Success Takes Time – So Why Race Against The Clock?

March 20, 2013Leave a Comment

Success Takes TimeSuccess takes time…literally. Almost everything that we want to have or accomplish in life takes time, such as building a business, losing weight, strengthening a marriage, getting a degree and climbing the corporate ladder. Our days are limited to 24 hours and we only have 7 days in a week.  We already know exactly how much time is available to us, so why does it always seem as if we’re “racing against the clock?” 

Well, even though we only have 24 hours in each day, we live in a world in which there are consistent expectations for us to accomplish more in those 24 hours than we did the year, month, week or day before. Our time doesn’t increase, but the demands placed upon us increase almost daily. We feel the pressure of time when there’s an imbalance between the demands placed upon us and the time that we have available to meet those demands.

Our globally connected society also contributes to the demands on our time. We are accessible anywhere and at any hour. This leads to working around the clock. Many people work from home, work while their having a meal, work while their watching TV, and even work while they’re on vacation.  The boundaries that used to exist between work, home and our social lives have almost been eliminated.

Demands upon our time also come in the form of information overload and the complexity of choosing between hundreds of options. We are bombarded with information all the time and from all directions.  Trying to keep up and stay on top of everything that comes our way is a time-consuming effort in and of itself.

Yet, because we don’t want to miss anything or get left behind, we labor to do it all.  In every second that the clock ticks, we continue to try and do it all, to review it all, to know it all and to buy it all – and rarely do we have the time to actually enjoy what we’re doing or what we have.

So is there a way to fulfill all of the demands placed upon us effectively and also enjoy the limited amount of time that we have?

Prioritizing your life and optimal management of your time is the key to leading an exceptional personal and professional life. The only way to master your time and be more productive is to concentrate on what’s really critical and important for your success. If success takes time– you will never be successful if you don’t learn how to optimize your time and prioritize your life? 

Optimizing your time starts with a shift in your mindset.  Here are 6 mindset adjustments that will help you to live a successful and stress free life:

  1.  Focus on working faster and smarter – not harder
  2. Take control of your day, delegate when needed, and don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed
  3. Get comfortable saying “no”; if the task or activity does not move you closer to accomplishment of your goals
  4. Start each day with what’s critical, prioritize the balance of your day, and manage interruptions
  5. Stop procrastinating and start getting things done
  6. Consider time with your family and time for yourself to be sacred – no exceptions

 

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Filed Under: Business, Recent Blog Posts

Be More Than Just Another Expert

March 10, 2013Leave a Comment

Thought LeadersIn our highly competitive world, it is becoming harder and harder to stand out and be noticeable. Today, it is not enough to become a “speaker” or “coach” on a particular topic or niche. Nor is it enough to proclaim to be an “expert” in your field.  To make people listen and take notice, you’ll need to shape your brand and reputation using Thought Leadership.

Everyone is an Expert, so you must be Distinct

Every entrepreneur and professional proclaims to be an expert in their field.  So the challenge is figuring out how to position yourself as a Thought Leader. An expert is a person with a special skill or knowledge in a particular field. But a Thought Leader takes it a step further.  In addition to having specialized skill or knowledge, Thought Leaders move people with innovation and ideas.  They are trusted sources of information.  People follow Thought Leaders because they provide answers.  They are able to identify problems and are known for coming up with creative solutions.

Here are a few tips to help you become known as a Thought Leader:

  1. Focus on the right niche: This is one of the most important steps in thought leadership. You want to focus on a niche that you’re interested in and one that interests others as well. You don’t want to choose a topic that’s too broad – you want something more narrow and specific, something that a group of people really care about and are interested in.
  2. Know your topic inside and out: After you’ve chosen your niche, study it continuously.  Learn everything about it; be a life-long learner and commit to expanding your knowledge every day. It’s not enough to learn all that you can and then stop once you believe you know enough. True thought leaders know that you can never learn enough about a particular topic – as more and more methods and strategies evolve, experts continue to keep themselves updated with what’s current and what’s relevant. They are never stagnant. They keep up with the trends to continue being a trusted source of information.
  3. Be the Answer: Thought Leaders are the “go-to” people in their industries because their known for having the answers. Make sure that your messaging to your target audience shows your mastery of the subject matter. Establish a point of view on pertinent topics so that your followers trust your information and come to you for answers. 
  4. Share your knowledge Remember, just having the knowledge and skills does not make you a recognized authority. Be sure to share your knowledge or skill with others in a way that’s relevant and clear; know how to communicate effectively so that people will listen. A healthy balance must be maintained in imparting your knowledge to a group of people. Show your knowledge without appearing to be a showoff. Use jargon relevant to your field, but present your topic in simple terms.

