Leadership by FDR

Good morning Leaders!

Here is a great thought to ponder about FDR and how he led.

"The quality of Roosevelt's being one with the people, of having no artificial or natural barriers between him and them, made it possible for him to be a leader without ever being or thinking of being a dictator."
Frances Perkins

Make it a great leadership day.  God bless you!

Mark Bowser
JEREMIAH 29:11

The True Height of a Leader

Good morning Leaders,

What does it take to be a leader?  Well, for one thing it takes height.  No, I am not talking about how tall you are.  So, what am I talking about?  Check out the following article.


"The True Height of a Leader" An article about Abraham Lincoln by Mark Bowser http://short.to/1piee

Make it a great leadership day. God bless you.

Mark Bowser

Leadership: George W. Bush

Good afternoon Leaders!

I encourage you to check out President George W. Bush's new book "Decision Points."  Whether you agree with his politics are not, he is a leader.  A leader worthy of learning from on how to make tough decisions. 

Go to your favorite bookstore today. God bless!

Mark Bowser
JEREMIAH 29:11

Communication is One of a Leader's Most Important Tools

Leaders,

Here is a fantastic quote to ponder from lee Iacocca.

"You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them across, your ideas won't get you anywhere."
Lee Iacocca

Have a great Leadership Day. God bless you!

Mark Bowser
JEREMIAH 29:11

Jim Rohn said, "Tyranny knows no restraint of appetite." Let's choose our leaders wisely this election.

God bless,

Mark Bowser

Are you ready to lead?

Good morning Leaders!

There is a Latvian Proverb that says, "The ready back gets all the loads." Are you ready to lead? Have you prepared yourself? Do you want to lead? These are important questions for us all to ponder as we pursue greater influence in our world.

God bless you,


Mark Bowser

Leadership Thought by Bill Gates

Good afternoon Leaders!

Here is a leadership thought to ponder from Bill Gates:

"As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others."

Bill Gates

So, true.  So, true.  Now, let's go out and do it!

God bless,

Mark Bowser

Mark E. Bowser

President/CEO

Empowering Enterprises, Inc.

7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280

West Chester, OH  45069

(513)252-GOAL

 

Superior Training, Superior Results!

 

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com & www.TakeActionSales.com

 

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN 

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com & www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

Leadership Focus: Success & Goals

Good morning Leaders!

Here is a great quote to ponder: 

"Success only breeds a new goal. The golden apple devoured has seeds. It is endless."

                        Bette Davis

Make it a great Leadership Day!  God bless you!

Mark Bowser

JEREMIAH 29:11

Mark E. Bowser

President/CEO

Empowering Enterprises, Inc.

7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280

West Chester, OH  45069

(513)252-GOAL

 

Superior Training, Superior Results!

 

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com & www.TakeActionSales.com

 

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN 

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com & www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

Leadership Article with Mark Bowser

"The Styles of Leadership" article by Mark Bowser: http://is.gd/1260b

Mark E. Bowser
President/CEO
Empowering Enterprises, Inc.
7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280
West Chester, OH 45069
(513)252-GOAL

Superior Training, Superior Results!

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com &
www.TakeActionSales.com

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN
http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com &
www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

Success is Hanging Out with the Champions

By Mark Bowser

It was the great George Washington who said, “Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for ‘tis better to be alone than in bad company.”  What great advice the father of our country has given us.  Who we hang around is who we will shortly become.  If we truly want to be champions in life then we have to be very particular in who we associate with. 

So, let’s think about it for a moment.  Who do you see on a consistent basis?  What kind of influence do they have on your character, your reputation, and your life?  Tough questions but extremely important.  I encourage you to pull out a piece of paper right this very moment and write down your answers to these questions.  Go ahead, I’ll wait.  I will be here when you get back. 

All done?  Alright, let’s take a peak at your answers.  Do you have any relatives on your list of not so helpful of people to be around?  What do you do with them?  Well, you might have to see Uncle Harry on holidays but you don’t have to hang out with him at other times.  What about your co-workers, any toxic people there?   Same thing as with Uncle Harry.  You might have to work with them but you don’t have to have lunch with them on a consistent basis. 

Now, take a look at the people who are a positive influence on your life?  Look what they accomplish in life.  They get consistent positive results, don’t they?  Start hanging out with them more often.  You see, if you want to be a champion you have to get around the champions.  That is why we don’t see any eagles hanging out with the chickens.   If you want to soar with the eagles, you have to fly up where they live.  So, get out of your rut of a nest today and soar up with the eagles around you and before you know it, you will be accomplishing more then you ever thought possible.  Why?  Because you are a champion. 

Mark E. Bowser

President/CEO

Empowering Enterprises, Inc.

7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280

West Chester, OH  45069

(513)252-GOAL

 

Superior Training, Superior Results!

 

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com & www.TakeActionSales.com

 

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN 

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com & www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

What do you think? Leader thought!

