Why there should be an "I" in team

In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different - Coco Chanel

The irony behind the belief that there can be no "I" in team, is that nearly all advances and innovations are envisioned and created by the very "I's" we tend to alienate and surpress for the sake of maintaining the harmony of the team. But is that enough to justify anti-team warfare?

As a former Cirque du Soleil performer I fully understand and respect the value of team and working together to achieve a common goal. However! I also learned that individuality is a necessary catalyst for growth, competition and innovation. 

The "I"ndividuals who see more, can do more than their "supporting" cast should be celebrated and embraced because they iniciate relevant change by challenging and going against the grain, ruffling feathers and disrupting the comfortable creative status quo of society and corporate America. The reality is that without them we still might be in the stone-age. 

Companies can truly benefit by not only allowing individuality, but encouraging it. Companies strive to be unique within their market, separating themselves from their competitors and rivals. So why not let the differentiation factor trickel through from within your culture?  

WHY DO WE FEAR INDIVIDUALITY? 

We fear it because it makes for an uncomfortable challange to management and leadership. The key is to build teams made up of diverse individuals with varied skills and capabilities who each bring something of great worth to the table. Then adding to that element, communicate clearly what their roles are and what your expectations of them are.  

OPTIMIZING TEAM WORK

Teams ultimately work best not because everybody is the same, but because everybody understands their respective role and has a common purpose in mind regardless of who actually lifts the trophy. They should not only embrace their differences but stimulate and invite the differences to shine.

Some of the world's greatest sports teams, had an "I" that when properly managed, maintained their star "I" status, but simply became the chore and heartbeat of a team they lead and inspired to victory. Phil Jackson, (arguably one of the best man-managers around) gave Michael Jordan (Koby Bryant/Shaq) the freedom to unleash their individual genius, complimented by a Dennis Rodman, who Jackson allowed to be Dennis Rodman - resulting in sports dynasty. He didn't fear the individuality. I'm not sure anybody should.

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THANK YOU - Vital Germaine

The top ten leadership quotes to live by

Strong leaders build happy, focused and inspired teams that are committed to elevate the CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE by delivering on the brand promise and living up to the expectations and needs of the modern consumer.

The leadership paradigm has shifted. We’re becoming a networking society where collaboration is key, innovation essential, heightened customer experience a must, and responsibility belonging to many individuals, not just one. There is so much more to leadership today than power and having people follow you.

The ultimate purpose and objective of great leaders is to instill belief, hope, direction and inspire greatness from colleagues and employees. 

TOP TEN LEADERSHIP QUOTES

1. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. —John Quincy Adams

2. Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations. —Peter Drucker

3. I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. —Ralph Nader

4. A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. —John Maxwell

5. The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves. —Ray Kroc

6. Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position. —Brian Tracy

7. Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. —Warren Bennis

8. A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte

9. You don’t need a title to be a leader. –Multiple Attributions

10. A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them. —M. D. Arnold

Love and respect should be the driving force behind leadership, resulting in enhanced company culture, motivated and engaged employees hungry to give, deliver and achieve.

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THANK YOU for reading - Vital Germaine

Why business needs creativity and how it boosts sales

Every successful business needs innovation in order to grow and compete in today's faster-than-ever changing business climate. Creativity provides a platform upon which to envision tomorrow's great ideas and advances – be it developing a new and memorable sensory experience for your clients, or identifying new markets, to implementing revolutionary marketing and sales strategies, or creating defining products that will separate you from your competitors.

"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples, then you and I will still each have an apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas." - George Bernard Shaw.

The challenge with creativity is that people often claim to have none,  yet we are all creative. The common confusion is that most people say they are not creative when what they really mean is that they are NOT ARTISTIC. However, you don't need to be artistic in order to be creative! 

Creativity is more than a skill or talent, it is a mindset. A free mindset of curiosity, adaptability, flexibility, courage and a willingness to take a risk and fail. Add ingenuity into the mix and now you catapult your ideas into the stratosphere where everything becomes possible.

