Service as a Leadership Model for Entrepreneurs
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Service as a Leadership Model
Service as a Leadership Model for Entrepreneurs
Have you ever considered using service as a leadership model in your business? As an entrepreneur, you will gain both tangible and intangible benefits when you use service as a leadership model.
In this episode of My Biz Dream Team: Opportunity Wednesday Training Series Dexter and I discuss the importance of serving and engaging with your community.
1. Define Your Community
You decide how to define your community. Your community can be the customers, clients, and colleagues that you associate with online. Or your community can be the people and organizations in your physical world. Perhaps you are an active participant in both dimensions, online and off.
However, you define your community, Dexter and I encourage you to use service as a leadership model. It is important to your growth as an entrepreneur and a citizen of the world to be of service. Using service as a leadership model is also a wonderful way to network and be known in your community.
Robert Greenleaf is known as the “grandfather of the modern empowerment movement in business leadership.” He is best known for his writings and lectures on servant leadership. I recommend that you read a compilation of his writings, On Becoming a Servant-Leader.
2. Service by Giving Your Time
One important aspect of servant leadership is volunteering your time. I understand that you are busy running your business. However, it is important to take a moment to look around and see the problems. Then think about how you can help.
As an entrepreneur you have very valuable skills that organizations can use. Your ability to set and accomplish goals, organize tasks, or make a presentation could be invaluable to your community.
I am not suggesting that you start a non-profit. I am simply suggesting that you volunteer a few hours a month. I recommend that you find a cause that is dear to your heart and volunteer a few hours of your time.
During the holiday session, I had the opportunity, as part of the Woodbridge Rotary Club project, to serve a meal and gift gifts at the local Boys and Girl’s Club. It brought joy to my heart to see the pleasure in the eyes of the children. They enjoyed their taco dinner, gifts, and a visit from Santa.
Service as a Leadership Model
Service by Giving Your Money
Another aspect of servant leadership is giving your money to worthy causes. There are thousands of philanthropic and cause-based organizations who can make a positive impact when your money is combined with that of other like-minded individuals.
Although you do not give with the expectation of receiving anything in return. You will often find that when you give with a loving heart that your gift is returned in many tangible and intangible ways. The goodwill that you generate is incalculable. The smile from a student that is helped by your donation can be breathtaking.
Also, you become known by your business colleagues as a person of caring and commitment. Those connections with other like-minded people could lead to better relationships and more business opportunities for you.
Conclusion
Entrepreneurs benefit their communities and themselves when they use service as a leadership model. The benefits to the community and to you are both tangible and intangible. We encourage you to actively engage with your community and commit to a model of service as leadership.
At My Biz Dream Team, we can show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals.
Check out The Special Report and Training Guide: Building Your Business Dream Team™.
Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.
Pamela Montgomery
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, business strategist, and speaker, helping you create the life of your dreams as you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!
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Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership
Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership
Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership
Have you ever thought about developing better listening skills? Well, if you want to be an effective leader, developing better listening skills is essential.
I learned the importance of developing better listening skills for effective leadership during a successful career as a litigator, policy maker, entrepreneur, and serving on the boards of many community organizations.
I am not talking about whether you can hear or not. Instead, I am referring to the ability to connect with someone because you not only hear what they are saying, but also understand what they are not saying. This often called 360 listening.
Today, I am sharing with you the lessons that I have learned about the importance of developing better listening skills in making me a better a leader. Hopefully, you can learn from my experiences!
1. Developing Better Listening Skills Builds Trust
The ability to connect and to build trust in a meaningful way is a key component of leadership.
I recently read an article by Melissa Daimler, “Listening is an Overlooked Leadership Tool” in the Harvard Business Review. Ms. Daimler makes an excellent point that, “The most powerful mode of communication is that of two people listening.”
At one time, I thought that as the leader, I should be the person doing most of the talking. However, I realized that I was a more effective leader when I listened and asked questions.
Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership
2. Developing Better Listening Skills Builds Respect
I learned that there is no better way to show respect to another person than to listen to what she is saying. I had to learn to stop looking at emails when a team member came to talk to me. I also had to learn to stop multi-tasking, and to pay attention to the person standing in front of me.
Sometimes, I found myself so worried about getting stuff down, that I forgot about the importance of effective communication with the people who worked with me.
As Steven Covey said in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, “Seek first to understand.” I learned to understand by listening. Once I began developing better listening skills, I became a more effective leader.
Below is a checklist that I have developed to help me and my colleagues in developing better listening skills. Hopefully, the checklist will help you as you learn to connect, build trust, and communicate by developing better listening skills.
