They had set aside an evening and printed the handouts. I felt terrible. I couldn’t give them that time back, but I could apologize and offer them another chance to attend. So I did.

The technology caused the problem. My response was my responsibility.

That’s one thing I’ve learned in more than 40 years of working with people: professionalism becomes visible when keeping your word is inconvenient, when someone tests your patience, or when something goes wrong.

I’ve also seen a shocking lack of professionalism. People miss deadlines without a word. They are courteous to the boss and rude to the receptionist. They turn in careless work, then get offended when someone asks them to correct it. Some have impressive titles and credentials, yet leave a trail of frustrated people behind them.

They may think they’re professionals. But professionalism isn’t a title you give yourself. It’s what other people experience when they deal with you. What do they experience when they deal with you?

Here are ten ways to find out. As you read, resist the urge to think of someone else who needs this list. I can almost guarantee you’ll think of a name or two! The greater value is in finding the one or two items you could improve.

1. You keep your word. If you promise a call on Thursday, you make the call. If you can’t deliver what you promised, you say so before someone has to ask. Reliability is built one kept commitment at a time.

2. You respect other people’s time. You arrive when you said you would. You come prepared. If you’re running late, you let people know. “I’m busy” doesn’t mean everyone else has time to spare.

3. You check your work. Before you send the email, turn in the report, or declare the job finished, you look it over. You ask, “Will the person receiving this have what they need—and confidence that I got it right?”

4. You give people your attention. You put the phone down. You let them finish a sentence. You listen to understand what they mean, even when you’re eager to tell them what you think.

5. You treat everyone with courtesy. Watch how someone speaks to a server, receptionist, new employee, or volunteer. Respect that appears only when a person has power or influence isn’t much respect at all.

6. You speak about people as carefully as you speak to them. You don’t build a connection with one person by putting down another. If there’s a problem, you address it with the person who can do something about it.

7. You stay civil when you’re frustrated. You can disagree firmly. You can ask for a mistake to be corrected. You don’t need to raise your voice or send the cutting reply you’ll regret tomorrow.

8. You consider the people affected by your decisions. When you change a plan, tell the people it affects early. Ask for their input when you can. Don’t leave them to discover the change after it has disrupted their day.

9. You own your mistakes. “I made a mistake. I’m sorry. Here’s what I’m doing to fix it.” Those words may be uncomfortable, but they do far more good than a long explanation of whose fault it really was.

10. You keep learning. Experience can make you better, but it can also convince you that you have nothing left to learn. A professional welcomes feedback and changes course when it’s warranted.

You probably do many of these things well. I hope so. But don’t judge your professionalism by your intentions or by your best day. Think about how you behave when you’re rushed, tired, disappointed, or dealing with someone who can do nothing for you.

Then ask someone you trust: “Which one of these ten do I most need to work on?”

Listen to the answer. That may be the most professional thing you do this week.

Keep on growing. The best is yet to come!

Dr. Alan Zimmerman

P.S. Professionalism draws on skills we practice in NEXT-LEVEL YOU—especially communication, trust, and accountability. If you’d like to work on those skills with me, try NEXT-LEVEL YOU free for 7 days. After seven days, membership automatically continues at $37/month unless you cancel before the trial ends.

The post Are You as Professional as You Think You Are? appeared first on Dr. Zimmerman | Communication Expert & Speaker.

For years, I’ve heard people say, “You can’t motivate another person. All motivation comes from within.”

There is some truth in that. You cannot force another person to care, change, or give their best. But that is not the whole truth.

Think about the people who brought out the best in you. Perhaps a teacher saw your potential, a boss made your work feel important, or a friend encouraged you when you were ready to quit.

Those people motivated you. They didn’t put motivation inside you. They called it out of you.

People can also drain motivation through criticism, indifference, or disrespect. Everything you do affects those around you.

So how do you bring out the best in others?

Act like a leader and communicate like a friend.

I learned that lesson at 23

At only 23, I was hired to teach a university department of speech communication professors about the brand-new field of interpersonal communication.

Every professor was older and more experienced than I was. I was the new instructor—the “kid” in the room.

I brought knowledge they did not yet have because I was among the first people in the country to study, develop, and teach interpersonal communication.

If I appeared uncertain, no one would have followed me. I needed confidence and competence—but I couldn’t act like a know-it-all young hotshot.

I respected their experience, listened to their concerns, and helped them see what this new field could offer their students.

In other words, I had to act like a leader and communicate like a friend.

And it worked. In the years that followed, our communication program grew from only eight majors to more than 600.

That experience taught me four behaviors that can help you bring out the best in others.