Business needs these qualities to open doors to innovation, extended horizons and to achieve new heights. Equally as important to the mindset, let's not ignore the financial benefits of a forward thinking culture where creativity is invited if not encouraged or expected. 

According to Gallup, forward thinking companies that adapt to trends and implement new approaches, stimulating paradigm shifts, experience on average 20% higher profits.

Are you stimulating sales, broadening your business perspective and promoting growth by inspiring innovation and creativity as a part of your corporate culture?

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THANK YOU for reading - Vital Germaine

Why Employees Quit

We have all experienced at one point in our careers where we simply no longer wanted to be at work. It could have been due to standard burn out or a change in our career goals/objectves… need of a new challenge..

There are usually two reasons or two typical symptoms of the unhappy disengaged employee, inspiring them to quit.

1. Bad leadership:

   ONE bad boss can be enough to determine it’s time to go. It’s that bad boss who disrespects, bullies, harasses you. The one who is indifferent and insensitive, rude, belittling or simply doesn’t like you and makes it evident.

   Such bosses heavily affect employee performance. Maybe employees take a few more sick days as a result (attendance). Some of them become less effective or less focused/comitted on the job (loss in productivity/efficienty). Perhaps that employees attitude become negative… which is highly contagious. They may become more confrontational, even a bad employee as a result. Many a good employee has become a bad employee due to anemic/toxix leadership or management.

   Too many companies allow bad bosses to remain in positions of management or leadership without fully realizing the negative impact they have on the company bottom line and customer experience! Sometimes it's a reflection of the CEO or executive leadership and culture they have established by example and lack of emotional intelligence. Execs… you need training too.  Contact us to learn more about our executive coaching programs.

   As leaders it's wise to frequently self evaluate and make sure you are not the bad boss that makes people quit. Be the boss that inspires greatness. Lead to empower not to have power.

   "IF YOUR ACTIONS INSPIRE OTHERS TO DREAM MORE, LEARN MORE, DO MORE, AND BECOME MORE, YOU ARE A LEADER." - John Quincy Adams.

   DID YOU KNOW:

   • The number 1 reason why people quit their jobs is a bad boss or immediate supervisor - Gallup poll of more than 1 million employed U.S. workers.

   • 2 MILLION Americans a month voluntarily quit their jobs - The US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

   • Gallup survey of 25 million employees, part time and full time, in 189 different countries. They concluded that 1 in 2 employees are not happy at work.

   • Disengaged employees cost the US economy upwards of $350 million.

2. A lack of purpose:

Finding meaning in our work is a great motivator. As Simon Sinek says, “Start With Why”. Even though he meant as a business model, as in Apple’s approach to their products and service, the same “why'“ applies to the workforce. A paycheck is rarely the incentive to elevate employee engagment, unless it’s such a large amount that an employee witll put up with the lack of inspiration. Employees must feel INSPIRED.

Leadership must constantly and respectfully reinforce the value, meaning and impact of the work they do. People of not just driven by a paycheck. If a company isn’t offering work that provides value and truly changes the lives of its customers, they may find that over time, their workforce will inevitably become disengaged. It costs businesses not only dollars in lost productivity, but heavily impacts customer experience and the reputation of a brand. It only takes one bad manager or boss to cause a chain reaction within your culture. It only takes one minor shift in how leadership views and treats its employees to inspire meaning and motivation. Most human beings want to be seen, hear and understood. They want to know they bring value, are valued and make a difference.

If this blog was of value, please feel welcome to borrow and/or share. 

THANK YOU for reading - Vital Germaine

7 Steps To Turn Ordinary into Extraordinary

American football broadcaster and former player, Jimmy Johnson says, "The difference between ordinary and extraordinary, is that little extra."

It’s never easy to remain energized and motivated in any work environment. Company culture and leadership can and does influence engagement, but it is ultimately a personal choice as to the work ethic we establish and execute for ourselves. Becoming extraordinary or achieving greatness is an individual endeavor that burns from within.

