Leadership

What is Leadership To You?

Leadership, to me, is about change and movement. 

That’s just me. Others have their definitions and points of view about leadership. 

Leadership is often one of the most discussed topics, yet different schools of thought exist on what it is about. 

Truthfully, the concept and definition of leadership are based on the author’s or person’s point of view, based on his experience, expertise, and observation of others' ways of leadership. In our leadership training, we teach different views and principles of leadership, which we will explore today.

What is Leadership To You?

Leadership is Influence

Dr. John Maxwell, one of the foremost authorities on leadership, once said, "Leadership is influence." 

Maxwell’s assertion that “leadership is influence” is a foundation for understanding how leaders create change and movement. Influence is the ability to impact the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of others. 

Influence isn’t about wielding the power of authority. Instead, it’s about earning trust, consulting others for insights, demonstrating integrity, and inspiring others to believe in your vision. They don’t display any manipulative actions such as power tripping.

Before you ask for a hand, you first touch the heart—another famous saying from the leadership guru Maxwell. 

In his book Five Levels of Leadership, he created a framework for moving from a position-level of leadership to achieving a pinnacle-level of leadership, where a leader is followed by people because of who he is and what he represents.

More than a person’s level of competence and results he achieved for the organization, a great leader, based on Maxwell’s school of thought, is someone who has done great development for the people they lead

One of the classic examples of leaders who gained respect in his organization is Steve Jobs. Jobs didn’t just tell his team what to do; he inspired them to think differently and believe in the impossible. His influence was rooted in his passion, vision, and relentless pursuit of excellence. 

Pro Tip: Build and strengthen relationships with direct reports so you can connect from the heart and inspire them to do their best work. 

Leadership as Change

As I mentioned earlier, I believe leadership is about driving change. Great leaders recognize that the status quo is never enough; there’s always room for growth, improvement, and innovation. 

They have a vision of what could be and work to transform it into reality. This vision-driven change isn’t about making arbitrary shifts; it’s about creating meaningful and sustainable progress. 

Leaders like Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. epitomize change-driven leadership. They didn't just talk about what needed to change—they lived, breathed, and inspired others to do the same. 

For instance, Mandela’s leadership was about dismantling apartheid, Gandhi’s leadership focused on independence through non-violence, and King’s leadership championed civil rights and equality. 

They showed that authentic leadership isn’t about maintaining the status quo; it’s about challenging norms and inspiring others to envision a different, often better future.

Pro Tip: Inspire change in your teams by turning the vision into reality.  

Leadership as Movement

Aside from reinforcing change, leadership is also about making a movement. It may sound like it’s only applicable to government and non-profit organizations, but creating and pursuing a movement also applies to leaders in the corporate world. The movement represents leaders' dynamic action to steer their teams, organizations, or communities toward a shared objective. It involves setting direction, making decisions, and taking steps that propel everyone forward. 

Leaders create momentum by turning ideas into actionable steps. They set the vision and build the pathway to achieving it, ensuring everyone is moving in the same direction.

Leadership is a Journey

For many, leadership is a journey. It involves change, movement, influence, and the ability to serve others. It requires vision, emotional intelligence, integrity, and authenticity. 

Consider Elon Musk's example. His leadership isn’t just about dreaming of electric cars or exploring Mars; it’s about mobilizing vast teams of people, resources, and technology to make these seemingly impossible goals a reality. 

Musk creates movement, which turns his vision into a tangible, step-by-step journey. This illustrates that leadership is more than having ideas—it’s about generating the energy, enthusiasm, and coordinated action needed to turn those ideas into a reality.

Pro Tip: Love the process as much as you love creating results for your team and organization. By loving the process, you will grow and improve your competence and character as you lead your teams. 

Leadership as Service

This may be the last on this list, but it is the most widely known concept of leadership.

Leadership is service. Servant leadership is meeting people's needs and helping them grow. Servant leaders prioritize their team members' well-being, development, and empowerment. They lead by example, demonstrating humility, empathy, and a genuine desire to help others succeed.

Leaders like Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi embodied servant leadership. Their leadership wasn’t about authority or personal gain but about uplifting others and positively impacting them. By putting the needs of others first, they built trust and inspired countless individuals to follow their lead.

by Venchito Tampon

Personal Leadership: Cultivating Integrity, Vision, and Self-Awareness

Personal leadership is not about holding a title or position over others—it's about leading by example, living out your values, and inspiring others through your actions.

It is leading people based on calling, character, and competence. Without these, leading oneself effectively, let alone influencing others, is impossible. 

In our leadership training, we refer to personal leadership as the Modeling of Leadership. Teams can only perform at the highest level when leaders display the right behaviors, values, and work ethic they expect from others. 

This guide will explore essential qualities of personal leadership and how you can embody them in your daily personal and professional lives. 

Personal Leadership Qualities

1. Integrity

Integrity is the cornerstone of personal leadership. There are several schools of thought on integrity. Some teach that integrity simply means honesty. Others describe it as accountability. But integrity, based on its original context, refers to wholeness (from the term “integer”). 

A person of integrity can gain the trust and respect of those around him or her as he or she aligns all actions with the wholeness of his or her character. Integrity refers to aligning words with actions. You must talk the talk and walk the walk. 

Commit to your promises and be consistent with your actions. Increase the power of accountability in your leadership by owning the mistakes you’re accountable for and learning from them. 

