9 Characteristics of All Great Leaders

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StrategyDriven Management and Leadership Article |Characteristics of Great Leaders|9 Characteristics of All Great LeadersThe world is experiencing unprecedented times like we’ve never seen before. The global COVID pandemic is changing the way most of us live and work. Some companies have managed to make it through these times fairly untouched, while others have faced many great challenges and struggled significantly.

One of the defining reasons why some organizations are able to weather a storm is due to the leadership. Eight months ago, no one could have predicted what was coming, but great leaders are always prepared for anything. In addition, they are always ready to change direction and adapt to the times.

What else defines great leaders? In good times and bad times, the best leaders share many of the same characteristics. The best part is, whether you are in a leadership role or not, you can learn a lot from the best leaders and if put into practice, it can make you better in almost everything you do.

Here are nine things that all great leaders do.

Leaders don’t dwell on things

Great leaders are decisive. Even when put in a situation where they really are unsure, or in tough times like a pandemic, they consider the facts and are quick to make up their minds. They know the time lost debating and the emotional anguish they would be putting themselves through is just not worth it. They also know in many cases, if they make the wrong choice, they can always recover.

Leaders teach

Great leaders take the time to teach others. Bossy people bark orders telling others what to do. A great leader knows he or she is only as good as the people around him, so she takes the time to develop her team. A great leader believes in teaching because another leader helped him become so great. Great leaders believe passing on their knowledge to an eager student is one of the best ways to give back.

Leaders tell the truth

Great leaders are always honest. They don’t sugarcoat what needs to be said even if it’s not what someone wants to hear. Their job is to develop their teams and get the best results possible. They prefer for you not to be insulted, but they would rather hurt your feelings temporarily if it means you becoming better in the long run.

Leaders listen

All great leaders show their people the way, but they also know how to actively listen. They thoroughly trust their own instincts and judgement, but they know that it’s possible that others could have better ideas or solutions, or an easier way to do something. They are willing to listen to anyone who says they have an idea because they are always open to learning. Especially in difficult times like we are facing now, they know that listening to their team is critically important.

Leaders don’t micromanage

A great leader knows that at some point, he’s going to have to cut the student loose and let her find her own way. Bossy people micromanage the process forever and never let others learn from their mistakes. Real leaders know the only way to learn is from doing.

Leaders don’t care about taking credit

A great leader has one goal: to get the job done with the best results. He’s not in it for the accolades. When things don’t go according to plan, they are the first to take responsibility. They don’t mind a pat on the back once in a while, but it is definitely not a necessity. In the chaotic business climate that we are all working through right now, they know the goal is to succeed despite who gets the credit.

Leaders learn from their mistakes

At the heart of it, great leaders are nothing more than professional failures. They’ve failed time and again but instead of being defeated by their setbacks, they learn from their mistakes and comeback stronger than before until they succeed.

Leaders aim big

Great leaders aim way beyond their potential, even if deep down they know something is out of reach. Keeping their eye on the prize is the only way they are going to stay motivated and moving forward. Sometimes they get laughed at for their auspicious tone, but it doesn’t stop them in their pursuit of great things.

Leaders always want to get better

Even when he or she reaches the top, great leaders know there is always more to learn and better ways to do things. They are open to continually learning from other leaders. They read, attend seminars, go back to school, and they are open to any form of knowledge that will help them become even better. Even though right now they are more focused on getting through the pandemic successfully, they are still looking for ways to be at their best.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Angela CivitellaAngela Civitella is a business executive and leadership coach who is founder of Intinde (www.intinde.com)

Executives: 8 Ways to Wow Your New Employer from Day One

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Corporate Ladder|Executives: 8 Ways to Wow Your New Employer from Day OneThe climb up the corporate ladder is rarely a steady one, with fits and starts that can leave you frustrated. If your career feels stuck, it may be time to move on with a new employer.

Changing jobs can be a great way to jump start your career and boost your earning power. The first thing you need to remember is to make sure that you having a good resume in line with your job is the top priority. You can seek executive resume samples to help you update yours.

Landing that new position is only the beginning. Once you walk through the doors of your new employer, you will want to make a great first impression. And once that is done, you want to keep wowing your new boss. Here are eight ways to make that happen.

