The 30-Day Leadership Management Course

The 30-Day Leadership Management Course is simply a practical guide to better leadership, specifically for today's extremely competitive job market. Leaders are not born; they are trained through systematic steps. Take your first step today! Each day The 30-Day Leadership Management Course helps you build the necessary skill sets and philosophies to be the leader you need to become and have always wanted to become. Today's leaders are looking for practical advice that makes sense in any setting! This is exactly what is provided in this 30-day course. What you will read in this book: Why your core values matter Why followers are great leaders How to become a better problem solver How to make the right decisions Learn how to set priorities Obtain real work/ life balance Create a culture that breeds leaders

Day 1-6: Strengthen Sense of Self

Day 1: Core Values

Day 2: Personal Mission Statement

Day 3: Contribution to the Company

Day 4: Personal Accountability

Day 5: The Leader as Follower

Day 6: Vulnerability in Leadership

Day 7-18: Assess Your Leadership Style

Day 7: Employees' Description of You

Day 8: Planning the Work

Day 9: Organizing the Work

Day 10: Sending a Message

Day 11: Listening for Understanding

Day 17: Effective Meetings

Day 18: Training and Development for Employees

Day 19-26: Organizational Culture

Day 19: Effective Communication

Day 20: Commitment to Company Goals

Day 21: Understanding Priorities

Day 22: Respect in the Workplace

Day 23: Integrity in the Workplace

Day 24: Detoxifying the Environment

Day 25: Work / Life Balance

Day 26: Celebrating Success

Day 27-30: Know Your Team

Day 27: Strengths and Challenges of IndividualsDay 28: Strengths and Challenges of the TeamDay 29: Balancing the Team

Day 30: Teambuilding

Conclusion

Spend just 15-30 minutes a day for 30 days toimprove your business leadership skills Everyonefrom your newest hire to your oldest client willbenefit if you understand who you are as a leaderand what you can expect from your employees Allyou have to do is think through the way you act inthe workplace, consider proven principles foreffective management, and be honest and realisticwith yourself about how you can change yourbehavior

Do not be concerned about whether you are amanager or leader Warren Bennis, a businessmanagement guru of the last several decades, said,'The manager does things right; the leader does theright thing.' Successful business leaders havediscovered they really prefer a fusion of the twoconcepts

Day 1-6: Strengthen Sense of Self

In order to lead other people or manage a business,you need a strong sense of who you are as a person

in your business setting

Day 7-18: Assess Your Leadership Style

Everyone has a natural leadership style Be aware

of yours so you can build on your strengths andaddress your weaknesses This is where you have

to be ruthlessly honest with yourself

Day 19-26: Organizational Culture

As a leader or even the senior manager, you set thetone for the business environment whether it is theentire company or just your branch

Day 27-30: Know Your Team

No matter what your actual business managementtitle, the outcome of your work is only as good asthe input of your team You can compensate, youcan cover up, or you can even deny problems, butyou cannot sustain successful outcomes withoutsupporting good teamwork

Be prepared to look at yourself, strip away anydefensiveness, and reveal your key attributes as asuccessful leader Remember, there is no right orwrong leadership style It is a question of

strengthening your capabilities for businessleadership in your particular situation

Over the next 30 days you will have a number ofexercises to perform, tips to review and

"homework" that will help you to become a betterleader These exercises are meant to reinforcewhat you are reading and provide practicalapplications on how to make effective change inyour leadership

DAY 1 Strengthen Sense of Self

Core Values

Question

What do you stand for?

You reveal your personal core values every timeyou act and speak These are the beliefs on whichyou base personal relationships and businessstrategies They guide you in making decisions and

in mentoring others They describe the essence ofyour character

If you say or do something that makes you squirmwhen you think about it later, you have probablyacted against your core values If you are reallyuncomfortable dealing with an employee situation,check to see if your core values are still intact.When you are living out your personal values, youare comfortable and confident because your

beliefs, your motivations, and your actions areperfectly aligned.

Take the time now to think through what is

important to you in life There is no right or wronganswer It is a personal look at what really matters

to you and what motivates you when you makedecisions or interact with people

Write down a list of values Then, identify the 5 to

8 that are most important to you Here are a few tokick-start the exercise

Over the next few days, continue to analyze yourworkplace decisions based on your list of corevalues until you are confident that you have a betterunderstanding of why you behave the way you do.You should also be comfortable in your behavior if

it is consistent with your personal values

Learning Point

Your core values affect your day to day behaviorand effectiveness as a leader

DAY 2 Strengthen Sense of Self

Personal Mission Statement

Question

Why do you come to work every day?

