Leadership Resilience Archives - Page 21 of 26 - Motivational Speeches and books by Snowden McFall

Fire Up Your Marketing with Genuine Testimonials

Use Longer, Meaningful Testimonials for Impact

We’ve all seen the phony sounding TV commercials with hackneyed phrases that don’t ring true. That is not good advertising. It turns us off. What is highly effective is the use of authentic customer testimonials which are highly specific about the value received.

At Brightwork, my ad agency, we regularly call our clients’ customers to ask them the right questions to ascertain this value. That often will yield powerfulmarketing information that the client was not even aware of. Then we get written permission from the customer to use the testimonial in all marketing for the client, noting that no compensation will be provided for this usage. That legal document can be important. Real testimonial quotes like these can make a substantive difference in your Internet presence, brochures, direct mailers and websites.

Consider this one, for example:

“I’ve worked with a dozen realtors and Sue Bird is by far the best. She constantly stayed on top of every detail in our deal… She saw the entire transaction through from start to finish…even staying in touch after the sale tobe sure I was satisfied. In a day when incompetence is rampant, Sue is refreshing. Her confidence and knowledge made me feel comfortable. She has great expertise and I will definitely use her again.” Dan O’Brien

Some people think short one liner testimonials are better- such as ‘Sue did a great job.” I disagree. Meaningful testimonials which speak to value received are much more powerful. Consider this with your marketing- and here’s a tip- have someone else interview your clients. It’s difficultto do this effectively for yourself.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Fire Up Your Communication with Clarification

Minimize the Stress of Conflict with Better Communication

So often when colleagues are disagreeing with each other, they rarely listen to what the other is saying. In today’s world, we are all so busy, it’s rare that people give each other their undivided attention. To help diffuse a potentially volatile situation, do the following for clear communication under pressure:

• turn off phones & beepers and give total eye contact to the other person

• be sure you understand exactly what the other person is saying. Rarely do we truly hear the message the first time. If you are unclear, own it. Say “I want to make sure I understand your perspective. Could you please restate it in another way for me?”

That action alone will disarm someone, because they realize you truly want to hear them. We all have that basic need. Most people are delighted to elaborate on their viewpoint.

• While listening, if you find yourself getting more and more agitated, stop the conversation and clarify again, respectfully, carefully. You could use phrases like: “Can you elaborate more on that? Please say more about____.”

Each time you do this, you honor the other person, you cool down and you actually clarify their viewpoint. You might also learn something new. And best of all, you have diffused a potentially volatile situation that might have led to unpleasant working relationships. Listening well is key to good communication.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Stress Express Tip: Complete What You Start

Get Fired Up By Handling Incompletions

Right now, examine your life. How many projects are you working on simultaneously? How many books have you started and not finished? How about unfinished articles you are reading or writing? All of those are incompletions!

Incompletions drain large amounts of energy and actually create stress. Anything from half-read newspaper to cluttered closets to the classic “to do” lists that never get finished; these are all incompletions. Incompletions are a form of self-sabotage which can create anxiety, worry and tension.

At #Boss2011 this week, my friend Carrie Wilkerson, the Barefoot Executive, talked about finishing. In my book Stress Express, I have an entire chapter devoted to completion. Robert Fritz wrote extensively about it in The Path of Least Resistance.

Why? Because we all know how important it is to maximize your effectiveness. We all have a finite amount of time and energy and anything that drags us away from high productivity time needs to be addressed. So if you are constantly feeling overwhelmed and like you have way too much on your plate, try these:

• Check your desk right now. What can you handle and FINISH in the next 10 minutes? Do it. Record it as a success.

• Recycle newspapers and magazines you are no longer reading. It’s ok if you didn’t read the whole thing. Declare it done!

• Examine your to do list. What items can you delegate? What really does not need to be done? Prioritize your list in terms of high leveraged items– ones that will have greatest ROI and take action on them.

You’ll immediately observe a difference in your energy, and you will feel a greater sense of satisfaction, productivity and well-being.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Sick Days Are Legitimate

Why Recovery Is a Leadership Responsibility

My husband once came down with a severe cold after working long hours under sustained pressure. Like many professionals, he rarely took sick days. But this time, he tried to push through and simply could not.

