How to keep Your New Years resolutions

How to keep Your New Years entschlieungsThis is the time of year where everyones optimistic about how much better theyre going to do once the calendar flips over to January 1. Were all going to be healthier, mora motivated, mora focused, and more zen, right? Sure. For a little while. Then reality hits, and those resolutions start looking more like quaint relics of last month. But we could all stand to be healthier, more productive, nicer, etc., so how do you make those stick well into February and beyond? googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Lets look at some tips you can use to help make better, more achievable, and more successful personal and professional goals for the coming year.Build in some accountability.Some of us are better than others at self-motivation and keeping ourselves on track. For others of us, well, the excuses mount. Im so busy. Ill deal with this later. I cant do this because X, Y, and Z. The main problem here is that yo ure the one monitoring yourself, and youre the one both making and accepting the decision to slack off on the resolutions. If that sounds painfully familiar (and if it does, I hear you), thats why you need someone else to help keep you accountable to yourself.In my own life, I find Im much more successful at staying on track when I know Im going to have to talk about it with someone else. For example, it helps me hunker down and read my book clubs current book when I know I still have 50 pages to go, but theres an official date and time platzdeckchen to talk about it with my friends.So basically, find a resolution buddyor several buddies, for different things. That can be as simple as finding someone to go with you to the gym, making it more of an appointment than a chore. Or it can mean having regular check-ins or coffee dates where you talk about your progress on a particular goal. At work, it can be a colleague whos also interested in taking on more projects or arriving on time e very day. Having someone else who knows what youre up to can motivate you to make time for your task (whatever it may be), and give you a sense of purpose.Start smalland specific.If you want to make a lasting change, youre setting yourself up to fail if you set a task so overwhelming or complicated that youll get frustrated right away. A frustrating resolution is often a failed resolution, so whats the point of using go big or go home as your guiding principle here? For example, weight loss is a pretty common resolution for the new year. Its also very vague. Sure, you want to lose weight. How much, and over how much time? Setting smaller, specific goals will help you chip away at the larger one.If you want to lose weight, say youll lose five pounds by February. Then aelendher five pounds by March. Setting these smaller, month-by-month goals gives you milestones that you can hit, and feel proud about reaching. Feeling successful will make you more likely to stick with your new weight loss regime. On the other hand, if you say I will lose 50 pounds next year without really breaking down how that will happen, youre more likely to feel overwhelmed about the massive change you need to make, and let the whole thing lapse.At work, think along the saatkorn lines. Say you want to be more organized at work. What specific steps can you take to get there? Maybe the first step is downloading a productivity app that can help you manage your schedule and projects, and the step after that is tackling your email inbox and organizing it into folders. These are specific, manageable tasks that contribute to the larger goal, but are easy to accomplish in, say, an afternoon instead of languishing on a mental when I have time list.Use the whole year.Part of the reason resolutions are such a popular idea is that we have this sense that once the year changes, everything should be different and better, instantly. The reality is that this new you should be an all-year thing, not an ever ything right now thing. Set mini-goals throughout the year, or think about the milestones you want to hit before next December.For example, if your goal is to save more money, put specific dollar amounts to that goal throughout the year, so youre not scrambling (or giving up on the notion) all at once to meet the goal late in the year. You can set up automatic deposits on a regular basis. Moving, say, $25 from your paycheck to savings every pay period is going to be a lot less painful than trying to move over thousands of dollars all at once from checking to savings. Use the calendar to figure out how often youll need to do something to make your goal for the year.Be flexible.Things change in life. And sometimes they change quickly. So flexibility is a key quality of any resolution. When youre thinking about your resolutions for the next year, think about potential plan B goals as well. If you cant get to the gym four mornings a week like you want to do, what other times could poten tially work as well?Feel free to revisit any resolutions throughout the year, too. Maybe you were too optimistic about the number of online classes you would have time to take to build skills. Maybe you had some unexpected costs that put a dent in how much money you can sock away toward your savings goals. If somethings not working, for whatever reason, modify it in a way that does work for you.Expect to fail sometimes.If you were already perfect at something, it likely wouldnt be on your resolutions list in the first place, right? Embrace the imperfections of this process. This is about being a better self, not necessarily the perfect self. (Lets face it a perfect self would be pretty boring, no?) And