5 Ways to Use Your Time More Efficiently

I’ve been studying time management for about 20 years now and I can tell you this for certain about the best way to manage your available time: for every theory, there is an equal and opposite theory. Lots of help, right? Bear with me for a moment.

I was getting ready to start one of my “9 Ways to . . .” articles when I realized, people don’t really want 9 ways to manage their time; they want one way – the best way. The problem with trying to tell you the best way, is that I’ve found several strategies to be extremely effective in getting the job done. So for this article, I’m listing my personal favorite, and four more that have served me well.

1. Create lists. In 18 Reasons to Love Lists, I talk about the subconscious power behind creating a list of everything you have to do and how I have a list for just about everything. The reason lists work so well, is that they make you stop and really think about everything you have to do. The next step would be to consider whether everything on your list is accomplishable in the time available. Most of the time, it’s not. So what’s next? You must prioritize your list items. The problem you’ll run into here, though, is that sometimes what is most important isn’t doable right now, or even in the time available, so you must put it off to another time. That’s fine, as long as you really do come back to it. (By the way, never, ever, check something as completed until after you’ve done it.) This is why keeping ongoing lists is so important. But how do you prioritize when your projects are many and varied, and some things simply must be done while others are more important but optional?
   
2. Evaluate your top 20. In How to Maximize Your Personal Productivity, I explain the Pareto principle in detail. From a time management perspective, you must identify those activities that contribute 80% or more or your value to your business. (This applies whether you work for yourself or someone else.) What are those precious few tasks that actually contribute to income for your company and, therefore, yourself? Whatever those tasks are, perform them first. For me it’s one thing; writing. If I spend just 90 minutes per day, every day, five days per week, writing, everything else I do falls into place. Blogging, speaking, consulting, training – everything – revolves around writing.
   
3. Time chunk. Once you’ve determined what your top 20 tasks are, group them. Then, group everything else. For example, when I sit down to write a blog post, I write it from start to finish, proofread and edit it, and then post it – all in one sitting. I get up for breaks when I need to do so, but I don’t put it down and come back to it later – that wastes time. I have found this method to work wonderfully because it makes you focus. The longer you spend on an idea or thought, the more ideas you get related to that thought. Therefore, as you spend more time focused on a project, the easier the project becomes to complete. Now, if you have a huge project to complete, you will have to break it down into manageable chunks. I have personally found that working in 90-minute segments, 3 hours at a time, works best for me. I have worked as many as 9 hours in one day in that highly focused, highly productive, extremely efficient mode. Grouping your other, less-productive tasks is very effective as well. For instance, run all your errands at once, and do all of your online shopping once per week. I keep a running list of things to buy from Amazon and make my purchases when I get enough items to avoid the shipping charge. Hey, every little bit helps, right?
   
4. Do it now. Another highly effective time management model is the “Do it now” theory. In this system, when a task presents itself, you do it now. When your desk gets piled up, you sort through all the paper and each time your hand lands on something that requires action, you do it now. When someone calls and asks you to do something, if you agree to do it, you do it now. This method makes you stop and think about the interruptions you allow into your day. If you’re having a day where you’re swamped, you’ll think twice before picking up that phone because you know if you’re asked to do something, you’ll have to do it now. If you choose not to answer the phone, the person on the other end might just call someone else to do that little chore. You learn these things with the “Do it now” approach and that’s one reason I like it. If you don’t like lists, for whatever reason, you’ll love the do it now system because there’s rarely a need for a list. What I like best about the “Do it now” approach is that is eliminates brain clutter. Having a long list of undone tasks can clutter up your brain and keep you from getting anything accomplished. Doing everything now eliminates that problem because you’ve done everything that has crossed your path. You still must prioritize in this system, but the way you do so is by deciding if the task that has interrupted your workflow is more important than what you’re doing now. If not, you continue with your current project. If it is, you stop, complete the task now, and come back to your project. Some theorists say that it is slightly less effective than time chunking because if you stop to do something else, it takes you longer to get back on track with your project. However, if you’ve ever had trouble concentrating because you were worried that you were going to forget some important task, you’ll understand why doing it now can be just as effective. I try to practice a little of both throughout my day, which brings me to my favorite time-management system of all:
   
