30 Jan
PeopleTek Coaching Leadership

Distance Leadership

Leadership has challenges, and now with direct reports spanning the globe as well as the ability to work remotely, new challenges are being faced.

Leaders need to lead those in the same location as well as those that cross time zones. All must be treated equally, kept informed, inspired, engaged, and be fully productive. d

Reports show:

  • 20% of workers around the globe spend a portion of their work week working remotely
  • 7% are full time telecommuters

Note: Canada, Great Britain, and the U.S. require the most “at work” workers (37%, 37%, 38% respectively)

The major pluses:

  • Telecommuters have 83% less stress than those that commute to their workplace
  • 78% said they have a better work/life balance

The negatives:

  • 62% feel isolated not seeing their co-workers face to face
  • 56% are less likely to be promoted when working remotely

What does this mean to you as a leader?

  • Leading remotely means you need to be a skilled communicator
  • Priorities must be shared and roles clearly understood
  • Share what is expected of each individual (and each location) and include the “big picture” and desired results
  • Ensure all interactions end with closure. This means that everyone involved knows who is going to do what by when
  • Check in regularly with each employee
  • Revisit the team goals and objectives; use “here’s where we are” statements, ask questions, and invite everyone to share their opinion and thoughts about the progress that is being made
  • Keep your boss and other leaders informed of your team’s accomplishments and successes

Lastly, ask your direct reports (remote workers as well as onsite personnel) for their ideas for making the team, and virtual relationships and leadership even stronger.

QwikTip and QwikCoach

PeopleTek’s Strategic partner, E-Coach, specializes in online coaching tools.

QwikTip for Being a Better Leader

And for those with a QwikCoach license, refresh your existing skills and acquire new skills by visiting the QwikTips library for leadership ideas and techniques.

If you don’t have QwikCoach, it’s an excellent resource for growing your leadership skills remotely that you should consider.

Learn More About QwikCoach

Help turn your leadership knowledge into leadership action!

Did You Know?

Graduates of PeopleTek’s Leadership Journey earn:

  • IT Professionals: 19 priSM CPD credits
  • Human Resource SPHR/PHR/GPHR: 19 HR (General) credit hours
  • Project Managers: PMI – up to 37 hours / 3 PSM level points
  • Executive Coaches: 18 ICF CCE’s (Core Competencies) & 5 ICF CCE’s (Resource Development)
22 Jan
PeopleTek Coaching Videos

More About Leadership TV

In the video below, Mike Kubin of PeopleTek Coaching announces Leadership TV–an exciting new way to support leadership development in the workplace!

We’ll offer leadership tips, tools, and techniques that are critical to your success and provide interviews with executive coaches and experts, including Dr. Pat Gill Webber of E-Coach Associates, and Dr. Abe Fischler, President Emeritus of Nova Southeastern University. The workplace is getting more complex, so why not use every resource at your disposal? Our Leadership TV is also great was to supplement in-person leadership training.

20 Jan
PeopleTek Coaching Videos

Dr. Abe Fischler Interview on Leadership

Leadership Interview – Dr. Fischler, Part 1

In part 1 of this 2 part video series, Michael Kublin, President of PeopleTek Coaching, talks with Dr. Abe Fischler regarding his knowledge and expertise on leadership. Continue below for a summary of their discussion and part 2 of this video series.

Being a Leader is Being a Teacher

Dr. Fischler references Phil Jackson and his tremendous leadership skills in leading multiple basketball teams to national championships. To him it came across that Jackson viewed leadership as teaching and helping people improve, which is a belief Fischler shares.

Where Does Leadership Start?

According to Dr. Fischler, leadership starts with figuring out your own leadership style. Not everyone is going to have the same leadership style as you. You must always be observant of your own behaviors and reflect on them to improve and to achieve your goal. This could be your bottom line in the corporate world or bettering a player’s performance on a sports team.

Mistakes Leaders Make

Fischler cites the inability to control emotions and one’s emotional response as a mistake leaders often make. You cannot lose your cool as a leader, especially in a public setting. It always works against what you are trying to achieve.

Techniques to Keep Knowledge Growing

The desire to be a self-learner is important. This can start very early in childhood. You should examine your own behavior to learn how to improve. This learning and improving is a continual process.

Dr. Abe Fischler’s Leadership Style

Fischler conducted a great deal of clinical supervision at Harvard, which consists of recording a class/lesson as it takes place, and then viewing the video and analyzing students’ responses and behaviors to find out what is effective in that class.

This sums up his leadership style as it is focused on observation. To be a good observer you need data; then you present the facts for analysis. You cannot argue with seeing yourself on camera behaving a certain way.

Kublin adds that if you don’t have a camera at your disposal getting direct feedback from other people has always worked great for him to grow leadership.

Leadership Interview – Dr. Fischler, Part 2

This is the continuation and part 2 of the discussion with Dr. Abe Fischler, President Emeritus, Nova Southeastern University, regarding his knowledge and expertise on leadership. Read below for a summary of their talk.

Accountability is Key

Dr. Fischler speaks from his experience as President of a University for over 20 years. He told each Dean what he was going to hold them accountable for at the time of hire, and then he would let them handle those things per their individual style. His vision was giving the Deans ownership and accountability and empowering them to lead and holding them accountable for the results (quality) and the institution’s economic viability. In turn he created a team. When Dr. Fischler did need to give critique, his method of coaching was healthy, respectful feedback that is one on one.

Tip For Being a Continuous Learner When Leading

When leading an organization (of any kind) you must understand that the culture of an institution starts at the top. People need to feel they have some control and are able to make decisions without always having to check with you. In short, avoid micromanaging. Respect your team’s knowledge and their style of doing things; you chose them for a reason.

