Tag: Soft Skills

Free On-Demand Webinar

Unlock the Value from AI Inside Your Business

Learn from AI Adoption expert Asa Cox, Founder & CEO of Arcanum AI, on how to get rapid ROI from real-world AI use cases. This is not another how-to-use-ChatGPT session. Asa walks us through a variety of relevant businesses uses for AI in HR, Operations, and Finance.

Still not sure how AI can elevate your business? Then this webinar is for you!

Watch it now – free and on-demand.

https://www.thealternativeboard.com/webinar/unlock-the-value-from-ai

#tabboards #businesscoaching #businessai

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.

Effective leadership starts with INTENTION. It’s about having a clear VISION, a defined PURPOSE, and a STRATEGY to inspire success throughout your business.

Being an intentional leader requires so much more than simply overseeing the business’s operations. Intentionality means that you foster a thriving culture, commit to employee growth, and create an environment where your team is motivated to succeed.

Ready to take your leadership to the next level? To learn the five key actions that can transform you into the leader your business needs, read “5 Ways To Lead Your Business Better” at The Alternative Board (TAB).

https://www.thealternativeboard.com/blog/5-ways-to-lead-your-business-better

#tabboards #businesscoaching #businessleadership

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.

Unleash the Power of Your Leadership Team with StratPro

StratPro isn’t just any leadership development program. It is your next step to a thriving, strategically aligned organization.

The key benefits of StratPro include:

• Team Alignment & Accountability
• Ensuring the Right People Are in the Right Roles
• Strategic Advantage & Risk Mitigation
• More Freedom for You As the Business Owner

Check out our StratPro page and, while you are there, make sure to click “Give Us a Call” to schedule a free 90-minute Discovery Workshop.

It is time to consider StratPro in your business. Because when your team is aligned, your business doesn’t just grow. It thrives.

https://www.thealternativeboard.com/strategic-planning  

#tabboards #businesscoaching #leadershipdevelopment #stratpro

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.

In today’s fast-paced, performance-driven workplace, one trait consistently sets top performers apart: their ability to embrace feedback. While many professionals view feedback as criticism, high achievers see it as a strategic tool for growth, innovation, and sustained excellence.

The Power of Feedback in High Performance

According to a study by Zenger/Folkman, top-performing employees are significantly more likely to seek and act on feedback than their peers. In fact, those rated in the top 10% of performance actively solicit feedback 400% more than the average employee (Zenger/Folkman, 2022).

This mindset fuels continuous improvement. Rather than fearing perceived shortcomings, elite performers recognize feedback as a mirror — one that reflects blind spots and reveals new avenues for advancement.

What Top Performers Do Differently

1. Shift Their Mindset
Top performers don’t see feedback as personal criticism but as data. They understand that feedback, whether from a manager, peer, or customer, is an external perspective that can improve results.

2. Ask Specific Questions
Instead of waiting for vague performance reviews, they ask questions like:

• What’s one thing I could do better in client presentations?”
• “How can I support the team more effectively this week?”
  This targeted approach elicits more actionable responses and demonstrates a growth mindset.

3. Follow Up and Follow Through
Feedback isn’t helpful if it’s ignored. High performers document the insights, set goals, and measure progress. They close the loop by checking in with those who offered feedback to show growth.

4. Normalize the Feedback Loop
By giving and receiving feedback regularly, they create a culture of mutual trust and improvement. This culture reduces defensiveness and increases psychological safety.

Tools and Solutions to Embrace Feedback

• 360-Degree Feedback Tools make it easy to gather balanced insights from peers, managers, and reports.
• Personal Reflection Journals: Simple apps like Day One or Notion help top performers track recurring themes in feedback and spot growth trends.
• Feedback Frameworks such as SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact) or “Start-Stop-Continue” help organize feedback in a constructive format.

Embracing Feedback: Tips for Every Professional

• Start Small: Ask for feedback on one specific behavior or task.
• Detach Emotion: Listen with curiosity, not defensiveness.
• Act and Reflect: Implement suggestions and evaluate their impact.
• Celebrate Progress: Recognize when feedback has led to growth — and thank the people who helped you.

Final Thought

Embracing feedback isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress. Top performers know that the fastest route to mastery is paved with insights from others. By welcoming, applying, and following up on feedback, professionals at any level can unlock their potential and become indispensable.

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.

Free TAB Webinar

Employee Motivation That Works

Business leaders are challenged every day trying to inspire their teams.

Are you confused and frustrated by failed efforts and significant time and money spent on various compensation schemes? Many leadership blogs are filled with articles on this topic, and corporations employ full-time HR professionals who strive constantly to answer this question. You will leave this webinar with a better understanding of human motivation.

In this webinar, we discuss:

• What tools in the management toolkit, when used appropriately, will achieve greater employee focus, satisfaction, and engagement.
• Why different rewards and recognition must be used for different employees.
• How to know when to use which employee motivation tools.

Watch now and free and on-demand.

https://www.thealternativeboard.com/webinar/employee-motivation-that-works

#tabboards #businesscoaching #webinar

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.

