CorePurpose - Joan Koerber-Walker's Blog

What will you do with the last week of 2010?

One week left and counting, soon 2010 will be one for the record books.  For many the last week of the year is looked at as a lost week.  Holiday vacations, factory shut downs, and kids home from school for Winter break combine to slow the workday pace.

I always look forward to the last week of the year, not for a break but for that last minute push to end things with a bang.   It has always worked for me.  Years ago, as a sales person, the last week of the year was when I often got my biggest orders.  I would call my customers to see who was around. It never failed, somebody always had something on their desk that need to be handled before year end, and I was happy to help them get it taken care of.   Later in my career, as a new CEO, I spent a week alone in the office going through binders full of dusty files that has been left behind by past leaders. In them I found a forgotten resource that, once we dusted it off and tuned it up, became our organization's biggest differentiator that year. 

5 Tips for making the most of the last week of the year

1. Make a list of what worked best this year – and what did not do as well.  Think about how you can make the most of your good ideas and let go of the duds.
2. Do a little outreach.  Call customers, email someone you worked with this year and thank them for their help, find that forgotten college roommate and reconnect.  You never know how a simple conversation can lead to a new opportunity.
3. Take some time to learn more about you.  There are lots of one line tools available to  give you insight into what you do best.  Many of them are free or relatively in expensive. One of my favorites is the Kolbe A by Kolbe Corp.  It’s a great way to find insights on how you can be more effective in doing what you do.
4. Do a little research.  As you lay out plans  for 2011, don’t forget to do your homework. A little research can go a long way in firming up that new idea.  Libraries are quiet this time of year and a great place to escape from the holiday bustle.  To cold to go out?  Try some creative  Google searches to see what the hot trends are around your BIG idea.
5. Ask questions.  Survey tools from LinkedIn and Survey Monkey can help you find  out what your partners or customers think about a current or future product or service.  Ask them what they think.  You just might find the answer you are searching for.

So, don’t just sit there in a Christmas Cookie coma.  Use this last week of the year to  look back and get ready to move forward.  There are opportunities waiting for you in 2011, and now is the time to  get ready to capture them.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned....

I'll be sharing more tips to help you get ready for 2011 throughout the month of December.

And for all of the friends who have visited here, chatted with me on Twitter, have  worked along side me in projects, or just dropped me a line or made a call to say hello, THANK YOU  and best wishes for a  very happy and hopeful holiday season and a 2011 filled with opportunities.   

Joan Koerber-Walker

About the Joan:

An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits, as well as into community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C.   To learn more about how CorePurpose and the CoreAlliance can help you grow your business in 2011, you can contact her by clicking here.

CorePurpose  is a registered trademark of CorePurpose, Inc.  CoreAlliance is a  service mark of CorePurpose Inc.  All rights reserved

 

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,Business Tips,Getting ready for 2011,Entrepreneurs,Growth in 2011

Following your star...

Over 2000 years ago, three wise men followed a star.  A young woman and her husband  began a journey that started with the 'impossible' and a child was born that became one of the greatest leaders ever known.  The world has never been the same. 

For many of us, 2010  has been a year of personal and professional challenges, but just imagine the challenges these people once faced. 

The image above is message I created for my CorePurpose Christmas Card in 2010 and it is one I firmly believe in.  Opportunities are like stars.  There are millions of them out there. It is all a matter of which one we choose to reach for, to believe in and to work to achieve.

As I write this on Christmas Eve,  there are signs that opportunities are rising like stars.  The New York Times writes that economists see signs of a stronger recovery while other analysts predict growth in 2011 also.  In reviewing my notes form this year's Arizona Entrepreneurship Conference, I see point after point that the speakers made about where the opportunities lie and how to reach them. 

This is the time of year when we reach out to others. 

Christmas cards, business and personal newsletters sharing stories of a year that soon will be past and hope for the year to come, notes on LinkedIn, on my personal Facebook and the CorePurpose and OTEF Facebook pages , and Twitter's tweets.  Each of these is an opportunity to connect, engage, say hi or say thank you and each conversation strengthens relationships and can begin a journey towards a new opportunity. 

It is also a season of hope.

