Relevant Musings

Leaders model for others all the time. The importance and impact of learning for the leader, reverberates throughout the organization with the impact being felt long and wide. Are you the example of learning that you want duplicated?

Being adaptable, flexible, and willing to adjust does not mean turning away from your core purpose and valued principles. Effective leaders recognize several ways to stay tuned into organization principles, while choosing any number of paths to reach the designated target. Take a look at your actions during this first month of business for 2012 … are you “on target” at the expense of your principles?

At the University of Phoenix Research Institute, they continually consider what it means, and what it may take, for us to contribute in meaninful ways. At the heart of feeling successful lies the desire to offer something. As human beings, most of us want to offer something that matters. Something that matters to our family, friends, colleagues, and the larger community we generally call society.

I appreciate that the group at Phoenix is focused in this direction and I encourage you to take the time to read their report. Better yet, read it and then discuss it with others to share the learning! 

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/docs/sponsored/phoenix/future_work_skills_2020.pdf

Effective leaders establish a regular practice of checking their motives. Proceed with caution if you are offering compliments, doling out recognition, or being charitable without understanding your reason for doing so. Generosity needs to be genuine or it's not going to be helpful. Are you thoughtful about the ways in which you are generous?

Whether we like it or not, whether we agree with it … leaders are held to a higher standard. When it comes to integrity the leader must stay focused in order to build trust. And trust, being the cornerstone of integrity, is essential for leaders who seek to take their organization to the next level, into the next market, into the next generation. What steps do you need to take in order to be a leader with executive integrity?

From your vantage point, where have you seen a seemingly small effort make a strong impact? Are you looking for the strengths in others that, when added together, could result in something very valuable? Be intentional about looking, specifically, for those small strengths that are just waiting to grow.

Who has a strength that is looking for your “water” in order to grow?

Delightful? Yes! If you are not seeing positive leaders emerging from our millennial generation, you are not looking hard enough or in the right places. I have the pleasure of coaching young business professionals who are proceeding through their MBA program and I am impressed with what I see. They are not just using their talents, they are seeking ways to turn their talents into strengths to offer a greater impact. That both encourages me and convinces me that I can expect to see leaders who will contribute to the world in ways that benefit all of us.

Check out the thoughts of John Coleman, Daniel Gulati, and Oliver Segovia in their recent Harvard Business Review blogpost to consider more on our up and coming business leaders.

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/11/leaderships_new_direction.html?referral=00563&cm_mmc=email-_-newsletter-_-daily_alert-_-alert_date&utm_source=newsletter_daily_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert_date#disqusComments

Although most of us can appreciate an extra couple of bucks, generosity is not solely about dollars and cents. Effective leaders generously offer all their resources and they deliver genuinely not begrudgingly. Don’t hold back a compliment, a word of encouragement, or your attention. The “price” you pay will come back to you tenfold, so “spend” like there is no tomorrow all week long!

Patience is not a stand alone leadership trait, rather it accompanies many other traits. Patience can act as either a modifier or exemplifier. Patience can slow the pace of a hurried presentation. Patience can also regard many options to a situation. Patience can play a big part in your interactions with others or a small part.

What part has patience played in your setting this week?

Waiting should be an active posture for a leader, not a sedentary one. And we don’t want to mistake “calm” for “inaction.” Leaders take action in every situation and when doing so, they communicate volumes to those around them.

What patient actions has the world seen from you this week?

“Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life's deepest joy: true fulfillment."                 Anthony Robbins

Are you a leader who finds fulfillment in your day’s work? Requests for your time and attention can be not only overwhelming but also end up frustrating you to the point of being inefficient. Regain your balance and those around you will be calmer.

A favorite mentor and business colleague shared this blog post with me and I found it to be helpful in getting me to move "off the dime," today. Perhaps you need a shot in the arm to get yourself moving, too?  Check it out!

http://blog.startwithwhy.com/refocus/2011/09/obligate-ram-ventilation.html

“Assumptions are the termites of relationships.”                                                                                                           Henry Winkler

Effective leaders do not to take assumptions (their own or others) at face value. Rather they investigate the circumstances of a situation to learn what lies beneath the surface.

Have you recently taken a short cut and avoided investigating the circumstances? Don’t delay - circle back to fully understand and assist the situation.

