Want some motivation to end the year and start the new one kicking and raring to go?

Try this one…

If you feel you need a little external motivation and a bit of a kick sometimes, Nick Vujicic will provide it for you.

Thanks again

Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Course

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FREE email course “Improve Your Management Skills”

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Leadership is one of those qualities we all know we need to develop but wonder how we can apply it every day at work.

According to Vadim Kotelnikov, who carried out a survey on leadership roles, there are a number of main qualities that people look for in their leaders, and I’ve listed them below:

Charisma
Great Communication
Energising People
Competence in the Job
Vision

Now, in what order do you think Kotelnikov’s survey placed these, in order of importance to people working for them?

Many people would assume that all five are very important, which, naturally, they are. But his survey showed there was a definite leaning towards certain attributes above others.

Top of the list was having a vision. Especially in these trying times, vision is a key attribute followers want from their leaders in business. Vision is a short and inspiring statement of what your organisation intends to become and achieve in the near future. It provides purpose and motivation to all who buy into it. It’s inspiring when someone who you look up to creates a vision that you want to aim for and can have confidence in realising.

Next on the list was Energising others. How would a leader do that? By setting the example and living the ethics of integrity and honesty. People will follow that kind of leader wherever he takes them, and it doesn’t matter what position the leader is in the company: character says more about a person than anything else, because that is where results come from.

Third in the survey was great Communication. It’s simply not possible for a leader to inspire others unless their communication skills are honed and tested. People follow the example of leadership, so by communicating effectively with all stakeholders in a business, a leader shows their abilities in all areas.

Next came Competence, closely followed by Charisma. The survey shows that the soft skills are of more importance than the actual ability to do the job. It follows that Charisma, although a desirable trait for a great leader, is something that is not an absolute necessity in order to be effective. People don’t need passionate, inspiring speeches to motivate them; it’s more about how leaders get the best out of their people through intrinsic motivation.

So when you are wondering about how to get the best out of your people in the future, remember this survey and consider how you have communicated your vision for your team so that you energise them effectively. That way, you have covered the top three qualities that people are looking for from their team leaders.

Thanks again

Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Course

Click below for a:
FREE email course “Improve Your Management Skills”

Follow us here on Twitter

The UK version of The Apprentice showed how important it is to prepare for a meeting.

By preparing well, you make yourself valuable to the company. If you don’t prepare well, you can end up making yourself look foolish and having your ability questioned.

Take a look how Joanne Riley fared in her interview. Bear in mind that this was three months into the process of Lord Sugar trying to find his next apprentice…

By identifying what might come up in a meeting, you prove yourself proactive and creative. By winging it, you prove yourself unprepared and unable to cope.

Thanks again

Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Course

Click below for a:
FREE email course “Improve Your Management Skills”

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When we run communication skills courses, we often get asked about communications within the business and how they can be improved. Here are our tips to get the best of this key skill:

Recognise that everyone has a difference in the way they think. There’s a saying that the quality of communication is judged by the response they get. This difference in perception of things can cause delays or problems in the communication process. So, this is one of the biggest barriers to effective communication. Some people need to visualise things before they can understand it, so paint pictures with your words. Others need to hear it clearly, so ensure you make the meanings obvious. Still others are kinaesthetic in the way they assimilate information, so let them get involved and try things out.

Make the subject interesting to the listener. Many people have boring styles of delivery. If this reminds you of someone you know (maybe yourself???!!!) then identify how you can become more ‘interesting’ in your delivery and your style. Listen to people’s reactions when you speak, and notice when the listener lacks interest.

Watch the body language of the recipient. The subconscious reaction of the listener may tell you more than the words they use. Watch for specific ‘turn-off’ signs, like lack of eye-contact, turning away from you, edging towards the door, looking at their watch, glazed eyes, and the like!

Make sure your attitude is right. Some managers have the ability of taking things for granted and they assume very early that the listener knows a lot on the subject. Some managers are impatient and they get frustrated immediately when the other person fails to understand things fast. Wrong attitude of the speaker is one of the communication barriers in business in different types of settings.

Language Problems. We often deliver courses in non-native English-speaking countries and we have to modify our delivery style to accommodate this. If you manage teams in different countries, be aware that even though they may say they understand everything you say, there may be a difference in interpretation.

Cultural Barriers within the team. Sometimes, people may find it difficult or feel hesitant to communicate freely with people belonging to other cultures, even within the same team. Having cultural diversity in the workplace can help greatly in dealing with this kind of problems. HR managers should take the lead and identify solutions to these common barriers to full and open communication.

You’ll find that most business problems you face can be improved with quality communications within the business, and, as manager, you have the ability to keep the momentum going in this crucial area.

Thanks again

Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Course

Click below for a:
FREE email course “Improve Your Management Skills”

Follow us here on Twitter

Here’s a good model to remind you of the best way to give feedback to a team member. Following it should be quite SIMPLE, as that is the acronym used to help you remember it:

The first letter ‘S’ stands for be ‘Sensitive’ to the emotions you are experiencing and how you want the other person to feel.

The ‘I’ stands for ‘Issue-related’. In other words, make sure that any feedback is specific about the main issue at hand. Don’t try to ‘sugar-coat’ the message by hedging your bets or skirting around. Be specific about the issue.

The ‘M’ stands for ‘Meaningful’, ensuring that the other person totally understands what the feedback is about and highlighting the real meaning behind it.

The ‘P’ stands for ‘Prompt’, making sure the feedback is a soon after the issue as possible. Talking about something that happened a week or two ago is naturally going to cause problems in recalling specifics.

‘L’ stands for ‘Listen’ to exactly what the other person says, without prejudice or judgment, so they can help you understand the reasoning behind what happened.

And the ‘E’ stands for ‘Easy to Understand’, allowing the other person to see the value of the feedback and offer an explanation if necessary.

By keeping feedback SIMPLE, you create an environment for quality feedback, both ways, and keep the lines of communication wide open between you.

Thanks again

Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Course

Click below for a:
FREE email course “Improve Your Management Skills”

Follow us here on Twitter