What isn’t stated outright is that each “step” of the executive training will cost you a small fortune to purchase.

The purpose of our Ten Steps to Leadership Development series is to provide a free online leadership training for anyone interested in reaching the top of their game – the leadership game.

The leadership game is not about winning petty office politics. Rather, it’s about improving yourself while increasing your overall value to the organization.

Promotions are awarded to those individuals who are smart enough and self disciplined enough to set themselves apart, to rise to a level above their peers.

Make no mistake, leadership development is not realized upon completion of this free online leadership training. Instead, becoming a good leader is an ongoing study based on self-improvement and life experience. There is no end – only new levels of achievement!

The leadership game refers to one’s ability to leverage quality leadership tools for maximum results. Quality investments in yourself will enable you to produce improved results, allowing you to position yourself a step ahead of your peers.

Success in the leadership game is determined on your clear understanding of what is within your control, and what is out of your control.

Great leaders do not focus on what they can’t control. Examples of circumstances beyond your control (also known as debilitating time- wasters) include, but are not limited to: the weather, economic factors, heavy traffic, life’s little curve balls, what others do or think, etc. All of these circumstances can easily get in the way of your focus and energy – IF you allow them to.

Great leaders focus on what they CAN control. They understand that every individual has complete control over their attitude, behavior, thoughts and emotions.

Great leaders do not react, they thoughtfully respond. Winning the leadership game means you are response-ABLE, not reaction-PRONE.

When you react, you may feel emotions of guilt, embarrassment, regret, sadness, nausea, stress, anger, fear; a general feeling of being out of control. When you thoughtfully respond – you will feel relaxed confident, happy, inner peace, gratitude, higher self-esteem, and a general feeling of being in control.

If you utilize the various tools and resources described throughout the 10 Steps to Leadership Development, you will be well on your way to winning the leadership game.

Leadership tools are critical to our self-improvement and contribute significantly to our overall personal and professional development.

It’s important to remember that part of winning the leadership game is knowing when and how to use the proper tools. For instance, have you ever:

Used a flathead screwdriver when you really needed a philips?
Used a counter-top edge instead of a bottle opener?
Used something heavy that was within reach to drive home a nail on the wall, when you really needed a hammer?

The point here is that while you may be able to complete a task with a make-shift tool – the overall quality and efficiency of your work diminishes without the proper tool.

During the Ten Steps to Leadership Development, you will assess your current leadership status. You will realize the benefits of investing in yourself and you will uncover effective leadership tools that will support your ongoing self improvement and leadership development.

The Ten Steps to Leadership Development series, will be your personal coach as you work toward winning the leadership game – and ultimately the game of life.

Step One: Find and Fuel the Spark:

We all have been gifted with individuality. It is our individuality that provides us the opportunity to choose our own path rather than following a path created for us by others.

Whether or not we realize our passions and dreams in life is really up to each one of us. It is simply a matter of personal choice.

Throughout this free online leadership training series, you will be introduced to many effective concepts and tools. Once you are aware of all the options available to you, it’s your personal choice as to whether or not you make use of these resources.

Finding and fueling the spark within you is about identifying a purpose you are passionate about – and then taking the steps necessary to cultivate your ambition.

With each achievement, big or small, you will be one step closer to realizing your goal.

When we lose sight of our true ambitions, or when we spend time “treading water” and not moving toward our goals, our senses may dull. Those who lose focus, quickly lose their edge. Our self-motivation is threatened as we lose our momentum.

In fact, when we make choices to postpone or ignore opportunities to grow and improve, we lose our best self.

The good news is you are never too old to jump back on the path to self-improvement. Ambition can be awakened at any age. At a point in time when the pain of obscurity is greater than the ease of procrastination, you can change.

Decide today – decide right now, that you will strive to learn, grow and reach your goals. Complete this free online leadership training series and make the investment in yourself toward becoming a stronger leader and happier individual.

Self-improvement is truly a prerequisite for leadership development.

Identify your ambition so than you can experience the rewards of personal achievement. Then take it to the next level, coaching others based on your life lessons so they too will grow and benefit under your leadership.

Step Two: History of Leadership:

Leadership Definition

Leadership definition – ten steps to leadership development.

What is the perfect definition of leadership? In order to understand what you are trying to achieve, it’s important to understand a true leadership definition.

Leadership takes into account several key characteristics – 14 leadership traits. These leadership traits are clearly defined and thoroughly explained.

Leadership Trait List – See Your Leadership Potential:

The following list provides specific leadership trait definitions, based in part by teachings of our very own beloved United States Marine Corp.

“The future depends on what we do in the present.” – Mahatma Gandhi

As you read through each leadership-based trait – that continues to be taught to our american soldiers – it’s easy to see how these very same ideals can be applied, and should be expected, in today’s business environment.

As you review each leadership trait – think about how you are, or should be, applying yourself to live up to these leadership standards.

JUDGMENT:

Definition – The ability to weigh facts and possible courses of action in order to make sound decisions.

