Last articles from Leadership category on Business Top News

Developing Leadership Skills

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Some people appear as such natural leaders one wonders if they were born with the quality of leadership. It's possible that this may be true. However, even for these "so-called" born leaders, the right environment is crucial to help them develop to their fullest potential.

Observing and learning

Leadership requires learning. Anyone can learn to become a leader. There are enough leadership training courses and seminars on offer. Leadership books are a great place to s... (Read All)

Essential Qualities Of Leadership

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Webster says that leadership is "the position or function of a leader; the ability to lead; an act or instance of leading, guidance, direction." Do you enjoy leading, guiding or directing? Do you look forward to making decisions that impact the lives of others? Would you rather give the responsibility for making choices to someone else? Most of us have been in a position of authority and all of us have met someone who possesses the qualities of an effective leader.

Being a leader... (Read All)

Project Management System Evaluation Checklist

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:00:00 +0100

"An elegant solution to the wrong problem solves nothing."
- Bryce's Law<... (Read All)

Be All That you Can Be: the Company Persona and Language Alignment

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Itâs not just CEOs and corporate spokespeople who need effective language to be the message. The most successful advertising taglines are not seen as slogans for a product. They are the product. From M&Mâs âmelts in your mouth, not in your handâ to âPlease donât squeeze the Charminâ bathroom tissue, from the âplop, plop, fizz, fizzâ of Alka-Seltzer to âFly the friendly skies of United,â there is no light space between the product and its marketing. Words that work reflec... (Read All)

Local Government Administration and the Challenges of Rural Development in Nigeria

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract
Rural development of the grassroots has been the concern of every responsible and responsive political system. This is because development and participation have continued to elude people of the grassroots. Development remains insignificant if it does not positively affect the lives of those in the periphery of decision making arrangement. The Nigerian state therefore created local government as the third tier of government whose objective is to ensure effective, measurable and... (Read All)

Do you Understand Leadership?

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

The majority of employees are not in a leadership position (i.e. Executive, Manager, Captain, Supervisor, Team Leader, etc.). To understand leadership, one must know how to express compassion. Compassion should be expressed via verbal and written interactions and by taking "spirit enhancing action" of compassion to generate "spirit enhancing results" of compassion. T... (Read All)

Leadership Skill: Leaving A Leadership Legacy

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Take a look at all the leaders who have left a positive legacy of organizational effectiveness, and what do you find. Breadth, depth, and talent. But what do they actually do? They develop themselves, they develop others, they develop big ideas, and they develop high performance cultures. They leave a legacy by leveraging their natural personality gifts to guide choices about acquiring skills and developing their organization's culture. One in which people have clearly defined goals, continuo... (Read All)

Successful Organizational Leadership: Effective Execution through Strategic Alignment

Fri, 26 May 2006 00:00:00 +0100

It is an all-too-familiar scenario. Corporation X misses badly on its commitments several quarters in a row and the stock plummets. As a result, the Board loses confidence, the CEO "resigns," and a new CEO is appointed who immediately announces a sweeping restructure of the corporation.

In the past few years, papers have been inundated with such reports. Even at corporations where top-level executives show signs of "vision" and have articulated what seems to be a sound business strategy... (Read All)

Employee Engagement: it Pays to Know What it Isn't

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

An earlier article, Why Leaders Grow Employee Engagement Cultures...and How!, explored and explained employee engagement from several points of view. To round out the circle, this article clarifies what employee engagement is not.

We look for traits of really e... (Read All)

Team Building: Leadership Strategies to Address Today's Most Common Team Building Problems

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:00:00 +0100

Despite best team building efforts, many organizations are still operating on low power when it comes to producing desired results. They've invested time and dollars in events that supposedly help team members bond and function coherently, yet results are short term at best.

So what's the problem? Every situation is unique, but here are a few possibilities:<... (Read All)

Do the Most Productive Thing

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Everyone suffers from a shortage of time. No matter how effective we try to be, there simply is not enough time to do all that is required. In this era, the demands made upon people is greater than in any other generation. Financial burdens necessitate both parents working. Since those hours are spent outside the home, household duties such as chores and child... (Read All)

Muay Thai - History And The Basics

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Thailand's national sport, Muay Thai or Thai Boxing is more popularly known as "The Art of the Eight Limbs"; with the 'eight limbs' referring to the elbows, hands, knees and shins, all of which are extensively used in this sport. An experienced exponent of Muay Thai would have mastered the art of executing strikes using these "eight limbs" as eight points of contact as opposed to the fist and feet or "four points" that are used in other martial arts forms or the fists; "two points" used in we... (Read All)

Dream, Plan, Action

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Ok, so you have started a business and you are all fired up and ready to go! You have read all about the business, learned all the proper procedures, written out your goals and and all the plans that you have to build your business. So, why aren't you getting anywhere?

You become frustrated and start thinking that the company is a scam bec... (Read All)

Lean Manufacturing Principles

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Lean Manufacturing Principles

Lean manufacturing is one of the most widely utilized business improvement methodologies. There are hundreds of consultants and schools teaching lean manufacturing principles.

The problem with many courses teaching lean manufacturing is the lack of real world experience of the instructor. Many have limited experience applying the principles, nor the interpersonal skills to influence change.

Lean manufacturing is not nearly as ... (Read All)

The 5 Inherent Defects of Traditional Decision-making

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Decision-making in this world of increased information, technology, population and communication is a serious and growing problem. The traditional method of Decision-Making isnât providing adequate results. Different proponents have different approaches to decision-making ranging from a 4-step process to 7 steps or more and it is based on pro... (Read All)

An Essential Key to your Business Growth, a Motivational Message!

