Archives for December 2021

How To Encourage Your Team To Take Responsibility

It can be quite difficult to get employees to admit when they’ve done something wrong. However, the ability to accept personal responsibility is one of the most important skills your team can have.

As a leader, it’s your responsibility to teach it to them.

Through shared experiences, open communication, and leading by example, you can encourage your team to be more accountable.

Read on if you’d like to learn how to get your team to stop playing the blame game and, instead, take responsibility for their actions.

Give Them Responsibility

The easiest way to get your team to take responsibility for themselves and their work is to straight up give them responsibility. Teach them how to be responsible by giving them work that gives them no choice but to learn how to.

You can do this by allowing them to have more input and letting them set their standards at work. It’s important that your team believes in what they’re doing and believes that you trust them. Thinking you trust them is key to them taking responsibility.

“When team members don’t agree with a leader’s approach to managing the team, they are less likely to take responsibility for tasks. People are less likely to commit because they are doing something they don’t believe in.” – Thoughtful Leader

If the work you do with your team is seen as a collaboration, a contract of trust, employees will be more likely to share in the risk as well as the reward.

Make it Safe to Speak Up

Everyone makes mistakes, so don’t judge them for it. It’s important to create a safe space where employees feel comfortable to come clean when issues arise if you want to encourage responsibility.

“Although some leaders may fear that their employees will rock the boat by speaking up, in reality, those workers are often helping avoid a shipwreck.” – Strategy & Video

While some mistakes may and do have harsher consequences than others, let employees know that the ultimate outcome for them admitting their errors will be more respect from you and their peers for speaking up. Speaking up when you’re in the wrong can be scary, but it’s a respectable thing to have the strength to do so.

Remind Them That Taking Responsibility Isn’t Always Bad

Often, conversations about taking personal responsibility only discuss the negative impacts of taking ownership of your mistakes. However, there are many positive reasons why being accountable for your actions is the more beneficial route.

Some of the positive impacts of taking responsibility include:

  • Higher levels of self-esteem
  • Greater opportunities for future success
  • An easier time learning from your mistakes
  • More trust and respect from colleagues and leaders
  • Improved interpersonal relationships
  • Increased confidence when taking on future leadership roles

“A big reason why you are able to admit fault is that you recognize that once you admit what you have done wrong, you can work to make it better, and so you are not threatened by admitting mistakes.”  – Greater Good

When you remind your team of the long-term benefits of being responsible, they will be more likely to admit when they have made a mistake of their own, so long as you’re willing to do the same, which leads to the next point…

Lead by Example

Why should any of your employees feel the need to take responsibility for their errors if you won’t? One of the most important things to do as a leader is to lead by example, especially when it comes to taking responsibility.

“Don’t ask a subordinate to do something you are not willing to do… Set an example for others as a good manager and leader.” – University Of Notre Dame

Fear of consequences or judgment is at the top of the list of reasons why people try to shirk responsibility. However, mistakes are essential to business growth since they have a lot to teach us.

Taking responsibility challenges everyone to be more understanding of themselves and others. That is the best way to build trust among your employees and get them to trust you. So, follow these four tips on encouraging responsibility and see how well they work!

How do you encourage your employees to take responsibility? Let us know in the comments below!

If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in December 2019 and has been edited for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Profit Sharing Works…

If you’re running a wildly successful and profitable business, don’t hide it.

Profit sharing will benefit you!

Lots of business owners are nervous to let their employees know how much money they’re making. Problem is, those leaders drive to work in expensive cars and take first class flights – their employees already know they’re making lots of money. There is no need to hide it.

The Value in Honesty

Profit sharing is a way to show your employees that you value honesty. There is a stigma around profit sharing, as if it should be some big, secret thing, but if handled correctly, it helps to build relationships between your employees and the company.

Knowing big, important information, such as company profits, makes your employees feel as if they’re in on something that they’d only get if their employee truly trusted them. It makes them feel like a part of something and makes them trust you as their leader more if they know you’ll be honest, even about the big stuff.

“Being open and honest is always in everyone’s best interest. Openness creates a sense of loyalty and makes your business stand out as one that employees want to work at. They feel like they can turn to you for support and you, in turn, can rely on them for guidance – it’s a win-win!” – Cameron Herold

The Best Way to Share

Profit sharing benefits you, but only when done correctly. Sharing a percentage of the company’s profits with employees is great, but employees have to earn it. They have to treat profits the same way their leaders do, otherwise sharing this information might be a waste.

