Have you ever considered the secret sauce of effective leadership? It boils down to setting effective boundaries. These aren't just lines drawn in the sand but the framework that fosters a culture of respect, balance, and trust. Good boundaries empower teams, streamline processes, and support leaders' well-being, paving the way for everyone to reach their peak potential.

I had to learn over time the importance of setting boundaries at work and have spent a good amount of time teaching my fellow employee owners how to create better boundaries and to role model what healthy boundaries look like. In this week’s episode of Reflect Forward, I share my tips on how to create, role model, and accept others’ boundaries.

Clear Communication is Key

Transparency is crucial. Explaining the 'why' behind boundaries helps team members buy in. For example, a "no emails after 6 PM" rule, when framed as a way to ensure work-life balance, becomes more than just a guideline—it becomes a shared value.

Lead by Example

Actions speak volumes. When leaders adhere to their own rules, it reinforces their importance and encourages the team to follow suit, creating a culture of accountability and respect.

Consistency Matters

Consistency in applying boundaries is essential for their effectiveness. It ensures fairness and predictability, reinforcing the importance of the rules set.

Empower Through Delegation

Boundaries enable leaders to delegate more effectively, encouraging team members to take ownership and innovate within defined limits, fostering a sense of autonomy and confidence.

Adaptability is Crucial

Boundaries should evolve with the team's needs. Being open to feedback and willing to adjust keeps the work environment dynamic and supportive.

In essence, setting boundaries is about creating an environment where leadership and teams can thrive. It's about clear communication, leading by example, consistency, empowerment through delegation, and adaptability. This approach not only sets the stage for success but also nurtures a healthy, productive work culture.

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Dr. Theresa Larson, commonly referred to as "Dr. T," believes that well-being is a sustainable competitive advantage. Theresa is renowned for her enduring commitment to wellness and strength as both the founder of Movement Rx and a proud veteran of the Marine Corps. Having personally navigated the complexities of mental and physical injuries, her experiences have spurred a deep-rooted dedication to helping businesses owners and leaders face difficulties such as client attrition, employee retention, and scalability issues that can result from their own compromised mental or physical well-being. Movement Rx has been honored with the prestigious Force for Good award, reflecting their unwavering commitment to promoting healthy leadership and organizational well-being. Dr. T and her team are hard at work building a community of business owners and leaders who are resilient, healthy, and happier in all they do.

Episode in a Tweet: Leaders must ensure employees are healthy and present enough to do their best work by introducing them to simple self-care secrets that improve physical AND emotional health.

Background: Dr. Theresa Larson is dedicated to equipping individuals and organizations with the essential knowledge and tools required for sustained physical and emotional well-being. She believes that the foundation of an organization's health, progress, and overall well-being lies in its leadership. Consequently, she collaborates with companies that give precedence to their employees' health, happiness, and satisfaction.

In this week's episode of Reflect Forward, Theresa and I discuss why well-being at the leadership level is important for setting the tone and ensuring leaders have the energy and stamina to lead well. She tells us why leaders need to ensure employees are healthy and present enough to do their best work by introducing them to simple self-care secrets that simultaneously improve physical AND emotional health. Theresa talks about the five pillars of well-being and why her overarching goal is to help organizations create a culture of physical freedom, where movement and leadership are integrated into every aspect of work and life.

How to find Theresa:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtheresalarson/

Website: www.movement-rx.com

Calendly: https://calendly.com/drtheresalarson

Free download: https://movementrx.typeform.com/lifestylerx

Lifestyle Rx Theresa spoke about on the podcast: https://movement-rx.com/be-well-to-lead-well-retreat/

Please considering buying my book, The Ownership Mindset, on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

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Have you ever wondered how to cultivate an exceptional culture? Ultimately, a great company culture positively impacts employees' well-being, both at work and in their personal lives, and I've seen firsthand how it can drive success and growth within our organization.

During this week's episode of Reflect Forward, I share a story about an employee survey we recently conducted at StoneAge and how the results were remarkable. It validated that our efforts to build a world-class culture of care are paying off. And then I share five ways to cultivate an exceptional culture.

