Leadership Skills Blog

The Leadership Skills for Life Blog will provide real stories and experiences that will help define leadership and leaders. We also offer articles on every aspect of business.

The information contained on the website Leadership-Skills-for-Life.com, has not been prepared, endorsed, or reviewed by any form of licensed legal professional including but not limited to an attorney. Nothing on Good Leadership Skills for Life website should be taken as legal advice, but instead should act as a useful resource in providing general information that may be useful to members of the general public. All visitors are encouraged to consult with a licensed attorney/lawyer in all legal matters. You should not act, or refrain from acting, based upon any information on this web site. This information does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.

Although the content of every article is written to help those that are in search of information and help, some articles may include recommendations for various types of products or information. Although the author of an article may receive a financial incentive to do so, it will not have an impact on the content of any article. In other cases some articles or advertisements may pay to have either the article or the advertisement posted on this website.

Written Warning Letter - For Being Tardy

Issuing a Written Warning Letter can be a nerve racking experience - don't let it - use it to reinforce and teach

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Sample Written Warning Letter - for Smoking in an Unauthorized Area...

I have provided a sample written warning letter to help you based on smoking in an unauthorized area.

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Sample Written Warning Letter - Inappropriate use of a company vehicle...

I have provided below a sample written warning letter based on an employee inappropriately using a company vehicle for personal use.

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Sample Written Warning Letter - Poor Personal Hygiene Problem

I have provided below a sample written warning letter based on an employees Personal Hygiene.

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Sample Written Warning Letter - Willful Idleness

I have provided a sample written warning letter to help you based on an unexcused absence.

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Sample Written Warning Letter - Violation of Safety Rules

I have provided a sample written warning letter to help you based on an employee violating safety rules.

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Sample Written Warning Letter - for Failure to Safeguard Confidential Informat

I have provided a sample written warning letter to help you based on an employee failing to safeguard confidential information.

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Sample Written Warning Letter – Careless Workmanship...

I have provided a sample written warning letter to help you based on careless workmanship.

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Why issue a Written Warning Notice?

Why do you need to issue a written warning notice to an employee? Many who are operating their own small businesses today put themselves at great risk

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Sample Written Warning Letter - Unexcused Absence

I have provided a sample written warning letter to help you based on one unexcused absence.

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Sample Written Warning Letter - for Destruction of Company Property...

I have provided a sample written warning letter to help you based on destruction of company property.

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Sample Written Warning Letter - Inappropriate Conduct at Work

I have provided below a sample written warning letter based on an employees Inappropriate Conduct at Work.

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Sample Written Warning Letter - for Insubordination

A strong and firm voice calls out "Judgment for the plaintive in the amount of $1,000,000.00!" - I have provided a sample written warning letter to help you based on insubordination.

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Writting a Written Warning Letter - Easy as 1 -2 - 3

A well written warning letter can go a long way to solidifying your progressive disciplinary program.

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Sample Employee Termination Letters

On my website I have provided sample employee termination letters for a few different situations.

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Sample Termination Letter - Continuing to Violate Company Policy

I have provided sample termination letter for continuing to violate company policy to help you learn how to write a business letter on your own!

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Sample Termination Letter – Laying Off Employees

I have provided sample termination letter for laying off employees to help you learn how to write a business letter on your own!

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Sample Termination Letter for Performance

I have provided a Sample Termination Letter for Performance to help you learn how to write a business letter on your own!

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Sample Termination Letters - How to Deliver it with Dignity

Sample termination letters will assist you in the basic format

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Sample Written Warning Letters

The sample written warning letters provided are for the purposes of assisting you in preparing a written warning for your employees.

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Termination Letter

Learn how to write a termination letter professionally every single time.

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Sample Termination Letter Format - Third Written Warning

Provided is a sample of a termination letter format that you can use and information that may help you in avoiding a wrongful termination claim.

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Sample Written Warning Letter - for Sexual Harassment

I have provided a sample written warning letter to help you based on an employee violating the company's sexual harassment policy.

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Written Warning Letter – Considering a Professional or Salaried Employee

When it comes to issuing a written warning letter to a professional or salaried employee it always seems to be a little harder.

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Employee Discipline Form

Looking for the best employee discipline form - get it here!!

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Sample Performance Improvement Plan

I have provided a sample Performance Improvement Plan you can use as a guide to create your own.