5. Your ideal day. Working in my husband’s dental practice for five years taught me the benefit of this technique, but it was a while before I started applying in my own business. Since I have – about a year ago now - my productivity has greatly increased and the best part is that my personal satisfaction with what I’ve accomplished at the end of the day has greatly increased as well. Here’s what you do. Forget the lists for a moment and think about your top 20 activities. What are they? Write them down. Over the course of about a week, maybe two for you, when would you most ideally complete these important tasks? For example, if you need to call on clients, when is the best time to do that? Once you have all those activities arranged, start thinking about your ideal day. When would you complete your most important tasks - morning or afternoon? Would you have time set aside for catching up on lists? Would you make sure you had time for exercise? Would you set aside time to “Do it now” and do whatever inspires you? Would you make time for reading important articles in your field? How would your day look if you could wave a magic wand and make it exactly the way you want it - the most productive, both personally and professionally? Want some good news – it can be that way. Exactly. Here’s my ideal day. I get up at 6 AM, hug both of my cats, and start my tea. I go outside and feed the birds while the water is getting hot. While the tea is steeping, I make my breakfast. After eating, I go into my office to do my daily goal writing and “Self MEI.” (In Put Yourself First, I talk about how it’s hard for me to Motivate, Educate, or Inspire someone else when I haven’t first motivated, educated, or inspired myself.) I spend an hour on Self MEI on my ideal days. Then, I get on the treadmill for 30 minutes, followed by a shower and getting dressed for the day. By this time, it’s 9 AM and I’m ready to write. I write my blog posts, speeches, training projects, or seminars in the morning because this is when I’m at my best. Sometime around Noon, I’ll eat lunch. Then, in the afternoon of my ideal day, I work on all those other projects that are less important, but must be done nonetheless. If I’m working on something really big, I might go back to writing; this is where prioritizing and keeping lists comes in handy. And, as you can see, my ideal day is definitely time-chunked. I usually end my work day at 5 or 6 PM, but not before taking time to create tomorrow’s ideal day. I look at my lists and carry over anything that did not get accomplished. I finish the evening with household chores, just like anybody else, you know the drill – laundry, cooking supper, cleaning up this mess or that, followed by some “down time” with my husband, on the couch, watching TV for about an hour before going to bed.
   

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Source: http://www.debramoorhead.com/blog/?p=134

10 Ways To Save And Make More Money In Business

Success or failures of businesses primarily depend on the marketing strategies deployed. Devising correct marketing strategies are important for expansion of any business. Only those products that are marketed well sell in the market. They sell because their promoter has done his groundwork well. Listed below are the tips that would enable small business owners to plan their marketing strategies well so that they rock the market, eliminating the need to outsource such work, which is costlier.
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1.Remain Focused:

You must identify your revenue source and then know the client who is giving you maximum business. Find out what is unique about that client and why does he or she do business with you.

2.Place Your Business:

Find out what you would like to do i.e. think about what services to offer and what product packages to provide. Then, target a market where your product is most likely to sell.

3.Give The Right Messages:

All the businessmen, small or large, must understand that the customers do not buy what they sell; instead they buy the benefits that your products offer. Therefore, see to it that your products offer the attributes the clients are looking out for and make sure that you communicate all the benefits of the products in the right manner.

4.Use Marketing Materials:

Update your marketing mediums such as website, so that the customers are aware of the new things you add to your kitty. This will help you to upgrade the products regularly.

5.Streamline Workflow:

Streamlining workflow is essential to maximize a company’s efficiencies. This can be by establishing Business Process Management (BPM). BPM analyzes a company’s operations on a daily basis by studying the functions of individual departments as well as their interdependent functions.

6.Controlling Expenses:

Controlling expenses is the key to success in a business irrespective of its size. Operating costs can be reduced in a number of ways such as controlling inventory and leasing equipment with a buying option.

7.Well-defined Goals:

Any business, large or small, needs clearly defined goals and objectives to succeed. A company’s management must devise methods of studying the company’s current operations to identify the areas of improvement.

8.Placing Products:

To hit the market right, you must know the places where you can place the products. Only when you target the right market and capture the genuine demand, you will do good business.

9.Effective Communication:

You can also encourage blogging among the customers to give them a platform for discussing your product.

10.Reward Customers:

It is important that the customers feel that they are receiving the right value for money. Hence, offer free gifts on reward points collected and give discounts occasionally.

5 WAYS to become a leader

Leadership is a quality that cannot be taught. Either you have it or you don’t. Some people like to take charge, be their own person and follow their own path. Some prefer to take direction from others. Leadership is not a quality that can be found outside of yourself, you need to develop it from inside yourself.

Here are five suggestions that will help you cultivate your own leadership skills:

1. Don’t feel like you have to prove anything to anyone, anywhere.

If you’re in class, and someone wants to make a speech that’s rife with inaccuracies, bias takes and general nonsense, let them. You do not have to display your intellectual prowess in order to prove that this person is an idiot. You don’t have to feel obligated to set the record straight. Likewise, you shouldn’t feel pressured into abandoning an unpopular belief, just because the majority of people around you claim that it’s false. Don’t feel pressured into being anything for anybody. This is your life, you can live it they way you want.

2. Talk the talk and walk the walk.

Don’t be a hypocrite. Don’t flip-flop or flake. If you say something, mean it. If you promise to do something, do it. Be true to your word in every situation. Read more

3. Let your actions speak louder than your words.

Deeds have more weight than words. You can pay lip-service to hard work and achieving your goals, but if you never act upon these declarations, you’re just talking. People respond to bold action. Figure out what it is you want to do, and set your plan in motion immediately.

