7 Simple Tips That Will Turn You Into a Powerful Leader

Posted by: K. Stone on 11/12/2007

You don't have to be in a position of authority to be a leader. Conversely, just because you have authority doesn't mean that people will follow you. You must be a leader to get others to follow you.

There are many books on leadership. They can have lots of great examples and in-depth explanations, but sometimes you just need something simple to help you focus on the essentials. This article intends to do just that. These are the habits that will help you and your team achieve great things if you focus on them.

1. Goals. Make it simple and easy for your team to understand the mission and to understand their part in achieving it.

• Concise Goals. Keep them simple and easy to understand.
  
• Focus your team on as few goals as possible.
• Communicate the team's goals Often and through Various Means (team meetings, individual meetings, emails, posters, slogans). And then do it some more.
  
• Track progress on goals.
• Involve team players in tracking the goals so that they own the results.

2. Motivating People. What you reward gets done. It's that simple.

• Incent team players to do the tasks that are most critical for reaching the team's goals. Make sure the rewards are meaningful to people. Understand each player and what they want from their job and in life. That's how you'll know how to reward them.
• Praise, Thank, and Recognize big and small contributions by individuals. Do this often and then do it some more.
• Set High Expectations. People will live UP to or DOWN to the expectations you set. Set them high and you're saying, "I believe in your ability to do great things!"
• Empower people by delegating responsibility.
  
• Celebrate team accomplishments often.
• Encourage Fun. Make the work place a fun place to be. Yes, work needs to get done but short fun breaks can make all the difference in the culture of your team.
• Pride. Foster a sense of pride in your team. As a team you could establish a mascot, create a team chant, and have a meeting that is focused solely on each individual's strengths and the team's overall strengths.
  

3. Walk Your Talk. You need to practice what you preach. This is how you establish trust and credibility.

• Model the Way by participating in the team's tasks as much as your position allows.
• Be Honest. Deliver on your promises. Actions speak louder than words.
  
• Challenge Yourself. Do your best (and then some) just like you ask your team to do their best.
• Speak Up. Just like your team members sometimes need to let you know what they've done in order for you to be able to recognize and praise them. They, in turn, need to know what you've been working on and what you've accomplished. So find ways to communicate this, modeling this key behavior.
  
• Stay Sharp. You need to be competent for others to follow you. If you're not improving, you're falling behind. Always be learning and keep on top of the latest skills, technology, and knowledge in your field.
  

4. Inspire through a combination of

• Unwavering Positive Future Vision
  
• Commitment to Improve things along the way that will make that positive vision a reality.
• Ability to Bootstrap as necessary when resources are tight.
  

5. Process Power. Good process is like having a high performance machine. Sloppy process makes things fall apart. So be sure to establish these key habits with your team.

• Establish Routines. Do this for the team and also work with each individual to come up with their own high productivity routines. These are routines that dictate what work is done when.
  
• Establish Processes for all the tasks that are done repeatedly. It takes time to set up at first, but after that it will pay off in saved time and less errors. Processes describe how work is done and might involve systems for doing the work.
  
• Task Assignment. As much as possible, assign tasks according to the strengths of each teammate.
  

6. Change. Embrace change by seeking it out. This will tread a path for your teammates to follow.

• Change Routines Quarterly. Look for better ways to achieve the team's goals.
• Take Risks. Don't be afraid of failure. No one ever reaches great heights without a few failures.
• Learn. Learn as a team from failures. "How can we improve it the next time?"
  
• Encourage team members to take smart risks too by making it safe to fail. Focus on learning from past experiences and building upon them to find better solutions.
  

7. Advocacy. Support your team and they'll support you.

• Promote your team members. Make sure others outside your team know about the individual team members' successes. You want your team members to excel and even graduate away from your team possibly. Don't worry. If your team is great there will be plenty of others who will want to join! This natural turnover of team members is like the renewal of cells in your body. It is necessary and healthy.
  
• Promote your team. It's your job to market the great accomplishments of your team in order to get the rewards, recognition, and resources that your team deserves.
• Fight for the most important resources and changes that will benefit your team and the organization overall. Remember to pick your battles wisely.

