Leadership Coaching,Leadership Training,Team Coaching Programs USA» Leadership

Gaining Loyal Customer By Building a Strong Leadership Brand

Bea Fields — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:13:39 +0000

LEADERSHIP BRANDING: When you read this term, do you really know what it means? I really did not know until the year 2008, when I read the book Leadership Brand by Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood. Because I had not heard of the term until then, it made me scratch my head and wonder if others found the term to be something they had not yet heard about.

So, I went out and polled a few business leaders, simply asked them to fill out a form based on what they knew, and many even admitted they did not know what the term really meant…but they took a stab at the questions I asked anyway.

We talk everyday about branding our “company” and making sure that our marketing collateral matches the “company brand”. But what would be different if you branded your company through the eyes of your leadership brand? My hunch is that it would be much tougher, and here is why:

When you build a brand based on true, enduring leadership, each person in the company not only speaks about the brand and and the promises you make to your customers in your marketing strategies, but each person … Read the rest of the post

The Leadership Strengths of the 5 Remaining GOP Candidates

Bea Fields — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:13:01 +0000

Oh My! So much mud! So many ads! So many debates! So many exaggerations! What do we do when we go to the polls to elect the GOP nominee?

The majority of the time, you hear the media talk issues, voting records, skeletons in the closet and an entire host of other things. But I just don’t hear a great deal about the leadership strengths the GOP candidates would bring to the White House.

After having observed each of the candidates, I want to give you my two cents on what leadership traits they do bring to the table. And, as a leadership coach, I do believe that these skills should be considered when you walk into the ballot box.

The Candidates Listed in Alphabetical Order by Last Name:

Newt Gingrich: Strong presentation skills, decades of political experience, knows where the political landmines are, uses storytelling effectively to let people know where we have been and where we are going. He is tough and makes no apologies about being straightforward.

Rick Perry: Charisma and that swagger that we often see come from Texas. He knows what his followers want, and he knows how to speak to … Read the rest of the post

Myth Squashing Time! There’s No Need To Vote If You Can’t Seek The Truth

Bea Fields — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:05:29 +0000

So, here we are again…in the middle of one of the most highly contested Republican primary seasons I can remember, and I have had the right to vote now for 34 years.

Over the last few days, a few things have been taken out of context, and it’s time to give the media, the candidates and the voters a wake up call, and here it is:

1. To the media and the candidates: If you claim to be fair, why do you report things out of context? Yesterday, Governor Mitt Romney delivered a speech about “firing people or companies who don’t provide great service”. He was discussing the state of affairs with health insurance companies and that as consumers, we should have the right to “fire” an insurance company that is not providing us what we need and hire a new insurance company who can provide the services we seek” (paraphrase). But, as always, Romney’s opponents and the media simply clipped out the section when Romney said “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me” and then started flying down the tracks with that statement in their hands claiming that during one of the worst economic … Read the rest of the post

Stop Making New Year’s Resolutions! Start Making Your Big Dream Come Alive in 2012

Bea Fields — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:46:37 +0000

I have been coaching business leaders since 1999, and one constant is this: Every person I have coached tells me about their big dream that they have either given up on OR they have put that dream on the back shelf.

I also hear my clients make “New Year’s Resolutions”, only to fail after a few short weeks. They stop trying to lose weight, drop their big dream or head back down an old worn out path.

While New Year’s Resolutions are great, my big question is always this “Why wait until the first day of the year? Why not start now”? and “What is the big dream you keep putting off? What is stopping you from making that dream become a reality?”

To help get at the core of why this happens, I polled 50 business leaders, and I asked them the following 3 questions:

What is the big dream you have put on the shelf to achieve “later”?
What is stopping you from going for that big dream?
What steps are you committed to taking for the next year (that other people can learn from) in order to move in the direction of your big dream?

While not … Read the rest of the post

5 Warning Signs that Your Arrogance is Tearing Your Team Apart

Bea Fields — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:30:00 +0000

Arrogance is something that we often discuss in the world of leadership. A little bit of arrogance can go a long way in the direction of success, but when overused, arrogance can tear your team apart. The main reason? As a leader, if arrogance is your leadership skill of choice, your team is more than likely feeling devalued, rejected and angry. When I speak in private to team members about their arrogant leaders, they usually shrug and say “It is a waste of my oxygen to mention anything or bring new ideas to the table. He always thinks he has the right and only answer”.

If you are an arrogant leader, these behaviors will be seen by others:

1. You think you have the only answer.

2. You always think you are right and that the rest of the world is wrong. And, your team hears this constantly.

3. You dismiss the ideas of others on your team.

4. You appear aloof and that you don’t really like other people.

5. You pull rank constantly and try to overpower other people.

6. You rarely share credit with others.

7. You don’t take feedback from others as an opportunity to learn … Read the rest of the post