By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions

I remember when I was a new employee starting in the corporate world. I was a newbie in so many ways! I didn't know the political landscape of what to do and not to do, and I didn’t see the value in establishing relationships with my colleagues. So, I’d do my job, eat lunch at my desk, and didn’t go for happy hours with my co-workers. I missed out on a lot at the beginning of my career!

Now I understand the value of how important it is to build meaningful relationships with co-workers. Doing so creates a foundation for winning teams. According to a Gallup poll, organizations with good employee engagement have 41% fewer quality defects, 37% less absenteeism, and a 21% increase in productivity.

So, what are some key things you can do to improve your relationships with your colleagues and those you lead? Here are some practical tips:

1. Be Intentional About Developing Relationships

Investing in meaningful relationships can be game-changing for you and those you connect with. Develop an inner circle of trusted peers with whom you can freely share what's going on with your employees or, if appropriate, even your personal life. Make time in your calendar to meet with your team, peers, and others with whom you can mutually benefit each other.

2. Regularly Express Appreciation and Encouragement

Give kudos to employees who go above and beyond what you expect from them. Send them thank-you notes and let others on the team know about their excellent performance.

Also, keep an eye out for those employees who show potential but haven't stepped into that potential yet. Let them know you see that potential in them and call it forth. You may find your next star employee by doing so!

3. Be More Accepting of Your Team Members and Colleagues

Leaders and managers who accept their employees for who they are can reap so many benefits. When employees feel accepted, they feel freer to be themselves. When that happens, the synergy of acceptance among team members can improve teamwork and productivity. 

Also, practice accepting your employees, peers, and colleagues, even if they irritate you. It's possible that your source of irritation could be something you don't like about yourself that you see in them. A great practice is to embrace those similar quirks you have, which can help you be more accepting of others.


Did you like this newsletter? If so, check back during the coming weeks. I plan to share 7 Essential Skills for Leaders to Embrace. This newsletter on Relationship Building is the first of seven. I'll also cover topics such as Resilence, Conflict Management, and Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone. So stay tuned!

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Speaking of building great relationships, would you like some ideas on how to engage your remote work teams more effectively?

Then download my FREE list of ideas on how to do just that. You'll find some tips and suggestions for fun activities to ensure your remote workers feel connected.

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By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Business Solutions

Did you know that you can use your imperfections as a superpower?

I was talking a while back with my strategic partner, Michael Cantu, about a subject we covered in our soon-to-be-published paperback on digital transformation: the power of celebrating our quirks and shortcomings.

It’s a key element to building the right culture and teams supporting digital transformation. It inspired me so much that I just had to share it with you!

Ever since Michael was a little kid, he’s experienced shaky hands. It’s not because he’s nervous…it just happens naturally. So, when he was a kid coming into a new classroom, he would let other kids know about his quirk, something like this: "Just to let you know, I have shaky hands. I’m not nervous; they just shake."

What a great way to help his classmates deal with what could be an uncomfortable situation!

Now he uses it as a superpower in business…when he’s giving presentations, he jokes about his shaky hands with everyone, telling them they’ll never be able to know if he’s nervous because he’s shaking all the time. That’s how he hides any potential nervousness because they’ll never know if he is or not.

And he’s applied this philosophy to creating great cultures in organizations and building rock star teams…all through making it a norm to accept people’s differences.

So, here are some lessons learned along these lines, inspired by his story:

1. Embrace Our Quirks

Michael didn’t see his shaky hands as a big issue as a kid. He accepted the fact and decided to deal with it in positive ways.

Lessons Learned: so many of us don’t like our weaknesses. We think it’s something we have to hide or minimize, perhaps because it points out the possibility that there’s something wrong with us. But some of the most outstanding leaders I know humbly acknowledge their weaknesses.

2. Be Yourself, With No Excuses

Because Michael accepted his situation, there was no reason for him to make any excuses. Instead, he chose to highlight, in a unique way, what made him different from everyone else so that he could put others at ease.

Lessons Learned: There’s such strength in being ourselves. If we can learn to celebrate our weaknesses on a regular basis, that lessens our striving to be something we’re not. Just being who we make it that much easier for others to interact with us, and as a leader, that much easier to follow.

3. Use Our Quirks as a Superpower

Michael’s ability to accept his quirks has been key to building two successful companies and putting together high-performing teams for his clients.

Lessons Learned: when we can embrace our weaknesses, that gives us the ability to accept and celebrate others’ weaknesses. This, in turn, creates an environment where team members and employees feel free to be themselves. When that happens, the sky limits what teams and companies can accomplish!

I hope Michael’s story inspires you as much as it did me! I hope you can practice some of these tips to help you in your leadership journey.

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About the paperback, I mentioned earlier…Michael and I hope to have it published soon! Last fall, we published the e-book with great results—it was the #1 New Release in IT on Amazon. We’re excited!

If you’d like to learn more about the e-book, click on the button below to check it out.

