I just posted a comment to a discussion stream on LinkedIn and damned if I didn't impress myself! (It's sometimes good to be somewhat self-amused!)
At any rate, I thought it would make a useful blog post…file this one under the BizJitsu series and watch for my new BizJitsu blog coming soon!
Conventional sales training teaches you that you should never be discouraged by the word "NO." You should be persistent and never take NO for a final answer.
NO! I'm all for perseverance and persistence but if you're hearing NO a lot you better take a look in the mirror, or better yet record (and listen to) your next sales call.
I'm going to chime in from the customer's perspective: There is such a thing as "NO" and I must say it a dozen times a week...and I DON'T want to hear from those people again!
I say NO when when the salesperson making the call has obviously done NOTHING to find out why, how or even if I would use their product or service.
I say NO when the salesperson has obviously done NOTHING to find out about me other than my name, and especially if they pronounce that wrong! We have access to the miracles of Google and LinkedIn; this should virtually elminate the cold call. Still, I get calls from people who have no idea what my specific needs and wants might be.
I say NO when the salesperson refuses to get to the point. I'm busy and while I'm the first to say (and will again in a second) that the relationship is crtical to the sale, I don't have time to listen to 30 minutes of crap about someone's kids or dogs and I don't care to unless I know them! Tell me what you're after and then we'll work on the relationship...
...having said that, the salesperson had better get to know me, and my needs and wants before making a pitch.
I say NO when I don't like the person. One of the most overlooked aspect of sales is to be a likeable person. This means to be sincerely interested in the customer's needs above the amazing benefits of your wares. Napoleon Hill and Dale Carnegie should still be required reading for all sales people.
The BizJitsu (TM) technique for minimizing negative responses is to do your homework to assure you're meeting the prospect's unique needs and desires. This is the relationship building part and it involves RESPECT for the prospect's opinions, time and budget.
If you sense a genuine NO coming at the end of the conversation; don't make the pitch! If you're not a fit, so be it! That prospect may just recommend you to someone else simply because you showed respect, sincerity and didn't waste their time. You're more likely to earn great referrals by being a likeable person; you'll never get a referral by being a pest!
BTW...I offer a workshop as part of my BizJitsu series titled:
One With the Enemy: Relationships Before Sales! If anyone is interested give me a shout at 800-786-8502 or visit JimBouchard.org to get to know me better.
If you're not interested I promise I'll never bother you!
It's time for my annual rant on the ineffectiveness of New Year resolutions. This year I'm adding business planning and professional development goals suck too!
"But, you've got to do it!"
Only 12% of anyone who makes resolutions makes it past the first month. How many small business people make plans or review their last plan in preparation for the New Year? Of those, how many set goals that are unattainable or unrealistic?
Since I've been teaching people how to think like black belts I can tell you've I've met too many people who either do no planning whatsoever or set goals they won't reach unless hell freezes a bridge across the River Styx.
Here are some common bullshit excuses and some no bullshit responses:
I don't have enough time.
This is the biggest pile of bullshit excuse out there! First of all, immediately stop what you're doing and go to the bookstore…now! Buy a copy of Stephen Covey's "First Things First." Sit down and read it!
Planning and goal setting is a number one priority whether you're mapping out strategy for a business or keeping your skills sharp to assure you're going to continue to be a valuable employee. You don't have the time NOT to plan!
I heard this excuse from a guy who hasn't had a job in 4 years! I don't know what else he's doing with his time, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that part of the reason he's still out of work is that he doesn't have a concrete plan for getting any!
I don't have the money to _____________ (fill in the blank!).
Steal a pen and a single piece of paper! Actually, go to any bank or real estate office and act as if you're a customer, they'll give you a promotional package that will inevitably include a branded note pad and pen.
Whatever you're going to do in the coming year is dependent on the resources you have right now. You may be eating bean sandwiches, but there has never been more opportunity to accomplish so much with so little. You do need to take a realistic inventory of your current material; emotional and spiritual resources…
…then you need to DO SOMETHING! Not having the money is not an excuse; it may be the beginning of your highest priority goal!