Becoming a thought leader takes time and a lot of hard work. But as long as you stay committed to your goal, remain authentic, and continue to communicate with others, you will soon be able to establish trust with your audience and position yourself as more than just another expert in your field.

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Filed Under: Recent Blog Posts

The Path To Profitability

January 25, 2013Leave a Comment

How to Get Better, Smarter and Richer

Small Business Success for Women in 2013 and Beyond

 

 

 

In light of the significant job losses resulting from the 2008 economic recession, there has been an intense focus on boosting small business as a way to stimulate job growth.  Yet, it’s becoming more evident that many of the issues plaguing the American workforce are also impacting the small business industry.  According to the Small Business Administration, as of 2010 there were 27 million small business firms in the U.S. and approximately 2.3 million have more than four employees.  However, 22 million of those firms are non-employer firms – better known as solo or micro entrepreneurs – with combined gross receipts of $950 billion.

This figure looks impressive as a whole, but when you divide the average revenue among 22 million small businesses, the typical “non-employer business” made approximately $43,000 in gross receipts.  Conversely, when you analyze the slice of the pie for women-owned small businesses, the numbers are much lower.  There are a number of reasons why solo and micro entrepreneurial women are not achieving higher revenues in their businesses, but it’s certainly not from lack of hard work and passion.

Women-owned small businesses, particularly solo and micro entrepreneurs, add tremendous value to the U.S. economy and we’re an important source of competition globally.  The statistics tell the story:

  • Women own 50% of all the solo and micro enterprises
  • 52% of the private workers are employed by solo and micro businesses with the largest proportion of those employees being younger, older, women, or part-time workers
  • Solo and micro entrepreneurs provide 80% of the net new jobs.  Sixty-seven percent of all workers received their initial on the job training from small business owners
  • 53% of solo/micro businesses are home-based and 3% are franchises

Additionally, the advancements in mobile technology and social media are leveling the playing field allowing solo and micro entrepreneurs to compete with their larger company counterparts. However, there’s still considerable room for improvement and we have to do better!  Going into 2013, we have to make sure that those who make up the heart and soul of our economy –solo and micro women entrepreneurs – receive earnings that are proportionate to our contribution.

Subsequently, just like the U.S. pathway to job creation, the path to increasing profitability for women small business owners is wrought with challenges.  Working with no staff or a small staff, limited time and a constrained budget, small business owners must find a way to balance the development and marketing of their ideas with the speed of the information age. Market and customer needs are continuously shifting and the size and pace of the information and services available all across the world to meet those needs creates fierce competition for solo entrepreneurs.

The shelf life of the current knowledge and specialization for most small business owners is already close to expiration. We now live in a “knowledge economy” where our skills inevitably lose their relevance and niche abilities may be difficult to apply as opportunities and technologies evolve.  Whether you have a product or service-based small business, it is also important for you to be able to see across market sectors and connect the dots between how innovations in one industry can be applied to another.

Economists and business leaders both agree that the solution to sustaining a small business and increasing profitability for entrepreneurs is ongoing and more specifically tailored development of core business skills. This will help to keep your business on the front lines moving into the future. In order for women to compete, remain relevant, and earn more in 2013 and beyond, we must pursue training to obtain ADVANCED BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE and consistently focus on ways to INNOVATE our products and services.

Watch the Path to Profitability Video:

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Filed Under: Business, Recent Blog Posts, Women Empowerment

Is There A Business-Savvy Barrier For Black Women?

October 5, 2012Leave a Comment

This post is to give Black Women in Business some food for thought.

If you’re a serious minded Black Business Woman, I’m sure that when you saw the term Business-Savvy Barrier in the title of this post, you raised your eyebrows and thought, “What the what?” But the numbers representing our success and progress compared to women in other races are startling. Black women business owners have come a long way in the past 20 years, but we still have a way to go.

