7 Ways to Go From a Boss to a Leader

7 Ways to Go From a Boss to a Leader

Many people view the terms “boss” and “leader” as interchangeable -- but they are vastly different. To determine which one you are, I encourage you to honestly answer this question: Do you: a) see your team members as an aggravating necessity that you have to put up with in order to accomplish day-to-day activities and achieve goals? Or, do you: b) truly enjoy working with people on your team to meet your goals and deliverables?

If you chose a), you’re probably more of a boss; if you chose b), you’re probably more of a leader.

Based on my work with teams over the past 25 years -- and, of course, common sense -- I can confidently say that the teams which produce the most effective and long-lasting results are the ones directed by leaders, not bosses. So, how do you move from “boss” to “leader”? Here are seven key ways: 

1. Love people.

No one can lead a team well unless he or she truly enjoys working with people. People are not minions; they are individuals with unique personalities, traits and talents. As a leader, you must enjoy helping people and watching them succeed. 

2. Guide, don’t control, your team.

Bosses feel the need to control every action; they’re micromanagers. Leaders know that their team will accomplish great things if they receive direction and support rather than control, so they establish frameworks and structure, then empower their teams to get the work done, providing support along the way.

3. Be adaptable.

Bosses tend to be very rigid in the way they want things done, but leaders understand that they must adapt their personal style to their team members’ needs. They understand and value each team member’s individuality, establish expectations clearly and adapt their leadership approach as necessary.

4. Delegate.

Bosses may feel they are delegators, but because they don’t trust anyone else to do the job as well as they can, they never fully delegate anything. Leaders truly delegate. They assign tasks, and then let go (though they still follow up periodically to ensure their team members are on track to achieve the desired results).

5. Give credit, accept blame.

Bosses love to take credit for their teams' successful results -- and they’re the first to throw them under the bus when those goals are not achieved as desired. Leaders, in contrast, know their success comes from their teams' efforts, so they keep their egos in check: They showcase their teams' efforts when they succeed, and they accept personal responsibility when they fail. 

6. Practice risk acceptance.

Bosses avoid risks at all costs because they are fearful that going out on a limb might produce a perceived failure -- they like to play it safe. But leaders know that the greatest successes come from taking risks. Leaders enable and encourage their teams to try new things, and they see every so-called mistake or failure as an opportunity to make improvements. 

7. Motivate.

Bosses motivate through fear. Leaders, in contrast, motivate by figuring out what sparks their individual team members to perform at their highest potential, and by expecting greatness from their teams even when those individuals don't see greatness in themselves. Leaders also cheer and celebrate successes, small and large, because they know they are their teams' biggest fans.   

Going from “boss” to “leader” is a challenging personal development experience -- but it’s extremely rewarding, too! If you act like a leader, your team members will produce long-lasting effective results, and their performance will be consistently outstanding. They will be more engaged at work, and more fulfilled in their personal lives, too. In that way, developing from boss to leader is an act of kindness and service to your fellow human beings -- and to yourself, as well. Become a leader, and you’ll find that your life will be less stressful, and exponentially more fulfilling.

Origin:- www.entrepreneur.com

How to Start a Conversation With Strangers at a Networking Event

How to Start a Conversation With Strangers at a Networking Event

One of the best ways for entrepreneurs to socialize with colleagues, customers and potential clients is at networking events. Corporate gatherings, conferences, happy hours and cocktail parties provide an opportunity for you to meet new people and reconnect with old acquaintances.

However, if you have difficulty mingling in a room full of strangers, connecting with other professionals can be a difficult and uncomfortable process. Regardless of how you feel, networking is undeniably an effective way to meet people who can provide new opportunities and help you grow your business.

Many entrepreneurs regularly attend networking events, but few study or practice effective networking. The more practiced you become at starting conversations with strangers, the less anxious you’ll be. Your confidence will attract others and help you become much more than just another business card.

To become a master mingler, employ these tips at the next networking event you attend.

Hone your public speaking skills.

Conversations require just as much speaking ability as a presentation. Practice your skills whenever you can. Take a public speaking class or join a Toastmasters club in your area. When you feel prepared, give presentations at industry meetings or offer to give a guest lecture at a local community college or university.

Start with a handshake.

The type of handshake you extend to a stranger speaks volumes about you and your intentions. When you approach someone new at a networking event, start your conversation with a firm handshake. As you greet the individual, make eye contact, smile, extend your hand and introduce yourself. This nonverbal communication will help you build rapport before you even say a word.

Win the name game.

Remembering names is an essential skill in conversations. When others hear you say their name, it makes them feel more connected to you. If you’ve just met someone for the first time, use his name frequently in conversation. When you forget a name, simply extend your hand and say your own name. The other person will most likely introduce himself in return.

Show interest.

Many entrepreneurs use a popular but ineffective approach while networking. Instead of building relationships, they collect and hand out as many business cards as they can. To form professional connections, approach new acquaintances with a genuine interest in their businesses, opinions and hobbies. When you initiate the conversation, ask open-ended questions to show your sincerity.

Ask a connector for help.

A personal introduction is a winning strategy to start conversations at networking events. If you’re a first-timer at an event and nervous, ask the host or an influential contact to introduce you to others. Most people will gladly introduce you to other entrepreneurs in the room.

Give a sincere compliment.

Everyone is happy to receive a compliment, even from a new connection. Use what you know about the person to choose the best accolade. It’s advisable to compliment someone on his or her business accomplishments or talents. Compliment a physical attribute only when you don’t have anything else to go on. You could say something like, “You look very sharp in that blazer.”

Share opportunities.

