Healthy leadership behaviors can promote careers, leave positive lasting impressions, and create successful businesses. Being a good leader requires courage and walking the path of morality and integrity. Excellent leaders understand they can only be successful by learning from and helping others. Practicing servant leadership focuses on the common good. It teaches how to lead others and never stop learning from them. Legacy-making, career-advancing, and successful business outcomes are the result. 

TRUST-BUILDING

Trust is critical to effective leadership, and behaviors should be identified, assessed, and enhanced. Leadership teams and workers connect daily in organizations with strong employee engagement by modeling and exhibiting trusted behaviors like establishing transparency, recognizing reality, and setting expectations.

DELEGATION

Autocracy and micromanagement are the exact opposite of what should occur to foster high trust and unleash risk-taking and creativity. Good leaders release control and share their power to express creativity and confidence. You get the best version of a team by liberating people to offer ideas and work to their strengths.

LISTENING

The ability to listen well gives co-workers and subordinates the flexibility to participate in the discourse. A leader who uses their arrogance about knowing it all to cover their uneasiness is inappropriate for the position. Intelligent and empathetic leaders know how much they already know and actively seek new information via listening. Excellent leaders are humble, self-assured, and aware of their own opinions. They listen carefully to what others believe. Strong leaders will ask plenty of probing questions about how things are done, what aspects people enjoy, and suggestions for change. 

OWNERSHIP

A leader will only have a few followers if they reject opposing viewpoints. Successful leaders build a following by emphasizing humility and being at ease with admitting when they are wrong or lack all the answers. Figuring out a solution should always be more important than being right. It’s human nature to want a group to agree with your suggestions or opinions. On the other hand, open discourse breeds creativity, respect, and trust. Leaders who own their mistakes understand the value of retracting their statements when they are shown to be incorrect. The best perk of graciousness and humility is a low turnover rate and increased employee morale.

INTEGRITY

Integrity has been defined as doing the right thing, even when nobody is watching. Stay true to your character and principles, even when your actions may have adverse effects. Influential leaders make decisions that are consistent with who they are. They are truth-oriented, operate honestly, welcome change, decry wrongdoing, and produce actual results.

This article was originally published at jameskassouf.co.

The difference between decent and exceptional leaders is their degree of emotional intelligence. High IQs and technical proficiency are required to complete daily tasks. Nearly everyone with whom you compete at work has the same skill sets. A leadership team’s level of emotional intelligence will ultimately save or ruin an enterprise.

Leaders set the emotional climate of the company. When they are unproductive and set a bad example for treating others, it affects the whole organization. 12% of people leave their jobs due to poor management. Low emotional intelligence can lead to other issues, such as increased employee turnover and toxic behavior among workers. The good news is that the fundamental abilities that make up emotional intelligence, such as empathy and other interpersonal skills, as well as self-awareness and self-management, can be developed with practice.

THE USE OF MINDFULNESS

Leading others requires self-control through self-awareness and self-regulation. Your example impacts others around you. You won’t be good at dealing with others if you can’t control your behavior. One of the most efficient methods for increasing self-awareness and self-control is mindfulness, which manages how we respond to our emotions. You will detect changes and comprehend how external influences affect you by increasing your awareness of what is happening intellectually and emotionally inside of you. 

Meta-cognition, the capacity to keep track of our thoughts and emotions, can be developed through mindfulness. The development of self-awareness depends on this. We manage ourselves better, and we interact and collaborate with others more effectively. This is useful for facilitating clear and open communication, combined with the fact that it has been shown to promote empathy. 

LEARN TO TAKE CRITICISM

To succeed as a manager, you must be ready to own your shortcomings and mistakes. Ignoring criticism limits development and advancement. A crucial trait of an emotionally intelligent leader is the capacity to receive criticism without becoming upset. Defensiveness will undermine the confidence built up within a team and the existing trust. It’s harder to hear critique as your career develops, but just because something worked with one group or employee doesn’t indicate it will work in all other situations you encounter. 

