Suzanne F. Stevens

Foundations of Influence (#3): Offering a Helping Hand

Suzanne F. Stevens — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:53:21 +0000

Leah Ngini, Founder, @ St. Christophers School

When I started my business, Ignite Excellence Inc., nine years ago I was a woman with a vision, passion, determination and a helping hand. Without all four of these foundations of influence I know I would not have had the confidence or the means to pursue my passions of investing, inspiring and developing future African women leaders.

I think all entrepreneurs will agree, that those four pillars are necessary to get your business beyond start-up stage. The question is who is your “helping hand?” Is it a parent that believed in you? An uncle or aunt? A teacher, a business associate or a husband?

For me, when I started my business, it was a business associate that felt my ability was something he wanted to invest in. Many of the women that I have interviewed on Wisdom Exchange tv, however, had a much more personal helping hand – their husbands

In speaking to Leah Ngini, Founder & Managing Director of St. Christopher’s School in Nairobi, she says it is her husband’s continuous support “as the head of the household” that made her dream of building a school a reality.

Samarwit Moges, Founder & Managing Director of Travel Ethiopia says that her husband “is the force behind me.” She confesses that he helped build her confidence and recommended for her to branch out into her own business. He encouraged her to join clubs that would provide her with leadership skills.

Katherine Ichoya, Executive Director, FEMCOM and institution of COMESA, confesses her husband and children went to the United States with her so she could pursue higher education. “If you don’t have a family that supports you, you will go forward two steps and back one.”

Nigest Haile, Director of CAWEE (Center for African Women Economic

Empowerment) credits her families support and passions for ability to donate so much time to improving women in business making them export ready.

Jane Wathome, Founder, Beacon of Hope was able to pursue her passion to start a facility that would aid the welfare of women with HIV/AIDS. This philanthropic initiative could not be realized without the support both mentally and financially of her husband.

Other women interviewed on Wisdom Exchange tv that share where they received their helping hand, for some it was an investor, for others it was a relative and for others it was their sure belief in themself.

For me, after I started Ignite Excellence, the influential communication training company and decided to make a radical change to how to execute its mandate, it is my husband’s belief in my vision that had been the helping hand. He too supports the premise that by developing more women leaders in Africa it will provide helping hand to communities, countries and continent.

We all need a helping hand, someone to talk to, to share our frustration and to celebrate with. I can’t help but think back to my interview with Samrawit Moges, when she was talking about the support of her husband and he believed in her more than she believed in herself – I said it sounds like the key is to marry well!

Action: If you are a person with a vision that must be realized, it appears that many of the women leaders that succeed are the ones that have someone who believes in them as a wife, mother and perhaps most important as an individual. Picking the right partner will assist with your foundation of influence. This may seem so obvious, but often obviously forgotten.

Traveling through Africa 2011/2012 – conducting Wisdom Exchange tv Leading Lady interviews

Suzanne F Stevens, is the Chief Edge Optimizer of the Ignite Excellence Inc. Group of Initiatives. As Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Coach, Host and Philanthropist, she inspires, develops and invests in people to push their edge to personal and professional potential from backpack, to briefcase to boardroom. As a trainer, Suzanne’s influential business communication training arms individuals and organizations to influence, differentiate and engage more people and more business. Visit www.igniteU.igniteexcellence.com for online influence university. Self-pace business training for your career growth!

Visit our other Ignite Excellence Group of initiatives’ websites with corresponding blogs.
Suzanne F Stevens – Profiling women leaders who have pushed their edge to personal or professional potential from backpack to briefcase to boardroom
igniteU - Online influence university. Self-paced learning to develop your business skills for your business success.
Ignite Excellence Foundation – Leadership, Advocacy, Education – following donations to scholarships for women in developing countries
Wisdom Exchange TV – A forum where women will be inspired from the achievements of African women in business, education, philanthropy and politics.
You Me & We – a husbands and wife’s journey through Africa in 2011/12
Ignite Excellence Inc. – Influence, Differentiate, Engage more people and more business – a training & development company

Foundations of Influence (#2): Kindness will Kindle African Karma

Suzanne F. Stevens — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:01:56 +0000

Siemen Mountains, Ethiopia

Traveling through Africa for over a year this trip has provided me with more understanding to expectations of societies and how people interact with visitors.