that means treating this like a journey, and learning from any failures or mistakes you make along that journey.If youve set a goal for yourself of getting promoted or finding a new job within three months and that doesnt happen, it doesnt mean youve totally failed at your goal and sh ould walk away. It just means you should ask yourself what worked and what didnt, and try again.Reward yourself.Fun fact bribes work wonderfully well when it comes to motivation, whether youre a kid or a seasoned adult. So build in your own personal rewards program for achieving your milestone goals, or completing a full year of resolution-ing. And be creativeif your resolution is to lose weight and your standard self-reward is, say, ice cream, then your reward is undercutting your progress. But you could sub in a fun activity that you dont get to do often, or buying yourself something youve had your eye on for a while. treatyoselfThe reward doesnt have to be anything extravagant or even all that personal. It could be as simple as allowing yourself a take-out lunch for every two weeks worth of lunches you pack and bring to work, or a 10-minute break for every two hours you go without checking your social media during the workday. Deprivation without any kind of reward can get unappe aling fast, so if you can give yourself something to look forward to in exchange, youre more likely to keep going with your progress.Take responsibility for your goals.Remember, this whole thing is about you and what you think will make you a happier, wealthier, wiser, more productive, or more successful person. You already know what needs to be done (hence the resolutions)but you also know yourself better than anyone else does, so you know what your pitfalls, distractions, and weaknesses are likely to be. Even if you find an accountability buddy or tell the world about your grand plan to apply to grad school, its entirely on you to make these goals happen. The more control you accept and the more confidence you have in your ability to take concrete steps toward those goals, the easier it will be to make choices that support your resolutions.By setting realistic, achievable goals for yourself, and doing some planning ahead to keep yourself engaged in your self-improvement plan, your e already stepping up your resolution game. Its easy to say, I should do X. Its much harder to say, Here are the 10 things I need to do to achieve X, and heres the timeline I want to follow. But that commitment is worth it, because the more work you put in up front, the more work youre going to want to do over the next year to make sure youre getting something out of this process. We dont get to be entirely new people at 1201 on January 1, but with a little effort, we can feel more accomplished when the next round of New Years resolution-making hits. Good luck

5 Convincing Ways To Get Your Boss To Let You Work From Home

5 Convincing Ways To Get Your Boss To Let You Work From Home When most people think about working from home, they probably imagine rolling out of bed, pouring themselves a cup of coffee, and spending the first half of the day working leisurely in their pajamas. Maybe they picture themselves squeezing in a midday workout, meeting a friend for lunch, or having time to cook a healthy dinner for their family, too. Doesnt that all sound great? The only problem is, if youre reading this article, you probably dont need any convincing about how wonderful a remote job could be youre already pretty confident that youd love working from home. Its your employer that needs some convincing. Flexible schedules and remote opportunities are undeniably on the rise, but there are totenstill plenty of nervous employers who arent quite ready to take the plunge. Some companies may worry that their staff will take advantage of their newfound freedom or that innovation may suffer if the team isnt in the sa me workspace all day long. Whatever your employers objections may be, we have five compelling reasons that might just convince them to give some serious consideration to letting you work from home.1 Youll Use Less Sick DaysWorking from home can decrease stress by as much as 25%, and as many as 73% of remote employees find it . Reduced stress, a healthier diet and less exposure to other peoples germs (no more suffering through a packed subway ride to work or getting stuck sitting next to a sniffling co-worker at the morning meeting) should help you to stay healthy, which will, in turn, decrease the amount of unexpected sick days youll have to take. And on the rare occasion that you do get sick, you can always work from bed for a day.2 Itll Save Your Company Money Your company has to pay rent on your workspace, keep your electricity running, pick up the tab for your arbeitszimmer supplies, and may even choose to provide you with some tasty snacks (or an unlimited supply of coffee) and all of those expenses add up quickly. Allowing employees to work from home will not only cut down on fixed costs like rent but variable costs like food and electricity. Its estimated that when an employee works remotely, the company saves a whopping $2,000 every month3 Productivity Will IncreaseWorking in an office can be distracting. On any given day, your concentration is likely to be interrupted by meetings, birthday celebrations, overly loud conversations, and impromptu visits from co-workers and that can seriously affect your productivity. Working from home can virtually eliminate all of those disruptions and allow you to concentrate in an environment where youre truly comfortable. Youll also be able to start work earlier (no commute) and may be able to work for longer periods of