Despite the growth of Black women entrepreneurs, there are multiple challenges, specifically regarding the income disparity experienced in the entrepreneurial sector. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, although Black female business ownership is up 59% since 2002, we only generate a little more than 3% of the gross sales receipts of the $1.2 billion dollars of all women-owned small business firms.

These are the demographics of the top three women-owned small business firms by race: White (72%); black (12%); and Asian (7%). While there are approximately 388,759 more Black women business owners than Asian women, they generate $51 million dollars more in annual gross sales receipts. Conversely, Black men with small businesses earn an average of $103,310 annually, compared to Black women business owners who earn an annual average of $43,000. This is disturbing and ladies, we must do better!

This suggests that Black men are somehow more successful in charting their ascent up the business ladder, being their own bosses, and spearheading their own economic futures. This may also indicate that Black female entrepreneurs have significant hurdles to overcome outside the corporate setting without access to capital, economic resources, angel investors, and eminent business advisors with “real-world” experience to help navigate the rough business terrain.

This should be an eye-opener for Black women business owners collectively. If, as the data indicates, we are struggling with disparity in gross sales receipts, what will it take to change the numbers? How can we enhance our Earning Power? I’ve already pointed out several barriers that we must overcome, but there are also other major obstacles such as lack of market expansion. Studies have also shown that Black women tend to network and sell to“our own people”, because we perceive that they are most interested in our products and services. But by far, the most substantial hurdle has to do with being Business-Savvy.

Is the research pointing to a legitimate short-coming? Is there a Business-Savvy Barrier for Black women entrepreneurs? Strong Business Acumen (the term I prefer) involves having solid business management skills such as, financial acumen, driving strategy and innovation, critical thinking, and the ability to build strategic relationships. This goes beyond technical skill and the depth of knowledge that you may have regarding your industry. So, for Black women, the missing element of the success and financial profitability equation is Business Acumen.

Black women have brilliant business ideas, but we have to shift our focus to learning how to become “Masters in Business Acumen”. Our businesses have the potential to get us a much bigger piece of the revenue pie. So how can Black women bridge the financial gap and greatly enhance our gross receipts over the next several years? Here are four steps that I suggest:

  1. Become More Business-Savvy: This means cultivate a deeper understanding of the business behind your business. From a business portfolio perspective, you must be cognizant of the primary functions that impact the bottom-line of your small business: Cash Flow (i.e. days of cash on hand and speed of cash generation), Customers (acquiring, serving and retaining them), Growth (achieved through new or enhanced products or services, reaching new customers, or moving into new markets), and Return (as a function of margin and velocity).
  2. Develop Financial Acumen: Don’t relegate this to a bookkeeper and then glance at the numbers when you get your reports. You must learn how to interpret the story that the numbers tell and take the appropriate action (strategic and/or tactical) in response to that story. This means knowing exactly what your company’s financial numbers mean and their implications.
  3. Constantly Focus on Business Strategy: The business arena is all about change, all the time, no matter what industry you’re in—and that’s more evident now than ever before. Your business strategy must do three things effectively: gain customer preference, create a sustainable competitive advantage, and leave money in the bank. To avoid the red zone of failure or to move from just breaking even, you must operate more strategically.
  4. Understand the Power of Positioning: Whether you are a new business owner or seasoned, you wear the mantle of a business leader. Innovation and strategy within your business will be driven by your great ideas and your ability to execute and implement those ideas. Understand your current position in the marketplace, see where your industry is heading and then take a LEAD position – get in the front of the line and deliver!

To know how closely you fit in the statistics, ask yourself this question: Based upon your tax return from 2011, would your accountant say that you have a “business” or a “hobby”?   I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

Special Announcement: I have a new virtual service coming on October 16, 2012 that can help you enhance your Business Acumen.  Take a look at this e-Brochure to learn more.  If you are serious about becoming a Business-Savvy Woman and want to increase your earning potential, the MBA Center for Women can help you! If you would like more information or want to sign-up for the MBACW mailing list, please visit http://www.moniquestoner.com/the-mba-center-for-women/. The MBACW website and virtual training services can be previewed live on October 12, 2012 at www.mbacenterforwomen.com.

