Describing Leaders: In Charge? Or Influential? by Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta If you asked 20 people to describe the characteristics of a powerful leader today, you’d probably get 20 different answers. So how can we effectively and concisely describe the essence of a successful leader in our current business environment—with the backdrop of global competition, splintering markets, and whiplash-inducing advances in technology? One word: influence. While great leaders years ago were often seen as being in charge, great leaders today are considered Read More
QUIT Settling for a Less Than ENGAGED Team
QUIT Settling for a Less Than ENGAGED Team
A Single Shift in Focus Can Dramatically Impact Results By Leadership Expert, Keynote Speaker and Author Connie Podesta What do we mean by engaged? Listens. Observes. Communicates. Offers ideas. And solutions. Appears happy most of the time. Enthusiastic. Works well with others. And likes their job. Most of the time me. Is that all? No way. One, they are more fun and easier to work with. Two, they contribute big time to a company’s bottom line. And three, they keep the energy rolling and the workplace on fire. How cool is that? Why are some employees engaged and others not? An Read More
Taking Care of Yourself is Smart Business
Taking Care of Yourself is Smart Business
A Leader-to-Leader Thought for the Day By Business Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta As leaders, we are aware that our employees will produce more. Sell more. Lead better. Collaborate easier. Increase production. And attract more customers when they are being positively supported, engaged, respected and encouraged. In other words, the better we are at creating and sustaining a healthy environment for our team, the healthier, happier, and more productive they will be. What we often forget, however, is that a healthy work/home environment always starts with a healthy Read More
Psychological Leadership Hack
Psychological Leadership Hack
Listen FIRST! By Connie Podesta, Business Motivational Speaker, and Human Behavior Expert There are a LOT of leaders who come into their position waving their “I'm the boss” flag like gangbusters. You know the type. Hit everyone with new rules. New ideas. New ways. Grand proclamations about being IN CHARGE! Start marking territory. Um… psychologically speaking? That’s the fastest way to send your team upside down and underground awaiting your fall from grace. Here’s a leadership hack for you: START by LISTENING. What? How novel! When people feel like they are being HEARD and Read More
How to Stand Out From the Crowd
How to Stand Out From the Crowd
And Why That’s More Important Than EVER By Motivational Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta I always tell my audiences, "If there was ever a time to differentiate yourself and Stand Out From The Crowd--it is NOW! Business as usual is over!" Bottom line: To rise to the top and stay there as an organization you must be able to answer this #1 question: "What do you bring to the table that is so unique, outstanding, so UNEXPECTEDLY awesome--that people would CHOOSE to do business with you, partner with you, buy from you, and trust you - rather than someone else?” Because the truth is Read More
LEADERSHIP—What Works and What Doesn’t!
LEADERSHIP—What Works and What Doesn’t!
And How You Can Make it WORK For You By Leadership Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta As I work with leaders, managers and supervisors around the world, I keep running into the same four leadership styles. One is amazingly effective and promotes a healthy, productive environment and the other three? Well they do exactly the opposite. They create havoc. Lack of motivation. Disruption. Teams that can’t work together. Low productivity. Resistance to change. And high turnover. Let’s take a look at what DOESN”T work first. Number one: The micro-manager. You know the type. Overachieving, Read More
Like It or Not: You ARE a Leader
Like It or Not: You ARE a Leader
Leadership Perceptions De-Bunked By Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker Connie Podesta Bottom line? YOU ARE A LEADER. All the time. Whether you’re at work or at home. Employed or stay at home parent. Paid job or volunteer. Willing or unwilling. Honestly? It doesn’t make any difference what you do or choose not do. Even if you THINK you are a follower and always avoid center stage, you can’t escape the fact that you are ALWAYS in the position to influence other people’s thoughts, actions and attitudes. That’s quite a responsibility. We influence others all the time. By what we say and Read More
How to Unlock the Potential Within Your Leadership Team
How to Unlock the Potential Within Your Leadership Team
Innovative Insights from Motivational Speaker Connie Podesta By Julie Escobar, Syndicated Columnist In a time when many organizations are working hard to grow their business, customer base, sales and profitability, savvy leaders are turning to industry experts for advice, motivation and real-world strategies for powerful change. I asked just such an industry expert -- Motivational Speaker and leadership expert Connie Podesta for her take on what’s working (and what’s not) for corporations and organizations today. Julie: Connie – what I love about you is that you’ve seen it ALL! As Read More
The Number One Mistake Leaders Make? The Answer Might Surprise You
The Number One Mistake Leaders Make? The Answer Might Surprise You
By Leadership Keynote Speaker and Author Connie Podesta I’ve been an expert in human behavior for more than 25 years. So when I was asked recently what my number one advice tip would be to leaders and managers who wanted higher results and productivity from their employees, my answer was immediate. Hands down: STOP ignoring behavior you don’t want repeated. Honestly – this is the number one mistake that leaders make – and they make it OFTEN. Bottom line: Most people do not like confrontation. As a result, they tend to rationalize, look away, or make excuses for behaviors, attitudes, Read More
Leadership…How to be the Person Others Want to Follow!
Leadership…How to be the Person Others Want to Follow!
The Power of Influence and Empowerment By Business Motivational Speaker and Human Relations Expert Connie Podesta Bottom line? If there was ever a time this world needs great leaders--it is NOW! But let there be no doubt about it, Leadership and helping others succeed? Is a TOUGH job. It’s both a privilege and a life-changing responsibility. As a leader, YOU have a direct impact on other people’s successes (or failures) as a result of: Your Choices. Your intellect. Your creativity. Your power to influence. Your Integrity. And your ability to coach, mentor and teach others Read More