Author: richardghilarducci

Richard Ghilarducci: Become a Leader with These Qualities According to Richard Ghilarducci, there are quite a number of qualities that a business leader possesses. That said, which of these qualities actually separates a simply good leader from the elite great? Some would say it is charisma. Some would say it is determination. Others would say it is intelligence. However, what do all great leaders have in common? Depending on the talent companies hire, Richard Ghilarducci mentions that employees can be complicated to deal with. They can be productive one day and seem unmotivated the next. Given how much money a company pours into recruitment and training, ending up with an unproductive employee could mean wasting thousands of dollars and possibly putting your company at risk. Great leaders can turn this all around. Yes, great leaders in business should be able to motivate and empower their employees in order to keep them passionate about their work as well as the company, keeping it alive and growing. Here are some of the best qualities of the best leaders, according to Richard Ghilarducci. 1. Natural Visionaries: The most successful business leaders have always seen what clients and consumers will need, even before people feel the need for them. Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Warren Buffet, and Richard Branson all saw and understood the future. They anticipated that huge populations in the world would actually pay for the products and services that they conceptualized, designed, developed, and put out in the market. 2. Effective Listeners: While most famous leaders are recognized for their commanding voice, not much has been said about how they had to listen to the people around them at first. So many individuals who history has remembered have been known to listen to the needs of everyone around them and fight for these needs. A leader who truly listens to people in their charge understands them better. Listening also empowers the employee, knowing that the business leader is listening to and acknowledging their ideas. 3. Compassionate and Understanding Individuals: Companies that aim high often encounter huge problems in the process, according to Richard Ghilarducci. Keep in mind that NASA didn’t reach the moon during its first attempt. That is why leaders should know how to forgive mistakes. Errors can be invaluable to teachers; they could cost thousands of dollars today. That said, learning from them can save the company millions tomorrow. 4. Responsible and Selfless Teammates: Richard Ghilarducci also points out that great leaders should share a brighter future with their employees. If you have people who stand out in the crowd due to their diligence and passion, provide them with growth paths so they don’t feel like their position is constricting their talent. By giving them more tasks and rewarding them according to their efforts and accomplishments, these employees can later on become the foundation of something that would be quite extraordinary. 5. Skilled Judges of Characters: Hiring and managing people are skills that are fairly easy to do. However, top business leaders such as Steve Jobs and Elon Musk have exhibited hiring and management skills that are considered to be next-level. They’ve managed to get the best people into their companies, make the most out of their talents, and keep them happy, which, if you ask any business owner, is no meager feat. All this ultimately leads to a thriving business, even during tough times. 6. Tech-Savvy Workers: If you notice, a huge percentage of the world’s most successful business leaders are knowledgeable when it comes to cutting-edge technology. They all know how to use the latest apps, programs, and devices and are seldom if ever, left behind by the times when it comes to tech, explains Richard Ghilarducci. While there are many more qualities and skills that the best business leaders exhibit, these are some of Richard Ghilarducci’s favorites — skills and qualities he strives to cultivate within himself and his subordinates. Humboldt State University alumnus Richard Ghilarducci held leadership roles, including Chief Executive Officer. He was also a community leader and was elected Mayor for three terms. Read more about his leadership, communication, and management insights by following this page.

