Learn Faster. Lead Further. Executive Retreat Guide for CEOs

Empower Your Leadership By Growing Your Team

RETREAT ROADMAP Kingdom Impact: The Pyramid of Personal Growth

Business Principle: Improve Your Team to Improve Your Company

The Five Factors of a Firm Foundation Projects

The Four Beliefs of a Team Building Leader 15 Every #1 Leader Needs a #2, then a #3, #4, and so on.

You May Be Stopping Yourself from Finding Your Second

Endnotes 23 Next Level Leader: How to Gain Your Leader’s Confidence

Bonus: The Five Abilities Every Employee Must Have For Your Company to Succeed.

Additional Resources

CEO Tools

Kingdom Impact

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Kingdom Impact: The Pyramid of Personal Growth

The best investment a person can make is an investment in self. The person who sets themselves on the path of personal progress is poised for prosperity. Those who improve themselves are quickly identified and recognized. Famed Irish playwright and political activist George Bernard Shaw once wrote that “life isn’t about finding yourself, it is about creating yourself.” 1

One helpful tool for determining where and how to grow as a leader is the pyramid of personal growth. With an outside layer and inside layer, this pyramid can help leaders see where to build and how to grow. The external layer of the triangle is also known as the Triangle of Success.2 The outer portion of the triangle enables each leader to focus on and enhance one of the three critical characteristics of personal development. Each side of the triangle represents an essential area to master for individuals who wish to improve themselves. Although the three key areas can seem simple to understand, they provide a plethora of applications for leaders who evaluate opportunities in each area. Many leaders would testify that when a person can improve in any or all of these critical areas, they will grow in every area of their life and business.

The Triangle of Success KNOWLEDGE The left side of the triangle represents knowledge, which is essential to growth. Many people don’t grow because they don’t know where to grow. Legendary inventor, writer, and statesman Benjamin Franklin once wrote that “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”3 Lack of knowledge is not an excuse in today’s knowledge-based economy. The world wide web has brought knowledge to the fingertips of any leader who wishes to seek it. A growing person is a person who expands their knowledge frequently and consistently.

Kingdom Impact: The Pyramid of Personal Growth Experience Question: What is the most important thing you have learned in the last 3 months that has improved your life or business?

The person

SKILLS Just as knowledge is essential, so are the skills that a leader uses to display that knowledge. Dale Carnegie once wrote that “knowledge isn’t power until it is applied.”4 Therefore, the person who wishes to make progress must do so in both knowledge and skills. Skill speaks to mastery in the application of knowledge. The first aspect of any job or task is to learn about the task and what experience is essential to completing that task. Skill speaks to how the person does the work, and how they improve to complete the work more efficiently. Knowledge is useful for opening a door or an opportunity, but skill is what keeps the door open. The development of skills is where people can expand to new heights. Every leader should be looking to improve their skillset.

who sets themselves on the path of personal progress is poised for prosperity.

ATTITUDE The bottom of the Triangle represents the most critical area of personal growth—attitude. Attitude can be more important than knowledge and skills combined. As legendary British Prime Minister Winston Churchill wrote: “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”5 Your attitude makes a difference in how you approach your work, your relationships, and yourself.

The Levels of Learning Lasting leaders are learning leaders. Those who can lead for long periods of time continue to stay fresh through placing a premium on personal development and growth. When leaders

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Kingdom Impact: The Pyramid of Personal Growth Win Activity Consider the outside layers of the pyramid and fill out the chart below.

KNOWLEDGE — What to Learn

“

SKILLS— How to Apply

Learning is a treasure

ATTITUDE—Want to Change

that will follow

the owner everywhere. CHINESE PROVERB

”

Improvement Goal

Benefits—What benefits would you receive if you made that change?

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Kingdom Impact: The Pyramid of Personal Growth stop learning, their companies will stop growing. A Chinese proverb states it best: “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”6 Every person can learn in different ways, but great leaders learn to practice the three levels of learning. Leaders who wish to maximize their learning focus on these three levels and take each to its fullest capacity. Every person has practiced—or will practice — learning at each level; this is particularly important for leaders who want to master a subject or concept. Although independent of the others, each level builds on the one before it. LEVEL ONE: LEARNING BY YOURSELF The first level of learning occurs on your own as you interact with thoughts and ideas recorded in accounts of others’ experiences, and books and journals. Learning by oneself is critical to success because it allows leaders to discover their beliefs and thoughts about a particular subject. The legendary Chinese philosopher, Confucius—who had many noble ideas— once wrote: “He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”7 Leaders must know what they believe before they can lead others to the same belief system. Leaders who wish to lead effectively must be intentional about scheduling periods and blocks of time by themselves for personal learning and development. The best leaders set aside time to get away to learn and improve themselves because they understand the leader they were yesterday will not be able to lead effectively tomorrow unless they improve today.

Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing. EURIPIDES

LEVEL TWO: LEARNING WITH A MENTOR The second level of learning is learning with a coach or mentor. Just as every high-performing athlete needs a coach, so does every business leader— especially entrepreneurs. There is no other group of leaders that so desperately need skill development and self-awareness of the habits, traits, and decisions that impact their companies. Good entrepreneurs lead good businesses, and great entrepreneurs lead great companies. Coaching can help good entrepreneurs become great. Mentors can ask profound, probing questions that will make the leader

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Kingdom Impact: The Pyramid of Personal Growth Experience Question:

What is the most significant lesson you have ever learned from a teacher, coach, mentor or boss?

pause and consider the truths of what they have learned. Mentors help the leader to question and learn by helping the individual discover the answers for themselves. As ancient Greek playwright and philosopher, Euripides wrote: “Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing.”8 LEVEL THREE: LEARNING WITH A TEAM The third level of learning is learning with a team. Synergy in a learning environment accelerates knowledge as others help enhance our learning, especially from those who know the path forward and can lead the way. When leaders learn with others, they can learn faster and lead further. Even a small group of people can represent hundreds of years of experience among those individuals. Every great leader who has ever achieved anything of significance had a group of people helping enhance their learning. The leader who desires to climb to the next level will be the person who masters the pyramid of progress. Such leaders continue to find ways to learn at all three levels of learning.

1 BrainyQuote®, “Knowledge Quotes,” https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/george_bernard_shaw_109542 2 Lyman Macinnis, “The Triangle of Success,” Lyman Macinnis blog, https://lymanmacinnis.squarespace.com/journal/2009/9/6/thetriangle-of-success.html. 3 BrainyQuote®, “Knowledge Quotes,” https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/benjamin_franklin_141119 4 GoodReads, “Dale Carnegie Quotes,” https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/33942-knowledge-isn-t-power-until-it-is-applied. 5 H.E. James, “20 Quotes From Winston Churchill That Are Full of Wisdom,” Lifehack, https://www.lifehack.org/323413/20-quotesfrom-winston-churchill-that-are-full-wisdom. 6 “Learning Quotes,” Inspiration Boost, https://inspirationboost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Learning-Quotes.jpg. 7 Quote Fancy, “21 Wallpapers,” https://quotefancy.com/quote/757976/Confucius-He-who-learns-but-does-not-think-is-lost-Hewho-thinks-but-does-not-learn-is-in 8 Steve Young, “16 Timeless Quotes About The Power Of Learning,” Lifehack, https://www.lifehack.org/299413/16-timeless-quotesabout-the-power-learning.

Business Principle: Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company

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Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company

BUSINESS PRINCIPLE: WHEN YOUR TEAM GETS BETTER, YOUR ORGANIZATION GETS BETTER

The Five Factors of a Firm Foundation

Leaders who wish to succeed in today’s changing marketplace will not only establish a firm foundation for their business; they will continue to inspect the foundation to ensure that any wear and tear caused by shifting, ever-changing conditions is quickly repaired and remedied. Every successful business is built on five critical factors that ensure success. These five factors are valid for every size business or organization. The truly successful business will learn how to master each of the five factors.

FIND THE RIGHT AND BEST PEOPLE TO BRING AROUND YOU. MAKE PEOPLE YOUR TOP PRIORITY. LEARN FROM EVERYONE. SPEND TIME WITH A WISE TEAM OF MENTORS. LEARN FASTER BY LEARNING FROM OTHERS. ASK QUESTIONS AND LISTEN. SEEK COUNSEL. HELP PEOPLE TO DISCOVER THEIR GIFTS AND TALENTS.

FACTOR #1: PURPOSE Great businesses are founded and focused on a purpose that matters. Every founder had a reason for starting the business. Great companies learn how to transfer the founder’s purpose and passion throughout the organization. Every person on the team should know and embrace the “why” of the company. While every company has a purpose, many employees never fully understand it and the key reasons behind the company’s formation. Purpose is essential to success because it steers the ship through the stormy waters of change and uncertainty in the marketplace. Business consultant Peter Drucker wrote that “business purpose and business mission are so rarely given adequate thought are perhaps the most important cause of business frustration and failure.” 1 Companies with a big enough purpose can withstand the changes that occur over time and market fluctuations.

FIND PASSIONATE AND RELIABLE PEOPLE. 10

Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company Experience Question: What is the purpose of your organization? How well does everyone in your organization relate to and embrace its purpose?

“

Business

purpose and business

mission are so

FACTOR #2: PROFIT Businesses that make a difference develop a model for profitability and use those profits for a purpose that makes a difference. A firm foundation for a business is built on robust reserves and the right model for new resources entering the business. Great companies pay attention to all aspects of profitability, including pricing, margins, inventory, cost of goods, rework, customer retention, and effective use of labor. Ineffective leadership and poor stewardship of operations can erode the profitability of even the best companies. FACTOR #3: PEOPLE A business will only succeed when it has the right people in place to serve the right people who purchase products. A company can have the right product for the right customer but can be hampered by the wrong people acting with the wrong attitude.2 When you lose your culture; you lose your company. Companies built on a firm foundation pay attention to hiring and training people to serve their customers in a way that engenders loyalty. These businesses understand the axiom that “when the organization’s people get better the organization gets better.”

rarely given adequate thought is perhaps the most important cause of business frustration and failure.” PETER DRUCKER

”

Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company Experience Question: What is the damaging impact that can occur in your organization if you hire the wrong people? What should an exemplary hiring process look like for your company?

