leadership capabilities http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for leadership capabilities Copyright 2008 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:45:16 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/leadership+capabilities Leadership Development For Managers http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-development-for-managers http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-development-for-managers#comments Fri, 13 Oct 2006 10:27:07 +0000 formal leadershipleadership coachleadership assessmentsleadership responsibilitiesleadership development programspersonal leadershiplearning on the job http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-development-for-managers
1. : To develop leadership on the job requires that employees take jobs or project assignments that include . Early in a person's career, working as an individual contributor on team projects provides many opportunities for learning effective leadership. Being a project leader allows an employee to use different types of power and observe how people react to employees attempts to influence them. Team leaders can also ask team members for candid feedback and suggestions for improvement. The rest of the team members can also learn, by observing the relationship between the leader and the team and by practicing the use of referent and expert power.

2. FORMAL ASSESSMENT AND TRAINING: Many organizations ensure that their most talented employees receive assessments and attend leadership training programs. These can be conducted in the organization's own educational facilities, at a college or university, through a computer simulation program managed by human resource companies that play the trainers' role. Regardless of location, formal assessment and training programs include evaluation of the individual's current approach to leadership and provide educational experiences designed to improve the individual's effectiveness as a leader.

3. COACHING AND MENTORING: Whether held at a college campus or at corporations' premises, most formal take place in traditional classroom settings. Leaders who prefer a more personal approach can hire a personal or work with a mentor. Personal coaches can provide an intensive leadership development experience. But they can be quite costly. Few people can afford this method of leadership development. For many managers, having a mentor is more feasible. Mentors are often supervisors or senior colleagues in an organization who provide advice and guidance about a variety of career-related concerns. They can help a manager understand how others respond to his or hers behaviors and point out weaknesses or blind spots. They also serve as role models that a manager can emulate and provide valuable advice concerning the styles of leadership favored in an organization. Finally, they assist a manager in developing leadership capabilities by helping the manager find assignments that will foster on-the-job learning. Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://worldof-science.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://computerinformationsource.com/ and http://allaboutourhealth.net/ ]]> Leaders Under Construction - Developing Leadership Skills http://www.artwoo.com/article/leaders-under-construction-developing-leadership-skills http://www.artwoo.com/article/leaders-under-construction-developing-leadership-skills#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:14:58 +0000 developing leadership skillsrobert k greenleaftraits of a leaderdegree approachleadership stylewatcopen environment http://www.artwoo.com/article/leaders-under-construction-developing-leadership-skills
Well, leaders are born, but only in la la land!!! You can be born with the but the right encouragement is a must for .

While developing leadership skills at an early stage has its advantages, it's never too late to start if you haven't yet discovered the leader in you! And that's not a whole load of motivational hogwash.

In this piece, let's take a look at the why and how of developing leadership skills.

Successful management requires more than just assigning tasks to the team. It calls for a leader who can inspire team members to achieve their full potential. People want to be guided by a person they respect, someone who has a clear sense of direction. To be that person, there are certain things that you must BE, KNOW and DO. And that's what developing leadership skills is all about.

Robert K. Greenleaf "The only test of leadership is that somebody follows."

If you want to set an example for others to follow, may we suggest the following check-list?

1.Test the waters: find out what people think about your style of management. This could be a real eye opener, and the key to making changes to your . Employ a 360 wherein you receive feedback from your team members and peers. Let your team in on the objective behind the survey. A relaxed and will help draw out their honest opinion.

2.Listen hard: when your team members speak to you about all their work related worries, hear them out. You could convey empathy, suggest alternatives and create harmony within the team. GREAT LEADERS ARE GREAT LISTENERS!!!!!

3.Connect: take complete responsibility for how you are heard. Always rephrase your message to make it sound positive. Effective communication is a fine art.

4.Be a people's person: an integral part of developing leadership skills is to learn to respect your team's capabilities. Let the team members take decisions on certain issues. Trust them with their work; don't be a hdog.

5.Lead by example: your team must believe in your integrity, and that you really mean what you say. Be prepared to put your money where your mouth is. It works like a charm!

6.Share leadership: distribute tasks among group members depending on the situation and individual strengths. You become a better leader by involving more people in the leadership process.

7.Evaluate your success in tandem with that of the team: your prime responsibility is to ensure success and development of the team. Focus on building their skills as this will enhance motivation and team performance. Remember, their success is yours too!

Harvey S. Firestone said "The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership." We couldn't agree more! Hi, I'm Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.smartentrepreneur.net. It's full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. ]]> Leadership In The Workplace As A Boss http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-in-the-workplace-as-a-boss http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-in-the-workplace-as-a-boss#comments Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:27:09 +0000 leadership in the workplacebossthrowing fitsbad situationsomething badjoin togetherdread http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-in-the-workplace-as-a-boss leadership in the workplace that they come to expect? What is it that you think they do expect from you as the ?

It is hard to give everyone something that they can take with them, unless you know what you are doing.

Working is a part of life and we all have to do it. Everyone has a boss, but it is what that boss does that leads them to success.

What is the key to being the best boss you can be? What is the key to making sure that everyone has the right leadership?

The first thing is the right attitude. If you go into a without the knowledge and the know how, then it will not work.

You have to believe in your people and your company. You have to love what you do, in order to guide and teach everyone else. You have to take steps to make everyone see that even can be turned around with the right leadership.

That is what being a boss is all about. It is not about yelling and , but about working with your people and showing them what to do. Your knowledge of the company and what your company does is a plus. You teach them the right ways to do things.

You make everyone follow those rules and make sure that those who don't are punished. You be there friend, as well as their boss.

It helps to be open and honest with your people. If you do this they will be more comfortable coming to you with the problems and be able to help you fit them.

When you are working with any group of people it is all about team work.

If you have those that are not working with the team, then it hurts everyone, including your company.

This is why leadership in the workplace is most important and with it you can all to get the job done together as a team. You will also have many happy employees and customers.