Good morning Leaders!

Here is an interesting quote to ponder.  From a leadership perspective, what do you think?

"To ask the hard question is simple."

W.H. Auden

Go out and make it a great leadership day. God bless you!

Mark Bowser

JEREMIAH 29:11

Mark E. Bowser

President/CEO

Empowering Enterprises, Inc.

7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280

West Chester, OH  45069

(513)252-GOAL

 

Superior Training, Superior Results!

 

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com & www.TakeActionSales.com

 

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN 

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com & www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

Lee Iacocca on Leadership

Leaders,

Here is a great quote from Lee Iacocca to ponder:

"The primary skill of a manager consists of knowing how to make assignments and picking the right people to carry out those assignments."

Lee Iacocca

Now, go out and make it a great leadership day.  God bless you!

Mark Bowser

JEREMIAH 29:11

Mark E. Bowser

President/CEO

Empowering Enterprises, Inc.

7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280

West Chester, OH  45069

(513)252-GOAL

 

Superior Training, Superior Results!

 

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com & www.TakeActionSales.com

 

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN 

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com & www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

A Success Article by Mark Bowser to help Leaders Succeed

How to Change Ourselves and Succeed

By Mark Bowser

Have you wondered why you make some of the same mistakes over and over again? Have you ever struggled with becoming successful?  Have you ever wanted to know if there are some  tips and  secrets that can help you go completely over-the-top?

It was the great Jim Rohn who said that,  Unless you change how you are,  you will always have what you’ve got.” Today we are going to talk about how we can change ourselves in order to become more successful.  There are three strategies that we need to do in order to make this happen.  One, set goals.  Two, be proactive, and number three, have a personal development program.  If you put this in action, you will be able to overcome your challenges and become more successful. 

 Let’s get started.  One, set goals.

Did you know that 90% of all people have no set goals?  5% of all people have set goals but aren’t reaching them which creates a lot of frustration. And the last 5% goes to those people who have set goals, write them down, and lives their dreams. Most every motivational speaker on the planet talks about goal setting.. Goals are what make it happen. Goals are what help you reach your success. Without them, you will struggle to be mediocre at best.

Now, I am not going to talk about how to set goals today. There are many good goal setting programs, including my own. But today, I just want to emphasize the importance of setting goals. Set your goals and write them down. There’s a power when you write it down.  Writing it down makes it real, makes it tangible, and can increase your chances of success.  In fact, it goes from chance to reality.

That leads us to our second step which is to be proactive. In his wonderful book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Dr. Stephen R. Covey talks about the importance of being proactive.  In fact, being proactive is Dr. Covey’s number one habit. Dr. Covey says that being proactive is the foundational habit. Of all the seven habits, this is the primary one. All the others stem on this one right here.

To be proactive means to choose how to respond. We are given choices. We can choose to be positive or we can choose to be negative. The choice is ours.  Have you ever noticed, that the unsuccessful people in our lives are reactive? . Something happens that’s not going quite their way, so they explode. They blow up. They make the matter worse. We all know people like this.

Sometimes, we have to admit that we react the same way.   But we don’t have to be that way. We can choose how to respond. We can let our logic and our values lead our emotions. Emotions are good but they are chaotic. Emotions are good but they aren’t always reliable. Let your logic of how the situation could be solved and your values of what you believe is right, lead the way. It’s not easy, but the most successful people are the proactive ones.

So, we are committing to set goals and write them down. We are choosing to be proactive rather than reactive. That leads us to our third step, which is to have a personal development program.

Having a personal development program is what takes you over the top. The Japanese have a word “kaizen” which means constant improvement. That’s exactly what a personal development program is designed to do. It’s about improving ourselves continually.

I have a very simple suggestion for you today. Here it is:  Read one book a month in whatever area you want to develop yourself in. That’s it. Read one book a month. Now, I don’t care if you read the book, listen to the audio book, or get an audio/video program on the subject.

Research shows us that if we commit to this challenge, that in five years we will be in the top 5% of experts in the world in that particular area. That’s powerful. But it also tells us how few people are likely to do this. If you take this challenge and commit yourself to this program, you will be amazed at your progress and you won’t recognize yourself one year from today.

So, there you have it. Three simple steps to change yourself and succeed.  One, setting goals. Two, choosing to be proactive. Three, a personal development program. When you take action on these three steps you will change yourself…and succeed.  Now, go out there and make it happen. 

Mark E. Bowser

President/CEO

Empowering Enterprises, Inc.

7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280

West Chester, OH  45069

(513)252-GOAL

 

Superior Training, Superior Results!

 

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com & www.TakeActionSales.com

 

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN 

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com & www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

Leadership Article by Mark Bowser

Dear Leaders!

Below, you will find a link to one of my leadership articles. I think you
will find it enjoyable and helpful.

Make it a great Leadership Day. God bless you!