The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. HELMUT SCHMIDT

Win Activity Describe at least four essential attitudes or characteristics of the right people in your organization. Think critically and honestly about the types of attitudes that you need in your organization that will help your company to succeed. #1

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Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company Factor #4: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Great companies produce products and services that are built with excellence and innovation. Companies that wish to survive and thrive in all economic conditions will invest resources in creating products and services that stand out in a crowded marketplace. Companies that take a proactive approach to enhance their products and services develop a reputation for being best in class in their industry. One of Germany’s most noted political leaders, the late Helmut Schmidt, stated: “The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.”3 Leaders who lead well understand that there is always room from product enhancements. They strive to provide beneficial upgrades and unexpected improvements to existing products.

Experience Question: What one improvement could you make to your product or service that would provide a “WOW” experience to your customers?

If you can’t describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing. W. EDWARDS DEMING

FACTOR #5: PROCESSES Great companies work diligently to define and improve processes that lead to productivity. One of the most underrated areas of any business, and yet one of the most critical areas for success, is the area of process development. Processes often more than anything else will determine the level of success of an organization. Noted statistician W. Edwards Deming taught that “if you can’t describe what you are doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.”4 Processes provide perspective and help to ensure progress. Every company should evaluate the critical processes of their businesses.

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Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company

Just as a building will not stand without a foundation, so a business that is not built on a firm foundation cannot hope to stand the test of time. Leaders who plan to continue to grow their businesses should become experts at inspecting their foundations. Specifically, these leaders should focus on purpose, profits, people, products, and processes.

The Law of Attraction: You Don’t Attract What You Want, You Attract What You Are.

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PEOPLE IMPACT ALL FIVE FACTORS OF BUSINESS Leaders often enjoy finding people that look and act exactly like them. Motivation author Bob Proctor conveys the concept of the law of attraction. “The law of attraction is this: You don’t attract what you want. You attract what you are.”5 This law is why many organizations can only reach a certain level before they stop progressing and then plateau. In those organizations, the leaders have attracted a group of people that only function at the highest level of the leader. So, if a leader has the vision, insight, and people skills of a six out of ten leader, then everyone in the organization will only function at a six-level or below. Too many organizations fail to achieve their full potential because the leader has attracted people to the organization that lead like the leader leads. Growing businesses understand that to grow their business; they must focus on developing their team. Every person is essential because each person has a different set of skills, abilities, and gifts. This principle encourages leaders to recognize that every person on their team has gifts and abilities and to understand that organizations function better when the gifts and skills of their people are released to be used to their full potential. Each individual in your organization has something unique and special to offer the world and your company. Every leader would be wise to embrace the idea that to achieve your peak organizational performance the organization must “find and utilize the abilities of your team.” Leaders employ good vision when they recognize and utilize the many gifts that your organization has at its disposal through the talents, gifts, and abilities, of the team. <<< CEO Experience © All Rights Reserved 2019 >>>

Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company

The Four Beliefs of a Team Building Leader

Empowering leaders believe that every person has a gift or talent. Team focused leaders can embrace that every person on their team has unique abilities and talents that can help the organization to accomplish more. A leader who can see and call out the gifts of others is a leader who has an extraordinary impact. John Maxwell states that “Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.”6 When a leader believes that every person has a gift, the leader focuses their attention on helping the people use and maximize their gifts.

Experience Question: How have you discovered the gifts and talents of the people on your team? What one action could you take to discover and utilize the gifts of the people on your team?

Empowering leaders believe that everyone can develop his or her abilities. Every person on the team should believe that it is not sufficient to know that they have gifts, but they should instead believe that gifts are given to be used. Kevin Hall, the author of the book Aspire, writes, “Your gifts are not about you. Leadership is not about you. Your purpose is not about you. A life of significance is about serving those who need your gifts, your leadership, your purpose.” 7 An

Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company empowering leader reminds all of their people all of the time to use all of their abilities to help all of the people.

Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.” JOHN MAXWELL

Empowering Leaders believe that every person should use their talents for the benefit of others. When employees and the team embrace the idea of using their talents to help others, it can be a game-changer for them and for the company that employe them. When an organization releases the contributions of its people, they indeed can become an unstoppable organization. Organizational expert Simon Sinek states, “If you have a gift, it’s called a gift for a reason; you have to give it away.” 8 Jack Welch, the former CEO and Chairman of GE, led by the motto: “Giving people self-confidence is by far the most important thing I can do as a leader because then they will act.” 9 Leaders are called to equip and inspire their people to know and use their gifts for the benefit of others. When they do so, it not only helps others, but it helps them, and it helps the organization. Empowering Leaders believe that every person has a different gift and can use that gift in many different ways. The power of synergy is how different and unique people can come together for one purpose. A variety of gifts can be used in a variety of ways to help a variety of people. An empowering leader will think strategically about how to mobilize the gifts of the people on his or her team. He or she will challenge the people in the organization to think creatively about how to do what they do in the most effective ways. Every person has value, and every person is essential to the success of the organization. People become more valuable when they discover and deploy all of their gifts and abilities, and when the people become more valuable, they create a company that creates more value. As a leader of impact, you should never settle on utilizing a portion of the people that have been entrusted under your care.