Ethiopia is a country that vastly surpassed my expectations; it is breathtaking particularly in Mescal flowers season (Oct to Nov) when they cover the Siemen Mountains. In between the beauty of the meadows and the peaks of the mountains we are reminded of the reality of Africa. Not poverty, but dependency.

As my husband, our tour driver and myself hiked to view the Blue Nile Falls, an easy hike following a well-marked path, we were bombarded by the request to have a guide. For this particular walk we wanted to enjoy exploring on our own. Regardless of our desire we were verbally attacked for not “supporting the local community” by not hiring a guide. The persistence continued.

Regardless of our declining another ‘guide,’ he insisted on joining us with the understanding that he would not be paid for accompanying us. As our journey continued, me now walking with three capable men, wishing there was just one, we came upon a mud patch. Another gentleman came what felt like behind a tree to offer his assistance. More than capable, not to mention well accompanied, I took him up on his kindness and took his hand while I crossed the mud. As we got to the other side of the small patch, he turned to me and asked for a tip. Of course this will not surprise many. What may, is my response: “Thank you for your assistance. It is appreciated. It is always nice to receive kindness. Sometimes doing things just to be kind must be reward enough.”

On completion of our journey the gentleman that joined us for the walk with the agreement of not receiving compensation, turning to ask for a tip.

We could get into a discussion about poor people trying to make a living, but until you are in the situation that at every turn someone is asking you for compensation you can not appreciate the power of Nigest Haile’s, Executive Director, Center for African Women Economic Empowerment (CAWEE)
words of wisdom to her daughters. (Wisdom Exchange tv – view interview http://www.wisdomexchangetv.com/nigest-haile/ )

“Do volunteer work for your country. Everyone expects enumeration at a very young age. Everything is about payment. If we continue to have such a culture I don’t think we will have a generation of successors. My children are involved in many volunteer activities.”

What a mother says can have such an impact not only on the life of our child, but society as a whole. The messages we often convey will be dictated by our economic standing. However, no matter what our situation we need to encourage our children to be contributors to society. To participate by giving back to the vary place that provides them security.

As Nigest says, “even young people will ask for money to do a small thing.” What kind of behaviour are we perpetuating? Perhaps this doesn’t happen within a clan, or tribe, but if future leaders are to be created, should they not be people that give out of kindness rather than out of obligation or worse what they will receive as enumeration?

Perhaps, this is core of some of the leadership challenges throughout many of African countries.

Action: As a mother, have your children volunteer for a project they are passionate about. No matter what your economic situation, there is always someone better and worse off. Volunteering will provide a child or young adult with perspective and the foundation of generosity. With the skills they learn they will not be a burden on society but a beacon of hope.

Watch a new interview with Modesta Lilian Mahiga she too talks about the importance of volunteerism for youth to differentiate themselves for employment opportunities. A not to be missed interview on Wisdom Exchange tv! http://www.wisdomexchangetv.com/modesta-lilian-mahiga/

Traveling through Africa 2011/2012 – conducting Wisdom Exchange tv Leading Lady interviews

Do you need seed money for your dream to be realized?

Suzanne F. Stevens — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:27:06 +0000

Time is running out! Thought I would share this for women who want to enter the business challenge.

Group: Sustainable Development Africa
Subject: 3 Reasons why you should apply to the African Women in Business Challenge
With the mission of increasing the number of female entrepreneurs in emerging markets, the Women in Business Challenge created a concrete path for women to gain feedback, coaching, finance, and exposure to investors. Since its creation in 2009, this business plan competition has supported 200 women heading business in emerging countries.