So how do you do this?

Every month, get all your employees to meet and review your company’s income statement together. As a team, look for ways to make more money and save more money on the business. Show them the work behind the numbers, the ins and outs of money where that money goes. You want them to understand the profits rather than just see a big number and moving on.

When they understand, they can help you with ideas!

The Benefit for the Leader

When your employees are under the impression that you, as a leader, are just making all of the money the company makes, they grow to resent you. Profit-sharing helps them to understand where all those profits actually go, which helps them respect you more.

The company’s profit is often used back on the company, especially when you’re just starting out. Employees need to see that. They need to not just know your revenues, but also know your expenses. Help them to understand what percentage of profits go to them and watch them grow inspired to work harder to make those profits grow.

Not many people truly understand where the company’s money really goes. It’s easy to not bother explaining it to them when it’s not an aspect of the job they’re usually a part of, but profit-sharing has its benefits. Show your employees how much of the company’s profits you don’t like and show them that you trust them well enough to share this information and watch their work ethic and respect for you grow.

Do you share your profits with anyone else in your company? Let us know in the comments below!

If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2015 and has been edited for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

What Is Your Meeting Closer

One of the most important elements of a meeting comes at the very, very endthe meeting closer. A great meeting closer should leave your staff feeling motivated, prepared, and aware of what they must do next.

So, how do you approach this in your meeting closer?

Who, What, and When

Always close your staff meetings with this simple question: “Who’s doing what, and by when?”

Have each person in the meeting acknowledge what they’re committed to doing, and by when. This ensures that people don’t start projects based on items that were merely being discussed in the meeting. You also make it nearly impossible for people to leave the meeting without outlining their next steps.

Even if you’ve already covered the who, what, and when throughout the meeting, summarizing and repeating it makes your employees feel confident that they’re doing the right thing and heard you correctly. Repetition is key.

Knowing What’s Next

After you’ve closed the meeting itself, you need to make sure that you know if another meeting is necessary, and when, and if any other participants should’ve been present. The knowledge of if another meeting is necessary comes with knowing your employees and their work process, gauging the reactions of your employees through the meeting, and the extent of the task at hand.

The process can always be refined, and it’s important you remain open to that. Never close a meeting without everyone knowing their exact deliverables. Also, make sure your employees know if there will be a future follow-up meeting and what they need to get done before that.

“You can close the meeting by briefly sharing next steps. Consider reviewing the steps for each attendee or department, depending on the size of your meeting. You may also use this time to remind attendees when and where the next meeting will take place.” – Indeed

Acknowledging Achievements

During your meeting closer, don’t forget to thank your employees for coming, thank them for the new work they’ve been assigned, and acknowledge any of their achievements. A great meeting closer leaves employees feeling motivated and inspired. What better way of doing this than acknowledging that you, their leader, see them and care about the work they’re doing.

“The end of the meeting is also the time to thank anyone who has not been thanked at the beginning of the meeting or anyone who deserves a second thank you. Congratulations or Good-luck can also be offered here to someone who has experienced something new, such as receiving a promotion, getting married, or having a baby.” – English Club

Your meeting closer is just as important as everything else in your meeting, if not more. It might seem redundant and involve some repetition, but it all has its value. Meeting closers are key to having a motivated and productive team when it’s over, so make sure to always make time for a stellar closer!

What do you like to do in your meeting closers? Let us know in the comments below!

If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November 2011 and has been edited for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Meetings Suck: Turning One Of The Most Loathed Elements Of Business Into One Of The Most Valuable

We all know that meetings suck, right?

You hear it all the time. It’s the one thing that almost everyone in business can agree on.

Except it’s not actually true… 

Meetings don’t suck.

We just suck at running meetings.   

When done right, meetings not only work, they make people and companies better.

In Meetings Suck, world renowned business expert and growth guru Cameron Herold teaches you how to use focused, time effective meetings to help you and your company soar.

This book shows you immediately actionable, step-by-step systems that ensure that you and everyone in your organization improves your meetings, right away.