For many, 2010 has brought times of frustration and worse, but now is the time to draw strength from the energy  around us and take a look at the  gifts that we have to work with.  Our friends, our families, our co-workers, and our customers have also faced challenges this year.  But at the end of the day, we are all still here. And being here we can take the energy and the camaraderie of the season and use it as fuel to move us all forward towards new opportunities in 2011.

So remember...

Opportunities are like stars.  There are millions of them out there. It is all a matter of which one we choose to reach for, to believe in and to work to achieve.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned....

I'll be sharing more tips to help you get ready for 2011 throughout the month of December.

And for all of the friends who have visited here, chatted with me on Twitter, have  worked along side me in projects, or just dropped me a line or made a call to say hello, THANK YOU  and best wishes for a  very happy and hopeful holiday season, a very Merry Christmas, and a 2011 filled with opportunities.   

Joan Koerber-Walker

About the Joan:

An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits, as well as into community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C.   To learn more about how CorePurpose and the CoreAlliance can help you grow your business or if you would like to receive  a hi res version of "Opportunities are like stars..." for your home, your office or your team, you can contact her by clicking here.

CorePurpose  is a registered trademark of CorePurpose, Inc.  CoreAlliance is a  service mark of CorePurpose Inc.  All rights reserved

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,Business Tips,Business Inspiration,Arizona Entrepreneurship Conference,OTEF,Business in 2011,Opportunity in 2011,Christmas,Challenge and opportunity

Business Tip: Schedule a mental health day

As leaders, innovators,executives, or entrepreneurs, our brains are often stuck in overdrive.  There is so much to think about and often we take little time to to park these mental challenges.  Add to that a million daily distractions like con calls, meetings, and email and the result can  be running out of gas in the middle of the fast lane.

When this cartoon from Mark Anderson at Andertoons popped up in my email (I subscribe to Mark's blog) it reminded me of a lesson I learned from Rich Ward (then a group president at Avnet, Inc.) over a decade ago.  That lesson was about the importance of scheduling a mental health day. 

Andertoons Business Cartoons

Don't let this happen to you

We've all seen it happen or sat in that chair. When the brain hits its point of overload, it simply shuts down.  We might be in the room, and the lights may be on, but nobody's home.  If you are present when this happens to someone else, it can be frustrating.  If you are the one that just can't connect to the moment it can prove embarrassing or even career limiting.  So how can you prevent this from happening to you?

Refresh and recharge by checking out

The place where folks are counting on you, whether it is at home or in the office, is NOT the place to take a mental health day.  You need to officially check out and get out.  My friend  Joan Gustafson (she's @LeadershipCoach on Twitter) likes to say:

LeadershipCoach: Take time to enjoy your life. Recreation is to re-create, refresh, renew, reinvent yourself. ~Joan Gustafson #BeOriginal

This is great advice.  If you never take the time to follow  it, eventually you can and probably will run out of mental energy. 

Play to your strengths

My friend Kathy Kolbe taught me that there are three parts to the mind:  the Cognitive (how we learn and what we know), the Affective (how we feel and behave) and the Conative (how we get naturally get things done.)   We all know what happens when we hit a cognitive overload.  Too much information and we stop learning or even being able to process.  The same can happen with feelings - too much - even of a good thing can be overwhelming.  The same is true of our conative energy. We only have so much and then we run out and have to recharge.  More importantly, when we are working against our conative instincts, we use up more faster.  A great way to efficiently use mental energy to take a few minutes to learn how you do what you do best in the way you do it best by taking the Kolbe A and then listening to Kathy's explanation of your unique MO.  She will share lots of really helpful information.  Plus, if you would like a few more tips, feel free to send me a note and share your 4 digit Kolbe A score and a way to reach you and I am happy to schedule a time to chat.

If it's important, make it a priority and find a distraction free zone.

Sometimes those important professional or personal items need to be made a priority.  That means turning off all the distractions and usually a change of venue so you can give them the attention they deserve.  For work projects, I have found that the local library can be a great location.  You have  research tools at your disposal if you need to look something up and libraries are defined as quiet zones.  Turn off the cell phone, make yourself comfortable and focus on what you need to get done. 

