UPDATE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, this topic is now more relevant than ever, as you can see in news reports and social media posts by very lonely professionals all over the world who have been isolated for months. In addition to YouTube and Apple Podcasts, you can now find this episode on other platforms, includingSpotify and Anchor. There’s also a new podcast cover to help illustrate the power of purposely cultivating your own growth and transformation.
How do you like the new podcast name and cover art for the renamed podcast “Plant Your Seeds of Transformation”?
[ORIGINAL ARTICLE]
As I write this, I realize that the topic of “vulnerability” has been hot for several years because of the popularity of a researcher and author who has been featured on the TED Talks video series and on Oprah’s OWN network (i.e., Super Soul Sunday). Her name is Brene Brown, and she has influenced me, but this is not the reason for this blog article.
In the summer of 2018, I started a series entitled “Loneliness and Leadership” on my previous blog and podcast. To see the video about this topic, visit my youtube channel for Lead Like A Queen at this link (click here) or watch it below:
Here is a summary of the main points from what I addressed in this video:
#1 Admitting loneliness is difficult due to its social stigma* and due to unwillingness to be vulnerable. (See research resource listed below.)
#2 Failing to admit you need help dealing with loneliness keeps you in bondage to it.
#3 Failing to get free from the impacts of loneliness within you affects how you act and react at home and at work. It may cause you to lead in unhealthy ways.
#4 Failing to admit your need for help prevents you from seeking help which empowers you to plant seeds for your own transformation.
“Personal and professional transformation, just like gardening, takes time, but it can’t even start until you start seeking help as your way of planting the seeds for your own change.”
~ Donna Marie Johnson @leadlikeaqueen
*Resource: Rokach, A. (2013). Loneliness updated: Recent research on loneliness and how it affects our lives. Oxon [England]: Routledge.
Note: This is an older video, so the offer included in the video is no longer available. To get updates about current offers, join the email newsletter community for Lead Like A Queen (click here).
Registration is now open @: leadlikeaqueensummer.eventbrite.com
Register for the summer seminar coming up on Tuesday June 4, 2019 at 7pm at the Fayette County Public Library in the South Metro Atlanta Region.
EVENT SERIES INFORMATION
“How Well Are You Focusing as a Small Business Leader?” is part of the Lead Like A Queen Seminar Series, co-sponsored by the Fayette County Public Library. This is our second event for 2019, and the first one was held on Tuesday January 8, 2019 at Fayette County Public Library on Heritage Parkway in Fayetteville, Georgia USA. The recap of that event is available to newsletter subscribers.
EVENT BACKGROUND INFORMATION
If you are not sure how to answer that question in the event title, you need to learn more and tweak your leadership so you’re able to Lead Like A Queen, focus better, & see more growth.
In small business, you become a leader as soon as you start selling your products or services. Leading like a “queen” is about the servant leadership mindset of responsibility, instead of privilege, which empowers you to impact the world with your “small” business. Evenso, many leaders start feeling overwhelmed and/or unsure as we start to grow.
SMALL BIZ FOCUS – AN ONGOING CHALLENGE
It is hard to understand which mole to whack to keep your business from becoming part of the small biz fail statistics. It takes great FOCUS to handle each part of your small business effectively and avoid overwhelm and burnout.
HOW TO FIX FOCUS PROBLEM?
Until you understand how to assess and improve your own leadership, including but not limited to problems with focus, it will impact your ability to focus plus your confidence, your effectiveness, and, most importantly, your profit growth.
Q: “Where can I get help with tweaking my focus as I lead my small business?”
Join us for a free inspiring event to encourage and inform you about:
Assessing and improving your small business leadership;
Improving the foundation of your small business focus;
Hear from an experienced small business leader to give insight into their perspective on this area of focus; and
Brief question and answer session for small business leadership questions
*Note: If you subscribe to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program, it is available for free to you.
Watch the video to see the slideshow, and scroll down further to read informative and inspiring commentary along with each quote.
These excerpts of the book are designed to help you:
Discover some main ways small business leaders can make big impact.
Understand linkages between key leadership habits and your small business success.
Be inspired and empowered by a book created with small business leaders in mind.
WATCH BOOK TRAILER VIDEO
#SmallBizBigImpact But How?
Here are excerpts from my book that discuss what it means to build up your small business with diversity, selfless service, humility, servant leadership, empowerment, faith, and hope & healing.
SMALL BUSINESS
Just because you are a small business owner or entrepreneur does not mean that you cannot make a big impact, but you definitely cannot do your business the same way as larger organizations and stay sustainably successful.
“…with wise project management, entrepreneurs and small business owners can learn which resources and tools they can use, and which ones they can modify, to meet the same needs [as large organizations, but] more affordably for their own organizational culture development.”
Johnson, D. (2019, January 7). Small Biz Big Impact, But How?: How Conscious Selfless Servants Impact the World
DIVERSITY
If you, your teammates, or your stakeholders have differences, that only serves as an advantage. Embrace that and learn to use those differences in ways no one else can.
