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Enhancing Your Leadership Perception Among Colleagues

As a leader, you must know how your colleagues perceive your leadership ability. Positive perceptions can build trust and respect, while negative perceptions may hinder your effectiveness. Here are some tips to work on strengthening your leadership perception:

  1. Active Listening: Demonstrate a genuine interest in your colleagues’ ideas and concerns. Actively listen to their feedback and show empathy. People who feel heard are more likely to view you as approachable and supportive.
  2. Transparency and Communication: Be transparent in your decision-making process and communicate openly with your team. Keep them informed about significant developments and changes. Transparent leaders are often perceived as trustworthy and honest.
  3. Lead by Example: Set the tone by displaying the values and behaviours you expect from your team. Lead with integrity and be consistent in your actions. Your colleagues will take notice and respect you for practicing what you preach.
  4. Seek Feedback and Act on It: Encourage your colleagues to provide constructive feedback on your leadership style. Use this feedback as a tool for growth and improvement. When your team sees that you value their input, they will view you as receptive to change and development.
  5. Collaborate and Empower: Involve your colleagues in decision-making and delegate tasks according to their strengths. Empowering your team members fosters a sense of ownership and boosts their confidence in your leadership.

Remember, leadership perception takes time to develop, so be patient and persistent. By proactively working on your leadership image, you can positively influence your colleagues’ perception and strengthen your impact as a leader.

If you want more information or support in strengthening your leadership perception,  you can book a complimentary 30-minute  consultation to find out how Jenny Reilly Consulting can help you. Or, please email askme@jennyreilly.com to coordinate a convenient consultation time.

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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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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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YEAR END BUDGETING 2022

2022 in Review

As the year approaches a wrap, it’s time to highlight your achievements and position yourself for 2023. Review and report on topics like your organization’s accomplishments, value creation, budgets, financial ratios, your competitor analysis, and the year ahead. Take time to create a full-year timeline with strategic projections and goals. Use the 2022 Annual Report Components infographic to serve as a guide for elements to include.

Annual Report Infographic - Jenny Reilly Consulting - Executive Coaching

 

“A budget is more than just a series of numbers on a page; it is an embodiment of our values.” – Barack Obama 

Know your numbers

Over this quarter, a primary client focus has been on analyzing financial reports and data to aid the decision-making required for 2023 planning. Understanding the budgeting process is crucial in evaluating opportunities and risks.

Understanding your numbers allows for more strategic decision-making. Your numbers can provide:

  • comparability,
  • verifiability, and
  • understandability

of the next best steps to take in your company.

As a leader, you are expected to have a thorough understanding of your numbers, prepare forward-looking financial reports, set financial targets, determine the usage of resources, and evaluate the costs and benefits of each option.

Business budgets help leaders run a successful business. A budget provides the opportunity to assess the actual budget against what was forecasted and planned.

Steps to take in preparing for 2023

  1. Before developing your budget, it is normal practice to have a strategy session that will review relevant economic factors, sector issues/constraints/ opportunities, and management plans. Develop or review your 2023 budget (that should accommodate your short-term plans, normally one year in duration) and ensure each of your strategic objectives is related to your budget.
  2. Your budget should address each of your strategic initiatives, including cash and payments, sales volumes and revenues, detailed inventories, labour, and production requirements.
  3. Break your annual budget down into monthly budgets that will assist in planning and communication to the team.
  4. If you are working on a unit or department budget, ensure you understand how the budgeting process interlinks with the various budgets in the business.

Can you answer the following?

  • What is your mission, vision, short- and long-term strategic objectives?
  • Have you recently conducted a position analysis of your organization?
  • Who are your current competitors?
  • Do you have a comprehensive forecasting and budgeting process? Can you explain when and how this process is performed?
  • How often do you review your annual budget, identify variances between your forecasted and actual performance and update as strategic initiatives pivot and change?

Understanding your budget will enable you to:

  • identify short term problems
  • promote forward-thinking
  • help in the coordination of units within a business
  • communicate budget guidelines
  • motivate your employees to promote better performance
  • monitor performance relevant to the budget
  • implement a system of control, levels of responsibility, and authorization

If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or c-suite executive and have any questions about this month’s topics, or feel this resonates with you and you need executive support to project your budget successfully into 2023, please contact us, or reach out directly to jenny@jennyreilly.com and book a complimentary 30-minute strategy session.

 

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