A personal mission statement articulates thepurpose of your life in the workplace It reflectshow you use your skills, gifts, and experience, andthe reasons why you enjoy your job This statementalso recognizes your core values

Take a few quiet moments to answer these

questions You might find it useful to sit

somewhere comfortable with a paper and peninstead of your computer This way, you can make

a more personal connection with the thoughts youare processing Try to list at least three answers toeach question Do not worry about any overlap

Why do you work in this particular job?What does work mean to you?

What do you want from work?

The answers to these questions are really all aboutyou, whether you are the business owner, a seniormanager, or a front line supervisor Now, refocus

on the company

What is the purpose of your job?

What strengths and commitment do you bring

One or two actions verbs on how you will useyour strengths.

A phrase or two describing your core values

A few words about what you want to

accomplish in life

The result is a personal mission statement that isthe framework for everything you do and say as aleader in your business world

Learning Point

Your management style is a reflection of yourstrengths, values, and your overall purpose in life

DAY 3 Strengthen Sense of Self

Contribution to the Company

capabilities on the job Now, it is time to lookmore closely at what you bring to the job It is notjust listing your qualifications, but also thinkingthrough how you use them in the workplace inorder to achieve the company's goals

Make a list of the following qualifications forwhich you were hired

Skills

Experience

Education and certifications

Beside each item on your list, add a few wordsabout how you use that qualification on the job.Also list capabilities and experience that you arenot using in this particular position For example,you might have successful experience as a

volunteer with responsibilities different from theworkplace

Besides your professional qualifications, you bring

to the workplace personal attributes that determinethe way in which you apply your knowledge andskills Make a list of characteristics such as theones below that help define who you are as anorganizational leader

Reliable

Flexible and adaptable

Motivated and self-disciplined

Team player

Supportive of employees

Realistic about time and expectations

Make sure you are honest with yourself about yourattributes Cite examples that demonstrate how youshow these characteristics Think about how youremployees would describe you, and why in thoseparticular terms

Now that you have developed a complete profile

of who you are professionally, consider thisquestion

Do you believe you can contribute more to theleadership of the company?

It might be good timing to explore opportunities forincreased or different responsibilities to makebetter use of your competencies

Learning Point

Regular reviews of your leadership contributionsare important as your experience and the needs of

the company change over time.

DAY 4 Strengthen Sense of Self

Personal Accountability

Question

Do you hold yourself accountable?

Accepting accountability means owning up tosuccesses and failures and accepting the

consequences Why wait for senior management oryour clients to question your commitment to yourwork? If you want to be a successful manager, holdyourself accountable The results will show inimproved performance, increased respect in theworkplace, and increased personal value Personalaccountability also pays dividends in building aculture of trust as employees realize you are notshifting blame to them when there are problems

You have the ability to hold yourself accountablefor the work you direct and influence, the outcomes

achieved, and the way in which you exercise yourauthority Unfortunately, there are always

situations outside your control that have a negativeimpact on you and your reputation However, youare still accountable for the way you respond tothem

Whether you recognize it or not, you work within aframework that determines your accountability inall areas of your life Take charge of it to reducethe chances of having someone else tell you thatyou have been a success or a dismal failure infulfilling your responsibilities Take time now toreview the key elements of your accountabilityframework

Goals Make a list of your career goals andyour personal objectives These can rangefrom owning your own business, to beingphysically fit, or to being a great mom or dad.Areas of responsibility Under each goal,write down your responsibilities in workingtoward each goal This might include

fulfilling commitments at work according toyour job description, being on time formeetings, communicating more effective,sticking to a budget, exercising three hours aweek, and attending most of your son'sbasketball games.

Personal choices List the ways in which youdischarge those responsibilities This

includes showing respect for others, yourattitude toward work and employees, yourmanners and basic courtesy, managing yourtime, and even your spending habits

Turn this information into an accountabilitychecklist Set aside at least 15 minutes each week

to review your progress If you are accountableconsistently in all areas of your life, it is easier to

be an effective manager

Learning Point

Take control of your life by holding yourselfaccountable in all areas

DAY 5 Strengthen Sense of Self

The Leader as Follower

Question

As a leader, do you know how to follow?

This question might sound rather contradictory.However, if you think about the attributes of agood follower, you will see they are also

characteristics of a good leader Review thefollowing descriptions of a follower to see if theyapply to you as a leader

Supportive An employee who is a goodfollower listens carefully to the manager'sdirections and expectations, and then supportshim in achieving the company's goals If youare an effective leader, you support youremployees not just in their routine work, butalso in developing their potential This means

you listen to their goals and aspirations, andexplore career possibilities with them.

