Joe Contrera is the Founder and President of ALIVE @ WORK LLC, a leadership development company dedicated to helping Extraordinary Leaders Achieve Extraordinary Results. He is the author of three books. His latest, Extraordinary Results: Mastering the Art of Leading, Coaching, & Influencing Others, is quickly becoming a must-have resource for leaders in organizations across the country. It will not only change what you believe about leading, it will help you build your leadership skills so that you can successfully influence others.

Is Your Leadership Development Plan Failing?

Is Your Leadership Development Plan Failing?

“We train animals, we need to make sure we are educating our leaders.”  ~Joe Contrera   Yesterday, I was attempting to read an article on my phone to catch up on an event. Once I clicked on the article, in less than a nanosecond my screen was filled so many ads that I could not…

Have You Become a Prisoner of Social Media?

Have You Become a Prisoner of Social Media?

“The oxymoron of freedom is that it must submit to rules of morality or it will succumb to the rot of tyranny.”   ~ Craig D. Lounsbrough   So-cial – late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin socialis from socius meaning ‘friend. Me-di-a – the means of communication that reaches large numbers of people.…

Is Your Leadership Driven by Power or Force?

Is Your Leadership Driven by Power or Force?

“Force, no matter how concealed, begets resistance.”   ~ Lakota Proverb   Your ability to lead others is directly tied to your ability to influence them. One of the tools you can use to more powerfully influence others is the use of story in your interactions. Stories can magnify a point or grab an audiences attention during a…

Looking For Your Authentic Self? Follow the Money...

Looking For Your Authentic Self? Follow the Money…

“Money cannot buy peace of mind. It cannot heal ruptured relationships, or build meaning into a life that has none.”  ~Richard M. DeVos   I have been doing a little reflecting on money. It seems as though you cannot flinch without seeing some commercial for Bet365, Sportsbook, or DraftKings promising fast, easy money and enticing…

Holidays & The Great Brain Robbery

Holidays & The Great Brain Robbery

“We must protect ourselves and our children from the unwanted, addictive, and deceptive influence that is being driven by the Social Media Industrial Complex. ~Joe Contrera   122 years ago, one of the milestones in the history of filmmaking was surpassed when Edwin S. Porter directed and photographed the very first narrative film, The Great…

Leaders...Please Don't Pardon Your Interruptions

Leaders…Please Don’t Pardon Your Interruptions?

“Looking back, you realize that everything would have explained itself if you had only stopped interrupting.”    ~ Robert Breault   Regardless of how you analyze the numbers, interruptions are one of the biggest drains on our ability to effectively communicate with others in the workplace. Unfortunately, I have found that this is an area…