What are the benefits of the Women in Business Challenge? What is the impact on participants’ businesses and lives? Stories of past finalists echo the reasons why BiD Network is committed to renew this international competition for the third time.

To female entrepreneurs of Africa the deadline for your complete business plan is April 15, 2012

Click on this link to read more:

African Women Business Challenge

Foundations of Influence Series (#1): What our Mother says

Suzanne F. Stevens — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:14:12 +0000

When we look back on our life and we ask the philosophic question: “Why did I turn out the way I did?” Inevitably the answer almost always lies with how we were brought up. More specifically, what our mother did or did not do. Or what they said or did not say. These words of wisdom, daggers of despair, actions of or absent of affections are the foundations of influence that make us who we are today.

I am no different. When I look at my childhood there are the perceived demons of lack of encouragement that haunt me to this day. Those absent words of “you can do anything.” You can fill your dreams” were words so many little girls crave, and yet the more we search the more they out distance us. The voids in our childhood can be the motivators for our success or the crutches or our failures.

What our mothers says is so powerful and can set a young girl on the path to be something great. It is wise to plan your philosophy of family prior to embarking on the most important role of your life – motherhood. Unlike a job or business, this role caries the responsibility for eternity. The words you share will be the words that echo in your daughter’s ears for years.

In interviewing women leaders in East Africa for Wisdom Exchange tv, their words of wisdom to their daughter of ten were very consciences. In each case when asked to share their messages that they would give to their daughter if she were ten today, there was little hesitation. Each Leading Lady I interviewed was clear and concise on the words they needed to communicate to promote a confident, capable member of society.

Here are some of their words of wisdom:

Dr. Jennifer Riria (Kenya): “You must to go to school, get a skill that answers a vision that you want to be 20 years from now. Move towards that goal every year.”

Gladys Ogallo (Kenya): “What ever you have to do, do it well so no one has to come up behind you to clean it up.”

Jane Wathome (Kenya): “Be focused. Understand who you are and focus on your strengths. Try to turn your weaknesses into strengths. Don’t let your weakness destabilize you and get in the way of her focus.”

Joanne Mwangi (Kenya):“You are wonderful and you can do anything.” “I would leave my daughter free to do what they want”

Joyce Muraya (Kenya): “Enjoy every stage of your life; don’t rush anything. You are made for greatness.”

Norah Odwesso (Kenya): “Follow your passion. Go for the highest goals. There are no limits; the only limits are the ones you put on yourself.”

Rehmah Kasule (Uganda): “Never ask why did this happen? Ask, how can we overcome it?”

Hellen Acham (Uganda): “Look at the talents you have, take up those talents.”

Yetnebersh Nigussi (Ethiopia): Be loud, proud and passionate.” “I want my child to be as loud as possible so people can hear what she has to say. Proud, express herself as someone who is very capable and unique. I want her to demonstrate she is someone who has a number of things to contribute to this world. Passionate, someone always moving forward.”

Samrawit Moges (Ethiopia): “Use this opportunity to educate yourself as much as possible.”

Tereza Mbire (Uganda): “Be a girl of integrity. Always tell the truth.

Have a dream of success, and work towards that dream.”

As much as words can shape your daughters so can our actions. Bience Gawanas, African Union commissioner says that daughters should be empowered to question: “You can be a change agent just by asking “Mom, why does my brother not wash the dishes?”

Many of the women who have achieved positions of influence were brought up as equals to their male siblings. All the children participated in the duties of the home and where given the opportunity for education. As a child of three older brothers, I believe one of biggest impacts of my life, like so many of these women, was being brought up as an equal in the home. No matter what is your cultural background being treated as equal can set the foundation to endless possibilities.

In interviewing these women for Wisdom Exchange tv what I found most interesting was when I asked them what ‘words of wisdom’ would you share with your daughter, the above comments are what they shared. When I asked them what do they wish they were told, many said either the same words, or words of encouragement.