Working doesn't have to something you everyday, it needs to be something that you love.

You will find that those that have the right leadership will have little problems with their company. Not saying it will cure everything, it just makes it easier and better to do the work.

Everyone place of business has problems and their ups and downs, but with the right leadership they can overcome those issues quicker. How is your leadership in your workplace? Do you have the qualities to become the best leader and guide those around you? Charles Williams is a writer for http://www.lsft.org which is an excellent place to find Motivation and Self Improvment links, For more information go to:www.lsft.org ]]> Leadership: The Secret Sauce http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-the-secret-sauce http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-the-secret-sauce#comments Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:35:01 +0000 different styles of leadershipwork leadershipstyles of leadershipemployee productivitymenial tasksrealize that theyclueless http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-the-secret-sauce clueless about . Does this mean that productivity is some kind of magic? Not at all, in fact, it's much simpler than one would think. There is no need for any advanced training or greater knowledge or great sums of money. All it requires is a bit of common sense. That's all!

In our search for answers we sometimes have a tendency to overlook the obvious. Of all the managements surveys that are done each year what is proven over and over again is that people like to be treated authentically and with respect. Great leaders appear to instinctively understand this.



It is important for leaders to were employees at one point in time. Remember how you felt when were assigned to you or when you had to spend long hours just waiting for the senior management to turn in their reports, which were far behind schedule. Given that you are now in a position of responsibility and authority, how are you handling such situations? It is not enough to treat people just as "employees". You need to identify and respect their ability to add value to your business. This can be done only by showing respect to their capabilities and recognizing their efforts and achievements. Effective and efficient leadership means seeing the true value of your team and making them know that you care and appreciate their hard work. Leadership is bound to fail if you think that you can trick or manipulate your employees to do anything. This only leads to the leadership's fall from grace leading to loss of control, loss of time, fall in quality of work and much more. While there may be , an overbearing style will certainly blow up in your face.

The answer to effective and efficient leadership is so simple and staring at you all the time. Show appreciation to your employees and communicate that you appreciate the work done by them. Common sense, isn't it? Such an approach will automatically result in greater positivism in attitude and hence greater employee productivity. Employees will be inspired to come to work than being forced to come to work. As a leader, if you do not possess this simple quality, then it's time that you enrolled in a course on self development and people sensitivity. It means you are not ready for the leadership role yet.

It is rather difficult to teach common sense. One either has it or not. So if your current leadership is showing negative results such as falling quality of work, missing deadlines, and high attrition rates then it might be worth your while to examine your attitude towards your employees. It's time to show respect to your employees, communicate that you appreciate their work and recognize good work. Know that your success lies in the success of your employees. Harald Anderson is the co-founder of http://artinspires.com one of the internets leading inspirational poster galleries. His goal in life is to become the kind of person his dog already thinks he is. http://www.artinspires.com/display_patriotic.asp ]]> Several Articles On Leadership http://www.artwoo.com/article/several-articles-on-leadership http://www.artwoo.com/article/several-articles-on-leadership#comments Fri, 01 Sep 2006 04:27:13 +0000 leadershipposter workposter boardhttpcrucialattitudework ethic http://www.artwoo.com/article/several-articles-on-leadership leadership would be perfect to help him with his new responsibilities. I knew that he would love an article on leadership, and thus was searching for one that had hi values and embedded in them.

It is not too difficult to find an article on leadership as there is large pool to choose from. There was one article on leadership that caught my eye; it was in put in black and white by some of the most successful leaders present in the current business world. They had stated all those factors they thought were for a good leader to posses.

The article on leadership emphasized the importance of the fact that a leader is someone who the others would want to follow. You might find this business related site useful http://www.myemploymentresource.com. A positive and pleasant is something that the people look for. Although the attitude to obtain perfection acts as a hindrance in how other people judge him, I still feel that my husband possess these attributes. This situation is taken care of well in the article on leadership.

After creating a copy of the article on leadership, I noted down the key points on a different sheet of paper. I then made my way to the local copy shop to find out if they could transfer the points on to a . The proprietor of the copy shop and I looked up the article on leadership to confirm if we were not violating any copy write laws.

This article on leadership mentioned that you were permitted to use or reuse a part of or the entire article. After which I got down to making the poster that I had initially intended to. I choose a paper that would go well with the frame and matting that I had purchased. After the was done it became a wonderful add-on to my husband's new office.

My husband appreciated the gift a lot. Not only did it provide him with valuable points on leadership but also acted as a great wall hanging for his office. He got so enticed by the key points that wanted to read the entire original article on leadership. Thus in turn he was led to another article on leadership which provided him with more information.

My husband will turn out to be a great supervisor because of the things he had read and also because he continuously keeps applying whatever knowledge he has gained in his career and thus others will want to follow him. Scotty Bizwick often works with: http://www.businessforhire.com http://www.ecommercetrain.com ]]> Simple Leadership Basics http://www.artwoo.com/article/simple-leadership-basics http://www.artwoo.com/article/simple-leadership-basics#comments Thu, 15 Jun 2006 21:32:04 +0000 performanceleadershipjobaccordinglyterm successwallyjargon http://www.artwoo.com/article/simple-leadership-basics jargon, debate, and junk theory surrounds the idea of , what it is, who does it, and how to do it well. But if you have just been promoted, and you're responsible for a group for the first time, there are only a few things you really need to know about leadership.

When you get promoted and become responsible for the of a group you become a leader. But you don't undergo some magical change. In fact, it will probably take you over a year to completely adjust to your new role.

You're a leader because the people in your group treat you like one. The only choice you have is what kind of you'll do.

When you become a leader your power actually goes down. As an individual contributor, you just have to decide to work harder, longer or smarter to improve performance. When you're responsible for the performance of a group, the group is your destiny. They choose whether to act or not.

When you become a leader, your influence goes up. The people who work for you pay attention to what you say and do. They adjust their behavior .

