How to be a Better Leader

How many of would say that you’re a leader in your field? 👀👀👀👀

How many of you are building teams? 👀👀👀

If you’ve ever done one or both of them, you will know that communication is paramount and most of the time you will have communication with team members, colleagues and clients.

Within that, you are bound to have conversations with team members, customers etc and that requires you to listen to them

So, here are my top tips on how you can become a better listener/ leader 

1- Make a decision to listen

Sometimes paying attention to the person shows that you are interested and involved 

When you make a decision to listen, you are saying that what the person has to say is of utter importance…….  and it will boost your rapport and credibility with them. 

2- Don’t interrupt

There’s a reason why they’ve come to you to talk so it’s vital that you let them talk. Let them finish before you ask questions 

Allowing the client or individual to finish what they’ve said can indicate that you value their opinion and always want to listen to what they have to say. 

3- Always keep a note on what they say

You are more likely to gain headway if you keep a note on what has been said in the conversation 

There will always be a likelihood that you will need to revisit that particular conversation and doing so will show that you remember what was said and you are invested in what the individual has to say.

This should help you on your path to be a better leader

It’s not always easy but focusing on your communication skills should help when doing business or at work. 

#openthoughts - There's work to be done

On this very date last year, Brussels was the subject of a terrorist attack. It shook to the world to it's very core. In the follow up to that, I released a blog piece on fear and faith and how we need to have unshakable faith.

Today, about a year on, London was the subject of a terror attack as a police offer was stabbed at the entrance to the Houses of Parliament whilst on Westminster Bridge, around 26 people were mowed down by the car. I received a messsage on my phone via one of the disciple groups i'm part of. Looking at that, it took me back to something I pondered on. There is work to be done.................

I understand that the world can be a fast moving world and it's not always possible to keep up however the places you are in and the areas you live need work. For a long time, we as a nation have been sleeping, oblivious to what is going around us. There are things happening around us every single day but because we choose to be ignorant, we don't know what is happeneing.
It's time that we opened our eyes and unblocked our ears so we know what is exactly going on.

You may be thinking 'Well, what needs to be done' or 'would anyone listen to me'. Look outside your window, look on the TV, look on social media, look in the newspaper and you will see that there is work to be done.

9 times out of 10, people are waiting for someone to do something but what would happen if you got up and did something about it. The things you complain about is what you are called to fix.

Leaving college today, I went to starbucks with my friend so we can sit down and take in today's news. Whilst we were talking about it, there was a lady who was interested because she wasn't aware of it. It really showed me how we know so much but if we don't reveal it to the world, no one will be none the wiser.

You might be reading and be thinking that you don't have a role to play, but you really do. Wherever you go today, wherever you live. It doesn't matter abaout your faith, race, gender, background. This message is generic and is for anyone - There is serious work to be done

Folks, there is serious work to be done.

I pray that you are blessed by this. Message me if you feel provoked to undertake this work..........

#openthoughts - Play it safe

it's wiser to be cautious and careful than to be hasty or rash and so do something you may later regret

So, I was riding home on the 205 bus, a thought well it's more something my mum always said to me when I was young. 

'It's better to be safe than sorry' 

Back then, I never really understood why she said that. I honestly thought it was just a cliche but years later, the reality of it hit me for six. Yes, years later and I have finally understood why she said it. 

The phrase which I can relate it to is this one - 'Obedience is better than sacrifice'........... Let me explain why

There was a time when I had learned of someone's death and so I asked why it happened. I was informed that the person was involved in an accident and then it was said that the person wasn't wearing a seatbelt at the time which contributed to their death. At the time my first reaction was one of shock and then one of sympathy. 

When you get into a car, your first initial reaction would be to make sure your safe before you start moving and that would include wearing a seatbelt. I wonder sometimes that if the person had worn their seatbelt, might they of survived the ordeal? 

It's one of those situations where following instructions would be much easier than dealing with the aftermath, We live in a society where people are told to break rules and to live life on the edge and truth be told, it hasn't done them the world of good. 