Mark Bowser

The Art of Influencing is Leadership. Read my article. http://bit.ly/8sAHbY

Mark E. Bowser
President/CEO
Empowering Enterprises, Inc.
7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280
West Chester, OH 45069
(513)252-GOAL

Superior Training, Superior Results!

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com &
www.TakeActionSales.com

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN
http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com &
www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

Great Leadership Quote by Steve Jobs

Good morning Leaders!

Here are some words of wisdom to ponder from Steve Jobs.

"A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not."
Steve Jobs

Make it a great Leadership Day. God bless you!

Mark Bowser
JEREMIAH 29:11

Mark E. Bowser
President/CEO
Empowering Enterprises, Inc.
7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280
West Chester, OH 45069
(513)252-GOAL

Superior Training, Superior Results!

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com &
www.TakeActionSales.com

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN
http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com &
www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

Two Success Articles by Mark Bowser

Success:  The P.U.S.H. Principle of Success

By Mark Bowser

Have you ever thought you were doing the right thing only to begin doubting yourself?  Have you ever known you were doing what God wanted you to do but were still not succeeding?  What is going on here?  Does God want us to fail?  Is He playing a trick on us?  Of course not!

Not too long ago, I came across a wonderful story with an incredible principle for success.  It goes something like this.  Once upon a time, a man was sleeping peacefully in his cabin when all of a sudden the room filled with a brilliant blazing light.  When the man’s eyes adjusted to the piercing light, he was shocked to see Jesus Christ standing in his room.  The Lord said to the man, “Friend, I have work for you to do.  Out in front of your cabin you will find a large rock.  You are to push against that rock with all your strength.” 

The next morning, the man awoke with more energy than he could ever remember having.  Was it a dream he had of his visit with Jesus?  Was it real?  The man didn’t know whether it was a dream, vision, or what, but he knew what he was supposed to do.  He was to push against the large rock outside his cabin.

The man got dressed and immediately went outside.  He thought to himself, “I’ll get this rock moved for the Lord before breakfast.”  The man pushed and pushed but the rock didn’t budge.  Sweat began to pour off the man’s forehead into his eyes.  Perspiration began to soak his shirt.  Push after push, hour after hour, the man worked on his mission.

The days came and the days went and still the rock stood fast.  One day, after many years of faithful pushing, the man’s spirit began to get discouraged.  What was he doing this for? 

Sensing the man’s discouragement and frustration, the Devil began placing evil thoughts into the man’s mind.  “What are you doing?  You are wasting your time.  You have wasted your time for years.  You are never going to move that rock.”

Discouraged, the man planned to not work as hard.  He would only push a little bit.  He was going to put in his time and rest for a change.  However, the man finally decided to make it a matter of prayer.  He said, “Father in Heaven.  I don’t understand.  I have worked hard at what You want me to do.  Why am I not succeeding?  Please guide me Lord Jesus.   In Jesus’ precious Name I pray Amen.”

The Lord lovingly spoke to the man,  “My child.  I love you!  When I asked you to serve me and you agreed, I asked you to push against that large rock.  I never told you that you were to move the rock.  You have been faithful and pushed with all your strength.  Friend, don’t think your work was a waste of time.  Look at yourself.   You have grown through the struggle.  The muscles in your arms are as strong as iron.  Your back is like a fortress protecting a city.  Your legs are like Redwood trees.  You are better now than when you began.  I will now move the rock.”

Many times we expect to move the mountains of our lives.  The Bible tells us that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed then we can say to our mountain   “MOVE!” and it will MOVE!  But it doesn’t say we will move the mountain.  God moves the mountains of our lives.  All we have to do is believe and  P.U.S.H. – Pray Until Something Happens!

 

 

Have you heard the new singing group 4 Troops?  The group is made up of 4 military persons.  They are awesome.  In fact, a good friend of mine Matt Moran wrote their hit single For Freedom.  Check it out at itunes or pre-order the album at amazon.com. 

 

Mark Bowser is one of the top Corporate Trainers, Professional Speakers in the country today.  He is also the author of 3 powerful books.  He can be reached at his website www.MarkBowser.com or email info@MarkBowser.com.

 

  A Champion Succeeds Through Power Communicating

By Mark Bowser

It has been said that public speaking is a fear worse than death for many people.  Well, the truth is that we will not be as successful as we could be unless we improve our communication skills.  In this article, we are going to explore some insights and action steps, which lead to more effective communication.  The only way to really conquer a fear is to confront it and jump right in.  With that in mind, let's get started.

1.  Realize that communication may be the most important skill we can learn.  We all need to be able to express our thoughts effectively.  We are creatures of relationships.  Relationships are very important to us.  In order to make our relationships better we must make our communication better.

2.  Guard our tongues.  Sometimes the most important message is the one we never give.  Have you ever said something and then wish we could take it back?   I think all of us have.  Controlling our tongues is one of the most important and most difficult communication challenges.  In another chapter in this manual we go into more detail on how to accomplish this task.

