... significant downside risk attached to it or 2) There is significant upside potential. These are matters then that are the proper focus of senior leadership. They represent the extremes of what can derail the leaders' vision or help him make significant strides towards achieving it. Before proceeding further, we need to acknowledge a fact of life. While a leader's vision should always embrace the organization's mission, this vision also embraces the leader's own welfare and future. Except for the rare saints among us, we all operate on self-interest as well as the common good. As long as self-interest does ... , so leaders tend to get inured to arguments being positioned this way. If the matter is sufficiently important to raise it several echelons above one's place in an organizational hierarchy, there could be two reasons for doing so: 1) There is significant downside risk attached to it or 2) There is significant upside potential. These are matters then that are the proper focus of senior leadership. They represent the extremes of what can derail the leaders' vision or help him make significant strides towards achieving it. Before proceeding further, we need to acknowledge a fact of life. While a leader's vision should ...
Tags: followership | hierarchy | risk | leaders | management | courageous follower |

... individuals do not truly understand the concept of process, nor do they emphasize the need for contingency (or back up) plans. Perhaps, occasionally in sports, particular plays go precisely as "drawn up," but it rarely goes with that type of precision when a long term vision is involved. Effective leaders, therefore, must focus first on their vision, and what goals they would like to accomplish. Then they should draw up detailed action plans (complete with time lines and assignments), by breaking down their goal into smaller "pieces of the puzzle." The most effective leader must develop a flexible attitude regarding changing and intermixing ... . Then they should draw up detailed action plans (complete with time lines and assignments), by breaking down their goal into smaller "pieces of the puzzle." The most effective leader must develop a flexible attitude regarding changing and intermixing these pieces, or the inflexibility may often endanger his greater vision. I have always trained leaders that they should also break down their plans into priorities, and be comfortable with adapting the pieces of the plan as long as it accomplishes the accomplishing of the main priorities. A wise leader focuses on the big picture, and doesn't let failure to get some piece ...
Tags: leaders change | effective leaders | vision intact | long term | | process back |

... , questioning how well you're doing, reassessing and best of all continuing to try! Like any learning, watching others who are good at leading and following their example (otherwise known as R & D - rip off and duplicate) is a successful strategy to follow. So here are the habits of effective leaders: Clarity of Vision (and ability to share that vision). Healthy discontent for the present. High standards of excellence. A sense of urgency (operating at pace). Strong commitment to implement. Ability to eliminate likely distractions. Build a strong team. ... Successful Businesses Do? For a business to be successful, it must have a strong leader. Leadership can make or break a company. This is why public companies pay several million dollars for a new chief executive officer. Below are nine characteristics of successful business leaders. It is therefore important to ensure you are equipped to manage the situation in the best way possible. Guy Kawasaki has given his opinions on how to handle this difficult process in his recently released book; "Reality Check". We have summarised a few of his key tips below: 1. Have ...
Tags: effective leaders | successful business | | business leaders | successful business leaders | business plan |

... like to see his organization develop as. The most effective leaders have a clear cut vision created by this dream, and this drives them to motivate others to share their dream. Effective leaders appear to have amazing amounts of energy that drives them to believe in their personal mission. This dream, when it comes to leadership, generally amounts to someone's view of what could and should be, and what would happen if the correct combination of ingredients are stirred together. Dreams are generally positive projections of a leaders vision for his organization, and the best leaders are always dreamers. Of course, the most famous leader ... are generally positive projections of a leaders vision for his organization, and the best leaders are always dreamers. Of course, the most famous leader who spoke of a dream was the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in his "I have a dream" speech. Dr. King's dream, of course, was of a color-blind world, where all men would be treated equally regardless of race, creed or religion. Undoubtedly, this dream drove Dr. King to tirelessly pursue his civil rights agenda, and it was that dream that most other great leaders are often measured against. Prospective leaders should ask themselves what their dream is ...
Tags: effective leaders follow | | dreams become reality | vision | leadership |

