Archive for the 'Business Education' Category

Ever wondered why some people are successful and some seem to always struggle? Obviously there are many reasons, but if you study the lives of successful people, and successful organizations, you will find some common denominators. I have spent my entire career studying these type people and organizations, and have found the following to be traits that we all need to apply (and reapply) to our lives.

Follow your passion. One of the key elements to success in life and business is having a passion for what you do. There is no limit to what you can accomplish when you feel passionate about it. Passion is the fuel that gets you out of bed in the morning, helps you endure while performing tasks that you don’t consider enjoyable, and gives you the strength to successfully deal with problems and challenges. To find your passion you might ask yourself the following questions:

• What would I do if I could not fail?
• What would I do if I had all the money in the world?
• What situation (on the evening news or in the daily paper) touches my heart the most?
• What type person, culture, lifestyle, and/or material item am I drawn to the most?

Have a clear idea about what you want to do. In just a few days most of us will do the same the same thing. Along about the time we are watching the New Year’s Day parade we will begin to think about 2006. We will begin dreaming about what we want to accomplish, how much weight we want to lose, or the relationships we hope to have formed by year’s end. Most call these New Year’s Resolutions, but by the end of the year we look back and realize that we didn’t accomplished all that we had hoped to accomplish.

How to accomplish your resolutions, or you may call them goals? There are three basic but very important steps to take.

• Dream what you want.
• Decide why you want it.
• Determine a plan to get it. This is the step that I feel most people leave out, but perhaps could be the most important of the three.

Find a niche and be the best you can be. Booker T. Washington once said, “Do the common things uncommonly well.” John Eldredge in Wild At Heart wrote, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Both of these people give us good advice. Once you find what makes you come alive, and do it uncommonly well, you will discover that you have found your passion. If your passion turns out to be a love for the elderly then find your niche in helping or working with senior adults in your community.

[As you can see, all of these traits connect to one another.]

Make a difference. It has been said that the only thing that lasts long after you are gone is the relationships that you leave behind. In some respects that is true. All the money you made will not be in your pocket, and property deeds will not be along side you in your coffin. However, there is something else that will continue long after you pass from this world to the next. If you look into the history books you will find people that made a difference. We still feel the impact of their existence. I can think of at least two things that you can begin doing today that will extend your difference making ability long after you are gone.

• Live a life that is worth remembering and writing about. Statues in the town square are always erected in the memory of someone that made a real difference, and most are of people that did the common things uncommonly well.
• Start something that will out live you. “Like what”, you ask? Well, there is a person that you probably have never heard of, his name is Grant Powell. About twenty years ago Grant moved his little family to a small unheard of town in Florida. He had a dream of making a real difference in the community and worked hard at doing just that. After being in that town for about ten years Grant and his wife Jennifer begin to have a dream of starting a private school that would not only teach the “3 Rs” but would do it with class and excellence.

This school is now a reality with hundreds of children attending each day, and ground being broken for new educational buildings to be built. In short, Grant has started something that will not only out live him, but his children and their children.

Keep it simple. There is an old saying that I would like to change. You might have heard it put this way; K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid. I would like to change it to be Keep It Short and Simple. Many times we make life so complicated. Some of us carry a cell phone in their pockets, keep a PDA on our desks, and two or three calendars pasted to our refrigerators. The secret is to do what you do best and stick to it. Don’t make things more complicated than they are. Much of this is a mental exercise that you must go through each day. If you apply the following examples you will live a very simple life.

• Live your life to the fullest each and every day.
• Love your family members as if you will never see them again.
• Let your passion drive your career.

Go with your instincts. Never under estimate your instincts or intuition. If you have to work hard at selling yourself on an idea, it is probably not a good idea. Your instincts are like muscles, they get stronger the more you use them.

Value your time and be a good time manager.

