Leaders in Gear

The Perfect Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:36:00 +0000

Leaders in Gear is the perfect gift idea for any leader in your life. Click here for a preview PDF and here for an excerpt PDF.

"I read your book Leaders in Gear. Every time I'm having trouble with something whether its making a decision or planning something I take a look at it and it always helps me out."
Student Leader

Leaders in Gear Overview

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:55:00 +0000

Leaders in Gear
"Inspire good work from yourself, your team and your presentations."

Leaders in Gear will inspire you to take action and get your leadership in gear in three areas of your life: your personal leadership journey, your interaction with your team and any speeches, workshops or presentations you give. "Good work" refers to not only striving for excellence in everything you do, but also working to be an ethical leader of strong character. You will discover that Leaders in Gear is full of stories, quick tips and very specific strategies to move you closer to those ends.

Leaders in Gear Credo Poster Updated Available!

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Click here to download a legal-sized PDF of the new Leaders in Gear Credo poster to display in your office or classroom.

Recommendation

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:44:00 +0000

"I just wanted to say that I finally got time to look into your Leaders in Gear book. It is great! I'm only about 50 pages into it, but I've been able to connect with it really well, so I intend to tell my school administrators, my parents and my FCCLA adviser about it. Hopefully, they're as interested as I am. There are some pretty quotable comments you've got in there, so I might end up using them as status updates every once in a while, hope you don't mind!
Taylor Vollmer
Student Leader, Minnesota FCCLA

Recommendation

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 02:00:00 +0000

"Leaders in Gear is one of the best resources I have for helping students be the best leader they can be and preparing them to create workshops and speeches that engage their audience as they deliver their message."

Jane Manning
Program Coordinator, Oregon FCCLA/HOSA

Four Big Questions to get in G.E.A.R.

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:48:00 +0000

One of the primary purposes of leadership conferences and classes is to inspire people to get their leadership in gear. This initiative is obviously close to my heart and one that makes a dramatic impact. As we motivate and inspire conference participants or leadership students to make a difference, there are four key questions we need to help them with. Their answers to these questions and our sage advice on how to answer them provides the foundation and fuel needed to get their leadership in gear.

Four Questions to get in G.E.A.R.
(And a few key anchor words...)

Grounded - Why are you here?

This question is not about why they are at the conference or in the class (although that is important). It is about why they are anywhere. What is your purpose in life? Leaders who understand, are deeply connected with and stay grounded to their core purpose are more likely to get and stay in gear. This purpose must align with your deepest values and beliefs. Why are you here? The answer to this question gives life meaning.

Engaged - What do you create?

Highly effective leaders are results-oriented. They are greatly concerned with making things happen, creating change and leaving everywhere they go and everyone they connect with a little better than they found them. They are excellent at creating cool, interesting and meaningful stuff; which in turn attracts people with those same qualities. What do you create? The answer to this question gives life direction.

Authentic - Who are you?

Self-awareness is critical to good leadership. You must understand your strengths, weaknesses, talents and skills before you can fully lead. Highly effective leaders are so true to who they are, their "leaderly" actions become second nature. This allows them to genuinely place their time and attention on others. People are starving for leaders who are authentic, bold and caring. Who are you? The answer to this question gives life clarity.

Relationship-focused - Who is on your team?

Life and leadership are team sports. Engaged leaders have identified, understand the importance of and spend time cultivating the relationships in their life. This includes people following them and people they follow. They put relationships first and results second. Who is on your team? Answering this question gives life joy.

If you are a leadership teacher, trainer or conference organizer, invest time examining your curriculum, material and speakers and make sure these four critical questions are addressed.

Step one is to know your personal answer to each. Here are mine:

1. Why are you here?

To bring glory to God through my relationships and my leadership teachings.

2. What do you create?

Personally, I create harmony and security for my wife and daughters. Professionally, I create a tribe of inspired and motivated students, educators and professionals armed with better tools for getting their leadership in gear.

