Shannon's Top Check List for Personal Growth and Success

Use the below checklist to see how effective you already are as a professional and as a leader. Choose one thing to add to your repertoire this week to expand your leadership presence.

Walk the Walk

How can you expect your team to display their best qualities if you do not yourself?

Walk proudly and elegantly; carry yourself with energy, pride, and ease.

Connect with people you pass both in front and behind the scenes.

Walk the floor at least once a day. Get out there and be seen for all the right reasons.

Talk the Talk

Breathe deeply using diaphragmatic breathing. This will place your voice and allow you to connect more successfully.

Your voice is one of your most important business tools. The professional voice is calm, articulate, and warm.

Words have meaning. Words can move mountains. What are you trying to communicate?

Does your voice represent you well?

Show your gratitude

Thank, congratulate, encourage, listen to, and show interest in members of your team and staff in person every day.

In meetings focus on not only business as usual but what has gone well, what is good, what can be encouraged.

Gratitude for where you are, who you work with, your achievements, and your passions will put you and others in a positive mindset that can take you further than you ever imagined.

Follow Shannon for regular professional development tips

Show you care

If there is one quality people want to see and feel in a leader, it is that they care.

Connect physically and look people in the eye. Shake their hand. If you can’t see them in person call them.

Email should be your last point of call. Although an email to congratulate someone with others cc’d in can do wonders for their career.

Be visible

Lean forward and open your body language both on camera and in person.

Connect with people and build relationships.

Show that you are human and humble.

Hold successful meetings

Have a clear agenda.

Be timely.

Turn off technology.

Get to the point.

Have people take responsibility. Have everyone involved. Allow people to express ideas and thoughts. Have clear action points. Hold people accountable.

Facilitate and keep it moving.

Inspire and motivate your team. Encourage innovation. Stay open to ideas.

Listen.

Ask questions.

Allow people to make mistakes and use them as an opportunity.

Have a strong opening with strategy and inspiration.

Have a strong conclusion with next steps, call to action, and motivation.

Expand your connections

Network at least one time per week.

Join an organisation or club.

Stay in contact with people you admire from the past.

Put your hand up to speak at an event.

Become an ambassador

Be able to speak about yourself, your role, your company, in a way that is professional, warm, interesting, and that ultimately establishes you and your company as a winner. Practice! It should sound natural, engaging, and conversational.

Take care of your mind

Practice mindfulness and/or meditation. 10 minutes per day can change your world, and everyone else's.

Do some sort of stress reduction and spiritual connection each day-meditation, nature, deep breathing, prayer, ritual, etc…

Bring yourself into the present moment. Stay focused on the task at hand.

Sense your body, breath, and surroundings to bring you back to the present.

Take care of your body

Exercise and eat healthy, nutritious and delicious meals.

Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. Keep some at your desk. Better yet, get up and get some.

We can feel when health and vitality walk through the door and it is impressive. The opposite is not.

Move....

Manage working hours

Work sensible hours and encourage your team and staff to do so. You are the culture they will follow.

Get your hands dirty

Get in there and show that you are part of the team and demonstrate how we need to work together.

Not micromanaging but showing that we can all give each other a helping hand.

Build up others

Mentor and promote members of your team and staff. It is so rewarding.

Be positive

Look for the good in others, no matter how small. Everyone is an expert in something.

A positive person sends positivity to others around them. A negative person drags everyone down. Be responsible for the energy you bring to the space.

Celebrate your wins

Celebrate the wins with your team. Small and large. Enjoy!

Don't take yourself too seriously

When you start to hear yourself thinking that you know it all, have a good laugh (at yourself!).

Have fun at work. What do you enjoy? What's the buzz for you? Get more of that.

Live from the heart

Smile from the heart. Listen with your heart. Open your heart. Speak from the heart.

Communicate clearly

Clearly communicate your message about your mission, your goals, and your direction. Often.

Get up front of your team and deliver your vision with passion.

Prepare and rehearse. Don’t just “wing it”- it never works.

We will follow you when we see your commitment. Commitment is 100%. Nothing less.

Support each other

No Man or Woman is an island. We need each other. Connect, Engage, Grow, And Learn. Give thanks and praise each and every day. Count your blessings. We are truly blessed.

My book Leverage You can support you in developing key qualities for success. Or, book in for a one to one coaching session to fast track your success.