The result is that you use your behavior (what you say and do) to influence the behavior of the people who work for you to achieve a defined objective.

Achieving the objective is part of your job as a leader. The other part is caring for your people.

It may be possible to achieve good short term results without caring for your people. But you can't achieve long for you or your company without the willing cooperation of the best folks you can find.

At the end of the day, you can measure your leadership based on those two standards. Did we accomplish the mission? Are the members of my group better off today than yesterday?

You can find out more about all of this and learn it almost effortlessly from my book, Performance Talk: The One-on-One Part of Leadership. Bock helps leaders improve the performance and morale of their teams. You'll find tips and resources about all aspects of leadership at the Three Star Leadership site (http://www.threestarleadership.com/) ]]> Success Begins With Leadership http://www.artwoo.com/article/success-begins-with-leadership http://www.artwoo.com/article/success-begins-with-leadership#comments Sat, 03 May 2008 16:21:33 +0000 poor leadershipwork relationshipseffective leadershipcollective effortspersonificationorganizational changecomfort zone http://www.artwoo.com/article/success-begins-with-leadership
or innovation does not just happen. In fact it is much more difficult for an organization to innovate without . The employees who are being expected to change their methods (ie. leave their ) will have an easier time adapting if they see a strong leader showing them the way. Employees must have faith that their leader will guide them through the transition.

The Role of Leadership

As an employee in an organization, you may have noticed how important it is to have faith in your leaders. The leaders are supposed to be the of the ideals of the organization. The employees look up to the leaders as examples of how they should work. Actually, organizations need someone to be responsible enough to lead the rest. Without this leadership the of the organization to achieve its goals would be futile.

When all is said and done, it all comes down to whether the employees trust that leaders in the future will support them as they embark on their endeavors. Will the leaders work to improve ? Will the leaders work to strengthen the confidence of their employees? Will the leaders be prepared to "go to the mattresses" with their troops? These factors will determine whether a would be leader is trusted by their followers. Without trust would be leader will not effectively lead the organization

The Impact of

Many organizations suffer from either poor leadership or complete lack of leadership. The result is that the organization is not as successful as it could be. This lack of leadership may be at the top of the organization, however, often times it lies hidden in lower levels of the organization. For example, the business might be lead by a strong charismatic leader. That leader could expertly chart the company's path toward the successful achievement of its strategic goals. On the surface everything would appear to be in order. Consider though the plight of an employee in that organization who is managed by an ineffective lower-level leader. This employee may be encouraged by the actions and example set by the leaders at the top of the organization, however, they may not trust the actions of their immediate manager. Lack of trust of lower level could spread and effectively undermine the leadership effectiveness of the strong charismatic leader. The ultimate success of the organization would be less than optimal because although the organization enjoyed strategic leadership, that leadership didn't permeate the business operations.

Feeble leadership would only result to the deficiency of hope which might probably go on for too long and in turn would lead to the organizations inevitable decline.

Conclusion

Leadership is a key component in successful organizations. Effective leaders can help their followers and organizations achieve goals that they never though possible. Conversely, lack of leadership, or ineffective leadership, can devastate an organization. Consider you own leadership ability. You do not need the highest level person in your organization to be a leader. You just need to commit yourself to developing and practicing your leadership skills. Joseph Jester is the owner of http://FinancialFreedomQuest.com and writes on a variety of subjects. To learn more Joseph recommends that you visit: http://FinancialFreedomQuest.com ]]> Leadership Skill: Leaving A Leadership Legacy http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-skill-leaving-a-leadership-legacy http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-skill-leaving-a-leadership-legacy#comments Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:35:00 +0000 leadership competency modelleadership dimensionsgrasping at strawsleave a legacyacquiringhave concluded thathogwash http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-skill-leaving-a-leadership-legacy leave a legacy by leveraging their natural personality gifts to guide choices about skills and developing their organization's culture. One in which people have clearly defined goals, continuous feedback, and career alignment all within a culture driven by the excitement of achievement and the vision of destiny.

After a combined 45 years of experience in the field of leadership development, my wife, Nancy, and I much of what is currently written about leadership is both confusing and misleading. It's mostly descriptive, not prescriptive. First of all, leaders are being encouraged to think "outside the box;" attempting feats of magic and leaps of faith that go well beyond what most normal people can do (baring some major life-changing experience like a near death experience or getting married). They are told to think like Queen Elizabeth, Buddha, Attila, Zen, Tao, Jack, Al Jesus. As a result, people start popping their heads out of their comfort zones, start looking around, , and ignoring what's under their noses. This is unreasonable, unnecessary, and contrary to human nature. Besides, thinking and acting are two different things.

Second, there are just too many discussed (over 50) for any reasonable leader to master. Yet try they do. I've coached senior leaders responding to their organization's trying to perfect all dimensions in the model. It's ! To invest across the board in development can result at best in mediocrity on many fronts. Average, no matter in how many arenas does not produce above average results.

Successful leaders don't waste their time acquiring skills they don't need. And since your brain is only so big and can only hold so much stuff, it becomes critical to optimize your capabilities. You don't need to master the 50 dimensions required to be the perfect leader, just those that you need to be successful right now.

Finally, not only are there too many leadership dimensions, but the words and adjectives used to define leadership overlap to the point of creating confusion, both in literature and practice. A recent factor analysis performed on a 360 degree feedback instrument (a questionnaire with self, boss, peer and subordinate ratings) found only two major factors underlying the 50 leadership dimensions: "smart" and "nice." The "smart" factor is action and thinking skills and the "nice" factor is people skills and character.

Becoming a legendary leader and creating a high performance culture is not that difficult if you are willing to follow a few rules.

1. Be outcome oriented

2. Be feedback rich

3. Create a balanced approach that gives people the motivation to move forward and a vision (and a pathway) to achieve success.

