Tag: Assessments

The Trials of Leadership

In the world of business, we’re often finding ourselves asking “what does it take to become a better leader?” Perhaps the answer to the question is an extension of the ‘actions speaks louder than words’ belief. In fact, recent research points to how we react to and handle adversity as one of the most reliable indicators of true leadership.

The Trials of Leadership 

Coping with difficult situations, learning from them and using them to push off into a positive direction is an ability that many of the great leaders possess. Can a leader take hardship in the workplace such as a demanding boss, and use it as a learning moment for them and everyone around them? Not all the trials of leadership are traumatic. In fact, they can involve positive and challenging experiences.

How can you learn from and cope with change and challenges to your day-to-day routine? Perhaps the biggest trial of leadership is how we respond and react to negative situations. The great leaders of the world use those situations to learn, grow and more importantly, teach.

The Essentials of Leadership

There’s no clear cut list of boxes you need to check before you can become a great leader. But by studying and learning from some of the world’s best leaders, we can get a better idea of some of the essentials.

1. Engage in Shared Meaning

Can you get everyone around you to rally behind you? Can you turn difficult situations into learning experiences? The greatest leaders are able to get those around them to buy into what they are working towards.

2. A Respected Voice

Does your voice hold weight with the people it needs to? At the end of the day, you’re only as powerful as your word. When you talk, do the people around you listen? Leaders are often able to defuse situations using only their words.

3. Integrity

A strong set of values and beliefs can go a long way. More importantly, sticking to your values makes you trustworthy and more respected. As you stick to your values, those around you will adhere to them as well.

4. Adaptability

One of the biggest reasons professionals fail and fall behind is an inability or even an unwillingness to adapt. In order to transcend adversity and emerge stronger than before, is to adapt to the elements surrounding you.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

How the Heart-Brain Connect Can Help You Improve Making Decisions

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase “follow your brain, not your heart.” For years we’ve been told that your brain makes logical decisions while our heart makes decisions based on emotions. However, recent studies show that the heart has a mind of its own and business leaders are trying to figure out how to control it!

Does Your Heart Have a Mind Of Its Own?

For the better part of human history, it’s been widely accepted that the heart receives signals from the brain. Scientists later discovered that the heart has a complex communication system that sends more messages to the brain than vice-versa. More importantly, these scientists found that the heart communicates with the brain in ways that significantly affect how we react to the world.

The heart sends messages to the brain in four different ways: via nerve impulses, hormones, pulse waves, and energetic communication methods. Scientists have begun to call the heart the ‘heart brain’ because the heart is so intelligent and communicative. How can business leaders take advantage of this information?

How Can Business Leaders Control the ‘Heart Brain’?

If the heart has an intelligent mind of its own, how big of a factor does it play in our day-to-day decision-making? Strengthening the communication between the heart and mind will allow you to make choices with more clarity and certainty. Scientists and neuroradiologists believe that you can tap into the power of the heart organ for better decision-making with simple exercises.

One of the better exercises to begin practicing requires you to only ask yourself two simple questions. The first question being ‘what emotion am I feeling right now?” This question helps us better understand and process the emotions we feel. The second question is ‘How do I want to feel?” This allows us to be in better control of how we dictate our emotions.

If how you feel doesn’t align with how you want to feel, focus on a positive emotion you’d prefer and thing of things that make you feel that emotion. For example, if you want to feel inspired, think back to a moment when you were inspired.

The ‘Heart Brain’

In recent years, science has proven that the heart is much more important than we previously believed. Your heart is as intelligent as your brain and is capable of making decisions and channeling emotions. Business leaders should do all they can to become in-tune with their ‘heart brain’.

We would love to hear your comments on this article or any of our latest articles.

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

How Meditation Can Help You Become a Better Leader

Becoming a better leader stems from many daily practices. Mediation may not even be on your radar when it comes to finding ways to be a better leader. However, making this a part of your daily routine can change your day completely.

Here are ways that meditation can help you:

1. Objectively Tackle Daily Task

Meditation is a mindful discipline that can do wonders for not only your personal life but for the leadership aspect of your life as well. Pride is one factor at the root of failed relationships and poor management and with the lack of quality leadership, these days meditation is a technique worth trying. When one stops to quiet their mind and breathe deeply they are able to silence many of the thoughts that tend to create conflict.

Even a short ten to twenty-minute meditation session can help to refocus the mind, reevaluate an email, a tough phone call, and reply without “self” involved. When you practice stillness you can virtually remove thoughts that contribute to defensive behavior and think more clearly.

2. Build Deeper Connections

Over time it has been noted that meditation allows a person to feel more empathy and better connect with their employees. People who practice meditation regularly learn to release fear and can then connect better and approach and confront employees they find “difficult”. This approach is not only for the workplace but can be used in other forms of leadership.

