If I had been trained during my high school years to learn from my mistakes and adapt and understand emotions, motivations, and behavior, enabling me to manage stress and handle challenges more effectively, I’d likely have increased my ability to make better decisions. Fortunately, there is always time to start.

So, I invite you to understand self-awareness and how it can help us become assertive, make more informed decisions, and improve our outcomes.

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During my professional years, thanks to my mentors, coaches, trainers, and many mistakes, I developed the ability to focus on myself, my actions, thoughts, and emotions and align them with my values. So, I can share with you so many benefits of how self-awareness helps us as professionals and entrepreneurs; here are a few of them:

• Self-awareness permits entrepreneurs to identify and leverage their strengths and weaknesses to make more informed decisions and allocate resources effectively.
• By being self-aware, entrepreneurs can understand their emotions, motivations, and behavior, enabling them to manage stress and handle challenges more effectively.
• Self-awareness enables entrepreneurs to communicate effectively with others, understand different perspectives, build stronger relationships, and create a positive work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation.
• Self-aware entrepreneurs can identify their innate passions and align their business goals with personal values, leading to a more fulfilling and purposeful entrepreneurial journey.
• Self-awareness allows entrepreneurs to learn from their mistakes, adapt to changing circumstances, and continuously improve their strategies, ultimately increasing their chances of achieving long-term success in a dynamic and competitive business environment.

I was reading about people who make a difference in their communities and discovered the story of Mariana Costa Checa. Her journey is a testament to the power of self-awareness and is an inspiring one.

Mariana was born in Lima, Peru, and grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. She was exposed to the business world and developed a passion for it from a young age. She studied economics at the University of Lima.

Growing up in Peru, she witnessed the economic divide between the affluent and those in need. She realized that education was the key to bridging this gap but that traditional school systems did not respond completely to the needs. Deeply aware of her passion for education and social impact, Mariana embarked on a mission to make a difference as co-founder of Laboratoria, a social enterprise that provides technology education for disadvantaged women. This initiative equips them with in-demand skills and empowers them to break the cycle of poverty.

Through Laboratoria, Mariana honed her entrepreneurial skills and recognized the need for an e-commerce platform that catered to small businesses in emerging markets. Mariana’s story inspires us all and reminds us of the importance of self-awareness and staying committed to our values.

So, how can we significantly enhance our self-awareness? Here are some key strategies:

1. Take time to reflect: Analyzing how you think, feel, and act can help you understand and appreciate your strengths, goals, and values. Taking this reflective approach allows you to identify any areas of improvement you need to work on.
2. Develop knowledge of yourself: Understanding your strengths, weaknesses, values, and beliefs is essential to success. Recognizing your limits, where you need to develop, and where the right approach could make the difference between success and failure is crucial.
3. Seek feedback: Seeking comments from others is a great way to understand how others see you and how your behavior impacts them. This feedback can also be valuable in understanding how to improve and develop yourself.
4. Focus on growth: Committing to working on yourself and improving your self-awareness will help you achieve a successful entrepreneurial journey. Dedicating time and resources to improving your skills, such as communication and problem-solving, can enhance your ability to make the right decisions.
5. Utilize mentors and coaches: Connecting with mentors and coaches who can provide advice, brainstorming activities, and guidance on discovering and managing challenging situations and addressing weaknesses is critical in professional development and goal achievement.
6. Practice resilience: As an entrepreneur, you must cope with stressful moments and difficult decisions. Remaining resilient and staying focused and engaged will help you make the best choices even in difficult times.

Self-awareness also helps entrepreneurs to understand their customers better and to develop strategies that will be successful in the marketplace. Finally, self-awareness can help entrepreneurs to stay focused on their goals and to stay motivated when times get tough.

If you’re struggling with any of these strategies, don’t hesitate to ask for help. We’re here to support you in your personal and professional growth. Our goal is to help you become the leader you’ve always wanted to be.

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How often have you met someone who promises publicly to give back? Even more will invest in spreading peace, love, and happiness through investing in people, protecting animals, and conserving the environment; further, support veterans’ causes and help build an innovative community for homeless people. I read an article about a philanthropic leader, and the word that instantly came to my mind was empathy for someone I hadn’t even met in person.

