Monthly Archives: July 2019

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Are Leaders Always Serious?

Being Taken Seriously

A frequent question leaders new and old will ask is whether or not they have to be serious. You know, they wonder if they have to have the stern face, commanding voice, and never smile.

It’s a great leadership question to ask. This is because leadership has often been portrayed as stuffy, serious business.

Man with a serious look on his face

Photo by Ieva Vizule

There’s no doubt leadership is serious business. Serious business doesn’t mean there’s no room for a little fun.

Are Leaders Always Serious?

By the first couple of paragraphs, you already know my answer to this pressing question. No, leaders do not have to be serious all of the time.

There are times a leader needs to be serious. A leader needs to be serious when:  Read more...

  • he is letting a team member go
  • business decisions are impacting team members
  • the organization is closing its doors
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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Spider-Man: Far From Home

A Reel Leadership Article

Tom Holland returns to the fun role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Spider-Man: Far From Home picks up shortly after the recent Avengers: Endgame movie.

Peter Parker is still reeling from the aftermath of Endgame. His friend and mentor, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Junior), is dead. He’s trying to figure out his place in the world he recently returned to. And he has a big legacy to live up to.

Tom Holland as Spider-Man and Jake Gyllenhall as Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home

Not only that, Peter has a love interest, a classmate named MJ (Zendaya). His class is going on an overseas trip (hence the Far From Home subtitle) and he has a big plan. He’s going to ask MJ out.

All of Peter’s plans go in the trash when something crazy happens. A water elemental who looks a lot like Hydro-Man, a Spider-Man villain who controls water, attacks London while Peter and his class are there.  Read more...

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Gaining The Respect Of Those You Lead

Being Taken Seriously

Many leaders want to be super serious so they can be taken seriously. They believe the more they have a hard-nosed, get it done at any cost type of attitude, the more they’ll be respected.

This line of thinking is wrong. You don’t gain the respect of your team by being hard-nosed. You also don’t gain respect by having a get it done at any cost type of attitude.

Man wearing a shirt saying respect. Standing in front of a leaf background

Photo by Tiago Felipe Ferreira

There’s a better, more efficient way of gaining respect. One you can do without completely alienating the ones you lead.

But how do you gain the respect of those you lead without demanding respect? You follow what I’ll share today.

Gaining The Respect Of Those You Lead

Great leaders know they can’t push people around and expect them to be respected. Rather, great leaders know they can do a select few activities and be respected.  Read more...

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What Do Modern Consumers Want From A Business In 2019?

This is a contributed post to JMLalonde.com. For more information on contributing a post, please see our contributing policies.

It takes a lot of work to keep a business at the cutting edge of its particular industry. You might struggle to both stay ahead of the competition and keep your customers happy. After all, you can’t just change your business for the sake of innovation. You have to upgrade it in a way that aligns with the mindset of the marketplace. You need to evolve alongside your target demographic. Still, that’s a very difficult objective to achieve. What do modern consumers want from a business in 2019?  Read more...

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Why So Serious?

Being Taken Seriously

Transitioning from a traditional team member to a team member with authority is a huge shift. So is stepping into a leadership position when you have no history with an organization.

Becoming a leader is serious business. It’s also a challenging position. Even more so when there’s a need to be serious.

Black and white dog with a nose and eyeglass disguise

Photo by Braydon Anderson

Many leaders when they step into their leadership position flip a switch. They go from the fun-loving coworker to the stern-faced boss.

This transition will turn out for the best! My will be done. My dream be accomplished!

Uhhh… Why So Serious?

Have you ever been led by one of those people described above? The one who lets their newfound power give them a big head? Maybe you were one of these leaders…

We all know leadership is serious business. We’re leading people and organizations and there are consequences to where and how we lead others.  Read more...