Schedule daily time outs

Another great way to to keep your mental engine charged is by taking a little time out.  You may not be able to get away for days or weeks, but anyone can carve out 20 minutes a day if you commit to do so.  Find a spot an an activity that works for you and do something that you enjoy.  It might be working out with your favorite music playing through some headphones, finding a quiet corner to read a good book, or talking a walk in a local park. 

In June of 2009, I shared a little life story about how I learned about the importance of  taking a daily time out and the power of these moments.  You can find the story here at Little Life Stories titled: You deserve a time out!

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned....  

I'll be sharing more tips to help you get ready for 2011 throughout the month of December.

Joan Koerber-Walker

About the Joan:

An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits, as well as into community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C.   To learn more about how CorePurpose and the CoreAlliance can help you grow your business, you can contact her by clicking here.

CorePurpose  is a registered trademark of CorePurpose, Inc.  CoreAlliance is a  service mark of CorePurpose Inc.  All rights reserved

 

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,Joan Gustafson,Kathy Kolbe,Conation,Kolbe A Index,Mental Energy,Business Tips,Career Tips,Personal growth,Personal Development,Mark Anderson,Andertoons

Is waiting for the right opportunity worth it?

Whether you are starting a new venture or looking towards the next step in your career, friends are always happy to give you great advice.  One of my favorites, is "you need to wait for the RIGHT opportunity."  It sounds so easy, but rarely is. 

Watch this great video: Kids and the Marshmallow Test at YouTube.  The instructions were simple.  Stay in the chair and make a choice.  You can eat the marshmallow now OR wait until I come back and you will get TWO marshmallows.  The results may make you laugh, but perhaps it will make you think too...

 

Special thanks to Kelly @qutequte in Singapore for sharing this video and bringing it to my attention.

So what's your marshmallow? 

As we look out beyond December to a new year in 2011, there are a wealth of opportunities.  Some will present short term gains and others will promise greater benefits if we can only wait.  But, how do you know which choice is the best to choose? 

Back in my grad school days, we spent lots of time learning ways to model opportunities.  There were decision trees, real option models, assessments for market volatility, cash flow projections, adjusted risk factors, models for dealing with uncertainty, game theories, and lots of complex algorithms.  All of these have their place, yet it was a simple lesson I had learned 20 years before as an undergrad in economics that has served me best. You can have the best predictive model in the world, but the minute you share your prediction, the human factor kicks in and things change.

Focus on the human factor

When it comes to picking today's marshmallow versus two marshmallows tomorrow, be sure you take the human factor to account.  It may be the authenticity of a company's leadership team or  the strength of belief in the underlying values that define its culture that can make a major difference in today's opportunity or tomorrow's promise of a bigger gain. Perceptions of customers or partners can create major shifts in future opportunities also.  Focusing on the human factor allows us to better assess whether the people behind the promise will be able to actually keep it or if we just might be better off to grab the marshmallow now.  Here are some human factor questions to keep in mind when assessing opportunity:

1. Is there evidence or proof points to show that future gains can be delivered?
2. Taking into account how either partners or customers will react to changes in the world around us, how might that affect both current and future value?
3. If you seized "your marshmallow" today, could you, by using it well, end up with an even bigger gain in the future than what is promised if you wait.

To paraphrase on old saying, sometimes a marshmallow in the hand is worth two ... 

and some times it is not.  Only you can make that determination.  Sometimes you will call it right, and sometimes you won't.  Like the children in the video, you can sit and stare at your marshmallow, poke it and play with it, fidget in anticipation, or just gobble it up. But, however you make your decision and what ever tools you use, keep that human factor in mind.  It can make all the difference.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned....  

I'll be sharing more tips to help you get ready for 2011 throughout the month of December.

Joan Koerber-Walker

About the Joan:

An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits, as well as into community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C.   To learn more about how CorePurpose and the CoreAlliance can help you grow your business, you can contact her by clicking here.

CorePurpose  is a registered trademark of CorePurpose, Inc.  CoreAlliance is a  service mark of CorePurpose Inc.  All rights reserved

 

Technorati Tags: Getting ready for 2011,Business Tips,Entrepreneurs,Career Tips,Business Strategy,Risk Management,Marshmallow Test,@QuteQute,Joan Koeber-Walker,CorePurpose,Decision Making,Decision Analysis

Are you on thin ice?