In the process, you’ll turn meetings that suck into meetings that work. 

In life, we always hear about people who’ve made huge decisions from their gut – without data.Today, I want you to make a decision, not only from your gut, but also from some data.  A decision that is only $12 per employee but will be priceless for your business.

Right now, your gut is telling you something is wrong with your company’s meetings.  You KNOW everyone complains about meetings.

People HATE going to them, they HATE running them, and they really have NO idea which meetings are truly necessary but they hold meetings simply because they think that is what they SHOULD do.

Even some of the smartest CEOs in the world complain about meetings – Elon Musk publicly told employees at Tesla & SpaceX to walk out of meetings if they weren’t being run properly.

I sent Elon a message saying that wasn’t going to fix anything – the key is to fix the root of the problem – NOT continue to ignore why meetings suck.

A Meeting is – Any phone call, video call or occasion where 2 or more people meet to discuss or work-through office topics.

Most employees on average spend 1-2 hours per day in meetings.

And likely, none of those employees – front-line staff or leaders – have had any training on how to attend meetings or participate in them, LET ALONE How to RUN THEM.

Consider this…

If the Average employee spends just 1 Hour per day in meetings – that’s 1/8th of their time.

If the Average employee earns $50,000 per year.

And they’re spending 1/8th of their time in meetings, that means you’re paying $6,250 dollars per year for just ONE employee to attend meetings.

The reality is, employees spend 1/8th of their time – and 1/8th of your company’s payroll – doing something they have literally NO idea how to do.

The Reality is…

95% of employees are booking & leading meetings – and they have NEVER been trained on how to run them.

95% of employees have had NO training on how to show up and participate in the meetings they attend daily.

And 95% of employees and companies have no idea what meetings are even necessary to hold.

Meetings CAN be hugely effective – IF you know how to run them

Meetings don’t SUCK, we just SUCK at running meetings. 

Investing $15 per employee – to help ensure the $50,000 a year you spend on them is an obvious and easy choice.

This could be the most impactful $15 you’ll ever spend and will save the company’s money, time and resources instantly.

Buying a copy of Meetings Suck for 100% of your employees and having them read it this month will have a huge impact on your company’s success.

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Free PR: How To Get Chased By The Press Without Hiring A PR Firm

Public relations has always been an essential part of doing business which is probably why you’re shelling out big money to an outside PR firm. But the truth is that you don’t need them. You already have all the necessary tools in-house to do as good a job as the so-called experts. 

Cameron Herold and Adrian Salamunovic have taught thousands of company execs how to exploit free media coverage and ditch these expensive, often ineffective outsiders. 

Cameron & Adrian have also built in-house PR teams, spent decades learning how to generate Free PR and how to leverage public relations to complement their sales and marketing strategy. 

In Free PR, you’ll learn how the media world operates while you gain invaluable insider knowledge and actionable advice on how to: 

  • Build your own in-house PR team
  • Provide effective interviews
  • Score great media coverage for free with just a few easy steps 

Landing public relations coverage for yourself and your company is a powerful tool to help elevate your personal brand. PR is easier to generate than marketing, PR is easier to leverage than marketing and PR is more cost effective than marketing. In other words, Public Relations is more critical than ever in growing your brand and your business. 

You’ve got more passion, commitment, a larger stake, and a deeper understanding of your business than any outside PR firm could ever have. So stop wasting money and take the reins yourself.  Learn the secrets to landing TONS of Free PR for your company.

What they’re saying:

“I think PR is the core for promoting any business. Public relations acquires customers! That’s what’s cool about this book.”

– Kevin O’Leary,  Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank

“The ultimate guidebook for those looking to get press, grow their brand, and get in front of the masses. Free PR is the roadmap you’ve been looking for.”

– Peter Shankman, Founder, Help a Reporter Out (HARO)

“Adrian and Cameron will show you the secrets of getting massive exposure for your business. This book is packed with actionable insights from two guys that actually know how to to do it.”

– Dan Martell,  Serial Entrepreneur & Investor (Intercom.io, Unbounce)

“I told Cameron to write the book on generating free PR. I’m excited to see that he’s finally sharing his secrets with the world. This is a must read for any entrepreneurial company and marketing team.”

