Personal Power Versus Greater Good

So as leaders, what do we do when we receive praise? The ability to deflect praise toward those who deserve it is important for a number of reasons. Giving credit to others keeps us from becoming conceited, self-absorbed, or a Personal Power leader. In addition, it allows those who had a contributing role to experience the success as well. Praising others also shows our personal desire to be a servant, a true mark of amazing leadership.

This attitude does not come naturally to most people. To this end, we must commit to something much greater than ourselves. If we’re constantly looking for glory and praise from being a Personal Power Leader, then our priorities are wrong. The same is true if we choose to give others praise, but in a showy, “look at me” manner.

It seems we expect strength, speed, toughness, and confidence—even cockiness in order to excel as a leader. I would offer that meekness, gentleness, and humility might better serve today’s leader, if we are looking for a long-term impact toward the Greater Good . And don’t forget –we all need cheerleaders in our lives.

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Mindfulness = Awareness + Intention.

"Dont confuse having a Career with having a Life"-Hillary Clinton

Knowing this, here’s a questions for you to consider: How mindful are you of your time in managing life and leadership?

Mindfulness combines being aware and focusing your intent. The formula is pretty straight forward: Mindfulness = Awareness + Intention. Awareness includes being conscious of the internal and external stimuli that interfere with your thinking. “Mental chatter” is a fact of the human condition that can create distortion limiting your ability to focus on staying connected and aware.

It’s Not About Balance. It’s about finding a new rhythm.

Instead of seeking balance, I would offer that the aim of secure leadership is more pointed at work/life effectiveness. This is an expression I believe most strikes at what it is we are after. Effectiveness is the degree to which something is successful in producing a desired result. Success is found in finding rhythm instead of equilibrium. By focusing on rhythm, you acknowledge there are times when your pace is going to be much more oriented to work, home, self, or community.

#GiANTworldwide #leadership #worklifebalance #success

Are you strange, or authentic? Why leaders need to be real.

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” —Oscar Wilde

Without authenticity, a leader is simply not effective. Our culture is increasingly cynical regarding organizations, institutions and bureaucracies, and we seek leaders who are genuine and secure, who can guide us through the complexity of these entities.

TRUST: Anxiety and a breach in trust

Leading is not easy. True leadership only begins as leaders look deep into themselves, understand who they really are and answer yes to the question of being authentic.

KNOW YOURSELF: Who are you?

Is this leadership? Real leadership is honest, true, deeply insightful and reflective, purposeful and motivated by high ideals. It is thorough in deep self-knowledge, uncompromising in standards and unyielding virtue.

No One Remembers Your Name?

In order to know ourselves, we really need to spend time with ourselves and invest in our understanding of self.

Leadership is a journey—not a destination. Live the journey. Be authentic, have fun, enjoy the ride, and live the mosaic—because, like it or not, we are all strange.

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When There’s No Time to Think, Fly Up

"Time moves Slowly but passes Quickly"

“No time to choose when the truth must die. No time to lose or say goodbye. No time to prepare for the victim that’s there. No time to suffer or blink. And there’s no time to think.” –-Bob Dylan

Here are a few strategies for you to consider:

1. Begin by analyzing what is exactly happening to your time…FOCUS!

2. Eliminate all things that I should not be doing. Thinking that we are indispensable is one root cause of this habit.

3. Create blocks of time in your schedule devoted to thinking.

4. For the extended periods of time, get away from the office or base and get off the grid. Lose the connectivity for a few hours.

5. Leave the urgencies and do-lists behind. Focus on the purpose, future, and health of your organization or unit and its people and the critical priorities that will move the organization forward.

6. Use a practical system and a simple tool for accountability.

#GiANTworldwide #LinkedIn #Timeflies #timeisgold #Connections #Leadership #Focus

What is the bedrock of your organization’s success?

Below are 8 helpful rungs of insight to climb that will ensure your organization’s bedrock has the integrity to hold your lofty aspirations for success.

Step 1: Explain It

Clearly outline your organizational culture.

Step 2: Set It

Cultural attributes define expectations around attitude, collaboration, autonomy, and generally how behavior is regulated.

Step 3: Teach It

Modeling is the best way to educate team members about culture and expectations.

Step 4: Communicate It

Directly share with your teams what culture looks like, why it is important, and how it connects to your strategic direction.

Step 5: Loop it

Integrate culture through everything you do.

Step 6: Measure it

Evaluation of culture is essential in promoting accountability across each level of your organization.

Step 7: Celebrate it

Every organization has highly-regarded leaders who are the ambassadors of healthy culture.

Step 8: Live it!

Healthy culture attracts talent more than salary or benefits.

Do you question the strength of your company’s culture, or are you wondering how to clarify it?

#GiANTworldwide #Ginconsultinggroup #success #leadership

What Are You Contributing to Your Leadership Table?

Each of us has a uniquely significant leadership voice of influence that we convey to our families, our work places, and community. Do you know what your voice is?

The Nurturer

Nurturers are champions of people. They are always concerned about the relational health and harmony of the group.

The Creative

Creatives are champions of innovation. These are your “outside the box” thinkers.

The Guardian

Guardians are champions of responsibility and stewardship. These are the leaders who strongly respect and value logic, order, procedure, and process.

The Connector

Connectors champion relationships and strategic partnerships. These are the leaders who rally people to causes and things they believe in.get there.

The Pioneer

Pioneers are champions of change and ingenuity. These are the leaders who approach life with an “anything is possible” attitude and the competence to make it happen.

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3 Words to Transform How You Communicate with Your Team

This tool teaches leaders to preface their conversations with the appropriate “P”…

PROVISIONAL means that you’re just thinking out loud. The ideas shared may or may not happen and there is nothing being asked of the recipient.

PLAN means that the stated ideas/goals are the direction that the team/individual should be moving forward toward, but that specifics may change along the way.

PROMISE means that the idea is where everyone needs to focus their attention (and may require dropping things in order to focus on what is being shared).

Those three simple words — Provisional/Plan/Promise — are powerful and can help your team know how to receive what you are sharing with them, while still giving you liberty to be thinking (and sharing) about the future. The next time you need to cast vision, simply starting with the correct “P” can set you on the right path and help your team get excited with you!

#GiANTworldwide #Ginconsultinggroup #Leadership Communication #ProvisionalPlanPromise