Tag Archives: leadership

Snippets That Inspired Me From Pinnacle of Influence

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I finished reading this new book that I am a co-author of called Pinnacle of Influence, How the World’s Greatest Thought Leaders Became Global Gurus, and wanted to give both a shout-out to the authors and add a few of my favourite snippets of their inspirational words.  Here are some short phrases or quotes from each chapter (in order) that stuck out as inspirational for me:

Chapter 1 – Mastering the Art of Leadership by Dr. Marshall Goldsmith

“Leadership is not an inborn trait, but a skill set that can be cultivated and refined.”

“Traditionally, feedback…focuses on what went wrong, not what can lead to future success.”

“The true art of leadership lies in the ability to turn vision into a reality, challenges into opportunities, and individuals into high-performing teams.”

Chapter 2 – How a Thought Leader Thinks by Ron Kaufman

“How can I respect the past, work in the present, and contribute to a better future?”

“…encouraging others is a powerful form of service.”

“Becoming a thought leader requires a combination of expertise and vision.”

“Thought leaders cannot be leaders if they only think in isolation.”

Chapter 3 – A Rhapsody in Failure by Arthur Carmazzi

“The power of our Life Symphony is affected by the type of music we hear.  We live up to the expectations of our environment.”

“…credibility is the currency for earning listener’s trust.”

“If a problem can be solved with money, it’s not a problem, it’s an expense.”

“Failure is not the opposite of success, mediocrity is.”

Chapter 4 – Transforming From an Expert to a Thought Leader by John Mattone

“…our lives are not about us.”

“Great leadership is about having a passionate drive to change the world for the better…”

“If you want others to be happy, be courteous, compassionate, and altruistic.”

Chapter 5 – Positioning in Negotiations – What Matters by Greg Williams

“Timing can be a blessing and curse in a negotiation.”

“…he added, “Don’t you want to look good to the other people in the bar?” …and magically, he got to shine more shoes.”

“In a negotiation, the way you position yourself and your offer will determine how you and it are perceived.”

Chapter 6 – Rising to Distinction by Jonathan Low

“(quoting Simon Sinek:) “people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”

“Communication is the heartbeat of connection.”

“Community isn’t just about the people we meet; it’s a rich soil where growth, learning, and inspiration can thrive.”

“…the pinnacle of influence is not a summit conquered alone; it’s a horizon that expands as we grow together.”

Chapter 7 – Triple Win Leadership Coaching by Will Linssen

“…as human beings, we have more in common than our personalities, principles, or passports would indicate.”

“The future here is the past somewhere else.”

“It is the client who determines the coaching engagement’s success at the outset.”

“…organizational success and social impact can go hand-in-hand.”

Chapter 8 – The Key to Extraordinary by me, Ric Phillips, MBA

I think it would be odd if I wrote my favourite inspirational quotes from my own chapter!  If you have any, feel free to add them in the comments.  I’ll simply give another thank you to my mentors that are mentioned in my chapter, Dr. Marat Ressin, Mark Bowden, Tony Robbins and also mention my company 3V Communications and the non-profit organization that I helped start, NCCA Canada.

Chapter 9 – Breaking the Chains by David Snyder

“Everything human beings do is in response to a feeling.”

“All leaders walk the hero’s journey in one form or another.”

“Just because you can do something does not mean you should…”

“This world…is engineered to make you grow through trial and effort.”

“When people do not want change, they have to create an enemy.”

Chapter 10 – World Influence Mastery by Dr. Peter Chee

“(quoting Aristotle): Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there your calling can be found.”

“Having an unblemished reputation goes a long way to establishing yourself as someone with integrity who not only gets things done, but also gets things done the right way.”

“You should discard the innate fear you have when approaching someone great to support you on your journey.”

Chapter 11 – Five Fundamental Lessons on my Journey by Dr. Giti Caravan

“My family was the harbor, my mentors were lighthouses, and my peers were fellow sailors braving the stormy seas with me.”

“…the importance of leaving our comfort zone, not as a betrayal of our initial calling but as an expansion of our identify and purpose.”

“Growth has pain, but the pain is rewarding.”

