Leadership Trait to Ponder: Fun

August 7, 2014 by

Leadership-Trait-Fun-Todd-Nielsen-ManagementToday the leadership trait to ponder is Fun. As leaders we can’t be slave drivers of ourselves and those we lead. While I am all about execution, it is important to also have some fun at work, as well as away from work, to recharge and be able to better focus. The dictionary defines Fun as: enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure; amusing, entertaining, or enjoyable. Below are some of my favorite quotes to help inspire and illustrate Fun. As you read these quotes, think about how you can exemplify this leadership trait in yourself.

Quotes on Fun

I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.” ~Charles R. Swindoll

Fun is like life insurance; the older you get, the more it costs.” ~Kin Hubbard

It’s fun to have a partner who understands your life and lets you be you.” ~Kim Kardashian

Follow your dreams. Just make sure to have fun too.” ~Chris Brown

Work is much more fun than fun.” ~Noel Coward

When he worked, he really worked. But when he played, he really PLAYED.” ~Dr. Seuss

Life is more fun if you play games.” ~Roald Dahl

>You don’t have to make something that people call art. Living is an artistic activity, there is an art to getting through the day.” ~Viggo Mortensen

The further you get away from yourself, the more challenging it is. Not to be in your comfort zone is great fun.” ~Benedict Cumbergatch

Sometimes, the simple things are more fun and meaningful than all the banquets in the world …” ~Liz Reinhardt

In terms of days and moments lived, you’ll never again be as young as you are right now, so spend this day, the youth of your future, in a way that deflects regret. Invest in yourself. Have some fun. Do something important. Love somebody extra. In one sense, you’re just a kid, but a kid with enough years on her to know that every day is priceless..” ~Victoria Moran

When you are joyful, when you say yes to life and have fun and project positivity all around you, you become a sun in the center of every constellation, and people want to be near you.” ~Shannon L. Alder

 

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What do you think about when you ponder Fun at work? Please share your thoughts int he comments section.

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Leadership Trait to Ponder: Punctuality

July 31, 2014 by

Punctuality-Leadership-Time-Management-Todd-NielsenToday the leadership trait to ponder is Punctuality. Punctuality is important to me since a leader’s time is almost always scarce. I have sat in many conference rooms with a number of other executives waiting for the leader or some other key member to arrive in order to begin a meeting.  I estimated in one meeting that the cost of waiting amounted to be in the thousands of dollars.

I have taught my 6 year old son the phrase, “Early is on time and on time is late.” It’s a motto that we could all benefit from. The dictionary defines Punctuality as: the condition of keeping to arranged times for appointments, meetings, etc. The condition of arriving or taking place at an arranged time; promptness.

Below are some of my favorite quotes to help inspire and illustrate the importance of Punctuality. As you read these quotes, think about how you can exemplify this leadership trait in yourself.

Quotes on Punctuality

I think the only way to properly face doom is to be on time.” ~Jennifer Dubois

Punctuality is the soul of business.” ~Thomas Chandler Haliburton

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no delay, no procrastination; never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” ~Lord Chesterfield

Punctuality is the politeness of kings.” ~Louis XVIII

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.” ~Niccolo Machiavelli

Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.” ~William Shakespeare

Promptitude is not only a duty, but is also a part of good manners; it is favorable to fortune, reputation, influence, and usefulness; a little attention and energy will form the habit, so as to make it easy and delightful.” ~Charles Simmons

People count the faults of those who keep them waiting.” ~Proverb

What do you think about when you ponder Punctuality? Do you have any other favorite quotes on the topic? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

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Leadership Trait to Ponder: Focus

July 24, 2014 by

Leadership-Trait-Focus-Todd-NielsenToday the leadership trait to ponder is Focus.  The dictionary defines Focus as: the center of interest or activity; the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition; to pay particular attention to. I believe the ability to focus is an important trait of a leader. Below are some of my favorite quotes to help inspire and illustrate Focus. As you read these quotes, think about how you can exemplify this leadership trait in yourself.

Quotes on Focus

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” ~Aristotle Onassis

You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” ~Mark Twain

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” ~Alexander Graham Bell

The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire not things we fear.” ~Brian Tracy

My focus is to forget the pain of life. Forget the pain, mock the pain, reduce it. And laugh.” ~Jim Carrey

I don’t focus on the critics. Everyone who is making any difference in any field has critics. As long as I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing, then I don’t worry about it.” ~Joel Osteen

Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positive.” ~Matt Cameron

Your destiny is to fulfill those things upon which you focus most intently. So choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting and joyful. Your life is always moving toward something.” ~Ralph Marston

When you focus on life, on enjoying and connecting with other people, that’s when work comes.” ~Alia Shawkat

The sun’s energy warms the world. But when you focus it through a magnifying glass it can start a fire. Focus is so powerful!” ~Alan Pariser

What do you think about when you ponder the leadership trait of Focus? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

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Leadership Trait to Ponder: Adaptability

July 17, 2014 by

adaptability-leadership-traitToday the leadership trait to ponder is Adaptability.  The dictionary defines Adaptability as: the ability to change (or be changed) to fit changed circumstances; the ability to change your ideas or behavior so that they are suitable for different conditions, a new environment, or in order to deal with a new situation successfully. Below are some of my favorite quotes to help inspire and illustrate Adaptability. As you read these quotes on Adaptability, think about how you can exemplify this leadership trait in yourself.