• Take Charge. Decide now that you will get on top of managing your own time. Remind yourself that poor time-management is nobody else’s responsibility but your own.
• Be Decisive. Don’t put off decisions. Remember there’s often time later to reverse an early decision, there’s rarely time to correct a late one.
• Prioritize. Decide what is worth an allocation of your precious time and what is not. Don’t let others set your time agenda.
• Plan extensively. You can use a pocket or desktop PC, or a Franklin organizer, either way take five minutes each morning to review the day ahead. And…
  • Plan tomorrow today.
  • Plan next week this week.
  • Plan next month this month
  • Plan next year this year.
• Delegate. Give away what others can do so they can begin to reach their potential, and you yours.

You know the story - a chicken and a pig are walking down the street and run in to a homeless man that is very hungry. The chicken immediately says to the pig, “Hey, why don’t we make him a bacon and egg breakfast?” The pig responds, “Are you kidding, that is only a contribution for you but a real commitment for me.”

Commitment - are you committed and if so, what to? Some thoughts for you to ponder?

1. Commitment usually is discovered in the midst of adversity
2. Commitment does not depend on gifts or abilities
3. Commitment comes as a result of choice, not conditions
4. Commitment lasts when it’s based on values

Not sure what you should be committed to? Let me offer a free e-course that will help you and your business get on the right track. Sign up today! Click on the get started link at the top of the page, then the Help My Business Graphic in the middle.

Recently I had the opportunity to speak to several business entrepreneurs. My goal, as is my goal every time I teach, was to challenge them. The topic that day was succeeding through failure. I asked questions like: raise your hand if you are a failure and raise you hand if you have ever failed. I explained that the real question is not “whether” you will fail, but “when” you will fail and then how you can grow in the process.

We looked at several aspects of succeeding through failure. I even shared with them what it takes to overcome through failure. I shared a quote from Michael Jordan, “I’ve missed over 9000 shots in my career, I’ve lost over 300 games, 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed, I’ve failed over and over again in my life - and this is why I succeed.”

However, after I taught this lesson I began to think about succeeding and being a success. The more I thought about it the more I realized that it is often harder to succeed after a success than it is after a failure. Thus, the topic of this Footprints and Monuments.

Before we get into this, let me give you a definition for success; something to base your thinking on as you read the rest of this article. Booker T. Washington stated that success is, “Doing the common things uncommonly well.” This definition does not necessarily have to do with living in a five bedroom house, driving a very expensive automobile, wearing $6,000 suits, or having a membership at a very exclusive country club; but it might.

Just ask Michael Jordan, or any other winning sports star, and he will tell you that it is extremely hard to repeat success. Thirty-four years ago the Miami Dolphins set a new NFL record. What did they do? They had a perfect season, winning every game. They not only had playing football figured out, but obviously every one of their opponents. The Dolphins’ offense instinctively new what the other team’s defense was planning, and the Dolphin defense was equally prepared. The next season (1973), the Dolphins had a good year (12-2) but what happened? In fact, in the following seasons the team began to lose more games until in 1976 they lost more games than they won (6-8). What went wrong in just five seasons???

Succeeding after success is very difficult. A success today will not guarantee a success tomorrow. To prove a well-known theory wrong, “Doing the same thing over and over will not always accomplish the same thing.” Being successful seems to cause our human minds to become complacent. In other words, we get comfortable and tell ourselves to just do what we did before. However, failure causes pain in that same human mind. That pain causes us to dig down deep and work harder, smarter, and look for ways to succeed like never before.

So, how do we string several successes together so we don’t have to feel the pain of failure? After many years of researching this and going through many failures myself I have a few tips.

1. Forget the past. Don’t get me wrong, you need to celebrate your successes; and learn from both successes and failures. This celebration causes incredible feelings in your brain, feelings that your brain will begin to crave. However, the past is a canceled check. It is over. My friend Pat Williams (former executive with the Philadelphia 76ers) once wrote that he found himself starting a new season staring at his recently won NBA championship ring. Then he realized that that season was over, and if the team was going to be successful they would all need to forget the past and work hard to achieve the future that they wanted; another championship.

