Good day, team,
The coach’s challenge this week is about leadership. It’s been the topic of many of my conversations lately with clients. Here are some great words of wisdom on the subject.
“Leadership”
“Is it a title or an attitude?
Is it about power or responsibility?
Is it about those you dominate or those you motivate?
Does it mean accepting applause or giving thanks?
Does it require a hard head or soft hands?
Are you encouraged to assert your status or define your service?
Is it casting a long shadow or producing a steady light?”
“Indomitable Spirit,” Chuck Ferguson*
“Trilogy for a New Leadership:
_ Alignment – Today’s leader needs to align the resources of the organization, particularly the human ones, creating a sense of shared objectives worthy of peoples’ support, and even dedication. Alignment has everything to do with spirit and a sense of being part of a team. Great organizations inevitably develop around a shared vision.
_ Creation – Today’s leader must create an organizational culture where ideas come through unhampered by people who are fearful. Such leaders are committed to problem-finding, not just problem-solving. They embrace error, even failure, because they know it will teach them more than success. Effective leaders create adaptive, creative, learning organizations.
_ Empowerment – In an effectively led organization, everyone feels he or she contributes to its success. Empowered individuals believe that their actions have significance and meaning. Empowered people live in a culture of respect where they actually can do things without getting permission from some organizational parent figure. Empowered organizations are characterized by trust and system-wide communication.”
“Leading Change: The Leader as the Chief Transformation Officer,” from “Leadership in a New Era,” Warren Bennis
“Show us clearly whom we should seek to serve, show us where our core strengths lie, show us which score we should focus on and which actions must be taken today, and we will reward you by working our hearts out to make our better future come true.”
“The One Thing You Need to Know,” Marcus Buckingham
Your challenge this week is to discover what kind of leader you are. We all serve others at work, in our families, in our friendships, in our communities. Do you find yourself taking the lead and, if so, how do you do that? How do others describe your leadership skills? If you don’t know, ask. You might be surprised to hear the answers. Try utilizing one of the suggestions mentioned above and see if it makes you a more successful leader.
Have a great week!
Kathleen
Kathleen Doyle-White
Pathfinders Coaching
(503) 296-9249
* Many thanks to Les Stephens from OCP for sharing the piece “Leadership” by Chuck Ferguson.