Strengthen integrity by always doing the right, even when difficult or inconvenient. 

2. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand, manage, and navigate one's own emotions and those of others. It is one of the essential qualities for personal leadership, given that it fosters empathy, effective communication, and the ability to handle stress and challenges gracefully under pressure. 

Start developing emotional intelligence by recognizing your emotions and how they affect your behavior. Being self-aware of your current triggers for emotional stress can help you reduce the chances of negatively affecting your team members when you speak. 

Control impulsive feelings and behaviors by regulating yourself. Assess your emotional health every week to see specific areas for improvement.

Empathize with your direct reports as they face and overcome life challenges. Be an active listener as they share their struggles, even in their personal life, as you’d better understand where they’re coming from. 

Create a healthy support group where others can help you grow and give you the opportunity to serve others. This will help you see blindspots you can change or improve and gain feedback and insights from others who know you well. 

Develop a stress management coping mechanism by balancing demands and abilities. If possible, decrease demand. If not, increase your abilities to handle the needs of your life—this includes task management, problem-solving and decision-making, planning, and communication.

3. Critical Thinking

Critical thinking and strategic thinking are two essential skills of modern-day leadership. The first type of thinking involves analyzing situations, learning to filter insights and information based on your current context, and making informed decisions.

Involve yourself in strategic planning sessions to get a bigger picture of your organization (not only your teams). During this session, you can ask questions related to your leadership and brainstorm ideas to propel your team training to high performance.

Reflect on different perspectives by leveraging diversity and inclusion in your teams. Before making decisions, ask your direct reports for their insights, especially if you are leading direct reports. 

Analyze the consequences of your actions, but be firm when making decisions. No one wants to follow an indecisive leader. 

4. Resourcefulness 

Resourcefulness is the ability to maximize current resources (time, attention, energy, talent) to the fullest so that one can achieve one's individual or organizational goals. 

Personal leadership is being solution-oriented and knowing how to find innovative ways to navigate them. 

Cultivate a mindset of possibility within your team. Let their suggestions become a reality (consultative leadership) by trying things out—particularly the ones with valid reasons and supported by data. 

Be willing to adapt and change your approach when faced with setbacks. Flexibility aligned with resourcefulness could help your teams achieve greater performance and new heights not previously possible. 

5. Values and Ethics 

Values and ethics serve as your internal compass, guiding your decisions and actions. A strong sense of personal values helps you remain true to yourself and focus on what matters most. 

Ethical leaders are not swayed by external pressures or short-term gains but are guided by principles that align with their beliefs. 

Identify your core values. You can invest in a values and mission workshop from a reputable corporate training provider to help you identify your core values. 

When you lead with a strong ethical foundation, you create a positive impact on those around you and foster an environment of trust and mutual respect. 

6. Vision

A clear vision gives you a sense of direction and purpose. Personal leadership requires a solid vision to lead your team in the right direction of performance and character-building. 

Vision casting is about setting goals, developing a plan, and staying committed to your journey, even when the path becomes difficult. Commitment to the goals despite the daily challenges is what makes vision enable good leaders to perform. 

Vision also inspires others to work towards a common goal. Without a vision, people don’t feel the passion for the team, cast off restraint, leading to confusion, poor performance, and lack of growth. 

7. Self-Awareness 

Self-awareness also strengthens personal leadership. Self-aware leaders are more in tune with their thoughts and behaviors, allowing them to make conscious decisions that align with their values.

Here are some pro tips to increase self-awareness:

• Let others speak to your career and life. Surround yourself with growing and trusted people. Allow others to suggest, advise, and give you feedback you need to improve your work. 
• Reflect on your professional journey (intrapersonal communication) by setting time to meditate once a day. Write down things you’re grateful for as a leader and things you want to accomplish for the day. By setting things right at the start of the day, you’ll have a strong start, giving you inspiration and energy to accomplish great things for your team. 

The Role of Personal Leadership in Daily Life

Personal leadership extends beyond the workplace. It’s about leading yourself in all aspects of life, whether interacting with family, friends, or colleagues. Here’s how you can incorporate personal leadership into your daily routine:

• Lead by example: Be a role model in your actions, whether maintaining a positive attitude, demonstrating empathy, or showing perseverance in difficult times. Develop your character at home to live out the correct values when working. 
• Set personal goals: Take time to identify areas for growth and create actionable plans to achieve them. Define specific goals, and let your habits and actions take you where you want to go. 
• Cultivate healthy habits: Practice self-discipline in time management, self-care, and continuous learning. Habits with consistent discipline bring you to the success you dream of as a leader. In every spotlight of success, there is a process, and that includes cultivating leadership habits. 

Personal leadership involves taking responsibility for your life, actions, and choices. How you see challenges and own them will affect your performance as a leader. 

Leadership is a journey that requires dedication, self-reflection, and a commitment to personal growth. By embodying qualities such as integrity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, resourcefulness, values and ethics, vision, and self-awareness, you become a leader who influences others and inspires them to reach their full potential.

As I always say in my leadership training, “Leadership starts with you, but never about you.”  It’s the way you show up, the example you set, and the values you live by daily. By mastering these qualities, you can lead yourself more effectively and positively impact the lives of those around you.

by Venchito Tampon

How Coachable Are You?

Coachability is a crucial factor in both personal and professional success. Being coachable means receiving feedback to improve in specific areas, whether as a professional or a human being. 

