One of the questions I've been asking my clients is "What is the by-product or productive ripple effect of what you're doing?" If you're working on a project, what is happening on the periphery that might be of benefit to someone else's project? To a colleague or peer?
If you're looking for funding to get something off the ground, how much easier would it be if you could tell potential investors that not only would they be investing in your project or program but in another project indirectly? Double bang for their bucks.
HB Leaders take this into consideration. They not only grow the leaders of the future but help them see beyond their own story. There are implications upon implications. If you pay attention and work with them in a generative way, a little money can go a whole lot further.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wisdom vs. Knowledge Revisited
Since my original post about wisdom vs. knowledge, I continue to discover that learning really is more than just gathering information. Learning is integrating that knowledge in some way to grow, shift, evolve and respond. We can memorize everything we read and store it for future reference, however if it sits there and isn't used, did we learn or just memorize? Are we wise if we share what we memorized or are we if we synthesize and contextualize it?
Who do I consider wise? One who continually looks at the status quo and sees whether or not things can be better. People who know they don't know everything about any one thing. And one who continually asks the important questions around what can be better and how can we be the best for the world rather than the best in the world?
In these filled up days where so much information is readily available, the world is fast become an even playing field. There is way too much information bombarding us at the speed of light.We can look for guidance from those who have a wealth of wisdom because they see context, relevance and impact. Wisdom is priceless.
Do you consider yourself wise or knowledgeable?
I know many people with post graduate degrees who can’t find a job. Why? Because they’re scholastically overqualified but don’t have the savvy, the perception and perspectives needed in a fast paced, competitive world. They get lost in their knowledge and get stuck on research but don’t integrate it and use it as needed to move themselves and organizations forward. They consider facts and forget people.
When I chose my research and development team I didn’t look at their degrees as much as experience, impact, awareness factor and openness to grow, learn and create. Knowledge can hold you back in the realm of what was already studied and documented. My team looks at possibility. I'm seeing the same trends occur in the corporate world. Who do you think would serve your organization better?
Who do I consider wise? One who continually looks at the status quo and sees whether or not things can be better. People who know they don't know everything about any one thing. And one who continually asks the important questions around what can be better and how can we be the best for the world rather than the best in the world?
In these filled up days where so much information is readily available, the world is fast become an even playing field. There is way too much information bombarding us at the speed of light.We can look for guidance from those who have a wealth of wisdom because they see context, relevance and impact. Wisdom is priceless.
Do you consider yourself wise or knowledgeable?
I know many people with post graduate degrees who can’t find a job. Why? Because they’re scholastically overqualified but don’t have the savvy, the perception and perspectives needed in a fast paced, competitive world. They get lost in their knowledge and get stuck on research but don’t integrate it and use it as needed to move themselves and organizations forward. They consider facts and forget people.
When I chose my research and development team I didn’t look at their degrees as much as experience, impact, awareness factor and openness to grow, learn and create. Knowledge can hold you back in the realm of what was already studied and documented. My team looks at possibility. I'm seeing the same trends occur in the corporate world. Who do you think would serve your organization better?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
What Leaders Are and Aren't
Leaders light a fire within people to do their best. They don't hit others over the head with the proverbial 2 x 4. As Eisenhower said: "That's assault, not leadership".
My Interview with Karlin Sloan
I was recently interviewed by friend and colleague Karlin Sloan (no...no relation. It's her first name and my last) about my new book Leaders: Their Stories, Their Words. Karlin supports leaders to be the change they wish to see in the world and, to that end, is interviewing authors of business books she recommends.
Click here to check out the interview and "meet" Karlin.
Click here to check out the interview and "meet" Karlin.
Why Write?
I had a great conversation with a client of mine yesterday. He knows me inside and out. Many coaches will tell you they know their clients inside and out but in my opinion, a perfect balance in a coaching relationship is when the client really knows where you're coming from as well.
This particular client is quoted in my book and as I handed him a copy, before he even opened it he said "You wrote this as a labor of love, not for any other reason, right?" Some of the reviews and comments that are coming in shares exactly that. Why write? Because these people deserve to be recognized for their human-based leadership. Everyone has a story to tell and I wanted to capture some of them so you can see your leadership mirrored within their words. And perhaps you'll take the time to find out the stories of the people in your lives and help them see their HB leadership.
The reviews have been fabulous and I'm very grateful for them. I'd also like to share some of the notes I've been getting...the more personal side of what's emerging from the book. I'll share more over time. I believe these comments enrich the learning of the book as well as honor the time these wonderful leaders took to review and share their thoughts about Leaders: Their Stories, Their Words. Once you read the book, I'd love if you'd share yours.
