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Ten top talents for mindful leadership presence

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 16:54:00 +0000

Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple, and it is also that difficult. - Warren G. Bennis

What defines mindful and resonant leadership? It is about being able to bring out the best in ourselves and others. As parents, teachers, bosses, or leaders in some other capacity it is our duty to do so, and through it we inspire and empower others to achieve common goals.

But do we have the necessary skills? Whilst some people are born with qualities that make them inspirational individuals or natural leaders, others often struggle to apply good leadership, even in their own lives. And is it not that even many business leaders do not know how to lead effectively? All-too-often they are unaware of their own shortcomings. It may be that it is too uncomfortable to face one’s own weaknesses, or perhaps the self-serving ego seems more important than anything else.

Resonant and mindful leadership inspires and engages; it is leading with wisdom and from the heart through self-awareness; it is knowing how to be present in the moment and how to develop and use our capacity to reach out to others authentically and with passionate purpose.

Michael Carroll, in The Mindful Leader, identified the following ten ‘talents’ as being vital to achieve this. These are simplicity, poise, respect, courage, confidence, enthusiasm, patience, awareness, skillfulness and humility. Learn more about these ten top talents for mindful leadership presence

The Hidden Wiring of the Best Leaders

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:52:00 +0000

by Robin Sharma

Real leaders have trained their brains to focus on the possibilities and opportunities available with military-like focus. They block out the noise of the doomsayers and shut out the voices of their critics. They get that their mindset and their personal energy are two of their most valuable resources. So they protect them well.

Here are 5 things you can to do rewire your brain to develop the mindset of the best leaders in business:

1. Sell Your TV
Ok, this might be a dramatic (game changing?) move. But much of TV news operates on the sale of fear. The more negative the news, the more scared people get. And the more scared people are, the more they'll watch the news. But every piece of data you allow into your mind is the seed of an outer result. Put excellent information in and you'll deliver excellent results.

2. Value The Great Ones
Reading heroic books, biographies of people who've done great things and listening to inspirational audiobooks is a brilliant move to create your best life. Leadership is a lonely sport. Critics will try and knock you down. Competitors will try and knock you out. And the unexpected will visit you just about every single day. Your antidote to the stresses that you'll face as you stand for your absolute best? Work hard to stay inspired. In a world that discourages, do whatever it takes to maintain your courage. To build out your dreams.

3. Watch Your Words
The words you use determine the feelings you'll feel. The best performers understand that each word spoken has power. Use positive, encouraging, energetic words. Avoid negativity, gossip, criticism and condemnation. Just watch what happens to your mindset (and heartset).

4. Avoid The Energy Vampires
Smart leaders get that who you surround yourself with drives who you'll become. Play with excellent, ethical, inspired and passionate people and their stardust will rub off all over you. Avoid people who can't wait to dump their resentment/negativity/anger and fear all over you.

5. Own Your Power

It's so easy to play victim versus be a leader (Without a Title). In my upcoming book "The Leader Who Had No Title: A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and in Life" (public launch: April 6), I write that the key switch to flip that changes the whole game is this one: switch from victimhood into leadership. Too many people give away their power to create positive results. They blame. They make excuses. They do nothing.

But we all have power, even if we have zero authority. Every single person alive today has the power to inspire. The power to innovate. The power to influence. The power to act. The power to serve. And the power to Lead. Use it. Please. (The world demands no less of you!).

The following are 5 tactics to lead without title:

1. Get brilliant at saying no to unimportant activities
2. Be the most positive person in every room
3. Spend 60 minutes every morning in silent preparation and planning
4. Outwork everyone around you
5. Honor your commitments

Improving Team Morale and Employee Retention

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:22:00 +0000

Infusion magazine highlights some key points on how to establish a healthy work environment geared to keep employees happy and in place. Stress reduction is seen as a strong influence on team morale. Infusion article

Secrets of Motivated People

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:29:00 +0000

by Lesley Alderman

New year, new you. It’s the perennial January catchphrase that holds such conquer-the-world promise. And then, well, you get sidetracked with conquering your to-do list. But even the loftiest resolutions (running a marathon, writing a book) don’t have to fall by the wayside come February. Staying motivated―and achieving what you set out to do on that bright New Year’s Day―is surprisingly possible. Just follow these nine mantras, provided by researchers who study motivation and backed up by women who have used them to realize their biggest ambitions.