In the human resource competence framework, coachability focuses more on the attitude element than on skills and knowledge. 

Shifting the attitude from being “I know everything” to “I have a lot to learn” speaks of how coachable a person is.

Coachability is the willingness to learn from others. It doesn’t demand title, status, or positions. It is the state of mind of someone looking to learn more.

When someone is coachable, he opens himself to opportunities for leadership, as organizations today are now seeking aspiring managers who have an appetite for learning. 

As individual contributors yet to be promoted, when they are coachable, they can perform well at work without less supervision. They get to accept feedback from their superiors or whoever manages their performance.

In this post, we’ll look at measures to be coachable. 

How to Be Coachable?

1. Develop a Growth Mindset

Backed by decades of research, psychologist Carol Dweck is one of the movers of the growth mindset principle. His study of human behavior among successful people in the world shows two kinds of mindsets, regardless of status and position: growth mindset and fixed mindset.

A person with a growth mindset relies on “effort” to succeed. In times of failure, growth-oriented people turn every challenge into an opportunity for personal development. They don’t just stick to what they know but find ways to learn from other people’s experiences. 

Developing a growth mindset has a lot to contribute to being coachable. There is intentionality for a coachable person to grow in areas he’s unfamiliar with or has weak spots on. 

The key is to adopt a growth mindset daily through conversations with trusted people, coaches, or mentors in the workplace. 

2. Be Part of a Growing Environment 

Being part of an environment where people demand growth for themselves has a positive psychological effect on someone’s sense of coachability. 

Given that you’re surrounded by these people most of the time, you find yourself listening to their conversations that compose ways and means to seek professional development. As a result, you’ll find yourself unconsciously asking for self-growth initiatives. 

If you feel you aren’t disciplined enough or have some barriers to coaching, join a growing community that can push you toward success. 

3. Seek Coaching

Organizations today are investing in professional coaching and mentoring programs for their managers and supervisors. This enables their leaders to harness the power of coaching their associates (or staff members), so they remove any roadblock to achieving their individual key objectives. 

If your company doesn’t have any coaching initiatives, start investing in your own coaching. 

Hire professional coaches accredited by ICF (The International Coaching Federation). This leading global organization certifies coaches. Or, if you want to maximize your strengths, you may seek coaching from Strengths Finder coaches.

Jumpstart your coaching journey with either of these two types of coaches. 

4. Never Underestimate The Power of Conversations

Daily conversations with people you interact with at work could be a gateway to some coaching experiences. If you’re dealing with stakeholders, suppliers, superiors, or any professional you know, you can get wisdom and insights from a typical conversation.

Prepare to ask questions and listen to their experiences and expertise.

You may also attend networking events, seminars, and conferences in your industry and participate in discussions during activities. By building relationships with new people, you’ll immerse yourself in growth conversations, which tremendously affects your coachability. 

5. Demand Follow Through

If coaching happens outside the organization or company, the only way to sustain your experience is to demand follow-through. This means you’ll invest long-term in coaching so that it continuously adds value to your daily professional and personal success.

One-time coaching sessions won’t do a big miracle on your professional success. So, it is a must to schedule coaching sessions regularly, or at times, there are roadblocks to success that you experience. 

6. Serve Others 

Service may seem contrary to coachability, as you need to coach yourself first before coaching others. But in my training experiences, I’ve seen that those professionals who are not yet coachable improve as soon as they begin to serve.

This means that when we act and serve like leaders and coaches, we also become coachable. As the saying goes, you cannot help others if you can’t help yourself. This pushes you to pursue personal development to fill other people’s cups with your knowledge and wisdom. 

You may volunteer in CSR programs (corporate social responsibility programs) in your office or start one with a non-profit organization. Make every effort to be active in non-work activities, as they could affect your mental state when you want to improve your coachability in the workplace. 

Improve Coachability Daily 

Coachability is a daily decision to pursue self-improvement. No one demands more from you than yourself. Whether it is an initiative of the company you’re in or your personal choice, coachability benefits you in many ways. 

by Venchito Tampon

How to Prevent Power Tripping in Leadership

Power tripping is a destructive behavior that can undermine a team's trust, morale, and productivity. Leaders and managers must proactively prevent this behavior and promote a healthy work environment. 

This article outlines actionable tips to prevent power tripping, promote ethical leadership, encourage self-awareness, and build a culture of accountability and transparency.

How to Prevent Power Tripping in Leadership

1. Lead by Example

Power tripping often stems from a need for proper role models. Leaders should demonstrate integrity, fairness, and ethical behavior, setting a standard for their team. 

When leaders consistently show respect and accountability, they discourage power misuse and foster an environment of mutual respect.

Leading by example is one of the pillars of our leadership training. Every leadership framework and program starts with the right competence for leaders—their skills, attitude, and knowledge. 

If the leader leads by example, the followers will have to follow his way. The most challenging part is when the leader himself does power-tripping on his direct line of leaders.

2. Establish Clear Ethical Guidelines

Power tripping thrives in ambiguous environments. Leaders can provide a foundation for decision-making and behavior by developing and communicating clear ethical guidelines. 

This clarity helps prevent leaders from abusing their power and ensures everyone understands the expected standards of conduct.

Learn to set boundaries. However, at times, leaders can promote personal connections with their followers. It is essential to be aware that asking unnecessary personal questions would lead to insults and hostile attacks on their followers. 

