Since the 1950s we have been judging companies by their longevity. We fret over how long they stay on the Fortune 500 list, maintain a leadership position, or survive "disruptions."

But does longevity even matter anymore? Isn't longevity just a bi-product of something more important?

I think that great companies are those that dedicate themselves to a problem that matters. When they solve the problem, they exit the stage triumphant. And companies that survive, do so because the problem they exist to solve (their purpose or mission) is so big that there is still work to do. Longevity is not a goal in itself; it is a bi-product of taking on a big problem.

Purina, for example, exists to "connect pets with people." Google exists to "organize the world's information." When will such missions be achieved? Every day, and never, which is why, as long as they stick to and really live their missions, these companies will survive.

Consider Curemark, a biotech company founded by pediatric doctor Joan Fallon. She noticed that many of the autistic children she treated were low on a certain kind of enzyme for processing protein, and that they all had similar diets. Fallon began investigating ideas for alternative treatments.

She's since quit her medical practice and has built a company on her insights. 10 years later, Curemark has raised $50 million, and has completed phase 3 trials with the FDA. In other words, she found a problem that matters.

Here are her four key lessons to successfully build companies that solve problems that matter.

1. Focus on the area that's holding you back

The critical path will determine the speed of progress. It is better to have all areas developing, even if slowly, than one area in trouble. Think about your marketing, sales, production, human capital, operations, finances, etc. Which is limiting your growth? That is the area to focus on.

2. Be willing to pay for great talent

Choosing a doctor, attorney, PR agent, or most types of talent places you in the dilemma of not being able to assess what you're "buying" until it is too late to switch. You think you are getting a good deal by hiring someone who will do the job at a discounted rate. But the mistakes of someone less qualified usually outweigh their savings. Fallon credits Curemark's success to "getting great advice" and surrounding herself with great advisors and talent. What are the critical functions you will need to succeed? Do you have the best talent playing these roles?

3. Don't make fear-based decisions

Fear--that you will run out of money, that your theory is flawed--can lead you to make the wrong decisions. Stop before you commit and ask, "Am I making this choice out of fear?"

4. Understand the rules

Many biotech companies assume the FDA follows strict rules. But the rules, if you're willing to understand them, are malleable. What matters more are the principles like are you protecting patient safety, are you solving a meaningful problem. Don't assume the rules are fixed; instead, probe them with a higher purpose in mind.

As Curemark reaches the successful conclusion of a tough, passionate fight to solve a problem that matters--1 in 88 children in the US are autistic--they are now preparing to solve new challenges by taking a unique technology to deliver solutions into the human body to tackle problems like schizophrenia and other neurological conditions.

Companies don't grow just to grow. They don't last just to last. They thrive when the world needs them, when they are committed to solving a problem that matters. Then there is reason for them to continue your work, to grow, to thrive.

What problem keeps your business going?

--------------------
KAIHAN KRIPPENDORFF
Author of Outthink the Competition and CEO of Outthinker, a strategic innovation firm, Kaihan Krippendorff teaches executives, managers and business owners how to seize opportunities others ignore, unlock innovation, and build strategic thinking skills.

Source:
http://m.fastcompany.com/3023216/leadership-now/great-companies-solve-problems-that-matter

http://innovationova.blogspot.com

Someone once said, "People don't plan to fail—they fail to plan." Undoubtedly, none of us plan to fail but without an ongoing business planning process in position, we certainly are planning to be overwhelmed, distracted, and pulled off course on a regular basis.

Small business entrepreneurs who adopt an ongoing business planning process enjoy that pot of gold of greater efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, clients, and revenue. No matter how much business planning makes your stomach turn, the success you'll enjoy in your business is worth every queasy moment.

We created the Daily Goal Planner with you, the busy entrepreneur, in mind. Its purpose is twofold:keep you focused on the most critical activities to move your business forward and shift you from "doing your business" to "growing your business". You can download it here for free.

With your weekly plan for success in place, you're ready to properly plan each day to make sure your primary focus is on actions and activities directly linked to achieving your goals. Using the Daily Goal Planner, follow these five steps to ensure you're moving toward your goals each and every day:

- Enter your Long Term Goals.