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Filed Under: Recent Blog Posts, Women Empowerment

Entrepreneurship versus Corporate Leadership: Are Women Really Torn?

August 9, 2012Leave a Comment

So what do women really think about this debate?

Forbes recently released an article titled, “Entrepreneurship Is The New Women’s Movement” The article was quite intriguing and indicated that women are leaving the workforce in droves to become entrepreneurs.  The author, Natalie MacNeil, noted that women have started businesses at a higher rate than men for the last 20 years and tend to create home-based micro (less than 5 employees) and small businesses.

This article and many others that I’ve read on this topic all discussed the waning confidence that women have in obtaining career fulfillment in the corporate world. Each article indicated that women are tired of the long work hours, time spent away from family, lack of flexibility, office politics and the tiring climb to get to the top of the corporate ladder.  It would appear that entrepreneurship is a fitting alternative affording women the opportunity to create their own path and reshape their employment landscape.

On the other side of this coin, corporations have taken quantum leaps forward in working to build inclusive workplaces and expand opportunities for women in leadership. Many organizations have implemented women’s initiatives geared towards leadership training, mentoring, and advocacy to help women scale the ranks and succeed in their careers. There are also many associations with special programs designed to help get more women in C-Suite positions, such as Women MBA International, Women in Technology and Leading Women® Executives.

So what do you think?  Are women really fed up with the barriers and sluggish upward movement in corporate America? Do professional women actually view large organizations as wastelands where they feel jaded, under-valued, and limited in reaching their full potential? Or are women continuing to blaze the trail to the highest corporate roles and close the leadership gap? Do we have a remnant of women in large organizations being mentored and groomed through contingency programs who will finally obliterate the “glass ceiling” in ways that we’ve never imagined?

This is powerful food for thought for all ambitious business women. In terms of the Women’s Rights Movement and the more recent Women’s Empowerment Initiatives, how do we define women’s success?  At what point do we say, “Yes, we’ve finally made it?”  Do we push women to leave corporate America in the same way that we encouraged them to enter it in the 1970s?  Ultimately, I believe this question will probably boil down to what’s most important to each individual woman.

Every woman will have to look within her own heart and determine her values, goals and the ways in which she can be fulfilled professionally. And these things may change over the course of a woman’s life. I think we should encourage all women to follow their own path to success and provide them with the programs and resources needed to succeed on both fronts. I also think that there should be more efforts to help organizations discover and implement new pathways to move women into senior leadership roles.

There are pros and cons on both sides and women must consider them all and make decisions that are most advantageous for their own careers – whether in the corporate world or as business owners.  So what are your thoughts?  Please leave a comment and share your opinion on this issue.

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Filed Under: Business, Recent Blog Posts, Women Empowerment

Resilience: Handling Personal and Professional Storms

August 6, 2012Leave a Comment

An Inspirational Post for Business Women

(originally posted on Black Business Women Online – www.mybbwo.com)

For more than twenty years now, I’ve trained and coached women in leadership and business acumen and I am a staunch advocate for women being afforded the opportunity to utilize their talents and leave their mark as leaders in corporate America or the small business arena.  It gives me great pleasure to see so many women today pursuing their dreams as entrepreneurs and corporate executives. In an uncertain economy, women have proven that we are a stalwart force in the business world.

Consequently, as we sashay our way down the road to success, we will inevitably face a few storms – and some will be intense. Sales are down, your marketing strategies aren’t working, and your small business is quickly losing money….  Your corporation is undergoing an acquisition and as a member of the management team, your position is being considered for elimination…. Your doctor discovers a clogged artery in your heart during a routine checkup and immediately schedules you for surgery…. Your marriage of eighteen years has suddenly come to an end…. One of your ailing parents has been diagnosed with cancer and you will have to serve as caregiver during their treatment…. The list of personal and professional storms could go on and on.

Every woman has braved, battled and survived many storms in her life.  Some of us are even perceptive enough that we can actually smell the storm coming and we brace ourselves, because we know that this latest one will eventually pass just like the rest.  If you’re experienced in dealing with life’s storms you can often see what caused them and you understand the internal and external forces behind the strong winds.  Wisdom teaches you what doors to close, which windows to barricade and alerts you when you need to take shelter.  You either take shelter in your faith, within yourself, or with those who love and support you.

