Lead Grow Innovate Podcast

We have started down a new road in this new series of blogs and podcasts last week. We first need to tackle one of the hardest aspects. We need to get over the mental hurdles that many of us put up in our lives. We need to figure out how to change our change mindset.This concept will not be for everyoneNot everyone experiences fear of change Some embrace it 12 step programsAdmitting that it is often fear that is holding us back from making changes in our livesI experience fear about reaching out to strangers to guest on my showWhy do we do this in our lives?How can others operate without fear in these circumstances?These are questions that I have been asking myself for yearsWhy do I convince myself that others will not want to appear on my show?Why do I still fear reaching out to others?The reason is that it is all in my head and admitting that I have this fear is step one in overcoming this fear.But it will not be easyIt will not be a simple process for me or sadly for you We are good enough we just need to believe in ourselvesThe beauty of this as well is that the process of changing ourselves can then be transposed into work lives and positions as well.So how can we do this for ourselves and others?Step one weigh the pros and the consStep two begin to find ways to mentally move the cons into prosStep three Take one step at a time.How can you do this?You must begin with reflection and admittance of where the challenge livesIt is instrumental to understand what it is that is holding you backTake the time to write it all down. When we write it down we create a physical form that we can break down further and further. Creating the small bites sized chunks of change.So here is the amazing thing about this processEven if the cons are preventing you from making a change in lifeThe process of breaking the issue down and eliminating aspects that hold you back has begun the change processYou have begun working towards your goalsIt is my hope that by the end of this series we will have begun to undertake some changeWe will have made steps in our lives to overcome obstacles but also learned about the change in a way that will assist us in the ever-changing world that we live in.We will be prepared to face change and adversity in our lives and careers. We will know how to break it down and share it with others in a way that removes some of the fear aspects for them as well. Please feel free to contact me through Twitter @growinnovate.For all the other podcast episodes you can find them at the following location: https://leadgrowinnovate.com/category/podcast/Thank you to Joseph McDade for the music at the beginning and end of my podcast. His music can be found at https://josephmcdade.com/We use Buzzsprout and have nothing but an amazing experience. Using this link gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support our show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=527290Thank you for listening and see you in the next episode. Please take the time to rate and subscribe for more episodes like this one.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Welcome to Season 3.In this season we will be looking at how we can make changes in our lives. We will be asking questions of ourselves that require us to look at how we do things.Also, we will begin to figure out how to change ourselves. Through making these changes in our personal lives how it can and will allow us to make changes in our workplaces.We will work on changing ourselves for the better and being more and more true to who we are. How can we be more proud of who we are? Is the person we show others the true us or do we put up an act in order to fit the mold?These are just some of the exciting questions that we will tackle this season. Also as we move forward in this season we will continue some of the technical aspects of the show and speak about managing and leading through change. In this turbulent and ever-changing environment that we work and lead in, we need to be equipped and prepared to roll out changes. By becoming stronger and comfortable with change internally we will be stronger and more equipped to roll out changes externally.This is going to be a very exciting season and I look very forward to sharing with you all.Please feel free to contact me through Twitter @growinnovate.email: tombyrne@leadgrowinnovate.comAll other podcast episodes can be found at the following location: https://leadgrowinnovate.com/category/podcast/Thank you to Joseph McDade for the music at the beginning and end of my podcast. Joseph can be found at https://josephmcdade.com/Today is a great day to start your own podcast. Whether you’re looking for a new marketing channel. Have a message you want to share with the world, or just think it would be fun to have your own talk show. Podcasting is an easy, inexpensive, and fun way to expand your reach online.We use Buzzsprout and have nothing but an amazing experience. Following the link in the show, notes let Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support our show. Here is the link to get you started: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=527290Thank you for listening and see you in the next episode. Please take the time to rate and subscribe for more episodes like this one.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Over the last two weeks, we have covered three different power types. These styles tend to be the standards that experts recognize as the basis of all styles. So far we have covered reward power, coercive power, and legitimate power. Today we will cover off our last two types of power, expert and referent. Welcome to the different types of power part 3. We will begin with expert powerThis style or type is very self-explanatory.It is granted when a person has superior knowledge or skillset in a particular area or areas.The first time we spoke of this we talked about how the person may not even be involved with the job at hand.They will be looked to as a resource.This style of power actually knows no position nor does it require a position to have a presence. The shortcoming of this style Though this style of power can create an air of importance around the person it is limited to that person s expertise. This style of power does not reside in a position it is the person that generates.As such the expertise limits the power. Certain people can overcome this boundary but many will operate within the scope of their expertise.Our last style of powerThis is referent power and it is the one style of power that we can watch and evaluate daily.Every time we turn on the television and watch a celebrity endorse a product in a commercial.Abuse of power?When celebrities endorse products many times it is not because they like or even use the product it is marketing and often nothing more.They are being paid to sell products and as actors and sports stars, they have built a level of celebrity around themselves. It can be tough and when they receive sponsorships and endorsements it is a credit to that hard work early on.This is abuseWhen truly charismatic leaders connect with others they begin to form a level of credibility. This is also another style of power that can be seen at many levels of business from large to very small These managers are not afraid to own mistakes and take the lead in admitting that something was done wrong.They also ensure that recognition is shared with all involved and do not hog the spotlight.They are seen as reliable and trustworthy and it comes naturally to them.Over the last three episodesSome have positive aspects others with negative all with equal amounts of influence if used correctly.On the flip side, it can be very demoralizing to a team if these aspects are used incorrectly and can cause a leader to be scrutinized.There is an old saying in business. If something is wrong look to the leader.Never should we feel that this is an "us" versus "them" situationIt should instead be viewed as a form of partnership that allows people to work effectively. Through this partnership, the team and the company will prosper.Managers and leaders who commonly use power inappropriately with their teams will many times find their teams dissatisfied.Once we build that network it will be up to us to work on it daily and ensure that we deserve it.Through ethical work practices and owning situations, we will deserve the power that our teams will allow us.Good LuckLook for these types of power daily in your life.Begin to self assess the usage.Was it the correct method for the situation Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

This week we will continue working on the explanation of our 5 traits or types of power that we started discussing last week. As a reminder, they were Reward, Coercive, Legitimate, expert, and referent.Coercive and Legitimate Coercive power gets us right back into the swing of things this week. It feeds off of reward power in a way and it can be defined as the abuse of rewards systemsOr more so the abuse of the punishment aspect of rewardCoercive power is based upon fear and threat of punishment Also, it is the complacency of leadership and failure to reward for quality work It is when leaders see this quality but do not recognize it as if it is just the expectationThis can be very demoralizing for a team Have your team working effectively since they are in fear of punishment for not doing what is told is not a happy or productive workspace.There is a time and place for everything and under certain circumstances, this can be very effective In the event of a problem employee, they need to understand that they are placing themselves in jeopardy of being removed from their positionPrefer not to use power to threaten This can be very hard on your personal work-life and even your home life It can be very demotivating for all involvedFellow team members will witness the interactions between the employee or team and leadership and it can cause them to not want to be placed in that position themselves Both mentally and morally you and your team will do better for this mindsetAlso, the negatives of a workspace managed and lead by fear will only be tolerated by the team for so long before they push back The abuse of power can cause a quality worker to become standard. They will feel their hard work is unvalued and why to make the effort.Legitimate PowerNow we come to our next trait or type that we will discuss Legitimate power is positional power Their power is based upon their position and may not have been gained through relationships but tier understanding of the roles and processes of the jobThis means that the person in power may be very good at the job but horrible at leading peopleMany companies and businesses make this mistake they place individuals in the roles of supervisors and managers based upon their job performance but then neglect to train them in leadership skills and values This does not mean that they cannot become amazing leaders.Companies that take the time to train new leaders and supervisors will lessen that growth time and give the new manager a solid basis to grow upon.There is a massive difference in being very good at your job and being able to lead others to be good at theirs as wellLegitimate power is based upon a platform of the role versus the personRememberTo the people that listen to this podcast or read it in the blog you are on the right trackI may not be the foremost expert on all that I write about but in listening to this or reading you are beginning to grow yourself and self-growth in leadership is invaluable Continue to grow and learn in all that you do and you will be a better leader for itListen to podcasts read books to study and become stronger In doing this you will become an expert in both the job and its process but also the leadership aspect of it as well This personal growth of leadership knowledge will assist you in the future as you will potentially already be in a role fo expert power. We will expand on this topic again next week when we cover the next two aspects expert and referent power.See you next week.