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0100

A lot of people think Motivational Speaking means that some overly peppy guru spouts off idealistic clichs. Yet the heart of a CEOs charisma comes from their ability to deliver a message, be it to one person or to a group of many, with a high energy level that connects with the hearts of individuals in the company.

The ability to see the talent in others is a key characteristic of motivational leadership, in such a way that they see it in themselves. Professional motivational sp... (Read All)

Leaderships and Success Series; the Answer to the Question What Makes a Good Leader?â

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Is there a magic ingredient or proven recipe for leadership success? Or; is there one answer to the question âwhat makes a good leader?â There is an abundance of leadership books available at the local bookshop, each book selling the authors own, unique, recipe for leadership success.

If a single, proven recipe for making a good leader existed, then all people would look to the same role mode... (Read All)

Focus on Decision Making and Execution

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Once you have a clear laser-beam focus on a WOW level goal, there are two other keys to remember.

Speed of Decision
The first is speed of decision. When I go out to companies as a consultant and to survey employees, the number-one frustration of most employees is the decisions their bosses havenât made. And the reason most bosses havenât... (Read All)

Retention Leadership: Three Key Drivers for Retaining the "best of the ...

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100

In the executive offices of high-tech companies across the globe, a new weapon is reemerging in the executive arsenal with powerful implications for driving business success: Retention Leadership.

Executives whose daily challenges in the 21st Century global environment are how to work with China and India, understand the MySpace Generation and g... (Read All)

Success is not a Popularity Contest

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

This is not an article about acting like a jerk. Nor is it a condemnation against being a nice person. However, in researching the most successful, it is quickly realized they are not always the most liked. Success is not a popularity contest. The qualities which make one a prom queen do not translate into heading a corporation. Making it to the top means tha... (Read All)

Leadership - What Makes a Good Leader?

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0100

I. Leaders are trusted

Leaders are effective not because they carry out the best practices competently, or have the best processes, or make a lot of phone calls. Customers will do business with people they like. They like people they can trust, and they trust people who show concern and competence. Employees will work well if they feel heard... (Read All)

Tips for Much Less Stress in your Workplace

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Stress is a hot topic in the workplace. Some employees get bent out of shape by almost anything. Other people calmly take almost any sort of situation in stride.

Here are immediately useful tips for leaders and all employees. First are tips to help leaders avoid hiring people who will waste time and energy feeling stressed-ou... (Read All)

How to Help People Think Better - the Nitty Gritty of Listening

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 +0100

You know how to listen. You do it every day. In fact, you spend a good portion of the time you're interacting with others in listening. You're good at it.

And, we find that leaders who are remarkable listeners are always looking to expand their listening skills. So let's really make a study of listening today; let's take a look at the nitty gritty.

Helping people to think more deeply is the highest purpose, the best reason, for a leader to listen more deeply. When peop... (Read All)

Nine Out Of Ten Salesmen Are Repulsive: Do You Have The Necessary People Skills?

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0100

We have all had the experience of feeling an instant connection or bond with someone after just a few seconds of being in their presence. This is the Law of Connectivity. We have probably all met someone whom we instantly did not like and did not want to be around. This is caused by a lack of connectivity and usually takes only a few seconds to manifest itself. The Law of Connectivity states that the more we feel connected to, part of, liked by, or attracted to someone, the more persuasive th... (Read All)

Decorate your Business Strategy for the Holidays

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:00:00 +0100

With holiday distractions just around the corner, what can you pro-actively do during this time to keep your business flourishing and maybe give yourself a little holiday bonus in the process? The holidays are a busy time for everyone. They can often be a big distraction when it comes to trying to get any real business done. Customers are crunched for time a... (Read All)

Do you Know Anyone With Bdsi Disease?

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Chances are if you are around many people at all, you are associated with someone who has BDSI Disease. This stands for Big Dreams Small Initiative Disease.

Many of us know someone who dream of all the things you see in the movies...big houses, yachts, travels, fancy cars, the works. But very few people have the initiative that it takes to... (Read All)

7 Fun Ways to Play your Own Game at Work

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

When you joined the company, you did so because what? You had certain needs to be met. Not so? Perhaps needs for money, status, training, location. But as time went on...something curious happened, probably without you even noticing it.

Sure, you may have felt it. But few realise before it's too late what happened.

Let me tell you. What happened was that the BALANCE OF NEEDS shifted big-style. No sooner had your needs been met, than the company put it's needs continually... (Read All)

Leadership Success â How to Make People Hear the Advice That you Give

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0100

You know as well as I do how frustrating it is when you are trying to give advice to someone and they wonât listen to a word you are saying. But because you are a leader you know the importance of being able to convey your advice, not only to those you are leading, but also to those who are your superiors. Advice is a funny thing because, if you are the one giving it, you think itâs the best advice in the world. However, the person you are trying to give it to doesnât always see it as g... (Read All)

Four Ways to Motivate Service Professionals- a Guide to Getting Wow Performance

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 00:00:00 +0100

The only thing harder than delivering excellent customer service consistently is motivating someone else to deliver excellent customer service consistently. Customers are more demanding than ever. Professionals are more difficult to hire and retain than ever. Splitting an atom might be easier than rallying an entire organization to Wow customers. Yet, some organizations succeed. Four motivation strategies can help your organization succeed too...one professional at a time.

... (Read All)

Leadership Matters in Managing Change Effectively

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Organizations need to change their functioning and way in which they conduct their business and services. The reason behind these changes might be external forces in economy, needs of customer or marketplace. These changes would affect whole organization and it can be known from level of opposition of leadership and employees.

For any organization, if change takes place then itâs essential for all employees to understand three preliminary steps in the process. These three steps a... (Read All)