Famous leaders with excellent track records have so much wisdom to share with us; however, finding time to read a book can be a challenge for busy professionals. Thankfully, we can quickly learn a few things through leadership quotes.

Here are a few that recently caught my eye:

1. A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd. – Max Lucado

How many of us cave into the negative criticism of others when we know the path we want to take? Turning our backside to the naysayers, when you know the right direction to take, is often the best thing to do.

2. Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily, even if you had no title or position. – Brian Tracy

I'm sure many of you have worked with exceptional leaders that you were eager to follow for many reasons. Perhaps they were fun to work with, or they brought out the best in you, and therefore you were willing to give your best to them. A great exercise is to keep that person in mind as you go about being a leader. Then exemplify those traits you admire in them as your lead others.

3. Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being. – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

One of the best managers I ever worked for called out leadership abilities that I didn't know existed. He then put me in positions where I had the chance to practice those abilities. What he did helped me to grow by leaps and bounds!

4. The leader's task is to get their people from where they are to where they have not been. – Henry Kissinger

This idea is closely related to #3. If it hadn't been for this one manager who had not invested in me, I would not be the leader I am today, for which I'm so grateful!

With that in mind, here's a tip you can try: think about each of your team members, the hidden abilities that they have. Then do what my boss did with me for some or each of them. It works; I'm living proof!

5. The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things. – Ronald Reagan

Great leaders do an excellent job of empowering team members to be the best they can be through modeling many of these characteristics outlined above. They also create an environment where employees become enthusiastic about their work, collaborate well, and in the end, accomplish exceptional results.

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Speaking of leading well, I have a LinkedIn newsletter I produce weekly called Leading Well. If you’re not already subscribed, here’s your opportunity to do that now!

Click the button below to get started!

With the Great Resignation in full swing, many business leaders are scrambling to stop the exit of employees that may be negatively affecting their operations and perhaps their bottom line. What are they to do?

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?

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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!

Are you feeling stuck in a rut, and you're wanting to grow, but you don’t know where to start? With all the craziness going on in the world, it’s perfectly understandable if you’re in this place!

That’s why I put together the following three tips in hopes that they will help you thrive and grow in the midst of uncertainty:

1. Utilize a Mentor or Coach

I can't emphasize the importance of good mentors or coaches. I have three, and it's been game-changing for me. I can genuinely say that I'm not the same person I was before working with them, and I'm so grateful for their investment in my life.

A great mentor or coach can help you sort through challenges and give you an invaluable outside perspective. They're also great for helping you push through barriers in your mind to more effectively achieve your goals.

Steps You Can Take: If you don't have a mentor or coach, I recommend finding one! Your connections can be an excellent source for referrals to outstanding individuals. And if you are already working with one, fully engaging in the relationship to help ensure accountability is a perfect thing to do.

2. Seek Out and Surround Yourself with Rock Stars

My reach into companies is exponential because of the rock star-caliber relationships I have in my life. They make me better at what I do.

A great example is my partnership with Michael Cantu, my process automation strategic partner. Before working with him, I did solo gigs as a process improvement consultant, and they are a dime a dozen in Kansas City. Now I have a steady pipeline of work due to this one relationship.

Steps You Can Take: If you're a business owner or gig worker, your connections can also introduce you to rock stars in your community that can supplement the value you can provide companies. If you're an employee, seek out people in your company with whom you can provide support for each other. If you're a manager or business leader, your employees can be a great source of recommendations for new hires.

3. Push Through Hard Times to Reach Your Goals

In light of the craziness in our world, I've written several blogs on this topic. Here's one about my terrible stint as a wedding singer.

Steps You Can Take: It all comes down to having a don't-give-up attitude, a decision to persevere. Just decide not to give up and go after your goals no matter what comes your way!


I hope these three tips gave you some food for thought. They’ve worked for me. I hope they help you!

And if you'd like more suggestions, I'd love to hop on a phone or Zoom call with you! I love helping individuals and companies achieve improvement in their lives and businesses.

If that sounds good, click the button below to set up a time to chat!

As I look back on my career, I see several missed opportunities to step into leadership roles. There are several reasons for this, number one being that I didn't envision myself as a leader.

Now I know differently; experience has taught me otherwise. I've learned since then that I'm a leader and everyone is a leader. We lead our families, frequently our friends, to name a few. And some of us need a little more guidance and encouragement than others.

If you're in this boat or have been actively leading others for quite some time, here are six things you can do to increase your leadership skills and your capacity to influence others positively:

1. Expand Your Knowledge Base

It’s easy to get lackadaisical when it comes to learning. Some leaders may feel complacent and don't feel the need to grow anymore. This scenario can be the case if leaders have been in their roles for a long time. If this is the case, the best thing to do is decide to keep learning, push through the resistance, and get growing!

2. Take a Genuine Interest in Others

Great leaders show care for others and their needs, which builds emotional equity amongst their peers and those they lead.  Who doesn’t love to follow leaders who genuinely care about them?