Some people will use other scarcity issues as an excuse; not skilled enough, don't have the connections, no experience etc. So what? If you're lacking in some area it will be part of your plan to change that condition.
Things are changing too fast; there's no way to predict ___________ (fill in the blank!).
Amen. Planning is not prophecy. I'll even grant that you could create the most bomb-proof plan ever created only to get blown up by a bigger, badder bomb!
Planning is dynamic; it's an ongoing process. But, you've got to start somewhere. You've got to have your eyes on the horizon and you've got to develop tools for making reasonable assumptions based on actual data.
That's what the planning process is all about. In addition to preparing you better for the coming year, planning helps you develop a greater awareness of the dangers and opportunities ahead.
So why do so many goals fall short and so many plans go unfulfilled? Here are some of the top dangers whether you're making a personal resolution or drafting your business plan:
Unrealistic or unattainable goals. Base your plan on an accurate inventory of material, emotional and spiritual resources. This is the first part of the planning process.
Bad data. Do your homework; make sure your inventory is accurate. Avoid taking emotional leaps. It's great to have a big idea that keeps you focused on the horizon, but remember to check the ground in front of you.
Unspecific goals. You've got to be focused to succeed. Goals that are too broad or general are much more difficult to accomplish.
Setbacks. Develop Black Belt Mindset; if you get knocked down seven times, get up eight! Small setbacks shouldn't derail your plans. Good planning helps you anticipate and overcome setbacks.
Now is the time to sit down and develop a clear picture of what you hope to accomplish in 2010. You may want to expand your business, or assure that it weathers the economic storm. You may want to expand your value in the marketplace by learning new skills or earning new certifications. You may want to prepare for your newborn's college education or your own retirement.
Whatever it is you hope to accomplish follow the example of the world's most successful people. Successful people don't wait for opportunities; they plan for them!
"Jim Bouchard's program is a revolutionary approach to planning and goal setting!"
In New Year REVOLUTION:
Take an accurate inventory of material, emotional and spiritual resources. For business, this inventory includes tangible and intangible assets.
Develop specific attainable and sustainable goals based on current resources.
Access the discipline and focus you need to accomplish your goals...even when times are tough!
"This may be the most important workshop you'll attend as you start your New Year!"
Book your own New Year REVOLUTION workshop featuring Jim Bouchard, author of Think Like a Black Belt! Programs for businesses, associations, chambers and meetings! Call 800-786-8502 today!
I'm not smiling and I'm not exhorting. Gratitude is not a platitude; it's an essential daily practice. A gratitude practice is a practical technique for taking inventory of your emotional, spiritual and material resources.
Here's how it works. Take some time to simply think about the people in your life, the things you have right now and most of all your talents and abilities. These are the emotional, spiritual and material resources you have in hand to work with. Whatever you do and whatever you want to accomplish from here on starts with these resources.
Be thankful; even if some resources are scarce! The old adage that says "it can't get any worse" is a bold faced lie! I'm not a pessimist but no matter how bad things are right now, I know things can always get worse. Whatever resources you have here and now are worthy of gratitude; just think about life without them.
Chris Gardner's story "The Pursuit of Happyness" is inspirational on a number of levels. You might remember Chris played by Will Smith writing out a check. His son Christopher asks what he's doing and Chris replies, "I'm paying a parking ticket." Christopher says, "But we don't have a car anymore." Chris answers, "Ya, I know!"
What is there to be thankful for in a moment like that? Have you had times like that? I have.
I can remember waking up on cold Maine mornings in my 1050's vintage mobile home and chipping a skim of ice off the water in the toilet so I could complete my constitutional. I can remember having genuine fear over whether or not I'd have enough to eat for the rest of the week or whether the power would be shut off. I can identify with Chris Gardner because like Chris, some of my poverty was due to my pursuit of what other people might consider unattainable dreams. Mine was compounded by extremely poor choices, what Gardner calls the “being stupid” part of life.
