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By elaine, May 29, 2013 4:37 pm

“Motivation is one thing – Keeping momentum is another. To Keep Growing YOU have to Keep Going!”

~ Elaine Bailey, Coach-Mentor, Author and Speaker

I first started writing blog posts in 2009. I was initially scared to put myself out there. But I made a commitment to write and post an article EVERY week.  I have posted EVERY week since I started, no matter what was going on in my busy life. I showed up, did the work and made it happen. I’m disciplined and consistent in my approach to writing.

It has paid off. My results have far exceeded my original goal: I’ve been invited on numerous radio interviews, published in English Textbooks, written chapters in books, spoken from the stage, and been given a scholarship to write my own book! These articles have also connected me to new coaching clients and corporate contracts.

What did I do to get all this?

…I showed up consistently and did the work!

It doesn’t matter how good you have been in the past, how talented you are or how many amazing opportunities are coming you way in the future…

Your performance is linked to discipline.

Consistency is the key to continued growth and achievement of your goals in whatever you want to achieve.

If you are inconsistent with your progress, you’ll do things when it’s convenient or when you remember and you’ll get inconsistent results. You’ll fall short of your desired results.

Other people will see your inconsistency. This will affect their perception of you and it could negatively affect your ability with clients or your chances of a promotion because:

“How you do anything is how you do EVERYTHING!”

 ~ Christine Kane, Mentor and Speaker

People sometimes come to me for coaching because they have mastered the job, but not mastered themselves. They come with their success stories of how awesome they’ve been in the past, but can’t understand why it’s not happening for them NOW.

Personal growth requires two things:

• Work mastery
• Self mastery

Knowing the work isn’t enough. You have to know yourself too to create habits that consistently set you up for success…

Your future success relies on your personal growth – you have to keep growing!

How to create consistency:

PURPOSE

You might start with a clear purpose and know what you want to achieve. Personal motivation and enthusiasm usually kick starts you into action.

Motivation is what gets you going. This alone won’t keep you growing because it can soon disappear once things start to get harder.  When this happens you have to dig deeper for your WHY and re-connect to your purpose to keep your motivation alive.

The more you understand WHY you want to do this, the more you are tuned in to your purpose, dedicated to growing towards it, and the greater your chances of success.

Know what motivates you and play to your motivational strengths when you’re stepping up to do the work each day (I motivate myself with a treat such as a walk when I’ve finished writing).

Get clear and then keep reconnecting to your purpose.

PROGRESS

If you are inconsistent with your progress you’ll probably become impatient, you’ll make excuses and your motivation will be replaced with resistance and discouragement. It’s easy to let your good intentions slip or give up altogether.

• Begin from where you are and start with the basics.
• To gain momentum and increase motivation you need to break down big goals into small action steps that are doable.
• Focus on one step, then the next.
• Show up EVERY day – whether you feel like it or not.
• Consistency is the path that leads you from an idea/goal to your outcomes and results. Walk this path daily – make it a habit.

These small incremental steps guided by discipline are what keeps momentum flowing and leads to great things! Little and often is the key.

Successful people show up and do the tedious work when it needs to be done.

Getting into the habit of working through what needs to be done. You may not enjoy doing every aspect, but every step takes you closer to your outcome.

Find away to value the process. Appreciate every moment of the journey.

PERFORMANCE

A common mistake is to attempt too much too soon in your haste to race to the finishing line.  This affects your performance and your results fall short of your desired outcomes.

Be conscious of your performance and keep checking in on how you are doing and what you still need to learn. Believe me – you’re never done!

Feedback is a great tool. What are people saying about the work you’re doing? What do you need to stop doing?

It’s okay to do things imperfectly and learn as you grow.

Being consistent isn’t always easy. You have to learn and lean into it and make it part of your daily or weekly routine.

Where do you need to be more disciplined in your life?

