A new year is upon us. This is a time when many of us reflect on the past year and we set goals for the year ahead. As you set your personal goals, consider what action steps you will take to move your career to the next level in the new year. Here are three leadership strategies to help you get promoted in 2011.
1) Align your performance goals with your company's goals. One sure fire way to kick things up a notch in your career is to align your performance goals for the year with your company's goals. Make it a point to become familiar with your company's goals for the coming year. Think beyond the everyday routine of your job and take the time to think about how your role and function within your organization can best support your company's initiatives. Work with your boss to measure your progress against your goals on a quarterly basis. This approach is just one positive step you can take towards attaining a promotion.
2) Invest in your personal development. Take a moment to think about a professional goal that you want to achieve and commit to making an investment to attain it. I always find it interesting how many people are quick to spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on tickets to sporting events, fashionable clothes or the latest electronic gadgets, but hesitate to spend money on their personal development. Here's a good rule of thumb to test whether you're committed to your personal development: a commitment will show up on your calendar and in your wallet. You can begin by setting a personal development budget. For example, let's say you dedicate $250 towards your personal development for the year. You can invest $125 on a coaching session, $50 on a set of audio CDs, $50 on a seminar and $25 on a book. It's that simple. Remember, it's an investment with an expected return. If the investment helps you develop new insights and skills that lead to a promotion, your investment will more than have paid for itself.
3) Develop your network: Make a list of key people within your organization that you want to connect and reconnect with. As you identify these people, be sure to include people who are influential within your organization. Connect with "movers and shakers." Include someone who can help introduce you to others as well as someone that can create opportunities for you. Your goal is to be strategic and intentional about who you want in your circle. Then, purposefully build those relationships. If you apply these leadership strategies, you will set a strong foundation for a promotion in 2011.
Ellie Nieves is a women's leadership speaker. Through her keynote presentations, breakouts, retreats and workshops she helps women to develop leadership skills, set strategic goals, bolster effectiveness and create a personal brand. For more information visit www.EllieNieves.com or e-mail ellie@ellienieves.com.
© 2010 by Ellie Nieves. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Networking for business growth
Networking is vital to business growth. Entrepreneurs serve their own interests well when they invest their time in effective networking practices. Here are five tips to help you network for business growth.
1) Build on your current network. Don't think of networking as solely developing new relationships. Reconnect with people who are already in your network and nurture your current relationships.
2) Be a resource. Approach your network as a giver, not a taker. Share business articles, information, processes and resources that are of interest to your connections.
3) Ask for introductions. Expand your network by asking for introductions from your connections. It is often easier to launch a relationship when you already have a shared connection and an implied endorsement.
4) Maximize social media networks like LinkedIn. Use social media networks like LinkedIn to track your network and to research potential connections.
5) Make connections between your connections. Help others to form alliances and joint ventures. Also, take the time to make regular business referrals.
Networking is all about building authentic relationships. Remember to build your network before you need it. If you take care of your network, your network will take care of you.
Ellie Nieves is a women's leadership speaker. Through her keynote presentations, breakouts, retreats and workshops she helps women to develop leadership skills, set strategic goals, bolster effectiveness and create a personal brand. For more information visit www.EllieNieves.com or e-mail ellie@ellienieves.com.
© 2010 by Ellie Nieves. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.
1) Build on your current network. Don't think of networking as solely developing new relationships. Reconnect with people who are already in your network and nurture your current relationships.
2) Be a resource. Approach your network as a giver, not a taker. Share business articles, information, processes and resources that are of interest to your connections.
3) Ask for introductions. Expand your network by asking for introductions from your connections. It is often easier to launch a relationship when you already have a shared connection and an implied endorsement.
4) Maximize social media networks like LinkedIn. Use social media networks like LinkedIn to track your network and to research potential connections.
5) Make connections between your connections. Help others to form alliances and joint ventures. Also, take the time to make regular business referrals.
Networking is all about building authentic relationships. Remember to build your network before you need it. If you take care of your network, your network will take care of you.
