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3 Simple Steps to Help You Embrace Your Inner Leader

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how to become an effective leader

When you think of an effective leader, what image comes to mind? It’s easy to come up with a few names off the top of your head. For me, I immediately think of Steve Jobs, Henry Ford and Oprah. What you’ll see is that my names have a theme.

They were all excellent innovators. They believed in their vision and they were always aware that the people who followed them were important to their success. You may come up with a different list. Leaders with different attitudes and approaches may inspire you.

In fact, an article published by Harvard Business Review titled “The Eight Archetypes of Leadership” by Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries, discusses the different ways people embrace their leadership style. As such, different people embrace different leadership styles and techniques that suit their strengths, but then build on those strengths to develop a well-rounded approach to leadership.

Here are three simple steps you can take today to develop a foundation of strong leadership:

1. Find the right inspiration

Developing your leadership style is tricky and takes some practice. The first step is to ask yourself what you think it takes to be a leader. How does a leader behave? How is a leader perceived in the workplace? What is the image you need to create (or change) in order to be seen as an authentic leader? Take a look at what you think a leader should be and decide if your perspective needs to be refreshed.

Who inspires you? It could be anyone, from a colleague you work with everyday, to someone you look up to as a mentor, to a highly successful businessperson who works in the same industry. Make note of the attributes that stand out to you. Is this person known for his creativity in leadership, or is she known for her ability drive a turnaround story? Find what resonates with you on a deep level and use it as inspiration for your own leadership approach.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

2. Evaluate your approach

Now, take a look at your current leadership approach. We all have to start somewhere, so even if you are only leading a team, as opposed to a division, small business or major corporation, ask yourself how your approach to leadership aligns with what is most important to you. Does it feel inauthentic, forced or unnatural? Are you behaving the way you think a leader should behave, or are you just following the example of other people who don’t inspire you?

For example, I worked with a small-business owner a few years ago that had a very intimidating leadership style. It was her way or the highway, and while she had notable numbers to show for her efforts – steady growth year over year, a sustainable revenue stream, and creative new products entering the market, absolutely no one wanted to work with her to realize her vision.

She believed leadership meant driving projects forward ruthlessly because that’s all she knew from her work in consulting. While that approach may have helped her in the short-term, it didn’t translate into long-term growth for her business, which is what she really wanted.

 

3. Embrace your inner leader

Ultimately, you want to find alignment between what you think makes a great leader and how you are currently behaving. From there, take some time to identify your leadership strengths to build a foundation for your skills and then work to add skills that will give you a well-rounded leadership approach.

In my client’s case, productivity was her strength and she could lead projects and ideas into completion with ease, but when it cut into her ability to grow a great team, she realized that she was sacrificing the kind of numbers and growth she really wanted for her business. As Kets de Vries notes, this kind of leadership style may work in certain situations for the short-term but it can ruin morale and doesn’t help build a company or business that lasts.

For my client, she found success once she identified her leadership style, developed that strength in specific areas, and then worked to build on that foundation to become a well-rounded business leader.  She was able to reconnect with her ability to inspire her employees and discovered a new level of success, both personally and professionally.

The end result should always be about building the foundation for healthy and strong relationships with the people around you. That includes those who work with you, those who buy from you and those who invest in your ideas.

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” – Steve Jobs

What leadership advice do you have? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Christina Holloway is a management and strategy consultant, speaker, and leadership coach. She brings 20+ years experience working with visionary clients who want to restart their careers and pursue new goals. As the founder of a small independent consulting company, she spent the last 15 years working with large multi-national businesses, and now leverages that experience to educate, inspire and empower female executives and emerging leaders to develop their skills in effective leadership. To learn more about Christina's work, click here.

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Success Advice

How to Choose the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers

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how to choose the best affiliate programs for your blog

Picking the right affiliate programs for your blog is really important. It can make a big difference in how much money you can make and how much your readers get out of your blog. With so many choices out there, deciding which ones to go with can be tricky. 

This guide is here to make it easier for you. It will give you clear steps and helpful tips to choose affiliate programs that fit well with what your blog is about, what your readers like, and what you stand for. 

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Understanding Affiliate Marketing

Before you start picking affiliate programs, it’s important to really understand what affiliate marketing is and how it works. 