3.  Decide that communication is a priority.  If something is a priority then what do we usually give it?  ANSWER:  Time and Commitment.

4.  Talk with people not at them.  Have you ever been talked DOWN to?  How did it make you feel?  How did you feel at that moment about the person talking to you?  Not too good right?  We need to talk WITH people.  We need to make our communication conversational and user friendly.  We need to ask ourselves, "How can I uplift this person as I express my thoughts and opinions?"  This will help us communicate our messages in a more compassionate way.  Even if we have to communicate some ugly message, compassion will see us through.

5.  Have an open door policy.  We must make time for people.  If we lived in President Lincoln's day and wanted to speak with the president all we would have to do is walk in the White House and sit outside his door.  When he came out, we would be able to speak with him.  We need to do the same thing.  If it worked for the president, it will work for us.  If at that moment it is not appropriate, then make an appointment with them.   

6.  Understand what Dale Carnegie & Associates, Inc. believe when they say, "Communication is built on trusting relationships." If people don't trust us, then why would they listen to us?

7.  Prepare, prepare, prepare.  Speakers USA, Inc.  was a national speakers association, which helped train me.  They used to tell us that if we want a talk/presentation to look impromptu then make sure it is not.  In other words do your homework and practice, practice, prepare, prepare, prepare.

8.  Don't give a public presentation/talk unless you are passionate and knowledgeable about the topic.  If we are not passionate about the topic then it will come across flat and boring.  If we are not knowledgeable about the topic then our credibility will drop.

9.  Make sure your body language, tone of voice, and message are congruent.  Suppose I came up to you and said in a very gruff tone, "Sure, I would love to have the boss over for dinner!"  Do you think I really want the boss to come over for dinner?  You don't think so? Why?  ANSWER:  Because I wouldn't be congruent.  When we aren't congruent in every way, then we give mixed messages to our listeners.

10.  Have patience.  Communication, particularly public communication, is not easy.  Be patient with yourself.  You won't become an expert overnight.  Keep practicing and keep improving.

11.  Look for the benefit of our differences.  We need to constantly remind ourselves that different doesn't necessarily mean wrong.

12.  If agreement cannot be made then agree to disagree.  A great way to keep the peace.

13.  Keep your cool when someone improperly states something.  They may not be trying to insult you.  Have you ever thought you were being insulted but were not sure?  Instead of reactively attacking back, just wait.  They may have just said something in an awkward fashion.  Don't jump to conclusions.  Believe me, if they were actually trying to insult you and they thought you didn't get it, they will insult you again.  And if they were insulting you then just simply tell them that you don't appreciate it and that you forgive them.

14.  Always try to part on a positive upbeat ending.  Nobody likes to leave with a sour attitude in his/her stomach.  Always try to make peace before you end a conversation.

15.  Loyalty many times comes from private conversations.  Build trust by keeping confidences.

16.  Use stories to illustrate your points.  Jesus Christ always used stories when He taught the crowds.  Abraham Lincoln believed in stories too.  Lincoln said, "They say I tell a great many stories.  I reckon I do; but I have learned from long experience that plain people, take them as they run, are more easily influenced through the medium of a broad and humorous illustration than in any other way...."  REMEMBER:  ALWAYS HAVE A POINT TO YOUR STORY.

17.  Learn to speak off the cuff (extemporaneously).  Lincoln said, "Extemporaneously speaking should be practiced and cultivated.  It is the lawyer's avenue to the public.  However able and faithful he may be in other respects, people are slow to bring him business if he cannot make a speech."  One way to practice this is to grab your local paper and read a few headlines.  Practice speaking on those topics for 1-2 minutes for each topic.

18.  Join a Toastmasters club.  Toastmasters International is an international speaking club designed to help people of all walks of life become more effective communicators and thus more successful.  I was a member of Toastmasters for years and I really enjoyed and benefited from the experience. 

19.  Remember, we don't have to make a long speech in order to be effective.  Just say what needs to be said and then stop talking.  I remind you of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

20.  Use Millard Bennett's 30-10 Power Formula.  What is the 30-10 Power Formula?  First you read for 30 minutes everyday in whatever area you want to develop yourself in.  This will build up your knowledge base.  Of that 30 minutes, read out loud for 10 minutes.  Reading out loud will improve your communication skills.  It will improve your pronunciation, voice inflections, stamina, etc....  Of that 10 minutes, read part of it in a whisper, maybe a minute or two.  Reading in a whisper will eliminate all those um, ahh, and all those other verbal fillers.  This formula is one of the simplest formulas to practice but one of the most powerful.  Try it for a month and see what you think. 

21.  Understand that an inspiring talk can change the face of an organization, nation, family, or an entire world.  I remind you of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, JFK's challenge to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade, and Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachov tear down this wall."

I am convinced that if you really practice and work on these 21 steps you will become a POWER COMMUNICATOR and a greater success.  Make it happen and have fun. 