At some point I learned to simply be grateful; even at times when happiness was only a pursuit. In Chris' story he has a son to worry about; I can remember being grateful that I didn't have kids.
What did I have to be thankful for? I had friends that cared about me. I found mentors who took a genuine interest in me and offered sound advice for changing my condition. I began to discover talents and abilities. I would later find martial arts and start to develop self-confidence. Later I'd learn how to transform some of that confidence into a sense of purpose and self-worth. Much later I'd learn how to share that value with others.
It all starts with gratitude. Before I learned how to be thankful for what I had I was completely immersed in poverty; not just material poverty but complete scarcity of emotional and spiritual resources as well.
Eventually I learned that even if I had to chip ice off my toilet, at least I wasn't sleeping outside in the snow bank. I learned to be thankful that I quit drugs before they killed me. I learned to be thankful that I had a drive to learn and work ethic that I could access to change my life.
For the sake of this story I'm condensing a process that took years; but eventually I learned to simply focus on what I have here and now. No matter how scarce, the resources I have now are the resources I have to work with to effect change and move forward. I learned that I was a pretty resourceful bastard! Given the opportunity (or the challenge), most people can be pretty resourceful. This process of focusing on what I have instead of worrying about what I don't have became my gratitude practice.
Now I'm grateful for everyone who is a part of my life. I'm grateful for the students in my martial arts program, for my friends and family and most of all for my wife Alex who indulges and supports my wild and often risky adventures. I'm grateful for my modest, warm and comfortable home. I'm grateful for the talents and abilities I've discovered. I'm particularly grateful for the places I've seen and the wonderful adventures I've had.
I could still use a quick and bountiful cash infusion, but who couldn't? When it comes, I'll be grateful!
Your gratitude practice can be as formal as a prayer or period of meditation or reflection. You can sit down and actually do an inventory of material, emotional and spiritual assets. Whatever you do make it a regular part of your life.
My practice is simple. I just take some time throughout the day to say thank you; and it works!
The actions, or rather inactions of the spectators, voyeurs and cowards who watched a young woman raped in Richmond, California have left me sick to my stomach.
Have we raised a generation of spectators? Over 20 kids watched one of their own brutally assaulted for more than two hours. Only one young woman had even the decency to call the police?
The kid who dropped the dime is being made out a hero. I'll give you this; she did the right thing. I'm not diminishing the quality of her action; I'm sure she had to consider retribution from her peers. Still it's sad that we consider the most obvious and fundament action we'd expect in this situation an act of heroism.
As a professional in the self-defense industry I'd be the first to give a pass to anyone who might fear getting physically involved in stopping an attack like this. The least you can and should do is call for help. Had any of these kids jumped in and pulled the rapists from their victims I'd certainly acknowledge their courage and heroism.
Those who watched, and photographed, and texted their friends while the rape was still going on are cowards. These kids are a waste of food. My first impulse is to sentence all of them to a televised re-run of the incident with each of them in the featured role.
I had to do some work and some soul-searching to find compassion for the kids who stood by and watched. The fact is that by our legal standards, they had no obligation to help. We've enabled a generation of spectators. We've taught young people to stay out of it, mind their own business, and not get involved. We've told them that someone else's problem is, well, someone else's problem. We've enabled kids to blame others for their behaviors and blame others for their crimes. We've crippled them with entitlements and excused their lack of personal responsibility.
Then I remembered the kids I work with every day. Kids who come to martial arts classes day after day; work hard and focus on improving themselves; kids who understand that respect means taking care of one another and that it's their responsibility to do so. These kids know that the absence of fear is stupidity and that courage is acting in the face of it.
I like to think that most kids would have tried to stop this rape. Most kids would have called the cops.
What's the difference? Why would some kids, and adults for that matter, put themselves in harm's way to protect someone else while others are content, even entertained to stand by and watch?
