The Value in a Good System

Headaches are caused when we don't have good systems. Broken systems lead to disorganization, confusion, and chaos whereas smooth systems allow us to move quickly and efficiently.

The importance of developing good systems in your personal and professional leadership is invaluable to your success in networking and in your life. The exact systems that work for me may not pertain to you. It's up to you to find the systems that will benefit you the most. Yet, regardless of what your systems look like, you would be wise to design them if you intend to grow in influence.

What Is a System?
A system is simply your way of getting things done. Systems aren't one-time acts; they're habits that you do weekly or even daily. They're the mechanics of leadership, and over time, they dictate the extent of your effectiveness.

The Value of Systems
1) They Help Us Manage Time - A heavy workload and increasing demands on time can force you to learn how to get things done quickly. It is vital to develop systems to squeeze as much productivity as possible into they day. As Peter Drucker wrote, "Everything requires time. It is the one truly universal condition. All work takes place in time and uses up time. Yet most people take for granted, this unique, irreplaceable, and necessary resource. Nothing else, perhaps, distinguishes effective executives as much as their tender loving care of time."

2) They Help Us Conserve Energy - When we have good systems in life, we don't waste energy. Do you know the number one waster of time? Looking for things that are lost. A study by Office World News found that the average executive squanders 150 hours each year looking for misplaced files.

3)They Help Us to Maximize Progress - Systems help us to move forward, to go as far as we possibly can. They enable us to work faster, smarter, and more strategically. A good system eliminates waste, while it also anticipates and removes obstacles.

To get the most out of systems, you have to make them a lifestyle not a one-off deal. They must become ingrained in your routine. Systems only benefit you when you stick to them.

What Is In a Handshake

I was at an event recently and I received the worst handshake ever. I will not easily forget that person, at least not until the bruise on my hand goes away.

A good handshake can make or break your first impression. In order to be a successful individual, one needs to focus on manners and etiquette and a proper handshake is part of it. A personable handshake involves a strong grip, maintained eye contact and deliberate pumps up and down. A lazy handshake makes you appear disinterested, sort of like a five-fingered yawn. If you're overzealous, however, it's distracting and annoying. I am not going to sit here and explain the details on a good handshake as there is plenty of info online, so do the research yourself. I was amazed on how much information is out there on the subject.

Always end your hand-shake with a pleasant smile and eye-contact. A handshake is just a simple gesture, but it is an important part of etiquette which every social being should learn.

Benefits and Features

If you don’t get the difference between features and benefits, that’s OK. Not a lot of people really do. Realizing the difference can certainly give you a leg up on those that you network with and potential customers to better understand your business. Ask why whatever it is you’re thinking about is important to your customer. When you arrive at an answer that even you have found your benefit. Take the products and services that Nextrio (my employer) can provide, we offer so many features that no one can remember them all or even try to understand them. But if I say that we provide predictable costs to manage their networks...talk about the value of your features, then you can almost see the lights of understanding go off when talking to someone.