What makes some storms more difficult and disturbing is not simply that we are facing problems or emotionally difficult times; it’s the fact that it knocks us down before we’ve had a chance to brace ourselves. Some storms are neither light, nor gentle, nor quick in passing. Have you ever been through a storm that was so demanding and dramatic that it forced you to pay attention to your life, relationships, professional circumstances and inner self in a way that you never have before? I’m transparent enough to say that I have – recently and more than once. Some storms can be stubborn, compelling us to face the things that we want to avoid and insisting that we address those things that we have been reluctant to even imagine, let alone endure.

The word unexpected doesn’t even come close to describing how it feels when our reality is suddenly disrupted by circumstances, challenges and issues we never thought we would be facing.  One moment, you’re going about your business, and suddenly you look up and to your utter astonishment, everything has changed. In a state of bewilderment, you ask yourself, “What happened?”  Isn’t it amazing how some storms present themselves in the most shocking and surprising ways imaginable?  They don’t always afford us the luxury of preparation.  Personal and professional storms also don’t discriminate.  A surge of problems can erupt in your life whether you’re an executive in a C-suite role or a mom blogger working from home.

The good news is that storms aren’t necessarily indicative of your skill, talent or effectiveness. They also aren’t always a sign that you have veered from the course and are heading in the wrong direction. In business and in life, storms occur to help us learn, grow and improve. As professional women and entrepreneurs, we do not have an endless flow of stamina, ideas or skills. That’s why Resilience is vital to our success.  Resilience is the ability to bounce back, cope, renew, and revitalize, and learning to be resilient is a full-time job. Most women can demonstrate their ability to lead and wield influence during the best of times, but it’s the tough times and stormy moments that really breed and define a woman who is a great leader and role model for others.

Even though I have a successful career and a loving, supportive family, in the past few months, I have been in the midst of a storm.  It started with a diagnosis & treatment for deep vein thrombosis. Then it brought significant changes & challenges in my corporate consulting role; the ending of a few personal and professional relationships that had been an anchor to me for several years; and it ended with an unforeseen major surgery that required six weeks for recovery impacting my ability to work or take care of myself. I share my personal experience only as a means of encouragement for other women in business.  Wonder woman is a fictitious character – real women in today’s workforce have to contend with a number of different challenges both at home and in the office.

I feel more empowered and renewed now than before. The storm watered several dry places in my life and career, and revitalized my commitment to being a leader and a business coach for women.  If you are in the midst of a personal or professional storm, this is your opportunity to take control of your future, strengthen your resolve, and enhance the value that you bring to others and to the business world.  Whether you lead a business, nonprofit organization, civic association or a family, here are some thoughts for you to consider on being a resilient leader during tough and challenging times.

  •  Seize the Moment: This is your opportunity to bring out the best of who you are, so use this moment to grow and prosper like never before.
  •  Focus on Personal Mastery:  You will be a more powerful leader if you use this time to recognize and understand your own strengths and limitations.
  •  Don’t Complain:  Protesting what’s happening to you will only make you crawl into a defensive cocoon. Shake the dust off, learn the lessons, and focus on the offense.
  •  Build Self-Awareness: Self-Awareness helps you understand the context of your challenges and figure out what resources you need to develop within yourself.
  •  Take Time for Personal Growth:  The only way to grow and improve is through learning. Great leaders aren’t born; they are molded through years of learning and development.
  •  Plan Your Next Move:  If you have recently taken shelter from a storm, this is not the time to simply rely on a wing and a prayer. Use this time to map out your course with compass like accuracy.

We can’t stop the storms from coming into our lives, but we can use the storms as turning points.  Remember, what will make you a more powerful business woman and extraordinary leader is your ability to weather the storms, and come through them renewed with the wisdom and insight that you need for the next part of your success journey!

Question: Have you been through a personal or professional storm recently? How did it make you a better leader and business woman? I’d love to hear your story.

