August 30, 2010
Have You Honed Your Leadership Skills To The Max?
The popular notion that leadership is based on the person leading the team is no longer the way it was, people nowadays are aware that it' the team that matters, it doesn't even matter what your team is made up of.
With the advent of modern technology, it has become unpopular, even dangerous, to have a top down kind of leadership.
Some form of leadership is now expected to be exercised by the various members of the team. If you ask any leader of consequence, they will tell you that in times like these, it is imperative that they be the best leaders that they can be.
Dynamic leaders are responsive. Having rank is no longer as important, what's more crucial in their capacity as a leader is knowledge. Powerful leaders know when to wield and restrain their power, whether it is in letting a young student show their insights in the classroom, to hearing an employee's opinion in the workplace, or even in recognizing that a child's temper tantrum is their way of stamping their territory at home.
Strong leadership flows continuously, with no specific direction; it can come from the leader or spread from the team, it flows where it's needed, to direct, to mold, to move and to inspire.
Strong leadership involves two very important words: purpose and responsibility; one should have in mind a certain direction to take, the capacity to lead the team, and the ability to shoulder the consequences.
What differentiates a good leader from an exceptional leader is the scope of their influence; a good leader excels only on their chosen field of specialization whether it is in the classroom, office or home, but an exceptional leader has no borders, their skill affects every area of their lives.
Strong and outstanding leaders are not afraid to initiate change, they're not afraid of any opposition and are willing to do the work necessary to make it come about. These leaders lead through example, they are the first one to pick the shovel and do the work, inspiring others to do the same.
It is about molding other leaders. Learning how to find meaning is the mark of a true leader. Guiding towards the right direction is the mark of a true leader. True leadership knows how to bear consequences.
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Filed under Leadership by Brett Snyder
Many authors and experts would like to enjoy publicity and media exposure. To optimize your ability to secure publicity, book promotion and expert status media opportunities, you will need to create the publicity tools that support your media outreach. These tools include creating an author expert media website where the media can find out all about your and your book or message and how to use testimonials that discuss your expertise and professionalism. Also important is your ability to tie your message and commentary into the news of the day. Media training is another essential tool for authors and experts so that you will understand how the media works and be ready when they call you for an interview
Book authors and experts can create a powerful and effective media and publicity strategy. However, to do so, the author or expert will need to understand the basics of publicity and media strategy so they can create the most relevant publicity outcome.
One of the publicity tools is to create a website especially for the media. This website should showcase what the media needs to know about you. The author expert media site includes information about yourself, your book and includes additional material such as your professional photo, a demo video of a previous media experience, your media bio that links to any media coverage you may have secured, your professional bio that showcases your education, experience, credentials and accomplishments. Testimonals are important too so be sure to use the ones from influential sources as they will empower you as well.
The idea is to expand yourself as an author and apply your knowledge and wisdom to the issues of interest to society today. Start blogging on timely news events or other daily news stories that you find being covered on TV, in newspapers, on major media and newsmaker websites such as Foxnews.com, MSN.com etc. This way, you will get lots of practice in applying knowledge, experience and your message to the news issues that matter to your target market. Be a force, know your stuff, be content rich – you will be judged on appearance, style, charisma (and yes, charisma can be created) and most of all content.
Get comfortable speaking to the media and sharing your thoughts by getting some practice and training before you get started with your pubicity strategy. Media training is the key to being ready to speak to the media in a way the positively showcase your talent and expertise. You'll want to show the media that you are media savvy, professional and are able to discuss your commentary with them.
It's easy to create the publicity tools you will need for your success. Knowing what you will need in advance will help you avoid the publicity and promotion mistakes and enjoy an effective and powerful media outreach.
Annie Jennings is a recognized professional in book promotion. To set up a free consultation please go to book promotion. To listen to audio recordings of book promotion success please go to publicity.