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Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company Win Activity Consider three people that have been placed in your business or five people that you need in order to grow your business. These individuals can be employees, vendors, or advisors. Identify the main gift or talent that they have and describe how they add value to your team. PERSON 1 GIFT / TALENT VALUE

An empowering

PERSON 2

leader

GIFT / TALENT VALUE

reminds all

PERSON 3

of their

GIFT / TALENT VALUE

people all of the time

PERSON 4 GIFT / TALENT VALUE

to use all of their abilities

Every #1 Leader Needs a #2, then a #3, #4, and so on.

One gift that leaders should look for on their team is a serving second. A serving second is a person who becomes an extension of the leader.10 Growing companies have discovered that leaders lead better when they have a serving second. Leading an organization by oneâ€™s self can be frustrating and extremely disappointing. Leaders can reach new heights and experience breakthroughs when they build a quality team around them. One key person on that essential team for leaders would be a second in command. A fundamental truth that has been embraced by growing companies is that no great leader every led alone. <<< CEO Experience ÂŠ All Rights Reserved 2019 >>>

to help all of the people.

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Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company Win Activity Think about the benefits that you and your organization could receive from recognizing and utilizing the gifts of those on your team. List those benefits below. #1

Experience Question: When do you feel the loneliest in your leadership?

Although leaders internally know that they should lead with others, leading with others can be hard and frustrating. It may seem so much easier to lead alone than to invest time trying to build a team around you. However, part of the design for great leadership is for the empowering leader to invest, influence, and engage with others. It is wise for leaders to discern whether they are trying to lead alone. Leaders who can develop the next level of leaders in their company can find several considerable benefits in growing their people.

A key benefit from a leadership partnership is the deeper friendship that will likely evolve between the two partners. Leaders grow in their impact when they move from leading employees to leading friends.11 In one of the most poignant moments for the disciples, Jesus relates his personal feelings when he says “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15). Managing a business is challenging work. Leading a company can be extremely stressful. Sometimes a leader needs a friend to listen to their thoughts, their ideas, and their dreams. Leaders who find an up-and-coming, next-level leader will be able to share the vicissitudes of running a business or a department. Every leader benefits from a trusted friend. Another compelling benefit of having a second in command is that the leader can take breaks and achieve balance. Leaders benefit when they have responsible people in their lives and organizations. By nature, most leaders have a deep drive to create a better company but are often frustrated by a lack of time, a lack

Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company of people, or a lack of resources to help make their plans a reality. Leaders who lead at the highest level find people who will be at their side to help them to think intentionally about the next steps that they are taking. When leaders have people that they trust to make decisions and to lead well, it enables the top leader to spend their time working “on” their business and not just “in” their business. Many leaders find the benefits of receiving inspiration and encouragement from a second chair leader. Leaders have a better ability to stay positive when they have people around them who will and can encourage them. Every person needs encouragement. Leaders often invest time and energy in supporting their team and often find that they have no one to encourage them. When a leader has a second person who walks with them at a high level, that person can speak encouraging words at just the right time to help the leader to keep going. Lastly, accountability for the leader enhances and deepens when the leader develops a real relationship with a key person on their leadership team. Even top leaders need a person to hold them accountable. CEO’s have a temptation to become isolated in position and in action. When no one holds the leader accountable, the leader can be tempted to make decisions that will hurt the organization, or be tempted to make no decisions at all. Leaders lead better when they have people on their team who are willing to challenge them and who always speak the truth. When a leader has a number 2 leader, more and better work is accomplished.

A Better You Will Attract a Better Next. UNKNOWN

Every #1 leader needs a #2 leader. A question that leaders might consider is: Do you have a person that you can count on at all times?

Experience Question: What have you found to be the best benefits to having a person on your team that you can count on and trust?

Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company You May Be Stopping Yourself from Finding Your Second

Giving people selfconfidence is by far the most important thing I can do as a leader because then they will act.