3. Who are you?

I am a Christian, American, husband, father, speaker, author, blogger, singer-songwriter and epic fajita artist. I am more than what I do though. I am what I believe, who I spend my time with, what I read/watch/listen to and what I think. I work hard to align all of those elements with my answers to #1 and #2.

4. Who is on your team?

My most important team mates are Jesus Christ, my wife Ashley, and my daughters Vivian and Addison (and soon-to-be Emerlyn Kate :). Ashley and I's immediate family, friends, peers, church family and long-time clients also play a vital role on my team. All my audience members, clients, and suppliers comprise the rest of my team. They are all a joy to work with and make my team exciting, colorful and ever expanding.

How about you?

- Posted from Rhett's iPhone on tour in San Diego.

Location:Harbor Island Dr,San Diego,United States

Recommendation

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:40:00 +0000

“I have known Rhett for close to eight years. He is an inspiration to me and thousands of other student leaders from across the nation. Without Rhett’s leadership and advice I would not be the person that I am today. Leaders in Gear is the perfect reference guide if you want to remarkably improve your speaking and presentation skills. I would recommend this book to anyone trying to become a better leader!”

Christopher J. Cavin
President, Oklahoma Student Government Association

How to Maximize a Conference Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:58:00 +0000

John Maxwell, the famous leadership author and teacher, tells us there are three things we must do to grow as leaders:

1. Surround yourself with the right people.
2. Consume the right media.
3. Attend the right conferences.

When you attend conferences, to make the most of them, follow these five guidelines.

1. Be child-like. This doesn't mean throw a tantrum if the room is too cold. It means ask questions. Lots of them. Don't let your pride or reputation or position keep you from raising that hand and getting clarity, more information or better information.

2. Take organized notes. If you aren't writing, you aren't learning. But don't just write to recall. Write with organization. Make notes of what needs to be delegated, acted upon immediately, filed for later, etc. This will help your post-conference actions take flight quicker and more efficiently.

3. Offer solutions, advice and suggestions in a CVS format. Concrete. Visual. Simple. It is important to not only add value where you can, but to be clear with your thoughts.

4. Maximize gap time. The official sessions and breakouts will be valuable learning environments, but the real magical sharing times happen early in the morning, at meals and during breaks. Make the most of them.

5. Seek out answers. If possible, go to conference with specific questions and challenges you are looking to resolve. Then hunt to find experts, speakers, exhibitors and attendees who might just have the answers you are looking for.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Indiana FFA State Convention 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:45:00 +0000

Sold out of Leaders in Gear last night after my keynote at the 2010 Indiana FFA State Convention. I am so very proud of all the students, parents and advisors for investing in their leadership. LiG is packed with tips and strategies to help them know how to use their influence to make a positive difference in the lives of others!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

LeadershipNow Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:17:00 +0000

Big thanks to Michael McKinney for providing a quick, but insightful overview of Leaders in Gear on his LeadershipNow site...

http://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/2010/06/5_leadership_lessons_getting_y_1.html

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Big Time Thanks!

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:43:00 +0000

Great big thanks to the state advisors of the Oklahoma CTSOs (BPA, DECA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, SkillsUSA, and TSA) for investing in your state officers by purchasing a Leaders in Gear and Activator (www.PersonalLeadershipInsight.org) for each of them. With your officers equipped with each of these, they are ready to start building every keynote, workshop and training for the entire year! Best of luck!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Application Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Thu, 13 May 2010 02:59:00 +0000

Following are a few application ideas from clients and how they are using Leaders in Gear:

Micheal Brammer, Pennsylvania FFA Executive Secretary - He purchased 11 books - one for each of his state FFA officers as a resource for speech material and for their personal leadership study.
Linda Miner, Laverne High School student council advisor and teacher - She purchased 32 books - one for each of the graduating seniors at LHS as graduation gifts.
Claude Kershner IV, Oklahoma State University MBA student - Claude purchased the book to supplement his masters studies as he recognizes the value of improving his LQ (leadership intelligence).
Linnie Berkenbile, Oklahoma Business/Marketing/IT ED Division State Program Manager - She purchased 80 books - one for each of her teachers to use as a leadership teaching tool in the classroom.