1. PASSION: Withou passion, there is niether fuel nor direction to achieve a desired outcome. Passion is more than an intense LOVE or a compelling enthusiasm for an action or goal. It is also a love and compelling enthusiasm for those with whom you work or interact with. In other words... ADD MORE COWBELL, it will take you the extra mile! Nonetheless, passion without a plan is easily wasted! 
2. PURPOSE: It is crucial to have a "WHY." When our why is evident it adds meaning to what we do and how we do it. Purpose propells us to pursue and achieve because the reason becomes larger and more powerful than just ourselves. Human's have an innate desire or need to have a positive impact on those around us. Tap into that desire or need and inertia will take care of the rest and elevate your successes.
3. BE CHILDLIKE: By being child-like and curious we find fun in the scary. Our inner child tends to be less handcuffed and willing to explore, stumble and discover. 
4. HAVE FUN: We are better when laughing, enjoying and having fun... better parents, better friends, better employees, better lovers, BETTER EVERYTHING! We learn more, we experience less fear and are more invigorated, enthusiastic and optimistic when enjoying what we do.
5. WILLINGNESS TO FAIL: From failure come lessons and experience and new opportunities. The key is to not be afraid and to fail quickly. Use failure as a platform to build upon. It takes courage.
6. AUTHENTICITY: Be YOUnique. Be you in your truest and best form. Commit to share the best of you consistently and in a way that makes you memorable, likeable and trustable. Share the best of your truest self and inspire those around you to better themselves.
7. STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE:  That's where the magic happens. That's where ordinary becomes extraordinary! Take the risk, let go, be free, explore, discover, surprise yourself and achieve. Don't be afraid to fail.

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THANK YOU for reading - Vital Germaine

7 Keys to Optimizing Team Dynamics for Elevated Profits

All businesses need engaged employees. All businesses must have sustainable models, ecosystems or designs in place to keep the company progressing and remaining relevant and competitive in today's faster-than-ever changing climate.

At the heart of any business is culture, embodied by it's employees. Employees are the front line of how your customers experience your brand. If employees are not engaged, profits will suffer extensively - up to $370 BILLION annually according to Gallup!

To optimize team dynamics it's crucial to have a solid culture that allows employees, if not invites them to thrive.

ASK YOURSELF THIS?

1. Are your employees a good fit for your culture and goals?

2. Are you providing an environment that promotes collaboration and idea sharing?

3. Are you investing in your employees and setting them up for success?

4. Are you listening, relating and communicating clearly with your tribe?

5. Are you providing employees with inspirational leadership that stimulates growth and passion?

6. Are you enabling innovation and encouraging if not inviting change?

7. Are such values as love, respect, gratitude, kindness and appreciation a default setting within your culture?

As a former artist and team captain in Cirque du Soleil, I can attest to the value of culture and team dynamics - it's impact on performance is undeniable and heavily effects the customers overall experience beyond the stage.

Every customer interaction must leave a positive impression on every level of that experience. A great show experience could be compromised because the service provided by one disengaged team member at the popcorn stand or bar was lousy if not frustrating.

But imagine, if you could raise the applause level of your customers as if they were experiencing a memorable and amazing show from A to Z. How would that effect your bottom line?

Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results - Andrew Carnegie

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THANK YOU for reading - Vital Germaine

LEVERAGING YOUR TRIBE TO ELEVATE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.

The summer is over and companies are returning to full swing in preparation for a succesful year. It's not easy to keep focus and maintain employee motivation. Your growth and profits depend on how engaged your employees are and what levels of customer experience they provide.

In the words of Shep Hyken, "Customers are smarter than ever and looking for more value. More than just customer service, they want a great customer experience."

At ENGAGE we partner with our clients to offer relevant, actionable and impactful team development trainings, keynotes and workshops that elevate employee engagement. We build happier teams. The ultimate objective is to grow and strengthen your brand and increase sales.