Use networking events as a way to tithe your social and professional capital. Seek out entrepreneurs in different industries. When you start a conversation, ask industry-specific questions. Invite the person to share her opinion and then communicate your perspective. Always be on the lookout for potential partnerships and other business opportunities. Train your ears to hear problems so you can present solutions.

Learn to tell a story.

The best way to form connections in networking conversations is by telling your story. Everyone has a story to tell. To discover the other person’s story, ask the right questions. You could say something like, “Who is a special person in your life who influenced who you are today?” It’s a personal question and will help others to open up.

Origin:- www.entrepreneur.com

Why Go To Business School Top 10 Reasons

Looking for some reasons for why go to business school ? Then you are at the right place.
Here I'll tell you about the Top 10 Reasons for Why Go To Business School
Is it true that you are thinking about the thought of going to business school? That is marvelous, yet hold your steeds! Business school speaks to one of the greatest speculations that you can make in yourself – as far as time, exertion, and cash. The application procedure takes significant persistence and channels out numerous hopefuls, so its vital that you're clear and sure about your motivation. In case you're still at the spirit seeking stage, read on to look into a percentage of the reasons that have lured eras to apply through the years. 

Why Go To Business School

Get A Well Rounded Education in Business

On the off chance that you need to turn into a master in administration, or particular zones of business, look no more remote than business school. As a MBA understudy, you'll dig profound (and, now and again, truly profound) into the diverse limbs of business, for example, bookkeeping, financial aspects, fund, authoritative conduct, and procedure. When you complete your studies, you'll have a robust understanding of the majority of the real business capacities. With short of what 10% of the US populace holding a graduate degree, you'll be in regarded organization once you complete. Appealing, isn't it?
 
Develop Your Leadership Skills

There are a lot of Ceos that hold Mbas. Present and previous officials like Meg Whitman (ebay), Jamie Dimon (J.p. Morgan), Jeffrey Immelt (GE), Richard Fain (Royal Caribbean), and Edmund Pratt (Pfizer) every have Mba. A few business school graduates have likewise sought after vocations in legislative issues, for example, George Bush (President of the U.s.) and Michael Bloomberg (Mayor of New York). Numerous associations esteem the initiative and critical thinking aptitudes that a business instruction gives.
 
Better Opportunities and Pay

The more you know, the more you'll get paid. It's that straightforward. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey, in the final quarter of 2010, progressed degree holders earned an average week after week wage of $1,334 ($64,032 every year), give or take 30% more than the individuals who had four year college educations ($1,049 every week; $50,352 every year). These measurement knots in all graduate degrees yet you can make certain that MBA holders win more. Actually, graduates of top business schools procure more than $100,000 in their first year out of school. Head honchos admire the profundity of learning, scholarly torque, and commitment that is obliged to finish a MBA program. So in case you're looking to stuff a few greenbacks in your wallet, business school is a convincing decision.

Access Careers that Require a MBA

Other than opening higher profit potential, a MBA will allow you get to vocations that are customarily forbidden to those without a business school training. Private value, speculation saving money, and administration counseling are all illustrations of commercial enterprises that vigorously enlist Mbas. While it is conceivable to seek after a vocation with these associations without a MBA, it is the exemption, not the tenet.

Change Your Career Path

Dislike your vocation? A MBA can go about as a handbrake in making a U-turn in your expert life. Indeed, the dominant part of business school understudies are profession switchers! The blend of an expansive business educational program and a mid year entry level position where you can increase work involvement in another field will encourage your move to another industry, capacity, or both. Recall that, its never past the point where it is possible to backtrack to class and turn your life around!

Develop Your Network
Going to business school is similar to partaking in an enormous systems administration occasion. One of the focal worth suggestions of a MBA is the chance to develop a rolodex of business connections that you can approach later on. Need capital for a start-up a long time from now? No issue, call your previous comrade who now lives up to expectations at an investment firm. Need to discover a legitimate supplier for your organization? Request counsel from your colleague who lives up to expectations at a contender. You get the thought.

Wait Out An "Awful Economy"

A college can be an asylum amid times of monetary emergency. In the event that you select amid a subsidence, you'll maintain a strategic distance from the brunt of the downturn and (assuredly) come back to a healthier occupation market. Nonetheless, don't feel that only you're in this reasoning. It's not extraordinary for the quantity of business school applications to bounce by 15-30% amid times of retreat, making it more focused to get conceded.

Defer Student Loans

Advanced education is extravagant. Truly lavish. Unless the United States goes the method for Europe and sponsors its instruction framework, five-digit educational cost rates are setting down deep roots. However there is one (little) reassurance. On the off chance that you brought about government understudy credits to pay for your undergrad training, you can frequently concede them amid business school. That implies no installments of essential or investment while you're enlisted - nothing! Along these lines, while its not as energizing as credit pardoning, you can put off agonizing over making installments for some time.

Personal Enjoyment

Machiavelli once said that "whatever it takes to get the job done, so be it". We would likewise submit to you that the "methods", or the methodology of getting to your objective, can be compensating in itself. So on the off chance that you blossom with the erudite environment that describes the scholarly world, that may be all the reason you have to apply. As a general rule, you'll be hard pressed to discover an alternate environment that seeks after learned quality to the same degree as a scholastic group.

Postpone "This present reality"

Truly, who needs to work in a cubicle for twelve hours a day? While the profits of a high fueled vocation are welcome, its pleasant to enjoy a reprieve. This shouldn't be your essential explanation behind applying to business school, however its an authentic element in a ton of people groups' reasoning. At the point when asking yourself, "Why business school?", recall that this present reality is a chilly and unforgiving spot, and a sparkly white ivory tower is an engaging approach to take asylum incidentally.

So these were the top reasons for Why Go To Business School.