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By elaine, April 3, 2013 6:40 pm

They say it takes up to 65% of an airplane’s fuel just to lift it off the ground.

Do you think that the pilots ever get to the point where they’ve used 55% of their fuel and they look at each other and say, ‘This thing’s not lifting yet, let’s just give up!’

Is there a point where you’ve given it all, the end of the runway is getting closer but you’re still not getting any lift? You just want to give up and walk away from what you’re trying to achieve.

I’ve felt this many times in my life when trying to shift negative patterns and habits that no longer serve me, or when I was putting all my time and effort into starting a new business but still not seeing any of the benefits from all my hard work.

Isn’t it just easier to give up, return to the gate, park up and go get a Starbucks?!

“Sorry folks your flight’s been cancelled, we’re not changing our lives today.”

Pilots know that during take-off there is a point of no return. This comes after a certain amount of throttle and speed has been engaged. You can no longer abort the take off. This is known as the critical point.

This point of no return is also true in our lives when returning to the gate is no longer an option.

Sometimes I feel like I’m tearing down the run way. My intention is clear, and I know that this change is important. I’m uncertain of what’s in front of me, yet I know I don’t want to go back to the old place I’m moving away from. I want to take off and fly; I’m just a little scared of the unknown. Like that pilot, I’ve reached my critical point and take off is my only option if I want to Live On Purpose.

“Most people give up just when they’re about to achieve success. They quit on the one-yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from a winning touchdown.”

H.Ross Perot
American billionaire and former U.S presidential candidate

Persistence is a common quality of successful people. Sometimes it’s not going to be easy. You face obstacles and criticism that you may not have been able to predict. Sometimes you may feel that the Universe is testing you to the limit about your commitment to this goal.

It’s going to take a lot of energy to get lift off in your life.

I have learned the practice of persistence. Even when the going gets tough I refuse to give up. Instead I choose to learn and grow from each obstacle as I hang in there. I make my decisions from where I want to be and no matter how hard it seems, I eventually break through and create lift off.

As you are in the process of creating lift off in your own life, allow me to give you a five step safety demonstration.

1.    Fasten Your Seat Belt – Your seat belt is your Intention. It holds you in my seat. It keeps you grounded and secure in knowing your destination. It holds your attention, despite any turbulence (distraction). You can always adjust the strap, hone your focus and return to your intention.

2.    The Life Vest –Your life vest is there in case of the unlikely event of a water landing. It’s about having faith in yourself. Only you can know exactly what your life vest is, but mine are my supportive friends and my coach. What is your life vest?

3.    Read the Safety Card – Here’s a thing about that safety card. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves about the systems and processes that work. Even though we think we know them all too well. Use these systems and processes regularly by being persistent and not giving up after the first attempt because it was hard. It’s working through any obstacles, hanging in there, trusting the process, following the system despite not feeling like it.

4.    Put on Your Own Safety Mask First – The greatest gift that you can bestow on the world is a happy and healthy you. This is all about looking after yourself on many levels: physically, mentally and spiritually. One thing I’ve learned about me is that when things get so bad I forget about self-care. I then make bad decisions and I can’t get lift off. So I have to remember to go back and put on my own safety mask. Place a high value on your own Self-Care, and take good care of yourself.

5.    Enjoy the Flight – People think it’s all about the destination. It’s who you become on the destination. That’s what is so important. In fact who you become as you are creating lift off is more important than getting there.

So ladies and gentlemen…

“Fasten your seatbelts. Seatbacks in the upright position, and tray tables stowed…”

Let’s get this baby in the air!

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By elaine, February 20, 2013 5:01 pm

We all have ideas right?

Some of us have LOADS of them!

You may see yourself as an Ideas Person. Ideas just pop out of your mind all the time and it’s hard to keep track of them all. You feel like you might burst with excitement! But how many ideas actually leave your mind and make it into the real world?

