Leaders: Listen Up!

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Leaders: Listen Up!

As a leader, you must know yourself well — your purpose, your values, your priorities. Others will follow when you earn their respect and trust and one of the most effective ways to do that is to listen — to really listen to others when they speak to you.

curiosity

Listen Deeply

Listening to others deeply to understand the meaning of what they are saying conveys respect and regard. It also helps to create a powerful interpersonal connection that is so important to a leader.

Understand the Meaning of What is Being Said

A person who is speaking is the only one who really knows what he or she is trying to convey. If that person is forthcoming and open, a listener has an excellent opportunity to learn about that person. By creating a safe emotional space for that exchange, the listener also allows connection and trust to develop. An attentive listener will also be on the lookout for non-verbal communication because meaning is not always clearly articulated with words.  [Read more…]

Talks At The End Of Life (Conversations No One Wants To Have)

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Talks At The End Of Life (Conversations No One Wants To Have)

Someone you care for is at the end of his or her life. How do we talk with someone who is dying? No one is ever really prepared for conversations near the end of life. What do we say and how do we say it? These are very important talks for both the living and the dying.

 

Reasonable Expectations

Our own emotional vulnerability makes it difficult to find the right words and to avoid awkward displays of grief. While it is not our role to create meaningful moments of conversation, we can bring comfort to the dying person by recognizing and respecting their attitudes and feelings. [Read more…]

“Failing To Prepare Is Preparing To Fail” — Benjamin Franklin

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“Failing To Prepare Is Preparing To Fail” — Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin’s quote has it exactly right! If you have not made adequate preparations for your journey or project, you are unlikely to succeed. This presupposes, of course, that you have not identified your goal.

 

Start With The End In Mind

This is your inner guidance system. What specifically do you want to have happen? Decide what is truly important to you, then focus and contribute each day to achieving that end. Working effectively is very different than being busy. Once you have identified a goal, devise a plan, prepare thoroughly for how to accomplish it and then execute it. Remember, if the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall, every step we take simply gets us to the wrong place faster. [Read more…]

How Great Leaders Inspire Action — TEDx (Puget Sound) Talk by Simon Sinek

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How Great Leaders Inspire Action
TEDx (Puget Sound) Talk by Simon Sinek

Listening to Simon Sinek explain what he calls “The Golden Circle” is fascinating. He begins with questions. “How do you explain when things that do succeed defy all of the assumptions? Why is Apple so innovative year after year,” he asks, “when they are just like everyone else? Same assets, talents, agencies.” Using three little words — why, how and what — Sinek explains why some leaders and organizations are able to succeed and others are not.

Sinek

Simply put, all of the great and inspiring leaders and organizations in the world think, act and communicate the exact same way. And it is the complete opposite to everyone else. Let’s think about his Golden Circle.

The outer circle is WHAT. Every single organization on the planet knows what it does. Apple, as an example, “Makes great computers.”

Next is HOW organizations do what they do. Some do know how they do it; others do not. Citing Apple again: “We make great computers. They’re beautifully designed, simple to use and user friendly.” [Read more…]

“Generation Me” In The Workplace: Getting Ready For The Millennial “Takeover”

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“Generation Me” In The Workplace: Getting ready For The Millennial “Takeover” 

This year is a turning point for American generations. The oldest Baby Boomers are turning 70! GenXers are nearing 50. Tech-savvy Millennials (1980-1999) are now the fastest growing group entering the workforce. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 80 million Millennials have begun entering the world of work. It is anticipated that Millennials will be roughly 50% of the USA workforce in 2020 and 75% of the global workforce by 2030.

millennials

I have written about generational issues in the past. However, given the Millennial workplace “takeover,” I thought this watershed moment might be a good time to [Read more…]