The Most-Watched YouTube Videos of the Past Year

Did you know? I currently have more than 50 videos on my YouTube channel!

I thought it would be interesting to share with you the most-watched videos from each of my monthly topics. From assessments to supervisor/employee relationships, I’ve covered a variety of topics to help support executives while they solve problems, develop leadership skills, and increase balance in their lives.

Below are topics from the past year and the video in that series that was most popular!

Topic: Energy

Video:  Two Ways to Increase Energy Immediately!

Topic: Generation Gaps in the Workplace

Video: Who is Generation Jones?

Topic: Assessments

Video: What is a 360 degree assessment and what is its benefit to an organization?

Topic: Management

Video: What Mistakes to Managers Make When Criticizing Employees?

Topic: Career Matching

Video: Can a person be well matched in a job but still feel stressed and inadequate?

Topic: Supervising

Video: Why are managers satisfied with mediocry when it comes to supervision?

Topic: Employee/boss relationship

Video: Why is the supervisor/employee relationship a problem in so many cases?

Topic: Self-Management

Video: What are some simple things people can do to increase their self-management skills?

Topic: Coaching

Video: A coach wears may different hats throughout the coaching engagement. What are those hats?

Topic: Getting to know Sylvia

Video: How does an executive coach differ from a business coach?

Which video did you find valuable? Why?

Helping New Managers Train for Success

A promotion to a management position is a valuable opportunity to gain prestige, visibility and a higher salary. Yet, this promotion is often the result of long term service to a company and historical job knowledge, not because of real-life management experience. New managers are left to rely upon their common sense and gut instinct or to simply learn as they go. This current model promotes frustration and dysfunction within a company, not success.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, you are not alone.

To combat this lack of new management training, Launching Lives’ Founder and Owner, Sylvia Helper will soon launch a new product specifically aimed toward assisting individuals in learning the essential skills needed to function as a manager. Launching Leaders With Sylvia: 5 Essentials for First Time Managers is designed to address the challenges and uncertainties experienced by individuals in new management positions. This product features instruction around the five essential aspects of management including: mindset toward management, time management, professional image, supervision and building trust.

Referred to as “The Manager’s Coach,” Sylvia Hepler is an industry-recognized expert in the field of management and leadership training and coaching. Her background in management provides her with the insight needed to develop a management training product of the highest function and value. In designing this product, Sylvia knew it needed to be something compact, to the point and accessible whether you were at home, in the office or on the road. And that’s exactly what 5 Essentials for First Time Managers delivers. This single kit combines hours of reading books and attending seminars into just five disks which can be listened to anywhere you are.

“When I was first promoted to a management position, I read books and attended seminars, but these resources didn’t boil down the essential content in the succinct, cut to the chase, sort of way I craved,” said Sylvia Hepler, President of Launching Lives, LLC. “I developed 5 Essentials for First Time Managers as the product I wish I would have had and as a way to give new managers the information they need—clearly, simply and fast.”

This product is ideal for new managers who wish to create a working professional image, enhance supervisory skills, combat low productivity and disorganization and develop loyalty and trust with employees. 5 Essentials for First Time Managers will officially launch in the coming weeks where it will then be made available for purchase from the Launching Lives web site or from Amazon.

7 Tips to Bring Positive Energy into Your Life

Nancy Stampahar

This week, we wrap up our series on energy. Do you know the one thing we need to release in order to boost our energy? It’s giving up the notion that we can do it all! Click here to discover more about this. It’s critical that we eliminate the multitude of things that zap our energy. Nancy Stampahar of Silver Lining Solutions offers insight for bringing positive energy into our life and learning to say ‘no’ once and for all!

Do you need more positive energy in your life?  By learning how to occasionally say “no” and treating each other with respect, you can take control of the demands at work and home you are facing.   You must learn how to not fret over your own feelings of guilt, fears of rejection or possible repercussions.  You can still be helpful and considerate of others, but you must take care of yourself first.  Before you respond to someone, ask yourself, “What would make me most happy and fulfilled?”  Once you develop assertive communication skills, you will be able to effectively handle difficult people and awkward situations.
7 Tips to Say “No” and Assert Yourself Today

1. Become self-aware of your communication and behavior patterns.  What is consistently happening in your life? How do these patterns affect you?
2. Evaluate the reasons you feel the need to please or control everyone.
3. Realize the goal of assertive communication is to express your thoughts and boundaries while being direct, honest and respectful of others.
4. Realize it is necessary and okay to say “no” sometimes and to ask questions.
5. Example for Anyone: “I see why this is important to you.  I am unable to help this time.  Let’s try to figure out some other possible solutions that could work.”
6. Example for Boss: “This is what is on my plate right now.  Which one of these priorities would you prefer I remove to accommodate your request?”
7. Example for Anyone: “I’d love to join you but my schedule is already full that week.  Please keep me in mind the next time. Have fun.”

