Leadership Challenge

Post holiday blues, or is it green?

On the heels of a wonderful holiday season I've been struggling with getting rid of all the remnants of the season. It seems as though every time I turn around there is another plastic cup or ornament or ribbon left over from the festivities. So much stuff. Each year I say we are going to cut back; cut back on "buying" and shift to "making", cut back on paper and stamps and go to e-greetings. If I want to Model the Way for my children and the way is consuming less, then I am doing only a mediocre job. We are so bound to our traditions and I find my daughter, who has been away at college, is more attached to them, not less. This post holiday season I was fortunate enough to see The Story of Stuff. I was blown away. It is simple, engaging, and impressive. We asked our kids to watch it with us and what followed was some great conversation and I detect, the first real shift in our understanding of the far reaching implications of our consuming. It remains to be seen whether we will be able to shift gears next year, but I am more hopeful, more committed, and inspired to do what we can. Please enjoy the story and spread it around.

Posted by

Beth High

Making space in the new year.

During the two days of New Years celebration the acronym DWYSYWD (Do What You Say You Will Do) rings especially true. We are prone to reviewing the past year and acknowledging commitments dropped, expectations unmet and best intentions unfulfilled. We vow all to often to do things differently in the year to come. We establish New Year’s resolutions to test our resolve to do more-of-this or less-of-that with re-energized commitment to change and follow through. In other words, we add to our “to-do” or “should” lists.

I made a commitment to end the old year and begin the new one practicing the behaviors I want to fill my life. These included time with my family and friends, time reading and reflecting, and time on my yoga mat. It was during a yoga practice that I gained a useful insight I hope will help with DWYSYWD consistency. The person leading my yoga practice on New Year’s Eve challenged us to focus on what we might be able to let go of to make more space in our lives for the commitments and changes we desired. She made an analogy to our attics; limited spaces that we tend to cram full of things with the intention of dealing with them later. Eventually, we run out of space.
There is no room for anything new and limited access to what me might find useful.

Despite our earnest commitment to change at years end, we make it REALLY difficult to honor that commitment. We just keep piling on the “shoulds”. Wouldn’t it be easier if we could first make room for change by letting some things go?  Instead of plunging into the new year with newfound determination to drive change in our lives, wouldn’t it be great if there was a natural place, newfound space for that new behavior? It’s been interesting and fun looking at the blank page of the new year this way. By letting things go and clearing some space in my heart and mind, “doing what I say I will do” feels like a natural step, not a potential misstep to worry about.

Happy New Year everyone. Happy house cleaning.   
Posted by.
Beth High

We are living in exponential times.

There is a wonderful film by Karl Fisch that I first saw during a college orientation for my daughter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHWTLA8WecI

I congratulate the person who had the insight to present it in this forum where the minds in the room were focused on change, potential, and opportunity. I have viewed it many times since and it never fails to spark my brain. There is an updated version that is equally stunning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U

Here's the latest quote that got me thinking.

"The amount of new technical information is doubling every two years. For students starting a 4 year technical or college, this means that...half of what they learn in their first year of study will be outdated by their third year of study."

If this is true, what are the bedrocks we can reinforce for these students? If all is changing around them, what stays the same? Two things come to mind. First, our values. If we can be sure of our values and have them well articulated in our hearts and heads, wouldn't this provide a steady filter through which to observe and engage with change? Second, if we can strengthen our commitment to be learners, we have the opportunity to gracefully move with the changes, pulling what we need from the exponential increase in information to address they challenges and opportunities we will always face. Does this mean we will not be at times overwhelmed and certianly impacted by the staggering amount of information there is to deal with? My guess is no, but it may help us take one step at time with curiosity and courage.
Posted by Beth High

A 360-Degree Life?

While Jim has his treadmill excuse (see October 23 post below), I have my bum knee defense.  After a 8-hour conference call (couldn't attend a crucial meeting because of the knee), I turned on Oprah yesterday to give my mind a short break before turning to the email that had stacked up during the day.  The guest of honor was Cathie Black author of Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life).  Ms. Black is president of Hearst Magazines, and no doubt a very powerful, successful leader.  While the Oprah piece was a bit over the top for my taste (it ended with a fashion show), I did find the main point of Ms. Black's book interesting.  She refers to her life lesson as a "360-Degree Life" - that is a "blend of professional accomplishments and personal contentment."  It's clear that 360-degrees has hit the mainstream...it's not just about circles or feedback anymore! 

We all know that work/life balance is tougher today than it has every been.  With our always- on-cell-phone-or-BlackBerry corporate culture that prevails today, most leaders continuously struggle with competing expectections and demands on their time.  And as Jim and Barry have written, "How you spend your time is the single clearest indicator, especially to other people, about what's important to you."

How did you spend your time today?

Posted by Lisa Shannon

Getting Started with Model the Way

In the the 4th edition ofThe Leadership Challenge Jim and Barry write, "Titles are granted, but it's your behavior that wins you respect."  For me, its all about DWYSYWD (Do What You Say You Will Do).  One of our Leadership Challenge Affiliates, Meridian Leadership Center (Jo Bell and Renee Harness) just created DWYSYWD bracelets, and they gave me one at our Master Facilitators meeting in August.  I like wearing it because it's a constant reminder not to make promises that I can't keep.