Significance – Sound judgment allows a leader to make appropriate decisions in the guidance and training of his/her Marines and the employment of his/her unit. A Marine who possesses this leadership trait,exercises good judgment and weighs pros and cons accordingly to arrive at an appropriate decision/take proper action.

Leadership Trait Example – A leader ensures that team members understand the importance of maintaining a healthy and proper balance between work and family obligations. This person has high expectations in terms of job performance and behavior, but also is the first to support team members when personal issues arise.

JUSTICE

Definition – Giving reward and punishment according to the merits of the case in question. The ability to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently.

Significance – The quality of displaying fairness and impartiality is critical in order to gain the trust and respect of subordinates and maintain discipline and unit cohesion, particularly in the exercise of responsibility as a leader.

Leadership Trait Example – Fair and consistent expectations are communicated to each team member. The leader who possesses this leadership trait, teaches and coaches the employee prior to holding the employee accountable for the task. The leader is fair in holding employees accountable for results. When a mistake is made by the leader, he/she is quick to correct the mistake and be accountable for the mis-step. (Also an example of courage.)

DECISIVENESS

Definition – Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear, forceful manner.

Significance – The quality of character which guides a person to accumulate all available facts in a circumstance, weigh the facts, choose and announce an alternative which seems best. It is often better that a decision be made promptly than a potentially better one be made at the expense of more time.

Leadership Trait Example – A leader who foresees a potentially unfavorable or dangerous situation developing, immediately takes action to address the issue. For example, if he/she sees rules being broken for the purpose of increasing profits, he/she realizes the short term gain is not worth the long term risk to the company or team. The issue must be brought to the attention of the leadership team immediately.

INITIATIVE

Definition – Taking action in the absence of orders.

Significance – Since an NCO often works without close supervision, emphasis is placed on being a self-starter. Initiative is a founding principle of Marine Corps Warfighting philosophy.

Leadership Trait Example – This person takes ownership of issues he/she becomes aware of. This person assumes authority when none is present. He/she adds value to the company by using common sense and good judgement and does more than what he/she is not told to do.

DEPENDABILITY

Definition – The certainty of proper performance of duty.

Significance – The quality which permits a senior to assign a task to a junior with the understanding that it will be accomplished with minimum supervision. This understanding includes the assumption that the initiative will be taken on small matters not covered by specific instructions.

Leadership Trait Example – The leader ensures that his/her team meet and/or exceed expectations without having been told to do so by his/her direct supervisor.

TACT

Definition – The ability to deal with others without creating hostility.

Significance – The quality of consistently treating peers, seniors, and subordinates with respect and courtesy is a sign of maturity. Tact allows commands, guidance, and opinions to be expressed in a constructive and beneficial manner. This deference must be extended under all conditions regardless of true feelings.

Leadership Trait Example -A leader discreetly points out a mistake to a team member, waiting until that person can be spoken to in private. This leader makes a point of praising in public, and couseling in private, out of respect for every individual member of the team.

INTEGRITY

Definition – Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles. The quality of truthfulness and honesty.

Significance – A Marine’s word is his/her bond. Nothing less than complete honesty in all of your dealings with subordinates, peers, and superiors is acceptable.

Leadership Trait Example – A leader who follows the proper policies and procedures, even when he/she cannot be seen by their direct supervisor. During an audit or inspection, if something goes wrong or is not corrected as had been previously directed, he/she can be counted on to always respond truthfully and honestly.

ENDURANCE

Definition – The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship.

Significance – The quality of withstanding pain during a conditioning hike in order to improve stamina is crucial in the development of this leadership trait, and leadership in general. Leaders are responsible for leading their units in physical endeavors and for motivating them as well.

Leadership Trait Example – A leader who asks the team to volunteer time for community work takes the lead by showing their personal commitment to getting down in the trenches for the benefit of others. A leader who is willing to stay late and lead by example in order to meet an important deadline. This person is always willing to do whatever he/she is asking others to do.

BEARING

Definition – Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance, and personal conduct at all times.

Significance – The ability to look, act, and speak like a leader whether or not these manifestations indicate one’s true feelings. Some signs of these traits are clear and plain speech, an erect gait, and impeccable personal appearance.

Leadership Trait Example – Wearing clean, pressed clothing, polished shoes, etc. Avoiding profane and vulgar language. Keeping a trim, fit appearance. Keeping your head – managing your emotions, keeping your word and staying calm under stressful situations.

UNSELFISHNESS

Definition – Avoidance of providing for one’s own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.

Significance – The quality of looking out for the needs of your subordinates before your own is the essence of leadership. This quality is not to be confused with putting these matters ahead of the accomplishment of the mission.

Leadership Trait Example -A leader ensures all members of the team have their needed supplies or resources before he/she does. Or, if supplies are scarce, this person will share what’s available and ensure that others do the same. If an employee needs extra instruction or coaching, the leader is quick to make his/her free time available whenever a need arises.

COURAGE

Definition – Courage is a mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a Marine to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness.

Significance – Knowing and standing for what is right, even in the face of popular disfavor, is often the leader’s lot. The business of fighting and winning wars is a dangerous one; the importance of courage on the battlefield is obvious.

