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Category Archives: Integrity
On Being a Sheepish Leader (click here for more)
On Being a Sheepish Leader One of the greatest attributes of leadership, I think, is one’s ability to see things in a fresh way. But it requires practice. It’s much easier to go along with an existing plan or protocol rather than to spend the time and effort to create something more imaginative and bold. In other words, don’t follow the crowd like the sheep in the video, who are aimlessly and unthinkingly following the sheep in front of them. They may not realize that the sheep in front probably has no more knowledge of where it is going that … 
The Grounded Leader
The Grounded Leader: There have been times in my life where I felt I was being ripped to the core of my being by the events in my life or business. Those are the times when my values as a leader were paramount to my weathering through those challenges. Nature provides profound opportunities for observing life. Recently, I came upon a tree that had been uprooted from winter weather. The storm had literally devastated this tree and ripped it right out of the ground. The problem quite simply, is that the tree did not have a stable enough root system. …
Leading From Truth
For 15 years I led culture change programs inside of some of the most powerful organizations in the whole world. I was amazed at how much time individuals and teams would spend “running around the flower pot” rather than telling the truth. Some of us are afraid of the truth. We do everything we can to avoid saying it. The simplicity of the truth can cut through the minutiae and bring a solution to your team and life in short order. For what reason, do some of us avoid it? We are afraid we will hurt someone’s feelings? We perceive …
The Balanced Leader
There is a place deep inside of me that knows the truth. If I am moving too fast, I wonder what I am distracting myself from. That’s my cue to slow down and tune in. That’s when the inner leader emerges with clarity and resolve. I know what I need to do. It takes courage to slow down. It requires patience to find it. What am I trying to find? I must find my balance. Otherwise, I move past the lessons, the solutions and or the client opportunities. Actually, I miss my whole life. How many of you can relate? …
Failure As A Reality
I failed today. I did not meet my objective. I guess I could wax on about all the “reasons” I did not make my goal. That is definitely an option. Or I can learn from my own transgressions. I can focus my attention towards using my “failure” as a growth tool. Most people beat themselves up when they fail. In fact, lots of people I know get caught up in the language of it. They soften the blow by not using the word failure. I have never understood that. I either made my goal or I did not. I either …
A Word On Leadership
Without your word you don’t have squat as a leader. By the way, I include myself in that radical idea. Now, what does that really mean? In the area of leadership, most of us are throwing around the language of “keeping our word” like an old football. Its one of those clichés in the area of integrity that has been spoken so much, that it’s lost its power for some of us. When I am not impeccable with my word, my own word to myself gets weak inside of me. It’s as if it loses strength. When I do what …
Slow Down and Lead
It snuck up on me again. I had things to do, people to meet, objectives to attain and sustain. People were counting on me. I was counting on me. Suddenly I found myself having a mini heart attack. I don’t mean the literal kind. I mean the kind that has me look down the road of life and see nothing but appointments. My heart sank and the attack of panic within my heart prevailed. I felt like a gerbil on a treadmill…running fast and going nowhere. I thought I was making progress and therein lies the great denial of Self. …
Is Your Purpose Greater Than Your Pain?
I read somewhere that JFK lived with chronic back pain for most of his adult life. Historians say that at times the pain became so intolerable that he had to lie on his back for weeks at a time. How is it possible that a man could accomplish what he did with such a chronic health issue? While I am no way comparing myself to President Kennedy, I have had some significant physical pain lately. I won’t bore you with the painful drama. Suffice it to say that drinking water in a public fountain in Dubrovnik Croatia is not recommended. …
What’s Your 20/80?
I had a big bruise and some blood on my ego. Why? Because I kept beating my head against the same habit and not getting any results. How many of us reading this can relate to the feeling of spending 80 percent of your time on a 20 percent result? That’s not very smart is it? It’s not very smart for me, because I value making a difference in my work and I am finding that 80 percent of the results in my business and my life come from 20% of my focus. Now, I realize I am piggy backing …
Harvesting Seeds of Integrity
I did something very difficult and unpopular a few weeks ago. It was not intended as an egregious act and yet it had a direct impact on people I love and respect. Some expressed disappointment in me. Others supported me. Many I’m still not sure about. I reneged on a promise. It was not the easy thing to do. Yet there is no question inside me that I would have displayed less integrity by following through on my commitment. Am I a rationalizing machine, making my lack of follow through fodder for my own weakness? When, if ever; does life …