Richard Ghilarducci on Time Management and Effective Listening Expert Management of Time Everyone, at some point or another, feels like there are nowhere near enough hours in the day for you to do everything you need and want to do. While we all get the same 24 hours, certain people seem to get more things done than others. Why is this the case? Three words – good time management. Time management is how people plan and organize how to divide time between different activities, says Richard Ghilarducci, and people do this in a certain time frame. To get it right, you have to be working smarter, not harder. If you’re successful, you’ll get more done in less time. You can do this even when time is tight, and the pressure is high. It’s also no surprise that the best leaders are the best at time management. In a busy workplace, it can be challenging to balance tasks, meetings, presentations, and everything in between. Richard Ghilarducci, however, says that it all can be achieved. There are two sure-fire time management habits people can cultivate to boost their productivity when they’re working. The first is to complete one task at a time. Instead of wasting energy doing various things at once, it might benefit a person to set aside time to focus on one task. Some leaders even recommend setting timers that will train the mind to accomplish a specific task for a limited time. The second habit is to know when they are most productive. Industry leaders who accomplish a lot during the workday are most likely aware of their peak hours or the time of day when they are most efficient. Those with flexible schedules can choose to go to the office during these hours so that they can focus and finish their tasks promptly, adds Richard Ghilarducci. Effecting and Active Listening Good listeners have been observed to improve their overall productivity. They also can influence, persuade, negotiate, and communicate as a whole. In fact, Richard Ghilarducci believes that listening sincerely and actively is arguably the most important part of communication. In communication, listening may very well be more important than talking, especially if the listening being done is active. Active listening is an ability that allows you to absorb what others say and listen with an open mind. If you’re a good listener, chances are you’ll avoid conflict and misunderstandings because everything that’s being said is registering clearly in your brain. All of these are necessary for workplace and leadership success. By developing good listening skills, people will be able to get more information out of their interactions. They will also likely gain a whole lot more trust from others. The importance of active listening, Richard Ghilarducci says, cannot be emphasized enough. Ask yourself if you’ve ever had a conversation when you wondered if the person you were talking to was listening to what you were saying or was listening at all. If you have to wonder if your message is getting across, or if you have to think if it’s worth your time continuing to speak, then something might be wrong. If it feels like you’re talking to a brick wall, it’s something that you might want to look into. Let’s face it — this isn’t a good feeling at all. Here are two ways anyone can become a better listener. Block out all distractions as much as you can. According to Richard Ghirladucci, there’s nothing more annoying than having to talk to someone with their faces in front of their smartphones. If you’re having a conversation with someone, zone out background noise and even thoughts so your focus is on the one in front of you. Move closer toward the person you’re talking to. Smile and laugh when appropriate, and nod your head if you agree to or understand what they are saying. When you hear new or interesting information, you can tilt your head, all while keeping eye contact. During his career that spanned over three decades, Richard Ghilarducci held leadership roles, including as Chief Executive Officer. He was also a community leader and was elected Mayor for three terms. Read more about his leadership, communication, and management insights by following his blog page.

Richard Ghilarducci: The Need for Mentors in Sales Mentorship is a mutually beneficial professional relationship. Richard Ghilarducci explains that through mentorship, an experienced individual known as the mentor imparts knowledge, as well as expertise and wisdom, to a less experienced person called the mentee. The mentor does this while simultaneously honing their mentoring skills. Effective mentors can guide their mentees professionally and still maintain a friendly and supportive relationship. The ideal mentor has to always have the mentee’s best interests in mind. They have to tailor their mentorship style to meet their mentees’ needs. That said, teams and departments in an organization can do well from being under mentors and coaches. It is because it has already been proven that mentorship and coaching programs can help a company in a variety of ways. Such programs have been seen to drastically improve a company’s metrics and employee retention. Take sales, for example. Some people mistakenly think sales is simply chatting through anything and forcing people to believe what they’re hearing. While this is, in part, true, there’s more to sales than simply closing a deal. A huge part of a memorable and successful sales career rests a lot on finding a mentor who will guide one through and beyond the disciplines of the trade. Mentors can also help mentees see the importance of focusing on targets. According to Richard Ghilarducci, this plays perfectly into sales. A lot depends on the system or the process the mentor introduces. The mentor should be firm, perhaps even strict, so targets and deadlines are met. The mentor monitors performance and adherence to set guidelines. Through all of this, the mentor has to impart the wisdom of building relationships via the foundation of good team rapport. A good mentor for people in sales can guide people according to their strengths while keeping the targets and deadlines urgent and realistic. Is a mentor a friend? Yes, they can be after work. Formalized mentoring doesn’t have to be restricted to the realm of leadership development and entrepreneurship. People working in sales need mentors, as well. After all, mentors are experts at offering valuable knowledge and advice, as well as moral support, especially to the young and inexperienced. More importantly, Richard Ghilarducci adds that mentors can underscore that while sales are about hitting the target, it is also about expanding networks and building relationships. Humboldt State University alumnus Richard Ghilarducci held leadership roles, including Chief Executive Officer. He was also a community leader and was elected Mayor for three terms. Read more about his leadership, communication, and management insights by following this page.