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Filed Under: Business, Recent Blog Posts, Women Empowerment

Why Every Entrepreneur Must Be Innovative

July 30, 2012Leave a Comment

In business, innovation is the catalyst to growth.  Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, services, or ideas that meet the evolving needs of a target market.  It’s a business discipline in which we continue to do things in new or better ways that create economic value.  Innovation is not just a consideration for large organizations, but it’s critical to the success of small business owners as well.  If you own a small business, you must incessantly look for new and better ways to satisfy your customer base and set yourself apart from your competitors.

Building your capacity to be innovative is possible, but it requires a willingness to be creative, to do old things in new ways, and to develop new skills. Innovation is what transforms a business.  It’s not the act of creating a new product or service; that’s invention.  Being innovative is when you take what you’re doing now and do it differently or in a way that outperforms everyone else.  It’s a matter of understanding the needs of your target market in such a way that you satisfy them with advancements that set you apart from your competitors.

Consider the advancements in certain industries that have transformed the consumer experience. Think back to when you had to go to the mall because online shopping didn’t exist.  Do you remember the days when there was no such thing as a hotel or airline Reward Program?  Isn’t it nice to go to a doctor’s appointment and your entire medical history is accessible to your physician through an application on his i-Pad?  These were all innovative ideas that transformed the way businesses provide services and demonstrate value to customers.  Think about your current line of business, in what ways could you transform your services that would put you miles ahead of your competition?

Innovation is not a trait of the exceptionally gifted entrepreneur.  It’s a skill that any ambitious business professional can learn, practice and master.  Moreover, with innovative skills, you can also improve your everyday business systems and processes.  As an entrepreneur, you must place the same value on having innovation as you do on your technical skills.  Through continued research and staying abreast of changes in your field, you can develop and become more proficient as an entrepreneurial innovator.

Innovation is about solving problems or meeting your customer needs in a way to increases your business’ profitability. Focus your innovative efforts in a way that they are directly aligned to your business goals.  It’s about doing what you do best and serving every customer exceptionally well and in a way that exceeds each of your competitors.  You can become a more innovative entrepreneur today – by having the courage to challenge conventional ways of thinking about how things are currently done and a willingness to do things in new ways.

Question: What do you think hinders entrepreneurs from being more innovative?

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Filed Under: Business, Recent Blog Posts

Navigating Office Politics

July 16, 2012Leave a Comment

Like it or not, politics are at work in every organization. Even if you change jobs, the political landscape make look and feel different, but it’s there none the less. Attempting to deny it or abstain from being involved in office politics will diminish your clout and capacity as a leader. Office politics are prevalent in every organization because the individuals and groups that make up an organization have different, and often competing, interests.

Organizations are beleaguered by limitations. Leaders are challenged with balancing limited budgets, limited resources, and a limited amount of time to achieve numerous goals.  As a result, everyone can’t have what they want. In order to meet the organization’s goals, stakeholders have to find ways to cooperate and resolve their conflicting interests. This back-and-forth between cooperation and competition gives rise to office politics. If it’s approached in the right way, everyone benefits.

The majority of the obstacles that organizational leaders face are centered on office politics.  That’s why political power is valuable. Political power gives you the capacity to influence behaviors, decisions, and outcomes to accomplish objectives.  But you can only do this by using the political network – or political frame – within an organization. As a leader, you can increase your influence and build political power by making appropriate and ethical use of politics.

Navigating office politics does not mean that you have to compromise who you are as a professional or act in an unethical manner.  The politics within organizations will probably always exist, so the trick is to find a way to make it work for you.  Office politics can be used in positive or negative ways, and the outcome can be either constructive or destructive, depending on your perspective. Office politics can be constructive when it moves the organization closer to achieving its goals. We see the negative aspects of office politics when individuals employ actions that are deceptive and motivated by the pursuit of power or to meet personal interests.

Building relationships is an integral part of navigating office politics within your organization. You must have strong relationships in order to increase your influence.  This means developing one-on-one relationships with coworkers and colleagues, whether they’re fellow leaders, decision makers, or any other member of the work community. This is critical to gaining the support needed to advance your ideas and efforts.

You can’t master what you don’t understand.  Before you can successfully navigate the politics within your office, you need to take some time to understand the political landscape of your organization.