4. Know yourself

5. Coach others

6. Push for those ideas that will change the way you operate. A world class speaker, author, and educator, Dr. Robbins focuses on transformational leadership by providing leadership skill training, team building / team leadership training, management development training, and executive coaching. See more on http://www.harveyrobbins.com ]]> The Importance Of Leadership Development http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-leadership-development http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-leadership-development#comments Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:30:21 +0000 mail roomimportance of leadershipleadership abilitiesleadership developmentleadership styleleadership rolefundamental requirements http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-importance-of-leadership-development importance of leadership development, assuming that corporate leaders either have what they take or they don't and if they do they'll learn as they go. If they don't...well, if they didn't have what it took they wouldn't have been given a to begin with, right?

Not necessarily. Sometimes all that's needed is a little .

There is no such thing as a natural born leader, which is why leadership development is so important. Anyone can have the necessary for the leadership role. It's how they develop them that matters.

Leadership development is defined as an effort to enhance a learner's ability to lead, an endeavor focused on developing the and attitudes of the individuals sitting at the top of the chain of command. Successful leadership development requires a lot more than the ability to give orders. It also requires diplomacy, top of the line people skills, a certain level of ruthlessness and an understanding of how much space there is and there isn't between the executive suite and the . A good leader doesn't just lead. He or she leads by example.

Leadership development within a company should be addressed at both the individual and group level. Individual leadership development can be undertaken in both a hands-on and a classroom environment, and which method your organization chooses is entirely up to you. Through various exercises the individual learns to identify their strengths and weaknesses, using both to shape and mold their successful .

Individual leadership development is very important for individuals first entering the field and those who are having a difficult time taking up the reins of command. Additional leadership development offers them the opportunity to hone their skills, smooth over their weaknesses and learn to make the most of their current position rather than finding themselves stuck on the bottom rung of the ladder to success because of a lack of knowledge and personal resources.

Group leadership development is absolutely vital in any company, regardless of industry, because it teaches an executive team how to look, think and act like a team. For a business to run smoothly it's essential that the executive team be able to operate like a well oiled wheel, cognizant of each other's patterns, strengths, weaknesses and goals and able to work together to achieve success. Any leadership team that is rapidly "slapped" together and tossed into the ring is going to fail almost instantly. It takes time and practice, and leadership development offers the opportunity for both.

Leadership development through books, activities, conferences and classroom studies is a vital part of any company's success, which is why there are hundreds of books, seminars, conferences, workshops, boot camps and personal coaches devoted to that very goal. Never underestimate the importance of the team of people holding the reins in an organization, and don't discount the need to allow those individuals to develop their leadership skills both inside and out of the office.

Leadership matters.Ray Subs is a public relations consultant for N2Growth, a company that specializes in helping businesses and their leaders grow and develop to find success in a competitive corporate environment. More information can be found at N2Growth.com.]]> Management vs. Leadership http://www.artwoo.com/article/management-vs-leadership http://www.artwoo.com/article/management-vs-leadership#comments Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:27:10 +0000 management leadershipeffective leadershipabdicatevisionarydictionarymanagement abilitystrong management http://www.artwoo.com/article/management-vs-leadership visionary. If you look up visionary in the you'll find:

visionary -- noun. One whose ideas or projects are impractical.

This is a very good definition of someone who wants to be a leader but doesn't want to participate in any management functions. Leadership is determining where you are going and management is determining how you are going to get there. Without is ineffective. Leaders who accomplish things without any management skills do so in spite of themselves. They would be much more effective as leader who practice management.

There are individuals who are skilled at implementing someone else's vision, but are not leaders. These people exist can make some leaders their responsibility to manage. While a good leader will surround them self with skilled managers, that doesn't alleviate the need for management skills in the leader himself. The chances of success of a leader who doesn't participate in management are much lower than a leader who understands, values and practices a strong .

Strong leadership is supported by good solid management practices. You can't lead effectively if you have no way of measuring where you are going or knowing how well you are achieving your goals. Leadership by accident is not effective. Leadership must happen by design and design is what management is about. Management is determining a path, a way to reach a goal. Without management you may be able to achieve something, but it is unlikely that you will be able to have continued success. Without management successful leadership is more of a lottery than a process. On rare occasion you might win just by accident, but it isn't because of any skill on your part. Worse yet it isn't repeatable, so it is unlikely that you'll be able to reproduce the same results except by random chance.

In its simplest form, management is the process of defining and measuring success. A leader who defines success, sets the vision, and determines the measurements of success will be much more effective than someone with the same skills who wants to determine the vision but refuses to do any work in the area of management. Leadership501 is a website with resources for leaders and people in management positions. Please visit http://www.leadership501.com to learn more about how to challenge and organization to grow. ]]> Leadership: The Rest Of The Story http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-the-rest-of-the-story http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-the-rest-of-the-story#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2007 08:30:02 +0000 define leadershipcountry bumpkinaccountableculture shockbeing responsibleu turncorporate world http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-the-rest-of-the-story define leadership as either "responsibility" or "accountability."



There is a huge difference between these two terms.

In my career, I moved from a business where I was the "responsible one" to a business where I was to be "." I had been given an irresistible jump I simply could not put aside. However, the shock was so great I felt I had landed on a different planet. The business was big and anyone would have been proud to be in my position. But it was a for me. I felt like a in a big city.

I brushed up the knowledge I had picked up in the business school. I tried my best to put into practice all the skills I'd learnt along the way. I took up the situation as a challenge. But after six months I was exhausted and went back to my boss to admit defeat. I could take it no more and wanted to return to where I was comfortable. He would not listen to any of it. he politely refused my resignation.

Then the realisation struck me like a flash of lightning.

I was managing things instead of people.

I was stuck in the grooves of my previous portfolio where I was responsible for doing the work. In fact, I was still doing much of the 'stuff' in the business and not managing my people to do the 'stuff' they were qualified to do. In other words, I was doing their job at a much bigger salary and I was upsetting some of those who were paid to do it!

