Leadership and Confidence

It seems a no-brainer that the most successful leaders are those who are also full of self-confidence (not to be confused with conceit).  However, what is it that makes someone appear “confident”?  What is that certain something that ensures Leaders have Followers?

Dr. Marshall Goldsmith attempts to answer these questions in a post for the Harvard Business blog – excerpted here:

1. DON’T WORRY ABOUT BEING PERFECT. There are never right or wrong answers to complex business decisions. The best that you can do as a leader is to gather all of the information that you can (in a timely manner), do a cost-benefit analysis of potential options, use your best judgment — and then go for it.
2. LEARN TO LIVE WITH FAILURE. Great salespeople are the ones who get rejected the most often. They just ask for the order more than the other salespeople. You are going to make mistakes. You are human. Learn from these mistakes and move on.
3. AFTER YOU MAKE THE FINAL DECISION — commit! Don’t continually second-guess yourself. Great leaders communicate with a sense of belief in what they are doing and with positive expectations toward the achievement of their vision.
4. SHOW COURAGE ON THE OUTSIDE — even if you don’t always feel it on the inside. Everyone is afraid sometimes. If you are a leader, your direct reports will read your every expression. If you show a lack of courage, you will begin to damage your direct reports’ self-confidence.
5. FIND HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT IN YOUR WORK. Life is short. My extensive research indicates that we are all going to die anyway. Do your best. Follow your heart. When you win, celebrate. When you lose, just start over the next day.

*Read the full article at Harvard Business*

Why Brands Fail

If you are in business, you are offering a product.  Whether you’re selling sneakers or your accounting skills, your customers are shelling out money in return for whatever it is you have to offer.  In order to succeed, you need to understand the myriad ways you could fail…

*Article posted at Fuel Your Branding*

10 Reasons A Strong Brand Is Important to Your Business

Successful organizations are driven to succeed by visionary leaders.  These leaders take calculated risks, and look for ways to innovate in every aspect of their business.  Everything from internal work processes, to product design, to revamped service offerings are fair game when it comes to growing a company.  No matter what the innovations, however, the overall brand idea remains at the root of the evolution.  Thus, success depends upon a strong Brand.

Here’s why:

DEMONSTRATES ORGANIZATIONAL DISCIPLINE

Brand expression is strongest when it is consistent.  Consistency builds confidence in your company and its offerings.  Disciplined brand development within your organization demonstrates to your customers that you pay attention to the details.

IT’S GOOD FOR MORALE

People like to feel like they are a part of something good, something purposeful.  Your brand is the living, breathing example of why you do what you do.  If your employees understand your brand, they will likewise know why they do what they do.

GUIDES ORGANIZATION AS IT NATURALLY EVOLVES

In order to thrive and grow, organizations must manage change in a deliberate way.  A brand idea that has been similarly developed will provide a solid foundation upon which to build the company.

GUIDES ORGANIZATION WHEN IT’S FORCED TO EVOLVE

Sometimes, environmental conditions necessitate that you change your company’s direction.  When you see change on the horizon, a strong brand idea will help you plan ahead, allowing you to keep the core of who you are while adjusting to new conditions.

COMMUNICATES WITHOUT WORDS

When your brand identity begins to speak for itself – in logos, packaging, customer service, etc. – you’ve done your job.

PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

At some point, every company finds it necessary to collaborate with another organization.  Whether it’s a multi-disciplinary design team or an impending merger, a strong brand I.D. will not only tell your partners what you are about, but what is expected of them.

FORMS THE BASIS OF YOUR ‘ELEVATOR PITCH’

A well-defined brand idea is simple.  It’s easy to describe and easy to understand.  If your employees can’t say it in 20 seconds, it’s time to re-think your pitch.

INSPIRES COMPANY FOUNDERS WHEN THEY NEED IT

(and they will)

The daily grind is enough to take anyone off their game, even a visionary leader.  When you lose your focus, your brand idea can bring you back to the basics:  why you do what you do.

GIVES DIRECTION IN TIMES OF CONFUSION

Every organization goes through times of difficulty.  It may be do to external factors, like a recession; or it may be an internal issue.  When you need to get back on track in order to move your company forward, looking back at the root brand idea can tell you exactly where you need to go.

IT’S COMMUNITY SERVICE…YOU CAN INSPIRE OTHERS

When you are doing things right, people take notice.  Some are impressed, but many more are likely to be inspired.  Great leaders lead by example.  Your success can tangibly demonstrate the power of a strong brand.

Do you have a strong brand?  If so, what makes it work?  If not, what’s holding you back?  Share your thoughts.

Brand in Hand: Business Card Design

Back in the old’n days, people met each other in person at cocktail parties and something called ‘mixers’.  These face-to-face encounters were the moments where business relationships began, involving a delightful exchange of verbal pleasantries, warm smiles, and the occasional inflation of one’s talents.  Back then, there were no such things as “social media” or “online networks.”

Twitter was something birds did in trees, and LinkedIn was something felons found themselves.

