The value of investing in personal stock

As business leaders, we are responsible for wearing multiple hats including both our professional and personal roles. More often than not, the smallest hat is our own. Investing in your organization and personal relationships takes resources away from investing in yourself. 

Here are some ways you can accomplish your leadership development goals: 

Maintain a work-life balance. A well-rounded leader with the ability to relate to different perspectives is very valuable. An active personal life outside of the office can enhance those qualities. So enjoy recreational activities or sports, plan events with family and friends and take vacations.

Participate in professional development opportunities. In order to maintain a variety of skills and remain at the front of your industry, it is necessary to enroll in various education and training programs. Opportunities can range from lunch-long workshops to semester courses. Staying current with trends and platforms is important and a good place to start is taking classes in the ever-changing and fast-paced field of technology. 

Make a personal plan. Schedule time regularly to set goals for yourself and time to reflect. Taking time to focus on yourself will allow you to see the big picture and help you become the best leader you can be. Strategize about the future and make a realistic plan to accomplish your professional and personal goals.

While leading your organization to success and juggling your personal life, how do you achieve your personal development goals? Do you have any tips to share?

Which personal assets do you value the most?

Professional development can take many forms ranging from workshops and seminars to semester-long courses. While pursuing growth opportunities not only benefits yourself and your career, it also encourages other team members around you and makes your organization more successful. 

The first step to find the right program for you is to identify areas of improvement. When evaluating your own strengths and weaknesses, what qualities are most important to you? 

Milwaukee business leaders gather at 2011 Economic Trends Breakfast

Thank you to everyone who attended the Northern Trust Economic Trends Breakfast on Friday, January 21, 2011. We are thrilled with the number of attendees that joined us, along with BizTimes Media, to gain economic insight shared by industry experts and economists.

Watch the highlight video below to catch a glimpse of the panelists in action. To see presentation slides, visit the BizTimes Media Economic Trends event page.



What is your reaction to the topics discussed? If you attended the event, what are your key takeaways from the presentations and workshops?

The importance of participating in the business community

On Friday, January 21, politicians, economists and business leaders will meet at the 10^th annual Northern Trust Economic Trends Breakfast for an exciting discussion about the future state of the economy. This year’s expert panelists will provide insight ranging from predictions for American manufacturers to emerging employment trends to social media strategies for businesses.

Events that bring business leaders together are great opportunities to get involved in the business community and support TEC’s mission to increase the effectiveness and enhance the lives of CEOs. TEC began as a round table to give and receive feedback on business decisions between leaders across a variety of industries. This peer collaboration enhances leadership development and facilitates relationships that may not have formed under normal circumstances. Listening to other perspectives and sharing points-of-view allows CEOs to think outside of the box and promotes innovation.

For those attending the Economic Trends Breakfast, what are you most looking forward to discussing?

Which economic trends will most affect your 2011 fiscal year? [POLL]

To kick off the new year, TEC and BizTimes Media are hosting the 10th annual Northern Trust Economic Trends Breakfast on Friday, January 21 to engage local business leaders in important, and exciting, conversations about the future state of the economy.

Participating in conversations with other leaders about future trends, especially one with such high importance as the economy, connects CEOs across various industries to build a leadership network. Begin the conversation by taking our poll about which economic trends will affect you the most.

How CEO's Make the Most of Networking Events

Many people may think that CEO’s already have a strong network of contacts and thus, no need to put as much effort into planning and attending networking events. While it’s true that business leaders have years of relationship building behind them, keeping contacts up-to-date and maintaining relationships is a constant task.

Here a few ways CEOs can efficiently use networking events to build meaningful relationships.

Plan first. Think about what is missing from your current network and whom would best fill that role. Research the event to ensure that the type of contact you are seeking will be invited. Next, research the guest list and set goals of whom you would like to meet.

Politely defer other inquiries. At networking events, CEO’s may find it hard to cross the room to make a new contact without getting interrupted. When approached, make it clear what it is you're looking for and invite the other person to contact you another time. In addition, suggest someone else from your network to help with their needs.

Follow up. Online social networking can help you easily facilitate your new relationship. Take time after the event to learn more about your new contact through LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and professional blogs. After sending a follow-up message, add comments to new posts to let them know you're genuinely interested in what they do and to spark new conversations.

How do you plan for networking events? How do you prepare before, during or after the event?

What do you place the greatest value on when deciding to attend a networking event? [POLL]

Attending networking events is very beneficial to you and your organization. However, each event has a different focus and depending on your schedule, you may find yourself having to pick and choose.

When deciding on whether or not to attend a networking event, what is important to you?

What is your New Year's resolution? [POLL]

With a new year comes the chance to reflect on changes that we can make to ensure the next one is even better. Goals can be big or small, work or life related, but the important thing is that you stick to it.

Tell us, what do you hope to accomplish in 2011?

Business Person’s Strategy for New Year’s Resolution

A commonly asked question this time of year is, “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” The responses vary from person to person and even mood to mood. For many people the response has something to do with their eating or exercise habits. For others it’s about increasing time with family. For those of us with work never very far from our minds, we would be benefit from thoughtful contemplation about making New Year’s resolutions.

As leaders, we are frequently offering guidance and direction, which leaves little time to reflect on areas that we personally could and should improve upon in the coming year.

Instead of repeating what many have already recommended as “must have resolutions,” we suggest the following for you to consider in 2011.

It’s easy to make resolutions. For many of you, by the time you read this blog you will have already forgotten or given up your 2011 resolutions. Don’t worry you are not alone with 80% of people who make resolutions quitting. As leaders though, the burden to keep a resolution can be even greater—we have many people who are looking up to us and following our example.

Think of making a New Year’s resolution like you would if you were starting a new business or making a significant business decision. What affect will the resolution have on my current schedule and availability? What costs—both emotionally and financially—will keeping this resolution have on my family and work team? What is the implementation and accountability plan? You get the idea.

If we seriously contemplate the costs and need for an implementation plan that a prospective New Year’s resolution involves, the legitimacy of each resolution comes into focus.

What do you think? Would thinking about each potential resolution as a business decision better enable you to make and keep realistic resolutions?