Ellie Nieves is a women's leadership speaker. Through her keynote presentations, breakouts, retreats and workshops she helps women to develop leadership skills, set strategic goals, bolster effectiveness and create a personal brand. For more information visit www.EllieNieves.com or e-mail ellie@ellienieves.com.
© 2010 by Ellie Nieves. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.
Creating a powerful first impression
I recently interviewed Sara Canuso on my radio program. Sara is a body language specialist and she is the President of A Suitable Solution, a Philadelphia based image consulting firm.
During the interview, Sara shared some of her personal leadership strategies. Sara also shared strategies to help women create powerful first impressions.
Leadership Strategies
Sara is a very accomplished business leader in her own right. I asked her to share some of her personal leadership strategies.
Her first strategy is to have a clear vision. Clarity of vision allows you to know where you're going. When you have clarity, you communicate confidence and inspire others to trust you and want to follow you. Her second strategy is maintaining her integrity. Sara defines integrity as matching your outward actions with your inner values. Sara's third leadership strategy is keeping a sense of humor. When Sara started her own business, she says that she made many mistakes. It was her sense of humor that allowed her to learn from those mistakes and informed her perspective.
Above all, Sara says that having a focused mind helps her to stand firm and move forward. As an entrepreneur, everyday brings its distractions, but having a clear vision allows her to take the steps she needs to succeed and grow her business.
Personal Development
In developing her own leadership skills, Sara invests heavily in her personal development. She listens to motivational audio CDs, reads books and attends leadership conferences on a regular basis. She believes that it is critical to be surrounded by other positive leaders who will keep you energized and inspired.
Image Tips
During our interview, Sara also shared some image tips for women. Communicating a powerful Image is important for women in leadership roles. Be it fair or not, Sara says, people form an impression about you within 7 seconds of first meeting you. It is that impression that influences whether they will want to do business with you or not. Therefore, walking into a room with a look of power and confidence is an important first step that can influence your future success.
Sara shared about the 3 areas of a woman's personal appearance that should be focused on in order to create that powerful first impression.
1) Posture: You should have good posture. This seems obvious, but it is often overlooked. Good posture communicates confidence. Make sure that you walk with your shoulders back and your head held high.
2) Clothes: Clothing accounts for 95 percent of your image. Make sure that you wear the proper attire for your type of business. Your clothes should also be the right fit and color for you.
3) Shoes: Make sure your shoes are polished and that your heels are not worn out.
To listen to the full interview, go to: www.BlogTalkRadio.com/Ellie-Nieves.
Ellie Nieves is a women's leadership speaker. Through her keynote presentations, breakouts, retreats and workshops she helps women to develop leadership skills, set strategic goals, bolster effectiveness and create a personal brand. For more information visit www.EllieNieves.com or e-mail ellie@ellienieves.com.
© 2010 by Ellie Nieves. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.
During the interview, Sara shared some of her personal leadership strategies. Sara also shared strategies to help women create powerful first impressions.
Leadership Strategies
Sara is a very accomplished business leader in her own right. I asked her to share some of her personal leadership strategies.
Her first strategy is to have a clear vision. Clarity of vision allows you to know where you're going. When you have clarity, you communicate confidence and inspire others to trust you and want to follow you. Her second strategy is maintaining her integrity. Sara defines integrity as matching your outward actions with your inner values. Sara's third leadership strategy is keeping a sense of humor. When Sara started her own business, she says that she made many mistakes. It was her sense of humor that allowed her to learn from those mistakes and informed her perspective.
Above all, Sara says that having a focused mind helps her to stand firm and move forward. As an entrepreneur, everyday brings its distractions, but having a clear vision allows her to take the steps she needs to succeed and grow her business.
Personal Development
In developing her own leadership skills, Sara invests heavily in her personal development. She listens to motivational audio CDs, reads books and attends leadership conferences on a regular basis. She believes that it is critical to be surrounded by other positive leaders who will keep you energized and inspired.
Image Tips
During our interview, Sara also shared some image tips for women. Communicating a powerful Image is important for women in leadership roles. Be it fair or not, Sara says, people form an impression about you within 7 seconds of first meeting you. It is that impression that influences whether they will want to do business with you or not. Therefore, walking into a room with a look of power and confidence is an important first step that can influence your future success.