Methods as part of management could help address ethical issues and concerns for the team.

3. Provide Ethics Training

Regular ethics training reinforces the importance of ethical behavior and helps employees recognize and address ethical dilemmas. Training programs can also highlight the negative impacts of power tripping, promoting a culture that values integrity over authority abuse.

Values and ethics are crucial in leadership. It stems from the “heart” side of leadership, which values people from within.

When leaders recognize that they don’t have to do power-tripping with their followers to let them submit to their authority, they stand an excellent chance to be leaders worth following.

4. Encourage Open Communication

Power tripping often occurs when communication is stifled. It is crucial to create a safe environment where employees can voice concerns without fear of retaliation. 

Leaders should be approachable and actively listen to feedback, helping to identify and address power-tripping behaviors early.

Maybe it’s not the top managers doing power-tripping, but the mid-level managers doing it for their associates. 

With this kind of concern, upper management can take the initiative and have an open discussion and communication with their middle-line leaders. It’s important that leaders know what’s going on with their departments or teams so they can prevent any inappropriate behaviors. 

Be a consultative leader. Allow your second-line leaders if they need support, coaching, and mentoring as they lead their staff members. You must guide them as they discover their leadership potential and drive toward success.

5. Implement Accountability Mechanisms

Holding leaders accountable for their actions is essential to prevent power tripping. Tools like 360-degree feedback, performance reviews, and ethical audits can ensure compliance with ethical standards. 

Regular assessments help maintain accountability and discourage the misuse of power. By being more self-aware, leaders can see their weaknesses, change them through their decisions, and bounce back from their failures and mistakes.

6. Conduct Regular Self-Assessments

Self-awareness is a crucial defense against power tripping. Encourage leaders to reflect on their behavior and decision-making processes regularly. 

Tools like the DISC personality assessment can help leaders understand their behavioral tendencies and how they impact others.

The DISC personality training enables participants to understand more of themselves and see their personality triggers that could affect the way they approach their team members. 

These tendencies that can lead to miscommunication could be avoided if they are first aware of them, as well as have the ability to adjust their behavior (adaptable) to certain situations.

7. Seek Feedback from Peers and Subordinates

Feedback from colleagues provides valuable insights into a leader’s behavior, highlighting areas for improvement and reinforcing positive actions. Promoting a culture where feedback is valued helps leaders recognize and correct power-tripping tendencies.

Feedback should be part of any leadership and management conversation. When leaders receive feedback from their peers, they see not only their tendencies but also their potential triggers that could sometimes lead to power tripping. 

Having someone tell you you need room for improvement in this area could help you attack your weaknesses through personal reflection and change.

8. Engage in Coaching and Mentorship

Professional coaching and mentorship programs offer objective perspectives and guidance on improving leadership skills. 

Coaches can help leaders develop self-awareness and address power-tripping tendencies constructively, fostering a healthier leadership style.

Relationships are built through time. In coaching and mentorship, you allow them to share their concerns, ideas, and challenges, and you, as a coach, could help them lead to success, both in their personal and professional lives.

9. Promote Reflective Practices

Reflective practices like journaling and mindfulness encourage leaders to consider their motivations and the impact of their behavior on others. 

These practices help leaders understand their actions and make necessary adjustments to prevent power misuse.

Take the time for your team to rest from their current role. Recreational activities conducted by the company are a good opportunity for your leaders to reflect upon their current job role as well as their personal lives.

10. Clearly Define Roles and Responsibilities

Ambiguity in roles can lead to power struggles. Clearly defining roles and responsibilities ensures everyone understands their duties and prevents leaders from overstepping their boundaries. 

A well-structured organization promotes fairness and accountability.

From the start, ensure your staff members know their job roles and responsibilities. It isn’t just part of the contract, but of their entire onboarding process, so they would have an idea of what to expect from them by their top management and the organization.

11. Foster Transparent Decision-Making Processes

Transparency in decision-making builds trust and reduces the perception of bias or favoritism. Involving team members in decision-making and communicating the rationale behind decisions can prevent power tripping and promote a collaborative environment.

Delegate decisions as much as you delegate tasks. When decisions are also made from top to bottom, people below management are empowered. They can now make wise decisions, as fostered with freedom and autonomy by their superiors.

12. Recognize and Reward Ethical Behavior

Acknowledging and celebrating ethical actions reinforces their importance within the organization. Recognition programs can highlight and reward ethical behavior, encouraging others to follow suit and creating a positive reinforcement loop.

Reward leaders and staff members who exhibit high ethical behavior. By doing so, you promote more of that behavior within your team and allow others to see its main importance as part of your culture.

13. Regularly Review and Update Policies

Outdated policies can contribute to power tripping. Periodically reviewing and updating policies ensures they remain relevant and effective. 

Keeping policies aligned with current ethical standards and organizational goals demonstrates a commitment to high standards.

Creating a Healthy Leadership Culture by Preventing Power Tripping

Preventing power tripping in leadership involves a comprehensive approach that promotes ethical leadership, encourages self-awareness, and builds a culture of accountability and transparency. 

By implementing these actionable tips, leaders and managers can create a positive work environment where power is used responsibly, fostering trust, respect, and employee collaboration.

by Venchito Tampon

5 Ms of Management: Key Principles for Organizational Excellence

Management is the heartbeat of any organization, acting as the catalyst that organizes, plans, and directs all resources toward achieving the company’s objectives. It serves as the hub around which all production factors revolve. 