Here’s a summary of my five tips:

Lead by Example: Company culture starts at the top. Leaders and managers should set the tone by embodying the values and behaviors they want to see in the organization. When employees see their leaders actively living the company's culture, they are more likely to follow suit.

Define Core Values: Clearly define your company's core values. These should reflect the beliefs and principles that guide your organization. Ensure that these values are communicated to all employees and integrated into various aspects of the company, from hiring to performance evaluations.

Foster Open Communication: Encourage open and honest communication throughout the organization. Create channels for employees to share their ideas, concerns, and feedback. Listen actively to their input and take appropriate action to address their needs and suggestions.

Recognize and Reward: Acknowledge and reward employees who embody the company's culture and values. Recognition can take many forms, including praise, awards, or promotions. Recognizing and appreciating employees' contributions can motivate them to continue aligning with the desired culture.

Invest in Employee Development: Support the growth and development of your employees. Provide training, mentorship programs, and opportunities for advancement. When employees feel that the company is invested in their personal and professional growth, they are more likely to be committed to the organization's culture.

Remember that cultivating an exceptional culture is an ongoing process that requires commitment and consistency from leadership and all employees. It's also important to periodically assess the culture to ensure it remains aligned with the company's goals and values.

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LaQuita Cleare, CEO of Clear Communication Academy, is a highly sought-after public speaking and storytelling expert who transforms CEOs, companies, entrepreneurs, politicians, royal families and public figures into powerful, engaging communicators.

LaQuita's degree in Psychology enables her work to be science/research-based. At the same time, her unique background in Hollywood allows her to help audiences use the magic of storytelling to motivate, inspire and persuade.

Over the past decade, she has worked on stages and screens in more than 50 countries across five continents, speaking at numerous prestigious schools and events such as Harvard, Loyola University, Milan Polytechnico, and INSEAD Business School. She has worked with leading companies like Chase, Covergirl, Ikea, RR Donnelley, and Pepsi and is a top-rated resource for YPO, the leading business organization with over 30,000 members. She has also been featured on ABC, FX Network, Lifetime, and LA Talk Radio.

With her experience and background, LaQuita has created The Engagement CodeTM, a signature and trademarked method that helps people to engage audiences of all sizes.

LaQuita believes in the power of words to create meaningful change and impact, and she is on a mission to help audiences use stories to create tangible business impact.

Episode in a Tweet: Leaders who invest in their storytelling skills inspire others, create movements, and connect with people at a deeper level.

Background: I met LaQuita several years ago at a CEO conference where she taught leaders how to tell stories on stage – impromptu. After seeing my peers transform with a few pointers, I knew I had to work with her. LaQuita has been my communication and speech coach for the past two years, and the results have been remarkable. She’s helped me tell powerful stories that inspire action and refine my stage presence. She’s been so impactful that I knew you would want to learn from her, too.

During this episode, LaQuita gives actionable tips on being more vulnerable – even when it makes you uncomfortable, crafting compelling stories that move people and being yourself on stage or in front of a camera. She also talks about her upcoming storytelling conference for women, Rock My Story, held in LA on February 22nd and 23rd. LaQuita is a total rockstar and I know you will love this interview.

How to find LaQuita:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laquitacleare/

Clear Communications LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearcommunicationacademy/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laquitacleare/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laquitacleare/

Website: https://www.clearcommunicationacademy.com/

Order my book, The Ownership Mindset, on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Subscribe to my podcast Reflect Forward on iTunes

Or check out my new YouTube Channel, where you can watch full-length episodes of Advice From a CEO!

And if you are looking for a keynote speaker or a podcast guest, click here to book a meeting with me to discuss what you are looking for!

In a world that often seems shadowed by complexities, it's crucial to remember the power of doing things that bring good feelings. While the media may focus on the darker side of life, an undeniable truth often goes unsung: you can embrace countless positive moments every day. You can choose to focus on the good and embody a positive mindset.

