Optimize Blog

The Power of Rapport

Being focused and present with your clients is a great start. But that just means you’re here. If you really want to build successful client relationships, you have to go beyond just being present. So, what’s next? The next step is building a connection with your client, or rapport. What is rapport? Rapport is, by dictionary definition,...

Why Leadership Vision Matters

The best, most successful leaders and organizations have leadership vision. What are the less accomplished, under-performing leaders missing? The most successful have the keys to: Clearer focus on what is most important and valuable Faster decision making – at every level of the organization Aligning efforts towards achieving what most matters for success Connection to...

What Really Matters

In the constant swirl of activity and demands in life and work today, do you ever lose track of what really matters most? One of the biggest challenges for the leaders, top professionals, and senior executives that I work with is keeping their focus and efforts on their most important priorities and outcomes. The first...

What Are Your Contingency Plans?

Have you had enough of the unforeseen and unexpected coming at you? The single most common comment leaders have said is “I wish I knew better what the future holds.” (of course when did we ever ‘know’ what the future holds?)There are ways to deal with the unexpected and unforeseen that almost nobody is doing...

The Tyranny of the To-Do List

Do you feel like you’re on a hamster wheel, chasing your To-Do list?  If you are, how do you answer this next very important question: Can you get everything on your to-do list done?  If you are like every other leader and professional I have asked this question of over the last 20 years –...

Technical Skills Are Not Enough

Many highly trained technical experts of all kinds – IT professionals, engineers, lawyers, doctors, architects, and other sophisticated experts – know the answers to their clients’ issues before the clients even know what their issue is. The problem is that until a client trusts you to take care of them – especially in an area...

Resilience

Building and Strengthening Resilience

When is the last time that an obstacle you encountered knocked you down, pushed you around, and kicked you off track? When is the last time you achieved something great and meaningful – without having to face a significant obstacle? The difference between these two situations lies in your ability to be resilient.  The ability...

a sign reading change ahead

Why You Can’t Manage Change

As important as dealing with change is, the statistics on successfully implementing change in organizations is dismal. According to most studies, more than two thirds of change initiatives fail to achieve their stated objectives. But that does not stop many people from repeating the same old mistakes that have led to this lack of success....