Michelle Ray

Business and Leadership Keynote Speaker

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Michelle Ray

Transformational Leadership: Intellectual Stimulation

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“I don’t have all the answers.” “Maybe there’s a better way.” “How can we improve?” Ideally, leaders who have these thoughts are truly open to seeking the opinions of their teams, advancing intellectual stimulation in order to find solutions. As a leader, can you identify with this style? Are you able to let go and encourage your team to think independently? Such leaders exemplify transformational leadership in action. More specifically, these leaders place high value on arousing their team’s creativity and imagination to solve organizational problems. [Read more…] about Transformational Leadership: Intellectual Stimulation

Transformational Leadership: Idealized Influence

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What does “idealized influence” mean? And why is this important for leaders? Leaders play a significant role in the lives of their workforce. Transformational leaders can affect the trajectory of an individual’s professional and personal life. There are many people who have profoundly influenced my thinking and decision-making throughout my career and personal history. The majority occupied a leadership position with a past employer or a client that I have been fortunate to get to know well. Others have been role models, or individuals that I greatly admired outside of work.  They all had one trait in common: The capacity to inspire me to take a positive step to improve myself or take a particular course of action. The degree to which a leader is able to affect people and create a desire in others to willingly change is directly related to their character.

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Unprecedented Times Call For Exceptional Leadership… Now More than Ever.

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As I work with leaders from organizations in the corporate world, small businesses, associations and all levels of government, what I consistently see is a collective desire to respond to on-going change and disruption with less struggle and anxiety. The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated their concerns as they scramble to adapt to the unexpected and unfamiliar new realities that have been thrust upon them. Specifically: How to keep themselves and their teams feeling positive about the future, how to take the lead when there is so much uncertainty and how to effectively manage and keep their teams engaged remotely. [Read more…] about Unprecedented Times Call For Exceptional Leadership… Now More than Ever.

Essential Leadership: Take Risk. Make Decisions. Keep Ego in Check

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Are you are leader who is comfortable taking risks, making decisions and keeping your ego in check? Great leaders possess the ability to harness these attributes at the appropriate time. Of course, not all decisions have equal weight or quality. The same is true in an array of circumstances that require leaders to evaluate the degree of risk in order to decide the best course of action. Effective leaders are aware of their options and circumstances in order to make the optimum decision while being mindful of when and how to seek input. [Read more…] about Essential Leadership: Take Risk. Make Decisions. Keep Ego in Check

Transformational leadership: Inspirational Motivation

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By definition, inspirational motivation involves two key components. First, a leader must be clear about his or her vision. Secondly, a leader needs to express his or her vision in a manner that excites and drives higher levels of performance.  Over the course of my career, many leaders have asked “How do I inspire and motivate my team?” It is a burning question that never grows old and preoccupies the minds of many leaders in every market sector. The capacity to motivate others is a talent and an art.So, where to start? [Read more…] about Transformational leadership: Inspirational Motivation

How to Enhance the Perception of Your Organization’s Reputation

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Reputation management has become increasingly important in the social media age. This pertains to the reputation of individual leaders as well as corporations. What does your workforce say about your brand and your business? Are you able to effectively leverage goodwill that you have worked to establish with customers and staff? These are key questions for all employers because of this simple truth: Perception is reality. [Read more…] about How to Enhance the Perception of Your Organization’s Reputation

How to Tap Into Your Innovative Potential

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If you have experienced self-doubt, or too many occasions where you have allowed the negative voices to take over and limit your innovative potential, you can likely recall how those thoughts made you question your abilities…sending you on a downward spiral. Self-belief is the reverse of self-doubt.  As cliched as it may sound, we can easily manufacture a lack of belief in ourselves as soon as we buy into fear, or any negative occurrence that can fuel disappointment, disenchantment and disillusionment. [Read more…] about How to Tap Into Your Innovative Potential

How to Entertain New Ideas, Be Adaptable and Proactive

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Transformational leaders possess the gift of finding solutions to complex problems by entertaining new ideas…and acting upon them. These leaders welcome innovative thinking and recognize the benefits of tapping into the brilliance of employees at any level of an organization, encouraging individuals to hone an entrepreneurial mindset. Above all else, transformational leaders clearly understand the intricacies of a rapidly changing world of business, driven by technology and innovation. [Read more…] about How to Entertain New Ideas, Be Adaptable and Proactive

The Coronavirus: Three Steps to Lead Yourself Through Uncertain Times

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The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting every aspect of life and business at unprecedented levels. Thousands of people have died, many hundreds of thousands have contracted the virus and potentially millions may already have either been in contact with an infected person but have yet to be diagnosed. Individuals in all walks of life are seeking solutions. While the world waits for a vaccine and containment of the virus, there are solutions available to lead yourself through uncertain times. [Read more…] about The Coronavirus: Three Steps to Lead Yourself Through Uncertain Times

Get to Know Your People, Set a Standard and Follow Through

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If you have had experience working with a leader who genuinely gets to know his or her people, sets the standard and follows through in his or her communication, you have indeed been fortunate. Empirical research in many sectors of industry confirms that consistent actions and behaviours on the part of leaders earn the respect and trust of individuals and teams alike. Consider the proverb: “A chain is as strong as its weakest link.” When a leader’s attitudes and follow though are inconsistent, he or she may become the weakest link…i.e. the bigger problem. Unfortunately, many leaders fail to understand the impact of this paradox. [Read more…] about Get to Know Your People, Set a Standard and Follow Through