Check out Mark Bowser's incredible MP3 seminar "The Keys to Empowered Leadership"  Click here

 

 Check out some of the World's Best Speakers & Trainers on DVD.  Click here

Mark E. Bowser

President/CEO

Empowering Enterprises, Inc.

7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280

West Chester, OH  45069

(513)252-GOAL

 

Superior Training, Superior Results!

 

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com & www.TakeActionSales.com

 

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN 

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com & www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

Model Leadership Giants

Good morning Leaders!

How do you improve at leadership? How do you gain more influence? Well,
one of the best ways is to learn from successful leaders. Here is a great
quote to ponder:

"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
Isaac Newton

Now, go out and make it a great leadership day. God bless you!

Mark Bowser
JEREMIAH 29:11

Mark E. Bowser
President/CEO
Empowering Enterprises, Inc.
7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280
West Chester, OH 45069
(513)252-GOAL

Superior Training, Superior Results!

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com &
www.TakeActionSales.com

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN
http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com &
www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

Leadership & Communication Training by Mark Bowser & John C. Maxwell

Corporate Leadership Training: The Styles of Leadership

By Mark E. Bowser

There are three basic styles of leadership. All of us use these three
styles. Now, let me pause here for a minute and say that I am not
suggesting you change your style. What I am suggesting is that you become
flexible with the styles. Would you agree with me that your style works
some of the time and fails miserably some of the time? Why is that?
Because one style doesn't fit every situation. What I am suggesting is that
you use a more flexible situational leadership when it comes to the
Leadership Styles. Use the style that best fits the situation and the
people involved.

Having said that, what are the three Leadership Styles? The styles are:
1. Autocratic
2. Democratic
3. Free Rein

Let me explain what each style is and when to use it. Autocratic: The
Autocratic Leader is more like a general. The commander of an army. They
are quick decision makers and they tell others what to do. We saw this
style a great deal in the corporate world in the 1950's through the 1980's.
We still see it today but not quite as much as those earlier decades. Why
did we see it so much in the past? Well, where did the CEOs and Presidents
of organizations get their training? Many of them came out of the military.
Is autocratic leadership a good style for the military? Absolutely.
Particularly in war time. Why? Because we are in crisis or emergency mode.
Decisions had to be made and made quickly or people would die. Autocratic
leaders took action and won wars.

After the war, these leaders came back and took their place in the corporate
world. They discovered that their civilian counterparts didn't take to
orders like their military counterparts. This caused them some challenges.
The leaders discovered that their style didn't work in every situation.
They learned that they had to be flexible in their leadership styles.
There is still a place for autocratic leadership in the corporate world
because we have emergencies and other situations that require quick
decisions and quick actions. But what we have to do in order to maximize
our effectiveness is not get stuck in one style. Use the style that best
fits the situation.

Democratic: The second style of leadership is the Democratic style. This is
the leadership style of teamwork. It is run by democracy. We put things to
a vote to make decisions and the majority rules. This is great for building
team loyalty and participation but let me ask you a question. Should every
decision at your office be put to a vote? Of course not. So, when is this
a good leadership style to use? When you need to get buy in (by having open
discussions where you can answer questions and sell your vision) and when
the decisions aren't a major importance. Use this style to create rapport
and teamwork.

Free Rein: In this style of leadership, we get out of the way and let our
team do their thing. It is a style where there is definitely no micro
management. That is good. The challenge is that your team members have to
be excellent, well trained, and go getters for it to succeed. If you have
a lot of entry level workers or workers who are new to the job, this is not
the best style to be in. Those workers will need more of your input and
guidance for at least the short term.

Well, there we have it. Three styles of leadership: autocratic,
democratic, and free rein. They all have their pluses and they all have
their minuses. Use the style that best fits the situation and the team
members involved and you will find yourself succeeding in all leadership
situations.

Vision, Connection, & Direction: The Pathway to Effective Communication
John C. Maxwell

By communicating a message of hope and significance to his oppressed
countrymen in Poland, Pope John Paul II played a lead role in toppling
communism in Europe. He affirmed the dignity and humanity of Poles, rallying
them to resist communism, while at the same time teaching them to show
restraint when confronting the communist authorities. The vision,
connection, and direction he conveyed to people in his homeland as they
struggled against a repressive regime altered the course of world history.

VISION
When Pope John Paul II spoke, the world listened. A powerful, personal
vision gave force to his words. It was a vision birthed in tragedy and
refined through years of patient suffering.

As a young man Karol Wojtyla experienced firsthand the horrors of Nazi
Germany. As the Nazis swept into Poland, they shut down the university he
was attending, executed several of its professors, and carted off many of
his Jewish friends. Enduring the cruelties of the German occupation and
witnessing the violations of his country fueled Wojtyla's passionate vision
of the rights each human ought to have.