Business management's complexity and extensive nature necessitate a structured approach, often broken down into five fundamental components: Money, Manpower, Machines, Materials, and Methods. 

These components are collectively known as the 5 Ms of Management and lay the foundation for effective business operations.

I also shared my actionable tips on effectively utilizing these M’s in your business operations. 

5 Ms of Management

1. Money

The cornerstone of any business management process is money. With sufficient capital, a business's functioning becomes more accessible and more possible. Money is essential for acquiring raw materials, hiring personnel, purchasing machinery, and covering other operational costs.

To delve deeper, money in a business context can be divided into fixed capital and working capital. Fixed capital refers to long-term investments such as machinery, buildings, and land while working capital is used for day-to-day operations. 

The availability of sufficient capital allows a company to recruit top talent, procure high-quality raw materials, and maintain efficient machinery, all of which are crucial for producing high-quality, cost-effective final products or services.

Beyond just acquiring resources, effective financial management involves strategic allocation and optimization of funds. This includes budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning, which are critical for sustaining business growth and navigating economic uncertainties. 

Financial agility enables a company to respond quickly to market changes, invest in innovation, and maintain a competitive edge.

You can check out this post for a detailed version of 5 functions of management.

Actionable Measures:

• Set up financial control and audit for every business function that involves spending or utilizing money. This approach allows you to monitor your money efficiently without worries and apprehension.
• Get outside help from a financial consultant to assist you in your daily business decisions. As money is becoming a significant concern for companies nowadays, having someone to give sound advice makes you a better general manager or entrepreneur.
• Create systems to facilitate a good inflow and outflow of money in your business or departmental operations. Having systems in place avoids too many unnecessary mistakes, which are mostly expensive, especially in companies involved in trading and manufacturing. 
• Get into the habit of regular, unexpected audits in your financial and other business departments. This will allow you to get realistic situations of the processes and change if necessary if your staff members make mistakes. 

2. Manpower

Management is often described as the art of getting things done through people. Manpower is a critical element; without it, all other resources would remain idle. This encompasses managerial and non-managerial personnel who contribute to the organization’s operations.

The success of any organization depends significantly on having skilled and capable personnel. Managers are crucial in resolving issues promptly and ensuring that teams operate efficiently. 

Long-term employee loyalty can be achieved by providing fair compensation, promoting a healthy work-life balance, ensuring a sustainable working environment, and offering adequate resources.

In the modern business environment, the role of manpower extends beyond traditional labor to include intellectual capital and knowledge management. Investing in continuous leadership and management training and development programs helps upskill employees, fosters innovation, and improves productivity. 

Promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity can also lead to a more dynamic and resilient workforce.

Actionable Measures:

• Provide corporate training programs for employees to enhance their competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitude).
• Hire an HR consultant to assist you with designing learning and development interventions. 
• Improve your performance management systems to adapt to employees' ever-changing needs, which aligns with global standards for human capital development. You can hire an external consultant to delve into your current state of managing performance and give you solid advice on what to improve. 
• Check the current payscale of your employees. Ensure your salaries are competitive enough to hire and retain talents who’ll be your current assets as a brand. Invest in your people in your staff's hiring, training, and onboarding program. 
• Hire a corporate training provider to plot a training calendar for your employees. Ensure it is consistent across different platforms - give value to your employees by finding the right speaker or corporate trainer to design and facilitate employee training programs. 

3. Materials

Materials are the building blocks required to produce the final goods. These can be raw materials or semi-finished goods necessary for the production process. The management must ensure that the materials are of sufficient quantity and quality to meet demands. 

Effective material management involves acquiring the right materials and optimizing the costs associated with their conversion and transportation. Regular checks on the quality and quantity of raw materials help maintain production efficiency and meet customer expectations.

In today's environmentally conscious world, sustainable material management is gaining prominence. This includes sourcing eco-friendly raw materials, reducing waste through efficient processes, and recycling materials wherever possible. Such practices benefit the environment, enhance the company's reputation, and lead to cost savings.

Actionable Measures:

• Invest in the sustainability and scalability of your business operations with raw materials. Find new innovative ways to put wasted raw materials into good use. This could also be a potential business opportunity in the form of new products (e.g., Lamouyan Corporation, founder of Happee toothpaste, produced Dazz in their quest to solve wasted raw materials). 
• Be innovative in improving the quality of your products by checking your current materials. You may have to invest in research and development to research the latest trends in your industry. 

4. Machines

Machines are instrumental in transforming raw materials into finished products. Various machines are used in the production process depending on the nature of the goods being produced. Investment in modern machinery can significantly enhance the manufacturing process.

The advent of new machinery technology has revolutionized production processes, resulting in faster output and higher efficiency. Well-maintained and advanced machinery provides a competitive edge by ensuring consistent product quality and reducing operational costs.

Integrating automation and Industry 4.0 technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), is transforming the manufacturing landscape. These technologies enable predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and optimization of production processes, leading to increased productivity and reduced downtime.

Actionable Measures:

• See technology as one of your company's forefront initiatives. Invest in the latest technology tools to improve your current business processes. It could be online platforms and web-based tools to make your employees' daily work more effective and efficient.
• Efficiency is the new game when it comes to machines. It requires thorough analysis and execution to speed up processing and reduce any associated costs. 

