Kent Business Solutions
Elevate Your Profitability
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By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions  Image by moise theodor on Pixabay In today's fast-paced business landscape, leaders are juggling so many tasks that they often find little time to develop their leadership skills. To help those in this boat, here are ten leadership quotes to provide a quick dose of inspiration on your journey to becoming a better leader. # # # Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. — Jack Welch A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. — Lao Tzu Where there is no vision, the people perish. -- Proverbs 29:18 You manage things; you lead people. — Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper A leader is a dealer in hope. — Napoleon Bonaparte Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations. — Peter Drucker The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. -- Theodore Roosevelt A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be. — Rosalynn Carter He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander. -- Aristotle A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. -- John Maxwell # # # This last quote is powerful. Leaders who know where they are going and take those who follow them on their journey can experience higher levels of success than those who don't. Unfortunately, many leaders don't know how to lead effectively, and their companies suffer because of their inability to adapt, grow, and thrive during challenging times. That's why Michael Cantu and I wrote our best-selling Amazon book, No-Nonsense Digital Transformation—to help business leaders who fall into both categories. And it's about more than just how to digitally transform organizations. In it, we talk extensively about how to shift mindset, change culture, and build great teams. Business leaders who instill these qualities in their organizations have a greater capacity to build stronger foundations, leading to increased productivity and profitability. In a nutshell, we've created a roadmap to effectively manage change in your business. So, the book is for more than just digital transformation fans! To learn more about the book, click the button below!
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By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions  Image by rawpixel on Freepik Many of us have experienced the unfortunate situation where we have let down a client or colleague by not delivering as promised. Ugh, it’s certainly not a great feeling, especially if you lost their trust or their business. There is a better way! You can help prevent similar situations from occurring again by doing two things. I’m sure you’ve heard these “two things” many times before, but I know for me, I like to listen to things repeatedly to remind me of their importance. Here they are: Under-Promise and Over-Deliver There are a couple of ways to go about this: 1. Deliver More than What's Expected Here’s a good example: I worked with a local manufacturer to develop a Voice of the Customer process for product development purposes. We had developed the process and realized that automating it would be optimal. At the time, we hadn’t planned on doing this. The CEO asked me to look for process automation platforms that would work for our application. When we investigated the currently available platforms, there were no cost-effective options. My client wrote off the idea; however, I saw how important this was to them, so I told them I’d try to create a semi-automated one. For a very reasonable price, I created a PDF process map with links that sent them to whatever documents or systems they needed in the process so that they’d have everything they needed right there at their fingertips. The CEO was so thrilled with the result! It wasn’t anything they expected, and that made me very happy as well! 2. Deliver Earlier than What's Expected This idea is self-explanatory, but here’s another example: Whenever I’m buying something on eBay, I’m always thrilled when it’s something I needed yesterday, and I get it much sooner than promised. If you can do this with your clients, they’ll most likely love that as well! 3. Deliver More and Earlier Than What's Expected Who doesn’t like getting something beyond what they expect before they expect it? Providing both aspects with your deliveries, especially regularly, will help drive customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. So, in the end, the philosophy of under-promising and over-delivering your products and services to customers can reap enormous dividends for your company. And who doesn’t want that? # # # One topic that many of us have been hearing a lot about lately is the Metaverse. Are you curious to know how it will impact your business? Well, you are in luck! I interviewed Tony Moroney on this topic for my Elevate Your Profitability podcast. He is with the Digital Transformation Lab at Cork University in Ireland. I'd love for you to check it out! By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions  Image by creativeart on Freepik Don't you love those conversations with friends that help create connections between nebulous thoughts that swirl around in your brain and succinctly summarize their meaning? Well, I had one of those conversations a while back. This friend of mine said one thing that has stuck with me. She put words to my life's mission into one sentence: Kathy, you're all about helping people become the best versions of themselves. Wow, she hit the nail on the head. I really couldn't say it better myself! As a certified life coach, I love to help people step into all the good life has in store. I'm also involved in prison ministry. As a worship leader, I can lead the inmate band at our monthly worship services. The men we work with appreciate what we do for them. Knowing I make a difference in people's lives makes my heart sing! So, why am I sharing this with you? Well, it translates well into my passion for work. I'm all about helping businesses become the best that they can be! The primary way I do that is through business transformation. Streamlining operations or undertaking projects to improve your business can result in a healthier bottom line. And that leads to the tagline for my business: I help organizations become profitable beyond their imagination! I do this through the following approaches:
The one service offering I'm most excited about is project management. I use my project management skills to run all kinds of initiatives: process improvement, IT, product development, and customer experience, to name a few. And I've experienced some great results! Scrum Project:
Voice of the Customer:
Sales Process:
For all these reasons listed above, I'm passionate about what I do—helping businesses become the best that they can be! So, that's enough about me. I'd love to find out more about what you do! Are you facing any challenges in your business? I'd love to hop on a Zoom or phone call to brainstorm some solutions with you—for free! If that sounds good, click the button below to schedule a time for us to talk. By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions  Image by jcomp on Freepik I love the word "savvy." You hear it sparingly; however, it's a must-have quality for all business leaders. And when you hear the the definition, I think you would agree! It means "shrewdness and practical knowledge; the ability to make good judgments." You combine that with "leadership," and that's a winning combo. So, what does it take to increase your leadership savviness? Here are five steps for raising your quotient: 1. Read, Read, Read We've all heard how important it is for business leaders to read regularly. Business icons like Mark Cuban read three hours a day, and Warren Buffet reads 500 pages per day! There are always audiobooks, YouTube, and even online classes you can take for those who don't like to read. The point is this: it keeps important concepts top of mind. Not only that but here are a few other benefits:
And don't we all need less stress in our lives? 2. Listen and Observe Intently Become a student of leaders you admire through critical listening and observation. Doing so can teach you a wealth of information. This approach works well with excellent leaders you admire and with whom you're acquainted. Even informal conversations with them can give you nuggets of wisdom you can use in your everyday work lives. Also, observing how they lead can give you ideas of ways to emulate them. 3. Learn from Your Mistakes Many wannabe leaders hate making mistakes and don't take risks, limiting their ability to step into more responsible roles. On the other hand, great leaders know that making mistakes and learning from them is part of the process. It's a part of their development course, though certainly, not intentionally. I advise you: don't be afraid of making mistakes! Most managers are tolerant and understanding when you do, especially if you let them know you want to grow in taking risks. 4. Work with Mentors Great leaders became that way through mentors passing on their knowledge to them. I say "mentors" because having more than one is better than just one! If you don't have any, start asking leaders you admire to mentor you, even if you think they might be too busy. You may be pleasantly surprised when they say "yes"! 5. Practice What You've Learned Put into action all that you've learned. If you're working with a mentor, develop an action plan and review progress during your follow-on meetings. Continually update your plan based on achieving your goals and new areas you want to grow. And stick to it. Growing into a great leader requires due diligence and intentional effort. These are just a few steps to increase your leadership savviness. The key is to be open to learning from everyday experiences and from leaders you admire. # # # Speaking of leadership, I have a weekly LinkedIn newsletter called Leading Well. It's chock full of leadership tips and even an occasional piece on Digital Transformation. If you still need to become a subscriber, here's your opportunity to do that now! Click the button below to get started. By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions  Image by Emslichter from Pixabay Have you ever had a teenage road trip that you'll never forget? Well, here's my story and a description of how it, unfortunately, resembles the digital journeys of many organizations. Back when I was attending college in southern Iowa, I searched for the cheapest way to get home for Christmas. I settled on a non-stop carpool to Los Angeles with one other girl and two guys, traveling in an old Karmann Ghia. Little did I know how rough the journey would be! Here's a sampling of what went wrong on that trip:
It's a miracle I arrived home safe! So, what does this have to do with any business topic? It's this: Many companies start their digital transformation journeys with just a wing and a prayer like ours. They start excited about the trip and encounter severe problems along the road. They may attempt to bolt things on to keep things from breaking further. Or, they may continue to forge ahead when something that's broken, and they limp toward their goal. Much like my difficult trip, they may reach their destination, but it either took too long or cost them way too much to get there, OR they're in the unfortunate place where they never arrive at their desired endpoint. If you're starting a digital transformation journey and want to ensure you arrive at your destination with great results, then check out some lessons learned on this topic based on my eventful trip: 1. Chose the Right Solution/Approach So You'll Reach Your Desired Destination An old, not-well-maintained Karmann Ghia was not a good choice for our trip, and it never dawned on my teenage brain to ask the owner how safe the car was. Lessons Learned: When choosing a digital transformation platform, do your due diligence upfront.