If you do not address your own unique needs, your frustrations will build, you will feel taken for granted and your performances and relationships will suffer.  As Dr. Phil says, “We teach people how to treat us.” It is up to you to face the fears and guilt you carry from your disease to please. Find your courage to change and grow.  When you stop feeling guilty and seeking approval of others, your days will be fueled by positive energy, confidence and self-respect.  You will feel empowered and in control of your life because you utilized your power of choice. You hold the power.  Enjoy the season and assert yourself today!

Source: Nancy Stampahar’s energetic, engaging personality and work initiatives are packed with real-life “how-to’s” and solutions that help you succeed at both work and home. A skilled consultant and the award-winning author of Peace, Love, and Lemonade: A Recipe to Make Your Life Sweeter, Nancy’s heartfelt words, expertise and enthusiasm will ignite your power within to succeed, and her famed “Silver Lining Solutions” will have you making lemonade out of lemons in no time at all! Visit: www.silverliningsolutions.tv

New Resolve for Resolutions

What is the secret to increasing personal energy? I reveal the answer in this YouTube clip.

The answer also reflects what’s true of many at the beginning of a new year: a commitment to change.  I’ve asked one of my favorite guest writers to return to offer insight on this topic. I’m pleased to present the following blog written by Adrienne Thoman. You can read her work on teamwork by clicking here.

During the final moments of 2011, the ball dropped in NYC, the last verse of Auld Lang Syne concluded, and I embarked on another annual tradition… creating my NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS. Yes, each and every year I create a lengthy list of goals for the coming 12 months. Some are noble (Eliminate credit card debt and finally make Suze Orman proud); some are not (re-watch the entire 7 seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

So what happens in March (yes, sometimes even February) that derails me from these goals? For one reason or another, I’ve lost my motivation. Here are a few tips that I use, and that might help you, to keep you working well into 2012.

1. EXPECT CHANGE. If everything could stay the same, you would have already reached your goal. So something has to give. It may be that you need to get up an hour earlier so that you make time for your favorite Zumba® Fitness Class (with me!). You might have to pass on the spring bowling league so you can take that cooking class. The point is that things will be different, and that is GREAT! “Different” is what is going to lead you to reach your goal. Remember, “the same” didn’t do it – so try something new!

2. ASK FOR HELP. I learned this one the hard way. I’ve tried a wide array of diet fads and home programs, but each time my success was short-lived. What really changed for me was getting the courage to ask for help. For you, this might show up in a variety of ways – perhaps you take a budgeting workshop to learn how to manage your finances or find a mentor to help you move to the next level professionally. It can be scary, but do it anyway! Individually we are limited. But by working together, we can truly accomplish anything.

3. BELIEVE YOU CAN ACHIEVE. Sounds simple, right? But this is the hardest one! I had a new gym member in my Zumba® Fitness Class today – His goal was to exercise more and lose some extra weight. Before the start of class he said to me, “We’ll see how long this lasts.”  Now, did he really believe that he was going to achieve his goal? The same goes for you! Put the negative self-talk AWAY, and truly envision yourself in your new reality. We are all capable of so much more than we think we are. Believe it and you WILL achieve it.

Quick Tips:

1. Create a goal poster – Final visual representations of your goal (i.e. a pic of your child to remind you of the many healthy days you will share when you quit smoking). Put it someplace where you will see it… every day.
2. Positive affirmations – Tell yourself every day that you are making it happen. And say it like you mean it! NO: “I will be so much happier when I lose weight” (that’s still negative). INSTEAD: “I look and feel great because I’ve taken control of my health!”
3. Do something toward your goal every day. Trying to learn Spanish? Even on your off days, commit to learning just one word. Even if you slack all year, you’ll still have 365 ways to say, “I DID IT!”

Adrienne Thoman works as a Marketing & Public Relations Specialist for HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College. She also moonlights as a licensed Zumba® Fitness Instructor in the Central PA area. Comments/questions can be directed to Adrienne at adriennethoman@yahoo.com or www.facebook.com/ZumbaAdrienne.