In this week's episode of Reflect Forward, I discuss why you should focus on well-being and doing things that make you and others feel good. We review personal and professional well-being actions such as practicing gratitude, eating healthy, minimizing complaining, and investing in relationships. From a professional perspective, I discuss leading with empathy, creating a positive workplace, balancing accountability with compassion, and embracing lifelong learning.

By integrating practical steps into your daily routines, you can make 2024 a year of positive growth and well-being. I encourage you to take actionable steps to feel good and inspire those around you to do the same.

And if you're not feeling good on a given day? That's okay. There will no doubt be difficult days. Maybe even weeks or months. I offer tips like practicing mindfulness, walking and keeping things in perspective during a rough period.

This episode is here to inspire you to rise above negativity and focus on well-being. You can make 2024 a year of personal and professional evolution, prioritizing well-being in all aspects of your lives and those of your team.

Please consider ordering my book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Subscribe to my podcast Reflect Forward on iTunes

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And if you are looking for a keynote speaker or a podcast guest, click here to book a meeting with me to discuss what you are looking for!

With over 30 years of experience in the computer software industry, Rudy Alexander is a visionary with proven ability to bring technology to market and developing successful companies. In his current role as President of Breadware, his knowledge of IoT and what the future of tech looks like offers a unique perspective. Rudy has an extensive background in mergers ,acquisitions and capital structure in both domestic and international companies. Rudy was the co-founder of 11Giraffes, which developed and provided software to assist retailers in using their digital media more effectively. He has authored several white papers in the software industry and was featured on World Business Review. Rudy was honored with the Charlotte Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award and is a founding member of Charlotte’s Business Innovation and Growth Council.

Episode in a Tweet: I'm overly optimistic and have to find the balance between being optimistic and keeping it real. Sometimes you have to come out and say it like it is, no matter how hard it is to hear.

Background: In this week's episode of Reflect Forward, I interview Rudy Alexander, President of Breadware. Breadware is a subsidiary of StoneAge, and I thought it would be fun to interview Rudy so you all could get an inside peak of what it's actually like to lead in a StoneAge company. Breadware is an IoT (Internet of Things) Solutions company that helps industrial OEMs build smart products and solutions, transforming indiusrty through data insights.

Rudy shares his insight on how he has transformed as a leader as he has transformed Breadware. We discuss humitly, transparency, and how he continues to learn about himself everday.

How to find Rudy:

Website: https://breadware.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudy-alexander-148ab66/

Please consider ordering my book, The Ownership Mindset, on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Subscribe to my podcast Reflect Forward on iTunes

Or check out my new YouTube Channel, where you can watch full-length episodes of Advice From a CEO!

And if you are looking for a keynote speaker or a podcast guest, click here to book a meeting with me to discuss what you are looking for!

Title: The Power of Owning Your Mindset

Episode in a Tweet: When you own your mindset, you can change the trajectory of your life and career. Your mindset is always a choice, so choose it wisely.

Embracing a proactive and positive mindset at work goes beyond having a good attitude. It's a strategic approach that significantly influences career progression, productivity, and job satisfaction. A strong mindset fosters resilience, adaptability, and creativity, while a negative one can trap you in a cycle of victimhood, limiting growth.

The Significance of a Positive Mindset

A positive mindset is a formidable asset in the workplace. Gallup studies show that employees with a positive mindset are 37% more engaged and 21% more productive. The Harvard Business Review also notes that such individuals often achieve faster promotions and greater success.

Five Strategies to Enhance Your Mindset at Work:

You Are in Charge of Your Career: Take charge of your career by actively seeking growth opportunities. View challenges as stepping stones, not obstacles. Studies suggest that individuals who actively manage their career development are 47% more motivated.

Developing Resilience: Build resilience by crafting strategies to manage stress and setbacks. This includes practicing mindfulness, setting realistic expectations, and maintaining a healthy work-life integration. Resilient individuals are 30% more productive.

Manage Your Emotions: Effectively managing emotions in high-pressure situations is key. Balancing emotional awareness with control over your reactions enhances your effectiveness and contributes to a stable work environment.

Goal Setting and Visualization: Set clear goals like a successful book launch and visualize the outcome. For instance, planning to sell 3000 copies of "The Ownership Mindset" involves strategic marketing and visualization of success, leading to a 33% increase in performance.

