1) Communication.
-Active listening
-Verbal & non-verbal skills
-Presentation expertise.
-Written Communication
-Negotiation Skills
Effective, verbal communication is at the heart of every successful organization. It is one of the highest requested skills by employers, making it an essential ability. Communicating in a clear, compelling, and efficient style is crucial. It builds strong relationships with co-workers, clients, and management alike. Audible communication includes the words and sounds you project when speaking, including sighs and moans. A benefit of effective communication is that it builds confidence. Active listening is the component of communication allowing others to voice their opinions and offer their expertise. It's a valuable tool in understanding others' perspective, forming a productive, professional partnership.
For example, when I'm contacting a client (by phone or in person), I try to clearly tell them why I'm reaching out to them. We all want to know the upside for us and not consume any more time out of our busy schedules than necessary. So, I'm wanting to get an appointment— offer a warm greeting and state the purpose of your call. I will ask if they have a minute to talk with me or if I should call back; be considerate and respectful. Sometimes, I can “hear” in their voice they sound busy or rushed, I will say, “you sound busy, should I call back later?” Smile and be energetic when you speak, they can "see" and "feel" the positive tone in your voice. Yes, communication in person or on the phone is about inflection, pace, and volume, along with the words. People can tell when you are passionate and confident.
In person communication must involve non-verbal skills for the foremost effectiveness. To be a top achiever, you must first “sell” yourself. Here appearance, posture, facial expressions, eye contact, personal space and hand gestures all come into play. Eye contact is important in displaying confidence and building trust. Your appearance and posture are a natural extension of a professional approach. Respecting personal space during your interaction makes the person feel safe and valued. An 18" comfort zone is best for offering comfort and professionalism. Other, invisible communication skills could include knowing the best day of the week or best time of the day to make contact. Always open the call to feedback or questions from the individual (active listening). True communication is a 2-way street. Follow up the phone call with a confirmation email so they have the details you discussed in person. This layering of communication skills leads to superior results.
Your written communication includes emails and texts. They need to follow the same clear, efficient style as verbal delivery. In written transmissions, it is important to use proper writing skills:
*Grammar *Vocabulary *Spelling *Sentence construction
*Structure *Clarity *Persuasiveness.
As with all power skills, time and practice will help you improve and excel. A suggestion on written communications, is to read it back to yourself aloud. Does it sound ok? Nothing is more unprofessional than mis-spelled words or poor grammar. Double check it before you hit send. Your non-verbal skills can speak louder than the spoken word. Be a complete package!
I will always remember an incident that involved non-verbal communication skills at my job.
PERSONAL STORY
My national sales manager and I had a disagreement approximately 6 months after I started my position. When we were at a trade show, he came up to me and got "in my face"--about 6" is what separated us. Yes, he was trying to intimidate me. It was uncomfortable, he was trying to get me to walk out and quit. I kept eye contact and, respectfully, stood my ground. I did not walk out, we agreed to disagree, and, in another year, I was in the top 5% of sales managers in the company. I lost all respect for him. –Belinda Crouse.
Active listening is one of the most respectful behaviors to possess. For many of us this is a skill that is difficult to master. You need to be mindful, giving your full attention to the speaker and not cut them off. Active listening allows us to comprehend the speakers’ position and gain their admiration. Ask open ended questions, for example, say "tell me more" or "what do you think"? Make eye contact, lean in, and listen closely. Continue with a probing question, like "how did you decide…?" Ask for additional information when appropriate. Be attentive, express understanding, emotion, and empathy. Summarize to make sure you understand and got the entire story.
Negotiation skills are all about an effective, open exchange of information. With this communication process you must be prepared to have a strategic discussion. You want to forge an agreement that all parties will find acceptable. Verbal, non-verbal, and active listening competency are both necessary for a smooth, successful conclusion.
As with negotiating skills, presentation skills involve all the basic communication proficiencies. Presentations need to be informative, instructional, arousing and persuasive. You want to bring a positive energy in an appropriate time length. You need to know your audience to present appropriate information. It must be geared to their interest and skill level in the topic. To engage your group, use eye contact and inclusive gestures. Speak in a fashion that is relatable and easy to understand. Get your audience involved by asking for feedback. This is an area where story telling can be effective and engaging.
