In this podcast I talk about training and why it needs to be done consistently, have written standard operating procedures to guide and for reference.    

On today's First Time Leader podcast I answer questions from our listeners on taking Ownership, Service Recovery and Mandatory Meetings. 

In this Leadership Brief I talk about working with Underperforming employees. We need to retrain them, find another position that better fits their abilities or move them on.  

In this episode I talk about the primary function of a Servant Leader and why it is so important to serve others first.

A Servant Leader supports and cares for their teams before their own needs, they make an investment in the future of their employees.    

In this episode we discuss how we can be Highly Effective Leaders by:

1. Creating results with everything we do 

2. Developing Team Members to be Effective

3. Create Mirrors of Ourselves

4. Highly Effective Leaders Transforms Teams

Don't forget to subscribe to be notified of future episodes and share the First Time Leader podcast with your friends. You can send questions to [email protected] or on Twitter and LinkedIn. 

This Leadership Brief talks about Doing the Right Thing in every aspect of your daily leadership life. Every Effective Leader will weigh the decisions they make against any adverse effect it could possibly cause and ensure it doesn't hurt the team, business or owners. 

In this episode I take the Basics of Leadership a little deeper than in Episode #2. Today I discuss - 

 Know Yourself and what you bring to the organization

• Understand your skill level
  • If you work with highly skilled leaders, learn from them
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions from them
  • Work together on your development, improve you limitations
  • Seasoned leaders must be led differently than new leaders.
• The more you know you yourself, the better you can evaluate yourself realistically
  • No one knows you better than you
  • Don’t hesitate to admit your weaknesses and ask for assistance
  • Create a development plan to improve on those weaknesses
• We all have very distinct leadership styles – know what your is
  • Every organization is very different, adjust your style to fit the culture and team
  • Make slow changes that reflect who you are

 New Leaders Accept Criticism Well

• Understand, as a new leader your direct supervisor or mentor will give constructive criticism
  • On the flip side, you as a new leader must “give” constructive criticism to your teams as well. Be ready for defensiveness, challenges and anger.  
• Check your EGO – don’t get defensive
• Listen to understand, what the feedback is
  • Ask questions to clarify
  • To be better understand
  • Keep an open mind

 Create a Vision

• A vision helps everyone understand what “we could be on the future”
• Something to strive toward, a lofty goal
• Get your team to help develop it. Ask for their input and buy-in
• Communicate this vision often, give periodic updates on the progress

 Day to Day Management of your team and the business

• Set goals to achieve
• Coach your team – as a group or One on Ones   Episode 5
• Future planning
• Delegating – can help development future leaders / reduce your workload
• Employment engagement and motivation    

In this Leadership brief I talk about using Decentralized Management and how to train your subordinates to make decisions at the lower levels. 

You cannot be expected to make every decision that has to be made and using decentralization can be used a development tool to help others find solutions for themselves. 

Setup guidelines and parameters on what decisions they can make for quicker and happier customers. 

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I'm working on a Q&A podcast so please send in ay questions you may have and we'll try to answer them in future podcasts.     

In this episode I point out topics to use that can help you advance in your career by seeking out mentors and learning the needed skills to prepare for that next opportunity. 

Topics I cover are - 

1 – Embrace the company culture

2 – Find a Mentor(s)

3 – Get the attention of upper

4 – Avoid company gossip

5 – Keep your skills up to date

6 – Network 

7- Career Advancement is your responsibility

Make sure you subscribe to hear listen to future episodes that will make you a better leader.

If you have any question or comments please email them to me at [email protected]. You find us on social Twitter (search for First Time leader) and Linkedin.  

This FTL Leadership Brief explains the reasons why we should all take an active role in managing our business and the focus of expense control to improve the profit line.