Posts Tagged "the leadership choice"
Leadership Can’t Happen Until YOU Know Who You Are
Would you recognize your authentic self if you saw him or her? How would you know it is the real you? What is an “authentic self” and why in the world does it matter to your ability to lead? One of the greatest weaknesses, and almost without question at the root of all inglorious downfalls of well-known leaders, is the discomfort they have with who they truly are. Each person is born with a beautifully unique set of talents, skills and abilities and in our early childhood we bring them into the world unfettered. Yet early in our childhood we begin receiving messages, primarily from our caregivers, that reflect back what they think and feel about who we are. ...
Read MoreIs Work-Life Balance Really a Woman’s Issue? “Most business people want to keep people wanting more money to buy more things…”
When people go to work, they shouldn’t have to leave their hearts at home – Betty Bender The simple eloquence of a few words is often the most powerful way to describe a complex situation. As I reflected on the recent torrent of stories about the “war on women,” this quote came to mind, not because it is the antithesis of conservatives’ views, and increasingly their legislative bills, rather because it goes straight to the heart of what they most fear—a shift away the almighty dollar as the demarcation of accomplishment to a more balanced perspective on what constitutes success. The early 20th Century move to keep women from vibrant contribution outside the...
Read MoreAre You a 21st Century Leader?
The Occupy movement is raising questions about leaders in business and politics. Motivated by corporate excess and government blundering of our nation’s economic system “occupiers” are expressing frustration and anger by taking to the streets. With a fuzzy message fueled by personal economic challenges and years of feeling powerless against “the big guys,” the unfortunate reality is that what these protestors are for or against is impossible to achieve. There’s only one way things will change. And looking to “leaders” to fix the problem is not the answer. The challenge in the numerous crises facing our country today is that most people can...
Read MoreThe Courage to Trust
Courage: the ability to do something that frightens one. Trust: firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of someone or something. One need only turn on the news for a few moments to be overwhelmed with the human drama playing out in the world right now. Revolutionary movements attempting to topple dictatorships, natural disasters of epic proportions and the politics of fear driving policy-making bodies to the brink of implosion only add to the realities each of us face in our daily lives that threaten our safety and security. It is no wonder stress is rampant. As I have searched in the past few days to find an answer as to how I can make a...
Read MoreWhat Obesity Tells Us About Our Leadership and Our Lives
With First Lady Michelle Obama’s spotlight honed on the issues of childhood obesity, access to healthy food choices and exercise as an issue of “national security,” perhaps we should ask why this continues to be an issue plaguing Americans. Not only is the United States home to the greatest number of obese people, the second most obese nation, Mexico, has 20 percent fewer overweight citizens and the majority of European countries have one-third the number of its citizens who are overweight. (OECD Health Data) How is it that a country with a multi-billion dollar health care budget has so many unhealthy people? Perhaps that is why our health care spending is so...
Read MoreLooking Like the Leader You Are
Working with all types of leadersfor the past 20 years, I find that certain leadership lessons are timeless. How to effectively present oneself as a leader is a question I am repeatedly asked. As time marches on, some of the nuisances may shift and the fundamentals of looking professional remain the same. No one can hope to have an effective leadership presence without understanding the impact physical presentation and communication have on one’s ability to lead. While many people feel that “superficial” qualities like how one looks and what they are wearing should be meaningless when it comes to leadership, it is an undeniable part of how one is perceived and...
Read MoreOur Choices Shape the World
When discussing leadership, I am passionate about creating a robust and complete definition that allows everyone to lead, anytime, anywhere. In other words, leadership is about the choice to live the best of one’s talents and abilities and to put them to use in the world. Implicit in this definition is our responsibility to one another and to our community as a whole. In our fast paced, constantly wired world we live the illusion of being connected to one another, when in fact, so many people feel their thoughts, actions and decisions have little impact on the world around them. We send off Tweets, Facebook posts and E-mails often with little regard for who reads...
Read MoreWhy Government Employees Are More Important Than Ever
By Kathleen Schafer, Founder Leadership Connection For the past few decades, respect for those choosing a career in public service has definitely waned. Following President Obama’s announcement of freezing pay for federal workers, the debate about the value and future role of federal employees will certainly become a lightening rod issue for Congress and the media. Having begun my career working in Michigan State Government, I deeply respect the work our public servants do. While I understand why those outside the bureaucracy often take aim at it, instead of attacking those who chose to work for our government, a better approach would be to engage the...
Read MoreGoal Setting and the Leadership Choice
By: Chris W. Bell, Director of Interactive Learning for Leadership Connection A goal is a planned conflict with the status quo. — Hyrum Smith The Leadership Choice is about being conscious in your daily life to purposefully create the change you wish to see in the world. To cultivate making the Leadership Choice in my life, I go through an annual process of setting goals for the coming calendar year. I also go through a shared goal setting process with my wife so that our family is working toward common goals and to ensure that goals are in harmony with everyone in our family. Balanced Goals=Balanced Life The number one need of today’s leader is “balance.”...
Read MoreRecession-Proof Your Job Through the Leadership Choice
By: Kathleen Schafer, Founder of Leadership Connection MYTH: My job security is determined by other people deciding my value; after all, someone else will decide to hire, pay and promote me. If you place your economic survival in others’ hands you will forever be in a position of weakness and vulnerability—leaving you feeling afraid. While you may not go to work everyday feeling the need to hide under your desk, a general sense of fear or unease will keep you from fully expressing yourself and hold you back from working with vigor because you never know how others will respond. By living this myth, you have entered a vicious cycle that keeps you from being your best...
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