2. Never be satisfied with the status quo. Let’s be honest, when we win at something, a game of checkers, a hotdog eating contest, or beating your spouse home in your unofficial Daytona 500, you have a feeling of satisfaction. We love this feeling, but this feeling will cause us to begin to accept the status quo. And, as the 1972 Miami Dolphins team members will tell you, that feeling will not drive you to succeed in the future.

3. Stick-to-it. This has to do with passion. Passion is what gets you out of bed in the morning. It is what gets you on that treadmill when everyone else you know is still in bed, it is what keeps you up at night working in your office, and it is what brings you home to your family. In order to repeat success you must have a stick-to-it passion. You can’t give up, you can succeed, and you can win!

4. Plan your future. This has to do with your goals, dreams and focus. I recently had a good example of this happen to me. For the first time in my life I went to a batting cage with a friend of mine. Remember, it was my first time. I put on the batting helmet, grabbed a bat, and stepped into the cage to hit some baseballs. My friend pushed the button and the war was on. All I knew was this machine would be throwing baseballs at me, at a speed that I normally drive my car. The first ball came out and “smack”, it hit the fence just behind the make-shift home plate. The second ball did the same thing. I hadn’t even moved my bat and I had two strikes on me. Then my friend told me to watch (focus) the mechanical arm that was throwing the balls. The ball came out and I hit it. Ah, I have this figured out now. After a few more pitches I got bored with just hitting balls. I told my friend, which he quickly bet me lunch that I couldn’t do, that I was going to hit a ball back through the small hole (goal setting) where the balls were coming from. Not only did I enjoy a free lunch but I realized that I no longer focused on hitting the ball, but focused on where I wanted the ball to go. I was so focused and desired (dream) to hit that baseball back through the hole where it came from that I soon found success.

5. Play your game. In order to continue succeeding you must play your game. If your skill level is a five, then don’t try to live your life succeeding at an eight skill level. You will probably not reach the skill level of a Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Mary Kay, or Omar Periu over night. In fact, I would be willing to bet that you won’t. Furthermore, if you try to play your game at their skill level you will get discouraged and you will find yourself making excuses as to why you are not succeeding. Play your game, at your skill level, and you will continually improve. Improvement will result in success, success that will result into you accomplishing your greatest dreams.

Building Block #1: Achieve and handle success

Ever wondered why some people are successful and some seem to always struggle? Obviously there are many reasons, but if you study the lives of successful people, and successful organizations, you will find some common denominators. I have spent my entire career studying these type people and organizations, and have found the following to be traits that we all need to apply (and reapply) to our lives.

• Follow your passion. One of the key elements to success in life and business is having a passion for what you do. There is no limit to what you can accomplish when you feel passionate about it.
• Have a clear idea about what you want to do.
• Find a niche and be the best you can be. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Once you find what makes you come alive, and do it uncommonly well, you will discover that you have found your passion.
• Make a difference. It has been said that the only thing that lasts long after you are gone is the relationships that you leave behind.
• Keep it simple. Many times we make life so complicated. If you apply the following examples you will live a very simple life.

1. • Live your life to the fullest each and every day.
   • Love your family members as if you will never see them again.
   • Let your passion drive your career.

• Go with your instincts. Never under estimate your instincts or intuition.
• Value your time and be a good time manager. Take Charge. Decide now that you will get on top of managing your own time. Remind yourself that poor time-management is nobody else’s responsibility but your own.

Building Block #2: Manage your life’s agenda

Prepare for your day … start your day off with the following…

• Reading - My challenge to you is to read one hour a day.
• Exercise - If you want to be healthy, inside and out, you simply must incorporate exercise into your life.
• Positive Thinking - A positive attitude will… Make you more likeable - people will want to spend time with you, make life more enjoyable - you will love your life, make you more successful - positive thinking is like putting on your “power suit”

Plan for your day

Make a list of what you want to get accomplished today - this can be done on something as simple as a 3×5 card. Take time to manage your time - We all have 86,400 seconds in each day… eliminate the time stealers. Organize your time with “Blocked Time”. Block out time in your day for…

Priorities for your day

Your life is a glass jar. You fill it each day with large, medium, and small rocks. The large rocks are your priorities, which must go in first. It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are. Roy Disney

Building Block #3: Navigating Through Conflict

• Fact 1: Conflict is a part of the growing process.
• Fact 2: Conflict will reveal who you are.
• Fact 3: Conflict will reveal what your team is made of.
• Fact 4: Conflict can save the organization from catastrophe.