Many #1 leaders can find it difficult to find a #2 leader. People at the top of the organization often lead alone because of the doubts, fears, and bad beliefs that shape their thinking about themselves and their people. Leaders can be susceptible to wrong thinking and bad beliefs. Embracing these false narratives leads to ineffective results. Letâ€™s examine a few bad beliefs that hinder leaders from investing in the development of a next level leader. I am the only one that can do it! One bad belief which hinders peopleâ€™s development is a leader who has to do a task himself or herself in order for it to be done the right way. Executives can be very particular about how they want tasks and projects completed. Many leaders worry that others will never treat their company, products, or customers the way that they would want them handled. This worry leads the leader to lead alone. Great organizations learn how to communicate values and priorities even when the leader is no longer in leadership. To become a transferable company, the company must learn how to create a culture of effectiveness amongst a variety of people. When businesses are dependent on only one person to do a task, they risk not being able to complete that task. When a leader releases the potential of their team to do tasks and make decisions in a new and different way, innovation thrives, and the organization improves.

JACK WELCH

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No one can do it like me! One bad belief that could stop leaders from investing in others is the belief that no one can do things as well as he or she can. Often business owners and entrepreneurs learn every part of the organization before releasing any areas to others. The benefit is that a business owner can understand how all parts of the business fit together. The detriment, however, is when the leader limits potential progress because they are unwilling to release tasks which someone else could and would do better. Every person has value, and organizations function at a higher level when people are allowed to excel in their areas of giftedness and ability. Although leaders can lead well in many areas, no leader leads well in every area.

Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company

It is easier for me to do it! Leaders will also not invest in developing their team when they doubt that they have the time or the resources to help the number two leader become and act like a number one leader. This philosophy will sabotage a leader into thinking that they don’t have time to do the things that will make a difference for the future of the organization. These leaders become “right now” leaders and not “best now” leaders. This also almost ensures that the organization will die with the leader. Leadership is always about focusing on what is best for the organization both now and in the future. Remember, leaders reap a harvest today from the seeds that they planted yesterday. There is no better time to grow a leader for the future than today. Leaders would be wise to consider that it is better to have a leader today than a hope of a leader tomorrow. They will do it and then they will leave! Fear demotivates a leader when they think that if they invest time and train a leader for the future, that newly equipped leader will leave the organization and find a better position in some other organization. There is wisdom in changing the leadership perspective from losing people to lifting people. Empowering leaders always desire to raise the experience of their people through training, encouragement, and experiences. They will do it and then give me more work to do! Some leaders let worry be their guide. It is easy for them to develop the bad belief of thinking that they will never have enough time to implement all of the ideas of their next level leader. Executives think that bringing someone into a new place of leadership will cause more work for themselves. However, when a leader takes a long-term view of leadership and impact, the wise executive knows that the right people doing the right things in the right way will make a big difference. In the short term, a new leader may cause more work, but in the end, two hands doing the work will actually reduce the leader’s load.

Don’t Become a Right Now Leader, Become a Best Now Leader” KEN GOSNELL

Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company Experience Question: What bad belief have you allowed to stop you from developing the next generation of leaders in your organization?

According to a July 2016 Forbes article,12 the single biggest issue facing small businesses in China is that they have no hope of succession. The report stated that more than 50% of small and family-owned businesses in China have no one who is aspiring to take them over. This issue is not just a dilemma for businesses in China. A majority of small, family and solo owned businesses have never taken the time to develop and train a successor. To truly have business success, leaders should focus on raising the next generation of leaders who will continue to help your businesses have an impact long after you have quit leading. Developing the next generation of leaders might just be your most significant work.

Win Activity Next Level Leaders. Who on your team should you mentor? How could you help them take the next step forward? #1

Improve Your Team To Improve Your Company

Endnotes #1 Peter F. Drucker, The Essential Drucker: The Best of Sixty Years of Peter Drucker’s Essential Writings on Management (New York: Collins Business Essentials, 2008), p.31. #2 James Kerr, “Your People Are Your Most Important Asset,” Inc., May 23, 2017, https://www.inc.com/ james-kerr/your-people-are-your-most-important-asset.html. #3

BrainyQuote®, “Helmut Schmidt Quotes,” https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/helmut_ schmidt_756166.

#4 Quotes, “W. Edwards Deming Quotes,” https://www.quotes.net/quote/8537. #5 Success Learned, “The Law of Attraction Explained. Expect What You Want. Bob Proctor Video, http:// www.successlearned.com/law-of-attraction/the-law-of-attraction-explained-expect-what-you-want-bobproctor-video/ #6 Consious, “John Maxwell Quotes,” August 5, 2015, https://consciousmagazine.co/consciousdaily-aug05-2015/ #7

evin Hall, “Aspire, Discovering Your Purpose Through the Power of Words,” Book Wise Publishing, K 2009, p.67

#8 Simon Sinek, “Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t,” Penguin Random House, New York, 2014, p.113 #9

Jack Welch, “Winning: The Ultimate Business How-To Book,” Harper Collins, New York, 2005, p. 198

#10

osabeth Moss Kanter, “To Be Number One, Get the Right Number Two,” Harvard Business Review, R August 14, 2012, https://hbr.org/2012/08/to-be-number-one-get-the-right.html

#11 Zameena Mejia, “Why Having Friends at Work Will Make You a Better Employee,” CNBC, August 16, 2017, https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/16/why-having-friends-at-work-will-make-you-a-better-employee. html #12

ussell Flannery, “More Than Half Of China’s Family Businesses Face Succession Dilemma,” Forbes, R July 24, 2016, https://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2016/07/24/more-than-half-of-chinas-family-businesses-face-succession-dilemma/#6990fd403f5f

Next Level Leader

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Next Level Leader: How To Gain Your Leader’s Confidence

Leaders receive a great benefit when they have team members whom they can trust and rely on to have a business owner’s mentality. Dependability and reliability are two essential traits that every leader looks for in key employees. When a leader knows that they can trust their team, it enables the leader to focus on the most important tasks of the business that will help the business to grow and thrive in the future.1 Therefore, it should be a high priority for every employee to build and gain the trust of the leader.