In any entrepreneurial venture, there is always a degree of risk.   Entrepreneurs by definition evaluate risk and opportunity and then move forward.

When this photo popped up in my emails this week, my first thought was - "watch out buddy - you are standing on thin ice."

Even with the best of intentions when you start a project, there are times when foundations may crack and you need to move on.  Just as it is important to plan how to build a business, it is important to know what could be required to take one apart.  You hope you never need to, but just in case, it is smart to be prepared for every circumstance, especially in times like these.

Set it up right from the start

Most businesses are formed either through incorporation or the formation of an LLC (Limited Liability Company).  In the case of a corporation, there are basic documents or  articles that lay out who does what, who owns what, and who is authorized and responsible for what.  In the case of an LLC, the more simplified form of formation for a business, these may appear in the operating agreement.  (Note, while operating agreements are not required by law in most  states, they are a really good idea because they again lay out the foundational elements of your business and avoid confusion later on.)

Keep Excellent Records

Whether you are standing on solid ground or or a moving ice flow - keeping excellent records is a must.  The most common organizational documents are contracts, letters, and financial records- but don't forget your emails.  Having a well organized system for important emails can go a long way in clearing up confusion.  Emails document the business' day to day activities, can point to agreements, clarify disputes, and should  things go really wrong - serve as evidence of what was done and what was agreed.

Watch for tell tale signs

Set up a system to check your foundation regularly.  Talk to customers, business partners, and suppliers.  Are what you know and what they know in synch?  When they are, your foundation is nice and tight.  When you find gaps, you will find cracks.  If you let them spread too wide, important information or opportunities can fall through.  Too many cracks, and it all falls apart.

Be unfailingly honest...with yourself

Honesty with others is key to success; but, the most important person to be honest with is yourself.  As entrepreneurs, we love our businesses.  We enter with passion and excitement and hopefully over time we build something to be proud of.  When we are infatuated with what we can do, we sometimes miss what is actually happening.  That is why an honest assessment on a regular basis is critically important.  If you choose to overlook key facts or flaws in your business, your model, or your team, you just might find that eventually you do not have a business, a model or a team.

If you catch cracks early, you have a chance to patch them.  If you don't... 

Be sure you know how to swim.

Let's hope the ice beneath your feet never starts to fracture.  But if it does, having a plan in place and the right documentation can help you swim safely over to the next opportunity.  They're out there, you just need to find the right one.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned....  

I'll be sharing more tips to help you get ready for 2011 throughout the month of December.

Joan Koerber-Walker

About the Joan:

An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits, as well as into community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C.   To learn more about how CorePurpose and the CoreAlliance can help you grow your business, you can contact her by clicking here.

 

CorePurpose  is a registered trademark of CorePurpose, Inc.  CoreAlliance is a  service mark of CorePurpose Inc.  All rights reserved

 

Technorati Tags: Entrepreneurs,Entrepreneurship,New Ventures,Small Business,Business Tips,Business Advice,Business Conflicts,Business Strategy,Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose

Using Social Media to Hit It Out of the Park in 2011

I'd be remiss if I did not include social media in the set of tips and tools we can all use to capture more opportunity in 2011.  Research from Jeremiah Owyang and the team at the Altimeter Group reinforces the impact that social media is having on traditional businesses and entrepreneurial ventures alike. 

For me, social media is a tool that I use daily to share messages, exchange ideas, and help people understand how CorePurpose may be able to help them grow their business with a combination of innovation and leadership.  But I am not a master in the craft, I'm just a simple practitioner.  So when I set out to write this post I decided to ask one of the friends who has shared her experience with me along the way to share a bit with you.

