Music Therapy for Autism

For many parents, autism is a frightening condition that often leaves them feeling disconnected from their children. The fact that the medical community at large still has a lot to learn about autism only exacerbates the issues families face when one of their loved ones is diagnosed with the condition. Treatment options for autism are limited, and generally require intense training at considerable expense. However, in recent years, music therapy has become increasingly popular as music not only has the power to calm and soothe, but may also be exploited as a means of communication.

As a non-verbal and non-threatening medium, music therapy is safe and useful for autistic children. Music activities are developed to address their special needs. For example, social play is one area in which children with autism struggle, but musical games that include passing an object back and forth are compelling while encouraging social interactions. With music, you also have the option to create a sound together, and many common symptoms of autism can be addressed. Eye contact can be encouraged with clapping games, attention issues can be addressed by playing an instrument; and a child's favourite music can be used as a reward for achieving cooperative social behaviours such as sitting with a group of children in a circle.

More significantly, music therapy has been found to be very effective in helping children with autism develop speech. Communication is one of the major deficits seen in children with autism, especially with regards to expressive speech which is often impersonal or entirely void. Autistic children may be completely mute or rely on very basic communication tools such as grunts, cries, shrieks, or humming. Even more advanced autistic children often rely on very basic communication skills highlighted by a lack of expression or a monotone delivery. Yet, in the music classroom, teachers often relate rewarding experiences with autistic students as they become more engaged and interactive with the music and their classmates.

There is a wealth of scientific research that supports the idea that autistic children show sensitivity to music. Sometimes they play musical instruments extraordinarily well, and the goal of music therapy is to draw on these musical sensitivities to improve communication and social awareness. Some of these children may sing even when they do not speak, and an autistic child's responsiveness to music can easily be adapted to non-music goals. Through consistent and systematic tasks, many autistic children benefit significantly from music therapy. Songs with simple words and repetitive phrases assist with language development, and the joy of music itself can be used to encourage socially beneficial behaviours. As music therapy continues to be an effective tool for autistic children, the applications of the therapy also continue to grow. Many therapists feel that music provides necessary insight into the thoughts and feelings of autistic children.

Replacing Negative Behaviors in Children With Habit Training   Replacing Negative Behaviors in Children With Habit Training   

How To Buy Cheap Car Insurance?

If you own a vehicle, it is required by law that you have some insurance on it. The price of coverage varies from one company to the next and also depending on several factors in the policy. Nevertheless, this does not mean that you have to pay a fortune for it. There are some ways through which you can get cheap car insurance.

You need to get all the paperwork that is required. This includes the year of manufacture, vehicle identification number, make and model of the vehicle. Moreover, you need to have your driving license, contacts, occupational information such as work type, the address and name of the job, and any financial details on any loan attached to the vehicle.

If you already have auto coverage, have a copy of the policy so that you can use it for comparison. Also, have a pen and notebook with you. This will help you make notes about the different coverage firms.

Contact various companies and assess their prices. There are several ways through which you can do this. Browsing the internet and making telephone calls are some of the most commonly used methods. If you are using a phone, contact about five agencies. Ask them about their rates.

To ensure that you get accurate figures, ask for specific policy options. If you decide to use the internet, carry out a simple search for coverage firms. You will probably get numerous results. Choose some and get several quotes. This will take a few minutes. Compare the prices and identify the cheapest one that adequately meets your coverage needs.

You can adjust your policy to make the most out of it. There are specific ways through which you can modify them so that you get to pay less. For example, you can add theft policies and lower the amount of mileage issued for annual use. This will reduce the overall price. If you have several coverage needs, such as home and business, you can get good discounts by covering them all in the same firm.

You should also explore other options that are available for you. Ask about how you can change the coverage to lower the amount you pay. If it is not viable to change the policy, look for devices you can remove from the current one so as to reduce the cost of premiums. Those are some of the steps you can follow so as to get cheap car insurance.

Get The Best Car Insurance Rates   Six Types of Auto Insurance Coverage - Car Insurance Quotes Online   No Down Payment Car Insurance: Does It Benefit You?   Auto Insurance: There Is Safety in Numbers   

Advantages of Using Car Breakdown Cover

A vehicle breakdown cover should be taken up by everybody and should not be considered as an extra cost. The true value of the cover becomes obvious when you are stuck in the middle of the road without a solution. This form will spare you lots of trouble when your car breaks down. A vehicle insurance cover is a policy that offers guaranteed roadside help in the event of a breakdown. For those who are covered, help is just a phone call away. A professional mechanic is often dispatched to the place where the vehicle has broken down to do the repair work.

Breakdown cover in is suitable for all motor vehicle owners. However, it becomes important for people who frequent remote roads. If the only means of transport is your motor vehicle, travelling lonely highways everyday the roadside assistance cover is important.

