Leadership Power Tips

Have you noticed a difference in your listening habits? Are you ensuring that the intention of the message is clearly understood?
All these leadership practices take time to develop. Be patient with yourself, yet keep moving forward.

Today's tip is a great follow up to the last one. I want to talk about being grateful. At times, we are moving so fast and doing so many tasks that we forget how far we have come, all those we have influenced and all that we have accomplished. It is really important to acknowledge yourself and those around you - to be grateful for all we have.

I keep a journal. I carry it with me everyday. Having this journal with me, allows me the opportunity to capture what I am grateful for. When I am waiting for someone at lunch or when I am on hold for a call, I sometimes take that brief moment to write down what I am grateful for. Usually 2-3 times a week, I will open my journal and write down my thoughts for the day or the week. Here is a link which gives you an example of what I have written at the end of one day: http://www.leadershippowertips.com/BeGrateful.htm


It is awesome what comes to mind during this quiet and thoughtful time. I often find that someone has contributed to me in a powerful way and it affords me the chance to capture my thoughts so I then can share my appreciation with them the next day.

This process of writing what I am grateful for relieves any overwhelm or anxiety I may be feeling. I make a focused effort to be grateful especially when those feelings come up because it then allows me to get back on track, be grounded again.

Here is the link to today's Leadership Power Tip 8:
http://www.leadershippowertips.com/PowerTip8.htm

When Animal Rules!!!

Hey Bush....where are you???

Leadership Power Tip 7

We have covered a lot of ground with the Leadership Power Tips so far:

Seize An Opportunity
Know Your Values
Create Your Vision
Set Goals, Make Deadlines, Deliver Results and Celebrate
Learn, Share, Learn
Engage Others, be part of a team

Today I want to talk about Communication and its key component - Listening. My leadership effectiveness grew tremendously when I enhanced my listening skills. I learned that when I speak, I must be clear about "how my communication landed over there." What that means is has the person you are speaking to really understood the meaning or intention of your message. When you take the time to ensure that this level of clarity is actually happening, then your effectiveness grows tremendously.

Not only does this level of clarity hold true for when you are speaking but also for when you are listening to someone else. Take the time to ensure that you are receiving the message being presented with their intention - not yours. Take time to ask questions that clarify for you and the one you are communicating with that you both are on the same page of understanding.

Here is the link for today's Leadership Power Tip 7: http://www.leadershippowertips.com/PowerTip7.htm

Communicate Well - Listen More

Warmest Regards,
Susan

Give yourself the gift of taking a moment for your own learning and take advantage of my FREE CD offer to receive all nine Leadership Power Tips by clicking here:
http://www.leadershippowertips.com/cgi-bin/arp3/arp3-t.pl?l=4&c=9989

MARKETING YOURSELF TO OTHERS

Nothing is ever sold without a buyer, not even you.
So, put yourself in a buyer's shoes for a moment
and ask yourself, "would anyone want to buy me?"

In order to sell yourself successfully to other you
Must make yourself into a most-wanted package.
You are trying to get people to do something your
way, or see something as you see it. You want them
to change their viewpoints, to make them like or
love you.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A SALEABLE PACKAGE

You can't be an unknown quantity and sell yourself.
Millions of dollars have been spent by manufacturers,
advertising agencies, market research people and
retailers to decide just how to package a product
to make it more saleable.

The contents are what you are inside. The person-
ality that shines through your eyes, the smile on
your face, the words that express your thoughts
and ideas, your readiness to listen, your enthusiasm,
your attitudes and outlook.

The wrapping is your outward appearance: your
cleanliness, your grooming, your complexion, your
weight, the clothes you wear and the way you
wear them, the posture you assume, the shoes
you walk in.

The emphasis of your message about marketing
yourself is on the inner contents of your package
and how to develop them to such a fine point that
putting yourself over becomes ever easier. For
now, however, let's consider some things about
your wrapping. After all, that's the first thing others
see. The sale of yourself begins there. It can be
won or lost because of the wrapping.

How often have you received a package that has been
carelessly handled in shipment? The package has
been dropped perhaps, or it is soiled, the paper may
be torn and the twine loosened. The moment you
received such a package you probably started to
worry about the condition of the contents.

It's the same with people. Our exterior image must
reflect positively the qualities we wish to sell to others.
If the outside wrapping caused others to worry about
us and what we are, we can begin to say good-bye to
the sale.

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Until next time, I urge you to keep this ideas and
suggestions in mind as you go about your day.

Adopted from
Neil McPherron - "Your" Master Marketer
Creative Marketing Group
Bell Plaza - Ste. 126E
PO Box 5549
Peoria AZ 85385

HOW TO SELL YOURSELF & YOUR BUSINESS

When last we talked we were discussing the concept of selling yourself and what you need
to do in order to do that. This time we will start with - -

EIGHT RULES FOR BODY CARE

1- SHOWER OR BATHE DAILY.
You'll look better and you'll feel better. Use a cologne but make sure it isn't overpowering.

