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The third greatest regret expressed by elderly folk in the research was that they would have liked to have done more things of value that would survive after they were gone.
 As they reflected on their lives they found that so much of their time had been dedicated to things that had no long term value. They questioned the legacy that they would be leaving.

Leaving a legacy is like a mark or an inscription that we leave to prove that "WE WERE HERE" and that we made a difference. There are different types of legacies.

People  The people who we help or influence in a positive way can be a lasting reminder that we made a difference.

Causes  Some people put their efforts into making a difference through a cause that they feel passionate about.

Organisations and businesses  Great leaders leave a legacy in the quality and reputation of the organisations and                  businesses that they helped to create.

Creative expressions  Some leave their mark through their writing, songs, art or photography.

Wealth   Helping the next generation through a financial legacy can really help others in a practical way.

Key achievements   Some leave their influence through great  personal achievements which inspire others to do greater             things.

The legacy that we leave will usually reflect the things that we valued, were passionate about and had the skills to achieve. We are all different and we can all leave our mark in different ways.

If you haven't seen the inspiring youtube clip about a dog making a difference please check it out. Just look up  -   "ricochet surfing dog".

Have you found your way to make a difference?

What do you want to be remembered for?

"I have a dream that one day my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character"
Martin Luther King Jr

Can't take the credit for this post – check out Steve at Actuate Consulting for the original version

People also hit a roadblock when they try to improve on their leadership skills because they simply don’t know where to start. Here are seven simple ways to start building better leadership skills:
1.    The first thing that you need to do is dig deep within yourself and examine your self esteem. This is often one of the most difficult tasks for people, as it can be awkward to tackle any self esteem issues that you do not have. In order to squash any self esteem issues that you may have, you need to let go of the past. You may have made mistakes in the past and you may feel guilty over some of those mistakes, but you cannot let that stop you from moving forward. You have chosen this time to improve your leadership skills, so it makes no sense to be stuck on the lack of skills that you have had in the past.
2.    Get organized! This needs to be stressed time and time again because in order to improve your leadership skills, you need to make sure that your entire life is full of clutter. This means organizing your home; your office space, your time and everything else. There is mental clutter and physical clutter and both types need to be organized in order for you to move forward and become a better leader.
3.    Set goals! While improving leadership skills should be a lifelong goal, you still need an ending point. Keep the goals simple and small. For example, if you want to improve on your communication skills in order to be a better leader, pick a date that you want that to happen by. Also make a list of all communication related issues that you want to tackle by the date that you pick.
4.    Become a good planner. One of the main reasons that people fail to meet the goals that they set is because they are not good planners. For example, if you have a work project that is due and you set a goal to get it done on Thursday, but Thursday is always a really busy day, then you just planned your way into not completing your goal. Be realistic when you make plans and set goals so that you have a better chance of achieving what you want to.
5.    Improve your communication skills through role playing and by improving your self esteem. Good leaders speak clearly, get the point across quickly and see results. Many people are good talkers, but tend to ramble on forever and that can confuse people. Other people are embarrassed to speak to other people or in public and this can greatly hinder being an effective leader. Role playing is a great way to improve any communication issues that are holding you back. Pick a friend or a coworker that you have worked with for a long time so that you will be comfortable when role playing. Just remember that you are not always going to be speaking in front of people that you know.
6.    Learn to let go. There is a misguided belief out there that a good leader is a person who can handle everything by themselves without asking for help from anyone else. This is far from the truth! A good leader knows how to delegate tasks to the appropriate people and a good leader knows how to trust people. Truth is, if you try to take on everything in life by yourself, then you will easily fall behind and become overwhelmed. By relying on other people and being able to let go of your “I can do it myself attitude”, you will be a better leader and live a less stressed life.
7.    Learn how to be a good example. If you procrastinate, show up to work late, spend time at work dealing with personal issues or never follow through with things, then your staff is going to have the same attitude. By setting a good example, you are raising the bar for your staff and you are letting them know what is expected of them. This not only holds true in your career, but it also holds true in your family and your circle of friends. Clearly inform people what you expect of them and then make sure to lead by example.
By focusing on these seven areas of leadership skills, you will be on the road to improvement in no time. Just remember that becoming a better leader does not happen overnight and it is a lifelong process that is going to take time and dedication.
For more articles like this check out ‘Changing  Times’ or for help in leadership development for yourself or your organization try our website ‘Business Savant’.