The cover is also recommended for vehicles that are more than 2 years old as well as vehicle owners who have very little knowledge about the operations of the car engine. Furthermore, as the vehicle grows older the probability of engine breakdown increases to a higher extent. The cover offers more than cover by guaranteeing roadside assistance and rescue. Therefore, the breakdown should be considered seriously. The cover is also recommended for the seniors and elderly to avoid undue pressure and stress.

The vehicle cover is a policy with the capacity of offering the much-desired peace of mind while on the roads. Some of the characteristics of these covers are given below.

The vehicle breakdown cover offers convenience: As a driver, there is nothing as inconveniencing as having your vehicle breakdown in the middle of the road. This is even worse when the weather is unfavorable. You will be left stranded on the highway or the byways with no help coming your way. These challenges can be outdated with the breakdown cover. Your vehicle will be repaired by the road side. But is this is impossible, it will be towed away to a garage. The insurer will however make sure that you get to your destination on time.

Breakdown cover is a time-saver: It allows for the saving of time. There will be no need of you spending many hours waiting for a mechanic to arrive. In many occasions, vehicle owners are compelled to abandon their vehicles on the roadside. The breakdown cover offers a hassle free transport by dispatching a mechanic quickly to the location of breakdown.

The cover offers a peace of mind: You can drive in any time of the day without being worried about being stranded on the roads. The breakdown cover offers an emergency roadside assistance as well as vehicle breakdown rescue. The cover may also include the 'At- home-service'. Any moment the vehicle fails to start there is no reason to panic. Call the insurer who will be in a position to dispatch a professional mechanic to your home.

Get The Best Car Insurance Rates   Six Types of Auto Insurance Coverage - Car Insurance Quotes Online   No Down Payment Car Insurance: Does It Benefit You?   Auto Insurance: There Is Safety in Numbers   Classic Car Insurance for Young Drivers   

Tips For Younger Drivers About Their Insurance Policy

You may know the insurance requirements in the area you have lived most of your life. For many younger drivers, moving out into the real world means huge changes in their insurance coverage. Young drivers living at home with their parents have a lot to take care of when they move out on their own.

Learning more about the changes that take place in your coverage can help you have more money for those new bills like rent and utilities. Moving out means you are going to be living on your own budget as well. Several changes can be made in your automobile coverage that can help you pay less for it.

If you are still listed on your parents policy, you should know there are significant benefits in having coverage in your name. The number of discounts you qualify for could add up to great savings in the future. Staying with one company for a long time is one of those great discounts.

Moving out of your parents house is an exciting time. However, making the wrong choices for your auto coverage can cause you to have higher premiums. The first few months out on your own will be stressful enough without paying high premiums. Talk to your agent about your move and how it affects your insurance policy.

The vehicle you drove in high school because you wanted to show off to your friends could be one reason your premiums are higher. Keep in mind the flashy, sporty auto is not the best choice when you are moving into your own place. Choosing a small compact vehicle is your best bet for saving money.

Teens getting their first car can choose an economical vehicle for helping them to save when they do move out of their parents home. Keeping this car until you move out will help you keep your premiums down. Ask your agent how the safety and anti theft features on your automobile can help you save even more money.

If you have any traffic violations, you are considered a higher risk. Bear in mind that until you turn twenty five, you automatically qualify as high risk. Adding traffic tickets to the mix makes you an even higher risk and could cost you a lot of money for your insurance. Lower the risk your driving record is causing by taking safe driving courses and following these car ins tips.

Get The Best Car Insurance Rates   Six Types of Auto Insurance Coverage - Car Insurance Quotes Online   No Down Payment Car Insurance: Does It Benefit You?   Auto Insurance: There Is Safety in Numbers   Classic Car Insurance for Young Drivers   

Do I Need Car Repair Insurance for Used Cars

Used car repair insurance is an absolute necessity for anyone who has an older car. Some people think that as long as you take good care of your car, that there's no point to getting a policy to cover it. Unfortunately these people often find that even after keeping up with maintenance appointments, oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections, their old car needs repairs sooner or later. That's where insurance comes in.

While some people choose not to get a policy, others know it is the wise thing to do. It is a worthwhile process to get a quote, read over the terms, and decide on the coverage that is right for you.

Why a Used Car Repair Insurance Policy is Important

Without a policy, you run the risk of having to pay excessive repair costs when the time comes to get things replaced or fixed. This happens after your initial car warranty ran out, when such bills are no longer helped by the special protection offered by the maker or dealership. Most used cars fit into this category after 30 to 90 days. Some never come with such a warranty or only include limited coverage.