“I learned to balance work and life by saying ‘no’ when necessary and setting boundaries to protect my time and energy.”

Chapter 12 – How Grace Builds Community by John Baldoni

“Within the community, there is the freedom to belong as well as the responsibility of belonging.”

“Grace enables leaders to navigate adversity and confrontation with dignity, creating an environment for open dialogue rather than argumentation.”

“Community arises from people of shared interest coming together for the greater good.”

This book is available on Amazon in both kindle and paperback.  😊

Screenshot from new video course

New Online Communication Masterclass for Managers

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Are you a (new) manager, supervisor or team leader, and need to polish your communication skills? Perhaps improve they way you read, then lead your team? Key communication skills will definitely help.

This unique video mini-masterclass is a 5-part series that covers all the essential communication skills that managers need to become more effective leaders.

You’ll learn how to:

Make a lasting impression
Develop people management skills
Manage staff effectively
Deal with conflict and difficult people
Persuade others with confidence
and many more leadership skills

For a limited time only you get access to the first 2 parts (over 15 min) for free. Take a chance, tell me what you think. Here is the new site link: https://3vcoachric.com/

Lead Magnet

To your success!

Coach Ric

I Stand With Ukraine

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Like many of you, I am in disbelief of what is going on right now in Ukraine, and hoping for a quick, peaceful withdrawal, though that seems unlikely. I have been to Ukraine. In 2019 I spent the day in Kyiv on a stop-over. What a beautiful city full of proud people. I have also been to Moscow, Russia, twice for extended periods for business. I love that city, especially in January! The decorations are amazing! I have met many wonderful Ukrainians and Russians both here in Canada and abroad. People are people – governments are governments, and dictators are dictators. I hope for peace, and donated to help. You can too.

Here is a copied blog from NCCA Canada today. It sums up the message for me. Peace.

We are shocked and saddened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and inspired by the incredible leadership and resilience of the Ukrainian people. We are also seeing and hearing of many Russians who are against this war, and protest at the risk of their freedom.  The Russian people should not be wholly judged based on their current President and government.  Allies are everywhere.  We #StandWithUkraine – and we can donate to the Canadian Red Cross to help, with this link:

https://www.redcross.ca/

PEACE

(https://nccacanada.org/blog/2022/03/04/we-stand-with-ukraine/)

The Confident Leader

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Hello my friends,

I am happy to introduce to you Larina Case. Last year I bought her book “The Confident Speaker” and use it’s advice to help my clients improve public speaking and presentations. Today I am participating in a ‘blog tour’ to help spread the word about Larina’s newest book, The Confident Leader. Here is an interview by Larina, which I think you will enjoy and find very relevant to our cause:

1. What if we come across as too confident?

Many people worry about appearing arrogant and would rather appear less confident than over-confident. In reality, it is often a lack of confidence that makes people come across as over-confident.

When we lack confidence, we tend to overcompensate. And it is the overcompensation that makes people look over-confident (or look like they’re trying too hard) and puts others off.

If someone is worried that he will come across as unintelligent, he’ll try to use fancy language, and will look like he thinks he’s so smart. If someone worries that she will come across as boring, she will try to be interesting, and will look like she loves to talk about herself.

There are exceptions. Sometimes people actually are arrogant and have an inflated image of themselves. You would know if this were you because you’d think that you can do no wrong, your opinion of yourself would be higher than others (you’d be shocked by Bs on papers or performance reviews that were not 100% glowing). You’d dominate conversations and not be interested in others’ viewpoints. If this is you, then these things need to change. If this is not you, then you really don’t need to worry.

2. What are 3 simple things we can do to build our confidence?

1. Develop your growth mindset. This is your ability to ask yourself questions like, “What can I learn” from situations regardless of their outcome and NOT to judge yourself from the outcome.
2. Take on strategic challenges. Push yourself about 20% past your comfort zone by seeking out and taking on challenges (not just dealing with them as they arise).
3. Give yourself credit. Reward your efforts (not your results) when you have done something difficult.