time. All of this is great news for your employer one study found that working from home increased employee productivity by 13%4 And So Will RetentionThis one is a no-brainer happy employees dont q uit their jobs. If you love what you do and have the option to work from home, you probably wont have a compelling reason to explore other opportunities. Working remotely also allows you to grow with your employer through every phase of life itll give you the option of working crazy hours when youre feeling particularly driven, provide you with a new level of flexibility when youre trying to juggle your kids busy schedules, and enable you to work more comfortably as you get older and crazy commutes become increasingly less manageable. In return, your company wont have to spend countless hours recruiting and training replacements every few years. And that kind of turnover can get expensive losing an employee can cost anywhere between $15,000 and $250,000 depending on the persons role within the organization.5 Its Good for the Environment (and Traffic)If you happen to work for an environmentally conscious company or have a boss who loathes commute traffic, this argument should bestat tungs their attention. Aside from having one less car on the road during rush hour, ditching your daily commute can reduce your household emissions by at least 6% and save nearly a pound of pollution for every mile not driven.Convincing your employer to allow you to work from home can be a hard sell, depending on the company culture and precedent (or lack thereof), but there are tons of compelling reasons that might just sway the odds into your favor. What employer doesnt want happy, healthy, loyal, productive, and environmentally-conscious employees who will not just earn but save them money? Its a total win-win for everyone.--Jaclyn Westlake is a career advice columnist, creator of the Job Hoppers Job Search Strategy Guide and founder of The Job Hop. With more than ten years of experience in the recruiting and human resources space, she is passionate about empowering job seekers to achieve their career goals. Shes also particularly fond of coffee, every dog in the world, and the c ity of San Francisco.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer

Why Everybody Is Talking About Grant Writer Resume...The Simple Truth Revealed

Why Everybody Is Talking About Grant Writer Resume...The Simple Truth Revealed When you make an application for a grant writing position, its important to include both obvious resume headings and extra kinds of relevant experience. Do not send in your very first draft afford the opportunity to proofread your work as you might want to highlight your skills at the very best possible level. Self-promotional skills are going to be a fantastic attribute to grant writing. You will raise the chances of getting the funds if you submit the proposal to the correct institution. A grant proposal writer wouldnt only write grant proposals but in addition offer support to his customers to maximize their probability of getting their grants approved. The duration of time to process a grant application is contingent on the organization, but its well worth the while if youre going to get funds. If you dont have a strong record of winning grants as the principal grant writer, list the ones you h ave assisted in the writing and submission procedure. If youre a truly valuable worker, your employer will try to work something out. Well, that and whether you truly want to have that job. If you would take pleasure in the new job, youre fruchtwein likely to need to make a oben liegend impression. Whats Really Happening with Grant Writer Resume If you dont depart out of your work at a respectful fashion, recall, the whole world is a very small area, you can encounter people you previously worked with in all sorts of situations. Incorporate grant writing and searching into your ordinary routine of running your writing organization, especially when youre starting to work on a new project. You will receive perfectly optimized resumes and youll make your everyday life simpler Because it is my chosen career path, I have worked very difficult in gaining experience in the area of grant writing. As part of a comprehensive job application youll be requested to incorporate a Cont ribution to Diversity and Inclusion statement. A Job Letter of Recommendation is an official letter that plans to advertise the candidate into the potential employer. To learn more on what it requires to be a Grant Writer, take a look at our complete Grant Writer Job Description. To be a successful grant proposal writer, you have to be able to sell yourself as a great alternative for grant proposal writing. The Grant Writer Resume Cover Up Grants are readily available to assist through hardships, and there are grants designed particularly for writers. Writers can find lots of organizations offering grants for various predicaments and for certain demographic locations, including organizations offering interest-free loans if you have to borrow money. Skilled grant writers are among the absolute most in-demand professionals today. They are one of the most in-demand independent contractors today. At the very least, you should have a fantastic recommendation that you may use f or other employment opportunities. In case the grant application is rejected, youve basically given your services at no cost. Some even do the job for free merely to familiarize themselves with the procedure and earn exposure in grant research and writing. The grant application procedure is a means to promote and highlight your unique skills with regard to the grant organizations requirements.