Many of our ideas float around like untethered kites and never crystallize into anything tangible. The latest idea just becomes another distraction as you continue generating more and more of them. They stack up in a holding pattern waiting to come in to land. This stack can become exhausting and overwhelming because you don’t know where to start or what to do with them all.

I often coach creative clients who have loads of ideas. Every coaching session, they arrive with another one (yes… I’m guilty of this sometimes too – you ask my mentor!). And of course, this latest idea is the best one yet! …Until, the next idea comes along a few days later! Months can be wasted dreaming but nothing ever gets done. There’s no action, there’s just the next idea coming along…

IDEA          IDEA          IDEA          IDEA          IDEA          Another IDEA

If this sounds like you, then you need a formula to create some momentum…

Without a having a system it’s difficult to take an idea and make it happen (even the good ones).

I’ve learned that there are three elements to taking an idea an making it real:

Your idea needs to become grounded if you want to give it a chance of becoming reality.   Creating a system or process helps you to take your idea and plan HOW to create some momentum. You then need to take specific action to make it real.

Here are a few tips around each of these elements:

IDEA

I’ve sat in daylong leadership strategy meetings where loads of ideas are shared and everyone is very excited and enthusiastic. A year later the same ideas are still being talked about, because nothing happened in between.

We often see the IDEA as the sexy exciting bit because it’s fun being creative. There’s nothing quite like that adrenalin rush when you think you’re on to something new and great!

Get clear about your idea understand WHY you want to make it real.

Sometimes we stop at the idea stage because we’re frightened to take the next step and make it happen. If you don’t start then it can’t fail, because you didn’t have to try. Your idea needs your energy and belief if it’s going to germinate into reality. You have to take a few risks and step out of your comfort zone and do some things scared.

SYSTEM

For an Ideas Person, the SYSTEM bit is the painful process of planning and working out how it’s all going to happen.

For some of us planning, thinking it through and then creating a stepped process to make it work is the tedious bit… YAWN!

Why?

Because it involves sitting down and working it out a step at a time. THIS STAGE is hugely important because it’s the difference between your idea staying just a dream or becoming real…

Creating a system/process for implementing your idea will save you a lot of time and energy. Get some help from someone who can help you create a framework for what you need to do if this is not your GENIUS work!

Here are a few tips:

• Create an Ideas Book if you’re always having loads of ideas. Write each one down in a paragraph as you think it.
• Re-visit your book every one-two weeks to re-read each idea and cross out any that no longer feel like they are do-able or ‘have legs’.
• Schedule time to take your idea and break it down into doable steps.
• See your idea as the vision and the system as your tactical plan:
  • What tactics you will employ to make it happen?
  • What’s specifically involved in making this become real?
  • What individual steps need to be taken?
  • Who else needs to be involved?
  • When to you need to do it?
  • Where will it happen?

Work backwards on a timeline to identify some milestone dates and will help you to break down what needs to be done. Remember, big things are done in small chunks! Breaking it down will make it doable.

Creating a framework and then working through a process gives you clarity and direction. It helps you to feel more confident and in control.

ACTION

This is where the rubber hits the road. You have to actually show up and do the work! Just talking about it doesn’t make things happen – You have to DO it!

• Schedule small pockets of time in your calendar and take one step at a time.
• Commit to making it happen
• If you decide to delegate or outsource part of the work then you’ll need to commit being responsible for leading them to do a great job. There is a difference between delegation and abdication!

Take conscious, deliberate action regularly and this will help you to create momentum towards your outcome. Building momentum will encourage you to keep taking action, as you move towards your goal. You’ll also start to feel a sense of completion.

Review your progress regularly, so you can tweak and modify your plan if necessary.

If you have an idea that you want to bring into the world, always create a system for it and plan ahead for its arrival!

Success needs a system – EVERY TIME!

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By elaine, October 10, 2012 3:06 pm

“Make decisions from where you want to be. Not where you are now.”