Amanda Vega of Amanda Vega Consulting

Amanda Vega began her career at AOL as a chat moderator 17 years ago when she was a student intern. During her tenure at AOL she directly helped to develop and rollout Instant Messenger and Love@AOL (now Match.com’s technology.) She went on to get  an MBA from Columbia University and has also completed graduate work at the Wharton School of Business. After selling her second firm to Ogilvy and Mather in 2000, she moved to New York City and opened Amanda Vega Consulting, which now has over 180 team members in 15 countries and 4 languages. A few years later she made her way West to Phoenix and that is where we met at a New York Style Deli in Scottsdale.  We've been friends ever since and have worked together on projects under CorePurpose's CoreAlliance division when our clients need a touch of "Mandy's magic."

What Mandy and her team does

Amanda Vega Consulting works with clients and agencies alike combining over 20-years of interactive and traditional advertising, marketing and public relations experience  to educate businesses and individuals about how technology fits into an overall business strategy to help them market smarter and more efficiently. She has had a lot of practice. Amanda Vega Consulting is known as the first focused social media company in the world – providing services in this area before it even was called "social media."

Mandy and her team have worked with major media companies (NYTimes, WSJ, and Belo) and many well known consumer brands to help them put  "social" into their growth strategies including  Banana Republic, Eli Lilly, WebMD, iVillage, eHarmony, Betty Crocker, and more, including start-ups and small businesses alike. With office in New York City, Phoenix, and Shanghai, Mandy's always on the move but she's never too busy to help out a friend or answer a client question. 

Last July she shared a really helpful post on making sense of what, when, and how much time is needed to be social effectively.  Since I found it helpful, I am sharing it with you - with Amanda's permission.  It has some easy to follow advice whether you are managing your personal  brand or building a global one...

The Order of Operations in Social Media

by Amanda Vega on July 13, 2010

Do you remember when you were in elementary school and they taught you the order of operations to do math? I am still amazed how wonderful little memorization techniques like this still stick in our old brains. (“Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” for those of you that are coming up blank stands for: parenthesis, exponentials, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction.) Well, today I, Amanda Vega, was asked if there was an order of operations in social media. Giving it some thought, I came up with the following based on what I personally do on a daily basis.

Never Ever Forget To Chat Loyally

N = news: The first thing you should do in the morning is consume some news. Whether you watch TV while getting ready, or breeze through a printed newspaper, you can only become a better conversationalist (and more interesting person overall) if you know something about the current world around you. Intake some news, even if it’s just a clip or two from your favorite celebrity gossip site.

E = email: Let’s face it, you have to read your email. In your email, you are beginning your social interaction for the day. You are actively communicating in a two way format. Remember that news you read? Well, go ahead and shoot a note to an editor or producer to round that out for the day. (This will be easy for those of us that have RSS sent to email with some topics we actively participate in.) Your email likely contains some interesting newsletters, updates, and the like that give you fodder for the day, even if it’s generating a casual “OMG my day is looking horrible” tweet.

F = facebook (or social network of choice:) It’s wise to check in on Facebook in the AM in order to send some “happy birthday” love to your friends and those you want to build a deeper connection with. It’s also a good way to see what’s going on in other people’s lives (especially those in earlier time zones) so you can interact in an authentic way and build deeper connections.

T = twitter: It’s a good idea to do a quick check on Twitter in the morning to see what is going on in your circle of influence. A “good morning” isn’t necessary, but just so you know, in some European countries they find it rude not to bid your followers and good morning and goodnight. This will also give you a quick glance of any trending topics and may just give you some good fodder to share when you return your morning calls, etc.

C = comment marketing: This is the part of social media that most miss. (And the part that companies tend to pay us to manage for them.) Set up RSS feeds, or pick some favorite sites (news, blogs, thought leaders, etc.) and actually participate in the conversation. Leave your comments. Don’t steal the thunder of the author. And be social. If you have something to say, speak up.

L = linkedIn: I think it’s a good idea to check in (at some point during the day) at least once on LinkedIn. You should pay attention to any updates from those in your network, answer some questions (without pushing your wares too heavily,) and see if you maybe have a new connection to chat with.

So there you go. Not an exact science (or math,) but a good way to manage what seems to be a deluge of social interaction required on top of phone calls, blogposts, and text messages. Oh, and don’t forget: you also use your location based services (Gowalla, 4Square) and tweet on the fly all day long when you are stuck in a line, stuck in traffic, or stuck listening to something that is boring…Best of luck!