During the course of a day, people are faced with dozens of decisions. Some decisions are simple and are normally easy to take on, while others can take a little more thinking and consideration. Regardless of the nature of the decision, being decisive is a key factor in being an excellent leader in your personal life and in your career.
Think about the number of times during a day that you are faced with a decision. Do you decide quickly and with confidence or do you look to others for guidance and then just follow along with what everyone else wants? Following others is not displaying good leadership skills, but that’s exactly what you are doing if you tend to be on the indecisive side.
There are some decisions which need more thinking through than others, but did you know that if you take a long time to make decisions that you are actually being indecisive? If you are coming up with a new marketing plan for example, taking a few days to come up with your idea is not unreasonable, but if it takes weeks or months, then you may need to re-evaluate your decision making skills. Being indecisive can also make those around you feel as though you are not sure of yourself or that you are not confident in your decisions.
How do you improve your decision making skills so that you will be seen a leader?
•    Start with the small decisions that you have to make every day. For example, if someone asks you what you would like for a meal, do you speak your answer right away or do you take the backseat and reply “whatever you feel like eating?” By starting small, you can easily build up your decision making confidence.
•    Use role playing. Many people have a hard time making decisions because they come nervous or they are worried that what they say won’t be respected by their peers. When you role play, have another person first ask you simple questions and then lead into harder questions to answer. By doing this, you are going to become more comfortable with answering questions and making decisions quickly and efficiently.
•    Practice your communication and public speaking skills. Some people are shy or want to avoid being embarrassed and therefore have a hard time speaking their answers or ideas. If you can feel confident in the way that you communicate and present yourself, you decisiveness will also improve.
Those are just a few simple ideas to get you started, but there are several more ways that you can improve your decision making ability. If you have a hard time being decisive, then your peers and coworkers may not feel confident in the ideas or answers that you come up with. Even if your answer is not the best in the world, you will still be seen as a leader if you can answer decisively and with confidence.

Check pou more articles like this at 'Changing Times' or for help with leadership issues go to our website 'Business Savant'.

You’ve heard it all before about us all being uniquely ‘wired’ making us all different in our own way. Realizing we have our own filters for our experiences so that even when we see a red rose or smell it we are all experiencing it in our own way.  That unique way of seeing the word can become ‘hard wired’ in  leading to people becoming set in their ways  and how they do things – approach and solve problems for example.  Your leadership qualities and abilities can only be improved by challenging your own thinking and getting outside of your box!
Even if you think that you are an open minded individual, chances are that you could still improve. Truth is, most people believe that they are open to ideas and opinions, but then when it comes time to prove it, they find themselves sticking to the same thoughts and opinions that they have had for their entire life. This can hold you back and lead others to believe that you are not open to ideas and possibilities. In order to be a true leader for yourself and for other people, you need to be able to easily work on a team; be open to new ideas and not close down your mind for new or out of the box suggestions.
Take a look at these top 10 reasons why you need to think outside of the box:
1.    It will further your personal and career development. If you tell yourself that something can be done, than most likely, it can. By being open, you are letting others around you know that you are willing to take on new challenges head on, even if the challenge seems difficult.
2.    You will earn respect from your peers and co-workers when you respect their ideas and opinions- even if those ideas and opinions seem a little farfetched. You will also be respected when you come up with your own ideas that are outside of the box. The person who speaks up and offers their ideas is always more respected and well regarded than those who sit in the back of the room and is silent.
3.    It shows that you have the ability to think and act quickly if you need to.
4.    It gives you the leading edge over competition. Think about television commercials that have catchy songs in them or a funny storyline. The idea and concept might be a little out of this world, but they also stick with consumers and help companies profit. If you have the ability to think outside of the box, then you will always be one step ahead.
5.    Some of the most famous inventions did not come from people who thought that their idea was simple and easy to create; they came from people who had big ideas, big dreams and would stop at nothing to make those dreams come true.
6.    It shows that you have control, drive and determination.
7.    If you think outside of the box, then those around you are going to be more willing to open up as well.
8.    It will be easier to solve conflicts when they arise at work or in your personal life. Those who think outside of the box are more willing to compromise than those who have one track minds.
9.    You will be less apt to get stuck in a rut or feel bored with things going on in your life. Thinking outside of the box will help you come up with creative ways to keep things interesting and fun.
10.    It will enable you to experience new things in life. Those who tend to be more closed minded usually stick with the same types of food, the same job and going to the same places. If you can think outside of the box a little, you will bring things into your life that you will enjoy that you never would’ve tried before.
Having good leadership skills does not just include being able to effectively manage your work environment or your employees. Being a good leader takes into account how you respond to new situations, change and new people. If you open your mind up, then you are more likely to respond positively to those things and that will enable you to lead more effectively.
If you want more articles like this , check out 'Changing Times’ and for help developing you or your organizations leadership skills contact us via our website – Future Performance.

