Criticism as a Tool for Growth

Criticism as a Tool for Growth

 “The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism."

~Norman Vincent Peale

As a business owner, it’s necessary to understand how to handle professional and personal criticism in the work place. Genuine reflection can use criticism as a basis for improvement and remember having professional success doesn’t always include only positive feedback. There will always be critics, and the way you handle the information will convey a lot about your character and courage as a leader.

Be open to listen to what others might think when you’re trying something new and always consider the motivations of the source. Business owners rarely have a successful business plan handed to them. Only through strategic planning and trial and error can we learn to create success.

We all know that criticism can be uncomfortable and make us become defensive. Instead of firing back a response, listen to understand what someone else has to say without resentment. Always be willing to take in new information without focusing on the criticism itself. This marks leadership as a process.

The response to criticism is to usually take it too personally. Take a step back and respond to criticism at a time where you feel confident in your strategy and accept criticism as a way of learning about how the public perceives you. Never let a simple comment get in the way of your business and success.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

Doing Well by Doing Good.

Doing Well by Doing Good

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

 – Winston Churchill

Building a social bond with your community is an important factor for growing and maintaining a successful business. Customers want to see a business not only providing high quality goods and services but, also lending a hand to the community. As a business owner, take the initiative to create and put into action a social mission to help brand your company positively with the community.

          Most businesses and organizations have mission and vision statements but, lack a social mission. Organize a strong social mission with your team by narrowing down a realistic game plan of goals that can be put into action within the next 6-8 months. It’s important to remember that you want your social goals to help the community but not cause serious interruptions of day to day functions for employees.

With the holiday season right around the corner, many charitable organizations are in need of volunteers or donations of different kinds. Whether it’s donating money, time, or food, make an effort to reach out to local community and offer assistance and keep your team involved.

Make your mark on the community by organizing a realistic social mission that can last year after year. A social mission encourages teamwork among coworkers while showing that your business values and supports the surrounding community and its people.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

Bravery in Business

Bravery in Business

“The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.”

~ Robert Green Ingersoll

Bravery comes in all shapes and sizes but, when it comes to your business or organization bravery is the element that creates success. As a business leader, bravery means standing up for what you believe in, always trying to do the right thing, and following your dreams and goals.

Not only does bravery require toughness and strength but, emotion and forgiveness are also key. Understand that bravery in business means we must learn to look past mistakes, show appreciation, and forgive ourselves and those whose errors we can learn from.

In business, when we want to appear professional and brave we may think that asking questions will show weakness. Asking questions helps to gain respect from coworkers while showing normal human qualities. Don’t be afraid to ask questions even if you feel you might be vulnerable.

While waiting for success to actually start showing up in your profits, patience is the key to incorporating bravery into business practices. Take success step by step and always remember to stay patient no matter the obstacles you come across.

Whether you come across rejection or multiple failures, bravery is the key to staying a strong and empathetic business leader while pursuing lifelong satisfaction and success.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

Erase a Bad Habit

 Erase a Bad Habit

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.”

~ Nathaniel Branden

Personal as well as professional bad habits are typically challenging to break and can cause you to lose focus and decrease productivity throughout the day. Bad habits create an endless cycle that in turn, may create a bad lifestyle. Focusing on changing bad habits to accomplish more each day while building up a positive attitude.

Common professional bad habits are arriving late to work and meetings, procrastinating and avoiding difficult or even repetitive tasks you are required to do. Oddly enough, the best way to erase a bad habit is to consciously recognize the grip it has on your life. Sometimes bad habits can be hard to identify until you take the time to pinpoint what is holding you back from success. Strength and consistency are then required.

To fill this void you might feel in your life, try replacing it with a mental or physical positive habit that makes you feel good and boosts overall happiness. At the office, these positive habits might include showing up a little earlier, making a new connection with a coworker or, volunteering to work on a new project. The possibilities of creating a new positive habit in the workplace are endless.

Avoid letting a bad habit take control of your personal and professional life. Erase bad habits and replace them with positive and rewarding habits to be the best version of yourself.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results 

Focusing on You

Focusing on You

“Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another.”

~ Marquis De Condorcet, French Philosopher

Comparing yourself to someone else can cause an endless spiral of regret and jealously that destroys happiness and self-esteem. Be proud of your accomplishments personally and professionally and embrace the fact that you are unique and different from everyone around you.

When we compare ourselves to others, we are losing time each day by focusing on things that we could do better. Whether it’s comparing income levels, career success, or worldly travels, appreciate your success story instead of someone else’s.