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Employee Appreciation Letter – Use Them as a Tool

An employee appreciation letter is one of the most basic functions of any good leader. It is just one way to appreciate your staff through formally.

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Leadership Stories - Great short stories that define leaders and leadership...

Leadership stories that will make you laugh - motivate - and hopefully give you an understanding that leadership is not just found in a board room

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Employee Discipline Form

Although I am not a strong believer in an employee discipline form, I understand some out there are not able to take the time to create a formal letter.

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Employee Appreciation Letters Make a Difference! Trust Me!

Employee appreciation letters go a long way to building up morale and cultivating an environment of team spirit!

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Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions - Study Guide Part V

I have provided a Study Guide to help you prepare for the Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions!

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Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions - Study Guide Part IV

I have provided a Study Guide to help you prepare for the Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions!

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Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions - Study Guide Part III

I have provided a Study Guide to help you prepare for the Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions!

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Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions - Study Guide Part II

I have provided a Study Guide to help you prepare for the Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions!

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Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions - Study Guide Part X

I have provided a Study Guide to help you prepare for the Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions!

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Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions - Study Guide Part VI

I have provided a Study Guide to help you prepare for the Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions!

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Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions - Study Guide Part VIII

I have provided a Study Guide to help you prepare for the Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions!

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Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions - Study Guide Part XI

I have provided a Study Guide to help you prepare for the Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions!

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Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions - Study Guide Part XI

I have provided a Study Guide to help you prepare for the Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions!

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Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions - Part I

I have provided a Study Guide to help you prepare for the Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions!

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Do You Want a Job?

If you are currently looking for a new position I have some job interview tips for you that I am certain will help! I have outlined some great job interview advice below.

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Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions - Study Guide Part VII

I have provided a Study Guide to help you prepare for the Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions!

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Executive Coaching Training for Small Business

One of the most forgotten positive impacts on your business is executive coaching training

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Examples of Integrity

One does not have to go too far to come up with some examples of integrity, and in some cases what it is not!

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Free Employee Evaluation Forms

I have provided free employee evaluation forms for your use. Feel free to change them in whatever way that works best for your organization.

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When is it a good time to issue a written warning?

If you remember one basic principle as it relates to employee discipline and that is that it is a tool to correct behavior and not to terminate someone! If you goal is to achieve termination then you have most likely failed in so many ways as a leader or manager! Now I am not saying that through the disciplinary process that you will not terminate employees because it will happen. However, I am saying that you should not tolerate poor behavior so long before doing something that your goal is to terminate them.

Therefore, if someone is late for work by a few minutes you may give them a pass the first time. Now keep in mind that employees watch what you do to one so the idea is very simple. Make sure you are consistent with your actions. Therefore, if you give one a free pass the first time you need to make sure everyone else gets the same treatment. Now when I use the term free pass I am not telling you to ignore them being late. If they are late make sure you explain to them in private that they were late and I your expectation of their arrival time going forward. I would provide them with an email or some other in formal notice so that you have a written record of the conversation.

If that same employee is late again or violates a different company rule/policy I would recommend moving to the next level. In my operation we use what is called a written counseling. This is a formal notice in writing on company letter head that explains the violation and how to correct their behavior. It goes on to inform them if they violate another company policy/rule they may be subject to additional discipline up to and including termination.

When the next violation does occur with that same employee I would definitely recommend a written warning. On that written warning I would state the previous counseling and/or any previous written warnings issued within the last year. If the employee would violate your company policy whereby you have to issue three written warnings within a one year time span I would terminate that employee on the third written warning.

Now be careful there is a lot more that goes into this than just issuing a warning. We have a lot of sue happy employees out there and they are just looking for an opportunity to get into your back pocket and take your cash from you. So be extremely fair and consistent with your actions, and always consult your legal representative for advice.

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Are Leaders Born or are they made?

This is an age old question that is very clear at least in my mind! Before I let you in on what I think let's talk about some of the things that are going on out there in the world of business today. There is no question that there are enough different types of leadership skills classes that could fill libraries full of information. Those classes are on every aspect of leadership from executive coaching training to basic supervisory skills. With all the classes available the world must be filled with excellent leaders, right?

