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leadership: 2 critical components of leadership in the 21st century

Leadership

Jul 122012

Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

Long hours…sleepless nights…stress…pressure…

These are just a few of the things that come along with being a leader.

It’s never easy leading an organization. People look to you for answers. They seek guidance. And they want answers.

If things weren’t hard enough with the global recession going on, the speed at which information changes has changed the battlefield making it tougher and more competitive than ever before.

Computers were supposed to make our lives easier but in doing so have made it possible for people working out of their bedrooms to challenge the big guys.

Bill Gates, Michael Dell and Mark Zuckerberg are just three such examples.

Each year we hear about another success story out there of David beating Goliath.

Which is why organizations are in desperate need of leaders.

People who have the foresight and ingenuity to make things happen. To see things before they happen and be flexible enough to adapt to the changing winds.

While there are many good companies out there, what separates the good from the great are the people leading them.

Change the people and everything changes.

Steve Jobs was a visionary and he has placed Apple in an enviable situation with Apple rising to the top of the computer world, will it stay there?

That remains to be seen but one thing you can count on is that there will always be someone out there who wants to knock it off its perch.

I listened to a fabulous little talk that Tony Robbins gave about leadership yesterday and wholeheartedly encourage you to listen to it.

Where is it? You’ll find that and more on today’s podcast.

Enjoy.

Adrian Shepherd

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leadership: 7 of the most powerful tips from How To Win Friends And Influence People

Leadership

Jul 042011

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

One of the classics when it comes to self-development is Dale Carnegie’s “How To Win Friends And Influence People” written way back when.

Despite its age, the concepts contained within it are priceless. I have seen it transform people with my own two eyes and believe that anyone with influence should take the time to read its 249 pages despite it’s relatively small print.

Recently a close personal friend called to let me know that they were finally promoted.

It was years in the making and I was proud to see all their hard work pay off.

But I also picked up a slight sense of uneasiness. It’s not a question of whether they can do the job; they have proven that with years of dedication and hard work.

They are more than qualified for the position.

So what’s the problem then? A manager’s position has everything to do with knowing how to deal with the people.

It’s about getting the most out of their staff. It’s about inspiration. It’s about understanding. And above all, it’s about communication.

In many ways it’s like being a parent, and can either be

too strict = resentment
too kind = poor results

It’s a juggling act and one that so many fall short on.

As such I thought it might be worthwhile sharing 7 of the best tips contained within “How To Win Friends And Influence People.”

Become genuinely interested in other people.
Be a good listener. Encourage people to talk about themselves.
If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
Dramatize your ideas.
Throw down a challenge.
Begin with praise and honest appreciation.

These aren’t rocket science. But through reading the book we get a better idea of just how to apply them in our workplace, with our friends and at home.

And while there may be times when we may not be the perfect manager always remember tip #3.

Apologizing sincerely for our mistakes is something very few of us doing, choosing to lay the blame elsewhere is commonplace. But people respect those who come forward and admit they were wrong.

The key is then to work hard not to do it again.

In doing so managers, parents, and friends seem more approachable.

I’ve found that it works for me and I believe you’ll find it pays off handsomely for you as well.

Good luck.

Adrian Shepherd

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leadership: handling the crisis in Japan

Leadership

Mar 162011

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

While I would like to write about success, at times like these I feel compelled to comment on the situation just a few hundred miles (km) east of where I live.

It is now day four of the crisis here in Japan. And yet, here in Osaka, it is a lovely spring day.

Were it not for the TV being on and friends contacting me, I wouldn’t know anything was wrong.

And yet, on the other side of Japan people are evacuating, stocking up on staples, and evaluating their options.

One friend has asked to crash at my apartment to which I replied, “Mi casa es su casa.” (my home is your home)

Amazingly I have been through 3 revolutions, the tsunami in 2004 and now this.

So what have I learned about handling crisis through all these experiences?

Stay calm
Don’t panic
Confirm facts
Beware rumors
Be decisive

In situations like this many people don’t know what to do and with all the information out there it’s easy to imagine the worst.

I saw firsthand how people struggled to handle the situation in 2004 which is why it is imperative to stay calm.

Panic impedes our ability to make good decisions.

And that could be the difference between life and death.

When my room collapsed around me on Dec 26th, 2004, I estimate we had about 2 minutes before the second wave hit.

Every second counted.

Had I panicked it would have cost us time we didn’t have.

I focused on the issue at hand, getting out.

Thankfully we managed to get out just before the second wave hit.

Depending on where people were when the tsunami hit Japan the concerns today vary.

All I can say is that you must deal with each crisis as it presents itself, and not get caught up thinking too far forward.

In situations such as this a leader must think fast, be calm, and instill a sense of confidence in people.

They can only do this by assessing one problem at a time.

Set things in motion to deal with the first issue then move onto the second.

The toughest thing is when you have multiple problems to deal with all at once.

Leadership must determine where to put manpower and resources. It is not an easy choice to make.

Sometimes the saying is true, “You’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t.”

Each day here in Japan seems to bring with it a new problem but I believe that everyone involved is doing their very best to ensure the safety of us all.

Adrian Shepherd

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leadership: learning from mentors

Leadership

Mar 072011

Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

When we hear the word mentor we often think of someone who lights the way; taking someone under their wing to teach them the tricks of the trade.