Twice he went to work, came home, and went straight to bed. He had no energy left to manage anything beyond recovery. And that was exactly what his body needed.

In many work cultures, pushing through illness is treated as commitment. In reality, it often accelerates exhaustion, resentment, and long-term burnout.

Why Sick Days Matter More Than We Admit

Sick days are legitimate. When someone is ill, recovering from surgery, or deeply exhausted, stepping away is not indulgence. It is necessary recovery. Time away from constant pressure allows the nervous system and immune system to stabilize.

For leaders and employers, this matters operationally as well. Supporting appropriate recovery reduces long-term health claims, prevents burnout-driven turnover, and protects institutional knowledge. Replacing an employee is far more costly than allowing them to recover fully.

Burnout often develops because recovery is delayed too long. Recognizing the legitimacy of rest is one of the earliest and most effective ways to prevent it.

Learn how leaders can intervene before exhaustion becomes burnout at Prevent Burnout.

Taking care of people is not a perk. It is leadership.

Fire Up Your Presentations

How you finish a presentation matters as much as how you begin.

Whether you are delivering a 30-second introduction or a two-hour sales presentation, your closing moment shapes what people remember, how they feel, and whether your message lands.

Presentation Tip: Finish with Energy and Intention

I recently watched a speaker deliver a solid presentation. They used relevant stories, thoughtful examples, and engaging visuals. The content was strong.

But in the final moments, their voice trailed off. Their energy dropped. The close felt disconnected from the message that preceded it. The audience missed the final point not because it lacked value, but because it lacked presence.

Leaders are remembered for how they make people feel. When your energy fades at the end, the impact fades with it.

Finish with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Close with a story, question, or insight that reinforces the benefit to your audience. Speak with intention. Let your final words signal that what you shared matters.

This ability to communicate with steadiness and conviction under pressure is a core element of executive presence. Learn how leaders strengthen clarity, confidence, and impact in high-stakes moments at Communication and Executive Presence.

People may forget your slides, but they will remember how you showed up. Make your closing count.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

Stress Express Tip: Eat Pistachios!

Pistachios Calm the Body When Under Stress

Who knew? A study done by Penn State documents that eating pistachio nuts calms the body while under acute stress.

“A ten-year follow-up study of young men showed that those who had larger cardiovascular responses to stress in the lab, were more likely to contract hypertension later in life,” says Dr. Sheila G. West, associate professor of biobehavioral health.

West studied the impact of pistachios on standardized stressors of young men who had high cholesterol, but normal blood pressure. When pistachios were consumed during times of acute stress, they lowered the blood pressure in these men.

Pistachios are high in unsaturated fats and antioxidants, so keep a bag on hand when you know you will be stressed.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Be Proactive to Reduce Pressure and Regain Control

One of the fastest ways leaders accumulate stress is by constantly reacting to other people’s timelines. Missed deadlines, last-minute requests, and repeated vendor issues create unnecessary pressure that feels out of your control.

In most cases, the problem is not other people. The problem is the absence of a proactive system.

Why Proactivity Reduces Leadership Stress

Waiting for clients, employees, or vendors to change their behavior rarely works. A more effective approach is to anticipate needs, clarify expectations early, and create structure around timelines before pressure builds.

Proactive leaders do not eliminate uncertainty, but they dramatically reduce surprise.

Practical Ways to Be Proactive with Others

Ask forward-looking questions. Talk with clients and stakeholders about their plans for the next 6 to 12 months. Identify upcoming projects, decision points, and likely deadlines before they become urgent.
Schedule follow-ups in advance. Once timelines are discussed, place check-in dates on your calendar. Regular touchpoints prevent last-minute emergencies.
Set expectations with vendors early. Let vendors know when work is likely coming and ask them to reserve capacity. Clear communication reduces repeated breakdowns.

When you work proactively, you shift from reacting under pressure to leading with intention. Your pace becomes steadier, your decisions clearer, and your energy more sustainable.