#

Mandy's advice has always come in handy.  I hope it helps you too. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned....  

I'll be sharing more tips to help you get ready for 2011 throughout the month of December.

Joan Koerber-Walker

About the Joan:

An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits, as well as into community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C.   To learn more about how CorePurpose and the CoreAlliance can help you grow your business, you can contact her by clicking here.

 

CorePurpose  is a registered trademark of CorePurpose, Inc.  CoreAlliance is a  service mark of CorePurpose Inc.  All rights reserved.

 

Technorati Tags: Amanda Vega,Social Media,Business Tips,Entrepreneurs,Jeremiah Owyang,Altimeter Group,Facebook,LinkedIn for Business,Twitter,Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,CoreAlliance

As a leader, what message are you sending?

Leadership and communication are intrinsically linked.  It's pretty simple, if you can not communicate where you want the team to go and what you expect from them along the way, it is highly unlikely anyone will get there.

In preparing for 2011, one of the the key areas to evaluate personally and professionally is how well we are communicate our message to the people that matter. 

As I was pondering just how to demonstrate this critical skill, my BioWorld newsletter landed in my mailbox and in it was a link to a video poking fun at the life of an analyst.  Take a look. 

 

Video by conspicuouscynic at YouTube.com

Have you ever found yourself in this virtual reality? One where communication is simply nonexistent.   Not only are goals misaligned and directions totally obscure, but the relationships between team members devolve in a downward spiral.

Putting ourselves and our businesses in a place where we can seize the opportunities that will be before us in 2011 requires clarity in our communications, vision and actions.  So what are the hallmarks of clarity?

C - Consistency

Merriam Webster's defines consistency like this:

1. a archaic : condition of adhering together : firmness of material substance   b : firmness of constitution or character : persistency 

2. degree of firmness, density, viscosity, or resistance to movement or separation of constituent particles <boil the juice to the consistency of a thick syrup>

3. a : agreement or harmony of parts or features to one another or a whole : correspondence; specifically : ability to be asserted together without contradiction b : harmony of conduct or practice with profession <followed her own advice with consistency>

L - Less Buzz - More Substance

Just as our communications need to hold together firmly and in harmony with our vision, the way that we voice it must be our own.  Axioms and buzz words may have a degree of comfort.  When we are are using the ideas and words of others, we don't have to struggle to find our own.  Unfortunately, these tried and true phrases seldom ring with the feeling of truth and veracity that can be found in the simple statement of a truly personal and heartfelt belief. 

E - Easy to understand

Our communications do not need to be complex to be effective. Simple statements are often the most powerful.  Powerful and impactful communications are not the ones that get a standing ovation but rather are those where both the speaker and the listener come away with the same understanding. 

A - Actionable

When we communicate with clarity, we drive action.  Thus it is critical that what we inspire others to do be actionable. Responsible leaders do not act as a pied piper to lead their team off a cliff.  With our power to communicate comes a responsibility to do it in a way that guides our teams to a successful outcome when their actions follow our words.

R - Respectful

If we want respect we have to give it. Whether our  respect is for those we work with or what together we work for, respect in communication requires a willingness to to not just show respect in tone or tenor, but also as it applies to our intent.  It shows in the degree of consideration we show for the needs of the person we communicate with, not just in the message we desire to deliver.

Pull it all together...

and your communication is CLEAR.  When you are able to clearly state what you and your business need, you are more likely to get it.   When you apply the same degree of clarity to what you or your business has to offer to others, they are more likely to accept it and embrace it.

So as we move into 2011, make an effort to be CLEAR.  When you do you just might find that you go further and get there faster than you ever imagined you could.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned....  

I'll be sharing more tips to help you get ready for 2011 throughout the month of December.

Joan Koerber-Walker

About the Author:

An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits, as well as into community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C.   To learn more about how to deliver your message with clarity, you can contact her by clicking here.

 

Technorati Tags: CorePurpose,Joan Koerber-Walker,Business Tips,Preparing for 2011,entrepreneurs,leaders,leadership. better communication,clarity of communication,clarity of purpose,vision,business strategy

How Much Trouble is the Economy Really In?

As a leader, how will YOU manage risk and opportunity?