Richard Ghilarducci: How Leaders Handle a Business Crisis Business Crisis A business crisis can be an event or a series of events that causes major disturbance for a company. A crisis typically occurs suddenly. It also poses an intense challenge or danger for the business. According to Richard Ghilarducci, a crisis typically happens in a situation where the amount of time to save the company is short and when decisions have to be made rather quickly. Natural disasters are one such example. These include unpreventable environmental crises such as flooding due to heavy rains or strong storms that cause damage to infrastructure. There are also technological disasters, which include IT system failures, malevolent cyberattacks, corrupt software, or faulty hardware, says Richard Ghilarducci. Tech disasters normally affect access to the more critical aspects of a business, such as data, an employee’s ability to work effectively, and more. Another good example of a type of crisis is accidents, which happen unintentionally. These accidents include fires and power outages, as well as gas leaks, among others. Ways Leaders Manage a Crisis One of the major things that separates good and great leaders is the ability to turn a crisis around. The fact of the matter is any leader leading a group worth leading with always encounters adversity. After all, these are the challenges that lead to growth and, ultimately, greatness and glory. However, it takes a special kind of person, a special kind of leader, to cope with these challenges. To help out, Richard Ghilarducci shares a few insights on how leaders can handle a crisis and lead their teams through the rough waters. • In a crisis, the best leaders want to be the ones to take care of things. Not that they won’t be delegating tasks – they still will; but they will also be micro-managing, overseeing every little detail until the storm passes, adds Richard Ghilarducci. • If and when the best leaders fall short of their plans, and their team gets affected by a crisis, these leaders immediately own up to it. Far too many people in power try to save face and cover up the wrong they’ve done. It can potentially be catastrophic for the team. Admitting one’s mistake is a mark of a true leader, and it gets everyone on the same page in the right way. • Good leaders can communicate effectively – amid a crisis. Difficult situations can rattle even the sturdiest individuals, and everyone knows that when a person is fazed, they can communicate messages differently. The best leaders remain calm, respectful, and in control of themselves, even and especially when things seem to be crumbling apart. During his career that spanned over 30 years, Richard Ghilarducci held leadership roles, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. For more of his insights on leadership, follow this page for updates.

Richard Ghilarducci: Listening is More Important Than You Think Good listeners have been observed to improve their overall productivity. They also can influence, persuade, negotiate, and communicate. In fact, Richard Ghilarducci believes that listening sincerely and actively is arguably the most important part of communication. In communication, listening is arguably more important than talking, especially when it is about active listening, which is an ability that allows you to absorb what others say and listen with an open mind. If you’re a good listener, chances are you’ll avoid conflict and misunderstandings because everything that’s being said is registering clearly in your brain. All of these are necessary for workplace and leadership success. By developing good listening skills, you will be able to get more information out of your conversations, and people will likely trust you more, notes Richard Ghilarducci. The importance of active listening cannot be emphasized enough. Ask yourself if you’ve ever had a conversation when you wondered if the person you were talking to was listening to what you were saying or was listening at all. If you have to wonder if your message is getting across, or if you have to think if it’s worth your time continuing to speak, then something might be wrong. If it feels like you’re talking to a brick wall, it’s something that you might want to look into. Let’s face it — this isn’t a good feeling at all. How can you become better at listening? Here are three ways you can become a better listener. During his career that spanned over three decades, Richard Ghilarducci held leadership roles, including as Chief Executive Officer. He was also a community leader and was elected Mayor for three terms. Read more about his leadership, communication, and management insights by following this page.