If you do this before you even start, there's a greater likelihood you'll stay on time, within budget, and achieve great results. 2. Ensure Your Team Remains Engaged Throughout the Project Our "team" was pretty engaged in reaching our goal, except for me. This trip was a disaster in my eyes, and I didn't want ANYTHING to do with helping to solve the problems. The owner, however, had to be—it was his car and responsibility to provide us transportation home. Lessons Learned: As a team leader, you know it's your responsibility to help the team effectively arrive at the destination. If they don't see the process working well, you'll encounter detractors (like how I was on my trip). So, exploring the best ways to keep your team engaged is a good idea. 3. Celebrate Your Victories Along the Way At times, it looked like we'd never get home. That's why it was a mini-celebration every time the car was up and running! Lessons Learned: Whenever your team reaches a significant milestone, reward them with a small token of your appreciation, such as letting them leave a couple of hours early one day. That will work wonders for increasing team satisfaction and moving forward to accomplish the end goal. These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg to help you on your digital transformation journey. It's certainly not an easy road to travel, and having experts at your disposal can make all the difference in the world! If you'd like to learn how to successfully navigate your digital transformation journey, check out Michael Cantu's and my best-selling book on Amazon, No-Nonsense Digital Transformation. To learn more, click the button below! By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions  Image by Freepik Many business leaders these days are searching for ways to stop good employees from leaving their organizations. With the Great Resignation in full swing, how do these leaders retain their best talent? Here are seven tips to help stop the bleed and, at the same time, improve your employees’ work lives. Employees are more likely to stay when they are: 1. Valued & Appreciated Every employee likes to know if they are doing a good job and making a difference in the company. Regularly showing them appreciation is a great start. And, if you can understand the best way to go about that, that's even better. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White present a great approach in their book 5 Languages of Appreciation in Business: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People. 2. Challenged Many employees leave their positions because they don’t feel challenged. Schedule a 1:1 with them precisely to determine if they feel challenged or not. If they’d like more challenging assignments, start the ball rolling to do just that. 3. Trusted It goes without saying that no one likes to be micro-managed. When you give your employees assignments, let them know you trust they’ll do a good job. And if you let them know you’re available for questions, that gives you the ability to have a hands-off approach, which shows you trust them. 4. Empowered Give your employees the full scope of what they need to do their jobs, including the authority they’ll need to see their assigned tasks through to the end. Doing so can prevent them from unnecessarily going back to you with questions when they could have handled the job independently. 5. Involved Ensure that you involve your employees in matters that concern them when it makes sense. It doesn't do you or your employees any good to make decisions about them when consulting them would have been a good idea. This approach also applies to communicating important company and department info. 6. Mentored Most employees want to grow and develop their abilities, and many leave their positions because they lack mentoring opportunities. Invest in your employees to help them become more effective in their roles and have the potential to move into leadership positions. Doing so most likely will save the company money in the long run if they don’t have to hire from the outside to fill vacated positions. 7. Promoted and Paid Well This tip is a no-brainer. Provide opportunities for advancement and compensate your employees well, or they may walk out the door when a better option comes along. In the end, investing in your current employees will most likely help increase their satisfaction. Doing so could reduce employee churn and perhaps positively impact the bottom line. And who doesn’t want that? # # # Speaking of churn, are your customers satisfied with your products and services, so they aren't leaving for greener fields? If you’d like a quick way to find out, download my FREE Customer Satisfaction Checklist. You’ll discover an answer in just a couple of minutes. Click the button below to download your freebie! By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions  Image by Tumisu from Pixabay As business leaders, we make multiple decisions every day; therefore, it takes diligence and sometimes reminders of how important it is to choose right instead of wrong courses of action when making those decisions. For that very reason, I'd like to share with you a quick primer from famous leaders on how to strengthen your personal integrity. # # # Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not. Oprah Winfrey In the end you should always do the right thing even if it’s hard. Nicholas Sparks People with integrity do what they say they are going to do. Others have excuses. Zig Ziglar Integrity is the ability to stand by an idea. Ayn Rand Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity. W. Clemente Stone Admitting one’s own faults is the first step to changing them, and it is a demonstration of true bravery and integrity. Philip Johnson As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself. Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility. Nelson Mandela Leading with integrity and empathy requires vision and a connection to your deepest self. Karla McLaren One of your most prized possessions is integrity; if this is you, then you should never compromise it. Byron Pulsifer Make living your life with absolute integrity and kindness your first priority. Richard Carlson Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. The wind might cause a kite to rise, but what keeps it up there is the fact that somebody on the ground has a steady hand. You have to hold steady to your values – your integrity. It’s your anchor. You let go of that. . . well, it isn’t long before your kite comes crashing down. Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen Integrity is the ingredient that will enable you to forge rapidly ahead on the highway that leads to success. It advertises you as being an individual who will always come through. Whatever you say you will do, do it even if you have to move heaven and earth. Mary Kay Walk with honor, character, and integrity in all that you do. Do these things and you will find that you can appreciate the adventure of life and live with greater ease. Shawn L. Anderson I believe in integrity. Dogs have it. Humans are sometimes lacking it. Cesar Milan # # # Unfortunately, this last quote too often rings true. But if we, as business leaders, more consistently embrace integrity as an essential personal value, we could transform our business communities for the better. Speaking of transformation, that’s what I love to do with businesses. In fact, I have a podcast dedicated to business transformation called Elevate Your Profitability! Sound intriguing? If so, click the button below to hear a pod where I interview Tony Moroney with the Digital Transformation Lab at Cork University in Ireland. In it, we discuss the benefits of digital transformation. I'd love for you to check it out! By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions  Image by wirestock on Freepik One challenge business leaders face is how to remain remain agile and to quickly adapt during periods of economic and societal upheaval. Doing so is ultra-important to navigate change successfully. So what are some keys to become more adaptable and agile? 1. Realize a Change-Oriented Mindset Business leaders must have a mindset that embraces change. Here's a great quote to reinforce the importance: Most suffering comes from the failure to adapt and a resistance to change. – Debasish Mridha Change is inevitable, and business leaders who embrace change will naturally become more agile and adaptable during times of upheaval. And as this quote suggests, realizing a change mindset can relieve the suffering of the business leader and, ultimately, the organization. 2. Develop a Plan Now that you're ready to embrace change, develop an organizational plan to navigate it. This applies to both internal change initiatives and the fall-out of change occurring outside your organization. For internal change initiatives, it's helpful to include an outline of steps you'll follow and a timeline for their accomplishment. In addition to the organizational plan, a personal plan for navigating change (both internal and external) can also significantly help a business leader. For instance, if you know you have triggers associated with certain things that will most likely happen, such as dealing with disgruntled and argumentative employees, then develop a plan to deal with these encounters. Also, include several scenarios that could occur to ready yourself to deal with them. 3. Be Accountable in Your Response to Change Having an outside sounding board can help business leaders become more flexible and agile during change cycles. If you don't have a mentor or peer group with whom you can regularly discuss ongoing challenges, it's a good idea to get involved with one. Not only will you have a forum to discuss these challenges, but you can also establish goals for which you can be accountable. Finally, regularly check in with your staff to see how well you are doing with agility and adaptability. Having the humility and discipline to remain accountable in this way can reap enormous dividends for you and the company. # # # If you created an organizational plan that includes projects, and you lack leadership resources, that's where I love to bridge the gap! As a fractional Project Manager, I’m passionate about helping my clients jumpstart initiatives—accelerating projects to a quicker conclusion with outstanding results. If you’re interested in learning more, click the button below to schedule a chat! By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions  Image by pressfoto on Freepik In today's business environment, many business leaders are juggling so many responsibilities that leadership development may be taking a back seat in their schedules. In light of that, I thought I’d create a quick read of some of my favorite leadership quotes to help you on your leadership journey. # # # A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd. – Max Lucado Naysayers can get the best of us. Being effective as a leader involves not caring what others think to the extent that it doesn't negatively impact our actions. It's boldly charting our course to reach our goals