1. When you make a plan, anticipate bumps. Before even trying to achieve a goal, target potential pitfalls and troubleshoot them. Peter Gollwitzer, a professor of psychology at New York University, in New York City, says that people who plan for obstacles are more likely to stick with projects than those who don’t. In a 2009 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Gollwitzer compared two groups of women who wanted to be more active. Both groups were given information on leading healthy lifestyles. But the second was also taught how to foresee obstacles (example: “The weather forecast is bad, but I’m planning to go for a jog”) and work around them using if-then statements (“If it rains, then I’ll go to the gym and use the treadmill rather than skip exercising altogether”). No surprise, those in the second group fared better. Michelle Tillis Lederman of New York City practiced this strategy when she was writing a book last year. She installed blinds on her home-office door to minimize disruptions and hired an editor to give feedback on each chapter so she wouldn’t get stuck along the way. She also established rules, like checking e-mails only after she had written for two hours. “It was easier to follow this plan,” says Lederman, “than to wrestle with every distraction in the moment.” Her book,The 11 Laws of Likability (American Management Association), will be published later this year.

2. Channel the little engine that could―really. A person’s drive is often based on what she believes about her abilities, not on how objectively talented she is, according to research by Albert Bandura, a professor of psychology at Stanford University. His work has shown that people who have perceived self-efficacy (that is, the belief that they can accomplish what they set out to do) perform better than those who don’t. That self-belief is what helped Ingrid Daniels of Newark, New Jersey, leave a stable corporate job to develop a T-shirt line after the birth of her first child. “It never occurred to me I could fail, even though I had no experience,” she says. Today Daniels runs two successful small businesses (the T-shirt company and a line of stationery), which allows her to stay at home with her three children. 1 of 3 >>

The Business of Relationships

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:53:00 +0000

by Robin Sharma

Included in the Top 10 Best Companies to Work For (Fortune Magazine), not surprising we see Google, Edward Jones and Dreamworks. When employees were asked why they love (yes love) working for the top contenders, they didn't mention the pay, the expense accounts or advancing to the top title in the Googleplex. They spoke first of the kindness of relationships. These passionate workers described their work culture as an extension of home, or like being with family. They spoke enthusiastically of their colleagues as being fun and supportive. Managers of the Best Companies are characterized as genuinely caring; every single employee truly matters. Work for these fortunate employees is like a favorite gathering place - a place to play at their top level with like minded talent.

These testimonials reveal that business is nothing more than a human venture built on high caliber relationships. Without deep relationships, leadership doesn't work. The old model of leadership - which puts profit above people - is dead.

Prescription for Winning Relationships At Work:

1. Act Like a Human Organizations run by a closed group of executives hovering above in the "C - suite" are falling. Leading Without A Title, where everyone is a key player is the new way to win in business. This fresh method of leading means that leaders not only master the essential skills but also understand how to act human. You can't treat human beings like capital - you will lose your greatest talent.

Acting human engages people - human engagement facilitates others towards their brilliance. A refreshing burst of humanity at the office outlasts and outshines the paycheck, the office with the view, or driving the company car. As the lights go out on the stage of old-school leadership, acting human is your game-changing solution.

2. Be One of the Few Who Perfect the Endangered Craft It's an amazing time to be alive. Revolutionary technological innovation to enhance our lives, freedom of choice to create the life you love, and the daily opportunity to choose from an endless list of beautiful rewards. Yet an insatiable hunger still lingers inside each one of us - the hunger to be heard. I'm talking about the transformative experience that happens when someone truly listens and totally gets where you are at. I'm talking about listening at the level you feel like the listener is hanging onto each one of your words like they are the most important words in the world.

The new leadership is all about relationships with people. And you can't relate without listening. It's impossible. Yet engaged listening is a craft rarely mastered by leaders. You can have the most competent leader in the world, but if he doesn't listen his leadership potential will go unrealized.

Feeding the hunger to be heard brings out the best in people. People will trust you, respect you and shatter their limitations for you when you give them the gift of listening.