Basically, affiliate marketing is when you promote a product or service on your blog, and then you get paid a little bit every time someone buys something or does something because you recommended it. 

It’s great for both the person selling the product and the blogger, because the seller gets more sales with low risk, and the blogger can make money from their blog.

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Programs for Your Blog

1. Assess Your Niche and Audience

The key to doing well in affiliate marketing starts with really knowing what your blog is about and who reads it. Consider the following:

  • Your blog’s content: What topics do you cover? Ensure the products or services you promote are relevant.
  • Your audience’s interests and needs: What solutions are they seeking? Choose affiliate programs that offer products or services that solve their problems or enhance their lives.

2. Research Potential Affiliate Programs

Once you know what your blog is about and what your readers want, start looking for affiliate programs. Choose ones that are well-known for good products, great customer service, and helpful support for affiliates. Resources to find these programs include:

  • Affiliate networks like ShareASale, Commission Junction, and ClickBank.
  • Direct searches for “[Your Niche] affiliate programs” in search engines.
  • Recommendations from other bloggers in your niche.

3. Evaluate the Commission Structure

The commission structure is a critical factor to consider. Look for programs that offer competitive rates that make your efforts worthwhile. Consider:

  • The percentage of commission per sale.
  • Whether the program offers a flat rate per action (e.g., per sign-up).
  • The cookie duration, which affects how long after a click you can earn commissions on sales.

4. Consider the Program’s Reputation and Sureness

Join affiliate programs with a solid reputation for quality and sureness. This not only ensures that you’re promoting good products but also that you’ll be paid on time. You can:

  • Read reviews from other affiliates.
  • Check the program’s history and background.
  • Look for any complaints or issues reported online.

5. Analyze the Support and Resources Offered

A good affiliate program gives you things like ads to use, training on their products, and helpful managers. Having access to these resources can really help you do a better job at promoting their products.

6. Understand the Terms and Conditions

Before signing up, thoroughly review the program’s terms and conditions. Pay close attention to:

  • Payment thresholds and methods.
  • Any restrictions on how you can promote their products.
  • The program’s policy on affiliate marketing on social media platforms.

7. Test the Product or Service

If possible, test the product or service before promoting it. This firsthand experience allows you to offer genuine charge and build trust with your audience.

8. Look for Recurring Commission Opportunities

Some affiliate programs pay you again and again for subscriptions or services that charge fees regularly. These can provide a more stable income compared to one-time sales commissions.

Implementing Your Choice

After choosing the best affiliate programs, the next step is to smoothly include your affiliate marketing in your content plan. This includes:

  • Creating valuable content that naturally incorporates affiliate links.
  • Disclosing your affiliate affairs transparently to maintain trust with your audience.
  • Tracking your results to understand what works best for your audience and adjusting your strategy accordingly.

Picking the best affiliate programs for your blog involves careful planning, research, and making sure they match what your audience likes and needs. 

If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers. 

The real key to doing well with affiliate marketing isn’t just about the products you talk about, but also how much your audience trusts and values your advice. 

With enough time, patience, and hard work, your blog can grow into a successful space that earns a good amount of affiliate money and helps your readers choose the right products.

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Success Advice

The Power of Ethical Leadership: How Integrity Drives Success

By leading with integrity and ethics, leaders create an environment where employees feel excited to come to work

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Ethical leadership

What differentiates a positive organizational culture that enjoys a clean reputation and long-term success from a toxic culture drowning in scandals, mistrust, and legal fines?  (more…)

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10 Landing Page Hacks Experts Are Using to Generate Leads

Crafting a landing page that converts is both an art and a science

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landing page hacks that generate leads

If you are in the online marketing world, you know the importance of a high-quality landing page. It’s like a secret sauce that can turn a casual user into a solid lead. I will walk you through ten great tips that have worked wonders for me and could do the same for you in creating landing pages that generate leads. (more…)

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An Easy to Follow 8 Step Strategy for Creative Problem Solving

A complete process of creative problem-solving encompasses finding problems, developing creative solutions, and implementing your solutions

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creative problem solving

No matter where you look around the world today, entrepreneurs face a common challenge: The need to stand out from their competitors and win over customers. (more…)

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