What else do you think is essential for a good leader? Got a good story? Please Share in the comments. We'd love to hear from you!

Written for Dumb Little Man by K. Stone, author of Life Learning Today, a blog about daily life improvements. Popular articles are NaNoWriMo Success: How to Write a Novel in 30 Days and Lose Belly Fat - Is It Really Possible?.

How To Mantain Sleeping Bag

How to Maintain a Sleeping Bag

Sleeping bags make a camping trip - or break it. A sleeping bag that is warm, toasty, well-fluffed and in first class condition makes for a great night's sleep; a sleeping bag that has poorly distributed stuffing, is coming apart at the seams, is damp or mouldy and smells will make a night less than pleasant. If you haven't already given a thought to caring for your sleeping bag, now is the time. Not only will it last longer and save your money, it'll ensure that you get more of the good nights outdoors.

[edit] Steps

[edit]During Camping

1. Keep the sleeping bag dry. This is imperative number one - there is nothing more unpleasant than a night in a damp or wet sleeping bag! To ensure that it stays dry, always keep the sleeping bag in a waterproof outer bag. This is especially important if you are travelling through snow or wet areas and during wet seasons. It is also a good idea to not consume drinks near or in your sleeping bag.
2. Air the bag. Every morning, where possible, it is important to air the sleeping bag for at least 10 minutes. If you have sunshine, this is perfect. It will dry out any perspiration, condensation or dew that may be on the bag. If you are in a rainstorm and have a car, air the bag inside the car for a time. Alternatively, you could hang the bag up inside the tent for a morning if you are still in camp.
3. Line your sleeping bag with a bed sheet prior to sleeping in it. This will absorb perspiration and prevent body oils from soiling it. After camping the sheet can be pulled out and washed. This tip also helps with the cleaning tips for sleeping bags because washing sleeping bags wears them out faster and can damage them. There are specific light-weight liners made for this that are not too expensive. Usually sold as "sleeping bag liners."
4. Store the bag properly. Try to place the bag in the stuff sack as randomly as possible, which randomizes the folds and creases so the filling won't develop "flat spots".

[edit]Keeping a Sleeping Bag Clean

1. Store a clean and dry sleeping bag. A dirty and/or damp sleeping bag encourages possible bacterial or mould growth and it might even make the bag more inviting to pests. There are two ways to clean a sleeping bag, one requiring more effort than the other:
   
   
   • Have the bag dry-cleaned. This is the easy option but often not one appreciated by outdoors enthusiasts due to the chemicals involved. If you do get the bag dry-cleaned, air it thoroughly before reuse to avoid contamination from the dry-cleaning solvents.^[1]
   • Wash and dry the bag at home. This takes more effort but is not chemically problematic. You can purchase sleeping bag cleaning liquids (mild soaps) at camping or outdoors stores. Look for brands that are "eco-friendly" and check the ingredients to satisfy yourself.
2. Follow the instructions on the label of the washing liquid and on the label of your sleeping bag before proceeding.
3. Choose the bath method or the washing machine method. The following provides a rough outline of how either method will proceed. Variants on this are dependent on the style/make of sleeping bag and its label instructions and on the instructions accompanying the washing liquid.
   
   

Bath Method

1. Place the sleeping bag in the bath. Wash one at a time, as any more makes this task cumbersome and tiring.
2. Hop in!. With newer hydrophobic sleeping bags, you will likely have to gently stand in the bath with bare feet to squash the air bubbles down and to force the bag under the water.
3. Wash. Gently move the bag around with your hands to clean.
4. Rinse. Ensure that all the soap suds are removed. This may take several rinses. If they remain in the sleeping bag, they might react with the lofting and/or water-resistant features.
5. Remove. Haul it up from the bath. Proceed to "Drying" steps outlined below.

Washing Machine Method

1. Select the right washing machine. The type of machine really matters in terms of protecting your sleeping bag:
   
   
   • If you choose to wash in a machine, it is recommended that a laundromat machine is probably better due to the larger space available, and look for a machine that does not have an agitator (front loader). This will keep the drawstrings and straps untangled and intact.^[2]
   • If you only have an agitator style washing machine, prefer the bath method; the agitator may destroy your sleeping bag.
2. Keep it cool. Use a gentle, cool cycle in a washing machine.
3. Rinse. Include a rinse cycle.
4. Keep it easy. Spin on low only, or use the "drip dry" cycle and follow steps outlined under drying.
5. Dry. Follow the "Drying" steps.