Leadership Trait Example – Accepting criticism for allowing an employee to work overtime in order to ensure they can complete a task properly. Or, for giving an employee time off with pay to thank them for a job well done. Or, for giving credit to your team when things go right, but taking the blame yourself when things go badly.

KNOWLEDGE

Definition – Understanding of a science or an art. The range of one’s information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your Marines.

Significance – The gaining and retention of current developments in military and naval science and world affairs is important for your growth and development.

Leadership Trait Example -A Leader is most efficient when he/she has experience in multiple areas of the business. Some knowledge and experience in the daily routines and lives of your subordinates (and theirs) makes decision-making more palatable for a caring leader. In addition, knowledge of your competitors, business partners, and even your own executive structure adds to your personal library of resource material – making for a more qualified leader. No one who leads others knows enough or too much.

LOYALTY

Definition – The quality of faithfulness to country, the Corps, and unit, and to one’s seniors, subordinates, and peers.

Significance – The motto of our Corps is Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful. You owe unswerving loyalty up and down the chain of command: to seniors, subordinates, and peers.

Leadership Trait Example -A leader displaying enthusiasm when communicating a company objective to the team, though he/she may privately disagree with it. The job has to be done, so if this person is to lead the team to complete the task, he/she chooses to do so with confidence and passion for the benefit of the team and company.

ENTHUSIASM

Definition – The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty.

Significance – Displaying interest in a task, and an optimism that it can be successfully completed, greatly enhances the likelihood that the task will be successfully completed.

Leadership Trait Example – A leader who speaks with passion and emotion while leading a chant, an exercise or while teaching and/or coaching the team member. A leader who gets to the heart of what motivates an employee by taking the time to get to know that employee. Marines remember these leadership traits with the acronym:

J.J. DID TIE BUCKLE

“You have to find it. No one else can find it for you.” – Bjorn Borg

Business leaders are also encouraged to remember and adopt these long tested and proven leadership traits.

While keeping the 14 leadership traits in mind, one must understand the differentiation between a Manager, and a Leader.

Management, involves making sure that tasks are completed properly and in a timely manner. In contrast, Leadership, is more about dealing with people versus tasks. In effect, leadership is more complex because people are so complex.

Great leaders are able to positively influence people to do what’s necessary to complete a task. Not because a person of authority has instructed them to complete the task, but because the employees wants to complete the task.

In short, the definition we subscribe to is: “Leadership is effectively influencing others.”

It’s important to note that as our society has evolved, so has our understanding of leadership. In the early 1900’s, leadership was seen as an innate quality.

All of the great ones had it and everyone else admired those superb individuals. Leadership was perceived simply as a quality an individual was born with.

In the 1930’s, leadership was defined as a characteristic one could learn and develop with the assistance of a respected mentor. In 1948, General Omar N. Bradley defined leadership as, “…the art of influencing human behavior through ability to directly influence people and direct them toward a specific goal.”

In 1958, this leadership definition was offered by General Maxwell D. Taylor, “Leadership is the art of influencing and directing men in such a way as to obtain their willing obedience, confidence, respect and loyal cooperation in order to accomplish a mission.” Note the shift in thinking to include the concept of willingness.

Jump ahead to 1986, and General John Wickler’s leadership definition, “the process by which an individual determines direction and influences others to accomplish the mission of the organization.”

It’s true, not only do leaders use their talents and experience to influence others, they also focus only on those activities necessary to achieve a desired outcome.

Leaders help others to believe in the vision, goal or objective. Leaders define the work environment and provide the framework to support their team. Leaders identify the priorities as well as provide the direction for completing tasks on time.

In conclusion, it is important to note that the primary measurement of leadership success, is the final outcome or result. Every leader is 100% accountable for the bottom-line results of the team.

Great leaders are the first to give the credit for successful results to the team. These same great leaders are the first to accept the blame personally when the team fails to perform.

In this same spirit, President Harry S. Truman subscribed to the famous leadership definition, “The Buck Stops Here!”

Leadership Trait Theories

Step Three: THEORY VS REALITY:

Leadership Trait Theories – the importance of understanding theory versus reality.

Leadership trait theories are only substantiated or confirmed once ‘the rubber meets the road’ and positive results are produced.

Good leadership goes above and beyond reaching the goal or objective. Under solid leadership, success is realized in a manner that positively wins the hearts and minds of your team members.

Short-term wins are fleeting. True success is realized once a leader has, over time, cultivated a team to develop a “habit of success”. The habit is present when daily accomplishments are simply a way of doing business. This “success habit” lifestyle is obvious in all great leaders.

Leadership trait theories talk a lot about what “success” is.

For example, the achievement of a goal, the realization of a vision, etc. However, these examples miss the bigger picture of what success is all about.

In the end, success in life is determined by two things:

The quality of our relationships.
The quality of our contributions.

Certainly, no one lies on their deathbed wishing for more money or for more power.