How to Tell Stories on Your Resume

How to Tell Stories on Your ResumeHow to Tell Stories on Your Resume3Who doesnt love an engaging, well-told story? Instead of boring bullet points on your resume, try using the space to describe a real-life situation in which your talents made a difference. Youll bring your qualifications to life in a concrete, memorable way.Lessons from a story are remembered more accurately, and for far longer, than learning derived from facts, says Paul Smith, author of Lead with a Story A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives That Captivate, Convince, and Inspire. According to one major study, facts are 20 times more likely to be remembered if they are part of a story.ConstructionBut resume space is limited, right? How can a job candidate get her message across without turning the document into a novel that will promptly be passed over by a busy hiring manager? With some thoughtful crafting, it can be done.I believe the basic structure of a business story is the same, regardless of length or if i t will be delivered orally or in writing, Smith says. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end, which is more helpfully referred to as Context, Action, Result. Even on a resume where you need to tell several stories and can only afford space for a few sentences each, you should follow this structure. If you dont, its difficult for the person reading your resume to tell if what you did was impressive or relevant to them or not.ExamplesTo see this method in practice, consider this example Smith offers as an alternative to simply stating I developed a new type of plastic(Context) The last company I worked for almost went bankrupt because the plastics we used in our products were too weak and fell apart after a few months use. (Action) I was so frustrated that I developed a stronger plastic that was just as inexpensive. (Result) Now that plastic is used in every product we make, and the kapitnspatent is considered best in class in our industry.In just three sentences, a wealth of info rmation gets conveyed to the employer- the candidate is a problem-solver who is passionate about his work and has the skills necessary to produce valuable results.Smith notes that even weaknesses can be addressed on your resume in this structure when you make the lesson you learned the result of the story. For example(Context) When my last boss quit and took half the department with her, I was promoted to lead the strategy development kollektiv and assigned an entirely new staff. (Action) I tried using the same strategy development process my boss used in that role, (Result) but after six months we hadnt produced a single new workable strategy and half the team wanted to quit. I learned that leadership is both personal and situational. It needs to be adapted to the leader and those being led. Once I adapted my leadership style, our results improved and my team wanted to stay. This year I won an award for being one of the best leaders in the company under 30.Beyond the PaperA final t hing that telling stories on your resume can do is mark you as personable- the kind of candidate a hiring manager would like to interview. When that meeting happens, keep the stories coming using the same construction people like to hear narratives as much as they enjoy reading themReaders, do you tell stories on your resume or do you use bullet points? Which do you prefer? Share with us below

Managing and Motivating Your Team in Stressful Times

Managing and Motivating Your Team in Stressful TimesManaging and Motivating Your Team in Stressful TimesManaging and Motivating Your Team in Stressful TimesYour companys third round of layoffs is imminent, your boss is barking out demands with heightened urgency, and your staff is tired, tense and afraid theyre next in line to be laid off. Its your job to motivate employees, continue to meet ever-increasing demands and bring your projects in under budget and on time.This all too familiar scenario is now a daily reality for many managers. Pressures from the top increase, while resources and staff available to meet growing expectations decrease. The keys to effective management in this uncertain work environment lie in understanding the fundamentals that motivate employees to perform, which means abandoning old incentives like job security and company advancement, and instead focusing on building a corporate culture of respect.How to Cultivate Employee MotivationAt the core, individual s need to feel their work is valued and contributes in important ways to the organizations larger mission. This is no easy task, but nonetheless, a task demanded of managers.Recently, when making a reservation to fly on Southwest Airlines, I told the agent she had made my experience positive. She seemed genuinely unhurried and happy in herbei job, which is far from a highly paid or revered position. Her response reflected the outcome possible in a well-managed environment Were just nice to people, and we try to help them, she said. Its really basic.Implicit in her simple response was a clear sense of her role within the larger team, and an understanding of the core principals that drive Southwests approach to customer service. Not formulaic or based on fear that our conversation was being monitored for quality assurance, she understood her role was turning one piece of Southwests mission into a reality, one customer at a time.On the other hand, a client who left a well-paid consulti ng position came to me to discuss plans for the next stage in her career. When asked about her bold decision to leave, she stated, The environment was toxic, bringing out the worst in my colleagues and me. Everyone blamed everyone else, played dangerous political games and acted increasingly cut throat. There was no sense of joy or satisfaction, no real meaning. I didnt like the person I was becoming. The money and promise of a relatively stable position, while compelling, were not enough to counter the alienation and lack of ethics that dominated the culture.James Henderson, the former CEO of Cummins Engine, summarizes the essence of motivation, Once people trust management, know they are responsible and are given the training, its astonishing what they can do for customers and, ultimately, shareholders.Creating a Winning Corporate CultureCreating a culture of respect, recognition and trust amid larger forces of chaos and uncertainty may seem daunting, but the process is actually v ery basic. It simply involves a fundamental recognition that work needs to be meaningful, have inherent value and be valued by others.A culture of respect and trust requires managers to build relationships with their staff based on honesty and integrity. It may be tempting to be outcome-oriented because of pressures to meet deadlines, but investing in staff relationships will yield greater results. Be sure to communicate both the positive and negative news you hold as a manager. This straightforwardness will build trust that you are an advocate for your area. To the extent that you can, involve employees in decisions affecting them and their work.Another requisite for managers is to regularly communicate and prioritize their departments goals, while tying accomplishment of these goals to the organizations larger aims. Even if company-wide recognition processes have been eliminated, effective managers find ways to recognize their workers individual and collective accomplishments and convey publicly how their work has advanced the larger agenda of the department and organization.Solid management skillsin todays world of work requires managers to return to the fundamentals that motivate people, especially within the sphere they influence. Restoring respect will ground you and your department amid the volatility.