Conflict is a good sign of possible progress. However, it is the leader’s responsibility to navigate the organization through the conflict. To do this one must remain focused on the mission, not the conflict. Remember - conflict is on the way.

Building Block #4: Challenge your staff

• Listen to where each team member is.
• Learn to be patient.
• Lead one step at a time. Remember, they are a small cup and you are a gallon of water. If you pour out all your knowledge and experience you will quickly overflow their cup. Therefore, lead one step at a time in areas that you have detected are weak.
• List what you expect, inspect what you list. In order for anyone on your team to grow you must hold them accountable.

In today’s business economy it has never been more important to identify your target market. Why? Very few, dare I say, “Never”, has there been a business that targeted everyone and was successful doing so.

To build a successful and profitable business you need to:

1. Identify your target market
2. Understand the urgent needs and compelling desires of your target market
3. Offer investment opportunities
4. Uncover and demonstrate the benefits of your investment opportunities

Therefore, who is your target market? One of the best ways is to create a word picture for you and your staff. Picture a family that would buy your product. Where do they come from, how much income do they have, what is their net worth, how many children do they have, and the list could go on and on.

The definition of target market - important to know before you go looking for it - is those that you want to offer your goods and/or services to. Simple but very important in building a thriving business.

Below are a few questions for you to answer.

• Who are all the different groups of people who use the kind of services you provide?
• Which of these groups do you most relate to or feel the most interest or excitement about working with?
• Which group(s) do you know people in or already have clients/customers in?
• Which group(s) do you have the most knowledge about, or on the flip-side, would you find fascinating to learn more about?
• What are you most passionate about as it relates to your work?
• What natural talents and strengths do you bring to your work?
• What aspects of your field do you know the most about?

I have been coaching and training people for over twenty years. I have coached multi-millionaires in areas such as business and personal finance, business operations, personal growth, time management and goal setting.

In today’s business world you either do things right or you get eliminated. Examples can be found in some of our nation’s largest and oldest institutions. Don’t be one of these statistics.

If you are a student of people like I am then you know that there are certain traits that lead to success. I personally love going to malls, finding a quiet place to sit, and just watch people walk by. I often try to imagine what makes them tick, what decisions they are wrestling with, and what challenges life has thrown their way. Businesses are much harder to watch, but the successful ones all seem to have common characteristics too. The author of the book, Good To Great, went much further than just sitting in a mall watching. He and his team spent months and months investigating what it takes to be a great business. What he found can be read in his book, but I want to dig into why many, dare I say, “Most” businesses don’t succeed.

First, let’s take a look at what a barrier is. A simple definition is something that keeps you from reaching that sought after goal. Barriers come in many forms and hinder even the most successful. Such as:

o Harry Truman failed so often in business and politics that he once wrote a letter to his wife, Bess, in which he said, “I can’t possibly lose forever.”

o Early in her career, Lucille Ball was fired by a producer who told her, “You’re not meant for show business. Go home.”

o After an early performance at the Grand Ole Opry, Elvis Presley was told that he should stick to driving a truck since he obviously had no future as a singer.

o Rudy Kipling was fired from his first job as a newspaper reporter because his editor told him, “You don’t know how to use the English language.”

o After completing his first novel, Stephen King decided it was terrible and threw it into the trash. His wife fished it out and sent it to a publisher. Thus started a very long and successful writing career.

