Great Leaders Mantras and Tools

Great leaders are continually growing and learning mange how they think, what they do and how they work with others. 

 A great leader knows that his/her level of motivation radiates out to everyone they see and everything they do, everyday.   

Great leaders know that taking time for mental and emotional self-care - to align, energize, refuel and grow - is crucial to their effectiveness.

"Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power." 
Sixth century B.C. Philosopher Lao Tzu 

Use the links here to access 12 resources, with easy to recall acronyms, to grow your communication, leadership and interaction skills.   

Use this Wake Up Eager Mantra to guide REMEMBER that your energy, motivation and well-being is key to being a successful and great leader, to take time every day to manage your focus and conversations:

"Today, I will think, focus, and talk more about
what is going well, then about what is going wrong.
Today, as I look for, find and speak about the
good in every situation, I'll notice how much better I feel. 
Today, as I manage my focus, I'll feel empowered, eager, ease and well-being. 
And, as I genuinely feel better, I will be of greater benefit to my
family, my employees, my co-workers and everyone I interact with.
Today, is going to be a great day!"

Wake Up Eager Leadership Tools:

I like to use acronyms in my articles and programs because they serve as great memory devices and they assist in memory retention and learning. Plus, they add color, fun and interest as we work together to define motivation and improve it! 

But they’re only helpful toward helping others define motivation if they’re understood!
(Hence the reason for this Page…)

Here are eleven WUE (Wake Up Eager) Programs and Process Acronyms:

Grow Your Energy and Motivation...  

T.N.T.   Tune In Time-A Daily Enter the Zone Practice

• T. Tune
• N. In
• T. Time

Overview of TNT and how-to:  here.

W.U.E.M.I.N.D.S.E.T. My Top Ten Favorite Mantras & Self -Motivation Tips
These ten self motivation tips, along with a downloadable PDF, are listed: here.

Grow Trust, Communication and Leadership Skills:

C.A.L.L. - Four Skills That Make or Break All Leaders

• C. Cultivate a Positive Sense of Self in Others
• A. Address Problems Quickly By Focusing on Facts and Behaviors
• L. Lead by Inviting Participation
• L. Listen Aggressively

Review a description of each skill, here.  Watch this video and listen to this podcast.

R.P.S.A. - Four Skill Steps to Listen Aggressively

• R. Reflect
• P. Probe
• S. Support
• A. Advise

Detailed article, with step-by-step listening aggressively steps: The Forgotten Charismatic Leadership Skill, here.  

The Wake Up Eager Leader Manifesto - A Collection of Well-Being Statements:

W.P.S.A. - Four Conversation Skill Steps for Effective Workplace Communication and Discipline

• W. Warm Open

• P. Problem Defined

• S. Solutions Discussed

• A. Agreement Recap & Next Steps

Learn these skills in this self-paced program, What Everybody Ought to Know About Communication, here. 

H.E.L.P. How to Overcome Fear and Resistance to Feedback

• H.  How Important Feedback Is
• E. Examine Why
• L. Learn Balance
• P. Pick What You Use

Read a detailed article, with actions for greater Feedback Acceptance here.

R.E.V. - A Performance Improvement Checklist

• R.  Remove Obvious Barriers:  Does (employee's name) Have the Right Tools, Experience and Training to do his (her) job?  Is s/he getting the support s/he needs from you, from the company and from his (her) peers?
  
• E.  Expectations for Performance:  Are Expectations Clear, Specific and Have They Been Discussed? 
  
• V.  Verify Job Fit: Does This person Match the Style, Motivational Drive and Intangible Personal Skills Needed for Success in this Job?

Read a detailed article, for more a Performance Improvement Checklist and a free Effective Discipline online class, here.

Grow Hiring and Interviewing Others Skills:

F.I.T. - Focus on FIT: Three Superior Performance Interview Principles

• F. Fixate on What the Job Needs
• I. Intangibles Matter, Look for Them
• T. Tune In, Listen Aggressively

These interview principles are revealed in my robust self-paced program, How to Conduct an Interview. Review more about this program, here. Review additional hiring and interview tools, here.

R.P.M. - Three Step Goal Setting Process for Creating a Position Dashboard

• R.    Respond & Brainstorm Question
• P.    Place Responses, Create Headlines & Prioritize
• M.   Metrics Are Added & Interview Questions Selected

In this Video Article I show you why a Position Dashboard is a CRUCIAL tool for hiring superior performers and how you can use it to better manage and lead your team.  Learn how to quikcly create this powerful management tool, the Position Dashboard, here.

T.A.L.E.N.T.  - Six Step Candidate Interview Meeting Process

• T. THANK: Introduce self, thank the candidate, explain the interview agenda.
• A. ASK: Ask competency, behavioral based interview questions.
• L. LISTEN AGGRESSIVELY : Listen to talk ratio 80:20 (candidate talks 80% of the time…) Press for specifics, and take notes.
• E. EXPLAIN: Share job requirements/focus area, and answer the candidate’s questions.
• N. NOTES: Review notes, ask for final clarification of facts and information .
• T. THANK YOU: Thank the candidate, share the “why” of the company and describe next steps in the process.

Get more interview expertise, 170+ of the best interview questions, from my robust self-paced program, How to Conduct an Interview. Review more about this program, here. Review additional hiring and interview tools, here.

A.A.A. - Three Biggest Interview Mistakes Leaders Make

• A. Assumptions and Bias (Interview Mistake #1)
• A. Amplified Focus on Background and Experience (Interview Mistake #2)
• A. All Talk, No Listen (Interview Mistake #3)

Review my video article that explains this three mistakes, here.