Leadership Flagship

Embracing the Gig Economy

June 19, 2018

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The Here-To-Stay Workplace Trends HR Shouldn’t Fear

POST WRITTEN BY Ed Krow , Forbes Councils

There are plenty of articles circulating about 2018 human resources trends. But I don’t view these trends as prognostications. They’re already here. What we will see in the coming years is more of an up swell.

For all of these trends, HR professionals need to be the ones to say, “How can I make this work in my organization? How do I sell it to top management? How do I break down the walls of ‘We’ve always done it this way?’” (more…)
5 Employee Characteristics That Show Future Leadership Potential

June 6, 2018
by Refresh Leadership on November 6, 2017 in Emerging Leaders
The next generation of company leaders may already work within your ranks. In today’s competitive job market, developing talent from within is more important than ever, so it’s imperative to keep on the lookout for current employees who show signs of future leadership potential.Here are a few key characteristics to watch for as your younger employees continue to develop and climb your company’s corporate ladder.They lead by example
Even if a star employee isn’t officially in a position of leadership, they’re likely already perceived as one. From championing innovative ideas to simply showing up to work on time, employees with potential for leadership already set a high bar for performance for themselves, as wells as provide a strong example for others to follow.Employees with leadership potential lead by example by:
- Committing to goals and working hard to achieve them
- Holding themselves accountable and taking responsibility for their actions
- Acknowledging failure and being prepared to react to and learn from it
They are dedicated to growth
Always on the lookout for opportunities to hone their skills or develop new ones, great leaders are committed to personal and professional development. Being an effective leader requires embracing a culture of life-long learning, both for themselves and the people they lead.

Employees with leadership potential show their dedication to personal growth by:
- Actively seeking out new opportunities to build their skills and experience
- Showing a willingness to put in the work—even if it’s outside of business hours
- Sharing what they’ve learned with co-workers and encouraging others to seek out development opportunities
They earn trust and respect from coworkers
The amount of trust and respect a workforce has for its leadership team has a significant impact on employee productivity and engagement. So, an employee with a reputation for good decision making and showing up when the going gets tough may be a strong candidate for a future leadership role.

Employees with leadership potential earn trust and respect by:
- Following through on commitments and producing consistent results
- Staying consistent in their actions and treatment of other people
- Being the person coworkers go to for advice
They are decisive
Indecisive leaders are detrimental to productivity and engagement. Employees look to their leaders for guidance and vision, and make assumptions based on their confidence and composure when the stakes are high.

Employees with leadership potential show their decisiveness by:
- Sticking to their guns and not being easily swayed by dissenting opinions
- Following through with confidence in an outcome once a decision is made
- Inspiring trust in teammates and colleagues for their decision-making abilities
They are passionate
Passionate people are engaging and contagious. Even the most productive employees need motivation from leaders who effectively communicate the importance of every task and build a positive atmosphere that helps others feel passionate about their work.

Employees with leadership potential show their passion by:
- Being a positive and motivational force in the workplace
- Setting lofty, yet achievable goals, and pursuing them wholeheartedly
- Rallying the troops and charging forward, even in challenging situations
What are some other characteristics you look for in future leaders? How do you help and encourage young employees with leadership potential develop their skills? Let us know in the comments section below.
Move Over Millennials: Here Comes Generation Z

June 6, 2018

by Refresh Leadership on January 26, 2018 in Emerging Leaders, Teamwork and Communication

For the past 15 years or so, Millennials have been the generation on the rise and have received their fair share of analysis — and punchlines — as they staked their claims to increasingly influential roles in the workplace. Fortunately, and in spite of some fears to the contrary, companies are no worse for wear and, in many ways, becoming stronger than ever before as Millennials settle into positions of leadership.However, no sooner has one generation found its footing, a new one is already moving in and the skills and characteristics they bring to the workplace are just beginning to take shape.

Here Comes Generation Z
Referred to as Generation Z or the iGeneration, this newest group was born after 1995. And, at nearly 2 billion strong globally, the oldest members of Generation Z are just now beginning to enter the workforce.They’re the most ethnically diverse generation in history and therefore much more inclusive and tolerant of differences than ever. And, they harbor an independent and competitive spirit. Their Generation X parents taught them there are definite winners and losers in life, and not everyone gets a trophy.

This up-and-coming group is on the leading edge of the digital age. They’ve always known a world with smartphones, Facebook, and Netflix. Generation Z is not excited by the latest technological advances—in their minds, innovation is expected.

They also grew up in the midst of a recession and, as a result, tend to be more frugal and financially savvy. They’re less brand conscious, and tend to trust individuals, not corporations.

Generation Z is open to non-traditional forms of learning. They know how to self-educate and are skilled at finding the information they need and want. Generation Z uses online reviews to research everything, even employers. And although Generation Z’s attention span is shorter than previous generations, they’ve adapted to quickly and efficiently sort through and assess tremendous amounts of information.

They’re natural multi-taskers, easily shifting between work and play, all while multiple distractions go on around them. And, like Millennials, Gen Z are confident and eager to learn new skills. They seek work environments that foster mentoring and prefer a teaching-style of leadership. They envision working for companies that “stand for something” and offer a balance of flexible schedules and work environments.

Despite their inclination toward digital communication, they prefer in-person interactions with managers and coworkers and value frequent feedback.

When dealing with Generation Z, don’t talk down to them or treat them like generational stereotypes. Instead, be direct, visual, and succinct. Appreciate their fresh perspectives, listen to their ideas, and value their opinions. In the coming years, as millions more of them transition into the labor force, we’ll continue to learn more about what motivates Generation Z and their work preferences.

