Leadership Challenge

Congratulations Jim and Barry!

Kudos to Jim and Barry, recipients of ASTD's (American Society for Training & Development) 2009 Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance Award. Read the press release here.

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