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Sustained Momentum In Your Leadership Role

Passing the mid-year mark can often leave leaders feeling fatigued and needing revitalization.  By investing in your personal growth and well-being, you can continue to excel as a leader and inspire those around you. Here are some effective strategies to re-energize yourself and maintain a high level of momentum in your leadership role:

Strategies To Sustain Momentum In Your Leadership Role

1. Reflect on Successes: Take a moment to celebrate achievements and milestones reached since January. Recognizing your accomplishments will boost morale and provide motivation for the months ahead.

2. Review your Goals: Reassess your objectives for the rest of the year. Break them down into smaller, achievable milestones, and track progress regularly. Having clear goals will keep you focused and driven.

3. Take time Off: If you have not already, plan a vacation or staycation to recharge and disconnect from work. Time away from the office can help you return with renewed energy and a fresh perspective.

4. Develop New Skills: Identify areas where you’d like to grow professionally and seek opportunities to develop those skills. Learning and personal growth can reignite your passion for your role.

5. Foster a Positive Work Culture: Coordinate a fun activity with your colleagues. Cultivate a positive and supportive work environment for yourself and your team. Encourage open communication, collaboration, and a healthy work-life balance.

6. Practice Self-Care: Make self-care a priority. Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, such as exercise, meditation, hobbies, or spending quality time with loved ones.

7. Connect with Others: Network and engage with industry or leadership community peers. Sharing experiences and ideas can invigorate your enthusiasm for your role.

8. Seek Inspiration: Read books, listen to podcasts, or attend seminars by inspirational leaders. Their stories and insights can motivate you to overcome challenges and strive for greatness.

Remember that maintaining momentum is an ongoing process, and finding a balance between pushing yourself and taking care of your well-being is essential.

If you have any questions about these strategies for sustained momentum or want to learn more about the powerful benefits of executive coaching to elevate your leadership success, please reach out to askme@jennyreilly.com and book a complimentary 30-minute strategy session.  If you want monthly leadership tips, sign up for my JRC newsletter.

 

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Top 10 Leadership and Business Strategy Tips

Here are my top 10 leadership and business strategy tips that resonate strongly with me. These principles drive growth, foster collaboration, and inspire transformation. Whether you’re a seasoned executive, an aspiring leader, or an entrepreneur looking to make your mark, I hope you’ll find these strategies valuable and transformative in your leadership journey.

Top 10 Leadership and Business Strategy Tips

1 . Lead with purpose: Articulate a compelling vision that aligns with the organization to inspire and motivate others.

2. Communicate Effectively: Clearly convey your vision, expectations, and feedback to your team.

3. Set Clear Goals: Establish specific, measurable, action-oriented, risky, timely and time-bound, exciting, and relevant (SMARTER) goals.

4. Lead by Example: Exemplify professionalism and integrity to inspire your team and set a high standard.

5. Foster a Positive Culture: Encourage a supportive, respectful, and positive workplace culture.

6. Delegate wisely: Assign tasks based on team members’ strengths, provide guidance, and empower them.

7. Develop Effective Project Management Skills: Build a foundation of project management expertise to ensure efficient execution and delivery of initiatives.

8. Provide Constructive Feedback: Offer specific, timely, and actionable feedback to help your team grow.

9. Lead with Empathy: Understand and support your team members’ needs and challenges.

10. Develop your Emotional Intelligence: Cultivate self-awareness, empathy, and relationship-building skills.

I encourage you to focus on at least three of the above leadership and business principles that resonate with you. Interested in learning more? Read my Top 55 Leadership and Business Strategy Tips.

Remember, embrace the brilliance of those around you and never stop learning and evolving!

If you have any questions about these strategy tips or want to learn more about the powerful benefits of executive coaching to elevate your leadership success, please reach out to askme@jennyreilly.com and book a complimentary 30-minute strategy session.  If you want monthly leadership tips, sign up for my JRC newsletter.

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How to Deliver Your Key Message in Under 3 Minutes

As leaders, effective communication is paramount, and this month, I invite you to take on a challenge: deliver your key message in under three minutes.

Our various devices train us to cut through the noise, and our patience and attention span have become shorter. As a rule, try to get your core message across in any forum you work in three minutes or less. If you can do this, you will captivate your audience (internal or external stakeholders, clients, colleagues etc.), they will want to know more, and you will leave a lasting impact.