This approach is a foundational element of a structured leadership resilience practice. You can see how proactive planning fits into a broader framework in the
Leadership Resilience System.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

Stress Express Tip: Remove Yourself from the Source

Escape the Negative Influencer

Other people are often the cause of our stress, whether they are upset about things that happen to them or outside world issues. Sometimes our co-workers or loved ones bring their stress with them to work and are in terrible moods.

When that happens, one of the best things you can do is remove yourself from the source of negativity. Give that person some breathing space, let them calm down and work through their worries and don’t take it upon yourself to fix them. Suggest that they cool down first if they want to talk.

If they come to you and ask for help, you can listen and calm them down. Be sure to give physical space between the two of you and perhaps imagine an invisible shield in front of you, as a way of protecting yourself. Don’t take on their anger or upset, or you will go out of balance, too. Then nobody can see clearly and be effective. Have empathy, try using Non-Violent Communication and let them vent, without absorbing it.

If you are constantly dealing with angry people, you will need to take breaks outside in nature, where you can let it all go. Try to be near flowing water and let yourself breathe. Imagine all the “stuff” you were subjected to just washing away. At night, be sure to shower off that same crud. It’s amazing how much the negative energy of others can sap and drain ours.

Take good care of yourself and you will be more effective, healthier and happier, at work and at home.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference.

Fire Up Your People By Including Them

Appreciate Your Employees & Give Them Feedback

In a study conducted by USA Today a few years back, the top three things that employees want are: interesting work, appreciation and being “in” on things. The U.S. Dept. of Labor said 46% of all people who quit do so because they felt they are not appreciated for the work they do. And James Howard discovered that when asked what their boss or supervisor says when they finish a task or project, 92% said their supervisor said nothing! 88% of Americans say they are never thanked for their work. Resilient leaders will acknowledge the challenges, the effort, and the stress experienced, while achieving great suvvess as a team.

What all this data means is that employees are HUNGRY for positive feedback. And so are we as human beings. We have a tendency to be very hard on ourselves and judge ourselves severely.

Daniel Pink, the author of Drive, says humans are motivated by autonomy, mastery and purpose.

Sometimes, the greatest thing you can do in a given day is give your employees or co-workers a few minutes of sincere, specific praise. Try something as simple as “Thanks for the good work on that project” or “I really appreciated your comments in the meeting today-they were valuable.” All too many employers save up their kind words for bonus time, instead of sharing them throughout the year. Connect their work to the greater purpose they have, give them greater control over what they do, and help them become better at it.

Employees hate to be ignored, to be left out, and to feel unappreciated. Be sure you take excellent care of your people, or you may lose them.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting without permission and author reference

Fire Up! Your Business Standards

You Do Have the Power to Stop Negative Behavior

No matter what kind of professional you are, CEO, executive, business owner, doctor, lawyer, manager, you have the right and indeed, the responsibility, to set standards for your workplace. Many fields have set standards already, from healthcare to law. However you can go further. You can set standards of excellence in work, but also standards in behavior and performance.

I was recently told, when discussing negative behavior of a high level professional, that “That’s just how they are.” I simply don’t accept that.

No matter what level you’re at, you are subject to behavioral standards and employment law experts agree. It’s very easy to build an “attitude, behavior and professional conduct” clause right into your policy manual and your employment contracts. It needs to be specific and clear about what is acceptable and flexible enough to help you achieve your results. It is not acceptable for anyone at any level to come in regularly in a bad mood, yell at the rest of the staff, complain and whine and make everyone else’s day miserable. That is unprofessional conduct and should not be tolerated.

Set the standards, put it in writing with your employment attorney, inform everyone, and refuse to settle for anything less. Good employees will be grateful and bad employees will leave- which is best for everyone.

To sign up for Snowden’s ezine newsletter on stress, happiness, marketing and motivation, go to: http://firedupnow.com/firedupemailregister.html

 ©2011 Snowden McFall All Rights Reserved. No duplication 
or reprinting with permission and author reference.