2) Adaptability
-Flexibility
-Resilience
-Open-mindedness
-Growth mindset
-Analyze
In today's fast paced world, you must be able to quickly embrace change to stay ahead of the curve. It’s imperative to be flexible to adapt to dynamic situations and new experiences. Being optimistic, resilient yet realistic is key to staying focused amidst evolving conditions. This will allow you to not just survive but thrive.
I'm sure you have heard someone say, "I've always done it this way, it worked, so I see no reason to change". But that is one thing you can count on, is change. Be flexible in accepting advancements, as they are how you and your business will flourish. Look at the huge changes in just the past 5 years due to remote and hybrid work preferences and the emergence of AI. I can list many changes that occur weekly in my career and to continue to be successful you must adapt. Here's an example of being flexible with a growth mindset.
PERSONAL STORY
I organized my sales presentations to show book A product first, then B and C. I found that some of my regular clients were not responding to the tried-and-true approach anymore. Maybe, it was just too much of the same old thing. So, before arriving at my appointments, I tailored my meetings with a more individualized approach. One I would start with book B, another, I'd mark a particular section to feature first. Others I would ask some questions or preview their store to determine a starting point. Using adaptability and flexibility skills were essential in adapting these novel approaches. I found this made the appointments more engaging, giving them a new energy and vibe. It was refreshing to me too and added another layer to our relationship. –Belinda Crouse.
Analyze the situation to produce alternate solutions. Be open-minded and flexible to trying novel approaches. You might find there is a new and improved method that will assist you in reaching your goal. Roadblocks happen every day- believe in yourself, be resilient. Stay the course and you will achieve the desired result. Embrace your failures and use them as a steppingstone to grow and learn from.
A growth mindset is immensely powerful, and employers are looking for it in their hiring decisions. It empowers you to be the best version of yourself. (“Anxiety Slayer™ with Shann and Ananga on Apple Podcasts”) Your mindset is how you tackle challenges and failure. Although you will face struggles, with resilience and determination you will grow and overcome any setbacks. Your skills will improve with practice and feedback, allowing you to move forward. Remain positive and never give up, just adapt!
3) Problem Solving
-Critical Thinking
-Analysis
-Creativity
-Self-motivation
-Decision making
Problem solving power skills are important to effectively solve complex, open-ended scenarios. Critical thinking is the ability to collect and evaluate all the data, facts, and research available concerning the problem. Armed with all the facts, they will draw reasonable conclusions and produce invaluable answers. A critical thinker can arrive with the results independently, as they are self-motivated. And they can make connections and analysis it rationally, seeing the big picture. Then, the creative thinker takes over and comes up with multiple, innovative solutions. It is a valuable skill to be able to command the complete process smoothly.
This is a complex skill set, and to be proficient requires a systematic approach. You must break down the problem into small, logical, and manageable steps. With a well-reasoned thought process, develop the best solutions; then implement and monitor to its conclusion.
Four steps:
1) Identify the complete problem. You need to have a clear understanding of the overall issue before you can start to analyze it. You must gather all available information before you can arrive at any worthy conclusions. Active listening is an important skill to employ during this step to discover all possibilities.
2) Develop a list of solutions. This will involve critical and strategic thinking skills. With your thorough research, you are now prepared to make informed decisions, generating multiple solutions. A critical thinker is skeptical but open-minded in analyzing the facts. They can determine any flaws in reasoning, viewing multiple perspectives to determine the short- and long-term consequences.
3) Implement a solution. Go through the priorities and organize a workable proposal creating an effective strategy. Lay the steps out on paper or use a digital planner such as Trello.
4) Measure the results. Track and measure the results. Be flexible, as adjustments or an alternative approach may be required.
Positive problem solving encourages you to be a creative and critical thinker. The critical thinker gathers all the facts and data and analyses it thoroughly. This methodical, step by step approach allows the creative mind to generate multiple unique and innovative solutions. By organizing every detail, you will be able handle the pressure and meet your deadlines. The critical thinker uses logic and rational reasoning while creativity will aid in developing multiple answers.
Success here will boost your confidence and improve decision making. Creative thinking assists with producing new, original solutions. In my professional life, I have always had the desire to analyze procedures and systems, the back end of a company. I want to know why they have these processes, do they make sense, would something else be more effective—would adjustments make it faster, more profitable, more transparent, less cumbersome.... My mind just likes to evaluate the details. If you understand the how, you will understand the why.