Extending the coverage helps to protect your finances and car. With lower costs, you can more easily afford any mishaps that occur throughout the life of your car. It also protects your car by allowing for repairs to be done in a more timely manner than may have otherwise been possible without a policy. The longer you wait for repairs to be done, the worse of a situation you may be faced with down the road.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are some common questions that people seeking used car repair insurance are wondering. This FAQ section will help you get some of the answers you need, as soon as possible. You will discover whether or not you are a good candidate for a policy, as well as how much it might cost you. There are also answers regarding how much is covered and what kind of discounts may be found.

Do I Need a Policy?

Honestly, anyone with a used car needs to consider getting car repair insurance. Policies are for people who take their automobile and finances seriously. Without coverage, you face potential consequences. If you are unable to pay in full for necessary repairs, you may be out of luck when you don't have the ability to file a claim. That's why it's important to get coverage sooner rather than later.

How Much Does Used Car Repair Insurance Cost?

Costs escalate according to a number of factors. Your specific costs can usually be more accurately determined by getting a price quote. Since coverage takes care of potential situations like needing an engine overhaul or new transmission, you can expect insurance costs and deductibles to reflect potentially expensive repair scenarios.

You may also be faced with hidden taxes, surcharges, claim fees, and processing fees. It's important to read over the full list of terms of a policy before you agree to a particular one. This will give you a good idea of the exact costs you may be faced with in the future.

Is it Easy to Find Discounts for Insurance?

Sometimes you can find discounts on car insurance. It helps to know the right places to look. Since costs can be high for some individuals, it may be worth your time to browse around for the best deals. Our website can help you find the prices that are right for you.

What is Covered by a Policy?

Auto body repair costs are covered by an insurance policy for used cars. This is done according to the assessor's estimate of the total repair cost. According to the specific terms of your coverage, the car is required to be returned to you in the same condition as it was before the repairs were needed. The type of your insurance policy coverage is going to determined what is covered.

You now should have a good idea of the most common questions asked with regards to insurance and how it can help you in the future. Hopefully with this information in your hands, you are now more comfortable with the idea of used car repair insurance and how it can help you.

Get The Best Car Insurance Rates   Six Types of Auto Insurance Coverage - Car Insurance Quotes Online   No Down Payment Car Insurance: Does It Benefit You?   Auto Insurance: There Is Safety in Numbers   

Do You Want to Achieve More and Reach Your Potential?

Behavioral scientists tell us that an average person uses about 3% to 25% of the total resources of their talent and abilities. If you are running your business, sales territory, or departmental area based on 3% to 25% of your talent and abilities, how much business are you leaving on the table every day?

Challenging the assumptions you make in your own situation is difficult; however, it's doable. You have to step back and be willing and able to think creatively in terms of how to solve the challenges in your organization or area and what are the obstacles that you have to overcome.

If you could find a way to use more of that untapped potential in you, what would it do for you? Quantify the amount of lost revenue, waste, or expense reduction that you are suffering. Is that figure sufficient to create a sense of urgency to address and correct it? In other words, what differences would I see in you and your organization six months or a year from now?

If nothing changes, nothing changes. For you to become what you're capable of becoming and to succeed, change is needed. One change is attitude development. Another is interpersonal skills and the third is goals achievement.

Attitudes are seen as outlooks or feelings and they are internal to us. Attitudes are not opinions. Opinions may change rapidly from week to week, while our attitudes a more stable and a little more fixed. Attitudes are habits of thought. There is a link between the way we think and the way we behave.

Interpersonal skills that contribute to your success evolve as your career does. At the entry-level, 90% of your success is from the job and the technical knowledge and 10% from people or management knowledge. By supervisory and middle management, that may be 50/50 and for top management it is people issues 90% vs. technical issues 10%, that will determine if they are successful.

For many, the skills and knowledge that got them hired is not what will propel them in the future. Its attitude and behavior that causes us to quit or get fired from a job, just as it is attitude and/or behavior that cause you to fire a subordinate. That employee possesses the same knowledge and skills that they were hired for... what went bad was their attitude and behavior.

Top executives must be on guard that their skills and knowledge are current and the responsibility is theirs alone to remain employable. Attitude and behavior can slip and people at the top of the organization usually have nobody brave enough to tell them so.

Humans are goal-directed. Most of us prepare shopping lists and plan vacations to maximize the time off. Many people will spend more time planning a vacation than what they do the other 50 weeks of their life.

Our approach to goal achievement involves both personal and organizational goal setting. Achieving a balance between home and work is one of the primary motivations that most executives express to me.

Many executives are great at directing others, but not so well at self-direction and role awareness. The value of goal setting is that as you become more competent professionally, the organization should get better results. That gives the organization more money to increase compensation, benefits, promotion opportunities, etc. As your personal compensation is increasing, you have the wherewithal to satisfy more of your personal goals and objectives. When you get better professionally, it adds to the balance in your personal life.

