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EPISODE 9: Value Based Leadership
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“The only thing that works is management by values. Find people who are competent and really bright, but more importantly, people who care about exactly about the same things you care about.” Steve Jobs, Apple, Inc.
What is Value Based Leadership?
When we are talking about value-based leadership, we are talking about having a leader who is aligned with organizational values and who we believe has the same values as us. Otherwise, we would not want to be working for the leader of that organization. There has to be that alignment. When we are looking at organizational cultures and different things, I want to reinforce to those of you listening to the podcast today, this is for entrepreneurs and business owners as much as it is for organizations. I believe that every single person no matter where they are in life is a leader and recognizing that we need to be able to operate from those core values.
When I think about core values, I think of a sliced apple where you can see the cross-section of it, where you see the seeds. The core values to me are those little seeds that help grow within a culture. They create a culture. They are not the culture but they are part of it. They enrich how the people behave within the organization and how they’re delivering the vision through those values. In order to demonstrate this I am going to go through our vision, mission, and our why, and our core values at Debra Kasowski International.
One thing I want you to keep in mind is that values are not the operations, logistics, or about sales and marketing strategies; they go much deeper than a strategy. It is really about how you personify and make your company or your business really come alive.
Our vision at Debra Kasowski International is:
VISION
To be an internationally acclaimed and chosen authority in developing emotionally intelligent leaders by dramatically improving communication, decision making, interpersonal relationships, and the well-being of executives, business owners, their staff, and their families while contributing and impacting communities at large.
MISSION
To delivery easy to follow dynamic and interactive online and live training, coaching, speaking, podcasting, and books for leaders, executives, business owners, and entrepreneurs that create a powerful learning experience in personal professional growth to achieve epic results.
WHY
The world around us is moving faster and faster. People are being challenged with: doing more with less, struggling financially, an inability to tolerate stress and decision-making are becoming more complex. It is getting harder for people to set their priorities and to find the time to do everything they want to do. It does not matter if you are climbing the career ladder, managing a business, or growing a company, there seems to be inner conflict and competition with reaching life goals. Personal and professional relationships are being strained. Life balance seems to be a mystery. Through our mission, we want to change the way people do business and live their lives and so they can become their definition of success.
CORE VALUES
Community of Trust
Creating a nonjudgmental environment where people feel encouraged and supported
Respect for the Individual
Respect people for where they are, who they are, and who they have yet to become.
Commitment to Excellence
Provide exceptional quality and commit to continuous learning.
Integrity
Do the right thing, even when no one is looking.
Responsible for Results
Taking 100% responsibility for the results we deliver.
Solution Focused
Focus on discovering positive solutions.
Unconditional Gratitude and Giving
Express gratitude for all things; without expecting anything in return.
I have a phenomenal team – Cheryl, my virtual assistant (VA), I love her to pieces. She is so dedicated and she resembles a lot of this; that is why I believe we get along so well.
You need to operate with people who are a part of your core values and who are aligned with who you are and get it. They get who you are. It’s about being able to “walk the talk”. I am sure you have run into leaders out there where you are questioning who they are because they are great at talking but you are still waiting for them to demonstrate through their actions that they follow their core values.
Why are Core Values important?
Core values are so important. Not only do they help you people have a goal toward a vision and provide direction but they inspire your culture. When people feel they’re part of something bigger than themselves, they are more motivated and they want to be a part of it.
What happens when there is a lack of values in leadership?
A downfall occurs when there is a lack of values in leadership. This is where you see leaders who will become self-serving- they only care about themselves and that they get credit for everything. They want to be seen in the spotlight but fail to recognize that it took many people to get them to where they wanted to be versus them carrying all that success. They do not share. They are unable to demonstrate it.
What needs to happen with core values within an organization?
For core values to really be a part of the core of an organization or business, values need to be:
- Clear and understood,
- Role modeled -not just by your front-line people or the people working for you. They need to be role modeled from the very top of the organization. People need to be able to reference them and need to be able to communicate them through orientations and through trainings that these core values are important.