We've got to stop blaming media, schools and government for these problems. It's time to hold ourselves accountable as parents, teachers and neighbors. It's time to provide the best possible examples we can and insist on discipline, focus, respect and courage from ourselves.
We've got to teach these values early and often. We've got to indoctrinate young people with positive values and role models in order to inoculate them from the insanity we've tolerated for way too long. We're not going to win this war through appeasement, we've got to stay in the fight and make sure our young people are strong enough to face the battle; this war never ends.
We've got to return to the fundamental teaching that sometimes you've got do what might be painful, difficult or dangerous for no other reason than it's the right thing to do.
It's not for me to forgive the young men and women who treated an actual rape like a reality TV show. I hope that for her own health and sanity the victim can find forgiveness for them. I want to stay good and pissed off. I'm hoping this energy will help me stay focused on the important job of training young men and women, and adult men and women, to live a life of discipline, personal responsibility and courage.
These days that's not always an easy job. It is the right thing to do.
Fear, doubt and complacency are the components of the Failure Triangle. In personal life we can afford some time to work through these issues; in business we better grab these problems by the ears and kick them in the ass.
It's perfectly natural to have some genuine fears when you're in business. If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, executive or manager you've chosen a life that involves risk; with risk comes fear.
Fear is a natural human emotion. Fear is designed to protect you from unwarranted dangers; it's a survival mechanism. Fear also keeps you from making stupid mistakes or taking foolish risks.
The fact is too many people think that courage is the absence of fear. The absence of fear is stupidity, not courage. Courage is your ability to face fear and take action despite your fear when necessary and warranted. Of course the line between foolishness and bravery is different for everyone. The entrepreneur is by nature a risk-taker; your risk tolerance may in your mind be calculated when others are telling you that you're nuts!
Fear causes inertia. Inertia left unchecked can deteriorate rapidly into complacency. When I'm talking about inertia I'm talking about letting a particular fear stop you from taking action that's necessary to move you forward.
You put off making a difficult sales call.
You delay an important decision for fear of making a mistake.
You reschedule a difficult performance review.
In each of these situations doing nothing is probably less painful in the short term. The problem is that the longer you allow fear to paralyze you, the more likely the eventual consequence will be magnified.
BizJitsu Technique #1: Grappling!
Sometimes you've just got to get into your fighting stance and engage the enemy. This is close quarters combat. You're got to be willing to go to the ground. Of course this is easier said than done.
In order to be an effective grappler you've got to train. The more you train the more control you'll have over your fear. The fact is that a lot of fears are caused by a lack of preparation. Be honest and ask yourself if you're really ready for combat. If not; is this fear the legitimate result of a lack of preparation and training on your part?
Have you done all the research you can on a new prospect?
Have you done your due diligence and weighed all the options before you make a big decision?
BizJitsu Technique #2: Leverage!
Sometimes you've got to gain an advantage over your opponent. You can't fight strength against strength.
What I mean is that if your opponent is stronger than you; you've got to gain advantage by finding a point of leverage that will increase your power.
You can find leverage by seeking the advice and support of others who have faced similar fears. Leverage your network, peer groups, trade association colleagues and the people on your direct team.
Too many business leaders try to manage fears solo. If you want to motivate your team in difficult situations; share the problem with them and solicit their support as part of the solution. Leverage the power and energy of your entire organization to help you gain advantage over the fear you're facing and move forward.
BizJitsu Technique #3: Be one with the enemy!
Underlying almost all fears is the fear of failure. I'm not going to lay any trite platitudes on you; the fact is that failure is a necessary and inevitable part of the business process. It's just part of life.
You can play semantic games and say that failures are really just lessons; failure still sucks. The fear of failure sucks even worse. The fear of failure can cause a self-perpetuating downward spiral that can become debilitating if left unchecked.
So what do you do?
Accept failure, embrace it! Be one with this enemy!