... from each and every individual in your organization. Hold people accountable. The flip side to recognizing and rewarding the behaviors you want to see is swiftly addressing the behaviors you don't want to see. As leaders we need to have a zero tolerance for things that overtly conflict with our organization's mission, vision and values. If we've hired people who reflect our mission, vision and values; clearly and explicitly communicated our expectations; and provided the training and tools they need to meet those expectations then we need to hold them accountable. This may be both the most challenging - and the ... mission, vision and values, we're being deceptive. We are deceiving people into thinking that these behaviors are permissible when they are not. Create a cultural expectation that everyone in the organization is responsible for spotting, recognizing or correcting actions and behaviors they see every day. Anybody walking through the organization, from the housekeeper to the CEO, that sees something amiss should feel a sense of responsibility to do something about it. Just as our collective consciousness was raised after the tragedy of September 11, 2001 to be alert to suspicious activities that might suggest terrorist behavior, as health care leaders we ...
Tags: patient experiences | health care | exceptional patient | exceptional patient experiences | care leaders |

... -given imagination and think big! Put your feet up, take a deep breath, and really think about what you would like your future to look like. Use the guidelines below to get started. STEP # 1 - Pick a date in the future The best way to get started building your own vision statement is to pick a future date (many people choose their birthday) five years into the future. Now, with that date in mind, write down all the facts that would relate to your life at that time, such as your age, ages of the members of your family, home, location ... imagination to picture a future as you want it to be, you create clarity, and future clarity creates focus for the moment. Over the years, I have experienced all types of resistance to the process of vision, but the beneficial effects of using the imagination in the creation of a long-term vision is a significant factor in the system of achievement. The real value of vision is that it puts the WHY behind what you do! So where should you begin? First, you may need to get past some negative conditioning you received as a child. Ever heard the words, "Stop daydreaming ...
Tags: vision statement | achievement | success | potential | define your future | use your imagination |

... . It's critical to give the change process time and create a program that befits the goals for the coaching. They function in context. The dynamics of a company's people, pace and processes complicate every leader's job. Good programs take this into account while staying true to the vision of the company and the growth of the leader. When companies offer leaders the opportunity to improve through executive coaching, they take full advantage of the talent in their ranks. By investing in their leaders when they're strong, succeeding companies can capitalize on momentum and push the limits of performance. ... their unique styles to sustain the company's growth and improve their own performance in the process. Many corporations are expanding the capacity of their leaders through executive coaching. The most successful programs are characterized by five important elements. They focus on high-achieving, high-potential leaders. The kinds of issues faced by top leaders are the most complex and have the greatest bearing on the success of the company. They build upon the existing strengths of individuals. Leaders reach their positions by virtue of their talents. These same talents are the ones to amplify to keep them and their companies going strong. They ...
Tags: Business leaders | Executive coaching | Improving leadership | high potential leaders | top leaders |

... head on your path toward soul-centered living and success. This tool will give you a perspective so wide, so large, so breathtakingly all-encompassing that it will affect every action you make. It's called your Soul-centered Vision. This is one of the very first ones I give the women in my Women's Intuitive Leadership Program. Your soul-centered Vision is part of a three part process that is your sure-fire way to feel energized, excited, and moving forward swiftly on your Soul-centered Projects. (This process also consists of a Soul-centered Mission and Soul-centered Goals ... where the earth is held sacred and respected you may be creating organic, bio-degradable products as your job but you are also recycling at home. When you get clear on your Soul-centered vision you will also naturally want to live it in all areas of your life. Imagine how your life might be different. That is what your soul-centered vision is about. My own Soul-centered vision is that women and men honor themselves and their wisdom so deeply that they heal the world through their business, their projects and their family. All of the products, services, and content I ...
Tags: soul centered vision | soul centered vision statement | vision statement | women s coach | joanna lindenbaum |

... account for 80% of the results produced, both good and not so good. Conscious Leaders must focus efforts on the critical 20% of the systems that will give the organization 80% of the return/measurable success. 4. Practice a Little Every Day - Like any new skill set, Conscious Leaders must practice on a regular basis to master the new and make it into ... Your Purpose - Every human being is here for a purpose. When the Conscious Leader is clear in his higher purpose for work, his mind will begin to "pull" the purpose and vision to him. Conscious Leadership many times starts with clarity on one's higher purpose for work. 2. Love, Grow and Serve Your People - The Conscious Leader knows that the ...
Tags: conscious leaders | HR | Four Agreements | business leadership | sustainable business | change management |