Use attitude development to change your potential, and management skills to affect confidence and knowing how to communicate, make decisions, and how to manage. Finally, use goal setting as a tool to force you to use that attitude along with a plan, or road map, for your life that will get you from where you are today to where you want to go.

How to Define Leadership   Do You Want to Achieve More and Reach Your Potential?   

Being Gotten

I have been doing a lot of mediation coaching in Pittsburgh and elsewhere helping management and staff work together better. It is not all that different from executive coaching because, after all, I am still talking to real people with real problems. When I am doing this work, I am often left with a feeling for how stringent we are in our beliefs, and how difficult it is for us to be free of judgments and to get our feelings heard. I've seen many times how placing judgment on the other members of the team slows productivity at work, and threatens relationships between partners and friends.

The biggest culprit I find in these situations is poor communication. We all probably fancy ourselves excellent communicators and can't understand why someone else doesn't follow our simple directions, train of thought, or idea. We walk away from conversations with our loved ones, coworkers, or friends with bruised feelings because we feel we have not been heard. In a recent survey with a global company I found that most of the 150 people who took part in a cross-cultural training thought that their communication was perfect but their co-workers were flawed and poor. When we point the finger, we are left feeling disempowered and hopeless. Issues are not resolved and work doesn't get done efficiently. Let me give you an example:

In my recent mediation coaching session I had the pleasure of working with an introvert and an extrovert. The introvert was complaining of too much talk and activity, and the extrovert had her feelings hurt because she did not feel received. The new office mate did not talk enough with her. After both parties got to air out their difference, and created a way to communicate their needs, they were able to create a positive work relationship where one was able to request quiet when it was needed and the other was able to be more talkative when requested.

I know this seem like a very silly example, but it is often those silly things that fester and create bad relationships at work. Add the gossip and victimhood on top of it and it is to no one's surprise that 70 percent of people are dissatisfied at work.

Communication is about being received, being seen, being gotten. It's hard to have that between two people if you're coming from two different places, especially judgment. If you are wondering why this matters think about this: happiness could be the underlying factor for success, and there is science to back that up.

Thomas Wright, Jon Wefald Leadership Chair in Business Administration and professor of management at K-State, found employee well-being is tied to higher performance. And employee performance is, after all, tied to a company's bottom line. Happy workers make better decisions and have better interpersonal behavior.

This makes happiness a valuable tool for maximizing organizational outcomes. Economists too have found a link between happiness and productivity. In recent research, Andrew Oswald, a professor of economics at Warwick Business School, found happier workers were 12 percent more productive. Unhappier workers were 10 percent less productive. Yes, this is nothing new but something to remember. Heard employees are happy and engaged employees that are more likely to take the company to double-digit growth.

In order to hear and be heard, we have to be open to the conversation. But so many of us go into a meeting or a disagreement with our partner with preconceived ideas or thoughts about the person that make it difficult for us to listen and communicate. We have filters on, filters from the past, filters for how it is, and filters for what we want. What if you went in to a meeting or a disagreement with your partner and decided instead to be generous and listen to them newly. Forget about the past and really receive what they are saying or participate in a dialogue instead of a lecture? What if you tried meeting your colleague or partner in a place where they are comfortable?

I know two coworkers who have very different styles of communication. One wants to document everything in email and isn't much for talking things through. The other likes to talk out ideas face-to-face. What if the email worker spent a little time talking to her colleague, fleshed out some ideas, and then they both documented the results of their meeting in an email. Well that's a win-win. The colleague who likes to talk can feel she has been heard and it may help the email colleague find that the conversation sparked a new way of looking at things for her. And still, the email colleague will have her documentation and be able to see that real results came out of the conversation.

Once we're open to a conversation and receiving the person on the other end of the conversation, new ideas can be born and better relationships can be built, whether it is at work or at home. And what's more science seems to be proving that by doing this, we are likely to build a better app, find a more cost effective solution, and retain employees.

How to Define Leadership   Do You Want to Achieve More and Reach Your Potential?   

Collaborative Leadership: Are You a Mindful Leader?

Mindful leadership is an idea whose time is here... now. Now is the present moment, and unless you can be self-aware enough to listen to what is present to you, here, now, you are not showing up as a mindful leader. Mindfulness takes practice, particularly in our hyperactive culture, which is full of fear, distraction and "never enoughness."

Granted, it is highly unlikely that you live every moment of your life mindfully, but for most people even if they could do it for a few moments or minutes at a time, they are ahead of the game. Actually, this is serious business.

Collaborative leadership-which is not consensus in my book, by the way-requires a leader that can see people as individuals instead of prejudging them based on their social group. That, by the way, includes gender, both male and female. No two people are identical, so when we buy into social stereotypes we are not practicing mindful leadership.

