 Effective leadership is not just about giving orders and expecting others to follow. It's about setting a standard, embodying the values you preach, and inspiring your team through your own actions. One of the great disconnects in the workplace is when leaders identify values but don’t live them. Leading by example is a powerful way to inspire and motivate your team members. It means demonstrating the values, behaviors, and skills you want others to follow. In this article, we will explore the significance of leading by example and provide a plan of action with real-world examples. Cultivates a Positive Culture: Leading by example plays a pivotal role in cultivating a positive organizational culture. When a manager consistently exemplifies gratitude and publicly acknowledges the achievements of the team, it creates an atmosphere of appreciation and camaraderie. This positivity extends beyond the leader, influencing team dynamics and fostering a workplace where individuals are motivated to contribute their best efforts. Builds Trust: Transparency and honesty are the cornerstones of trust in any organization. By embodying these values, a leader can build a foundation of trust among team members. When a leader openly discusses challenges, showcases vulnerability, and admits mistakes, it sends a powerful message that encourages others to do the same. Trust becomes a currency that permeates throughout the organization, facilitating collaboration and a sense of security among team members. Boosts Productivity: Leaders who lead by example in terms of productivity set a high standard for their teams. When an executive consistently meets deadlines, goes above and beyond expectations, and demonstrates a strong work ethic, it creates a culture of efficiency and dedication. This example motivates team members to match or exceed the productivity levels set by their leader, fostering a collective commitment to achieving organizational goals. Promotes Accountability: Accountability is a fundamental aspect of a successful organization. Leaders who lead by example in accountability take responsibility for their actions and mistakes. When a team leader openly acknowledges errors and works towards rectifying them, it sets a precedent for accountability. This example permeates the team, encouraging individuals to take ownership of their work and learn from their experiences, ultimately contributing to a culture of continuous improvement. Encourages Innovation: Innovation flourishes in environments where leaders actively engage in continuous learning. When a CEO, for instance, exemplifies a commitment to staying informed, embracing new ideas, and encouraging creative thinking, it establishes a culture that values innovation. Team members feel empowered to share their own inventive ideas, knowing that their leader values and fosters a culture of forward-thinking and adaptability. This approach fuels the organization's capacity to stay competitive and innovative in a rapidly changing landscape. Plan of Action
Conclusion: In organizational settings, leading by example is not just a leadership style; it's a catalyst for positive change. By embodying the values and behaviors you expect from your team, you create a culture of trust, accountability, and innovation. The examples set by leaders reverberate throughout the organization, shaping its identity and influencing individual and collective success. Incorporating leading by example into your leadership approach requires self-awareness, consistency, and a genuine commitment to the values you espouse. As you implement this blueprint, remember that the impact is not only on the bottom line but also on the well-being and growth of your team. Through leading by example, you pave the way for a culture of excellence and resilience, setting the stage for sustained success in your organization. Thank you for reading, and continue becoming the best you can be… Richard Richard Fontanie Further Reading: Like it or Not, You Are Always Leading by Example Leading by Example This article was written with the help of A.I. Image by Pexels: Sora Shi Mazaki 566951
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 These days your senses are being bombarded with tons of information, sights, and sounds. Consider that while you are at work you will get interrupted, on average, about every 11 minutes. After that it takes you at least 15 minutes to get back on track with what you were initially doing. To top it off, scientists estimate that we receive, on average, around 34 gigabytes of information daily.
It’s no wonder that Attention Deficit Disorder is on the rise. Our brains are constantly hopping from one thing to another that we’ve gotten to the point that our attention span is only 8 seconds, which is less than that of a goldfish! Luckily, there are things that can be done do to boost your concentration, focus and even memory skills. Read on to learn five of the most important concentration-boosting tips. 1. Listen to your body for your prime time. We all have those couple of hours when we feel we’re at our prime. For some, it’s early in the morning, while for others it can be later in the day. So figure out when your prime time is and use it to your advantage. Save those precious hours for your biggest projects. Also, make sure you work in 90-minute batches then take a 15-minute break. And no matter how good you think you are at multi-tasking, it’s best to avoid it. Doing many things at once cuts back your concentration levels by 40%. Besides, it leaves you frazzled and stressed out. 2. Eat right and exercise. Nutritious food, loaded with vitamins and minerals, helps boost blood flow to increase focus levels. Exercise regularly also stimulates your body into secreting endorphins which are ‘feel good’ hormones. They help motivating your creative juices and ability to concentrate for longer periods of time. Even if it’s just a walk outside around a nearby park, you’ll feel much better once you get some fresh air and enjoy being around nature. Exercise isn’t only for your body - but for your brain as well. There are numerous games that boost concentration, like crossword puzzles, number puzzles as Sudoku and many others. If you receive a newspaper most of these are free. You can also find them on the internet. Another game that helps you concentrate is Scrabble. In most cases you are learning how to concentrate while having fun. It’s even better when you have to work hard to complete a goal because your brain secretes dopamine when you are striving to accomplish something. Dopamine is a ‘feel good’ hormone, but when it becomes too low in your body it can negatively affect your ability to focus and concentrate. 3. Get tech-savvy. There are many new apps being introduced daily with the aim of organizing our lives and managing our time. And while many prove to be effective, there are those that manage to waste more time than actually save it. So pick and choose wisely the most efficient apps for your lifestyle. Being technologically smart also means knowing when to turn off your devices. There’s a time to check social media and emails, and there’s a time to wind down and get some work done - with no distractions from your phone. A time saving way to deal with your media activities is to put times in your calendar when you will go to them rather than they interrupting you. Another quick time saving technique is to color code those activities so that you can see them at a glance. 4. Organize your work area. Declutter, revamp and even redecorate your work area. Look at your workspace and determine what will help you be comfortable and organized. Do you need shelves? A plant? New lighting? And on your desk, you should have only the papers you need for the project you’re currently working on. Get rid of all the other clutter, they are just a distraction for you. 5. Establish a Routine If you have ever tried to focus on a task you know it isn’t always easy. We are always distracted by something that leads us astray whether that is at work or when we are carrying out other activities. One way to avoid this is to establish a routine and stick to it. This means setting time aside to work on your priorities for the day and then make sure you stick with your schedule. If can’t because of unavoidable circumstances then place the task for first thing the next morning. You could also start your day off with a morning routine. This could look different for everyone, but one routine that fits well with the morning is to set a few minutes aside for meditation and stretching. This allows you to put aside your smartphone for the first hour. You could also end the day with a solid nightly routine. Spend a few minutes reviewing your day and then plan for the next day so that you know when you wake up you have a plan for what needs to be done. This will keep you focused on what needs to be accomplished, improves your productivity, and sets the stage for confidence building. In Conclusion Hopefully these 5 tips on how to boost your concentration will help you achieve a more focused, more productive lifestyle. Each of them are not hard to do, you just need to commit to doing them. If you have difficulty trying to accomplish them all put them in your calendar one week at a time. In five short weeks you will have accomplished them all and in the end your will find your concentration and focus improved. Thank you for reading and as always folks stay safe, be well and continue becoming the best version of yourself. Richard |
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