The question that I hope you will answer by the end of this article is, “How do I overcome the barriers that I am facing today, and the barriers I will face in the future?” After reading this statement you might be thinking, “Wait a minute, this article is supposed to be about barriers to a successful business.” Believe it or not, it is this business man’s opinion that the real barriers to a successful business lies within the mind.

Yes, common barriers to a successful business can be the location of the business, the amount of capital and funding it has, the experience of the staff, and how much in demand the product is. But… I believe that the following ten barriers will keep your business on the sideline even if you have the best possible location, all the money in the world, a team that is known as a “dream team”, and a product as great as an umbrella in the rainy season.

Barrier #1: Lack of focus - Recently at a golf tournament his name was sitting where it is found most often, at the top of the leader board. He was playing great golf and the “pack” was trying every shot in their bags to catch him. He continually stepped up and hit one magnificent golf shot after another. Then I noticed something. After each shot, while the crowd was roaring cheers to their great hero, this golfer stayed focused on his game. During the entire round he rarely took off his “game-face”. It was this focus that enabled him to hit those great golf shots, to win the tournament, and will very possibly be what makes Tiger Woods the best professional golfer the PGA has ever seen. Just like Tiger, in order for you to reach your goals personally, as well as professionally, you must stay focused.

Barrier #2: Mind Set - When you get up in the morning do you set in your mind to end the day with several victories? It is easy to say, “Yes,” but do you really set out to sell more than you ever have, work smarter in order to accomplish what were only dreams a few years ago, or purposefully develop a team that will help you reach the summit in your profession? The problem is negativity, and negative thoughts. Before you stop reading consider this. Recently I was playing in a doubles tennis tournament with a person that I had never played with. We were playing the best team in the tournament and I wanted to win badly. The reason we lost was not lack of skill or even luck, it was my partner and his negative mental attitude. Literally, his mind cost us the match. How much is your mind costing you?

Barrier #3: Belief system - I don’t believe things always happen just because you say they will happen. I do however believe that there is power in words. Just like your mind set, your belief system must be positive in order to have positive results. It is just like the little train climbing the mountain, “I think I can, I think I can, I know I can.” You stand a better chance of accomplishing your dreams if you surround yourself with positive people, mentally feed on positive thoughts, and speak positive words.

Barrier #4: Making excuses - Recently I was working with a business person that said she really wanted to accomplish great things. During our dialog we began digging into why she had not accomplished the first steps of this journey. What she said actually shocked me. She began making one excuse after another as to why she had not accomplished even the most basic of her goals. When I called her on this she didn’t have much to say. She realized that she was going to have to take steps in new and unfamiliar territory if she would ever accomplish her dreams. What excuses are you making today that are holding you and your business back?

Barrier #5: Fear - We have all experienced it, and to some degree are controlled by it. How do I know this about you? Think back to when you were a kid. At some point you probably didn’t like to go in dark rooms or walk down dark streets where scary sounds seemed to come with every step. The feeling you felt then will cause you to reach for the light switch today. In my 20+ years of leadership experience, I have found that there are at least four common fears that affect even the most seasoned leader. More than likely, at least one of these fears affects you each and every time you relate to a person on a leadership level.

Before, you read these fears, please prepare your mind to read them openly and honestly. This article is not meant to delve deeply into the psychology of each fear, but to share how they influence you as a leader. The fears I see most often in the lives of leaders are:

* Rejection. I have never met a person that likes to be rejected. Leaders that have had bad experiences with rejection will guard themselves from being rejected. Most often I see this as the turtle syndrome. The leader is afraid to stick his head out of the shell and take a risk, develop a new program, hire a new employee, or ask someone to take on a certain task. As a leader you have to realize that there are risks involved, and those risks come with rejection. You must stop, look at your options, decide on what to do, and then take action.

* Loss of control. This fear is often seen in powerful personality types. This is not to say that the leader is a control freak, but control is a “comfort zone” to this person. The fear of losing control is displayed in a leadership style often called “micromanagement.” In other words, the leader is afraid to delegate responsibilities because if things get out of control he will not be able to take corrective action fast enough. What you must realize is that you are in control of very little. Life is basically out of your control. Managing people with a strong, controlling hand will not allow them to take on new problems nor will it challenge them to make progress in areas where they have never been before.

