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“Creating Successful Leaders”

February 28, 2024 How Self-Care is Linked to Success

Many of my friends and colleagues tend to put themselves last. They go out of their way to help others, they stretch themselves thin, and they make sacrifices to support other people (whether family members or co-workers). When you’re so used to helping others, it may seem unnatural—or even selfish—to help yourself. However, that’s precisely what many of us need to do.

When we go, go, go and never stop to check in with ourselves and our personal wellbeing, we often get burnt out, irritable, and scattered. Many of us treat our vehicles better than we treat ourselves! We take our cars in for oil changes and tune-ups, we let the engine cool down after a long trip. Why can’t we treat ourselves with the same respect and care?

To me, self-care is not just a buzzword or a trend. It’s not self-centered or selfish. Rather, it is essential.

If we do not take care of ourselves, our health, relationships, and work can all suffer. Studies show that the majority of Americans do not get enough sleep or enough exercise, and that can take a serious toll on our energy levels throughout the day. But really, we don’t need studies to tell us that self-care is vital. All we have to do is pay attention to how we’re feeling. If you’re feeling unenergized, exhausted, or distracted, how will you be able to give it your all? How can you perform well at work? Or be a good friend or family member? Or rise to meet the challenges that tend to crop up on any given day?

You can’t. Or, at least, it is much more difficult to do these things when you’re not taking care of yourself. Instead of letting your personal wellbeing slip to the backburner, I challenge you to give it priority this coming month.

Here are a few ideas to practice better self-care:

  • Set aside time each day for self-reflection and relaxation
  • Engage in activities that bring you joy and help you unwind, such as reading, taking a walk, or listening to music
  • Prioritize getting enough sleep each night
  • Make healthy eating choices and fuel your body with nutritious foods
  • Stay hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day
  • Take breaks during the workday to stretch and move your body
  • Connect with loved ones and nurture your relationships
  • Practice mindfulness or meditation to reduce stress and increase focus
  • Set boundaries and learn to say no when necessary
  • Seek support from a therapist or counselor if needed
  • Be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion

Remember that self-care is not a one-time thing. It is an ongoing practice that requires consistency and commitment. By prioritizing your well-being and making self-care a daily habit, you can increase your energy levels, reduce stress, and improve your overall quality of life. So take a moment to assess your current self-care routine and make any necessary adjustments. Remember, you deserve to take care of yourself just as much as you take care of others.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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February 21, 2024 5 Ways to Command the Room

Some people seem to have a natural presence that commands attention. When they speak, people listen and pay attention. Even in a crowded meeting room, they seem to have no trouble being heard. If you are not one of these people, this may seem like a skill that is beyond your reach.

How do you develop the confidence, poise, and presence to get others to tune in to what you’re saying? How do you make sure your voice is heard? Let’s talk about 5 ways to command the room.

Use Powerful Body Language

At times, your body language can say more than your actual words. To convey confidence, stand tall with your shoulders back, and make eye contact with your audience. Use hand gestures to emphasize your points (but don’t go too wild!) and try to remain calm and at ease. Avoid crossing your arms or slouching, as this can make you appear closed off or disinterested.

Speak with Conviction

Another important aspect of commanding the room is speaking with conviction. Speak with clarity and purpose, and project your voice (but don’t shout) so others can hear you. If you mumble or speak too softly, your message can get lost and others may think you lack confidence.

Control the Pace and Tone of Your Voice

To command the room, it’s crucial to control the pace and tone of your voice. Speak slowly and clearly, allowing your words to resonate with impact. Vary your tone to convey different emotions and maintain the audience’s interest. A monotone voice can quickly lose their attention (watch a few TED Talks speeches to see how the speaker varies their voice to engage the audience).

Practice, Practice, Practice

Preparation and practice are key to commanding the room. When you know your material inside and out, you won’t have to worry about stumbling through what you need to say. It is also a good idea to anticipate any questions or criticisms that may arise (and practice your response). Practice what you’re going to say multiple times to build confidence and ensure smooth delivery. The more prepared you are, the more effectively you can command the room.

Engage with Your Audience

It is easy to lose your audience’s attention if you speak at them and not with them. The best speakers are engaging speakers—ones who encourage participation by asking questions, seeking input, or sharing relatable stories. Show genuine interest in what others have to say and actively listen to their responses. This not only establishes a connection with your audience but also keeps them paying attention and invested in your message.

Keep in mind, few people are born with the ability to command a room. This takes deliberate effort, practice, and time. You might not nail it right away, but that’s okay! Keep practicing, pay attention to how others respond to you, and don’t give up. With practice and confidence, you can become a skilled speaker who commands attention and leaves a lasting impact on your listeners.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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February 14, 2024 Improve Team Dynamics with Insights

You know it when you’re a part of it. A team with a great working relationship communicates well, respects each other, and has a great balance of creativity and strategy. This type of team has excellent rapport, and everyone feels as though they have a voice and their perspectives are respected. When you partner with a team like this, the work seems effortless and you tend to be highly productive.

How do you achieve such a “dream team”?

What can you, as a leader, do to foster the type of environment that produces great teams?

Excellent teams can be built in a number of ways, but in my experience, the very foundation of creating a great team involves getting to know your people at a deep level, and figuring out how they mesh with one another. This may seem like a daunting task, but there is actually a relatively simple tool you can use to develop this type of deep understanding of your team members: Insights® Discovery.

Insights® is a science-based program that helps people gain an intimate understanding of their personal thought patterns, behavioral tendencies, communication preferences, strengths, and more. The data gathered through assessments is analyzed and explained using a very approachable methodology: four colors. The main idea of Insights® is that we all have the capability to embrace all four colors (i.e., personality types), but we tend to prefer one or two colors over the others.

The colors are:

  • Cool Blue (analytical, thoughtful, data and strategy driven)
  • Sunshine Yellow (social, creative, idea and relationship driven)
  • Fiery Red (confident, commanding/natural leader, to-the-point)
  • Earth Green (empathetic, inclusive, pensive)

Though this is an oversimplification of the program, this gives you a general idea of the four colors and how they are associated with personalities (read more about Insights® and communication in this past blog post).

How does Insights® relate to team dynamics?

A person’s Insights® profile not only provides information and insights about how that individual functions (and their ideal environment), but also tells us how individuals relate to others. For example, we might learn that one person tends to embody many “Sunshine Yellow” qualities—they are gregarious, social, and more enthusiastic about idea generation than analytics or strategy. This person might work with someone who leans toward “Cool Blue” and is fairly quiet and reserved, likes to fully analyze the numbers, and wants to explore many options before making a decision.

If these two people do not understand A) how they, personally, tend to operate or B) how their teammate operates, they might start to clash or become frustrated with each other. On the other hand, if these individuals are fully aware of how each person tends to think, behave, and communicate, they can lean into each other’s strengths instead of clashing. Different people can be assigned different roles within the team (don’t put the Sunshine Yellow person behind a desk, crunching numbers all day; and don’t make the Cool Blue person lead a creative brainstorming session!), so everyone can shine.

I have been a Licensed Practitioner of Insights® for about a decade, and I can attest to its effectiveness. Communication and understanding improve, and suddenly teams are talking to each other using the Insights® color language (“My ‘red’ side is really anxious to get this done, but I think we should hear what the ‘blues’ have to say” or “I know this is very ‘green’ of me, but I think we should bring Becky into the conversation and see what she has to say”).

By acknowledging your own tendencies and understanding the thought patterns and preferences of others, you can begin to build a harmonious team that capitalizes on each other’s strengths and recognizes potential trouble spots. If your work team needs to improve its dynamics, consider taking a closer look at Insights®.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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