SkillInside

Hindsight is the best teacher. Imagine if you could travel back to when you were beginning your career, but with the wisdom you possess today. Would you do anything differently? Here's what these successful leaders say they wish their younger selves would have known. 1. Learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. "As an entrepreneur, taking risks is extremely important but it is the resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity that really counts. It is important to take risks and learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable as you persevere in the face of adversity." --Telle Whitney, CEO of  Anita Borg Institute , which connects, inspires and guides women technologists and organizations that view technology innovation as a strategic imperative. 2. Avoid all habits. "Many entrepreneurs think there's a secret formula for habits of successful people, but in my experience, routine and habits are anathema to entrepreneurialis...

When emotional intelligence first appeared to the masses, it served as the missing link in a peculiar finding: people with average IQs outperform those with the highest IQs 70% of the time. This anomaly threw a massive wrench into what many people had always assumed was the sole source of success—IQ. Decades of research now point to emotional intelligence as the critical factor that sets star performers apart from the rest of the pack. How much of an impact does emotional intelligence (EQ) have on your professional success? The short answer is: a lot! It’s a powerful way to focus your energy in one direction with a tremendous result. Of all the people we’ve studied at work, we’ve found that 90% of top performers are high in  emotional intelligence . You can be a top performer without emotional intelligence, but the chances are slim. Emotional intelligence is the “something” in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social co...

There is no magic formula for being enormously productive--just extremely good habits. Here are 9 that can help. Have you ever wondered why some people are more productive than others? What's the magic formula ? I have had the privilege of working with and coaching some outstandingly successful men and women who are out there changing the world in a profound way. Each one of them is extremely busy, but they're never too busy to do what needs to get done, because they've built good habits and practices that they follow every day. Their good habits for super-productivity include being disciplined about the things they refuse to do. Here are nine of the most important that you can start implementing today: 1.     Refuse to pursue perfection.   We all know that waiting for perfection is a waste of time. If you want to be productive, you seriously need to let go of the notion of being a perfectionist. Nothing in life is perfect--ev...

It starts at the top. There are two types of leaders : First, is the leader who builds the entire organization directly under them. They are the captain. When they are around, the team thrives--and when they're not, the team is aimless and misdirected (because that's the dynamic they have built). They are still great, effective leaders, but the success of the team is entirely dependent upon their involvement. The second is a leader who builds an organization around skill sets, habits, disciplines and best practices. They are involved, and everyone knows they are at the helm, but the success of the team is not entirely dependent upon them--because they have built something much different. They built a culture, not a hierarchy. The best bosses are culture creators. They are far less interested in being "seen" as the high-and-mighty leader, and much more focused on creating an environment that allows others to thrive, take on responsibility, and ultimately g...

The 2016 Presidential election has been the most negative and ferociously fought in modern history. Donald Trump will [has] defeated Hilary Clinton but America will carry the scars throughout his term. Amidst all the vitriol and scandals, the biggest election issue was trust... or to be accurate... lack of trust. There are valuable lessons for business leaders and sales people from both presidential campaigns. Brexit has come to America... will anyone believe opinion polls again? I'm seeking to be Switzerland here by staying neutral about the politics of each candidate and examples here are intended to be for relevance or for fun. The terms 'voter' and 'buyer' are interchangeable. Just as in the world of sales, the candidates were asking voters/buyers to make their decision based on comparative choice. Each claimed to have certain credentials and values while seeking to set a vision for the country. The smartest people learn for the lessons of others and h...