As soon as I realized my mistake, I took a . I started developing the capabilities of my people, investing time in them rather than doing all the jobs myself. I must admit, it was much easier to do the things myself than teach others how to do them. Moreover, it was time consuming and the wants targets to be met at any cost.

But things started to turn around. The secret lay in distinguishing between and being accountable. When I was doing the job assigned to me, I was responsible for delivering results for that small part of the whole organization. Now that the business had become much bigger, I couldn't do it all any more.

To put it simply, I was now accountable for the performance of my business, and it was time to delegate responsibility to others. So, I handed over the doing part to those who were responsible for doing it. And, I was there to support them, answer their questions, solve their problems and encourage their good work. That is being accountable! It was a tough learning experience for me but enlightening all the same.

The next time you need to understand leadership I would strongly suggest you go to the dictionary and differentiate the terms "accountable" and "responsible." Harald Anderson is the co-founder of http://artinspires.com a leading online gallery of Patriotic Military Art. "When Art Inspires, Dreams Become Realities. His goal in life is to become the kind of person that his dog already thinks he is. http://www.artinspires.com/display_patriotic.asp ]]> Allowing Yourself To Grow And Make Your Team Leadership Even Better http://www.artwoo.com/article/allowing-yourself-to-grow-and-make-your-team-leadership-even-better http://www.artwoo.com/article/allowing-yourself-to-grow-and-make-your-team-leadership-even-better#comments Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:20:00 +0000 personal developmentleadership skillsteam leadershipleadership roleteam leaderbenefitskill set http://www.artwoo.com/article/allowing-yourself-to-grow-and-make-your-team-leadership-even-better ship role within yourself is something that you probably strive for on a regular basis. You want to make sure that everyone knows you are a team player, but also a team leader, because the best team leaders are able to do this without appearing like they know everything. Modesty goes hand in hand with leadership, and perhaps this is something that you just happen to be good at. However, you should know that no matter how good of a team leader you are, there is much that you can from, including .

You might believe that you are as developed of a person that you are going to be. You probably went to school to learn all of the things that you know, and you have probably practiced your with much success. You probably also feel that what kind of person you are outside of work has nothing to do with what kind of leader you are. However, all of these things are false. The type of person that you are outside of work is very important to your ability to be a team leader, and no matter how much you about leadership, you will always be able to benefit from personal development.

Personal development on your part means that you are able to think outside of the box when it comes to various things. A person who is working on their personal development is allowing themselves to grow and change with the times, and is always leaning new skills to deal with the various factors that might come up which might affect how they lead their team. A person with good personal development realizes that they are never truly developed as a person, and they much always allow themselves to change and grow.

Part of being a real and true leader is knowing that the and the goals that you have at the present moment are not always going to be what you need. Sometimes you have to learn new ways to do things, and sometimes you have to learn things that are the opposite of what you might believe in. These are goals that are hard for some people, and they are things that some people remain against because they are set in their ways. However, if you truly want to be a good leader, you'll be able to find ways to grow as a person, which is all going to reflect in your team leadership.

As a team leader, you never want to stop learning and growing. Each step you make in your own personal development will help you in your leadership goals, and a leader that never stops developing means the strongest team imaginable. Jim Biscardi is owner of Dynamic Wealth Systems, LLC and writes on a variety of subjects. To learn more about this topic Jim recommends you visit: http://www.DynamicWealthSystems.com ]]> Developing Leadership Skills http://www.artwoo.com/article/developing-leadership-skills http://www.artwoo.com/article/developing-leadership-skills#comments Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:30:00 +0000 leadership training coursescommunity elderslearnt knowledgeleadership bookssocial environmentsinformal leadersleadership styles http://www.artwoo.com/article/developing-leadership-skills
Observing and learning

Leadership requires learning. Anyone can learn to become a leader. There are enough and seminars on offer. are a great place to start your learning. The best way to learn, however, is to observe leaders in your home, work and and try to learn from them. The best time to observe a leader in action is when there is a crisis. Crisis-handling is where most leadership skills come into play and the person is required to respond quickly and decisively and set things right.

Try to observe both kinds of leaders =96 formal leaders like elected representatives of local and world bodies as well as like your own parents, grandparents or . All these people can offer great insights on leadership and help you garner knowledge on the skills that go into leadership.

You must keep in mind that leadership is not something you can learn in a day. You must find ways and means to learn from your daily experiences, and put your learned skills and knowledge to use in day-to-day situations whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Remember, though, that are not learnt in a day. It needs daily use to learn from daily experiences and to put your and skills to the test. Practicing Leadership

It is so true that `practice makes perfect'. It is not enough to have read books on leadership and acquire theoretical knowledge. In order to develop your own leadership style, you must find a way to apply what you have learnt whenever an opportunity comes your way. With practice, you will find yourself getting better at it. And people around you will also start recognizing your ability to take charge and naturally turn to you for direction. This is the way a leader emerges.

Leadership is not just about how to handle situations. It is a quality that you carry around with you when you deal with colleagues, friends, family or even the grocer. It shows in every bit of your demeanor. The way you carry yourself or interact with people shows a lot about your leadership quality. If you manage your organizational and personal responsibilities well, your leadership will be seen.

The trick is to keep using what you have learned till leadership becomes a habit for you.

Building Trust between you and your Team

A leader is only as good as his team. The leader alone cannot achieve the objectives and must share the responsibility with his team members.

The formally appointed leader is not necessarily someone who can get the team inspired to work together and complete the required tasks. In fact, each member of the team will have his or her own expertise making them the `informal' leaders in their area of expertise.

The job of the formal leader is to make the team work together and build trust so that it becomes a cohesive group. Mere lip service will not achieve this. To build confidence and trust, your actions must match your words.