4. Don’t be intimidated by any person, place, thing or idea.

Develop thick skin. Learn to take emotions out of the equation. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad. There’s not enough time for self-doubt, you have too much to do. You will be faced with awkward situations where you will feel challenged in some way. Stick up for yourself and your ideas. Don’t let your environment dictate how you react. No one can say anything that’ll phase you, if you refuse to let yourself be phased.

5. Feel like you are in control of any and every situation.

Leadership is about controlling difficult situations. You have to feel like you are master of your own domain in every possible scenario. Sure you will face overwhelming incidents in life, but when you do, stand up and accept it. Push forward. Get past your problems, free your mind of all restrictive doubt, and execute a solution.

Leadership cannot be taught from without, but it can be developed from within. Be confident in yourself and your abilities. Don’t let anything get under your skin. Follow your word, take action, and no that you are in control of your own life.

20 WAYS to become a Leader

A recent woman law school graduate might be surprised to find so few women among the leaders of the firm she just joined. After all, half of her law school classmates were women. And although this law school statistic is often reported as if it represents some dramatic change, the fact is that roughly 40% of law school students have been women since the mid 1980s.

Although there have been small positive changes, for the most part, legal workplaces continue to be sadly lacking in women leadership.

There are several reasons for this, perhaps chief among them, the fact that a "committed lawyer" is defined so that it excludes the majority of women lawyers. If "commitment" is mutually exclusive with pregnancy and motherhood, then the odds of a woman lawyer advancing to a leadership position are slim.

This definition also excludes male lawyers who want to be more than just financial providers for their families. In fact, any lawyer seriously wanting "a life" is at risk of being deleted from the potential- leaders list.

The best chance of changing this systemic obstacle is to tip the gender scales in leadership balance. As more women become leaders in legal organizations, organizational values and definitions are likely to change. The concept of the "ideal lawyer" [1] will broaden to become equally inclusive of women as well as men whose wives handle family matters. The inclusion of men and woman who understand that work and life are not a zero sum game would benefit the profession as well as the individuals practicing it.

As organizations move from mono-cultural clubs to diversity-welcoming institutions, one might expect that the "ideal lawyer" image would also evolve into one that equally includes lawyers of color and those of non-majority sexual orientation.

There is another reason to expect that fostering leadership ability among women lawyers will benefit the careers of these and future women attorneys, as well as the organizations in which they work:

Research on leadership indicates that 50-75% of organizations are currently managed by people sorely lacking in leadership competence [2]. They are hired or promoted based on technical competence, business knowledge and politics - not on leadership skill. Such managers often manage by crisis, are poor communicators, are insensitive to moral issues, are mistrustful, over-controlling and micro-managing, fail to follow through on commitments they've made and are easily excitable and explosive. The result is low morale, alienated employees, and costly attrition. Since the best business outcomes are achieved by satisfied employees, the legal profession can only gain by an increasing focus on the development of attorneys' leadership competencies.

Women lawyers can take the lead in this endeavor. Here are 20 ways to become a leader:

1. TAKE CHARGE

Become the sculptor of your own career and life – not the sculpture. Leaders are authentic – the authors of their own lives. Take responsibility for your professional development. No one has a greater investment in your success and satisfaction than you. Especially as a woman, you cannot depend upon the traditional management structure of your organization to put you on the path to achievement. It's up to you to direct and protect your career and to develop your own potential. You cannot afford to be passive or to accept roles assigned to you. Know what you want and why and be prepared to take action to make it happen.

2. KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS

Work is most meaningful and satisfying when it gives us an opportunity to use our strengths. Leadership is fundamentally about character. Knowing your character strengths enables you to find ways to select work environments and work assignments that allow you to express and develop them. For example, if one of your greatest strengths is loyalty and teamwork, you'll be most effective and satisfied working as a member of a team. If fairness is among your greatest strengths, you'll be frustrated and dissatisfied without an opportunity to work on issues of justice. If you're someone who loves to learn, you'll feel bored and frustrated unless you find ways to master new skills and bodies of knowledge.

It's also important to keep track of your own accomplishments. Unfortunately, legal workplaces are notorious for focusing on mistakes and defeats rather than what people have done well. However, good leaders develop talent by matching peoples' strengths with work tasks. They recognize contributions and celebrate accomplishments.

Start practicing good leadership by keeping a log of your successes. Record even small wins – this is essential for building your own confidence as well as developing a crucial leadership competence.

You can assess your strengths by taking the VIA Strengths Survey at http://www.authentichappiness.org. Dr. Martin Seligman, a psychologist known for his research in the areas of helplessness, depression, optimism and positive psychology has developed this website. Since he continues to do research on the instruments on his website, you can take them for free.

The Gallup StrengthsFinder is another way to assess your strengths. You can learn about it at http://www.gallup.com.

3. CREATE YOUR VISION

Leaders are vision directed. A leader creates a compelling vision, is committed to this vision, and inspires others to action by aligning their goals with this vision.

Start developing this leadership competence by creating your own personal vision. Your vision statement is a picture of the future to which you can commit. It expresses your values, the contribution you want to make, and the way you want to live your life.