In case you missed it, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke again visited 60 Minutes on Sunday, December 5, 2010.  In a candid video interview, he shared his views on the economy, what he and the Fed have done, and what they may still have left to do. 

As we look towards 2011, the greatest external factor facing our businesses is will be the economy.  Watch the video to hear more about jobs, inflation, interest rates, the money supply, and how one leader views the importance of acting in an era of risk.

As a leader, how will YOU act in an era of risk?

Whether we are entrepreneurs or working inside of a company, how we deal with risk and when we deal with it are key factors that will shape our businesses in 2011.

We may be operating on a global stage or focusing in closer to home but either way the process of assessing risk and responding to it will have a major impact on the future success of our businesses. 

Research

The first step in the process is to do your homework.  Assessing your risks, understanding what factors influence them, and looking for a balance between risk and opportunity lays the foundation for both strategy and action. 

Realign

Once your foundation is in place the next step is to line up your priorities.  Based on your research, what actions will create the  best possible reaction.  Move them up the list.  Not every risk can be managed and not every action packs the same punch.  By focusing on the managing high impact risks and opportunities first,  you lay the most likely path to success.

Respond

Now that you have decided what to do, don't wait.  Do it! Delaying high priority  strategies magnifies uncertainty and that is the number one thing that can slow you down or bring you to a crashing halt. We see this everywhere from the economy to the boardroom.  Communicate your plan, gain buy in at every level and forge ahead.

Revisit

Time changes all things - including strategy.  Your mission may be a constant, but how you a achieve it needs to be dynamic.  Build metrics and milestones into your system to assess what is working and what is not.  Look at your priorities. Are they still ranked in the proper order?  Are you supporting them based on the order of importance?  If something mission critical has changed - change with it.

Repeat

That's right - start all over again. There may not ever be a way to eliminate risk - but there is always a way to create an opportunity if you are committed to the process of doing so.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay Tuned...

I'll be sharing more tips to help you get ready for 2011 throughout the month of December.

Joan Koerber-Walker

About the Author:

An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits, as well as into community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C.   To learn more about managing risk and creating opportunity, you can contact her by clicking here.

 

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,Economy,Federal Reserve,Ben Bernanke,Managing Risk,Business Strategy,Business Process,Risk management,business tips,entrepreneurship,60 minutes

A new leadership standard - The Reliability Factor

When it comes to the study of leadership, you could read a new book every day for the next 181 years and still not get through the list on Amazon alone.  As a school of thought we have leadership styles, leadership strategies, leadership studies, leadership indexes, you can  even get your Ph.D. in leadership from prestigious universities. Venerable organizations espouse leadership training for children, students, teens, adults, executives, and the would be leader. This is just personal leadership.  Then we have brand leadership, corporate leadership, product leadership, innovation leadership, technological leadership, political leadership ... and the list goes on and on and on.

Why a standard?

In days of old, a standard was a conspicuous object (as a banner) formerly carried at the top of a pole and used to mark a rallying point especially in battle or to serve as an emblem for the people's leader.  Today, the more common use of the word "standard" is something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example to be followed.  Either way a standard is a hallmark of leadership. 

You are only a leader when others choose to follow you.

Looking at the picture, can you identify the leader?  Is it the tall girl that the others look up to?  Or, perhaps, it is the small golden haired boy who is pulling the others forward with both hands.  Not sure?  Could it be the leader is somewhere in the middle of the line, a point of connection leading the group forward?  We'll never know.  That is the beauty of art.  It is all about perception.  The same can be said of leadership.

Leadership is not about what you say. 

It is the result of what you do.

Whether we are talking about personal leadership, team leadership, corporate leadership or any other form.  Leadership is not about what we say.  Leadership is about the results of what we do.  Leadership is granted when others choose to follow and the key to that choice is reliability.  You see, reliability means that the result is not just visible and measurable, it is repeatable.  Those that choose to follow you, buy from your company, or adopt your technology can count on a level of consistency, quality, and reoccurring results over time. 

So if reliability is the new standard for leadership...