- All too often, they will be introduced and nobody talks about them again. They need to be communicated on a regular basis.
- You need to be within your interview tools.
I can’t empathize this enough. Your core values really like a captain’s steering wheel the ship so if you don’t have the wheel steer you will not be going in any direction. Think about the components of those spindles, those core values, but in order to develop those that being value leadership to be able to really develop your communication skills. This means listening to your people and providing them feedback on a regular basis and giving them redirection if they need it, honing your management skills and really becoming an emotionally intelligent leader.
EQi – 2.0, one of the assessments that I provide for people. If this is something of interest to you, don’t hesitate to send me an e-mail and we can set it up for you. It comes to by e-mail and we can do coaching session to debrief the results. Email me at Debra@DebraKasowski.com. Get your downloadable about Determining Your Core Values and you have the e-mail address and website on the form.
Emotional intelligence is something that is developed over time. It grows throughout our lifetime and it plateaus when we reach old age. It is a continual arch going upward that through our experiences were hopefully learning from them. We are becoming more empathetic to people’s situations. Not sympathy.
What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?
Sympathy is different than empathy. Sympathy is that you are your feeling sorry for someone. Empathy means that you’re actually putting yourself and thinking about being in another person’s shoes and understanding where someone is coming from. It may be rationalizing some of the decisions they are making based on their experiences and where they are. What supports do they have? If you were in those same shoes, would you be making some of those same decisions? Would you be making the same mistakes because that is all you know?
When we come from a place of empathy, we have a way to build people up because we can see where they are at and we can help them see where they are able to go.
What do value based leaders do?
Mother Teresa is known for value-based leadership. One of the things she said that sticks out for me is, “Be faithful in the small things this is where your strength lies.” Give of yourself full as a leader, don’t hold yourself back. You need to step into the leader who you want to be.
- Leaders in organizations who step up and show up as who they want to be – they lead with a purpose. People can’t help but be magnetized; they want to be drawn to that.
- They engage their followers. They want their people to be a part of the vision, walking alongside each other to be a part of the success.
- They have trust, that character, where people see them as credible. They stick by their values.
- They operate on what is good for the people.
- They are open to the diversity ages, nationalities, sex, and religions so they can learn from their traditions, their cultures, their norms so that they can embrace and incorporate people’s ideas. If we all exactly the same, it would be pretty boring. We would not have the creativity, innovation, and the brainstorming that can go on in a boardroom or in an office or even in a restaurant on the back of a napkin – for those entrepreneurs out there. They are able to see a brighter future and want to achieve it by valuing their past and present.
- They respect people for who they are NOT just on what they can do for you. It is about really getting to know them for who they are – they have families, interests, and hobbies. These are the leaders we are looking for.
Value based leadership is very much synonymous with servant leadership. They are the people who are willing to serve to make the world a better place in service of others.
Think about your leadership style. What are your core values? Print off the downloadable and determine your core values. Make your decisions by your core values and live by them. What happens when people are not aligned with their core values that this is when they struggle, have hardships, hit the roadblocks because something is not right with their core. Their decisions do not match with who they want to show up as in the world.
Who is the person you want to show up as?
It is really important to be very clear. Who are the people are people who inspire you? Who are the leaders you would like to be like? Steve Jobs, Mother Teresa, or Princess Diana? Recently, I watched a video of an interview of Princess Diana on Facebook, where the interviewer asked her if she wanted to be the queen of people’s hearts. She said she wanted to be the queen of people’s hearts – That is quite a mission. She did not just want to be a queen of a country; she wanted to be a queen of people’s hearts. She did capture the world with her style because she led by heart. She really cared about people for who they were and not for what they could do for her. Pay attention – we can only really do great things if we work together. And we collaborate.
Remember to be faithful in the small things! Whether it be the breakdown of your goals that where your strength lies. Go back to recognizing those small things. These are the core values the golden thread throughout your organization and your business. This is why people want to do business with you because they are aligned with what you believe in and they see your vision. They resonate with your why. You can go out and make a difference by living by your values.