– Verne Harnish, Founder of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and author of Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0)

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Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around a Shared Vision of the Future

Many corporations have slick, flashy mission statements that ultimately do little to motivate employees and less to impress customers, investors, and partners. 

But there is a way to share your excitement for the future of your company in a clear, compelling, and powerful way and entrepreneur and business growth expert Cameron Herold can show you how. 

Vivid Vision is a revolutionary tool that will help owners, CEOs, and senior managers create inspirational, detailed, and actionable three-year mission statements for their companies. In this easy-to-follow guide, Herold walks organization leaders through the simple steps to creating their own Vivid Vision, from brainstorming to sharing the ideas to using the document to drive progress in the years to come. 

By focusing on mapping out how you see your company looking and feeling in every category of business, without getting bogged down by data and numbers or how it will happen, Vivid Vision creates a holistic road map to success that will get all of your teammates passionate about the big picture. 

Your company is your dream, one that you want to share with your staff, clients, and stakeholders. Vivid Vision is the tool you need to make that dream a reality.

miracle-morning

The Miracle Morning for
Entrepreneurs: Elevate Your SELF to
Elevate Your BUSINESS

READY FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND ACCELERATED SUCCESS IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

A step-by-step guide to enjoying the roller-coaster ride of growth — while getting the most out of life as an entrepreneur. A growth-focused approach: The book is divided into three sections, which cover planning for fast growth, building a company for fast growth, and leading for fast growth. Each topic the author covers — from creating a vision for the company’s future to learning how to generate free PR for a developing company — is squarely focused on the end goal: doubling the size of the entrepreneur’s company in three years or less. A down-to-earth action plan: Herold’s experienced-based advice never gets bogged down in generalities or theory. Instead, he offers a wealth of practical tips, including: How to design meetings for maximum efficiency; How to hire top-quality talent; How to grow in particularly tough markets; How to put together a board of advisors — even for a smaller company; How even the busy entrepreneur can achieve a work/life balance.

READY FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND ACCELERATED SUCCESS IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

Hal Elrod’sThe Miracle Morning has helped redefine the mornings and the lives of millions of readers since 2012. Since then, careers have been launched, goals have been met, and dreams have been realized, all through the power of the Miracle Morning’s six Life S.A.V.E.R.S.

THESE SIX DAILY PRACTICES WILL FUEL YOUR EFFORTS TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN POSITIVE CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE.

Now The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs brings you these principles in a whole new light—alongside the Entrepreneurial Elevation Principles and the Entrepreneur’s Elevation Skills. These are essential skills that you need to create a successful business and personal life. Cameron Herold— Bestselling Author and a widely-respected expert on entrepreneurial mindset—brings his wisdom and insight to you using Hal Elrod’s powerful Miracle Morning framework.

DEVELOP A VISION FOR YOUR BUSINESS, AND BECOME THE INFLUENTIAL AND INSPIRING LEADER YOU WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO BE.

The principles and skills you’ll find in this book will help you to channel your passion and achieve balance in a remarkable new way. – Learn why mornings matter more than you think – Learn how to master your own self-leadership and accelerate your personal development – Learn how to manage your energy—physical, mental, and emotional – Learn how to implement Hal Elrod’s invaluable Life S.A.V.E.R.S. in your daily routine – And much more… You’re already an entrepreneur. Now discover how to take your success to the next level by first taking yourself to the next level. The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs is your roadmap to masterfully building an empire with a powerful vision, utilizing your areas of personal genius, with the right team at your side.

Start giving your business and your life the very best opportunities for success, right now.

A step-by-step guide to enjoying the roller-coaster ride of growth — while getting the most out of life as an entrepreneur. A growth-focused approach: The book is divided into three sections, which cover planning for fast growth, building a company for fast growth, and leading for fast growth. Each topic the author covers — from creating a vision for the company’s future to learning how to generate free PR for a developing company — is squarely focused on the end goal: doubling the size of the entrepreneur’s company in three years or less. A down-to-earth action plan: Herold’s experienced-based advice never gets bogged down in generalities or theory. Instead, he offers a wealth of practical tips, including: How to design meetings for maximum efficiency; How to hire top-quality talent; How to grow in particularly tough markets; How to put together a board of advisors — even for a smaller company; How even the busy entrepreneur can achieve a work/life balance.