“Studies were done within multicultural organizations to show the benefit of having a diverse group of individuals who contribute to the organizational culture, and therefore, to the organizational knowledge.”
Johnson, D. (2019, January 7). Small Biz Big Impact, But How?: How Conscious Selfless Servants Impact the World
SELFLESS SERVICE
Being selfless is not the same as being a doormat. It must be guided by your personal relationship with Jesus Christ and your understanding the example He laid out for you in His Holy Word.
“Over time, your small business can build a platform based on selfless service, but all of this starts with you, the head leader in the business, developing a heart with a selfless service focus.”
Johnson, D. (2019, January 7). Small Biz Big Impact, But How?: How Conscious Selfless Servants Impact the World
HUMILITY
A personal relationship with Christ Jesus gives you a desire and thirst to know Him more and more so that you can humbly allow Him to lead your leadership choices.
“Quiet time alone in prayer, in Bible study, and in quiet Holy Spirit-led reflection are daily rituals that empower leaders to develop Christ-focused vision aligned with this truth [of humble servant leadership].”
Johnson, D. (2019, January 7). Small Biz Big Impact, But How?: How Conscious Selfless Servants Impact the World
SERVANT LEADERSHIP
When serving others as your way of serving the Lord remains your focus, it prevents ethical and moral leadership problems for the top leadership and everyone else who serves within your organization.
“Primarily, the focus of biblical servant leadership on serving others as a way to serve Christ Jesus is perceived by followers as authentic leadership, which boosts their trust in and emulation of their leaders.”
Johnson, D. (2019, January 7). Small Biz Big Impact, But How?: How Conscious Selfless Servants Impact the World
EMPOWERMENT
The most potent type of empowerment any entrepreneurial leader gives to their team is their example.
“After being purposely mentored and developed by their leaders, followers can succeed them as future leaders and mentors who serve first just as Christ served first, and just as it was emulated for them by their own leaders.”
Johnson, D. (2019, January 7). Small Biz Big Impact, But How?: How Conscious Selfless Servants Impact the World
FAITH
The most authentic form of servant leadership is coupled with deeply rooted faith in the one who was the author of servant leadership, Jesus Christ, who sacrificed his life for all human beings. In my book, I interviewed a christian business leader who shared about how his faith shapes his business.
“authentic servant leadership can have far reaching impact within and outside of a company by creating an environment that fosters change at all levels due to the love and trust that ensues”
Johnson, D. (2019, January 7). Small Biz Big Impact, But How?: How Conscious Selfless Servants Impact the World
HOPE AND HEALING
One of the most common ways small business leaders cause damage to their businesses and brands is in how they manage their people resources. In my book, I interviewed a christian business leader who shared about how his faith shapes how he manages his people.
“Humble leaders provide a supportive atmosphere for followers which gives them hope and brings healing.”
Johnson, D. (2019, January 7). Small Biz Big Impact, But How?: How Conscious Selfless Servants Impact the World
QUESTIONS?
If you’d like to discuss these topics in person or have questions, join me for upcoming events or contact me. You can see announcements about events and find my contact information on this blog and my social pages, including if you follow my Amazon Author page at… and the easiest way to remember is just to use my name:
In small business, you become a leader as soon as you start selling your products or services, but many of us start feeling overwhelmed and/or unsure as we start to grow.
How Well Are You Leading Your Small Business?
If you are not sure how to answer this, you need to learn more and tweak your leadership so you’re able to Lead Like A Queen and see more growth.
Until you understand how to assess and improve your own leadership, it will impact your confidence, your effectiveness, and, most importantly, your profit growth. Researchers have also found that good, fair leaders who are concerned about other people (customers and staff) usually care more for their communities also, which fosters business growth (Amisano & Anthony, 2017, p. 85).
Where can I get help with tweaking my small business leadership?
Join me for a free* inspiring event to encourage and inform you about:
Assessing and improving your small business leadership;
Improving foundation of small business with correct structure (e.g., LLC); and
Brief question and answer session for business and leadership questions
Event Name:
“How Well Are You Leading Your Small Business?”
Why Attend?
Make business better: understand better, lead better & make more money
Who is this for?
Sole proprietors, consultants, or contractors (In state of Georgia, they may be paying home business taxes with personal taxes). This could look like doing direct sales of personal or home products; catering; or doing photography.
Date & Time:
Tuesday January 8, 2019 @ 7pm
Location:
Fayette County Library 1821 Heritage Pkwy, Fayetteville, GA 30214
*Note: Free Event Open to Patrons of Library. Registration Recommended, Not Required.
**Registration Gift Offer: Free Small Biz Consult ($47 Value). Bring Ticket to Claim.**
Reference: Amisano, D. C., & Anthony, P. (2017). Relationship between ethical leadership and sustainability in small businesses. Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics, 14(3), 76-90. Retrieved from Proquest.com
To Download, Print &/Or Share the Flier (pdf document) click the link below:
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Lead Like A Queen Coaching and Consulting, LLC 