leadership tips

Unleash the power of inclusivity

Unleashing the Power of Inclusivity | Dr. Will Ramey
Unleashing the Power of Inclusivity | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks

Unleash the power of inclusivity

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

This week we delve into the invaluable concept of inclusivity and its profound impact on team success. We share powerful ways leaders can set the conditions for inclusivity to flourish in their team. Let’s dive in!

Who is on the team matters:

The right people, in the right place, doing the right things together, can move mountains. I’ve worked on a variety of teams throughout my career. One of the common denominators of teams that I have enjoyed leading has been a diverse team composition. Being surrounded by people that see the world differently, approach problem solving differently, and who challenge me to think differently, makes for a high growth and highly satisfying experience.

According to research by Josh Bersin, more diversity equals more innovation. In his research, companies that ranked as more inclusive were 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders in their market, and 1.8 times more likely to be change-ready.

Understanding Inclusivity:

Inclusivity is the cornerstone of team success, enabling diverse perspectives, talents, and experiences to converge. When individuals from various backgrounds and walks of life come together, they form a potent cocktail of creativity, innovation, and problem-solving prowess. The true beauty lies in the realization that our individual strengths are amplified when we embrace and celebrate our differences.

Breaking Down Barriers:

Leaders play a pivotal role in setting the stage for inclusivity to flourish within their teams. They must actively dismantle barriers, whether visible or invisible, that hinder collaboration and prevent the full participation of team members. By cultivating an environment of psychological safety (Model Psychological Safety), leaders empower individuals to speak up, share their unique insights, and challenge the status quo without fear of judgment or retribution.

Embracing Diversity:

A crucial step in fostering inclusivity is recognizing and valuing the diversity that each team member brings to the table. Diversity encompasses a broad range of dimensions, including race, gender, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic background, and more. Leaders must actively seek out and embrace this diversity, understanding that it unlocks a wealth of perspectives and approaches that can propel the team towards unprecedented success.

Active Listening and Empathy:

Leaders must develop and demonstrate active listening skills, striving to understand the experiences, needs, and challenges faced by their team members. By empathizing with diverse perspectives, leaders build trust and demonstrate a genuine commitment to inclusivity. This empathy creates a safe space for individuals to express themselves and fosters a culture of respect and understanding.

Fostering Collaboration:

Collaboration lies at the heart of inclusivity. Leaders must foster an environment that encourages open communication, cooperation, and the exchange of ideas. Creating opportunities for team members to work together on diverse projects not only strengthens bonds but also fosters a sense of shared purpose. By celebrating both individual and collective achievements, leaders reinforce the importance of inclusivity as an integral aspect of the team’s fabric.

Continuous Learning and Growth:

Leaders must promote continuous learning and growth within their teams, encouraging individuals to expand their knowledge and embrace new perspectives. By investing in training and development programs that address unconscious biases and promote cultural awareness, leaders equip team members with the tools to navigate the challenges that arise from diverse perspectives. These initiatives also demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and reinforce the value placed on inclusivity.

Conclusion:

Inclusivity is not merely a buzzword but a fundamental principle that unlocks the full potential of teams. By embracing diversity, fostering collaboration, and creating a culture of empathy and respect, leaders can set the conditions for inclusivity to thrive. Through the power of inclusivity, teams can overcome challenges, ignite innovation, and achieve remarkable outcomes that surpass expectations. I encourage you to embark on this journey of inclusivity, for it is a pathway to a brighter future, both personally and professionally.

Looking for a personal coach to help you strengthen your self-awareness and navigate leading people? Let’s talk! Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

Interested in having me facilitate a leadership or team development workshop for your organization? Reach out or checkout my website: Will Ramey Leadership & Team Dynamic Workshop

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Smashing Your Goals

Smashing Your Goals as a Leader | Dr. Will Ramey
Smashing Your Goals as a Leader | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks

Smashing Your Goals

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Understanding who you want to become and putting a system in place helps you achieve your leadership goals. We share three steps to take so you can make sustainable and continuous growth as a leader to get the outcomes you desire. Let’s get into it!

Jumpstart Your Goals

When is the best time to start…NOW! It’s not a new year, it’s not a major milestone. However, you’ve got goals you want to accomplish. You have something you want to overcome. Focus on that feeling of optimism. It’s always the right time to refresh, restart, or reimage yourself. It’s a fantastic time to jumpstart, set goals, and build or break habits. The time is now! Whether your goals are professional or personal here are three pieces of the puzzle that will help you achieve whatever outcome you set for yourself.

