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The Thoughtful Leaders BlogHow do you seize the day?I must admit my blog today is very personal…but Thoughtful Leadership is personal and it’s based on bringing our whole self to everything we do and every way we lead. I know my leadership today, my very essence today, is flavored by an extremely private and emotional experience, and if I’m truly living “thoughtfully” then I must acknowledge my situation, my feelings, and my thoughts. Related Posts:Leave a ReplyLeave a ReplyJust say noI have a client who is in overwhelm. How do I know? She personally told me that she has thousands and thousands of unread emails…that she will never get to. And everyone around her has confidentially told me that my client simply promises too much, overcommits, and just plain old “works too hard.” In essence, she “overpromises” and “underdelivers” – which is the exact opposite of what we coach our clients to do. We strongly suggest that they “underpromise” and “overdeliver” – thereby giving themselves some breathing space and wowing those around them with on-time (and even early) delivery of stellar results. Related Posts:Leave a ReplyLead like a duck
“Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but paddling like the dickens underneath.” Michael Caine
When things get frantic, do you get frantic? Can those who work with you and live with you notice your frenetic energy? And do they then get frantic themselves? An essential leadership skill – whether you’re leading an organization, a team, a project, or a family – is to learn to flow with the chaos and show a calm demeanor to the people around you. Related Posts:2 Responses to “Lead like a duck”Leave a ReplyIs it a good thing to be asleep on the job?
Related Posts:Leave a ReplyAre you a carrot, egg, or coffee bean?What pressures are you under right now? What difficulties are you facing? And how are you coping with them? For many of us, our approach to adversity is predictable. Some of us tense up and become harsh, some of us try our best to ignore the issue and hope it goes away, others give up and tolerate what’s happening. And there are those, whom I admire, who seem to find a way to rise to the occasion with focus and clarity and make the most of a bad situation – or in fact, turn it into a win for them. Related Posts:2 Responses to “Are you a carrot, egg, or coffee bean?”
Leave a ReplyFailure is a good thingI have a coaching client (I’ll call her Jane) who convinced me today that failure can truly be a good thing. We were catching up during our session this morning, and Jane related to me a few episodes where she had “failed,” and where those failures worked out in the long run and gave her much more than she might have received had she “succeeded.” Related Posts:Leave a ReplyBreathing your way to a better workdayEveryone has their own favorite indicators of the sorry state of our economy and the stress that it is causing. Some people point to empty restaurants in New York City, plunging condo prices in Miami, or lengthening unemployment lines. Others point to the growth in prescriptions for anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications. Related Posts:Leave a ReplyTop 5 lessons from 2010My clients never cease to inspire me – and each year, as the year draws to an end, I reflect on the lessons they have taught me. Here is what I learned in 2010:
Related Posts:Leave a ReplyTips for managing holiday stressWith so many things to do and so little time to do it in, I decided to surf the internet for tips on reducing all of the stress we (and that may include you) put on ourselves this time of year. This list of six great tips published on The Huffington Post was the best of the lot. So, post these on your wall or fridge – and refer back as needed. Happy Holidays! Related Posts:Leave a Reply |
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I was really, really tired. It was mid-day and I could feel the pressure mounting of everything that had to get done and all there was to cross off my to-do list…but I was really, really tired. I swear it felt as if my head was pulsing and my eyes just wanted to drift close.
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I once received some feedback about this very issue. It seems that when I took one of the many typing indicators it determined that I was as calm in a high stress situation as in areas that were routine. This was good and bad. The good as you pointed out was that the team remained calm and did not get rattled and unable to perform, the bad is that no one really knew how bad the situation was and therefore did not have the chance to rise to the occasion and help out. I have not changed the nature in which I take stress, but I have found cues to help those around me appreciate the gravity of the situation. Just thought I would share this to enhance your thoughts.
Thanks Dwight – that is excellent food for thought and I know I will incorporate it for myself and my clients as we talk through stress, calmness, and reactions. Good for you that you took the feedback and found a way to work with it that worked for you (and those around you)!