Refresh Leadership | Fresh Ideas for Today's Business Leaders

Bad Customer Service Makes a Lasting Impression

June 19th, 2013

Customer service can make or break your company. In fact, for many companies, customer service has become a top marketing tactic that yields impressive results. Southwest Airlines, for example, is renowned in the business world and among its customers for its stellar customer service practices. So, what could bad customer service actually cost your business? Check out this infographic from Help Scout for some insight into the hefty toll a bad customer experience can have on your company. Read More→

Specializing

June 18th, 2013

We live in the Information Age. For the first time in recorded history, vast numbers of people have access to more information than they can absorb or apply. There was a time in history when knowing a little about many subjects was something to be admired. Today, it seems, those people who get ahead know a lot about a very narrow field of thought or endeavor.

People succeed based on performing well within a very narrow niche; however, all niches are not created equal. If you attend a Major League baseball game, you might simultaneously be enjoying the professional pursuits of the world’s best hotdog vendor and the world’s best pitcher. Both of these individuals may be recognized as the best within their professions, but the pitcher will receive applause, fame, recognition, and hundreds of times more compensation than the hotdog vendor.

We must pick our own niche and not be judged by someone else’s standard. Read More→

Encouraging a State of Confidence

June 14th, 2013

We’ve all been inspired by greatness at one point or another. Whether by childhood heroes or modern day business leaders, stories of success and brilliance can help drive us to achieve unbelievable things. But the one thing that can cripple our approach into the unknown is fear. Many people know President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s quote, “The only thing to fear is fear itself.” This is as true today as it was 80 years ago when FDR told it to the American people during the Great Depression. But as business leaders, I would take it one step further. As a business leader, you need to make sure you’re encouraging a state of confidence in the midst of fear.

“Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson, author of notable novels including Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, was an admired and celebrated author. He had a successful career and a family, but battled deteriorating health. He moved from place to place to find a climate best suited for his illness. But during a time in his life when he was facing inevitable sickness and death, he buckled-down and wrote some of his best work. Read More→

Building Trust: 12 Great Quotes About Integrity

June 13th, 2013

Integrity is one of the most important characteristics of a great leader. Without integrity, you lose trust. And when you’ve lost trust, respect usually follows suit. It can be a hard line to walk at times, but it’s even more difficult to re-establish your footing after you fall.

Having integrity means not only knowing, but always doing what’s right – even when no one’s looking. As you continue down the never-ending, constantly changing path toward becoming a great leader, keep these words from some of history’s greatest leaders and thinkers in mind as a source of inspiration and motivation.

“Lead your life so you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.”
– Will Rogers

“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.”
– Albert Einstein Read More→

59% of Workers Say They’ve Gained 10 lbs. or More at Their Current Jobs

June 12th, 2013

Longer hours and high levels of stress in the workplace are contributing to the expanding waistlines of many office workers. A recent study by CareerBuilder found that 55% of workers consider themselves overweight. Among the jobs with the highest percentage of weight gain, administrative assistants, engineers, and teachers make up the top three. The lead causes of workplace weight gain include sitting behind a desk all day, stress eating, and eating out regularly. Check out the full results of the study:

Teachers, Engineers, and Scientists Among Most Likely to Gain Weight on the Job, CareerBuilder Survey Finds

Do you struggle with weight gain at work? What has helped you take control of your health? Let us know in the comments section below? Read More→

The Results Are In: Interviewers Share Important Questions

June 11th, 2013

A recent poll by Refresh Leadership found the number one question a hiring manager would ask during an interview was “Why do you want this job?” The poll asked respondents “If you could ask a job candidate only one question during an interview, what would you ask?” The number one answer from nearly 27% of respondents was followed closely by “Can you describe a difficult work situation and how you handled it?” with 24.9%. Rounding out the list, “What is you greatest strength and weakness?” received 14.82%, “Why are you leaving your current job?” had 11.19%, and “What are your major career objectives?” compiled 8%. Overall, 14.52% selected other, giving various questions they would prefer to ask, including:

If you were at an intersection and the light turned yellow what would you do?
How do you handle stress and how does change affect you?
We interviewed candidates with more experience, why should we hire you? Read More→

Embrace the Shake: Can You Become More Creative by Looking for Limitations?

June 10th, 2013

In this recent TEDtalks, American artist Phil Hansen explains how “embracing a limitation can actually drive creativity.” During art school, Hansen developed a tremor in his hand that he thought was going to end his artistic endeavors. Check out the video below to hear how a change in his mindset changed his life. And as you listen to Hansen, think about your workplace and the “limitations” you’re confronted with each day. Perhaps you’ve been missing an opportunity to create something outstanding.

How have you “embraced the shake” in your business? Let us know in the comments section below. Read More→

Harnessing Your Inner Musician

June 7th, 2013

Music has a power that is hard to explain. A single song can bring the hardest, most stubborn person to the point of tears, while sending another into an encouraged state of action. In tackling the beauty and mystery of music, the great Danish author and poet Hans Christian Anderson once said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” Moreover, there are certain attributes that music creators have that are powerful, and harnessing these traits can actually help you be a more effective leader. But don’t worry; you don’t have to pull out your old six-string and play Beatles songs by the water cooler to lead like a musician.

The Multitasking Brain

Whether you enjoy listening to classical piano music or 8Os shred metal, there is one common characteristic between the two: the pianist and the guitarist are multitasking. Usually, when we hear the term multitasking, our minds go to the thought of texting, sending emails, and getting on social networking sites while working. But no, these musicians aren’t texting their band mates. They’re multitasking by using both hands to complete different tasks. While taking the listener through a story with a beautiful melody with the right hand, the pianist is playing walking bass lines with the left. The same goes for the guitarist. While sweeping through face-melting scales using the left hand, the guitarist is simultaneously navigating each string with the right, picking hand. Read More→

Sticky Situations Can Often Lead to Innovation

June 6th, 2013

In 1968, a scientist for the multi-national conglomerate 3M Company named Dr. Spencer Silver, created a reusable and pressure sensitive adhesive. He actually had been working on developing a super-strong adhesive, but inadvertently created the “low-tack” formula in the process.

For several years, Silver tried to pitch his accidental discovery within 3M, but failed to demonstrate any real applications for the new adhesive. Then, in 1974, a 3M colleague had the idea to use Silver’s adhesive to anchor a bookmark in his choir hymnal. A few years of development later, Post-It Notes were born. Read More→

Strong Company Cultures Drive Successful Businesses [Video]

June 5th, 2013

What do some of the most innovative business leaders know about company culture? Quite a bit actually. Check out this short video for some key insight into the driving force behind many of the world’s most successful companies.