We also imagine a sort of face-to-face interaction between the two parties; the mentor and the protege.

However that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.

I have had mentors in magic, business, and life but most of them I’ve never even met.

Some don’t even know my name.

So why do I call them my mentors?

Because I have spent hours upon hours reading, listening and watching their materials.

Sometimes I feel as if they’re right there in front of me, talking about my life and my situation.

Who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to be taught by Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or Tony Robbins?

Unfortunately they don’t have time to teach all of us.

Instead they share their ideas with us in the form of books, CDs and DVDs.

It’s how I learned magic, success skills, marketing and more.

Investing in such material won’t break the bank and thanks to products such as the iPhone and iPad, where I go, their ideas go.

They allow us to turn lunchtime into study time, if we so choose.

We all think that we’re smart enough to succeed but it never hurts to have a little help.

Mentors help take out much of the guessing; offering their tips and experience allowing us to sidestep potential problems and speed up success.

No matter what field you’re in, find people that have done what you hope to do, then learn from them.

You’ll be glad you did.

Adrian Shepherd

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leadership: what makes a great teacher

Leadership

Nov 172010

Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

Over the years many students have thanked me for my help.

I have heard such things as, “If it wasn’t for you,” or “You changed my life,” which always makes me smile but I always tell them that I should be the one thanking them.

They were the ones who did the work, all I did was guide them along the journey.

Still, knowing that I impacted their lives positively always reminds me how much I love my job.

Nearly everyone of us can remember those people that made a great difference in our lives.

It could have been the kinds words of a teacher, a friend’s story, or a parent’s love but regardless of who has touched our lives they share many of the same qualities.

I’m sure you know many of them but here are a few of the qualities that I came up with that I believe make up a great teacher:

Care
Honesty
Humility
Humor
Creativity
Intelligence
Ability to inspire others
Courage

Among these two qualities stand out to me – care and honesty.

First and foremost, they must genuinely care about our well-being.

Without students feeling that their teachers care, there is little motivation for most students to give it their best.

Second teachers must give it to us straight; the good and the bad. The only way we can improve is if we have fair, honest reviews of our work.

It might not be easy to hear some things but if we know our teachers have our best interests at heart then it’s out of love that they are challenging us to be better.

Mentors, teachers, parents and friends all have the chance to make a profound influence on our lives but only a select few will.

For anyone serious about success it’s important that we make sure we stay around those people as much as possible.

Adrian Shepherd

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mentors: Thomas Jefferson

Leadership

Nov 162010

Reading time: 2 – 2 minutes

One of the simplest, yet effective, ways to improve our chances for success is to spend time with successful people (in whatever field you choose).

While many of us might not know anyone who can mentor us to achieve our dreams, many successful people have taken the time to share their knowledge in the form of books.

Throughout history there have been many great leaders: Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King are just three such leaders of the 20th century.

But if we go back slightly further we would surely say that Thomas Jefferson was also one such leader.

Only recently when I was reading up on him did I find out that he had 10 rules which he lived by and they ring true just as well today as they did back then.

I hope you find them as valuable as I have.

Thomas Jefferson’s Ten Rules

Never put off tomorrow what you can do today.
Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
Never spend your money before you have earned it.
Never buy what you don’t want because it is cheap.
Pride costs more than hunger, thirst and cold.
We seldom repent of having eaten too little.
Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
How much pain the evils have cost us that never happened.
Take things always by the smooth handle.
When angry, count ten before you speak, if very angry, count a hundred.

While they may sound quite simple I encourage you to try working on one item for a week and see what happens. You may be surprised with the results.

Good luck,

Adrian Shepherd

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mentors: the hardest questions

Leadership

Nov 072010

Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

Have you ever noticed that the best teachers we have ask us the toughest questions?

Questions that make us think, those that force us to reevaluate what we know, and those questions we sometimes are afraid to answer.

So many of us try to avoid the truth.

We tell ourselves that our lives aren’t that bad and that we don’t need to worry about the situation we find ourselves in.

We can be struggling financially yet we choose to put on a big smile and treat our friends to dinner, all the while wondering where we’ll find the money to pay for it.

We tend to present the exact opposite of our problems.

We tell others how wonderful our relationship is when we fight like cats and dogs.

We smile when we really want to cry.

We are so afraid of people learning the truth that we try and cover it up; in many ways it’s because we’re embarrassed.

We even lie to ourselves because we’re not willing to deal with the problems we have created for ourselves.

Money problems – WE spent too much money.
Relationship problems – WE ignored our friends’ advice.
Work problems – WE aren’t doing our job well enough.
Family problems – WE are spending too much time at work.

The best teachers, or mentors, know that they must dig deep to find out just what the truth is.

People can lie on the surface but when people ask them details they struggle to come up with answers because they aren’t prepared for it.

Often times people are defensive and hide behind lines such as “Why do you want to know?” or “What do you ask so many questions?”

These, among others, are sure-fire signs that people are uncomfortable with the line of questioning.

But remember, without all the facts, the teachers can’t give the right advice.

If you asked me how to get to Las Vegas I would be able to tell you…as long as I had one piece of information – where are you now?

By determining your position now, I can guide you to your destination. Without it, the chances of me getting you there are slim to none.

Don’t be afraid of tough questions, they are the ones that will make you grow the most.

Adrian Shepherd

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