Fischler says that once continual learning becomes part of you, you just do it. Mike Kublin adds that you are leading yourself first, and need to take the responsibility, ownership, and accountability to begin and keep going.

Balancing Practical Side & People Side

Fischler gives an example of project manager. The team is working collectively to produce something, and the project manager cannot do it without them. When someone does not do their part it affects everyone, including the entire company/organization. When you are leading you need to understand everything involved to achieve your goals. Having both the practical side and people side and balancing them is critical.

Parting Words – Always Be Positive

Develop a leadership style you are comfortable with that is positive and reinforce the positive behaviors of your team. Focus on successes and try to minimize being critical. People respond better to positive reinforcement than to punishment.

16 Jan
PeopleTek Coaching Leadership

Global Industry Knowledge

Last week we talked about why it’s important to have a vision. We need to be pioneering, think outside of the box, dream a bit, anticipate the future, and have a desire to achieve. What we did not touch on was the need for global industry knowledge.

Companies are opening their boundaries, and people are enlarging their perspectives, not because they are farsighted, but because they must.
—Rossabeth Moss Kanter

In today’s electronic age, coupled with the ability to readily move between continents, we have an increased need to develop and hone our international knowledge and relationships.

Skilled leaders:

  • Understand business on a global scale
  • Are experienced in multicultural environments
  • Adapt in unfamiliar situations
  • Know how capital flows and operates internationally
  • Adhere to differing laws and regulations
  • Know which approach is optimal for each global partner

Tips To Increase Global Knowledge:

  • Stay on top of international news
  • Study and understand global trends
    • What’s the economic condition?
    • Is the need for outsourcing increasing or decreasing?
    • What’s the need for specialization?
    • Do cultural and linguistic boundaries exist?
    • Are rates of retirement creating any issues?
  • Build international partnerships
  • Jot down key drivers for each international market you interact with, or would like to interact with. examples are: Marketing strategies, business growth, unique cultural needs, what they like and don’t like about your products or services
  • Do your homework. Select your biggest international client or competitor and really delve into how they function and how you can add value or lessen the competition.

A Recruiting Trends report identified “geographic awareness and global understanding” as what job seekers are looking for.

How skilled are you when it comes to international knowledge and relationships?

Can you effectively communicate across cultural and linguistic boundaries?

Can you lead across boundaries?

QwikTip and QwikCoach

PeopleTek’s Strategic partner, E-Coach, specializes in online coaching tools.

QwikTip for Celebrating Success

And for those with a QwikCoach license, refresh your existing skills and acquire new skills by visiting the QwikTips library for leadership ideas and techniques.

If you don’t have QwikCoach, it’s an excellent resource for growing your leadership skills remotely that you should consider.

Learn More About QwikCoach

Help turn your leadership knowledge into leadership action!

Did You Know?

Graduates of PeopleTek’s Leadership Journey earn:

  • IT Professionals: 19 priSM CPD credits
  • Human Resource SPHR/PHR/GPHR: 19 HR (General) credit hours
  • Project Managers: PMI – up to 37 hours / 3 PSM level points
  • Executive Coaches: 18 ICF CCE’s (Core Competencies) & 5 ICF CCE’s (Resource Development)
08 Jan
PeopleTek Coaching Leadership, Planning

Make 2015 Count

We have 357 days left in 2015. What do you want to accomplish and what plans do you have in place to stay on track?

The best place to start is to have a vision.

Stephen Covey says:

Vision is essential because without it we fail to see what’s possible and don’t stretch and develop our creative side (or that in others).

He identifies four human intelligences in his book, The 8th Habit From Effectiveness to Greatness. They are:

  1. Mental (vision)
  2. Physical (discipline)
  3. Emotional (passion)
  4. Spiritual (conscience)

Note that vision is number 1! Traits that help achieve a vision include:

  • Pioneering
  • Achiever
  • People Believer
  • Anticipates the future
  • Thinking outside the box
  • Dreamer
  • Idealistic

Which of these traits come natural to you? Are there any you could develop? Do you have a colleague that is personally strong in an area that could act as a mentor for your growth areas?

And, what are your professional and personal visions? Are they written? Have they been communicated and discussed? Have you involved the key “players” that can help make your vision a reality?

To clarify, a vision is a dream or aspiration that you as the leader have for yourself and your organization. The vision provides direction and guidance to a place far away. It may be unattainable, but attention should be focused on making strides for reaching the vision.

Great leaders create a vision and ensure it is carried out; they understand what they want to accomplish, they know they must communicate their vision, stretch the horizons, challenge imaginations, and inspire and energize others to commit to the vision.

PeopleTek’s vision is to: Create Worldwide, Individual, Team and Organizational Excellence

What’s your vision?

QwikTip and QwikCoach

PeopleTek’s Strategic partner, E-Coach, specializes in online coaching tools.

QwikTip for Making Meetings Productive

And for those with a QwikCoach license, refresh your existing skills and acquire new skills by visiting the QwikTips library for leadership ideas and techniques.

If you don’t have QwikCoach, it’s an excellent resource for growing your leadership skills remotely that you should consider.

Learn More About QwikCoach

Help turn your leadership knowledge into leadership action!

Did You Know?

Graduates of PeopleTek’s Leadership Journey earn:

  • IT Professionals: 19 priSM CPD credits
  • Human Resource SPHR/PHR/GPHR: 19 HR (General) credit hours
  • Project Managers: PMI – up to 37 hours / 3 PSM level points
  • Executive Coaches: 18 ICF CCE’s (Core Competencies) & 5 ICF CCE’s (Resource Development)

Additionally, the Journey is approved for PMI re-certification credits.