Bonnie Frankel On Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Uncertain & Turbulent Times
Integrity is the key component that keeps the company unbroken, because it is the most essential value we own. When you have this quality, it makes you feel secure and confident in who you are as a person which is most important. If you don’t possess this quality, there’s nothing to help your self- esteem since you are not honest about your morals and values. By being completely honest, your confidence comes from being and feeling secure in who you are, therefore, you set the example for others to follow your lead.
As part of our series about the “Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Turbulent Times”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Bonnie Frankel.
Bonnie Frankel was blessed at birth given the unique qualities that pertain to leadership. She displays a bias for action, exhibits humility, authenticity, and presents herself as a consistent role model from believing by achieving the optimum physical fitness. This is what makes her successful by providing her with a keen mind, emotional stability, and physically strong.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
I got hooked in the business of healthy fitness starting out with competitive running against kids half my age in college. By engaging in this form of movement it led me to explore this sport and other exercises to build a business not in just helping me but others to be in the finest shape in achieving healthy fitness. This is where I discovered that finding the right exercise made a difference in my emotional, mental, and physical immune system, and if it did it for me, it surely would be tremendous for others. Through my experience, coaching others of all ages, and via research, I created by inventing a theory using the four elements. The conclusion that my theory would help people not only find the exercise that they best resonate with but it would be their BFF.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Blessed with my robust enthusiasm, I erroneously felt that my theory would certainly make an enormous impact on others. This was based on the fact of the curiosity of others as they desired to know my secret in how I was able to stay joyous, sharp, buff, and possess so much energy. However, when I would give my spiel in how to attain my secret, to my dismay, my expectations were not met. I had to learn that you give from your heart and what people choose to do with it is their choice. Just keep inspiring.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
I would have to give credit to my mom who was emotionally challenged when I was growing up. Her insight knew that it would be essential for me to learn various physical activities as well as to interact with other kids in order for me to release my stressful family life. She sent me to the elite Tocaloma Day Camp which was the gateway where I learned just that.
Extensive research suggests that “purpose-driven businesses” are more successful in many areas. When your organization started, what was its vision, what was its purpose?
My yearning ambition for others to achieve a synergistic relationship with identifying with a specific exercise as I did. Exercise to a person should have the same connotation as compared to bees take to honey. It empowered me to develop a theory whereas they would be able to do just that. The purpose of this theory using physical activity provides the gateway to elevating you to expand the mind, feel joyous, and be strong as nails. By engaging in an exercise that you like would provoke the stick with it attitude to give you the tool to boost all areas of your life. It would also strengthen your body to be less suspectable in contacting a disease. A new better you.
Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion. Can you share with our readers a story from your own experience about how you lead your team during uncertain or difficult times?
It was during the Covid period when my team members were struggling and particularly one. I would encourage them to continue with their performance of exercise, but to execute outdoors. Follow the guidelines, but off with the masks in order to attain the max of healthy H2O. One my team members stopped me in my tracks to share that he had bad arthritis while we were on the trails at Entradero Park. I suggested he shift his primary exercise choice from walking on the ground to walking in the deep end of the pool with the support of a noodle. He was going to put this in action when the pools reopened. In the meantime, I told him to continue walking, but to add yoga to his regiment. He complied with my suggestion, and his pain was ameliorated.
Did you ever consider giving up? Where did you get the motivation to continue through your challenges? What sustains your drive?
Giving up is not in my DNA and I will always keep punching. When I know in my heart that something is achievable, success is around the corner. Having the endurance to see goals through when the weather is unpredictable helps me to persevere that the corner could maybe take a little longer than my fast twitch muscles would expect. I have learned where there is a will, there is a way. It may be in someone else’s time, not mine, but the experience of patience has been my best teacher.
I’m an author and I believe that books have the power to change lives. Do you have a book in your life that impacted you and inspired you to be an effective leader? Can you share a story?
