Chris Widener's Ezine
October 5, 2005
Issue 24

Welcome!

Recently, I spoke to a group of about 125 businesswomen and they were an exciting group! Being they were all in the sales industry, I spoke to them about the Winning With Influence – my signature keynote address.

Sales, as with Leadership, is fundamentally about the core competency of influence – the ability to change someone's thoughts, beliefs and actions.

There is a traditional way of looking at influence, and that would be as a set of persuasion techniques, that is, something you do to others. I, however, believe that the best way to look at influence is as an outcome of personal transformation – work on yourself so that others are magnetically attracted to you, your product and your service.

As I shared with these women, there are a few simple things we can work on, that if we improve in those areas, we will see our influence grow.

Take a look at these and think about each one and how you can improve on them this week:

Integrity
Attitude
Communication
Commitment
Excellence
Relationships
Decision-making

Take one of these areas each day for the next seven days and focus on it for that day and see how your life will change as you begin to get your masters in Influence!

You Are Made for Success!
Chris Widener

In This Issue.......

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article
2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary
3. The Last Word...
4. New Release! The Winning With Influence: 12 Characteristics of Dynamic Leaders, Sales People and Top Performers
5. More Information

1. Charting Your Course to Success Article

Character Traits of Extraordinary Leaders by Chris Widener

When people make a decision (either consciously or unconsciously) to follow your leadership, they do it primarily because of one of two things: Your Character or your Skills. They want to know if you are the kind of person they want to follow and if you have the skills to take them further. Yes, there are other variables but these are the bulk of the matter. This article will focus on the kind of character that causes people to follow your leadership.

1. Integrity. Integrity is that you do what you say you will. You are trust worthy. People can rely on you. You keep your promises. The one thing that will most keep people from following you is if they can't know for sure if you will actually take them where you say you will. Are you known as a person of integrity? If so, you will become an Extraordinary Leader!

2. Optimistic. People don't want to follow others who think the future is bad! They want to follow those who can see the future and let them know that there is a better place and that they can get them there! Do you see the cup as half empty? Then you are a pessimist. Do you see it as half full? Then you are an optimist. Do you see it as totally full - half air and half water? Then you are a Super Optimist! Are you known as an optimist? If so, you will become an Extraordinary Leader!

3. Embraces Change. Leaders are the ones who will see the need for change and willingly embrace it. Followers will at first desire to stay where they are. Leaders need to see the benefits of change and communicate them to followers. If you don't change, you won't grow! Are you known as a person who embraces change? If so, you will become an Extraordinary Leader!

4. Risk Taker. Whenever we try something new, we are taking a risk. That is part of growing though and it is imperative. Most people are risk averse. Not the leader! They calculate the risk and what is to be gained from taking the risk. Then they communicate that to the followers and away they go to a better tomorrow! Are you known as a person who is willing to take risks? If so, you will become an Extraordinary Leader!

5. Tenacious. The tendency of the follower is to quit when the going gets tough. Two or three tries and their motto becomes "If at first you don't succeed, give up and try something else." Not the leader! They know what good lies beyond this brick wall and they will go and get it. Then they will bring others with them! Are you known as a person who is tenacious? If so, you will become an Extraordinary Leader!

6. Catalytic. A leader is ultimately one who gets people going. They are able to move others out of their comfort zone and on toward the goal! They can raise the passion, enthusiasm and the ACTION of those who would follow. Are you known as a catalyst? If so, you will become an Extraordinary Leader!

7. Dedicated/Committed. Followers want people who are more devoted and committed than themselves. At the first sign of lack of commitment, followers scatter for the doors. If the leader sees the end and is bailing out, they better get out first. Followers follow those who will stick it out because they see the importance of the task and the goal. Are you known as a person who is committed and devoted to the goal? If so, you will become an Extraordinary Leader!

Chris Widener


Chris Widener is an internationally recognized speaker, author and radio host. If you are interested in booking him to speak at your next event, please go to http://www.chriswidener.com or send an email to speaker@chriswidener.com or call 877-929-0439 and ask for Hilary



2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary

"There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say and how we say it." -- Dale Carnegie

Chris' Commentary:
The way you are perceived can be a complex matter but in essence it really boils down to these four areas. For that, we can be thankful because we can set our sights to make changes in these areas so as to more effectively lead and influence others. As we make gains in these areas, we will see our ability to help others increase dramatically and that, in turn, will be of ultimate benefit to us! Have you given thought to how you may be perceived in what you do, how you look, what you say, and how you say it?

Action Point: Focus in on one of these areas today and write down three things you can do to make a bold change or improvement in that area. Then pick one and do it TODAY!



3. The Last Word...

Ever wish someone would make a "short list" of success traits key to developing your leadership skills? Well, this week's Last Word offering is exactly that, so in the spirit of keeping it short... Here are Seven Character Traits of Successful People! -- CW

1. They are hard working. There is no such thing as easy money. Success takes hard work and people who are willing to do it.

2. They are honest. Those who are successful long-term are the honest ones. Dishonest people may get the first sale, but honest people will get all the rest!

3. They persevere. How many success stories will go untold because they never happened? And all because someone quit. Successful people outlast everybody else.

4. They are friendly. Have you noticed that most successful people are friendly and people oriented? This endears them to others and enables them to lead others to accomplish the task.

5. They are lifelong learners. Successful people are people who stretch themselves and grow continually, learning from all areas of life, including from their mistakes.

6. They over-deliver. The old statement of under-promise and over-deliver became famous because it made a lot of people successful, including the richest man in the world - Bill Gates.

7. They seek solutions in the face of problems. Problems are opportunities to do the impossible, not just complain. Successful people are the ones who find solutions.

 

4. New Release! The Winning With Influence: 12 Characteristics of Dynamic Leaders, Sales People and Top Performers

5. More Information