2- TAKE CARE OF YOUR HAIR.
Shampoo it regularly. Don't date yourself, style it in the current fashion. Keep it well combed and
brushed. Never allow dandruff to mar your appearance.

3. USE MAKEUP SPARINGLY
if you're a woman. Apply it carefully to emphasize your best features. "War paint" is out. Your desire is to influence, not conquer.

4- SHAVE AS OFTEN AS NECESSARY
if you're a man - twice a day if you must. There is no excuse for a "five-o'clock shadow." It does not make you look macho, it only make you look unshaven. Keep an extra razor or electric shaver at your office or shop. Use a good after-shave.

5- MANICURE YOUR NAILS REGULARLY
if you're a woman. Choose a nail polish that compliments your hands, not one that calls undue attention to them. Black or flaming red are headlights.

6- KEEP NAILS CLEAN AND TRIMMED
if you're a Man. A manicure is a matter of personal choice, Watch out for nicotine stains. (That does double for women.)

7- KEEP PHYSICALLY TRIM.
Get those extra pounds off if you need to. (It can be done) Start an exercise program now.

8- CHECK YOUR POSTURE.
Stand tall, walk tall. Hold yourself erect, shoulders back, belly in. You are number one. Number-one people never slouch, standing or seated.

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Now that should keep you busy until we talk next. As for me working on number seven is my what I need to do most importantly. Unfortunately I have let myself get too heavy over the last few years.

Adopted from
Neil McPherron - "Your" Master Marketer
Creative Marketing Group
Bell Plaza - Ste. 126E
PO Box 5549
Peoria AZ 85385

Clothing - Fashion

Remember, WHAT you wear is an indication to many people of what you are. *Clothes make
the man* is a phrase that carries a great deal of truth. WHEN and WHERE you were them are
also decisive factors. An evening dress and furs are beautiful when worn by a woman to a
restaurant or a theater; they are ridiculous at a morning business meeting. Farfetched?
Not at all, it does happen.

I've heard of a guidance counselor, a practicing psychologist, who, when at work, is the most
conservative of dressers. He has to be, in order to inspire confidence in his counsel.

However, at night, when partying, he changes his entire personality and image by wearing casual
jeans or leather, a necklace and zodiac pendant, and even a small gold earring in his left ear. It does not bother him at all to be mistaken sometimes for a member of the gay community, which he is not. But, can you imagine what the effect would be if he dressed on the job as he does during his leisure hours? His counsel would most likely go unheeded.

There is nothing so fleeting as fashion. One year it is wide lapels and wide neckties, the next year it's back to narrow ties. Single-breasted suits or double-breasted - it's your choice. Vests? They can be matching or contrasted.

Hemlines? They move up and down like elevators.

In short, style is always a matter of personal taste and preference.

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More on the rules concerning clothing next time. Until then.

Adopted from:
Neil McPherron - "Your" Master Marketer
Creative Marketing Group
Bell Plaza - Ste. 126E
PO Box 5549
Peoria AZ 85385

EIGHT RULES CONCERNING CLOTHING

1-BUY THE BEST CLOTHING YOU CAN AFFORD.
Don't stint. Quality tells and quality clothing will look better on you and wear longer. Make sure
that what you buy - suits, dresses, shirts, blouses, shoes - fit you well.

2-BUILD A COMPLETE WARDROBE.
Choose clothing for business, for work, for evening wear, for travel and leisure. Be selective. Often items can do double duty. Mix and match may be the perfect answer for you.

3-DRESS FOR THE OCCASION.
Always wear clothing suitable for the situation. You would not call on a bank president in blue jeans, nor would you wear a three-piece pinstripe worsted to play a game of touch football.

4-HANG YOU CLOTHING PROPERLY.
Care in hanging suits, dresses, sweaters and slacks will assure their keeping their shape. Treat
what you buy with respect.

5-HAVE YOUR CLOTHING CLEANED AND PRESSED REGULARLY.
Stains, spots and wrinkles will do nothing for you when it comes to marketing yourself, but they sure can work against you. Proper cleaning, too, will help them wear better and last longer.

6-CHOOSE ACCESSORIES THAT COMPLIMENT, NOT DISTRACT.
Loud neckties on a man are a distraction. So are large dangling earrings on a woman. So are oversized belt buckles and over- loaded charm bracelets. A shirt with stripes and a suit with plaid might simply make one dizzy.

7-MATCH YOUR SHOES TO YOUR WARDROBE.
Keep them to basic browns and blacks, and choose separate footwear for business, for dress-up occasions, for leisure and for sports.

8-TAKE CARE OF YOUR FOOTWEAR.
Shoes trees will help them keep their shape. Keep shoes well shined, watch for scuffs and don't
let the heels wear down.

In short, do everything you can to make yourself the most buyable package possible. As a final test ask yourself this question:

WOULD I BUY ME?