We are currently sold out of the First Edition of Leaders in Gear. Please check back here (or subscribe to this blog's feed using the links to the right) for updates on when the Second Edition will be available. If you are interested in making a purchase soon, email us directly at owner (at) yournextspeaker.com and I can make arrangements for a short-run print job for you. Thank you!
11/29/12
11/29/11
The Perfect Gift
Leaders in Gear is the perfect gift idea for any leader in your life. Click here for a preview PDF and here for an excerpt PDF.
"I read your book Leaders in Gear. Every time I'm having trouble with something whether its making a decision or planning something I take a look at it and it always helps me out."
Student Leader
"I read your book Leaders in Gear. Every time I'm having trouble with something whether its making a decision or planning something I take a look at it and it always helps me out."
Student Leader
7/10/11
Leaders in Gear Overview
Leaders in Gear
"Inspire good work from yourself, your team and your presentations."
Leaders in Gear will inspire you to take action and get your leadership in gear in three areas of your life: your personal leadership journey, your interaction with your team and any speeches, workshops or presentations you give. "Good work" refers to not only striving for excellence in everything you do, but also working to be an ethical leader of strong character. You will discover that Leaders in Gear is full of stories, quick tips and very specific strategies to move you closer to those ends.
4/23/11
Leaders in Gear Credo Poster Updated Available!
Click here to download a legal-sized PDF of the new Leaders in Gear Credo poster to display in your office or classroom.
12/3/10
Recommendation
"I just wanted to say that I finally got time to look into your Leaders in Gear book. It is great! I'm only about 50 pages into it, but I've been able to connect with it really well, so I intend to tell my school administrators, my parents and my FCCLA adviser about it. Hopefully, they're as interested as I am. There are some pretty quotable comments you've got in there, so I might end up using them as status updates every once in a while, hope you don't mind!
Taylor Vollmer
Student Leader, Minnesota FCCLA
Taylor Vollmer
Student Leader, Minnesota FCCLA
9/29/10
Recommendation
Jane Manning
Program Coordinator, Oregon FCCLA/HOSA
8/9/10
Four Big Questions to get in G.E.A.R.
One of the primary purposes of leadership conferences and classes is to inspire people to get their leadership in gear. This initiative is obviously close to my heart and one that makes a dramatic impact. As we motivate and inspire conference participants or leadership students to make a difference, there are four key questions we need to help them with. Their answers to these questions and our sage advice on how to answer them provides the foundation and fuel needed to get their leadership in gear.
Four Questions to get in G.E.A.R.
(And a few key anchor words...)
Grounded - Why are you here?
This question is not about why they are at the conference or in the class (although that is important). It is about why they are anywhere. What is your purpose in life? Leaders who understand, are deeply connected with and stay grounded to their core purpose are more likely to get and stay in gear. This purpose must align with your deepest values and beliefs. Why are you here? The answer to this question gives life meaning.
Engaged - What do you create?
Highly effective leaders are results-oriented. They are greatly concerned with making things happen, creating change and leaving everywhere they go and everyone they connect with a little better than they found them. They are excellent at creating cool, interesting and meaningful stuff; which in turn attracts people with those same qualities. What do you create? The answer to this question gives life direction.
Authentic - Who are you?
Self-awareness is critical to good leadership. You must understand your strengths, weaknesses, talents and skills before you can fully lead. Highly effective leaders are so true to who they are, their "leaderly" actions become second nature. This allows them to genuinely place their time and attention on others. People are starving for leaders who are authentic, bold and caring. Who are you? The answer to this question gives life clarity.
Relationship-focused - Who is on your team?
Life and leadership are team sports. Engaged leaders have identified, understand the importance of and spend time cultivating the relationships in their life. This includes people following them and people they follow. They put relationships first and results second. Who is on your team? Answering this question gives life joy.
If you are a leadership teacher, trainer or conference organizer, invest time examining your curriculum, material and speakers and make sure these four critical questions are addressed.
Step one is to know your personal answer to each. Here are mine:
1. Why are you here?
To bring glory to God through my relationships and my leadership teachings.
2. What do you create?
Personally, I create harmony and security for my wife and daughters. Professionally, I create a tribe of inspired and motivated students, educators and professionals armed with better tools for getting their leadership in gear.