Email me at Debra@debrakasowski.com and let us know what you would like to be featured on the show. Subscribe to The Millionaire Woman Show. Give us a 5-star rating! Sign up for our Newsletter www.debrakasowski.com
DEBRA KASOWSKI, BScN CEC is an award-winning best-selling author, transformational speaker, blogger, and Certified Executive Coach. She has a heart of a teacher and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. Sign up the Success Secrets Newsletter and get your free mp3 download today! www.debrakasowski.com
Time 19:35 min
EPISODE 8: Why Credibility Matters
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What is credibility? It is the quality of being believable or worthy of trust. The root of credibility is “credo” which means “I believe” in Latin. I was really excited about this because there is a local coffee shop called Credo so I had to go lo
ok at their vision and mission statement to see if there was something with the word believe in it. I found out it was Credo – coffee you can believe in so I knew they had done something with the Latin word of “credo”. I will start using this word more often as the word believe is powerful to me.
Trust is built on credibility and credibility comes from acting in others interests before your own. Steve Denny, Killing the Giants
The reason I want to talk about credibility is to make sure everyone has an understanding of what credibility is. It walks hand in hand and side by side with trust. It is essential in any role. When you think of yourself and a customer if you are going to invest your time, money, or resources, would you want to invest in someone or an organization who delivers on their promises?
There are a lot of multi-facets when we think of credibility. There are a lot of things we want to think about. So if we are working with a sales person for instance you want them to be knowledgeable about their product. You start getting suspicious when it feels like they are omitting something or not sharing what they need to. The first thing a person usually thinks about when they think about a police officer is safety. An officer that is rude or condescending or not looking out for your best interest you start to question your safety. I have not come across this. In the movies, everything is glorified. There is often a suspicion of who is an officer and who is not – that is made for Hollywood.
It does not matter your position or role, credibility and trust are earned. It is not one thing; it is a combination of things really looking at a person’s core values. It is their character. When someone abides by their core values, they take 100% responsibility. (Listen is Episode 1 – Taking 100% Responsibility)
- The people who act and make decisions based on their core values. If they make a mistake, they own it – it all comes back to taking 100% responsibility. We see those people as credible.
- Someone’s expertise or their education, like a published author like myself, there is a sense of credibility. It is not always by title. Education and display of expertise on a subject matter that is also when you will see the credibility.
Emotional intelligence is a topic I am fond of and certified in. When someone is able to convey their messages, focus on solutions when there are issues that arise, control their emotions in situations and able to recognize the emotions of others – that also makes someone more credible.
- The fact that someone shows up and behaves and even dresses professionally. When you go to see a surgeon or a physician of any kind, for example, they usually have a white coat and a stethoscope. If they showed up disheveled with their hair out of line or part of their shirt tucked in their pants and part untucked on the outside, and shoes were full of mud. Would you want them to be looking after your health? Thinking – it could be situational but who knows – you might start questioning whether or not you want that person taking care of you.
- A good communicator is someone who is consistent with their words and they stand by their promises. They stand by what they are going to deliver.
Where is credibility important? Basically, it is all the time. It impacts integrity as well. It is about doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Some of the ways you can tell that credibility really matters are when you are watching someone live by their values. As a business owner, entrepreneur, or a leader, you can use testimonials in your marketing. If you are thinking of applying for a position, your references are your testimonial. They are your marketing as to whether or not they think you will be successful for the job – describing your skills and abilities. Social proof!
Credibility is leverage. When people see you as a credible source, they are more likely to purchase your products and services when what you deliver is endorsed by others. There is an opportunity to profit by leveraging your credibility and delivering on your promises by helping people get to where they want to get to or the products they need.
How to Establish Credibility
Remember credibility is not an overnight thing. It is something that is established over time. Credible leaders are people who “walk the talk”.
- They are people you feel you can trust and respect.
- They are honest.
- Not only are they educated, but they continue to learn and grow. They are competent.
- They hold themselves accountable as well as others.
- They are true to themselves.
- They watch out for the interests of others.
