Here they are:

“Excellence is an attitude.”

“No title or position in the world makes you right 100% of the time.”

“Success requires action. Where there is no action, there will be no success.”

“Some people see problems with every solution but successful people see solutions for every problem.”

“Authentic leaders apply the rules equally to everyone.”

“When you lose your credibility you lose your opportunity to lead along with it.”

“Long-term success requires continuous continuous improvement.”

“Life your life in such a way as to make certain ‘what if’ will never apply to you.”

“We don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change.” (unknown)

“Your greatest power is your power to give.”

” Nothing will improve a person’s hearing more than sincere praise.”

“Authentic leaders are proud but not arrogant.”

“Always treat yourself with the utmost respect – if you don’t, why should anyone else.”

“If you’re not willing to fight for your core values then they probably aren’t really core values after all.”

“It takes much more than winning every time to be a true success.”

“Authentic leaders give as much or even more than they get.”

“Do something. It may be wrong, but I’d rather be wrong doing something than be wrong doing nothing.”

“Good leaders follow the rules. Great leaders change them.”

“It’s not what you are that holds you back, it’s what you think you are not.” Denis Waitley

“Much of our success will be determined by what we STOP doing in the next 12 months.”

“Successful people learn from their own mistakes, the most successful people learn from the mistakes of others.”

“A leader who develops others, adds; a leader who develops leaders, multiplies.”

“You’re making history today & it’s your own so be sure to make it a history you’ll be proud of.”

With business crying out for better managers and leaders perhaps these quotes from Steve will inspire you to become one of those sought after individuals.

Steve Keating tweets at @LeadToday and this blog post was not done without his prior knowledge and is not a pre-arranged plug for him. I jut like the stuff he tweets and thought you may find some value in this small list of his recent musings on leadership and success.

I also tweet and my Twitter handles are: rictownsend with selected tweets on career success at orglearn and on resumes at resume_form.

HABIT 1: Delegate don’t abdicate… when giving tasks to ‘subordinate’ staff, we need to maintain responsibility for the result (the thing many of us want the least), whilst giving away our authority (the thing many of us want the most). In other words, effective managers don’t ‘forget’ about the task, they follow up to see the desired result is achieved.

HABIT 2: When instructing others confirm understanding by soliciting feedback… the worst three words ever spoken at work are, ‘DO YOU UNDERSTAND’, 99% of the time to save face the person will answer yes. We should ask the person being instructed to repeat the instructions in their own words to ensure our meaning has been understood.

HABIT 3: The 80/20 principle, 80% of business usually comes from 20% of our customers… wisdom suggests sales staff should be coached to focus 80% of their (and our) attention on the top 20% of the company’s customers.

WE DO ALL THIS DON’T WE… OF COURSE… AND SO DO OUR MANAGERS…

HABIT 4: Before answering staff questions, ask them to suggest a solution to the problem… if staff are encouraged to offer their suggestions true mentoring/coaching can begin, plus it’s a good way to find new approaches to solving old problems.

HABIT 5: Allow staff to make and learn from mistakes, (within reason)… by allowing mistakes and then coaching to improve performance, ‘subordinates’ will be more willing to take responsibility. A common tendency to ridicule or ‘hit’ those who make mistakes is a major reason for the failure of many empowerment programs.

HABIT 6: Manage the in-tray using the “three pile” method, 1 ‘must do now’, 2 ‘not urgent but important’ and 3 ‘l will get to it next week’. Then assume there is no: 2 and place contents into 1 or 3… then bin / trash the 3 pile, (or have it filed… if you must). Immediately take at least one positive step on each task in the 1 pile… respond, instruct, seek clarification, or delegate.

HABIT 7: The 20/80 principle, 20% of our staff will produce 80% of our results… we should try to avoid the natural tendency to spend the bulk of our time ‘fixing’ our poor producers. Time is better spent supporting the top producers, who, because of their competence, are often left to their own devices (and can then feel unnoticed and unappreciated).

HABIT 8: View traditional company procedures as ‘a guide for the wise and as rules for fools’ In the current complex and fluid climate being flexible and adaptable, rather than rigidly following ‘the system’, means we may well benefit if we are prepared to modify ‘the rules’ and take a different course to the norm, (easily said but hard to do).

HMMM… NOW WHERE DID I LEAVE THAT COMPANY PROCEDURES MANUAL…

HABIT 9: When delegating agree (rather than set) deadlines… if we don’t agree a deadline we run the risk of getting a, ‘I haven’t had time yet’. By agreeing a deadline the other party has to be up front about their current workload and will have little or no excuse for not performing the task allotted.

HABIT 10: Check progress… confirm progress on tasks delegated to staff or assigned to colleagues. A good formula is to seek a report at ‘half time’ and in the ‘final quarter’. Remember though don’t over manage and keep asking “how’s the project going”, give them time to get on with the task and have an open door if they need you, don’t become a nagger.