1  Give people a purpose and keep it visible

People rarely get excited about another task or quota. They become excited when they understand why their effort matters.

I would not have motivated those professors by saying, “Your courses are outdated, and students need something different.” That would have aroused defensiveness.

They became receptive when they understood why this new approach mattered—and how it could benefit their students.

A good leader explains why the work matters, who will benefit, and how each person contributes.

Then the leader keeps that purpose visible. Important goals must be communicated clearly and consistently.

YOUR ACTION STEP: Before asking someone to do something, complete this sentence: “This matters because…” Then share that reason with the person.

2  Let your enthusiasm show

Enthusiasm is contagious. Unfortunately, so is indifference.

Those professors might have dismissed my ideas if I had approached the task without genuine enthusiasm.

You don’t have to bounce off the walls. Enthusiasm can be as simple as saying, “This will make a difference,” or “I’m glad we’re doing this together.” People are drawn to people who care.

YOUR ACTION STEP: Bring more positive energy to one routine activity. Change your words, expression, and tone. Then notice what happens.

3  Believe in people and help them grow

One of the greatest gifts you can give another person is a larger, more hopeful view of themselves.

People remember their mistakes. They don’t need another reminder of what is wrong; they need someone who sees their possibilities.

Those professors needed to know that I respected them as excellent teachers—and believed they could master this emerging field.

Say, “I know you can handle this,” or “This mistake does not erase your strengths.” Then ask, “How can I help you move forward?”

Sometimes people need to be heard more than they need your solution.

YOUR ACTION STEP: Encourage someone who doubts themselves. Name the strength you see and ask how you can support their growth.

4  Expect excellence and communicate with respect

Motivation does not mean constant praise, lowered expectations, or avoiding difficult conversations.

High standards show that the person and the work matter. But excellence and perfection are very different.

Perfection says, “You are never good enough.” Excellence says, “You are capable of more, and I’m willing to help you get there.”

When someone falls short, address the behavior without attacking the person. Instead of “You’re careless,” say, “There are three errors. Let’s determine what happened and prevent it next time.”

Be clear. Be honest. Be respectful. That is what it means to act like a leader and communicate like a friend.

Your Tuesday Tip Challenge

Choose one person you want to motivate this week. Then:

1. Give that person a meaningful purpose.
2. Express your sincere belief in them.
3. Ask how you can help them move forward.

You may not be able to force motivation into another person. But you can create the conditions that call it out.

Take This Principle to Your Next Level

For years, I delivered my Journey-to-the-Extraordinary program to thousands of people, with the participants  raving about the results they got. Like Pat Johnson, a counselor for the West Fargo Schools, who said:

“I’ve attended seminars all my professional life, but I have never experienced anything like your JOURNEY-TO-THE-EXTRAORDINARY experience. All the other seminar leaders seem to be talking in ‘nice, theoretical generalities.’ But you gave me things I could actually do to handle specific problems and people at work and at home. And I can tell you your strategies really work!”

Then an economic reality set in. The total cost of the Journey was about $3000, which made it unaffordable to lots of people.  And I didn’t want anyone to be left out.

I wanted to make that same practical learning available to far more people. So I combined the strongest lessons from the Journey, four decades of teaching, and current communication research to create NEXT-LEVEL YOU—my live, weekly online learning community. And Founding Members can join for just $37 per month.

Each week, we turn one proven principle into actions that build confidence, purpose, a positive mindset, and stronger relationships.

If you want to turn good intentions into real change, experience NEXT-LEVEL YOU with a FREE 7-day trial.

You’ll receive full access to the classroom, replays, practical materials, our supportive community, and one live Tuesday class with me.

You can join now and never be behind. Every class stands on its own, and the replays and materials are always available.

YES, DR. Z—I WANT TO TRY NEXT-LEVEL YOU FREE FOR 7 DAYS. 

Make the above line totally clickable and goes directly to the NLY registration page.

Your credit card will not be charged today. If you cancel before the seven-day trial ends, you will pay nothing. If you continue, your membership will automatically continue at the Founding Member rate of $37 per month—a rate locked in for as long as you remain a member—with no long-term contract.

Come inside. Attend a class. Put one idea into practice. Then decide.

Keep on growing. The best is yet to come!

Dr. Alan Zimmerman                                                                                

The post Are You Motivating People or Draining Them? appeared first on Dr. Zimmerman | Communication Expert & Speaker.

The good news is that continuing education does not necessarily mean earning another degree, sitting in a classroom for years, or writing term papers at two o’clock in the morning. It means intentionally exposing yourself to ideas, people, and experiences that help you become better than you were before.