The primary importance of setting goals is to provide direction and purpose. Clear, concise goals keep you focused and precede success. When setting your goals, be sure they are SMART—specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. The duration of a long-term goal varies from business-to-business; however, most experts recommend a period of 3-5 years.

- Record your Short Term Goals.

The period of effectiveness for a short term goal, much like the long-term goal, is business-dependant. When establishing the time duration for your business, select that which gives you the greatest degree of clarity and focus. For most, this is one month. Make sure your short-term goal(s), aligns with your long-term goal(s)

Although the Daily Goal Planner allows you to enter and save data, we strongly recommend you re-enter your long and short-term goals each day to reinforce your direction and strengthen your goals.

- Determine your Top Priorities.

Although it seems like everything takes precedence, when it comes to achieving goals, yourtop priorities consist of the most important projects and/or actions that advance your short and long-term goals.

- Design your day.

Equipped with the top priorities needed to further your short and long-term goals, you're ready to plan your day. Considering all previous commitments, set aside the time required to accomplish your top priorities.

- Catalog your To Do.

This is where you list other actions in need of your attention for the day. Be careful not to list more than what realistically can be completed given your known time availability.

With your goals clearly defined and focused on your top priorities, you are ready to launch a high performance day. Here's to planning for success! It's magically delicious!

Source:
http://www.projecteve.com/daily-planning-for-success-is-an-entrepreneurs-pot-of-gold/
http://innovationova.blogspot.com

AND HOW TO HARNESS YOUR BRAIN'S POWER TO COME UP WITH MORE GREAT IDEAS.

HOW TO BE A SUCCESS AT EVERYTHING

THE SCIENCE OF GREAT IDEAS--HOW TO TRAIN YOUR CREATIVE BRAIN
CREATIVITY IS A MYSTERY RIGHT? MAYBE NOT. HERE'S A LOOK AT THE SCIENCE OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND HOW TO HARNESS YOUR BRAIN'S POWER TO COME UP WITH MORE GREAT IDEAS.

Ah, ideas. Who doesn't want more great ideas? I know I do.

I usually think about ideas as being magical and hard to produce. I expect them to just show up without me cultivating them, and I often get frustrated when they don't show up when I need them.

The good news is that it turns out cultivating ideas is a process, and one that we can practice to produce more (and hopefully better) ideas. On the other hand, often times great ideas can also just come to us whilst in the shower or in another relaxing environment.

First, let's look at the science of the creative process.

How our brains work creatively

So far, science hasn't really determined exactly what happens in our brains during the creative process, since it really combines a whole bunch of different brain processes. And, contrary to popular belief, it includes both sides of our brains working together, rather than just one or the other.

The truth is, our brain hemispheres are inextricably connected. The two sides of our brains are simply distinguished by their different processing styles.

The idea that people can be "right brain thinkers" or "left brain thinkers" is actually a myth that I've debunked before:

The origins of this common myth came from some 1960s research on patients whose corpus callosum (the band of neural fibers that connect the hemispheres) had been cut as a last-resort treatment for epilepsy. This removed the natural process of cross-hemisphere communication, and allowed scientists to conduct experiments on how each hemisphere worked in isolation.

Unless you've had this procedure yourself, or had half of your brain removed, you're not right or left brained.

We do have a rough idea of how these processes might work, though.

The three areas of the brain that are used for creative thinking

Among all the networks and specific centers in our brains, there are three that are known for being used in creative thinking.

The Attentional Control Network helps us with laser focus on a particular task. It's the one that we activate when we need to concentrate on complicated problems or pay attention to a task like reading or listening to a talk.

The Imagination Network as you might have guessed, is used for things like imagining future scenarios and remembering things that happened in the past. This network helps us to construct mental images when we're engaged in these activities.

The Attentional Flexibility Network has the important role of monitoring what's going on around us, as well as inside our brains, and switching between the Imagination Network and Attentional Control for us.

You can see the Attentional Control Network (in green) and the Imagination Network (in red) in the image below.

A recent review by Rex Junge and colleagues explained what they think might be happening in our brains when we get creative. It generally involves reducing activation of the Attentional Control Network. Reducing this partially helps us to allow inspiration in, and new ideas to form. The second part is increasing the activation of the Imagination and Attentional Flexibility Networks.

