11 Tips to Become a Better Leader

Being likeable will help you in your job, business, relationships, and life. I interviewed dozens of successful business leaders for my last book, to determine what made them so likeable and their companies so successful. All of the concepts are simple, and yet, perhaps in the name of revenues or the bottom line, we often lose sight of the simple things - things that not only make us human, but can actually help us become more successful. Below are the eleven most important principles to integrate to become a better leader:

1. Listening

"When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen." - Ernest Hemingway

Listening is the foundation of any good relationship. Great leaders listen to what their customers and prospects want and need, and they listen to the challenges those customers face. They listen to colleagues and are open to new ideas. They listen to shareholders, investors, and competitors. Here's why the best CEO's listen more.

2. Storytelling

"Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today." -Robert McAfee Brown

After listening, leaders need to tell great stories in order to sell their products, but more important, in order to sell their ideas. Storytelling is what captivates people and drives them to take action. Whether you're telling a story to one prospect over lunch, a boardroom full of people, or thousands of people through an online video - storytelling wins customers.

3. Authenticity

"I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I've become. If I had, I'd have done it a lot earlier." -Oprah Winfrey

Great leaders are who they say they are, and they have integrity beyond compare. Vulnerability and humility are hallmarks of the authentic leader and create a positive, attractive energy. Customers, employees, and media all want to help an authentic person to succeed. There used to be a divide between one’s public self and private self, but the social internet has blurred that line. Tomorrow's leaders are transparent about who they are online, merging their personal and professional lives together.

4. Transparency

"As a small businessperson, you have no greater leverage than the truth." -John Whittier

There is nowhere to hide anymore, and businesspeople who attempt to keep secrets will eventually be exposed. Openness and honesty lead to happier staff and customers and colleagues. More important, transparency makes it a lot easier to sleep at night - unworried about what you said to whom, a happier leader is a more productive one.

5. Team Playing

"Individuals play the game, but teams beat the odds." -SEAL Team Saying

No matter how small your organization, you interact with others every day. Letting others shine, encouraging innovative ideas, practicing humility, and following other rules for working in teams will help you become a more likeable leader. You’ll need a culture of success within your organization, one that includes out-of-the-box thinking.

6. Responsiveness

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." -Charles Swindoll

The best leaders are responsive to their customers, staff, investors, and prospects. Every stakeholder today is a potential viral sparkplug, for better or for worse, and the winning leader is one who recognizes this and insists upon a culture of responsiveness. Whether the communication is email, voice mail, a note or a a tweet, responding shows you care and gives your customers and colleagues a say, allowing them to make a positive impact on the organization.

7. Adaptability

"When you're finished changing, you're finished." -Ben Franklin

There has never been a faster-changing marketplace than the one we live in today. Leaders must be flexible in managing changing opportunities and challenges and nimble enough to pivot at the right moment. Stubbornness is no longer desirable to most organizations. Instead, humility and the willingness to adapt mark a great leader.

8. Passion

"The only way to do great work is to love the work you do." -Steve Jobs

Those who love what they do don’t have to work a day in their lives. People who are able to bring passion to their business have a remarkable advantage, as that passion is contagious to customers and colleagues alike. Finding and increasing your passion will absolutely affect your bottom line.

9. Surprise and Delight

"A true leader always keeps an element of surprise up his sleeve, which others cannot grasp but which keeps his public excited and breathless." -Charles de Gaulle

Most people like surprises in their day-to-day lives. Likeable leaders underpromise and overdeliver, assuring that customers and staff are surprised in a positive way. There are a plethora of ways to surprise without spending extra money - a smile, We all like to be delighted — surprise and delight create incredible word-of-mouth marketing opportunities.

10. Simplicity

"Less isn't more; just enough is more." -Milton Glaser

The world is more complex than ever before, and yet what customers often respond to best is simplicity — in design, form, and function. Taking complex projects, challenges, and ideas and distilling them to their simplest components allows customers, staff, and other stakeholders to better understand and buy into your vision. We humans all crave simplicity, and so today's leader must be focused and deliver simplicity.

11. Gratefulness

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." -Gilbert Chesterton

Likeable leaders are ever grateful for the people who contribute to their opportunities and success. Being appreciative and saying thank you to mentors, customers, colleagues, and other stakeholders keeps leaders humble, appreciated, and well received. It also makes you feel great! Donor's Choose studied the value of a hand-written thank-you note, and actually found donors were 38% more likely to give a 2nd time if they got a hand-written note!

The Golden Rule: Above all else, treat others as you’d like to be treated

By showing others the same courtesy you expect from them, you will gain more respect from coworkers, customers, and business partners. Holding others in high regard demonstrates your company’s likeability and motivates others to work with you. This seems so simple, as do so many of these principles — and yet many people, too concerned with making money or getting by, fail to truly adopt these key concepts.

125 Crores Indian and 6 Medals in Olympic London 2012

Happy to see that we got 6 medals in London Olympic 2012. Ranked 55 in the list.

