Michael Beck
MBA,MSE
Free
Executive Strategist Expert
Michael Beck Quick Facts
- Main Areas
- Executive Coaching & Executive Strategies
- Career Focus
- executive coach, executive development, strategist
Michael Beck, founder and president of Michael Beck International, is a coach and strategist to executives who want to improve their leadership effectiveness, business performance and productivity. Michael has held leadership positions at virtually every level of an organization, including CEO, EVP, COO, and CFO.
Mr. Beck’s credentials include an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of Business along with degrees in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. His industry experience includes financial services, engineering, construction, foodservice, legal, and international development.
Michael Beck Books
Articles by this expert
SelfGrowth articles and saved writing connected to this expert.
Article
Don't Bother Setting Goals
Don't bother setting goals. It's a waste of time. Let me explain why I feel this way about goals and then offer a better alte ative. See if this scenario sounds familiar. You decide to work towards some new level of accomplishment. So you set a goal for yourself. Actually, you probably set a few goals. The first goal you set is for the end result. Your goal might be to reach a certain level of sales, or to drop X pounds, or to build a sales team of a certain size. You get the idea... Next, you set an activity goal. No... more like 2 or even 3 activity goals.
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Does Success Change You?
Imagine this scenario... You spend years working hard to succeed. During these years, you have some success, mixed with lots of false starts. But you never really reach the level of success you dream of. And then something shifts. Everything begins to work, and your fame and fortune take off. Here's the question: Does success change you? Does becoming successful cause you to think and act in a different way? Understanding the answer the answer to this question has significant implications for your future. The answer is "yes" and "no".
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Most Companies Get Leadership Wrong
Most companies take a good approach to developing leaders, but generally miss the point. There's a lot of emphasis placed on good decision making, effective communication, and team building. And all those are important, but don't address what matters most. When you get right down to it, the essence of leadership - the thing that best reflects good leadership - is when a leader is able to bring out the best in others. If a leader is able to elicit excellence from the people around him or her, then that person can truly be deemed great leader.
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The Zen of Leadership
There are many aspects to leadership that parallel the philosophies, concepts, and perspectives of Zen Buddhism. I don't profess to have a great depth of knowledge regarding Zen Buddhism, but from the insights I do have, I can see the application with respect to effective leadership. The parallel exists within the concept of leading without leading. It exists in the ebb and flow of leadership style. And it's reflected in the very duality of the role of a leader within an organization. Let me share my perspectives on each of those concepts as an insight into effective leadership.r
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Instilling Pride ~ A Key to Eliciting Excellence
Eliciting excellence in others is the essence of leadership, and one of the most effective means of eliciting excellence is to instill a sense of pride in those around us. Instilling pride has a myriad of benefits - quality of work and workmanship improves, creativity and innovation increases, collaboration is facilitated more easily, and people are willing to "go the extra mile" to do their best. A team or department instilled with a sense of pride will excel simply to prove to others that things can be accomplished that are otherwise thought impossible.
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If You Want Things The Way They Were…
If you long for "the good old days" the way they were a couple of years ago, then things have to change. I'm not talking about the economy or the politicians. I'm talking about us and our business. If we want to regain the success of days past, then we need to change our marketing and how we go about doing it. The problem is that when things become challenging, there's a tendency to rely on what used to work. And here's what happens.
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Stop Trying to Be Normal
Stop trying to be normal. It undermines your success and keeps you in a state of mediocrity. It's an interesting phenomenon. This idea of being "normal" starts to take hold in high school. There begins to form this desire to "fit in" - to be part of a group. Or at least, not be singled out as someone who "doesn't fit in". Along with that comes the desire to be an "insider".
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Who Are You?
In truth, it’s WHO YOU ARE, rather than what you do or what you know, that persuades someone to buy from you. People will choose to do business with you because they like you, relate to you, and trust you. What traits define “who you are” in the minds of others? Obviously there are many things ...
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Why I Left My Insurance Agent
I was talking to a friend the other day, explaining what I do for a living, when she interrupted me and proceeded to tell me all about how wonderful her insurance agent was. Her story caused me to reflect on why I left my previous agent. I don’t think my previous agent will be upset by ...
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How To Attract Clients
Ah, those magic words – “Attract Clients”. Virtually every professional I know loves the idea of attracting clients, and would be even happier if there was a “magic formula” for accomplishing it. Well, actually there is a formula that works like magic for attracting clients to you. And I’m going ...
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Sales Strategies: Why Prospects Buy From You
In truth, it’s WHO YOU ARE, rather than what you do or what you know, that persuades someone to buy from you. People will choose to do business with you because they like you, relate to you, and trust you. What traits define “who you are” in the minds of others? Obviously there are many ...
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Sales Strategies: Close More Sales Without Selling
Let’s face it… No one likes to be “sold” something. To me, being “sold” is when somebody convinces me to buy something – whether or not I really needed or wanted it. Have you ever been convinced by someone to buy something, maybe even against your better judgment, and then regretted having ...
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Favorite Quotes & Thoughts from Michael Beck
"People are attracted to you by who you are, not by what you do." - Michael Beck
Contacting Michael Beck
Michael Beck
Michael Beck International, Inc.
503-928-7685