These are leading women. They are accomplished. In many cases our mother’s words can be inspiring or deflating. They may be the catalyst or obstacles to our self-views or social contributions. Often the individual battles fought are our internal struggles with confidence and self-worth. What message are you giving to your child? Are they words of encouragement that they can inspire to and reflect on positively for years to come? Or are they words that they will reflect on as anchors stopping them from achieving their potential?

Action: As mothers evaluate the words you are saying to your girl child. The example you are setting, the environment you are creating. You may have the next Leading Lady in your midst and as members of society we want to ensure you cultivate that potential for the sake of your daughter and society.

Travelling through Africa 2011/2012 – conducting Wisdom Exchange tv Leading Lady interviews

igniteU: On-line Influence University is Launched

Suzanne F. Stevens — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 06:15:53 +0000

Ignite Excellence’s highly acclaimed influential communication training for business, leadership, and sales development is now being offered to individuals and organizations online via igniteU – on-line influence university.Over the last decade, Fortune 500 Companies on four continents have invested in their employees’ performance using Ignite Excellence’s training solutions with winning results. The affordable on-line solutions include several programs that traditionally take two to four intensive days to complete, but you can now complete a world-class program over two months with short modules delivered weekly, or fast track and receive all the modules at once and have access for 30 days to each module. You decide.

The programs that will accelerate your career and differentiate you as a leader, sales person, or businessperson are designed so you can start utilizing the skills immediately after each module with exercises you can incorporate into your everyday communications.

Ignite Excellence programs focus on developing the skills needed throughout the Business Communication Cycle; we have training solutions for anyone who communicates and wants to influence internal and/or external stakeholders to a positive outcome.
“> Watch this short video to learn more…

All igniteU’s programs will teach you to:

Influence stakeholders in every interaction
Differentiate you, your offer or solution and your company
Engage more people and more business.

Once your programs are complete, you will:

Have worksheets from each module that will create a workbook for future reference
Receive Ignite Insights for continued development
Receive a certificate of your participation in an Ignite Excellence Inc. influential communications program to share with employers.

Most importantly, once any program is complete, you will have the skills to confidently influence, differentiate, and engage more people and more business.

The Business Communication Cycle, has many of the components required to win, maintain and execute business. We have training programs for the entire cycle. If a program is not yet available and you would like to develop in a particular skill, please click to fill out Ignite Excellence training program inquiry. You will receive notice when the program is launched with a special introductory rate.

Hiking Heights for Higher Education – Raising funds & awareness for tertiary education for women

Suzanne F. Stevens — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:36:41 +0000

In our continued attempts to push our edge to our personal potential, my husband and I embarked on a new campaign to raise money and awareness for the Ignite Excellence Foundation. The Foundation focuses on Leadership, Advocacy, and Education. It’s mandate is to invest, inspire and develop future African women leaders. Our approach is to invest in tertiary education for a candidate that demonstrates a vision and the ability to execute on that vision. The vision has to fill one of the major gaps in African communities, countries or continent.

Hiking Heights for Higher Education is an initiative that calls on anyone in the West or Africa who wants to change the landscape of leadership to assist many of the injustices done to women and children. We often invest in young girls and boys primary education, but to change policies we need leaders with integrity. By equalizing the leadership landscape by providing more women with the skills to lead in business, eduction, politics or philanthropy, we create a ripple effect of women’s voices being heard, and more importantly listened to in the communities, countries and on the continent.

The scholarship recipients needs complete an extensive application and interview process to ensure they are the individual that we believe will create a positive ripple effect in their community, country or continent.

To celebrate this initiative my husband and I summitted Mount Kenya on March 16, 2012. Mt Kenya height at Point Lenana is (4979 m/16,335 ft). This is the second largest peak in Africa after Kilimanjaro. Often considered a more challenging climb. I would have to agree as we did hiked Kilimanjaro in 2007 prior to commencing this campaign.

