Periodically through the year, Mind Your Business checks in with our members to find out which business books they’re reading and why. Listed below are three more books to add to your reading list.

• RELATED: 11 Business Books You Should Have Read by Now

My Reading List for 2017:

No. 1: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

This is a classic, but should be on everyone’s reading list if you are serious about being successful in life and in business. This book was first published in 1937 and is a compilation of the interviews of more than 500 successful men—including Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford. It is not a quick-fix or feel-good book, it breaks down 14 key focus areas that need to be understood and put in practice to actually see results. One of my mentors shared this book with me and I have not only read it multiple times this year, I have implemented several of the concepts and continue to do so as I grow my business. Here are a few of the things that I have implemented:

• Persistence. The mind is a creature of habit—it thrives upon the dominating thoughts fed to it—control of the mind through the power of will comes from persistence and building habits.  I am creating a habit of a daily organizing routine in the morning and a short reflection period at the end of every day.  Doing something over and over seems boring—and it is—but the more you do it, the more it becomes automatic and you won’t resist it because it is just part of what you do. 

• Subconscious mind. This was a game changer for me. Your subconscious mind will not remain idle and if you fail to plant your desires and the RIGHT THOUGHTS, you will never get the results you want. You need to feed the right thoughts in your subconscious mind—making them positive and repetitive. “Man can create nothing which he does not first conceive in thought”—when you really understand the power of thought, it can change everything for you. Every day I have said aloud my intentions, what I want and what I will give in return for it and it has brought me clients and friendships this year.

• Power of the master mind. He defines the master mind as “coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.” It seems obvious—get other great thinkers around you to help shape, perfect and grow your thoughts and ideas and the whole group benefits from the energy and intelligence available to everyone in the group. You must pick the right people. I have facilitated a few of these and will continue to do so next year with people who want to grow in areas of leadership—everyone who participates has grown because we love to learn from others versus just a book. I am starting my own master mind for my business as well and in 2018 I know that my group will reap tremendous benefits!

No. 2: Everyone Communicates Few Connect by John C. Maxwell

“According to the Harvard Business Review, ‘The number one criteria for advancement and promotion for professionals is an ability to communicate effectively.’  That means connecting! If you learned to connect better, it would change your life! This book has so many applications from a leadership perspective. It is broken into two parts—the principles of connecting and the connecting practices. When we communicate, we tend to think of ourselves and ask “will we look good, did they like me, did they hear me?”

Here are a couple of my takeaways from this book:

• The power of connecting is thinking of the ‘other’ person, when you realize that it’s not about you—growth really begins to happen. I have used this in my business as I thought about attracting the clients that I am really looking for—what are their wants and needs? What do they care about? What would really help them?  Instead of what I wanted them to know about me or what I wanted to tell them. I also use this in my coaching practice. The most common challenge I have seen in leaders is ability to influence and influence happens when we connect with others. It starts with the first connecting practice “common ground”—what does the other person want or need that you have in common with them so they see and feel a connection. 

• Tips for connecting to a large group. The use of storytelling is so powerful. Don’t make your presentations death by powerpoint, show a picture and tell a story, our brains light up and we will listen and connect with you. I have used this in my speaking engagements—the most powerful stories are personal and the stories that show you when you were not perfect!

• Use interesting facts and data points to make it interesting as well. One of my coaching and mastermind clients used this for a presentation she was giving and was so successful that one of their largest donors asked for a copy of her speech!

No. 3: Your Brain at Work by David Rock

If you are someone who brags about the fact that they are such a great multi-tasker, then this book is for you. This book helps to break down what we know about the brain and how it applies to becoming a more effective leader by understanding how to:

• Make better decisions.

• Stay cool under pressure.

• Collaborate with others.

• Facilitate change.

I have applied this to how I approach my day and get things done by doing my biggest thinking in the morning when I am fresh and making sure that I don’t waste precious cognitive time with reading emails in the morning. I am a reformed multi-tasker and still slip once in a while but I have been conscious of having a “space” for thinking and not taking my phone with me when I am doing this. I have also helped dozens of executives have more effective meetings by doing one simple thing—removing the phones and computers from their meetings. They will end in half the time, people will pay attention and decisions will be better and made quicker! 

Another concept I have used here relates to managing change and our tendency to get easily distracted. The anterior cingulate cortex lights up when something is different and in your brain—this novelty gets attention. If there is too much change all at once or over a very short period of time, it can cause anxiety or fear.  You might see this in organizations as people “shutting down” and feeling overloaded because their brains really are! I have used this in my consulting practice to help organizations and leaders “break-down” their changes and keep it simple. If you are trying to change 10 things all at once, you will get chaos, but try to change three or four things, with good explanations as to why and help in making the change and you will see much more success. 