To sum up, leadership is something that comes out of an ongoing learning process through observation, training and study. But the best way to learn is to keep practicing what you have read or observed at every given opportunity. Harald Anderson is the co-founder of http://www.artinspires.com a leading online motivational poster gallery. His goal in life is to become the kind of person his dog thinks he is. ]]> How To Effective Identify Bad Leadership In An Organization - NU Leadership Series http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-effective-identify-bad-leadership-in-an-organization-nu-leadership-series http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-effective-identify-bad-leadership-in-an-organization-nu-leadership-series#comments Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:27:07 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-effective-identify-bad-leadership-in-an-organization-nu-leadership-series "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." Warren G. Bennis

Leader, are you going to meet your organizational goals? Are you looking for a "silver bullet" solution? Your organization won't be successful without good leadership. You can purchase better equipment or introduce a new process. However, your situation won't improve until you have effective leadership.

What is leadership? There are a variety of leadership definitions. For this article, leadership is defined as the ability to influence people to support a specific goal. Leadership is not about being the boss or manipulating people for personal gain. Do you know bad leadership when you see it? The following actions describe a very bad leader:

• taking advantage of employees; • guiding others in an unethical way; • talking down to employees; • failing to communicate to others; • maintaining an uncaring and unsympathetic attitude; and • taking actions solely for personal gain.

Does this description fit your management? Well, many of these behaviors cause employees to leave. It also creates the right climate for running a company out of business. Definitions abound on management techniques to solve this problem, but it starts with good leadership.

Draft, the author of Organization Theory and Design, argues that the right leadership can have a substantial impact on an organization, however. Bad leaders are often takers in the secular world. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once stated, "You do not lead by hitting people over the head--that's assault, not leadership."

On the contrary, good leaders provide a sense of heaven on earth. In Calvin Miller's book, The Empowered Leader, the servant leader is seen through the life of King David. Miller explains, "Servant leaders are task-centered...Because they feel inadequate, they seek to look beyond themselves for answers." Servant leadership is not a new idea.

Much of this concept is grounded in a religious concept. In the Bible, Jesus Christ explains to his disciples, ". . . the greatest among you should be like the youngest and the one who rules like the one who serves..." According to Dr. Bruce Winston, author of Be a Leader for God's Sake, good leaders are accountable to their followers.

I have seen great managers during my professional career, but few great leaders. Dynamic leadership is difficult to measure for most organizations. However, organizations can't afford to not have them. Organizations should be concerned. It's their business. Start today!

References:

Daft, R. (1995). Organization Theory and Design. St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company.

Miller, C. (1995). The Empowered Leader. United States of America: Broadman and Holman Publishers.

Winston, B. (2002). Be a Leader for God's Sake. Virginia Beach, VA. Regent University. Daryl D. Green has published over 100 articles in the field of decision-making and leadership. Mr. Green is an author of several books, including More Than A Conqueror. He has been noted in USA Today and AP. For one free coaching session ($50 value), you can email him at http://www.darylgreen.org. ]]> Great Leaders Don't Answer Questions http://www.artwoo.com/article/great-leaders-dont-answer-questions http://www.artwoo.com/article/great-leaders-dont-answer-questions#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:43:55 +0000 havarti cheesehigh priorityflangesprofessional growthteam sportanswering questionsdecision maker http://www.artwoo.com/article/great-leaders-dont-answer-questions Let's face it ... Business is a ... with the Entrepreneur as the Team Leader.

Consistently growing your Team's capabilities is a . Over time, a growing Team will become more productive and efficient ... accelerating the growth of your business and producing clear changes in your bottom line.

As the Leader you also get asked a LOT of questions.

One sure way to slow the growth of your business is to develop the habit of answering them.

Clients tell us that their Teams sometimes drive them crazy by asking for decisions on even minor things. There is only one way they learned to do that - YOU TRAINED THEM TO. You trained them by answering their questions in the first place.

And that habit of and making all the decisions will slow the growth of your people and the growth of your business.

===============
Here's are some examples:
===============

"Boss, Chuck and I just noticed the last bunch of widgets came off the line without - there's 200 in the box already - what should we do?"

"I just found out the we need for today's sandwich special didn't get ordered ... what should we do?"

"We posted that article on http://EZineArticles.com last week and it didn't get any hits at all ... what should we do?"

Now you probably have a real good idea what you would like them to do
AND
What happens if you tell them?

What happens if you "Fix" the "Problem"?

You feel great - a real problem solver... take charge kinda person... a ... perhaps even a bit of a HERO.

AND at the same time ...

- They learn to come to You for all problems in the future
- They are taught Not to think for themselves
- They take actions based on only one person's ideas - Yours
- The possibility for and Team problem solving is eliminated
- If your solution does NOT work, you get blamed and morale suffers
- In many larger business, over time the employees become "Sheep", just waiting passively to be told what to do

=================================
What else could you do? Try out this scenario.
=================================

"O.K. let's have a Team Meeting ASAP"

- Ask the whole team for ideas on how to respond to the critical issue

- Listen to everyone's ideas without evaluating or interrupting and, if you give your input at all, make sure to GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS LAST

- Help the TEAM decide the most appropriate response for the TEAM to take

** WHAT HAS HAPPENED? **

- The Team has learned to solve its own problem
- The entire Team's talents and experience were applied to the challenge
- Since the Team participated in creating the action plan, they are automatically bought in to putting it in place
- The whole Team has grown
- You didn't have to work so hard now and you will be able to count on the Team's expanding problem solving capabilities in the future!!

You just accelerated the growth and profitability of your company by NOT answering that question.

NOW THAT'S LEADERSHIP !!!

Challenge:

For the next month, keep a tally of the number of questions you DIDN'T answer and problems you DIDN'T solve. It just might be a tally of how much your Team grew in that same time frame.Learn the Secrets to your own Leadership Style and get more done - WITHOUT WORKING ANY HARDER - by leading a growing team in your business. CLICK THIS LINK NOW to tap into our Leadership Training and Tools at the www.LeadershipStylesBlog.com]]> Leadership And Management http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-and-management http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-and-management#comments Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:22:17 +0000 kinds of leadershipleadership stylesleadership styleintelligent decisionsleadership and managementconcepts of leadershipsocial relationships http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-and-management leadership and management have now evolved to encompass factors that years ago would have been unthinkable.