How can you use Leaders in Gear to help your team get their leadership and presentation skills in gear?

Twitter & Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 17:53:00 +0000

If you have a Facebook, you can also keep up with everything Leaders in Gear related by joining our fan page. Just search for Leaders in Gear the next time you log in to Facebook. If you are one of our awesome LIG purchasers, please post a note on the wall and tell our over 300 fans what you most like about your Leaders in Gear book.

Also, if you are on Twitter, please post a tweet with your favorite LIG chapter or lesson. Tag it #ligbook. Thanks!

Recommendation

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:45:00 +0000

"Leaders in Gear is an excellent resource for anyone looking to better their leadership skills and speaking abilities. Rhett breaks his points down in an easy to understand fashion and offers practical hands on examples that will help leaders succeed. This is an awesome resource for folks of all ages!"

Matt and Andrea Lohr
New Directions Communications

Recommendation

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:41:00 +0000

"Leaders in Gear is full of lots of practical ideas for working leaders."

Mark Sanborn
Professional Speaker, Leadership Expert, Leadership Author
www.marksanborn.com

Leaders in Gear Book Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 01:14:00 +0000

Download a 30-page excerpt of the book in PDF format.

Book Excerpt

Enjoy.

Table of Concepts Bookmark

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:53:00 +0000

When you purchase a copy of Leaders in Gear, you receive this custom bookmark with a complete Table of Concepts. Use it as a quick reference guide to the meat in the book. Order here.

Table of Concepts

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 13:15:00 +0000

Leaders in Gear is written to be quickly and easily consumed. It is filled with fresh leadership and presentation skills content, stories and concrete, tangible lessons. The following list showcases all of the concepts incluced in Leaders in Gear. Order your copy today.

Leaders in Gear Table of Concepts

Leaders in Gear Credo
Your 4 Fuel Tanks
LIFT Happiness Strategies
9 Ways to Commit
4 Steps to Personal Growth
The Threshold Thread
6 Indicators of Good Time Management
Epic Journeys
4 Attributes of Creative People
3 Barriers to Creativity
4 Steps to Overcoming Failure
GREAT Goals
9 Elements of DUH Leadership
OTIS Elevator Speeches
9 Ambassador Characteristics
Branding Statements
5 Great Team Components
SMILE to Work a Room
3 Ways to Bring the Best out of Others
5 Ways to Connect
5 Approaches to Directing
Stop, Drop & ROLLL to Apologize
Trust Scale
6 Steps to Listening Like a Leader
6 Questions to Motivate
Doers, Throughers & Spewers
5 Coaching Conversations
4 Ways to Persuade Others
7 Fundraising Insights
3 Ideas for Dealing with Negative People
10 Tips for Dealing with Controlling Leaders
17 Brainstorming Tips
4 Negotiation Strategies
7 Ideas for having Great Meetings
7 Speaking Basics
5 Speaking Misconceptions
3 Common Speaking Pitfalls
5 Tips for Creating Memorable Messages
CAKE to Handle Nerves
SMART Presenters
Speaking Time Rules
5 Presentation Drivers
9 Tips to Leading Small Group Discussions
Training Room Set-Up Strategies
5 Audience Rapport Lessons
5 Techniques for Engaging an Auditorium Audience
6 Speaking Challenges & Solutions
4 Levels of Difficult Audience Members
4 Audience Types
4 Great Keynote Strategies
6 Tips for Handling Off-Plan Keynote Moments
5 Ways to Concentrate Your Room
5 Tips for Partner Presenting
5 Tips for Speaking Introductions
13 Tips for Powerful Slide Shows
3 Great Banquet Talk Tips
All The Big MOs
Leadership Library
Blog Library

Recommendation

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:10:00 +0000

"In 'Leaders in Gear,' Rhett Laubach has isolated and employed a useful metaphor for the challenge facing every leader: how to cultivate the virtuous habits and practices that create effective personal and organizational leadership, and how to sustain them over time. Equally applicable for the seasoned or the aspiring leader, 'Leaders in Gear' will provide the young leader with a roadmap of the essential elements of success and the veteran with engaging reminders and pithy examples that can challenge and inspire a renewed focus on first principles. In particular, Rhett's disciplined application of the concept of the 'Big MO' creates a compelling touchstone equally applicable to those of us in business, education, government or other sectors of service who can, from time to time, forget to focus on the traits essential to 'greasing the gears' of leadership."