Today We will begin working on a new subject matter that ties in with the last subject we worked on. We will begin to break down the types of power that the experts tend to recognize and agree upon. FirstOne of the first things we need to do is distinguish between power and authority.This can be very easy to mix upPower deals with the ability to control events and to sway influence.People in power may be able to affect the outcome of situations Or steer the behavior of others.Authority on the other hand gives the person the right to give commands, enforce obedience, take action, or to make final decisions.This is a power that has been granted based upon position not on influence.Both can be usedThough one can and often will be more effective than the other These power traits that we will discuss can be used for good Or they can be used for self-promotion at the expense of othersIt will be up to you to decide who you want to be remembered as.As leaders we have influenceWe can abuse our power and ensure that we look good while others fail Or we can make sure that the recognition is awarded where it is deserved and earned5 traitsThe five types of power that we will be expanding upon in the next three shows will be Reward power - this would be the type of power based upon rewarding and punishmentCoercive power - this type of power is based on fear. The fear of reprimand or the avoidance of actions that may cause punishment.Legitimate power - this is the power granted based on position. Easily mistaken for authority but with some differences that we will discuss next week.Expertise power - This would be the power gained through expertise in a field.Finally, we come to Referent power - Also know as charismatic power. This is based on the individual's connection and potential admiration for the individual.Reward PowerAs leaders, we often have the ability to reward our teamsOr we may have to deal with punishment based upon poor performance or dangerous activities in the workplace.Back to rewards.We have many ways we can reward our teams for a job well done. Rewards can be a catalyst for motivation in employees.Though for this to be truly effective you will need to work hard at it.Try to catch people in the act of doing it right and recognize those moments immediately.One of the best ways to reward is to know your team.Other times a simple thank you and recognition are all it takes to let the employee know that their hard work is noticed and appreciated.This is beneficial to all involved.One small noteThis power can be very quickly abused It will be very important to find a balance between rewarding for a great effort and quality work versus rewarding for completing the expectation.If overused this power can reduce your overall influence and it will become the expectation for everything that is done. If you let off you will see a reduction in morale and productivity.Applying rewards effectivelyRequires taking the time to recognize quality performance and effortsIt also requires providing effective feedback when work is above expectation so the team knows why the reward was given but also feedback when quality is not up to standardsThis is as important as the recognitionQuality feedback will allow the team member or team to perform better in the future if given properly and effectively When used correctly reward power can be very effective and instrumental in boosting morale in a company or department.

Over the course of the last series of blogs and podcasts, I have been covering the differences between managers and leaders. Today I would like to combine the information that I have shared into a topic called situational leadership. As managers and leaders, we need to learn Effectively analyze and evaluate situations Adapt ourselves to the situation at handHave to take into account the level of skill and motivation that the employee has Once we have assessed and established what we have ahead of us we can then plan where we will require direction and where we will support This is why so much time was spent creating the differencesIt will allow us to operate and be flexible between the two spectrumsThis will be very essential when we lead based upon the situationThis is also why I have emphasized so many times that no one side is better than the otherThey will support each other and when we can effectively work between the two we can be very effectiveAn example would be An experienced worker with knowledge of the job but leadership micromanages and lowers motivation The inexperienced worker left with just minor directions to figure out the task and sink or swim. Again very demotivatingThis is an example of not assessing the situation and leading or managing in the wrong fashionEffective leadership requires variations of directing and collaborative stylesUsing a directive style we are setting goals Clarifying the employee’s role in the task ahead We will assist them and prepare many aspects in advance We will give them effective work priorities Establish guidelinesIn the end, we will evaluate the employee’s performance based on deadlines and the quality of work completedWe may go so far as to demonstrate what needs to be done and establish the way in will be completedThen following up with the team member to ensure that the work is completed Using a director style of leadership can be very effectiveIn situations where safety will dictate that things must be completed a certain wayI found it was very effective to be clear and concise about the tasks and how they should be done.When we use collaborative we are Asking the team what do they think How would they go about the task What do they need to complete the job on time and to qualityWhat are their ideas for completingThis is a style where We will provide information versus direction We would then provide encouragement for the work being completedWe will offer praise for jobs well done While still offering constructive feedback if the work is not up to standardGood leadership can determine when to use direction and collaborationI have realized that many of these factors I was using while others I need to work on I have room for improvement in many areas and this was a very fun experience in self-awareness Take the time to break down the style of leader you need to be Assess the situation and establish what I need to do then and only then actNow that we are aware of these behaviorsIt will be up to us to take what now know and move forward and use if effectivelyLearn to determine what skill set you must use in the situation Base Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

In the last episode of this podcast, I began a series of comparisons. This week I have five more traits that I would like to share and expand upon with you.The last episode can be found by following this link: https://leadgrowinnovate.com/lead-grow-innovate-episode32/Let's get right into itOur first comparison of the week is personal distance versus personal interestI was taught to separate away from my teamIt was important so that when I needed to discipline or give direction there was no emotional attachment and hindranceThis made for a very lonely existence but it did have some positivesMy social aspects while at work were with upper management and I was in direct immersion for my trainingThis style of management was not for meI had questionsThe team had the answers that I was afterTurns out the best people to teach about why we do certain things are the people that do them every dayI had discovered my style of a team working I needed to be in the mix and involved During this transition, I had one fear in the processI feared that I would lose respect and authority but the exact opposite turned out to be the caseThis is a good transition point into the next comparisonManagers require loyalty while a leader inspires it As I touched upon in the previous comparison As I was separated from my team my role and position were the things that were getting tasks accomplishedA manager would request a job to be done and the team would do it as such I found that I could ask for things to get done in a different way It was an amazing side-effect to have morale going up as well The team had developed a connection with meAnd above that, we did it in a way that left everyone feeling accomplishedShifting gears Managers can mandate how things need to be done Leaders can leverage towards how things get doneThrough planning and effective preparation a good manager can accomplish anything They have the ability to acquire resources and prepare themselves and their teams They know what needs to be where and how to get it Leaders, on the other hand, will as well be capable of accomplishing anything thrown at them but they will do it in a different fashionLeaders may not have the same experience in all facets and though they may not know what is necessary to get the job completed they do know the people that do They leverage these relationships and the connections that they have This can be explained further with our next two traitsThat being task orientation for managementWhile leadership will be more human resource orientedThis will show through in the steps and stages taken when preparing and creating Management will understand the equipment necessary, the size of the labor force and even how many hours it should takeLeadership will know the teams that can get the jobs doneThis is one of the most important points for me where both sides working together can become an unstoppable forceThis brings us to our final comparison of the weekManagement in the preparation phases will arbitrate what needs to be done The plan will be in place and will not allow for deviationLeadership on the other side of the coin will be of a negotiation mindset. They will be planning with the team. All hands will be involved and resources will be procured through cooperation Once again very different in the style but the end result will be the same

Today I would like to offer a quick comparison of leader and manager behaviors.Though I am comparing Would like to emphasize that neither side is better than the otherEvery one of the behaviors that I talk about today can and should come into play at some pointNo specific way that will always be the correct path to takeStatementManagers deal with things while leaders deal with peopleOne of the first things that are different would be the use of authorityManagers tend to retain authority while leaders trend towards sharedEnsure that things were done in the correct way and get the job done as planned and expected.Another mentor of mine took me aside one day and asked why I felt it was necessary to do everything myselfI explained that I had been taught to maintain constant controlHis counter to that statement was just because you release some authority and delegate effectively does not mean that you are not in controlWhat an eye-openerI could delegate and in the process get more accomplishedOver the years I learned how to establish what style fo manager or leader I would need to be during projectsCertain jobs would allow for freedom while others would require set parametersNext discovery for me As a manager, I was trained to plan and define limitsWe would create detailed plans and the expectation was that the plan be followedAs I grew and matured in my roles I began to learn about expanding limits.We could stick to the plan but think outside the box as well Try new ways of doing things. Perhaps enhance the way we were completing tasks daily and become more efficientWould like to stress new and excitingYou can create itInnovate And expand in so many waysThis is why I love my subject matterI can go about it in a new fashionI get to expand the limits of leadership and management My next comparisonManagers enforce while leaders reinforceIn management roles, we are often in controlThe enforcement of parameters and set process falls to the manager to ensure that things are done correctly While the leaders perspective is very similar there is a slight change in attitude The focus is still on the end goal but also on the people and how they can make them do betterExpanding forwardManagement many times causes the rules to be strict.It restricts creativity and completes tasks in a set fashionWhile leaders encourage creativityCertain jobs and tasks require us to manage while others will allow us to leadWe must learn when and how to decide which to useIn the final trait, we will speak about todayWe will talk about communication and the difference between the two Managers use a one-way communication tactic while leaders would be more in the two way communication campManagers are often called upon for difficult tasks and conversations or when the details of a task need to be clear and concise.The manager needs to know how to talk while others listen and take note of what they are saying.Leaders would use a more open discussion style fo communicationThey would ask the team members what they thought prior to making decisionsTeam members are encouraged to give input and ask questions This is very much a set of behaviors that aBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

