Marter Your Game: Put a Shine on Your Leadership

As business owners, leaders and managers, we play a huge role in the collective health and wealth not only of our business, but of society. The quality of our leadership directly impacts the people in our organization and ultimately the financial results. The more successful we are personally, the more successful our organizations will be, increasing our ability to create greater abundance in society. Each of us has a choice about our ability to make a difference.


Opportunity Cost
Business failures and personal breakdowns due to stress are a significant opportunity cost for us as individuals and for everyone around us. People who suffer from stress reduce their productive capacity both at work and at home. As a recent Vancouver Sun article noted: "it's employees, not machines, who are breaking down or barely operating at sub-optimal levels as mental health problems cost the economy a whopping $33 billion a year in lost production."

Lack of business success contributes to a shrinking world, not one of expansion. It erodes the productive capacity of our economy since every company that fails has a negative impact on its financial investors, its suppliers and its employees. As a leader you owe it to yourself and your organization to operate at the highest level possible.

Successful Leadership
The quality of your leadership and management has a significant bearing on the results of those you impact within the organization. Success is a function of your approach to both what you do and how you do it. Each day you have the choice to expand your thinking, expand your resources and enhance your business. Who we are and what we believe has direct causality to how we approach and perform our tasks.

Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman in their book, First Break all the Rules, wanted to determine whether or not engaged employees did indeed drive positive business outcomes. They found that the manager - not pay, benefits, perks, or a charismatic corporate leader - was the critical player in building a strong workplace. They also found that employees with positive attitudes also belong to business units with higher levels of productivity, profit, staff retention and customer service.

If you are a leader or intend to be a leader and you want to improve productivity and profitability in your organization, the question that you may want to ask yourself is this: "What can I do to put a shine on my leadership skills?"

Interpersonal Communication
The first area for all of us to develop is the quality of our interpersonal communication skills. Ask yourself the following questions and reflect on your communication strengths. Coaching can help you identify and develop areas that require improvement to boost your leadership skills.

Listening
• How well do you hear what the other person is saying?
• Are you able to notice what is not being said?
• When the other person is speaking are you forming your response?

Curiosity vs Judgment
• How curious are you about what is behind the comments the other person is making?
• What kind of exploratory questions do you ask to find out?
• Do you refrain from telling the other person the "right" answer?

Powerful Questions
• Are your questions highly relevant for moving the inquiry forward?
• How well have you linked your questions to what you have heard?
• How effective are your questions at promoting self-discovery?
• Are you able to stop yourself from solving other people's problems?

Silence
• How well do you use it to ensure people have really completed their thought?

Wishing you success,

Jacque Small
Catalyst Business Coaching