Let’s dive deeper into how empathy can elevate a leader’s significance, why it’s crucial to develop this skill, and how to achieve it.

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You may be familiar with the individual I am speaking of – John Paul DeJoria, the co-founder of Paul Mitchell.

According to a Forbes article, Dejoria’s motto is “Success unshared is failure.” In 2011, John Paul signed Bill Gates and Warren Buffet’s “The Giving Pledge” as a formal promise to continue giving back. The same year, he established JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation as a hub for his charitable investments, which support the core values of his companies: sustainability, social responsibility, and animal-friendliness.

Having empathy is essential for leaders. It allows them to understand others, create a positive work environment, build trust, and foster collaboration.

DeJoria is known for his empathy and commitment to helping others. He has been a vocal advocate for social justice and has donated millions of dollars to charities and causes worldwide. He exemplifies how empathy can elevate a leader beyond success, propelling them to significance.

Empathy is a powerful tool in various areas of our lives. By improving our capacity for empathy, we can influence and motivate teams to reach unprecedented levels of success under our leadership.

Let’s look at how we can improve our ability to have empathy:

1. Listen actively: It’s important to truly listen and understand others rather than just responding or pushing your ideas. It can significantly affect how we communicate and connect with others.
2. Practice with yourself: It’s important to remember that we should treat ourselves with the same level of kindness and empathy we would offer others. Sometimes, we can be our own harshest critics. Take notice of your thoughts and emotions and show yourself the same compassion and care you would give a beloved friend or family member.
3. Respect others: Showing respect encompasses various actions, including standing up for what you believe in, recognizing the viewpoints of others, and genuinely listening without preconceived notions. By demonstrating respect, we can enhance our ability to empathize with others and, in turn, receive their empathy.
4. Ask meaningful questions: It’s important to show genuine interest in the person we’re speaking with by asking open-ended questions that aren’t intrusive and avoiding being critical or judgmental. This approach can help us gain valuable insights and foster mutual understanding.
5. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes: It’s essential to take a moment to put ourselves in others’ shoes and consider their experiences before making judgments so we cultivate empathy and compassion towards others.
6. Step out of your comfort zone: It can be difficult to understand those different from us, but it’s important to challenge ourselves to try. By stepping outside our comfort zones, we can overcome prejudices and better understand other cultures. Let’s work on empathizing with one another and building bridges of understanding.
7. Show compassion: It’s essential to show compassion towards someone going through a tough time. Putting yourself in others’ shoes and being kind, understanding, and supportive can make a huge difference. Remember that everyone goes through difficult times, and a little empathy can go a long way in helping them feel understood and cared for.
8. Act: Demonstrating empathy involves more than just feeling sorry for somebody. It includes acting and helping when necessary. Consider how you can offer aid and support to improve someone’s situation, such as by extending a helping hand or lending an ear to their worries.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by developing this strategy, don’t worry. We’re here to support you in your personal and professional growth. Our goal is to help you become the leader you’ve always wanted to be and to build teams that will propel your organization to new heights of success. We aim to support you in reaching your aspirations and bringing your visions to life.

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The Harry Potter book series has sold over 600 million copies worldwide in 85 languages. Each movie costs more than $100 million to make, and the franchise has made over $9.5 billion worldwide. The audiobooks have been listened to for over one billion hours, and the series has been adapted into eight blockbuster films.

It may be hard to believe, but Harry Potter’s author Joanne Rowling faced many struggles in her career before achieving success. However, her unwavering confidence played a vital role in her journey. As confidence is a crucial trait for any leader, I invite you to explore this skill further and discover ways to develop it.

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According to Business Insider, a news website, Joanne Rowling, was unhappy during her teenage years. She claimed to have come from a problematic family and stated that her mother’s 10-year battle with multiple sclerosis harmed her and her family.

At her lowest point, she was unemployed, a single mother, and experiencing such severe depression that she sometimes considered suicide. In addition to her dire financial situation, Rowling had to depend on welfare benefits to survive. Rowling discussed these problematic times during a commencement speech at Harvard University in 2008. She said, “I felt like the biggest failure I knew and was as poor as one can be in England without being homeless.”