Failure is just part of the human experience. There's no greater legitimate human fear than that of losing your own life. Can you imagine what was in the minds of the Apollo 13 astronauts when they heard and felt the explosion as they continued to speed away from the earth faster than a bullet? Can you imagine what was felt in the chests of all the engineers, mission control personnel and vendors that worked on the Apollo team?
It would have been perfectly understandable if fear had paralyzed anyone on the Apollo 13 team. Instead they accepted whatever circumstances and conditions they were dealing with and re-focused on overcoming whatever problems they faced. They quickly integrated failure after failure into their collective experience in faster than real time. This experience opened them up to the possibilities and solutions that would bring the astronauts home.
In the middle of the entire mess Flight Director Gene Krantz delivered his now immortal directive, "Failure is not an option!" His friends and colleagues were in that spacecraft. I'm sure we can all appreciate the fear that Krantz and his team faced. Instead of allowing fear to stop them; they worked the problem and transformed every failure into the solution that would prevent ultimate "Failure" with a capital "F."
Fear is a natural and essential part of our human experience. Part of the problem is that so far as we know, we're the only creature on earth that can intellectual consider the outcomes of our actions, or inactions, in the greater scheme of the impact those actions will have on our future and the lives of others. Your thoughts and actions transcend instinctive behavior; we consider the possible consequences of our actions and it makes sense that this process can sometimes cause understandable fear and trepidation.
You can also transcend the paralyzing effects of fear. Of course, this requires discipline and training. If you want to become better at facing and overcoming fear, it starts with small, attainable, actionable steps. Condition yourself by accepting ever increasing challenges and facing greater fears just as you'd add weights to a bar bell to slowly build your biceps.
Most of all remember that you're not alone! Fear seems to be the most isolating emotion; yet it's difficult to imagine any fear that hasn't been faced by someone else, and likely someone you know.
As a leader you may eventually have to act alone; and you're likely to bear sole responsibility for the consequences of that action. Never be afraid to call on others to help you prepare to take that action.
Jim Bouchard will train you and your team in BizJitsu: The Art of the Business Warrior! Call 800-786-8502 and visit JimBouchard.org for more information on BizJitsu and all of Jim's speaking, coaching and training services.
Note: Anxiety can be a debilitating mental illness that should be distinguished from the ordinary, albeit serious issue of fear discussed in this article. If you feel you may be dealing with authentic anxiety issues you should consult a qualified medical psychological professional.
…lives by the sea; and so do most of the assholes that try to sell you get rich quick schemes, wealth without effort, manifesting secrets etc, etc, etc.
They live in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and San Diego. Some live in the mountains and lush desert resorts, but you get the point. All I'm saying is that if they're living the high life it's probably due to much more than just wishing, and hoping, and manifesting, and positive thinking. Once in a while someone wins the lottery, but most of the recipe for success consists of 10 parts hard work with equal parts failure, frustration, disappointment, doubt and fear blended vigorously.
Oh, and some of the assholes I've seen in this world simply inherited money from their parents and haven't blown it all yet. If they're good marketeers they may even expand their inheritance several fold. It's easy to "go with the flow" when you were born on the river of plenty. By the way; you can sell anything if you've got enough capital to sustain a global marketing campaign.
Before I launch into my tirade; there is something to be said for "going with the flow." If you're relatively relaxed, open to new ideas and experiences and enjoy a relatively balance life you're going to be healthier, more engaged and more energetic. Your brain will generally work better so you'll make better decisions. You'll see abundance and opportunity where others might see scarcity and danger.
My mission today is to make sure you don't throw good money down the tubes on teachers, seminars, books and DVDs that promise to reveal the secret technique to success, health and wealth.
If you really want some secrets, here they are for free:
Find someone who was successful doing what you want to do. Do what he did.
Once you fully commit to a goal; keep going until you reach it.
Accept failure as part of the game.
Recognize small successes along the way and reward yourself for them.
