The Team Leadership Report

Ryan Lee went from working as a physical education teacher to a millionaire entrepreneur. He says being authentic and true to yourself is one of the most important steps to changing where you are to go where you want to go. Here are Lee’s tips for remaining authentic: Don’t feel as if you need to become something you are are not just because everyone one else seems to think ii is a sign of being authentic. In other words, you don't have to curse or grow a beard just because that seems “authentic.” Do whatever feels most natural to you. Don’t be afraid to show your flaws. Share your losses as often as you share your wins. Tell people what you stand for. Don’t be afraid to draw a line in the sand and ask, “Are you with me?” Always tell the truth--even when it hurts, Accept that there will always be people who don’t like you. Open up and talk about things outside of your business. People do business with people, not faceless organizations. Regardless how many people you ar

During a seminary faculty meeting, an angel suddenly appeared and told the Dean, “Sir, I will grant you whichever of three blessings you choose—wisdom, beauty or 10 million dollars.” For the Dean it was no contest. His theology was clear, and he knew his followers would be upset if he chose something that the Bible says is "the root of all evil." So he happily chose wisdom. There was a flash of lightning, and the Dean appeared transformed. But then he just sat there, staring silently down at the table. So one of his colleagues whispers to him,  "What's wrong? Why don’t you test out your new found wisdom right away? Say something really wise to us.” Now blessed with infinite wisdom, the Dean sighed and said, “I should have taken the money.” A couple of morals of the story: Even though it is wise to learn from every decision the best time to ask for wisdom is before making a choice. And, be wise enough to make decisions without worrying what others may th

The following is from Dale Brown. Coach Brown spent 25 years at Louisiana State University and twice took teams to the Final Four. He coached some of the greats in the game’s history, including Shaquille O’Neal and is a member of The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame  The moment I was hired at LSU in March 1972, I immediately told myself, This is my first college head coaching job, and I can’t blow it. I needed to reach out to the very best people I could in all walks of life to see if I could come ask them some questions about how they became successful and how they maintained that success. I didn’t want to only speak to people in sports, so I decided to ask the very best in the worlds of entertainment, positive thinking and motivational speaking. When it came to basketball, only one name was on the list: John Wooden. He immediately invited me to his house for a few days. In preparation, I decided I couldn’t waste this man’s time; I had to have something organized. S

Keep meetings productive . As the saying goes, time is money. So, of course, you should want to limit tangents and other time wasters during meetings. If you trust your team to do their job, there should be no need for micromanaging, and meetings can run swiftly. Know your limits.  Even the kindest, most caring leader has limits. Set your boundaries and stick to them. Knowing what you will not tolerate can save everyone in the organization a lot of frustration, and keeping boundaries clear means there’s no confusion Find a mentor.  No man is an island, as they say. The best leaders out there know when they need help, and they know where to turn to in order to get it. Nobody can know everything, so finding someone you trust for advice when things get tough can make all of the difference. Be emotionally aware.  While many people advise keeping emotions separate from matters of business, business is ultimately about relationships between people. To make these relationships last,

Lead by example. Leaders need to show, not just tell. If you want your people to be punctual, make sure you are  there on time. If professionalism is a priority, make sure you’re dressed like a professional, and treat everyone you interact with (both in-person and online) as a professional. Set the tone and your team will follow it. A little humility goes a long way. There’s a difference between a leader and a boss. While both are in charge, a leader shares the spotlight and is comfortable crediting others. While it might seem counter-intuitive, being humble takes more confidence than basking in glory. Your people will appreciate it, and your fans will, too. Communicate effectively. Effective communication is imperative, both in the office and in life. Great leaders make sure they are heard and understood, but they also know the importance of listening. Communication is a two-way street, and making the most of it will have your organization  moving forward instead of pumpi