When you think about your leadership skills in the workplace, do you also consider your work ethic? Truth is, many people do not consider how their every day actions play a part in how they are treated by their coworkers and their boss. There is a saying that goes “if you want to earn respect, you need to earn it,” and that saying should be given credit if you want to be treated like a leader in your workplace.
With the current state of the world, everyone is feeling stressed out. Money is tight, the rate of divorce is high and people are being laid off from their jobs left and right. All of the added stress can cause a person to feel overly tired and their performance at work will begin suffer. If you are finding yourself in this position, then it’s time to listen up and understand how your lack of ambition in the work place can be causing your boss and coworkers to run the other way.
In order to be a leader, you need to act like a leader. This means setting a good example, getting your work done correctly and getting it done on time. If you are having personal problems outside of your place of work or are letting stress get to you, then you may be procrastinating on your work tasks.
Not one single person likes to wait around for things to get done; and that includes your coworkers and your boss. Yes, they may tell you that they understand what a hard time you have been having lately, but in the end, all they really want is for you to be an active member of the team. Procrastination can, and will lead to your coworkers and your boss into believing that you do not have good leadership skills.
So how do you earn back your respect and regain your leadership role in your workplace if you have been slacking off lately? Luckily, the damage is not permanent and with a few simple tricks, you can easily win back the respect of those you work with.
•    Stick to what you say: If you say that you are going to get something done by a certain time, get it done by that time! Even if you do not have the best track record of being timely in the past, you will earn respect if you start doing it now and are consistent.
•    Don’t use excuses: People know when someone is making up excuses and you do not want to be known as the person in the office who has used every excuse under the sun. If you missed a deadline or made a mistake, then simply admit it. A person who can admit their mistakes without using an excuse is seen as a leader and is respected.
•    Don’t apologize more than once: Saying that you are sorry for procrastinating is going to mean just as much the fifth time you said it as it did the first time, and it is not necessary to say it more than once. You want to show leadership skills, but if you do nothing but constantly apologize, it will look as though you are desperate.
•    Be honest: Along with not using excuses, you should also always be honest about why your work has been lacking lately, not to mention just being honest period.
•    Change it: If you are determined to change your procrastinating ways, then actually change them and stick to it. Make up a list of goals and hang them where you can easily see them on a daily basis. Determination and goal setting will show your coworkers that you are someone that they can look up to and respect.
Being respected and thought of as a leader in the workplace will not only make you feel great about yourself, but you will also become a mentor to other people that you work with. No one is perfect and it can be easy to fall into the procrastination trap every now and then, but by following the few easy suggestions above, you don’t have to stay there for long.
There are several different areas in a person’s life that they can improve on their leadership skills and the workplace is just one of them. Once you start improving your leadership skills in one area of your life however, the other areas will start to see improvement as well. Check out more articles at 'Changing Times' on leadership.

Do you need to change your leadership style? If you do, then it is first helpful to know what kind of leadership styles there are so that you can determine which category you fall into. Not all types of leadership styles are the best to possess, but by figuring out where you fit, you will then have the power to make changes if necessary. Be honest with yourself when reading over this information so that you can improve your leadership skills.

•    Task Leader: You focus on the details of every little thing. You organize everything, you delegate everything, you plan, you organize and then you probably plan and organize again. You only give certain tasks to those who are in the “right” position to complete them and never trust anyone else to do the job of another. The thoughts and feelings of your time or people around you are rarely taken into consideration and you are always right. Your staff may not stick around long or if they do, they may lack motivational qualities.

•    The Leader Who Participates: A leader who participates and lets other team members play a role in the decision making process ultimately makes the final decision. The decision may be one of their own or it could be a thought from one of the other team members. Employees of leaders who participates and lets others participate tend to be more motivated because they feel as though their thoughts and opinions are valued.

•    The “Leave Them Alone” Leader: This type of leader gives their staff their tasks to do and then they leave them alone to complete those tasks or their work. This type of leader can be effective if daily work tasks are the same or similar, but problems can arise if the tasks change often as it can lead team members to be confused. Team members may also feel unsure if they can approach their leader with a question if they have one. The leave them alone leader can be a good leader, but it might also mean that the leader is not interested in daily operations and does not want to make an effort.

•    The Powerful Leader: The powerful leader is often thought of as the high power that controls everything. Powerful leaders do not take suggestions from employees and generally doesn’t care for outside opinions. Staff members of a powerful leader may start to resent being treated in such a demeaning way and the turnover rate of the staff is usually high.

•    The Leader Who Never puts Down the Policy Book: This kind of leader adheres to every policy and rule and never deviates from it. There is no room for change with this type of leader and the thought of change can make a “book leader” cringe. While this type of leader may be appropriate for jobs that need to be followed exactly for legal or other reasons, it can bring down the creativeness of the team. It can also prevent the team from knowing how to react to change and that can be a severe consequence.
•    Communicative Leader: The communicative leader is one who is in constant contact with his or her staff. They also regularly participate in staff projects and help complete goals. Communicative leaders know how to motivate the staff and keep customers happy at the same time. While communicative leaders are usually a positive asset, they can also become overbearing at times.

•    The Leader Who Can Change: The leader who can change can easily adapt to meet staff and customer goals. They know when their involvement is wanted or needed and they know when to back off. Since they have such a good ability to change and adapt, they are most often seen as the best types of leaders.

Sometimes when you give it a label it starts to make sense. Check out more leadership articles at "Changing Times' or email us and we'll help you find some answers.