When you look back on your own life, you will want to be able to be surrounded by a large group of people who you love, and who love you. In addition, you’ll want to know that throughout your life you made a difference. Therefore, relationships and contributions are truly what life is made of.

One of the greatest contributions you can make is to coach and mentor others to adopt higher standards and to achieve improved results. Great leaders understand that in order to be credible, they must model-the- way for their employees on a consistent basis.

Effective leaders encourage team members to cultivate strong connections with each other. And most importantly, great leaders hold all parties equally accountable for doing their part, sharing the load and making positive contributions to the team.

Another common point made in leadership trait theories is that there is no substitute for preparedness and hard work.

At some point, victory is almost always determined based on who wants it most. Who has prepared the most, and who was willing to do the work necessary to win!

In the early 1900’s, J.T. Munger said, “There is no road to success but through a clear, strong purpose. A purpose underlies character, culture, attainment of whatever sort.”

Base your leadership development planning only on those theories that are firmly supported with historic results. Don’t spend all your time trying to invent something when you can more easily implement a process or tool that someone else has already created, and has proven to be highly effective.

In conclusion, leadership trait theories provide aspiring leaders with blueprints of past successes.

360 Degree Feedback

Step Four: Learn Full Circle:

360 Degree Feedback – Ten steps to leadership development.

Utilize a 360 degree feedback leadership tool, and get a complete panoramic view of your current leadership status.

It is only within the last few decades that leadership assessment tools of this quality have been readily available.

Quality leadership tools are critical for leadership development. The benefits one receives when regularly applying these tools is measuring in improved results and a higher standard for living life in general.

Due to the positive influence that leadership tools can provide, our entire site is dedicated to providing these tools to anyone with aspirations of self-improvement and/or leadership development.

Our 360 degree assessment tool enables leaders to benefit from honest, direct feedback from parties at multiple levels.

For example, employees, supervisors, peers, business partners, or anyone else who you wish to gain feedback from can participate in this exercise. Hence the term, 360 degree feedback.

Certainly, you must be prepared to hear an honest assessment from those who work with you as to their “perception” of your leadership abilities.

Leaders must understand that every honest critique, whether complimentary or not, is a gift from someone who has agreed to invest time toward your personal growth.

The 360 degree feedback leadership tool provides lessons for leaders to consider as they work to grow in the leadership arena.

Each lesson should be carefully considered by you to become more aware of how your actions are perceived by others.

True or not, perception is reality in the minds of those around you – so you can’t afford to simply dismiss honest feedback. It will be this honest feedback that will enable you to adjust your approach and fine- tune your ability to influence your workgroup.

Take seriously the overall feedback you receive. Analyze your 360 degree feedback leadership assessment and make a commitment to yourself and to your team to implement some changes based on this tool.

Continue to self-assess your leadership development and experience the rewards of consistent improvement and overall success.

You can receive a free Pdf file containing our free 360 Degree Assessment tool, courtesy of Leadership-Tools.com.

DISC Personality Test

Step 5: Understand Personalities:

DISC Personality Test – a leadership tools that provides critical insight into the individual personalities of your employees and yourself.

The DISC personality assessment is another useful tool that effective leaders utilize to increase self-awareness. The DISC tool helps us understand why others do what they do.

Even more importantly, DISC provides rational for why YOU do what you do.

It’s important to understand a person’s natural tendency of responding to different situations.

The DISC personality test identifies natural behavioral tendencies. In other words, DISC sheds light on how we tend to operate and how we respond to various environmental challenges.

If the DISC behavioral assessment is new to you, perhaps you are familiar with the Myers-Briggs assessment? Myers-Briggs is a well- known behavioral assessment tool used for categorizing a person using a combination of 4 letters. Each letter represents a clearly defined and detailed description.

The problem with Myers-Briggs is that it is limited to only 16 personality types. In addition, the test is quite lengthy, consisting of over 100 questions. Just getting through the initial test is quite a challenge.

In contrast, the DISC personality test consists of only 24 questions, but yields over 19,000 personalized responses – resulting in 384 separate behavioral descriptions. Certainly, DISC by comparison to Myers-Briggs, provides a great alternative for a quality personality assessment.

So, is DISC for you? Remember that self-awareness leads to self- improvement, which is the pre-requisite to leadership development. DISC will provide critical feedback that can help to unleash your potential.

The DISC personality test will assist you with improved communication in your personal and professional relationships. By understanding DISC personality profiles you will gain greater insights into those around you and how each person might react or respond in any given situation.

The insight you gain from DISC will be quite beneficial to you in your role as a leader. DISC is a key tool that can assist you in recommending certain people for particular duties, creating teams for projects, and even in making important promotion decisions.

To experience the benefits of the DISC personality test, we recommend the following site: http://www.discreports.com

Free Emotional Intelligence Test

Step Six: Get Over Yourself:

Free Emotional Intelligence Test – Ten steps to leadership development.

A free emotional intelligence test is just the ticket to gaining constructive insight to understanding the way in which you react or respond to challenging situations.