~ Christine Kane, Mentor to women who are changing the world.

I remember so clearly the day I handed my notice in to leave my corporate job and begin life as an entrepreneur…

Even though I knew this was what I wanted, I was really scared to hand over my resignation letter because it made it REAL. There would be no going back after I uttered those words: I’m resigning…

I held on to the letter with a vice-like grip before handing it over. It was almost like I was trying to delay the moment… This was the stepping off point for me… The transition point from where I was at that point in time to where I wanted to be.

…And it was all down to handing over one significant letter.

This was the game changer. Everything changed in that moment. I had to start taking myself seriously as an entrepreneur and show up fully as the leader in my life.

It was HUGE and SCARY…

…But it was the BEST decision I’ve ever made!

People who are thinking of making this transition often ask me about my decision to go on my own: Did you worry that it might not work? Were you scared that you might not get any clients? What if you failed?

And yes… I worried!

I actually woke up bolt upright the morning after I had given my notice in with the voices in my head screaming: “WTF have you done? Are you completely out of your mind?! You have a great job here!”  

Any change can be scary because it involves letting go, finding courage, and taking forward motion. You have to take a risk because you don’t know the outcome.

As a frequent traveller on the London Underground, I’m constantly reminded to mind the gap! It’s painted on every platform and there’s an audio reminder before the train doors open and you step off the safety of the platform.

Why the reminder?

Because energy flows where attentions goes! So if I’m reminded to pay attention to the space between the platform and the train and I’ll take conscious action to make sure that I avoid the potential danger of the gap.

I often use the metaphor of Mind the Gap to explain how I bridged the gap and navigate through transition

Learning and growing into the gap helps you to be the person you want to be NOW. The term Mind the Gap reminds me that if I want to successfully change I have to be mindful of the gap between where I currently am and where I want to be… knowing this and growing into it makes the transition real…

Before I stepped off the platform and onto my train of becoming a business owner, I recognized that I needed to develop a plan of action to enable me to successfully transition from where I was to where I wanted to be.

I call this my Gap Strategy…

Where are you now? Before making any change you need to look at your starting point – Even if feels uncomfortable. GPS can’t work if you’re typing in your destination but it doesn’t know your beginning point!

This involves self-assessment so you can have a clear picture of where you are currently: what you want and don’t want moving forward. What are your strengths, skills and passions? Do you know your value and how to leverage it (not monetary!)?

Where do you want to be? Continuing our Mind the Gap metaphor: it’s also important to understand what train you’re looking to step onto… (and that it’s in the station when you take that step!)This is all about getting clear, developing a vision and daring to dream. What does it look , sound and feel like? You have to become an investigator and do the work to explore your idea and where you want to go with it. Try it on for size! Generate some options.

How do you get there? Well, you have to buy a ticket! In other words: You need to invest time, energy and money in making it happen! An idea remains an idea unless you  ground it by setting a deadline and start moving towards it. You have to pay attention to any gaps in your knowledge, skills and behavior and develop a gap strategy to help you leap over and take conscious deliberate action. What do you need to learn? Who is doing this already? How are you getting in your own way of success?

I’d decided on a clear plan of action and had been implementing my strategy over the previous twelve months. I worked with an awesome coach. Slowly I’d been building my marketability and leverage, learning about being an entrepreneur and living from that place. I was building my list and a client base, while I was still in my day job. I wasn’t perfect but I was fully engaged, committed and aligned my action with my values. I was prepared for my leap across the gap.

The gap finally appeared before me in the moment that I handed my notice in, and I was ready. I was already an entrepreneur. I’d claimed my power and shown up as leader for the last 12 months. I’d already prepared the way, I was now executing my strategy. I stepped over the gap to where I wanted to be.

That final step is often the hardest…because it’s scary to watch as your old life falls away. This final act was the last thing that held me back from the realization of my dream… Yes it was a scary moment but it was exhilarating at the same time!