and to lead those in our charge with compassion and purpose, no matter what detractors have to say. # # # I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people. - Mahatma Gandhi When I started early in my career, it was common for leaders to be coercive and lead more with an iron fist. I'm so thankful that times have changed! Great leaders know how to gracefully navigate the ins-and-outs of relationships, fueled by high levels of emotional intelligence. # # # Don't tell people how to do things; tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results. – George S. Patton Who doesn't dislike micromanagement when we're the target? I used to love it when my managers would assign me a task and gave me the freedom to accomplish it. # # # The leader's task is to get their people from where they are to where they have not been. – Henry Kissinger I'm so thankful for leaders in my life that did precisely this—called forth the hidden talent in me so that I could step into leadership roles. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be the President of my consulting firm and a Thinkers360 Top 10 Thought Leader and Influencer in Project Management! Their investing in and believing made it all possible! # # # The definition of success: To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. -Ralph Waldo Emerson This quote is one of my all-time favorites. I used to have an abbreviated version posted on my cubicle wall when I worked in the corporate world. To me, if I can make a positive difference in someone’s life and leave the world a better place for me having been here, that’s true success! # # # Speaking of success, many business leaders know that a tried and true way to help ensure success in their organization is to streamline their operations; however, they may not know where to start. That's where I like to help! For this very reason, I'm offering a FREE 30-minute consultation. This will be a great opportunity for us to brainstorm some ideas and then identify what areas to target for improvement. Click the button below to get started! By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions  Image by katemangostar on Freepik Many experts have written articles on the best traits of good leaders over the years. As a business leader, sometimes it's a challenge to know what characteristics are best to focus on for upping your leadership game. For that reason, it's helpful to boil down these characteristics into just a few. So, here are five commonly cited best traits for leaders: 1. Effective Communicators Good communication skills are essential for effective leadership. Good leaders can clearly and concisely communicate their vision and goals to their team. This ability also includes providing timely feedback and guidance to team members. If this is a weak area, consider teaming up with a peer or mentor to help you improve. Practicing active listening, being aware of the impact of your body language, and receiving feedback on your day-to-day progress are a few ways to become a more effective communicator. 2. Empathetic Influential leaders can understand and empathize with the needs and concerns of their team members. Their ability to build relationships based on trust and respect and to create supportive work environments where everyone feels valued and heard is also essential. This aspect can stretch some executives if they are not naturally empathetic. In this case, it may involve a daily decision to practice showing care to their peers and employees. If this is still a stretch, a mentor or coach can provide valuable help in this area. 3. Adaptable The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and to pivot when necessary is a highly valued skill. Leaders who can quickly think on their feet while recognizing when it's time to change course set them apart from other executives. To improve in the area, work towards developing a mindset where you envision challenges and setbacks as opportunities and not view them as negatives. Developing contingency plans is also helpful so you can quickly pivot when necessary. 4. Accountable Exceptional leaders take responsibility for their actions and decisions and hold themselves and their team accountable for meeting goals and achieving results. They can provide constructive feedback and coaching to team members when needed while recognizing and rewarding their achievements. For those who may be weak in this area, a mentor or coach can prove valuable where accountability becomes a natural part of the coaching relationship. These newly learned skills can then become transferable to the business world. 5. Visionary Great leaders have a clear and compelling vision for the future. Such leaders see the big picture and can guide their teams toward achieving long-term goals. It's also essential that they can communicate this vision to their team in a way that inspires them to work toward it. If this is a challenging area, set aside time in your schedule for creative thinking or even schedule brainstorming sessions with your team to help create your company's vision. Speaking about vision, do you have any projects in mind towards accomplishing your vision but need internal resources to spearhead them? I'd love to chat with you if you're in that boat! As a fractional Project Manager, I'm passionate about helping my clients jumpstart initiatives—accelerating projects to a quicker conclusion with outstanding results. If you're interested in learning more, click the button below to schedule a chat! |
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