Without a clear vision, it's easy to be led by the expectations of others. As a professional coach, I can attest to the unhappiness of lawyers who've allowed the demands and approval of others to become their compass. It is heartbreaking to look back on your life with regret.

Your vision statement is your own personal "why." Knowing what you're working toward allows you to plan your professional development as well as to be resilient in the face of obstacles.

If you'd like a format for a personal vision statement, you can email me at Ellen@lawyerslifecoach.com with "Vision Statement" in the subject line.

4. CHOOSE A WORKPLACE WITH COMPATIBLE VALUES

One of the biggest mistakes many attorneys make is to accept a position in an organization with values contrary to their own. This situation leads to misery at worst, and job change at best.

Furthermore, you are much less likely to achieve a position of leadership in an organization with values at odds with your own ethics than you would in an environment that echoed your principles.

5. ESTABLISH YOUR OWN PERSONAL ADVISORY BOARD

Although the legal profession puts a premium on self-reliance, everyone needs guidance, role models and support. Old-style mentoring rarely exists in the 21st century legal workplace. Even if you have an assigned mentor, such "arranged marriages" rarely meet your most important professional development needs. It's especially difficult for women and attorneys of color to find mentors who identify with them or to whom they can look for time-tested strategies that apply to their unique challenges.

Establishing your own personal advisory board enables you to obtain assistance from several people. Each has a unique contribution to make to your career success. This approach also gives you an opportunity to seek needed assistance without over-burdening any one person.

In order to construct an effective personal board of directors you need to assess your learning needs. Identify the skills you need to acquire or improve in order to achieve the career goals you've set for the next year or two. Having identified your knowledge needs, you'll be ready to identify potential advisors. You can get recommendations from others. At the same time, observe people you'd like to emulate or those who have some special expertise in the areas in which you're interested. Look both within as well as outside your current work setting.

The people on your board will change as your learning needs change. Here are a few important tips for developing your advisory board:

Select people whom you trust.
Keep in mind that the alliances you form with your advisors are substantive, strategically important, and meaningful relationships.
Clarify each person's expectations for the relationship. Negotiate how long you expect the relationship to proceed in this form.
Understand what you mentor needs in order for the relationship to be mutually rewarding. For some advisors, helping another attorney succeed is sufficient. Others might feel rewarded by your offers to assist them in their own work.

You'll need to have advisors who serve different functions. The most important of these are:

A Culture Guide

If you're a new attorney, or are new to your current work setting, you'll need an advisor who can help you learn about the organizational culture. This mentor can provide tips on who is powerful, who the key players and decision-makers are, whom to seek out and whom not to cross. This mentor may also suggest committees to join and other avenues to pursue so that you will become more visible.

A Legal Skills Mentor

It's useful to find a mentor with deep knowledge in your area of the law – a senior and successful attorney who can provide candid and constructive feedback about your work. You need to have someone you trust to whom you can turn with substantive questions about your work. Ideally, this would not be someone who will be in a position of evaluating you: you can't hold back if you want to really learn.

A Role Model

It's especially helpful for women attorneys to form alliances with other women lawyers who share their work/life balance values. Ask someone you admire to share her strategies for balancing work and family.

It's particularly helpful to identify leadership role models. Think of the most inspiring leaders in your life and list the attributes that elicited your admiration and respect. Find role models who can advise you about how you can become a leader.

A Good "Connector"

Unless you have a well-established network, it's helpful to know someone who can introduce you to people you'd like to know. As a knowledge worker in today's economy, you simply cannot know everything. Establishing a knowledge network enables you to identify the fastest route to the information you need and the people who can connect you to that information. Whether you're seeking information requested by a client, connections to business development opportunities, or looking for another job, a well-developed network is an essential resource.

6. FIND A CHAMPION

It's essential to have someone who will be your champion in the organization. Most likely, this will be someone with whom you practice. The more value you add to the practice of a senior lawyer in your practice group, the more he or she will be invested in retaining you. People who like you, as well as your work, are more likely to be in your corner. It's also necessary that this person be in a secure position in the organization; someone in a tenuous spot is unlikely to feel able to go out on a limb for you.

7. WORK TOWARD EXCELLENCE IN YOUR PRACTICE

Excellent work performance is a necessary, although not sufficient condition for leadership. Stay on top of your professional development. Don't wait for your firm or organization to offer a seminar in the skills you want to learn – seek out your own training opportunities.

Keep in mind the difference between excellence and perfection. Maintaining high standards for your work reflects positive striving. On the other hand, being harshly self-critical for the smallest error will undermine your success. Perfectionism easily leads to micro-management and harsh criticism of others, neither of which are effective leadership behaviors.

It's difficult to strive for excellence unless you're doing what you love. People who are committed to what they do – who are strongly interested in their work – are resilient in the face of challenges. Enthusiasm and passion motivate hard work. Genuine interest sustains focused attention.

