Michelle Ray

Business and Leadership Keynote Speaker

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leadership

The critical link: Emotionally intelligent leadership and talent retention

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I remember working with senior executives from a multinational professional services firm shortly after the Great Financial Crisis. (GFC) During their meeting, the leaders struggled to agree on talent attraction and retention strategies. Several leaders were deeply concerned about losing talent, with one team member expressing concern: “We cannot shrink ourselves to glory.” The group’s dilemma was understandable, given that any loss would have an impact on client retention and profitability. Others did not agree with the idea of maintaining the status quo, citing the firm’s financial viability as the most crucial factor.

When I left the room that afternoon, nothing had been resolved. Later, I learned that many key positions had been eliminated, leaving those who hoped to keep them disappointed. The organization successfully weathered the Great Financial Crisis, and while my contact informed me that the staff cuts directly impacted many people, they will undoubtedly remember the experience, particularly how they learned the news, which changed their perception of how their employer treated them as loyal, hardworking employees. [Read more…] about The critical link: Emotionally intelligent leadership and talent retention

The quest for meaning and purpose in a post-pandemic world

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When the pandemic struck, I found myself thrust into a new reality of fear and uncertainty. Suddenly, with work on hold and no pressing agenda, I felt as though time stood still for what was seemingly an eternity.

My business had survived the economic meltdowns following 9/11 and the global financial crisis of 2008. But nothing could have prepared me for this unanticipated new change of circumstances.

Alone in my office, I thought about my purpose as well as a future that I hadn’t anticipated. I found myself in a dark place, watching my confirmed conference bookings evaporate in a slew of emails that flooded my inbox. Suddenly, I was staring at an empty calendar in a state of shock. [Read more…] about The quest for meaning and purpose in a post-pandemic world

8 reasons why authentic leadership is essential at work

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If you have ever been part of a relationship dynamic at work that felt transactional or inauthentic, you are not alone. Even though years may have passed, and you have since moved on, it’s likely that you can still recall the impact of the experience and level of discomfort. We remember leaders who are real, as well as those who have little or no interest in getting to know us.

Authenticity has always been a highly desirable leadership trait, although the importance of honing this critical characteristic in today’s dynamic and interconnected work environment cannot be overstated. Relationships that are built on a foundation of authenticity contribute to high trust, increased engagement, higher retention, and greater productivity…ultimately benefiting your organization’s culture.

Authentic leadership is essential for the following reasons: [Read more…] about 8 reasons why authentic leadership is essential at work

Leadership and Influence: Why it Matters More than Ever

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Many years prior to Linkedin or the advent of online recruitment sites, I saw an ad in the job classifieds: State Sales Manager for Australia’s fastest growing Advertising Company. My fingers couldn’t get to the typewriter fast enough as positions like this were a rare find. Several weeks earlier, I had been laid off from a job that I loved, having worked in the media sector for more than ten years. The recession had taken a toll on the industry, and I was working at a part-time “in-between” job when the call came through. I could hardly contain my excitement as told my parents and friends the good news. I secured an interview for the following day. The idea of being a manager was so appealing to me!

As I walked down Pitt Street in Sydney for the interview, I already visualized my beautiful large office, brand-new company car, and high-paying salary. I arrived outside the building and checked the address. I looked back up at the building and back down at the address; I was hoping there was a mistake. The four-story building that stood before me was grey and drab; frosted, barred windows, some cracked, had thick, abandoned cobwebs draped around the edges. This building looked as though it was about to be condemned. [Read more…] about Leadership and Influence: Why it Matters More than Ever

The Great Reawakening: Why Employees are Reclaiming their Purpose and Power

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Power is a word that makes a lot of people uncomfortable… one that is frequently linked with those in positions of authority and control. But it need not have negative connotations and is especially relevant when you consider the power shift that has occurred in the world of work. 2022 is proving to be the Year of the Employee (Forbes), the Year of the Worker (The Economist) with a heightened emphasis on the employee experience to mitigate the Great Resignation.

Is it, however, the Great Resignation or the Great Reawakening that we are witnessing? More of the latter is what I suggest. [Read more…] about The Great Reawakening: Why Employees are Reclaiming their Purpose and Power

Five Key Leadership Lessons from 2020

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If there is one gift 2020 offered to the world, then perspective would be a suitable choice. As we reflect on the year that just passed, hindsight can truly be viewed as 20/20.  That is, the year provided great insight for the world. Humanity as a collective discovered how to be better: More empathy, open-mindedness and appreciation  for  the many things that we used to take for granted. For example, the simple act of a hug, enjoying the company of family members at the dinner table and perhaps more significantly than any other state of being, the freedom to go about our daily lives without restrictions.