Filed under Leadership by Annie Jennings
December 29, 2009
How To Get A Stimulus Job
According to President Obama the massive stimulus package he signed into law will generate or save 3.5 million American jobs, although the Republicans say the number will be lower – but they all agree that it create new jobs at the manager and executive levels. So many of you who are not working or think that you may be in line in receiving the pink slip may be wondering if there is a stimulus job for you? The answer lies in that fact how well the stimulus plan works. Most of the job offering will initially go to blue-collar workers (such as construction workers), public-sector employees (such as teachers), and those experienced in working with government entities
The stimulus plan backers predict 90 percent of the jobs created will be in the private sector. This projection is based on the belief that the economic activity generated by the stimulus will lead to new jobs in retail, leisure and hospitality, and other sectors as companies and individuals who directly benefit from the plan begin to spend their windfall. One thing is definite that following six white-collar occupations should see an upsurge in demand over the next two years: For more industry trends check out the JobConcierge Top 100 Jobs in 2010.
1. Although more than 60 percent of planners currently work for government entities, an increasing number are employed at architectural, engineering and management consulting firms. As state and local governments quickly determine how best to use the billions of dollars flowing in from the federal government, they will rely on urban planners to guide them on everything from the best location for new school construction to the environmental impact of infrastructure projects.
Civil engineering was experiencing double-digit employment growth even before the passage of the stimulus, and this number will also rise as after the planning the design and construction come into play. Thousands of civil engineers will be needed to design and supervise the construction of roads, bridges, tunnels, buildings, wind turbines and other projects that get a green light as a result of the stimulus package.
IT pros will be needed at all levels, for jobs ranging from wiring buildings for Internet access to transitioning the healthcare system to electronic medical records and e-prescriptions. . Improving the technology infrastructure of schools, hospitals and medical offices is an important objective of the stimulus.
The millions of dollars being funneled the stimulus represents a boon for medical researchers. About a third of medical researchers work for colleges and universities; most of the rest work at private research firms, pharmaceutical companies, and hospitals.
Consultants bring the expertise to analyze vexing problems and develop sweeping, ambitious proposals to solve them and eliminates the problem of government leaders tend to get sweaty palms. And if something doesn't turn out as planned, the politicians and execs have someone to point their fingers at when it's all over.
The influx of so much federal money will need oversight. At the federal, state and local levels, accountants and auditors will be required to make sure the numbers add up. Some experts predict that the government may need to hire auditors for its auditors.
JobConcierge is the destination for executive jobs – real people search 300 job boards and submit applications to take care of your entire online job search. The site is also known for its best executive recruiters
Filed under Leadership by John Smith
May 17, 2009
Programme Management Communications
All areas of life require good communication if they are to be successful, but when when communication is performed poorly or not at all, people and results suffer.
Programme Management is the same and although we use best practice techniques to manage risk, etc, communication is more about understanding people than understanding a best practice. The guidelines set out by various organisations such as the UK OGC, are useful references, but those guidelines can only become effective when they are applied by a Programme Manager who understands the human element of communication. A Programme Manager who understands people.
A Programme is often in greater need for effective communication because it is often a one-off initiative. This is highlighted in The Gower Book of Programme Management and it goes on to say that a programme will not always enjoy the luxury of a regular collection of disciplines and management structures.
Often people focus on certain areas of managing a programme. The outcome is that assets like the Communications Plan drift into the background as other matters take priority. Furthermore, many people do not appreciate the real benefits of a Communications Plan.
A Programme Communications Plan is as a strategic tool and a live document. It is not a static plan with blanks to be filled in and to be seen as a chore that needs to be done to get a tick in the box. When the plan is created with a casual approach, that Programme Manager will often communicate on the fly rather than according to plan. And the result is often a hurried, mediocre or worse. This will only serve to achieve mediocre or worse results. You can compare this to a Project Manager creating a detailed project plan and not using it! Both are recipes for failure.
A Communications Plan is a powerful tool that can be used to build relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. Which means it should become a high priority. Stakeholders should be well informed so that if the programme hits a problem, the stakeholders with whom we have already built relationships are more likely to support us when things get difficult. We are more likely to gain support from stakeholders who we have built relationships with than from those who are strangers who know little about us, our programme or objectives. And the better our relationships, the less likely we are to encounter problems.