5. Methods

Methods refer to the standard and recommended ways of carrying out operations according to established systems and procedures. The use of proper methods enhances efficiency and contributes to effective management.

Organizations can ensure consistency in their operations by following systematic approaches and procedures. This includes adhering to best practices, implementing quality control measures, and continuously improving processes to adapt to changing market demands.

In agile management, methods are evolving to include more flexible and iterative approaches. Agile methodologies, such as Scrum and Kanban, emphasize collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement. These approaches enable organizations to respond more swiftly to customer feedback and market changes, fostering innovation and enhancing overall performance.

Actionable Measures:

• Invest in agile training for your employees. This would allow for various continuous improvements across your business operations.
• You’ll get to be more responsive to the changing needs of your customers while giving them the customer excellence they deserve. 

5 Ms of Management - Backbone of Effective Business Management

The 5 Ms of Management—Money, Manpower, Materials, Machines, and Methods—form the backbone of effective business management. Each element is vital in ensuring an organization's smooth operation and success. 

By understanding and optimizing these components, businesses can achieve their objectives, maintain a competitive edge, and drive sustainable growth.

In an ever-evolving business landscape, it is essential to reassess and refine these elements continuously. 

Embracing new technologies, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and prioritizing sustainable practices are key to staying ahead in today’s competitive market. As management continues to evolve, integrating these innovative approaches with the traditional 5 Ms will pave the way for future success.

by Venchito Tampon

Consultative Leadership: Empowering Teams Through Collaborative Decision-Making

Consultative leadership is a style where leaders actively seek input, feedback, and ideas from their team members, superiors, or peers before making decisions. 

Unlike autocratic leadership styles, which rely on a top-down approach, consultative leadership values the insights and expertise of others, fostering a more democratic and inclusive environment. 

This approach enhances the quality of decisions and empowers members in the organization by making them feel valued and involved (“power of inclusivity”). 

Why is Consultation Important in Leadership?

Consultation is a cornerstone of effective leadership for several reasons:

Enhanced Decision-Making

By incorporating diverse perspectives, leaders can make more informed and balanced decisions. This reduces the risk of blind spots and biases often accompanying unilateral decision-making.

For teams with few or several front-line employees, asking about their input is critical as they experience challenges and address customers' concerns. Therefore, they have incredible insights into improving operations and making them more efficient for the organization. 

Employee Engagement

Involving team members in decision-making increases their sense of ownership and commitment to the outcomes. Engaged employees are more motivated, productive, and loyal.

Many employees leave companies because they feel they’re not growing anymore. This is a challenge that consultative leadership overcomes through 1 on 1 conversations or even during corporate training programs such as leadership training. 

You can also check out our post on the relationship between leadership and employee engagement. 

Building Trust

Consultation fosters a culture of trust and openness. Employees who feel heard and valued are likelier to trust their leaders and collaborate effectively. 

Trust is the glue of teamwork that allows people to share their ideas. In learning and development interventions, we call it “psychological safety,” where people can openly share their current challenges at work. 

Development of Team Members: 

Through consultation, leaders can identify and nurture the strengths and potential of their team members. This not only aids personal and professional growth but also builds a robust talent pipeline within the organization.

Consultative leadership also brings self-awareness to team members, who must assess their current professional and personal standings and are regularly asked for input. It helps them to see more of their potential and brings them closer to achieving their goals aligned with organizational objectives. 

How Does Consultative Leadership Differ from Other Leadership Styles?

Consultative leadership is distinct in several ways:

• Less Authoritative: Unlike dictatorial or authoritative styles, consultative leadership involves less direct control and more shared decision-making. Leaders still retain the final decision-making authority but rely heavily on team input.
• Collaborative Approach: While participative leadership also involves team input, consultative leadership is unique in its structured and deliberate approach to gathering and incorporating feedback. It prioritizes a balanced mix of experience, skills, and ideas from internal and external sources.
• Emphasis on Development: Consultative leaders focus on leveraging their teams' collective knowledge and experience to drive growth and improvement. This approach not only enhances decision-making but also fosters continuous learning and development.

Actionable Tips to Practice Consultative Leadership

Foster Open Communication

Create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions. If this is your first time, please include asking questions in your daily discussions with your associates. 

Avoid trying hard to be consultative. Make a natural approach to encourage open dialogue and actively listen to their inputs.

In meetings, 1 on 1 conversations and casual talk, you can make the environment warm and open for discussions instead of just discussing your ideas at all times. 

Our leadership and management training teaches how vital relationship building (or connection) is to leadership. The better you can connect with your subordinates, the easier you can lead them.

The same goes for when you want to be consultative in your leadership style; you need relationships to receive positive things and negative (not so commonly heard) issues at work. From there, you can address them properly and help your team become more effective and efficient. 

Consider Stakeholders Buy-In

In many organizations, stakeholder management is crucial as every decision affects your work output and others’ way of work - and how they achieve their goals. 

Identify your stakeholders - superiors, clients, suppliers, government agencies, etc. Prioritize the ones you should comply with or simply acknowledge with your reports. You may even ask for their input, as they may have an outside perspective your team hasn’t thought of before. 

Regularly Identify The Needs 

Business includes identifying the needs of your customers and your employees. As you practice problem-solving and decision-making skills, you’ll have opportunities to develop new strategies to adapt to the ever-changing market needs.