The goal of the campaign is to raise funds. The execution is to ‘hike’ to the highest point of African Countries we visit. We will be travelling to countries to interview African women leaders for Wisdom Exchange tv. We will only hike, not climb. In the case of Mt. Kenya, the heights point is a very technical climb. We summitted at Point Lenana, although a hike, not any easy endeavour. With safety ropes for the last 30 minutes and shear drops to the left and right, my fear of heights was just as big of a obstacle to concur as the mountain itself.

If you would like to donate, you can donate direct to the fund foundation management: The fund is managed by Tides Canada Foundation. Tides Canada Charity number: BN 86894 7797RR0001.

If you would like to join us for the hike and raise funds for this initiative, email us at info@igniteexcellence.com or visit Hiking Heights for Higher Education. New information regularly.

The countries that we are targeting to summit next are: (The ranking beside each mountain indicates its ranked size in compared to all the other African peaks).

39. Swaziland – Emlembe – Southern Africa

10. Lesotho – Thabana Ntlenyana – Southern Africa

11. South Africa – Mafadi – Southern Africa

Join the discussion – Wisdom Exchange tv Linked-in Group

Suzanne F. Stevens — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:31:32 +0000

Your voice matters! Do you have an opinion, question or want to share insights on women in emerging countries? Provide your perspective on how they should conduct business, what are their obstacles and opportunities. And possibly, most importantly, how can we make those opportunities a reality? Join the conversation via linked in. Wisdom Exchange tv on linked-in.

We presently have a poll we are conducting and we want your perspective – The question: “What do you see as the biggest issue facing women in emerging countries?“

Ignite your Edgeness ™: Persuasive presentation strategies that move minds

Suzanne F. Stevens — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:26:36 +0000

Ernie Els

Golf is a sport I have always found expensive, unphysical, a waste of time, and something you can never perfect. If I was not going to make money at it, win at it, or perfect it, why bother? Ernie Els may not agree with my evaluation of the sport, but then, he does make money at it.

Then it occurred to me, being a professional speaker, that presenting has some similar elements to golf. You don’t need to be perfect to win. The more you do it, the better you get, and you often play against yourself, striving to improve with each game or in this case, with each presentation. The difference is a person can learn to present persuasively and make a living on the rewards of their successful presentations a lot faster than most can master the game of golf.

As a marketing professional, presenting persuasively can differentiate you, your offering and your company from the myriad of colleagues, products, services and competitors that are waiting in the wings silently hoping you’ll add a stroke.

So what can possibly interfere in the process of mastery? One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is fear itself. Fear is really just False Evidence Appearing Real. The key to dealing with fear is to embrace it, along with preparation and practice.

But with anything worth striving to achieve there are obstacles, the rough or sand traps, to overcome. During presentations there can be equipment problems, late arrivals, interruptions, noise or audience distractions…All of these barriers can be overcome with good planning and persuasive presentation delivery.

When preparing a presentation the more you know about the audience, and your equipment, the less likely these barriers will become crippling obstacles.

I am sure you have heard the mantra echoed by many experts in regards to delivering presentations – ‘It is not what you say, but how you say it.’ Although I agree with the general sentiment, I think what you say is just as important as how you say it. I believe audiences show up for the ‘what’ you say, they share it for ‘how’ you say it, which is ultimately the goal when conducting a business presentation. You want people to talk about your presentation, as discussion can leads to positive action.

What do you need to do to differentiate yourself?

Present with intention – this includes focusing all your information and your energy on the audience.

Your intention will gain the audience’s attention.

How you will do it?

Ignite your edgeness ™ –This is pushing your edge of your comfort zone enough that you are more engaging presenter.

How do we find our edgeness ™ in business presentations? My program, Persuasive Presentation skills that Move Minds speaks of ten planning components to a persuasive presentation, and although you can ignite your edgeness ™ in most of the components, I will focus on a few techniques that make a big impact.

