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Leadership in new light

May 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

A few famous perspectives provide a new look at what leadership means, and how to successfully lead:

All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.
John Kenneth Galbraith

The real leader has no need to lead – he is content to point the way.
Henry Miller

It is not the same to talk of bulls as to be in the bullring.
Spanish proverb

The highest form of control is knowing when to let go.
Unknown

Fundamentally the marksman aims at himself.
Zen in the Art of Archery

Filed Under: Leadership, People at Work, Process Management, Quotes

Simple surprises

May 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Ladybug Planet, originally uploaded by *Sakura*.

Another of life's amazingly simple and amusing moments.

These ladybugs traveling slowly and carefully over the surface of a fully-blown dandelion were caught by a Flickr photographer in Japan.

Filed Under: Images, Serendipity

Running into the future

May 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

We're in a period in history that tests our view of the future, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. When things are great, its hard to imagine that there will be a time when they're not.

And when times are tough, it's sometimes hard to recall just how easily things can flow when everything is working well. Still, a better, brighter time will be here sooner than we know.

In the meantime, as we move into a new work week, here are a few thoughts from others about running into the future, headlong (or perhaps the way to think of it is proceeding with "careful abandon"):

A man would do nothing, if he waited until he could do it so well that no one would find fault with what he has done.
Cardinal Newman

Let's make a dent in the universe.
Steve Jobs

Progress always involves risk; you can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.
Frederick Wilcox

Do you want to be safe and good, or do you want to take a chance and be great?
Jimmy Johnson, Dallas Cowboys Coach

To win without risk is to triumph without glory.
Pierre Corneille

Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.
T.S. Eliot

I want you to do it right as fast as you can, not fast as right as you can.
Arthur Collins

I like to work fast.
Jerry Orbach

History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside.
John F. Kennedy

The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can't be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it.
Elbert Hubbard

Filed Under: Quotes

Things are not always what they seem

May 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Cat with a lion's shadow, originally uploaded by jcgr.

If you saw just the shadow here…out of context…you might wonder:

- Lion?
- Tiger?
- Panther?

But in full context, you see, of course, that it's a very different story.

Instead of a threat, it is a much-loved pet, pondering his next move.

And that is finding the best place for a long, warm late afternoon nap.

Filed Under: Images, Musings, Serendipity

Is “change” passe?

May 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Our son, 17, had an unexpected reaction to the speeches of would-be student body leaders at his high school yesterday.

"One kept saying, 'Vote for me. Vote for Change!'" Matt said.

He found it unimaginative, dated.

"It's pretty good there now. We've had a good president this year, and he's done a lot of good things. Why would we vote for 'change,' just to change?" he asked.

"What's new about that?"

"VERY interesting!" I thought to myself. I was glad Matt was standing back to look beyond the surface of the election pitches he heard.

But I also had the question, has "change" already become passe? Is it overused to the point that, as my mother used to say, "They've ruined another perfectly good word."

Or is it more that we all have "change fatigue?"

For each and all of us, there has been SO much change in the past few years – some sought, some dropped on top of us or thrown at us full-force – that we just need time to breathe.

Either way, Matt's reflection on the word "change" was an observation I'll definitely file away. If high school juniors have "change fatigue," it informs many things.

His comments are also an important reminder that any change must be well-made, at every stage, starting with the original idea, and moving on to the plan, communication, implementation, and follow-up.

For example you can ask these basic things about any change process:
1. Is the need for change convincingly made, and then well-communicated to the people involved?
2. Is the implementation path well-conceived, and the plan complete?
3. Is the plan, itself, well-communicated and supported by the people who need to make it succeed?
4. How is the progress monitored during the change process, and fed back to the people involved in, or affected by change so they know if things are on course or not?
5. And when the change is complete, does someone step back (and how do they do this?) to ask and evaluate, "Was the change well-made?" and, ultimately, "Was the change really needed?"