Research on jazz musicians and rappers who were improvising creative work on the spot showed that when they enter that coveted flow state of creativity, their brains were exhibiting these signs.

Producing new ideas is a process

The production of ideas is just as definite a process as the production of Fords; --James Webb Young

In his book, A Technique for Producing Ideas, James Webb Young explains that while the process for producing new ideas is simple enough to explain, "it actually requires the hardest kind of intellectual work to follow, so that not all who accept it use it."

He also explains that working out where to find ideas is not the solution to finding more of them, but rather we need to train our minds in the process of producing new ideas naturally.

The two general principles of ideas

James describes two principles of the production of ideas, which I really like:

An idea is nothing more or less than a new combination of old elements.The capacity to bring old elements into new combinations depends largely on the ability to see relationships.
This second one is really important in producing new ideas, but it's something our minds need to be trained in:

To some minds each fact is a separate bit of knowledge. To others it is a link in a chain of knowledge.

To help our brains get better at delivering good ideas to us, we need to do some preparation first. Let's take a look at what it takes to prime our brains for idea-generation.

Preparing to get new ideas

Since ideas are made from finding relationships between existing elements, we need to collect a mental inventory of these elements before we can start connecting them. James also notes in his book how we often approach this process incorrectly:

Instead of working systematically at the job of gathering raw material we sit around hoping for inspiration to strike us.

Preparing your brain for the process of making new connections takes time and effort. We need to get into the habit of collecting information that's all around us so our brains have something to work with.

James offers a couple of ideas in his book, such as using index cards to organize and distill information into bite-sized pieces. Another suggestion is to use a scrapbook or file, and cross-index everything so you can find what you need, when you need it.

Bringing it all together

The hard work is mostly in gathering the materials your brain needs to form new connections, but you can do a lot to help your brain process all of this information, as well.

In a paper by neuroscientist Dr. Mark Beeman, he explains how we come to our final "aha" moment of producing an idea, by way of other activities:

A series of studies have used electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the neural correlates of the "Aha! moment" and its antecedents. Although the experience of insight is sudden and can seem disconnected from the immediately preceding thought, these studies show that insight is the culmination of a series of brain states and processes operating at different time scales.

I love the way that John Cleese talks about these aspects of creativity and how our minds work. He gave an excellent talk years ago about how our brains develop ideas and solve creative problems, wherein he discussed the idea of our brains being like tortoises. Here's how I explained his theory when I wrote about it earlier this year:

The idea is that your creativity acts like a tortoise--poking its head out nervously to see if the environment is safe before it fully emerges. Thus, you need to create a tortoise enclosure--an oasis amongst the craziness of modern life--to be a safe haven where your creativity can emerge.

He offers a couple of useful ideas to help you achieve this, as well:

Set aside time

John says your thoughts need time to settle down before your creativity will feel safe enough to emerge and get to work. Setting aside time to think regularly can be a good way to train your mind to relax, eventually making this set time a safe haven for your tortoise mind to start putting together connections that could turn into ideas.

Find a creative space

Setting aside time regularly sends a signal to your brain that it's safe to work on creative ideas. Finding a particular space to be creative in can help, too.

This is similar to the research on how the temperature and noise around us affects our creativity.

Let your brain do the work

This may be one of the hardest, yet most important parts of the process of producing ideas. I think James Webb Young says it best:

Drop the whole subject and put it out of your mind and let your subconscious do its thing.

Something else John Cleese talks about is how beneficial it can be to "sleep on a problem." He recalls observing a dramatic change in his approach to a creative problem after having left it alone. He not only awoke with a perfectly clear idea on how to continue his work, but the problem itself was no longer apparent.

The trick here is to trust enough to let go.

As we engage our conscious minds in other tasks, like sleeping or taking a shower, our subconscious can go to work on finding relationships in all the data we've collected so far.

The Aha moment
James Webb Young explains the process of producing ideas in stages. Once we've completed the first three, which include gathering material and letting our subconscious process the data and find connections, he says we'll come to an "Aha!" moment, when a great idea hits us:

It will come to you when you are least expecting it--while shaving, or bathing, or most often when you are half awake in the morning. It may waken you in the middle of the night.

