Top Leadership Insights of 2023

“Repetition is the mother of learning and the father of action, which makes it the architect of accomplishment,” said Zig Ziglar. It’s true that no matter our background or educational level, we can all benefit from a bit of review. So today, I’m sending a brief collection of top tips from our most popular Leadership Insights of 2023.  I hope you find them useful.

Resolutions for the new year

  1. Give your brain room to not always be time and task oriented.
  2. Allow it the space to view and perceive – the time for solitary thought – to open vast possibilities for the creative generation of new ideas.  
  3. Make room for activities that “open you up” such as dancing, meditating, cooking, drawing, or playing music – even if for only a few minutes each day.

Ways to help resolve team challenges

  1. Communicate a clear vision and strategy and clarify how team members collectively and individually contribute to the vision, mission, strategy, and goals. Then be sure to celebrate team wins.
  2. Ensure that employees feel safe to take risks and make mistakes.
  3. Celebrate the differences and encourage constructive challenges before they turn into petty or destructive grievances.
  4. Try giving at least three positive pieces of feedback each day and see how it builds a positive “feedback loop.”

Learning from others

  1. Create a safe working environment, a culture of respect and openness.
  2. Embody the qualities of a true leader: guiding and supporting, yet also listening and learning from others, no matter their position within the organization – rather than simply issuing commands from on high. 
  3. Use active listening, paying careful attention to answers, while also noticing subtle, nonverbal cues and emotions.
  4. Seek a variety of perspectives, including from those who don’t share your views.
  5. Ask for regular feedback. It’s the rare employee who provides it unsolicited.
  6. Align your actions with your values and own up to your weaknesses. This will build trust and help ensure that team members feel more confident coming forward with ideas of their own.

How to ask effective questions

  1. Lead by example by inviting the participation of others. This demonstrates the importance of questions, encourages a culture of inquisitiveness, opens up conversations, and helps uncover information.
  2. Start with easier questions first and favor open-ended questions over those that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.”
  3. Watch your tone! Show interest and curiosity – don’t interrogate.
  4. Give others the chance to offer their thoughts before you offer any long-winded arguments or explanations.

Artistic Bravery as a Role Model

And as you begin another year filled with its many challenges, call on the courage and tenacity of our ancestors – for example, artists such as Ludwig van Beethoven, who composed his last piano concerto nearly deaf, while Vienna was under invasion from Napoleon’s armies.

Since writing Beethoven’s Bravery, a recent Wall Street Journal article was written about Fanny Mendelssohn’s brilliant, musical talents which were hidden in the shadow of her famous brother due to the social norms for women at the time. This inspires me to honor our leadership vision, use our knowledge and our voice, because strong, influential leadership is a gift to share.

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