3. Can we build confidence from career achievement?

We know from recent research that self-esteem and confidence are some of the most important predictors of career success and income, and that it doesn’t go the other way around—we can’t wait until we have a thriving career and hope that it increases our confidence. Instead, if we develop confidence, we’re more likely to have a thriving career.

Confidence does NOT necessarily come from achievement. It comes from how you interpret your actions. Two people can achieve the same level, and one feels great and proud of her process of getting there, and the other feels that they could have done better or worries if they’ll do as well the next time. (Guess who’s more confident?)

4. How come being effective doesn’t cut it in today’s economy?

As you know, the current economy is a challenging one and it will separate the true leaders from the simply effective people. The cream will rise to the top and they will be the ones who will be most competitive for the best jobs, clients, and other opportunities.

Ironically, in tough times, most people become LESS exceptional. They get scared. They retreat into their comfort zones. They seek security and play it safe. They want to blend in and fly under the radar. They are afraid to accept responsibility for things that don’t go well. They do not step up as leaders.

You must avoid this temptation! These things will keep you in the average zone (or worse) and keep you from being exceptional and presenting your best.

How can we find out more about becoming confident leaders?

My new book The Confident Leader: How the Most Successful People Go from Effective to Exceptional provides a 6-step formula for taking on key challenges, making difficult decisions, and navigating outside your comfort zone. The second half applies the formula to key business areas such as staying focused and motivated, marketing yourself, standing out, and dealing with difficult people. It includes interviews with business leaders such as Seth Godin, Tim Sanders and Joe Vitale. Learn more by checking out her book and it’s reviews.

Thank you!

12 Solutions for Being a Better Leader

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Hello all,

I am participating in a “Blog Tour” and have the privilege to introduce this article by Mark Tewart. Enjoy – be a better leader!

12 Solutions for Being a Better Leader
By Mark Tewart

1. Manage things and lead people.
Processes should be defined and managed daily. People should be led by example daily. Management by strict control inhibits star performers and eliminates creativity of intelligent people. Feelings of manipulation are caused by strict control. Control, manipulation, and disrespect keep many dealerships from moving to another level of performance.

2. Speed of the boss = speed of the team.
If the boss has a sense of urgency, the team will, too. The leader sets the tone. Great leaders create an attitude and atmosphere of winning. The leader sets the stage for the proper belief systems necessary to succeed.

3. Coach people more than you manage deals.
If you spend your time coaching people through training, one-on-ones and positive feedback, your people will become less addicted to you. Spend 80% of your day with your team and your customers. The rest can wait.

4. Create a Stop Doing List.
To find out what to do, you must also define what not to do. What are you doing everyday that you should either, stop doing, delegate, or do less of, or at a different time?

5. Practice the 4 D’s of action management.
Dump it, Defer it, Delegate it, or Do it. With proper action management, you will spend less time in crisis and emergency mode.

6. Recruiting is an ongoing process.
Determine an ongoing action plan for recruiting. What channels will you use to recruit and how much time each week to do it. What automated systems can you set up through web sites, job boards, college placement centers, military posts, etc. can you set up to increase potential candidates? Don’t wait until you need people to dig through the drawer to find the help wanted ad that everyone else uses.

7. Set clear expectations.
People need and desire clear expectations of their job functions, behavior, and performance. The days of hiring people and showing them the inventory, their desk, and telling them to get busy are over. For a greater chance of success, people cannot succeed without written and communicated expectations.

8. People don’t change that much, so stop trying.
Do not try to put in what God left out. When a person has reached adulthood, they primarily tend to repeat the patterns either they have created or that are based upon their nature. Grow a person’s strengths, and stop trying to fix their weaknesses.

9. Educate and motivate daily.
Good people want continuing education. Educate and motivate every day. Educating daily creates results; periodical training never does. If you have people rejecting education, then you must reject them. Would a great coach allow certain players to not practice because they didn’t want to?

10. Listen, listen, listen.
Nothing inspires people more than when they feel a manager will actually listen. People need to be respected and heard. A manager’s best customers are the people they coach.

11. Get out from behind the desk.
Lead the team. People want to know that their leader is one of them. Desks can become huge barriers to communicating.