How to have more great ideas

Understanding the process our brains go through to produce ideas can help us to replicate this, but there are a few things we can do to nudge ourselves towards having better ideas, too.

Criticize your ideas--don't accept them immediately

The final stage of James's explanation of idea production is to criticize your ideas:

Do not make the mistake of holding your idea close to your chest at this stage. Submit it to the criticism of the judicious.

James says this will help you to expand on the idea and uncover possibilities you might have otherwise overlooked.

Here it's especially important to know whether you're introverted or extroverted to criticize your ideas from the right perspective.

Overwhelm your brain--it can handle it

Surprisingly, you can actually hit your brain with more than it can handle and it will step up to the task.

Robert Epstein explained in a Psychology Today article how challenging situations can bring out our creativity. Even if you don't succeed at whatever you're doing, you'll wake up the creative areas of your brain and they'll perform better after the failed task, to compensate.

Have more bad ideas to have more good ones

It turns out that having a lot of bad ideas also means you'll have a lot of good ideas. Studies have proved this at both MIT and the University of California Davis.

The sheer volume of ideas produced by some people means that they can't help having lots of bad ones, but they're likely to have more good ones, as well.

Seth Godin wrote about how important it is to be willing to produce a lot of bad ideas, saying that people who have lots of ideas like entrepreneurs, writers and musicians all fail far more often than they succeed, but they fail less than those who have no ideas at all.

He summed this up with an example that I love:

Someone asked me where I get all my good ideas, explaining that it takes him a month or two to come up with one and I seem to have more than that. I asked him how many bad ideas he has every month. He paused and said, "none."

How do you come up with ideas every day? I'd love your thoughts on this in the comments below!

--Belle Beth Cooper is a Content Crafter at Buffer and cofounder of Hello Code. Follow her on Twitter at @BelleBethCooper.

This post originally appeared on Buffer, and is reprinted with permission.

Source:
http://m.fastcompany.com/3022519/work-smart/the-science-of-great-ideas-how-to-train-your-creative-brains
http://innovationova.blogspot.com

No one intends to be a bad boss. Some just don't know any better. Here are 10 tips that will help any boss improve.

Some get to be boss by luck and others earn their way into the driver's seat.  Unfortunately, many people become a boss without getting proper training to manage. There is no sinister conspiracy at work--sometimes entrepreneurs focused on taking a product to market or heirs to family businesses find themselves in charge without knowing how to effectively manage people. Even great performers who rise to leadership positions may not have been trained to manage others.

Being a boss isn't complicated, but it does require some focused thought and attention to be amazing. And since many people are putting their faith in you, don't you owe it to them to be your best for their sake?  Well, here are 8 tips to help you reach your full boss potential.

1. Set reasonable objectives. Every boss has a lot to accomplish. Often the load is heavier than humanly possible to carry alone. But transferring the work arbitrarily down the line won't help the overload. More likely it will just create chaos and frustration. You were made the boss so you could manage the flow, so do just that. Assess your team and mete out the workload that is manageable. Establish a reasonable number of specifically articulated goals and drive the team to complete them so they can obtain victory and confidence.  Then you can raise the bar for next year.

2. Lead instead of dictate. Just because you are the boss doesn't mean people will do what you say. If they don't respect your authority, they will perform at a minimum level to retain their own security. Leaders must inspire their followers to greatness. Help everyone connect with the objectives so they take ownership. Then they will do their work with pride and care and be grateful for the empowerment.

3. Accentuate the positive. So many bosses spend a great deal of time correcting subordinates for every little thing they do wrong in hopes they'll eliminate errors and increase efficiency. Unfortunately people don't thrive well in an environment of constant criticism. The great motivator Tom Hopkins says it best:"Keep your eyes open and try to catch people in your company doing something right, then praise them for it."

4. Scrutinize your own performance. Becoming the boss is truly the beginning of your journey. You now have more autonomy, but that comes with responsibility. Your biggest task is to grow thyself.  Nothing will inspire those who work for you more than seeing you identify your weaknesses and consciously and publicly make the necessary adjustment. The great part is that every time you succeed then entire team benefits.