Facilitative Followers who are engaged inthe work process know how to make thingshappen They facilitate the day-to-day work,assisting overloaded colleagues, offeringadvice when needed, or soothing an upsetnew hire As an effective manager, you alsoknow how to facilitate the work You do notsimply issue orders and wait for results Youare aware of the team dynamics; you are there

to encourage and provide guidance

Team player Often, the followers are takenfor granted if they are always available, dotheir jobs well, and then continue to the nexttask or the next client As a leader, you mightfeel you are taken for granted If so, rememberthat you have employees who do the best theycan and are not always appreciated Do notlet them down Listen carefully to employees,acknowledging that there are parts of the

business they know better than you do As aneffective leader, you also understand thateveryone benefits when you allow and evenencourage other team members to assumeleadership roles in various situations.

No matter what your title is, there is always

someone else who is in charge Even the owner of

a successful business acknowledges that the clientsinfluence what he does You are never in a

position where you cannot learn from listening to,and following the lead of others

Learning Point

An effective leader knows how to be a goodfollower

DAY 6 Strengthen Sense of Self

as acquiring more power and influence and

shedding some of that day-to-day reporting to aboss The reality is that these are vulnerable

positions

A vulnerable leader is one who is open to people,

to ideas, and to taking risks to achieve the

company's goals Are you willing to stand exposed

to the world of your company and clients whileyou plan an expansion, develop policies, or

negotiate contracts? Are you prepared to accept

both personal and organizational negative

consequences?

Personal consequences People you respectmight ridicule you for decisions you make.Employees might be waiting for a project tofail as they did not believe in it in the firstplace You might be subjected to mental andemotional turmoil as you await the results of arisky decision you made

Organizational consequences There is thepossibility that a risky decision could doserious, systemic damage to a business and itsreputation This, in turn, could affect the long-term sustainability of the company

However, there are also benefits to placing

yourself in a vulnerable leadership position Youare exposed to new ideas that can be turned intoimproved ways of working and better outcomes.You are open to establishing more intimate

working relationships with your employees andother stakeholders Your vulnerability is a

demonstration of commitment to achieving thecompany's mission.

Can you identify business situations where youhave felt personally vulnerable? How deliberateand cautious are you when making risky decisionsthat expose you and the company to uncertainconsequences? Have you had to make ethicaldecisions that have left the company in a badposition?

Allowing and accepting vulnerability in yourleadership role is a very personal decision Onlyyou know how strong and how committed you are

to achieving outcomes

Learning Point

Make a conscious decision about the extent of yourleadership vulnerability so you are not in anexposed position just because you are not payingattention to the possible risks

DAY 7 Assess Your Leadership Style

Employees' Description of You

Does it matter what your employees think of you?The work will probably be done anyway

However, you might want to look more closely atthe impact of your style on achieving the goals ofthe business

Your employees' description of you is a strong

indicator of your leadership style Task driven?People oriented? Combination of both depending

on the situation?

If you are a results oriented manager the workmight be done by sheer force of your personality,

in spite of your lack of concern about your

employees In other words, your employees mightfear you or have no respect for you as a person, butthey do like the work so they persevere, knowingyou make good business decisions

On the other hand, you might be overly concernedabout your employees' satisfaction so your

business sense is weakened This is a no-winsituation, as you cannot please everybody at thesame time

Take a few minutes to think about the way youmanage the work and the employees What is yourfocus? Do you achieve the results you want? Areyou the kind of boss you would want to have?

If you want to change some of your tactics, it isnever too late Your first step could be a frank andhonest discussion with a fellow manager or trustedleader who demonstrates the traits you reallyrespect and would like to emulate They might bewilling to coach you through a few situations tohelp you develop a better balance in your

leadership skills

Learning Point

Successful leaders have learned to balance resultsand relationships in the workplace

DAY 8 Assess Your Leadership Style

Planning the Work

Question

How do you plan the work for which you areresponsible?

The basic management function of planning

includes identifying the following

Goals to be accomplished

Areas of work and specific tasks that need to

be done to achieve those goals

Resources needed to support the work Thisincludes qualified personnel, equipment,space, supplies, and budget

Timeline Decide on a date by which eachgoal will be achieved over the duration of theplan

Success indicators These might include a

production quota, a 10% increase in clientbase, or elimination of customer complaints.

Are your employees part of the planning or do youtry to do it yourself? What is your comfort level foremployee participation in the planning process?

The most effective managers are those who benefitfrom the knowledge and experience of their

employees After all, these are the people who dothe work They are the ones who know how toimprove procedures and make better use of

resources They can probably tell you exactly how

to increase production levels or client satisfaction

If you do the business planning yourself or withjust a few senior staff, it is probably time to thinkthrough options for this important process Seniormanagement might develop the annual strategicplan with front line workers writing the detailedwork plans for their units You might ask for input

on specific areas of work and use that informationfor overall planning at the management level

The bonus is that employees feel recognized andappreciated when they are asked to participate.This, in turn, often leads to a better work

environment and increased production It is

definitely a win-win situation

Even if you already involve your employees inplanning, do a reality check on your reasons Doyou really value their opinions or is it a tokenexercise? Do you manage expectations? After all,not every idea from every employee can be used inthe planning

Learning Point

The people who do the work should be involved inplanning the work

DAY 9 Assess Your Leadership Style

Organizing the Work

Question

How do you organize the work of your business?