"I so enjoyed this book. I found that I read it slowly and savored each chapter because it was so rich and meaningful. I get used to racing along the path of my life and tend to focus on my "to do's" - one after the other. Reading this book calmed me down and invited me to see beauty, joy and peace in ways I've not seen before. I couldn't read it in one sitting. I had to read a chapter and think about the story and messages over the next few days. Some stories were deeply personal to me, while others were more informational, but I found gems and insights in each and every one of them.........I'm going to re-read this book again and take more notes. It merits extra time." - Rhonda Witwer, BS, MBA, Senior Business Development Manager, Nutrition, Bridgewater, New Jersey
"The book is great overall. It is an easy read and it is packed with great thoughts and insights from very talented people. It clearly shows the effect of human-based leaders in action. It covers human-based leadership from a wide range of different communities of practice. It covers industrial businesses, economic development, research, charitable organizations, government and political arenas. Every interview clearly showed the golden thread that human-based leadership is very important in today’s environment. A careful reader will learn and be enriched, regardless of which part of the society the reader is engaged in. I like the format. It is interesting and it enhances the learning experience. You can easily go back to find a gem that you can use in your work or interaction with other people because you associate the particular gem with an interviewee. What is also good is the insight that you can learn from leaders in other disciplines that seems mutually exclusive on the surface." - Pieter Diedericks, P.Eng., MSc(Chemical Engineering), MBA, Vice President Major Projects, Synthetic Oil, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
This particular client is quoted in my book and as I handed him a copy, before he even opened it he said "You wrote this as a labor of love, not for any other reason, right?" Some of the reviews and comments that are coming in shares exactly that. Why write? Because these people deserve to be recognized for their human-based leadership. Everyone has a story to tell and I wanted to capture some of them so you can see your leadership mirrored within their words. And perhaps you'll take the time to find out the stories of the people in your lives and help them see their HB leadership.
The reviews have been fabulous and I'm very grateful for them. I'd also like to share some of the notes I've been getting...the more personal side of what's emerging from the book. I'll share more over time. I believe these comments enrich the learning of the book as well as honor the time these wonderful leaders took to review and share their thoughts about Leaders: Their Stories, Their Words. Once you read the book, I'd love if you'd share yours.
"I so enjoyed this book. I found that I read it slowly and savored each chapter because it was so rich and meaningful. I get used to racing along the path of my life and tend to focus on my "to do's" - one after the other. Reading this book calmed me down and invited me to see beauty, joy and peace in ways I've not seen before. I couldn't read it in one sitting. I had to read a chapter and think about the story and messages over the next few days. Some stories were deeply personal to me, while others were more informational, but I found gems and insights in each and every one of them.........I'm going to re-read this book again and take more notes. It merits extra time." - Rhonda Witwer, BS, MBA, Senior Business Development Manager, Nutrition, Bridgewater, New Jersey
"The book is great overall. It is an easy read and it is packed with great thoughts and insights from very talented people. It clearly shows the effect of human-based leaders in action. It covers human-based leadership from a wide range of different communities of practice. It covers industrial businesses, economic development, research, charitable organizations, government and political arenas. Every interview clearly showed the golden thread that human-based leadership is very important in today’s environment. A careful reader will learn and be enriched, regardless of which part of the society the reader is engaged in. I like the format. It is interesting and it enhances the learning experience. You can easily go back to find a gem that you can use in your work or interaction with other people because you associate the particular gem with an interviewee. What is also good is the insight that you can learn from leaders in other disciplines that seems mutually exclusive on the surface." - Pieter Diedericks, P.Eng., MSc(Chemical Engineering), MBA, Vice President Major Projects, Synthetic Oil, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Saturday, July 16, 2011
What do Leaders Do?
Leave it to Seth Godin to keep it plain and simple.
Leaders lead.
Human-based leaders™ know that people never reach their limits. They only think they do. And they help them get there.
Leaders lead.
Human-based leaders™ know that people never reach their limits. They only think they do. And they help them get there.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Are You a Human-Based Leader™?
"Human-based leaders marry a passion for what they do with compassion for those with whom they do it. Human-based (HB) leadership is based on leading through what I call ‘humanness’ rather than command-and-obey, "do as I say" leadership. It's having power with people, not having power over people. So, in effect, humanity-based as opposed to power-based.(PB) "
Does that describe who you are and how you value the people you work with? Do you work with someone who is a human-based leader?
Share your HB Leader story with us by end of July, 2011. We're going to be choosing 5 of the most powerful stories and will feature them on our blog for our book launch.
Looking forward...
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