5. Invite others to solve problems. Ok, so as the boss, you are now accountable for everything that goes wrong. That doesn't mean you have to do everything necessary to fix it. Your team wants to help. They want to work together to solve problems for the benefit of all involved.  If someone isn't interested in helping for the greater good, then by all means, be a good boss and either motivate or remove him or her from the team. Either way you and the team can move forward with strength and pride.

6. Listen more than you talk. Yes, you have lots of experience and advice to share with those working for you. But that doesn't mean you have to share it all the time. Don't be so quick to shut down the thinking process with your direction. Otherwise your team will think less for themselves and become solely dependent on your brain. Let them explore the problems and find their own great solutions. Listen to make sure they don't get too far off track. Who knows, you might learn something new yourself.

7. Pick your battles. You can't and shouldn't fight every issue. You don't want your team to feel battle weary.  Direct your own attention and efforts only to where you will have most impact. Otherwise, install critical stopgaps and give the team the ability and the power to make most of their own decisions and fight their own battles. The process may take a little longer and they may fail, but they will learn more and gain proficiency after every win or loss.

8. Make it personal. For many people work is a means to an end. Chances are your team members have a life outside the office and their work supports that life. The people who work hard for you do so with dedication and responsibility to the company, in order to support their own need for pride and self respect. Be generous with gratitude, praise and concern for their individual wellbeing. Otherwise you may not have many amazing employees around to call you boss.

Source:
http://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/8-ways-to-become-a-better-boss.html?cid=sf01001

http://innovationova.blogspot.com

Shhhhhhh! Come closer.  I want to share a secret with you – a simple secret about how you can achieve with less stress and difficulty.Are you ready? Here goes….goals aligned with your personal values create a vacuum that pulls you forward, puts you "in the flow", and allows you to perform at your highest level.

Tell you more? I'm so glad you asked. Let's face it…we likely all grew up learning traditional goal setting. Traditional goal setting, based on needs and wants and driven by time-frames, has worked effectively for years given the long-established industrial age. With the dawn of the information age, goals set in the conventional manner are no longer an effective way to achieve. In fact, it's very much like using DOS in a Mac world – it's ineffective, flawed, time-consuming, and energy intense. In the fast-paced information age of today, a more advanced goal-setting system is needed.

Barbie* (not her real name) discovered the ineffectiveness of traditional goal setting the hard way. In business since 1997, Barbie has always been a high-achieving entrepreneur – until recently. It was becoming much more difficult for her to achieve. What came easily and effortlessly years earlier was now a chore. She worked harder, pushing herself to achieve her goals. Even at full speed, she was getting less done and missing her targets. More importantly, it was taking a toll on her health. It was at this time Barbie reached out for business coaching to maximize efficiency and income.

With her desired outcomes identified, Barbie was introduced to the concept of values-based goals as a way to achieve her goals effortlessly. As an innovator, she was open and willing to try new and different ways to succeed. Thank goodness!

What are Value-Based Goals?

Defining value-based goals begins with defining values. Personal values represent the behaviors and activities to which you are naturally drawn. Values are really about who you are. They provide a clear sense of what's most important to you. Personal values are NOT shoulds, have to's, or moral/ethical ideals.

Value-based goals, then, are those wrapped in your personal values. They tap into your core beliefs and talents to energize your success. Value-based goal achievement brings excitement, authenticity, and effortlessness to those ready to succeed in a different way – like Barbie.

Do Value-Based Goals Enhance Success? 

Any time we turn away from the known (even when it's not working) and venture into the unfamiliar, it's a bit disconcerting. Barbie is the first to admit it "felt wrong not to follow traditional goal setting". Conventional business wisdom led her to believe she needed to check her personality at the door and follow traditional techniques even when they didn't fit her personality or style.

After identifying her personal values, Barbie reframed her goals around her four key values of triumph, experiment, exhilaration, and imagination. The result?  Barbie now achieves her outcomes more easily. Her results improved, as did her income!

Following unconventional wisdom, Barbie is learning to achieve differently with value-based goals. She's given herself permission to honor her true self again. And, she encourages others to show consideration for their authentic selves.