Organizations have also gained benefits from the unexpected, adverse circumstances. Although many leaders may not have initially viewed 2020 from a positive lens, the imperative of adapting to these challenging times provided numerous opportunities for introspection and improvement. Leaders can glean the following five key lessons that will continue to have relevance for years to come: [Read more…] about Five Key Leadership Lessons from 2020

Transformational Leadership: Individualized Consideration

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Two individuals, Bass and Avolio, developed four key elements of transformational leadership: Idealized Influence, Inspirational Motivation, Intellectual Stimulation and Individualized Consideration. The latter is defined as providing individual team members with sincere attention to their respective emotional states of mind, needs and concerns. Consider the trajectory of your career to date and the impact of leaders who have intentionally made it a priority to show interest in you, your family and your pursuits outside of the workplace. Are you able to easily recall these experiences? Ideally, you have more than a few positive memories of leaders who made a deliberate effort to get to know you on an individual level, encouraging you to succeed and replicate this core attribute. [Read more…] about Transformational Leadership: Individualized Consideration

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.

It really does start with you!

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When you think of the word leadership, what comes to mind? It isn’t surprising that the majority of people associate specific meanings to leadership that include authority, position, seniority, being at the helm of an enterprise, or having ultimate responsibility for bottom line results. However, in order to achieve success as a leader, one needs to have the capacity to take charge of oneself first.  To be a quintessential leader requires a specific mindset, along with certain professional traits and attributes that inspire individuals to perform at his or her best. Sadly, many leaders fail to understand the need to practice personal leadership in all interactions.

Therefore, the essence of leadership is about strength of character, regardless of one’s position in an organization, association, political party etc. In addition, we may falsely assume that a person’s “title” denotes credibility. As many of us have experienced, credibility must be earned rather than given. And this has nothing to do with a plaque on a door or a desk, or a title on a business card. It’s about who you are at the core that truly matters, rather than what your title indicates.

So no matter what your role is in an organization, no matter what industry you work in, it’s not about your job or “pecking order” in your organization. What is most important is to understand that leadership is a choice. It is a reflection of how you see yourself. Are you an initiator? A change agent? A provocateur? Do you have the capacity to inspire yourself and take responsibility for your actions? Leadership really does start with you.

Whether you are on the front line, or a senior leader,  or perhaps running the company…running your business, you are  ultimately accountable for your own behaviours, choices and how you decide to interpret your circumstances.

In the workplace, we are all one hundred percent responsible for creating the atmosphere. We all make a contribution everyday that leads to a particular culture.  It’s about you being conscious of who you are and it’s about your character that truly matters above all else.

What are you doing on a daily basis to take the lead in your professional and personal relationships? Ultimately, relationships with your colleagues and on a grander scale, with all everyone that you interact with? You have an opportunity on a daily basis to be the best version of you, to mentor others, contribute to your workplace and lead by example. In short: We can all choose to become the leaders of our own lives.

This article is a 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

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

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We’re all familiar with the adage: “Can’t teach an old job new tricks?” Well, I beg to differ for this reason:  If we don’t teach those old dogs new tricks, they simply won’t survive. And if you’re one of those “old dogs”, maybe that’s you as a leader…struggling with the idea of embracing new realities; evidenced by the way that you have been leading your organization.

Like dogs, many humans find it difficult to learn something new when the context changes. In our current business landscape where disruption has become the norm, it is easy to understand why leaders struggle in a “change in context” environment. Humans are also creatures of habit. We become uncomfortable with the unfamiliar and find it difficult when the context in which we are doing business changes. The adage “repeated discomfort generates comfort” is one solution that can be applied in the face of change and uncertainty. However, if we are to accept new realities, we first need to address our mindset.

Thoughts are driven by our deeply held beliefs, which manifest as attitudes that dictate outcomes. The manner in which we interpret situations and events and subsequently make decisions is evidence of mindset in action. It takes years to form habits and may take even longer to break them. For this reason, the idea of altering perspectives may seem overwhelming. Unlike dogs, humans possess a higher level of consciousness and larger cerebral cortex with space for complex abstract reasoning. We have the capacity to shift our thinking in order to embrace and adapt to a new order of things. The difficulty lies in overcoming internal pre-programmed messaging regarding our fears and consequently, our mental roadblocks when faced with the need to do things differently.

Remember that you have invested a certain amount of time choosing to view your enterprise in a particular light. If you suspect that you are resisting the need to move forward and “learn new tricks”, it may be helpful to ask yourself: “How accurate is my perspective? “ Or “Is my fear real or imagined?” You may discover that your frame of reference regarding how you view the business landscape is no longer serving you, and it’s time to muster the courage to take the lead and welcome new possibilities.

Can your organization afford to get stuck in the old ways of doing things? It isn’t unusual for leaders and teams to buy into the chorus of voices that say: “Why do we need to change if everything’s working? We’ve always done it that way so why should we change now? “ There is a new imperative requiring you to be that “new dog” who is willing to practice new tricks.  Are you holding back your organization by accepting the default “we’ve always done it that way.” position?

Change is possible when you decide to let go and to be willing to constantly improve and to try new methods and new ways of doing things. The most successful organizations are embracing innovation and new thinking as part of the normal way of going about their business.

Now, and in the future, learning “new tricks” is essential to not only survive, but thrive. By letting go and changing your habits and the habits of your business,  you will see what is possible… and amaze yourself in the process.

 

This article is a partial transcript of https://youtu.be/nZrtPgctx5k 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