There are times in life that we just have to take the word and live by it. It really is better to be safe than sorry. 

Instructions, Commands and Guidelines are there for a reason. Let's adhere to them and be safe. 

You don't want to have to apologise to someone for causing injury or harm to their loved ones. Do all you can to make sure you are safe and that everyone is safe. 

All around you, people will tell you to do things that go against what it says on the tin. You, personally, you must do what it says on the tin and get it right. 

Be wise, Be Safe and Stop living life on the edge. 

Love ya'll greatly

#Openthoughts - There is room for everyone

Each and every day, people will rush about trying to fit in or even push people out the way so they can have space. It's a sorry sight, it's also very dangerous as people can get hurt in the process.
Trying to rush about will only delay your journey. Relax, be still, be at peace because there is room for everyone.

If you picture a typical train journey in the morning, you will see a mass of people either walking to work, getting the bus or train, taking children to school or just going from A-B. 9 times out of 10, they will all be worried about how they will get there henceforth why many people try to push past people but will find that they will end up being late and missing out.

Life will bring many demands which we will have to meet but we can negotiate those demands by being calm. Not everyone will have that same mindset but you can dictate how you react by realizing that your time will come. There will be a time when the train will be empty, when you will get a seat on the bus and when the roads are less busier than usual.

Having the 'there is room for me' mindset will ensure that you don't conform to society and the ways of the world. Failure to have this mindset will only result in frustration and then lead to the point where you copy how others react and what others do.

The key to breaking this habit is to know your identity and be confident in yourself. Be confident in what you have to offer and the impact that it will bring. You also need to know that you are unique and that you have something different. Only then will others realize that there will room for everyone to operate.

It's very possible for two strikers to play together, it's very possible for two left footers to play in one team and it is very possible for two captains to be on the pitch at the same time. Be yourself, be good to others, don't rush around and you will be able to breathe properly.

When I was young, I always thought that to be accepted by society I had to be like certain people so I can reach the top. So, that meant me trying to become a footballer or wanting to make music. Oh, how wrong was I............ I failed spectacularly but when I walked down the path of being a writer and also security I soon found out that I could walk a different path and still get to the top. This was an important lesson and one that I will never forget.

There's something a wise man used to say to me and my friends when growing up which was "You will eat, there is enough food for everyone to eat, be patient"

You will get your food and you will have enough to share with people around you. Be calm, wait your turn. There is room for me and you, There is room for everyone.

#Openthoughts - The right time

Everybody loves to talk, in fact, they say that talking is good for the soul but what happens when you start talking too much? What happens if you say things at the wrong time?

It's a well-known fact that when people need to talk, at times it is done just so that they can respond. Are you the type of person to listen just so you can talk back?
Are you the type of person who waits for their turn and talks when they need to talk?

In life, we are required to respond to every situation but how you respond is crucial. Being silent is not an option, it may work for a while but at some stage, you will have to say something but when you say it has a significant cause to it. What you say can make or break you.

When someone declares something good about themselves, 9 times out of 10 it will come to pass but when someone says something bad or makes a decree, it will take place. No matter what stage of life you are at, you have to be careful with your words.
Your words can either kill someone or give someone life. People who work in key areas such as education, social care etc have a responsibility to be careful with their words. What they say to their students, service users can have a huge bearing on what happens to them.

Your words contain so much power, your words contain so much life, your words have meaning. People may not remember what you did but they will remember what you said. Many people will not admit that what you said either blessed or hurt them, but be assured but it did. Whenever a word has an impact on someone's life, they will always remember it.

I want to tell you that whilst you may think that what you say is not important, you have to release what you want to say. Not saying anything can cause you problems but also saying things at the wrong time can cause you problems.

 Words do more than convey information. The power of our words can actually destroy one’s spirit, even stir up hatred and violence. They not only exacerbate wounds but inflict them directly. Of all the creatures on this planet, only man has the ability to communicate through the spoken word.

There will be a right time to talk. Wait for your turn................