Values-based goals aren't just for the chosen few – rather it is for the few that choose to achieve in a way that respects who they are, energizes their success, speeds their learning, and enriches their efforts. Don't you deserve to experience the fulfillment of values-based goals? It is, after all, the ultimate gift to give yourself.

What Does Barbie Want You to Know?

By the way, Barbie wants you to know that it was really FUN to go through the process of finding her core values and setting goals around them. Her work is more fun now, too. She hadn't had fun in a long time and the process set off a real fun-fest. Aside from the continually increasing income (even when she took time off), she started to really enjoy parts of work again.

Source:
http://www.projecteve.com/achieve-small-business-less-effort/

http://innovationova.blogspot.com

I used to be an artist.

For a few years I worked as an illustrator and colourist and at the same time, worked part time jobs at call centres to supplement my income. Then I had the perfect job for about 2 years – I was working as a colourist, doing projects for comic books and advertising storyboards. It came to an end when I got fed up with being underpaid, overworked and undervalued so I took a 9-5 job in a financial services company.

The work wasn't particularly interesting for an artistic person such as myself but the pay was decent and they treat their employees very well (annual ski trips, anyone?). It was ok for a couple of years but then it started becoming hard to get up go to work every morning. I decided I needed to change my life and pursue other options. The opportunity came soon after I made that decision and I was offered a job abroad, still within the same company.

While everything was new I was doing fairly well but soon I started feeling dissatisfied once again with my work life. I needed to do something that I enjoyed as well as more creative, in order to be happy. But what could I do? I didn't want to go back to being a freelancer illustrator (I honestly wouldn't know where to start) nor did I feel I had any other job worthy skills besides call centre agent or admin, which would be more of the same of what I was doing already.

Around the same time I decided to start blogging again, to at least have some creative outlet in my life. Blogging about personal style and travel really kept my sanity and I took it seriously: I started skipping going to the pub with my friends to stay in and practise my writing or edit photos. One day it dawned on me that I could actually do this for a living and that would be perfect, because I loved it. So I started paying more attention to Social Media and Marketing websites and attended a few blogging seminars.

At the same time I started applying for Marketing related jobs but wasn't having much luck as besides my own blog, I didn't have any business experience in the area. But I didn't give up. After all, happiness was at stake – I started having work related anxiety issues and depression and didn't want to live like that for the rest of my life.

So I carried on blogging, networking and soaking up as much information as I could. After applying for numerous jobs that I didn't get, I decided to go directly to the right people, to let them know passionate I am about blogging, social media and how much I wanted to learn. All the preparation I made on my spare time paid off as I was given the opportunity to do an internship within the Marketing department, developing my own blog project (and a pay rise too!). I currently have a job that I enjoy, learn a lot every day and I am on my way to developing a career and a future – and this is only the beginning!

I just told you my story. If you feel you are in the same position I was in, read on as I will tell you a few things I have learned about staying motivated that might help getting you through a slump.

- Despite what we might think the Universe can actually conspire in your favour. Many times you may get disappointed because you didn't get something only to realize later that you had something better coming your way after all. Patience is key.

- That doesn't mean sitting back and waiting for things to happen. Hard work is necessary at all times.

- If you really are passionate about something, you have an advantage over people who do a job just because they have to. Experts are people who are passionate about something and try to learn as much as possible about it.

- Don't be afraid to talk to people and let them know your worth. Sometimes there is no other way of getting on their radar. Unfortunately, sitting quietly in a corner waiting to get noticed doesn't usually work, except in Hollywood films.

- Have a clear objective of what you want to do in your life. Saying 'I want to do something different' isn't enough. Decide what you want and go get it!

- Self-motivation is extremely important and don't expect to get it from other people as most will not understand why you are not going out for drinks with them, until they actually see you progressing. In my case, not wanting to be depressed was a huge motivation (plus the prospect of having a real career I enjoyed).

-Quite often we are actually better than we think we are. Trust your instincts and don't let self-doubt get in the way.

Sara Doucette loves cats, shoes and blogging about a million things. You can follow her adventures on her blog Hello The Mushroom (www.hellothemushroom.com) or Twitter (@hellothmushroom).