In World War II, the Soviet Union "liberated" Poland. In reality, one system
of tyranny simply replaced the other. As a young priest and then bishop,
Wojtyla learned how to operate under the watchful eye of a restrictive
communist government. He carried out his duties within the church boldly yet
shrewdly, expanding its influence without provoking official backlash from
the government. The experiences shaped his vision, schooling him in the
strategies that would later aid him in undermining communism as Pope.

CONNECTION
Pope John Paul II connected to people because he identified with their
hopes, their troubles, and their fears. Journalist Neal Ascherton, who
accompanied the Pope on his early visits to Poland, marveled at his ability
to connect with the audience-even when crowds numbered in the hundreds of
thousands. "Each person got the impression the Pope was really speaking to
them, that he was exclusively available for them." John Paul II valued
people, and since he understood them, he could offer a hopeful message that
made them feel significant. His optimistic words stood in stark contrast to
the bleak, unpromising future that communism seemed to have in store.

DIRECTION
Soviet-style communism relied upon propaganda, or officially sanctioned
lies, to sustain itself. The government manipulated the public debate by
controlling the media, and consequently, people were exposed to a steady
diet of misinformation. Through time, it became confusing for them to
distinguish between reality and fiction.

John Paul II gave the people of Eastern Europe a moral compass to guide them
as they navigated life in a communist system. His ideals served as a
reference point, helping them to distinguish between right and wrong, truth
and farce. Thanks to his position as head of the Catholic Church, the Pope
could freely voice ideas that were distasteful to the existing communist
authorities without having to fear reprisal.

Even though he inspired people to seek freedom, John Paul II was very subtle
in his criticisms of communism. He was careful not to provoke the crushing
retaliation of the Soviet military by fomenting a violent revolution.
Through the papacy, John Paul II modeled the strategy by which communism
would be undone: persistence of belief coupled with patient, restrained
resistance.

SUMMARY
To say that one man toppled communism in Europe would be an overstatement,
but perhaps nobody contributed more to its demise than Pope John Paul II.
His prowess as a communicator allowed him to attain enormous influence
within the subjugated nations of the Eastern bloc. By voicing a compelling
vision, connecting emotionally with people, and modeling the direction
forward, he transformed the political institutions of Europe.

"This article is used by permission from Leadership Wired, GiANT Impact's
premiere leadership newsletter, available for free subscription at
www.giantimpact.com ."

Have you heard the new singing group 4 Troops? The group is made up of 4
military persons. They are awesome. In fact, a good friend of mine Matt
Moran wrote their hit single For Freedom. Check it out at itunes or
pre-order the album at amazon.com.

Mark E. Bowser
President/CEO
Empowering Enterprises, Inc.
7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280
West Chester, OH 45069
(513)252-GOAL

Superior Training, Superior Results!

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com &
www.TakeActionSales.com

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN
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www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

The Keys to Empowered Leadership

By Mark Bowser

The big question we have to ask today is what is leadership?  Leadership is probably the most important element to our success.  Leadership can be defined as motivating one or more people to move in a certain direction.  That move can be in the form of taking some action and/or acquiring a new belief.  So, by this definition, leadership can also be defined as Influence and it also can be defined as Sales.   Both are fundamental elements in your success.  You may have never thought of it that way.  Be honest, how many of you thought becoming better at Leadership, Influence, and Sales would help prosper your life?  Probably not very many of you.  However, I am going to give it my best to “influence” you on the absolute truth of that fact. 

Effective leadership is the most vital element to any organization.  With it and you can reach the stars.  Without it and the murkiest swamp will become your home.  As John Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”   So, what is effective leadership and how do we become that kind of leader?  I believe one of the best definitions comes from author J. Oswald Sanders’ when he described leadership as “Influence.”  Sound familiar?  We all influence people everyday.  It may be as simple as influencing your co-workers on where to go eat lunch or as vital as influencing your teenager not to use drugs. 

The first thing I think we need to understand is that there is a difference between an “Influential Leader” and a “Positional Leader.”   The Positional Leader has the title.  I am the President.  I am the Director.   I am the King of the nation.  Well, that is great.  But that doesn’t in and of itself make you influential.  The Influential Leader may be the peasant of the kingdom or the entry level employee.  Influence is about inspiring and moving people into action in order to reach a desired goal.  I hope you have the position, but I also hope you have the trust, respect, and heart of your people.   Whatever your position is at this time, I want to help you develop into the Influential Person that you were born to be.

