The Thoughtful Leaders Blog
Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on May 7, 2012
“I decided to start anew, to strip away what I had been taught.” Georgia O’Keefe
I have found – in my own life and work as well as in the lives and work of my clients, colleagues, and friends – that so often it is what I “know” that gets in the way of what I have to learn.
I may “know” how to approach a task or a person, and I may be completely wrong. But my “knowing” stops me from being open to possibilities and new ways that may work better. I may “know” the cause of a problem or situation, and again, my “knowing” closes my mind to new truths and other ideas. I may “know” the best way to write or paint or connect with others, and again, my “knowing” may limit my abilities. What I’ve been taught, what I’ve “known” all along, may get in my way over and over again.
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Posted by Robyn McLeod on May 3, 2012
 This past weekend I ran a 5K race through the Bronx Zoo – the Run for the Wild to raise funds to save the world’s lion population. It was a great run traversing up, down, and through the many trails of the zoo. On a cool morning, many of the animals were out. We saw giraffes, sea lions, African wild dogs, peacocks, and other animals.
There were runners of all abilities and stripes – thousands of us. As my husband and I ran together, it was great to see so many groups of co-workers running together, having fun, getting exercise, and raising money for a great cause. What a great formula for employee morale and engagement!
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on April 30, 2012
“Of course that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.” Dennis Miller
I am convinced that there would be less conflict in life – even in the world – if more of us were willing and able to admit that we might be wrong. Whenever I get most stuck with colleagues, clients, or family members, it is invariably because both parties (noticeably myself included) are convinced that they are right. That their opinion is “Truth,” and that this Truth is the only real and valid truth.
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Posted by Lisa Kohn on April 26, 2012
 To grow as a leader, or in any endeavor, it is essential to build upon your strengths. And in order to do that, you must be aware of your strengths – the specific things that make you you, that make you great, and that make you good at what you do. This awareness is something many of us have trouble identifying and embracing.
A great way to find your strengths is to do some research. To spend time in reflection; to look around you and notice what you love, what you excel at, where you truly shine. Your research should include asking others – to reach out to those people who know you really well and ask them to notice and to list the best things that make you you. Noticing the strengths in others, and contemplating which of those you might also possess, is another way to find your strengths.
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on April 23, 2012
“There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
One of the ways we start many of our client engagements is with an OEA – our Organizational Effectiveness Assessment. This allows us to gather anonymous input from our clients’ employees as to what’s working at the organization, and what isn’t.
One of the workplace issues that often arise is the taking of credit and the placement of blame. It seems that way too many managers and leaders, at least in eyes of those that report to them, are too eager to take credit and too willing to place blame.
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Posted by Robyn McLeod on April 5, 2012
 As a coach and consultant, research on leadership behaviors are always fascinating to me – and, when it focuses on women leaders, it really piques my interest. One report developed by our friends at Performance Programs, Inc., a research firm specializing in industrial psychology and psychometrics, in conjunction with Wenroth Consulting Group, looked at the traits that high-achieving women exhibit in both corporate and entrepreneurial careers. Having been on both sides of the fence, I was curious to see what the differences were between successful corporate women and successful women entrepreneurs.
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on April 2, 2012
“If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.” Gail Sheehy
I learned in high school physics that an object at rest likes to stay at rest…and sometimes I think that defines how most of us approach life. While moving and changing can be a wonderful thing, so often we get stuck in ruts without even knowing it. “This is how I’ve always done it,” we think, “and it works just fine.” “Don’t fix it if it’s not broken,” people share. Life goes on and we stay how and where we are.
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on March 26, 2012
“You’ve got to ask. Asking is, in my opinion, the world’s most powerful and neglected secret to success and happiness.” Percy Ross
Recently a client was complaining to me about her current job. She felt underutilized, unfulfilled, and less than engaged. Yet she adored the company, and wanted to stay there…she just was at a point where her specific daily tasks left her empty.
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Posted by Robyn McLeod on February 23, 2012
 Years ago a very nervous nurse walked into the examination room to administer my son’s vaccines. “Please hold your son in your lap,” she said anxiously. “Wrap your legs around his, hold his wrist, and keep his arm very still.” Jason was always pretty brave about getting shots but, based on what she said to us, both he and I were starting to feel very edgy. “You’re scaring him,” I said. “He will sit on my lap calmly without my holding him down.” Later the nurse explained that she had had several bad experiences with children kicking, screaming, and pulling their arms away, so that is why she handled vaccinations this way. She did not see that she was using her experience as an excuse and that her approach was in fact making each encounter worse.
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on February 20, 2012
“Courage faces fear, and thereby masters it.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
One of the greatest gifts that comes from being a coach is the opportunity to stand by my clients as they walk through some of their greatest fears. I’ve been witness to fears that are rational, irrational, historical, hysterical, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, to name a few, and I’ve been blessed to witness my clients as they move through their fears to the other side.
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View Robyn McLeod's profile
Good sound advise. In fact to go a step further, the right answer is the biggest killer of innovation. So thinking you know without exploring could be very short sighted.
Thank you for your thoughts. Innovation certainly does suffer when many possible answers, especially the “wrong” ones, are not brought to the fore.