It also requires more than buying books you never read. Apparently, knowledge does not seep into your brain simply because a book is sitting on your nightstand. I have checked.

Here are six practical ways to keep learning and growing.

1. Identify what you need to learn next

Do not begin by asking, “What course should I take?” Begin by asking, “Where do I most need to grow?”

Perhaps you need to communicate more effectively, become a better listener, handle conflict constructively, strengthen your confidence, lead more persuasively, or bring greater balance to your life.

Choose one area that would make a meaningful difference in your work or relationships. Then concentrate your learning there.

Otherwise, continuing education can become intellectual window-shopping. You browse a few ideas, admire several possibilities, and go home without changing anything.

Ask yourself: What one skill, if I improved it during the next ninety days, would produce the greatest payoff in my life?

That answer gives your education a purpose.

2. Put your growth on your calendar and in your budget

Most people say they value personal growth. Their calendars and checkbooks occasionally tell a different story.

Years ago, a woman named Eileen attended one of my Journey-to-the-Extraordinary programs. She told me, “I thought if I could spend lots of dollars on fishing trips, I could sprout my wings and invest in myself.”

I loved her honesty. And for the record, I have nothing against fishing. But Eileen recognized that she was willing to spend money on recreation, so she should also be willing to invest in her own growth.

She did—and later told me how much the experience improved her work, relationships, and outlook on life.

Growth rarely happens accidentally. Set aside time each week to read, listen, reflect, or attend a class. Establish an annual learning budget. If you wait until you “find” the time or money, you may wait forever.

You do not find time for growth. You make time for it.

3. Use structured learning from great teachers

Books, seminars, courses, podcasts, and online programs can introduce you to ideas you might never discover on your own. They allow you to benefit from years of someone else’s research and experience sometimes in a single afternoon.

But choose carefully. We have access to more information than ever before, and not all of it deserves access to your brain. Some of it is insightful. Some is merely recycled. And some should have remained in the presenter’s basement.

Ask people you respect which books, courses, and teachers have produced lasting changes in their lives. Look for credible experts who combine proven knowledge with real-world experience—and who show you how to apply what they teach.

The goal is not to consume more information. It is to find the right information and use it.

4. Learn personally from champions

Some of your greatest teachers will never write a book or stand behind a lectern. They may work down the hall, live next door, attend your church, or sit across from you at lunch.

Find people who are achieving the kinds of results you want and study them. Watch how they communicate, prepare, make decisions, recover from setbacks, and treat others. Then invite them to coffee or lunch and ask:

• What do you know now that you wish you had known earlier?
• What mistake taught you the most?
• Which habit has contributed most to your success?

Most successful people are surprisingly willing to share their wisdom when they sense sincere interest.

You do not have to learn every lesson the hard way or reinvent every wheel. Find someone whose wheel is already rolling smoothly and ask how they built it.

5. Learn from mistakes, especially your own

You can learn from champions, but you can also learn from people who made poor decisions. Find out what they did and consider doing something else.

More importantly, learn from your own failures.

I have enjoyed some wonderful successes during my life and career. I have also experienced painful disappointments and made decisions I would not make again. Some of my most valuable education came with no classroom, no textbook, and no diploma. It came with bruises.

The school of hard knocks can be a very good school. Unfortunately, the tuition is high. So if you must take one of its courses, make sure you do not have to repeat it.

After a disappointment, ask:

• What happened?
• What part did I play?
• What warning signs did I overlook?
• What will I do differently next time?

A mistake becomes wasted pain only when you refuse to learn from it.

6. Turn every lesson into action

Education is not measured by how many books you own, seminars you attend, or podcasts you download. It is measured by what you do differently because of what you learned.

Take notes—but do not stop there. Review them, identify one important idea, and decide exactly how you will use it. Put the action on your calendar. Tell someone what you intend to do. Then evaluate the results.

Use this simple process:

Learn it. Apply it. Reflect on it. Repeat it.

That is how information becomes transformation.

That learn-apply-reflect process is why I created NEXT-LEVEL YOU. I distilled forty years of research, teaching, coaching, and real-life experience into twelve essentials six for Personal Peak Performance and six for Thriving Relationships.

Every live class stands on its own and emphasizes practical application, so you can join anytime and never be behind. You will gain proven content, a supportive community, and encouragement to use what you learn.

ACTION:

Choose one of these six strategies and begin this week.

Do not promise yourself that you will “learn more someday.” Decide what you need to learn, select your next step, and put it on your calendar.

School is never out. And that is not bad news.

It means your best days and your greatest growth may still be ahead of you.

Keep learning and growing with NEXT-LEVEL YOU.