Quotes on Adaptability

All living things contain a measure of madness that moves them in strange, sometimes inexplicable ways. This madness can be saving; it is part and parcel of the ability to adapt. Without it, no species would survive.” ~Yann Martel

It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.” ~Charles Darwin

Set patterns, incapable of adaptability, of pliability, only offer a better cage. Truth is outside of all patterns.” ~Bruce Lee

If you’re not stubborn, you’ll give up on experiments too soon. And if you’re not flexible, you’ll pound your head against the wall and you won’t see a different solution to a problem you’re trying to solve.” ~Jeff Bezos

All failure is failure to adapt, all success is successful adaptation.” ~Max McKeown

Adaptability is about the powerful difference between adapting to cope and adapting to win.” ~Max McKeown

Tactics, fitness, stroke ability, adaptability, experience, and sportsmanship are all necessary for winning.” ~Fred Perry

The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings.” ~Kakuzo Okakaura

Adaptability is not imitation. It means power of resistance and assimilation.” ~Mahatma Gandhi

What do you think about when you ponder Adaptability? Please share your thoughts in the comments section!

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Leadership Trait to Ponder: Appreciation

February 9, 2014 by

appreciation-leadership-management-Todd-NielsenToday the leadership trait to ponder is Appreciation.  I see so many leaders that fail miserably in appreciating all that their staff has done. They congratulate a few that rode on the backs of many others, or they criticize on one hand, and show appreciation on the other. I see many leaders that kick-themselves and their staff for not achieving an objective, yet fail to appreciate all the was actually accomplished.

The dictionary defines Appreciation as: the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something; a full understanding of a situation; a feeling of being grateful for something; an ability to understand the worth, quality, or importance of something; an ability to appreciate something.

Below are some of my favorite quotes to help inspire and illustrate Appreciation. As you read these quotes, think about how you can exemplify this leadership trait in yourself.

Quotes on Appreciation

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough” ~Oprah Winfrey

The two hardest tests on the spiritual road are the patience to wait for the right moment and the courage not to be disappointed with what we encounter.” ~Paulo Coelho

Forget yesterday – it has already forgotten you. Don’t sweat tomorrow – you haven’t even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift – today.” ~Steve Maraboli

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love—then make that day count!” ~Steve Maraboli

Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” ~Voltaire

Be happy with who you are and what you do, and you can do anything you want.” ~Steve Maraboli

If a man cannot understand the beauty of life, it is probably because life never understood the beauty in him.” ~Criss Jami

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” ~Anne Bradstreet

The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

What do you think about when you ponder Appreciation? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

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Leadership Trait to Ponder: Trust

February 2, 2014 by

Trust-Leadership-Leader-Todd-Nielsen-TraitToday the leadership trait to ponder is Trust.  The dictionary defines Trust as: the firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something. Over the years, I have grown to value this trait greatly, it is so easy for a leader to lose the trust of their staff through one false move. If a leader does not take the time to build trust among their staff, and to avoid things that betray that trust, their ability to lead will be greatly diminished. Below are some of my favorite quotes to help inspire and illustrate this trait. As you read these quotes, think about how you can exemplify this leadership trait in yourself, and build trust among those that you lead; it might take time, but it is worth it.

Quotes on Trust

It takes 20 year to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” ~ Warren Buffet

The glue that holds all relationships together – including the relationship between; the leader and the led is trust, and trust is based on integrity.” ~ Brian Tracy

You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you don’t trust enough.” ~ Frank Crane

Wise men put their trust in ideas and not in circumstances.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves great.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.” ~ Solon Ancient Greek Lawmaker

Trust, but verify.”  ~ Ronald Reagan

When people honor each other, there is a trust established that leads to synergy, interdependence, and deep respect. Both parties make decisions and choices based on what is right, what is best, what is valued most highly.”  ~ Blaine Lee

We need people in our lives with whom we can be as open as possible. To have real conversation with people may seem like such a simple, obvious suggestion, but it involves courage and risk.” ~ Thomas Moore

What do you think about when you ponder trust and what can a leader do to build trust with those they lead? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

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Leadership Trait to Ponder: Simplicity

January 20, 2014 by

Simplicity-Todd-NielsenToday the leadership trait to ponder is Simplicity.  The dictionary defines Simplicity as: the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do; something that is simple or ordinary but enjoyable; lack of subtlety or penetration. Below are some of my favorite quotes to help inspire and illustrate this trait. Simplicity can be one of the most difficult things to accomplish. I have seen compensation plans and processes that were so complicated that all it brought was disdain and frustration towards the leader. As you read these quotes, think about how you can exemplify this leadership trait in yourself.