Richard Ghilarducci on the Ideal Qualities of a True Leader According to Richard Ghilarducci, there are many qualities that a business leader possesses. That said, which of these qualities actually separates a simply good leader from the elite great? Some would say it is charisma. Some would say it is determination. Others would say it is intelligence. However, what do all great leaders have in common? Depending on the talent companies hire, Richard Ghilarducci mentions that employees can be complicated to deal with. They can be productive one day and seem unmotivated the next. Given how much money a company pours into recruitment and training, ending up with an unproductive employee could mean wasting thousands of dollars and possibly putting your company at risk. Great leaders can turn this all around. Yes, great company leaders should be able to motivate and empower their employees in order to keep them passionate about their work as well as the company. Here are some of the best qualities of the best leaders, according to Richard Ghilarducci. They are always willing to listen. While most famous leaders are recognized for their commanding voice, not much has been said about how they had to listen to the people around them at first. So many individuals who history has remembered have been known to listen to the needs of everyone around them and fight for these needs. A leader who truly listens to people in their charge understands them better. Listening also empowers the employee, knowing that the business leader is listening to and acknowledging their ideas. They are always willing to give second chances. Companies that aim high often encounter huge problems in the process. Keep in mind that NASA didn’t reach the moon during its first attempt. That is why leaders should know how to forgive mistakes. Errors can be invaluable to teachers; they could cost thousands of dollars today. However, learning from them can save the company millions tomorrow. They are always willing to share responsibility and success with the team. In addition to that, Richard Ghilarducci points out that great leaders should share a brighter future with their employees. If you have people who stand out in the crowd due to their diligence and passion, provide them with growth paths so they don’t feel like their position is constricting their talent. By giving them more tasks and rewarding them according to their efforts and accomplishments, these employees can later become the foundation of something that would be quite extraordinary. Humboldt State University alumnus Richard Ghilarducci held leadership roles, including Chief Executive Officer. He was also a community leader and was elected Mayor for three terms. Read more about his leadership, communication, and management insights by following this page.

Richard Ghilarducci: The Four Leadership Approaches On Effective Communication and Leadership Effective communication is surely one of the most significant parts of successful leadership in business. How a team performs hinges on how well they communicate with one another. According to Richard Ghilarducci, the anchor of a team’s communication network is the team leader. The obvious benefits of effective communication from a leader are the smooth delegation and clear explanation of tasks, with almost no room for misinterpretation. It’s also worth noting that the best leaders do way more than assign work and clarify instructions. Richard Ghilarducci reminds everyone that effective communication is seldom negative. A trademark of great leaders is that they are motivators who inspire their subordinates to do their best. It could not be achieved without effective communication. Another reflection of effective communication can be seen in company culture, or more specifically, how a leader can cultivate their team, the relationships within it, and how it can fit in the culture the business is trying to promote. The ability to listen, says Richard Ghilarducci, is another indispensable part of good leadership. That’s what great leaders do; they listen. That is why they are able to learn as much as they can about the people on their teams and why they can motivate people and facilitate smooth transitions. The Different Leadership Styles Effective communication also affects the many approaches to leadership. Remember that many organizations are large and are composed of several departments, groups, and specialties. On that note, let’s look at the several styles of leadership. Collaborative Leadership This type of leadership requires strong communication with coworkers in order to help them make their own informed decisions. Richard Ghilarducci explains that collaboration is both a cooperative and assertive process. Through collaboration, administrators and clinicians alike work together to reach the organization’s goals. Transformational Leadership Transformational leaders emphasize a sense of mission. They empower others to achieve it together while communicating their vision with the team and motivating members to perform beyond expectations. Through this, everyone shares their insights and works with a collective purpose, adds Richard Ghilarducci. Ethical Leadership There are times when leaders are forced to make tough decisions for the organization, which may seem to favor some staff members over others. In the midst of these challenges, a great leader has to act from a grounding in ethics. They should be able to treat everyone with fairness and respect. Conflict Management When gaps in communication grow between practitioners, conflict can arise. In these situations, Richard Ghilarducci says that an effective leader has ways to work out conflicts to create a positive outcome. It can include incorporating strategies of compromise and mediation, as well as negotiation and enhanced communication in order to resolve issues and restore harmony. During his career that spanned over three decades, Richard Ghilarducci held leadership roles, including as Chief Executive Officer. He was also a community leader and was elected Mayor for three terms. Read more about his leadership, communication, and management insights by following this page.