3. Be Scarce We tend to value that which is scarce. We put a premium on objects and experiences we believe will run out: a Limited edition Gucci Ronson sneaker, a two week showing of Michael Jackson's This Is It. Reserve wine. We are impacted and motivated most by that which we don't come across everyday or that which comes in a limited supply. If you are seeking to create long term loyalty in your business relationships, ask yourself what is noticeably scarce? Is it generosity? Authenticity? Encouragement? Spot the scarcity and rock it.

4. Be the Most Positive Person in the Room Today there is perpetual buzz about the state of the economy, the shock of once-admired organizations collapsing before our eyes and the alarming daily rate of bankruptcy. Yes this is current reality however, focusing relentlessly on negativity is subscribing to failure.

Powerful leaders neutralize the infectious cycle of negativity; they deploy hope where it's seemingly forsaken. Enlisting yourself as the most positive person in the room breaks the binds of negativity. Change the music and people will either stop dancing or start dancing a new step. Either way, it will set a precedence - "negativity is what everybody else is doing - we are the organization that refuses its limitations." Utilize the power of positivity to step up and make today better than yesterday.

5. Go Bigger than Your Paycheck Just when we thought Apple couldn't wow us anymore they showcased innovation with the iPad, the tablet computer. Amazing. You might not love the design but you have to love how Apple delivers surprise above and beyond. Have the audacity to go bigger than your role. If a colleague is struggling to meet a deadline or lagging in productivity, don't be the first to point out the deficiency, be the first to roll up your sleeves and do whatever it takes to help out. Knock the status quo "it's not my job" to its knees and do more than you are paid for.

6. Be the Perfect Investment When it comes to your relationships, be a dream investment: low cost with exceptional high return. Prove to be a no gossip, no games, no regrets, no maintenance investment of other people's time and focus. Manage yourself with others at the highest level possible - a.k.a with grace.

7. Get Naked in Your Conversations Make your conversations count. Speak with candor. Brave the real issue. Say only that which is helpful: don't use your words to criticize or divide. Anybody can do that. Be radically honest, define reality. Trust is born out of the truth. Sloganeering and masking the truth breeds mistrust and disrespect. Go to the difficult truths and people will go the mile with you.

8. Get Famous for Reliability Next time a teammate or department is unexpectedly riding the wild rapids, be the person out in the water risking the rapids with them. Become known for acts of reliability.

Every single person needs to take ownership of the organization's results. Everyone needs to take responsibility for what does or does not get accomplished in a day. Anyone can reach success if they consistently do the right things. Reliability, no matter what, is the right thing. Reliability translates into ownership and taking ownership is a way to present yourself as a leader.

9. Turn Everyone Into a Cover Story Commit to noticing everyone. The young new associate in the elevator on Monday morning, the CFO's assistant, the receptionist, the customers, the interns... Remember everyone's contributions, what's important to her, what he does well, and what makes everyone smile. Everyone is worthy of being the next cover story and leaders show it.

Ethics for the New Millenium

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:27:00 +0000

The Dalai Lama Foundation has introduced a working guide entitled Ethics for the New Millennium. It presents a moral framework based on universal rather than religious principles. It rests on the observation that those whose conduct is ethically positive are happier and more satisfied and the belief that much of the unhappiness we humans endure is actually of our own making. Its ultimate goal is happiness for every individual, irrespective of religious belief. The guide offers helpful benchmarks for goals we can set as individuals and corporations. Download the guide now

Leadership of Ethical Behavior in Business

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:22:00 +0000

The strategic leadership of ethical behavior in business can no longer be ignored. Executives must accept the fact that the moral impact of their leadership presence and behaviors will rarely, if ever, be neutral. In the leadership capacity, executives have great power to shift the ethics mindfulness of organizational members in positive as well as negative directions. Rather than being left to chance, this power to serve as ethics leaders must be used to establish a social context within which positive self-regulation of ethical behavior becomes a clear and compelling organizational norm and in which people act ethically as a matter of routine. This article frames the responsibility for strategic leadership of ethical behavior on three premises: (1) It must be done—a stakeholder analysis of the total costs of ethical failures confirms the urgency for ethics change; (2) It can be done—exemplars show that a compelling majority of an organization’s membership can be influenced to make ethical choices; (3) It is sustainable—integrity programs help build and confirm corporate cultures in which principled actions and ethics norms predominate. Click to read more.