3. Who are you?
I am a Christian, American, husband, father, speaker, author, blogger, singer-songwriter and epic fajita artist. I am more than what I do though. I am what I believe, who I spend my time with, what I read/watch/listen to and what I think. I work hard to align all of those elements with my answers to #1 and #2.
4. Who is on your team?
My most important team mates are Jesus Christ, my wife Ashley, and my daughters Vivian and Addison (and soon-to-be Emerlyn Kate :). Ashley and I's immediate family, friends, peers, church family and long-time clients also play a vital role on my team. All my audience members, clients, and suppliers comprise the rest of my team. They are all a joy to work with and make my team exciting, colorful and ever expanding.
How about you?
- Posted from Rhett's iPhone on tour in San Diego.
Four Questions to get in G.E.A.R.
(And a few key anchor words...)
Grounded - Why are you here?
This question is not about why they are at the conference or in the class (although that is important). It is about why they are anywhere. What is your purpose in life? Leaders who understand, are deeply connected with and stay grounded to their core purpose are more likely to get and stay in gear. This purpose must align with your deepest values and beliefs. Why are you here? The answer to this question gives life meaning.
Engaged - What do you create?
Highly effective leaders are results-oriented. They are greatly concerned with making things happen, creating change and leaving everywhere they go and everyone they connect with a little better than they found them. They are excellent at creating cool, interesting and meaningful stuff; which in turn attracts people with those same qualities. What do you create? The answer to this question gives life direction.
Authentic - Who are you?
Self-awareness is critical to good leadership. You must understand your strengths, weaknesses, talents and skills before you can fully lead. Highly effective leaders are so true to who they are, their "leaderly" actions become second nature. This allows them to genuinely place their time and attention on others. People are starving for leaders who are authentic, bold and caring. Who are you? The answer to this question gives life clarity.
Relationship-focused - Who is on your team?
Life and leadership are team sports. Engaged leaders have identified, understand the importance of and spend time cultivating the relationships in their life. This includes people following them and people they follow. They put relationships first and results second. Who is on your team? Answering this question gives life joy.
If you are a leadership teacher, trainer or conference organizer, invest time examining your curriculum, material and speakers and make sure these four critical questions are addressed.
Step one is to know your personal answer to each. Here are mine:
1. Why are you here?
To bring glory to God through my relationships and my leadership teachings.
2. What do you create?
Personally, I create harmony and security for my wife and daughters. Professionally, I create a tribe of inspired and motivated students, educators and professionals armed with better tools for getting their leadership in gear.
3. Who are you?
I am a Christian, American, husband, father, speaker, author, blogger, singer-songwriter and epic fajita artist. I am more than what I do though. I am what I believe, who I spend my time with, what I read/watch/listen to and what I think. I work hard to align all of those elements with my answers to #1 and #2.
4. Who is on your team?
My most important team mates are Jesus Christ, my wife Ashley, and my daughters Vivian and Addison (and soon-to-be Emerlyn Kate :). Ashley and I's immediate family, friends, peers, church family and long-time clients also play a vital role on my team. All my audience members, clients, and suppliers comprise the rest of my team. They are all a joy to work with and make my team exciting, colorful and ever expanding.
How about you?
- Posted from Rhett's iPhone on tour in San Diego.
8/1/10
Recommendation
“I have known Rhett for close to eight years. He is an inspiration to me and thousands of other student leaders from across the nation. Without Rhett’s leadership and advice I would not be the person that I am today. Leaders in Gear is the perfect reference guide if you want to remarkably improve your speaking and presentation skills. I would recommend this book to anyone trying to become a better leader!”
Christopher J. Cavin
President, Oklahoma Student Government Association
7/14/10
How to Maximize a Conference Experience
John Maxwell, the famous leadership author and teacher, tells us there are three things we must do to grow as leaders:
1. Surround yourself with the right people.
2. Consume the right media.
3. Attend the right conferences.
When you attend conferences, to make the most of them, follow these five guidelines.
1. Be child-like. This doesn't mean throw a tantrum if the room is too cold. It means ask questions. Lots of them. Don't let your pride or reputation or position keep you from raising that hand and getting clarity, more information or better information.
