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The Thoughtful Leaders BlogTell other people what you want them to think about you
It is an adage to live and lead by. So often what we tell others about ourselves is exactly what we wouldn’t want others to think. “I don’t know how I’ll get this done,” we offer. “I’m swamped and don’t know what to tackle next,” we share. Related Posts:Leave a ReplyLeadership lessons of a stomach bugHow can a stomach virus possibly be a good thing? How can it yield inspiration for a thoughtful leadership lesson? Am I being too “Pollyanna-ish” – looking for the good in situations and circumstances that truly only stink? With nothing much to do yesterday but recuperate from the stomach bug that knocked me out two days ago, I had time to contemplate this…endlessly. Those who know me know that I always, or almost always, look for good in everything and everyone I can. Perhaps, some might say, to a fault. So as I lay in bed yesterday with nothing much to do because I didn’t have the strength yet to be productive, I thought this through. Related Posts:Leave a ReplyLighten up and laugh
Related Posts:Leave a ReplyTen minutes of powerful inspiration that will last a lifetimeWow. That’s all I have to say. Someone I care about was kind enough to forward this TED video to me, and I have to share it with everyone I know. It’s just under 10 minutes long, and I promise you, it will be an absolutely inspiring 10 minutes – and so worth your time. Related Posts:2 Responses to “Ten minutes of powerful inspiration that will last a lifetime”Leave a ReplyWhat my Murphy’s Law Thanksgiving taught me
Related Posts:Leave a ReplyLeadership heresy
As I watched my daughter slightly agonize over which school was a better fit, and where she might be happier and learn more, and where she should go, I realized (and shared) a very important concept. “It doesn’t really matter,” I offered her. “Pretty much any of them will be great – and you’ll love it and learn once you’re there.” From my outside perspective it made great sense. While some of the schools might be better for her than others, at least at this point it seems that none of her potential schools would be a “bad” choice, and any would be fine, depending on what she does with it and makes out of it. Related Posts:Leave a ReplyChoose to have time
“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is to say ‘I don’t want to.’” Lao Tzu
Time Management seems to be a current theme for most of my coaching sessions. So many of my clients are focused on finding more time, or managing their time better. So often I hear, “I really want to do that, but I just don’t have time for it.” Related Posts:Leave a ReplyWhat does “Love and Other Drugs” have to say about thoughtful leadership?The other day I rented Love and Other Drugs and I was struck by one scene in particular. Towards the end of the movie, Maggie (Anne Hathaway’s character), who has early onset of Parkinson’s disease, stumbles into a support group of Parkinson’s patients. As she listens to them share their stories and experiences – all the while shaking and trembling – from a place of strength and humor, I watched so many thoughts and emotions wash over Maggie’s face. Up until that point in the movie, her character had always loathed the disease, and seemingly loathed herself for having it, while her boyfriend had them on a frenzied quest to find a cure. As Maggie sat and listened (and cried), you could sense the peace of acceptance begin to wash over her – as well as the desire to truly live. Related Posts:Leave a ReplyAre you quitting too soon?
“It’s always too soon to quit!” Norman Vincent Peale
So often I’ve wanted to quit just before a breakthrough. I’ve been at the edge, ready to throw up my hands and give up in disgust, to walk away from what I wanted and what I wanted to accomplish, and for some strange reason, perhaps a bit more determination, a bit more hope, or a bit more prodding from someone else, I’ve held on and given it one more try…and I’ve broken through to my goal. Related Posts:Leave a ReplyHow well do you sail through the storms of life?
“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.” Louisa May Alcott
The storms around me (and inside of me) used to throw me. I was afraid that I would lose my course, sink my ship, and possibly take others out with me on the way. I felt I simply didn’t know well enough how to sail my ship and weather the bad weather. Related Posts:Leave a Reply |
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I wish I could say that I thought of this leadership approach myself, but I can’t. One of my clients a few years back shared this with me, and I’ve been passing it on ever since.
Recently as part of a coaching program I have been focusing my clients on values. After taking a quick values assessment, clients consider how those values that are most important to them have shaped their lives, their choices, and their beliefs. As part of the process they write a brief “Who Am I” story that illustrates a time in their lives when a key value was illuminated, taught to them, stepped on, or not fully honored. We all have many of these “Who Am I” stories to tell – many moments, be they big or small, work-related or personal, funny or touching, where our values come front and center to remind us of who we are and what is important to us.
This weekend was about college visits. My daughter is a junior in high school, and because of the extremely long list of schools she might be interested in and her intense extracurricular schedule we decided to get a jump on visits and knocked three schools off in one weekend. And I had the greatest leadership epiphany, that some might actually call heresy.
View Robyn McLeod's profile
Bravo, very encouraging.
Thanks Dwight – I’m truly inspired by it.
Lisa