Effective stretch assignments are tailored to the individual. What skills does your top performer need exposure and experience with?

[Influence is an important skill for any leader.] The ability to influence upwards is advanced leadership and critical to those looking to advance beyond their current levels.

One of the most important things we can do as a leader is influence those we work for.There is a way to accomplish this without feeling as though you are stepping on any toes or stepping out of line.

I would like to make a difference, influence others, but my current title doesn't allow me to accomplish those things. Perhaps you have heard that before,

Are you still tracking your time? What have you done with that information? Knowing how your time is spent is an essential first step, but taking action to make changes is the ultimate goal of gathering that data.

time tracking is not an easy process, especially since we spend a lot of time on different devices, doing multiple things.

We face AND/OR questions every day. Can you do this *and* that? Should I do this *or* that? It seems simple enough, and often we may not think too much about it.

The one thing every leader must have is belief in themselves. If you don't believe in yourself, no one else will either.

In December I addressed a common question about feeling overwhelmed with different projects and not having enough time to spend with the team or for store visits. In that response I spoke about the value of time blocking and how that can assist in freeing up time to complete the things that are most important to you.

Understanding the power of delayed gratification is a complex subject, but there are simple examples that can show how this principle works.

Now, it is time to get back into the swing of things in your work environment. Regardless of how well you planned,