It's important to know what skills you should be developing as you progress in your career. The ABCNY Report of the Task Force on Lawyers Quality of Life delineates specific training goals for corporate and litigation associates. You can find these at: http://www.abcny.org/taskforce.html

Look for Attachment C. For a list of skills against which to assess your progress, you can send an email to me at Ellen@lawyerslifecoach.com with "Skills" in the subject line.

The more knowledgeable you are and the better your skills, the more you'll be a resource to others. Expertise builds your reputation as a credible and trusted resource, which is essential for attaining leadership roles.

8. TAKE INITIATIVE

Whatever you're trying to accomplish, you need to take control of your own destiny and act on your own convictions. To become a leader, you must first learn to lead yourself. Initiative is a fundamental leadership competence. Choose your work – don't let it choose you. Seek out work you like or from which you can learn. If the work you really want isn't coming your way, make a plan to find it. Forge alliances with people both within and outside your organization who can help you work with the kinds of matters and clients you prefer.

Avoid the "tyranny of the in-basket." [3] You need to actively work on your career, not just on your work. Develop a career plan. Identify specific, measurable goals and routes for accomplishing them. Go beyond adapting to whatever comes your way. Proactively select and influence the situation in which you work rather than merely reacting to situations created by others. Work to change yourself and your circumstances for the better.

Leaders create a vision, set goals that embody the vision, inspire action to accomplish the vision, and develop strategic plans which lead to their goals. Start on your path to leadership by leading yourself.

9. TAKE RISKS

Developing leadership skill requires getting out of your comfort zone. Set "stretch" goals that enable you to develop new skills. Join committees and take a leadership role. This is an opportunity to develop leadership competencies as well as increase your visibility. Many women lawyers have told me that they do their best to fly under the radar. They believe that this demonstrates that they are team players. I disagree. You stand to lose far more by being invisible than you do by taking risks. In order to break through the stereotypes that keep women from achieving positions of leadership, you'll need to appear confident. That means being willing to learn on the job instead of waiting until you know everything before you take on challenges. Ask your advisory board and network to help you fill in knowledge gaps. Present your ideas. Be decisive and to the point. Speak in a convincing manner and make your statements strong and powerful. Claim authorship of your ideas. Don't qualify your statements or apologize for speaking. Be assertive, not aggressive. Manage your emotions when you set limits and make requests. Avoid harsh criticism and always respect the dignity of others. Depersonalize your mistakes. Just because you failed at one thing doesn't make you a failure. View mistakes as learning opportunities. If you become so worried about how you're perceived after you make an error that you never try again, others will conclude that you always make mistakes. But if you attribute your error to insufficient information, you'll learn more and try again. Your track record of successes will outweigh the memory of your small errors. Taking risks builds resilience and self-confidence. The more you stretch yourself and succeed, the more confident you'll feel. This will empower you to strive toward a leadership position.

10. BE OPTIMISTIC

As "purveyors of hope," [4] leaders must be optimistic. Realistic optimists take control where they can and stop investing energy in things beyond their control. When faced with a setback, optimists don't succumb to feelings of helplessness. They maintain their focus on the larger purpose, finding ways to bounce back and pursue alternative routes to their goal. Optimists see mistakes as learning opportunities, not as catastrophes from which they'll never recover. This enables them to take the kinds of risks necessary for becoming a leader. Optimism is especially difficult for lawyers, since so much of legal work is about anticipating and preventing disaster. But even though pessimism may help you be more effective in practicing law, it will be an obstacle if you think this way about career planning or the rest of your life. You're probably used to thinking that optimism is just a personality characteristic and you either have it or you don't. But, the fact is that research has demonstrated that people can learn to think more optimistically and that these changes are enduring. If you want to learn to be more optimistic, I'd encourage you to read "Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman, Ph.D. [5].

11. BECOME "UN-FUNGIBLE"

Find a niche which your organization values and about which you can be passionate. Develop your expertise in this area. If you are the only expert, or one of a few experts in this area, you'll be of considerable value to your firm. This increases your power to lobby for flexibility in your scheduling and opportunities to take on leadership roles.

12. MAKE YOUR CAREER MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR JOB [6]

Focusing on your long-term career goals enables you to minimize the power of any given employer. If your goals are incompatible with those of your organization, or if you can't get the support you need to make your vision a reality, look elsewhere.

