The Thoughtful Leaders Blog
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 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 March 8, 2012
 My daughter came home from school very excited today because she was recognized by the faculty as a Bucket Filler. “Be a Bucket Filler” has been the theme around which lots of school activities have centered this year. What is a Bucket Filler, you ask? It’s a pretty simple concept really. We all have invisible buckets that we carry around. When they are full we are happy and when they are empty we are sad. When we help others, show kindness, exhibit patience, and be nice, we fill other’s buckets. When we are mean, impatient, rude, or uncaring, we dip into their buckets.
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on March 5, 2012
“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” Henry James
Life gets very, very busy – and as we all get more self-involved and spend our time reacting to the tasks in front of us, we forget a true essence of life. Human connection. We become “doers” – getting things done, crossing things off of our check-list, taking care of the business at hand, answering our emails, checking our BlackBerrys, rushing to finish tasks and move on.
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Posted by Lisa Kohn on November 24, 2011
Why is it that Thanksgiving is only one day? Why is it that thankfulness and appreciation are so seemingly difficult for so many of us? Why is it that each year, when I used to make the family go around the table and share one thing they were thankful for, they all rolled their eyes? Why is it that we’re reluctant to include gratitude and appreciation in our daily lives…when it gives us so much? When research has shown that finding time to be thankful has been linked to better health, less anxiety, and longer-term satisfaction with life. When research has also shown that truly appreciating others, and thanking them out loud, yields more productive and enjoyable relationships, at work and at home.
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Posted by Robyn McLeod on October 6, 2011
Recently I read a great article by Paul Tough in the New York Times Magazine entitled, “The Character Test.” The lead-in to the article posed the question: “What if the Secret to Success is Failure?” This question really grabbed me as we often teach the value of “failure” in our leadership programs. How valuable are the lessons and insights that come from failing? As they say in the MasterCard commercials: Priceless!
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Posted by Lisa Kohn on August 18, 2011
Bank accounts are relatively easy to understand – you make deposits of money so that you have a balance on which to draw, and you make withdrawals of money when you need to. The goal is to have more money in your account than you’re withdrawing so that you don’t overdraw and bounce a check. What could that possibly have to do with leading thoughtfully???
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Posted by Lisa Kohn on June 9, 2011
I try to show up as intentionally in my work and life as I recommend my clients do. To “practice what I preach.” To “put my money where my mouth is.” And a myriad of other sayings. I think it’s important to do my best to walk the talk.
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on April 18, 2011
“There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” Mother Teresa
Whenever we teach feedback skills – to new managers, experienced managers, or even senior leaders – we always reinforce the need for more positive feedback in the world. Not just empty accolades, but real, specific, and actionable positive feedback.
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on February 14, 2011
“Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
As a coach I am so often honored with the opportunity to see people at their best, and their worst. Their most confident and their least sure. And, in ways, nothing makes this clearer to me than the hesitation so many of us feel to give of ourselves.
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What about Bucket Fillers and author Carol McCloud? They’re the #1 group spreading the message of bucket filling in schools.
Thank you for your comment. Carol McCloud’s book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today?, is a wonderful children’s book about happiness and a great testament to Merrill Lundgren’s work. Their work together is indeed spreading the message in schools across the country.
Gallup has also written about this: http://www.amazon.com/Full-Your-Bucket-Positive-Strategies/dp/1595620036
Thank you for your comment, Jeffrey. Yes, Dr. Donald O. Clifton was the first to use the bucket and dipper metaphor as it relates to leadership.