What you need to know about your organization’s office politics:

  • Key Players and Decision Makers: Who are they and what are their relative sources of power? How can you get access to the key players? Who are the key decision makers in the organization and why? Determine who holds the most and least influence. How do influential people influence others?
  • Unwritten Rules: Find out what’s acceptable and what’s not. Identify the code of conduct that’s not written in any of the company’s manuals.
  • Informal Processes:  Is there an informal process for how things get done in the organization?  Find out what informal channels exist for getting things done.
  • Organizational Values: Outside of the core values statement hanging on the wall in the boardroom, what else is valued in the organization?  As an example, think about who gets promoted, rewarded or passed over and identify the common traits, behaviors or actions.
  • Alliances and Relationships:  What alliances exist in your organization?  Identify and characterize the power and knowledge relationships. Who depends upon whom? Who seeks advice from whom? Who is influenced by whom? Who do people listen to? Who do people ignore?
  • Social Networks:  Are there any key social networks in the organization? For instance, who has worked together? How long have they worked together? How are people accepted or invited into these networks? Who’s not involved in key social networks and why?
  • Hot Button Issues:  Pay close attention to emotions and relationship dynamics exhibited during meetings. What are the hot button issues? What are the topics that create the most tension? Who are the players that seem to be at odds?

You also have to think about your role in the organization, what you need to accomplish and how you currently respond to office politics. Acquiring this knowledge will help you determine how you’re going to operate within the margins of your organization’s political frame in the most effective and positive way possible.

What you need to know about yourself:

  • Do you build and leverage relationships? You will never be able to navigate the office politics if you come to work and focus solely on your work tasks. Leaders must be visible and building relationships is a key strategy for creating influence at work.
  • How much influence do you have in the organization? It’s important to understand where you stand in terms of alliances and relationships. Are you considered a Subject Matter Expert? Who comes to you for advice? Are you a key player in your organization? If not, why aren’t you?
  • In what ways do you add value to your organization? When you move from being a manager to being a senior-level leader, your role is no longer tactical in nature. As a result, you have to add value in ways other than just through technical skill. Do you demonstrate the values that you know are favored by the organization?
  • Do you use social networks to foster working relationships?  As leaders, our relationships with others have to be built upon more than just the tasks that we perform together from nine to five. Do you make an effort to get to know others in the organization – at all levels?
  • Do your goals and values conflict with those of the organization? What are your core values and guiding principles? Do they prohibit you from working effectively within the parameters of the office politics? How have you been handling the conflict?
  • Do you have hot button issues and emotional triggers? What sets you off emotionally? How do you react? Consider your behavior and how you are perceived by others; do you believe that you are enhancing or hurting your leadership influence in the office?

A few other key things to consider are your desires and fears at work, your vision for yourself in three to five years, and your level of commitment to the organizations goals and objectives. Assessing each of these areas will help you to understand whether you can or can’t navigate office politics in a way that will be advantageous for both you and your organization.

The key to navigating office politics is to cultivate an attitude of doing what’s best for the organization. Once you have acquired this mind-set, you will begin to see office politics in a more constructive light as opposed to destructive, and you’ll ultimately be able to successfully navigate your way through the political maze.

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Filed Under: Business, Recent Blog Posts

When Life’s Demands Compete With Our Destiny

July 9, 2012Leave a Comment

In today’s fast-paced, frenzied “information age”, it’s very easy to lose track of time.  Working fifty to seventy hours a week and trying to take care of a family or go to school can consume most, if not all of your time.  Before you know it, precious moments of your life have vanished and they cannot be reclaimed. It seems as though there’s barely enough time for all the things that we have to do, so it’s hard to even imagine a way to fit in the things that we really want to do.   Our wants and needs are in a tug-of-war with time and at the end of the day, it’s difficult to tell who won.

Time is a valuable commodity.  We only have a limited amount of time to achieve our goals and reach our destiny and we don’t know exactly how much time we have.  We make decisions every day regarding how we will spend our time and invest our energy and creativity.  There will always be distractions, demands and major life changes, but the question becomes, “How do we take the steps needed to exceed the urgent demands that each day brings and focus on the truly important personal destiny set before us?”

In the big scheme of things, the course of our lives today is based on the decisions we made in our yesterdays. That’s why it’s so important to make wise decisions; decisions about what we really want in our lives; what we want to accomplish in our careers; how we spend our money and plan for retirement; what we value in our relationships; and what we need to truly be happy and fulfilled in our lives.  We also need to decide where we want to be in life – today, tomorrow and three years down the road.