Executive management, in particular, involves good . Years ago, leadership might have been thought to involve nothing more than being the most visible and the most powerful. The traditional thinking is that this in itself is sufficient to warrant leadership -- that is, the right visibility and power is a good reason for leading other people.

Nowadays, however, the concept of leadership has grown with the times. Being powerful and visible is simply not enough to ensure good leadership.

Effective leadership

Nowadays, people ask a lot of questions, as they rightly should. Hence, "Is this a good goal of the company?" "Are we sure that the policies implemented are appropriate and workable?" "Is this really a good strategy?" "Are the defined goals attainable?"

Being a good leader, you are not expected to say "We do this because I said so, and I'm the leader." Nothing will work to lose you converts faster. People have different styles, and while one style might work for some, it might not work for everyone.

The common thread in all of them, however, is the leader's ability to address questions and criticisms. And the best way to do this is by having a solid rational footing to begin with. This means that the basic trait people appreciate in a good leader is the ability to make rational and .

Good social skills

Because leadership mainly involves the "ability to lead or to direct people" towards a predetermined goal, much of the skills expected of a good leader or manager is their ability to navigate successfully.

This can involve a host of many different skill sets. For example, can you persuade people to your point of view without resorting to threatening or aggressive behaviour? Can you issue commands or instructions and reasonably expect them to be followed -- without having to resort to making unhealthy demands? Are you sufficiently clear in your communication with people? You'd be surprised at how much potential conflict and disagreements are actually the result of poor communication and misunderstandings.

After all, the main focus of leadership and being a good leader is people. Hence, effective leadership involves effectively dealing with people.

Good management is effective leadership

The ability to properly manage a group or organization is equivalent to being an effective leader. Why? Because managing groups and organizations mainly involve being able to direct the efforts a particular group of individuals.

You might think that being a manager, your main concern is really the welfare of the company or the organization as a whole, and your sole purpose is achieving goals, without regard to the welfare of people. After all, you pay them sufficiently for the work they provide. Thus they have no sufficient cause for complaints otherwise.

There is no way of getting around the fact that good management and leadership involves dealing with people. And all of us being humans, unique personalities and sensibilities are involved. This means that you would have to deal with a host of variable factors that have to be balanced, managed and directed in order to ensure optimum performance.Benedict Smythe recommends PDL Courses for training in most professional skills including assertiveness skills and Supervisory Management skills]]> Leadership In The Insurance Industry http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-in-the-insurance-industry http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-in-the-insurance-industry#comments Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:27:08 +0000 customer service numbersknowledgeable staffinsurance companiesinsurance companyleadershipstateinsurance industry http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-in-the-insurance-industry insurance companies that exude in the .

Below are a few tips to consider when looking for an that displays leadership and will be more likely to provide the exact insurance coverage you need.

1. Gather the names of a few well-known insurance companies. Just because an insurance company is well-known doesn't mean it's better, but it does give you a jumping off point.

2. Take this list of well-known insurance companies and check the ratings of each as rated by independent research companies. These companies have no connection with the insurance companies; therefore, they have no reason to present any information other than the truth.

3. Call your 's insurance bureau and ask which insurance companies are licensed to do business in your state. You don't necessarily have to have insurance through a company licensed to do business in your state; however, in the event that you have trouble with your company, your state's insurance bureau will be able to assist you more easily if the company is licensed to do business in your state.

4. Call the of each insurance company you're considering. Let the representative know you're a potential customer, and ask any questions you have regarding policies, coverage, and rates. Take note of the quality of customer service.

Qualities that help insurance companies maintain leadership in the insurance industry vary, usually according to each individual customer. As long as you choose a company that is reputable, has high ratings, is licensed to do business in your state, and has a friendly, , you're well on your way to finding an insurance company that possesses the traits of leadership. http://www.myquoteguide.com/Car-Tips.shtml http://www.ezquoteguide.com/home/ Car Insurance Quote ]]> Leadership Learning: The Real Costs Of Not Doing http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-learning-the-real-costs-of-not-doing http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-learning-the-real-costs-of-not-doing#comments Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:32:07 +0000 saving moneyleadershipfront line leadershr directorsoxford universityopportunity costfrontline http://www.artwoo.com/article/leadership-learning-the-real-costs-of-not-doing Oxford University in the UK found that British businesses and public sector organizations are wasting almost $140 million on executive education programs that are poorly conceived and delivered.

The study went on to say that 35 per cent of and 21 per cent of other executives believed that their current training and development programs were meeting corporate strategic objectives. The bulk of the money was being spent on individually developed courses for senior executives.

If those businesses want to quit wasting all that money on bad management training, I know where they can get their moneys worth. And it doesn't have anything to do with having more academics design special courses, events, and outings for senior staff.

Here's a novel idea folks. Why not spend your money on training and development down in the trenches, where it will really do some good?

Most companies don't do nearly enough of that. In 2003, just 7 percent of training budgets in the US were spent on first line leaders and most of that was for learning administrivia and for prophylactic HR.

The fact is that don't get much training at all and precious little of it is actually about leadership skills. Maybe that's because companies think they're by not investing in front line leader training.

True, there's no budget line item absorbing funds that might be spent on the executive dining room, or art for the CEO's office. But there are what economists call "s," the costs of not training front line leaders.

There's the opportunity cost of lost productivity. Good leadership builds both morale and profitability.

There's the opportunity cost of lost leadership. Great companies develop most of their own leaders. If you have to go outside for leadership you incur recruitment costs and transition costs.

Finally, there's the cost of lawsuits. Good frontline leadership creates organizations where lawsuits are less likely. And, ff the company is sued over a supervision issue, defense will be easier if the leaders have been doing their jobs.