Parenting is a great place to practice these techniques especially during the teen years or if you are a caregiver for someone with special needs or mental illness. Take some quiet time to breathe in and out, listening to the breaths, then reevaluate how to respond. Acting out of emotion instead of logic just because we could not take time to meditate can cause long-term relationship hardships.

3. Still Your Mind

Our minds on average have 70,000 thoughts that run through our minds on any given day. The goal with meditation is to release those thoughts, release the ego, the pride, the thoughts that hold us back. Find a quiet place with a chair and set your timer for anywhere between five and twenty-five minutes.

Count to one in your head while you take your first breath in and then breathe out on two. Repeat this process all the way to 10 and start over. With every breath release the thoughts, let go of the anxiousness and notice how this helps during your decision-making throughout the day.

Practice Regularly and Extend Your Practice Over Time

Start out with five minutes and slowly work your way up to ten or fifteen. If all you have is five minutes then just make sure to meditate for five minutes daily. Start with your consistency and then work on extending your meditation time.

Want to learn more? Contact us today!

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Set Boundaries to Protect Your Work Time

Attending meetings that regularly run over or being inundated with requests of your time by your employees can lead to frustration. What’s more, all this can cause you to miss out on valuable time at home with your family when you’re having to play catch up. Here are some ways you can set boundaries within your workplace to protect your time.

1. Meeting Availability

The first and most important boundary to set is your meeting availability. This might take some adjusting if everyone is used to you always making yourself available for meetings. Block out certain parts of your daily schedule that you dedicate to meeting times.

Create your meeting schedule around what best suits your daily personal schedule such as around commute times or if you need to pick children up from school. There are times when you can’t reschedule a meeting to happen during your meeting times. At this point, you’ll need to determine if calling out of the meeting will benefit you in the long run and increase your overall workplace benefits, such as if a meeting will cause you to lose sleep.

2. Set Boundaries About Meeting Length

Meetings that regularly run over schedule can cost you in the long run. For example, just a few meetings every week that run over by just 15 minutes can cost you an hour of your workweek. There are a few things you can do to set some boundaries to keep meetings on schedule.

First, if these are meetings that you run, send out a calendar invite with the exact meeting times and a prefilled agenda for what you’ll be discussing.  Secondly, book your meetings close together so that you’ll have a reason to end a meeting on time. Lastly, the best thing you can do is start the meeting with your time expectation, such as telling everyone that you need to end the meeting by a certain time.

3. Keep Your Time At Work Focused

One of the best things you can do for time management is to keep yourself focused an on-task at work. This day and age, there are many distractions that can get you off course and have to make up for it later. A good strategy is to use a block schedule.

A block schedule means your group tasks together. For example, a block of time is set apart for all your meetings and then the next block of time is set aside for checking and replying to emails. This keeps your brain more focused versus jumping around from task to task. If you’re able to, physically close your door during times you need to quietly work. Also, make sure to turn off your phone or put it somewhere where you won’t be distracted by personal texts or social media.

Want to learn more? Contact us today!

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

5 Ways to Increase Productivity and Boost Motivation

If your workplace has fallen flat then it might be time to re-center your employee’s focus and increase their motivation. There are some ways you can boost your employee’s drive-by changing just a few things in the workplace. Here are 5 great ideas to get you started.

1. Make the Workplace Fun

If you ask the workforce what makes them happier and more likely to stay with a certain company, the #1 answer is always a fun workplace. Bringing fun into the workplace can also:

• Reduce stress
• Increase overall job satisfaction
• Increase motivation
• Improve productivity
• Increase employee performance

Think about some ways that you can bring some fun into your workplace. If you don’t already, encourage your employees to hang out in social settings to build camaraderie.

2. Bring Music Into the Workplace

Music has been known to change our emotions and how we view and perceive life. It has the power to calm us in times of stress or make us happy in times of sadness. If you bring music into the workplace, you can give your employees a mental boost. The one thing to keep in mind is that instrumental music has been shown to be more effective at increasing focus and attention than music with lyrics.

3. Encourage Exercising

Employees who exercise regularly are 25% more focused, driven, and efficient than those who don’t. They are also 40% more motivated in the workplace. It’s vital to encourage your employees to exercise. If you have space, it would be worth the investment to convert an area to an office gym. If you don’t have space, you can encourage exercise by increasing employee incentives to workout or by providing gym memberships.

4. Encourage Learning

Learning a new skill or concept can greatly improve your employee’s drive and motivation. It can also improve productivity. Analyze your employees’ job performance and existing skill set to see what concepts you can bring in to encourage innovation. You can provide incentives for mastering new skills or even provide funding to further their education.