4) Leadership
-Problem-solving
-Authenticity
-Personal Growth
-Adaptability
-Management
-Empathy
-Coaching & Mentoring
-Strategic thinking
As you may have started noticing, each soft skill involves a variety of abilities to master that skill. They are multi-layered, intertwining and overlapping. The leadership power skill encompasses a large, well-rounded set of expertise to master. The best leaders can inspire and motivate themselves and their team to achieve greatness. Learning how to coach and mentor your staff will increase productivity, leading to a profitable, cohesive business. They can manage situations, have an unobstructed vision, and communicate it effectively. It requires accountability and adaptability to achieve superior results.
Leadership is the ability to lead and cannot be taught. Using your natural and nurtured personality traits, you will need to practice leadership skills. You must be fearless to learn and fine tune all your people savvy abilities. Take the initiative to gain the many leadership skills and you will always have career opportunities.
When the opportunity presents itself, speak up, express your ideas and feelings. Management will notice and clients appreciate the professional advice. Show your competence and be part of the solution. And some day you will be the leader.
When I'm working one-on-one with a client, I would offer suggestions on how they can cross merchandise or marketing ideas to create more dynamic displays. Soon they were asking me for other ideas. They valued my opinion on industry trends and what would work for their type of store. They would ask about a product they were having difficulty marketing. They were looking for suggestions. Be a good listener, brainstorm and develop ideas with them. Your mentoring leadership grows trust.
Assisting with a problem builds your confidence and skill, plus makes you invaluable to the relationship. For me, building my connection with my customer needs to lead to a partnership where everyone succeeds. Always communicate your opinion or idea in a positive, productive fashion. Break down the issue into clear, manageable steps. Mentor a team member or client to successfully implement a solution. Manage the process or adjust as necessary to achieve the best results. Problem solving is an essential skill to be an exceptional leader.
Adaptability skills were discussed above. As a leader you need to show you are flexible. Currently, the rapid changes in technology, work styles and AI will require you to be constantly shifting and adjusting. A good leader will take the lead to make changes easy and understandable.
Lead with authenticity, it is fundamental to success in any role in life. When I'm collaborating with my client, they know I'm passionate, informed and will never settle for anything but the best. Always be genuine, be your best self, face setbacks head-on and take responsibility for mistakes. People will trust your character, establishing an honest, strong relationship with lifelong respect. You will grow together, making it a successful collaboration for all involved. Being authentic can start small but it will build into bigger opportunities.
Sometimes after a conversation with a client, I'd think of something else they might like to know. I'd send an email to follow-up and share the ideas. They will be impressed with your thoughtfulness and know they are important to you. Take ownership in the relationship, you will both benefit.
Be authentic in your personal presentation too. I show my authenticity in how I dress. My personality and professionalism show in the way I appear. As a designer, I'm enjoy a “put together” presence, coordinated and accessorized, but in a fun professional style. People notice! Most of my professional relationships would have no idea that I lounge around in sweats!! Be the real you in every situation.
Another key trait of a strong leader is empathy. As you build relationships with clients, share some of your likes and other personal information. Clients like to see another side of you. It adds another layer to your relationship. As a leader, show this interest in your employees and co-workers.
In return, when a customer tells me something about their business or personal life, I try to follow up on that. The next time we meet, I might ask about the vacation they had told me they were taking. If someone in their family had been sick, I would ask how they were doing. Show your interest and empathize with their concerns. I am concerned about them and love to hear about their adventures.
You need to be able to emotionally connect, "to walk a mile" in your client or co-workers’ shoes. You need to understand what matters to them. Try to appreciate the complex challenges they face. It will help you be more supportive and nurturing, making you a better leader. Empathetic people have more friends and enjoy more meaningful relationships, which is a key to success.
Cognitive empathy is the way you perceive and understand how someone feels. It takes time to identify certain emotions and behaviors, so, to gain empathy you need to practice. Be curious about strangers, start a conversation and observe others with openness. Observe your similarities and do not judge them before you understand their different qualities. Try to immerse yourself in their experiences, it will increase your empathy. Strive to understand their culture, discover how they came to be who they are, what they believe in and why. You might not agree with their opinions and lifestyle, but that does not mean they do not deserve empathy. So, listen, ask questions, put yourself in their shoes.