Faces of Change
There are as many as five unique generations working side by side in the workforce today, each with greatly varying beliefs, influences, and traits. So, it’s bound to cause some conflict.

Express Employment Professionals created Faces of Change, a training program intended to shed light on the different generations and a few best practices to manage them. With key insight into the characteristics of Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Generation Z, this program will help you understand generational shifts and expose areas in your business that are prone to generational conflict.
5 Steps for Crafting a Quick and Effective “Elevator Pitch”

June 6, 2018

by Refresh Leadership on June 4, 2018 in Quick Tips

According to the late author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, “success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.” You never know when you might cross paths with someone who could impact your career or become your next big client. So, it’s important to have a well-crafted “elevator pitch” ready to go when you need to introduce yourself on the fly.

It’s called an “elevator pitch” because you should be able to recite it in the time it takes to ride an elevator from the bottom to the top floor. So, if you run into a potential business contact on an elevator, you want to be able to introduce yourself with the most important information before they or you reach your floor and have to exit.

On average, at a regular conversation speed, people speak at a rate of 150 words per minute, and according to an article from the Harvard Business Review, the average elevator ride is about 118 seconds. That means if you run into a potential new business contact on an elevator—or any of a wide variety of similarly time-crunched situations—you only have about two minutes to explain in enough detail why they should be in business with you.

Check out these five quick tips for crafting a quick and effective elevator pitch before you find yourself tongue-tied in front of a potential client.

Who are you?
Start off like any first meeting by introducing yourself, including your title and company name with a quick qualifier.

Example: “Hello, I’m John Smith, Director of Sales at ABC Company, a leading manufacturer of precision surgical instruments.”

What do you do?
Next, share some detail about what your role is within the company.

Example: “My job is to ensure our customers have access to the high-quality tools and equipment they need to perform lifesaving procedures and research across a wide range of medical disciplines.”

Where do you do it?
This helps put your services in context and shows you have expertise in a range of specific areas.

Example: “Our clients include hospitals, universities, and research facilities around the world that are on the cutting edge of modern medicine.”

How do you do it differently?
Now, you want to give them the WIIFM, or “what’s in it for me.” Why are your products or services better than the competition?

Example: “Because we design, manufacture, and distribute our surgical instruments ourselves, we have complete control over the quality of our products from beginning to end, which allows us to hold ourselves to the highest standards of precision.”

What’s the next step?
Finally, you should close with a call to action. What do you want to gain from the new business contact?

Example: “I’d like to schedule a meeting with you soon to discuss our products in more detail.”

Now, put it all together
“Hello, I’m John Smith, Director of Sales at ABC Company, a leading manufacturer of precision surgical instruments. My job is to ensure our customers have access to the high-quality tools and equipment they need to perform lifesaving procedures and research across a wide range of medical disciplines. Our clients include hospitals, universities, and research facilities around the world that are on the cutting edge of modern medicine. And, because we design, manufacture, and distribute our surgical instruments ourselves, we have complete control over the quality of our products from beginning to end, which allows us to hold ourselves to the highest standards of precision. I’d like to schedule a meeting with you soon to discuss our products in more detail.”

What tips do you have for crafting the perfect elevator pitch? Let us know in the comments section. Or, if you’d like to share your own elevator pitch, we’d like to hear them!
7 sure ways to avoid burnout on the job

May 24, 2018

By Peter Economy | May 16, 2018

Is staying focused a foreign concept to you? Wondering how to stay motivated and keep your concentration? You may be burning out.

Our work and personal lives are busier than ever, and it seems that we just can’t get enough done in the 24 hours we have each day. As a result, we push ourselves too hard — trying to meet all our different commitments, from work to family and friends to and our community.

When you get burned out, the best cure is usually to remove yourself from whatever’s causing you stress, and then relax and recuperate. But what if it’s impossible to get the rest you need because you’re at work? Here are 7 ways to avoid burnout and keep yourself on an even keel.

1. Get outside the office.
You’re a thousand times more likely to get cabin fever when you’re stuck at your desk all day, no matter how mentally active you may be. Take 10 minutes for a quick walk outside — and be sure to take plenty of deep breaths. You’ll feel more relaxed and less stressed almost immediately.

2. Talk with the boss.
If you’re taking on too many tasks at work and don’t have enough time to get them all done, sit down with your manager and ask for some relief. Explain the quality of your work will improve if you’re not so stressed and overwhelmed with assignments. That benefits you and the business.

3. Avoid the couch.
If you’ve got a couch in your breakroom or lobby, the least useful thing you can do when you’re feeling burned out is to sit on it. You might think a little time on the couch will help you recharge your batteries, but it can actually put you in an even deeper funk. Avoid it at all costs!

4. Lists are your friend.
Tried and true: Make a to-do list. Get your mind off whatever you’re working on quickly and easily by using this simple organization trick. You’ll feel more productive, and that burnout you’re feeling may quickly evaporate.

5. Keep your snacks healthy.
Don’t try to calm your nerves by eating sugary candy or fatty snacks. It’ll make you feel more lethargic rather than energized and ready to work. Instead, grab some fruit, veggies or nuts, which will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to conquer the day’s tasks.

6. Seek perfection, accept excellence.
Being a perfectionist can cause a lot of stress in our lives, leading to burnout. While there’s nothing wrong with striving for perfection in our work, excellence is good enough for most tasks that we do. Give yourself a break and don’t try to always be perfect — that’s something that few of us can sustain for very long.

7. Be positive.
Try to keep a positive outlook that, at the end of the day, it’ll all work out. No matter how burned out you’re feeling right now, you can be certain that no matter how difficult things may be for you in this moment, this too shall pass.