 

Before we can go any further, I believe it is important that we dig a little deeper into the explanations and actions of leadership.  Let me ask you a question.  Is there a difference between a leader and a manager? There is, isn’t there.  Ok.  What does a leader do?  What is the first action that they take?  Right.  They create a vision.   They may not create a vision for the entire organization but they definitely do for their part of it.  Alright, what does a manager do?  Right.  They make it happen.  They implement the vision.  The leader creates where we are going and the manager breaks the vision into manageable parts and assigns the tasks to the right people and assures that it happens.  Ok, let me throw another concept out there?  What does a coach do?  A coach motivates, inspires, teaches, provides resources, disciplines when necessary, etc…

Which are we?  A Leader, a Manager, or a Coach?   That is right.  We are all three.  I don’t think we can separate it anymore.  We have to be all three.  We are a Leader/Manager/Coach.  Now, that makes our task a little more daunting but will make us much more effective and successful in the long run.  As I close this article, I encourage you to let this concept be a seed in the fertile soil of your mind.  Let it grow.  Let it develop and before you know it, so will your influence. 

Make it a great day!  God bless you!

Mark Bowser

JEREMIAH 29:11

Mark E. Bowser

President/CEO

Empowering Enterprises, Inc.

7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280

West Chester, OH  45069

(513)252-GOAL

 

Superior Training, Superior Results!

 

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com & www.TakeActionSales.com

 

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN 

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com & www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

What Can Ben Franklin teach leaders about success?

Good morning Leaders!

Check out my article: "Ben Franklin's 13 Virtues of Success" article by
Mark Bowser: http://short.to/fq6k

Make it a great day. God bless!

Mark Bowser
JEREMIAH 29:11

Mark E. Bowser
President/CEO
Empowering Enterprises, Inc.
7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280
West Chester, OH 45069
(513)252-GOAL

Superior Training, Superior Results!

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com &
www.TakeActionSales.com

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN
http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com &
www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

Leadership & Freedom

American Conservatism: A CALL TO FREEDOM

By Mark E. Bowser

“Congress shall make no law…” so begins the first amendment to the United States Constitution. What does that mean and why were the Founding Fathers so adamant to including a Bill of Rights to the Constitution? The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are two of the most impressive and important governmental documents ever written because they put the focus

where it needs to be—The People. This country was founded on the foundation that the people lead the way, not the government. The government exists to serve the people not the other way around.

The Founding Fathers put guarantees into the Constitution to make sure the people lead the way. They called it the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These ten rights are the basis of America. They are the fundamental difference between this great land of ours and some of the awful dictatorships, Communist regimes, and other tragedies in world history.

Today, we are going to reacquaint ourselves to one of those pivotal amendments. Please join me for the next few moments as we take a deeper look at the first amendment and what it means for us, our families, our work, and America.

The first amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Let’s take a look at this amendment step by step and see what it

means. The first part talks about religion. What did the Founders really mean? Well, the first part of the amendment means that Congress can’t set up a state religion. Our country was founded on religious freedom. The first Americans started migrating across the great ocean because of religious persecution. They did not want to be a part of the State Religion – The Church of England.

So, when it came time to start this country, they wanted a guarantee that this persecution would not happen again. The amendment also says, “'or prohibiting the free exercise there of…”  The Founders wanted to insure that the government also would not get involved with how a religion was to be carried out in daily life. You might be saying, “Ah, the separation of church and state.” Now, let me say something that might shock you. The Separation of Church and State philosophy

is not found anywhere in the Constitution. In fact, it goes against the intent of the Founding Fathers. “What?” You might say. “I was never taught that!” I know. The way the press and the liberal educators preach it so much one would think it was written in the amendment itself.

The phrase “Separation of church and state” is not in the Constitution. It is found in a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote. It was only a letter. It was not an agreed upon philosophy of the Founders. When discussing the Founding Fathers, respected historian Paul Johnson says, “Even the doubting and the unenthusiastic were quite clear that religion was needed in society, especially

in a vast, rapidly growing and boisterous country like America.” Even Jefferson believed religion was important. To prove this, all we have to do is read the Declaration of Independence, which he penned so beautifully.

Having said all this, what is government’s role in religion. The government’s role is to be tolerant and support the free practice of every faith. But it does not mean that government can’t be involved in religion. If that were the case then why does it say “In God we trust” on our money and why does the U.S. Senate have a chaplain? Paul Johnson says, “It certainly did not inhibit Congress

from identifying itself with the religious impulse as such or from authorizing religious practices where all could agree on their desirability.”

The Founding Fathers saw religion and education as vital elements if this American experiment were to succeed. In fact, they saw them going hand and hand. They believed that an educated morally driven America was the best America. In confronting Tom Paine who did not see the need

for religion, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “He who spits in the wind spits in his own face…If men are wicked with religion, what would they be without it?”

Religion and the free exercise of it was important to the Founders. So much so that the day after the First Amendment was passed, on September 25, 1789, The House of Representatives passed by a two to one majority a resolution calling for a day of national prayer and thanksgiving.

The next part of the First Amendment gives us the freedom of speech. Without this we cannot be free. Just ask anyone who lived in the old Soviet Union. Or ask those students in Communist China who confronted those tanks a few years ago. The right to speak up for or against our government gives us the free exercise of debate. America is strongest when with candor and politeness we can debate our differences. What unites us as Americans far outweighs what divides us. We grow stronger (and more free) when we take hold of the best ideas of all America.