Like many people, I drifted through life for many years simply trying to survive each day.  I had dreams and goals, but I wasn’t truly clear about exactly what I wanted and how I planned to get there.  Nor did I understand how my daily decisions impacted the overall status of my life.  I finally had to think seriously about what I wanted and remove the people and activities that were interfering with my where I wanted to go. I had to do some soul-searching and get clarity in several major areas of my life.

If you are feeling like as though the demands in your life are competing with your destiny, then it’s time to ask yourself a few questions.  It’s time to figure out exactly what is holding you back or getting in your way.  You will need to make some firm decisions about the status of your life & career, and this often means eliminating certain habits, activities, and even people from your life.  When you assess all the things that are consuming your time, then you’ll know if you are on the right track or if there are new opportunities that you can pursue to move you closer to your destiny.

Think about the following questions and write down the thoughts that come to your mind:

  1. Visualize yourself 1 – 5 years down the road, what do you want your life to look like? What do you want to accomplish? Where do you want to be professionally, financially and personally?
  2. Think about how you spend your time on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Based upon this, what do you value most in life? What seems to be most important to you?
  3. Does how you spend your time align with your most important life values?  Are you spending your time focused on things and activities that you take you to where you want to be in 1 – 5 years?
  4. What activities should be a part of your daily routine? Are there certain people that you should spend more time with? Are there activities that you should make more of a priority?
  5. What brings you the most joy in life? Make a list of everything that makes your life fulfilling. What excites you? What energizes you? Where’s your passion?
  6. What distinguishes you? What makes you stand out from the crowd? What are your greatest strengths? In what areas do you have extensive knowledge and interest?
  7. Based on where you are today, how important is money to you and how much do you want to earn from your job or business? Can you earn this amount running your business as it is today? If you want to make more money, can you do that with your current position or career?

Now you have to ask yourself, what are my options?  What do I need to do and what do I need to change to make my life look the way that I envision?  We will never be able to live a life that is totally free of distractions, demands and challenges. But what we can do, however, is stay focused on those things that are most important to us and bring us the most pleasure in life. It’s not possible to make more time, but it’s completely possible to maximize the time that’s afforded to us.

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Filed Under: Personal Effectiveness, Recent Blog Posts

How To Become A Thought Leader

July 2, 2012Leave a Comment

So how do you build a reputation as an expert in your field?  Not by being someone who just participates in the conversation – but by being the one who drives it!

Thought Leaders are creative, innovative, excellent communicators and they know how to share their ideas with others in a way that inspires and motivates.  According to Wikipedia, a thought leader is a person who is recognized for innovative ideas and demonstrates the confidence to promote or share those ideas as actionable distilled insights.  The only way for corporate professionals and entrepreneurs to distinguish or differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace is by becoming thought leaders.

Thought leadership is the intellectual capital that you make available to the general public. By investing in the development of your own thought leadership content, you will enhance your reputation in the marketplace, define and extend your brand and bolter your reputation for innovation. The content is the key.  To be a though leader, you have to know the market needs and then be able to produce high-quality, targeted, differentiated content to your clients and customers.

Consider the following when generating thought leadership content:

  • Focus on issues or challenges that the vast majority of customers or clients care about
  • Provide insights, information or data that your target audience doesn’t already have
  • Demonstrate your understanding of the complexity of the issue or challenge
  • Give the reader solutions and make your recommendations objective and persuasive

Include the following elements when developing thought leadership content:

Whether you’re developing an article, white paper, workbook, or video, your thought leadership content must be well-researched and well-packaged.  The following elements will add value and credibility to your content:

  • A connection with current or emerging issues
  • Support your opinions or ideas with facts and data
  • Focus your topic on new ideas or insights
  • Give guidance for putting new ideas into practice and provide illustrations
  • Be sure your content applicable and written in a way in which the message is clearly understood

If you aren’t doing so already, it’s time to actively capitalize on the power of thought leadership. By producing rich content and promoting it in various media and channels, you can become a trusted authority in your field and gain visibility among prospective clients and other market influencers.  

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Filed Under: Branding, Recent Blog Posts
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