This is what you need on your success journey

This is what you need on your success journeyThis is what you need on your success journeySlovakian painter Tibor Nagy, in an interview with writer Jeff Sparks, made this interesting commentOver the years I have come to realize a couple of things. I think that the most important aspect is eliminating any obstacles that obstruct my path to seamless realization of a painting. The goal is to have a clear path so that the original vision or intention would bedrngnis get lost in the process.Tibor Nagy is a phenomenal painter that blends abstraction and realism in a mix of undertones, brushwork, palette knife layers and scratches.He is a painter who clearly found his artistic voice and the attention of fellow artists and collectors. His comment above about eliminating obstacles got me thinking.How seriously do we work on eliminating obstacles in our lives? Do we even know what the obstacles are? I know I havent always identified the obstacles standing in my way.Ive written articles about t ime management and the perils of procrastination, but Tibor Nagys comment about eliminating obstacles resonated with me.We use maps to successfully find our destination, so it makes sense to have a clear path in support of our creative or professional vision.How do we create a clear path to success? How do we realize the ideal were dreaming of? How do we reach new creative or professional heights?What does success mean to you?The late Stephen Covey, in his best selling book Seven Habits For Highly Successful People, urged us to Begin with the end in mind. The reality is, if you dont know what your goal is, how can you make meaningful progredienz?There will be countless obstacles and hardships if you dont understand and define what success means to you.Are you distracted from the obstacles in your life?Maybe you want to see your artwork in a reputable gallery. Become a New York Times best-selling author. Start your own high tech company.Whatever it is, take time to define what succes s means to you. Sculptor and writer Mark Edward Adams wrote about this in his thoughtful essay Define Your Success As An Artist.Heres an excerptIf you can clearly state why you started making art and what you hope to accomplish, then you can develop a method to judge your progress. This progress may take the form of the personal satisfaction you take from new work or perhaps how it makes a greater emotional impact on your audience. It is directly related to your personal vision.Even if youre not an artist, you can apply this approach to your work. Ask yourself why you started your profession. What did you hope to accomplish? Are you on course or have you drifted? Do you still have a clear path?Redesign your senderaum, redesign your lifeOnce you have identified your goal, its time to vanquish obstacles. Sit down and list all the things that get in your way. For example, is your studio or office designed in a way thats conducive to working?You dont need a dream studio or corner office . Some people use small rooms, closets, or their garage. Others create stellar work from small cubicles.The key is to reduce clutter, have materials laid out, and distractions reduced.Figure out what the obstacles are in your schedule and where you can carve out more time. The more obstacles you can identify and eliminate, the easier it will be to focus on your goal.For example, I resigned from a service club I had been in for many years. I hated feeling like I disappointed people in the club, but I knew that I needed to create more time for my artistic goals.Saying yes to your creative work often means saying no to other commitments. Its all about priorities.Commit to a process, not a goalIts important to have a goal, but by itself that wont lead to much. For example, lots of people have a goal to lose weight. Unfortunately, without a process, theyre unlikely to succeed.Blogger James Clear is one of the best at explaining the importance of committing to a process, not a goal.For ex ample, ever notice all those early morning joggers? Im sure theyd rather be in bed, but theyve adopted a process. A routine. Your process might include rising early and spending an hour in the studio, before all the interruptions of the day.Consider using cues, too. Leave an old paint brush in the medicine cabinet to cue you each morning to hit the studio. Adopting a process that you do over and over, until its a well oiled routine, will move you closer to your goal.Enlist support to succeedTalk to your family members about your goal(s) and enlist their support. As an artist, I prioritize family time and studio time. Fellow artists, online compatriots and professional colleagues can be helpful supporters, too.Some artists join painting groups and workshops, and become energized by the shared creativity and passion. Others work better in solitude. The key is to know yourself and figure out whats the most effective approach for you.Forgive yourselfI had a martial arts teacher who used to sayThe biggest battles youll ever face are between your own two ears.Its easy to allow negative or self defeating thoughts to percolate. Excuses are never hard to find. Focus can easily be lost.Negativity, frustration and self doubt are no strangers to the artistic and entreprenuerial journey. When they come along and you stumble, learn to forgive yourself. Take a break, regroup and then dive back in.I know a lot more can be added to the list, but you get the point. Tibor Nagy is at the top of his game because hes found a way to defeat obstacles and clear a path for his artistic vision to flourish.The good news is, so can you. Start by redesigning your life, having a clear path, committing to a process, enlisting support and forgiving yourself.These are the strategies you need on your success journey. Use them, and Ill bet youll move faster toward the success you desireBefore you goIm John P. Weiss. I draw cartoons, paint, and write about life. Get on my free email listherefor t he latest artwork and writing. No spam, privacy respected.Thisarticlefirst appeared onMedium.