You are never too old to learn! I'm sure you have heard that....it is so true. Keep learning or you will dry up and blow away-- I'm always wanting to learn more, learn why, learn how. The more you learn, the more opportunities will open up to you. Personal growth leads to a greater potential which helps you gain the ultimate, successful life.
I went back to college, remotely, in my 50's. Now, you do not have to do that but read more, attend seminars and workshops, get a mentor or a coach for guidance. Lifelong learners grow by learning through setbacks and failures too. Making a commitment to learning and self-improvement will allow you to move forward.
If you want to be seen as leadership material, you need to be a strategic thinker. An analytical thinker is one who uses intentional and rational thinking when looking at a goal. The conclusions need to generate effective long-term results for the business, team or individual. You must analysis all critical factors. It is about seeing the big picture! It's very short-sighted to reflect only on the answer that resolves today’s narrative. That solution may very well be wrong in a month, or year down the road. Then, you will have to re-evaluate and start again. Look at the forest, not just the trees! Forward looking people see emerging possibilities and opportunities. They communicate a forward-thinking stance, demonstrating the ability toward long term growth. See the potential and articulate it-emphasize long term gains--be proactive rather than reactive. The ability to see the big picture allows leaders to make more accurate predictions and produce innovative solutions. To be a highly respected, strong leader takes a mix of many skills. Practice and be the best you.
5) Time Management
-Planning
-Goal setting
-Delegation
-Time blocking
-Communication
Time management is the process of planning and organizing your time effectively and efficiently. (“How Analytical Skills Boost Your Time Management - LinkedIn”) It allows you to complete tasks in a timely fashion, achieving your goals.
We all get the same amount of time: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months a year. Time management is crucial in accomplishing all our goals successfully. My secret to success is definitely time management, setting clear, attainable goals within a specified timeline. This is extremely important to master.
I had a co-worker that I asked one time what her quarterly goal was from the company, she said, “I think about...?? …ah, ah, I did not really look.”
I knew exactly what my quarterly goal was. And I personally set a weekly and monthly goal. Then, I made notes to plan how I was going to exceed it. In fact, I had a goal in mind for each client I met with. My co-worker had no plan in place to get to her goal. Think about it, if you have a vague goal or no goal you will hit it every time--or not. You will never know. Make clear, measurable goals that are challenging but achievable, with a specific timeline. Reaching goals is a very motivating, confidence builder.
There are 3 types of goals:
1) Time goals are short term or long-time goals.
2) Focus goals are long-term goals that involve a life changing achievement. Examples here are starting a business or buying a house.
3) Topic-based goals are those applied to a specific area of your life. It may involve career, financial or personal goals. Examples of topic-oriented goals are to eat healthy, drink more water or lose 20 pounds. They all evolve around the topic of health.
SMART goal plan Let's look at the 5 steps to creating a time management system.
Start by determining your goals and write them down. Writing your goals out helps you to prioritize, focus and visual. A study from the Dominican University in California found that people who wrote down their goals, shared them with a friend or manager and made weekly updates were approximately 33% more successful in attaining their goals. Consider what you really want to accomplish and why. I'm always making lists, whether it is for what I want to accomplish during the day, the week or by the end of the month. Write them down, review throughout the period. Easy, short-term goals are a wonderful way to start. It assists with keeping you focused, and it feels good when you can cross items off the list. Larger, long-term goals may need to be divided down into smaller, more manageable steps, each with a timeline. Long term goals should be written out clearly and told to a friend, family member, or manager. That will make you accountable! SMART goal actions may include to oversee, update, write, supervise, manage, plan, support, produce, evaluate, maintain, direct, implement.
Always stay engaged through your time management schedule. You will need to identify obstacles and roadblocks that come up. Use critical and creative thinking skills to develop solutions to keep moving forward. Staying on top of your step-by-step plan of action will keep revisions to a minimum. Just remember, the best plans run into snags, so be alert and flexible.
Have a detailed action plan to minimize setbacks. Establish all the steps necessary to complete the goal. Break it down into specific tasks, so you have a measurable plan.