The failure to follow a good Communications Plan can result in complaints such as; "I do not understand" or "no one told me". If you treat the Communications Plan as a dynamic tool, it can be used to build relationships and promote your programme. To do this it needs to be a living breathing high priority document which is both implemented and kept up to date.
In his best seller, '7 Habits of Highly Effective People' Stephen Covey?s 5th Habit is about the principles of empathic communication and he describes communication as the most important skill in life. He writes, "if I were to summarise in one sentence the single most important principle I have learned in the field of interpersonal relations, it would be this: seek first to understand, then to be understood". This principle is the key to effective interpersonal communication".
In Robert Bolton's book, 'People Skills', he writes; "communication skills alone are insufficient – the person who has mastered the skills of communication but lacks genuineness, love and empathy will find his expertise irrelevant or even harmful".
Whether we are dealing with our internal or external programme communications, a Communications Plan in the hands of a Programme Manager who ignores emphatic communication, is like a baton (stick) in the hands of a tone-deaf conductor. The Plan alone will get you a tick in the box, but it will not get you far beyond that.
Filed under Leadership by Rob Llewellyn
January 19, 2009
Dangerous Devotions for High School Guys
When I read a label that says "One size fits all" I tend to get a little skeptical. What it usually means is that it doesn't fit anybody exactly right. And even if it did, where did they get the idea that everybody would want to wear the exact same style? We understand that when it comes to clothes, but somewhere along the line we got messed up when it comes to small groups for students.
Small groups are a great idea, but not a new one. I think Jesus' group of disciples may have been the original model. Small groups today typically follow a very different pattern than what Jesus did. Now each member of the group gets a book. The idea is for each person to read the designated chapter on their own then come back the next week to discuss it. Whether the small group is intended for senior citizens or seniors in high school, the same model is used. The "one size fits all" approach comes into play.
But that doesn't generally work for high school guys. They may read the book for two or three weeks, but that's about it. After that, the small group leader spends the first part of the small group time reviewing what each of them should have read, then tries to getting a meaningful discussion going. Right. The model is broke. And why should we be surprised? What other area of our youth ministry is patterned off a method used for adult and senior ministries? We wouldn't consider it with our music or activities, but somehow we got duped into thinking it will work for small group studies.
Take a fresh look at how Jesus did small groups for guys. I've never read where he handed each of the disciples a scroll, assigned them a chapter to read, and asked them to come back a week later so they could discuss it. Instead, he took them on little outings and demonstrated object lessons for them. Think about it. The storm at sea, walking on water, the fig tree, and every time he healed someone or cast out a demon. These were all activities and object lessons Jesus used to teach his small group. The disciples never knew what was coming next.
My wife and I have been applying this principle to our high school small group. We don't hand any of them a book. Instead we give them a little teaser of what we'll be doing and encourage them to come out. Then we go on an outing or do an object lesson that leads right into a spiritual truth and discussion.
Blowing up eggs in a microwave, navigating mine fields with rat traps, prompting pumpkins to puke, and all sorts of other object lessons become tools that keep the guys guessing and coming back for more.
I've put 24 of our favorites in a book. Dangerous Devotions for Guys is designed just for the small group leader. It takes you through everything you need to make small groups exciting and life-changing. This is a way to get through to your students, to connect with them in an effective small group hour.
One size doesn't fit all when it comes to small groups. Let's change the model when it comes to high school guys. It's time to give your youth group something tailor made for them. That's what Jesus did, and his small group changed the world.
About the Author: Tim Shoemaker is the author of seven books and speaks around the country to men's and parents groups about living the Christian life in a way that impacts the next generation. He leads workshops teaching parents how to lead effective family devotions, especially when the kids get older. He also teaches children's ministry and youth workers how to hold kids attention during devotionals. His workshops are "how-to", "hands-on", and powerfully equip and encourage. Happily married for over 28 years, Tim has three grown sons and is active in church leadership.
Filed under Leadership by Tim Shoemaker

