Michelle Ray

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Michelle Ray

How to Develop Trust Between Leaders and Teams

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Visualize a workplace where high trust is evident. What does a high trust environment look like? First, you are likely to witness happy, engaged and productive teams. They many not necessarily be in the same physical location to be collaborating on a project. Or you may find that very few supervisors are present or required to provide inspiration and feedback. Trust is intangible. It is a bond created by individuals from the moment information is shared, a task is assigned or a job description is provided. It is an integral element of successful professional relationships at all levels. [Read more…] about How to Develop Trust Between Leaders and Teams

Is Change Management Really That Hard?

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Why is it that so many change management initiatives fail?  In order to achieve buy-in, the first step involves understanding the impact of change.  Individual perceptions regarding change are based on experiences; both personal and professional. As Newton’s law states: A body at rest stays at rest. A body in motion keeps moving. Change is a choice. The adage: Nothing changes if nothing changes is highly relevant for today’s leaders. When a person discovers his or her “pain point”  then he or she is ready to move forward. The same principles apply for organizations. Change is a visceral, emotional experience. [Read more…] about Is Change Management Really That Hard?

An example of Transformational Leadership: Uber

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An example of Transformational Leadership that continues to make headlines is known to millions of travelers. Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp are renowned as the founders of Uber. Their respective journeys as technology mavericks have been both lauded and criticized, depending on one’s vantage point. Uber has revolutionized the manner in which we “tap the app” in order to get from Point A to Point B. According to “folklore”, both were attending a technology conference in Paris in 2008 and on a particular snowy night, conceptualized Uber when they couldn’t catch a taxi. The company’s primary competitors in the taxi and chauffeured transportation sectors have been in “reactive” mode ever since Uber burst on the scene a decade ago.

What makes Uber’s founders such a fascinating study? Kalanick and Camp not only identified a consumer need…They successfully anticipated the future by responding to this need in an unprecedented manner. In a nutshell: Uber has transformed an entire market segment: Ground transportation. Kalanick and Camp are transformational leaders who predicted the future by parlaying their vision into a global phenomenon.

Today’s consumers are attracted to companies that offer immediacy, ease of use and tangible cost benefits when it comes to solving their problems. Transformational leaders are always ahead of the curve. They possess a unique understanding of real-world challenges and an extraordinary capacity to create new realities. Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp exemplify transformational leadership. They’ve changed the way that we go about getting transportation all over the world by making it easier and instantly accessible. What did we do in a world without Uber?

Anticipating the future as a transformational leader is not only about seeing the future and not only responding to change. Leaders who are transformational also possess the ability to predict the future before it even happens. It requires a relentless focus on creating and managing outstanding customer experiences. Uber has successfully gone above and beyond traditional marketing avenues to have brand ambassadors sharing these experiences in their communities, both on and off-line, locally and globally.

If you wish to see yourself as an example of transformational leadership, hone your ability to anticipate, act and trust in your vision. These are some of the most important characteristics of leaders who are cognizant of the need to think forward in times of constant change.

This article is a partial transcript of a video on YouTube.

Michelle Ray (Twitter) is one of the best international leadership keynote speakers in Vancouver. She helps you discover your potential through presentations, coaching and consulting. With over 20 years of experience Michelle has worked with hundreds of companies around the world. She is taking bookings for speaking engagements and can be contacted at MichelleRay.com

What is Transformational Leadership?

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Imagine the possibilities for yourself and your business if every leader within your organization embodied the characteristics of a transformational leader. In order to achieve, or get close to realizing his or her leadership potential, it is important to understand the meaning of transformational leadership, why it matters and where the gaps exist.

[Read more…] about What is Transformational Leadership?

How to be a better manager

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Do you possess the essential skills to lead and manage your organization into the future? In order to be a better manager, it is important to prioritize your day-to-day, transactional responsibilities while recognizing that the transformational, visionary aspects of leadership are also key competencies. By taking a strategic approach, you can organize your management tasks and leadership goals simultaneously. Effective managers are also efficient. They are able to delegate, empower others and free themselves up to focus on the “big picture” responsibilities. You can positively impact your team, as well as your organization as a whole, by honing your leadership and management skills. At the same time, your success will depend on your capacity to remain open to learning, improving and growing in your role.

How can we be better managers and practice transformational leadership simultaneously? First, it is important to recognize that while there is the difference between managing and leading, today’s leaders need to be skilled at both. As a manager, your team has certain expectations regarding their relationship with you.  The single, most important aspect of effective management is making yourself available for your team, regardless of whether they work remotely or in the same physical location. This necessitates time management on your part. Are you accessible in person, by phone…or whatever means necessary to connect in a meaningful manner. Planning and organizing your schedule to regularly make time for a conversation is not a simply a task to check off on your to do list. It is a leadership priority for every manager at all levels.

Successful leaders are cognizant of their responsibilities and are mindful of organizing their priorities. While it remains true that accomplishing the routine aspects of work is important,  managers cannot lose sight of the need to get the right things done.  And the right things pertain to prioritizing people as well as projects. When you find yourself getting caught up in the minutiae, realize that you are putting your ability to perform at the optimal level at risk. Having numerous balls in the air may come with the territory. However, the constant “juggling” will impact your effectiveness each time you choose to comprise key people priorities for less important tasks.

 

This article is a partial transcript of a video on YouTube.

Michelle Ray (Twitter) is one of the best international leadership keynote speakers in Vancouver. She helps you discover your potential through presentations, coaching and consulting. With over 20 years of experience Michelle has worked with hundreds of companies around the world. She is taking bookings for speaking engagements and can be contacted at MichelleRay.com

Leadership in 2020 and Beyond: What will be different? What will be the same?