5. Make Time for Meditation

Many people already set aside time every day for personal meditation. We are now seeing the benefits of bringing this practice into the workplace. In fact, setting aside just 10 minutes every day can reduce workplace stress, enhance workplace relationships and help to resolve conflicts, and enhance mental and emotional health. Set up time early in the workday for your employees to meditate.*

Need help? Contact us today!

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Bridging The Skills Gaps

Are you underqualified for your dream job? Don’t let your gap in skills keep you from attaining your career goals. This article discusses what you need to do when your current skill set isn’t enough for the job you ultimately want.

Consider the Long-Term

If you have a career goal, don’t expect to just go from point A to point B. Many people think if they have a goal, they just need to go out and get a degree or go from a Bachelor’s to a Master’s degree. However, many people are also finding out that a degree isn’t going to give them the necessary skills they need.

Rather than pursuing a degree, think about role changes within your company that will help you attain your goals. Even if these are just lateral moves, always have your long-term goals in mind. The lateral moves will be worth it if they give you the skills and experience necessary to propel your career in the right direction.

Think About Volunteering Your Time

Another way to fill in the skills gap and get the necessary experience under your belt is to volunteer your time. If you need certain skills and experience for your career goals but are having a hard time finding a position that will give you those skills, then see if you can volunteer. A great way that people have done this is through non-profit organizations.

Many of these organizations need people to fill certain roles but don’t have the money to pay someone who is experienced. Therefore, they will take under-qualified candidates and give them on-the-job training and experience.

Take A Demotion

Another way to obtain the skills necessary is to take an entry-level job or to take a job at a small company that can’t pay as well. This is a great way to build the skills you need and attain the experience for your resume that will help you land that good-paying job at that huge company.

One of the ways many people find success in doing this is to start with a start-up company. The risk is much bigger but it could mean a big payout in the end when you’ve landed that executive role.

Need help getting started? Contact us today! *

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

What Hiring Managers Wish Job Seekers Knew

If you’re looking for a job or thinking about looking then you might be wondering how to set yourself apart from other candidates. Here are some inside tips on what hiring managers are looking for and how to land yourself that sought-after position.

1. Personality Is More Important

If you’re qualified for the position and have met all the basic requirements then your personality is more important than anything else. Let’s say you have two candidates who are equally qualified. One is easy going and likable. The other one is not really a people person but has more experience. The hiring manager is going to pick the likable person over the one with a more impressive resume.

2. Don’t Try Too Hard to Impress HR Staff

The critical person for you to impress is the hiring manager. They have all the authority-who to interview, who to hire, what to pay them, etc. The best way to find out who the hiring manager is, one should do a little digging on Linkedin.

Here are some tips to use during your search:

1. Try different search terms to find the person you’re looking for such as “manager” or “director” and then the keyword for the position
2. After you start reaching out to a few people, it can become easy to lose track of everything. That’s why we recommend using a spreadsheet to keep track of who you reached out to, what their role is, and any other important notes
3. Keep in mind that if you’re reaching out to hiring managers then you might jeopardize your current position by being caught
4. That’s why it’s best to reach out to the recruiter first. You can use your spreadsheet to keep track of what recruiters companies use.

3. You Can Leverage Your Other Offers

If you’re interviewing for a position with few candidates, you can use that to your advantage. It’s ok to be open about other positions you’re interviewing for. If you handle it with respect and just be matter of fact while you present your case then you can use it as leverage to negotiate for a higher offer.

4. Ask Questions During Your Interview

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the position and the company in fear that they’ll seem too needy. A potential employer likes someone who has enough vested interest in the position that they ask tough questions. Ask things such as where they see the company’s future or what their struggles are with leading their team.

5. Don’t Think You Know Everything

When a recruiter contacts you, it’s wise to be open to at least interviewing for the position. Even if you aren’t looking for another job, it’s wise to keep an open mind to what’s out there. You never know what kind of opportunity you might be passing up simply because you think you know more than the recruiter.

Need more ideas for boosting creativity? Contact us today!*

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Want to Boost Your Team’s Creativity? Try This

If you’re planning a brainstorming session with your team, nothing is more intimidating than staring at that blank flipchart. You can kick off your brainstorming with this new concept developed by an author/writer. This will gear up your team with this fun activity and get them in that creative mode.

Concept of Newspaper Blackout

The idea is based off the idea that it’s more fun to cross things off than to come up with something entirely new. The writer that created it used the idea to help his brain block since he was having a hard time coming up with ideas for short stories. Newspaper Blackout makes it seem more like a game than actual work.