13. DEVELOP YOUR SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE

Leadership is interpersonal. Effective leadership is fundamentally about how you relate to people. Social intelligence consists of several components:
Self-management People who cannot manage the expression of their own emotions are unlikely to effectively manage others. It's important to develop an awareness of your own feelings and make deliberate choices about how best to use them in any given situation. Managing your emotions keeps them from clouding your perceptions and judgments. Being able to influence how others perceive you and coming across to others in the way you intend require self-awareness and self-regulation. It's essential to have a deep understanding of your own values, motives, strengths and limitations. Though it's not always easy to be honest with yourself, you need to develop this kind of honesty if you want to be interpersonally effective. Realistically appraise yourself without being overly self-critical. Ask others for feedback. The knowledge of how others perceive you is a powerful tool. Monitor yourself; pay attention to your feelings, actions and intentions. Observe the impact of your actions on others. Self-awareness is also critical for empathy since we tend to perceive others through the filter of our own needs, fears, expectations and hopes. When we are aware of what we expect to hear or are afraid of hearing, we can get past the filter and hear what's really being communicated.
Social radar Effective leaders can read emotional signals and assess other's emotional states. Your ability to influence others depends upon your skill at sensing their reactions and adjusting your approach accordingly. Practice "active" listening – listening not only to the other person's words but also their nonverbal expressions. Leaders are more persuasive when they can attune their message to their listeners.
Seek Win-Win Solutions to Problems Leaders elicit far more cooperation when they work toward equitable solutions, which all participants can embrace. Be flexibly open to others' points of view and demonstrate your understand of their perspectives. Always try to preserve the dignity of everyone involved in a problem or project. Leadership is about building and empowering teams. Practice creating an atmosphere of collaboration and openness.

14. BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE

Many women attorneys who are excellent advocates for their clients are fearful of advocating for themselves. In our culture, women are socialized to believe that self-promotion is not only unbecoming and aggressive but will also damage their careers. But failing to advocate for yourself can have far-reaching consequences. In the short run, too much modesty feeds into the gender stereotype that women aren't "tough enough." Keep in mind that other people see only a small percentage of our actions. The missing information has to come from the actor herself. Share your knowledge by offering to help others. Broadcast your wins through in-house newsletters. Express your convictions. Self-advocacy is necessary for reaching positions of leadership. At the same time, make sure that you acknowledge and appreciate everyone who contributed to the group effort. Leaders are able to make their employees feel proud of their contributions. They don't need to steel the credit for themselves.

15. BREAK THROUGH EXPECTATIONS

Gender role stereotypes are an obstacle to women achieving leadership in the legal profession. But believing you'll never break the "glass ceiling" is sure to hold you back. Sometimes the only way to get past these stereotypes is to address them directly. Shining a light on unspoken assumptions can enable your listeners to hear and see beyond their expectations. By identifying these assumptions, you're conveying power and insight, which inspire trust.

16. BECOME AN EXCELLENT COMMUNICATOR

A leader must communicate her vision in a way that energizes people and galvanizes them toward action. The ability to gain the cooperation and support of others – through negotiation, persuasion and influence - depends upon communication skill, which in turn is essential for leadership. Be aware of gender differences in communication style. (For details, see Issue # 27 of "Beyond the Billable Hour at http://lawyerslifecoach.com/newsletters/issue27.html.) Essentially, you must take your listener's expectations into account in tailoring your communications. For women, it's especially important to give the other person a reason to listen by addressing a goal your listener wants to achieve. When people feel heard, they're more likely to hear you. When you understand their goals, you can articulate how their aspirations can be aligned with your vision. Although implicit gender role stereotypes foster the belief that mothers cannot be good leaders, the fact is that parenting is excellent training ground for leadership skills. As a parent you learn to plan strategically, negotiate, enlist cooperation and persuade – all of which you can transfer to the workplace.

17. SHOW CONCERN FOR OTHERS

Research [7] indicates that among the most important characteristics of effective leaders are compassion, nurturance, generosity, altruism and empathy. "Agreeableness" is a social trait and leadership takes place in a social context, so it's not surprising that these characteristics are so important for effective leadership. Women lawyers need to keep this in mind. All too often women are urged to "act like men" in working toward leadership positions. Be encouraged to learn that the most effective leaders demonstrate traits most often attributed to women.

18. DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A SUPPORT SYSTEM

Taking the time to maintain supportive and close connections with others is necessary to attain and sustain the energy and well-being you need to achieve career success. At home, you'll need a partner who will agree to negotiate and share family work with you. Be clear with your significant others that you need their help in order to reach your goals. Being overloaded with family responsibility is as much of an obstacle to women reaching positions of leadership as is the "glass ceiling" at work. You'll also need the support of people you supervise - your support staff, paralegals, junior associates, etc. It's easier to recruit such support if you understand their needs and goals and treat them with compassion and respect. Compassion and encouragement motivate people much more than impatience and harshness. Learn to delegate well. Remember, leaders don't do all the work themselves: They effectively match people to tasks based on knowledge of their subordinates' strengths and aspirations. They are clear about their expectations when giving assignments. But don't allow perfectionism to derail good delegating. If you're not satisfied with the finished product, resist the urge to do it over yourself. Instead, return the work to the person who produced it and make sure that he or she understands your expectations. That way, you won't feel overburdened and you'll help the other person increase their own competence.

19. MAINTAIN INTEGRITY

Integrity may be the single most important characteristic of competent leadership; it's the sine qua non of a trusted advisor and effective leader. People are willing to be led by someone who follows through – someone they trust. Do what you say you will do. Don't promise to do what you can't. People without integrity may gain power, but they don't truly lead.

