Career Enrichment Coaching
Be a Leader – Confront Reality – Reason #78
Are you taking the difficult, I-don’t-want-to-deal-with-it issues head-on?
No longer brushing them under the rug but instead placing the issue square in the center of the table for discussion. It means not shying away and instead being genuine and direct about issues that may be affecting people’s hearts and minds. Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great, states, that good-to-great companies infused their decision making processes with “the brutal facts of reality.”
He further shares that Pitney Bowes executive Fred Purdue was quoted as saying “My job is to turn over rocks and look at the squiggly things, even if what you see can scare the hell out of you.” Are you talking about the ‘scary squiggly things’ that might impede your or your organization’s future? Claim your copy of my ebook, 101 Reasons To Be A Passionate Leader: Why Developing Your Leadership Is Critical Today!
Living CONFIDENTLY! Coaching
Title: Living CONFIDENTLY! Coaching
Location: via Webinar
Link out: Click here
Description: Check out our 8-week group coaching program empowering you to live confidently everyday! ONLY a few seats left – Register NOW!
Date: 2010-03-15
Unleashing Your Leadership Power: Study Guide Now Available
We often think that people are born to be leaders. We think that certain people have this innate set of qualities that distinguishes them from the rest. We may have a desire to be a great leader but feel that we don’t have the right competencies.
What if I told you that anyone who has the desire can become a leader by taking a step by step approach? Yes, if you be willing to invest the time it takes to go through eight simple steps you can grow into the leader you want to become.
How do I know this? I am like you. I wanted to make a real difference in people’s lives, I wanted to inspire others. And I wanted to be successful. But I didn’t want to sacrifice my personal life. I wanted to feel fulfilled both at work and at home.
CEO of Gibson Guitar gives Commencement Speech
Henry Juszkiewicz, a 1976 graduate of GMI/Kettering University gave the commencement speech at my son’s graduation this month. Although having a quirky speaking style, I enjoyed the simple message he gave. Dr. Juszkiewicz spoke about three words: Goals, Passions and Decisions.
“Life is about a handful of critical decisions that will define you. How do you make those decisions?” He spoke of his own experience after graduating from GMI and beginning his career at GM. He spoke of setting goals as he left GMI to be the Top Leader, CEO and making a difference in a company. He spoke of… “wanting to be an entrepreneur. I want to buy a company. I walked toward entrepreneurial opportunities.” He spoke of being in a band since he was 10 and loving instruments and music.
Are You Focused on Your Strengths?
“Most people think they know what they are good at. They are usually wrong… And yet, a person can perform only from strength.” – Business guru Peter Drucker (1909 – 2005)
“Most people think they know what they are good at. They are usually wrong… And yet, a person can perform only from strength.” – Business guru Peter Drucker (1909 – 2005)
As many of you who already subscribe to my Leadership Power Tips know, one of my favorite books is Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton. When coaching my clients, we talk a lot about Strengths and seek to gain clarity on what theirs’ are. I just completed reviewing my Strengths after reading Strengths Finder 2.0, the upgraded version by Tom Rath. The goal of Gallup Management and the authors “was to start a global conversation about what’s right with people.”
Leadership and Change
We all have heard the saying – The only thing constant is change – and yet for so many people change is very difficult. I wonder… is it because we really don’t believe this; because we have a fear of the unknown; because we hate to see a good thing come to an end? When is it we embrace change?
Over the last 18 months, I coached many employees, managers and executives in a very dynamic environment where growth was happening very fast to, unfortunately, where decline rapidly took hold and seemed to spiral out of control. After hiring almost 70 people and watching them enthusiastically take on the launch of a new program, I was several months later laying off all the people I hired plus many more. I witnessed hope, contribution and commitment and then despair, fear and anger.
Are you bored with your current role?
Well are you? Now be honest!
I have come to learn that when I begin reading a lot and when I begin seeking out training courses, I am ready for a change. And usually a big one! That is how it has been for me since March of this year. I have been actively involved in several training courses and have read… let me count…11 books. Wow, I even surprised myself by how many I have read in a few short months time. I will have to share with you which ones are the best… check out TheLeadershipResource.com/Leadership-Books.php
Are You Modeling Self-Empowerment?
When was the last time you said “I don’t know” in front of your employees? (Out loud so someone would hear it.)
When was the last time you shared something new that you learned? (Not acting as if you had known it all along.)
As a leader, we must model self-empowerment. This is a small step to creating an environment where not knowing everything and learning are accepted. I love hearing bosses tell their employees what they learned from a customer, co-worker or another employee, or what new tool they are using to improve their effectiveness. Employees then begin to wonder what they should be learning.
Just recently, I have begun learning sign language so I can more effectively communicate with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. It is very exciting to be learning a new language and also very humbling to have to ask people to slow down and repeat the signs so I can understand. It shows my vulnerability; yet persistence. One of my employees has already come to me to discuss what she should be learning and figuring out what would be the next opportunity for her. She said you have me thinking in new ways about my own job.
Top 7 Leadership Tips for Managing Difficult Times
Top 7 Leadership Tips for Managing Difficult Times…
Did you stick with me through all the leadership tips I provided? Have you applied any of these? Let me know with a comment below. I would love your feedback.
Visit my web page at TheLeadershipResource.com to get the full leadership article.
To empowering passionate leadership in you!
Susan
Leadership Tip 6 for Managing Difficult Times
This is Leadership Tip 6 of 7 Leadership Tips for Managing Difficult Times.
Be a Sounding Board for Those Airing Grievances, but Re-Direct Their Negativity
A leader who is open, up front, available, accessible and communicative does incur some inherent risk. The honest and forthright leader may become a target for all sorts of negativity during difficult economic times. That should not come as a surprise, as most humans feel compelled to share both good news and bad news in equal measure. But the confident, assertive, and compassionate leader has an almost innate ability to redirect that negative concern into a productive response.