2. Take organized notes. If you aren't writing, you aren't learning. But don't just write to recall. Write with organization. Make notes of what needs to be delegated, acted upon immediately, filed for later, etc. This will help your post-conference actions take flight quicker and more efficiently.
3. Offer solutions, advice and suggestions in a CVS format. Concrete. Visual. Simple. It is important to not only add value where you can, but to be clear with your thoughts.
4. Maximize gap time. The official sessions and breakouts will be valuable learning environments, but the real magical sharing times happen early in the morning, at meals and during breaks. Make the most of them.
5. Seek out answers. If possible, go to conference with specific questions and challenges you are looking to resolve. Then hunt to find experts, speakers, exhibitors and attendees who might just have the answers you are looking for.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
1. Surround yourself with the right people.
2. Consume the right media.
3. Attend the right conferences.
When you attend conferences, to make the most of them, follow these five guidelines.
1. Be child-like. This doesn't mean throw a tantrum if the room is too cold. It means ask questions. Lots of them. Don't let your pride or reputation or position keep you from raising that hand and getting clarity, more information or better information.
2. Take organized notes. If you aren't writing, you aren't learning. But don't just write to recall. Write with organization. Make notes of what needs to be delegated, acted upon immediately, filed for later, etc. This will help your post-conference actions take flight quicker and more efficiently.
3. Offer solutions, advice and suggestions in a CVS format. Concrete. Visual. Simple. It is important to not only add value where you can, but to be clear with your thoughts.
4. Maximize gap time. The official sessions and breakouts will be valuable learning environments, but the real magical sharing times happen early in the morning, at meals and during breaks. Make the most of them.
5. Seek out answers. If possible, go to conference with specific questions and challenges you are looking to resolve. Then hunt to find experts, speakers, exhibitors and attendees who might just have the answers you are looking for.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
6/15/10
Indiana FFA State Convention 2010
Sold out of Leaders in Gear last night after my keynote at the 2010 Indiana FFA State Convention. I am so very proud of all the students, parents and advisors for investing in their leadership. LiG is packed with tips and strategies to help them know how to use their influence to make a positive difference in the lives of others!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
6/8/10
LeadershipNow Blog
Big thanks to Michael McKinney for providing a quick, but insightful overview of Leaders in Gear on his LeadershipNow site...
http://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/2010/06/5_leadership_lessons_getting_y_1.html
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
http://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/2010/06/5_leadership_lessons_getting_y_1.html
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
6/7/10
Big Time Thanks!
Great big thanks to the state advisors of the Oklahoma CTSOs (BPA, DECA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, SkillsUSA, and TSA) for investing in your state officers by purchasing a Leaders in Gear and Activator (www.PersonalLeadershipInsight.org) for each of them. With your officers equipped with each of these, they are ready to start building every keynote, workshop and training for the entire year! Best of luck!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
5/12/10
Application Ideas
Following are a few application ideas from clients and how they are using Leaders in Gear:
- Micheal Brammer, Pennsylvania FFA Executive Secretary - He purchased 11 books - one for each of his state FFA officers as a resource for speech material and for their personal leadership study.
- Linda Miner, Laverne High School student council advisor and teacher - She purchased 32 books - one for each of the graduating seniors at LHS as graduation gifts.
- Claude Kershner IV, Oklahoma State University MBA student - Claude purchased the book to supplement his masters studies as he recognizes the value of improving his LQ (leadership intelligence).
- Linnie Berkenbile, Oklahoma Business/Marketing/IT ED Division State Program Manager - She purchased 80 books - one for each of her teachers to use as a leadership teaching tool in the classroom.
4/25/10
Twitter & Facebook
If you have a Facebook, you can also keep up with everything Leaders in Gear related by joining our fan page. Just search for Leaders in Gear the next time you log in to Facebook. If you are one of our awesome LIG purchasers, please post a note on the wall and tell our over 300 fans what you most like about your Leaders in Gear book.
Also, if you are on Twitter, please post a tweet with your favorite LIG chapter or lesson. Tag it #ligbook. Thanks!
Also, if you are on Twitter, please post a tweet with your favorite LIG chapter or lesson. Tag it #ligbook. Thanks!
