The conversations you have with your people and team members is the key to effective leadership ... talking, listening, understanding and caring. Conversations build and nurture relationships.

Be alert today for opportunities to express your appreciation to others .... Tell them you noticed, tell them you're grateful .... Offer a few kind words in return. Give the gift of appreciation today.

Ask questions that tend to surface positive, constructive answers by "turning your question around" to focus on the positive "how" .... listen in for more ...

What will it be for you? What can you make a 100% commitment to stop doing ... to REMOVE from your life? Doesn't have to be permanent but could be. Choose today, then STOP IT.

Stop two or three times each day ... pause your work in progress, forward your email, forward your phone, close your door to refocus and consciously decide on the important things to spend time on next and for the remainder of the day. It's easy to get caught up in the unimportant (but seemingly urgent); use refocus rituals to redirect your efforts.

Whenever you see, observe or otherwise experience one of your team members doing a good job, going "above and beyond," achieving a deadline or otherwise achieving beyond expectations, then let them know it. Share your words of praise and recognition for a job well done and wrap the specifics of the behavior(s) you're praising into the conversation -- let them know exactly what they did well and how it ties to key goals of yours, theirs and the organization.

Do you make it a point to tune in to the opinions of others? Do you stay OPEN to and willing to consider different perspectives and challenges to YOUR way of thinking? If not, you MAY be missing out on some great ideas.

When confronted with a problem, always ask yourself this: "Is there a BIGGER problem that needs to be addressed here?" Ask "why did this problem surface?" .... Ask "what caused this problem?" ... Ask "is this a symptom of a bigger issue that needs to be addressed?" Look for and seek out the possibility of a bigger problem that needs to be solved.

Extraordinary leaders clearly define expectations, set guidelines and boundaries, provide necessary resources and then step back and empower their team members to get things done.

Take ownership for keeping your boss or manager apprised of key activities, decisions, necessary changes in direction, status of performance against goals and other important updates. Don't wait for him or her to ask ... be proactive ... keep them fully informed.