I knew what I needed to do, I leaned in and made it happen…

I am the after of many of my client’s before… If you’d like some help minding and transitioning YOUR gap, drop me an email at info@elainebaileyinternational.com

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By elaine, October 1, 2012 9:35 pm

“This is YOUR life. You are responsible for it. You will not live forever. Don’t wait. Make the time now.” 

 Natalie Goldberg, author.

A few years ago a HR Director asked me to come into her organisation to coach a senior executive called John, who desperately wanted to be a director.

John was a technical expert in his field but had no idea how to interact and lead people. He lacked self-awareness and empathy.

He struggled with people skills and had upset a lot of people. Some of his own team had even complained to HR about his behaviour and approach.

I was brought in to help him to develop his emotional intelligence – He was a very talented guy.

When I met him for the first time, he was sat behind his big desk with his hands behind his head. The first words he said to me were:

“Hello dear, now aren’t you the girlie who’s going to make me a director?!”

I politely explained that I wasn’t going to MAKE him a director. He was going to make himself a director, but that was totally up to him and only if he REALLY WANTED to do the work!

As a coach one of the hardest things to coach is responsibility and ownership…

You cannot make someone change – they have got to want to change.

There have been occasions when I’ve wanted success for my clients more than they have wanted it for themselves… I am responsible to my clients as a coach but THEY are responsible for their own results – In other words…They have to do the work!

My client has to take it, walk the talk and own their own results.

Forward motion, stretching out of your comfort zone and making change all begins from the inside. It’s not something that can be done to you.

There is a huge difference between interest and commitment…

…Your success is totally down to YOU.

Your business, career, aspirations, relationships, family time and fun time are ALL down to you.

It’s your choice…

Some people like to whine, moan and collude about what is not working and how it’s someone else’s fault. In fact, it’s a full time occupation for some people! It’s okay to get things off your chest, as long as a line is drawn and the individual then steps into their power to take responsibility for their own thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

Here’s how Stop Blaming and Start Claiming Responsibility for Your Results:

Own your results – Being successful in work and life is ALL about your relationship with YOU. It’s about taking responsibility for the thoughts you are thinking, the feelings you are creating and the actions you are choosing to take. Remember you create your own outcomes and you ALWAYS have a choice.

Stop blaming everyone else – It’s socially acceptable to blame someone else. It’s easy to point the finger and blame other people or circumstances because it conveniently allows you to remain stuck and play small. You create a barrier of external excuses of: why I wasn’t successful or how everyone else has got it in for me (victim mentality). Blaming others is your ego’s way of avoiding ownership and responsibility for something that has or hasn’t happened!

Be the power point in your life – Claim your power back and STOP waiting for someone else to make things happen. I always used to give my power away to others, expecting them to save me. My coach made me realize that I was the power point in my life and that I had to get out of my story and claim my power back. I learned the importance of clarity, the power of intention and that I always get to choose. I have  to re-decide each day to keep making forward motion towards my goals and dreams.

Stop trying to change others – Don’t wait for someone else to change – because you’ll be waiting a very long time! It’s all about you and how you show up. Get back on track and take responsibility for what you can do. Get out of other people’s stories and focus on what is important to you – Your goals and dreams. Use that energy instead to make things happen.

Your ability to respond – I’m sure you’ve heard this before. Responsibility IS your ability to respond. This is all about increasing your self-awareness and knowing when things aren’t going well, choosing a different approach, even when you don’t feel like it… This is TRUE self-leadership. Lead yourself through by taking responsibility and ownership for your actions and results. And remeber that it’s okay to be imperfect!

Yes…taking responsibility can be painful at times, but it always brings you back to your true self.

Owning your power changes your life.

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By elaine, August 22, 2012 4:51 pm

Life-lessons happen when you least expect it.

…Even when you’re on holiday!

I was blessed to spend a whole week hiking in Grindelwald, Switzerland. My chalet over-looked a stunning valley that led your eye directly up to the north face of the Eiger.