If we're all saturated with change – when many changes are still ahead for each and all of us in almost any industry or organization in which we work or lead – it becomes even more critical that those who are responsible for major change manage it well.

Filed Under: Business Results, Leadership, Measurement, People at Work, Process Management, Strategic Planning

Cookies!

May 4, 2009 By 8 Comments

Cookies!, originally uploaded by jcgr.

These are just a few of the 20 dozen beautiful, whimsical cookies a group of friends made and decorated this weekend for a "Drop In & Decorate" party.

We were seven people among many across the US making cookies for various good causes during these first few days of May.

This year, more than 7000 cookies are being baked, decorated and donated to various charitable organizations and agencies across the country.

When one member of our team, high school freshman Alison Knysh, heard that our work was part of a big cookie-baking team across America, she very quietly, slowly and thoughtfully said, as she realized how many people were involved in this effort, and about the many people for whom we were doing this, "Oh…WOW!"

It's a small thing, but it's something we can do to help someone, somewhere, somehow.

There's still time if you'd like to host your own "Drop In & Decorate" party. Check here for more information about how to do that.

The friends who worked together to create cookies for a good cause at our "Drop In & Decorate" event this year include:
Jo-Anne Knysh
Sara Knysh
Alison Knysh
Shayda Khorasani
Aanchal Mohan
Kyle Borch

Filed Under: Current Affairs, People watching, Process Management, Serendipity

Work…your way through

May 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Work you love really is one of life's blessings. Even on a Monday, yes!

Here, for a bit of positive provocation, are thoughts others have on the subject of work, opportunity, and luck:

Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun.
Colleen C. Barrett

It's important to know that words don't move mountains. Work, exacting work moves mountains.
Danilo Dolci

I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.
Frank Lloyd Wright

I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty
to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The
world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but
also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.
Helen Keller

Work while you have the light. You are responsible for the talent that has been entrusted to you.
Henri Frederic Amiel

I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.
Pearl S. Buck

Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not made
By singing: "Oh, how beautiful!" and sitting in the shade.
Rudyard Kipling

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the
strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face
is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs
and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the
great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best
knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while
daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and
timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt

I'm a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
Thomas Jefferson

Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Thomas Alva Edison

And on the other hand, this, too, is true:

A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and there is an invisible labor.
Victor Hugo

Filed Under: Leadership, People at Work, Process Management, Quotes

Weekend in review (…while there’s still time to change it)

May 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

It's a good practice to review the week just ended, and plan the week ahead.

That simple review is a good practice about the weekend, as well.

Pause for just a few minutes. Think about this weekend so far.

1. What has been the highlight? Why was it the best experience or moment?

2. Is it what you would have expected, before the weekend began?

3. Now, briefly (we won’t stay here long, I promise), what was the "lowlight," if there was one?

4. Why was that the case? Were your expectations too high for the time or money you had to spend? Were your expectations too high for yourself or someone else?

5. Are there any lessons from this weekend's experiences and events?
- Would more advance planning help?
- Or, quite the opposite, would more spontaneity give you the type of weekends you like best?
- Are there limits or expectations you need to add, or ones you need to get rid of?
- Are there friendships or relationships you have outgrown but try mightily to maintain?
- Or, are there relationships you want to deepen in weekends ahead? How can you do that the best?

6. Hopefully this weekend has been memorable in the ways you like best. But if not, what simple thing can you do to bring this weekend to a good finish?
- Is there a project you can start? Or one you could complete?
- Would taking a few minutes to plan the week ahead make you feel calmer and more prepared for the days just ahead?
- Is there a simple activity you can still do, such as taking a “photowalk,” making a new recipe or a favorite meal, seeing a movie you want to see but haven’t gotten around to yet, taking a ride or hike somewhere, or doing a little shopping, perhaps?
- Is there a friend or family member who would love to hear from you for even a few minutes before their weekend ends? (You might be surprised what a gift a phone call can be to someone who does not expect it…and as a result, a gift to yourself, as well).

Filed Under: Musings, People watching
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