20. PERSEVERE

Persistence in the face of adversity is one of the cornerstones of resilience. Take responsibility for your own fate. Stay resolute in your values and goals and remain determined and self-disciplined in your efforts to achieve them. Persistence doesn't mean you never feel discouraged. Rather, it means maintaining your focus on the goal in spite of your feelings of discouragement. Like a marathon runner, you keep going because you believe in what you're doing. You simply will not give up. If your goal is to become a leader to help the legal profession become a truly diverse, welcoming and equitable profession, then don't give up. Your leadership is most needed.

Beyond Counterfeit Leadership: How You Can Become a More Authentic Leader

Notes:

1. Williams, Joan (2000). "Unbending Gender – Why Family and Work Conflict and What to Do About It." New York: Oxford University Press.

2. Hogan, Robert (2003) "Leadership in Organizations." Paper presented at The Second International Positive Psychology Summit, Washington, D.C. October 2-5.

3. Covey, Stephen R. (1989) "The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People." New York: Fireside

4. Bennis, Warren & Goldsmith, Joan (1997). "Learning to Lead." Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books.

5. Seligman, Martin E. P. (1998) "Learned Optimism." New York: Pocket Books.

6. Wickouski, Stephanie, Esq. Personal communication.

7. Judge, Timonthy A. & Bono, Joyce E.( 2000) Five- factor model of personality and transformational leadership. "Journal of Applied Psychology," 85 (5), 751-765.

© Copyright, EmergingLeader.com 1998-2001

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Source: http://matosas.typepad.com/

Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Credit Cards

Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Credit Cards

The following tips are basic principles about obtaining and using credit cards that can save you some serious cash and keep you out of debt.

10. Have at Least One Credit Card for Emergencies – While we highly recommend having a rainy day fund for emergencies rather than relying strictly on credit cards, having a credit card with a low interest rate “just incase” is a good idea.

9. Rewards are not so Rewarding
– Rewards can be a good thing, but only if used correctly. Rewards cards typically have a higher interest rate than regular credit cards, with the value of the rewards justifying the extra expense. The rewards are not usually as valuable as you may think. Typically the value of the reward is around 1 cent per dollar charged and often the rewards expire at the end of the year if you don’t use them. If you pay off your balance in full each month and charge a lot they can be worth while, otherwise you’re better off with a non-rewards card.
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8. Have Two Credit Cards
– If you do plan to take advantage of rewards, we recommend you carry two credit cards. The rewards card for making your daily expenses that you will pay off in full each month and a second card with the lowest possible interest rate to cover any emergency expenses when you won’t be able to pay off the balance in full by the end of the month.

7. Shop Around – Don’t apply for the first “pre-approved” offer you receive in the mail or any for that matter. Do the research for yourself. There are plenty of sites such as CreditorWeb.com that allow you to compare hundreds of credit card offers with a simple search. You’ll get the best deal by shopping around.

6. Read the Terms – The terms and conditions are the equivalent of the disclaimer you hear on car lot commercials. It cuts through the hype and reveals the true terms of the credit card such as what happens when you miss a payment and what you’re really getting from the rewards. Most terms are not that long, usually around one full page, it’s worth your time to read them.

5. Ask for a Better Rate – Once you have been a credit card customer for a few months call them and ask for a better rate. They won’t laugh at you, they get hundreds of these calls every day and if you’ve been a good customer it usually will work. Credit card companies work hard to obtain you as a customer and they will work hard to retain you.

4. Pay Off Full Balance Every Month
– All credit cards have high interest rates compared to other types of loans. You should never plan to carry a balance on a credit card. If you must make a large purchase that you do not have the money for at the time, obtain a loan or a revolving line of credit from your bank. You will save a bundle on interest rates.

3. Work with Retention Department – If you ever feel you are being treated unjustly by your credit card issuer, a simple threat to leave will get you transferred to the retention department. This department will be MUCH more helpful to you and will usually do whatever it takes within reason to get you to stay.

2. Do not get a Cash Advance – This is the second worse thing you can do with a credit card, short of missing a payment is getting a cash advance. The cash advances usually come with a very high interest rate. What makes it worse is the fact that with most companies this higher rate credit will not get paid off first, or even in the order that you took it out. They will apply your payments towards all the lower rate purchases and will only begin paying off your high interest cash advance will all other items on that credit card have been paid off.

1. Never, EVER Miss a Payment
– This is the absolute worse thing you can do with a credit card. Not only will you incur a late fee, but your interest rate will also skyrocket. In addition it will be a negative blemish on your credit report which can cause the rate on any other loans or credit cards you have to increase as well as insurance rates. It also makes you less likely to get approved for future credit.


10. Have at Least One Credit Card for Emergencies – While we highly recommend having a rainy day fund for emergencies rather than relying strictly on credit cards, having a credit card with a low interest rate "just ...