As a consultative leader, identify and assess your team’s current needs. Do they need more training on a particular skill set? Do they have enough resources needed to achieve their individual work goals? 

By regularly thinking about how to help your team by addressing your needs, you’ll become a better leader yourself and help the team elevate their potential, productivity, and performance. 

Be more aware and be considerate of others’ needs. We have a term for this - empathy. Empathy is understanding and putting your shoes in other people’s situations so you’ll help them address it with your leadership abilities. 

Seek Diverse Perspectives

Diversity isn’t just about age, status, and gender. It also deals with having diverse perspectives and beliefs on many things. 

Make it a point to gather input from a diverse group of individuals. This can include team members, other departments, and external experts like business consultants. Diversity in perspectives leads to more innovative and well-rounded decisions.

Invest in External Consultants 

For some companies and leaders who know that investment in their team is crucial for business success. They’re looking into many patterns of solutions for their daily challenges.

One solution to this is hiring external consultants who can give an outside perspective on the daily challenges of your team. Of course, it involves investment, but this is worthwhile if it can triple or 10x the productivity and performance of your team.

Inclusive leadership is being humble and learning that there are things you still don’t know and that counsel and advice are paramount to your success. 

Be Transparent

Communicate the decision-making process and the role of consultation within it. This transparency builds trust and ensures team members understand how their input will be used.

Being a transparent leader means you don’t try to sugarcoat or hoard information. But you’ll stand on your ground and even tell people about the brutal facts, showing your action steps to overcome hurdles and challenges in your team. 

Provide Feedback

After making a decision, provide feedback on how the inputs were considered and the rationale behind the final decision. This closes the loop and reinforces the value of consultation.

Feedback can also be given after every job intervention by an employee. For example, you can immediately provide feedback after someone gives a presentation. 

Be careful in feedback not to avoid being too shabby or shallow with your advice or, on the other side, being too restrictive only to negative points. 

Assess if it is a skill-based feedback or, in particular, competence element you want to address with the person (knowledge, skills, attitude, or habits). 

Develop Active Listening Skills

Effective consultation requires leaders to be active listeners. This means fully engaging with the speaker, asking clarifying questions, and avoiding premature judgments.

Active listening involves hearing the exact words and trying to understand the meaning behind every word. This requires constant practice with your communication initiatives. You want your staff members to be heard and listened to when they speak. 

Encourage Continuous Improvement

Use consultation as a tool for continuous improvement. Regularly seek feedback on processes, projects, and leadership approaches to identify areas for enhancement.

As you become a good leader, help others improve their professional and personal lives. Encourage them to see more of themselves as someone growing in their field or organization. 

Use any defining moments, such as mistakes, as a ground to help them improve, instead of barging them with too many negative comments that don’t necessarily help them grow as professionals. 

Avoid Blaming Others 

One of the common mistakes leaders make is blaming people when things go wrong.

Remember that when you ask for input and have the entire team decide on certain things, you know it is a decision of the whole. So blaming others won’t even remove mistakes.

Make people accountable for what they do. And when things go awry, encourage and inspire people to do better next time. Being a consultative leader means knowing what to do when things are unplanned. 

Consultative Leadership Done Right 

Consultative leadership is a powerful and inclusive approach that leverages the collective knowledge and expertise of the team to drive better decision-making and foster a positive work environment. 

By prioritizing consultation, leaders can build trust, enhance employee engagement, and promote continuous improvement. As organizations navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape, consultative leadership offers a valuable framework for achieving sustained success and growth.

by Venchito Tampon

5 Functions of Management

Management is a critical area of any organization, guiding leaders toward achieving their goals. While we mainly talk about leadership in corporate training, the management part has become underrated and underutilized, leaving many managers and supervisors needing guidance on achieving their goals. 

Henri Fayol, a management expert, identified five primary functions of successful management: Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, and Controlling.

We’ll look at each function and tips on how to put them into use in day-to-day work. 

5 Functions of Management

1. Planning

Planning is the initiating phase of management. It involves deciding in advance what to do, how, and when to do it. 

Effective planning requires managers to set objectives and determine the best course of action to achieve these goals.

Here are some critical aspects of planning: 

• Objective Setting: Defining clear, achievable goals the organization aims to reach. Managers can also set their own professional management goals that align with what the organization wants to achieve. 
• Course of Action: Determining the steps necessary to reach these goals. 
• Resource Allocation: Ensuring that human and non-human resources are used efficiently. Even including workforce, budget, timeline, and other necessary details to take every step. 
• Risk Management: Identifying potential uncertainties and devising strategies to mitigate them. 

8 Plans Managers Need to Create:

• Vision-Mission-Values - Vision is the direction and destination. The mission is the reason for existence and purpose. 
• Strategic Plans - these are top-level decisions on how to win or compete. 
• Operational Plans - functional plans (who will do what by then) that strategic plans will be accomplished. 
• Schedules - plans expressed as timelines. 
• Budget - plans expressed as numbers.
• Policies - guides to decision-making. 
• Rules - do’s and don’ts. 
• Procedures - sequenced set of steps or rules. 

Planning is an intellectual activity that requires foresight, judgment, and creativity.

As managers, it’s essential to take the time to plan to avoid any confusion, create backup plans for uncertainties (even emergencies), and avoid any waste of resources.

Organizations can ensure a structured approach to achieving their objectives through a well-thought-out plan. 