An overarching principle about the brain is that it is organized to minimize danger and maximize reward. When you apply this principle and the others in this book to your own personal leadership style and how you run your business to be more ‘brain friendly’ you will see great increases in performance, engagement and satisfaction.

What are you reading these days? Let us know on Twitter!

Jill Windelspecht has spent 20 years coaching executives, leading global and regional talent strategies, managing change and developing people. She works with mid- to senior-level executives and business owners to reach their potential and help create organizational climates that lead to lifelong prosperity. Helping executives develop their leadership and communication skills so that they can build a strong, cohesive team and break through any barriers holding themselves and their team back ... and not have to burn themselves out by doing so!  View her website by clicking here or contact Jill via email at Jillwindel@talentspecialists.net.  

It is that time of year that we reflect on our progress toward our goals for the year and start thinking about what we want to accomplish in 2019. So, how did you do? If you are like most of us, you didn’t accomplish everything that you envisioned for the year. But we get a fresh year to start over again. If you want to do better, I have a few tips for you and it is all about using your brain!

Why do we fail at achieving goals?

The answer is in your brain—and your blood pressure. And high blood pressure can help you keep goals on track. Emily Balcetis, a social psychologist from NYU, explained how properly set goals boosts our systolic blood pressure, which is the measurement of our body being geared up and ready to act. The more stretched they are, as long as we don’t feel they are impossible, the more excited we get. 

So, to succeed in goal setting, and especially in stretch goal setting, Balcetis’s research states we’ll want to follow these three simple hacks:

Brain hack No. 1: Plan for Obstacles

Have a plan, a backup plan, and a backup plan to the backup plan. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, everyone was betting on Michael Phelps. He had already won seven gold medals, and his next event was his strongest—his eighth gold medal was nearly in the bag. But then tragedy struck: he dove into the pool and his goggles filled with water. Virtually blind he activated his backup plan—he started counting his strokes. He knew how many strokes he needed to get to the other end of the pool. So, he focused, stayed calm, and yes, won a staggering eight gold medals. Planning for obstacles while at the same time envisioning success boosts our systolic blood pressure—it increases our readiness to act.

Brain Hack No. 2: Create the Right Habits

Setting and sharing intentions make goals happen. When we make commitments to ourselves and others, and we discuss, sign off on them, and ask “what can I do today” to get closer to achieving our goal we boost systolic blood pressure too. Being intentional and having others help hold you accountable increases the likelihood that we will achieve our goals.   

Brain hack No. 3: Move the Goal Closer

Moving the goal closer requires us to envision it, to see ourselves achieving it (such as Michael Phelps seeing himself win the race). Remember the goal must be specific and tangible (win this race) versus more abstract (get the gold medal). With this focus we activate the left side of our prefrontal cortex and the planning/envisioning gets stronger. We also light up the ventral striatum where we experience reward and get a nice dose of dopamine to cause good feelings around the goal being achieved. When we focus on the goal in our mind’s eye, Balcetis found that goals look 30% closer.

How you end is how you begin

When I work with my coaching clients, they find these simple tips valuable and knowing that they are going to be held accountable at the next session gives them the motivation to move closer to their goals.

How you end 2018 is how you will start 2019—join me and start strong!  Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in life are the day you were born and the day you discover the reason why.”

Imagine yourself 12 months from now, living the life you’ve always wanted. How would it feel to have the clarity to make that possible? How would it feel to have a group of people that support, challenge and hold you accountable to your dreams?

Join me and your peers—finish strong and start strong!  

Learn more  https://talentspecialists.net/unlock-your-potential/

Jill Windelspecht has spent 20 years coaching executives, leading global and regional talent strategies, managing change and developing people. She works with mid- to senior-level executives and business owners to reach their potential and help create organizational climates that lead to lifelong prosperity. Helping executives develop their leadership and communication skills so that they can build a strong, cohesive team and break through any barriers holding themselves and their team back ... and not have to burn themselves out by doing so!  View her website by clicking here or contact Jill via email at Jillwindel@talentspecialists.net.  

A person of influence listens to people. They understand the incredible value of becoming a good listener. Listening shows respect and builds relationships—at work and at home!

When you don’t pay attention to what others have to say, you are sending the message that you don’t value them. When you do listen to others, you are communicating that you respect them and show them that you really care about them.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Every man I meet is in some way my superior, and I can learn from them.” 

How can you learn if you aren’t really listening?  Unfortunately, few people are good at listening.  If you are one of them—fantastic. If you are like most of us, keep reading!

• RELATED: Here are more tips on how you can learn to listen.