Without happy engaged employees, the most efficient processes, the best products and premium environments only cater for the transaction slice of sales that are void of the necessary emotional connection tying the brand, story and experience to the guest. Companies cannot ignore the value of their employees if they are to grow, succeed and provide the cusomers with great experiences.

Everything within your culture and everybody within your tribe must be aligned in a cohesive way that best communicates or shares your brand promise. Your happy employees will be more attentive, more helpful, more aware, and tuned into your customers needs and expectations. Your HAPPY EMPLOYEES, reinforced by product, process, environment and culture, will inherently provide eleveated customer experiences. 

3 FACTS about happy employees:

1. Happy employees have a 10% lower absentee record.
2. Happy employees will have a 10% lower turn over rate.
3. Happy employees will be 5% more productive.

Creating a happy culture with positive and engaged employees translates to more $$$ for your business. It can't and shouldn't be overlooked. More importantly, investing on building happier teams is a fundemental need in today's highly competitive business climate as your clients are looking for a memorable experience delivered by YOUR TEAM.

If this blog was of value, please feel welcome to use and/or share.

THANK YOU for reading - Vital Germaine

What is employee disengagement costing your organization? How to fix that?

According to Gallup, disengaged employees now cost the US economy $500 BILLION annually!

The human element, the power of leadership, strong team dynamics and the value of a happy and engaging cultures can no longer be denied. In this age of the consumer, the people element has become more relevant than ever.  

Business is becoming more and more about collaboration and information sharing. Modern leadership is less about hierarchy and power but more about autonomous decision making, empowerment, flexible schedules and employees (in particular Millennials), having a sense of purpose and opportunity within your company.

HAPPY ENGAGED teams win championships.

Your people are your front line to providing elevated CX. As we move into the information age where the customer expects more and has access to more, it is crucial that the human or people element be valued, nurtured and respected. 

The ROI is simple:  HAPPY ENGAGED teams win championships. Elevated Customer Experiences minimize pain points and build strong emotional connections with their customer through a multitude of platforms, strategies and action plans.  

Companies that are customer-centric in their culture and philosophy are more competitive and generate more income. WHY? Because those happy employees value and care more for the customer beyond the basic transaction. They will go the extra mile and make each and every customer feel valued and important, thus strengthening your brand and loyalty.

FACTS

1. Companies whose leadership rated high in ethics, employee motivation, and employee communication enjoy 20% higher profits! 
2. In contrast, the lost productivity of actively disengaged employees cost the US economy $500 BILLION annually.
3. Teams with a positive attitude will provide a 26% higher return on assets.
4. Companies with a highly engaged workforce improved operating income by 19.2%.
5. A 1% increase in employee commitment can lead to a monthly increase of 9% in sales.

At ENGAGE we understand the challenges of employee engagement and provide a multitude of actionable tools through our dynamic, memorable and impactful trainings, keynotes and workshops. Please contact us for a proposal and to help us understand how we can be of value to your organization.

If this blog was of value, please feel welcome to borrow and or share.  

THANK YOU for reading - Vital Germaine

3 Actionable Steps to Build a Championship Winning Group of Employees.

In today’s faster-than-ever changing business trends and economic globalization, the business paradigm has inevitably shifted. The challenge of becoming and remaining relevant or winning championships has become more testing than ever as the consumer becomes more and more spoiled for choice. Success ultimately boils down to leadership and culture.

There is so much more to leadership today than having people follow you. We’re becoming a networking society where collaboration is key, innovation essential and responsibility belonging to many individuals, not just one.

Our influence on others needs to be more about empowerment rather than authority if we want our business or company to achieve, succeed and thrive.

The 3 actionable pillars to winning a championship in the business world are as follows:

1: CREATIVITY

Incite your team to be more engaged by leveraging their ideas.  The only way to achieve this is by promoting a more creative, expansive and encompassing mindset that enhances their ability to generate novel and relevant ideas, conceive innovative concepts and envision or embrace new strategies and methodologies. It will broaden your team’s horizons and change their perspectives.