Actionable tips for managers and supervisors :

• Align your plans with the departmental and organizational VMV (vision-mission-values). You can succeed with your execution, but if there is no alignment, you’ll succeed in the outway path. 
• Remember that not all plans will be perfect. Some may need to be controlled or at least be cautious about being too perfectionist about everything. Even in the most minor details, micromanagement might do more harm than good.
• Involve your team when planning. Ask for suggestions and allow your staff to raise their concerns and challenges, particularly those facing customers daily. You’ll get insights you never thought of, directly involving providing the best customer experience. 
• Don’t spend too much on planning. Half-day to three-day sessions are good time to spend on planning. Longer than it might rob you of the resources for execution. 

If you want to dive into these five management functions with your team, learn more about our leadership training program in the Philippines. 

2. Organizing

Once a plan is in place, the following function is Organizing. This function involves assembling and coordinating the resources needed to implement the plan.

Organizing can be broken down into several key steps:

• Resource Allocation: Identifying and allocating physical, financial, and human resources.
• Task Assignment: Dividing the work into manageable tasks and assigning them to the right individuals or teams.
• Coordination: Establishing a structure of authority and relationships to ensure effective communication and cooperation.

Organizing ensures that the resources are utilized most efficiently to achieve the organizational goals. 

Actionable tips for managers and supervisors :

• Remember your staff members (associates) when organizing resources to pursue your goals. See their current adaptive scenarios and expectations to know what you can adjust when organizing resources.
• Break down projects into manageable tasks - though this is part of the planning phase. Organizing still takes over, as there are nuances and surprising elements where you must change some plans and be flexible. 

Organizing involves creating a framework within which the tasks are performed and responsibilities are defined.

3. Staffing

Staffing is the process of recruiting, selecting, training, and developing employees to improve performance (results) and strengthen relationships within the organization.

The primary objective of staffing is to ensure that the right people are in the right jobs. This function includes several vital activities:

• Recruitment: Identifying and attracting qualified candidates for job vacancies.
• Selection: Choosing the most suitable candidates through interviews, tests, and other evaluation methods.
• Training and Development: Providing employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their jobs effectively.
• Promotion: Advancing employees to higher positions based on their performance and potential.
• Performance Appraisal: Evaluating employee performance to identify areas for improvement and provide feedback.
• Employee Transfer: Moving employees to positions where their skills are most needed.

Effective staffing ensures the organization has a competent and motivated workforce, which is essential for achieving organizational goals.

Actionable tips for managers and supervisors :

• Put the right people in the right seats. Be discerning and know when assessing potential candidates for your team. Go beyond the casual interview process and dig deeper into personality and pre-work job assessments to examine other components of KSA (knowledge, skills, and attitude). 
• Create or align your managerial onboarding process with the organization’s onboarding process. If you’re working in a startup, recommend a solid onboarding process for new employees. It is critically important for associates to learn about the company, its mission and values, and ways and means to achieve the vision. Most of the people problems managers face are rooted in the lack of proper onboarding initiatives. 

4. Directing

Directing is the managerial function that involves leading and motivating employees to achieve organizational objectives. It includes several key elements:

• Leadership: Influencing and guiding employees toward achieving the organization's goals.
• Motivation: Encouraging employees to perform their best through incentives, rewards, and recognition.
• Communication: Ensuring effective communication channels to facilitate the flow of information.
• Supervision: Overseeing employees' work to ensure tasks are performed correctly and efficiently.

Directing is often considered the life-spark of an organization. The function brings the plan to life, sets the organization in motion, and ensures that all efforts are aligned toward achieving the set objectives.

Actionable tips for managers and supervisors :

• Let your team members take assessments (e.g., DISC Personality Profile Assessments). This would allow you to personalize your directing approach based on the associates’ strengths, weaknesses, and triggers.
• Increase frequency of communication, especially in this age where hybrid and work-from-home setup is paramount.
• Don’t micromanage, but set parameters for reporting. Do not try to control your team’s behaviors with words and actions. Instead, set rules for reporting and always go back to them if no action is observed during the process. 

5. Controlling

Controlling is the final function of management and involves monitoring and evaluating the organization's progress toward its goals. It ensures that the organization’s activities are aligned with the planned objectives. Critical aspects of controlling include:

• Setting Performance Standards: Establishing benchmarks against which actual performance can be measured. 
• Measuring Actual Performance: Collect data on actual performance and compare it with the established standards.
• Analyzing Deviations: Identify any deviations from the standards and determine their causes.
• Taking Corrective Action: Implement measures to correct deviations and meet goals. (i.e. performance management).

Controlling ensures that the organization remains on track to achieve its goals. It helps identify issues or inefficiencies and allows timely interventions to address them.

Actionable tips for managers and supervisors :

• Take corrective actions and remain flexible with your plans. You’ll always experience behavioral problems and issues with your people, but stay on with your plan.
• Ask for help from superiors, business unit heads, and organizational department heads. 

Manage The Process Effectively 

Henri Fayol's five management functions provide a comprehensive framework for managing organizations effectively. Planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling are interrelated functions that collectively ensure an organization's smooth operation and success. 

Remember that these management functions only care for the processes, not the human beings themselves. We manage processes. We lead people. 

Managers can create a structured and efficient approach to achieving organizational goals by understanding and implementing these functions. Fayol’s contributions to management theory have stood the test of time and continue to be relevant in today’s dynamic and complex business environment.

by Venchito Tampon