Craft and structure your core message with a hook, then explain the impact and value to the audience. Your objective should be to provide a compelling ‘aha’ moment and a clear path to fruition.

Embrace your nervous energy and let it sharpen your focus. Tailor your message to resonate and be audience-centric for a more significant impact, and then prepare and practice. Understand that you will have to remain adaptable during your presentation to meet the needs of your audience and be ready to pivot to address identified interests and concerns effectively.

When we present authentically, our personality and style are evident. By being authentic, you will build credibility and trust with your audience. When knowing your content, you don’t need a script. You can speak from a well-prepared outline which will help you overcome the temptation to read word for word and enable you to maintain a natural flow while highlighting key points effectively.

There is real power in your non-verbal communication and body language. Your body language needs to enhance your message, not detract from it. Practice mastering your non-verbal cues so you can see the influence of your body language on what you are saying.

When you are working out what to say in the first three minutes, think of these questions to help guide the points you want to get across:

  1. What is it you want to say and why?
    This will help you conceptualize what it is you are getting at.
  2. How does it work, or how will it help? 
    This will help your audience form a process map for utilizing the information you are sharing.
  3. What is the proof or accountability statement?
    Facts, figures, and proof of what you say must be referenced or provided.
  4. How can you help?
    Define how you can be of assistance, help or reference.

Prepare and practice for impactful communication. You can captivate, influence, and inspire your audience in three minutes. Remember, authentic and concise communication leaves a lasting impression. Step up to the challenge, and watch your messages resonate like never before.

 

7 Point Message Delivery Cheat Sheet

  1. Being a little nervous is a good thing. It will give you the adrenaline to be more alert when giving your message.
  2. Intently craft your message for your audience. Who is your audience? What choice of words and level of detail will work best? Answering these two questions will help you organize your key points correctly for a more significant impact.
  3. Focus on the audience. Even with practice, when the time comes to deliver your message, if the audience wants something different, you need to quickly pivot to what they need, or they will lose attention.
  4. Be yourself – authenticity is key. Let your personality shine when you present, giving you credibility and audience trust.
  5. Speak from an outline, not a script. When nervous, we tend to look down at our note sand read word for word. I encourage you to initially prepare by writing out all you want to say and practice your presentation verbally until you feel confident and then condense your presentation notes into an outline of only key points. Again practice, and you will find that speaking from an outline will enable you to be more natural in your presentation.
  6. Use body language. Not only are your words and tone powerful, but also your non-verbal’s. You want to ensure your body language does not detract from your core objectives.
  7. Nothing can replace preparation and practice. Review your outline and practice out aloud (yes, in front of a mirror, or tape yourself on Zoom and rewatch to critique yourself) until you feel confident in your verbal and non-verbal message delivery.

 

If you have any questions about drafting and delivering your key message, or want to learn more about the powerful benefits of executive coaching to elevate your leadership success, please reach out to askme@jennyreilly.com and book a complimentary 30-minute strategy session.  If you want monthly leadership tips, sign up for my JRC newsletter.

 

Jenny Reilly Consulting, Vancouver Executive Coach

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Five Strategies to Help Break Free From Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is a common experience many people face at some point in their careers. Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by worries such as:

  • Feeling the constant pressure to do and be better.
  • Fearing that your colleagues think you shouldn’t have received your promotion or be in your current role and dreading the thought of being exposed.
  • Doubting your qualifications and believing you lack the necessary experience for your job.
  • Feeling like you’re faking it, convinced you don’t possess the skills, knowledge, or confidence required for your position.

If these fears sound familiar, let me assure you that you are not alone. Imposter syndrome is a phenomenon where doubts and self-questioning arise, making you question your achievements and worthiness. It’s the nagging feeling that maybe luck, chance, or accident played a more significant role in your success than your actual abilities.

Even at this stage in my career, I pause and recalibrate when I find myself caught in the vortex of feeling like an imposter. It’s something many of us go through. In fact, one of my clients recently shared that even after owning and leading an exceptionally successful company for over 30 years, he still experiences these feelings.

According to an article published in the Harvard Business Review, an estimated 70% of adults experience imposter syndrome at some point in their lives, no matter their background, education or experience. I’ve worked with numerous individuals who have an impressive list of accomplishments and are undeniably successful, and yet, they still struggle with feeling like frauds or undeserving of their success.