Bernard, our mountain hiking guru, knew a lot about this mountain. He’s is a very experienced hiker in the Alps (Swiss born and bred!). He told us of how climbers had perished here in their quest to conquer the north face. Many had been caught out by the sudden change in weather – some had frozen to death overnight or had slipped and fallen;, others were the victims of rock falls.

Then he led us on the Eiger Trail. This was a 10-hour hike beginning with a 3-hour assent up to the base of the Eiger.

It was hard work and I learned so much observing how people approached this assent.

Some raced ahead to ‘get her done!’ Not knowing the length of the climb they were soon out of breath, feeling tired and the affects of the thinner air. They weren’t prepared.

One woman in another group had to turn back because she’d started too quickly, became overwhelmed and panicked. She was both mentally and physically affected by this challenge.

It’s easy to get swept up in the enthusiasm and race ahead.

In our group, Bernard told us that his wife, Anita was a slow walker but she could walk for miles and miles. I watched and learned from her as we made our assent.

She was always at the end of the line, last to arrive BUT she focused on her own pace and enjoyed every step of the way. She was never out of breath or uncomfortable. She set her own pace and refused to be distracted by inwardly comparing herself to others who were pushing ahead and moving faster. She focused on her own goal and worked consistency to achieve it.

This got me thinking…

How many of us set an intention or goal and race off with enthusiasm and energy at the beginning?  We’re all fired up and excited…

Then, into the journey, we get exhausted or distracted… perhaps because we haven’t thought things through properly or we’re too busy ‘doing’ to notice that we’ve deviated off the right path? We use all our energy at the beginning and there’s little left to keep us going for the whole journey.

Continuing with our mountain metaphor…

In our haste to get to the summit we’re not interested in the ‘tedium’ of doing the work – one foot after the other. We just want the end result NOW! And we race to end as quickly as possible just to get it done.

So we set the wrong pace, lack the discipline and persistence to keep placing one foot in front of the other, we become impatient and frustrated because we ‘haven’t got there yet.’

We burn out, give up or become distracted by something else… We never reach the summit and instead well allow the excuses to take over: ‘it’s too hard’ or ‘it’s not for me’ or ‘I didn’t really try.’

Are you setting yourself up for success and committing for the entire duration of the journey or are you looking for any quick way to get it all done?!

This mountain metaphor can be transferred to your own life or work goals…

Here’s what Anita taught me on the Eiger trail:

1. Being successful involves discipline and persistence – You have to show up and do the work EVERY single day. Hiking up a mountain involves taking every single step along the way… one after the other. Creating a business or building a career is very similar. You have to be in it for the duration – not just when you feel like it.

2. You can only enjoy it fully if you set the right pace for YOU. Listen to your body and be guided by your own intuition. Stretch and challenge yourself – YES! Kill yourself – NO! Set your pace for success and commit to it. It’s not about racing, it’s about pacing!

3. Don’t get distracted by comparing yourself to others. YOU are YOU… You’re not someone else so stop trying to contort yourself. Be 100% pure YOU! Start from where you are today and do it your way! Be the leader in your life by setting your own pace. It’s NOT a race… It’s just you and the mountain! (it’s just you and your goal).

4. Enjoy the journey. There is much to see (and learn) along the way – take it in… FULLY experience what is happening and what is around you. Many people walk through life unconsciously and become de-sensitized because we’re just ‘too busy’ getting things done. Some hikers were focused on getting to the top and didn’t even stop to take in the breath-taking views and beauty around them.

5. We are all human beings – no one is better than the other… Racing to the top of the mountain (or your end goal) doesn’t make you BIGGER, better or more important than anyone else. You need to take action and do the work – one step at a time. Get there on your terms NOT on your ego’s terms!

It’s NOT about racing… it’s about pacing!