Do the right thing and you'll always feel better than you would if you did the wrong thing.
Two heads might not be better than one, but two brains are. Make sure to surround yourself with good brains.
Treat people with respect. All people; those above you, below you and around you.
Work really, really, really hard.
If you really want the easy life, find something you really love to do and work really, really, really hard at that.
Give unconditionally; especially love, respect and wisdom. Giving is what you do now; rewards are what might come later.
You're not entitled to anything but opportunity.
Be here, right now and enjoy.
I may have just saved you several thousand dollars and many hours of study and research! That's how I learned these secrets. Many of these secrets came to me from ancient martial arts masters who were experts at doing things very well and maximizing human potential. Others I learned from generous teachers, bosses, mentors, peers and small children.
So…I'm saying you should never buy motivational books, attend self-help conferences or watch inspirational videos, right?
Wrong. I also learned many of these "secrets" from seminars, videos, great speakers and my Dashboard University.
Invest as much time and money as you're comfortable with on books, programs and seminars. Just be sure you're spending with your head and not just your heart; particularly when your heart is empty. Moments of emotional, spiritual and material poverty and desperation are not the best times to commit resources you don't have on promises that may or may not be realized. You may have more fundamental work to do first.
Make sure your expectations are realistic and that your motivation is internalized and sustainable. Start with a practical inventory of your resources and invest your time, money and energy based on a rational assessment of your current position. I encourage big goals and grand adventures; just be sure you prepare and provision for the expedition!
Finally, beware of the bullshitters! There is no authentic success without hard work. These days the most co-opted and exploited philosophy is the Law of Attraction. Can you really expect to manifest wealth by cosmically aligning your energy fields and mental state with the quantum field of the universe? Is the universe really some kind of psycho-metaphysical vending machine?
Come on. Think about some of these claims and apply your bullshit detector.
The Law of Attraction does work. You do tend to attract more opportunities when you're in a positive frame of mind. Negativity is blinding and narrowing. Positivity opens you to possibility which in turn improves probability of success. If you're a positive, creative and energetic person you're likely to find other positive, creative and energetic people; and those are the people who get the work done!
The Law of Attraction, however, is dependent on one ancient principle the great Chinese philosophers called "kung fu."
A good translation is: WORK.
The Law of Attraction is an action philosophy. At least that's what Napoleon Hill taught and he was the one who coined the phrase. The Law of Attraction is the result of a process of self-perfection. Making yourself a better person creates value for yourself and those around you. People are attracted to you because you offer greater value when you're a better person. You're open to greater opportunities because you train yourself to recognize them and you're constantly preparing to take advantage of them.
Self-perfection is hard and endless work. Enjoy it; it's worth it!
Here's what you should reasonably expect from motivational teachers, seminars, books and other materials.
Inspiration and stories that motivate you to action. The first action is to internalize the motivation.
Examples for what to do and how to do it.
Systems and techniques that may make your journey to success more efficient or less painful.
Validation of feelings of pain, suffering, frustration and failure. The knowledge that you're not alone and that successful people have these same feelings.
Encouragement to continue on your path if it's the right one.
If you're willing to invest blood, sweat and tears along with a few bucks, then find a teacher, coach, book or seminar that makes sense to you and go for it!
If you're looking for a shortcut to fame and fortune; go to Vegas; you've got just as much of a shot as anyone else.
Jim Bouchard Speaker, life-coach and author of Think Like a Black Belt and Dynamic Components of Personal POWER! www.JimBouchard.org
Contrary to what some leadership teachers preach, you can control people through force, deception, coercion, fear, bribery and violence. There are three major problems with trying to control people, particularly using these methods:
People don't like to be controlled and will rebel.
It's expensive.
It's wrong.
Fear and force are the commodities of the dictator. A dictator can be very efficient; he doesn't have to take the time to attract people to his cause. The dictator simply decides what he wants to do and does it with no regard for the impact of his actions on others. In the short term, you can affect some control as a dictator but it's an incredible drain on resources to maintain this control. The dictator is always worried about his enemies, and even his friends are potential enemies.