Continually second-guessing yourself and your actions can completely derail your path to success. If you find yourself on a cycle of setting impossible goals, sacrificing work/life balance, constantly questioning your judgment, or sabotaging your success, it’s time for a reboot.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin

Five Strategies to Help You Navigate Imposter Syndrome

  1. Review your goals:  Ensure that your goals are “S.M.A.R.T.E.R” – specific, measurable, actionable, risky, time-bound, exciting, and relevant. Identify each goal’s “what, why, how, and when” and start tracking associated tasks. Tools like Asana can help you stay organized and on top of your goals and projects.
  2. Watch for red flags: Be aware of unsustainable work habits, withdrawal from collaboration, hesitancy to speak up or ask questions, and the use of endless excuses when timelines are not met. These behaviours can be indicators of imposter syndrome affecting your performance.
  3. Address imposter syndrome head-on: When these feelings arise, try to detach yourself from the emotions and focus on the facts of the situation. Challenge negative self-talk and remind yourself of your accomplishments and capabilities.
  4. Evaluate your growth objectively: Instead of constantly comparing yourself to others, review your performance growth in objective terms. Embrace the evidence of your capabilities and the value you bring to your role. Look at how far you’ve come and the progress you’ve made, independent of competitive comparisons.
  5. Share your insecurities: Opening up and sharing your imposter syndrome feelings with trusted colleagues or mentors can help normalize what you’re experiencing. It often reveals that others have faced similar challenges and can provide support and guidance.

 

If you have any questions about Imposter Syndrome or want to learn more about the powerful benefits of executive coaching to elevate your leadership success, please reach out to askme@jennyreilly.com and book a complimentary 30-minute strategy session.  If you want monthly leadership tips, sign up for my JRC newsletter.

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The Power of Saying “No”

We often have a never-ending to-do list and constant requests from our team, colleagues, and stakeholders. It can be tempting to say “yes” to everything and everyone, but is that the most effective way to lead?

I love this quote by American novelist Anne Lamott:

“No is a complete sentence.”

It is a powerful reminder that you do not have to justify yourself when saying “no.” Setting and communicating clear boundaries is critical to being a successful leader. Saying ‘no’ to specific requests, projects, or collaborations can be a strategic decision that allows you to focus on your priorities and achieve goals.

Understanding the Importance of Setting Professional and Personal Boundaries in Leadership

It’s crucial to establish boundaries that help protect our well-being and enable us to achieve our goals. Two types of boundaries that leaders often set are professional and personal boundaries. While these may seem similar, there are key differences between them.

Professional boundaries are guidelines and limits leaders set to maintain appropriate relationships with colleagues, employees, and other stakeholders. These boundaries help leaders establish clear expectations for their behaviour, prevent conflicts of interest, and maintain impartiality in decision-making.

Leaders can create a healthy work environment that fosters mutual respect and trust by setting professional boundaries.

In contrast, personal boundaries are limits and guidelines individuals set to protect their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Personal boundaries help individuals maintain their autonomy, protect themselves from harm, and communicate their needs and values to others. Leaders can avoid burnout, reduce stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance by setting personal boundaries.

Power of Saying No

The main difference is their purpose and scope. As a leader, it’s essential to understand the differences between professional and personal boundaries and set them accordingly.

However, both boundaries are essential for leaders to establish and maintain their effectiveness and well-being.

By prioritizing professional and personal boundaries, leaders can become more effective and successful in their roles.

Five Techniques That Will Help You In Saying NO!

Does this resonate?

‘I have such a hard time saying no!’

Saying “no” is not a sign of weakness or indecision but rather a demonstration of your focus and commitment to your goals. By embracing the power of “no,” you can become a more effective and respected leader in your organization.

  1. Prioritization Techniques: Prioritize your tasks and responsibilities to identify which requests or projects align with your goals and values. Use tools such as the Eisenhower Matrix or the Pomodoro Technique to help you decide better what to say “yes” or “no” to.
  2. Active Listening: Practice listening when receiving a request or proposal. Ask clarifying questions to understand the scope of the project, the timeline, and the resources required. This can help you determine whether you have the capacity and expertise to do the task.
  3. Saying “NO” with Empathy and a Smile: The most straightforward way I have found to say no is with a smile and the sincerest empathy and respect. Acknowledge the value and importance of the request, thank them for the opportunity, and say’ no.’ You do not need to explain why or give excuses. If necessary, you can suggest where help may be sought.
  4. Setting Clear Boundaries: Set clear professional and personal boundaries and communicate them consistently. This can help you avoid being overwhelmed by requests or projects that do not align with your goals or values. Boundaries will also help you establish expectations about your availability and workload with your team or colleagues.
  5. Saying “NO” to Say “YES” to Something Else: View saying “no” as a strategic decision that allows you to say “yes” to something else that aligns with your goals.

The Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix is a productivity tool that helps people prioritize their tasks based on urgency and importance. It is named after former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who famously said, “I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.”

The matrix consists of four quadrants, each representing a different level of urgency and importance:

Quadrant 1: Urgent and Important – urgent and important tasks, such as emergencies or deadlines.
Quadrant 2: Not Urgent but Important – tasks that are important but not urgent, such as planning, strategic thinking, or personal development.
Quadrant 3: Urgent but Not Important – urgent but unimportant tasks, such as interruptions or unnecessary meetings.
Quadrant 4: Not Urgent and Not Important – tasks that are neither urgent nor important, such as time-wasting activities or distractions.

Eisenhower MatrixJRC - Jenny Reilly Consulting, Vancouver Executive Coach

The idea behind the Eisenhower Matrix is to ensure you spend time focusing on Quadrant 2 tasks, as these are important tasks that often get neglected due to the urgent demands of Quadrant 1. By prioritizing Quadrant 2 tasks, people can work proactively towards their long-term goals and avoid being overwhelmed by urgent but less important tasks.

The Tomato Technique, Aka The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time-management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It is named after the Italian word for “tomato,” as Cirillo used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer as a student to track his work intervals.

When I first heard about this technique decades ago, I was not initially attracted as I am allergic to tomatoes (actual fact). That being said, anything that I can try that will improve my efficiency and productivity, I will always give it a try.

The Pomodoro Technique involves breaking work into 25-minute intervals, called “pomodoros,” followed by a short break of 3-5 minutes. After four pomodoros, take a more extended break of 15-30 minutes.

During each Pomodoro, you focus on a single task without any distractions or interruptions. The steps of the Pomodoro Technique are as follows:

  • Choose a task to work on.
  • Set the timer for 25 minutes and start working on the task.
  • When the timer rings, take a 3-5 minute break.
  • After four pomodoros, take a more extended break of 15-30 minutes.
  • Repeat the process until the task is completed.

The Pomodoro Technique can help you stay focused, avoid distractions, and manage your time more efficiently. It also encourages you to take regular breaks, which can help prevent burnout and increase productivity in the long run. Give it a try, and let me know how you find this technique.

Tomato Technique - Jenny Reilly Consulting

The Power Of Saying NO: A Core Leadership Skill

In today’s fast-paced and demanding world, saying “yes” to everything that comes our way can be tempting. However, learning to say “no” is crucial for leaders who want to stay focused, productive, and true to their values.

By setting clear boundaries and prioritizing your time and energy, you can avoid burnout, reduce stress, and make more meaningful contributions to your organization.

Remember, saying “no” is not about being selfish or uncooperative. It’s about owning your time and energy and making choices that align with your goals and values.

Saying “no” can also create opportunities for growth and learning. Turning down tasks or projects unaligned with your goals can free up time and resources to pursue more meaningful or challenging activities. This can help you build new skills, expand your network, and develop a stronger sense of purpose and fulfillment. It’s important to remember that saying “no” is not a one-time decision but an ongoing process. As your priorities and circumstances change, you may need to adjust your boundaries and make different choices about allocating your time and energy. By staying aware and intentional, you can continue to grow and evolve as a leader.

Finally, it’s worth acknowledging that saying “no” can be difficult, especially in cultures or environments where overwork and “yes-man” mentalities are the norm. However, by modelling healthy boundaries and prioritization, leaders can inspire others to do the same, creating a more sustainable and compassionate work culture for everyone.

I encourage you to reflect on your boundaries and priorities.

  • Are there areas where you could benefit from saying “no” more often?
  • How can you communicate your boundaries effectively and respectfully to others?

If you want more information or support on this topic, you can book a 30-minute complimentary consultation to find out how Jenny Reilly Consulting can help you. Please email askme@jennyreilly.com to coordinate a convenient consultation time.

 

Jenny Reilly Consulting, Vancouver Executive Coach

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