* Employee dependence. We all depend on people, from our families, to our doctors, to the garbage collectors that pick up our trash on a regular basis. Employee dependence is a fear that is much deeper than simply depending on someone. The fear comes each day when the leader senses that something may be wrong with his “key” person. The leader then begins to wonder about the loyalty of this person. Asking mental questions like, “What if this person quits? How would I make it without him? What can I do to make sure she is happy in her job? What will my boss do if this person goes over my head with a problem?” On and on the questions go. The grip of this fear is strong, but must be eliminated. As the old saying says, “If you hold on too tight, it will slip through your fingers.”

* Financial challenges. Take a day this week and go to your local bookstore and count how many books are written on financial matters. You will probably find that there are more books on this one subject than any other. Leaders are always facing challenges, but financial fears have a way of gripping like no other. New programs or ventures take capital. Employees needed to expand and grow increases the salary budget. Additional equipment to increase overall efficiency requires funds to be spent. The strength of financial fears often causes the leader to begin accepting the status quo; and will often cause the leader to give up on his dreams.

These are four fears that I often see in leaders. I encourage you to plan some time in your schedule this week and think through this. If you find that one, or more, of these fears have a grip on your life then allow your mind to reveal the root cause. Finding the root cause today will begin a healing process that will result in you being a better leader tomorrow.

Barrier #6: Being satisfied - It has been said if you are not going up you are going down. I don’t know if that is totally true, but I do know that being satisfied for any length of time in your business will cause your success level to go down. Your competition will catch up with you, your staff will get bored, and profits will begin leveling out.

Barrier #7: Busyness - Many authors more published than I have written on this topic. They have filled many pages and books on this subject. I will make one brief statement that will have what I hope is a great impact on the future of your business. That statement is, “You need to begin tomorrow working ‘on’ your business, not just ‘in’ your business.” What that means is that you need to look at your business from 35,000 feet and begin to develop strategies that will produce financial growth, staff satisfaction, and organizational goals achieved.

Barrier #8: Trading greatness for being good enough- Referring again to the book “Good to Great” you must fight the temptation to just be good enough. I have never been fond of white-water rafting, probably because I don’t like cold water. The sport consists of a raft, fast moving cold water, raft riders, and a raft leader/guide. I once saw a picture of a group of girls out for some white-water rafting fun. The girls in the picture were all smiling and waving to the camera while the leader’s eyes were straining to see down stream. No doubt he was looking for the next big rock, up coming turns in the river, or other challenges that they would have to navigate.

To move your organization to a great one you must keep “going” towards the organization’s mission and vision. A great organization is one that overcomes the obstacles and turns in its path.

Barrier #9: Removing the glass ceiling- Many people, as well as organizations, excel into greatness, but stay there only for a short time. It is this author’s belief that there is something supernaturally built into every human being. That something is the desire to win, but at the same time the fear of losing. It seems that for many there is a glass ceiling that holds them down, keeping them from reaching new levels of success. What is your glass ceiling?

Barrier #10: Giving up - When you get a minute do a word study on the word: Gambaru. It is a word with a rich meaning that runs deep in some cultures around the world. Gambaru simply means to not give up. A short definition, but you and I both know it is not that simple. When things get tough and the future of your career, life, or business looks like it will not make it you must not give up. You must jump out of bed each day, full of vim and vigor, ready to conquer what ever comes your way. You simply just can’t give up!

I have been coaching and training people for over twenty years. I have coached multi-millionaires in areas such as business and personal finance, business operations, personal growth, time management and goal setting.

In today’s business world you either do things right or you get eliminated. Examples can be found in some of our nation’s largest and oldest institutions. Don’t be one of these statistics.