Cultivating Positive Relationships: Building strong relationships with your team involves more than work discussions. Understand their perspectives and show genuine concern for their well-being, leading to a 50% increase in job satisfaction.

The Risks of a Negative Mindset: The Victim Mentality

Recognizing a victim mentality is crucial. This mentality manifests as blaming others and feeling powerless. Counter it by acknowledging your responsibility, focusing on gratitude, seeking balanced feedback, and setting achievable goals to foster empowerment and resilience.

Taking charge of your mindset is pivotal for a successful career. Implement these strategies and work towards a positive mindset to unlock your potential and enjoy a rewarding career path. Remember, the choice of mindset is yours, and positivity leads to more success and satisfaction.

Question of the Week

This week’s question comes from a follower on LinkedIn who asked, “How do you prevent your team from being overwhelmed by false urgency?”

When everything feels important and like a fire drill, people lose motivation, burnout and experience job dissatisfaction. Listen in to hear my tips on how to prioritize effectively and reduce the chaos,

Please consider ordering my book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Subscribe to my podcast Reflect Forward on iTunes

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And if you are looking for a keynote speaker or a podcast guest, click here to book a meeting with me to discuss what you are looking for!

Transparent Leadership: How To Do It and Why It Matters

Episode in a Tweet: Transparency is essential for leaders because it helps to build trust and create a positive work culture. Don't be a leader who keeps their employees in the dark.

Transparent leadership matters. Why? Because it helps to build trust and create a positive work culture. When leaders are transparent, they are open and honest about their actions and decisions, which helps to foster transparency among team members and throughout the organization.

In this week's episode of Reflect Forward: Advice From a CEO, we talk about transparent leadership and I share tips on being more transparent and avoiding common pitfalls.

When there is more transparency among team members, they tend to have better communication, collaboration, decision-making, and a greater sense of accountability and responsibility. Additionally, transparency can help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts and create a more positive and inclusive work environment.

So how can leaders be more transparent?

There are several ways that leaders can be more transparent in the workplace:

Communicate openly and honestly: Leaders should be open and honest about their actions and decisions and communicate clearly and transparently with team members.

Practice transparency in decision-making: Leaders should be transparent about how decisions are made and involve team members in the decision-making process whenever possible.

Share information: Leaders should be open and transparent about relevant information to the team or organization and ensure that team members have access to the information they need to do their jobs effectively.

Be approachable: Leaders should be open to feedback and suggestions from team members and be willing to listen to and address any concerns or questions that team members may have.

Set an example: Leaders should model transparent behavior and encourage transparency throughout the organization by being open and honest in their actions and communication.

What are some pitfalls leaders make when being transparent?

Over-sharing: Leaders need to be open and honest, but it's also important to be mindful of what information is appropriate to share. There may be some confidential or sensitive information, and leaders need to be careful not to over-share or disclose information that could harm the organization or individuals.

Being too vague: Leaders should be transparent and open, but they must be clear and specific in their communication. If leaders are too vague or ambiguous in their messaging, it can lead to confusion and mistrust.

Not following through: If leaders make promises to be transparent, they need to follow through on those promises. If they fail to do so, it can erode trust and undermine their credibility.

Question of the Week

"Have you ever changed your mind as a leader? How do you do it without losing face?"

Absolutely! I think the willingness to change your mind is one of the most important attributes of a leader. We must continually challenge our thinking and seek the best information to develop accurate assessments and opinions. More accurate beliefs lead to good decisions. And making good decisions is what leadership is all about.

If you want to read a great book on the power of changing your mind, check out Persuadable: How Great Leaders Change Their Minds to Change the World. And listen to the whole episode to learn more!

Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Subscribe to my podcast Reflect Forward on iTunes

Or check out my new YouTube Channel, where you can watch full-length episodes of Advice From a CEO!

And if you are looking for a keynote speaker or a podcast guest, click here to book a meeting with me to discuss what you are looking for!