StatementTo say that management and leadership are completely different would be a truth.But also a false statementBoth sides could be argued effectivelyWhile working things outI came up with two different perspectivesManagement is about decisions and resourcesLeadership is about influencing people in an effective wayAnother way of putting things would be managing deals with things while leadership deals with peopleLet's expandWe will begin in no specific orderTo be effective a leader needs some form of vision Or a strong sense of imaginationThis allows them to see into the futureIt allows them to establish direction VisioningCreating these value sets is very importantWhen creating the goals formulate plans and goals that achieve a strategyFigure out what is necessary and how to get there with no accord to any hurdlesNow once you have the easiest route established deconstruct it backward and begin to add the people factor.What beliefs and values will be used to achieve the goals Also work out how people’s physical, mental and emotional well being is cared for in the process as wellMake adjustments to avoid these pitfalls and protect your team’s moraleWhen leadership skills are used effectively to set direction, and effective leader will have the ability to create an atmosphere of trust and mutual respectBeing effective means using both This is where the debate can begin to flow both ways.While I was in the mastermind I was listening and taking notesWhen we speak of management it is very easy to mix up the skillsetsI would argue that the control of personnel could and should be treated as an assetThis would be in relation to understanding capital This brings us to the definition of managementI went back to my careerWhat was I learning back then and how did I evolve as I grew and matured in my rolesOne of the first aspects that I was taught was the mathematics of businessHow to control financials How to critique the work done and ensure it is up to standardAlso how to make sure that set goals are accomplishedIt is a very important jobWe can establish budgetsCreate operational proceduresAnd establish deadlinesI know some managers that are so efficient it seems effortlessCan create job descriptions and create procedures without blinking an eyeSimply know how to break things down Can be amazing in so many ways but they often forget about the peopleThey can see the procedure and how to get it done but leave out the human factorsSometimes it can be downright mechanical in how they operateA downfall to managing in my mind and can bring down morale and stifle creativityConversely, if leaders defer all factors of operationOr if they leave the decision making to employeesThey can once again find themselves in a rift from effective productivityThey may also find themselves dealing with falling moraleBased on a system that is too lenientEmployees need to be held accountable Also, they must be respectfully expected to performIf leadership is laid back and not pushing performance then the team will not performIt is imperative that we find the balance between both management and lBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Last week I wrote and spoke about values and how leadership styles will need to adapt and recognize the shifts in values ahead of us. In speaking with some of my colleagues and mentors we have started to look at what is going to be some of the main values necessary in leadership moving forward. So far we have come up with and fleshed out three values important to leaders in change environments.Value #1 EmpathyOne of the first aspects was EmpathyWe will have to adapt new styles and valuesCreate an encompassing set of beliefs in the workplaceWe need to walk a mile in the team’s shoesOnly then will we understand what they are going through Get to know the pain pointsWhat issues need to be addressed and in what order of priorityLeadership often relies on effective delegationThis is not so much the case on the return Knowing the new norm is going to be crucialGet to know the challengesUnderstand the new daily routinesThis will give you true insight into how things are working Also allows you to have a grasp to assist when necessaryThis understanding and knowledge shows that you careLead by example and feel the pain the team feelsThis is by far the best way to learn how people are feelingSometimes we cannot work directly with the teamIn these cases, a thought experiment will be necessary to establish what emotions and sensitivities are prominentHow would you feel in the situation you can and take note of where there seems to be an issueIt is then up to us to behave in a manner that would reflect how we would want others to behaveThe second aspect was to learn to listenWe will never meet the needs of others if we don’t pause and hear what they are sayingIt is a true talent to know how to truly listenMany people do not listen to hear. They instead listen to know what they are going to say next.Learn to shut down your mental chatterGenuinely listen to what the speaker has to sayWe must understand that to really listen does not mean that we simply do not talk we actually have to listen to what the speaker is sayingThen and only then will we be prepared to respondOf all the skills a new age leader will require, listening will perhaps be the most difficult of them all Listening is a giftWhen we give full attention to a speaker it is one to greatest gifts we can giveIt can generate confidence in the speaker as well as grow respect for you the listenerOne thing to be aware of and protect yourself from though is there is a time to listen and there is a time to not The last aspect is to never stop learningLearning is going to be keyIf we constantly learn and develop the habit of learning this can be the caseWe must learn constantly and strive for perfect knowledgeLearning is not training - learning is an attitudeLearning is a curiosity in action It is open-mindedness and inquisitivenessNever settle for mediocrity this just leads to more mediocrityConstantly strive to become better and more effective through the gain of knowledgeThese three elements of change leadership are going to be essentialTake the time now to develop these skillsRemember that values are going to be the glue that holds your teams together As a change leadeBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Due to the length of this weeks show notes I will be posting the full version on my webpage. I would invite you to visit https://leadgrowinnovate.com/ for this show and all other shows full version and complete show notes. I have included some partial notes for this program, full versions will be available on the webpage.We are living in a new age of leadership. An age of innovation and change. We are leading from diminished office space or from home. The vision of tomorrow is hard to see. How do we assist the team to visualize what is ahead?Today I would like to share three steps to assist in team visioning. Being a leader in times of change is never easyAs spoken to last week the ability to inspire and motivate teams in a new direction is going to become very valuable.The use of powerful communication to enthuse and excite teams in a dynamic way towards forwarding momentum will be huge.This can lead to the most amazing changes.The best part about it is that if you do it correctly you do not have to do it alone.Get your team involved and part of the processHave them visualize what they think things will look like in the future.This little process is called team visioning and it is amazingI have been speaking to other leaders recently and we have been discussing difficulties experienced during these drastic workspace changes we have undergoneWe have been talking about challenges experienced and well as the solutionsWe also discussed how we as leaders will need to change and adapt to a constantly changing workplace.As a side note, I have covered this type of mentorship in a past episode as well as in my blog. I will place the links in the show notes for you.This whole conversation and topic we discussed was strengthened by a conversation that we had the prior weekI had stated that I use the concept of “i” too oftenIn the process, I remove the strength and recognition from my team We spoke about the power of “we” and empowermentThis is a subject that I would like to get into further at a later dateDuring this chat, we talked about empowerment Again this week it came up again This time it was me returning the advice given to me the week prior.How could we create a method of empowerment in our teams to generate and lead the change themselvesThese are the three-stage that we came up with By using these three stages we hoped the empowerment of the team would assist in creating a workspace that would be comfortable and effective for all involvedThank you for listening and please enjoy.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

We are living in an era of change. This can be very exciting or terrifying. It is going to be up to you. This is a time where leaders are going to need to be visionaries. Leaders that have the ability to visualize, share, and inspire will be more valuable than ever before. How can we go forward?The answer is a simple one. The answer is you.As leaders, it is going to be very important to focus on visionary leadershipWe will need the ability to develop and share clearly defined directionThis strength of vision will define and be used as a measurement in leadership in the very near futureVisionary leadership is going to mandatoryLeaders will need to be able to shift and adjust to the flow of change.We see it now with constantly changing policies to create safer workspacesWithout the ability to share these changes with energy and enthusiasm team members will grow weary of the constant change and the overall moral could shift very quickly to a more “What’s the point?’ type of attitudeHow do we avoid this?It is not a hard task but it will contain multiple dimensions to make it workAs a leader, you will need to ensure that you understand very clearly the vision and articulate where the group needs to go effectively.We then will be required to generate energy and excitement. Which will help lead to commitment in the team to complete or implement Finally, it will be essential to create an environment where the employees or team members feel a sense of the importance of making the vision come true.Let's expand these three dimensionsFirst, we need to ensure that we have full understanding fo the vision Some questions to ask What is the mission?This will include the overall value set that we will be working with. It will set the parameters that you will be working withinWho are we?Though we may be returning to the same workplace the emotional environment is going to be very differentPeople will be nervous and unsure of what is nextThey will be looking to leadership for direction What is the code of conduct that we will be operating under?Your teams will have questions it will be up to you to be able to answer themStory of 9-11 and similaritiesHow we all became unsure as to what was next for us allThat we were all scared and did not know what was nextHow leadership made sure to communicate with us and the guests effectively How we all could make a difference and how we all had a par to play in the efforts that were ahead of us.The reason that the story is shared is because of the questions that were asked in the meetings that we all attendedWhat is our purpose?Why are we doing this work and why is it important?You will have to build a level of enthusiasm and excitement around the new changes that will be implemented It will be your job to create an environment of belonging and making the vision come trueIn doing this you will also assist in one other question that the team will have and that is what is the business going to look like moving forward?When we have a vision of the future it gives us purposeWhy are they doing the work and why is it important?Suddenly it will be easier to get back into motion Staff will not be as scared, they will have a shared vision of what is aheadThey Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

