Leading in Uncertain Times

By Susan Tomlinson

Unless you are one of the Super Rich then there will be very few who will not have been touched by the credit crunch, rising fuel and food prices and global economic and environmental changes. Alan Greenspan predicts that 'the current financial crisis in the US is likely to be judged in retrospect as the most wrenching since the end of the Second World War' (FT, 16 March 2008).

In this situation the natural reaction for businesses is to stop recruiting, lay off staff and spend as little as possible on training and development. Bucking the trend is likely to be a more successful option. Evidence from the last downturn showed that those companies who laid off or failed to develop key staff struggled to regain ground when the economy bounced back.

Developing and retaining leaders will be critical to organizational success in the long term. Towers Perrin-ISR researched global high performing organizations and compared their employee opinion survey scores with those of other global companies. The global high performers outperformed the rest in leadership effectiveness by 14%.

Leaders who can steer a path through stormy waters, manage costs and identify new growth will be in demand in a tighter more competitive environment. To succeed leaders will need to

• Have the courage to take tough and effective decisions
• Build the confidence of employees by communicating a strong vision for the future
• Sustain high performance for themselves and their team
• Be alert to innovative and imaginative solutions

The quickest way to support and develop leaders is through bespoke coaching programmes that focus on the business in hand.

Susan Tomlinson provides bepoke solutions to improve the motivation and performance of managers and their teams. She specialises in helping women in business to build confidence and success. Get her valuable tips and resources and the workbook "Speaking for Success" at http://www.realcoachingsolutions.co.uk/productsandservices/success.htm

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Leading People In Need - Tips For Keeping Hope Alive

By Richard Hamon

People who are happiest are those who serve others. They are loving and giving individuals who reach out to help those in need. And they do it because they care. But . . . what should a helper or leader do when the picture looks bleak for someone he is trying to help?

It pays to keep hope alive.

Hope is a powerful tonic. And a powerful tool for helping others. When we remember to use hope strategically, we can keep everyone happier. In fact, giving hope is one of the greatest gifts we can ever give.

When people lose hope their emotional health plummets and their thinking habits become more negative. Some people may engage in destructive behavior or even become suicidal when they feel a strong sense of hopelessness.

Tips For Creating Hope

1. Always encourage hope without turning it into a lecture and without being condescending in any way!

2. When trying to help people who are in need, it always pays to do your best, without trying to do it for them.

3. Offer or provide help, but be willing to step back and give the person a chance to take advantage of it.

You can't keep wearing yourself out trying to help. At some point, it's the person's responsibility to deal with his own life.

4. Leadership is not rescuing. As time goes by, a good helper will continue to find ways to instill hope, without trying to rescue the people he's trying to help (or without trying to do it for them) and without assuming responsibility for the problem or situation.

This will keep both of you healthier emotionally!

5. Stay positive. Sometimes this is the most helpful step we can take. By being a positive influence, we are helping people to hold onto their hope.

Don't give in to the sea of negativity. Help others face their doubts and move past them.

6. Try to lead and be of service without telling the person what to do, and avoid taking over or running the person's life.

7. Listen. Take the time to listen to what people are going through. You don't always have to say or do much, just listen and be there for them. Let them know you have heard them. Give your undivided attention and your heartfelt understanding.

8. Help people to help themselves. This reminds me of teaching people how to fish . . . that will feed them for a lifetime, whereas is you save them from their problems you aren't helping much . . . in the long run.

9. Speak of your wisdom and experience, but don't preach to them. Allow them to think for themselves and to make the decisions that influence their lives.

10. Keep in mind the nature of true happiness. When you help others to attain happiness, you are happy, too, but you must lead a balanced life and avoid becoming overly focused on the lives of those whom you are helping.

11. Express hope in a calm, relaxed and confident manner. Think and speak optimistically. Display hopefulness in your actions, without criticizing, which only turns most people off.

12. Above all, don't get discouraged when the person you are trying to help doesn't seem to be getting anywhere. Sometimes change -- real change -- takes time.

In some situations, the best a leader can do, besides caring about people, is to provide a ray of hope. There may be no one else in the person's life who is remaining positive and hopeful. No one who is inspiring them to keep trying, to keep bringing their dreams into reality.

Stop to reflect on what your positive example may mean to those in need.

Whatever you do . . .

remain a beacon of light and hope.

Remember, by keeping hope alive, you are leaving the door cracked in someone's life . . . so they can always feel your optimism, warmth and acceptance . . . and someday walk through to freedom.

Richard Hamon is a professional therapist and coach with over 25 years of experience. Richard's Relationships For Success Coaching helps people to enjoy truly satisfying relationships and find great success in all areas of their lives.

Richard has written a unique eBook, The Ultimate Relationship Solution: How Secrets Discovered From A Near Death Experience Can Help You Ignite Passion and Realize Success in All Your Relationships.

The eBook tells about an actual Near Death Experience the author had in 2003, which transformed his life and led to a series of insights, revelations and secrets about building extraordinary relationships.

You can find Richard's eBook, The Ultimate Relationship Solution at: LINKED TEXT

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