... : Give in the urge to hyperbolize. Even though it may feel like it, it's just not true that NOTHING is going right. Or that EVERYONE is against us. TO DO: Turn your focus to what is working. See how you can leverage that. TO DO: Remind yourself of your vision and purpose TO DO: Prioritize TO DO: Get your focus off yourself and onto being of service to others TO DO: Find the opportunity in the crisis. TO DO: Control what you can, let go of what you can't. TO DO: Laugh. At yourself. At the situation. Find the ...
Tags: business leaders | leadership | coaching | success | undesired results | change |

... move forward. If I didn't schedule time on my calendar to do the needed research, writing and strategizing... nothing would happen. It's waaayyyy too easy to get caught up in the daily fires and shiny new ideas to generate immediate income without doing the constant dance between the vision and implementation. It's also easy to back burner some of your most important goals because they seem overwhelmingly huge or complicated. Here's the deal: Until you set some time aside to just dig in and start, you will be dragged down by all sorts of seemingly good reasons ... the creativity pool. Other goals are quite irritating because they've been on the goal list before and didn't come to fruition. They can ignite great judgment from your inner critic. Do yourself a favor and do something really smart this year. Connect the dots between your BIG inspiring vision, your yearly goals and your daily actions. I know you're sitting there thinking, "Duh, Jeannaaaaa! Of course, you have to take actions to make your goals happen." My response, "I know you know this, but are you doing it? And are you doing it in the most intelligent way ...
Tags: Connect the dots | Jeanna Gabellini | goals | dreams | vision | actions |

... on, he could make better decisions. In this case - he shifted his focus to creating new marketing ideas. Joe positioned his company for growth - which actually led him to keep the company stable in the current economic downturn. 2. The Second Practice of Successful Leaders is also Strategic - that's Inspiring a Shared Vision To Envision the Future leaders often work backwards. They see pictures in their mind's eye. The key is to share the pictures in a way that invites others to help achieve them. Remember, a person with no followers is not a leader. People will become followers only when ... leadership gurus for many years) The book is a leadership manual with a great index. It's not a 'read' from front to back unless you're a leadership junky like me. It is an excellent resource for any leader. These 5 practices common to successful leaders are: 1. Challenging the Process 2. Inspiring a Shared Vision 3. Enabling others to act 4. Modeling the way and 5. Encouraging the heart. --- 1. Let's talk about Challenging the Process. This is one way for a leader to be strategic. One way to challenge the process is to Search for opportunities. One of ...
Tags: leaders | cost | make money | leadership practice | skills costing | leadership skills |

... the next generation of leaders but, more importantly, potential leaders need individual support and coaching from someone with similar strengths and passion who has a clear vision of the future. This is the boomer leader's role. Leaders have an overarching vision for their organization and a passion for bringing their vision to life. Leadership is a journey, a journey where those on it continue to face obstacles and barriers to success. But the effective leader stays focused on the vision, the defining purpose of her tenure as the leader. Mentoring potential leaders should be an integral part of the plan to achieve the vision. Without succession planning at ... can not. Recognizing their responsibility to grow the organization means leaders recognize their responsibility to grow their people. And they understand that the next generation of leaders must understand this as well. Making the tools, processes and systems available for leadership growth are all important to creating the next generation of leaders but, more importantly, potential leaders need individual support and coaching from someone with similar strengths and passion who has a clear vision of the future. This is the boomer leader's role. Leaders have an overarching vision for their organization and a passion for bringing their vision to life. Leadership is a journey, a journey where ...
Tags: next generation | boomer leaders | mentoring generation | potential leaders | mentoring | guide |

... . Fearful leaders rarely express a vision, because they prefer "straddling the fence," and letting someone else "go out on the limb," taking a true position. Effective leaders must always have the courage of their convictions, go outside their comfort zone and expand it, and do whatever is necessary to strongly take a position regarding important matters. 2. In working with many leaders for over three decades, I have observed many that have excellent, fresh and innovative ideas. However, the vast majority of these, while having an excellent vision, are either unwilling or unable to transform their vision to an actionable reality, thus making their vision little more ... working with many leaders for over three decades, I have observed many that have excellent, fresh and innovative ideas. However, the vast majority of these, while having an excellent vision, are either unwilling or unable to transform their vision to an actionable reality, thus making their vision little more than an unfulfilled dream. 3. I have also seen far too many examples of individuals in leadership positions that either take action, or fail to take action, in an often seemingly haphazard manner, with no true vision for their organization, nor any essential actionable goals, to guide them. When one acts without a vision, he often takes ...
Tags: take action | judge leaders | true vision | unqualified leaders tendency | effective leadership | ramificatons |