How are you giving to those around you? These are the questions we need to be asking. What are the problems that surround us daily? Also, how can we solve those problems? These are the key questions. In answering these questions it will be easier to learn what you can do to enhance yourself as well. This will help find the silver linings.It starts with the mindset Take the old saying “ There is a silver lining to everything.”What I take from this is that there is a growth point in everything if we just take the time to look for it.It is very hard to adopt this attitude these days. But it is possibleLearn to share talents with others. If there is one thing we have at our disposal right now is time and the tools to reach many many people.The community needs a distractionHow can you help othersTake the time to find a way to solve someone’s problem Perhaps this is the time that you create a course and share the talents that you never really thought much about prior to now.It's going to be the small things that make differences right nowIf I look back to my history lessons and the world wars.Families made sacrifices on every level. They did without so many aspects of daily life to support the efforts.It breaks my heart.As a global community, we need to move forward and be grateful for what we haveIt is about to become more important to be grateful and maintain a positive attitude than ever beforeThis can be a turning point for societyWe can continue to slip down the slope that we are making for ourselves through negativity and greedOr we can come together and work as a wholeI know some may not agree with me I honestly hope that as a whole we learn the merits of slowing down.Perhaps we shorten the shopping hours in retail stores allowing families to spend more time together That we learn to assist each other Say hello from a safe distance It is the small things in life that add upOh the many times I have said this The small actions today will not pay off today but in the long run, those small actions will add up to huge result and growthI would like to issue a challenge that we all become a new form of contagious. Instead of living in fear, we become positive in our lives. I am not saying place yourself in danger and go outFind a way to brighten someone’s day safely for all involved.Small thingsI am a firm believer in the give to receive the concept of lifeShare knowledge with others and gain knowledge in returnPlace effort in gratuity of others and others will return that gratuity to you Nothing comes from nothing but even small efforts create some form of reactionPlant the seeds of generosity and watch the forest growCultivate the positivity around you and watch the world brighten around you for itI hope this podcast inspires someone todayThis would be a small action taken by me If just two people go out and share this message and then two from each of those people share again it can create a steam roller effect The small action of the individual creates a team effort that then forms a community of positive individuals all helping others and themselvesSuch a small hope can lead to so much Thank you to Joseph McDade oBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

What are you doing in your spare time? We all have time on our hands. Stores and shops are closed, non-essential services are shut down and we are isolated from each other every day. There are a million things you could be doingDo they benefit you What about writing a story with your kidsPerhaps reading a bookTechnology opens so many doorsWe have so much information at our fingertipsWhy are we wasting time streaming movies and tv all-dayThis is not bettering or improving usEven small steps made each day will cause advancementEverything in moderationI could take some of my own advice many days and switch on the tv Taking a break from writing and prepping for the podcastNot working on another aspect of my business that day and playing a gameIt works both ways to watch a movie, enjoy some tv, practice a skill all in moderationA hard truth Now is the time to work on something that you have been putting offBegin to learn the process of starting a podcast Write a blogThere will be nobody to blame but yourself if you come out of this with no self-improvement or advancement in a dreamI didn’t have the time will no longer be a valid excuseNow is the time Grow a new skill. Practice it for an hour a day its really not that much.Study up on some processes that will make you more valuable and productive upon return to work.This will not recover overnight but I assure you just like everything that has come before it will recover.Remember that any improvement that you make in yourself now will pay dividends in some way later on down the line.Leaders stand up and are heardCreate a community with your co-workers to check up on them Your community needs you as your team did when at work. Your neighbors are your employees now serve them.People are amazingNow is an amazing time to grow family bonds and maybe even fall back in love with your spouse or partner.It is amazing what people can create with timeSome friends of mine were supposed to go on vacation recently but all the plans were canceled.They dressed up hung pictures around the house and toured the country and visited the places that they were to go.Perhaps a wine tour of the house. Post pictures and tour the countryside. Maybe a virtual spa day. Hot bath spa music from youtube the possibilities are endless.These little steps engage the imagination and we become creative in what we do. A skill many of us will have lost over the years as we age. Find a way to play.Fill your bucketAs some may know I am a firm believer in if you can dream it you can see it mindsetFocused belief and effort will find a way to manifest your dreamsThat is where the growth of skills come into play. Learning and growing puts energy in the buckets HomeworkShould only take about 10 minutesAnswer these questions and find a way to combine or enhance based on the answersWhat are your hobbies?Where would I like to be stronger when this is all over?How can I combine my hobbies with my desires?What do I need to advance myself?Who would I like to reconnect with?How can working on myself make me better in the future?Finally, why have I not started yet?Some very simple questions but they will help you to find a path towards your future and perhaps a better, healthier, more educated version of you! Try it out and I guarantee this little exercise will help you to grow.

OVERVIEW & PURPOSERight now many people are working from home each day. This can really be a tough transition for many. While others will find it easy but will not be as productive as they can be. Today I would like to share ten tips that I have learned or figured out through personal failures over the last year and a half. Some simple things to assist you in getting back into the swing of things and accomplishing daily. Get DressedGet up at your normal timeCreate a scheduleDo not drink during work hoursSet up zoom meetings with coworkersCreate a proper workspaceLearn to reward yourselfEat your meals and stay hydratedGet up and move aroundLearn to switch off.For expanded show notes please visit Leadgrowinnovate.comSpecial thank you to Joseph McDade for the music used in the opening and closing of the show. Josephs other works can be located at https://josephmcdade.com/Thank you so much for listening. Please rate and subscribe.

Hello Everyone. This episode is a little different than the usual suspect. In this interview, I am truly honored to have the chance to talk about podcasting and the benefits of practicing speaking. I was approached by two ladies recently that requested that I speak for their group about podcasting and my story. So in this episode, I am sharing the experience and the interview that we conducted together. In the hope of full transparency, I do speak to a couple of services that I use and endorse during this interview, though no more than usual with the Buzzsprout ad that I use in the middle of normal episodes.Links to find the community group for The Daily Splash group and Robyn and Lindsay: https://www.facebook.com/groups/783278398846778/Please take the time to check them out. they are doing great things over on the page and once a day meeting and growing.We will return to a normal cast next week but I will be looking for more interviewees and chances for me to be interviewed as well to share in the future. this was a very enjoyable experience for me and just like the interview in episode #10 this was a first for me and I really would like to continue doing shows like this.I really hope you enjoy this interview. Bye Bye now.

Over the years as I trained many different managers and leaders there became over time some consistent behaviors that I could recognize. These 5 practices that were common to the most effective leaders became part of my training cycle. I would watch for them and as soon as they manifested we would work to enhance and build upon them. I hope that you are able to then find them in yourself and your leadership style.Shared VisionThe shared vision was often one of the first traits or practices that would manifest in a new manager or leaderThe ability to create a picture of a preferred outcome.Then to generate energy in the direction of completing and achieving that shared outcome.A true vision and the ability to share the excitement of what you can see also allows us to initiate action.Self-drive can be difficult for many people. Self-leadership is the hardest type of leadershipWe may not push ourselves to full potentialThis is the truest form of failureLearn to never let yourself downLearn to use imagination daily. Going to seem like something that is not normally sharedOne of the strongest traits we can have is to see potential and have a huge vision.Enabling othersAnother name for this would be empowerment.Very few leaders know how to accomplish this. It is amazing how many feel that empowerment removes authority when in fact it creates it.It focuses on collaboration and achievement as a team or group.It builds morale and helps the team build unity and strength. This is all caused by a strong sense of ownership.Find ways to empower yourself. Ensure that you find what motivated you and use it.It creates a sense of accountability and helps to keep you moving forward.Challenging the processHave an open mind and as well as an open door.Be willing to try new ideas and as well listen to people.Always be looking for new opportunities.This is a trait that can bridge gaps in leadership and develop a team mentality.This one can be tough; you may be challenging the way an organization does things. Know what chances to take and make sure that you protect yourself and your team.Always plan with an escape route in mind for you and your team this allows for innovation and is a safe environment.Always above all things protect the team.Modeling the wayEffective leaders steer the course.They create plansThose plans help direct the team and ensure performance as it moves along in the process.This also means that things are monitored and performance evaluated in an ongoing fashion.Assess and take corrective action as it becomes necessary.Become the role model in everything that you do and act in a fashion that is congruent with your values and moralsThis will allow you to be natural and your team will recognize this.If we act out of character or not ourselves this will be very easy to read and can cause the loss of respect.Encouraging the heart Celebrate your team and your successes as a group.As well as celebrate individual accomplishments.Show the team that you care This is something that is darn right impossible to overdo But to ignore or underperform in this aspect and be crushing to success and performance.Be creative in how you recognize and personalize your style whenever possible.These were taught to me as a young manager and I grew and refined my leadership skills; these always stayed true with me. Thanks for listening.