How to Play the Game

The game is actually quite easy for your team. Gather a few essential supplies such as black markers and newspapers. To play the game, follow these simple steps:

1. Find an article you like
2. Draw a box around words or phrases you like
3. Cross of the words you don’t like
4. Use the marker to black out all the words except the ones you put a box around
5. You’ll be left with a poem of the words and phrases that you like

How to Use Newspaper Blackout to Boost Creativity

If you want to use this concept for your brainstorming session, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Rip out pages of popular newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times or other popular papers in your area
• Come up with a specific assignment related to what you’re goal is for having a brainstorming session. For example, come up with a question such as, “Why is the customer always right?”
• Divide your team into groups of 2-6 people
• Give them their supplies and instruct them on how to play the game
• The overall goal is for their “poem” to answer the question. Have them picture something in their mind of what the assignment is to them and then look for specific words or phrases that match that picture
• If a team gets stuck, try giving them a different newspaper article to work with

Remember, while this can be a useful tool, the main goal is for your team to have fun so don’t take it too seriously!

Need more ideas for boosting creativity? Contact us today!*

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Do This to Control Your Emotions When You Are at Work

Controlling your emotions is hard enough. Doing so in a stressful and busy environment like at work is even harder.

Have you ever cried after getting feedback? Or struggled with your temper around another team member? You’re human, which means you have complex emotions like frustration, panic, and disappointment.

Leaders are held to a higher standard. You can’t overreact. You must be able to control your emotions. There are many methods you can use to do this. Here are three tools you can use to control your emotions at work.

Get Grounded

This isn’t the same type of grounding that your parents punished you with. Grounding is a technique that can be used to keep your mind in the present.

When emotions strike, it’s easy to lose yourself in thoughts of the past and future. These types of thoughts can fan the flames of your emotions. Here are a few simple techniques you can use to ground yourself and stay in the moment.

• Focus on the eye color of the person you’re talking to.
• Tighten your calf muscles.
• Rock back on your heels a bit.
• If you’re sitting, relax your back into your chair.

The goal of grounding is to focus on what’s true and controllable.

Try Box Breathing

Box breathing is a great way to stay calm and focused. It’s used by the military to manage emotions. It can be a great tool for you to learn and utilize.

This type of breathing is a four-square breathing technique. You will breathe in for four seconds. Hold it for four seconds. Breathe out for four seconds. Hold it for four seconds. Then repeat the same rhythm. This four-sided breathing technique is named after its similar shape. A square or box.

Cool Off

Emotions cause physiological responses in our bodies. Have you ever felt your palms perspire or your cheeks flush in response to anger or embarrassment? This is your sympathetic nervous system going into overdrive. Finding a way to calm your body’s natural response can help you. Cool off is one of these ways.

• Put your hand around a cold glass.
• Take a sip of a cold drink, or put an ice cube in your mouth.
• If you’re wearing a jacket or sweater, remove that layer.
• Move closer to the air conditioner or a vent.
• If possible, take a moment to go to the restroom. This not only creates distance, but you can splash cool water on your face.

There are many more techniques you can use to control your emotions. Start practicing these today so you can be prepared when emotions strike.

Need help getting started? Contact us today! *

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.

Examples of How Other Businesses Are Handling The Coronavirus Pandemic

Businesses and organizations around the world are changing their policies as COVID-19 continues to spread. Some businesses are providing tremendous examples for other business owners to follow. Below are how some of the largest companies in the world are handling this situation.

1. Uber

Uber has stated that it may temporarily suspend the accounts of riders or drivers confirmed to have the virus. If a driver has tested positive for the virus or is asked to self-isolate, they will receive financial assistance for up to two weeks while their account is on hold.

On top of that, Uber is working to provide all of its drivers with disinfectants to help them keep their cars as clean as possible. Their food delivery service, Uber Eats, is also taking action to protect its drivers and customers. Customers can now elect to have food dropped off at their doorstep to adhere to social distancing practices.

2. Target

Target has looked to increase its staff as demand has grown for groceries and other essentials. They look to increase their staff for services such as pickup and drive up. These services allow customers to get the items they need without ever stepping foot in the store.

They will be cleaning surfaces in checkout lanes and touchscreens at least every 30 minutes to ensure a clean environment for customers. Any team member who feels ill is strongly encouraged to stay home. They have also begun to limit key items per customer to prevent any hoarding.

3. Walmart

Walmart has taken many of the same steps other grocery stores and markets have taken. Hours have been reduced and certain items may be limited by customer. They have also taken steps to ensure social distancing is followed in their stores.

The company has enacted an emergency leave policy for its hourly workers. Any employee that is required to quarantine by the government can receive up to two weeks’ pay. The store is also rigorously cleaning their surfaces.

Before leaving your house to run errands, first, determine rather or not your errands are considered essential. Second, do research to ensure the places you are going are open and are taking steps to protect both you and their employees. These companies are doing what they can to help slow the spread of this virus. *

Need help? Contact us today!

Gary Brunson
gary@myclearfocus.com

Debra Rider
debra@myclearfocus.com

574.361.2674

Sustainable Growth & Profit Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Counselor/Therapist for Business Owners and Professionals.