Good Leadership Skills Follow 7 AAA Ways to Succeed...!
(c) Copyright 2004-2005, Mustard Seed Investments, Inc.
This may come as a surprise but there are reliable, effective and powerful ways to improve your ability to learn new things.
If you will allow me to use the search for good leadership skills training as our example, you will see how poor learning forces us to suffer through any one or more of the following problems:
- leadership training programs usually cost serious money - in fact, some programs are outrageously expensive
- leadership training programs last for a very short time - quite a few of them run for only one or two days
- many leadership training programs fail to give students ways to confidently resolve problem situations or meet and overcome their daily challenges
- less than 1% of all leadership training programs combine coaching and mentoring follow-ups with classroom lessons
- most leadership training programs like to do 'raw data dumps'- the vast majority of them do NOT give you chances to 'blend' your learning experiences with supervised support or practical feedback
In this article you will discover how to find, use and take advantage of every kind of performance improvement learning opportunity you encounter.
You will be able to employ your new knowledge, skills and competences in highly flexible, more creative and valuable ways.
Power Strategy - 1 -- Be sure you get a good ROI
When you spend your money on a training program, do you want to be entertained, engaged or educated?
I don't know about your priorities but I know that when I hand over my hard-earned money, I demand a ton of convincing that my investment is going to give me a big pay-off.
I expect and want so much more from training than I put into it. Of course, your training program should and needs to have some entertaining qualities and even engaging aspects to it.
If you want the temporary benefits of watching an action adventure movie or taking a walk in the park then go for it.
However, if you desire to see your career or business blossom and grow stronger, your training investment must deliver more than a mere 30% or 60% payback [I suggest you look for programs that guarantee you returns of 100-300%].
Power Strategy - 2 -- Good leadership skills take money to make more money!
The price of your training program should mirror your 3 expectations for the returns you will receive through investing in the program:
1) The price must be reasonable for the amount of learning and growth in knowledge, know-how and competences you can expect to achieve
2) The price should be based on your desire to pay for those incremental benefits in terms of the performance
improvements and tangible results you are likely to receive from your training program over that period of time
3) The price has to be a realistic, accurate and measurable reflection of those resources which are actively committed to the support of your progress.
Power Strategy - 3 -- Grasp a telescopic view of your training needs!
We already looked at the continuing nature of training. Do you believe that learning is a lifelong exercise?
If so, how do you expect to learn anything of lasting value in just 1, 2 or 3 days [in most cases less than 6 hours a day of actual training]?
For instance, many leadership training programs feature short term exposures to the complex job of analyzing issues, evaluating potential solutions and assessing the effectiveness of your decisions.
I wonder how you are supposed to master the diverse arts, concepts, practices, principles, laws and processes of leadership in 18 or less hours?
In those kinds of workshops and seminars, you are told that you will come away from the classroom with an in-depth understanding of 15 or 20 topics - yeah, sure you will!
By now, it should be obvious to you that the most effective leadership training requires LONG-TERM continuous, devoted and caring support, frequent follow-ups and candid assessments from your training provider.
Power Strategy - 4 -- Get the most of good leadership skills that you can!
I can hear you talking to yourself - you're thinking that you only need to get the most out of everyday you participate in a training class, aren't you?
Since you have spent your money on a training class, you would be foolish not to get the most from that investment.
However, I would like you to consider the fact that everyday that you're alive is a day for learning, practicing, judging and mastering new skills, knowledge and principles.
If you maintain a daily log book, a diary or journal, you should strive to write down your learning-oriented accomplishments.
You would use your journal to enter the principles, skills, and new knowledge [the applicable, relevant and practical information you discovered - not just mere facts and figures but useful, valuable and profit-producing know-how].
That's why police officers and crafts persons keep their notebooks - it's how you too could reinforce and strengthen your confidence, and deepen as well as broaden all your learning experiences.
Power Strategy - 5 -- Be open to being helped!
Many times, people in leadership training hold the mistaken belief that only their teachers know how to help them learn leadership skills and principles.
If someone wants to weave you some holy tale of how only other leaders can show you the 'ropes' or that only those buttoned-down, up-and-coming junior executive-types can show you how to charge into the fray and take no prisoners then you're in for a surprise.
Not everyone who has an elaborate title, holds some exalted position or who have gone before you knows how to lead or knows what they're doing in this new age of knowledge - so you can forget all the myths and nursery stories right now!
When you break free from assumptions like those mentioned above, you will see how people operating in various walks of life and those working in different professions or sectors of the economy from yours can and will add rich, colorful textures to your tapestry of leadership.
Helpers of all sorts can contribute to your understanding of their cultures, operational paradigms and traditional practices - these people can be found all around you.
How can your peers, subordinates and other so-called ordinary people empower your leadership development?
It's your task to question them, observe their behaviors, listen to their experiences and after doing all those things, to learn how.
Power Strategy - 6 -- Reach out, grab a golden ring of support
In this crazy world of chaotic change, dizzying choices and the sifting sands of normal operating conditions, we need to reach for the certainty and assuring comfort of others.
The journey towards leadership maturity may begin with a single step but you'll need a thousand more things to carry you along your way.
Your leadership adventure will have to be fueled by sustenance of many kinds:
- A written record of your challenges and encounters will help you stay focused and empowered
- Encouraging fellowship, engaging interactions and edifying exchanges with your fellow travellers will maintain your sanity and stability
- Confessional and consultative sessions with your trusted advisers will strengthen your resolve and faith
- Daily inspirational readings and pep-talks will energize you and feed your soul
- Meditations and prayers will uplift your spirit and enable your inner being to soar with wings of eagles
Power Strategy - 7 -- Take your acting cues from the director!
In essence, a coach is like the director of a motion picture - coaches prompt, instruct, direct and intensely encourage us to move towards our goals.
You have a better chance of becoming the leader you were destined to be with a coach, counselor or mentor keeping watch over your advancement and working alongside of you.
Of course you still need a structured course of learning and teachers who can help increase your knowledge and tutor you.
Coaches and mentors instill a sense of accountability in you, they will keep the bar raised and stand beside you so that you become accustomed to striving for the highest possible performance.
In your development as a leader, coaches and mentors will be instrumental in helping you examine yourself and assess your performance candidly and rigorously.
After a time, you will come to see your counselor, mentor and coach as the person who enabled you to see the true meaning of reaching for the prize.
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The last but most important "Power Strategy" I wish to share with you is this -
Be sure to energetically increase the richness, texture, luster, power and scope, depth, capacity, value-added, quality and competences of your skills and knowledge developmental experiences on a daily basis!
Seek out and find only those training programs that will help you achieve the goals of these 7 Power Strategies and you will make abounding, abundant and amply laudable contributions to your own success, your community, organizations and our world.
Mustard Seed Investments Inc. Copyright © 2004-2005, All rights reserved
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