Quotes on Simplicity

 

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~Leonardo da Vinci

 

“Simplicity in character, in manners, in style; in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity.”~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

“Simplicity is the glory of expression.” ~Walt Whitman

 

“There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth.” ~Leo Tolstoy

 

“The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity.” ~Douglas Horton

 

“Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world; it is the last limit of experience and the last effort of genius.” ~George Sand

 

“Simplicity and repose are the qualities that measure the true value of any work of art.” ~Frank Lloyd Wright

 

“I feel that the simplicity of life is just being yourself.” ~Bobby Brown

 

“Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.” ~Frederic Chopin

 

“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” ~Lao Tzu

What do you think about when you ponder Simplicity? Please share your thoughts in the comments section!

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Leadership Trait to Ponder: Respect

January 13, 2014 by

leadership-respect-management-todd-nielsenThis week the leadership trait to ponder is Respect.  I was once facilitating some activities with an organization to determine the values of the company. Respect came out as the number one most requested value from the employees. Through some subsequent conversations, I discovered the reason it was so popular. It was because no one was feeling respected by the CEO or management.

The dictionary defines respect as: a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements; an act of giving particular attention. Below are some of my favorite quotes to help inspire and illustrate Respect. As you read these quotes, think about how you can exemplify this trait in your leadership activities.

Quotes on Respect

I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.~Albert Einstein

Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners. ~Laurence Sterne

 Respect is what we owe; love, what we give. ~Philip James Bailey

 Respect is one of the greatest expressions of love. ~ Miguel Angel Ruiz

How would your life be different if…You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day…You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.” ~ Steve Maraboli

Respect yourself and others will respect you.” ~ Confucius

Always treat people as ends in themselves, never as means to an end.” ~ Immanuel Kant

When we treat people merely as they are, they will remain as they are. When we treat them as if they were what they should be, they will become what they should be. ” ~ Thomas S. Monson

If you want to be respected by others, the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you.” ~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky

What do you think about when you ponder Respect? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.

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Leadership Trait to Ponder: Hard Work

January 6, 2014 by

Leadership-Hard-Work-Dedication-Todd-NielsenToday the leadership trait to ponder is Hard Work.  This might sound a little bit odd of a thing to ponder. I think most leaders and managers probably believe they work too many hours as it is; but being busy and working long hours, does not necessarily mean you are working smart or even working hard. The dictionary defines Hard Work as: “Characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks; tending to work with energy and commitment; persistence in action to carry out our tasks, no matter the size of the obstacle or reason to not continue to carry on.” Below are some of my favorite quotes to help inspire and illustrate what it takes to be a great leader, through the characteristic of working hard. As you read these quotes, think about your own work ethic, and how you exemplify this leadership trait within yourself. Later this week I will be talking more about this topic and sharing the most important lesson I was ever taught. 

Quotes on Hard work

A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” ~Colin Powell

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” ~Colin Powell

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” ~Vince Lombardi

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Accordingly a genius is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework.” ~Thomas Edison

I do not know anyone who has got to the top without hard work. That is the recipe.” ~Margaret Thatcher

Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.” ~Booker T. Washington

I do not believe in excuses. I believe in hard work as the prime solvent of life’s problems.” ~James Cash Penney

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” ~Thomas Edison

Temporary success can be achieved in spite of lack of other fundamental qualities, but no advancements can be maintained without hard work.” ~William Feather

No great achiever – even those who made it seem easy – ever succeeded without hard work.” -Jonathan Sacks

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What do you think about when you ponder Hard Work? Please can leave a comment and share your thoughts.

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Leadership Trait to Ponder: Strength

December 30, 2013 by

Leadership-trait-strength-todd-nielsenFor the rest of the year, every Monday, (unless I change the day :-)) I will release this new series on leadership traits. I have a whole years worth of ‘trait posts’ queued up and I really hope they inspire you to be better at the weeks given trait. I introduced this idea with Gratitude in November an it was well received. So with this being week one of 2014 lets get started.

Today the leadership trait to ponder is Strength.  The dictionary defines Strength as: the quality or state of being physically strong; the ability to resist being moved or broken by a force; the quality that allows someone to deal with problems in a determined and effective way. Wow, have you ever really considered the impact of that definition of strength in your leadership? The effects could be enormous. Below are some of my favorite quotes to help inspire and illustrate Strength. As you read these quotes, think about how you can exemplify this leadership trait in yourself this week. 

Quotes on Strength

When restraint and courtesy are added to strength, the latter becomes irresistible.” ~Mohandas Gandhi

 

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” ~Khalil Gibran

 

Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Real strength is not just a condition of one’s muscle, but a tenderness in one’s spirit.”  ~McCallister Dodds

 

 When something bad happens you have three choices. You can let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.” ~Unknown

 

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” Mohandas Gandhi 

 

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.” ~John F. Kennedy

 

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” ~Napoleon Hill

 

Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” ~Oprah Winfrey

What do you think about when you ponder Strength? Do you have a favorite quote of your own on strength? Please share your thoughts below!

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