When you get criticism, pause. If necessary, mentally count from 1 to 10 to let any initial feelings pass. Thank people for their comments. Tell them how much you value their guts in approaching you. To better comprehend the feedback and its effects, ask clarifying questions and for examples of what they’re saying.

This article was originally published at jameskassouf.co.

When saving for a house, exploring the various storage methods is crucial. The necessity for rapid and easy access to the funds required for a house down payment eliminates choices like a long-term certificate of deposit. The money should ideally provide a return while holding steady enough in value to cover the down payment when the time comes. The account should also be in a format you can readily contribute to, such as directly from your paycheck. The most crucial factor to remember is finding the risk-reward ratio, flexibility, and timing that works for you.

Savings Account

The most straightforward option is to keep your money in a savings account at the same bank or credit union where you conduct your banking. You can start a savings account much faster if you’re an existing client. You can quickly move funds from your checking account to savings, either manually or automatically. The National Credit Union Association (NCUA) or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has ensured the money, making it safe. Yet, there is a drawback to this choice. Given the very low-interest rates most savings accounts offer, it is a minor return on your investment.

High-Yield Savings Account

Choose a high-yield savings account to increase your interest earnings without losing the security of FDIC or NCUA protection. Using your present bank is the easiest option since some financial organizations only allow current customers to open these accounts. High-yield savings accounts, as their name implies, pay substantially more interest than standard savings accounts, often 10 to 20 times as much. The flip side is internet banking. Banks that solely operate online provide the greatest rates on these accounts. One of these virtual institutions could be your best bet for saving money if you can live without physical sites. But, compared to holding a savings account at your bank, you will probably have to wait a bit longer for transfers from your checking account if you are not already a client of internet banking. Even the interest rates offered by online savings accounts pale compared to the possible returns from alternative investing strategies.

First-Time Homebuyers Savings Account

To aid prospective first-time homeowners and encourage house purchases, a number of U.S. states provide special rates and requirements for first-time homebuyers. Before creating an account, confirm the program’s benefits since they differ by state. 

Brokerage Account

Let your down payment capital build up in an investing account at a big brokerage if you don’t mind taking on more risk. Use the account to put your money in mutual funds and stocks, potentially giving higher returns than even high-yield savings accounts. You may not, however, see those robust returns as soon as you need—or at all—due to the stock market’s volatility. Equity brokerage accounts are best kept for house buyers with flexible timelines who can afford to wait for market volatility.  

This article was originally published at jameskassouf.info.

Leaders are members of teams, despite also being bosses. And as hard as leaders work to remind their staff about self-care, it remains a significant area of improvement for them. 

For one thing, leaders are trained to put their needs on the back burner. This means ignoring or dismissing telltale signs of burnout or fatigue. With the past few years adding more stress to everyone’s plates, bosses are routinely putting their own needs aside to ensure the well-being of their staff and the health of their businesses.

There is also enormous pressure to work nonstop. When Americans claim they have never taken a sick day, it is a badge of honor. There is also a fear that the department will fall apart if the boss leaves for a significant period. Old-school rules dictate that leaders shouldn’t need time for themselves and shouldn’t act like part of a team because they are in a superior role for a reason. The truth is that team leaders are team members, albeit not individual contributors. If they do their job correctly, the team should be able to function perfectly fine without them, only asking for help when issues arise. Therefore, if a leader needs a mental health break, there is no excuse not to take one. Much like the advice about taking oxygen before helping others, you can’t be the best version of yourself if you are in decline. 

How you begin and finish each day significantly influences your productivity in the workplace. By establishing a morning routine, you can start feeling confident and upbeat each day. Establishing a nighttime regimen with relaxing activities might improve your sleep. The key is to establish and maintain a pattern that works for you.

Taking care of yourself makes you happy, and happiness is contagious. Self-care has been shown to help people control emotions. If you feel renewed and rejuvenated, others will pick up on your positive outlook and use it to improve their lives.