Instead of comparing yourself to others, try to find inspiration in what others have done. Ask questions, set personal goals, and learn from what others have successfully accomplished without it negatively impacting your attitude.

With social media a daily part of all our lives, it’s easy to fall into a trap of checking what friends have accomplished and comparing it to your successes. Never allow social media to take over specific feelings you have for yourself. No matter what other people have accomplished, remind yourself of the things you have and the memories you made.

When you compare yourself to others personally or professionally, feelings of defeat and regret stand in the way of achieving more. Avoid comparing yourself to others and enjoy all the things you have worked hard for and successfully accomplished. 

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

Recovering from a Social Media setback

Recovering from a Social Media setback

“Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.”

~ Christian Lous Lange

With the immediate and very public features that are involved with social media, companies are becoming more aware of the possibility of errors. Social media implementation is essential for a business or organization to grow but can also be an easy outlet for errors and missteps to occur. Understand how to recover from a possible social media setback.

Sometimes it’s not always the initial social media post that is causing a negative frenzy but can be the reaction delivered in response. When a social media setback occurs, take a moment to let the hype slow down. Strategize an appropriate thoughtful response that shows careful professionalism in this type of situation.

It’s important to understand for your reputation to recover, you must accept the responsibility of the mistake. Acting like nothing happened without addressing the situation will only hurt your company’s reputation in the end.

In any crisis, it’s important to have a companywide crisis communication plan in place. Create a multi-step plan which lays out the foundation on how to respond to a social media setback that follows the company’s image and mission.

Not all social media mistakes can be solved quickly. With appropriate attention and care, most errors can be handled to minimize the damage and move on to a more positive future.  

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results

Live and Learn

Live and Learn

“Change is the end result of all true learning.”

~ Leo Buscaglia, American Author

To increase the success of your business or organization it’s important to understand the need to learn something new every day. Keeping your mind active, just like you did while in school, helps to foster new and creative ideas that can take your business to the next level. Whether it’s simply reading a news article or taking an online course or continuing education, take advantage of learning on a daily basis.

Even though we sometimes find it difficult to make time in busy schedules, taking an hour each day to learn something new can drastically improve your personal and professional life. Take some time to focus on a few topics you are willing to invest your time in. It might be learning how to cook, speak another language, music production or graphic design.

With technology now a huge factor in all of our lives, make the time to research Apps, websites, and learning games that you can access easily on your smartphone. Learning doesn’t have to be complicated, time consuming or expensive.

Make learning a practice each day as an active part of your routine. Libraries are also a great way to start a new habit of daily learning if you prefer to stay away from technology. Pick up a book, attend a lecture or become part of a book club to open your mind to new ideas and a variety of people.  

By learning something new each day you naturally educate yourself to become more in tune with the world and enrich yourself as well as your business with new ideas. 

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

Embrace your Curiosity

Embrace your Curiosity

“At the heart of great leadership is a curious mind, heart, and spirit.”

~ Chip Conley

Embracing the unknown in life and in business can lead to unexpected new routes for growth and success. In the current work culture, we have developed a need to always be absolutely certain and cautious in everything we do. Without the important benefit of curiosity, tasks may become tired, dull, and without spirit and strength. Explore the curiosity that lies within your business or organization.

In our daily routines, we sometimes get too comfortable with knowing that each day will most likely play out the same as it did the day before. Instead of your dependable routine, embrace curiosity to boost work and personal life satisfaction. As an easy example, make new connections with people you don’t always speak to at work, hunt for new learning opportunities, and open your mind to new ideas and opinions from everyone around you.

As a business leader, it’s important to see curiosity as an attribute that should be encouraged within your work environment. While building your company culture, foster curiosity and encourage each colleague by asking open questions. Asking questions that help to advance new ideas and curiosity creates stronger relationships between coworkers and cultivates a more creative and constructive environment.

Embrace your curiosity professionally and personally.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results

Mental Energy

Mental Energy

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.”

~ Benjamin Franklin

When it comes to increasing productivity in your business or organization, it’s crucial to maintain mental focus. Throughout the day, we sometimes lose focus and get off-task because of a lack of motivation or just simply because of a distraction. Understand how to accomplish more while keeping up your mental energy in the office.

During our busy daily lives, we all have messages, reminders, and appointments to keep up with in our minds. Instead of trying to remember everything, declutter your mind to increase your mental energy. Allow yourself to make notes either on a device or in a journal to free up your mind to enable you to live more in the present and avoid the clutter of unnecessary worry.  