Mindful leaders can be more empathetic because they are present enough to notice the state of mind of others. It should be noted here that this is tough to do if you are not even in touch with your own state of mind. What I mean by this is that many, if not most-and probably the vast majority-people are so out of touch with their feelings and unwilling to deal with their own "blind spots" that they at best struggle with seeing others where they truly are. If you don't deal with your stuck areas, you will not have clarity of vision in your mind's eye. This leads to all sorts of projections and assumptions, which only hinder team relationships.

You see, leadership development is really personal growth at work. Can you see the double meaning here? To be an artful, inspiring leader you must first walk your talk; and to do this you must grow yourself mentally, spiritually, and emotionally first. This takes courage. I know from experience that it is easier to hide behind arrogance and power over others, than to be vulnerable. Vulnerability requires fearlessness... less fear.

By the way, vulnerability is more about admitting that you are human, as we all are, so there is always a need to learn. It is a willingness to be your authentic self and not a blind copy of "traditional leadership." This takes strength of character.

Growth does not mean that you are defective at all; there's nothing to fix. A willingness to embrace growth just shows that you are wise and confident enough to realize that regardless of your IQ, background, or education you don't know everything and have not reached your true potential. How can I say this?

Well, are you alive and breathing? Then your work here on earth is not finished, so you have more to learn. It's as simple as that. Even those awarded Nobel prizes don't know it all, so you can relax. Leadership development gets easier when we can lay aside the masks, embrace with gratitude and humility the gifts and talents that are naturally ours, develop them, and then share them with the world in our own unique way of making an impact, regardless of gender. So, as it relates to this post, here is a summary of the benefits of becoming a mindful leader-but, of course, there are many more:

#1. Better able to grow and develop your leadership skills

#2. Better able to inspire and engage team members

#3. More confidence and personal power/presence

#4. Stronger and healthier mental, emotional, and spiritual states

#5. Much greater ease in tapping your true potential

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself (herself)." ~Leo Tolstoy

I hope you join me in developing into a more mindful leader. Do you want to change the world? Then start with yourself. Change yourself and you can change your world. Now that's truly visionary leadership that inspires action.

How to Define Leadership   Do You Want to Achieve More and Reach Your Potential?   

Do You Want to Achieve More and Reach Your Potential?

Behavioral scientists tell us that an average person uses about 3% to 25% of the total resources of their talent and abilities. If you are running your business, sales territory, or departmental area based on 3% to 25% of your talent and abilities, how much business are you leaving on the table every day?

Challenging the assumptions you make in your own situation is difficult; however, it's doable. You have to step back and be willing and able to think creatively in terms of how to solve the challenges in your organization or area and what are the obstacles that you have to overcome.

If you could find a way to use more of that untapped potential in you, what would it do for you? Quantify the amount of lost revenue, waste, or expense reduction that you are suffering. Is that figure sufficient to create a sense of urgency to address and correct it? In other words, what differences would I see in you and your organization six months or a year from now?

If nothing changes, nothing changes. For you to become what you're capable of becoming and to succeed, change is needed. One change is attitude development. Another is interpersonal skills and the third is goals achievement.

Attitudes are seen as outlooks or feelings and they are internal to us. Attitudes are not opinions. Opinions may change rapidly from week to week, while our attitudes a more stable and a little more fixed. Attitudes are habits of thought. There is a link between the way we think and the way we behave.

Interpersonal skills that contribute to your success evolve as your career does. At the entry-level, 90% of your success is from the job and the technical knowledge and 10% from people or management knowledge. By supervisory and middle management, that may be 50/50 and for top management it is people issues 90% vs. technical issues 10%, that will determine if they are successful.

For many, the skills and knowledge that got them hired is not what will propel them in the future. Its attitude and behavior that causes us to quit or get fired from a job, just as it is attitude and/or behavior that cause you to fire a subordinate. That employee possesses the same knowledge and skills that they were hired for... what went bad was their attitude and behavior.

Top executives must be on guard that their skills and knowledge are current and the responsibility is theirs alone to remain employable. Attitude and behavior can slip and people at the top of the organization usually have nobody brave enough to tell them so.

Humans are goal-directed. Most of us prepare shopping lists and plan vacations to maximize the time off. Many people will spend more time planning a vacation than what they do the other 50 weeks of their life.

Our approach to goal achievement involves both personal and organizational goal setting. Achieving a balance between home and work is one of the primary motivations that most executives express to me.

Many executives are great at directing others, but not so well at self-direction and role awareness. The value of goal setting is that as you become more competent professionally, the organization should get better results. That gives the organization more money to increase compensation, benefits, promotion opportunities, etc. As your personal compensation is increasing, you have the wherewithal to satisfy more of your personal goals and objectives. When you get better professionally, it adds to the balance in your personal life.

Use attitude development to change your potential, and management skills to affect confidence and knowing how to communicate, make decisions, and how to manage. Finally, use goal setting as a tool to force you to use that attitude along with a plan, or road map, for your life that will get you from where you are today to where you want to go.