12. Don’t forget emotions.
Behind all goals, dreams, achievements, and failures are emotions. Learn to tap into each team member’s pleasure and pain motivators to better guide them. Coach each team member with this in mind – thoughts become words, words become actions, actions create habits, habits create results, and they are all seeking emotions.

Great leadership is essential in creating great teams. Expect more of yourself and your team will follow. The leader is the final reason for success or failure.

Mark Tewart’s websites include: www.marktewartlive.com, www.marktewart.com and www.howtobeasalessuperstar.info

To read the first chapter of How to be a Sales Superstar and to receive several FREE bonuses from Mark Tewart, visit www.marktewartlive.com.

Full tour details are posted at http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-be-sales-superstar-by-mark.html

Communication is Needed for Leadership

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I wanted to share with you this excerpt from Dan Schabel’s blog, whom I don’t know, as he interviewed an author, speaker and coach that I do follow, Larina Case, PsyD, MBA. This topic focuses on the importance of communication and confidence (my 2 favourite subjects) and leadership skills. For the full blog article, please visit here:
http://personalbrandingblog.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/conquer-fear-and-add-the-leadership-attribute-to-your-brand/

Is everyone capable of being a great leader? Why or why not?

Everyone is capable of being a great leader in some aspect of their life, either leading themselves or others. If you’re going to lead others, you must first be a great leader of yourself—it’s a prerequisite.
In terms of leading others, I think that about one quarter of leadership ability is natural and the rest is learned.
Inherent or inborn characteristics of great leadership include qualities like thought process (great leaders are often “big picture” people rather than data-driven types, which helps them to create and communicate a powerful vision), and the personality traits openness and conscientiousness. Contrary to popular belief, research has not shown the personality trait of extroversion to correlate with great leaders (not all great leaders are extroverts).

Qualities that can be learned if someone has the interest and desire include the emotional intelligence factors that are so important to leadership—things like self awareness, empathy, confidence, communication, influence, and being a catalyst for change.

What are some common characteristics of great leaders?

Great leaders positively influence others. Two of the most important features of influence are empathy and communication. Empathy is the ability to understand the thoughts and feelings of others. Without empathy, people feel that you don’t get them and resist your influence. With empathy, people feel heard and understood and in alignment with you.

When people are empathic, they naturally communicate well. This is because empathic people mirror the body language and emotions of others, which creates a synchronicity.

Communication skills are made up of nonverbal (body language, tone of voice, etc.) and verbal (what you say) behaviors. Your nonverbal are most important, and through training everyone can improve their nonverbal communication.

Once again, to continue reading this blog, just go here:
http://personalbrandingblog.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/conquer-fear-and-add-the-leadership-attribute-to-your-brand/

How Are Your People-Management Skills?

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How would your employees rate your people-management skills?

Here is an interesting find from a recent Hackett Group survey of 200 global organizations (source: HR Professional, Aug/Sept. 2008) when asked to discuss talent management practices:

More that 75% of participants rated people-management skills as very important.

I bet that you are not surprised. Me either. The fact is almost everyone, whether employee, employer, entrepreneur or customer can see the benefits of good people-management.

So here is the next part of the survey results:

Only 19% of senior managers, 10% of mid-level managers and 8% of supervisors were rated highly effective at managing people!

WOW.

Why is there such a discrepancy between what we know we want and the actual results of managers in the workplace? This leads to many questions that you can ask yourself when self-evaluating.

1 – Am I as a manager trained in people-management skills, or advanced communication skills? What is available to continuously improve?

2 – Do I have a way to find out what my employees really think of my management skills or the other manager’s skills? Can an anonymous survey be done?

3 – What do my employees really want? How do they define people-management?

4 – Do my employees feel comfortable coming to me to discuss their needs without feeling intimidated or out of line?

The topic of people-management deals with issues like communication, interpersonal skills, leadership, assertiveness, conflict and many others. If you know of a highly effective manager maybe you can find an opportunity to sit down and pick their brains on how they developed their style. Ask them what books or courses they would recommend, or to tell stories of managers that influenced them. No matter what position we are in at work, we are all in pursuit of excellent management skills.