Have you ever noticed the effect one negative voice has? How sometimes folks are swayed from doing the right thing by a voice that leads them in the wrong direction. How people don't take stock of the situation and by not taking a moment or two or even three they take the easy way, which is often the least desirable path. In this issue I'm going to discuss a few lessons learned along my path and how by taking a moment to take stock and think about my next steps I'm better prepared and hopefully you will be too, for the rest of the journey.

1. They don't look for the easy way, they look for the right way. Good leaders look ahead and prepare the road for the folks that they lead. They access the situation and make decisions that will deliver the best result for the team. They think long term and not quick fix.
2. They have a firm but not inflexible internal compass and convictions that they share as a guiding beacon to the folks they work with and lead. Even though leaders make mistake they do not blame others for them. They focus on the next right step to take not the wrong step just taken. They support and push their teams up. They don't slam the team the competition or past leaders. Great leaders are too busy leading and getting things done.
3. Great leaders set an example and lead from the front not the board room or sideline. Great leaders stand up for their teams and organizations and aren't afraid to take a few hits in the process. How inspired have you been by a leader taking charge, picking up the tools and starting the process? How about the leader that heads to the front lines to see for themselves what is happening there?
4. Great leaders understand the value of training and of getting the right combination of players on a mission. As one of our speakers, former fighter pilot Rob "Waldo" Waldman always says "Chair fly the mission!" Go over the details and consider contingency plans in advance. Don't wait until D-Day to plan for the challenges you know you will or could be facing.

5. Good leaders practice, prepare, train and retrain themselves and their teams. Have you ever heard of taking a few moments to sharpen the saw prior to using the tool? A simple cut can become a huge problem and very expensive if you try to work with a dull tool or a dull mind. When was the last time you got a tune up? Took a course or attended an industry meeting? Good leaders support association membership and assist their team with financial support. Don't wait until the challenge comes and your old tools are so dull you cannot get job done.

Recently I attended an MPI monthly meeting about risk management. Having run events with over 100,000 attendees I felt I had a good grasp on the subject matter. As the speaker started to address the group I found it refreshing and supportive to hear a review of the "right steps to take", not the easy steps but the RIGHT STEPS to take to avoid problems and reduce risk. I realized that even though I had a firm grasp on the subject matter the review was good for me to experience and it made me think about some additional steps I could take to reduce stress and risk in my business.

Really under the gun? Limited budget? No time? Hit our PANIC BUTTON REQUEST link and get solutions to your meeting dilemma fast.

Get Ahead Pro Speakers Bureau is ready to help you make your meetings and events less stressful and more successful while delivering the ROI you need. Please let me know the next best step our team can take to turn your next meeting, sales training, conference or retreat into the most memorable event your attendees have ever experienced! We can work with any budget to help you and your team develop a fabulous program that will insure that your events are standing ovation successes.

All the best,