Rowling displays an unparalleled level of confidence and self-assurance when it comes to her publications, a trait that is widely recognized and celebrated. Despite receiving rejection letters from publishers, she always supported her dream of becoming a published author. She persisted in writing and eventually became one of the most successful writers globally. The success of Harry Potter was founded on Rowling’s ability to believe in herself and not yield to self-doubt. Even when faced with challenges, Rowling remained determined, and her success proved her self-belief and confidence.

Confidence has numerous advantages, including generating a positive environment and motivating others to take chances.

What steps can we take to boost our confidence and improve our leadership skills? Building confidence as a leader requires a combination of self-awareness, continuous learning, and effective communication.

Here are some strategies to help build confidence as leaders:

1. Continuous Learning: Leaders who are confident in their abilities always seek opportunities to learn and grow. They actively seek new knowledge, skills, and experiences to enhance their leadership capabilities. Learning could involve reading books, attending seminars or workshops, or seeking mentorship from more experienced leaders.
2. Self-Reflection: Confident leaders regularly take the time to reflect on their actions, decisions, and outcomes. They analyze their strengths and weaknesses, identify areas for improvement, and make necessary adjustments. This self-reflection allows them to learn from their mistakes and build on their successes, ultimately increasing their confidence in their leadership abilities.
3. Taking Risks: Confidence in leadership often requires taking calculated risks. Leaders willing to step outside their comfort zones and take on new challenges demonstrate their belief in their abilities. By embracing risks and learning from successes and failures, leaders can build their confidence and inspire others to do the same.
4. Building Relationships: Confident leaders understand the importance of building solid relationships with their team members and colleagues. They actively listen, show empathy, and support those around them. By fostering positive relationships, leaders create an environment of trust and collaboration, which boosts their confidence in leading others.
5. Celebrating Successes: Recognizing and celebrating successes, both big and small, is crucial for building confidence in leadership. Confident leaders acknowledge and appreciate the achievements of their team members and themselves. By celebrating successes, leaders reinforce their belief in their abilities and motivate others to strive for excellence.

I invite you to evaluate these five strategies. After that, if you have room for improvement in any of these areas, do not hesitate to contact us; we can help you improve your best investment towards success: your leadership.

Let’s remember that building confidence in leadership is an ongoing process. It requires self-reflection, continuous learning, and a commitment to personal growth. By implementing these strategies, you can develop and strengthen your leadership skills and build confidence in your abilities.

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Maintaining a positive attitude is not just about staying optimistic when faced with challenges and adversity, but also having an encouraging mindset that fuels our creativity and energy, inspiring us to come up with innovative solutions that lead us to higher levels of achievement. Unfortunately, negativity is always present, making it a challenge to stay positive.

Although we may possess innate positive qualities like resilience and optimism from birth, continuous development, and reinforcement of positivity throughout life are still necessary. I encourage you to examine this attribute more closely and explore methods of enhancing it.

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Using a positive attitude is one of the most powerful tools that we can use. One business leader in the United States who was renowned for his positivity was Tony Hsieh, the former CEO of Zappos, who was distinguished for his upbeat attitude and his commitment to creating a positive work environment. He had been credited with transforming Zappos from a small online shoe retailer into a billion-dollar company. Also, known for his focus on customer service and creating a culture of positivity.

Tony Hsieh was also known for his focus on employee happiness, which he believed was essential for a successful business. He implemented several initiatives to ensure that employees were happy and motivated, such as offering free lunches, flexible hours, and a generous vacation policy. He also encouraged employees to take part in activities outside of work, such as volunteering and attending events. His commitment to creating a positive work environment and culture was a major factor in Zappos’ success.