Conflict is something that can’t be seen, smelled, or tasted - but it can be felt and heard. In every home, business, and church conflict is inevitable. You know conflict will show its ugly head sooner or later because all of the above listed groups are made up of people. How you deal with conflict will reveal your leadership style, level, maturity, and experience. While others are running around in circles, jumping ship, and wishing they could go back, a leader steps to the front, seizes the opportunity and navigates the organization through the storm. It has been said, “Navigating through conflict can be learned, but it must be learned in conflict.”

Recently I once read an article by Johnny H. Moore that revealed several facts and keys that will help you work through and benefit from conflict.

• Fact 1: Conflict is a part of the growing process. Growth itself is a form of conflict. Someone has said that conflict is “two objects trying to occupy the same space at the same time.” When we are determined to grow, whether personally or organizationally, we experience resistance (conflict). However, as we press on through the process, we learn and grow.
• Fact 2: Conflict will reveal who you are. What is in us will eventually come out when pressure is applied. Conflict can be the pressure that God uses to show us what is really on the inside. It can reveal motives, hurts, bitterness, anger, or Christ-like character. It all depends upon what is in us.
• Fact 3: Conflict will reveal what your team is made of. When navigating through conflict with your staff or your leaders, you will discover things that you did not know were there. Some good and some not so good. Nevertheless, it helps you as a leader know what you are dealing with and how to further develop your people for greatness.
• Fact 4: Conflict can save the organization from catastrophe. When conflict arises you become aware of things to which you were formerly blind. If you ignore conflict, it can eventually destroy the organization. However, if you recognize conflict and properly navigate through it, the organization can become stronger and grow, thus fulfilling the purpose for which it exists.

I am sure that at least one of these facts can be applied to your life, or the life of your organization. Whether conflict has helped you grow, or has saved you from catastrophe, there are some important keys to navigating through conflict. Just as the cruise liner navigates its way through the mammoth icebergs, you must navigate your life through life’s challenges and conflicts.

• Key 1: Recognize the signs of coming conflict. A true leader knows that conflict will come. Therefore, he keeps his eye on the horizon watching and listening for the signs. Just as the weatherman watches for dark clouds, heavy winds, and sudden temperature change, so to the leader must be looking for changing elements. Conflict in the life of a leader could be negative comments from his staff (dark clouds), personal agendas emphasized more than the mission of the organization (heavy winds), and key leadership appearing withdrawn and distant (sudden temperature change).
• Key 2: Return to the mission of the organization. The mission of the organization is always the compass. It will always guide you in the direction you need to go. Conflict arises because people follow their feelings instead of the compass. If you or your organization is off course I suggest you spend time discussing your mission.
• Key 3: Rally the team. It is impossible to get the organization back on track when the people are scattered. When we rally the team, we strengthen the team. We must continue to remind the team that where we go, we must go together. Ideas for rallying the team could be: playing together, polishing the mission together, reviewing team responsibilities together, or planning together.
• Key 4: Require loyalty and integrity. In navigating through conflict there has to be open, honest communication. Without loyalty and integrity, this type of communication simply will not happen. It has been suggested that:
  • • The leader’s loyalty must be first to the organization and second to the individual.
    • The individual’s loyalty must be first to the leader and second to the organization.
• Key 5: Design a process for solving problems. In order for an organization to function properly and effectively, it must have a “troubleshooting” process. This process should include an official chain of command, input from those involved, flexible procedures, follow through on final decisions, and team cooperation.
• Key 6: Roll on. Leaders must continue to lead, even in conflict. Too many leaders, when conflict arises, quit leading and begin trying to solve problems.

Conflict is a good sign of possible progress. However, it is the leader’s responsibility to navigate the organization through the conflict. To do this one must remain focused on the mission, not the conflict. Remember - conflict is on the way.

I have been coaching and training people for over twenty years. I have coached multi-millionaires in areas such as business and personal finance, business operations, personal growth, time management and goal setting.

In today’s business world you either do things right or you get eliminated. Examples can be found in some of our nation’s largest and oldest institutions. Don’t be one of these statistics.