HABIT 11: Be prompt in your decision-making, don’t cause undue delay to others that negatively affects their work and that delay them or that hampers their effectiveness in fulfilling their obligations to both internal and external customers.

HABIT 12: Show courtesy and respect to colleagues regardless of their position in the company and particularly irrespective of your own mood. Ignorant behaviour has no place at work; peoples dignity needs to be protected.

HABIT 13: Actively seek ways to improve yourself and overcome personal shortcomings rather than just using the excuse of that’s my style, that is an intellectually unsound approach and not worthy of a leader.

HABIT 14: Be on time every time, don’t waste others productivity by thinking your time is more important than that of others. Being late is the ultimate in bad planning (at best) and in ignorance at its worst.

HABIT 15: Handle difficult situations and people openly and as a matter of urgency, don’t avoid problems. If there is a dispute mediate before it becomes a situation where the protagonists start to gather allies to their point of view and spread the poison to others.

HABIT 16: When I don’t know something ask for an explanation rather than trying to bluff your way through. I know the old saying “sometimes it’s better to say nothing and appear fool than to open your mouth and leave no doubt’, however this bluffing can become a bad habit, best get the reputation of being an enquiring mind than a disinterested non thinker.

HABIT 17: Tell the truth at all times, avoid putting a secret agenda or spin on what your are reporting or saying and leave the sarcasm out of your communications. Facts, facts, facts, leave the smug politically driven opinions to someone else.

HABIT 18: If you can’t share information, never say yes I know however I’ve been sworn to secrecy, or say that I can’t talk about whatever it is right now. Don’t half tell things it’s just a silly game of “I know something you don’t know” and it is infantile behaviour. Stay out of the rumour mill altogether.

Habit 19: Offer specific praise publicly to those that deserve it and never stand in the limelight alone whilst ignoring the efforts of those that helped you. Always quote sources of your celebrated wisdom or results and acknowledge the efforts of your team or colleagues.

HABITS ARE LIKE RABBITS… PUT A COUPLE TOGETHER & THE EFFECTS MULTIPLY

Habit 20: Share power and responsibility and rewards with others, walk the talk yourself and if there are any brickbats to be handed out do it now in private and don’t save stuff up for staff review times later on. In other words manage the people in your area not just the processes and “things”.

Habit 21: How about you tell me!!!

Ric (orglearn) **Link for direct page viewers return to main career success blog to check out other posts!

While you’re here take a look at the free blank resume form!

A) Creates and provides opportunities to allow staff to invest the appropriate amount of time to ensure personal development.

B) Uses the Performance Management System to cultivate and develop employee talent.

C) Actively undertakes personal development discussions with subordinates and encourages them to participate in appropriate learning activities.

D) Analyses individual strengths, weaknesses, plans and implements development activities. Matches people’s activities to developmental goals and bring out and expand individual potentiality.

DIRECTIVE

A) Gives adequate directions and inform requirements clearly without going into unneeded details.

B) Uses legitimate authority to refuse unreasonable requests and limit behavior of others to what they can or cannot do.

C) Insists on compliance to his/her instructions in order to maintain agreed set standards.

D) Willing to confront others openly regarding required standards of performance. Institutes corrective measures for non-compliance.

EMPOWERS OTHERS

A) Demonstrates confidence in others ability to accomplish given tasks and recognise people for their ideas and shares decision making with others in work group.

B) Encourages direct staff to own their jobs and rewards ownership behavior.

C) Offers help to the empowered person without removing authority.

D) Gives others the authority to determine what to do and how to do it.

Ric (orglearn) **Link for direct page viewers return to main career success blog to check out other posts!

Looking for a leadership position, look at the free blank resume form and include some of the competencies listed!

POSITIVELY MOTIVATED

A) Able to resist negative external influences and maintain commitment to the task.

B) Set high personal standards to the work methods and outcomes and is able to associate and align personal need with company direction and goals.

C) Understand the principles of motivation and sets a good example for others.

D) Create an open and positive environment which encourages others to achieve high levels of work output whilst maintaining their personal priorities and desires.

PRESSURE COPING

A) Have a high belief in the ability of self and others.

B) Understand and practice sound principles of time management, delegation and control and exhibit high levels of emotional control whilst in the presence of others.

C) Able to cope with a large variety and volume of activities at one time and balance the demands of others against personal/work priorities.

D) Display characteristics such as long term perseverance, calmness in the face of crisis. Maintain composure when under attack and resilient enough to cope with failure.

RECOGNITION GIVING

A) Thank people for positive contributions made.

B) Display a generous spirit towards others and publicly compliment for a job well done.

C) Encourage potential in others by providing rewards and incentives for success.

D) Look for and create opportunities for achievers to be recognised and used as a positive example for others to emulate.

Management is mostly about the people not just the processes!

Ric (orglearn) While you’re here take a look at the free blank resume form!

* Link for direct page viewers return to main career success blog to check out other posts!