3. The Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership Checklist™
1. I understand that developing better listening is a skill that I absolutely must develop.
2. When I am listening to someone, I eliminate distractions and give that person my full attention. I am no longer:
- Processing what I want to say as they are speaking
- Jumping to conclusions or making assumptions about what they are trying to communicate
- Interrupting people when I should be listening
- Other__________________________________________
3. As I am developing better listening skills, I am:
- Looking for non-verbal clues
- Asking deep questions
- Thinking before I speak
- Following up on our conversation
- Other___________________________________________
4. I do not hesitate to make notes about conversations I have just had, to remind myself of important details or follow-up actions I must take.
5. I am aware of the three different types of listening, and what differentiates them:
- Internal listening
- Focused listening
- 360 listening
6. I am working hard to practice 360 listening.
7. I understand that developing better listening skills actively builds trust.
Developing Better Listening Skills for Effective Leadership
Conclusion
The importance of developing better listening skills for effective leadership can not be overstated. Over a successful career as a litigator, policy maker, entrepreneur, and serving on numerous boards, I have learned from my experiences. Hopefully, you can begin developing better listening skills as you grow as a leader in your job, your business, and your community.
I would love to hear from you about the leadership challenges that you face! Leave me a comment below!
At My Biz Dream Team, we can show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out the Special Report and Training Guide: Build My Business Dream Team. Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.
Pamela Montgomery
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, entrepreneur, and speaker, helping you create the life of your dreams as you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!
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The Pathway to Better Leadership in Your Community Checklist™
Pathway to Better Leadership
The Pathway to Better Leadership in Your Community Checklist™
If you are interested in having a positive impact in your community, on-line or off-line, then follow this pathway to better leadership checklist. It has worked me! Give it a try.
Identify Your Community
1. I have identified my community—those who engage with me and trust me:
Online
Locally
In specialty groups where I interact
Other________________________
2. I have identified:
Where I experience the most online interactivity and engagement
Where and with whom I like to spend my online time
If that community could be a paying market
3. I have asked myself and analyzed:
What would they pay for without thinking twice?
How I already help them
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
4. I have identified the unspoken question underlying their struggles
__________________________________________________________
5. I have identified who I help in my local community, as well as how and why I help them
Connect with Your Community
Connect with Your Community
6. I have arranged to:
Present a free workshop or presentation at my local library
Present a free workshop or presentation for my local business organizations
Write a community-oriented article for my local newspaper
Offered to write a free regular column for my local newspaper
7. I have ensured I can be ready with a signature presentation and fill in at a moment’s notice at any gathering, when speakers cancel at the last minute
8. I understand that volunteering my time and expertise in my local community helps not only them, but helps me:
Increase my public presence
Become known for my specialty
Be viewed as their local expert in my field
Make valuable network connections
Build my reputation
Increase my self-worth
Help my neighbors
9. I am cultivating outward-looking attitudes based on caring, sharing, gratitude and love
10. I am focusing on being a glass-half-full person
11. I welcome challenges as opportunities to learn and grow
12. I understand that forgiveness is a process—and a choice
13. I have forgiven:
Everyone I need to forgive in my life
Myself
14. I understand that:
I can’t control other people, only myself
How I feel is also a choice I make
I have the power to choose
15. I am not going to take on other people’s ‘stuff’ any more
16. I take full responsibility for my choices
17. I understand that good listening is a skill that I absolutely must develop
18. When listening to someone, I eliminate distractions and give that person my full attention
19. I am no longer:
Processing what I want to say as they are talking
Jumping to conclusions or making assumptions about what they are wanting to communicate
Interrupting people I am supposed to be listening to
Other__________________________________________
20. I am:
Looking for non-verbal clues
Asking deep questions
Thinking before I speak
Following up on our conversation
Other___________________________________________
21. I do not hesitate to make notes about conversations I have just had, to remind myself of important details or actions I have to take
22. I am aware of the three different types of listening, and what differentiates them:
Internal listening
Focused listening
360 listening
23. I am working hard to practice 360 listening
24. I understand that good listening actively builds trust
Engage with Your Community
Engage with Your Community
25. I am living my core values—every day
26. I understand that micro-managing is not leading
27. I do things WITH my clients—not for them
28. I have set clear boundaries with my followers and clients by:
Defining when and how I will interact—and sticking to it
Never reducing my fees to accommodate a client with financial problems
Never stepping outside the times I have set for myself for either coaching or for volunteer work
Respecting my client or group member’s boundaries, too
Following through on what I have set up
29. I understand that setting up and honoring my own boundaries is one of the most priceless gifts I can share with my kids, my clients, and my community
30. I have identified what I want my community members to remember, think and feel about me and how I helped them, years from now
31. I have identified what I want my community to:
Learn
Share
Take away
Other___________________________________
32. I have answered the question, “What will the world miss when my business no longer exists?”
______________________________________________________
33. I am actively and daily spending time with my community
34. I am spending significant time thinking about my community members, how I can best help them and what they really need
35. I am going deep and looking for that extra tweak that people need and appreciate
36. I have read up on critical thinking, if that is a new concept to me, and I am committed to practicing it from now on.