Source:http://www.creditorweb.com/articles/top-10-ways-to-save-money-on-credit-cards.html

10 Ways to Boost Your Memory

Everyone forgets things from time to time. But for some people, poor memory can be a perennial problem. The brain never actually loses a memory. It records each one like a computer.

However, problems with recall begin when we don't practise retrieving this information and so the memories we had become lost. The brain, like other parts of the body, needs physical and mental exercise, together with particular nutrients, to increase the power of memory. Here are 10 things to remember to do in order never to forget anything ... Read more

1 – Eat Soya

According to Professor Sandra File, head of the psychopharmacology research unit at Guy's Hospital in London, isoflavones, the natural plant oestrogens in soya foods, might act on oestrogen receptors in the human brain, particularly those in the hippocampus, a crucial area for memory.

As a result, new nerve connections form more readily. Medical trials revealed that those fed a high soya diet showed improvements in verbal and non-verbal memory and in mental flexibility, all of which are controlled by the brain's frontal lobes. Soya can be added to the diet through natural products such as soya milk or through a recommended daily 50mg soy isoflavone supplement.

2 - Take memory Minerals

Studies at Kings College, London, and the University of Rochester in New York showed that a reduced iron intake can have a detrimental effect on IQ levels and cognitive function.

This is because of lack of iron causes low haemoglobin levels, which affect the supply of oxygen to the brain. Iron also plays an important role in the transmission of signals in the brain. A deficiency of zinc, found in oysters, red meat and peanuts, can also interfere with memory. Take a supplement of 7 to 9mg daily.

3 – Drink Coffee

Caffeine can improve mental and memory performance because it stimulates many regions of the brain that regulate wakefulness, arousal, mood and concentration.

Researchers at the University of Arizona found that older adults who drank half a pint of coffee just before a memory test saw a large improvement in performance compared to those who drank decaffeinated coffee. However, the benefits might be confined to regular coffee drinkers. Others could suffer side effects such as shakiness, anxiety or impaired concentration.

It's still best to drink no more than six cups of coffee a day – those with heart problems should drink less. Too much brewed or percolated coffee can raise blood cholesterol – instant or filter coffee are better choices.

4 – Mental Exercise

Research has shown that mental stimulation keeps the brain healthy and increases the strength of memory.

As we age, it is normal to have changes in memory, but keeping the mind active does diminish weaknesses. Clinical psychologist Ron Bracey suggests using techniques such as puzzles, crosswords and widening cultural and social interests, all of which create different pathways in the brain.

5 – Physical Exercise

Half-an-hour of activity three times a week is enough to bring about significant increase in brain power; says a study at the Duke University Medical Centre in North Carolina.

Exercise improves the heart’s ability to pump blood more effectively. Memory benefits from improved blood flow to specific regions at the front of the brain whose functions include planning, organization and the ability to juggle different intellectual tasks.

6 – Chew Gum

Japanese researchers found that activity in the hippocampus, an area of the brain important for memory, increases while people chew. Recent research suggests that insulin receptors in the brain may be involved too, as chewing releases insulin because the body is expecting food.

But, says Dr Andre Scholey of the University of Northumbria, the simplest reason could be that chewing increases the heart rate, thus improving the delivery of oxygen to the brain and enhancing its cognitive powers.

7 – Take Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo is the world’s oldest living tree. It has been used for memory enhancement in Eastern cultures for thousands of years.

Dr George Lewith, complementary health consultant to Boots, says Ginkgo improves blood circulation to the brain by dilating blood vessels and increasing its oxygen supply.

Ginkgo also mops up harmful compounds known as free radicals, which are thought to damage brain cells. Advised supplement dose is 120mg a day.

9 – Eat oily fish

Omega 3 fatty acids, found in oily fish, are essential components of brain cell membranes, and their role in cell structure is thought to improve the powers of memory. High concentrations of Omega 3 in the brain and nervous system not only boost learning powers and age-related memory, but also greatly enhance mood.

Omega 3 is a particularly important during foetal development, so pregnant women should have a regular supply. Good sources include fish such as sardines, salmon, herring and mackerel. Sardines are also a rich source of the nutrient choline, which is a key brain chemical associated with memory. Try to eat three portions of oily fish a week or take a supplement of 330mg three times a week.

9 – Rosemary and sage

Essential oil made from rosemary and sage can stimulate the memory, strengthen clarity and awareness and help to relieve mental fatigue. Psychologists at the University of Northumbria tested essential oils from rosemary on memory attention and mood and discovered it made volunteers feel more alter and enhanced their long-term memory by around 15%. Some studies have found that volunteers’ ability to remember lists of words improved by more than 10% if they had taken a capsule of sage oil.

10 – Take vitamin B


B vitamins deliver oxygen to the brain and provide protection against free radicals. They help to sharpen senses and boost memory. Niacin or B3 is particularly good for brain enhancement, while B6 is essential for the manufacture of neurotransmitters, especially mood-enhancing serotonin.

B12 is important for overall health of brain cells. B vitamins are also needed to help the body form acetylcholine, a key brain chemical needed for memory – Daily Mail.