Managing Conflict
Ronald Reagan once said that “peace is not the absence of conflict; it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.” All of us will experience conflict both individually and in groups, but the ability to manage through that conflict will separate the high performing leaders and teams from the rest.
Learning from Criticism
Writer and philosopher, Elbert Hubbard claimed, “The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure criticism without resentment.” As a leader, being criticized is to be expected—and it may come from any one of a variety of directions. Criticism has many positive benefits if we are receptive to hearing them and willing to act on the feedback if appropriate.
The Power of Coaching
Why Coach?
At one time or another, all of us have been coached or coached someone. Some of these experiences may bring up negative memories of a coach who spent more time yelling than motivating, or of a manager who didn’t put much effort into the role. These negative examples often represent a poor coaching approach. Yet, despite these negative experiences in the past, it is crucial for leaders to understand and adopt a coaching style in order to get the best performance out of his/her team members.
Succession Planning
An important action to ensure long term success for your company is to create a succession plan. Succession planning is defined as identifying and developing employees into the appropriate leadership role at every level of the organization. Succession planning ensures that your current employees are discovering and developing their talents to eventually take over leadership positions.
Think Before You Act
Every single decision you make as a leader, be it tedious and small or large and complex, impacts your customers, staff, and culture. Since each decision matters, it’s important to pause and think about the impact your decision or action will have on yourself and others. Weigh the potential consequences of each decision, including positive or negative outcomes that may occur immediately or in the future.
