
6. Breakthroughs do not happen without balanced risk taking. Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that taking risks is a bad thing. On the other hand, balanced risk taking is essential if you are ever going to make any kind of breakthrough.
7. Leadership success is a marathon not a sprint. Forget the idea that you become an overnight success. It takes time, effort and commitment.
8. Anyone can find fault. At the same time not everyone can find solutions or spot the opportunities.
9. Simple things can often yield the biggest impact. It is easy to get obsessed with the next big thing but often it is the small changes that make the difference.
10. Being a leader is a longer term project, not task and finish.
11. A great team is essential, otherwise you are always going to shoot below your potential.
12. Leaders need a support network as being at the top can be a lonely existence.
13. Taking responsibility is essential rather being optional.
14. Look for the good in everyone as no one turns up intending to do a mediocre or poor job.
15. There will always be difficult challenges and it is how you respond that matters.
16. Sacrifices are part and parcel of your success in your career. You need to be willing to make the sacrifices.
17. Time is your ultimate limiting factor so you need to invest it wisely.
18. Praise people for what they contribute as it is a powerful motivator.
19. We never stop learning. There are always going to be new challenges, obstacles and barriers to address.
20. See challenges not as problem but an opportunity to learn and grow.
21. Communication skills are important, especially listening skills. The best leaders in my experience are exceptional listeners.
22. Play to your personal strengths as much as you can rather than trying to master what you are no good or not so good at.
23. Don’t let your personal agenda become more important than results and people.
24. People are your real assets even if they are shown as an expense in the profit and loss account.
25. Persistence through good and not so good times really counts. Anyone can thrive in the good times.

So what else would you add to the list?

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements Ltd helps professional people become great leaders . Sign up for his free 6 part audio e-course .

Leaders are ultimately judged on the results that they deliver. While this might sometimes seem unfair, all leaders understand that this is the reality.

Sometimes it can be easy for leaders just to tread water, especially when things seem to be going well. Yet in truth continued creativity and risk taking is critical to leadership success. Why?

Leadership success is about finding new or better ways of doing things or meeting needs of customers or clients.

Leadership success is about finding different solutions to long standing problems or issues that are getting in the way of results.

Leadership success starts with an idea or concept that needs to be developed.

Leaders need to be willing to dip their toes into the pool of uncertainty without fear of failure.

No decision or action comes with a warranty or guarantee: there is risk in every decision or choice.

In these highly competitive and fast moving times pushing the boundaries personally, as a team and as an organisation as a whole is not an option but a necessity.

So if you are seeing creativity and risk as being bad or something to avoid, think again. It is not just critical but essential to your success as a leader.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps professional people to realise their true potential and maximise their earning. You can sign up for his free audio masterclass here www.goalsandachievements.co.uk.

In my 25 years in accounting and consulting I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to manage and lead teams ranging in number from 3 to 70 people.

Like everyone else, there were times when things went really well and other times when it was a struggle.

So what were 20 things that I learned that would be of help to anyone moving into managing or leading from a professional or technical background?

1. It is a different skill set. Accounting and many other professions are a lot about process. Managing and leading is all about people.
2. Time is your real limiting factor. When doing costing and management accounting you learn about limiting factors. When you move into managing and leading you realise what the real limiting factor is and it is time. As a result you need to invest it wisely.
3. You need to make managing and leading a priority. Otherwise you just keep yourself busy doing things personally rather than getting results through others.
4. You need a great team around you and it is worth waiting to find the right people on your team.
5. You need to be willing to deal with the difficult stuff like process issues, people performance issues, conflict and change even though it is challenging.
6. You need to listen a whole lot more. In fact I would say that listening is the most important aspect of communication and sadly often underutilised.
7. Delegating is not optional but a necessity if you want to achieve anything significant.
8. You need to have support. That support might be a coach, mentor or sounding board who can help you keep a sense of perspective.
9. You cannot spend enough time getting to know your team so that you can get the best from them.
10. You need to know what’s critical and what’s not so that you can focus and prioritise.
11. You need to know where you perform best and try to spend as much time as you can on the things that you do best.
12. You cannot afford to stop learning and it is so easy to forget about your own personal and professional development.
13. It is pointless wasting time and energy on conflict or horrible situations when you are in the wrong frame of mind. It is much better to walk away and come back when you are in the right frame of mind.
14. In stressful situations it is easy to do or say something that you later regret. Pause before you dive in with two feet into a downward spiral.
15. You need to take responsibility even if the consequences for you personally are potentially serious. Passing the buck never works.
16. It is vital to keep things in perspective otherwise you lose sight of the bigger picture and what you are trying to achieve.
17. Don’t allow one person’s views or opinion to destroy your confidence. Pay attention to patterns of feedback, not to individual views or opinions about you.
18. Don’t try to be something you are not. If you are stuck in a role that does not fit with your values or results in excessive compromise it might be time to walk away.
19. Never make promises you cannot keep. This merely results in people not trusting you.
20. Don’t forget we are all replaceable so don’t fall into the trap of believing that you are indispensible. At the end of the day there is always someone to fill your shoes.

In truth leading and managing is in my experience a never ending process of learning and development.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to become highly effective leaders and managers. He invites you to sign up for his free audio masterclass on team leadership at http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk/teamleadership/

Being a politician might seem like an easy life and at the same time, just like leading in organisations, there are some major challenges.

So what can we learn about leadership from politics?

Lesson 1: Putting Up Counter Arguments Is Easy

• Ever notice how politicians are always full of counter arguments and highly critical when in opposition? Yet when they get into power it is a very different story. The truth is that, for any leader, it is easier to come up with problems than solutions.

Lesson 2: Achieving Change Is Tough

• Here in the UK there is a massive drive to reform public services. While everyone wants the best from public services, there are very different views on the best ways to achieve this. Ultimately, achieving change is tough and about changing hearts and minds.

Lesson 3: Chopping And Changing Creates Doubt

• Of course you cannot be rigid in your plans. At the same time, if you keep chopping and changing you create doubt whether you know what you are doing.

Lesson 4: You Can Quickly Lose Raving Fans

• Leaders need followers and a fair proportion of them need to be major supporters or raving fans. Sometimes when you take bold action and things don’t work out just as you had hoped, people accelerate at pace in the opposite direction.

Lesson 5: Listen Before You Take Big Decisions

• From time to time you are going to have to take big decisions. The key is to seek views, opinions and really listen before you take major decisions.

Lesson 6: It Is All About Choices

• Any leader, whatever area they work in, has to make choices. Sometimes your choices will be fully embraced and other times they will be opposed. This is just reality as people see things from their own perspective. Your challenge is to make what you consider to be the best choices and then stand firm when the going gets tough.

The Bottom Line: Leading, whether in business or in politics, is a major challenge.

Duncan Brodie of Goals and Achievements helps accountants and health professionals to become highly effective leaders and managers. He invites you to take advantage of his free audio e-course Leadership Success at www.goalsandachievements.co.uk