In today’s dynamic business landscape, leadership isn’t just about titles—it’s about influence, accountability, and results. According to TTI Success Insights (TTISI), which specializes in human behavior assessments, research shows that five critical qualities consistently define effective leaders: influencing others, personal accountability, self-management, goal achievement, and interpersonal skills. These aren’t just theoretical attributes—they are practical capabilities that can be cultivated with intention.

1. Influencing Others

At the core of leadership is the ability to inspire and persuade. Influential leaders articulate a compelling vision and gain buy-in through authenticity and empathy.

A study by Zenger/Folkman found that leaders who influence others effectively have higher employee engagement and performance levels (Forbes).

How to improve:

• Practice active listening.
• Master the art of storytelling.
• Build trust by following through on promises.

2. Personal Accountability

Accountability means owning decisions, actions, and their consequences. Leaders who model accountability foster cultures of transparency and high performance. According to a Harvard Business Review study, teams with accountable leaders experience 20% higher productivity.

How to improve:

• Use reflection tools like journaling to evaluate decisions.
• Set clear expectations for yourself and others.
• Adopt feedback as a growth tool.

3. Self-Management

Great leaders manage time, energy, and emotions effectively. They maintain focus under pressure and demonstrate consistency. Emotional intelligence (EQ), a vital component of self-management, is often a stronger predictor of success than IQ (TalentSmart).

How to improve:

• Use time-blocking techniques to prioritize tasks.
• Incorporate mindfulness or stress-reduction practices.
• Develop emotional regulation through coaching or EQ assessments.

4. Goal Achievement

Leaders drive progress by setting clear goals and staying committed. Goal-oriented leadership improves organizational alignment and results. According to Gallup, goal clarity improves employee engagement by 27% (Gallup Workplace).

How to improve:

• Use SMART goals to create clarity.
• Review progress weekly using KPIs or OKRs. (Key performance indicators / Objective and key results)
• Celebrate small wins to maintain momentum.

5. Interpersonal Skills

Strong interpersonal skills enable leaders to build strong relationships, manage conflict, and communicate effectively. This quality fosters collaboration and psychological safety, both essential in high-performing teams.

How to improve:

• Take personality or communication style assessments like DISC or EQ.
• Invest in team-building experiences.
• Practice empathy and curiosity in every interaction.

Final Thoughts

Leadership isn’t innate—it’s developed. TTISI’s research underscores that effective leaders share these five qualities, and each can be nurtured with focused effort. Whether you’re an emerging manager or a seasoned executive, investing in these areas can elevate your leadership and empower those around you.

For those looking to deepen their leadership capabilities, tools like TTI Success Insights assessments can provide a personalized roadmap for growth.

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.

When business leaders think about growth, they usually focus on things like strategy, sales, and innovation. But another powerhouse driver of success is company culture.

A strong, clearly defined culture influences everything from product quality to customer loyalty to employee retention. And so much more.

But a thriving workplace culture doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intention, alignment with business goals, and a commitment to fostering an environment where employees feel valued and customers feel connected.

To further explore the ways a strong workplace culture can elevate your brand, read “How Does Company Culture Affect Business Growth?” at The Alternative Board (TAB).

https://www.thealternativeboard.com/blog/how-does-company-culture-affect-business-growth

#tabboards #businesscoaching #businessgrowth #companyculture #businessleadership

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.

As business owners, we all have our preferred way of working. You might be an early bird, a night owl, or somewhere in between. But what does your work style say about your leadership? Understanding whether you’re instinct-driven or data-driven, or a tortoise versus a hare, can make all the difference in how you approach tasks and lead your team.

While it’s important to understand and accept your natural tendencies, it is also essential to have the willingness and agility to adapt to situations that may require a different approach from you.

Ready to leverage your work style to its fullest potential? Read “What’s Your Work Style (and Why It Matters)” at The Alternative Board (TAB).

https://www.thealternativeboard.com/blog/whats-your-work-style-and-why-it-matters

#tabboards #businesscoaching #workstyle #businessleadership #leadershipdevelopment

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.

In today’s fast-paced and often unpredictable world, maintaining a positive mindset is more than just wishful thinking—it’s a powerful tool for personal and professional success. Positive thinking involves focusing on solutions rather than problems, opportunities rather than obstacles. It doesn’t mean ignoring life’s challenges but rather approaching them with a constructive and optimistic outlook.

Research has consistently shown that individuals who practice positive thinking experience lower levels of stress, improved cardiovascular health, and increased resilience. This mindset can lead to better decision-making, stronger relationships, and higher levels of productivity. In the workplace, positivity fosters collaboration, creativity, and motivation—key drivers of both individual and team performance.

Moreover, a positive attitude is contagious. Leaders who model optimism and solution-oriented thinking create environments where others feel encouraged and empowered. This cultural shift can enhance employee engagement, reduce turnover, and contribute to a more cohesive and adaptive organization.

Cultivating positive thinking takes practice. It involves self-awareness, gratitude, and reframing negative thoughts into constructive insights. Techniques such as journaling, mindfulness, and setting achievable goals can help shift perspective and reinforce a positive mindset.

Ultimately, the power of positive thinking lies in its ability to shape not only how we see the world, but how we respond to it—turning challenges into opportunities and setbacks into stepping stones for growth.

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.