What gets in the way of listening?  Here are 3 common barriers that get in the way of effective listening.

Barrier No. 1: Overvaluing talking

Effective communication is not persuasion, it is listening. If you are waiting for the other person to stop talking so you can talk, you’re not listening.

TIP: A good rule of thumb—listen twice and much as you speak. You have two ears and one mouth for a reason!

Barrier No. 2: Lacking focus

Most people tend to speak about 180 words a minute, but they can listen at 300 to 500 words a minute, which can cause you to lose focus. You have all that extra space to fill and you can start daydreaming and thinking about what you want to say next or what you are going to have for lunch. 

TIP: Learn to direct that attention by concentrating on the person you are with. Focus on their body language, watch for facial expression, look into their eyes.

Barrier No. 3: Carrying personal emotional baggage

Your past experiences, both positive and negative, color the way you look at life and shape your expectations—especially strong experiences. As Mark Twain said, “A cat who sits on a hot stove will never sit on a hot stove again. He’ll never site on a cold stove either. From there on, that cat just won’t like stoves”. Being preoccupied can make you defensive and impact your ability to really listen.

TIP: Check your emotions and focus on the purpose of the conversation. Keep yourself on an even keel so that you don’t lose the purpose.

Measure your listening skills.  

Ask someone who knows you well to use these questions to evaluate your listening skills:

• Do I usually look at the speaker while he or she is talking?

• Do I wait for the speaker to finishing talking before I respond?

• Do I make understanding my goal?

• Am I usually sensitive to the speaker’s immediate need?

• Do I make it a practice to check my emotions?

• Do I regularly suspend my judgment until I get the whole story?

• Am I in the practice of summing up what the speaker says at major intervals?

• Do I ask questions for clarity when needed?

• Do I communicate to others that listening is a priority?

3      Tips to becoming a better listenter

No. 1: Don’t interrupt. Give people time to express their ideas. Hold that tongue!

No. 2: Focus on understanding. Listen with the intent on real understanding, not just hearing the words - apply meaning to what you are hearing.

No. 3: Ask questions for clarity. Look at the speaker, suspend your judgements and ask questions to ensure understanding. If you show people how much you care and ask questions in a nonthreatening way, you’ll be amazed by how much they’ll tell you.

There is no greater gift than being listened to and you should really be present with the person you are talking to. As an executive coach, my job is to listen and help leaders come to their own insight. Often, it is one of the few conversations they have where they feel like they are being listened to as well. It is very infrequent that we allow people to talk and be listened to. It seems like such a simple thing but the highly distracted world we live in is often the excuse we give to withholding this gift to the people we care about the most.

"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply." --Stephen R. Covey

About Jill Windelspecht

How you end 2018 is how you will start 2019 - join me and start STRONG!  Mark Twain said “The two most important days in life are the day you were born and the day you discover the reason why.”

Imagine yourself 12 months from now, living the life you’ve always wanted. How would it FEEL to have the clarity to make that possible? How would it FEEL to have a group of people that support, challenge and hold you accountable to your dreams?

Join me and your peers - finish strong and start strong!  

Learn more  https://talentspecialists.net/unlock-your-potential/

Jill Windelspecht has spent 20 years coaching executives, leading global and regional talent strategies, managing change and developing people. She works with mid- to senior-level executives and business owners to reach their potential and help create organizational climates that lead to lifelong prosperity. Helping executives develop their leadership and communication skills so that they can build a strong, cohesive team and break through any barriers holding themselves and their team back ... and not have to burn themselves out by doing so!  View her website by clicking here or contact Jill via email at Jillwindel@talentspecialists.net.  

Hyland began as a small, tech startup in Rocky River and has grown into a globally recognized technology force headquartered right here in Northeast Ohio. But getting to where the company is today was not easy. During a recent Greater Cleveland Partnership event, the company's leadership explained to attendees the three core, guiding principles her company followed to become a globally recognized brand.

Core principle No. 1: Have a clear vision

Before you go out to take over the world, you need to take a second to ask yourself a couple of questions:

• What’s one thing your company is going to do that will help the world?

• What do we need to do to become a great company?

These questions will help you set the vision for your company. Make sure to write down the answers to these questions because they will serve as the guiding values by which you operate your business. (At Hyland, those values are integrity, solutions, partnership, family and passion.)

Decide how you will go about bringing these values to life and revisit them frequently to ensure you’re staying on track.

Core principle No. 2: Chart your success

In addition to putting in place values and a mission that will inspire you, it’s also critical to be able to measure success. At Hyland, one of these measuring sticks is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA. It’s not just about growth. Kirk said. It’s about profitable growth.