Effective leadership is based on your ability to attract a willing group of followers. The key word in that statement is "willing." When people are attracted to an authentic leader the power of this relationship is exponential. Bill Belichick took a group of second-stringers, an unknown back-up quarterback and a bunch of cast-offs and turned them into the team that transformed the New England Patriots from a perennial loser to an NFL dynasty. John F. Kennedy set a goal that pushed the envelope of impossibility and we landed the first man on the moon. Abraham Lincoln understood the destiny of a relatively new country and forever united the States. Mahatma Gandhi asked a nation to find its identity and freed India from the greatest imperial power on earth. General George S. Patton took an army out of a winter battle, marched it over 100 miles without sleep and defeated an entrenched German enemy. Martin Luther King stood against violence and injustice with fortitude forever changing our society.
What do these incredible leaders have in common? They all had the ability to develop willing followers. Willing followers will defy the odds, display incredible courage and make unbearable sacrifices to rally behind their leader. They'll put personal ambition aside; at the same time they'll find undiscovered levels of personal excellence and performance.
Study these leaders and you'll find some very clear characteristics. You'll find skills and techniques you can emulate. Sure, many great leaders seem to be born with a larger than life sense of self-confidence and charisma, but I chose these examples because in studying the lives of these men, all heroes of mine, and you'll find people who also faced terrible moments of self-doubt, adversity, unpopularity and personal defeat.
Each of these men also understood and exemplified some of the most powerful values and components of effective leadership.
Personal responsibility. Share the credit, keep the blame. All of the leaders I chose in this example were famous for crediting followers for success and assuming responsibility when things turned for the worse. They shielded loyal followers from blame for mistakes and recognized them for their contributions.
Unwavering commitment to the cause. Would you follow someone who doesn't know where he's going? Of course you've got to choose your leaders wisely; some can lead you off the cliff!
Flexibility in action. Firmness in commitment does not exclude flexibility. A great leader is able to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining focus on the ultimate goal.
Personal discipline. Dedication to self-perfection. This is the old adage that a great leader walks the walk.
Courage. Not the absence of fear, but the ability to act in the face of fear.
Generosity. Particularly in sharing power. Power is only expanded by sharing.
There are many other traits of effective leadership and it's certainly a bonus if you're born with genetic self-confidence, charisma or attractiveness. I selected these traits because anyone can develop and cultivate these through practice and discipline. You may be lucky enough to be a born leader, the rest of us have to learn the trade and effective leaders are always trying to improve.
You can become an effective leader. You can become a more effective leader. Study leadership and study great leaders, but don't stop there. Identify your own personal weaknesses and strengths. Cultivate your strengths and mitigate or correct your weaknesses. Commit yourself to improvement in perfection, confidence and leadership and you can become an effective leader at home, at work and in the community.
The power of a society doesn't depend on the leadership of a few exceptional individuals. Our power is multiplied when each of us embraces leadership at all levels. Encourage leadership at all levels and your organization becomes more powerful, effective and productive.
We need more leaders. Be a leader!
Special Leadership Edition of PowerPAGE available featuring Neil Ducoff, author of No-Compromise Leadership & Mark Altman, author of Leadership for All the Mountains You Climb.
Jim Bouchard teaches you how to Think Like a Black Belt! Jim is a speaker, coach and author of Dynamic Components of Personal POWER. His second book, Think Like a Black Belt scheduled for release in January, 2010. Find out more at JimBouchard.org.
More powerful Black Belt resources for personal & professional excellence!
Think Like a Black Belt with Jim Bouchard!
Jim Bouchard
Think Like a Black Belt for personal & professional excellence!
Jim Bouchard is America's Black Belt speaker, coach & author of Think Like a Black Belt & Dynamic Components of Personal POWER!
Book Jim for your next event: 800-786-8502 or visit JimBouchard.org
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