37. I am making it a regular practice to always go deep and look for that extra tweak my people need
38. When asking myself a question, I am:
Looking at all possible answers
Testing these possible answers
39. I am looking for—and asking—the questions that no one has thought of: Ones that desperately need to be addressed
40. When it comes to my business and brand, I am planning for longevity
41. I have asked myself:
What is it about my business idea that really excites me?
Will it sustain me in the long run?
Will it excite and help my community members for years down the line?
42. I have considered taking an online Critical Thinking course
Share with Your Community
Share with Your Community
43. I am looking outward and sharing by benefiting my community with one or more of the following:
Curation
Volunteer work
Donating to causes and charities
Setting up programs and funding
Other________________________________________________
44. I understand that my success can benefit the world and my community through these voluntary sharing and caring activities—and that I will be able to participate much more easily richer, rather than poorer!
45. I understand that my success helps my community members validate themselves too
46. I understand that my full commitment to positive leadership will help me make the world a better place
Conclusion/Call to Action
Are you ready to follow the pathway to better leadership? I hope that you will commit yourself to having a positive impact on your community.
Together we can make the world a better place. You and your community will grow and prosper when you begin to follow The Pathway to Better Leadership in Your Community Checklist™.
Click here to receive a free handout of The Pathway to Better Leadership in Your Community Checklist™
For more articles on Leadership see:
How to Step into the Spotlight as a Leader and Public Speaker
5 Valuable Qualities of an Authentic Leader
At My Biz Dream Team, we show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Podcasting Power Playbook, to help you increase your visibility, credibility, and authority status. Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, entrepreneur, and speaker, providing results-oriented strategies that help you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!
Pamela Montgomery
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Business Mentor: 3 Reasons You Want One on Your Team
Your Business Mentor Has the Key
Business Mentor: 3 Reasons You Want One on Your Team
Sometimes I wonder how many mistakes we could have avoided if we had gotten a business mentor sooner. Once we found a mentor, we realized that we would never be without one. A mentor is defined as someone who is a sounding board. Your business mentor helps you navigate through the intangible issues related to your business. A business mentor can help you with strategic and sustained business growth and success.
Research by Daniel Goleman, Daniel Boyatzis, and Annie McKee reported in “Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence,” has shown that cultivating a special relationship with someone whose sole purpose is to help you along your path is crucial to your continuing development as a leader. A business mentor knows your strengths and weaknesses. She can guide you as you through the steps in your strategic plan for growth. A business mentor can help you to:
- Avoid Major Mistakes
- Build Your Team
- Conceptualize Your Future
1. Avoid Major Mistakes
Your business mentor is someone who has already had success in your industry. She can offer expertise and experience. She can tell you about the mistakes that others in your industry have made. Your mentor has been around the block longer and knows the pitfalls well.
Remember to be very intentional in working with your mentor. Share your specific strategies and plans so that she can provide specific advice.
2. Building Your Team
Building a top flight team is one of the most crucial factors in your success. Your business mentor has connections to others inside and outside of the industry. Your mentor can give you referrals to other professionals you want on your team. People such as a lawyer, accountant, tax specialist who can help with specific matters. Your mentor can also help you plan when and how to add others to your in-house team of employees and consultants. Learning how to hire and build a strong organizational culture is key.
Remember to tap into your mentor's vast reservoir of key business connections.
3. Conceptualize Your Future
Your business mentor can help you think about and plan for your future success. As the leader of the company you maybe to focused on the day-to-day operations. You may not be focusing on your thoughts on long-term growth. Your business mentor however can help you think outside of your regular bubble. You may be regularly focused on the $100,000 a year level. Your business mentor can help you conceptualize your business at the $1 million dollar a year level. It may be hard for you to imagine such massive success. But your mentor can see and plan that far ahead.
Remember to share freely with your mentor to gain from their vast insights and perspectives.
Closing Thoughts
A good mentor will understand the challenges that you are facing. She will bring to you her vast experience and expertise to bear on the issues that you are facing. Having a mentor will help you grow as a business leader. Your mentor can help you to:
- Avoid Massive Mistakes
- Build Your Team, and
- Conceptualize Your Future.
