It’s More Important to GET BETTER than to FEEL BETTER!

Last week, I wrote that I was involved with this year’s L2 – Live2Lead simulcast event sponsored by the John Maxwell Company. It was an amazing event but it got me thinking out loud about what leaders should be considering when selecting content to GROW more effectively.

Author and leadership expert John Maxwell often stresses that motivational speakers help you FEEL better but motivational teachers or facilitators help you GET better! I agree with this 100% and was taught this early on when I was starting out in my own training career. I remember the first time I saw my now friend and mentor, Rick Miller from the Center of Applied Leadership. He was and still is amazing in how he connects and presents to an audience. As my relationship with Rick grew both personally and professionally I realized that every time he trained or spoke to a group, he always left with something tangible and usable. Literally and figuratively, you had something in your hand at the end of the day! Now my virtual mentor, John Maxwell, reinforces the same approach. He always leaves you with something. Even during the L2 event, PowerPoint slides and event journals where available so that you could have something that helped you improve versus just a bunch of “warm fuzzes!”

Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy listening to motivational speakers. There is a time that their content is needed, however, they can help you feel good and inspired but do you remember why a few days later? When selecting content for your own leadership growth, you should be very mindful of the time you have available and the growth goals you desire. While not an exhaustive list, here are a few things to consider.

• Who or what has the speaker led in the past?
• What is their own track record in working with their own teams and that of others?
• Have they researched and studied their subject?
• Can they communicate it effectively so that it is, according to training expert Michael Allen, meaningful, memorable, and motivational?
• Can you readily apply what you are learning to your current leadership situation?
• Is their content “sticky”? In other words, does it stay with you long after the event is complete, the video over, or the book read?

Again, as leaders you live incredibly busy lives. Accordingly, it is important that you get the most out of your leadership growth and development investment in both time and money. I encourage you to:

Choose wisely

Grow tremendously

Share what you learn abundantly

If I can help you and the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I would invite you to visit my website below and see if any of the training or coaching experiences I offer can provide an impact! Also, as a bonus, if you go to my Out Loud Strategies website (www.outloudinc.com) and enter your contact information, I will send you a FREE guide to establishing a mentoring initiative program in your organization! Such an initiative would be critical in order to add value to your organization!

Yours in Leadership,

Bill Faulkner

Co-Founder – Out Loud Strategies

Independent Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team ^TM

Email = bill@outloudinc.com

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