3. Be Generous

People remember leaders for their generosity, especially when their giving isn't required. And it doesn't even have to be money--gifts of time are invaluable as well.

4. Be Authentic

People can spot a fake a mile away, yet so many are afraid to be themselves, thinking people won’t accept them if they show their true selves. They’d rather put on a mask instead. The best thing we can do is be ourselves, and if the true-you has rough edges, that’s okay. We all have them. To be imperfect is perfectly human.

5. Thrive During Tough Times

We do have a choice on how we deal with hardship. It comes down to two things: either we choose to face challenges head-on, or by default, we allow adversity to eat away at our resilience and our ability to overcome. My advice? Choose wisely!

6. Embrace Servant Leadership

Have the mindset that life isn't about us. It's about serving others, bringing value to everyone we meet, and leaving a legacy.

In the end, if we can embrace these six qualities such that they become a part of who we are, our influence as a leader will grow, and who doesn’t want that?


Speaking of influence, does your organization have the resources to grow your impact in the market, but you're not sure where to start? Often, the best way to do that is through improving the way your business runs.

A great way to do that is through the FIRM Fitness Assessment, a 100% virtual tool that gauges your organization's fitness and then pinpoints precisely where to start to make improvements.

Interested? Then take my FREE business assessment! It will give you a high-level feel for what the assessment covers, yet it can give you actionable intelligence to get started on making your business better.

Click the button below to get started!

With everything that is going on right now in the world—the war in the Ukraine, inflation, and high levels of uncertainty—staying positive and finding solutions to challenges can be a difficult at times; however, it is possible. If you or your team is in a tough spot, this possibility may seem highly unlikely.

However, there are things you can do to overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges. Here are three steps to get you headed in the right direction:

1. Accept Your Current Situation

I like to call this “relinquishing your right to a different current state.” This idea may sound strange, but it's an effective way to approach difficult situations creatively. We often waste precious brain capacity on wishing for a different result. Whenever we can clear out the mental clutter, this frees up our mind to see the challenge for what it is, not for what we want it to be.

Here’s a little exercise you can try out to help with this:

• Think back to a time you faced a challenging situation in your work. What were your reactions in the beginning? Did you worry too much about it? Did you place blame on yourself or others for any outcomes? Did you waste too much mental energy and perhaps time wishing for a different present tense? In short, review your mental process and actions early on in the process.

 

• Next, think through what it would have looked like if you relinquished your right to a different current state, accepted the current situation, and then started on finding a solution. Would your timeline have been shorter? Would your amount of wasted mental energy be reduced?

Once you’ve tried this, you’re ready for the next step.

2. Brainstorm Solutions

This tip is self-explanatory; however, if this challenging situation involves your team, get them involved to help with finding solutions. You can even do a reverse brainstorming exercise. This approach is where you work backward from the end state that you DON’T want to happen.

3. Pick Your Best Solution and Put it into Play

Again, include your team to help choose the best solution that will solve the problem. If you’re having a challenging time picking the best approach, I’ve included a free Prioritization Tool below.

Once you have selected your best option, implement your new game plan.

I hope these steps help you! In the meantime, if you have any questions about the best ways to optimize your organization, I'd love to hear from you! I'm all about helping organizations become profitable beyond their imagination.

P.S. Don’t forget to download your FREE Prioritization Tool by clicking the button below.

Is your company trying to chart a path forward with your innovation efforts, but you’re feeling stuck?

Or, have your product innovation efforts gone the way of the telephone pictured above?

If you’re in this boat, here are five tips you can use to get back on track, all centered around the idea of thinking outside the box:

1. Transform Products through New Additions

Try combining your product with something different to make something new, e.g., a cell phone with a flashlight, a watch with linked cell phone technology, to name a few.

2. Examine Existing Patents for New Ideas

Search patents in your field. What ideas can you put into practice from active patents that could achieve the same end goal? Are any expiring that you could use that method? Are there some that you could license?

3. Eliminate to Innovate

Is there a way to remove something that can make your product better? Amazon displaced the need to visit a bookstore, Dell eliminated the computer store, and the Sony Walkman eliminated speakers and record functions.

4. Find a New Way to Use Your Product

Think of different applications for an existing product. An excellent example of this is De Beers—they decided to focus on engagement rings when they had only produced industrial diamonds. Doing so was a game-changer for them.

5. Look to the Past

Are there any methods, products, or services that were in use years ago in your market space that could inspire developing something new? For instance, speed dating is a relaunch of a Victorian dance format where ladies had cards marked with appointments.

And just because you’ve read through all five, here’s a bonus tip:

6. Bring in Experts

If your company lacks bandwidth, contract with someone for identified projects, or if you’re not sure where to start, think about bringing someone in who’s skilled in innovation consulting.


Speaking of outside help, if you're feeling stuck and could use some assistance, I would love to brainstorm some ideas with you!  We can help point out some areas where you could improve your profitability and increase innovation.

Interested? If so, click the button below to schedule a time, and we'll get something on the calendar!