Live it - Lead IT

Any successful business leader will need to be able to achieve their organisation’s goals – but what does a goal look like, and how can you transform them into reality?

How to communicate company objectives as a successful business leader

 Central to being a successful leader is to not only to have a vision that drives you but to be able to communicate that vision with the team around you, inspiring them to help you achieve it.

In this edition of Live it – Lead IT, I’m going to be discussing the topic of goals. How can you internalise them and how can you get others around you to do the same? Undoubtedly there is a myriad of techniques out there on how to do just that, but the one that stands out the most starts not words, but with a picture.

The power of an image

 Whether you need the motivation to participate in Ironman, prep the garden for winter, or get your diploma, at the most basic level we, human beings, are inspired most by images. What drives us are big pictures of what we want to achieve.

With a powerful visual image, we can bring ourselves to undergo severe training to get the body we want or endure hours of classes we might not feel in the immediate moment motivated to participate in. A positive, colourful picture of our future can act as a major incentive in achieving your goals.

Equally, a non-attractive picture can deter you from achieving your goals or see you do things half-hearted. Doing something to avoid being nagged, for example, will see us unengaged and therefore not performing to the best of our ability. And herein lies the difference between a desire to reach a goal, and a desire to run away from responsibility.

The essentials of business leadership

So what does this mean when we translate this to the world of business?

Essentially what it means is that if you are, or want to become a successful business leader, you need to:

* Understand your purpose

* Understand your goals, and your company’s goals

* Understand how to translate these to your team to ensure these goals are achieved

More often than not, leaders fail on the final step. Many a time, employees are under pressure to achieve goals that mean nothing to them – like attaining an increase in shareholder value for example. This does not translate into anything meaningful for them; they’re left instead with a picture of an abstract graph in their head, hardly something that will see them leaping out of bed in the morning. And while your team may have obscure targets placed on them, they’re still without a clue as to the actual objectives – the real purpose behind why your organisation actually exists.

Bridging the gap

So – where does that leave you? Well a successful leader will be the bridge between the company vision and the team. A successful leader will know how to communicate this vision in a way that each can understand and internalise. A successful leader will understand the difference between ‘understood goals’ and ‘taken goals’ and how to deliver this into the heart and minds of their employees. Listen on for this edition to learn how to translate powerful images to your team, and achieve your desired success!

Yours

Olaf Kapinski

 

Are you an aspiring business leader looking to improve your performance in the workplace? If you answered ‘yes’, then this podcast is for you!

Climbing the ladder of success – how to become a valued business leader

In this first episode of Live it – Lead IT, I will be discussing how it is possible for you to achieve success – for those among you that want to become better, more valuable, and achieve more in your role.

So what is success and what does it mean to you?

Success begins with having goals. If you achieve them, then you can count yourself among the successful!

Of course, we all want to be successful – it’s a common human trait. The vast majority of us today are working to achieve success and that warm feeling that comes with it – the confidence, strength and motivation. But if I were to ask you whether you are successful, how would you honestly reply?

The modest among you might be contemplating this question, hesitant in responding ‘yes’! And then there will be the others of you at the extreme ends of the spectrum.

If you answered no, then I’m afraid you have a long way to go. The first step on the path to success is to consider yourself successful – if you don’t, those around you will pick up on this, and it will be reflected in their vision of you. Success starts in the brain – you need to believe it, you need to feel it. Once you do, those around you will start believing it too!

If you replied positively, you are already over the biggest hurdle. But are you honestly successful? Many of you may have responded ‘yes’, but if you’re stagnant in your career, if you’ve been stuck in the same role for many years, and you’re not getting the recognition you deserve, it seems there may be some more work behind you before your response matches reality.

Many of you in this position may be laying the blame for a lack of recognition on your boss – it’s something I’ve heard many a time in my professional career and as a personal coach. You may think your ideas, contributions and efforts are going unacknowledged by those that matter most. But successful people do not blame others for their failure.

Gaining recognition

 Ultimately, if you’re not getting promoted, not achieving the leadership role that you seek, then really, you’re not reaching the success you could be. Until your boss regards you successful, you’ll remain relegated to the margins, remaining undervalued in your role.

So, how can you climb to the top of the career ladder, and achieve a position in which you can shine as a valuable business leader?

In this podcast I will give you tips on ensuring that you are visible among the essential decision makers in your organisation, ensuring you are one step closer to that promotion. So, listen on and unlock your potential within!

Yours

Olaf Kapinski