How to Define Leadership   Do You Want to Achieve More and Reach Your Potential?   

How to Define Leadership

There are many ways to define leadership. Each one may come from a completely different perspective and core beliefs.

Leadership may mean you are the dominant person in a group or organization, it could mean getting things done by having the ability to bring in others to assist you. Leadership can also mean challenging who or what has set up a set of rules by providing a better way of doing something.

The "Alpha Leader"

Both in higher species of animals and primitive tribes the leader is always the most dominant amongst the others. That dominant person or animal has and shows the power necessary to reach and hold on to the "top dog" position until they either retire or someone younger comes along and takes over.

A leader can be passive or proactive in any given situation. If things are moving along smoothly and holding the status quo, it isn't necessary for the leader to assert themselves if everything is stable. As long as everyone is following the rules and obeying the set of rules created by the leader there's no reason to step in and upset the proverbial apple cart. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" would be the rule of the moment.

If you simply took the position of leader by seizing power, most of the group would never assume to confront you if you're doing a good job at keeping things running smoothly. So, becoming a leader in this respect means you're the 'Top Dog' and most people will respect your take charge attitude.

Being a Leader by Recruiting Helpers

Modern businesses are the model for leadership through "delegation." Bosses, managers and others in corporate leadership positions get the best results by choosing the right person for the right task. Those who want total control and insist on doing everything themselves are never able to hold the reins of power for long.

In a corporate setting, leadership entails coordinating a group of highly skilled people with many specific skill-sets. Knowing how to utilize and place these people in their perfect positions takes someone able to think out of the box and make something that could be very complex look easy.

A good leader is not the embodiment of what used to be called "managers." Of course there are still people in business settings with the title of manager, yet the reality is they are more than those who simply tell others what to do.

The old days of the 'Boss,' barking orders and threatening everyone on a daily basis is normally not acceptable in today's corporate environment. Large, bureaucratic and controlling workplaces create an atmosphere of frustration, fear and lack of inspiration and innovation.

Being a leader is more than being a 'cheerleader.' There's always room for motivation, but as it is often said; "A true Leader leads by example." A boss who sits in his or her office shouting orders with a closed door policy will not last long in the 21st century business model. Neither will one of completely turning over the running of the company to the employees.

'Casual Fridays' are fine and can be incorporated in the dress code of the company as a special day of the week, but it must be clear who is running the company and who makes the final decisions. Casual dress does not mean including a casual attitude when it comes to work that must be completed even on Fridays.

In a well-run company there must be someone others can turn to for advice or counsel, knowing that person is in charge and due the respect they have earned by being creative and having an understanding of how to recognize their most dependable and valuable people.

Leaders Understand the Importance of Promoting A Better Way of Doing Things

We all know how to recognize a leader. Heads turn when they enter a room. They have a "look" about them that exudes confidence and power. They're approachable and respectful of others, no matter how small a role that person plays in the corporate structure.

They build up their people instead of wearing them down. They invite suggestions and innovative ideas. They're willing to listen but at the same time they are respected and appreciated.

A quality leader looks for ways to improve company and individual performance in the workplace. Many times something that seems like a novel idea can be a brilliant move that improves the flow of cash and efficiency to the company. And if the idea came from an employee the leader will not take credit but put the person who came up with the idea in the spotlight and perhaps give them an award and/or reward for their creative thinking.

21st Century Leadership

For any company to achieve greatness no matter on what level it will take someone at the helm who may be a "larger than life" personality who shines in the spotlight. They may almost become the 'brand' of the company as they go out and network with other executives, appear on radio, television and print media, representing the company and its services or products.

Within the confines of the company, there can be leadership shifts in various areas. If someone sticks their head up above the others and shows a particular talent or expertise it may make it necessary to move people around to different positions.

The leader of the company needs to keep on top of identifying those who show promise, talent and be prepared to offer them a higher position within the company. This can also motivate others to excel.

The Reinvention of Leadership

• A leader doesn't always have to micro-manage people to get the job done.

• Being a leader means being the captain of the corporate ship. The leader chooses the crew and brings them aboard, then guides the ship as the "sailors" do what they need to do to keep the ship afloat.

• A leader promotes efficiency and a better way of doing certain things

• As a leader the responsibility for failure lies squarely on their shoulders

A successful leader urges employees to feel free to think creatively and assist in promoting company products and its' services. A "thought leader" is someone who promotes better ideas in the industry. Knowing how to present new and innovative ideas takes a person with knowledge and excellent communication skills yet the common sense of emotional intelligence.

Someone who comes across as arrogant and unable to hear what others have to say does not embody a good leader. They must have the ability to articulate and demonstrate the depth of their ideas or those of others.