Here are some simple yet impactful measures we can adopt to cultivate positivity:

1. Believe in yourself. Even though taking risks might lead to failure, it can also provide an opportunity to develop courage and self-confidence. People with a positive attitude are willing to step out of their comfort zones, whether it’s to succeed or learn from their mistakes.
2. Grow emotional intelligence. Negative feelings and challenges will be a part of everyday life, yet positive individuals experience these emotions without being overwhelmed and without allowing them to linger for too long.
3. Spend time with positive people. Negativity is highly contagious and unfortunately, it seems to be prevalent everywhere. It’s important for those with a positive outlook to seek out like-minded individuals to gain a fresh perspective and steer clear of negative self-talk.
4. Hold onto a sense of gratitude. There’s immense power in maintaining a positive outlook and appreciating what you have. Positive individuals not only appreciate their possessions but also the people in their lives and the opportunities presented to them.
5. Maintain a balanced perspective. In most cases, there are two sides to a coin. Unfortunately, some individuals opt for unhappiness and tend to focus on the negative aspects of any given situation. On the other hand, optimistic individuals seek out the positive aspects of a situation and usually try to avoid the company of negative people.
6. Continue developing your potential. Expanding our potential helps us to become the best version of ourselves and to make the most of our talents and abilities. This not only boosts our confidence but also gives us a sense of direction and purpose in life. Looking for new ways to improve our skills and learn new ones is a great way to continue growing, gain more clarity on our purpose, and increase our passion. Positive individuals always strive to better themselves.

It is imperative that you recognize the importance of maintaining a positive attitude in improving your leadership abilities. I strongly recommend integrating any of the six strategies into your daily routine to cultivate this trait. If you require assistance with your next step, do not hesitate to contact us.  We’re here to support your growth.

Staying motivated and focused on our goals sometimes means believing that the impossible can be made possible. In today’s complex world, this often requires courage; thus, maintaining a positive attitude and being resilient in the face of challenges and setbacks is essential.

We welcome you to enhance your leadership skills by not only aiming to improve your positive attitude abilities but also by creating more efficient and confident teams, resulting in the betterment of your organization.

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Zobel de Ayala, the former CEO of Ayala Corporation, a conglomerate based in the Philippines, initially focused on traditional business ventures like manufacturing, and agricultural business before turning his attention to emerging industries such as tech, real estate, and infrastructure. Although his initial neglect of these new industries was a mistake, his strong leadership, decisiveness, and visionary approach have helped Ayala Corporation become a highly successful conglomerate in the international market.

As a leader, possessing the trait of decisiveness is crucial. It’s worthwhile to delve into the meaning of decisiveness and explore ways to cultivate this skill in our leadership.

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I like the idea of starting to acknowledge that a leader may not be decisive due to a lack of confidence, difficulty making complex decisions, fear of failure, or an overly cautious or conservative approach to decision-making.

In certain instances, a leader may face trust issues from their team or lack adequate knowledge to make a sound decision. Poor management and leadership, as well as low morale, effectiveness, and productivity in the team, may result from such situations.

In the case of Zobel de Ayala, according to business reviews, he has always been determined to take calculated risks. Rather than playing it safe, he has always been willing to go against the grain and challenge convention when he feels the circumstances call for it. Through his leadership, Ayala Corporation continues to be one of the most respected and influential companies in more than 30 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Cambodia, India, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and the United States.

As we explore how to enhance our leadership skills, it’s important to consider the value of decisiveness. To develop this quality, let’s follow these five (5) steps. As you read through them, think about how often you employ these tactics in your daily routine. If you need assistance with your next steps, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to support your growth.

1. Know what you want to achieve. Understand where you want to see yourself, your team, or your business; this gives you purpose, vision, and mission.
2. Take some time to research, gather all the necessary information to make an informed decision, and consider all options. This includes researching the issue or opportunity, consulting with experts, and gathering feedback from stakeholders. Further, weigh the pros and cons of each option and weigh up the potential consequences of each decision.
3. Set deadlines once you’ve done your research. Set strict deadlines for yourself when it comes to making decisions. Make sure you respond to potential opportunities in a timely fashion and move forward with decisions quickly.
4. When you decide, stick with it. Trust your gut and make a decision without fear; stay the course and don’t second-guess yourself. Know that there is no perfect action, and you can adjust along the way if needed. Commit to decisions you’ve made, even when things don’t go as planned.
5. Continue developing yourself personally and professionally to gain a better understanding of yourself and the world around you. This can help you become more comfortable with taking risks and be more decisive when necessary. You will be able to look at a situation from different perspectives and have the self-awareness to know when you might need more information or advice.