”Anger and worry not only dwarf and depress, but sometimes kill.” – Horace Fletcher

To REACT is to blindly indulge oneself to gain some sense of significance. An emotional reaction is actually a thoughtless act.

To RESPOND, however, is to act only after careful consideration of your particular circumstance. A thoughtful response gains credibility with all persons that you are in contact with.

A helpful analogy for contrasting a reaction versus a response is that of a sick patient who has just received a medicine prescription from his doctor.

It’s ideal when a patient responds positively to the medicine. Responding to the medicine is the best outcome, correct?

On the other hand, it would be troubling to learn that the patient experienced a bad reaction to the medicine.

Moral to the story: To react is a negative outcome. To respond would be the best possible outcome.

A free emotional intelligence test will assist you to positively respond to situations, and hopefully avoid reacting – or even over-reacting.

Mastering your emotions is critical to your future success. You will know you are emotionally intelligent only after you have effectively faced some adversity with a thoughtful and effective response.

What you accomplish in spite of a challenging situation is the true measure of your future success.

“The best cure for indolence and suffrage is work” – Orison Swett Marden

Keeping the body and mind busy and active will aid anyone who is facing adversity. To dwell on the negative, to allow yourself to indulge in emotions of anger, irritation, jealousy, depression, hurt feelings or even thoughts of worry – only eats away at your heart and mind and can ultimately harm you physically.

Today give yourself the gift of peace of mind.

Complete this free emotional intelligence test from our friends at Psychtests.com. GET A FREE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE TEST

What is your emotional IQ?

For decades, a lot of emphasis has been put on certain aspects of intelligence such as logical reasoning, math skills, spatial skills, understanding analogies, verbal skills etc. Researchers were puzzled by the fact that while IQ could predict to a significant degree academic performance and, to some degree, professional and personal success, there was something missing in the equation. Some of those with fabulous IQ scores were doing poorly in life; one could say that they were wasting their potential by thinking, behaving and communicating in a way that hindered their chances to succeed.

One of the major missing parts in the success equation is emotional intelligence, a concept made popular by the groundbreaking book by Daniel Goleman, which is based on years of research by numerous scientists such as Peter Salovey, John Meyer, Howard Gardner, Robert Sternberg and Jack Block, just to name a few. For various reasons and thanks to a wide range of abilities, people with high emotional intelligence tend to be more successful in life than those with lower EIQ even if their classical IQ is average.

This emotional intelligence test will evaluate several aspects of your emotional intelligence and will suggest ways to improve it. Please be honest and answer according to what you really do, feel or think, rather than what you think is considered right in this test. Nobody is there to judge you, just yourself…and besides, there are many trick questions.

Read every statement carefully and indicate which option applies best to you. There may be some questions describing situations that you may feel are not relevant to your life. In such cases, select the answer which you would most likely choose if you ever found yourself in such a situation.

After finishing the test, you will receive a Snapshot Report with an introduction, a graph and a personalized interpretation for one of your test scores. You will then have the option to purchase the full results.

Motivational Tapes

Step Seven: The Learning Habit:

Motivational Tapes – get into the habit of learning in your spare moments.

Audio selections on leadership and motivational are great tools for maintaining your enthusiasm and improving yours skill-set.

In order to stay motivated and fully engaged, it’s important to give yourself a daily dose of positive reinforcement. Motivational tapes are a great way to ensure that the wheels of success keep turning.

Just think of how many negative messages we encounter on a daily basis. How much of what you hear on the news or read in the paper actually “inspires” you to greatness?

Whether your interest is self-improvement, leadership development, sales management or other – motivational tapes can exponentially increase your effectiveness. And there are so many wonderful programs to choose from!

Perhaps you’ve struggled in school and consider yourself a poor reader. Motivational tapes are a terrific alternative for those who seek to learn and grow, but find reading cumbersome.

One huge benefit to listening to books on tape is that you can dramatically improve yourself using your spare moments and free time.

Get in the habit of maximizing your drive time, daily commute, workouts or household chores.

”Eternity itself cannot restore the loss struck from the minute.” – Ancient Poet

The best resource we have discovered for acquiring quality motivational tapes at a reasonable price, is a web site called Audible.com.

Listen to more than 18,000 audio books programs. Choose from popular and informative categories. Join now and receive free MP3 player.

Audible.com offers a tremendous library of books on tape, covering a wide array of categories and topics. And in case you are wondering, Audible.com provides an outstanding monthly purchase plan that provides listeners with immediate access to the newest offerings as well as countless classics.

You can even get a free selection! Choose a bestselling audiobook for FREE at Audible.com

Regardless of where you make your next purchase, we can’t over-emphasize the power of maximizing your spare moments for self-improvement.

”Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.”- Benjamin Franklin

It’s time isn’t it – to take your rightful place in the front row of your own life? In this life of yours, are you simply a spectator or a pro-active participant?

Listening to leadership and motivational tapes in spare moments is a wonderfully effective option for maximizing your daily achievements and to ensure that your reach your lifelong dreams.

Plug In! Learn and Grow. Start today and enjoy a wealth of wisdom. To get you started, we recommend the following titles.