This type of talented individual has a monumental influencing style. They exude power and show others a sophisticated leadership model.

However, if the content of what they are presenting lacks substance it can be viewed as fluff and having less value than what the company and its leadership are trying to sell to the public. Make sure your product or service has the content to back up the hype.

In addition, a great leader understands the importance of fostering leadership among the rank and file of company employees, especially those already in moderately higher management levels. You never know where the next brilliant idea comes from.

As a rule, innovation comes from employees and occasionally from the most unlikely of people. Never, ever dismiss out of hand a suggestion or idea from anyone on the payroll.

True leadership also ensures the line between leadership and management is well-defined. Those with the skills will step up and the others will be left behind. When you define leadership, striving for excellence without being overpowering is something a real leader understands.

How to Define Leadership   Do You Want to Achieve More and Reach Your Potential?   

Understanding Kids With Bedwetting Problems

Parents have to know more about nocturnal enuresis or adult bedwetting. Simply dismissing it as a natural occurrence may work at times, but parents should also think about other possible causes that would need medical attention and treatment. Some of the cause of bedwetting among children can include stress or constipation. Children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) may also experience wetting the bed at night. A few children may have sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea and some have problems with infections that may cause the same problem.

Although parents can let their children wear baby diapers, they have to think of other ways of helping them with the problem especially if they are more than three years old. Though it may ease the problem, children may develop negative feelings about their inability to control their bladders that they have to be treated as babies. Parents may have to bring their kids for proper diagnosis if the problem persists longer than expected. They should refrain from punishing or making comments that tend to degrade children and make them feel shame and guilt. The ill effects of this kind of experiences will have lasting effects on their development until they grow up as mature individuals.

It may not be too difficult for parents to explain to their children what really happens during their sleeping time and the reasons why they are not able to wake up when their bladder is full they need this bedwetting alarm. Parents may enlist the cooperation of their kids so that it would easier for them to wake them up during the night to go to the bathroom. It will be a little sacrifice on the part of the parents but they have to help their children lessen the problem without harming their emotional and psychological well-being. Children on the other hand, may learn that they too have a responsibility in keeping themselves dry as much as possible. They may also respond better if parents know how to deal with the problem without getting angry and without showing signs of frustrations and other negative emotions.

Parents can also employ practical means of alleviating the bedwetting problems of their kids. They can put some plastic covering on the beds before putting the top covers so that the mattress would not be soaked in urine in case children accidentally wet their beds. They can also check some alarm systems placed in the underpants that can wake up their kids in case moisture starts to build up while they are sleeping. There are still lots of things that parents can do in order to help their children to stay dry throughout the night. However, they really need to have the patience in helping their children get over their bedwetting problem.

Change A Teen Through Unconditional Acceptance   Understanding Kids With Bedwetting Problems   

Change A Teen Through Unconditional Acceptance

You may have heard of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. In a nutshell, if we are to ever to ascend the summit of our true potential, and live a happy and fulfilling life (self-actualization), we must first provide ourselves the basic needs of, as Maslow puts it, Esteem, Love/belonging, Safety, and Physiological.

One of our most primary needs is ACCEPTANCE. It falls into the "Love/Belonging" and "Esteem" categories.

Acceptance is never more important than during the teen and preteen years - when they are clamoring, ever so awkwardly, toward adulthood and on their way to the summit of self-actualization (their true potential).

Many of us believe the basic need of Acceptance can only be supplied by others. That it is something that comes to us, and something others must provide for us.

"BZZZZZZZZT!" Wrong! Or, in the words of Alex Trebek, "Oooooo... sorry."

One thing I stress to teens as I travel across the country is that if they spend their time expecting other people to make them happy, they'll never be happy.

The same thing is true with Acceptance.

The person who should be the most accepting of you... is you.

Why do you think teens make so many stupid decisions? Even adults for that matter?

When people are hungry for acceptance and seek after validation, they make choices that they wouldn't normally make. They believe that by acting a certain way it will help them to be noticed and accepted by the person or group they're trying to impress.

Why do you think:

kids get involved in gangs there is a bullying epidemic in schools across our nations there are as many as 850,000 teen pregnancies reported each year 20% of teens have seriously considered suicide in the last 12 months 80% of 12th graders and 51.7% of 8th graders use alcohol as their drug of choice 1.3 million students fail to graduate each year

... and on and on.

To help a teen accept themselves, they must feel unconditional acceptance from you.

Giving a teen unconditional acceptance means regardless of what they've done, who they are, what they say, or where they come from, you make them feel understood instead of judged. And that's not always easy. We're human. It's natural to pass judgment.

Don't confuse acceptance with approval.

Accepting a teenager unconditionally doesn't mean you have to accept their reasoning, the premise of what they're saying, their poor behavior or bad attitude, their disrespect, their playing the victim card, or their oft-times poor sense of judgment.