Jerome Loughridge
President, Black Mesa Energy Services
Former White House Fellow

Recommendation

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:52:00 +0000

"Rhett has created a dynamic resource providing quick tips and strategies to develop leadership and presentations skills. The layout of the chapters and flow of the book, make it an enjoyable read. Leaders in Gear is ideal for parents and students to use in developing their potential as leaders, team players and communicators."

Byron V. Garrett
Chief Executive Officer
National PTA

Preview Document

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 23:13:00 +0000

Click here to view a preview PDF of Leaders in Gear. If you are interested in purchasing the book in bulk for your team or organization, forward this PDF to your decision-making committee.

Recommendation

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:31:00 +0000

"A must read with powerful tips on every page to shift your leadership gears into overdrive and genuinely impact who you are, who you will become, and non-stop, real-life “how to’s.” I'd recommend this book to managers, speakers, consultants, and organizational leaders; everyone who cares about becoming more effective--now. Rhett literally hands the reader an entire career of experiences devoted to building character, skill, and personal impact. With Leaders In Gear, you’ll find yourself in the driver’s seat.”

Steve Roesler, President and CEO
Roesler Consulting Group
www.steveroesler.com

The Big Three...

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:16:00 +0000

Leaders in Gear starts with looking at the three basic dynamics that must be in play in your life before you can really start moving mountains with your leadership...

1. Focus on something bigger than yourself. What is your greater purpose?

2. True success and joy are bi-products of helping others. Who are you actively serving?

3. Every useful brush has a canvas upon which to leave its mark. What is your cause?

Once you can genuinely and completely answer those three questions, you are ready to bring value and change in a real and meaningful way. What's your answers?

The Presentations Section's Big MOs

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:22:00 +0000

Leaders in Gear is built in three sections: Get Yourself in Gear, Get Your Team in Gear, Get Your Presentations in Gear. Each of the 59 chapters has one big "do this if you do anything" idea called the Big MO. The Big MOs from the first two sections are in previous posts. Here are the Big MOs from the Get Your Presentations in Gear section:

38. Seven Speaking Tips - Give concrete, visual, simple messages.
39. Five Speaking Misconceptions - Credibility starts with authenticity.
40. Three Common Pitfalls - Give your talks zest, flavor and life.
41. Create Memorable Messages - Less information is more.
42. Control Nerves - Know your stuff top to bottom.
43. SMART Presenters - Broken time rules kill presentations.
44. Develop Presentations - Quickly figure out your unique position.
45. Small Group Credibility - Smile and express genuine charisma.
46. Lead Small Group Discussions - Get everyone engaged to improve output.
47. Room Preparation - Your presentation starts before you do.
48. Build Audience Rapport - Orchestrate their involvement.
49. Engage an Auditorium Audience - An auditorium’s cons can be pros.
50. Keeping Attention - Use emotions to get and keep attention.
51. Difficult Audience Members - Once you lose control, you lose trust.
52. Four Audience Types - Everyone has a reason for how they respond.
53. Great Keynotes - Be fully engaged.
54. Unplanned Keynote Moments - Respond positively to distractions.
55. Concentrate Your Room - Get everyone facing the same direction.
56. Your Personality Matters - Be the best of you and a little of them.
57. Great Speaker Introductions - The speaker introduction is the speech’s start.
58. Powerful Slide Shows - Slide shows are for visual support.
59. Perfect Banquet Talks - Be entertaining.

Pre-Order Leaders in Gear

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:11:00 +0000

Pre-order Leaders in Gear today. Will arrive on your doorstep in April!