  1. Show up early for your first day on the job. Impressing a new employer can be hard, but arriving early is a good place to start. Get to the job early, be enthusiastic and be ready to get right down to work.
  2. Study up on the company. Hopefully, you learned a lot about the company as part of the interview preparation, but you can always learn more. Use the days leading up to your new job to research the company, and ask questions about what is going on with the firm.
  3. Project positive energy. The energy you bring to your new job can make all the difference, so focus on the positive. Look for opportunities instead of problems, seeking creative solutions to difficult problems.
  4. Ask intelligent questions. Starting a new job is always a learning process, so pay attention as your training commences. Ask intelligent questions, ones that will give you a better understanding of the company and your role in its success.
  5. Dress the part. A post on Professional Resume Writers, says that even on your job interview, dressing the part matters as you are already incorporates the company’s dress code. To succeed on your new job, you must dress even earlier at this point. That does not necessarily mean a fancy dress or three-piece suit, but it does mean knowing the company dress code and donning the right duds.
  6. Be the last to leave. Expect to work long days as you learn the ropes and strive to fulfill your new job duties. Being the first to arrive and the last to leave is sure to get you noticed, so set your schedule accordingly.
  7. Engage with your coworkers. When you start a new job, you also adopt a new workplace family. So engage with your coworkers, learn about their lives and join in on the fun.
  8. Keep a work journal. It can be hard to remember everything you need to learn, so start a workplace journal and keep it handy. You can use your workplace journal to jot notes, record impressions and keep your training on track.

Starting a new job can be a wonderful adventure and a boon to your career. But if you want to succeed in your new position, you need to prepare carefully.

Some of these preparations can begin weeks ahead of time, when your first day of work is still in the future. Others must be done on the job, so you can fine tune your presentation, build your skills and wow your employer even more.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Samantha WrightSamantha Wright is a content contributor of psychologyjobs.com. She writes about careers to provide job hunting tips. She is also interested in all works involving psychology.

From Planning to Launch: 8 things You’ll Need to Start a Brick and Mortar Business

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StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Brick and Mortar Business|From Planning to Launch: 8 things You'll Need to Start a Brick and Mortar BusinessSome people dream of opening their own brick and mortar business for years. They work for others while they plan their own future business and save money to make this dream come true. Too many businesses fail in the first year or two because the owners made mistakes in setting up the business. The loss of a dream and all the start-up money is heartbreaking and financially devastating. Why not get some help to set the business up correctly from the beginning?

Make Sure The New Business is Well-supplied by Dependable Wholesalers

Each business runs on supplies that must be delivered promptly when ordered. This can include office supplies, cleaning supplies, printing and computer supplies, and more depending on the type of business. A company such as Richmond Advantage can help a new brick and mortar business get off on the right foot and continue to have the necessary supplies month after month.

A good supplier can deliver orders promptly and at reasonable prices. The business owner can order via phone, online, fax, or email. The supplier should give the business owner flexible terms and payment types so they can keep their business running smoothly.

The business owner should also find dependable suppliers for their merchandise or equipment to help them perform the service their business supplies. Every kind of business from accounting, to medical, to merchandise, to plumbing, electrical, building contracting, or foodservice needs the right supplies delivered as they are needed.

Planning The Business Correctly

It is of utmost importance to plan the new business very well before even thinking of renting space and opening the doors. Planning is the difference between success and failure. Planning steps include:

  1. Decide what kind of business you want to open and which products you will carry. What services will you offer? Since you will be devoting large amounts of time and money to this business, you should choose a product or service that you love and have the knowledge to back up. Decide what type of things interest you and will make a successful business. Do a little research to find out if the proposed business will attract customers and is practical. Don’t open a brick and mortar business near several other very similar businesses. Your business must offer something unique and needed where you plan on opening it.
  2. You need a detailed business plan to show lenders and others what you plan for the company as time goes on. A business plan is like a roadmap to setting up a company and growing it over time. This plan finalizes the products or services you plan to offer. This plan needs to be in great detail and realistic. The new business person will need to describe the time, expertise, space, and other talents they will bring to the business.
    The business plan will need to list the products to be sold and the supply chain that will be in place to get them. How much will be paid for them and how much will they be sold for at what profit margin. What equipment will be needed to outfit the brick and mortar business location. How much will set up cost and how will those costs be covered. How much money will need to be borrowed and how will it be repaid?
  3. This brings us to business financing which will be based on the above business plan. The Small Business Administration or SBA supports many business loans from a variety of lenders. When the new business person goes for financing, it is important to address all costs so the business is adequately financed to succeed. One main reason for new businesses failing is under financing.
  4. The saying “Location is Everything” is right on target. A business must be in the correct location to succeed. When considering different rental or purchase locations, a person must consider several important factors including the style of the business and building it needs, the zoning and codes, the demographics or being near proposed customers, store visibility, parking and access, competition in the area, is there room to grow, and is the infrastructure of the building going to support the business?
    In addition, the business owner should consider the cost of renovations and setting up the business in each location. The business lease must be negotiated and signed. Study the lease carefully for fairness and terms. How long is the lease for? Can it be broken if the business fails? Get legal help before signing a binding lease.
  5. Check into all the local and state licensing requirements and what the cost will be. There will be employer numbers for taxes, sales licenses, licenses, certifications for services, and more.
  6. Make a complete list of equipment and supplies that will be needed for your particular business. You need to have everything in place that is needed to run the business before you open the doors. This equipment should be in the financing request.
  7. Hiring the necessary staff to run the business is important. Decide on hours to be open and how many people are needed to cover those hours. You may need different people to handle bookkeeping, inventory management, working with customers, scheduling, and managing all the employees. Take time to vet all prospective employees and hire the correct people for each job. Once the staff is all hired, they should be trained to do their jobs properly.
  8. Once the business is set up and ready to open its doors, the owner should plan and execute a good marketing plan and advertise a memorable grand opening.

Once The Business Is Open

Once the business is open, the owner can not relax and rest. The new business needs to be nurtured into success, Very good records should be kept to keep track of business successes, losses, and challenges. New businesses face financial challenges that must be met and conquered to succeed. The new business owner must be creative and willing to learn as the business progresses. Creative solving of problems can help save new businesses.
A new business must stand out from the competition by offering great service, unique products, and a lot of dedication and hard work by the owner. Be open to problem-solving strategies that a knowledgeable person might suggest. The business owners who are willing to sacrifice and work hard to get their dream up and running are more likely to succeed.

Local SEO on Steroids: What Is Schema and How Will It Help You Get More Traffic?

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Schema|Local SEO on Steroids: What Is Schema and How Will It Help You Get More Traffic?If a business or website owner is searching for a way to improve organic rankings and SEO, something to look into is schema markup. While it may sound like some type of jargon that only industry pros use, what many people do not realize is schema markup is not that hard to understand or take advantage of.

Schema markup is an important part of Local SEO efforts. It is also easier than it may sound to implement. With a free online tool, it is possible to mark up all website pages without having to learn any new code. Also, schema markup can provide an immediate boost to organic traffic coming to a website. Keep reading to learn more about schema markup and how to use it to benefit any business and grow traffic.

Schema Markup Defined

Put simply, schema is a type of microdata that provides search engines with a better understanding of what a website is about. Remember, search engines such as Bing, Yahoo, and Google cannot actually read and understand the content on a web page. While it recognizes phrases and words, the web browsers do not know what the words mean.

This is why markup is used. For example, if a website contains the word “apple,” it is possible to use schema markup to tell the search engines if the word refers to the technology company Apple, or the fruit. This has a significant impact on what results are shown.

When search engines have more information about a page, it makes it easier to display content that is relevant to the user’s search. It also allows a website to display additional information on SERPs, which will help the site stand out from the others.

How Schema Markup Works

When used properly, schema markup allows individuals to add more information and new functionality to organic results in the top search engines. It is possible to use schema markup for all types of topics and items. Some of the most common ways that schema markup is used include reviews, organizations, recipes, events, creative works, events, videos, articles, videos, people, products, places, and people. There are full lists related to schema markup online.

By adding schema to the HTML on a web page, web crawlers have a much easier time finding it. This is something to keep in mind when trying to decide if schema markup should be used.

Creating Schema Markup

To begin the process in Google, open the Structured Data Markup Helper. The second step is to select the type of data to be marked up from the given list. Enter the URL of the page where the information should be added and then highlight an element on the left side of the page. Next, it is necessary to select the type of the highlighted item and repeat the steps until everything has the proper schema markup on the page.

Getting Help with Schema Markup

Schema markup is going to help ensure people who are interested in what you offer find your page. While it can seem confusing at first, there are professional services that can help ensure the desired results are achieved. For some busy business owners, allowing the pros to handle this process is best.