Your mental energy levels can also increase when you are thinking positively. Thinking negatively can cause your personal momentum to slow down and decrease our mental energy levels. In any situation you come across, remember to always think positively and avoid negative views to build up your mental energy and stamina.

Keeping focused on your mental energy allows you to avoid making mistakes and create individualized attention to each task you need to conquer. Stay focused and master productivity to increase your mental energy and be healthier and happier.  

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

Disagree to Agree

Disagree to Agree

“You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be.”

~ Marianne Williamson, New York Times best-selling author

In the business world, understanding the right way to disagree can form positive ways of thinking and maintain open and healthy work relationships. Instead of simply agreeing to avoid conflict, encourage your team to debate ideas that offer up differing opinions.

Before jumping into a conversation to disagree with a colleague, first listen calmly and thoughtfully then communicate your thoughts with respect. Avoid words that could possibly be confrontational and avoid disapproval of alternate ideas. Never criticize the other person for a differing idea. Use facts and evidence to back up why you think you can offer up a different approach to foster a new solution.

When working through disagreements to come to an overall acceptable solution, make sure to always listen and never demean or antagonize others. Never exclude someone else’s opinions just because you have authority or have experiences that may apply to your perspective. Consider other people’s perspectives, goals, and influence so you can get a better understanding of all sides of the situation.  

Having disagreements in the work place and in life is inevitable, it’s how you handle them that can make or break an organization. Learn how to work through disagreements and negotiate to promote a positive work culture.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results

Alone in the Crowd

Alone in the Crowd

“No one is alone, it’s one’s perception, someone can imagine as alone in a group or one can think as in group while he is alone”

~ Muhammad Ibraheem

Sometimes in the work place, we can feel the isolation of keeping our eyes and brains locked onto a screen in order to jump from completing one task to the next until the end of the work day. With the advancements in technology and the limitations put on companies to reduce the opportunity for human interaction and personal expression, it’s not a surprise that people may feel a sense of being alone in a crowd of their colleagues. Take the first step to start enjoying your career by engaging with your peers and incorporating it in your daily routine.

For many people, successful collaboration requires us to see and hear others we are communicating with. Emails, texting and video chatting have all taken away the need for basic face to face interaction. As a business owner encourage employees to build relationships that spark trust, solve a corporate problem and create a more personal and human company culture.

The differences between individuals within the workplace can be the single most important factor in erasing the line between work and social life. Differences can create opportunity as well as alternative perspectives that as a company, can be used as a focal point for new and innovative ideas.

Practice taking a bigger leap when it comes to incorporating personal connections into your work life. Relationships can foster inspiring moments that will only improve your overall happiness.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results

Building Resilience

 Building Resilience

“Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s “less good” than the one you had before.”

~ Elizabeth Edwards

We have all experienced a time when a difficult situation has changed our lives. In the business world, resilience is an important personal strength to build on in order to bounce back from a negative life experience. Learn how to manage and build strong resilience to avoid letting a stressful situation get in the way of your view of your world.  

When building your resilience, always remember that accepting change can help you move beyond a tough present situation to looking forward to a positive future. Establish a simple and attainable daily goal that you can accomplish by the end of the work day to help you move on.

Cultivating new relationships while keeping up with old connections will provide a strong support system to help keep your emotions positive. Surround yourself with a group of people within the office or your community that provide kind guidance when it comes to building up your resilience.

Mental resilience is just as important as physical resilience. Don’t forget to always keep a healthy lifestyle by resting your mind and body, eating right and exercising daily to keep stress levels low.   

Life always comes with bumps in the road that can sometimes lead you off your track to success. Understand the importance of resilience in your personal life as well as work life to help you stay healthy and happy and continue on your journey.

 Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results

Company Core Values

Company Core Values

“Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Having a carefully crafted company core value system is essential to the daily operations of a growing and successful business or organization. A company’s core values, mission statements, and future goals are all components that make up the culture and identity of a business. Without clear direction and core values, a company can lose motivation while failing to grow a business into a prosperous brand.

As a CEO or business leader, defining and articulating the basis of a core values system is an important factor in becoming a strong leader. When setting core values, always remember to incorporate your core values and fall back on them when you come across an obstacle on your route to success.

Designate the time and dedication to training your employees on your core values system and how it will be implemented each day. Having regular training seminars on the company core values will help employees get involved on a higher level to provide communication to individuals and imprint positive behaviors.  

Incorporating your value message into your hiring practices will also be helpful when looking for new candidates to join your team. Always ask questions related to your core values to see how new hires will fit into your set work culture.

Always remember to focus on solid core values as much as possible to build your brand while keeping employees motivated and looking forward to future successes.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results 

Authentic Leadership in Business

Authentic Leadership in Business

“When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.”

