Think back to the last major conflict you encountered whether with a colleague, friend or family member. Were you able to handle differences of opinion effectively and maintain a peaceful environment? This can be extremely challenging, especially when “hot buttons” are pushed. Worse yet, when left unresolved, disagreements can waste enormous amounts of time and…
Time Out! The Servant Leader
Time Out! Many of you know I grew up on a farm in central Pennsylvania. While I chose early in life not to make agriculture my vocation, my sister, Audrey Gay Rodgers, did select agriculture — with a twist — for her life’s work. She has the Hameau Farm Camp for girls where every summer girls ages 8-14 experience…
Four Reasons to Use Testimonials in Sales
Today, 92% of consumers incorporate product and service reviews into their online purchase decision1. Positive reviews are a critical component of an organization’s branding and marketing strategies because they instill trust and loyalty. Since third party reviews are so very effective, it’s difficult to imagine why many sales people don’t leverage them when selling their products…
Three Steps to Summon Your Self-Confidence
Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” This quote is famous because it highlights the psychological impacts of our thoughts and beliefs. Essentially, we may have the abilities necessary to attain a goal, but if we don’t actually believe that we have them, we won’t be able to use…
Four Reasons Leaders Should Invest Time Coaching Employees
When evaluating all of the characteristics of effective managers, there are two telling traits—personal character development and a commitment to developing employees. While many leaders’ rise through the ranks is evidence of their acute personal and professional development, many lack the skills to effectively coach others. In fact, when employees were surveyed about this topic, a whopping 93%…
Three Reasons Leadership Transparency Is Mission Critical
Believe it or not, employee distrust is pervasive as only half of employees believe their employer is open and upfront with them according to an American Psychological Association survey. Managers account for up to 70% of variance in employee engagement which is defined as the level at which employees are emotionally invested in, and focused on, creating value for their…
Three Tips to Put Your Networking Fears to Rest
Networking effectively is important to succeed in any line of business, yet many people fear putting themselves into uncharted waters and meeting unfamiliar faces. Think back to the last networking event you attended, perhaps it was a conference or new product launch party. Did you look new faces in the eyes as you spoke and…
Three Questions to Ask When Developing a Personal Brand Statement
Dale Carnegie was a pioneer of personal branding long before a ‘personal brand statement’ was officially coined. Since everyone can be recognized by their unique strengths, abilities and passions, these attributes comprise a personal brand statement. Having a strong personal brand statement is vital to staying competitive whether you use it to land an…
Five Steps to Stay Motivated When You’re Exhausted
We all have ‘off’ days from time to time. Whether you didn’t get enough sleep or aren’t excited about what you need to accomplish on any given day, here are five steps to staying motivated so you can get the job done. First visualize your goal and document the reasons for attaining it. Sometimes getting started…
Feeling Overwhelmed? Three Steps to Developing a ‘To-Don’t’ List
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at work, you are not alone. According to the American Institute of Stress, 80% of workers feel stress on the job and nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress. Dale Carnegie was a stress management pioneer, having published his best-selling book, How to Stop Worrying and…