There are two books that I keep in the vault that sculpt my internal thinking to extend to my external actions to become a potent leader. The two books are: Eckhart Tolle, The Power Of Now; and Mark Manson, The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck. Eckhart’s book has a perennial profound effect to keep my thoughts intact by staying in the present moment. It helps me to function as a witting and effective warrior. Manson’s attitude is encouraging because of his unique take about the uncertainty of life. Manson ascertains that in order to achieve things is to remain dubious about them and be open to finding out through the simple experience. The openness of being wrong must be present for any real change or growth to take place. Through trial and error is how we become an effectual leader. I remember when my book came out at the beginning of the Covid lockdown, I tried different strategies which were limited at the time to sell my book and most of them were for naught. The final one I tried was a strategic success using outdoor vending. I was able to hook people’s interest and sell because of others admiring my fitness on the trails at Entradero Park.
What would you say is the most critical role of a leader during challenging times?
When one displays emotional intelligence leadership, it is likely that they will include transformational leadership behavior. They have the capabilities to understand their employee’s need. They can empathize more effectively and interact and manage their relationships in a positive manner. Also, they are given the ability to navigate complex problems that are key factors to be successful during difficult times. This form of leadership style is where the leader understands the change that needs to occur, drives the organization’s vision, and utilizes a team that is committed to achieving this specified perception. Focus on resilience, empathy, transparency connectedness, and balance to help people get through the challenges and ensure successful performance. One of the key things to do is to keep learning. This includes talking with your team and your clients to get an outside perspective on how things were handled and what could be done better next time around. Don’t overlook small problems because those small ones will most likely fester into a bigger one.
When the future seems so uncertain, what is the best way to boost morale? What can a leader do to inspire, motivate and engage their team?
Communication. Let your team know how valuable their efforts are as well as how much they have contributed to the project. It is essential to stay in constant contact with the team players so they feel that they are part of a solution. Create a sense of concern and connection when you communicate and become more personal with your information. If you have information that you don’t know, provide a timeline for when you think you will know. It is important that you come up with a type of a plan, transparency (no hidden agenda) breeds trust. Be positive, communicate, ask for input because they become part of the fix, and create small wins, which lead to bigger ones.
What is the best way to communicate difficult news to one’s team and customers?
Practice emotional intelligence. Always begin upbeat with the good news before you share the bad news. Be straightforward, communicate face to face, share your plan of action, be transparent and honest.
How can a leader make plans when the future is so unpredictable?
Take an artistic approach with your plans when uncertainty encircles you. Let go of fear and give yourself permission to pursue a far richer array of future possibilities. Be able to explore and experiment to discover creative solutions to complex challenges. Invite, empower, and trust your team to help you find new solutions. Resiliency will guide you to meet the challenge to prevail with uncertainty.
Is there a “number one principle” that can help guide a company through the ups and downs of turbulent times?
Integrity is the key component that keeps the company unbroken, because it is the most essential value we own. When you have this quality, it makes you feel secure and confident in who you are as a person which is most important. If you don’t possess this quality, there’s nothing to help your self- esteem since you are not honest about your morals and values. By being completely honest, your confidence comes from being and feeling secure in who you are, therefore, you set the example for others to follow your lead.
Can you share 3 or 4 of the most common mistakes you have seen other businesses make during difficult times? What should one keep in mind to avoid that?
Neglecting to make a business plan but having the ability to alter it. Failing at something, but continue to try another approach. If you have a product shortage, make sure you have included in your business plan. If kindness seems to be missing, remind yourself it is a very unselfish act and costs nothings.
Here is the primary question of our discussion. Based on your experience and success, what are the five most important things a business leader should do to lead effectively during uncertain and turbulent times? Please share a story or an example for each.
1) Physical Fitness — Because it shows that you have needed discipline to reach your goals.
2) Emotional Intelligence — It allows the leader to manage theirs and others to seek solutions outside the flight and fight pattern. Also, it inspires the team members to do the same.
3) Communication Skills — Be open, honest, direct and consistent with frequency of meeting with your team.
4) Back up plan — Always have a just in case list. Flexibility is always an asset.
5) Listen to your team — You never know when you hit the jackpot where you would least expect it.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Uncertainty is the root of all progress and growth.” If I had not given up my certain lifestyle, I would not have discovered to thrive on the path that I was meant to be on.
How can our readers further follow your work?
bonniefrankel.com, Amazon, Goodreads
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
Bonnie Frankel On Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Leader During Uncertain & Turbulent… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.