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What are the core issues facing leadership in 2020 and beyond? Walk into any meeting comprising of senior leaders and the hottest topic of conversation will likely revolve around change, technology, clients and talent. While it is no surprise that these top-of-mind challenges are keeping many leaders up at night, the unrelenting need to constantly recalibrate is the most interesting aspect of doing business today and into the future. What will be different? And what, if anything, will be the same? [Read more…] about Leadership in 2020 and Beyond: What will be different? What will be the same?

Realize the leverage of modeling authenticity and integrity

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Authenticity and integrity are essential character traits that leaders need to develop in order to build trusting relationships with their teams. Research confirms the direct correlation between leaders who demonstrate these traits and employees’ levels of trust, engagement and buy-in. For some leaders, their greatest challenge is determining the level of disclosure and transparency whether sharing large scale company news or admitting a mistake. Put simply, how and when to practice humility. Your capacity to be honest will be refreshing and attractive from your team’s perspective. When a leader displays authenticity, employees are more likely to follow and feel equally comfortable to share their own vulnerabilities. Even more significant is the positive impact of authentic leadership on your organization’s culture and employee brand.

HOT OFF THE PRESS: 

WATCH MICHELLE’S BRAND NEW “IT STARTS WITH YOU” SPEAKER DEMO VIDEO BY CLICKING HERE!

CONTACT MICHELLE TO CHECK HER AVAILABILITY FOR KICKING OFF YOUR 2020 EVENTS!

This article is a partial transcript of a video on YouTube.

Michelle Ray (Twitter) is one of the best international leadership keynote speakers in Vancouver. She helps you discover your potential through presentations, coaching and consulting. With over 20 years of experience Michelle has worked with hundreds of companies around the world. She is taking bookings for speaking engagements and can be contacted at MichelleRay.com

Why is transformational leadership so important today?

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The pace of technological change necessitates a fluid, flexible approach, a shift in thinking and a willingness on the part of leaders to be ready for on-going transformation of their organizations. In order to meet the challenge, leaders need to be prepared to undertake an honest appraisal of their individual style by asking themselves whether they are effectively setting the vision for future success. The expectations of your workforce, as well as your customers continue to evolve. Therefore, it is a leader’s responsibility to challenge the status quo, take the lead and inspire their employees to transcend self-imposed boundaries, both personal and organizational, in order to adapt and embrace new realities. The transformational leader is able to raise the bar for  all by employing a charismatic, daring an open style.

HOT OFF THE PRESS: 

WATCH MICHELLE’S BRAND NEW “IT STARTS WITH YOU” SPEAKER DEMO VIDEO BY CLICKING HERE!

CONTACT MICHELLE TO CHECK HER AVAILABILITY FOR KICKING OFF YOUR 2020 EVENTS!

This article is a partial transcript of a video on YouTube.

Michelle Ray (Twitter) is one of the best international leadership keynote speakers in Vancouver. She helps you discover your potential through presentations, coaching and consulting. With over 20 years of experience Michelle has worked with hundreds of companies around the world. She is taking bookings for speaking engagements and can be contacted at MichelleRay.com

Biggest challenges in Non-Profits

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Not-for-profit organizations are facing similar challenges to many for-profits. There are parallels in terms of failing to attracting new members and resisting new imperatives such as letting go of the old to embrace the new. Many not-for-profits are steadfastly adhering to practices that have been in place for decades. Some are adopting a defeatist mentality by accepting membership attrition as a natural consequence of changing times. However, nothing can be gained by “shooting oneself in the foot.” By allowing negative mindsets to prevail, some not-for-profits (as well as corporations) will continue setting themselves up for failure. The good news is that examples abound of successful not-for-profit groups that are engaging their communities in new ways. One of my clients recently adopted podcasts as one of their content-sharing tools. The results have been extraordinary, evidenced by the highest levels of membership engagement when podcast downloads were tracked and analyzed. In addition, committees that produce the podcasts have a renewed sense of enthusiasm. The content creators are eagerly seeking out guests and are committed to growing their followings as well as expanding their programming.

Organizations that choose to embrace change, use new technologies, and incorporate social media in their marketing strategies are experiencing heightened interest in their member offerings and benefits. By emulating the success of innovative organizations as well as looking in your own backyard for examples of chapters and community groups that are thriving, it IS possible for your not-for-profit association to grow…and indeed, to flourish in the future.

This article is a partial transcript of a video on YouTube.

Michelle Ray (Twitter) is one of the best international leadership keynote speakers in Vancouver. She helps you discover your potential through presentations, coaching and consulting. With over 20 years of experience Michelle has worked with hundreds of companies around the world. She is taking bookings for speaking engagements and can be contacted at MichelleRay.com

Ending the Drama at Work – It Starts With You: Part Two

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There is no question that organizations could mitigate absenteeism and turnover by paying greater attention to the emotional impact of drama. Understandably, many of us have a preference for avoiding difficult conversations without realizing that we are doing a disservice to ourselves. Unfortunately, when the skills, desire and intestinal fortitude needed to take charge of the dysfunction are lacking, the status quo prevails. The famous poet anonymous declared: ‘nothing changes if nothing changes.” What are you willing to do to make a difference and contribute to a happier workplace atmosphere? When individuals and teams decide to positively express solutions, everyone will benefit and engagement will increase as a result. [Read more…] about Ending the Drama at Work – It Starts With You: Part Two