Put some thought into this before you put it on paper. What goals do you need to accomplish that will align with your life purpose? What goals do you need to reach for your career path to be successful? What will make you happy? Set up your SMART goals. I recommend you set up 3 to 5 goals, short term, and long term. Start out with a manageable plan. Short goals can be reached quickly and then you can plug in a new one. The SMART goal guide is highly effective in helping you to make attainable goals. When you have this thought through, you may start on the 5 step SMART plan. Use a template to organize the plan or put it in your journal. An exceptionally good, easy software you can use for this is Trello (Trello.com). Plus, you can use it free. Whatever your preference, get it written down. A quick outline for referral and the steps and details you need for success in your goals.
Ready?
Let’s do it!!
Step 1- Specific: Set clear goals with well defined, measurable steps. For example, your goal is to save money. But state how much money, and by what date. In my case, I had set an annual sales goal of 2 million dollars for the year 2023. Then, I broke that goal into quarterly budgets, then monthly and down to weekly. You could set a goal to lose a certain amount of weight by a specific date. Make it attainable but challenge yourself.
Step 2- Measurable: Your goals need to have measurable elements. Take your specific goals and list the details that need to be monitored. So, you want to save $1,000.00 in the next 60 days. Plan to move $117.00 per weekly paycheck into a separate account to track it ($16.67 per day). Breaking it down makes it measurable and it seems a bit more attainable. Another measurable example would be if you are online and need to post to your social media sites. Your goal is to post to Instagram twice a week to Facebook 3 times a week. To be completely measurable, state you will post on Monday and Thur. to Instagram and Tue., Wed., and Friday on Facebook. You could even set the time of day. Give yourself a clear blueprint to follow.
Step 3- Achievable: This SMART goal step means you need realistic, attainable goals, yet challenging enough to keep you focused and motivated. For goals to be realistic, you need to have the expertise, time, money, and resources to meet the goal. Or you must have a plan to gain those items. You can hire an expert, take classes, or get coaching. Setting your completion date for your goal must fit in with your current schedule. You must be able to adjust your schedule or push the completion date far enough out to fit it in. Look at all the tools you are going to need to be successful. You do not want to start a project that you know you cannot complete with your current knowledge or time without first planning to gain those assets. Do you need to hire someone to manage your Facebook posts? Should you have an automatic withdrawal taken to save your $1000.00? Do you need a sales coach to reach that 2 million? Remove any roadblocks that you see before you make the goal. Set yourself up for success.
Step 4- Relevant: The goals must fit the big picture. They need to fit with your long-term vision for yourself professionally and personally. Ask yourself, why am I setting this goal? Does this align with my values and beliefs? What are you willing to sacrifice to obtain the goal? The dessert to lose weight? Will you work overtime to make that big goal? Just be honest with yourself.
Step 5- Time-bound: Goals need a deadline to be viable. You want to create an urgency to assist in energizing you to complete the job. It prevents procrastination and, therefore, failure. When you accomplish your goal, take a breath, and with a big smile give yourself a pat on the back. Always make every effort to stay on schedule and revise to get back on time if possible. But, if an issue comes up, be resilient but flexible.
SMART GOALS
GOAL START / END DATE STEPS RESULTS
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Time management and goal setting is a lifestyle. It’s the path on your journey that leads to more possibilities and eliminates wasting time on trivial, unimportant matters. You will achieve more in a short span of time leading to huge successes. Remember you only get 24 hours each day to make it happen, so make a plan, set a goal, and execute it to completion. You've got this-victory and success is yours.
6) Emotional Intelligence
-Self-awareness
-Empathy / social awareness
-Self Management
-Relationship management
-Inspirational leadership
Emotional intelligence is as important as traditional intelligence, if not more so. EI is a learned ability to identify, experience, understand and express human emotions in healthy, productive ways. (“Emotional Intelligence: The Secret Coaching Ingredient”) EQ is often overlooked but individuals with high emotional intelligence are much more likely to succeed in the workplace.
EI is a vague, invisible buzzword, that many have little idea what it actually involves. it is a conscious knowledge of one's character and emotions. It's about understanding your values and beliefs, who you are and what you want. This knowledge will allow you to discover what you are good at. You will know what you need to perfect and the goals to set, to align with your internal standards.
