I was recently invited to attend a Train-the-Trainer event for the American Management Association (AMA) to teach their Emotional Intelligence classes. I have enjoyed reading the books "Emotional Intelligence" and "Working with Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman (also called EI or EQ), in which he states that organizations around the world identify their star leaders as having stronger EI traits than IQ and technical skills. Emotional Intelligence fundamentals of self-awareness, social awareness, self-management and relationship management are the keys to success in your life, personal and professional. Take time for introspection and assessment of how you are managing these factors in your life -- it may help you excel in your career, improve your marriage, or become the leader that you would want to follow.
Whether you are a small business owner, such as myself, or an executive in a large organization, you can tap into the expertise and experience of others to help your business. You can hire a consultant for a short-term contract for a specific project that you haven't been able to implement successfully, or you can develop long-term business relationships to tap into and partner with to enhance your business offering.
I recently developed a partnership with RightPath Resources, Inc. to compete for a large federal government contract. I am getting staff and curriculum that I don't yet have in my start-up and they are getting access to business that they would not normally be able to compete in. Our partnership is a good fit to help us grow our businesses, to develop professionally and to do the type of work that we enjoy.
This idea did not come quickly or lightly, we have worked together on my professional development, I experienced their business as a client. Jerry Mabe, CEO and Trainer at RightPath, helped me to understand my unique leadership strengths and weaknesses through their online Path 4 and 6 assessments in the Goodwill International HELM Senior Leadership Program. Their program is well-developed, very organized and facilitated by a certified RightPath coach. See their website at www.RightPath.com
Are you struggling to get a project or change implemented in your organization? Contact me to discuss it, maybe we can partner or give each other ideas.
One of the hardest parts of being an effective leader is having difficult conversations within your team that are productive and create an open discussion environment. I just finished reading "Difficult Conversations: How to discuss what matters most" by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen of the Harvard Negotiation Project. Here are their suggested steps:
1) Walk through three conversations to prep for a difficult discussion -- your, their and a third person's perceptions of the issue(s).
2) Think about your purpose and decide if it is worth addressing.
3) Start with the third person's perspective.
4) Ask questions to add your and their perspectives to the conversation.
5) Try to solve the problem and maintain positive working relationships.
This book is a must-read if you need help in creating a learning environment to work together as a team to be more productive.