10 things the greatest leaders all have in common

10 things the greatest leaders all have in common10 things the greatest leaders all have in commonIve posted a lot abouteffective leaders.Looking back, what patterns do we see?1. Know the power of feelingsLeaders who just focus on results dont do nearly as well as those that also pay attention to relationships.ViaSocial Why Our Brains Are Wired to ConnectZenger found that if employees rated a manager as very high on focus on results (that is, ones ability to get things done effectively), there was only a small (14 percent) chance that the manager would be rated among the top 10 percent of leaders overall. However, ifin addition to focus on results, employees also rated the managers ability to build relationships very highly, then the likelihood of that persons being rated as a great leader overall skyrocketed to 72 percent.Paying attention to employee feelings matters.Whats the difference between exemplary and good employees? They care.What strategies really improve organizations?Res earch involving 400 people across 130 companies came up with a simple answerYou must change individual behavior by addressing employee feelings.ViaSwitch How to Change Things When Change Is Hardthe core of the matter is always about changing the behavior of people, and behavior change happens in highly successful situations mostly by speaking to peoples feelings.(More on being a well-rounded leaderhere.)2. But be tough in a crisisThe one time people definitely want a take-charge, decisive dictator is during a crisis.ViaBold Endeavors Lessons from Polar and Space Explorationcrew members expected leaders to make decisions regarding emergency matters as quickly and autocratically as necessary under the circumstances.(More on balancing toughness with warmthhere.)3. Know what makes employees stay and leaveEmployees are made happy by achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility and advancement.They are most often made dissatisfied by policies, supervisors and work conditions. (More on building great teamshere.)4. Judge people by what theyre good atIf you want people who are competent at everything youll end up with a team of mediocrities.Better to get the best person in a discipline and support them with others who can compensate for their weak spots.ViaThe Effective Executive The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things DoneThe task is leid to breed generalists. It is to enable the specialist to make himself and his specialty effective.This means that he must think through who is to use his output and what the user needs to know and to understand to be able to make productive the fragment the specialist producesWe can so structure as to make the strength relevant.A good tax accountant in private practice might be greatly hampered by his inability to get along with people. But in an organization such a man can be platzset up in an office of his own and shielded from direct contact with other people.In an organization one can make his strength effecti ve and his weakness irrelevant.(More from the best management thinker everhere.)5. Hubris is your greatest weaknessDont get full of yourself. Thats the downfall of nearly all great leaders.In myinterviewwith Harvard Business School professor Gautam Mukunda, author ofIndispensable When Leaders Really Matter, I asked him about the biggest mistakeleadersmakeGautam Over time, its grandiosity.Eric Hubris?Gautam Yeah. You live in an environment where everybody constantly tells you how great you are, and you begin to believe it.Eric Yeah. Even Machiavelli said a leaderneeds people who are going to be honest with them, because everybodys going to kiss their ass.Gautam ExactlyThe CEO of a major corporation, how often does he or she hear the word no? How often does someone challenge their basic preconceptions about the world?(More on resisting common leadership errorshere.)6. Culture is what you do, not what you sayCultures are formed by the behavior that is rewarded in a company, not pret ty words.So if the top salesperson gets treated like a king - despite how abusively he treats people - congratulations,thatsyour culture, no matter whats on slide 47 of the PowerPoint deck.ViaHow Will You Measure Your Life?If you dont articulate a culture- or articulate one but dont enforce it- then a culture is still going to emerge. However, it is going to be based on the processes and priorities that have been repeated within the organization and have worked.You can tell the health of a companys culture by asking, When faced with a choice on how to do something, did employees make the decision that the culture wanted them to make? And was the feedback they received consistent with that?(More on building a rock solid company culturehere.)7. Know the difference between leaders and managersThe goal of management is consistency and order.The goal of leadership is to motivate and create necessary change.Management is about processes. Leadership is about peoples feelings.ViaJohn P. Kotter on What Leaders Really DoManagement controls people by pushing them in the right direction leadership motivates them by satisfying basic human needs.