4 Steps to Gaining Your Leader’s Confidence: 1. Think As Your Leader Thinks Most leaders enjoy a diversity of ideas. Good leaders work diligently to bring people with a variety of thoughts and ideas into their organizations. Many leaders welcome robust discussions on how to do things differently and better. However, every leader also wants its teams to consider how the leader thinks and makes decisions. Employees gain the leader’s confidence when they display a propensity to think the thoughts the leader has and act how they think the leader would have acted. When leaders know that their people are thinking like them, they become confident in their employees. 2. Make Decisions Like the Leader Would Make Decisions A second key way that people can win the confidence of their leaders is to make decisions that will please the leader. When a team member makes a decision that is in the best interest of the entire

Experience Question: How do I get to know the values of my leader so I can make decisions with which they would be happy?

Next Level Leader: How To Gain Your Leader’s Confidence organization and not just a specific area of the organization, the leader’s confidence in that individual grows. The leader cannot be everywhere in the organization. He or she needs to trust that the team is making the right decisions according to the values of the organization and the leader. Any leader would be happy if his or her team made a decision he or she would have made.2 3. Take Action on Tasks You Know the Leader Wants Done Before the Leader Has to Ask You To Do It. Many leaders have a plethora of tasks on their plate. They focus on an area and do not have time to follow up on other tasks they have delegated. Leaders have an uncanny ability to see many of the things that need to be done in and throughout the organization. When tasks, issues, or complaints rise to the top of the priority list, the leader will respond by asking someone in the organization to take care of it. Team members who the gain confidence of their leaders are individuals who do what needs to be done before anyone asks them to do it. 4. Improve Intentionally so that the Leader Knows You Are Getting Better. Professionals are individuals who continue to grow and develop their skills and abilities throughout their careers. Leaders appreciate people who focus on self-improvement. When a person takes responsibility for his or her own selfgrowth, he or she enables the leader to trust that he or she will work to improve his or her areas of weakness. Every person has areas in need of improvement. The wise follower will let his or her leader know where he or she is trying to improve his or her performance and knowledge.3 He or she will express his or her desire and drive for professional improvement and development and will do so in a respectful manner. He or she will see personal development as a personal goal and not as a career entitlement. The improving employee gains the confidence of his or her leader.

Do What Needs To Be Done Before Anyone Asks You

To Do It.

KEN GOSNELL

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Next Level Leader: How To Gain Your Leader’s Confidence

Experience Question: Is it more important to improve in areas in which you know you have a weakness or in an area in which your leader would like to see you improve professionally?

Gaining the confidence of the leader may be the most important work of any follower. Leaders are always looking for trusted employees to make wise decisions and take intentional actions. A primary role of every team member is to gain the confidence of his or her leader.

1. Frederick E. Allen, “The Leadership Joy of Being a Great No. 2,” Forbes, June 18, 2014 https://www.forbes.com/sites/ frederickallen/2014/06/18/the-leadership-glory-of-being-a-great-no-2/#7de4dde833e2 2. Richard Hytner, “Why Second In Command Can Have More Influence Than The CEO,” Fast Company, April 25, 2015, https://www. fastcompany.com/3045190/why-second-in-command-can-have-more-influence-than-the-ceo 3. Patrick Lencioni, “Ideal Team Player Assessment,” Table Group, https://www.tablegroup.com/imo/media/doc/ IdealTeamPlayerSelfAsssesment(11)NEW.pdf

The Best Leaders Set Aside Time To Get Away To Learn And Improve Themselves Because They Understand The Leader They Were Yesterday Will Not Be Able To Lead Effectively If They Improve.

Bonus: The Five Abilities Every Employee Must Have For Your Company to Succeed.

People can either make or break our business. Finding the right people is essential. Wendy Keller, CEO, and founder of Keller Media states “The smaller your business, the more critical each person becomes.” 1 A bad hire for a solopreneur can not only drain previous cash flow but can also devour hours of time and energy for the leader that is too essential to waste. Every business will become better when they attract and hire better and more intentionally.

Five Abilities To Evaluate When Hiring: 1. Trustability - You Must Know That You Can Believe Them The first ability to look for in team players is trustability. If you don’t think you can trust a person because of who they are, they will never be able to succeed in your company. Trustability is about finding people of character. 2 Competencies and education is important, but often the team member can experience training in the new position. A person’s character is the essence of who the person is at their core and usually doesn’t change. 3 That is why it is essential to start with high character people. Every organization benefits from having a good set of interview questions and other tools to help discern trustworthiness.

