| If you want to be an effective leader, then you must | | | | Once you get a great idea, it's not good enough just to |
| exercise great personal leadership skills first. | | | | write it down. You need to be able to communicate it |
| Since I use photography to more effectively | | | | effectively. |
| communicate concepts in my leadership skills training | | | | How can you communicate your messages more |
| speaking programs, let me give you a photography | | | | effectively? Here's how… |
| analogy… | | | | Recently, I worked with the US Army Evaluation |
| If you asked me what accessory I value beyond all | | | | Command. I helped them improve the quality of their |
| others, what do you think I would say? | | | | presentations given by senior leadership. They wanted |
| It's not going to be a flashgun, a certain type of film, or | | | | new hires to understand key concepts and take |
| spare batteries. While these things are necessary, | | | | positive action on them soon afterward. So I reminded |
| without the foundation of a well-made, lightweight | | | | them that powerful communications is divided into |
| tripod, you will not be able to consistently shoot great | | | | three parts:Step 1: You need to refine your content by |
| photographs. And, without the proper foundation, you | | | | doing great research. |
| will NOT be able to lead your team effectively. | | | | Step 2: Involve the audience by understanding them |
| The 3 Legs to Effective Personal & Organizational | | | | better. |
| Leadership with Focus | | | | Step 3: Rehearse your delivery, so your |
| Powerful Leadership Skill Training Leg #1: Creativity | | | | communications are congruent with your content. |
| Great personal leadership or leading with focus starts | | | | Make sure your ideas are simple. They have the most |
| with building your creativity. Here's why… | | | | power. More employees and customers will resonate |
| How can leaders come up with new ideas if they are | | | | with simple ideas. When you have resonance, you set |
| not 'seeing' or practicing creativity? | | | | the stage for positive action. |
| Without new products, new services or new | | | | Powerful Leadership Skills Training Leg #3: Life |
| procedures, an organization can't be competitive. | | | | Balance |
| Creativity is beyond taking a new way home from | | | | A tripod wouldn't be able to support itself or the weight |
| work or trying to be creative for the next 30 minutes. It | | | | on top without a third or stabilizing leg. The stabilizing |
| delves into how you exercise your 'creativity muscle' | | | | leg is the life balance leg. |
| on a regular basis. | | | | It would be a real shame if you came up with a great |
| You need a consistent source of new ideas that do | | | | idea, communicated it in a powerful way, but weren't |
| not come from your normal surroundings. One way I | | | | around to see your idea to fruition. The stabilizing leg of |
| practice my creativity is by automatically adding a | | | | your leading with focus tripod allows you to see and |
| half-day minimum to every business trip. I get out and | | | | monitor the implementation of your idea. |
| 'see' my world. Practiced on a regular basis, this | | | | Life balance also reinforces a self-perpetuating cycle. |
| creativity outlet will add more character to each | | | | The more you practice work life balance by spending |
| location and will also be the source of new ideas. | | | | time with your family, taking charge of your health, and |
| Employers can add creativity routines by establishing | | | | getting in touch with a higher purpose, the more space |
| programs that cross-trains employees. For example, | | | | you give creativity to emerge. And the process of |
| train your accountants to understand what it means to | | | | leading with focus is able to repeat itself again and |
| sell products or services. | | | | again. |
| Another way you can stimulate creativity is to provide | | | | What It Means to Lead With Focus |
| paid time off for community work or have a local 'pet' | | | | Remember, leading with focus is about 'seeing' the |
| project that gets a lot of attention. One of my | | | | world with new eyes to get that next idea. It's about |
| customers, Lockheed Martin invests in the quality of life | | | | getting your ideas to resonate with as many people as |
| in the communities where their employees work and | | | | possible. Leading with focus is also enjoying the |
| live. This strengthens community connections, involves | | | | journey that is your life along the way. |
| learning new skills and allows for creativity to emerge | | | | Isn't it time you started practicing leading with focus in |
| Powerful Leadership Skills Training Leg #2: | | | | your organization? Start practicing great leadership |
| Communication | | | | skills by enhancing your personal leaderships skills first. |