Life Strategies: Doing What Works, Doing What Matters

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

Goals! How to Get Everything You Want Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible

Anthony Robbins’ Personal Power II: The Driving Force!

Over the Top

Be Quick – But Don’t Hurry!

Leadership Quotation

Step Eight: Use Wise Words:

Leadership Quotation – learn from the giants of our time.

The power of using leadership quotes is so under-valued
and too often under-utilized.

Quotations are used quite effectively by leaders. For instance, quotations can you used to:

Drive home a main point.
Provide clarity to a vision.
Give support and credibility to a proposed idea.
Justify a position.
Create a vivid picture of what is taking place or expected to occur.

”The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages, may be preserved by quotation.” - Benjamin Disraeli

Just imagine for a moment, a person who is so determined to prove themselves right, he refuses to learn the lessons offered from his most recent failed attempts.

This person simply fails to adjust his approach based on the prior experience because he will not accept the fact that his initial premise is flawed.

A concerned friend or mentor might offer the perfect leadership quotation to help their friend reconsider his approach. The leadership quotation might be something like: “When you are in a horse race and your horse has died – DISMOUNT!” - Desi Williamson

The preceding example of leadership quotation provides a clear message, in a humorous and non-threatening way that gets to the heart of the matter.

Let’s now consider the work-a-holic who is so busy making money to buy material possessions, but at the expense of family, friends and her own health.

The following quotation from a compassionate observer might be helpful to put life into more perspective for the woman. ”The best things in life are free.” – Art Buchwald

To those who are set on having a bad day or imparting their negative attitude on to anyone within earshot, the following leadership quotation provides a clear option for them to consider. ”People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” – Abraham Lincoln

Leadership-tools.com provides hundreds of free quotes for your immediate use. Each quote provides an important life lesson. Simply click on any one of these quotation links:

LEADERSHIP QUOTES

SALES MANAGEMENT QUOTES

CUSTOMER SERVICE QUOTES

TEAM BUILDING QUOTES

POWERFUL QUOTES

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

SUCCESS QUOTES

MORE FAMOUS QUOTES

Educational Leadership Journals

Step Nine: Track Your Progress:

Educational Leadership Journals – staying on track with the stroke of a pen.

Educational leadership journals are a tool that leaders use to document their experience along the journey to self-growth and leadership development.

The practice of keeping a leadership journal serves several important purposes. Keeping a journal provides time for personal reflection – time to ponder key lessons learned, and the time to create and fine- tune a personal belief system.

Leaders, who have created a habit of maintaining educational leadership journals, enjoy going back year after year to remind themselves just how far they have come over past few weeks, months or years.

Journals provide important historic lessons learned throughout one’s life. Past journal entries remind us of how much we’ve grown and how much we have achieved in a relatively short period of time.

Renowned speaker and best selling author, Dr. John C. Maxwell often advocates the practice of keeping a leadership journal.

In fact, Dr. Maxwell refers to his journal as his leadership companion. He describes how he carries his companion with him at all times.

A journal/companion is a place where you can keep creative ideas, questions for future follow-up, personal/professional goals and commitments for future growth.

Keeping important thoughts and reference material in a journal or system ensures that you can easily and quickly access the information anytime in the future – creating less stress on you to remember the information.

Maintaining an educational leadership journal is a practice where you get back from the process multi-fold what you put into it. One of the greatest benefits of making daily journal entries, however trivial – is that it provides a few moments for the author to simply think and reflect.

Leaders who keep a journal can go back and review their daily entries and quickly realize that those entries of years past, actually predicted their present day experience.

Educational leadership journals are very inexpensive. A journal, companion, diary – whichever term you choose to use, consists of a simple spiral notebook and a pen or pencil.

Get started today – Write, Think, Learn, Grow!

Check out Dr. Maxwell’s recent best-seller, Thinking for a Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work The above selection is a highly insightful audio book. Dr. Maxwell speaks in depth about the importance of setting time aside to be alone with your own thoughts.

Personal Time Management Software

Step Ten: Make Time to Soar!:

Personal Time Management Software – provides a structure to assist in creating a highly valuable discipline of time management.

Finding the right personal time management software product and/or paper planning system is quite important to a leader who is seeking to leverage her time.

Unfortunately, time is in limited supply. Once a minute or an hour passes, you can never regain those precious moments.

Time cannot be recycled – it can only be leveraged or lost.

”Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that’s the stuff life is made of.
- Benjamin Franklin

It’s a simple fact that in this age of multi-tasking, dual career/daycare mom’s and dad’s – the scarcest commodity of all, is TIME.

The optimal personal time management software and/or paper planner product, will indeed help you solve the “lack of time” dilemma.

”Because we don’t know what is really important to us,
everything seems important.
Because everything seems important,
we have to do everything.
Other people, unfortunately, see us as doing everything,
so they expect us to do everything.
Doing everything keeps us so busy,
we don’t have time to think about what is really important to us.”
- Anonymous

We are fortunate to live in an age when time management tools are not only in great demand, but also in great supply.