Let’s think of this as an equation:
Who I Want to Be + My Habit System = My Desired Outcome

1. Start with the End in Mind

Identifying a goal or objective you want to achieve is great but don’t forget, it is actually the result or outcome you are looking for. It comes at the end of the equation. Take time to visualize your outcome. Picture yourself at the end, having achieved your goal.

Who is around you? How do you feel? Now walk it back in time – What steps did you take to get there? How long did you take to get there? Visualization is a powerful tool when it comes to future oriented achievement. It allows you to see yourself succeeding.

2. Understand WHO you are becoming

Let’s move to the left side of that equation. It’s not just the result but the journey to get you there. It’s imperative to understand what achieving this goal means to who you are trying to become. Who do you want to become by the end of this journey? What is important for you to feel? What is important to you about achieving this outcome? Who do you need to show up as?

Identifying a clear concise outcome is great, what will keep you moving towards that goal is being highly self-aware of the tie it has to who you are becoming in the process. To dive deep and tap into the true importance of your desired outcome, you can practice a little “self-coaching”.

Try this reflective writing process. Write out and answer these questions:
What is the outcome I’m trying to achieve? What happens if I’m able to achieve this outcome? Who is impacted? How will achieving my goal change who I am?  Who do I want to become along the way?

The goal is the outcome – making it personal and being self-aware of who you want to become by achieving the goal is powerful. It gives your goal more purpose beyond the surface level of accomplishment.

3. The Habit System

The last piece of the equation is putting a system in place for change. The system you put in place will lead you to your desired result. Think about it from the wide world of sports. The outcome is to Win. To win you must score the most points. To score points you must have a process in place… The process can be thought of as your how. Different goals require different systems. Systems will bring about the change you seek, through your habits. Understanding the habit loop will help you put the best system in place for achieving your goal.

Take the outcome you want and break it down into manageable achievable steps. What’s the first step you can take? What resources do you need? How will you be accountable? When will you start? Now we are ready to enter the Habit Loop.

The Loop

According to James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits, the habit loop starts with a 1. cue that triggers a 2. craving, which motivates a 3. response, which provides a 4. reward, which satisfies the craving and, ultimately, becomes associated with the cue. Together, these four steps form a neurological feedback loop that allows you to create automatic habits.

Ultimately – You want to make good habits fun and attractive and you want to break bad habits by making them unattractive and invisible.

Remember to celebrate the small wins along the path. Small wins or setbacks have a multiplying impact over the long term. Build your positive momentum.

Looking forward to seeing you achieve your professional and personal goals!
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

Looking for a personal coach to help you strengthen your self-awareness and navigate leading people? Let’s talk! Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

Interested in having me facilitate a leadership or team development workshop for your organization? Reach out or checkout my website: Will Ramey Leadership & Team Dynamic Workshop

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Emotional Intelligence and Leadership

Emotional Intelligence in Leadership | Dr. Will Ramey
Emotional Intelligence in Leadership | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks
Emotional Intelligence and Leadership
Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

As a leader, you are expected to inspire and guide your team towards success. But what sets the most effective leaders apart from the rest? According to research, one key factor is emotional intelligence. Here we share what it is, why it’s important to leadership, and how to develop yours over time.

Something unique about my career path is that I have never actually performed the tasks or been in the role of the teams’ I’ve led. I’ve never had the technical expertise or requisite knowledge to be considered a subject matter expert. What I do believe has set me apart when leading teams is my focus on people. I realized the need to develop and grow my emotional intelligence. Doing so enables me to connect and build relationships with my team so we can communicate, remove roadblocks, and build a shared understanding of goals and objectives for performance, without requiring a high degree of technical expertise.

Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is the ability to recognize and regulate your own emotions, as well as understand and respond to the emotions of others. While IQ and technical skills are certainly important, studies show that EQ may be an even stronger predictor of leadership success.

So why does EQ matter in leadership, and how can you develop this important skill set? Let’s take a closer look.

Understanding Emotional Intelligence

EQ has five key components: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Let’s break these down:

  1. Self-awareness: This involves understanding your own emotions, strengths, and weaknesses, and how they impact your behavior and decisions.
  2. Self-regulation: This involves managing your own emotions and impulses in a constructive way, rather than letting them control you.
  3. Motivation: This involves having a strong drive to achieve goals and a positive outlook on the future.
  4. Empathy: This involves understanding and responding to the emotions of others, and being able to see things from their perspective.
  5. Social skills: This involves building strong relationships and networks, and being able to communicate effectively with others.

