Mark Uhlenberg

We all live in a realm of possibilities. How does this relate to energy? To go after these possibilities requires energy. Leaders depend upon their energy to effectively lead, drive meaningful change, and influence outcomes. Energetic leaders unchain the mind and human spirit of others to seek their greatest potential. For you to do that for others, you need to do it yourself — and do it repeatedly. It’s a big job and you need to be up to the task.

You may think you’re not saying anything until you open your mouth. So NOT true! The moment you “present” yourself to others you have already spoken volumes. Do you have any idea what your personal presence is saying? Did you know that what we say or the content of our conversations makes up only about 7% of our communication? The remainder is what people see, sense, and hear. It is your presence.

The world is not feeling settled right now (an understatement). Economically, socially, culturally – everything seems to be shifting and re-shifting with no breaks to assess, regroup – or take a deep breath! This blog article looks at business survival in the context of today. First, here’s the definition and a little background on VUCA:

Are you 100% intentional in how you spend your time at work? For many business owners and leaders, anytime is work time — and their days are typically overstuffed with meetings, appointments, firefighting, problem-solving – you name it. As a leader and influencer, you are constantly flexing roles – at any given time you may function as a leader, manager, coach, mentor, supervisor, and sometimes, a “worker bee.” The problem is, it’s very likely you have worker bees that you’re paying – and chances are they are capable and eager to do some of what you’re not letting go of.

To start off my post this month, I want to set the stage by sharing a few famous quotes about families: “A happy family is but an earlier heaven” and  “The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.” No matter which quote lands closer to home for you, if you’ve done work with family businesses you know there are additional layers of complexity and challenges that cannot be ignored (at least not for long). All family bussinesses come with their own special set of unique difficulties and possibilities and all require a very deliberate, planned approach.

Is your culture effective — or not so much? My working definition of a company (or team) culture is deceptively simple. So much so that I get a few blank stares when I share it with clients. From my perspective, culture is simply how the work gets done. Analyzing culture is not a complex process. You just need to pay attention to how the work gets done.

Are they the same or different? What about you — are you engaged – or involved? What should you be? “Engaged” and “involved” at first glance may seem quite similar – however, if we delve a bit deeper into how these two words might be less synonymous…maybe we might find more power as a leader. The difference is one of the fundamental tenants of Active Influence.

Most of us take our ability to communicate for granted. Leaders, in particular, tend to assume since they’re leaders they’re good at it. Not necessarily so… The ability to influence others via words and associated actions is the core skill at the center of all the other core skills. Communication either unites, divides or perhaps worst case, does nothing. Your accurate assessment of your own ability to communicate effectively can make you or break you (and those you lead as well). I’m going to briefly outline three concepts you may have heard in Communications 101, but you may not have fully realized the critical role each play in your success as a leader.

If you’re someone who views “personal development” as a check-the-box requirement on an annual performance plan I’m going to stop you right there. That attitude is at its best self-limiting. At its worst, it’s a sure road to nowhere. Here’s why: Personal development consists of activities that develop a person’s capabilities and potential, builds human capital, facilitates employability, and enhances quality of life and the realization of dreams and aspirations. Far from being a bothersome or meaningless task – or a luxury you just can’t afford to have, it’s actually the biggest tool you have in your leadership toolkit.

Much has been written “tactically” on how to influence others. Yet little has been explained on how to actively influence outcomes. How can you become more proactive and even predictive in reaching your most preferred future? It’s not by relentlessly executing tactic, after tactic, after tactic. Go to Amazon and you’ll find hundreds of books that offer tactics to “make” you a better influencer, but you won’t find many that provide real fundamental baseline concepts to change your behaviors.