(More on moving from great manager to great leaderhere.)8. Know thyselfWhat can you learn from anArmy Ranger about leadership?Knowing your limitations is key to being a great leaderOne company leader, socially was a buffoon and tactically he was a buffoon. But, heknewhe was a buffoonWhen we got to our site, he said to me, Youve got the training to protect this site. I dont. Protect this site.Thats all he had to say.That taught me a very valuable lesson Its okay not to know something. There are people around you who do know something, and they can teach you. If its too grand a knowledge base to pick up right there, put them in charge. Have them report to you.Put the responsibility on them. If you do that, they will execute that to perfection, and I did.(More on how effective leaders spend their timehere.)9. Convey authority and w armthPeople expect leaders to carry themselves a certain way.Whats the secret?Convey authority and warmth.ViaThe Silent Language of Leaders How Body Language Can Helpor HurtHow You LeadWhen first introduced to a leader, we immediately and unconsciously assess him or her for warmth and authority.Obviously the most appealing leaders are seen to encompass both qualities, and the least effective leaders are those we regard as cold and inept.(More on how to appear like a leaderhere.)10. Inspire by showing people the importance of their jobsHow do you inspire people? Show them why their jobs are important.Noah Goldstein, co-author ofYes 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive, reviews a studyAdam Grant, a scholar in the field of organizational behavior, realized that workers often fail to live up to their potential because theyve lost track of the significance and meaningfulness of their own jobs. He figured that if he could remind employees of why their jobs are important, they mi ght become more highly motivated, and therefore, more productive individuals.What magic do both the speeches of Martin Luther King and the marketing of Apple have that move us to believe and act?Simon Sinek, author ofdeparture with Why How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, has an interesting theoryPeople dont buy what you do. They buy why you do it Start with Why.(And when all else fails, yes,nagging works.)Sum upTen things you can do to be like the bestKnow The Power Of FeelingsBut Be Tough In A CrisisKnow What Makes Employees Stay And LeaveJudge People By What Theyre Good AtHubris Is Your Greatest WeaknessCulture Is What You Do, Not What You SayManagers Are About Processes, Leaders Are About PeopleKnow ThyselfConvey Authority And WarmthInspire By Showing People The Importance Of Their JobsJoin 45K+ readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Related postsHow To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple Emails6 Hostage Negotiation Techniques That Will Get You Wha t You WantWhich professions have the most psychopaths? The fewest?This article originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.10 things the greatest leaders all have in commonIve posted a lot abouteffective leaders.Looking back, what patterns do we see?1. Know the power of feelingsLeaders who just focus on results dont do nearly as well as those that also pay attention to relationships.ViaSocial Why Our Brains Are Wired to ConnectZenger found that if employees rated a manager as very high on focus on results (that is, ones ability to get things done effectively), there was only a small (14 percent) chance that the manager would be rated among the top 10 percent of leaders overall. However, ifin addition to focus on results, employees also rated the managers ability to build relationships very highly, then the likelihood of that persons being rated as a great leader overall skyrocketed to 72 percent.Paying attention to employee feelings matters.Whats the difference between exemplar y and good employees? They care.What strategies really improve organizations?Research involving 400 people across 130 companies came up with a simple answerYou must change individual behavior by addressing employee feelings.ViaSwitch How to Change Things When Change Is Hardthe core of the matter is always about changing the behavior of people, and behavior change happens in highly successful situations mostly by speaking to peoples feelings.(More on being a well-rounded leaderhere.)2. But be tough in a crisisThe one time people definitely want a take-charge, decisive dictator is during a crisis.ViaBold Endeavors Lessons from Polar and Space Explorationcrew members expected leaders to make decisions regarding emergency matters as quickly and autocratically as necessary under the circumstances.(More on balancing toughness with warmthhere.)3. Know what makes employees stay and leaveEmployees are made happy by achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility and advancement.The y are most often made dissatisfied by policies, supervisors and work conditions.(More on building great teamshere.)4. Judge people by what theyre good atIf you want people who are competent at everything youll end up with a team of mediocrities.Better to get the best person in a discipline and support them with others who can compensate for their weak spots.ViaThe Effective Executive The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things DoneThe task is not to breed generalists. It is to enable the specialist to make himself and his specialty effective.This means that he must think through who is to use his output and what the user needs to know and to understand to be able to make productive the fragment the specialist producesWe can so structure as to make the strength relevant.A good tax accountant in private practice might be greatly hampered by his inability to get along with people. But in an organization such a man can be set up in an office of his own and shielded from direct cont act with other people.In an organization one can make his strength effective and his weakness irrelevant.