The Thoughtful Leaders Blog
Posted by Robyn McLeod on February 25, 2011
It’s that time of year again – the dreaded performance review! In many organizations, performance evaluation write-ups and discussions are in full swing right now – and anxiety levels can run high for managers preparing the reviews and employees waiting to receive their feedback. But it does not have to be that way. When we teach Effective Feedback in our leadership development programs we advise managers to make feedback an ongoing part of their regular interaction with staff members. That way, the annual review is merely a summary and culmination of the developmental discussions that have been taking place throughout the year. Stress goes way down!
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Posted by Lisa Kohn on February 18, 2011
So many people wonder if they can really make a difference. “That will never work here,” our clients often say. “No one else is doing it,” or “My boss won’t go along with that.” We challenge them to be do it anyway, to be a change agent, to be the first one.
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Posted by Robyn McLeod on February 11, 2011
Thoughtful leadership – it’s a term we have coined to describe the skills and principles of “thought-centered” leadership – personal reflection, self-awareness, strategic thinking, focus, and commitment. It’s moving from an “I’m so busy, I can hardly think” multi-tasking, rush-to-the-next-meeting mentality to one that says “I’m so busy, it’s time to slow it down, sharpen focus, and think.”
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on January 31, 2011
“I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.” Diane Ackerman
Leaders need followers, but so little time is spent talking, or writing (or blogging) about the followers. And the more potential “followers” I speak with, the more I hear the common refrain of wanting to follow, support, and rally behind and around someone who is broad, “well-rounded,” and real. Someone who has lived, and continues to live, the width of life.
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on January 3, 2011
“There’s more than one way to look at a problem, and they may all be right.” Norman Schwarzkopf
Have you ever been totally certain you knew the right and best answer to a problem? You knew the best way to approach an issue, how to get the greatest outcome…only someone else was also completely certain that they knew the best answer, and it wasn’t close to the solution you came up with. And what if that someone was someone who really mattered to you, whose opinion mattered, who you needed agreement from, needed on your side? And they were steadfastly asserting that their “wrong” answer was the way to go.
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on December 20, 2010
“You can’t cross a sea by merely staring into the water.” Rabindranath Tagore
We recently offered a program called Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone to a conference audience. We challenged them to get out of their own way and set their Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals (Author Jim Collins coined this term in his book, Good to Great) so that they could truly accomplish the things that mattered to them most.
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Posted by Cathy Alfandre on December 15, 2010
Have you seen the “Did You Know” videos on YouTube? If not, click here for version 3.0 – just under 5 minutes of eye-opening data and insight. Even if you have seen one or more of these (there are 4 versions so far), I recommend another look…
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on December 13, 2010
“Dance as if no one were watching. Sing as if no one were listening. And live each day as if it were your last.” Irish Proverb
Life is too short not to enjoy it. So often we are caught up in what needs to get done or what people will think of us. It’s not worth it. The truth is that any day on this earth might be your last – so why not make the most of each day that’s been gifted to you?
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Posted by Lisa Kohn on December 10, 2010
The other day I presented a few leadership tips to a group of small business owners and senior leaders of organizations. They all listened patiently, politely, and even with a great deal of engagement. A few even took copious notes – as if to remind themselves of the personal and professional changes they truly wanted to, and planned to, make. And then one extremely honest individual raised his hand.
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Posted by Chatsworth Consulting Group on December 6, 2010
“Nothing changes until you do.” Source Unknown
Clients ask us to help them change. Well, actually they usually ask us to help them change others, or circumstances, or their luck. And that change is impossible. Or at least it’s not the most effective focal point.
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Dwight McLeod 
View Robyn McLeod's profile
Dear Lisa and Team,
Re: Widening the path to leadership; I read this blog entry earlier this morning, and it really strkes a chord. It’s not a question of needing to be “best friends” with one’s manager, but the question is, why be so robotic? It’s true we are all very busy, but how can you truly build team rapport without some connection on a level other than completing tasks? Personally, I try to find some joy every day, but it’s harder to find within business hours.
Thank you for this tasty food for thought. I feel less like the odd one out now for taking that lunch time gym break and keeping a rubber duck collection in my cubicle.
With best regards, Beverly
Thanks for your comments Beverly. I applaud you for trying to find some joy every day – especially at work. What a gift we bring when we bring smiles to others faces within the work environment…and we’re still able to complete tasks and get stuff done! Enjoy your rubber ducks and thanks again for your comment.