Our next freedom found in the First Amendment gives us the freedom of the press. Without this freedom, you would not be reading this letter right now. We don’t have to agree with the press, but we must respect its freedom to print what it pleases. For example, there are many newspapers and magazines I don’t think are worth the paper they are printed on, but I will always fight for their

right to express their ideas. Having said this, I think that with the birth of the internet, we as a nation are going to have to continue some strong debates on where we draw the line of freedom of speech and the press. For example, I believe that there is never an argument in support of child pornography whether it is found on the internet or somewhere else.

Our next freedom given us in the First Amendment is the “'the right of the people peaceably to assemble…” This means that we can gather together as a group for any purpose as long as it is done peaceably. The government can’t stop us from meeting together in clubs, organizations, or even protest marches. This freedom in a way brings the freedom of speech to its highest level---unity.

The last freedom found in the First Amendment is for justice. It reads, “'and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” It is our freedom to have wrongs committed against us made right. It is the freedom to not be taken advantage of. The freedom of fairness. The freedom of right and truth.

So, as we embark on our daily routine, I challenge each of us to be conscious of our freedoms as Americans. We must never take them for granted. We must never allow them to be watered down or stripped away, and we must never give them up. For as Thomas Jefferson said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

Mark E. Bowser

President/CEO

Empowering Enterprises, Inc.

7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280

West Chester, OH  45069

(513)252-GOAL

 

Superior Training, Superior Results!

 

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com & www.TakeActionSales.com

 

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN 

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com & www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com

The Three Facts of Leadership by Mark Bowser

Corporate Leadership Training:  The Three Facts of Leadership

       

There are Three Facts of Leadership.  If we understand these facts then our influence has the opportunity to grow.  And when our influence grows so does our effectiveness as leaders.  

THREE FACTS OF LEADERSHIP

1.      One person can make a difference

2.      Start leading today

3.      The office doesn’t make the person

Fact Number One:  One Person Can Make a Difference

This is probably not a new saying to you, but what pictures came to your mind when you read that statement?  If you are like many people, it was pictures of Billy Graham, Martin Luther King, Jr, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, and many others.  However, do you see someone missing from that list?  I do.  That someone is YOU! 

Mother Theresa didn’t go out to become a saint, she went out to save one dieing person.  She was walking down the street and saw a person dieing in a gutter.   She said to herself, “That is not right.  Everyone should die with dignity.”   And the rest they say is history.  Great leaders, great physicians, sales champions, and consultants figure out how their influence can touch a life and by doing that their influence may touch hundreds, thousands, and maybe even millions of lives. 

So, the question is where can your leadership grow to make a bigger difference then you are today?  You are probably making a difference, but how can your leadership grow?  You make a difference and people need you!

Fact Number Two:  Start Leading Today

Many times, young leaders for example will say, “I’m not ready to lead.  I will wait till I read that leadership book, or go to that seminar, or learn that skill, etc….”   Now, those are all important things and I encourage them but the truth of the matter is that your organization and your team can’t wait.  You need to start leading today…and learn as you lead.   None of us will ever know all there is to leadership.  It is a continual growing process.  We can’t wait till we know all there is to leadership or we will do absolutely nothing.  We must become influential today and grow throughout our leadership journey.

Fact Number Three:  The Office doesn’t make the Person

Leadership is not about the corner office.  Have you ever worked for someone who thought it was?  They were more concerned with their promotion, their prestige, and there accolades.  In the process, they lost their team (and many times their customers) as a result.  

Now, please don’t misunderstand me, I have no problem with comfortable offices and a comfortable work environment.  In fact, I am actually for it.  But we must not put the cart before the horse.    Today, my family’s company, the Bright Corp. has a comfortable work environment and the executives have nice offices.  But it wasn’t always that way.  My dad and my uncle made sure the horse came before the cart and now the company has the resources to support that type of environment.  They were more concerned with helping their team succeed and serving their customers then they were about having a cushy sofa and a picture window in their office.  As a result of this wise decision, they don’t have a revolving door for their team or worst yet for their customers.  Their team has tremendous loyalty.  They have team members that have worked for the Bright Corp. for over twenty years.  They have customers that also go that far back.  How rare is that?    Very!!!  Focus on your team and focus on your customers and the rest will take care of itself. 

Mark E. Bowser

President/CEO

Empowering Enterprises, Inc.

7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #280

West Chester, OH  45069

(513)252-GOAL

 

Superior Training, Superior Results!

 

Check out our Complimentary Success Newsletters at www.MarkBowser.com & www.TakeActionSales.com

 

Come follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/MarkBowser

Connect with me on LinkedIN 

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/markbowser

Come visit Mark Bowser's blogs www.SalesTrainingToday.blogspot.com & www.LeadershipStylesToday.blogspot.com