Growth via acquisition is another important part of Hyland’s growth strategy, so company executives measure that, too. The company buys technologies that augment the company’s vision and commitment to innovation. And in doing so, Hyland brings people on board who are a good cultural fit. People are 90% of the investment Hyland makes.

Core principle No. 3: Invest in community

The presentation ended with an emphasis that giving back to the community is a critical part of being successful.

A commitment to community giving can yield a lot of positives for a company, particularly as it relates to employee retention. Giving your people an opportunity to go out and help others is a powerful way of giving your employees a sense of pride in what they do and the organization of which they are a part. Giving back is not just a responsibility. It’s a privilege. It’s an honor.

As long as you have one employee or intern, the topic of hiring is an important one for your business. Here we are highlighting some of the expert advice we’ve run on Mind Your Business regarding hiring.

The first thing to know is how to find and keep talented workers

The key to building a great team is to not only find those top-notch employees but to also retain them. That can be challenging for employers who don’t know where to start looking, who aren’t being intentional with their hiring, or who neglect to do their part in maintaining a positive work environment for their employees. From clearly thinking through what type of candidate would be a good fit to creating an effective work/life balance, here are 19 things to consider when it comes to finding and keeping top talent.

• RELATED: Keep these things in mind when evaluating candidates.

The second thing to know is it is also important to find and keep talented interns

Wouldn’t it be ideal to hire an amazing intern who then turns into an amazing regular team member? Internship programs should be way more than just hiring your neighbor’s kid to make copies and coffee runs. An effective internship program should start with finding someone who is the perfect fit for your company and offering them an impactful experience. Here are three key strengths to consider when building your internship program that were discussed at the 2019 Cleveland Internship Summit.

The Internship Summit also explored whether social media is your friend when it comes to hiring interns. Be aware of the benefits and dangers of using social platforms to vet potential internship candidates.

And, whether you are looking for an intern or looking to becomes one, GCP has a one-stop-shop for all your internship needs. Visit GCP’s Internship Central to learn more.

• RELATED: Do you have these 5 must-have items in your staffing toolkit?

The third thing to know is it could be a generational thing.

We know we have Gen Z about to enter the workforce and of course there’s Millennials—but did you know that when effectively hiring and retaining different generations you might need to follow a different set of guidelines? The traditional approaches hiring managers are used to just might not cut it here.

Millennials tend to stay in jobs for a shorter period than generations before them. Part of your strategy in retaining millennials at your company should include a lot of face time (and we’re not talking about on your iPhone) and recognition for their hard work. Here is your go-to guide for engaging millennials in the workplace.

And, when it comes to Gen Z, new thinking may be needed that involves looking at a broad spectrum and engaging in new ways. With that in mind, here are five keys to recruiting Gen Z. Also, take a look at the seven characteristic Gen Zers want in a job and see if you think they differ from other generations.

In our 3 Things to Know series we explore a variety of topics popular on the Mind Your Business site. This month we are taking a close look at what our experts have to share on the subject of networking. Take notes before your next networking event, which might just be the one we feature at the bottom of this article!

The first thing to know: How to differentiate yourself from other businesses

The first key to effective networking is having a solid understanding of how you as a business owner and your business itself are unique compared to others in the market. What makes your product or service better than the other companies providing similar products or services? Before you start networking, it’s crucial to have specific responses to this question locked and loaded. When you’re able to identify those things that separate your business from the rest and effectively center your pitch around those thoughts, people will be attracted to your passion—and, hopefully, your business.

The second thing to know: Listen to Phil

If we are going to talk about networking we must turn to COSE’s self-proclaimed godfather of networking, Phil Stella. He tells it like it is and understands that networking can be a turnoff to some people. In fact, he commonly talks about why he hates networking and why you should, too. Here he shares the 10 worst networking practices and how to avoid them. And, in a popular recent article, Phil asks you to consider an important question: Are you a Networking Slug? Check out his description of this type of networker and how you can avoid networking slug behavior so you aren’t losing business because of it.

• RELATED: Get caught up on our other 3 Things to Know articles.

The third thing to know: It’s all about your approach

So, we know not to be a networking slug. But another approach to effective networking is to see it as less of a formal task that needs to be accomplished, and more of a social event. Take the work out of networking—have more fun by following these tips on how to stop networking and start kibitzing.

And, networking is not just about meeting new people and promoting yourself. It’s about actually creating individual connections. Being prepared, setting personal goals and being a good listener are all ways to help you build these connections—and, in turn, build your business. So don’t just network—engage!

Now, it’s time to apply your newfound networking knowledge to some upcoming opportunities. Check out the Small Business Resource Fair hosted by the Business Growth Collaborative on May 14. Join us for a day focused on helping your small business access the resources, support and opportunities you need to grow.