- They have the ability to delegate; not every leader can do this. You hear about micromanagement and people getting frustrated because someone is always looking over their shoulder.
- The credible leader has the ability to trust in the ability of their people. They have a positive attitude and they are committed to getting the job done.
- They understand. They are flexible. They know that life happens and sometimes we have to adjust our course.
When Credibility Really Matters – Establishing Your Team
Credibility really matters when you are looking at leadership, when you are working on your business, or even in an organization – thinking about the people working for you and yourself as a leader. I believe every single person is a leader. You are the leader of YOU and you have a following of people who look to you to be inspired with confidence.
Think of the leaders in your life. The people around you with you do business with and the people who are a part of your team. You may be thinking, “What team?” You do have team – think about your optometrist, dentist, doctor, personal trainer if you have one, spouse/partner, kids, accountant, and your lawyer just to name a few. These people are all part of your team. The people you decide to bring onto your team to serve you so you can serve others so you can serve others are important. You do not want to take those decisions lightly. You want to have people on your team who may you even more credible, who are establishing you, taking care of you – your health and wellness. These are people who are a part of your team.
What are you doing to establish your credibility?
Once credibility is lost, it takes a long time for people to rebuild their reputation. You do not want to damage it. The best thing to do is to do the right things even no one is watching. If something does not feel aligned, I want you to take a step back and reflect on your core values. If it does not align, you will always face a constant struggle. You may have seen the poster saying “The struggle is real.” It will be real alright. You stomach may be flipping and you may have headaches. These symptoms are all signals for you letting you know you are off track.
Journal Exercise: How you want to show up in the world? Why credibility matter to you?
Email me at Debra@debrakasowski.com and let us know what you would like to be featured on the show. Subscribe to The Millionaire Woman Show. Give us a 5-star rating!
DEBRA KASOWSKI, BScN CEC is an award-winning best-selling author, transformational speaker, blogger, and Certified Executive Coach. She has a heart of a teacher and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. Sign up the Success Secrets Newsletter and get your free mp3 download today! www.debrakasowski.com
Time 11:30 min
5 Smart Strategies to Build Relationships and Win Clients for Life
Success in life and business comes from the relationships that you build. I often hear people saying that they don’t have enough time to connect further too busy. Building relationships take some forethought and some planning. Before you know it time will have passed and you being be wondering where your clients and friends are.
As you develop relationships you will learn that life and business are not separate entities. Business relationships are like friendships. They need your time and attention to learn about other people and what interests them. People need to learn and trust the people they do business with you.
There are several smart strategies that you could be doing to build relationships and win clients for life. Build relationships with people in a way that they become your champion.
Be a Giver. Take time to introduce 2 people to someone in your network who you feel need to connect. You will start helping people build their own networks and opportunities. Take time to network in new places and get to know new people. You build a richer supply of connections to share and give. You’ll become known as a connector and they will want to connect you with others as well.
Create valuable content. Let your voice come through articles, blog posts, and social media posts. Create content that is worth is worth sharing and people find value. Value can come in the form of education, inspiration, and entertainment. Answer questions and offer solutions to people’s pain points.
Keep in touch regularly with your clients and prospects. Let people know that you’re thinking of them with a handwritten birthday card, an article of interest, or a trend that you noticed in their industry. Invite them to social functions, workshops, business mixers, and lunches. Get to know people for who they are and not just what they can do for you.
“Something that solves their problems would be best, even if you don’t own the content.”
from ‘The Secret Collaborative Economy: More Clients, More Exposure, More Profit, FASTER!”
― Marsha Wright, TV Business Expert & Entrepreneur
Exceed client expectations. Do not overpromise on what you’re willing to deliver. Remember the delivery of service alone does not create the wow factor. Keep in mind it’s not a bad thing to meet their expectations. If you want people to start talking about you in a positive way, you need to be able to exceed their expectations.
Be a curious listener. One of my favorite things to do at networking events is to ask questions and watch people. Curious listeners are people who take a genuine interest in others by focusing on asking questions to learn more about who they are, what motivates them, and what they do for fun. These listeners make others around them feel like they are the most important person in the world. It is not based on flattering or as some people would say “sucking up”. It is about taking a genuine interest in another person and appreciating what they have to offer.
The single greatest “people skill” is a highly developed & authentic interest in the *other* person. – Bob Burg
Remember networking doesn’t have to be all about business. You might be surprised that where some networking takes place. It could be in the bathroom, at the gym, your child’s soccer game, the grocery line, a cocktail party, or even on the golf course. Where ever there is a gathering of people, there’s an opportunity to network and build relationships. You need to get from behind your computer and be visible in the community so people can get to know you and see you. You never know where one connection with lead.
Start connecting! Continue to build and nurture your relationships over time and watch what happens! Win the hearts of your clients for life!
Who will you connect today? What content are you going to produce and share? Who will you send a card or invite to? Who will you WOW today?
DEBRA KASOWSKI, BScN CEC is an award-winning best-selling author, transformational speaker, blogger, and Certified Executive Coach. She has a heart of a teacher and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. Sign up the Success Secrets Newsletter and get your free mp3 download today! www.debrakasowski.com
EPISODE 7: Making the Human Connection
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“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” Brene Brown
Connecting with people is human nature; we are social beings. With technology, you would think we would be more connected than ever but the opposite is true. People feel disconnected because they are missing the human connection.
Research shows that if you want to make a good first impression it is best to make it in person. Once a person makes the first impression it is often difficult to change it but we need to be careful “not to judge a book by its cover”, they could be your best client. You want to be open and test the reality of your impression by asking thoughtful questions and getting to know the person better. These impressions are often made in 3 seconds and 7 seconds online.
I remember a sales person sharing a story with me about a time when a person dressed in dirty work clothes came into their furniture store right before closing – 20-30 minutes before. Most of the sales people avoided eye contact with the person but he was curious about this person who just came into the store. This individual wanted to furnish his whole house and used this salesman to do it. Imagine his commission – all because her withheld or did not let his judgment influence him.
How do you make a human connection?
- Start with being yourself.
- Be Open.
- Be Confident in Who You Are.
- Smile – it’s FREE and a universal language!
- Project a Positive Attitude!
- Start with small talk and learn more.
Ask questions such as:
- Do you have a pet?
- Do you have children?
- Are you married?
- Where did you go on your last vacation?
- What book are you currently reading?
Take an interest in who people are. Be genuinely curious! There is a saying, “People want to know how much you care before they want to know how much you know!”
Make it about them!
Build relationships that are win-win without going straight to selling your product or service.
“If your focus is the immediate sale, you’re going to miss a lot of future opportunities.” – Ivan Misner, Founder of BNI, Business Network International
Learn about the people you connect with. What are their hobbies or interests? What are their personal goals?
Discover common interests – ways you can relate to one another.
Focus on what you can do for them. Introduce them to people they need to know – BE a CONNECTOR.
Connectors are influencers – whatever you put out into the world you will receive back.
Invite clients to be a part of your circle or community by inviting them to lunch or business mixers. Mail handwritten notes of gratitude or warm letters letting them know what you have been up to. Invite them to educational workshops. Email or send them an article that might be of interest to them.
I remember listening to Sandra Yancey, the Founder of eWomen Network share that when she was a little girl her mother told her to remember, “Give without remembering and take without forgetting.”
We need to find time to connect in our busy schedules. When we do connect – we need to actively listen and be present in the conversation.
Truly listen…
Hold back from jumping into the conversation before the other person stops speaking. It’s okay to wait for a pause. Think and then talk.
When I was in my coach training, we had an acronym – W.A.I.T. – Why Am I Talking?
Listen – you will learn so much more!
DEBRA KASOWSKI, BScN CEC is an award-winning best-selling author, transformational speaker, blogger, and Certified Executive Coach. She has a heart of a teacher and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. Sign up the Success Secrets Newsletter and get your free mp3 download today! www.debrakasowski.com
Time 9:28 min