Each of these components is important for effective leadership. Leaders who are self-aware, emotionally stable, motivated, empathetic, and skilled at communication are better able to inspire and motivate their teams, resolve conflicts, and navigate challenging situations.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

So why does emotional intelligence matter in leadership? There are several reasons:

  1. Better communication: Leaders with high emotional intelligence are able to communicate clearly and effectively with their teams, building trust and rapport.
  2. Stronger relationships: Leaders with high emotional intelligence are able to build strong relationships with their team members, creating a positive and supportive work environment.
  3. Improved decision-making: Leaders with high emotional intelligence are able to regulate their own emotions and make decisions based on reason, rather than being swayed by emotions.
  4. More effective conflict resolution: Leaders with high emotional intelligence are able to understand and respond to the emotions of others, making them more effective at resolving conflicts and negotiating solutions.
  5. Increased team performance: Leaders with high emotional intelligence are able to motivate and inspire their teams, leading to higher levels of engagement, productivity, and overall performance.

Developing Emotional Intelligence

The good news is that emotional intelligence can be developed, even if you don’t naturally possess all of the components. Here are some strategies for developing your emotional intelligence:

  1. Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness practices like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga can help you become more aware of your own emotions and better able to regulate them. (See my article: How Mindfulness Helps You Lead)
  2. Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from others on your emotional intelligence and be open to constructive criticism.
  3. Practice empathy: Put yourself in the shoes of others and try to understand their perspective and emotions.
  4. Build relationships: Make an effort to build strong relationships with your team members, and work on your communication and social skills.
  5. Set goals: Set goals for improving your emotional intelligence and track your progress over time.

By developing your emotional intelligence, you can become a more effective leader and inspire your team to achieve great things. So why not take the first step today?

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Let’s continue the conversation. Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

Interested in having me facilitate a leadership or team development workshop for your organization? Reach out or checkout my website: Will Ramey Leadership & Team Dynamic Workshop

Check out my OnTheStacks Podcast episode here: 

If you find value and enjoy our content, smash that YouTube Subscribe button here: OnTheStacks YouTube Channel

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Connecting with your Team

Connecting with your Team | Dr. Will Ramey
Connecting with your Team | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks

Connecting with your Team

Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Connecting with your team can be complex as a leader. Here we share ideas on how to build those connections and strengthen team dynamics over time.

The Complexity of Connection

As a team leader, building strong connections with your team members is essential to creating a positive and productive work environment. When your team members feel connected to you, they are more likely to trust you, communicate openly with you, and work collaboratively with their peers. However, connecting with your team members can be complicated. How do build genuine relationships without compromising your ability to soundly manage performance?

Early on in my leadership career I was taught to get to know your team, take a genuine interest in their lives, understand what motivates them, and learn everyone by name. As a Lieutenant in the Army, I made it part of my daily routine to get out and talk with my Soldiers where they were working. I found out who was married, who had kids, where people were from, etc. The difficulty came with balancing that with assigning tasks, making disciplinary recommendations, and correcting performance. How could I not become biased or allow someone’s personal situation to sway my judgement. The easy answer would be to swing the other direction. Put up walls. Keep people at double-arms distance. However, if this happens you become unapproachable. How do you lead when your team doesn’t feel comfortable bringing up concerns or issues?

Finding the Balance

To strike a balance in the work environment you can reflect on your communication rhythm. When do you communicate, where do you communicate, how do you communicate, and what is the purpose of your communication. When you make intentional decisions about communication with the intent to connect to your team you can start to build bonds and balance driving for results. Think about the routines you have when you communicate. Start-up meetings, do you mix the daily goals with the opportunities to recognize your team or acknowledge an anniversary, birthday, etc? Conversations in the workspace, do you take time to check in and encourage your team members to share their concerns or teach your something about their role? Formal feedback conversations, do you deliver balanced feedback on performance and share opportunities for professional development?

Here are some tips on building strong connections with your team

  1. Get to know your team members personally: Take the time to learn about your team members’ interests, hobbies, and aspirations. Knowing what makes them tick can help you understand them better and show that you care about them as individuals.
  2. Be approachable and available: Make sure your team members know that they can come to you with any questions, concerns, or ideas. Create an open-door policy, get out of your office, and encourage your team members to reach out to you when they need support or guidance.
  3. Show appreciation and recognition: Make sure you acknowledge your team members’ hard work and achievements. Celebrate milestones, acknowledge team members who go above and beyond, and show your gratitude for their efforts.
  4. Communicate clearly and effectively: Communication is key to building strong connections with your team members. Make sure you are clear and concise in your messaging and encourage your team members to do the same. Listen actively, ask questions, and be open to feedback.
  5. Lead by example: As a team leader, you set the tone for the team. If you want your team members to be respectful, collaborative, and communicative, you need to model those behaviors yourself.
  6. Invest in professional development: Show your team members that you care about their growth and development by investing in training and development opportunities. This can help your team members develop new skills and expertise, which can lead to more meaningful and rewarding work.
  7. Encourage teamwork and collaboration: Encourage your team members to work together and collaborate on projects. This can help build trust, foster creativity, and create a sense of camaraderie.

