The Point: New skills require the jump start of encouragement. Every family has stories that stick. One of our stories belongs to my younger brother. When he was four years old, he would drag up an ottoman, stand on it and face the couch. Those seated on the couch would receive a serenade. When he […]
SERVANT LEADERSHIP: ACCOUNTABILITY AS AN ELEMENT
The Point: Accountability is good. Accountability is not enough. As servant leaders, our calling is to set people up for success, hold them accountable for success and then celebrate success. Over the past decade, an over-emphasis has been placed on the middle part of this progression. Accountability is a buzz word that sells books, books […]
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS: WATCH YOURSELF!
These two memories have stayed with me. The year was 2005. I was standing in the doorway of my kid’s room listening to an animated description of something that happened that day. In my mind, I knew that this was a gift. My child wanted to share a memory with me! However, my body was […]
DIY: SPOT THE FOUR VILLAINS OF DECISION MAKING
Based on Decisive by Chip and Dan Heath. If I only knew then what I… You can finish that sentence. If I only knew then what I know now. It is a common sentiment—for a good reason! Experience focuses and broadens our vision. We have all learned difficult lessons in difficult ways. We learn from our mistakes, […]
THE STRATEGIC SMILE
The Point: This is too serious not to smile about. At Clark University, a study focused on the physiological impact of smiling. The finding? You can reverse-engineer smiling thoughts. Working your facial muscles into a smile triggers a smile attitude in the brain. Mirror neurons extend this effect to those around us. When we smile at others, they tend to […]
SCROOGED: LESSONS ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP
The Point: Servant Leadership joyfully focuses outward. At the beginning of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer is being a Scrooge. He is stingy, unmerciful and unkind. His reaction to Christmas? “Bah Humbug!” One Marley and three ghosts later, Scrooge wakes up—beautifully human and full of generosity, grace and kindness. He transformed from a selfish leader […]
HABIT #8: CREATE MENTAL MAPS
Intense heat radiates as a firefighter prepares to enter a burning structure. Before entering, a set of expectations is formed. In this type of fire, what is normal? How should the room appear? How should it feel? This forethought creates a sixth-sense awareness. Anything outside of the expectations is more easily noticed and taken into […]