Issac Qureshi

Leadership Expert

Issac Qureshi

Tips for Effective Time Management

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Stress can affect the way that people manage their time, and 2020 has been a more stressful year than most. Between political controversies, COVID-19, extreme weather and other issues, everyone has been under a great deal of stress. At times like this, it can be hard to stay focused and on-task, especially when so many people are telecommuting. Luckily, there are plenty of tools designed to help people add some structure to their schedules.

Damon Zahariades’ book The Time Chunking Method teaches readers how to become more productive. Zahariades advises people to find ways to take control of their day. Instead of being reactive and responding to issues as they arise, this book teaches people to divide their time into chunks. According to Zahariades’ research and experience, using chunking is a great way to become more efficient at all kinds of tasks.

Charles Duhigg’s book The Power of Habit teaches people how to train themselves with positive reinforcement. Duhigg, a former business reporter for the New York Times, breaks down the way people create and tweak habits in this book. Duhigg believes that people can change their factory settings with persistence, attention and rewards. This book is especially useful for professionals in leadership positions. It includes lots of relatable anecdotes that readers can easily identify with.

Laura Vanderkam teaches readers to stop valuing busy-ness in her book Off the Clock. She thinks the trend in our current culture is to value a packed schedule that’s essentially empty. Instead of actually being productive, people distract themselves with hours of meaningless tasks. In Off the Clock, Vanderkam shows people to have a life that’s full and balanced with time for meaningful experiences and getting things done. Vanderkam is a widely recognized as a specialist in productivity. Her advice helps people build the lives and get the results that they really desire.

Finally, in The Lazy Genius Way, Kendra Adachi shows people how to break large goals into smaller, more manageable pieces. This makes it easy for people to make lots of progress quickly. Her thirteen principles show readers how to get more focused. Rather than being overwhelmed by big goals, Adachi teaches readers to take control. Her book is based on her popular podcast of the same name

What is Leadership and How Can You Find the Best Leader for your Business?

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No business can be successful without a good leader. If your organisation lacks a clear vision or doesn’t have strong guidance, you’ll struggle to keep your business on track and won’t be able to achieve the goals and aspirations you’ve set yourself. As an entrepreneur, you might be wondering how to find a suitable leader for your business, someone who you can hand the reins over to. The good news is that such candidates are easier to find than you might have thought. We’ve outlined tips on finding a leader for your business below…

What is leadership?

Before we delve deeper into finding a candidate with the right leadership qualities, a quick word on leadership itself. The ultimate aim of a leader is to help themselves and others do the right thing. A good leader will set up direction, build a vision that inspires and motivates your team, and map out an action plan that’s engaging, inspiring, and dynamic. Leadership is more than just having a vision and executing it – it involves management skills to guide a team to the right destination smoothly and efficiently, overcoming any obstacles in the way.

See also: What is leadership? 

What to look for in a good leader

More often than not, entrepreneurs hire managers and leaders internally. A good candidate for a leadership role will already know the strengths and weaknesses of their team, having worked with them for many years already, and be able to give credit where it’s due. A good leader will recognise a job well done, whereas a great leader will appreciate a job well done.

A good manager will be inspirational, encouraging others to achieve their potential within your organisation. In this regard, hiring internally for a senior management role will inspire others to give their all. If one of their peers climbs the ranks, they can, too. Compassion is also important – leaders who genuinely care about their teams, products, and customers will perform far greater than those who are simply in it for the paycheck. Look out for employees who go the extra mile and are committed to your organisation; they’re management material. 

Communication is vital in leadership, and communication and transparency go hand in hand. A good leader will reach out to their workforce, talk to them about what they’re working on, and explain why it’s important. Transparency won’t always make them a popular leader – especially during times of uncertainty – but it’s vital for building trust and fostering an open, honest workplace, where everyone can express themselves without fear of punishment. 

Finally, a good leader won’t micromanage their team and instead will delegate tasks. It’s vital that your manager has confidence in their employees and understands their capabilities. If they micromanage, they’ll face communication problems, deceit, conflict, and disloyalty. 

Other skills required to become a good leader include curiosity, positivity, the ability to listen, empathy, resourcefulness, and a willingness to change. Confidence and conviction are vital, and good leaders also understand the importance of building and maintaining relationships with employees and stakeholders. No one member of staff is more important than another.

Leadership training could help you

Whether you’re looking to enhance your own career or you’re taking the leap and hiring a manager to oversee the day-to-day running of your organisation, leadership training in the UK could be an option to consider. Issac Qureshi and the team can help your organisation achieve better results by implementing a single organisational practice and introducing the latest leadership techniques and theories to maximise performance and deliver real results.

To find out more and get started, reach out to Issac today for a free leadership consultation.