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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Tag Archives: margaret smith leadership

June 6, 2023 6 Benefits of a Virtual, On-Demand Leadership Course

Leadership is one of those things organizations can take for granted. They expect their new managers to step into their role equipped with leadership acumen. New managers, on the other hand, are often hesitant to admit their shortcomings, since they feel pressured to “prove themselves” in their new position. Asking too many basic questions might show incompetence or weakness, and that isn’t the impression they want to leave on their team.

The result of the disconnect between organizations and their leaders is that leadership skills are often not taught, but learned on the fly. That can work to a certain extent, but some lessons are hard-learned, and some skills are never learned at all.

Don’t leave it up to chance. Training managers (whether they’re new or not) in crucial leadership skills is not only a benefit to the manager, but to the organization as a whole. With the right training, managers can streamline communication, increase their effectiveness, improve team dynamics, and more.

But I know what you’re thinking: “Training can be expensive and time consuming. My organization is running on a lean budget, and we can’t afford to send our managers to a week of training.”

To mitigate costs and gain flexibility, consider exploring virtual learning…

What is Virtual Learning?

Virtual learning–sometimes referred to as online learning or e-learning–is an approach to education that allows students to participate in courses from anywhere, provided they have a computer and an internet connection. It enables people to access education from the comfort of their own home or office, removing the need to travel to a physical location.

Many virtual courses, such as my online leadership course, are learn-at-your-own pace, meaning the student can log in whenever they have a few free minutes.

The Benefits of a Virtual, On-Demand Leadership Course

Virtual learning has quickly become a preferred method of education for busy professionals. Below are some of the benefits of taking a virtual, on-demand leadership course:

It Provides Tailored Learning

Virtual learning courses provide a variety of learning mediums, from videos to reflection exercises to writing activities. This type of learning appeals to a wide range of people, as it allows individuals to pick the format that resonates best with them.

It’s Low Cost

Virtual learning courses are often much more affordable than traditional courses. This is because they don’t have the overhead costs associated with physical classrooms and resources, such as textbooks. Even though the courses are not directly taught by an instructor, you usually can access the course creator to ask any specific questions.

It’s Flexible

One of the most significant benefits of virtual learning is flexibility. Students can go at their own pace, allowing them to fit education into their busy schedules. For individuals who have full-time jobs, families, or other commitments, this can be a game-changer.

It Keeps Skills Up To Date

Even a seasoned leader’s skills can go stale if they do not regularly use them. If they, for example, do not regularly engage in difficult conversations, they may not know the best way to approach them. By taking online leadership courses, these skills can be refreshed and enhanced.

It’s Interactive

Virtual learning courses are designed to be interactive. Many online courses include opportunities for activities, discussions, deep reflection, immersive projects, and other activities that encourage interaction.

It’s Fun!

Virtual learning courses can be fun! Unlike traditional courses, virtual courses often leverage multimedia to make learning more engaging and enjoyable. Through a mix of videos, games, and interactive activities, virtual courses can make leadership education more exciting and stimulating.

Virtual learning is an excellent way for busy professionals to develop their leadership skills. By taking a virtual, on-demand course, individuals can work at their own pace, tailor their learning to their preferences, and keep their skillsets up-to-date. So why not give virtual learning a try? It could be the game-changer you need to take your leadership skills to the next level.

For more information on my online course, The 10-Minute Leadership Challenge, click here!

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 8, 2023 5 Ways to Avoid Meeting Drift

Picture yourself leading (another) Zoom meeting. You’re meeting with your usual team, and you have a rough agenda, but soon things get derailed. Someone mentions that their kids have been sick, and soon everyone’s sharing stories of family illness. This topics leads to a conversation about company policies and sick leave, which then leads to a chat about upcoming vacations. By the time you get back on track, you’ve lost your main point and everyone seems unfocused and unexcited to talk about work-related topics. You’ve lost any initial momentum your meeting had.

If this scenario sounds all too familiar, you’re not alone. “Meeting drift” is a common issue during meetings—virtual or otherwise—and can be extremely frustrating and counterproductive.