Resonant Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:19:00 +0000

by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee

A New Kind of Leadership for Challenging Times

Extraordinary Leadership: 5 Best Practices to Lead

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:33:00 +0000

EXTRAordinary Leadership

thought-provoking, potent & practical

unique tools for developing a WORLD-CLASS career

& OUTSTANDING life

MLO Y Robin Sharma!

CLICK to play the program or right click to save

Leadership Manifesto

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:25:00 +0000

by GEORGE AMBLER

Photo by Wesley Fryer

Leaders shape the future. Leaders bring change and leaders challenge the status quo. If there is no need for change, there is no need for leadership.
Leadership is a choice. Leadership does not just happen. Leadership is a choice we make to live our a vision and purpose daily.
Leaders are made and not born. Leaders know who they are, understand their unique purpose, strengths and skills. They use who they are to bring their vision into the present.
Leaders live their vision. They become the change that they want to see in the world. They set the example and show the way.
Leaders incite conversation. Leadership is about making a difference and driving change which stimulates conversation and debate. The ideas that get talked about are the ones worth talking about.
Leaders understand that character matters. Character establishes the foundation for trust. Without trust you cannot lead.
Leaders invest in themselves. Leaders take care of their spiritual, emotional, mental and physical needs.
Leaders are results focused. Leaders initiate and make things happen.
Leaders inspire. Leaders cannot achieve their visions alone. They inspire others to come alongside and participate in the journey.
Leaders leave a legacy. Success is what we do for ourselves whilst legacy is what we do for other. A leaders legacy is what they do for other and how they have invested in and developed others.

Mindful Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:03:00 +0000

"Leaders all over the planet are beginning to understand the benefits of purposefully learning to be more attentive and focused, non-reactive, and clear."
—Saki Santorelli, EdD, Executive Director, Center for Mindfulness

Business leaders today are being asked to perform and thrive in a global environment that moves and changes at lightning speed. To become more adaptable and flexible in this environment, leaders need to move beyond familiar or habitual ways of seeing the world and open up to new ways of listening, leading, responding, and innovating. Cultivating attention and awareness through mindfulness training provides a way for leaders to live all aspects of their lives with a greater sense of skill, connection, openness, and balance.

Central to Mindful Leadership Programs © is relatively intensive training in a form of meditation known as mindfulness. Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to and seeing clearly whatever is happening in our lives. On one hand it is a practice, a scientific approach to cultivating clarity, insight, and understanding. On the other hand, it is an innate human capacity that allows us to be fully present to our life and work. For most of us, paying attention to the activity of the mind for even a few minutes yields powerful and potentially valuable information. Although assumed to be subject to our conscious control, most of the time our minds are easily distracted habitually shuttling between the past and future. Little time is actually spent living in the present. Yet, our capacity to listen deeply, to make informed decisions, to effectively handle stress, to ignite innovation, and to access previously untapped resources and apply them to the challenges we face every day – all rely on our capacity to be mindful and present. Only when we are fully present in the moment can we optimize our capacity to:

Slow down or stop the cascade of our automatic and habitual reactions.
See ourselves and others more clearly.
Listen deeply and understand situations just as they are.
Be open to creativity beyond conditioning.
Respond effectively to complex and/or emotionally charged situations.
Act competently and ethically.
Achieve balance and resilience in our personal and professional lives.

Mindful Leadership Retreat:Cultivating Leadership Presence
March 10-14, 2010
Click here for details.

Results of Mindfulness in Leadership Study

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:05:00 +0000

Mindfulness enhances leadership effectiveness.

1. Mindfulness was strongly negatively correlated with Neuroticism as assessed by the Five Factor Model of personality.

2. Mindfulness was moderately positively correlated with emotional intelligence as assessed by the Emotional Quotient Inventory model of emotional intelligence.

3. Mindfulness was modestly positively correlated with Openness to New Experience as assessed by the Five Factor Model of personality.

4. Emotional intelligence was fairly strongly negatively correlated with Neuroticism.

5. Emotional intelligence was modestly positively correlated with Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness.