leaderships Archives - Debra Kasowski

How to Handle the Pressure of Being an Immediate Success

July 24, 2017 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

“Nobody works better under pressure. They just work faster.”
― Brian Tracy

It does not matter if you are a new leader or if you are entrepreneur launching a new business, there is an underlying pressure to be an immediate success. This is one of the top challenges that leaders face today. Some of the pressure is from the teams you lead or the senior leadership you may be answering to. The other pressure may come from family, friends, or investors with the expectation that failure is not an option. There is this expectation to deliver results and the pressure is on from all directions.

As with anything new, it takes time to develop competencies. Some knowledge, skills, and abilities are expected, however, any leader with a few years of experience under their belt will tell you that even though you reached one level that there are new challenges at every level along the way. Dr. Marshall Goldsmith’s book, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, discusses how leaders often think that the same skills that got them their current level of success will be the same ones that get them to the next levels of success. However, new challenges are faced and new knowledge, skills, and abilities get refine. You do not know your capacity to handle new situations until you are in them.

“Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it’s because you’ve started to think of failure.”
― Tommy Lasorda

Be Prepared to Commit to Being the Leader or Entrepreneur You See Yourself to Be. You can choose to be interested in your role or you can choose to commit and passionately pursue the vision you have. Ensuring that you are ready and prepared to face the challenges you face with a positive attitude means that you are over 50% of the way there.

Don’t Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself. Be kind to yourself. We are often our own worst enemy with putting unrealistic expectations on ourselves to perform. Mistakes are inevitable. You will fail. Learn to fail forward by being open and willing to learn and improve.

If You Do Not Know Something, Admit It. Don’t pretend to know something you do not. You could be putting yourself at risk. Why risk it? You can learn what you do not know, ask for advice from a professional or someone who does know what you don’t, or ask questions to help find out the answer. People would rather do business or work for someone who admits when the do not know rater than pretending that they do. Chances are you are not expected to have every answer. You are expected to know how to find it. Ask questions!!

Expose Yourself to New Situations. The more situations you work through, the greater the experience you will have. You will learn, adjust your course, and grow from the experience. Take time to reflect on how the situation unfolded and how it may be handled differently if a similar circumstance occurred again. A person is only as good as the experiences they have been exposed to.

Learn as much about the Industry as possible. By learning as much as you can about the industry, you are setting yourself up for success. You will be able to understand the trends and how to position yourself best in the market place. You will able to be more strategic with your decision making.

Stay Solution Focused. The more you look for solutions the more likely you will be to find them. When people focus on the roadblocks and challenges, they often find more of the same.

Discover What the Expectations of Your Team or Senior Leadership Are. How do you know if you met expectations if you do not even know what those expectations are? You could be putting needless pressure on yourself to have immediate success and you do not need to!

Take Time Out to Recharge and Rejuvenate. Excelling in a new role can be challenging. You want to ensure you are taking time to look after you. Eat right. Get some exercise. Sleep Well.

Remember that there are very few overnight successes. The people who we think are overnight successes were the people you spent many late nights refining and honing their crafts. There were sleepless night and many sacrifices made. A little bit of pressure can improve performance and motivate you to work at improving. Too little pressure you may procrastinate or become complacent. Too much pressure and you will become overwhelmed. You may even stop taking the actions need to get results.

Release the pressure! Step into the leader you know you CAN BE! Above all, BELIEVE in yourself!

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

5 Misconceptions About Challenges That Every Leader Must Face

May 14, 2017 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

There isn’t a leader who has never faced a challenge before. They are tried and tested. They have faced heartaches and triumphs but there are still many misconceptions about the challenges they face.

Misconception #1: Building a trusting team is EASY.

When you put a group of people together, you can not assume you will have a high functioning trusting team by default. Each person comes to the group with different knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is part of a leader’s responsibility to know what some of these knowledge, skills, and abilities are so they can be leveraged to work toward a common vision. To do so, trust must be built. It is the foundation of the team and without trust, you will not get results because people will fail to commit to the vision and hold yours.

Building a trusting team takes time and effort. You are bringing together people of different backgrounds and experiences. You cannot expect everyone to “just trust each other”. The members of the team must get to know each other as people first and have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities as they work toward a common goal. They need to be able to depend on each other to “get the job done”. It is not an easy task when team members are “me” focused versus “we” focused. There is a time and place to work on individual goals but they must be aligned with the common goal to be supported by the team.

Misconception #2: A leader does not need to ask for feedback.

Not asking for feedback is like saying, “Go ahead, run through the minefield. Nothing will happen.” Asking for feedback is crucial. As a leader, you must take the time to ask for and listen to the feedback offered by the people who work alongside you. They are at the frontline and can offer valuable input into the impact of daily operations. People are more engaged when asked for their opinion on things.

Misconception #3: Criticism is bitterness and should be discarded.

Even though criticism is hard to hear at the best of times, there is a lesson to be found. Ask yourself or the person offering the criticism what the ideal situation would look like. You may learn that information may have been miscommunicated or not communicated at all. When someone criticizes something, they obviously have a vision of what could be better so ask. The other thing to remember is not to take the criticism personally as it is someone’s opinion and not necessarily yours. What is the lesson to be learned? What can be improved?

Misconception #4: It is acceptable to let a setback set you back.

We hear so much talk about being vulnerable and as a leader, it is important to know how much to share and how much a setback will hold you back (and it better not for long or another leader will take your place). Your followers need someone to look up to in the face of setbacks. They need someone to continue to believe their skills and abilities to work toward a vision. They need to be reminded that setbacks are temporary and it is through action that new results can be achieved. A leader sets the tone for setting up the comeback from any setback. They may share their concerns; however, they must stand in confidence and stay motivated. The people see their leader as a role model and will do the same.

Misconception #5: To lead change, you must be at the helm 100% of the time.

Leaders are leaders because they lead, inspire, and build people. They know when they must step to the side and let their people demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities. They encourage creativity and innovation. They want to hear suggestions and ideas about how to become better. To do so, the leader must walk alongside their people to help them step up and into their potential. The leader does not have to be at the front the whole time. A leader must be able to share a clear vision for the people ensuring all actions align with the team’s core values.

If leaders led with conviction based on these misconceptions, there would be no followers. People need a leader who is willing to work toward building a trusting team and engaging their people in the process. A leader must trust in the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the people hired to do the work and support them in areas that require growth. A leader needs to be open to feedback and appreciate different perspectives. A leader needs to lead with confidence and share the helm with those who have strengths that the leader does not possess to be successful in facing new challenges and adventures placed before them.

What are some of the misconceptions you have encountered as a leader?

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. She is a contributing writer for Diversity and Fabulous at 50 magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. www.debrakasowski.com

EPISODE 17: Harness the Power of Momentum

August 11, 2016 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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Episode 17 – Harness the Power of Momentum

There are no limits to what you can achieve if you stay focused on what you are trying to achieve. You need to believe the impossible is possible for you. Your results may be better than you expect. Success has no guarantees; each action you take starts creating a momentum. If you stop taking action, you stop the momentum.

“Always work hard. Intensity clarifies. It creates not only momentum, but also the pressure you need to feel either friction, or fulfillment.”

— Marcus Buckingham

During my coaching program, we learned about Creative Tension – It moves us to take action. It helps us get out of our comfort zone and stretch us. Challenge us.

Why do we need it? What does it do?

Momentum helps us:

Push through and overcome obstacles. You may have heard about runners or even swimmer pushing through a certain distance to push forward what they may not have thought possible exclaiming, “What else can I do? What else can I do?” What else is possible for you?
Increase your motivation and confidence in your abilities. It helps you to try new things!

You are responsible for creating it through consistent actions. A rapid succession of successes and lessons drives momentum. Energy increases; it will be natural for others to want to follow you. You will become magnetic. You will start to inspire others around you.

Momentum is ignited when you have a clear vision – you know what you want to achieve, you are able to articulate and share your vision, and you can enroll others in your vision.

Do you want to get more clarity? Read my book GPS Your Best Life

Believe in your ability to make things happen. Your confidence, energy, and enthusiasm with excite others around you.

You are probably thinking to yourself – but how do I create a momentum – especially when times are tough or you are feeling challenged more than you think you can handle.

I want to share with you some of the ways that have worked for me and some of the clients I have worked with.

Challenge yourself – Be committed to continuous learning, stay curious and have a learner mindset. Try new things regularly.
Make a rule to quit complaining, blaming, and stop making excuses. You either get results or excuses.
Reduce your distractions. Declutter your space or your email. Clear whatever is in your way.
Be grateful for what you have; the more you will have to be grateful for.
Celebrate your successes – little things lead to big things! It will drive you to take more action. Breath in and acknowledge the successes before moving on to the next thing.
Deliver value and look for ways to exceed expectations. You will generate excitement in others and they will be grateful and share their experience with you – with others.
Do you least favorite activity first – EAT THAT FROG – Brain Tracy

Everything will move so much quicker with the momentum.

Set Milestones – You create anticipation. You may even meet goals quicker.
Measure your outcomes – what gets measured gets managed.
Fake it until you make it – take the actions you need to get to where you want to go. Who is a leader you admire? How can emulate some of the actions that they have taken to achieve success – do your homework. If you want to be a great leader, start being one now.
Make a plan – Work the plan. Otherwise, you will be chasing butterflies. Do you due diligence and your resources.
Don’t forget to dream – Sometimes when people are too realistic to the bone, it drags people down. Dreams can propel you further rather than looking at your current circumstances.
Follow up with people you have met at events or make inquiries – you will be surprised when you connect with others. They energy rises and people take an interest in what you are doing.

What happens when you stop running on a treadmill or riding a bike?

You stop moving – you fall off.

Worry and doubt can paralyze you from taking forward action. They drain your energy. Challenge yourself – test your theories. Ask questions. Gain knowledge – but don’t stop unless you know you are in danger.

No one is going to jail or getting hurt or killed in the process chances are whatever happens you can course correct.

We all start somewhere. There have been many successful people who did not start with any resources – no network of people, no money, no knowledge, did not know English or a language of the place they settled in. They built it and so can you.

“Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.” — Og Mandino

Success is not about how many resources you have; it is about being resourceful and leveraging your resources in the most effective way. Focus on taking action and over time a compound effect with occur. If you are focused only on short-term activities to get immediate results, you will lose momentum quickly especially if you do not set a new target that stretched you.

Your efforts make a difference in how you feel about your progress and what you are going to achieve.

Let your efforts multiply!

Success comes from taking the initiative and following up…persisting…eloquently expressing the depth of your love. What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life?

— Tony Robbins

You need to continually set new challenges to learn and grow. Acknowledge how far you have come. Reflect on what you can do better and work to improve.

Time: 16:31 min

EPISODE 16: Challenges Make You Stronger

August 9, 2016 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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EPISODE 16 – Challenges Make You Stronger

37602986 - female rock climber climbs on a rocky wall Challenges are a part of everyday life. A challenge is something that pushes you out of your comfort zone. It can be something you challenge yourself with such as a goal or it could be something presented to you such as learning something new, getting a handle on finances, acquiring your next client, or seeking a promotion. Some challenges are easier than others. Some challenges knock us down for the count. Think about how many times you get up to face a challenge – that will determine whether or not you will push through it.

If you let the first time you knock you down; you will be paralyzed. I remember the first time someone unsubscribed to my newsletter. I was just devastated because of the one subscription. In that moment, I had forgotten about the hundreds of people who were subscribed. Maybe it was not the right fit for them. What I realize now is that people come into your life for a certain amount of time, a reason or a purpose and some people fade away. Understand that when we face those challenges not to take it so personally and feel defeated. It is about being able to rise up and embrace the challenges and move forward.

It was once said by someone that, “Challenges make you more responsible. Always remember that life without struggle is a life without success. Don’t give up and learn not to quit.”

Challenges make a person more resilient. You recognize your emotions that arise in different situations and how to manage them to become a better communicator or influencer. You become more self-aware of what you want and what you do not want. You develop clarity. You learn from mistakes. Don’t punish yourself. You are growing and stepping into the potential of who you are meant to be.

You can either let a challenge pull you down or you can use it to rise up.

45535742 - woman holding shopping bags at a boutique There was a personal challenge I faced when swimsuit shopping with my daughter. I had sent my daughter to go and purchase herself a swimsuit for a surprise trip. I was unable to go with her. She came home a tossed the bag to me and I did not think anything of it. She did not even show me what it looked like until we were leaving and then I realized that there was a $200 + price tag to this swimsuit. I was like, “What?” I am sorry I do not understand what 16 year old needs a two hundred dollar swimsuit. Anyhow, we ended up going on our trip and did not end up going swimming anyway but I knew a swimsuit you cannot return.

We had come home and we were leaving in a couple more weeks to go on vacation. We ended up going back to the same store where she had purchased the swimsuit. As she was trying on bathing suits, I could feel myself boiling inside even though the staff was wonderful to her. I was thinking to myself, “Why would anyone want in in a suit that makes her so much older that she did not feel energized and excited in?” She did not even feel comfortable in it. We ended up going swimming shortly after our surprise trip and she discovered that the suit did not fit properly.

As I was standing there, I could feel myself boiling inside. It is about being able to recognize those emotions. It was a challenge for me to think about how I was going to manage these emotions. It was my problem. The people in the store do not know what is bothering me. As it was getting close to closing time, the staff was being very patient and had no problem waiting for to finish trying on another suit. We did not end up buying a suit. [We had gone to another store and paid $20 for a swimsuit and going on our vacation. She was youthful, energized, and loved the suit that she had.]

ID-10089448 Meanwhile, I was quite frustrated as I was waiting for my daughter to finish up so I started to talk to the clerk. I proceeded to tell her about how I was feeling and how I was boiling inside. If I felt this energy, I could not imagine how and if they felt it. I began to share the story of what happened when my daughter had come for a swimsuit. The young lady at the till was phenomenal. She said “You should not have had that type of experience that is not how we work here.” She took my information. I informed her that we were leaving the next day on vacation. I told that I would not be able to deal with this right now. She said that it was okay and that she would speak to her manager to see what she could do for me.

She had phoned the very next day explaining that they were going to be doing something for me. I decided while I was on vacation that I would not deal with it until I got home. When I came home I called them, they had offered me a 20% discount. I thought you know it is a swimsuit; they are not going to return it. We already spent $200 in their store for something we were not happy with. She asked me if I was going to pick up the 20% off coupon and I stated, “I am not sure I am going to but thank you very much for your time. We will just take this as a loss.”

Not even 5 minutes later, she had called back. A district manager had heard her talking to me; she had explained that she could not return the bottoms. I stated that I understood based on my healthcare background. If I brought back the top, they would give me a full refund for the cost of the top to purchase anything else in the store. I said that was reasonable and that was something I could handle.

Again I was unable to go with my daughter so I spoke with the young lady that was working with her that I would be unable to be there. My daughter went in and they spent a lot of individualized – personalized attention with her. She came home with a new top to match her bottoms and a racer swimsuit for swimming lengths. She pulled it out and went to try it on to show me right away. She ended up getting two suits in the end.

What impressed me most was the young lady that was working with us. She put in a lot of effort; she was phenomenal. When I speak in front of groups, I talk about this young lady all the time. I went into the store a few days later and I had asked one of the other girls, “Can you tell me who the top person is, that I can talk to in your company? They gave me the President – they gave me all these people. I sent the lengthy e-mail. They are just in the swimsuit industry. They are in the industry of self-esteem, confidence, and help people feeling comfortable in the skin and that they are in.

I find it so powerful to be able to know that you’re doing more than just providing a product – more than a business transaction so I e-mailed a lengthy e-mail. I wanted this individual to be recognized. We were going to recognize her in our own way but we wanted somebody you higher up to realize the potential of this young lady and the difference she was making them from of life. I received an e-mail back from the owner of the company and she had forwarded our e-mail to the whole distribution list of all of their employees to realize that this is what they’re in business for and that they would recognize this young lady and in some way.

My daughter had gone a few days later and handed a little gift to this employee. She was nearly in tears for being recognized for going above and beyond her call of duty. How often do we do that – where we want to go the extra mile for our clients or customers making them feel that they matter?

These challenges that we face make us so much better. They make us so much stronger and we would never realize the impact it can have on other people because what I realized is that if I never speak up when I recognize an emotion that I have, either to clarify something with someone or to express how I’m feeling about a situation, this all would never have happened. When we talk about emotional intelligence, people say, “Oh, that’s the soft stuff!” Even though it is soft, it’s about people and making sure that people matter and how were communicating is a big deal. Think about how you communicate and how some of those challenges have come through communication.

Big Breath! I know that was heavy!

SPONSOR – LET’S BE CURIOUS! www.letsbecurious.ca

It really does amaze me how including me, can take things for granted until we are faced with a challenge. I remember completing a triathlon after not putting in a lot of training several years after I had done the course. Holy Man! I was in awe of what I had accomplished that I never credited myself for. The hard work and dedication it took to take on the challenge and to really acknowledge the sacrifices that went with it. Swim, bike, run. I was never a star athlete. I challenged myself to do what I saw other do. If they could do it, so could I.

One of the biggest challenges I see people face is often self-induced through the comparison trap. Comparing our self to others leads to a no win situation. Your intentions end up reflecting a competition and beating someone versus becoming better and being a natural choice. Start turning inward and set challenges for yourself – each day to become a better version of your Self today than you were yesterday. Become a better listener. Become a better employee. Become a better spouse. Become a better parent. Become a better boss. Hone your skills. Fine tune your strengths. The competition is with your Self. Beat your old self – running your own race.

Stop complaining about your circumstances. There are people who are in more delicate situations that you are right now. Some people are wishing they could walk or even run a race. Some people are fighting for their breath. Some people would love to have the job or business you do; due to health issues may not be able to do so.

Quit making excuses about all the reasons success has not happened for you yet. True success – sustainable success takes time and consistency. Are you using your time productively or are you getting sucked into the vortex of social media? Following blue links or just checking to see if someone just someone liked your post.

Stop blaming others for your position in life. You may hear people blaming their parents, spouse, kids, or boss for their position in life or their lack of resources for not being further ahead. You are in charge of you and the decisions that you make.

Who you are… is directly related to the life you have led and the choices you have made. As a child, your parents may have taught you a certain way of doing things. As you became your own person, you started to make your own decisions and choices. You could believe old patterns and beliefs or you could choose your own story of how things played out and how things have yet to be. Others have made choices and passed on their beliefs based on what they believe to be true. Do not be afraid to question, challenge assumptions, or offer a new perspective. You may have heard the story about a young adult preparing a roast after they were newly married. They cut off each end of the roast and placed in the roasting pan. When questioned and the person asked, “Why did you cut the ends off?” They replied that is how we have always done it – my mother did it that way and her mother did it that way.

What are you doing just because others do it that way?

Start viewing your challenges as blessings or opportunities. Write in a journal and start coming up with solutions to your challenges. Choose the story you want to hear and live. Remember your perception and what you believe is your reality. Is it the right belief? Is that what you want to believe?

Stay focused on the positive aspects of what you are trying to achieve. Be a “positive Choose to approach each day – “Today is going to be a great day!” – Speak it into existence. Connect with others and build relationships now – before you need them. If you do not have a support system, start creating one – people you know, like, and trust and who challenge you to become a better version of yourself.

“Handicaps often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”

C.S. Lewis

Time: 19:34 min

EPISODE 15: Imagine the Possibilities

August 4, 2016 by Debra Kasowski Leave a Comment

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DKI Episode 15 – Imagine the Possibilities

Logic will get you from A to B; imagination will take you everywhere.” Albert Einstein

41442682 - homemade kettle corn popcorn in a bag What I want to focus on today is helping you stretch out of your comfort zone and thinking about shifting from any impossible thinking that you might have to into the world of possibility. You want to be in that dream state to be able to explore what is possible. This is when your mind is like a popcorn machine – all those kernels popping around like all the ideas coming out of your head. I love to brainstorm. It is one of my most favorite things to do next to mind mapping. Your dreams are only limited by your mind. I am not talking about fluff dreams. I am talking about concrete dreams that you turn into goals and take steps to actually get to where you want to go. You tap into your full potential.

There is a quote that says you would completely astound yourself if you truly knew what you are capable of. We don’t use everything that we’re capable of doing because there’s so many things that we can do and tap into we have so many hidden talents and so little time. I don’t have the time or when even find the time. If not now, when? If not you, who else is going to be doing it? Sometimes people say, “I’ve made mistakes or failed. It would be impossible for me to resurrect myself to be seen in the same light or achieve the same things that I have. You heard stories of people who have become millionaires, maybe have gone bankrupt, and they were able to build an empire. You know not everyone is in that the state of being the millionaire. Often people say things about The Millionaire Woman Show, it isn’t about one million bucks; it’s about living rich from the inside out – feeling like a million bucks and growing into the person you are meant to be through leadership, business, and developing human potential. You must put out the intention to grow into it.

“Your mistake does not define who you are, you are your possibilities.”

Oprah Winfrey

I want you to give yourself permission to dream. Who would’ve thought about websites like Pinterest, Etsy, and all these different websites of people getting creative and innovative all these possibilities around us? Think about what is possible. This is where all these great inventions have come from. This is how entrepreneurs are born because they are always looking for a better way of how to improve something or create a solution to something. Think of the creator of Spanx, Sara Blakely, she was trying to create a solution by the cutting off the legs of nylons so she could wear nylons under her pants. This creativity led to a whole new line of body shapewear. Many women are grateful for this! It was innovative and creative. It turned into a business solution for women around the world. What could be possible if you allow yourself to dream?

“Some people see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say why not?” George Bernard Shaw

Consider the things that you want to do in your life” What are the possibilities? Ask yourself: If not you, who? If not now, when? Why not? Think about those things. Stretch out of your comfort zone. Start dreaming! You are only limited by your mind. Imagine the possibilities. I want you to take the time to really dream about what is possible for you. If you could be, do, or have anything that would that look like?

58742224 - create design strategy vision concept Create a vision board. A vision board is just not a collage pretty pictures; it is something that allows your mind to expand. It is a collage and not a piece of art. I do not want you to frame it and thinking this is beautiful. I want you to use it as a tool and then set goals based on what is on your board. Break your goals down into smaller pieces. Check out of goalsetting and make plans to start taking action toward what it is you truly want to happen to those possibilities actually making them become reality.

We would love to hear from you and let us know how this podcast is serving you. Give us ideas of some of the topics you’d like to hear and even people you want us to interview because our phase 2 of the show is that we will start interviewing people later on in a couple weeks here. We would love to hear from you. Together we can help serve the world on the global stage of this podcast The Millionaire Woman Show helping you live rich from the inside out so give a five-star rating on iTunes or Google Play. Subscribe to us on iTunes or Google Play. You can e-mail us at Debra@DebraKasowski.com. I was so glad to spend this time with you. Go out and be the change in the world and just as Gandhi said. You can make the difference. Don’t forget those possibilities are standing right in front of you!

Time 7:37 min

Keywords: possibilities, imagine the possibilities, creative, innovative, stretch out of your comfort zone, risk taking, podcast, iTunes