Sara shared about the 3 areas of a woman's personal appearance that should be focused on in order to create that powerful first impression.
1) Posture: You should have good posture. This seems obvious, but it is often overlooked. Good posture communicates confidence. Make sure that you walk with your shoulders back and your head held high.
2) Clothes: Clothing accounts for 95 percent of your image. Make sure that you wear the proper attire for your type of business. Your clothes should also be the right fit and color for you.
3) Shoes: Make sure your shoes are polished and that your heels are not worn out.
To listen to the full interview, go to: www.BlogTalkRadio.com/Ellie-Nieves.
Ellie Nieves is a women's leadership speaker. Through her keynote presentations, breakouts, retreats and workshops she helps women to develop leadership skills, set strategic goals, bolster effectiveness and create a personal brand. For more information visit www.EllieNieves.com or e-mail ellie@ellienieves.com.
© 2010 by Ellie Nieves. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.
The mindset of a woman entrepreneur
Have you considered entrepreneurship? According to the Small Business Administration women-owned small businesses are one of the fastest growing segments of our economy. If you are considering entrepreneurship, there are many factors that will help to get your business off to the right start such as planning, preparation, financing and marketing. But above all else, the most important element of successful entrepreneurship, is the mindset of the woman entrepreneur.
Visionary: One key characteristic of the mindset of a woman entrepreneur is the ability to give life to her vision. From the initial idea to its implementation, it takes a visionary woman to develop a product or service and bring it to market. It is that vision that keeps the woman entrepreneur focused and driven to achieve.
Self-motivation: Women entrepreneurs are self-motivated. It takes a high amount of discipline to consistently keep up with the demands of running a business and managing your personal life. Especially during the early stages of business development when every aspect of the day-to-day operations depend on you. Self-motivation is important when there is no one to hold you accountable, but you.
Perseverance: If there is one factor that distinguishes a successful woman entrepreneur from an unsuccessful one, it's the ability to persevere. Entrepreneurship tests you in ways that a 9-5 job can never do. As a woman entrepreneur, you will be faced with challenges and you will meet failure. There will be many moments of discouragement when you will ask yourself whether you are doing the right thing. Your ability to persevere; to try, fail, re-work your plan and try again will determine your level of success.
Are you ready for entrepreneurship? If you have a vision, are self-motivated, and possess a spirit of perseverance, you are well on your way.
Ellie Nieves is a women's leadership speaker. Through her keynote presentations, breakouts, retreats and workshops she helps women to develop leadership skills, set strategic goals, bolster effectiveness and create a personal brand. For more information visit www.EllieNieves.com or e-mail ellie@ellienieves.com.
© 2010 by Ellie Nieves. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.
Visionary: One key characteristic of the mindset of a woman entrepreneur is the ability to give life to her vision. From the initial idea to its implementation, it takes a visionary woman to develop a product or service and bring it to market. It is that vision that keeps the woman entrepreneur focused and driven to achieve.
Self-motivation: Women entrepreneurs are self-motivated. It takes a high amount of discipline to consistently keep up with the demands of running a business and managing your personal life. Especially during the early stages of business development when every aspect of the day-to-day operations depend on you. Self-motivation is important when there is no one to hold you accountable, but you.
Perseverance: If there is one factor that distinguishes a successful woman entrepreneur from an unsuccessful one, it's the ability to persevere. Entrepreneurship tests you in ways that a 9-5 job can never do. As a woman entrepreneur, you will be faced with challenges and you will meet failure. There will be many moments of discouragement when you will ask yourself whether you are doing the right thing. Your ability to persevere; to try, fail, re-work your plan and try again will determine your level of success.
Are you ready for entrepreneurship? If you have a vision, are self-motivated, and possess a spirit of perseverance, you are well on your way.
Ellie Nieves is a women's leadership speaker. Through her keynote presentations, breakouts, retreats and workshops she helps women to develop leadership skills, set strategic goals, bolster effectiveness and create a personal brand. For more information visit www.EllieNieves.com or e-mail ellie@ellienieves.com.
© 2010 by Ellie Nieves. All rights reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.
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