Franklin Covey is well known for its personal time management software Plan Plus for Microsoft Outlook and other paper planning products.

If you are interested in finding a quality time management system at the lowest price – then we recommend you check out Franklin-Covey. You can even try out Plan-Plus for a Free 30-day trial period.

If you are able to invest a few more dollars up front for a higher quality personal time management software and/or paper planner – we highly recommend The RPM (Rapid Planning, Purpose Driven – Massive Action Planning) system.

The Robbins Institute offers a 10-day program called The Time Of Your Life

This 10-day program walks you through the entire process of setting up and using daily, the RPM system. The Time Of Your Life program is truly a life changing experience.

Program participants are taken on a personal journey to identify their true purpose in each of life’s key categories. (I.e., Financial, Emotional, Career, Spiritual, Family, Friends, etc.)

The participants’ ultimate Purpose remains front and center for the remainder of the time management process, which ensures that participants don’t get sidelined or distracted from what’s truly important.

The RPM personal time management software is offered as a free 45-day trial. To receive your free trial CD, call the Robbins Institute at 1-800-898-8669. This is a great option because you get to spend a good deal of time playing with the software to see if you like it.

Still not sure if you can benefit from using a personal time management software and/or paper planner product? Ask yourself a few key questions:

Do you feel as if you are always putting out fires, and working in crisis mode?
Do you feel like a lot of your time is wasted due to activities outside your own control?
Do you spend too much time on tasks that have little or no relevance to your top priorities – yet these tasks demand your immediate and full attention?
Do you acknowledge you spend too much time on busy work such as watching TV, surfing the Internet, reviewing e-mail, organizing your desk, or completing small tasks before addressing the major issues in your life?
Are you constantly caring for others and not yourself?

With our busy schedules and high demands, it’s unlikely that anyone wouldn’t find a personal time management software and/or paper planning product useful.

In fact, we strongly encourage our readers to start referring to time management as “Life Management”. It’s that important!

It is only when we truly understand that we have a limited time on earth – and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up – that we begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only day we had left.” – Anonymous

CONGRATULATIONS!

You’ve completed the Ten Steps to Leadership Development series. We hope you have found this experience helpful. Now that you are aware of so many quality tools available for self-help and leadership development, we encourage you to begin your personal journey NOW.

Don’t allow yourself to needlessly suffer from what we call “permanent potential”. Life is just too short not to live it to the fullest.

Please check in with us from time to time and let us know how it’s going for you. We love to hear direct feedback from our readers.

Best of luck to you as you – PRESS ONWARD.

My source: http://www.leadership-tools.com/free-online-leadership-training.html

September 2, 2011 by justmejojo

10 Beta-carotene Rich Fruits and Vegetables

By K Kristie on July 29th, 2011

Cantaloupes and carrots, with their distinctive orange flesh, are two of the well-known foods that are brimming with beta-carotene. Discover what other fruits and vegetables to be had if you want to increase your natural supply of this antioxidant.

Beta-carotene is one of the well-known carotenoids, the naturally occurring pigments in plants. Together with alpha-carotene, gamma-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin, they are converted to vitamin A in the body which is needed for good eyesight, healthy lungs, bones, skin, immune system, and in protein formation.

Although fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene are best-known for their orange and yellow hues, those with pink, red, white and other colors may also contain this carotenoid as other phytonutrient pigments combine with the beta-carotene to give plant food its color.

Study participants have shown that those who eat at least four servings of fresh fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene daily may lower their risk of developing heart disease and certain cancers. It has also been found to help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and high doses may lower sun sensitivity.

Experts said that beta-carotene may only be beneficial when consumed naturally rather than in supplemental form. In fact, preliminary studies have shown that supplements may raise the risk of lung cancer in smokers.

For every 100 grams, here’s how much beta-carote you will get from the top sources among fresh fruits and vegetables.

Fruits:

1. Cantaloupe – 2020 mcg

2. Apricots – 1094 mcg

3. Cherries, sour, red – 770 mcg

4. Purple passion-fruit – 743 mcg

5. Pink and red grapefruit – 686 mcg

6. Plantains – 457 mcg

7. Mangoes – 445 mcg

8. Guavas – 374 mcg

9. Watermelon – 330 mcg

10. Papayas – 276 mcg

Vegetables:

1. Grape leaves – 16193 mcg

2. Kale – 9226 mcg

3. Turnip greens – 6952 mcg

4. Baby carrots – 6391 mcg

5. Mustard greens – 6299 mcg

6. Dandelion greens – 5854 mcg

7. Spinach – 5626 mcg

8. Romaine lettuce – 5225 mcg (also red and green leaf lettuce)

9. Parsley – 5054 mcg

10. Butternut squash – 4226 mcg

Nutrient data source: USDA

Source: healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/10-beta-carotene-rich-fruits-and-vegetables/

September 2, 2011 by justmejojo

10 Most Nutritious Fruits

By K Kristie on September 26th, 200

The avocado is widely known as the most nutritious fruit. More recently, the kiwi and the guava want to claim the title. Here are 10 of the most commonly mentioned most nutritious fruits.