After all if you follow the techniques and directions of these course instructors there shouldn't be any question about you becoming a great leader. These courses teach you how to talk to people and watch for body language. They give you instruction on setting priorities with your staff so that they will appreciate your great leadership skills. They teach you how to listen actively so that your employees truly know that you care. Isn't this what leadership skills are all about?

Well you may have guessed by now that I don't believe leaders are made. I truly believe leaders are born and their raw skills are developed over time. Some will pick up and use those skills sooner than others, but they will come out at some point regardless of what anyone does to try and stop them.

The ones that are not born with leadership skills I believe fall into those with management skills. I do believe management skills can be taught to almost anyone; however, using those management skills to perfection takes a real leader. A leader that was born and not made! Let me give you an analogy of what I mean.

Are major league baseball pitcher's born or made? Can anyone be taught how to effectively throw a baseball in excess of ninety miles an hour? Before you answer that you better think carefully since we know that they can't be. They must be born with the raw talent to be able to throw a baseball that fast. Certainly those skills can be improved and are by the coaches, but still they must have the talent to begin with.

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Are leaders made or are they born?

Who hasn't given their opinion on this question? I know in my mind it is a very simple answer. I'm not going to let you in know my opinion yet until we have had a chance to go over a few ideas. If you do any type of search on the World Wide Web for leadership skills training you will be overwhelmed with the amount of training classes to choose from. I couldn't believe all the different types available from plain old supervisory skills to the more advance executive coaching skills. Armed with that information it is easy to understand that anyone that attends just a few of these classes are now great leaders, right?

If you are able to follow along and learn the techniques and teachings of all these great instructors there can't be any doubt about whether you will become the greatest leader ever. After I read over some of the course material I was certain that a leader could be made. You would become someone that could learn how to talk to their staff and pick up on key body language signals so you would know instantly what to respond with. It will become second nature on setting your priorities so that your employees identify you with great leaders throughout the world. Picking up little secret techniques like listening actively to really show your staff you care about them. Yes, this is what makes a regular person into a fantastic leader, correct?

I'm sure you already figured out that I feel leaders are born and not made from any ordinary person. The raw leadership skills that someone was born with can certainly be developed. There are some that will show those skills much sooner than other; however, there is no doubt that those skills will come out at some point. It won't matter who tries to hold them back from displaying them, they will come out.

If someone is not born with leadership skills they can in fact be taught management skills in place of them. However, applying management skills effectively is also a trait for those with natural leadership abilities. Great managers are those individuals with leadership skills! For example let me present an analogy.

Is it possible for anyone to become a Professional National Basketball Association Player? I'm guessing that you would agree that is not possible no matter how much someone that is not capable practices. It takes more than what someone can be taught; therefore, they are born with it. It is my opinion that leadership is the same. Either you have a natural born leader or you have someone with management skills.

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Is Leadership something that is learned or are leader born?

This question has been asked in every way possible, but nonetheless it is still crystal clear for me! However, I am going to reframe from giving you my belief for now until we have had a chance to discuss our business world today. It doesn't take long if you do a quick Google search on leadership skills training to see that you will have enough choices to make your head spin around twice. You will find information and courses on everything imaginable from, your basic supervisory skills to executive coaching training. It seems with all this training available for our leaders that our world must have the best leaders you could possibly want!

The instruction and teachings that you will find in these training classes, whether in person or on the internet, should leave no doubt that becoming a great leader is possible. Reading some of the curriculum you will find that you can learn all about speaking to your employees and understanding their body language. If you learn the material you should come away with being able to put your priorities in order so that you employees know you are a very good leader. You will be taught simple techniques like active listening that will help your staff understand how much you really care about them. After all, this is what great leaders are made of isn't it?

As you may have deducted already I am a strong believer that leaders are born into this world and not made from ordinary people. Those leaders that are born are developed through either formal training or through the school of hard knocks. Leaders will sooner or later show their selves no matter how hard someone tries to hold them back.

Management skills are those skills that can be taught to almost anyone. Those that are not gifted with leadership skills must substitute them with management skills. Even then you can tell clearly who has natural leadership skills and who only has management skills. Here is an example of why I feel this way.

Can anyone within reason be taught how to be a Professional Quarterback for the National Football League? Or do they have to have the natural raw skills necessary to be taught? If you tell me that anyone can be taught I think our conversation is over since we both know that it isn't possible. They must have the raw talent to be taught the position.

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