Invite more collaboration and idea sharing. Embrace mistakes and fail quickly. Most ideas initially disappoint, yet create a path to accomplishment by default of having planted a seed with potential that if correctly watered will blossom.  The expression of one bad idea often initiates a reaction that leads to a great idea.

In addition, humans have a fundamental need to express and be creative (Maslo’s Hierarchy of Needs  - Self Actualization). When employees are engaged in this process they feel vested in a project and take pride. They will nurture their contribution like a little baby they gave birth to, filled with pride, joy and love.

2: CONNECTIVITY

When a team works cohesively void of speed bumps caused by ego’s or lack of personal and emotional connections and relationships, they open up and become more receptive and inclined to collaborate and excel through the support, trust and encouragement of their peers.

It’s a question of putting down our guards and focusing on the bigger picture or the common goal from which the unified team takes pride in achieving.

Talent, teamwork, expertise, commitment, determination and desire fueled by passion, wins championships. If not, add a more cowbell!

3: FUN AND HAPPINESS

Gallup surveys show that 1 in 2 employees are unhappy or disengaged at work due to failing leadership and mediocre organizational culture. A happy employee is an engaged, productive and efficient employee. The math is simple.

1.    Companies with a highly engaged workforce improved operating income by 19.2%.

2.    Increased employee engagement and commitment can increase customer satisfaction.

3.    A 1% increase in employee commitment can lead to a monthly increase of 9% in sales.

It can’t be denied that happy teams that are in sync and have fun playing together are more inclined to thrive, reach higher and win championships.  

Contact us today at ENGAGEteams.com for a customized team development training program, designed to inspire greatness, leadership, creative ingenuity and happier lives in the workplace.

If this post was of value, please feel welcome to borrow or share. 

THANK YOU for reading - Vital Germaine

What Impact Does Attitude Have at Home and at Work?

ATTITUDE affects behavior, our approach to life and work. Our perspectives are either broadened or narrowed as a result. Attitude will ultimately determine the outcome of any endeavor or pursuit. It is the heartbeat of our personal mindset and everything else that follows. It is the blood that runs through the veins of an organization. It is the oxygen that those around us breathe and it drives us forward when faced with challenges.

Positive attitudes make for happier people. When we are happy we tend to be better: we are better leaders, better employees, better lovers, better friends, better parents… better everything.

BUSINESS AND WORK: Happy, collaborative, revitalized, focused, motivated and engaged teams with positive company cultures win championships!

At ENGAGE we partner with our clients to offer relevant, actionable and impactful team development trainings, keynotes and workshops that elevate employee engagement. We build happier teams. The ultimate objective is to grow and strengthen your brand and increase sales.

Successful teams and companies have a winning mentality at the heart of their culture that is reinforced by strong leadership. They have positive attitudes filled with optimism, belief, passion, strong communication, a collaborative mentality and a clear focus on the goal.

 

FACTS:

• Companies whose leadership rated high in ethics, employee motivation, and employee communication enjoyed 20% higher profits! 
• In contrast, the lost productivity of actively disengaged employees cost the US economy # $370 BILLION annually.
• Teams with a positive attitude will provide a 26% higher return on assets.
• Companies with a highly engaged workforce improved operating income by 19.2%.
• A 1% increase in employee commitment can lead to a monthly increase of 9% in sales.

 ASK YOURSELF:

• How does your attitude benefit your team?
• How would you rate your attitude and could it improve?

 ATTITUDES ARE CONTAGIOUS:

It is necessary to regularly self-evaluate, keeping our attitude in the right place, ensuring it has a significant and beneficial impact on our team, company culture and those in our personal lives too. It's all about what you do next, not what happened. Attitude is everything. Have a positive one. It's a choice.

For more on ENGAGE, and how our team development services can inspire relevent and meaningful paradigm shifts, log onto www.ENGAGEteams.com

If this post was of any value, please feel welcome to borrow and share. 

THANK YOU for reading - Vital Germaine