As evidenced in a recent blog post I read by Tony Schwarz, seen on the Oct 12 HBR Blog Network, there are many opinions about the best way to deal with difficult people, especially in the workplace and especially where leadership is concerned.

One blogger comment that I appreciated offered the idea of "not letting a difficult person rent space in your head." The idea being, we have only so much mental and emotional energy to spend each day. Is it worth it to spend your energy on the difficult person?

I believe that many times what bothers me most about difficult people is some piece of their attitude or action is a reflection of myself. Yikes, I hate when that happens. But some days, you may well decide it is time to deal with the knucklehead straight on. In that case, I agree with thoser blogger comments that suggested preparing yourself to do that well. Jumping in without advance thinking likely won't get you the result you want.

So here is my two cents worth of preparation advice, ask yourself "how will what I say or do help?" Will I be helped? Will the other person be helped? If there is little to gain by your comments or actions, decide to let it ride. But if there is a real chance to improve the negativity, by all means get yourself ready to have that conversation.

What advice do you have for dealing with difficult people?

“Good ideas alter the power balance in relationships, that is why good ideas are always initially resisted. Good ideas come with a heavy burden.”                                                                                                   Hugh Macleod

Effective leadership in an organization requires caring relationships that offer openness to creativity – everyday creativity along with “rock your world,” creativity.

How can you open the door to unleash new waves of creativity in your group?

The passing of Apple founder, Steve Jobs, has sparked much conversation in many corners of the world. I suspect that even for those of us who don't know much about technology, we will still find ourselves involved in chatter about his death and more importantly, about his life.

The comments about his life will undoubtedly be connected to the contributions he made to those around him, those around him both near and far. In the reading about his life that I have taken in so far today, the comment I appreciate the most is this; Jobs recognized that people care more about what technology can do for them than about how the technology actually worked. Not withstanding, of course, the many dozens of people who purely love technology inside out.

So, while I'm pondering how to leave my own legacy, I'm asking myself, "what am I focused on?" The act of contributing? Or the people who might benefit from the contribution? In other words, what is the motive behind my contributions, my work? I can't be certain, but I'm willing to bet that if I'd had the chance to talk this over with Jobs, he would have welcomed the dialogue.

" Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.”     Willie Nelson

Are you, by nature, a positive thinking person or a negative thinking person? If negativism has a hold on you, change what you are putting in front of yourself. Read positive material, focus on upbeat radio or TV, select movies that embrace an affirming perspective.

What goes in your mind often comes out your actions – how will you feed your mind this week?

Often times I hear or see·compelling thoughts for leaders to consider from many sources. Lyrics, stand up comics, billboards, news headlines, church sermons, television shows, any number of books·and occasionally, a license plate. It's amazing how much of·what is unintentionally·spoken·our direction can be useful.

So, here is what I'm pondering today. What kind of relationship do we really want with our fellow workers -·contract or covenant? To flush out my own thoughts, I checked in with good old Webster and learned that the definition for each word is exactly the same. "A formal agreement to fulfill a obligation," and "arrangement about action to be taken."

However, when I checked the synonyms I noted that "covenant" included alliance, pact, bond, oath, pledge, vow, and promise. Plus, accord. As in, one accord. These words deepened the meaning measureably for me.

What about for you? How do the words "covenant," and "contract" speak to you?

“Real education should educate us out of self into something far finer; into a selflessness which links us with all humanity.”                Nancy Astor

You know the phrases … those catchy little statements that people use to convey a message or sentiment. “That guy, he gets along with everyone,” or “I’ve never heard an unkind word come from her mouth,” or “He is one of the most “down to earth” people I’ve ever worked for.”  People want to be liked, want to belong and feel significant. A leader who links themselves into others offer a rich benefit for all people involved.

Some leadership gurus say that given the large list of competencies a leader would strive to develop, the hardest one is "personal learning." I agree.  It's also, in my opinion, the most important.  To me, it's all about self-awareness.  Can I take the blinders off and hold the mirror up to my own face and tell the truth?  Can I not only accept feedback, but also ask for it, knowing that it might be hard to hear. Can I take the feedback I get with grace and a stiff upper lip, say thank you, and then make a plan to change?  And then, can I share my learning with someone and ask them to be an accountability partner and help me change?