While delegation comes naturally for some of us, others may struggle with it. Delegation is assigning responsibility to others and can consist of breaking up a large project into smaller tasks. If you manage a team or are a leader in your area, it is likely that you already delegate tasks. Some tasks may be large and some may be small, but delegating tasks of all sizes takes practice. (more…)
Being a leader comes with many responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is setting smart and effective objectives. What does this really mean?
First, it’s important to point out that objectives are different than goals. Goals are what you want to achieve; objectives help you work towards achieving those goals. To begin, take a look at the overall strategy and objectives for your organization and your team. The targeted objectives you develop should support those larger strategies and objectives in order for them to be effective.
Here are a few steps you can take to create your own objectives that will lead your team and company to success. (more…)
I recently started reading a book called How Great Women Lead, co-authored by Bonnie St. John and Darcy Deane. The book is a mother-daughter trip around the world interviewing extraordinary women in leadership positions about their lives and how their experiences have shaped their leadership style in the professional world. It is an extremely interesting and inspirational read (I mostly like the life stories and the lessons they learned).
I’ve found that you can learn so much about yourself in reading about other people’s experiences – how your own life’s experiences may be relatable or entirely different but the moral is still the same. While Bonnie and Darcy have narrow focuses (happiness and leadership, respectively) I find the process of being a leader subject to all the ups and downs in our life journey.
Here are some questions to ask as we go through our life journey: (more…)
The moment we come into this world, we have a purpose. Many strive to find their purpose while not understanding it’s not about job position, money, success and fame. Our purpose is so much more than that. Most of us want to make a difference in this world. We want to know at the end of day, we matter. So, how do we make a difference? How will we be remembered? These questions define the concept of positive leadership. (more…)
My parents were role models to me in supporting the community. While they were of modest means, they were tireless in giving their time when it was needed in the small Indiana town where I grew up. They ran my Cub Scout Pack when no one else stepped up; my father served as Pack Leader and my mother ran three different groups of boys as a Den Mother out of our home. When something needed to be fixed, painted or otherwise kept in good order at our little country church, my father always volunteered. My mother taught a Sunday school class for years and helped run Vacation Bible School. Outside of formal groups doing good work in the community, my mother spent many years making weekly visits to elderly friends who couldn’t take care of themselves but wanted to stay in their homes. She organized her friends to step in and help, too.
It seemed natural to me to get involved in community service work due to the example my parents set. (more…)