These are five layers to master, to see ourselves clearly.
1) Consciousness is being aware of our internal thoughts. 2) Self-knowledge is understanding who you are. 3) Emotional intelligence is your ability to manage your emotions. 4) Self-acceptance is about showing yourself kindness and compassion. 5) Self-reflection is the portion you use to think, in-depth, about your feelings, thoughts, and goals. All combined this will lead to more confidence in yourself, that in turn leads to better decision making, stronger relationship building and keener communication skills.
When you are self-aware, you have an objective, honest vision of yourself and will be able to manage through life’s ever-changing landscape. With this honest view of yourself, you will enjoy heightened influence and a broader perspective. You set your goals, now you must take the actions required to stay on track to achieve them.
PERSONAL STORY
So, for example, in my sales job, I gave myself a goal today of $10,000 and I have a weekly number and quarterly goal set. My midday appointment cancelled at the last minute, so I'm $3500.00 short for the day. Without another appointment, I could decide to go home and hope to make that amount up another day. Or I could make some calls and see if I can find a different client to see at the last minute or prospect to find a new client. To make my goal, I am going to make a few calls and find a client to call on. The last-minute client does not write the 3500. I'm still short, but I end up with only $1,000.00 to make up during the remainder of the week. At the end of the day, I will check my schedule for the end of the week. I want to see if I can find another small account or two to check on to get the shortage made up. I will send email reminders to the appointments set for the next couple of days to make sure they remember we are meeting. It comes down to determination and attention to every viable option to make my goal. –Belinda Crouse
A personal example of self-awareness could be when you want to have that dessert you saw on the menu. But ask yourself, is indulging in that going to help me with my weight loss goals? Do you really want it, will it make you feel better? Take control, be positive, build your self-awareness, it will help you reach your goals. This, in turn builds your confidence leading to better decision making.
Tips to cultivate self-awareness:
1) Be curious about yourself. How far you will go in understanding yourself depends on how far you are ready to explore and experience.
2) Let your walls down. When we uncover something, we do not like about ourselves, do not defend it, own it. Be open about this "not so positive characteristic". It is a difficult but key step to becoming self-aware.
3) Keep a journal. Ask yourself how you feel about your day. Note what triggered negative feelings and what made you feel happy.
4) More people time. As we spend so much time on our computers, we lose our sense of self in relation to others. This leads to a lack of empathy, increased anxiety, and intense self-objectification (self-critical).
5) Ask others how they perceive you. Scary?! But it is extremely helpful to see who you are in certain situations.
6) Check in with yourself. This is a highly effective method for the development of self-awareness. Talk to yourself!! Ask how you are feeling and why do I feel that way. Do not just say I'm good, I'm ok or I feel bad. Why do you feel good? What is driving your feeling of anger? Keep learning about yourself, encourage self-knowledge and the impact this has on everything in your life. A sharp vision of yourself is important.
Self-awareness is a very personal journey and challenging to develop. You need to be honest and take a close look at yourself. Develop positive thoughts for feelings of confidence, self-worth, and joy.
Empathy or social awareness is the ability to understand others. Apprehending the feelings of others is an especially important ability for EI power skills. It is the capability to connect with people on a deeper level and build strong relationships. High-level individuals use empathy to view things from different perspectives. This aids us to comprehend the world and make informed decisions. In business, empathy is considering the opinions of employees and customers in key decisions. It leads to anticipating customers’ needs and giving everyone a space to voice their position and concerns. In the end this will lead to increased customer loyalty and referrals, improved employee productivity and lower turnover.
Self-management, also known as self-control, is the skill to regulate your emotions, attitudes, and behaviors. Successful self-control is an introspective process, requiring a deep look into your EI and leadership style. There are 7 self-management skills needed to master this trait, improving your self-awareness and personal well-being.
7 Self-Management Skills:
1) Time management is your ability to control how you use your time. You prioritize tasks to accomplish your daily must do list. This will keep you engaged and avoid procrastination.
2) Self-motivation is your ability to stay motivated and finish the tasks most important to you. This allows you to be an independent worker. Self-motivation comes from within, it excites you and gives you a sense of purpose.
3) Stress management is your ability to approach your work with a clear, focused mind. Make an effort to have a life work balance and get enough rest. This will help you avoid overworking and burnout.