Experience Question: What best ideas can you share with your peers on how to evaluate the character of candidates before extending a job offer?

2. Reliability - You Must Know That You Can Count on Them One of the best abilities of any team member is reliability. Reliability is one of the most important keys to great team members. Leaders must know that they can count on a person to do the tasks that they are responsible for completing. When a leader does not believe that a person can or will do the task that they are responsible for, then the leader will decide to do the task themselves, or they will find another person who will or can do the task. Every leader looks for reliable people. 28

Bonus: The Five Abilities Every Employee Must Have For Your Company to Succeed 3. Teachability - You Must Know That You Can Grow Them As your people improve, your company improves. Teachability is an essential characteristic of growing companies and growing leaders. Legendary coach John Wooden said, “It is what you learn after you know it all that counts.” 4 When a person has a teachable spirit, they have endless opportunities to improve themselves and improve their organization. Wise organizations focus on hiring and rewarding people who have an attitude of self-improvement and personal development. 4. Likability - You Must Know You Can Enjoy Working With Them Teams spend a tremendous amount of time together during working hours. One essential ability for good hires and great team members is that they are well liked and people want to work with them to accomplish a task. Likability is an essential ability for every great leader and great team member. Likability adds energy to the organization. Author and business consultant Marcus Buckingham wrote “talent is the multiplier. The more energy and attention you invest in it, the greater the yield.” 5 5. Sustainability - You Must Know That You Can Keep Them High turnover hurts the progress and the success of any organization. One key ability that leaders should examine as they evaluate new team members is how long they believe a person will stay in the organization. Small businesses do not have the luxury of time or money to rehire to replace leaving or poor performing team members. When you find a person that you believe can stay with the company for an extended period of time, you know that you have found the right hire. Smart businesses focus on finding and retaining the best talent. When companies miss this crucial principle, everything suffers. It can be difficult to find the right people, but it is essential for success. Focus on the right abilities, and you will position your company with the ability to scale, grow, and break through to the next level of business success. 1. W endy Keller, “5 Steps to Hiring the Right People for Your Business,” Entrepreneur, July 4, 2018, https://www.entrepreneur. com/article/315549 2. Christ Fields, “How 5 CEOs Hire for Character,” Hiring Success Journal, March 31, 2014, https://www.smartrecruiters.com/ blog/how-5-ceos-hire-for-character/ 3. Karin Schroeck-Singh, “Hiring Graduates: “Hire character, train for skill,” Skillmeter, https://skillmeter.com/blog/hiringgraduates-hire-character-train-for-skill 4. Brianyquote@, “John Wooden Quotes,” https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_wooden_106379 5. Polly Labarre, “Marcus Buckingham Thinks Your Boss Has an Attitude Problem,” Fast Company, July 31, 2001, https://www. fastcompany.com/43419/marcus-buckingham-thinks-your-boss-has-attitude-problem

Talent is the multiplier. The more energy and attention you invest in it, the greater the yield. MARCUS BUCKINGHAM, AUTHOR AND BUSINESS CONSULTANT ceoexperience.com <<< CEO Experience © All Rights Reserved 2019 >>>

Additional Resources Articles Ken Gosnell, “Four Reasons Why Company Retreats Are Good For Business,” YSF Magazine, October 30, 2018, https://yfsmagazine.com/2018/10/30/companyretreats-are-good-for-business/

Robert E. Kaplan, “Know Your Strengths,” Harvard Business Review, March 2002, https://hbr.org/2002/03/know-your-strengths Forbes Coaches Council, “15 Off-The-Wall Interview Questions You Should Know How To Answer,” Forbes, November 6, 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/ forbescoachescouncil/2018/11/06/15-off-the-wall-interview-questions-you-shouldknow-how-to-answer/#363f10d678d5

Videos 1 - James E. Wright, “How Will You Use Your Talents?” January 2, 2017, https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVk7Vta5JXo

Books

2 - Les Brown, “Short Clips: Les Brown, Develop Your Gifts,” MotiveCode, January 3, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6R5WcniHik

3 - Luk Dewulf, “Go with your talent. Radically!” TEDX, February 10, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHMuss1vq7Q

4 - Kevin Hall, “Kevin Hall on Power of Words The Power of Words,” Ollinnewmedia, July 9, 2009, https://www.youtube.com/watc

Aspire - Kevin Hall - https://www.amazon.com/Aspire-Discovering-PurposeThrough-Power/dp/0061964549 Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek - https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Eat-LastTogether-Others/dp/1591848016/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1532756354&sr=8-2&key words=leaders+eat+last+by+simon+sinek econd in Command - Chris Jackson - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0087GJKHS/ S ref=docs-os-doi_0

CEO Tools

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Executive Retreat Guide for CEOs

Focus Wheel MONTH

Learn Faster. Lead Further.