The Power of Connection

Research has found support for the power of connection between team leaders and team members. One study found that employees who had a positive relationship with their supervisor were more likely to report job satisfaction and higher levels of engagement. Another study found that employees who had a positive relationship with their supervisor had higher levels of organizational citizenship behaviors, such as helping coworkers and going above and beyond their job duties. This can lead to increased productivity and improved job performance. In addition, research has shown that positive relationships between supervisors and their subordinates can lead to reduced turnover rates. One study found that employees who had a positive relationship with their supervisor were less likely to leave the organization.

Overall, there is ample research to support the notion that positive relationships between leaders and their team members can have significant positive outcomes for employee satisfaction and business performance. As a team leader, investing in these relationships is not only the right thing to do for your employees, but it can also have a positive impact on the success of your organization.

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Let’s continue the conversation. Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

Interested in having me facilitate a leadership or team development workshop for your organization? Reach out or checkout my website: Will Ramey Leadership & Team Dynamic Workshop

Check out my OnTheStacks Podcast episode here: 

If you find value and enjoy our content, smash that YouTube Subscribe button here: OnTheStacks YouTube Channel

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Balance Relationships and Results

Balancing Relationships and Results | Dr. Will Ramey
Balancing Relationships and Results | Dr. Will Ramey 800 600 OnTheStacks
Balance Relationships and Results
Research Backed Approaches to Leadership and Team Dynamics with Dr. Will Ramey, The Leadership Dr.

Balancing Relationships and Results: Leaders need to get positive results without sacrificing relationships with your team. This can feel like walking a high wire without a net. We share numerous ways to finding that balance so you can achieve results and maintain strong relationships with your team.

Leadership is a People Business

We all know that leadership is a people business. We’ve heard great thought leaders like Simon Sinek share his perspective that when you focus on people, the numbers will come. That can be easier said than done for some in leadership positions.

My first job out of the military was with a Fortune 50 company working in their distribution channel. I thought I had this whole leadership thing all figured out. Know the objective goals, understand processes, motivate my team to smash those goals, and all is right in the world. TOO EASY! Soon, I had the top performing team in my department. My boss took me for a developmental walkaround, and he began asking me about my relationships with my team and my peers. I remember thinking to myself – what does that matter at all? Have you seen my numbers?! It wasn’t until a few years later that I truly grasped what he was trying to get me to understand.

Finding the Balance

Leadership is about balancing relationships and results. On one hand, a leader must be able to build strong relationships with team members in order to create a positive and productive work environment. On the other hand, a leader must also be able to deliver results by setting and achieving goals. If you favor relationships, you may avoid having difficult conversations. If you favor results, you may not be connected enough to get the best out of your team.

The key to balancing relationships and results is to understand that they are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are closely linked and dependent on one another. Strong relationships with team members can lead to better communication, increased trust and collaboration, and ultimately better results.

For a deeper dive into understanding how to balance relationships and results I recommend a book by my good friend and colleague Mark Stevens: The Square and the Triangle


Mark Stevens The Square and the Triangle

Leadership Tips

Here are some ways to balance relationships and results when leading your team:

  • Communicate effectively: Regularly communicate with team members to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Go see your team where they work and encourage team members to voice any concerns or issues.
  • Show appreciation: Show appreciation for your team members’ hard work and contributions. Recognize and reward their achievements and provide constructive feedback on areas where they can improve.
  • Build trust: Build trust by being reliable and consistent. Keep your promises and be transparent in your decision-making. Share the why behind decisions and seek out team members input when possible.
  • Encourage teamwork: Encourage teamwork by fostering collaboration and cooperation among team members. Hold team-building activities and create opportunities for team members to work together to achieve common goals.

By following these tips, you can effectively balance relationships and results when leading your team. Remember that strong relationships lead to better results and a positive work environment, and that both are important for the success of your team and your organization.

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Let’s continue the conversation. Connect with me on LinkedIn Dr. William Ramey | LinkedIn

Check out my OnTheStacks Podcast episode here: 

If you find value and enjoy our content, smash that YouTube Subscribe button here: OnTheStacks YouTube Channel

Want to see more OnTheStacks Content?

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