As you grow your business consider working with a business mentor. You can work with us to help you navigate the intangibles in your business strategy in “The Strategic Pathway to Success Program.” Let us mentor you to business growth and success.
Leave a comment below to let us know if you have worked with a mentor before in your business.
How to Be a Recognized Expert
You are the Expert!
How to Be a Recognized Expert
Becoming an expert does not happen overnight. Being recognized as an expert may take even longer. But you can be recognized as an expert by following a few proven steps. These few steps allow you to build credibility, authority, and visibility. As an entrepreneur, speaker, or author you want to be recognized as the leader and expert in your industry. We buy from those who we believe to be authorities. Building your status as an expert will have a tremendous impact on your bottom line. It will also help you attract and keep clients. This post will discuss three steps you need to take if you want to be recognized as an expert.
Be a Leader
If you want to be recognized as an expert, then you need to see yourself as a leader. You first have to believe in your own capabilities. How can anyone else believe in you, if you don't believe in yourself? So begin with self-confidence.
You need to read, learn, and master your area. Become confident in your knowledge. As you gain new knowledge you will feel more self-confident and self-assured.
One great way to become a leader is to educate others. As your knowledge and confidence grows, you can create information products, publish books, and produce other materials. As you share what you know, the positive feedback will be a great confidence booster.
Having given hundreds of presentations over the years, I understand the tremendous benefits of positioning yourself as an expert.
Be Professional
If you want to be recognized as an expert, you need to present yourself in a professional manner. I don't mean you have to wear a suit and a tie! But you should make sure that you look and sound like an expert. For example, be careful with the language that you use. Whether it is talking on the phone, responding to an email, writing a blog post or other content, you want to use proper language. Don't fall into the trap of using jargon or tech talk. You want to be clearly understood.
Your photos and images should reflect your professionalism. On social media make sure that your posts are business related.
Sometimes I like to share a few life-style posts. But make sure that any posts are congruent with the professional image that you are trying to convey.
Remember to not over share. Your audience will look at your social media to see who you are. If you don't want them to see the pictures from the beach vacation, don't post them. After all, you are the expert. Don't confuse your clients or prospective client with a confusing image of who you are!
Be Honest and Humble
If you want to be recognized as an expert, you need to be honest about who you are. Don't take on a fake personality or persona. Learn to connect with people in a genuine manner.
People are looking for authenticity. If you are not being “real,” people will pick up on it. Additionally, it is very difficult to maintain a fake persona. Eventually you will get tired. Or far worse, you will get found out. It is far easier to be yourself.
Part of being honest about who you are is being transparent. You should strive to be honest about who you are and what you know.
One excellent way of being transparent is to openly admit what you don't know. It has happened to me on many occasions. When I did not know an answer to a particular question, I admitted it and offered to get back to them with a response.
It is much better to openly admit when you don't know the answer than to give an incorrect answer. I could see my credibility with the room increase, as I honestly handled a very difficult question.
Conclusion
With a few proven steps you can position yourself as an expert in your market. You may not be recognized as an expert overnight, but buy following these three steps you position yourself as a respected authority: (1) Be a Leader; (2) Be Professional; and (3) Be Honest and Humble. By following these three steps you set yourself up for lasting success.
To find out more about setting a solid foundation for your business success go to My Biz Dream Team. We work with entrepreneurs, speakers, and authors to help them get visibility, credibility, and authority. We can help you achieve uncommon results!
At My Biz Dream Team, we show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Podcasting Power Playbook, to help you increase your visibility, credibility, and authority status. Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.
Pamela Montgomery
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, online marketing strategist, and speaker, providing you results-oriented strategies that help you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!
The Power of Using Teamwork In Your Business
The Power of Teamwork
Teamwork is about partnership! It is a partnership that allows you to reach your goals faster. Having the power of a team allows you to leverage the abilities of others to work toward common goals. The different perspectives of many people working in collaboration with each other can lead to extraordinary success.
The Power of Teamwork in Business
History is full of evidence demonstrating the power of teamwork. Let me make my case. For example, there is Thomas Edison and his team of scientists and innovators working together at Menlo Park. They created the electric light bulb, movie picture camera, sound recording and many other inventions. These inventions have given us the comforts of the modern world. Thomas Edison’s name is on more than 1000 patents. However, it was his ability to leverage the abilities of a team that allowed him to create the modern research laboratory.
Next, let’s look at Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak working together to create Apple computers. Then there is Bill Gates and Paul Allen at Microsoft. These giants of industry started with a dream and used the power of teamwork to make their dreams a reality.