For many leaders, the process of improvement involves the whole team, not just an individual’s efforts. Therefore, these five (5) steps can be implemented collectively at a team level as well. In today’s teams and organizations, it is essential to cultivate a culture of confidence and perseverance.

We welcome you to enhance your leadership skills by not only aiming to improve your decision-making abilities but also by creating more efficient and confident teams, resulting in the betterment of your organization.

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Many call her one of the most effective communicators, who has made an indisputable impact on society and on the history of journalism. She is Oprah Winfrey, who has influenced thousands of followers with her communication style and has been recognized as an American institution and icon.

Great communicators are known to be great leaders. In the same way, great leaders are known for having great communication be one of their best characteristics.

Let’s see why it is essential for your leadership to have effective communication skills and let’s look at some of the basic elements of it.

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Gilbert Amelio, an American executive, makes this very clear, saying that “Developing excellent communication skills is essential for effective leadership. The leader must be able to share knowledge and ideas to convey a sense of urgency and enthusiasm to others. If a leader cannot get a message across clearly and motivate others to act, then ‘having’ a message won’t even matter.”

In the case of Oprah Winfrey, more than being a well-known person, many claims that no matter how many fans or critics she has, the power of her huge audience and her support will grant instant credibility. There’s even a term for the power generated by her endorsement: the “Oprah Effect,” which refers to the increase in sales you might have after being endorsed or featured by her.

I am going to share some of the elements of the program with you: THE POWER OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION.

1. Simplify your communication: The simpler your message, the easier it will be for people to hear and understand you.
   • Speak in simple terms.
   • Understand what you are going to communicate.
   • Express yourself clearly.
2. Make your communication count: The result depends on your approach.
   • Have a defined purpose.
   • Be clear about the result you want to achieve.
   • Avoid only wanting to impress others.
3. Make your communication create relationships: Relate with others from common points.
   • Network to influence.
   • Relate to have credibility.
   • Relate to be relevant.
4. Make your communication brief: The most valuable treasure of those who listen to you is their time.
   • Start and finish on time.
   • Excess information causes confusion.
   • Respect others’ time.

If you communicate effectively, you will increase your impact in every situation, increase your credibility and improve your ability to influence others at any level. Whether you’re talking to a customer, sharing information with a co-worker, or with your boss, your ability to communicate effectively can make or break your leadership and therefore your path to success.

If you and/or your group are looking to raise your level of communication and of course leadership, this program is the answer. If you want to have access, contact us.

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Ayla Hutchinson, a New Zealand native, is known as one of this century’s innovative leaders. She had a different perspective than most and provided a solution for her grandmother so she wouldn’t get hurt cutting wood. Today she is an entrepreneur and in recent years has become a role model for young inventors around the world.

Those who find different, effective, and efficient ways to solve a challenge or move toward the future have found the secret of innovation.

As leaders, I invite you to see how innovation takes us to higher levels of achievement and what the most important characteristics of innovators are.

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Innovation is one of the fundamental elements both for a leader and for any organization or company. According to Forbes magazine, in their article, Back to Basics: What is Innovation? aimed at small businesses, innovation is something different that adds value and is not a term that can be generalized as it will vary depending on the circumstances. Furthermore, it warns us that there are many things that need to be done to transform innovation from being a buzzword to an entrepreneurial capability.

Even Steve Jobs, one of the great innovators of this century, said that innovation is what distinguishes leaders from followers. So let’s rest assured that we need to develop our ability to innovate, as well as create and foster a culture of innovation in our teams at all levels of the organization.

Let’s look at some of the most important characteristics that innovators possess. I suggest that as you read this list, you consider whether you possess these characteristics as a leader. If not, take note and do not hesitate to contact us,  we can help you with your next step toward growth.

