Get Forward Focused

We talk a lot about being a well-rounded leader at Forward Focused. Today’s episode shares an easy way to achieve that all-important balance in every area of your life, using the 7 Circles method. This technique comes from the book “The One Thing” (Chapter 10, specifically) and is designed to help you focus on achieving success in the most important areas of your life without sacrificing the other...

In this episode, we’re sharing a quick tip for your entire team to help ensure every single client interaction is treated with the same level of service. It’s called the Rule of Three. This simple communication method can be used to help stay in control of the conversation and provide a great client experience, consistently. Give it a try next time you call or email a client.

Change inevitably brings uncertainty and fear, maybe even resistance. If you’ve ever felt challenged by change as a leader, listen in. We’re trying something a little different with this episode. In this FlashCast, we’re reading some excerpts from a classic story that will help you understand how to embrace change to adapt with your team.

Even the best leaders get overwhelmed with the natural pressures of growing a business or team from time to time. However, there are three particular sources of stress that are within your control to manage — in both your professional and personal life. In this episode, we’re talking about three common causes of stress you can acknowledge today and how to implement coping mechanisms to clear...

When you’re building a successful business, your role transitions from the day-to-day tasks of getting the job done into a leader who guides a hard-working team. In this Forward Focused interview, we sat down with someone who can speak to that experience firsthand — Joe Kutchey, owner of HSP Diesel. Listen in to hear about the lessons he learned growing a company organically from the ground up int...

What do you want your organization to create in this world? The answer starts with knowing thyself. A strong organization needs a clearly articulated Mission, Vision, Values, Belief System and Perspective (or MVVBP). It’s not as intimidating as it may seem. In this Flash Cast, we’ll help you define your MVVBP with examples and explanations to inspire you.

When you think about the big-picture goals your organization is working on, does your team have a solid strategy in place to get there, or does it seem like you’re spinning in mud? While most leaders think they’re implementing strategy, in reality, they may just be focused on tactics. In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between strategy and tactic, and why you need a balance of bot...

If you’re a leader, no matter what industry you’re in, you’re in the people development business. That mindset is critically important when you’re guiding a team through times of change, fear and uncertainty. Today, we’re discussing one of my favorite books of 2022, “10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times” by Tom Ziglar (son of iconic motivational speaker Zig Ziglar — one of the greats)....

As a leader, it’s great to celebrate success in your organization — but  don’t let overconfidence blind you to the red flags of potential  downfall.   This Flash Cast is inspired by Jim Collins’ book, “How the Mighty Fall,”  which describes 5 stages of decline in a company and the warning signs  to keep on your radar, so you can avoid them. If you find your  orga...

Even the best leaders have blind spots. In this Flash Cast, we’re talking about an awesome concept in communication called Johari’s Window that will help you get more honest feedback on your own. It’s a useful tool for leaders to help build trust and authenticity in your organization, so you can become the best possible version of yourself, for your team.

When it’s time to hire new employees, finding someone who will add  value to your organization is the first step. The next step — which is  equally important — is to make sure the new team member has what they  need to be successful in your organization. In this Flash Cast, we’re talking about the three things you should  do with every new hire to help them be an asset to your...

Here’s a simple task you can add to the end of your workday to set yourself up for success the next morning: the Daily Rundown. In this Flash Cast, we’re talking about the three things you should do before closing out the day — and how powerful this small habit can be. Note: This episode builds on the advice of an earlier episode, Breathe (https://getforwardfocused.com/just-breathe), which introdu...

When you’re spending too much of your day on the wrong types of tasks,  you’re not getting the best return on your time. In this episode, we’re  explaining how to conduct a Task Audit. It’s a simple, eye-opening  activity that will help you reduce your functional and administrative  tasks, so you can invest your time more effectively every day.   Try it yourself using the...

Over the course of a life or career, it’s natural to hit an occasional ceiling where you feel stuck at a certain level of achievement. But the  danger of sitting stagnant in that place for too long is that you resign yourself to the status quo —something a good leader never wants to do.   Today’s conversation is about the systems, tools and people that can  help you break through a...

We often think of 360 Reviews as a method of improving the performance  of an individual employee. But to really be effective as a leader, you  need to collect honest, direct and usable feedback about your own  performance, too. In this Flash Cast, we’re covering 8 Best  Practices for implementing a true 360 Review process that will provide  data to help your team and orga...

The culture of your workplace is as important as your strategy — it’s the thread that allows a team to accomplish goals together.    Wondering how your own company culture stacks up? This FlashCast shares  10 Signs of AWESOME Company Culture, inspired by a great LinkedIn post  from Daniel Abrahams (CEO of Hustlr creative agency). Listen in so you  can make sure your behavi...

This Flash Cast provides a quick tip you can literally keep in your back pocket. We’re sharing a simple mnemonic tool (an easy word association) to serve as your weekly roadmap — a targeted focus strategy for each day that’ll help you win your week.   No need to memorize this one. After you listen, print out the Weekly Roadmap Pocket Guide below and stash it in your car, wallet or desk to ref...

Here’s something the best leaders and CEOs in the U.S. have in common:  They read a lot of books. About one per week, according to most  estimates.   If you’re looking to pick up the habit yourself, I’ve got three  recommendations for a strong start.  In this Flash Cast, I’m sharing the  books that changed my life in 2021, and why I encourage you to grab a  ...

Attitude is everything. It sets the tone for the relationships in your  life, makes the difference between success and failure, and helps you  thrive through the toughest challenges. In short, it shapes your entire  life.   In this FlashCast, we’re talking about six important ways your attitude  as a leader makes a difference — and why it’s so important to show up  fo...

The year-end assessment is a pivotal opportunity for you and your organization to reflect on the past 12 months and make important  adjustments to move forward into 2022. There are five best practices I recommend adding to your December checklist to gain clarity for a strong year ahead. Check out this Flash Cast for your to-do list, which comes with a PDF Resource Guide to help you execute wi...

When you’re faced with a new situation or problem as a leader, you can  always rely on your past experiences to find the most effective path  forward. It’s a simple, intuitive concept that high-performing people  use to level-up their influence. In this episode, we’re sharing  some examples of how your own accumulated lessons can help you save time  and lead more effective...

In this episode, we have 10 more timeless lessons from a billionaire for  you to learn from and reflect on at every stage in your leadership journey.   This is Part 2 in the series. Before you listen, make sure to check out  Part 1 for the first 10 lessons from Gary Keller, the co-founder and current Executive Chairman of Keller Williams Realty and KWx.    Just like Part 1...

There’s so much to learn from the way an ultra-successful leader thinks, speaks and communicates with others to achieve a goal. In today’s episode (Part 1 of 2), we’re tapping into the billionaire mindset with 10 key lessons from Gary Keller.   Gary Keller is the co-founder and current Executive Chairman of Keller Williams Realty and KWx, the largest real estate company in the world, and amon...

We did an episode a while back on “Running Effective Meetings” that  included a template on how to plan and execute productive, goal-driven  meetings. It’s a fantastic tool. However, if we are truly looking to  leave a legacy, we need clarity and alignment on something deeper than  our benchmarks: Our vision.   Vision is something that transcends your day-to-day activities...

As a leader, your time is one of your most valuable assets. The only way to focus your actions and align them with your goals, is to stay in control of your own path. This Flash Cast narrows in on a topic introduced during the interview with Ben Gergis of DRYmedic : How to selectively say yes, while strategically saying no.