Drying a Sleeping Bag After Washing

1. Drip dry. Allow bag to drip dry if needed. This is more likely necessary after the Bath Method. Have a place ready for drip drying, such as a clothes horse, where water can run freely (laundry, bathroom).
2. Use a dryer. For many sleeping bags, it is possible to use a tumble dryer. While this is suitable for numerous sleeping bags, read the label carefully before you proceed.
   
   
   • Set the tumble dryer setting to low. See "Warnings".
   • Ensure that the bag is not still soaked (allow drip drying first).
3. Place in tumble dryer. Tumble dry at low setting only. Check regularly and remove as soon as it has dried. Placement of one or two tennis balls can assist in ensuring even distribution of down or filling.
4. Dry outdoors. If you have sunshine, dry the bag outdoors. See "Tips" below for more information on hand washing a sleeping bag.

[edit]Storing the Sleeping Bag Long-Term

1. 

   Compression sacks - only for short-term storage
   Make sure the bag is dry before storing. Never store a wet sleeping bag.
2. Store in a large stuff sack or hanging up. There are two main schools of thought on long-term sleeping bag storage. Both probably depend on the amount of space you have but the choice is yours:
   
   
   • Store your sleeping bag hanging up. If you have the space, hanging your sleeping bag is an ideal way to ensure that the feathers or fill are not being crushed at all. The best hanger is one that the bag can be folded over rather than a clip one, although both will do the job.
   • An alternative to hanging is to store it lying flat under a bed. Either way, the point is to let it loft out and breathe, without being exposed to weather or dirt.
   • Keep your sleeping bag in the larger cotton bag for storage. For those with less space, the key thing is to get your sleeping bag out of its travel stuff/compression sack, the tightness of which breaks, damages or weakens the lofting abilities of the feathers or fill. If you have an older sleeping bag, or it just didn't come with a larger storage bag, purchase one. Most camping and outdoors stores carry these.

[edit] Tips

• When setting up camp, it is a good idea to shake a sleeping bag before laying it down on the mat. This allows for redistribution of the feathers or filling after being squashed in the stuff sack. Do this at least half an hour before use, to allow the lofting of the insulation features of the bag.
• Many sleeping bags will require that you clean them professionally. Some people follow this rule assiduously for all their clothing and equipment labelled this way; others experiment. Given the price of a sleeping bag, if experimenting is not for you, then dry-clean or seek a professional sleeping bag cleaner (there are some in a few places). If you are more adventurous, give it a go and spread the word that it can work; the latest cleaning products are very gentle on the bag.
• If your bag has down filling which has gone flat (a common symptom of compressed storage or just years of use) putting 5 or 6 tennis balls in the wash with the bag will restore loft and thus ability to maintain the warmth it is rated for. The tennis balls break up the packed down feathers.

[edit] Warnings

• There is no need to wash your sleeping bag after every camping trip. Only when it is dirty and if your trip consisted of a month of back country camping!
• Nylon shells will melt at high heat levels - always use a low tumble dryer setting.^[3]
• While providing warmth even while wet, synthetic filling cannot have its loft restored.

[edit] Related wikiHows

• How to Stuff a Sleeping Bag
• How to Choose a Tent
• How to Assemble a Tent
• How to Wash a Backpack
• How to Pack for a Backpacking Trip

[edit] Sources and Citations

1. ↑ Tawrell, P, (2006), Camping & Wilderness Survival, ISBN 0-9740820-2-3
2. ↑ http://www.outdoorplaces.com/gear/care/bags/ Sleeping Bag Care
3. ↑ http://www.sierradesigns.com/bags.care.html - Sierra Designs Sleeping Bag Care Notes

How To Avoid Food Poisoning

Here is a good artical on avoiding food poisoning. All of the ideas are easily adapted to camping. Check it out.