Tag Archives: growth

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How brokenness can make you more effective

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I read the story below several years ago and really struggled with it…

A young woman sang a solo in front of a large audience. Her vocal technique was splendid, her intonation excellent, her range significant.

Coincidentally, the man who had written the piece of music she sang was sitting in the audience. When the young woman finished, the person sitting beside the composer leaned over and said, “Well, what do you think of her?”

Softly the composer responded, “She will be really great when something happens to break her heart.” ~ C. Swindoll

“Really?”  

My heart pushed back  ~ “Why does something have to break your heart before you become really great?”  

Part of my brain argued with the thought and then shut down.

…A few years later, I walked through the most significant struggle in my life…

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4 Reasons Ownership Trumps Delegation

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As a leader do you delegate or do you encourage others to take ownership?  

Leaders who major in delegation and struggle to empower others to take ownership send signals that communicate, “It’s all about me.”

  1. I’m the smartest person in the room.
  2. I am in charge of all of the decisions.
  3. I will get you to do the specific work I want you to do.
  4. And I won’t boldly go where no man has gone before – unless it is my idea.

Leaders who major in ownership send signals that communicate, “It’s about ALL of us!”

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Leadership Lessons Are For Everyone

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I recently visited with a CEO that read one of the articles in this blog for the first time and realized how disconnected he’d been from a big project in his organization. …That realization caused him to immediately engage with his team.

Then I visited with a friend that is a stay-at-home grandmother. She said she wasn’t sure if leadership articles would be of value to her now that she is no longer working outside of the home. (Even though she is a leader in her home and does a lot of volunteer work!) …Then she went on to share her appreciation for the way the learning’s in these posts often challenge her thinking and apply to her life.

The CEO got a high five, my friend received a virtual hug, and my cells danced as I thought of how their actions and comments emphasize three important truths:

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Rocks, Squiggly Things, Questions and Growth

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Ever since I read the book Good to Great this quote by former Pitney Bowes Executive Fred Purdue has resonated with me…

“My job is to turn over rocks and look at the squiggly things, even if what you see can scare the h_ll out of you.”

My definition of a squiggly thing is this: Anything that is breaking down people, relationships, organizations, processes, systems and/or results.

[Tweet ” Have you ever tried to ignore, hide from, or argue with a squiggly thing?”]

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365 Opportunities for YOU to LEAD in 2015

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As I reviewed my blog posts from 2014, I thought about the people and the situations that inspired each one.

And I realized that although I’ve often said that people don’t need a title to lead, I’ve said that imagining people at all levels of an organization that have a lot to contribute. (Like the often overlooked janitorial staff or frontline employees.)

This year my eyes were opened as I realized how much we talk about leadership in the workplace and how often we ignore the need for leadership in our daily lives.

Several times throughout the year, I met people with vision, talent and time that aren’t engaged in life, and aren’t as fulfilled as they could be.  (Often emitting a mix of frustration and surrender.)