Overview and PurposeAn ideal leader has many different characteristics. In truth, these 10 characteristics of leadership are going to be essential to success. We will need to adapt and utilize these days in order to truly rise to the occasion. Remember, an organization will never rise above the quality of its leadership. Leadership involves motivating and inspiring people to work towards the organizations or individual’s goals within the existing environment. Knowing how to work within the environment and use it effectively will assist you in succeeding. Today I would like to share with you 10 characteristics of Leadership and how being aware of them can help you to grow and succeed.Before we move on please take the time to like rate, subscribe, and share this podcast with friends and family. It helps us to grow and we appreciate every rating and share.I would like to invite you to visit my webpage for the true show notes. Due to the size of the notes this week I could not fit them all in this space. I have posted the true notes with this episode and they can be located by visiting https://leadgrowinnovate.com/ I hope you enjoy the show and again please take the time to rate, subscribe and share this podcast.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

OVERVIEW & PURPOSEIn my last edition of the Lead Grow Innovate Podcast. I spoke about finding ways to be positive in life and how we as leaders often need to find the silver linings for ourselves and our teams. Today I would like to expand on some of the subject matter of last week and introduce 7 Positive phrases you may be using wrong. Language as a tool Excitement, urgency, positive news, negative newsDifferent tones set different moods when delivering informationIt often is not so much what we say but how we say it. This can affect us the speaker as much as the listenerI AMThese words can hold so much power and can attract so much energy backUsing these two words can show your team commitment or place fear in them all in how you word them and utilize them each day We can portray confidence in what we are presenting or acknowledge difficult times all with the same phraseWe can also affirm for ourselves with these words daily and boost our own confidenceSpeaking these aloud to ourselves and others creates confidence and strength that may not have existed before this acknowledgment What If?Another saying that can hold you back or push you forwardUse this phrase to get your mind working positively We can ask what if I ….Make changes and ask the right what-if questions to start on the path to see those changes through BelieveThrough this all we need to believe in ourselves with faith and convictionReligious belief, universal belief, flying spaghetti monster belief, it doesn’t matter what your belief is first and foremost we need to believe in ourselvesBelieve in yourself in all that you do and you can do anythingBe the cheerleader for your life and never ever hold back from boosting yourself to be and do betterNever let others remove or lower that faith that you have in yourselfButThe word But can be used rather negatively but once again when we use it correctly can convey positivity. In negative situations, we can change how we look at things.This is very hard but if I try it this way perhaps…It’s amazing the power of language as a tool and how we can use that toll with some practice to influence and enhance others MaybeThis one can be tough to convince others of its benefits and how it can be positive in your daily speech and lifeMaybe we need to take a minute to step back before making a decisionThis can sometimes be taken as doubt or unsureness but if we have that faith and belief in ourselves that will not matter because we know that taking a moment is the right thing to do Take a moment to think about the maybes. Perhaps it will prevent you from losing on a deal or could allow you to see a trend that others have missed and to make millions in the processI'll TryThis one is easier to explain and many people already know about it but for some reason, many just do not act upon itWe can miss out on so much by sitting out because we will not tryIt gives strength to fear and prevents us from growing and experiencingHopefullyRemove this word from your vocabulary altogetherHopefully gives strength to fear and doubtWe need to commit to what we are saying and in management roles commitment and confidence is key to successBe confident in what you do and work towarBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Overview and PurposeOver the last series of podcasts, we looked more in-depth into the technical aspects of management and leadership. We have talked about mentorships, setting goals and even retention and succession. It is now time to take those aspects and work them into our daily lives. Let’s get back to basics and positivity in all we do. When do we need positivity?AlwaysFind the positive in jobsFocus on what we find fun Never let negativity rule There is always a silver lining Everything happens for a reasonWhen the time is right it will show itselfConcept of nothing happens without a reasonHow do these moments shape us?What do we take from these moments Do we learn from them These moments can shape us How we deal with them can define who we becomeAllowing negativity to take control only drains usNegative thoughts only take they never give backTake the time to be proud of yourselfOften we focus on making our teams succeed but neglect ourselvesReward yourselfAcknowledge the things that you do Often leaders are created when the need is mostDuring points of difficultyThrough tough times finding a way to stay positiveFinding positivity and infusing strength is a superpowerCan raise a manager to a leader in the eyes of a teamA skill that not everyone knows how to use Skill that everyone can learn if they take the time I have spoken about this in the pastI try to find the positive in my lifeSome days easier than others I have experienced low pointsBut I have also experienced the realization of the purposeno longer think of my back injury as a low pointIf not for the injury I may never have started writing may never have sat down to record my first podcastloved and still love my job but I was miserable doing itlove developing and training new managers and leaders became a chance to do that while learning and developing myself as well I find it uplifting that a back injury could be a catalyst for so much self-growth and development Two words that can change your lifeadopted two words in my life and removed many othersno longer was the words I wish, try to avoid words like hopefully, maybe, if only.now use the words I am insteadI am going to succeed, we are going to succeedI am going to create a …..No matter what you say it all mattersChange the way you say it You simply have to believe in the factThis is one of the key pillarsNext episode lets talk more about the way we speak Please feel free to contact me through Twitter @growinnovate, through email: tombyrne@leadgrowinnovate.com also if you enjoyed this episode my other podcasts can be found: https://leadgrowinnovate.com/category/podcast/Thank you to Joseph McDade for the music he can be found at https://josephmcdade.com/We use Buzzsprout and have nothing but an amazing experience. Following the link in the show notes lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support our show. Here is the link to get you started: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=527290Thank you for listening and see you in the next episode. Please take the time to rate and subscribe for more episodes like this one.

Overview and purposeOne of the most difficult tasks I had to deal with as a manager was the retention of staff and creating a succession plan. I had to be creative and think outside the box. Also, I had to be innovative in how I went about training these staff as well. Today we will talk about using innovation as a retention and succession tool.Ever-changing tech and workforcePrograms and technologies are changing at breakneck speedsThis can be a job in itself just to keep up with it all This is where an innovative talent strategy can come into playWe need to adjust and adaptIn a word, we need to innovateWhat happens when talent moves onHave you prepared your team to move up?Is there a movement strategy in place that allows talent to move up and prosperThrough quality empowerment, we can allow the team to problem solve and innovateDirect interaction will allow staff to experience through OJT (on the job training)This was a key innovation We used training strategies to retain staff during lean times.We showed the team how important they were by offering the opportunity.There was not a large income of revenue to pay more to retain staffShadowing of ManagementOn top of training, we offered a shadowing program for staffThis created an understanding of what was happening further up There is an opportunity for hands-on training and groomingTraining that will help pad their resumes but also a sight of what promotion would meanThis concept of understanding helps us avoid pitfallsPitfalls #1Vacancy of key positionsImagine losing a hiring manager and having nobody else trained to hire a new one This prepares us to avoid being halted due to the vacancy of key positionsBe prepared for vacancy and uses succession planning to avoid themTo do this effectively you will need to determine specific aspects that will be instrumental to successionHaving a successor that is not readyThis is where shadowing and solid mentorship will help to prepare your people It will require a solid leader who has expertise in all aspects of the jobs and the ability to assist and mentor One way we can help with this is to cross-train other team leaders but this can also lead to pitfalls#3 Poorly transition leadershipThese leaders may be experts in their position and seem solid but when moved to another area may suffer due to a bad fit or style clashWe need to again be prepared to support and ensure that onboarding is completed smoothlyWe can also empower solid team members to assist the new leader to find their strideInnovative strategic onboarding tactics that are individualized will assist in this task#4 Failure to recognize talentUnless we work individually or in a very small business we have a talent pool to pull from and developWe need to recognize strengths and utilize themWe should also be looking for development potentials constantly within our teamsDo not be afraid to think outside of the box when working on retention. Though the grass may not be greener on the other side it will look that way at times. We need to ensure that our grass looks the greenest on the block.Grow your teams from the inside and foster a program of succession from within. These individuals will grow with thBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Prepared by Tom ByrneOverview and purposeWhat is innovative leadership? How can we be more innovative? Also, how can we promote innovation in our teams and teammates? These are all questions that I will strive to answer and expand upon for you today.Difference between inventor and innovatorThe difference is the ability to generate excitement May not be the inventorThey see something that they can get behindNot only generates excitement but also promotes the concept to othersVisionOne of the mainstay characteristics of an innovative leader is the vision to see more The ability to see the end game They are able to see the process but also work out issues as they arise The ability to take that vision and create something more than just an idea or a dreamImagination and communicationInnovative leaders have very intense imaginations.They have the ability to step back and look at the whole pictureAlso, they have the ability to communicate what they see All the imagination in the world does no good if we cannot communicateInnovative leaders must be effective communicatorsNot micro-managersThese leaders have the ability to step back and trust their teams They foster creativity and award new ideas of processesThe promotion of engagement is very important to themThe awareness of how an engaged team is more productive dictates how they attack EngagementWhen a team feels empowered to achieve the project will growIt may have all come from one small idea but a team of creative minds all working together will create something amazing.Having a team of imaginative and engaged individuals not only speeds the process but does so exponentially.So to sum it all up innovation leadership is the ability to see the grand overall scheme of exciting new avenues. To then conceptualize and elicit excitement from fellow creative thinkers through effective communication. Then have the ability to focus that excitement into the correct direction to in-turn create reality from dreams.How can we as managers be more innovative?It all begins with learning to step back and look at it all How can we empower our teams to run with it and create?Where do we need to maintain control?All the questions that we need to askWe need to ask these questions at the beginningAlso, revisit them in the middle of the projectThen review them again at the end of the projectThere will also be times when we need to assess the project and decide if we should continue forward or if it is time to end and recoup losses where possible Stepping back can be scary Empowering a team for the first time can be terrifyingBut learning to control these aspects of project management will allow you to assist where neededEffective communication and followup will be the keys to success Having some degree of expertise will assist in stepping away and empowering a team.You will have the ability to understand what the team is creatingSuccession and retentionOne side effect of empowering a team is the retention of workforce and training cost going downAlso, you create a succession plan by creating the next generation of innovative leadershipThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode please rate and share. Also please feel free to comment or continue this discussion. I welcome input and feedback.