Today, we have many, many (many) options for connecting with fellow professionals and potential friends.  At times, it seems that there is really no need to leave the house as one is perfectly able to grow a business and personal network through the pixelated world at our fingertips.  But, in spite of this, there is still something to be said for the first impressions of a firm handshake and a look in the eye when meeting someone new.  Perhaps this is the reason that business cards continue to be the loci for creative design and strong brand communication.

The graphics of your card can convey a sense of sophistication or whimsy; cutting-edge technology or old-world permanence.  And with a thoughtful choice of paper stock weight and texture, the feel of the card in-hand can elicit a sense of well-considered design as it works in tandem with the overall aesthetic.  This 2 x 3.5 in. billboard serves as a tactile reminder of your brand.  Whether you are starting your own company or simply looking to create a good ol’ fashioned calling card, take the time to consider your brand and the impression you want to make.

QUICK TIPS:

• PURPOSE – Are you a designer who wants to show your creative skills…or an accountant who wants to convey a sense of staid order…?
• MESSAGE - Write down some thoughts about what you want your card to say about you and/or your business.
• RESEARCH – Collect some cards that you like.  What is it that appeals to you?
• COLOR – Are there certain colors that you feel convey the impressions you are trying to make?
• TEXTURE – Is your brand slick and glossy, or weighty and rough?  Modern or old school?  Take a trip to your local print shop to see and touch the variety of stock available.
• PRINTING – Once you are ready for printing, your print shop will provide a proof for your review.  Ask them beforehand if they will let you try out a couple of different paper options.  Different papers will often result in color variations.  You want to know what you’ll be getting.
• HELP! – If the idea of getting a business card together still completely freaks you out, ask for help.  Most designers are more than willling to let you know what they think, so seek their advice or hire one on.  It will be well worth it for you and your brand!

INSPIRATION:

• Business cards on Flickr
• The Design Cubicle presents the card designs of 50 Graphic Designers
• Dzineblog’s list of 36 Beautiful Business Cards
• …And a special treat for the unemployed…

10 Basic Tips on Becoming the Best Writer Ever

So, one problem when you start a blog is that you realize that you’ll actually have to produce some sort of content for people to read. Sure, you could just put up pictures of kids and puppies for people to look at.  But, you should probably have something to say about said kids and puppies…

To help with the kid/puppy captions and whatever else you have to write, I’ve compiled a list of some starter points to help you improve your writing.  Having recently returned to school (real school…not the creative tinkering of the design studios of my past), I have found these tips to be helpful in writing the longest paper of my life (yes, I mean that literally):

THE LIST:

1. RELAX.  Breathe.  Don’t freak out.  Grab a cup of coffee/tea/milk, get comfortable, and give some thought to what you want to say.  Jot down a few notes as you ponder so you can think freely.
2. WHAT’S YOUR POINT?  This is important.  You’ll need this when you start writing.  Pick a point and write it down with a Sharpie so you remember to get to it – the Point – by the end of whatever you’re writing.  Note: sub-points are allowed, but there can only be one Point.
3. SAY WHAT YOU MEAN.  Don’t leave your reader in the weedy garden of your verbosity.  If you don’t know what you’re trying to say, the reader certainly won’t.  So, instead of writing, “Johnnie runs like a newly-liberated gazelle gliding through the grassy expanse of sub-saharan Africa,” just write, “Johnnie runs fast.”
4. That brings up another point:  DON’T BE TOO SMART.  There’s no need to use long words when short ones will do.  Write to your audience.  Choose your words accordingly.
5. SHUT UP.  Be succinct.  No one wants to read a sentence that lasts half a page and requires re-reading.  If you get lost writing it, your reader will get lost reading it.
6. BE VOCAL.  Use your own voice.  If you have a conversational way of writing, go with it (if it’s appropriate for the audience).  If there’s a word you’re writing that you wouldn’t say aloud, consider whether it’s the right word.
7. START OVER.  Not really.  But you should definitely give yourself time to edit.  Read it aloud.  Have someone else read it to you (I’ve never actually done that, but it sounds like a good idea).  Nothing points out the sticky points in your writing like tripping over the words as you say them out loud.
8. REPEAT.  Seriously.  Once you’ve edited, do it again.  No need to do it right away, but definitely do it.  And don’t be afraid to cut things out.  Brevity is the new black.
9. KEEP WRITING.  Practice writing.  Write poems, memos, haiku, whatever.  The more you write, the more you figure out about your process and what works for you.  Experiment with different styles and see what makes you comfortable.
10. READ.  I don’t know about you, but I learn by example.  It helps to see how other people say things.  It’s good to read the experts – your Steinbecks, Wall Street Journals, and Dwells – but your peers aren’t slouches either.  Chances are, they have a good way of doing something that could make your work better.

Follow these tips and I bet that in no time at all, you’ll be a better writer and probably enjoy the process a bit more than you do now.  And, as always, if you have anything to add, please share!