I grew up believing that avocados are the most nutritious fruits in the planet. The Guinness World Records also says so.

Some experts believe that berries, packed with anti-oxidants are the most nutritious but other experts also suggest that the kiwi and the guava deserve the title better.

The results are surprising, but these are 10 of the most commonly mentioned most nutritious fruits.

Watermelon

Watermelon is more than delicious, it is also very nutritious. It’s color alone says that it is blushing with vitamin A in the form of lycopene and beta-carotene, antioxidants which may help reduce cancer risk. It is also a very good source of vitamin C, a good source of vitamin B1, potassium and magnesium, nutrients which promotes a healthy immune and cardiovascular system. Recently, it was found to have Viagra-like effects to the blood vessels of the body due to its rich citrulline content.

Avocado

Also known as aguacate, butter pear and alligator pear, avocadoes are a treasure-trove of nutrients. They contain more than 25 essential vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, B, C and E. They also supply lutein, copper, magnesium, potassium and zinc. They have more fiber, folate, niacin, thiamine and riboflavin than any other fruit. They’re also one of the few fruits that have monounsaturated (good) fats. A cup of avocado contains 29 mcg of vitamin K, 874 mg of potassium and 90 mcg of folate.

Raspberries

Raspberries are brimming with a wide variety of nutrients. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, fiber and manganese and good source of vitamins B2 and B3 as well as folate, magnesium, potassium and copper. Raspberries, just like most berries are known for being an antioxidant powerhouse that may provide protection from various ailments including cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

Cantaloupe

A cup of cantaloupe (also known as netted melon) contains 5158 IU of vitamin A and 67 mg of vitamin C, both more than the recommended daily value. It’s a good source of potassium, vitamin B6, B3, dietary fiber and folate. It contains the largest amount of digestive enzymes of any fruit, surpassing papayas and mangoes. These marvelous melons are recommended by the American Cancer Society as healthful agents in the battle against intestinal cancer and melanoma. Cantaloupes are a source of polyphenol antioxidants, chemicals which are known to provide certain health benefits to the cardiovascular system and immune system.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is loaded with vitamin C and carotenoids, a good amount of fiber of the cholesterol lowering type, pectin, plus phytochemicals such as flavonoids, terpenes, and limonoids. Studies have shown grapefruit helps lower cholesterol and there is evidence that the seeds have high levels of antioxidant properties. Grapefruit forms a core part of the “grapefruit diet”, the theory being that the fruit’s lowglycemic index is able to help the body’s metabolism burn fat.

Guava

Some researchers say that guava is in fact the most nutritious fruit. Guavas are high in dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, vitamin B3 and G4 and polyunsaturated fatty acids especially the seeds. It has four times the amount of vitamin C in orange, has good levels of the dietary minerals, potassium, magnesium, and an otherwise broad, low-calorie profile of essential nutrients. Guavas contain both major classes of antioxidant pigments — carotenoids and polyphenols. Guavas that are red, yellow or orange in color have more potential value as antioxidant sources than unpigmented species.

Kiwifruit

This fuzzy-skinned, egg-shaped fruit is a rich source of vitamin C and potassium. It also contains Vitamins A and E and the skin is a good source of flavonoid , an antioxidant. More than 90% of the fruit is water so it only has 90 calories per serving. It has higher potassium content than the banana and the orange. It is also filled with fiber, lutein,inositol, serotonin, arginin and glutamate, pectin, magnesium and the protein-dissolving enzyme actinidin . From a study of 27 different fruits, kiwi was named one of the most nutritionally dense, says Stephanie Dean, R.D., dietitian with Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

Papaya

Sometimes called “tree melon” or “pawpaw”, the papaya is an excellent source of vitamin C, a very good source of folate and potassium and good source of dietary fiber and the vitamins A, E and K. A cup of papaya has 782 mg of potassium and 187 mg of vitamin C—thrice the recommended daily value. Papaya was named “the most nutritious fruit” by the Centre for Science, USA and Christopher Columbus called it ‘the fruit of the angels’.

Strawberries

The most popular berries in the world are an exciting source of essential vitamins and minerals. It’s an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese; a very good source of iodine and fiber and a good source of B complex and minerals including potassium, folate and omega-3 fatty acids. A cup of strawberries contains 136% of the needed daily value of vitamin C.

Apricots

Don’t be fooled by this small fruit’s size as it can be one of our body’s ally for healthy living. Its nutritional punch includes loads of anti-oxidants in the form of vitamin C, lycopene and beta-carotene. Apricots are also rich in fiber and the blood pressure-lowering potassium.

Any fruit is good fruit. It should be part of our everyday diets. Three to five servings of fresh fruits a day are ideal and eating a variety of fruits daily keep our bodies and immune system in top shape.

Perhaps it’s time to change an old adage into “Five servings of fruits a day keep the doctor away.”

*All images via Flickr Creative Commons.
source: healthmad.com/nutrition/10-most-nutritious-fruits/

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