How about your company? Do you develop your own leaders? Do you help them develop the skills they need to improve morale and productivity and avoid lawsuits? Think about that the next time you consider the training budget. Wally Bock is an author, speaker, consultant and coach who helps leaders improve the performance and morale of their teams. Wally's latest book is Performance Talk: The One-on-One Part of Leadership (http://www.performancetalk.com). Find tips and resources about leadership at the Three Star Leadership site (http://www.threestarleadership.com). ]]> How To Develop Effective Leadership Skills http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-develop-effective-leadership-skills http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-develop-effective-leadership-skills#comments Thu, 21 Sep 2006 22:27:08 +0000 leadership skillsleadership qualityleadership roleleadmotivational booksread bookscrucial http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-develop-effective-leadership-skills leader? What are the traits that set leaders apart from those who just follow the pack? Are leaders born or made? These questions may plague a high school kid who is about to run for school presidency, or an employee who has just been promoted to a supervisory position. Even those who are about to become first time parents have secretly asked themselves questions about the new that they are going to have to play in their child's life.

If you examine closely, you will discover that leaders tend to share some common characteristics, whether they lead in their sports team, at the work place, or at school. They tend to have something that sets them apart from the others. This is called . But before you become a leader, you must first develop your .

Earn the respect of your peers by leading through example.

Follow what you preach. What better way to lead others than by setting an example. The best way for a leader to earn the respect of their peers is by showing that they work hard and put in a lot of effort into what they do. Most of all, they show their dedication to getting the job done.

Be an inspiration to others.

It is important for leaders to be able to effectively work with others. Leaders must possess excellent communication skills. This involves not only being able to express their vision and communicate what needs to be done; but also, leaders must know how to listen. They have to be able to appease the concerns of those they are leading. They also have to earn their trust, and be considerate to their needs. The ability to lead and work well with others is especially when applied to a working environment. Leaders have to know how to motivate their employees, and get them to do what needs to be done.

on how to become an effective leader.

Those who want to become efficient leaders have to invest their time in reading . There are hundreds and hundreds of instructional, motivational, how to books and videos dedicated to the topic of leadership. This is a great place to pick up tips on effective leadership. Also, those motivational stories might come in handy for those one on one pep talk that sometimes leaders need to conduct.

Emulate the leaders you look up to.

Try to think of two or three leaders you admire, and assess the reason why you look up to these leaders. Try to learn as much as you can about their lives. Find out what traits and quality they possess that made them such effective and influential leaders. See if you have learned anything about the great deeds of these people that you can incorporate into your own leadership style.

Attitude is everything.

Leaders do not give up. They go on, even though the odds are stacked against them. They do not get easily fazed when confronted by setbacks and crises. They do this by being optimistic, maintaining a positive attitude, and showing their strength through perseverance. By doing so, they become inspirational figures to others.

Becoming a leader is not always a choice; sometimes, it is born out of necessity. Practically anyone has the potential to become a leader given the opportunity, proper training, and the right set of circumstances. Leadership skills can be developed; it is just a matter of having some discipline and dedication. Leaders are often made not born. If you want to efficiently lead any team to success then you have to know these 12 winning qualities of a highly competent leader: http://www.top-leadership-secrets.com ]]> How To Become An Affective Leader http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-become-an-affective-leader http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-become-an-affective-leader#comments Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:30:01 +0000 leadership skillsleadership styleleadership seminarsleadership stylesleonardo de vincicharismatic leadersalbert einstein http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-become-an-affective-leader
Have you ever met a "born leader?"

Once upon a time leaders were said to be born leaders. That may be true about even today, but they are very few and far between. You can become an effective leader with a little bit of practice.

Here are a few tips:

1. Choose your

It is entirely up to you to choose the kind of leadership style that suits you, but you must make a choice.

Will you lead with authority or by bringing about consensus from the masses.

Ask yourself whether you would like to be a formal leader who is elected or an informal leader like in Theoretical Physics or in the Arts. Then decide whether you would like to adopt an authoritative style or a democratic and participative style.

2. Develop

You can learn how to become a leader by attending leadership trainings or . A great way to develop leadership skills is to observe the leaders =96 how they conduct themselves in different and difficult situations. This is the best way to hone your leadership skills by picking up leadership insights. Remember, skills are not learnt in a day and the only way to learn them is to practice what you have learnt.

3. Be Practical

Theoretical knowledge is as good as having money in an account that has been frozen. Unless you can put it into practice, it is of no use. To develop , you need to apply your knowledge at every opportunity you get. Soon people around you will feel your presence. Also, leadership is not only about handling situations. It reflects in the way you conduct yourself, in your mannerisms and in your interactions with your work colleagues, family, friends or the guy at the bookstore. It is also reflected in how well you manage your personal and organizational responsibilities. It should become a habit to you.

4. Carry the Team Along

Without the team there is no leader. Alone you cannot achieve the objectives that you are expected to achieve. You can be made a leader but you will have to bring the team together to complete the tasks at hand. Your real test as a leader is how you deal with your team. You have to maintain a fine balance between strictness and leniency and above all generate trust to build a cohesive group.

5. Handling Situations

Finally, a leader should be able to handle the situation at hand. You cannot apply the same rules to all types of situations. Situations can vary immensely and you will need to have all your wits about you to be able to tide over some delicate situations. For instance, in an emergency situation like a fire, you cannot be consulting everyone on the decision. You will have to act fast, give clear orders and do everything else that needs to be done.

A leader knows the level of competence of his team. You can delegate more responsibility to a highly motivated team, but you may have to use a combination of high coaching, high supporting and high directing leadership styles with a team less competent.

Leadership styles can be perfected through practice and by observing other leaders.

You need not be a "born leader" to lead a group today. However, reading books and attending training sessions will open your eyes to the multitude of learning opportunities. Harald Anderson is the co-founder of http://www.artinspires.com a leading online gallery of Motivational Military Art Posters."When Art Inspires, Dreams Become Realities. http://www.artinspires.com/display_patriotic.asp ]]>