Tools For Vets: 5 Software Tools For Veterinarian Office Operations

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Software Tools for Office Operations|Tools For Vets: 5 Software Tools For Veterinarian Office OperationsAre you looking for software tools for your veterinarian office? You might find this read useful. A veterinarian’s work nature typically becomes a hectic small business with few employees and many critical business processes. That is why modern technology has developed helpful software tools that are particularly created for a veterinarian’s use.

Software features like Electronic Medical Records tool, Data & Memory Backup Tool, Inventory Management Tool, or Email Marketing Tool are some of the essential software tools that make a veterinarian office’s processes quicker, reliable, and convenient. To learn more about them, listed below are five software program tools useful for your veterinarian office.

Email Marketing Tool

One of the most crucial software tools is an Email Marketing Tool. Trusted software like Weave, have a very reliable email marketing tool. You can access a demo of the app here at https://www.getweave.com/veterinary/. These apps help you market your veterinarian clinic to increase your local area presence, raise your brand awareness, and ultimately produce more satisfied and raving clients.

Typically, veterinarian offices are small businesses that only thrive by attracting more clients. Without customers, they will not survive. Thus, an email marketing tool is one significant element that helps solve this problem by promoting their veterinary business to different types of clients, namely, cold clients, warm clients, or hot clients.

Utilizing an email marketing tool also helps veterinarian clinics on the financial side, for it cuts costs on marketing efforts versus typical or traditional ways of marketing. This will allow you to allocate your veterinarian office’s funds to other essential aspects of your business.

Also, regulating the usage of an email marketing software tool helps you to increase your brand awareness. This is crucial because there will always be lots of existing competition, not to mention upcoming contenders in your area.

In the long-term, by consistently increasing your brand awareness, people will automatically identify you as a trusted and prominent veterinary business, and sooner or later ultimately attract customers with less marketing efforts.

Electronic Medical Records or EMR Tool

In a veterinarian clinic business, medical records are important files that they must keep. Thus, using a software tool like an electronic medical records tool will help veterinarians smoothen out their documentation and filing processes versus the traditional “paper” way of keeping records.

EMRs have several advantages for a veterinarian office for it automates a lot of tasks. EMRs provide accurate details about their patients. Their information is located quickly with just a few clicks. This helps a veterinarian business’s processes to be faster and smoother.

EMRs also provide updated data of patients and even their medical history. This allows veterinarians to track if their pet patient’s health status is progressing or getting worse.

Patient Reminder Tool

Another vital software tool that a veterinarian office must-have is software with a patient reminder tool. In a veterinarians’ work, reminders are very significant because a pet patient’s health progress, especially those pets with critical conditions, must be treated timely to improve their health effectively and progressively.

Another advantage of a patient reminder tool is that it decreases the waiting time of clients. For instance, there are times that pet patients are a little bit handful and uncontrollable, taking you over 15 mins to handle and thus consuming much of your extra time than the duration you had planned. As an effect, the waiting time of clients becomes extended.

By utilizing a patient reminder tool, you can prompt your scheduled clients for the day ahead of time for any unwanted delays or unexpectedly quick check-ups. You can readjust their schedules. Doing so will decrease their waiting time by going to the veterinarian office exactly or close to their time of appointment.

Data & Memory Backup Tool

One of the most vital software tools that a veterinarian office must have is to acquire a software program with a data backup tool. In doing so, veterinarians can access particular files quickly in a matter of seconds because of the backup memory tool in the system.

This tool is also convenient in the prevention of data loss in times of power failure. On some occasions, computers are prone to damages and data loss, which is sometimes out of control.

An example is power outages due to a storm or viruses that can delete data, including important ones. Thankfully because of data & memory backup tools, veterinarian offices can retrieve important files and data in disadvantageous times like this.

An Inventory Management Tool

Most businesses, like veterinary clinics, often need to manage inventories. That is why veterinarians need to utilize an inventory management tool to automate and improve operations, lessen inaccuracies, reduce costs, and increase profits.

For example, you can accurately analyze which products are selling faster, selling gradually, and have little to no sales at all. Because of this, you can identify what to improve in your products. Could it be about the brand and pricing? Or could it be about the quality of the product which makes little to no sales at all?

Takeaway

Every software tool above will help enhance the quality and efficiency of a veterinarian office’s operations. With the right amount of studying and planning on which tools are of great use versus which tools are unnecessary for your veterinarian office, you can create a system that works best for you, particularly on the operations side.