Self-care enables you to empathize with your team’s difficulties. By placing self-care first, you’re acknowledging that aspects of your well-being may need improvement. This makes you a more sympathetic leader who comprehends the difficulties faced by your team. Showing your human side will make it easier for your team members to connect and look up to you. Remember that employees respect leaders who are open about their strengths and flaws.

Stress reduction is essential, particularly for leaders. Because persistent stress may affect your brain and make it more difficult to make rational judgments, a small amount of short-term stress can add adrenalin and help you prepare for an important meeting. But you’ll be able to think clearly again if you control your tension via exercise or other anxiety reducers like meditation. Even little pauses during the day help you feel less stressed.

This article was originally published at jameskassouf.co.

Americans rank moving as the third most stressful life event. Homeowners dissatisfied with their present residence have two choices: remodel or relocate. When making this choice, there are several factors to consider besides your mental health.

76% of Americans stated they would choose to update their present house over making a down payment on a new one if given a chance. However, remodeling is not always the best course of action, either. There are clear advantages and disadvantages to remodeling and moving, including financial expense and time cost. Whether to purchase a new house or schedule a home improvement project depends on various economic and emotional considerations for you and your family.

Most Americans dislike moving, but it can be your best choice if you’re prepared for a significant shift. There are many reasons to contemplate selling your house, whether you’ve outgrown your existing residence, see a good sales opportunity, or believe the grass looks greener. But before you do, look at the benefits and drawbacks.

Benefits of Moving

If you have equity in your present house, selling it and buying a new one might be a terrific way to update your portfolio. It can be wise to sell your home if its current value exceeds your debt. You need to have adequate equity to cover closing fees, pay off your mortgage, pay for moving expenses, and make a new down payment. Moving allows you to choose a home that suits your requirements, within reason. 

It will save you the hassle and cost of renovation, too. The average remodeling in the U.S. costs $46,503, and the typical gut and remodel costs $150,000. Downsizing might relieve financial pressure and enable you to pay off more unpaid debt. Over half of Americans had trouble making their mortgage payments last year and reduced their home sizes as a result.

Sometimes a change of scenery is the answer. A view shift could be a chance to broaden your mental and physical welfare. Before you begin your search, note the features you like and dislike about your present area so you can keep them in mind when looking at other homes. 

Drawbacks of Moving

Selling your house is a costly undertaking. In addition to the price of the new home you’ll eventually buy, there are many selling and moving expenses to consider. A few charges you can incur after listing your property for sale include movers, home inspection fees, real estate commission, and home repairs. Do you have work or family responsibilities that must come first? Could you balance the strain of relocating with other impending events in your life right now? If not, it could be a good idea to postpone the relocation or consider remodeling.

Finding a new house that satisfies your requirements will take a lot of work. Finding a home in a desirable area that also suits your wants and budget may be quite challenging.

Benefits of Remodeling

The most straightforward approach to living in your ideal home is to take an existing home you love and modify. With remodeling, you can make your present house more personalized without the expense and stress of a significant transfer. One of the most remarkable ways to strategically increase the value of your property is via renovations, which will put more money in your pocket when you decide to sell. Be aware that renovations can entail upfront expenses, but if you have cash saved or are ready to borrow money, these fees are often justified.

Drawbacks of Remodeling

Renovations are always risky since not all home improvements are profitable. Do your homework on the renovations that offer the highest return on investment if you want to renovate merely to raise the value of your property in preparation for a future sale. Major kitchen or master suite renovations often provide significantly lower returns than garage door replacements or modest kitchen remodels, which may recover 80 to 100% of expenses.

Renovations seldom end up costing what the contractor first estimated. During a redesign, structural alterations, adherence to construction rules, and damage from pests and decay are some of the main problems homeowners face. Be cautious when picking a contractor; budget more money than the original price and search for someone whose references use terms like “excellent communicator” and “timely deliverer.”

This article was originally published at jameskassouf.info.