Michelle Ray

Business and Leadership Keynote Speaker

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Michelle Ray

Four Deadly Mistakes Leaders Make with Remote Teams

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Deadly. An ominous word to describe the mistakes leaders make with their remote workforce, albeit a deliberate choice. During a time of radical change and uncertainty that continues to redefine the work world, teams look even more closely to their leaders for optimism, support and hope for the future in ways that demand their time, attention, care and transparency. Should this be lacking, the consequences for morale, employee retention and organizational culture could be dire. In order for leaders to effectively connect and help their remote teams succeed, avoiding, more importantly, addressing the following mistakes is essential. [Read more…] about Four Deadly Mistakes Leaders Make with Remote Teams

Five Key Leadership Lessons from 2020

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If there is one gift 2020 offered to the world, then perspective would be a suitable choice. As we reflect on the year that just passed, hindsight can truly be viewed as 20/20.  That is, the year provided great insight for the world. Humanity as a collective discovered how to be better: More empathy, open-mindedness and appreciation  for  the many things that we used to take for granted. For example, the simple act of a hug, enjoying the company of family members at the dinner table and perhaps more significantly than any other state of being, the freedom to go about our daily lives without restrictions.

Organizations have also gained benefits from the unexpected, adverse circumstances. Although many leaders may not have initially viewed 2020 from a positive lens, the imperative of adapting to these challenging times provided numerous opportunities for introspection and improvement. Leaders can glean the following five key lessons that will continue to have relevance for years to come: [Read more…] about Five Key Leadership Lessons from 2020

Do You Still Have a Passion to Lead?

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Recent world events have magnified the sense of urgency for new thought leadership and methodologies. Leaders need to be exceptionally prepared to adjust on the fly, expect the unexpected, prioritize and be available for their teams like never before. As the workforce continues to transform, many leaders are discovering that their previous practices are no longer relevant. This begs the question for leaders: Do you still have a passion to lead? [Read more…] about Do You Still Have a Passion to Lead?

Three Skills Leaders Need To Succeed Right Now

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Three Skills Leaders Need to Succeed Right NowAs leaders, you no doubt understand the degree to which you profoundly influence every aspect of your organization. Finding the secret sauce to successfully lead a mix of personalities need not be elusive. And keeping current is possible when you decide to carve out time to yourself. The possibilities turn into probabilities the more you are able to access your self-awareness and capacity to remain a lifelong learner. In order to achieve immediate organizational objectives while preparing for the future, honing your leadership skills remains a priority. As Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo wisely said: Just because you are CEO, don’t think you have landed.  Focusing on the following competencies can help you succeed right now: [Read more…] about Three Skills Leaders Need To Succeed Right Now

Leadership in 2020 and Beyond: What will be different? What will be the same?

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What are the core issues facing leadership in 2020 and beyond? Walk into any meeting comprising of senior leaders and the hottest topic of conversation will likely revolve around change, technology, clients and talent. While it is no surprise that these top-of-mind challenges are keeping many leaders up at night, the unrelenting need to constantly recalibrate is the most interesting aspect of doing business today and into the future. What will be different? And what, if anything, will be the same? [Read more…] about Leadership in 2020 and Beyond: What will be different? What will be the same?

Realize the leverage of modeling authenticity and integrity

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Authenticity and integrity are essential character traits that leaders need to develop in order to build trusting relationships with their teams. Research confirms the direct correlation between leaders who demonstrate these traits and employees’ levels of trust, engagement and buy-in. For some leaders, their greatest challenge is determining the level of disclosure and transparency whether sharing large scale company news or admitting a mistake. Put simply, how and when to practice humility. Your capacity to be honest will be refreshing and attractive from your team’s perspective. When a leader displays authenticity, employees are more likely to follow and feel equally comfortable to share their own vulnerabilities. Even more significant is the positive impact of authentic leadership on your organization’s culture and employee brand.

HOT OFF THE PRESS: 

WATCH MICHELLE’S BRAND NEW “IT STARTS WITH YOU” SPEAKER DEMO VIDEO BY CLICKING HERE!

CONTACT MICHELLE TO CHECK HER AVAILABILITY FOR KICKING OFF YOUR 2020 EVENTS!

This article is a partial transcript of a video on YouTube.

Michelle Ray (Twitter) is one of the best international leadership keynote speakers in Vancouver. She helps you discover your potential through presentations, coaching and consulting. With over 20 years of experience Michelle has worked with hundreds of companies around the world. She is taking bookings for speaking engagements and can be contacted at MichelleRay.com

Why is transformational leadership so important today?