Give yourself a score in each area below from 0 to 10. Starting with 0 in the middle and 10 as the outer rim. The higher the rating the better you feel about that area for the last 30 days. This wheel is designed to help you know where to focus your actions and behaviors in the next 30 days to see a better performance of your life and leadership.

FOLL OW ER S

PAS S

L E AD E RS

Y ERG EN CO M

LTH HEA MI ND

N TIO RELA

IP SH

MOST IMPORTANT SCORE TO IMPROVE

Pathway To Improvement

Take-Away

HI P

HIP

S BU

ESS

BEST SCORE

LOWEST SCORE

Take-Away

Executive Retreat Guide for CEOs

Win List MONTH

Learn Faster. Lead Further.

GOALS

DREAMS

PRAYERS

FOLLOWERSHIP

ENERGY

COMPASS

RELATIONSHIPS

MIND

PHYSICAL HEALTH OR FITNESS

LEADERSHIP

BUSINESS

Executive Retreat Guide for CEOs

Strategic Vision QUESTION QUADRANT

These questions are designed to bring clarity and focus to the leader. When a leader is clear, everything becomes clear.

QUESTION

Learn Faster. Lead Further.

ANSWER

GROWTH:

What is the most significant lesson you have learned in the last 30 days?

INNOVATION:

What is the most significant change that you have noticed in the past 30 days.

FOCUS:

What is the most critical task that you are trying to complete and when will it be completed?

THANKS:

What is the best breakthrough or win to celebrate that you have enjoyed in the last 30 days?

What additional questions do I need to be asking myself to succeed?

Executive Retreat Guide for CEOs

Strategic Vision VISION & DIRECTION

Learn Faster. Lead Further.

QUESTION

ANSWER

What two critical projects are you working on that will make your organization better a year from now?

What problem or issue are you spending time on that you wish you could find the answer?

WHAT TASKS ARE YOU CURRENTLY DOING THAT YOU COULD DELEGATE/ HIRE SOMEONE ELSE TO DO?

TASK TO DELEGATE

PERSON TO LEAD TASK

BIG PICTURE What do I need to do this month, to not have regret this time next year?

What big change or innovation do you need to make in order to help your business succeed?

Executive Retreat Guide for CEOs

Best Ideas

<<< LEARNING >>>

Learn Faster. Lead Further.

Best Ideas from My Peers

Best Ideas I Heard from the Guide

Best Ideas from the Bible

Best Ideas that I shared

<<< APPLYING >>> Best Ideas To Share With My Team

Best Ideas That I Will Implement

Executive Retreat Guide for CEOs

Case Stories Learn Faster. Lead Further. KEY CHARACTERS:

HERO:

VILLAIN:

THE SCENE: The ____________________________________________ has been __________________________________ because they are ___________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________. hero/villain describe the action describe the reason and impact. THE CLIMAX/TENSION: Now I feel ___________________ because _____________________________________________________ feeling explanation of why ____________________________________________________________________________________________. So I am thinking that I should _____________________________________________________________. question to ask or path to consider THE POSSIBLE PATHWAYS: OPTION

OPTION

OTHER AREAS TO CONSIDER: LESSONS LEARNED AND KEY TAKE AWAYS FROM THIS SITUATION:

Executive Retreat Guide for CEOs

Accountability and Application Action Steps:

Learn Faster. Lead Further. #1 Which area of your business do you know you must improve in order for your business to become more successful? What do you think would be the first step in improving that area of the business?

#2 What belief or attitude is holding you back from growing your team? What benefits do you think you would receive from adding the right person to your organization?

#3 The truth that “no great leader ever led alone” is both challenging and inspiring. When do you feel the loneliest in your leadership? What actions could you take to ensure that you don’t lead alone?

#4 What ability do you think is the most important to consider when adding a person to your team? Why do you think that ability is essential?

Progress Made on the Most Critical Projects:

When your people get better, your organization gets better. KEN GOSNELL

Executive Retreat Guide for CEOs

Business Update YEARLY VISION

Learn Faster. Lead Further.

GOAL 1 -

MONTHLY DASHBOARD

Steps taken this month to complete the goal:

ACTION PLAN:

Define what actions need to be taken in the next 30 days to keep the business moving forward.

1. GOAL 2 -

Steps taken this month to complete the goal:

3. GOAL 3 -

Steps taken this month to complete the goal:

Ken Gosnell 240.396.7671 â€˘ kengosnell@ceoexperience.com

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ceoexperience

Published on Apr 20, 2019

CXP CEO Executive Retreat Guide for CEOs - Empower Your Organization by Growing Your Team

Leaders often enjoy finding people that look and act exactly like them. Too many organizations fail to achieve their full potential because...

CXP CEO Executive Retreat Guide for CEOs - Empower Your Organization by Growing Your Team

Published on Apr 20, 2019

Leaders often enjoy finding people that look and act exactly like them. Too many organizations fail to achieve their full potential because...

ceoexperience

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