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A great tool to help provide encouragement and information for those wanting to become better leaders.
What does it take to be a good leader? Are leaders born or developed? Being a leader is hard and for some it comes naturally but for many it does not. This is why there are so many books, websites, etc on leadership. Well LeaderFocus is an iOS app brought us from Keith Barnwell, a leadership specialist over in the UK that provide a unique tool combining a productivity tool and a leadership tool.
LeaderFocus is a different type of app and hopefully my writeup will provide a good overview of it. In addition to my thoughts, I reached out to the developer for some q&a.
To be a good leader, you really need to be knowledgeable in a variety of areas such as communication, coaching, setting objectives, teamwork, and more. LeaderFocus provides you with a large selection of leadership tips in these areas and more. There is over 40 different tips provided!
In addition to these tips, the app connects to your calendar or reminder lists and syncs them within the app to help you identify those items which are the most important.
The app is there to help remind and reinforce the ideas of leadership and what it means to be a leader. This is a tool to help encourage you. The app is very straight forward; simply connect it to your calendar and you are ready to begin. This is an iOS only app and for the iPad.
To help get some more background and insight on the app, I reached out to the developer for some q&a.
Q. Why did you make the app?
A. As a Leadership Coach I come across so many leaders who struggle with Time Management and find it very difficult to focus on what they really need to be doing. As a result they end up working longer and longer hours, rather than working smart. LeaderFocus is all about helping them to stay focused on the things that really matter. They also have no time to sift through the endless quantity of Leadership writing available and so LeaderFocus gives then a very condensed overview of leadership theories etc.
Q. What is the idea behind the different tips?
A. Just random reminders of the kind of things leaders should be thinking about but often forget when they are really busy.
LeaderFocus is designed to run as a screensaver on the iPad, ideally in full view on the users desk. It will cycle through the different screens throughout the day, providing them with essential information in five key areas: Today’s Focus, bringing together the Events, Deadlines and Tasks that they need to focus on for the day.
Q. Who do you think would get the most out of this app?
A. Anyone in a managerial or leadership position, or even someone who is aspiring to such a position.
For me leadership is something you need to work at. You need to be reminded and you need to be constantly learning and growing. LeaderFocus a very inexpensive way to help remind you of the role(s) of a leader. I have no problem recommending this app for managers.
Make sure to head over to their website to see some quick videos on the app.
