I asked someone I really respected, what do I need to get ahead? They told me to get an MBA.

At the time I was raising three kids, chasing three ferrets and managing a career. The idea of adding MBA classes to the mix was enough to make me dizzy. Even later, when I was interviewing for a Director of Quality position and didn’t get the offer, I asked what was missing. They responded that I had great credentials, but I was missing my PCQI certification in Food Safety. I did eventually obtain that, but I question what was the value as I already had demonstrated competency in that area. 

What is the value of certifications? 

I could get myself in trouble because there is big business behind higher education & the certification industry, but that is secondary to what you need to do to elevate the impact of your team.

At surface level, certifications are proof that someone has the knowledge necessary to complete a specific task. An MBA serves as a testament to a knowledge base of business strategy and leadership skills.

However, when leading your own team you already have an understanding of what your individuals are capable of. Sending a team member off for a certification or an MBA while they are already juggling the job duties of your organization plus the responsibilities of outside life is sure to cause a dip in productivity at best and total burnout at worst.

Customizing Leadership Development

As leaders of high performers, we can identify the gaps of our team members and find the right strategies and resources to help them elevate their own skills on their own time. We do this through mentorship, trainings, and most of all business development books.

I wrote The CEO’s Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track, to be a resource for the CEO going through rapid transformation. Many of the chapters around People, Process and Platforms are aimed to equip your people with the tools for greater impact. Why certify when they can gain all the knowledge at your fingertips?

I truly care about giving you the resources you need to elevate your team. During my research for the book I have met and developed relationships with an outstanding network of people. I would still be struggling had I not found these amazing people who do purposeful work and how they’ve helped me; now they can help you. These resources provide you tools to complex engagement such as public speaking, messaging and negotiation:

Laura Sicola who’s book – Speaking to Influence can help your team speak with authority and make an impact in how they drive conversation and decisions. 

David Bricker who’s two books Story Sailing and Speak Inside the Box enhance the individuals influence by weaving in story telling into their presentation and best practices for virtual engagement. 

Karyl Eckerle author of The Image Impact teaches you the importance of both internal and external messaging. Nothing is worse when your people present information, but how they show up confuses the receiver of their message. 

Moshe Cohen, an interesting title, but ever so practical, he has shared his work through Collywobbles: How to Negotiate when negotiating makes you nervous. This was an amazing resource to provide tips when engaging in dynamic conversations to gain a result. 

What are you doing to elevate your team through resources, workshops, training, professional development to elevate your team’s impact?

A small investment into growing the intellectual assets of your company can pay dividends for a lifetime. Be a leader and forget the certifications. Your money is better spent in leveraging other resources. The reason I say this is once certified, it’s a one and done and often sits on a shelf without application. Leveraging resources and engaging in mentoring behaviors will leave a greater and lasting impact on you and your team. 

Now let’s talk so I can connect you to the rest of my network to elevate your team!

Resources

Good Reads

The Self Employed Life by Jeffrey Shaw

What can I say? He’s been writing about my entrepreneurial journey since I first found him 3 years ago. I know him personally and have had the honor of interviewing him on my podcast. His work is noble in creating the entrepreneurial ecosystem that can help propel your business forward. I’m grateful to know him and you should check out all his resources.

Good Music

Dancing on the Light by Richard Dillon

This song is light, but also pensive and serves me when I’m seeking to get into creative flow. It’s filled with possibilities and takes you on a journey to create beautiful works. It helps me both with writing and jogging. Enjoy!

Good People

“Always lead by example, especially early on. Be the first one there and the last one to leave.” – Jack Brendamour

Listen and subscribe now: https://lnkd.in/dfxK2DA

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