4) Adaptability is the skill to pivot with confidence when changes occur. Being flexible gives you the ability to tackle anything that comes your way.
5) Decision making is your ability to address issues, making decisions that solve the problem. You should rely on data-driven decisions, to avoid other complications from arising. Research and use facts, opinions must be based on the facts.
6) Goal alignment is the capacity to accomplish the tasks that align with goal success. Goal setting is about seeing the big picture, setting goals seeking positive results, communicating the goal, and monitoring the process.
7) Personal development is your aptitude to increase your industry knowledge. Be well informed about current products and procedures to make you trusted and respected. You want to keep learning to grow personally and professionally throughout your life. This leads to strong self-esteem empowering yourself for advancement and success.
Relationship management is the skill to establish and maintain healthy, successful relationships, communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, adapt, and collaborate. To obtain positive results you need to prioritize the relationship. In my sales job, I aimed for a 3-way partnership with myself, my store client, and my company. Each of us must have a positive, profitable relationship for success. The partnership had to work for each of us for it to progress and flourish into a long-term arrangement. Think of a relationship as a flower, it requires attention, care, and water. So, “water” your relationships with kindness, strong communication, and empathy.
High EI is essential in acquiring success in today’s world. Harvard Business school reports: it accounts for 90% of what sets high performers apart from peers with similar knowledge and technical skills. EI makes you appear popular, but it is more about being respected, liked, valued, and looked up to. Individuals with high EI excel in compassionate fields of work such as therapy, leadership roles and other care professions.
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7) Collaboration / Teamwork
-Conflict Resolution
-Mediation
-Accountability
People who excel at collaboration work well with others. They build relationships easily, leading to achieving positive group goals. Those that work well in a team setting, motivate and push all team members to complete tasks through mediation. They can calmly resolve differences by working together and then develop a plan that satisfies the goal. Team members foster creativity and innovation as they encourage all to share ideas and concerns. They brainstorm ideas and collaborate to develop new initiatives.
Working in a team enhances job satisfaction and contributes to a positive work environment. How good do you feel when, as part of a team, your contributions help result in a positive solution? It’s just a good feeling, of a job well done. Companies notice and appreciate these abilities, as every organization involves some type of teamwork. It could lead to a promotion! And it will position your company for growth.
Collaborating is necessary as conflict is natural and occurs in every relationship. To resolve conflict, listen actively to understand the differing opinions. Discover where changes need to be negotiated to produce neutral points of view. Analyze the sticking points and work together to determine the facts. Leaving the emotion out of the project should lead to a positive solution. The solution needs to address the current conflict and look to the future to develop a balanced plan. Such a solution will create the best result for everyone involved.
For the collaboration process to be successful everyone needs to be accountable. Accountability means everyone must participate, offering their evaluation and feedback. This give and take leads to setting realistic goals. For the group to be successful in their collaboration, everyone must be able to trust the others to contribute honestly and openly.
8) Creativity / Innovation
-Brainstorming
-Imagination
-Curiosity
-Experimentation
The creative person has a unique and impressive skill. Being a curious, divergent thinker, this person approaches problems from different perspectives. They ask questions, look deeply for answers, needing to understand complex concepts to develop multi-level, innovative results. It is the need to be highly informed that allows them to think creatively. Innovative people are always learning, exploring, never content with just surface-level information. They want to know what makes things "tick". It is not about knowing everything, or being afraid to dive into unfamiliar territory, it's to discover and expand horizons. It will open up new possibilities, increasing knowledge, fueling imagination and creativity, leading to innovation. Creativity is not about being an artist in the traditional way, as a painter, sculptor, or dancer but as creative in your industry.
Creative thinkers in the business world are sought after. The ability to brainstorm many unique, original solutions is key to success for most companies.
5 Creative Thinking Approaches
1) Hold an interactive brainstorming session to gather initial thoughts on a project. Work as a team.
2) Evaluate the current process and offer suggestions on how to improve it. There are always ways to improve with creative thinking.
3) Research other approaches to market a product or to develop new techniques or procedures. Put your critical thinking skills hat on to gather all the necessary information. Then, lead experiments on innovative marketing channels or test new processes.