Episode #17 The 9 do’s and don’ts of goals and sticking with them.Today we will create a list. 9 do’s and don’ts of goals and sticking with them. I have explained SMART goals for you and established how they can benefit you in your life. Many of the subjects that I cover today will tie in with last week’s blog and podcast. I do hope that it helps with the clarity of this overall edition.In the process of establishing goals, there are 9 stages of making and sticking with them. Some of these stages were touched upon in the creation of last week’s blog and podcast. Today though we will lay them out and describe them each in turn for you. Step #1 Do take the time to create a plan. Do not wait for someday to start.Step #2 Do start small.Do not focus on many things at once. Step #3Do take the time to write down what you want to accomplish.Do not forget to create deadlines in your goals.Step #4Do be specific.Do not deal in absolutes.Step #5Do leave room for failure.Do not expect perfection.Step #6Do continue to track your progress.Do not trick yourself into failure.Step #7Reward yourself for success.Do not take the time to beat yourself up over failures.Step #8Do try to find the time to create a support network.Do not try to go it alone.Step #9Do make a solid commitment.Most of all Do Not ever forget that you can do this.Thank you to Joseph McDade of https://josephmcdade.com/ for the music that I use in the opening and closing of the show. Please feel free to contact me through Twitter @growinnovate, through email: tombyrne@leadgrowinnovate.com also if you enjoyed this episode my other podcasts can be found: https://leadgrowinnovate.com/category/podcast/Today is a great day to start your own podcast. Whether you’re looking for a new marketing channel, have a message you want to share with the world, or just think it would be fun to have your own talk show…podcasting is an easy, inexpensive, and fun way to expand your reach online.We use Buzzsprout and have nothing but an amazing experience. Following the link in the show notes lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support our show. Here is the link to get you started: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=527290Thank you for listening and see you in the next episode.

Overview and purposeWhen I look back at my training and schooling over the years. I realize that I have never truly been trained in setting goals and sticking with them. This is shocking and disturbing at the same time. One of the most important things in life is the knowledge of what you want to achieve, and why you want to achieve this goal.Researching has shown some consistencies Through the researching, I came across multiple coaching tools Three that kept coming up were Accountability, Commitment, and writing down your goals.As well this research certainly showed evidence of the value of learning this skill and for getting really good at using it daily.Learning these three skills and utilizing them in daily life allows you to embrace life and live it to the fullest with courage.Another trend that kept showing up was SMART goalsSpecific, Measurable, Achievable (accessible, approved, assignable), Relevant (realistic), Time based Many different ways fo breaking it all down but in the end, it is the same processSMARTSpecific Avoid vague language, focus the details and be just as the description states be specific MeasurableThis is the stage where we create success points. How we will measure our progress.Also, this point can be utilized to generate feelings of accomplishment and performance with the team or yourself. Letter AIn this section, I was taught the concept of Achievable but while researching I came across three other options.We can adjust and shift the process to fit the needs of the goal.I have always felt the relevance section to be the most difficult section to work out and create but this section is now proven to me to be the most flexible section and that is amazing to me.Letter R and TAs I just spoke to I feel that the R section fo smart goals to be the hardest section to create. This is the point where we have to be very honest with ourselves.Is it realistic? Can it be accomplished? This is the point as well when we establish if this task is relevant to the overall goal. Is the task at hand a pipe dream or will it end in positive result towards our endgame?Finally, the relevance and realism of it all to make sure that we are not allocating too much time to a task or stageWe now can set our timelines. All of our specifics, our measurement stages, our establishment of the overall achievement, what we can do realistically tied together with a constant: TIME.We enhance all the prior stages by setting time-based accountability. We are creating a sense of urgency and prompting better time management.Thank you to Joseph McDade of https://josephmcdade.com/ for the music that I use in the opening and closing of the show.Please feel free to contact me through Twitter @growinnovate, through email: tombyrne@leadgrowinnovate.com also if you enjoyed this episode my other podcasts can be found: https://leadgrowinnovate.com/category/podcast/We use Buzzsprout and have nothing but an amazing experience. Following the link in the show notes lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support our show. Here is the link to get you started:

Setting goals is key to moving forward in any aspect of our lives. But how do we go about setting them? What exactly should we be doing to set those goals? And why is it important to set those goals?As we are still early in the year 2020 I thought this would be a good time to begin working on the concept of setting goals not only for ourselves and our personal growth. But also how the process of making goals for ourselves can shift over to our daily work and home life as well.Planning and creating goalsLet’s chat about the importance of setting goalsHow can we set goals if we don’t actually know what we want in lifeWe need to take time and be honest with ourselves.Small Practice about creating goalsTake 5 minutes and write down your goals that you can think of quickly.Also while writing down these goals take the time to explain quickly why you want this Once you have your list and have added all the goals that you can and why. Read it over quickly.You now have 7 seconds to choose the one goal that really inspires youYou may find that you have chosen a goal that you did not expect.This happens because your subconscious knows what your true goal.Did you give it a try?This practice can really be eye-opening for many people It can draw attention to true goals that we were not really giving time Our mind knows what we really want because we know what we really wantThe trouble is that when we take to much time to think about it we often find the time to talk ourselves out of that goalIndividual goals versus environmental goalsThese goals that are discovered subconsciously are what I like to call individual goalsThese are goals that we internalize and grow without external influences like others and workWhat people often do not realize when making goals is that our internal goals often involve our loved ones and friends as well. We want the best for those around us. It is human nature and when we succeed it is nice to bring family and friends with you.Writing down goals and breaking them down This test is not what you could call infallible but I have had great results with using it over the years.One sad fact is that once you know how it works it doesn’t work.But writing down your goals can have a similar effect on things.The timeline is longer but if we write out a list of goals and review it every day for a week one goal will very much start to stand out and the most important to you This will be the key goal and funny enough when we review the list it will often contain other goals that when completed would be progress towards the completion fo the key goal.Breaking down goals and followthrough We have now figured out how to establish goals and have gone about figuring out our key goals.Now we will move forward into how to set these goals and achieve them. Also how to go about sticking with your goals over time.We will begin to work on how to set SMART goals and I will explain SMART goalsAlso how using these goals setting skills in life can help us to progress and push forward quickly and effectively.Thank you to Joseph McDade of https://josephmcdade.com/ for the music that I use in the opening and closing of the show.Please feel free to contact me through Twitter @growinnovate, throBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

