Simply Understanding by Giana ConsultingTara – Simply Understanding by Giana Consulting

The Character-Based Leader [Book]

Tara — Wed, 28 May 2014 12:26:31 +0000

The Character-Based Leader by 21 Lead Change Group Authors including Chery Gegelman (2012)

I am one of 21 authors from 3 countries that connected virtually, discovered a shared passion and wrote a book to encourage people that are passionate about the importance of Character-Based Leadership to rise up and make a difference!

The Character-Based Leader is a must-read for anyone who realizes that leading from who you are (rather than your title) is the key to longevity and satisfaction in any leadership role. This well-written, easy read will leave you feeling inspired and ready to take ACTION!Marshall Goldsmith
New York Times Bestselling Author

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The Character-Based Leader is an inspirational quilt of leadership stories, research, examples, advice and wisdom from some of the most influential voices in social media. Reading each chapter was like eating chocolate chip cookies – I couldn’t stop myself until the entire plate was finished. This book reads like a virtual dialog, with diverse, intelligent and provocative perspectives on the complex leadership characteristics of trust, integrity, respect, humility and perseverance. If you’re serious about leadership, and you’re ready to make a real commitment to change, then I’d highly recommend reading The Character-Based Leader.Dan McCarthy
Author of Great Leadership

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The goal of this group, all of whom are individual members of Lead Change Group, Inc., apparently is to ‘create a leadership revolution so that ‘character becomes the top priority in evaluating and developing leaders.’ And, those of us who read the book, learn and apply the information and wise teachings, are in an excellent position to be a part of that very worthy vision and outcome.Bob Burg
Author of The Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek Bestseller, The Go-Giver

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Patrick Lencioni on Organizational Health

Tara — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:00:02 +0000

I am convinced that once organizational health is properly understood and placed into the right context it will surpass all other disciplines in business as the greatest opportunity for improvement and competitive advantage. Really.

How to Start a Movement from TED

Tara — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:12:24 +0000

Here’s one of my favorite videos that analyzes what goes into starting a movement.

Broken? You Can’t Have an Omelet Without First Breaking the Eggs

Tara — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 15:06:04 +0000

My Grandfather was a WWII Battle of the Bulge Veteran and although his nature was to accept whatever life handed him and to move on, the memories of the brokenness and devastation that the war created left a shadow of questions that haunted him.

For years he did his best to cope, while raising a large family and tending to a farm. When his youngest grandchildren started asking about the war he found some healing by sharing stories with family and fellow veterans, but the questions themselves remained.

In 2004, 60 years after the battle he accompanied a number of veterans back to those battlefields. Considering the devastation of the homes, the cities and the lives that were directly impacted by the battles, grandpa was not sure what kind of a welcome they would receive. Much to his surprise, everywhere they went they were treated as heroes!

On one particular day Grandpa was given the opportunity to choose a destination on his own, and was accompanied by only a guide, an interpreter, and my Father. Everywhere they went that day, Grandpa was received with the same appreciation and honor that the group had been receiving. City Officials came out to meet him and shake his hand. Grandchildren ran out to thank him for their bedridden grandparents.

Grandpa was honored and shocked by the reactions he was getting and finally voiced his thoughts, “How can you be so grateful when we left your homes, cities and country in such devastation?”

The guide was a Belgium citizen that had became a political prisoner when the Nazi’s invaded and had spent time in a concentration camp. His simple response was delivered with a spirit of gratitude and understanding…

[Tweet ““You can’t have an omelet, without first breaking the eggs.””]

When the light of that truth met the darkness in grandpa’s memories, he began to realize that the destruction he thought he was a part of, was the catalyst for hope, freedom and healing to begin.

No matter where you live in our world. If you have sacrificed for the freedom of others. THANK YOU!

And if you are currently under-fire and experiencing brokenness in your community, your workplace, your church, or your home; be encouraged:

[Tweet “Brokenness is always a catalyst for something new and something whole.”]

Brokenness can also make you more effective. Read more here.

7 Most Powerful Lessons From Life & Leadership

Tara — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:47:25 +0000

I recently sat down and created a list of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned so far, in life and in leadership.

Seven of those lessons stand out as lessons that are critically important to share. (And each one links to a resource or a post with more detail!)

Your calling can become your idol if you let it.
Without a vision people and organizations really do perish.
Leaving your comfort zone will always make you feel weak and small.
Every human has feet of clay, complete trust and confidence should only be placed in God.
The critical balance of compassion and accountability.
How to forgive, even when the act seems unforgivable.
Brokenness creates humility. Thankfulness sustains humility.

How about you… [Tweet “What are the most powerful life and leadership lessons you’ve learned so far?”]

Organizational Growth: From The Inside Out

Tara — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:18:41 +0000

There are two ingredients in successful organizations: Smart & Healthy.

It is almost impossible to build a competitive advantage

based on knowledge because it is too easy to copy.

Very few organizations are healthy enough to tap into the knowledge that is there.

~ Patrick Lencioni

The truth in this quote is so powerful that I can’t stop thinking about it.

How many organizations do you know that are desperately seeking solutions and yet continually ignore the wisdom of their customers, their employees and the opportunities within their own culture?

As a part of a recent organizational development project, I met individually with everyone involved, and was not surprised to find that each person was very intelligent and capable of making a significant difference.

The day we met for the first time as a group we talked about the enormous challenge facing the group:

Getting people from FIVE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS to function as one.

As the day progressed and we began to analyze the dynamics of an extraordinary team, the truth in the quote above became even more powerful:

Individually the people in the room brought their wisdom and their talents.
Individually they had incredible insight from a variety of perspectives.

However, it was only when we connected ALL of their individual thoughts that the power of this quote jumped off the wall and paraded around in front of us!

Collectively they have every answer they are seeking.
And collectively they could write a bestseller that would help others.
The secret is that they have to intentionally create something so healthy that they constantly tap into that collective knowledge by listening and responding to each other.

So how about your organization…

Does it surprise you to think that the answers you seek may be within your reach?
How can you intentionally create such a healthy culture that you build a profound competitive advantage?
What will you do today, to make a difference?