Innovators are mainly characterized by:

• Empathy: if you observe the creations around you and the changes that happen, they are a response to a need, a challenge, a desire, or a specific interest in something or someone. That ability to understand what others feel or need has motivated innovation since the dawn of humanity.
• Curiosity: The most innovative people have the desire to investigate, learn, discover, ask questions, look closely, or explore. Innovators by nature want to collect ideas, improve their perspective, and add the right information to their creative process.
• Tolerance: This is one of the keys to innovation. Change creates uncertainty; furthermore, innovating requires a time of trial and error to learn more accurate solutions in the process. Innovators show little or no fear of error, uncertainty, and without doubt, to the reactions of those who do not believe or think like them.
• Optimism: Innovating requires having an expectation towards the future. Many times this future is not immediate. But the certainty that this idea will become a reality in the future makes that connection with a vision and a purpose. This hope that innovators have, that they will achieve their goal (many of us called faith) requires constant optimism.
• Brainstorming: one of the best sources of innovation comes from a team conversation about a topic or an idea. In fact, two heads are better than one, especially when we talk about solving a challenge or looking for a better alternative. In my experience, getting the team involved and brainstorming creates the best options.

The World Economic Forum, at the Jobs Reset Summit, estimated that by 2025, at least 85 million jobs may be displaced by a change in the division of labor between humans and machines. Likewise, it added innovation to the top of the list of the 10 best job skills for the future.

Therefore, I invite you to improve your ability to lead by creating a culture of innovation, not only with the desire to find solutions to current challenges but also to create a better future and leave a legacy for future generations to benefit from.

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Low morale in teamwork, among other things, is due to a lack of responsibility. Whether it is by the group leader or one of its members, this lack of commitment creates a dishonest environment, where others do not want to work.

In general, we know that being responsible means we must do what is expected of us. Also, we must be committed to each of our actions and ultimately our decisions.

I invite you to see the importance of responsibility as a leader and how as a leader you can measure your level of responsibility and commitment to your teamwork.

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A great lesson that we must learn is that every decision we make has a consequence. On a personal level, we learn it from a very early age; however, at a professional level, it can be the result of a process, even more so the result of individual character development.

Although at a professional level it is not easy to determine exactly when a leader is prepared to have a high level of commitment, what we can determine is that responsibility is a fundamental element for a leader who wants to achieve success.

One of the fundamental leadership lessons that we can learn from the famous American businessman Warren Buffett, known as the world’s most successful investor of the 20th century and who as of today has a net worth of more than $103 billion of dollars, is that of responsibility and commitment towards his investors and organization.

In the letters that Warren Buffett writes as chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway to his investors, he regularly explains, quite humbly, why he made mistakes and how they will be corrected. As recognized by many, this gesture of openly and publicly sharing your failures is a sign of true strength in a leader.

Creating a culture of responsibility requires specific strategies. Use the list below to examine your level of leadership and your ability to create this form of culture:

1. Lead by example and not with words,
2. Fulfill what is promised,
3. Humbly accept mistakes,
4. Face the consequences of your decisions,
5. Do not blame others when things do not go well,
6. Face mistakes by reflecting and taking action to correct them.

From personal experience, I know that when we talk about teamwork, the issue of responsibility requires more intentionality and specific training for teams. However, if we want to increase morale and productivity in our organizations, one of the best ways to achieve it, is not only by modeling responsibility but by delegating responsibility to team members.

If after evaluating your level of leadership you find that you have room for improvement in any of these areas, do not hesitate to contact us, we can help you improve your best investment towards success: your leadership.

Leading with responsibility and commitment has excellent results, not only individually, but especially in teamwork. You have probably observed that loyalty, respect, and trust are the results that surround a committed leader.

But, so are collaboration, productivity, and especially the creation of a culture of responsibility, which in business environments is a competitive advantage that really provides the results we want.

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If you admire action movies, you may have seen one where the main character had to achieve a great act, save the world, or themselves. Regularly, one of the characteristics of these characters, which leads them to achieve what they set out to do in a very short period of time, is their ability to concentrate and focus on their goal.

In real life, this character is the leader. Leaders are leaders because there is an objective, a goal, and a vision. Let’s be reasonable though, just because there is a goal does not mean that the leader can lead themself or others to achieve it.

I invite you to look at what it really means to have focus, why you cannot lead yourself or others without developing the ability to focus on your goal, and how you can test yourself to discover your ability to focus.

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One of those action movies that I have seen on several occasions is the series of Jason Bourne; an agent of an espionage organization, who suffers from a type of amnesia and upon discovering who he really is, decides to leave this organization. One of the characteristics of this character is precisely the ability to concentrate and focus on his goal. In these films, he accomplishes what he sets out to do with great speed and accuracy.