These are but a few examples of the power of teamwork in business!
Are You Using the Power of Teamwork in Your Business?
As you begin or grow your business, you want to move quickly past the “solopreneur” stage. History has taught us that nothing of significance is achieved alone. You must bring in other people to help you achieve anything of significance. You must have a business dream team! Once you begin to add people to your team, you will need a project manager. A project manager will know how everything fits. At first you will be the project manager, but eventually you will need someone else to run the operations. The project manager allows you to work on your business rather than in your business. The project manager is like the conductor in a symphony or the director of the play. She coordinates everyone else’s work. She makes sure that everything runs smoothly and your business is a well-run machine. The project manager is at the center of your business dream team.
If you are interested in learning more about building a great team I highly recommend that you read “The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork: Embrace Them and Empower Your Team, by John Maxwell. You can also download a pdf training package that we have created: “The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Business Dream Team.” This training will put you on the fast track to success.
Conclusion
If you do not have a business dream team, you should! Nothing of significance is ever achieved alone. History is replete with evidence of the success achieved with business dream teams.
Who is on your business dream team? Please comment below.
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Determination: 3 – Part Strategy for Success
Determination: Don't Stop Now!
Determination: 3 – Part Strategy for Success
Determination is an important characteristic of a successful and prosperous entrepreneur or small business owner.
Determination is defined as, “firmness of purpose; resolve.” As an entrepreneur or small business owner your determination is tested daily.
When your client does not show up for an appointment you wonder if it is it really worth it. If your assistant forgets to give you an important message you wonder if one more thing could possibly go wrong!
But to be successful, you must show determination and remain firm in your desire for your business.
This post discusses three key strategies that Dexter and I, and other successful entrepreneurs find to be helpful in maintaining our determination to succeed and prosper.
1. Remember Your Why
Determination can wither without a strong enough reason to continue. As an entrepreneur or small business owner you must remind yourself of why are you in business. You need to go beyond the surface reason: To make money!
There are easier ways to make money than starting a business. So dig deep and remember that vision you had for your business. Remember the passion that you had for your clients that you wanted to serve. Remember the legacy that you wanted to leave for your family. When your determination starts to falter, you need to remember your WHY! Your WHY will give you the courage, strength, and determination to continue.
2. Learn from Your Mistakes
You will need determination when you fail to deliver a product on time or your meeting just did not go well.
Now you can’t quit, but rather learn from what went wrong. A successful business owner does not quit when things don’t quite right. You figure out what went wrong, adjust, and then adapt.
Your ability to think, be flexible, and resilient will serve you in the long run. You have to keep moving.
I remember missing the deadline to our editor for our first book. We were devastated because we had committed to having it done in 10 weeks. Instead, it took us 6 months. We were determined not to give up. We had some technical difficulty with the recording device, made the correction, and completed the book. We were overjoyed at the accomplishment.
If we had lost our determination, we would have missed the opportunity to share our strategies with hundreds of other entrepreneurs. Our success was right around the corner.
3. Focus on What is Really Important
Your determination may falter when the bills begin to pile up and yet you see no income.
You begin to wonder if the sacrifices in time, money, self-esteem are worth it. After all you have been successful in other areas of life. Why doesn’t this seem to be working?
Your self-image is on the line! I can understand!
That is when you have to dig deep within yourself and focus on what is most important right now!
Take one little step on a key priority to gain momentum. Then another and another!
Keep moving ahead no matter what. Make a phone call. Write one paragraph. Delegate a task to your team.
Get something done right now! You will eventually develop those habits of determination that will serve to make you a successful entrepreneur.
Conclusion
As you can see, determination is a key trait of a successful and prosperous entrepreneur.
This trait that can be developed by (1) remembering why you are in business; (2) learning from your mistakes; and (3) focusing on what is really important.
Sometimes everything seems to go wrong and you are tempted to quit.
But remember, your success could be right around the corner. So remember to take action each day on your business.
By following these three strategies you can develop the habits of determination that will propel your success and prosperity.
Question
Have you ever faced a situation when your determination wilted? How did you keep going? Please share with our community on My Biz Dream Team.
At My Biz Dream Team, we can show you how to develop an internet lifestyle business that can help you reach your money goals. Check out The Strategic Pathway to Success Program. Let us show you how to reach your goal of creating a lifestyle and a business that you love! Act today.
I am Pamela Montgomery, attorney, author, entrepreneur, and speaker, helping you create the life of your dreams as you achieve uncommon results in your business and in your life!
Pamela Montgomery
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