Get personal, by being personal- Start your presentation with a personal story. It needs to be relevant to the overall objective of the presentation. This is a great way to relax you and connect with your audience on an emotional level.

Saying it is so doesn’t make it true – Use evidence in your presentation to support the claims you make, ‘we are the best’ is your opinion not a conclusion. To ignite your edgeness ™, firstly, you need to make sure you are actually providing the information that is relevant to this particular audience, not just any audience.

Secondly, many people provide facts, charts and other data to try to convince their business audiences of their point of view. Try something more engaging, like stating a case study, an anecdote, or using a provocative visual as a prompt. Again, you will gain a more emotional connection with the audience.

People build relationships, visual aids don’t- Aids are just that: they are an aid and should not dominate the presentation. So challenge yourself and don’t use them for the beginning and the end of you presentation. Because they help retention, in business presentations they should be used. However, once or twice during your presentation type the letter ‘B’ on your keypad, this will black out the screen and put all the attention you. Being front and centre creates the perception of confidence, credibility, and control.

Be inclusive, not exclusive – Eye contact is the most effective way to demonstrate intention. The key is who to look at, when to look at them and for how long. Ignite your edgeness ™ by talking to one person at a time. One thought, one person. Easier said than done, but whenever you have a natural pause, switch to a new pair of eyes. And please, don’t forget to look at someone.

Gestures illustrate, so you illuminate – Are you standing in front of your audience with no personality, some personality or too much personality? Your gestures can be the key to unlock or control the energy you exude. Ignite your edgeness ™ by thinking of what you are saying and add the appropriate gesture. Gestures can be the best form of visual aid, and again, they connect you to the audience.

Vocal variety creates vitality – If you want your message to be heard and understood, how you project, modulate, and emphasize is key. Ignite your edgeness ™ by taking the time to consider your key messages, and what you want your audience to remember. Rehearse those messages so they resonate and garner a positive response.

Moving with purpose – It takes a real master to utilize movement with grace and purpose. The knowing where to be and when to be there can have huge impact on the tone and energy in a room. The audience is often completely unaware of your motives, yet they feel the implications. Your subtle movement will take control of the room. You need to challenge your perceptions of what is right and wrong in movement and start moving with purpose to engage each corner of the room.

Therefore practice may not make perfect, but it will make you persuasive – You want to rehearse out loud! We all sound fluid in our heads. Rehearse beyond where you sound like a ‘presenter; to the point where you are engaging in conversation with your audience. Practice is fundamental to ensuring that you are transferring your energy to the audience – in other words, demonstrating intention.

There are a number of ways of challenging yourself to perform better in each presentation. The key is to practice, demonstrate intention by ignite your edgeness ™, and evaluate your development. Like golf, if you don’t practice, challenge yourself and evaluate your stroke, you may get lucky with a good shot now and again, but you won’t know how to repeat it. With each presentation not only will your performance improve, but also your ability to persuade will be evident in the audience’s positive reaction. Now go ignite your edgeness ™!

Action: Pick one of these skills and start practicing it in every day communications. When you get up to the front of the room, it will be a lot more comfortable to use when you want to persuade people to a positive outcome.

Ignite Excellence Inc. is launching online, influential communications programs March 2012. The first program launched will be Persuasive Presentation Skills that Move Minds. If you are interested in receiving a early-bird rate for this programs click this link Influential Communication Program(s) Inquiry. Use the following code to receive the introductory rate WE050.

Visit our other Ignite Excellence Group of initiatives’ websites with corresponding blogs.
Suzanne F Stevens – Profiling women leaders who have pushed their edge to personal or professional potential from backpack to briefcase to boardroom
Ignite Excellence Foundation – Leadership, Advocacy, Education – following donations to scholarships for women in developing countries
Wisdom Exchange TV – A forum where women will be inspired from the achievements of African women in business, education, philanthropy and politics.
You Me & We – a husbands and wife’s journey through Africa in 2011/12
Ignite Excellence Inc. – Influence, Differentiate, Engage more people and more business – a training & development company

Love Your Leader, and they will love you back!