4) With all the information collected and reviewed, you can put together a plan. Develop an innovative proposal to reach out to prospective clients or present to associates.
5) Identify a unique opportunity to promote the company brand and develop the strategy to implement it.
PERSONAL STORY
Several years ago, the company I was working for introduced area rugs to our line. But we were having issues with making the shipping cost affordable, as most were rolled up and had to ship by truck. We needed a solution. I suggested that we try folding them into a square so they could ship by ground (UPS). I had discovered other companies were getting them shipped that way. The company implemented this shipping process which helped with costs, increasing sales volume in that category. This pleased the customer and the company. –Belinda Crouse.
So, think outside the box! You can produce answers by thinking creatively.
9) Work Ethic
-Punctuality
-Reliability
-Professionalism
-Discipline
-Consistency
Work ethic is your personal brand, the foundation of how your power skills are presented. It demonstrates your commitment to your job, by taking ownership. Companies love that dedication, and they are finding it hard to locate such individuals to hire. If you're punctual, reliable and consistent, this professionalism will earn you respect, leading to success. I hope you will find being punctual for all your commitments and appointments an automatic part of your lifelong goals. This demonstrates you can be relied on to get the job done, garnering trust. These traits will show you are organized and self-motivated. Motivated individuals show up with the attitude of taking the initiative and necessary actions to get the project completed. Even when things get tough, they are not discouraged and will push forward. This “no is not an answer" attitude, will help you take control, making decisions be an independent, forward-moving person. I cannot stress how important your work ethic is.
Your work ethic characteristics are all about self-discipline. It is about visualizing the big picture, establishing routines and habits that help focus on your long-term goals. Discipline is not a one-time effort, it’s a lifestyle. Work ethic shows pride in yourself, setting the groundwork for success in everything you do. You get up in the morning, organized, with a plan for the day. You dress appropriately to make a professional impression. Purposely walk to your first commitment, on time, feeling prepared to set an example. The people around you can rely on you to put your best foot forward and offer actions to move smoothly, with an eye on the big picture. Other, simple routines and habits that require zero talent, just show you are the consistent, go-to-person:
*positive attitude,
*put in extra effort,
*be passionate,
*be coachable.
2 ESSENTIAL TRAITS
For Every Success Journey
I would like to discuss 2 individual traits that you must include in your success journey. They need be part of your personal habits to attain and maintain your goals and thrive.
CONTINUOUS LEARNING. This does not mean you must sit in a classroom and study in the traditional sense. I went back to school, remotely, in my 50’s, to broaden my knowledge of a subject I loved. But continuous learning takes place in many forms. It is not just about obtaining a wealth of knowledge but having a burning desire to know more. It is about being curious, about constantly asking thoughtful questions to learn more about the world around you. To wonder why and how and seek out new experiences. You may enjoy watching a documentary on an obscure subject or read a book in an unusual niche. You learn from the people around you as they successfully navigate a task. Not only does your knowledge continue to grow, but it keeps your brain active and engaged. In our rapidly changing world, continuous learning is crucial. So, whether you read industry newsletters, take on-line courses, engage a coach, or attend webinars—just make sure you continue expanding your horizons. You may even discover a new passion.
HEALTHY LIVING. It’s about creating a balanced work-life routine. Sometimes in our hectic lives, finding time to exercise and eat a balanced meal gets lost. But engaging in healthy practices will improve your memory, increase critical thinking skills, enhance creativity, and strengthen your ability to learn. It is hard to think clearly when you are short of sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours nightly. Adequate sleep allows the brain to rest, repair, retain and improve memory.
A balanced diet is essential for a healthy body and brain. It leads to good physical and mental health, increasing your capacity to work effectively and fight disease. You need to consume a good variety of healthy foods to maintain optimum overall health.
Meditation has been scientifically proven to lead to positive changes in your brain too. It enhances memory, empathy, mental health and self-perception. This habit will help you live in the present moment and offers benefits improving your cognitive performance. Continued meditation will improve concentration, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Good, old-fashioned exercise is another key factor in healthy living. It is good for more than just physical health, enriching your cognitive abilities too. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, supplying oxygen and nutrients for maximum brain function.
Hi Everyone
I’m working on my final draft of my book and would really appreciate your input.
Anything I should include in this section of the book?
All questions and comments are appreciated.
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