Source:
http://www.projecteve.com/staying-motivated-getting-through-a-slump/

http://innovationova.blogspot.com

In our rush to succeed in this spirited marketplace, it appears that consumers, vendors, employees, business colleagues, etc. have been reduced to mere account numbers, projects to be completed, Twitter followers, Facebook friends and email addresses. Yet, no matter how advanced the technology, business success is still dependent upon three key factors: 

- Network – who you know and who knows you
- Reputation – what others know and think about you
- Relationships – how well others know you

The most important of these is relationships. Building relationships is a common-sense business-building strategy that easily gets lost in the quest for victory. Yet, it is the depth of the connections between you, as the business owner, and those you encounter, that dictate your reputation, as well as, the extent of your network.

What does it take to build long-term successful relationships that ultimately contribute to your success? After defining the kind of business relationships you desire, allow for thoughtful planning to consider a few straightforward approaches to deepening your business associations:

- Connect with key relationships on a quarterly basis.
- Continually add value to each relationship.
- Learn to contribute to others rather than seduce or hook them.
- Make relationships more important than results.
- Leverage your schedule to allow adequate space and sufficient time to expand relationships.
- Send thank you notes, birthday cards, and letters of congratulations.
- Be present when speaking with others whether it's by phone, email, or in-person.
- Correct miscommunication immediately.
- Relate to others as you would like others to relate to you.
- Invest in your personal development to increase your personal capacity to relate.

Building business relationships furthers business, promotes referrals, facilitates mergers, expands your network, and builds your reputation. Your connectivity influences your productivity. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Source:
http://www.projecteve.com/10-networking-tips-the-art-of-building-business-relationshipsnships/
http://innovationova.blogspot.com

Many people assume that it's possible for a person to be an effective leader without being likable. That is technically true, but you may not like the odds. In a study of 51,836 leaders, we found just 27 who were rated at the bottom quartile in terms of likability but in the top quartile in terms of overall leadership effectiveness — that's approximately one out of 2,000.

Our likability index, based on data collected from 360 assessments, measures a broad set of behaviors that go far beyond smiling and having a pleasant personality. To see the complete list, and take a self-assessment of your personal likability, click here.

Likability sounds like an immutable trait — something people either have or don't. But our experience in working with thousands of leaders suggests otherwise. Our 360 data from these 50,000+ leaders highlighted seven key steps executives can take to substantially increase their likability.

1. Increase positive emotional connections with others. Just like the flu or a cold, emotions are contagious. If a leader is angry or frustrated, those feelings will spread to others. Conversely, if a leader is positive and optimistic, those emotions also spread. Be aware of your emotional state and work to spread the positive emotions.

2. Display rock solid integrity. Do others trust you to keep your commitments and promises? Are others confident that you will be fair and do the right thing? We like leaders we trust; we dislike those we distrust.

3. Cooperate with others. Some leaders believe that they are in competition with others in the organization but the purpose of an organization is to unite employees to work together in a common purpose.

4. Be a coach, mentor, and teacher. Think about someone who has helped you develop or learn a new skill. How do you feel about that person? Most people have fond and positive memories of coaches and mentors. Helping others develop is a gift that is never forgotten.

5. Be an inspiration. Most leaders know very well how to drive for results. They demand excellence. They insist that employees achieve stretch targets. In other words they push. And the best bosses do this as well. But that's not all they do. The most successful leaders are also effective at pulling. They roll up their sleeves when necessary and pitch in with the team. They communicate powerfully. Inspiring leaders, as you might expect, are more likeable.

6. Be visionary and future focused. When employees do not clearly understand where they're headed and how they'll get there, they become frustrated and dissatisfied, feeling like passengers with no control and few options except complaining. Sharing a vision of the future and helping team members understand how to get there inspires confidence: It's hard to like a leader who's lost in the wilderness.

7. Ask for feedback and make an effort to change. Our 360 data show clearly that most people rate themselves more likable than their bosses, peers, and direct reports do. How can you bridge that gap? As the graph below demonstrates, there's a strong correlation between a leader's likability and the extent to which they ask for and respond to feedback from others. Feedback from others helps leaders to understand the impact (positive or negative) that they have on others.