Whether your plan is an annual update of a

strategic plan, a plan to restructure operations, or aproject plan for the next quarter, you need toorganize the work to make sure it is going to bedone

Divide the areas of work among your

employee teams or individuals depending onthe size of your business and the work to bedone

Assign all the resources necessary to do thejob, including staff, equipment, space,

supplies, and budget

Break down the timelines so there are interim

goals and benchmarks.

The work, resources, and timing should be alignedwith the overall business plan for the company

Even though you are the one who will be heldaccountable for the goals being accomplished, youcannot do everything yourself Delegation is a skillthat every successful business leader comes toappreciate As the business owner or manager of aunit, you set the tone, you determine what work has

to be done and to what standard, and you know theresources available, but you have to let go of atleast some of the day-to-day work It is a timemanagement tool for you and a learning opportunityfor your employees

You should have no problems if you rememberthese key points about delegation

Choose the most appropriate employee,someone who has the skills and experience to

do the job

Use the plan as the reference for the scope ofthe work you are delegating, the resourcesavailable, and the expected outcomes.

Delegate the authority necessary to do the job

so the employee does not have to run to you tosign every requisition or work order

Allow the employee to work independently asmuch as possible

Monitor progress so there are no surprises atthe end of the time period

Can you do this? Are you able to organize the workfor which you are accountable and then let

someone else make it happen? Even if the resultsare the same, are you comfortable with specifictasks being done differently from what you woulddo?

Learning Point

Effective leaders understand the importance ofdelegation in organizing the work

DAY 10 Assess Your Leadership Style

Sending a Message

Question

Do you communicate effectively as a manager?

The way you communicate with your employeesaround the office is a significant indicator of yourleadership style An effective leader promotestwo-way communication by sending clear

messages, listening attentively, and encouragingfeedback

There are several factors to consider when you aredeciding what to say and how to say it

Content The topic of your message oftendetermines how formal or informal it is.However, a formal vocabulary and way ofspeaking is also one way a manager can keep

employees at a distance and prevent input andfeedback A more participative leader invitesdiscussion and feedback.

Listener Gear your message to the audiencewhether it is one employee or a general staffmeeting If you want to be an effective

communicator, you will be careful aboutusing technical jargon with the office manager

or being too simplistic with senior staff Also,

be sensitive to cultural differences and

problems with English as a second language.How you communicate This includes yourtone of voice and how loudly you speak.Perhaps you have a naturally gruff voice thatsounds as if you are shouting at people.Maybe you are too quick to show emotionwhen you are speaking A show of anger orsarcasm speaks volumes about your

leadership style

Body language Nonverbal communication isevident in your facial expressions, posture,gestures, eye contact, and even where youstand or sit in relation to your employee It

really does not matter what positive wordsyou might be speaking if you are standing withyour arms folded and an expressionless face.Smiles and relaxed posture go a long way toencouraging two-way communication.

What is your natural communication style? Is iteffective? Are your employees attentive but

relaxed when you are speaking?

DAY 11 Assess Your Leadership Style

Listening for Understanding

Question

How carefully do you listen to your employees?

A Japanese word for listening is composed of twosymbols: one for 'gateway' and one for 'ear' This

is powerful image to keep in mind when thinkingabout the way you listen to your employees

Successful managers are in touch with their

employees individually and collectively They notonly speak to their staff, they also open the

gateway to their ears to listen attentively to workrelated discussions and to casual conversations

Do you have an open gate?

If you are really listening to an employee's updates,ideas, or questions, you will be listening for

understanding This means you will be able toanswer these questions.

What is she saying? These are the actualwords

How is she saying it? Hear the tone of voiceand watch the body language

Why is she saying it? You should be able tohear the underlying intent, motivation, andexpectations of the message

Your leadership style determines how you listen to

an employee If you are a controlling manager, youprobably keep your hand on the gateway to yourear, ready to slam it shut

You can do this by just pretending to listen whileyou are really thinking of something else or bywaiting for the employee to take a breath so youcan jump in with your opinions or end the

conversation Maybe you just do not think thisperson is worth listening to Any of these actionsclose the door on effective communication and

reduce the chances of you, as a leader, building arelationship with your employees In addition, youmight miss some great ideas, which can furtherbuild your area of the business.

Over the next few days, when you are in

conversation with your employees, do a realitycheck on how well you are listening

Learning Point

Listen to the what, how, and why of what is beingsaid to you