Still we need to do a lot because we have that power and need to attain good Image on World Map. No doubt we have amazed the World in some sports like Cricket, Chess and other but still i feel that we "India" can do many more things and my request to Indian Government is please help the Students and YoungIndia to participate in such games at various level in the country, like Schools, Colleges, Institutions.

Make a Plan for Every Olympic to send some particular numbers of good participants and I am sure we can definitely will do good Job and bring Many medals for the India.

ALL THE BEST.

Tips to handle RUDE People at work

We encounter RUDE People everywhere, especially at our work places.

They are simply…rude. There’s possibly no reason for them to be like that towards you, but they just are. It’s appalling at times: cutting you in the coffee line, or getting aggressive for no reason, or not responding when you greet them in the morning. Generally, we just think to ourselves, ‘What just happened?’ and walk away. But at times, our niceness is seen as fear and the rude person’s behaviour continues to get worse. There are a few simple things you can do curb such behaviour:

#1 Turn around and face the perpetrator

Rude people are as worse as the bullies you faced in high school. You thought you’d never have to face them again in your adult life. But here they are again. Rude people think that they can get away with murder, a cocky confidence of being the alpha male or female of the pack. It could be a case of mood swings, but there’s only so much you can take. Turn around and look them in the eye.

I had this female colleague who was rude to everyone. She’d treat people like they were her servants. She used that tone with me one day, which made me feel like I was nothing but a data entry operator. I didn’t say anything right away. I called her aside and said firmly, “I find your tone offensive. I don’t like being spoken to that way. I’d appreciate if you don’t use that tone with me again.’ I saw her crack. She apologized immediately and I personally haven’t had that issue with her again. This approach can be used in any situation, even if, say someone has been piling your desk with work. You can tell them, “I have a bunch of things in hand. If I finish those on time, I shall look at these.”

#2 Gandhigiri

Remember Munnabhai and his wise words? This approach works sometimes. Say someone is knowingly or unknowingly being rude and arrogant towards you. For example, your office peon tells you in an acerbic tone to come and get your tea from the pantry, you don’t need to stoop to his level and raise your voice. Instead, you gently smile and thank him for letting you know. For all you know, he’s going through a personal crisis at home. If your gentle behaviour touches him he’ll either apologize or alter his behaviour against you. Instead of giving rude people what they want -- a challenge, an opportunity for a fight -- you can practise Gandhigiri and throw them off.

#3 Don’t pay them much attention

Unfortunately, some people have never had the social training on how to be polite and well behaved in a civil society. There is no point in trying to change them. Avoiding them is the best option here. If you have to interact with them, keep your interaction to a minimum. Be the “hi, hello” kinds, as they say. Talk business and nothing else: “Please courier this packet to the mentioned address. Thanks.” The important thing to remember is to not lose your own temper, or else what’s the difference between that person and yourself? 

A mongrel will always bark at a passing elephant, but the elephant keeps walking. Follow this old saying and you will be just fine. See which approach from the ones mentioned above works for you. If nothing does, and the situation seems to be getting out of your hand, immediately report the matter to your HR department. Don’t let rude people get to you, and continue to enjoy your work.

Second Option is Always Available

In my carrier at various Organizations, I found that we always need to be ready for Second Option.

No one is fixed for long tenure. We have to be ready and open our hands for Second Options. If you are a Company and not making good profits and return you are always open to test your Second Options. It can be in many kinds, changing the employees, company policies or changing to new structure. In most of cases we see that "Change Brings Good Returns". While adopting the Change Policy one has to be very cautious to check and analyze that it should not effect the earlier establishments or reputations.

As an Employee one has to be always ready with Second Option in terms of changing Carrier. You always need to be ready for adopting any new changes and new environment because You never know when TIME will some and you have forced to do so.

So guys please always be ready adopt and experiences a New Thing Always and It can come in many forms.

BE READY FOR SECOND OPTIONS.

Wish You ALL a Very Happy and Prosperos New Year 2012

Must Visit Beachside Roadside Trips

Although you may think the key element to the success of a road trip lies in its spontaneity and the thrill of the unknown, the travels experts over at Beach Tomato know full well, that this is not actually the case, and when it comes to reality, it’s no bad thing to have some sort of strategy. So they've stepped behind the wheel for us, and chosen three of their best beach road trips. And whether it’s the unspoilt beauty of South Africa, the mouth-watering scenery of Vietnam or just pure California dreaming that really gets your motor going, Beach Tomato can organise each trip, uniquely tailored and bespoke to you.

South Africa: From Cape Town To Coffee Bay - It maybe the road-trippers favourite, but travel into the wild coast that lies beyond to discover rugged beach beauty at its best.

Also read:

• 10 walking tours
• India secrets: Nagaland
• Secrets of Maharashtra

Start your road trip off in the boho-beach town of Muizenberg, with a delicious breakfast, complete with a jaw-dropping beach view. With a slightly edgier vibe than expected, this quirky little town lies picturesque, scattered with an array of rainbow-coloured Victorian beach huts, by the sea. Let your sense guide you to the next stop on the Garden Route, Nature's Valley, where the jagged mountains are softened by the luscious green jungle and the sounds of serenity can be heard rolling on by. Oh nature's valley where have you been all our lives? Beyond Port Elizabeth and into the wild coast lies little coffee bay, whose gold sands unfold onto the Mpako River, in the last leg of its journey into the south Indian sea. With spectacular views of tumbling hills, Coffee Bay is a definite road trip high light.