In this series, it is evident that this character is highly trained and that he not only has great clarity on his next move but also has a vivid image of the outcome that he desires. This drives him to make the right decisions with great speed and precision and even more so to quickly change action in the face of diversions to stay on track towards his goal.

Today with so much information and distractions, losing focus seems to be a daily challenge. Many have the syndrome of shining objects SOS; in other words, every opportunity that shines is an opportunity that they want to take. It is obvious that leading without a clear focus is a waste of resources, including a lack of motivation for our teams.

Maintaining focus is a basic characteristic of a leader, to lead themselves and others based on a vision. The question is how can we increase our ability to maintain the correct focus?

Those who maintain the correct focus have certain characteristics. This list can serve as an exercise, to see if they are part of your daily approach. If not, stop and start creating a strategy that allows you to grow in these areas:

1. They are clear about their objective; they know what they want to achieve.
2. They have a plan that they follow daily; they know how they are going to achieve it.
3. They create the right environment; they surround themselves with those who seek the same goal.
4. They use their authenticity; they do not compare themselves with others, they know that their purpose is unique.
5. They learn from losses and mistakes; they grow with the lessons from their mistakes.
6. They work only with their priorities; they know what gives them more results.
7. They improve their ability to lead; they prepare for each new stage with a higher level of leadership.

As Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, says, you should not only do what you like but what you need to do. Certainly, many times we only want to do what we like or what is easy for us, but it is also necessary to do what we must, however difficult it may be.

Whether you are leading others or need to improve your ability to lead yourself if you need help improving your ability to focus, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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We live in a hyperconnected world. We have a large workforce in virtual, mobile, and decentralized offices. Teams and organizations increasingly become more diverse. Today many companies are on social media, using traditional communication channels less and less.

If we add to the above the economic, social, political, and health challenges of recent times, it is no surprise that ethical standards are defied amid all this pressure and complexity in which we live.

Let’s look at how today, more than ever, we must lead with integrity and how we can facilitate the process of making ethical decisions in these times.

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The classic study of ethics in business “Moral Mazes” by Robert Jackall, points out that ethical leadership is carried out with personal actions and interpersonal relationships; in other words, it is a set of both personal and professional behaviors.

Ethical leadership experts stated that leaders who communicate a strong message of ethics and values, but who are not perceived as ethical (personally) can be considered hypocritical leaders. Furthermore, nothing makes people more cynical than having a leader who talks incessantly about integrity, but then engages in unethical behavior and goes so far as to encourage others to do so, either explicitly or implicitly (Trevino & Brown, 2004 Managing to be ethical. Academy of Management).

We follow and listen to a person who exudes trustworthiness; not only for their professional acts, but their personal actions as well, and leadership experts confirm this. From my point of view, it is not possible to separate one from the other. Besides, today, due to the high level of personal exposure on social media and the fact that there are hundreds of cameras watching you wherever you go, we have, more than ever, to demonstrate integrity. It is better that what you say is what you do and that what you do is what you say.

This is not a new topic; history reminds us that leading with integrity can even be a challenge. Many leaders have even been punished for defending their morals and principles. For example, Nelson Mandela went to prison because he defended equal rights in his country. Due to his moral stance, he was widely considered a political prisoner.

Both in ancient times and today, it can be a challenge to maintain integrity. But what is very true is that without it we cannot lead. As leaders, we must constantly evaluate our character and choose what is ethical.

I’m sharing with you one of the exercises that I encourage my students to practice so that they can improve their integrity and ability to make ethical decisions.

This exercise consists of 5 questions that we must ask ourselves before making decisions:

1. Is what I want to do (or say) ethical, correct, and/or legal?
2. Would I do it if you were on the opposite side?
3. Could I rule out a better alternative?
4. Would a trusted advisor or specialist agree?
5. Would family, friends, my employer, or co-workers approve?

Developing and maintaining ethical leadership requires a high degree of intentionality and an understanding of what is and is not ethical. Furthermore, it entails strategies that allow us to create an ethical culture in which we can live by daily, influence others, and create a legacy for future generations.

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