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The pace of technological change necessitates a fluid, flexible approach, a shift in thinking and a willingness on the part of leaders to be ready for on-going transformation of their organizations. In order to meet the challenge, leaders need to be prepared to undertake an honest appraisal of their individual style by asking themselves whether they are effectively setting the vision for future success. The expectations of your workforce, as well as your customers continue to evolve. Therefore, it is a leader’s responsibility to challenge the status quo, take the lead and inspire their employees to transcend self-imposed boundaries, both personal and organizational, in order to adapt and embrace new realities. The transformational leader is able to raise the bar for  all by employing a charismatic, daring an open style.

HOT OFF THE PRESS: 

WATCH MICHELLE’S BRAND NEW “IT STARTS WITH YOU” SPEAKER DEMO VIDEO BY CLICKING HERE!

CONTACT MICHELLE TO CHECK HER AVAILABILITY FOR KICKING OFF YOUR 2020 EVENTS!

This article is a partial transcript of a video on YouTube.

Michelle Ray (Twitter) is one of the best international leadership keynote speakers in Vancouver. She helps you discover your potential through presentations, coaching and consulting. With over 20 years of experience Michelle has worked with hundreds of companies around the world. She is taking bookings for speaking engagements and can be contacted at MichelleRay.com

Biggest challenges in Non-Profits

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Not-for-profit organizations are facing similar challenges to many for-profits. There are parallels in terms of failing to attracting new members and resisting new imperatives such as letting go of the old to embrace the new. Many not-for-profits are steadfastly adhering to practices that have been in place for decades. Some are adopting a defeatist mentality by accepting membership attrition as a natural consequence of changing times. However, nothing can be gained by “shooting oneself in the foot.” By allowing negative mindsets to prevail, some not-for-profits (as well as corporations) will continue setting themselves up for failure. The good news is that examples abound of successful not-for-profit groups that are engaging their communities in new ways. One of my clients recently adopted podcasts as one of their content-sharing tools. The results have been extraordinary, evidenced by the highest levels of membership engagement when podcast downloads were tracked and analyzed. In addition, committees that produce the podcasts have a renewed sense of enthusiasm. The content creators are eagerly seeking out guests and are committed to growing their followings as well as expanding their programming.

Organizations that choose to embrace change, use new technologies, and incorporate social media in their marketing strategies are experiencing heightened interest in their member offerings and benefits. By emulating the success of innovative organizations as well as looking in your own backyard for examples of chapters and community groups that are thriving, it IS possible for your not-for-profit association to grow…and indeed, to flourish in the future.

This article is a partial transcript of a video on YouTube.

Michelle Ray (Twitter) is one of the best international leadership keynote speakers in Vancouver. She helps you discover your potential through presentations, coaching and consulting. With over 20 years of experience Michelle has worked with hundreds of companies around the world. She is taking bookings for speaking engagements and can be contacted at MichelleRay.com

Ending the Drama at Work – It Starts With You: Part Two

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There is no question that organizations could mitigate absenteeism and turnover by paying greater attention to the emotional impact of drama. Understandably, many of us have a preference for avoiding difficult conversations without realizing that we are doing a disservice to ourselves. Unfortunately, when the skills, desire and intestinal fortitude needed to take charge of the dysfunction are lacking, the status quo prevails. The famous poet anonymous declared: ‘nothing changes if nothing changes.” What are you willing to do to make a difference and contribute to a happier workplace atmosphere? When individuals and teams decide to positively express solutions, everyone will benefit and engagement will increase as a result. [Read more…] about Ending the Drama at Work – It Starts With You: Part Two

Ending the Drama at Work – It Starts With You

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Imagine if it were true that the majority of people excitedly leap out of bed each work day shrieking “I can’t wait to annoy my colleagues.” Although it may be a bit of a stretch to suggest that workplace “saboteurs “exist in large numbers, the fact remains that certain individuals take great pleasure in causing chaos at work, while others are completely oblivious to the damage inflicted by their dysfunctional, drama-based behaviour. Unfortunately, the potential for drama to escalate is an on-going problem, especially when one considers the fact that stress and overwhelm affect millions of people on a personal and professional level.

If you are experiencing the brunt of the theatrics displayed by the drama “queens” (and “kings”) in your workplace, the question becomes: “React? Or not?” Are there effective strategies available to mitigate the drama? Absolutely! But first, you must accept the following premise: You cannot control other people’s bad behaviour. You can, however, manage yourself. [Read more…] about Ending the Drama at Work – It Starts With You