But the simple act of showing them that you accept them for who they are, as a person - their weaknesses, strengths and all - is the first step to helping them build their own self-acceptance. This will lead to their building a more positive self-esteem and self-confidence. It will open the door of a truly meaningful relationship in inspiring and influencing the life of a teen.

Change A Teen Through Unconditional Acceptance   Understanding Kids With Bedwetting Problems   

Understanding Kids With Bedwetting Problems

Parents have to know more about nocturnal enuresis or adult bedwetting. Simply dismissing it as a natural occurrence may work at times, but parents should also think about other possible causes that would need medical attention and treatment. Some of the cause of bedwetting among children can include stress or constipation. Children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) may also experience wetting the bed at night. A few children may have sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea and some have problems with infections that may cause the same problem.

Although parents can let their children wear baby diapers, they have to think of other ways of helping them with the problem especially if they are more than three years old. Though it may ease the problem, children may develop negative feelings about their inability to control their bladders that they have to be treated as babies. Parents may have to bring their kids for proper diagnosis if the problem persists longer than expected. They should refrain from punishing or making comments that tend to degrade children and make them feel shame and guilt. The ill effects of this kind of experiences will have lasting effects on their development until they grow up as mature individuals.

It may not be too difficult for parents to explain to their children what really happens during their sleeping time and the reasons why they are not able to wake up when their bladder is full they need this bedwetting alarm. Parents may enlist the cooperation of their kids so that it would easier for them to wake them up during the night to go to the bathroom. It will be a little sacrifice on the part of the parents but they have to help their children lessen the problem without harming their emotional and psychological well-being. Children on the other hand, may learn that they too have a responsibility in keeping themselves dry as much as possible. They may also respond better if parents know how to deal with the problem without getting angry and without showing signs of frustrations and other negative emotions.

Parents can also employ practical means of alleviating the bedwetting problems of their kids. They can put some plastic covering on the beds before putting the top covers so that the mattress would not be soaked in urine in case children accidentally wet their beds. They can also check some alarm systems placed in the underpants that can wake up their kids in case moisture starts to build up while they are sleeping. There are still lots of things that parents can do in order to help their children to stay dry throughout the night. However, they really need to have the patience in helping their children get over their bedwetting problem.

Change A Teen Through Unconditional Acceptance   Understanding Kids With Bedwetting Problems   

Change A Teen Through Unconditional Acceptance

You may have heard of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. In a nutshell, if we are to ever to ascend the summit of our true potential, and live a happy and fulfilling life (self-actualization), we must first provide ourselves the basic needs of, as Maslow puts it, Esteem, Love/belonging, Safety, and Physiological.

One of our most primary needs is ACCEPTANCE. It falls into the "Love/Belonging" and "Esteem" categories.

Acceptance is never more important than during the teen and preteen years - when they are clamoring, ever so awkwardly, toward adulthood and on their way to the summit of self-actualization (their true potential).

Many of us believe the basic need of Acceptance can only be supplied by others. That it is something that comes to us, and something others must provide for us.

"BZZZZZZZZT!" Wrong! Or, in the words of Alex Trebek, "Oooooo... sorry."

One thing I stress to teens as I travel across the country is that if they spend their time expecting other people to make them happy, they'll never be happy.

The same thing is true with Acceptance.

The person who should be the most accepting of you... is you.

Why do you think teens make so many stupid decisions? Even adults for that matter?

When people are hungry for acceptance and seek after validation, they make choices that they wouldn't normally make. They believe that by acting a certain way it will help them to be noticed and accepted by the person or group they're trying to impress.

Why do you think:

kids get involved in gangs there is a bullying epidemic in schools across our nations there are as many as 850,000 teen pregnancies reported each year 20% of teens have seriously considered suicide in the last 12 months 80% of 12th graders and 51.7% of 8th graders use alcohol as their drug of choice 1.3 million students fail to graduate each year

... and on and on.

To help a teen accept themselves, they must feel unconditional acceptance from you.

Giving a teen unconditional acceptance means regardless of what they've done, who they are, what they say, or where they come from, you make them feel understood instead of judged. And that's not always easy. We're human. It's natural to pass judgment.

Don't confuse acceptance with approval.

Accepting a teenager unconditionally doesn't mean you have to accept their reasoning, the premise of what they're saying, their poor behavior or bad attitude, their disrespect, their playing the victim card, or their oft-times poor sense of judgment.

But the simple act of showing them that you accept them for who they are, as a person - their weaknesses, strengths and all - is the first step to helping them build their own self-acceptance. This will lead to their building a more positive self-esteem and self-confidence. It will open the door of a truly meaningful relationship in inspiring and influencing the life of a teen.

Change A Teen Through Unconditional Acceptance   Understanding Kids With Bedwetting Problems