Matt Tenney is an expert on developing highly effective leaders. He is the author of the highly acclaimed book Serve To Be Great: Leadership Lessons from a Prison, a Monastery, and a Boardroom. Over the last nine years, Matt has delivered keynotes and training programs that help improve employee engagement and retention to hundreds of clients, including companies like Salesforce, T. Rowe Price, Roche, Marriott, Keller Williams, L’ Oreal, and many others. Matt is an active CEO working to build the best workplace culture in the world, hoping to inspire you to do the same.

Episode in a Tweet: Leaders change the world when they consistently positively impact their team members’ well-being.

Background: Matt Tenney helps leaders to achieve better business outcomes while simultaneously becoming happier, kinder, more generous, and more compassionate. He is passionate about inspiring people to become servant leaders. He focuses on applying mindfulness training to improve business acumen, increase emotional intelligence, enhance creativity and innovation, improve the ability to manage change, and develop extraordinary leadership presence.

During this episode, Matt and I discuss building strong, resilient cultures by focusing on people first. He shares his 4-step process for being a leader who inspires high levels of engagement, including giving and receiving feedback – something near and dear to me. Matt provides statistics on why the most critical engagement enhancements come through teaching managers how to listen to and develop their teams. As we all know, people usually quit managers, not companies.

My favorite quote from the episode is, “The primary job of a leader is to inspire greatness.” I couldn’t agree more. To be a great leader, you must build great teams.

I know you’ll love this episode. I will ask all the managers at StoneAge to listen to it as it’s filled with actionable tips and solid advice. Let me know what you think!

How to Find Matt:

Website: https://www.matttenney.com/engagement-and-retention-help/

Article on the 14 Leadership Skills: https://businessleadershiptoday.com/what-are-leadership-skills-examples/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matttenney/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattTenneyServes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/matttenney1

Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Subscribe to my podcast Reflect Forward on iTunes

Or check out my new YouTube Channel, where you can watch full-length episodes of Advice From a CEO!

Inventor and Belgian-born author Clément Decrop found purpose in life through mindfulness and innovation. He moved to the United States with his family at the age of six, where he learned English and how to navigate the world. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State, Decrop has worked across the globe, including France, Spain, the United Emirates, and then back home in the United States.

Clément is also the author of “The Idea Space: The Science of Awakening Your Non-Self,” which delves into the depths of consciousness by introducing a revolutionary solution to Einstein’s field equation to describe the mind, accessible to the layperson. Clément guides readers to view their thoughts objectively and identify their impact, helping people discover a happier existence and a deeper understanding of their life’s purpose.

As a Global Educator since 2018, Clément has shared his wisdom on meditation, sleep, exercise, and nutrition with thousands of eager participants across 40 countries. His innovative spirit led him to collaborate with numerous inventors from Wikipedia’s Most Prolific Inventors List, resulting in 130-plus patent disclosures within one year, 50-plus filed, and 20-plus issued as of late 2023.

Episode in a Tweet: I think happiness is an emotion and emotions are hard to put into words – they are quite an ineffable experience. But when you are happy, you can feel it, bringing more joy to your work.

Background: Clément Decrop is one brilliant human being. During this week’s episode of Reflect Forward, Clément and I dive into all kinds of topics, including mindfulness, innovation, quantum mechanics, the theory of relativity, and why bringing happiness and joy to others improves life. Clément shares his passion for helping people find purpose through mindfulness and innovation, which inspired him to write his book The Idea Space: The Science of Awakening Your Non-Self. Clément is so down to earth and his kindness and brilliance shine through. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did. Have a listen and let me know what you think.

How to find Clément:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clementdecrop/

Website (1st chapter FREE): www.TheIdeaSpace.io

100 Mindful Prompts: www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2758S14

100 Daily Meditations: www.amazon.com/dp/B0B647FYFC

The Idea Space Book: www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH1HL81M

Please consider ordering my book, The Ownership Mindset, on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Subscribe to my podcast Reflect Forward on iTunes

Or check out my new YouTube Channel, where you can watch full-length episodes of Advice From a CEO!

And if you are looking for a keynote speaker or a podcast guest, click here to book a meeting with me to discuss what you are looking for!