OVERVIEW & PURPOSEToday I would like to begin a journey with you. Let’s take a look in the direction of where we want to go. Also in the process of beginning this journey, let’s begin to conceptualize why we should focus on ourselves. This simple concept of self-confidence and pride has been touched upon and spoken to before but today we will flesh it out and give it life.Be differentBe proud of who you are Reinforce it with yourself that you are different and that is why you succeedBe grateful for who you are this builds self-esteemBe grateful for who you are becoming. By listening to this podcast or other podcasts you have made the decision to enhance yourself and grow stronger in life Enhance your SuperpowersSelf-worth and pride enhances our superpowersThis is not a quick swap and doesn’t happen overnight We can choose to enhance our strengths but again it does not transform you in one night. Personal Growth as a leadership training toolPersonal Growth is very central in my leadership training styleAs part of practice during this part of the training, I try to get individuals to begin to dig deep and define what they truly want in lifeIf we do not have a purpose and reason for why we want to lead we cannot leadIt doesn't matter and having personal goals and reasons to want gain is never greedy. These are internal wants and these can be dreamt huge.Large dreams and goalsNever be afraid to set huge goals and dreamsThough you may not achieve the full goal there is a good chance that the small steps you have made towards a huge goal will result in more progress than if you had simply set a small goal and achieved it quicklyWrite down your dreams and goals A dream that is not written down becomes weak and dies. Please never let your dreams die.Always believe in yourselfThis is going to be about enhancing the interactions you enjoy daily.Never let another person tell you that your dream is crazy. Some of the craziest ideas have to lead to the most amazing creations and innovation of our time.It is very easy to talk ourselves out of dreams. But if we create goals we create a road map to success.Never let anyone tell you that you are too old to changeI am now 41 and it really doesn’t feel all that different.We control our world and our outcomes Allow yourself to define your idea of success and do not allow the world to define it for you. Make a change in yourself and your surroundings if needed. We are early in 2020 and now is the time to set goals and plan ahead In the next few blogs and podcasts, we are going to begin working on goal setting and breaking them down Setting goals into the future, one-year, five-year and ten-year goals.Look forward to the next series of casts and sharing tips and tricks with you allThank you to Joseph McDade of https://josephmcdade.com/ for the music that I use in the opening and closing of the show.Please feel free to contact me through Twitter @growinnovate, through email: tombyrne@leadgrowinnovate.com, or at my webpage: https://leadgrowinnovate.com/Thank you for listening and see you in the next episode.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Prepared by Tom ByrneOVERVIEW & PURPOSEIn many of my writings in the past, I have spoken of the four pillars. Though I do not want to beat this subject to death I would like to expand on them slightly today and reinforce the concepts and main sentiments of this blog and podcast community. As some of you may already know there are four pillars upon which this whole concept of blog and podcast rest. #1 focuses on Personal Growth. #2 is “Focus on the Positive”. Pillar #3 “Honesty and Integrity”. Pillar #4 “Teach it to Master it”.Personal Growth We have spoken about personal growth over a series of podcastsI feel that the better we are personally the better a leader we can becomePersonal focus and insight into what we want to achieve help us to lead a team to what we all need to achieve.Never feel bad about working towards personal goals as a leader.Great leaders know that when the team achieves so do they as a leader.Focus on the PositiveMy new life mantra.I used to be very negative in life.Often I looked at others as the cause of my negativity.I have found that I was the cause and changing my view has changed my outlook.Never feel that you are trapped in a negative situation.We can make changes in our life.Honesty and IntegrityEveryone has it to some extent what makes you betterThis used to be a selling point for potential people to buy into your brand.Now as I have said everyone offers it do you actually live it?How do you go to business?Do you leave a space and group better for having been part of it?Do you finish each day knowing that you did the best you could have done for yourself and others and in a way that never lowered your personal standard to achieve a goal?Are you proud of you and if so how can you grow on it? Ties back to personal growth.Teach it to Master it This is when we become the master of our trade.My personal favorite pillar.This pillar can feedback to the other three but can be grown and fertilized by those same three. This whole system is based on continually creating succession in ourselves and others. The only way to truly master any subject and topic is to teach it.Give back to those around you.Feed the next generation with your experience and insight.Never take exception to those that choose not to listen and always make time for those that ask.ACTIVITYTake a look at your life and your business or job and take the time to break down these four pillars. Are they Present? Can you make them a part of your everyday? How can you evolve them to work for you personally? We are all different and amazing in our own special way. Find your path. This is just a guide to help you along the way. How can you level up? Thank you to Joseph McDade of https://josephmcdade.com/ for the music that I use in the opening and closing of the show.Please feel free to contact me through Twitter @growinnovate, through email: tombyrne@leadgrowinnovate.com, or at my webpage: https://leadgrowinnovate.com/Thank you for listening and see you in the next episode.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

OVERVIEW & PURPOSEToday’s episode comes just three days into the New Year. A time of reflection and review. A time to look back and think about everything that has happened and how it will define your next year ahead. I completely disagree with this view of the New Year. I will explain it in this episode. 2020 the year of fore-thought and vision memesWhy cant this be a year of fore-thought?Though I disagree with looking back it can help us. Where did we succeed and how can we grow that success?What is our plan for the year ahead?Write down your goals.Give yourself ownership and permission to try new things and take chances. Quality ReviewLook back on the year and find your growth points.What were they? Were the forced on you or did you adopt them?Are you proud of where you are? If not why not?These are all questions that we need to aks ourselves to set quality goals for the year ahead.Though I said I don’t like to look back and allow the year that has past to define my year ahead. A quality review will allow us to avoid mistakes and build on success.Setting goals and dreamsAfter we review the year that we have had we need to set quality goals.Be honest with yourself and dream big.Larger the gaol the more likely to push harder and further than if we just set small goals.Reach for the stars and never let anyone hold you back.Allow yourself to take those steps toward something amazing. Remember that what you are doing nobody else could do. You have a style that needs to be shared. No matter what we do in life there are people out there that will find you amazing. Believe in you and all that you do.Believing in your goalsI feel that you must truly believe in goals to see them come true.When we really believe and have faith in our goals not only come true but generally we overachieve.Goals can be achieved but if we don’t work at it and truly get behind them they will die.ACTIVITYTake a piece of paper and write down 10 huge goals. Take those 10 goals and read them and choose the 4 that really resonate and will make you closer to your dreams and goals.Focus on those 4 items and only those 4 items. Put in the work and focus on those items. Amazingly the other 6 will find themselves fleshed out and completed in the process. Focus on those 4 items!Thank you so much for listening. Thank you to Joseph Mcdade, please like, share and subscribe. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

With the end of the Year upon us, I have gone back and retouched on a few of the topics that were covered over the year. As well I have expanded on why so much time was spent discussing why we need to focus and work on ourselves. I also take the time to really express my gratitude and appreciation to everyone that has taken the time to listen. This will be the last episode of the year and will be the end of season one. I am so excited the share with you all the completion of the first season and really look forward to the beginning of the next season. There will be no downtime simply a year will change and I felt it was as good a time as any to begin a new season.I look forward to the next upgrade and progression with you all and as I say a number of times in this episode Thank You so much.

In this episode we reach a milestone. Number 10 but not only that I conduct my first interview and have been joined by Mr. Jay Garrison. Jay is also known as the Chess Ambassador. He speaks to me about his journey of self-growth and his adventures in the world of chess. We find many similar instances where very different end goals between his and my journey often follow the same path. Very excited to share this episode as it marks a major level up point in my personal growth and opens the doors for more guest speakers to enter and share their expertise.Thank you so much to Jay Garrison for taking the time and working with me to produce this episode. I hope you all find as much information from our discussion as I did.Jay can be located at the following locations:https://www.facebook.com/TheChessAmbassador/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQWSZIXWVEteBez97bWFySQand as well unveils a new avenue to follow his progress and journey at the end of the cast.Big thanks to Joseph McDade of https://josephmcdade.com/ for the music that I use throughout my podcast.Also Buzzsprout for an amazing and easy hosting service that is super easy to set up and get podcasting quickly. Use this link to check them out and learn how you can get a free $20 dollar Amazon card. https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=527290I can be reached at tombyrne@leadgrowinnovate.comon twitter @growinnovateand as well on my community group https://www.facebook.com/groups/507612383422788/Thank you all for listening and please like, rate and subscribe as it helps me to grow. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Lead Grow InnovateEpisode #9 How to start your Self-growth Prepared by Tom ByrneOVERVIEW & PURPOSEEverything has a starting point. We strive to be better in all that we do. Funny enough though many people choose to not put time into themselves. They focus on the world around them but neglect themselves daily. We don’t eat well. We work long hours without breaks and many times we ignore when our body tells us what it needs. How can we be better for ourselves? Today we talk about how to start your self-growth.Self-Growth is one of the greatest and most fulfilling challenges But it is one of the hardest.It is going to require commitment, honesty and sustained efforts.We will need to be hard on ourselves in the beginning and hold ourselves accountable for slips in the process.It all begins with a stepThat step is the taking of action in our lives.The size of that action or step doesn’t matter. What matters is that we take it.Finding our reasons and the five W’sAsk the who what when where and why in your life. But do one thing reorder them.First, ask What.Then we move to the why but we cannot know why we want something unless we know what we want.After that, we can then set timelines and ask ourselves when do we want it.We can then look at ourselves and acknowledge flaws that may hold us back and establish the where in this process. Where do we need to make changes to achieve our goal?Finally, we look to the Who. Who can help us to get there? Or on the other hand who do we need to avoid to prevent them from holding us back from achieving our final goal.Special thanks to Joseph McDade of https://josephmcdade.com/ for the opening and closing music that I use.Also Buzzsprout for an amazing and easy hosting service that is super easy to set up and get podcasting easily. Use this link to check them out and learn how you can get a free $20 dollar Amazon card. https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=527290I can be reached at https://leadgrowinnovate.com/ as well on Twitter @GrowInnovate