4/24/10
Recommendation
"Leaders in Gear is an excellent resource for anyone looking to better their leadership skills and speaking abilities. Rhett breaks his points down in an easy to understand fashion and offers practical hands on examples that will help leaders succeed. This is an awesome resource for folks of all ages!"
Matt and Andrea Lohr
New Directions Communications
Matt and Andrea Lohr
New Directions Communications
4/22/10
Recommendation
"Leaders in Gear is full of lots of practical ideas for working leaders."
Mark Sanborn
Professional Speaker, Leadership Expert, Leadership Author
www.marksanborn.com
Mark Sanborn
Professional Speaker, Leadership Expert, Leadership Author
www.marksanborn.com
4/3/10
3/29/10
Table of Concepts Bookmark
When you purchase a copy of Leaders in Gear, you receive this custom bookmark with a complete Table of Concepts. Use it as a quick reference guide to the meat in the book. Order here.
3/28/10
Table of Concepts
Leaders in Gear is written to be quickly and easily consumed. It is filled with fresh leadership and presentation skills content, stories and concrete, tangible lessons. The following list showcases all of the concepts incluced in Leaders in Gear. Order your copy today.
Leaders in Gear Table of Concepts
Leaders in Gear Table of Concepts
- Leaders in Gear Credo
- Your 4 Fuel Tanks
- LIFT Happiness Strategies
- 9 Ways to Commit
- 4 Steps to Personal Growth
- The Threshold Thread
- 6 Indicators of Good Time Management
- Epic Journeys
- 4 Attributes of Creative People
- 3 Barriers to Creativity
- 4 Steps to Overcoming Failure
- GREAT Goals
- 9 Elements of DUH Leadership
- OTIS Elevator Speeches
- 9 Ambassador Characteristics
- Branding Statements
- 5 Great Team Components
- SMILE to Work a Room
- 3 Ways to Bring the Best out of Others
- 5 Ways to Connect
- 5 Approaches to Directing
- Stop, Drop & ROLLL to Apologize
- Trust Scale
- 6 Steps to Listening Like a Leader
- 6 Questions to Motivate
- Doers, Throughers & Spewers
- 5 Coaching Conversations
- 4 Ways to Persuade Others
- 7 Fundraising Insights
- 3 Ideas for Dealing with Negative People
- 10 Tips for Dealing with Controlling Leaders
- 17 Brainstorming Tips
- 4 Negotiation Strategies
- 7 Ideas for having Great Meetings
- 7 Speaking Basics
- 5 Speaking Misconceptions
- 3 Common Speaking Pitfalls
- 5 Tips for Creating Memorable Messages
- CAKE to Handle Nerves
- SMART Presenters
- Speaking Time Rules
- 5 Presentation Drivers
- 9 Tips to Leading Small Group Discussions
- Training Room Set-Up Strategies
- 5 Audience Rapport Lessons
- 5 Techniques for Engaging an Auditorium Audience
- 6 Speaking Challenges & Solutions
- 4 Levels of Difficult Audience Members
- 4 Audience Types
- 4 Great Keynote Strategies
- 6 Tips for Handling Off-Plan Keynote Moments
- 5 Ways to Concentrate Your Room
- 5 Tips for Partner Presenting
- 5 Tips for Speaking Introductions
- 13 Tips for Powerful Slide Shows
- 3 Great Banquet Talk Tips
- All The Big MOs
- Leadership Library
- Blog Library
3/27/10
Recommendation
"In 'Leaders in Gear,' Rhett Laubach has isolated and employed a useful metaphor for the challenge facing every leader: how to cultivate the virtuous habits and practices that create effective personal and organizational leadership, and how to sustain them over time. Equally applicable for the seasoned or the aspiring leader, 'Leaders in Gear' will provide the young leader with a roadmap of the essential elements of success and the veteran with engaging reminders and pithy examples that can challenge and inspire a renewed focus on first principles. In particular, Rhett's disciplined application of the concept of the 'Big MO' creates a compelling touchstone equally applicable to those of us in business, education, government or other sectors of service who can, from time to time, forget to focus on the traits essential to 'greasing the gears' of leadership."
Jerome Loughridge
President, Black Mesa Energy Services
Former White House Fellow
Jerome Loughridge
President, Black Mesa Energy Services
Former White House Fellow
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