Leading with vision

Thursday December 15, 2011 #377

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather up the wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Today’s thought is about leading with a compelling vision.  Too often, leaders focus on managing operational details which has the opposite impact of their intentions.  They think that by managing the details, they will ensure predictable excellence.  While this may hold true in the short term, it fails in the long term.  Your followers are ready to use their skills and intellect to accomplish great things.  They were hired for their unique talents and skills in execution.  You were hired to inspire them to bring all of themselves to work each day.  Do this by creating a compelling and hopeful vision of the future and the purpose of their work, including operational excellence.  If you have hired well for the talent needed to execute, you will find that operational excellence will occur naturally without your micro-management.  You, however, are completely responsible for supplying the vision and purpose.  Are you doing your job?

Glory from small moves

Tuesday December 13, 2011 #376

“All glory comes from daring to begin.”

~Eugene F. Ware

There is no glory in a great decision or idea if it isn’t accompanied by action.  The world is filled with the potential for extraordinary advances in all aspects of life – relationships, business processes, inventions, societal change, and more.  And the architects of such potential are all around us – and may even be you.  Such advances usually start with a small move.  Take a chance that the glory belongs to you and move forward with an action that improves or changes something for the better – even a little bit.

Choose joy

Thursday December 8, 2011 #375

“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”

~Marianne Williamson

Most human beings suffer from a tendency to see the negative in people, situations, and most damaging – themselves.  If you remember a moment of joy in your life, you will realize that your joy stemmed from noticing, accepting and embracing the good around you.  Joy is a choice:  choose to see the plentiful examples of good in you, in your life and in the world; embrace it with gratitude, and experience the joy.  As joy begets joy, you will impact not only yourself but those around you.  Choose joy.

Exercise your imagination daily

Tuesday December 6, 2011 #374

“Imagination grows by exercise and, contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young.”

~Paul McCartney

Every day is an opportunity to use your imagination to reinvent yourself and the ways you approach people and processes.  Look at today’s calendar and to-do list.  Pick one appointment, meeting, or project.  Reflect on it and imagine the best possible outcome.  What could you do to impact the people and processes involved to help secure a better result?  Pick at least one thing and try it.  Afterwards, assess the result.  More than likely you will be energized by your positive impact and be motivated to try something with tomorrow’s calendar!

Exercise your imagination daily and discover its power.

Persitence will be your ally

Thursday December 1, 2011 #373

“When you put positive energy and productive effort into the world it will come back to you. Occasionally in ways you might not immediately understand and on a time frame you didn’t expect. Look. Listen. Learn. Stay open. Your destiny is awaiting you.”

~Jillian Michaels

So often we get discouraged when things don’t go as we’d like.  Even when you make efforts, take action, and focus on your strengths, you may not achieve your goal.   Don’t despair!  The key is to ensure your goals and their attendant actions are aligned with your core values.  When they are, it is only a matter of time until you receive dividends from your efforts.  Persistence will be your ally as you move toward your eventual rewards.

True decisiveness requires action

Tuesday November 29, 2011 #372

“A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”

~Tony Robbins

You know what you need to do to move forward in some aspect of your life.  You’ve “made the decision” to act on that knowledge.  Months later, nothing has changed.  What happened?  You didn’t really decide.  You merely came to the conclusion that a decision should be made.  Until you make a move, actually do something, nothing happens.  Today, show true decisiveness and take an action on one of your goals.