Tips & Insights for Top Performance

I received this from an e-mail chain.  It is a great reminder to BE YOURSELF and that leadership is not about position or accomplishment, but about the heart and desire to serve others.

“This is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip.

You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4 Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies..  Awards tarnish..  Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money…or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most!”

”Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Taken!”

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

We are all leaders. No matter what your role. Who are you leading/influencing?

Book: THE LEADER WHO HAD NO TITLE: The New Way To Win in Business – and in Life
Leaders without a title know that whether they have a title or not, they have power to:
• see opportunity amid crises
• drive positive change
• encourage everyone on their team
• step into the person they’ve always longed to be
You do not need a title to be a leader. You can be a leader and make a difference TODAY, whatever you are doing.
It is in your attitude, approach and perspective.
There is a great summary – read more: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=116652405016576

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

To develop your effectiveness and leadership personally & professionally is an on-going process! 

John Maxwell’s book – Developing the Leader Within You

Levels of Leadership:  (Where are you?)

1. Position – hired / in an organizational “role”
2. Permission – lead by focusing on people’s needs and desires — relationships
3. Production – things are happening/getting done
4. People Development – Empower others, multiply leaders
5. Person-hood – people follow because of who you are and what you represent

Obviously, the 5^th level is the highest level of leadership and where a good leader will strive to be.

How do you get people to “follow you because of who you are and what you represent”? It is about authenticity, integrity and character.

Consider:

• Are you being real or fake (guarded, protected, superficial, “best face forward”)?
• Do you have integrity (do what you say)?
• Does your character show up in your day to day? Who would people say you are?

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

Quote: “The test of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.”

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

The capacity to develop leadership skills is the difference between leaders and followers.  – John Maxwell

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

Leaders develop daily, not in a day.  – John Maxwell

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

Titles don’t make leaders.  – John Maxwell

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

To lead yourself, lead with your head. To lead others, lead with your heart.  – John Maxwell

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

John Maxwell Leadership INVENTORY:

A. What tools are you using to raise your level of leadership and, in turn, your effectiveness?
Check out: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership John Maxwell
B. Rate your leadership on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) and discuss how you assess your effectiveness.
C. Using this same scale, rate the top 3 people in your organization.
D. Are you willing to invest the time to educate yourself to become a better leader?
E. Do you believe that developing your leadership skills will increase your effectiveness?
F. “The one thing you need to know about leadership is that there is more than one thing you need to know about leadership!”
G. Some laws will expose weaknesses you may not have ever realized you had. Some laws you may already practice. All are tools to help you achieve your purpose and dreams.

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

This is a great book that can be read in one sitting and then re-read over the course of 8 days or 8 weeks. Phenomenal MUST read. It includes 8 easy to digest mentoring sessions that one of the authors, David Cottrell, had sitting at the feet of a business master. Each chapter/session includes great reminders for every business person to remember and integrate into how they work personally and with others. Whether through work, volunteerism, family or elsewhere, these timeless tips are motivational and applicable for every person. He talks about many things we have shared before and also has some new tips. In the sessions on time management, one key statement I found motivational and true was from p. 63: “I’ve never found anyone who had two or three hours a day they could save by doing one thing better. But, I have seen many people find an hour or two a day they could use better by doing a few things differently.” If you want to make better use of your time, you need to be looking for the small increments of time… a minute here, five minutes there, etc. Add them all up and you’ll create more time for you to use.” There is much more. Get the book for your library!