California: From LA to San Francisco - In true American-movie road trip style begin in the heart of LA, Santa Barbara, before meandering down the coastline, in your vintage Chevrolet, to San Fran.

Boasting scattered palm trees, swaying ferns and a wharf gilded with yachts, the East beach in Santa Monica oozes beauty. Your next stop falls into the somewhat secret and pretty hard to find beach category, the Big Sur. Breaking the usual Cali mould, this rugged coastline is home to Pfeiffer Beach, with its purple sand and peppered with rock pools it boasts eye watering views out across the ocean. Next on the list, 17-Mile Drive, a visual treat of panoramic views and magnificent surroundings, accessed only via a private stretch called Pebble Beach. Again this is not your typical Californian beach for sunbathing, but then again, as we always insist, that's not what all beaches are for. Most, but not all.

Vietnam: From Hanoi to Phu Quoc - From the spicy street on Hanoi to Pho Quoc island, explore Vietnams stunning stretch of coastline both by car and bicycle.

Nestled in the surround Cat Ba national park, just half an hours boat ride from Halong Bay, lies little Lan Ha Bay. With over 130 bijou beaches, most too small to even weigh down a name, paddle out, kayak-style  and explore these nameless specks of paradise and the slithers of sand they call their own. After this continue on to the 20 miles of sweet sprawling, silky sand, sweeping the breadth of Cua Dai. Here personal space come as part of the package, with Cua Dai literally translating as 'Big Sea Mouth', a spot physically unable to disappoint, with miles of, what seems like, never ending coastline at your disposal. It starts at the ancient romantic town of Hoi An and weaves along the coast to the city of Da Nang. Kick back and soak in the panorama, before setting off to Phu Quoc, in the gulf of Thailand, were you will be greeted with some of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful beaches. Bai Sao beach may be a little tricky to get to, but with helpful local willing to lend a hand it is well worth the effort to visit this isolated tropical treat. Here you can enjoy some of the sumptuous seafood and have yourself a seriously scrumptious beach break.

More Sales Closing Techniques Equal More Profitable Sales

he key to increasing your closing ratio is to have multiple closing techniques.

Why are some salespeople successful at turning the rejection into a sale?

For many it’s as simple as having 3-5 closing techniques they feel very comfortable using.

Too many salespeople are so afraid of closing that they only have one or maybe two different ways to ask for the order.  You have to work at it. The closing techniques you use must be comfortable to you. This means you have to use them on a regular basis.

Before I share with you a few of the better closing techniques, let me challenge you to first break out of your rut and always push yourself to make sure you’re using different approaches as a way of keeping your skills sharp for when you do need them.   This is no different than the golfer who never practices with their wedge.  When it does come time for them to use their wedge to get out of tough trap, they won’t know how to do it.

Same thing can happen with closing sales. You must practice various closing techniques before you need them.

A few of the better closing techniques I recommend include:

Biggest need: Positions your offer as the best way to satisfy the critical need they have.  “You do have a huge need and this is the best way to help you deal with it.”

Option close: Provide the customer with an option to allow them to feel like they’re making the decision.  “Would you like the blue or the black model?”

Assumptive close: This just builds off of the positive feedback the customer has provided to you throughout the call.  “Who should I talk to about getting the purchase order?”

Timely close: Plays off of the need to get the order in by a certain date to ensure it can ship on time or be able to take advantage of a discount.  “We’ll need to get the order in by the end of the day if we’re going to be able to ship it by your deadline.”

Best choice: Builds off of the buyer’s ego and their comments.  “You clearly are looking at the best package.”

Bandwagon: If a customer is not confident, this approach helps them feel safe.  “This is the best choice as it’s the same one everyone else is buying.”

Signature: A great approach for a customer who is very process driven. It merely entails giving them the contract to sign when it’s time to close the sale

Clear the desk: For the busy buyer, this plays to their ego and their workload.  “I know you’ve got a lot of other things you need to get to, so let’s go ahead and get this order taken care of right now.”

Early adopter: If you’re selling into a competitive industry, this approach works well for buyers looking to gain an edge. “If we order right now, you’ll be the first one to do so and you’ll have a big advantage.”

These are just a few of the many closes you could use.  The key is to know when to use them and when not to use them.

An example would be the “bandwagon” close — it would work well if you’re selling to a government entity, because they will feel safe knowing others are buying it.  On the other hand, a government entity would never respond positively to the “early adopter” close, due to the risk involved.

If I’m selling to a customer I know has a hard time making a decision, then I’m certainly not going to use the “option” close, but would most likely use the “best choice” approach.

Top performing salespeople are comfortable using different closing techniques. Let me challenge you over the next few weeks to start increasing the number of different closing techniques you feel good about using. Ultimately, more closing techniques result in more profitable sales.