To help combat meeting drift, try following these five tips:

Stick to the Agenda.

Ensure that your agenda is concise and that everyone is familiar with it before the meeting starts. Before every meeting, take a few minutes to review the agenda with your team. Make sure everyone understands the topics up for discussion and the intended outcomes of the meeting. During the meeting, gently remind your team of the agenda and try to stay on-topic by summarizing each point before moving on

Start with a Brief Check-In

If your team is distracted by personal issues, their focus is more likely to drift during meetings. Kick off your meeting with a simple check-in question such as, “Julia, what did you do for fun this past weekend?” Or, “Will anyone be out of the office this week?” Make sure to limit the check-in time to 2-3 minutes, otherwise this can lead to an entirely new conversation.

Rotate Meeting Leads

Enlist help to keep the meeting on track by rotating the leadership role. This can help ensure everyone is engaged and can keep the conversation moving. When someone else is leading the meeting, you’ll be better able to recognize when the conversation is straying off-topic

Be Mindful of the Time

It’s easy to forget how long you’ve been talking when everyone is sharing their favorite vacation spot, and you find yourself reminiscing about your last beach trip. Set an alarm for yourself (or a timer for everyone) to keep your meeting on track and on time.

Encourage Participants to Take Notes

Writing notes by hand has a number of benefits, including better retention of the material being discussed and improved focus. Encourage your team to take notes every time you meet. As an added incentive, you might even gift each team member a quality notebook and pen at the beginning of the year (or quarter).

The key to avoiding meeting drift is to stay on top of it and be mindful of your team’s focus. By sticking to an agenda, providing brief check-ins, rotating meeting leads, staying conscious of the time, and encouraging participants to take notes, you’ll be able to ensure that meetings stay productive and meaningful.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 

HER NEW EBOOK IS CALLED A QUICK GUIDE TO COURAGE.

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January 11, 2023 Leaders: 4 Ways to Identify Your Team’s Strengths

One of the wonderful things about humanity is that we’re all so different, and we embody many different traits. Our distinct personalities can lead to powerful innovations, creative solutions, and out-of-the-box thinking. But it can also lead to conflicts, clashing, and misunderstandings. Have you ever tried to assign a highly collaborative leadership task to an extreme introvert? Or asked a “numbers person” to lead a creative brainstorming session.

It can be beneficial, of course, to stretch our abilities and challenge ourselves to reach outside our comfort zones. However, everyone has their limits. A social person who thrives on interpersonal interactions and teamwork can only take solo data entry work for so long. Soon, they’ll be miserable and, possibly, looking for an exit.

As a leader, it’s smart to identify your team members’ strengths and capitalize on them. Develop an understanding of their strengths by doing the following:

1. Ask them directly what they excel at, what they enjoy doing, and what their goals are. You might be surprised by how quickly people open up when talking about these topics.

2. Turn to a trustworthy assessment test for guidance. As an LP of Insights Discovery, I’m a big proponent of the Insights program. Rooted in social science, Insights Discovery identifies four key personality types (Cool Blue, Fiery Red, Sunshine Yellow, Earth Green) and outlines their inherent strengths and weaknesses. This can be used as a starting point to understand each individual’s potential. For more information, see my past blog post on Insights.

3. Observe each person on the job. What tasks do they excel at? How do they respond to different situations? Do they seem energized or drained after certain tasks? Taking note of these cues can help you better understand how to delegate tasks for maximum efficiency.

4. Listen to your team members’ feedback. They may have ideas on how they can best contribute to the team’s goals. They may be frustrated with processes or tasks they feel they are over- or under-qualified for. Address these issues and strive to create an environment in which everyone can utilize their strengths.

Once you’ve determined each team member’s strengths, you can start assigning tasks and roles that challenge and inspire. Letting team members play to their strengths can lead to greater satisfaction, higher morale, and better team performance. As a leader, it’s vitally important to recognize everyone’s unique gifts, and use them to drive the team forward and foster a more motivated, happier team.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 

HER NEW EBOOK IS CALLED A QUICK GUIDE TO COURAGE.

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