Learn more and join NEXT-LEVEL YOU

The post Six Ways to Keep Learning and Growing appeared first on Dr. Zimmerman | Communication Expert & Speaker.

How many would you pass?

Years ago, I asked an executive a simple question during a coaching session.

“What leadership book has influenced you the most recently?”

Without hesitation, he rattled off several impressive titles.

Then I asked a second question.

“Good. Now tell me specifically what you changed as a result of reading those books.”

Silence.

He stared at me for a moment and finally admitted, “Honestly… probably not much.”

That conversation has stayed with me for years because it exposes one of the biggest misconceptions about leadership:

Leadership is not about what you know.
It’s about what you consistently do.

And every leader whether you’re a CEO, manager, business owner, parent, teacher, coach, or team leader is being tested every single day.

Not by titles.

Not by personality.
Not by charisma.

But by behavior.

After decades of speaking, coaching executives, consulting with organizations, and studying leadership, I’ve become convinced that effective leaders consistently pass nine critical tests.

As you read through them, give yourself a score from 1 to 10 on each one:

• 10 = Excellent
• 5 = Average
• 1 = Needs serious work

Be honest. Self-awareness is where leadership growth begins.

► 1: Vision Driver

Great leaders create a compelling picture of a better future and they keep moving toward it even when others resist or doubt them.

They don’t merely maintain the status quo. They challenge it.

At the same time, effective leaders balance big-picture vision with practical reality. They understand enough about the details to know whether the vision is actually being achieved.

Leadership Question:

Are you actively driving toward a better future… or mostly reacting to today’s problems?

Score yourself: ___

► 2: Goal Setter

Visions inspire people. Goals organize action.

Exceptional leaders don’t merely hope things improve someday. They write down clear, specific goals because they know written goals dramatically increase follow-through and accountability.

And contrary to popular motivational clichés, effective leaders do more than “wish upon a star.” They create a plan.

Leadership Question:

Do your goals exist mostly in your head… or are they written, specific, and measurable?

Score yourself: ___

► 3: Action Focuser

Leadership is not measured by intentions. It’s measured by execution.

Leaders take action. They also help others take action. They ask questions like:

“How are we going to get this done?”

They don’t waste time making excuses, blaming circumstances, or protecting their ego.

In the end, strong leaders care more about results than recognition.

Leadership Question:

Are you consistently moving important things forward… or talking about them more than doing them?

Score yourself: ___

► 4: Change Maker

One of the fastest ways to become irrelevant is to become comfortable.

Strong leaders pursue improvement constantly. They challenge phrases like:

“We’ve never done it that way before.”

In fact, the best leaders are learners. They read. They study. They seek ideas.

But here’s the real test:

They actually apply what they learn.

That’s why I often ask executives not merely what they’ve read recently, but:

“What changes have you made because of what you read?”

That question usually gets very quiet.

Leadership Question:

Are you truly growing and changing… or simply collecting more information?

Score yourself: ___

► 5: Communicator

The best leaders communicate consciously and consistently.

They think before they speak. They communicate with people throughout the organization not just their inner circle.

But perhaps most importantly, they listen well.

They stop assuming they understand and start asking more questions.

They practice what communication experts call paraphrasing:

“So let me make sure I understand what you’re saying…”

That simple habit prevents countless misunderstandings.

Leadership Question:

Do people genuinely feel heard, understood, and respected after talking with you?

Score yourself: ___

► 6: Positive Influencer

Attitudes spread.

That’s why great leaders understand that their attitude often sets the emotional tone for the entire team, family, or organization.

Years ago, W. Clement Stone said:

“The sale is contingent upon the attitude of the salesperson, not the attitude of the prospect.”

The same principle applies to leadership.

Leaders who constantly complain, panic, or become cynical drain energy from everyone around them.

Strong leaders remain realistic but hopeful. They refuse to give up prematurely. And when difficulties arise, they project steadiness instead of emotional chaos.

People are always watching the leader.

Leadership Question:

When pressure rises, do you spread confidence… or anxiety?

Score yourself: ___

► 7: People Developer

Weak leaders try to control people.

Strong leaders develop people.

The best leaders actively look for potential in others and help them grow.

They understand that leadership is not about accumulating personal power.

It’s about multiplying the strengths and abilities of the people around them.

In fact, one of the greatest indicators of leadership success is this:

Are other people becoming stronger because of your influence?

Leadership Question:

Who is growing specifically because you invested in them?

Score yourself: ___

► 8: Mistake Learner

Mistakes are inevitable.

The real issue is whether we learn from them.