Lead Grow InnovateEpisode # 8 What is personal self-growthPrepared by Tom Byrne OVERVIEW & PURPOSEOne of the key pillars of this blog and podcast is the belief in personal growth. But what is personal self-growth? I define self-growth as any effort that we as an individual make to benefit ourselves and those around us. As such a large amount of what I will write about and focus on will be the use of self-growth in the leadership world and our personal lives.When we take time to take care of ourselves others will followAn extremely important aspect of leadership and life.So important daily to love ourselves and care about how we feel and perform.Small steps can lead to amazing results.The story of our change in lifeSix months ago we were miserable in our jobs.Well paid but the stress was in our lives heavy and had a solid grip on us.Working long hours and never seeing each other to avoid the costs of childcare.Not a fun way to live.How a friend shared a business that she was learning online and how it could result in working from home and making better money while doing so.We began to learn and try this business plan and we failed.But we also began to notice the positivity in the group that was a constant and shared mentality. But we learned We began to focus on the positive. Which became the second pillar for the Lead Grow Innovate Community.It was an amazing time for us. We were still working long hours but the time we spent together was so much more meaningful. We learned to talk about the positives that we had achieved each day instead of the parts of our day that were negative and junk. We stopped carrying the junk with us.We made an active commitment to each other that we were going to find a way to spend more time together.Suddenly life changedI got knocked down with a back injury that finally caused my back to give out.I was low, beaten and sore all the time.My wife reminded me of how important it was to stay positive. She brought me back.She reminded me of how I love to learn. Life emphasized that now I had time to learn.I began to study and learn with a passion I had forgotten in my life. I had found my fire again.I started studying blogging and podcasting. This all started as a leadership blog but quickly became more as I began to write.I felt that my purpose was to share what I had learned. How to find those silver linings.How to remove the negative and how to do it all with honesty and integrity. This then became pillar number three.Things began to change in our lives due to this personal growth My wife began to notice changes in me. I was excited and enthusiastic.I was energized and throwing myself at the learning and development of things with such vigor and drive.I was more loving in my life and caring with my family. No longer disconnected and tired all the time.It felt so amazing.The underlying aspect of positive personal growth is YOU BRING OTHERS WITH YOU.When you love yourself completely and cannot be proud of yourself it promotes kindness to others.That kindness, in turn, promotes respect.People then start to count on you and

Episode #7 - When the mentee becomes the mentorPrepared by Tom ByrneOVERVIEW & PURPOSEWhen an individual makes the active decision to mentor someone this is a gift. A gift of knowledge, time and experience. The mentor then begins to help shape the future generation. The future generation through mentorsHow do mentors shape the future?They teach how to accomplish tasks.How to network in life and work. The refinement of tasks and efficiency in work. The transition of the training processEventually, training and teaching become much easier.The mentee becomes more of a confidant.Suddenly the mentee begins to share and train others.The mentee becomes a mentor.What does this mean and why should we hope for this progressionThis is the ultimate reward for a mentor.It begins to create a legacy.Suddenly your work to train and grow the next generation begins to pay forward and train and grow the following generation again and again.This is the ultimate succession plan.We pick them up and help them to carry forward.Each time we pick them up it becomes easier to do soThe mentee becomes stronger each time they stumble or fall and we help them up.Like a child on a bike, they become better and stronger.Soon they no longer need assistance.When you begin to mentor and attract mentees of your own.Thank you for taking the time to teach, enhance and grow the next group of amazing people.Develop your own personal style.Explain the 0%/100% rule. Never be afraid to take a chance on people.Always take the time to answer questions.Never miss an opportunity to offer positive feedback and praise successes.Watch for it. Many times it forms organicallyThis gives and takes a questioning relationship to become a learning aspect for both sides.The refining, explaining and creating of training reinforces the process for the mentor and the mentee gains a wealth of knowledge grow through experience.Stress learning to take time for others in your life.It is in teams and individuals that you will find your greatest successes.Remember that very few of the greats in history did it alone.They all had someone that they looked to, up to or learning from.Never be uncertain of yourselfAlways be confident.If you don’t know the answer admit it but then find the answer. Either together or separate but find the answer.Those that have been mentors for a period of time nowLook to your prime sources of inspiration and be proud of who you have become.Never be afraid to ask questions.Questioning attitude got you to where you are at this point.Never forget the process of experimentation and questioning the outcomes.These questions can lead to amazing discoveries.Special thanks to Joseph McDade of https://josephmcdade.com/ for the opening and closing music.Also Buzzsprout for an amazing hosting service that is easy to set up and get podcasting. Check this link and learn how you can get a free $20 dollar Amazon gift card. https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referre

Lead Grow InnovateEpisode #6 Informed Learning with mentors and teachersPrepared by Tom ByrneOVERVIEW & PURPOSEOver the years I have been in contact with many amazing people. I searched for them and began questing towards informed learning with mentors and teachers.Points of learning in lifeWe can learn from everyone in our lives. Bosses and employees each can influence and teach in different ways.True leaders are aware that it is the team that gets things done not the individual.We are often unaware of these teachings. But sometimes there will be a spark that causes knowledge to grow and be recognized.The shift from unconscious to informed learningWe begin to choose the influences that take root in our livesThe act of seeking knowledge and growing our overall understanding becomes an active effort on our partsThe process of using magazine articles, forums and groups to find information and assimilate it in our daily lives We can become knowledgable and informed and make ourselves an authority on the subjectThe concept of informal mentorshipThe beauty of this style of mentorship is that it is self-driven and at your own pace.The cons of this style of mentorship are that it is self-driven and your own pace.Many People need a driving force to make them move forward and drive them to the next level.How I used forums to spark the need to enhance my knowledge so that I could make informed statements and in turn learn about the subject.Seeking out formal mentorshipInformal training and self-driven learning were not enough. I began to seek out experts in the fieldAsking questions of people that have advanced in your chosen path will allow you to move forward quicklyThis style of question-asking and requesting feedback and followup can lead to a formal style of mentorshipI did not ask questions for a few days and the mentor reached out to me to ensure that I was okay. The mentorship had morphed and the mentor had become accustomed to my requesting help and in turn, had begun the process of refinement and personal growth as well It became a structured mentorship, one on one mentorship. This is the style most people would recognize if asked.The three classifications fo mentors.Teaching mentors- these mentors are able to teach and transfer information but will not be able to assist on the path that is taken. They will show you the way but not travel there with you.Leading mentors - These mentors will again be teachers but in the process of teaching you, they will lead you along the way and work side by side with you. This is a very effective style and can result in very consistent and effective results. As well this style fo mentor can result in many successful proteges. They will look like it is easy and turn results with little effort but they are like a duck in the water calm and serene on top of the water and kicking like hell below. And finally, the most amazing form of mentorship and that is the support mentor - They do everything that the other two styles of mentors do but in the meantime, they also become a friend. They help us through hard times and assist us and carry us when we need it to power through and succeed. This is the style of mentorship that I hope that all listeners get to experience in their lives.The Transition of theBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Lead Grow InnovateEpisode #5 Learning UnknowinglyPrepared by Tom Byrne INTRODUCTION & PURPOSEIn this section of the podcast, I explain the purpose of the topic and how we will go about covering the overall information. We will define the concept of unknowing mentorship and how we are influenced each day of our lives. How we can begin to recognize and as well utilize this information daily.WHAT IS UNKNOWING MENTORSHIPI define what unknowing mentorship is and where to find it in our lives.Where are the sources of this knowledge and how to find them?HOW TO RECOGNIZE THESE SOURCESWhere are the sources of your mentorship?Why should we begin to recognize these sources?Once recognize what is the next step?VERIFICATION OF RESOURCETime to begin learning.The transition between unknowing and informed.Avoiding negative resources and how to avoid these while figuring out how to source positive subject matter.ACTIVITYDescribe an activity that will reinforce the subjectMake a list of influences that we have in our lives.Decide if these influences are positive in our growth or negative and dragging us backward.Reflect on how to remove the negative sources and how to transition them towards positive.Begin to transition into a knowing or informed style of mentorship.Thanks and closing commentsThank you to Joseph Mcdade of https://josephmcdade.com/ for the entry and closing music.Also Buzzsprout for an amazing and easy hosting service that is super easy to set up and get podcasting quickly. Following the link in the show notes lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support the show. The team at Buzzsprout is passionate about helping you succeed. Join over a hundred thousand podcasters already using Buzzsprout to get their message out to the world. https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=527290 Contact me at https://leadgrowinnovate.com/ as well on twitter @GrowInnovate

This episode is a continuation of last week's topic. I felt as I produced and prepped that there were many parts of the subject that needed to be explained and expanded upon before moving forward. I continue to break down mentorship and how our environments, teachers, and friends help to create who we are and become. I talk about the uses of mentors in tough times as well as how we can emulate and begin to learn through watching and copying. I also introduce and expand slightly on the three stages of mentorship and the progression of each stage. We will expand on each of these subjects over the next three podcasts and blogs. I hope you enjoy.

In this episode, I begin to break down mentorship and what it means to me. I begin to layout three stages of mentorship and the cycle that can be created. I also reveal how I go about looking for and finding, approaching and requesting mentorship. This will be the first of a 4 part series on mentorship. I hope you enjoy this podcast and the content that I share.

In this episode I begin to speak about dealing with our inner critics. How we can control that little voice inside our heads that often holds us back in life. I expand on the content of two blogs and offer up some personal self-growth exercises that can help us as individuals control our inner critic and convert it into a tool that can be utilized daily.

In this episode I introduce myself as well begin to lay out the purpose of the podcast. I speak to the frequency that the podcast will be produced and released as well share part my vision and plan.