C.A.K.E.

I love cake.  No, really, give me a large piece of double chocolate cake smothered with dark chocolate gelato and cover it with melted, dark chocolate syrup and I’m in seventh heaven, as they say.

Just don’t give me that often.  It’s about the waistline.

Although there are probably dozens of ways to do so, I don’t usually combine my love of chocolate cake with messages about leadership.

However, I was having a discussion the other day with a client who operates a restaurant chain and the two words mingled.

The client, knowing my affinity for using acronyms to anchor a point, challenged me to create a way to use the word “cake” in a leadership lesson.

Challenge accepted.

You may be familiar with my mantra: “leadership is a moment-to-moment choice.”  Well, that’s our starting point.  Let’s grab a fork and dig in to our C.A.K.E.

C= Choice…Real leaders know it’s all about the choices they make each day.  Leadership takes Courage to be yourself and allow others to do the same.  Clarity of purpose and how your values affect the world you walk in is instrumental.  Creativity is essential.  Real leaders love to stretch their thinking and create new avenues for success.  And, of course, Commitment is crucial for yourself and others. Without commitment, nothing changes. Not you. Not them. Nothing.

A=Action… Real leaders don’t sit around and wait for the action to come to them. They go after what they want with Audacity. They use the Law of Attraction to Ask, Act and Accept that the outcome they desire is only a matter of time. They have the Ability to see the perspective of others and inspire them. They see Adversity as a challenge to their vision only to be overcome.

K=Kindness…Real leaders lead with grace. They are Kind to themselves and others. They offer Keys to success to those who join with them.

E=Energy…Real leaders derive their energy from their passion. They jump into each morning with childlike wonder knowing they create that day with their attitude. They offer Encouragement to others and Enable them to aspire to great heights. Real leaders are always learners. Whether each action creates success or not, they learn from every outcome and Evolve.

That was a piece of cake. (He said tongue in cheek.) Next up? C.H.O.C.O.L.A.T.E.

Robert H. Thompson is the author of The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable. You can reach him and subscribe to his Leadership Path newsletter at www.leaderinsideout.com

Comments

[cakes philippine]

My mouth now is watering,wow that is cool meaning of a chocolate.Thanks for sharing it.

~Ella~

[Dana E. Jarvis, MPA, MSW]

C.H.O.C.O.L.A.T.E. - I just couldn't resist to dig in on this one...

C=Compassion - Leaders must demonstrate Compassion in order to engage their team. People must feel the leader has a sense of understanding where they are coming from on an individual and team basis.
H=Humility - When a leader demonstrates humility, he or she shows they are human. When their team views them as being human, it increases the connection a leader can make with their team.
O=Opportunity - Every Opportunity must be taken by the leader to make a connection with the team. These Opportunities can yield great results with mission accomplishment.
C=Charater - Leaders need to have strong Character, filled with ethics and values. This is the cornerstone of successful relationships with internal and external key stakeholders.
O=Outlast - A leader will be pressed to go the distance; essentially to Outlast the challenges of any given project. When leaders perservere and achieve the mission, extraordinary results can occur.
L=Linkage - Each leader should strive to make the Linkage between themselves and their team. By finding common ground and building strengths, the Lingage is strengthened.
A=Attitude - A positive mental Attitude can go a long way to build team relations and project outcomes. Leaders benefit by having a positive attitude that builds momentum for the team.
T=Togetherness - The most successful teams have a solid Togetherness that allows them to capitalize on their strengths and rise to the challenges. Leaders provide the glue to ensure Togetherness occurs.
E=Excitement - A leader is positioned well to fill the team with Excitement. Through their perspective, insights and thoughts, they create sustained team Excitement.

As an adjunct professor, speaker and writer, I strive to fill my brain with knowledge on leadership. Thompson's insights and The Leadership Challenge site have been most helpful. For ongoing leadership and other insights, check out www.danajarvis.org.