Great leaders do not waste enormous energy trying to appear perfect. Instead, they focus on extracting lessons from setbacks, failures, and disappointments.

One executive I worked with often told his team:

“I don’t care what happened nearly as much as I care about what we learned.”

That mindset transforms mistakes into growth opportunities.

Effective leaders also avoid constantly using the word “they.”

Instead of:

“They messed this up.”

They ask:

“What can WE learn from this so WE improve moving forward?”

Leadership Question:

Do you treat mistakes as failures… or as feedback?

Score yourself: ___

► 9: Performance Rewarder

People repeat what gets recognized.

That’s why strong leaders consistently reward excellent performance, initiative, responsibility, problem solving, and growth.

And they understand something many leaders forget:

Unrewarded performance often disappears over time.

The best leaders notice effort.
They notice improvement.
They notice problem solvers.

Whether it’s an executive, customer service representative, assistant, maintenance worker, or volunteer effective leaders understand that success is always a team effort.

Leadership Question:

Do people around you feel appreciated for the value they bring?

Score yourself: ___

Your Leadership Score

Add up your total score.

• 80 – 90: Excellent. Keep sharpening your influence and mentoring others.
• 50 – 79: You have leadership potential, but there are clear areas for growth.
• Below 50: Don’t be discouraged but do get intentional. Leadership skills can absolutely be learned and strengthened.

The truth is this:

Most people want the benefits of leadership without embracing the disciplines of leadership.

But leadership is not a title. It’s a daily test.

And every conversation, every setback, every decision, and every relationship is grading us.

The encouraging news?

You can grow.

You can become more influential, more effective, more respected, and more impactful than you are today.

That’s one of the reasons I developed NEXT-LEVEL YOU – a practical growth community focused on communication, confidence, leadership, and real-world application.

And right now, you can become a Founding Member at an incredibly low cost that is locked in for life. Click here

Because insight without implementation changes nothing.

And leadership growth doesn’t happen accidentally.

It happens intentionally.

Dr. Zimmerman’s Tuesday Tip 1346 The 9 Leadership Tests Nobody Escapes

To ask Dr. Z any question or to schedule a free consultation, email him at Alan@DrZimmerman.com.

To subscribe to Dr. Zimmerman’s free weekly Internet newsletter, the Tuesday Tip, or to give someone else a free subscription, go to https://www.drzimmerman.com/subscribe. When you do, you’ll also receive Dr. Z’s whitepaper on 93 Truths for Unlimited Happiness and Success.

To receive more information on Dr. Z’s speaking, training, and leadership coaching, go to https://www.drzimmerman.com/.

The post The 9 Leadership Tests Nobody Escapes appeared first on Dr. Zimmerman | Communication Expert & Speaker.

► 1. Be Credible

► 2. Be Specific

► 3. Comment on Improvement—Immediately

► 4. Give Public Commendations (When Appropriate)

► 5. Put It in Writing

► 6. Use Relayed Positives

► 7. Turn Negatives into Positives

The post Why Appreciation Is the Most Underrated Leadership Skill appeared first on Dr. Zimmerman | Communication Expert & Speaker.

►1. Acknowledge the Awesome Significance of Relationships

► 2. Honor the Other Person

► 3. Give—Without Expectation

► 4. Speak Words of Kindness

The post The Secret to Strong Relationships (Hint: It’s Not Luck) appeared first on Dr. Zimmerman | Communication Expert & Speaker.

►1. Take an Honest Look at Yourself First

► 2. Look for a “Point of Entry”

► 3. Ask, “What Can I Learn Here?”

► 4. Pause Before You Respond

The post How To Stay Productive When You’re Surrounded By Difficult People appeared first on Dr. Zimmerman | Communication Expert & Speaker.

►Three Subtle Signs of Burnout

► Balance Is Not About Less Work—It’s About Better Choices

►Two Questions That Change Everything

The post Burnout Or Balance: What’s Your Next Move? appeared first on Dr. Zimmerman | Communication Expert & Speaker.

You can’t force change — but you can trigger the WANT-TO factor.

►Strategy #1: Ask Brave Questions

► Strategy #2: Be Likeable

► Strategy #3: Exhibit Appropriate Authority

The Big Picture

The post Why Smart Leaders — and Everyone Else — Fail to Motivate People appeared first on Dr. Zimmerman | Communication Expert & Speaker.

► 1. Ask Yourself the Right Questions

► 2. Write Down Your Goals

► 3. Visualize Your Goals

► 4. Take Action—Consistently

The post 4-Step No-Fail Approach To Achieving Your Goals appeared first on Dr. Zimmerman | Communication Expert & Speaker.