(More from the best management thinker everhere.)5. Hubris is your greatest weaknessDont get full of yourself. Thats the downfall of nearly all great leaders.In myinterviewwith Harvard Business School professor Gautam Mukunda, author ofIndispensable When Leaders Really Matter, I asked him about the biggest mistakeleadersmakeGautam Over time, its grandiosity.Eric Hubris?Gautam Yeah. You live in an environment where everybody constantly tells you how great you are, and you begin to believe it.Eric Yeah. Even Machiavelli said a leaderneeds people who are going to be honest with them, because everybodys going to kiss their ass.Gautam ExactlyThe CEO of a major corporation, how often does he or she hear the word no? How often does someone challenge their basic preconceptions about the world?(More on resisting common leadership errorshere.)6. Culture is what you do, not what you sayC ultures are formed by the behavior that is rewarded in a company, not pretty words.So if the top salesperson gets treated like a king - despite how abusively he treats people - congratulations,thatsyour culture, no matter whats on slide 47 of the PowerPoint deck.ViaHow Will You Measure Your Life?If you dont articulate a culture- or articulate one but dont enforce it- then a culture is still going to emerge. However, it is going to be based on the processes and priorities that have been repeated within the organization and have worked.You can tell the health of a companys culture by asking, When faced with a choice on how to do something, did employees make the decision that the culture wanted them to make? And was the feedback they received consistent with that?(More on building a rock solid company culturehere.)7. Know the difference between leaders and managersThe goal of management is consistency and order.The goal of leadership is to motivate and create necessary change.Mana gement is about processes. Leadership is about peoples feelings.ViaJohn P. Kotter on What Leaders Really DoManagement controls people by pushing them in the right direction leadership motivates them by satisfying basic human needs.(More on moving from great manager to great leaderhere.)8. Know thyselfWhat can you learn from anArmy Ranger about leadership?Knowing your limitations is key to being a great leaderOne company leader, socially was a buffoon and tactically he was a buffoon. But, heknewhe was a buffoonWhen we got to our site, he said to me, Youve got the training to protect this site. I dont. Protect this site.Thats all he had to say.That taught me a very valuable lesson Its okay not to know something. There are people around you who do know something, and they can teach you. If its too grand a knowledge base to pick up right there, put them in charge. Have them report to you.Put the responsibility on them. If you do that, they will execute that to perfection, and I did.(Mor e on how effective leaders spend their timehere.)9. Convey authority and warmthPeople expect leaders to carry themselves a certain way.Whats the secret?Convey authority and warmth.ViaThe Silent Language of Leaders How Body Language Can Helpor HurtHow You LeadWhen first introduced to a leader, we immediately and unconsciously assess him or her for warmth and authority.Obviously the most appealing leaders are seen to encompass both qualities, and the least effective leaders are those we regard as cold and inept.(More on how to appear like a leaderhere.)10. Inspire by showing people the importance of their jobsHow do you inspire people? Show them why their jobs are important.Noah Goldstein, co-author ofYes 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive, reviews a studyAdam Grant, a scholar in the field of organizational behavior, realized that workers often fail to live up to their potential because theyve lost track of the significance and meaningfulness of their own jobs. He figured that if he could remind employees of why their jobs are important, they might become more highly motivated, and therefore, more productive individuals.What magic do both the speeches of Martin Luther King and the marketing of Apple have that move us to believe and act?Simon Sinek, author ofStart with Why How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, has an interesting theoryPeople dont buy what you do. They buy why you do it Start with Why.(And when all else fails, yes,nagging works.)Sum upTen things you can do to be like the bestKnow The Power Of FeelingsBut Be Tough In A CrisisKnow What Makes Employees Stay And LeaveJudge People By What Theyre Good AtHubris Is Your Greatest WeaknessCulture Is What You Do, Not What You SayManagers Are About Processes, Leaders Are About PeopleKnow ThyselfConvey Authority And WarmthInspire By Showing People The Importance Of Their JobsJoin 45K+ readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Related postsHow To Make Your Life Better By Sending Fi ve Simple Emails6 Hostage Negotiation Techniques That Will Get You What You WantWhich professions have the most psychopaths? The fewest?This article originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.