How can we establish ourselves as reliable leaders?  The answer is reflective of two words: evidence and experience.  In the early stages of making the choice to follow, employees, teammates, customers, or partners look for evidence that you do what you say you do on a repeated basis.  If they find evidence that you are what you say you are and this is what they are looking for then they may choose to follow for a time.  But the  true test of leadership is not how many choose to follow, or buy or adopt.  The true measure of success is how many choose to stay.  That's where experience comes into play.  Once I am a follower, a teammate or a customer, will you as a leader continually deliver on your promise of leadership.   Will you do what you say again and again and again?  Can those that you lead depend on you to deliver?  If the answer is yes, then you are on your way to building your business or your personal leadership brand on a standard of reliability and the right people will follow.

So keep on reading those leadership books, taking those classes, and refining your skills.  They all can help in the quest for better leadership.  But at the end of the day, it all comes down on reliability.  A leader that can be counted on is a leader that others will follow and keep following.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned....

  I'll be sharing more tips to help you get ready for 2011 throughout the month of December.

Joan Koerber-Walker

About the Author:

An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits, as well as into community leadership and into the halls of Washington D.C.   To learn more about leadership and reliability, you can contact her by clicking here.

 

Technorati Tags: Leaders,leadership,reliability,standards,leadership development,leadership startegy,product leadership,personal leadership,brand leadership,political leadership

Look Back as you Move Forward

As we come to the end of the year, now is a great time to look back in your rear view mirror as you prepare to accelerate into 2011. 

Whether you are planning your own career or planning for your business, a 360 degree view of where you have been and where you are going ensures a safer and more productive journey. 

Get ready and DRIVE.

D = Deliberate Direction

Being deliberate about what your desired destination is and the path you plan to take to get there is the first step in the process.  Map out your plan, set milestone markers along the way, and set aside time to insure that all the tools and resources you will need are in place. 

R = Review

Review the road you have traveled so far.  Were there times when you hit a pot hole or got stuck in a long detour?  Did others on the road you were traveling zoom by you? Without getting mired down in frustration, take an objective look at why and how these things happened.  What could you or your team have done differently to avoid these challenges.  Were there warning signs along the way that you might have missed or key turning points that could have been anticipated sooner?  By looking back at these experiences, we learn can learn from them.

I = Innovate

Innovation is the art of doing something in a new way to make it better.  When you looked back on your 2010 experiences, what were the things you wished you had done differently?  These are your innovation opportunities.  They may be new processes, new tools to take advantage of or changes to your business vehicle. Think like a master mechanic.  What can you tweak to get your business or your career firing on all cylinders?  Is there a supercharger that's perfect for your goals?

V = Velocity

Merriam Webster defines velocity as:

1  a : quickness of motion : speed <the velocity of sound>

 b : rapidity of movement <[my horse's] strong suit is grace & personal comeliness, rather than velocity — Mark Twain>

c : speed imparted to something <the power pitcher relies on velocity — Tony Scherman>

2 : the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time : the derivative of position with respect to time

3 a : rate of occurrence or action : rapidity <the velocity of historical change — R. J. Lifton>

 b : rate of turnover <the velocity of money>

Understanding how quickly you will or wish to move forward is key.  Did you have what you needed to propel yourself or your company forward this year?  Where can you find it? Are you or your business ready to support the growth you have planned for 2011?  By measuring our past velocity and the resources that it took to active that rate of change, we can estimate what we will need going forward and plan accordingly.

E = Engage

OK, here we go.  You are ready to engage and get your business or your career in gear.  You know where you have been, where you are going, and what you need to get there on time.  So strap on your seatbelt, rev your engines and start your journey into 2011.  The road gets easier once you master the art of the DRIVE.

Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned....

  I'll be sharing more tips to help you get ready for 2011 throughout the month of December.

Joan Koerber-Walker

About the Author:

An entrepreneur, author, speaker and corporate advisor, Joan Koerber-Walker's journey has spanned from corporate America to entrepreneurship and non-profits, as well as into community leadership and through the halls of Washington D.C.   To learn more about the art of the DRIVE,  you can contact her  by clicking here.

 

 

Technorati Tags: Joan Koerber-Walker,CorePurpose,Business Planning,Business Strategy,Entrepreneruship. entrepreneurs,getting ready for 2011. Business Tips