You can be more likeable. Identify two of the actions from the list above that would most help you in your current situation. A great way to start would be to ask for feedback and ask team members to identify which activities would have the most value to them. Make a plan, identifying some specific steps you will take to improve, and then stick to it. Ask others for feedback on your progress.

And, oh by the way, if you are a man, this is even more important for you to consider, because in all probability, you are less liked than your female counterparts, and that's hindering your effectiveness as a leader.

Jack Zenger is the CEO and Joseph Folkman is the president of Zenger/Folkman, a leadership development consultancy.

Source:
http://blogs.hbr.org/2013/05/im-the-boss-why-should-i-care/

http://innovationova.blogspot.com

Whether genius or novice, it's time to accept you are a self-publisher and get to it. It's the only way to hone your expertise.

Have you ever woken up and thought: "I have something valuable to say." Or maybe: "Man, I wish more people would buy my product so I could finally buy that set of golf clubs." What about: "If just a few more people would hire me for my expertise, I could help my kid pay off their college loan debt; I could afford to buy the organic vegetables. Maybe, I could even go to Bora Bora."

One way to counteract these painful morning mantras is to take action. This publishing platform helps you do so. Here's how:   

1. It allows you to tell your personal story. Riddle me this: would you rather take advice from someone you know, feel you understand and respect - or a stranger that abrasively shouts their ideas and "knowledge" into your face in the form of a verbal driveby. Unless you are giving into hedonistic tendencies (thank you, Fifty Shades of Grey), the answer is a no brainer. Tell people who you are, what you do, what you know, how you can make their lives easier - and they will begin to trust you. There are few better ways to do this than by writing a thoughtful, engaging and informative article. You don't have to be a journalist; you just have to have an innovative perspective, fervor to share it, and a platform to publish. Why, hello there. 

2. It allows you to promote your brand. So you muster up the courage to tell the world about yourself and why you are worthy of being heard. Your fan club and bank account are going to be close to zilch if you don't find a way to relate who you are to what it is you offer. Here, you can write about your company, your brand, your service, and how your business is going to better the lives of your target group. Put in an endless amount of links to your site and get down the business of making relevant connections and influencing your buyers. (We know, this is unqiue; that's part of what makes us special.) 

3. It allows you to share your knowledge (educate). You are what you know. Too soon for clichés? Here's the skinny: in order for your target audience to choose your business, company or brand over your competitors, they have to believe you are the best at what you do. What better way to win the social media dual than by publishing your expertise? Put down in writing what you know – and make sure it relates exactly to what you offer. Expertise is your valued sword in B2B; exploreB2B encourages you to sharpen and utilize it.

4. It allows you to show people in your industry you are a leader. Sharing knowledge is one important element of establishing influence; elevating it among a group of established leaders is another. Did the Lord of the Rings acquire the ring without the help and association of an established circle of comrades? (I am honestly asking, I have never seen the movie or read the books. Sorry, Tolkien.) Becoming a recognized leader in your niche reaps powerful benefits. Besides those in your industry coming to respect and spread your knowledge, people who are looking for the precise information, products and services you offer will be able to find and trust you. Don't just aim to be the best. Aim to be the best amongst a circle of people who can promote, teach, and inspire you.   

5. It allows you the opportunity to share enough information so that people can begin to trust you. One Tweet a week won't cut it. Neither will a malnourished Facebook page. Establishing yourself as an expert requires a commitment to educating your target audience of your expertise. Self-publishing allows you the (easy) opportunity to do so. Communication is key, but content is king. Don't lock yourself out of the castle by failing to take advantage of the biggest opportunity since Apple reacquired Jobs.

"In the Game of Social Media (er, Thrones) you play to win, or you die."

This is drastic. (And yes, I have seen too many 'Game of Thrones.') Yet, the same goes for your business and content marketing campaign. If you don't seize the opportunity to thoughtfully convince your target audience that you are best at what you do: someone else will conquer your leadership role; someone else will own your niche, and it will be someone else who takes home your earnings. 

Claim your throne and get to publishing. 

Source:
https://exploreb2b.com/articles/5-reasons-to-utilize-your-publishing-platform

http://innovationova.blogspot.com