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By elaine, May 30, 2012 4:04 pm

 “What’s wrong with my team?? They don’t seem to care about the work they’re doing and things are getting worse. They are not supporting me. I feel like I’m doing everything on my own. What’s wrong with THEM?!”

~ John, a Corporate Leader…

Having people work for you can be challenging whatever business you are in.

Sometimes it feels like herding cats!

Some days you feel it’s easier to do it all yourself because other people don’t do things as well as you do! Why don’t THEY get it?!

Hmm… I wonder why?

This was a real quote from a coaching client, who gave me permission to share it because it was so profound for him. I’ve had similar comments from entrepreneurs who have small teams working for them…

I work with managers who sometimes are unaware of how their own behaviour is impacting their team. They are doing the best they can but wonder why everything is beginning to fall apart. The team is disjointed, lethargic and compliant. They’re just doing enough to get the job done. They have no VA-VA-Vroom!

The truth is that behavior breed’s behaviour. Often a team will mirror the behavior of their leader. You have a powerful impact on the success of your team. You role model the behaviour for others, consciously or unconsciously!

So what’s it like being on the receiving end of you?

Your team doesn’t like you very much. And it’s hard reality for any manager to admit this…

Here are 5 reasons why your team doesn’t like you…

1. You’re not present – You’re never there! You’re always too busy running around doing manager things and you’re never available. If you are with your team you’re not present… In other words you are with them in body but your mind is often elsewhere. You’re not a good listener. Trust me… they know you’re not really listening! You say you’re open to their ideas… but you’re not really…they can see through this!

2. Things are not defined – It’s easy to make assumptions because you know what you want most of the time. Your team is confused because things are not defined for them. Honestly…they don’t know what you want. You want one thing and then change your mind the next day! You’re communication sucks! You might build the plane as you fly it… and this works well for you, but you forget to include your team in the process. You create a team of un-empowered order-takers because no one knows what the hell is going on. You say jump…and they jump. This is NO FUN being on the receiving end of. Get out of your own head and start involving them in the definition.

3. You’re too busy for your team – When you are busy you start to ignore your team as your work takes priority. You feel overwhelmed and get locked into doing rather than leading. Sometimes you feel more comfortable doing the work rather than being strategic (It’s a comfort zone thing). Your team believes that you don’t care about them and they feel that their work is low value. Your lack of leadership affects their motivation and performance.

4. You’re too busy to see what’s happening –Getting locked into busy-ness numbs your focus. You react to symptoms rather than the cause of the issue. Or, you ignore the issue completely in the hope that it will go away. The more you ignore it…the bigger it gets AND the more frustrated your team becomes because they see the problems and try to let you know, but you ignore them or brush their ideas aside. You’re reacting out of fear. They think you’re insane not to listen to them. After all they are closer to the problem. They can help if you’d only let them in.

5. You think YOUR work is more important – Your ego likes to remind you that after all, YOUR work is far more important than your team’s. You’re superior – You’re the boss! You minimize time with team members because you have other MORE important things to do (This is BS by the way!). You’re team think that you don’t really care about them – You’re only interested in results. They may see you as cold, distant, arrogant and uninterested. So they react to this behaviour!

This is not your intention but in life you are judged by your actions: what you say or how you act.

Your behaviour is key…

Leadership is NOT about being nice but it is about being fully present and serving your people to help them be the best they possibly can be, because this reflects on you, your business and your results.

You can’t do everything. If you want to create an effective successful team then you need to involve and empower your team in the decision-making. Be there for them (and they will in turn, be there for you). Work in partnership to get the job done. Your business needs less order-takers and more empowered leaders. Command and control techniques don’t work anymore…give your ego a back seat!

Honestly… You are not superior to anyone else. EVERYONE has equal value, worth and dignity as a human being. Get over your ego – stop managing and start leading – That’s when you’ll truly make things happen.

What’s it REALLY like being on the receiving end of YOU?