Suzanne F. Stevens — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:14:23 +0000

Imagine: you are a very accomplished woman who has built a very well respected organization. Your efforts produce a marketable business that is eventually bought out by a larger institution. After preparing for the next phase of the company’s development, you step down from your role, and the office moves in with its new parent company. During the transition, employees and management forget to communicate to you the exact date of the move. This void is realized one day when you turn up to your office to see all the work you had been laboring on for months gone. There is no one left in the office, and there is no word to you of your employees’ departure. Your accomplishments have lead you to the saddest day of your career.

This was a reality for one of the leading African woman I interviewed.

This story is a travesty in many ways. The most hurtful thing of all was that no one ever said, “Thank you.” No one seemed to care about the months of dedication and commitment she had put into ensuring everyone had a bright future. She was left alone.

Get into the confidence of any entrepreneur, managing director, or CEO, and they will eventually tell you that “it’s lonely at the top.”

While people in these positions often receive lots of accolades, they are also the first to be criticized when a company’s performance is substandard. They are the ones who sail the ship, and not many want to get too close to the helm. From this position, when you are at a company party, people often speak to you because they have to, not because they want to.

Being the leader of an organization is an often-sought brass ring. And yet so few employees want to be seen fraternizing with the top dog.

Why do so few want to be seen rubbing elbows with their superiors?

It could be…

We don’t want to be perceived as someone trying to butter up the boss
We don’t want the boss to inquire about what we’re really doing all day
We don’t want to bother them, figuring they are too busy
We are intimidated and don’t have the confidence to carry a conversation.

And I am sure there are many other reasons. What is yours?

No matter what you perceive to be true, the reality is they are your own perception and limitations.

I challenge you to love your leader.

Ask them about their weekend.
Take an interest in their passions, be it stamp collecting, a particular sport, or giving to the orphanage.
Let them know that you found their speech at this or that meeting or event compelling and motivating. “Particularly when you said…”
And please, say thank you when they give you something, take you to lunch, coach you, anything…it should never be expected.

A little love can go a long way.

Sure it may appear that you’re buttering up your boss if you do this in front of others, but if you are genuine, your colleagues and your boss will know. Nothing without authenticity is worth sharing. The other option is to acknowledge their contribution when you happen to be in a meeting alone with them. This will reduce other people’s perceptions of political jockeying. Or you can provide a more subtle compliment by building on an idea that they originated. The key is to love your leader, and let them know.

As a leader myself, to receive an acknowledgement from my team is often a bigger highlight than from a client. Especially when you are a smaller organization, having your team’s support is not only critical to your success, but also critical to your growth as a person, and as a company.

So love your leader. There is a good chance they will love you back.

Action: Make it a point to demonstrate some form of appreciation to your boss. Make sure you’re genuine, but let them know you appreciate them. You will have made their week!

Visit our other Ignite Excellence Group of initiatives’ websites with corresponding blogs.
Suzanne F Stevens – Profiling women leaders who have pushed their edge to personal or professional potential from backpack to briefcase to boardroom
Ignite Excellence Foundation – Leadership, Advocacy, Education – following donations to scholarships for women in developing countries
Wisdom Exchange TV – A forum where women will be inspired from the achievements of African women in business, education, philanthropy and politics.
You Me & We – a husbands and wife’s journey through Africa in 2011/12
Ignite Excellence Inc. – Influence, Differentiate, Engage more people and more business – a training & development company

African Women will bring an Economic & Political Advantage

Suzanne F. Stevens — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:42:15 +0000

A great reference for Women to know how much they are needed economically in Africa!
Africa needs to harness the power of its women to drive full economic growth and development, says Ernst & Young http://bit.ly/ukaQg0 [...]