~ Roy E. Disney

When we think of leadership in the office, some skills may come instinctively others are learned over time through trial and error. While trying to grow your business or organization, practicing new leadership skills while staying true to your own ideals is key to overall success. Understand a few simple steps to increase authentic leadership skills in the office.

Personal as well as company development goals are always important to share with your employees. Share your personal overall goals to create an open conversation in which ideas and strategy can be shared and to inspire others. As a leader, making employees feel comfortable and gaining trust in your leadership skills will only help you further reach the goals you set.

Sometimes sharing how we approached a situation and admitting we were wrong can be one of the hardest things to do. Understand that we make mistakes and don’t always need to come across as a perfect leader. Create an open work culture and discuss the errors you have made and what you have learned from them. Encourage employees to have the strength to do the same. Recognizing missteps as a team and working through them will help to shine a light on your authentic leadership skills in the office.

To achieve overall growth and happiness within your business and organization, understand how to create authentic leadership skills in the office.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida
better leaders ● decisions ● results

Habits that Destroy Happiness

Habits that Destroy Happiness

“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.”

~ Dale Carnegie

As a business owner, the success and growth of your business or organization often relies on your personal happiness. Sometimes we make choices that can become detrimental to our happiness and create a negative cycle that can take a toll on you and your business. Understand and correct a negative habit that can take over your ability to achieve balance and happiness in your work life.

            In the business world, comparing your business to other businesses in an unrealistic way can be easy to do when you are trying to improve your brand. This can be self-defeating and create unnecessary stress. Always remember that we each have special talents that make us who we are: try to take in consideration your perceptions of yourself and others. Never allow yourself to lose happiness over something you can’t control or an unrealistic view of the competition.

             We have all thought and feared something that happened in the past or something that is going to happen in the future. Live in the present instead of dwelling on the past, this can be a big factor in our level of happiness.

            When it comes to working in an office environment, it’s important to understand the type of people you should surround yourself with. Toxic relationships can destroy a positive atmosphere and put you in a negative mindset. Make sure you are around people who you enjoy mutual respect with and care about you.

            Happiness is important in overall success and fulfillment. Remember to be your own best advocate, learn from past missteps and surround yourself with diverse positive people.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

Patience in Business

Patience in Business

“Patience is not simply the ability to wait, it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.”

~ Joyce Meyer

The conscious action of becoming patient is not something that comes easily to a lot of us, it takes time and persistence to learn this hard discipline. In the business world, the key to becoming successful takes patience when it comes to business relationships, communication and compromise. Take some time to learn the benefits of patience and self-control in business.

            Building a solid business reputation and applying the art of patience go hand in hand. Patience gives us the ability to work towards our goals while developing and pushing towards the level of success we are striving for while maintaining a strong yet yielding balance. No matter how efficiently your business is operating, understand that patience along with persistence will always be the key to having the great reputation you want.   

           

By increasing the amount of patience we have as individuals, we can create a very successful business or organization with goals and aspirations. For a business owner, patience can help build your company to be the best in the industry while creating a sense of excellence among customers. Learn how to practice patience and present a strong enduring calmness.   

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results

The Talent of Communication

 The Talent of Communication

“The art of communication is the language of leadership.”

~ James Humes

When it comes to communicating, it takes time and patience to practice this unique art form. Every relationship we have and each step we take in our career should require us to make decisions about how we approach specific conversations. Most of us don’t realize how old habits can ruin a conversation. Understand a few reliable practices to effectively communicate with anyone you encounter.

During a conversation with someone you’re trying to engage, it’s important to understand that you should not begin every thought and sentence with “I”.  Listening is often said to be the best communication skill. Eye contact and engagement are the physical positions of strength that should be practiced gaining comfort and familiarity with your audience.

Your choice of words, of course, is also important when communicating with others. Filler words like “um, like and just” can make you sound lazy and uninterested in the conversation. Sometimes we say these words out of habit or nerves, try to add a pause in your conversation to replace the use of these filler words.

Conversational style at company events is very important when trying to advance your career. Plan ahead with your subject matter by thinking about some thought provoking questions you can ask during a one on one conversation. These questions should be interesting, memorable and grab the attention of people around you. Be confident in your questions and get ready for any type of response back.

Solid communication skills can either make or break your reputation within your business or organization. Understand a few steps to make your conversations stronger while advancing your career. Being an engaging and engaged individual will be a benefit to you.

Kelly D. Scott
Chairman/CEO
Vistage Florida

better leaders ● decisions ● results