For many years the Twenty-third Psalm has been one of the most loved and treasured passages in the Bible. It is among the most familiar even among those who are not “religious” nor very knowledgeable about Scripture. They recognize these words.
Read MoreThe last few weeks, we have discussed The Secret (Ken Blanchard) to effective leadership. This is the final week of this blog series, and it is one that I am most passionate about - living our Values. Our Values should drive every decision, attitude and action we make. We are going to take a journey to discover what it looks like to live out our values (or not), and what our responsibilities as leaders to embody those values every day.
Read MoreSuccess. We strive after it. We devote an enormous amount of our energy pursuing it. But can you define it? Most often, managers will define success as a healthy bottom-line. And they are not wrong, but there is a tension here, isn’t there. The tension is that you work for a company that has a value of Put People First. Many managers feel the tension to choose either results or relationships. I want to challenge you today that it is not an either/or, but rather effective leaders realize that success is predicated on my ability and willingness to value both results and relationships. So what does that look like and how does a manager make that shift in thinking?
Read MoreI look around me and all I see is change. Seasons change. Relationships with people change. Companies change. Our bodies change.McDonald’s started selling breakfast all day. Everywhere I look - I find change. But what is it in me that wants to avoid it? And what might my life, relationships and attitude look like if I were to approach change differently?
Read MoreWe’re tackling the question, “What is the secret to becoming an effective leader?” Last week, we looked at the fact that effective leaders have a clear vision for what we are aiming for and they communicate it with clarity and regularity. This week, we will look at another secret to effective leadership: Engaging and Developing Others. We will discuss what it the opportunities that you have to invest in the lives of those you are leading, whether in the workplace, at home or in your community. We all influence those around us. That’s what leaders do. But are you adding value to their lives? Check out this week’s blog.
Read MoreImagine that you have a bow and arrow in your hands right now. You pull back and take aim at a white wall and release. Then you walk up, pull out your red marker, and draw a bullseye around it. Imagine the joy you feel knowing that you hit your target! OK. Time for a reality check. Everything about this is backwards. But let’s set the bow down and pick up a few others things...
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