Do you exhibit motivational leadership? Motivational leaders know how to influence others using these characteristics:

Motivational leaders have a vision. This vision is a clear picture of what the future will look like. By sharing their vision and how it fits into the big picture, leaders can inspire others to join them in working toward it. Sharing a clear vision is an important part of influencing others to follow a leader to achieving the defined goal.

Motivational leaders are self-motivated. These leaders understand the importance of continuous personal and professional improvement. They always actively seek out new ideas through various sources, such as books, seminars and conferences, professional publications, or networking and sharing ideas with others.

Motivational leaders are committed. Leaders are not only committed to the project at hand, but also to the people working on the project with them. When everyone sees the leader working as hard as they are to achieve a successful result, they are more committed to the job. Leaders show commitment to people by being the first to publicly praise, giving credit where it is due, and keeping promises.

Motivational leaders are able to communicate. Leaders are able to effectively communicate their vision and expectations to the rest of the team. They can use words to inspire and influence. They are also expert listeners. They have the knack of picking up the nuances of spoken language and body language. They listen carefully to what is said to catch what could be hidden meanings. For example, an employee’s tone of voice or body knowledge may reveal signs of frustration or stress that their words aren’t expressing.

Motivational leaders help people believe in themselves. They give people confidence to achieve goals. They focus on other people’s strengths and not weaknesses. They offer encouragement at just the right time when it is needed the most.

Are you a motivational leader? If not, do you need help Snapping Out Of It so you can improve your leadership skills?

Contact us for more information about bringing the Snap Out of It! Woman to your next event, meeting or conference.

As an entertaining leadership speaker and trainer, I’m passionate about bringing awareness to the importance of work-life balance for long term success. Leading edge companies aren’t afraid to remove the corporate thumb off employees heads and initiate a whole life culture.  They understand work-life balance increases overall well-being and that increases their bottom line!  In this article I will address what work-life balance is and why companies must implement it now.   So as M.C. Hammer sings lets “break it down”.

Businessdirectory.com defines work-life balance as a comfortable state of equilibrium achieved between an employee’s primary priorities of their employment positions and their private lifestyle.

The short version – Employers helping workers
cope better with the competing demands of work and family.

Is it really that important? Yes! Actually the word is “Very” according to Fortune magazine’s annual rankings of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Forty-nine percent of respondents from organizations ranked in the top three in their industries reported that addressing work-life balance issues is a “top priority” if your going to balance the human capital challenge in the upcoming years.

Want a few numbers to see if work-life balance actually affects your bottom line? Organizations that are perceived to not support work-life balance will lose 1 in 4 or 27% of their key talent and peak performers within the next two years. Balance those numbers against your competitors!

Leaders must get outside the box of work, work, work and help employees feel more positive about accomplishing challenging assignments while designing a work environment and culture to help decrease stress and allow more time for personal responsibilities.

What’s the payoff for employers? Happy and engaged employees that are free to be creative, more innovative and ignite a vibe of “I love my life and job” throughout the entire workforce. They also are more likely to develop collaborative cohesive teams.

1. Develop open communication styles that allow employees to accomplish tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible. Confusion creates stress and procrastination.

2. Define projects with a clear and compelling purpose, so employees feel good about the time they are away from family working on a project.

3. Empower your employees to make the decisions necessary to accomplish their projects and goals without the stress of endless time wasting meetings and emails.

Work-life balance isn’t easy to obtain and it takes conscious authentic leaders to make it happen but the bottom line is, work-life balance is smart business that boosts your employee’s moral and YOUR bottom line!

Today more people than ever are feeling less than fully alive. Many are just phoning it in, walking around like zombies unaware they have entered the danger zone. They are depressed. Studies show that too many options of toothpaste, tomato sauce and even what movie to see, is causing mental overload and confusion; short-circuiting our excitement for life. 

Our fast pace work and personal life leads us to adopt poor eating and sleeping habits while the Internet holds us captive from real human interaction.

But you can Snap Out of It! and multiply your success.  It just takes making a commitment to live consciously and learning how to calculate the best life options for peak performance.

In my research and personal experience getting back on stage as a keynote speaker and entertainer, I recommend doing some adding and subtracting that will add up to big success factors!

1. Subtract – Sugar. Especially processed foods like cookies, cupcakes and ice cream. Stabilizing blood sugar levels cuts cravings and improves your mood. According to the American Heart Association the average American consumes over 22 teaspoons of sugar a day. Most women should consume no more than 6 teaspoons a day.

2. Add – 20 minutes of daily exercise. Walk around the block or hop on the treadmill just get your legs moving. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook on life.

3. Subtract – Over indulging with alcohol to relax. Alcohol is a depressant. Everyone metabolizes alcohol differently. Know your limits. According to one major study conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, nearly one-third of people with major depression also have an alcohol problem.

4. Add – Uplifting and positive books like “Wisdom Wedgies & Life’s Little Zingers” by
 that amazing author/speaker DeDe Murcer Moffett. Positive psychology can teach us how to savor positive events, express gratitude for everyday experiences, develop optimism, and cultivate resilience in the face of difficulties.

5. Subtract – Time on social media. Studies show that the illusions of a perfect and ultra successful life being created through social media cause feelings of unworthiness and anxiety for the young and old alike. Get out in the real world with real human interaction to Snap You Out of the illusion that you can’t and aren’t enough all ready!

6. Add – 8 Hugs to your day. Did you know that hugging another human being for a minimum of 20 seconds releases the hormone oxytocin into your blood stream. Oxytocin is released in the body when we feel safe and connected and tells the brain, “Everything is all right.”

Scientists suggest that you need to experience at least eight hugs a day in order to feel happier and more content with life.

If you are feeling less than fully alive take control.  Subtract some things and add others but don’t just sit by and do nothing when life just isn’t adding up!

As I always say “It’s never too late to Snap Out of It! and do something amazing!