... listening to them, their attitudes, commitments, and perceptions, I have concluded that only a small percentage of these individuals had that combination of vision, commitment and work ethic required of effective leaders. Visionary leaders have an internal driving force that they bring to the position, that brings them to their "vision." These individuals feel they can make a real difference and have an important impact, as well as believing they can motivate others to understand and appreciate how important that vision is. One of the major stumbling blocks in many, if not all small to medium size organizations, is that leader's terms or tenures ... , by definition, a leader must lead, and that requires have a well thought out and considered vision. It is not, however, enough to simply have a vision, but it must be accompanied by a thoroughly contemplated Action Plan. This plan must be a step by step "road map" of what needs to be done to accomplish that vision. And, action plans are generally meaningless if they are not attached to time lines, responsible parties, and monitoring and evaluating results and performance. Since I have trained thousands of potential leaders through a combination of one to one training, small group training, seminars, lectures, and Leadership ...
Tags: effective leader | personal vision | visionary leadership | | leaders need a reason | leadership training |

... statements such as "I'll let the members guide me," or "That's something better delegated or decided by committee," then that person is probably suited to be a real leader! The greatest leaders become leaders because they are motivated by their vision for their organization, and their belief that the organization needs that vision to accomplish its mission. You can't be a leader if you don't have a vision, because how can you motivate others when you can't even identify your own motivation or reason for involvement. One of my frustrations after more than three decades of doing leadership training and ... follower follows. Both types of individuals are necessary for the success of an organization, and obviously there will always be far more followers than leaders. Therefore, it becomes paramount for a leader to "blaze his trail" to lead others towards his vision. He must be convinced of it, and must motivate and convince others to follow. "Visionless" organizations squander important opportunities, yet unfortunately there are far fewer organizations whose leaders truly have a vision. It is even rare for that vision to be accompanied by goals, and for those goals to be part of a plan. Instead of being concerned about "ruffling feathers," a leader ...
Tags: leader leads | vision accompanied | real leader | effective leadership | | volunteer leaders |

... skill sets, etc., there are dramatic differences between being a good manager and being a great leader. Both managers and leaders should have a thorough understanding of the needs and requirements of an organization. Both should also undergo extensive training to accumulate and improve needed skills. However, there are multiple differences. 1. Effective leaders must develop a kinship and understanding of his subordinates, constituents and members. He must have a vision that guides his actions, and must be able to coordinate his vision with the mission of the organization. While it would be wonderful if a manager possessed these traits and abilities, they are ... . Effective leaders must develop a kinship and understanding of his subordinates, constituents and members. He must have a vision that guides his actions, and must be able to coordinate his vision with the mission of the organization. While it would be wonderful if a manager possessed these traits and abilities, they are not necessarily requirements. One can be a perfectly functional manager if he has the ability to take instructions from a superior and implement the necessary actions. A manager does not have to have his own vision of what an organization should be, but must be able to "buy into" the vision of the ...
Tags: diligent manager | effective leader | managers generally procrastinate | vision | leadership |

... of their members and potential members. These organizations continuously reexamine their Mission Statement, encourage vision in their leaders, and emphasize professional leadership training. On the other hand, many organization seem to fail to realize the importance of training, and thus often experience a prolonged period with a dearth of true, effective leaders. 1. The importance of training is that it discovers leaders and potential leaders through a thorough and well thought out leadership qualification process, and then nurtures these individuals each step along the way, to optimize their performance as leaders. 2. Only when a leader is properly trained, will he generally possess the ...
Tags: leaders plan | effectively plan | training leaders | action plan | potential effective leadership |

... without commitment is like dreaming and never bothering to wake up. However, when it comes to effective leadership, it is often even worse when an individual in a position of leadership possesses the commitment to an organization (or a cause) but lacks any imagination. 1. Leaders need to be motivated by a vision, and to use that vision to motivate followers to action. Without imagination it is impossible to visualize what "might be" and what needs to be done. 2. Too many individuals lack the necessary imagination. Because of this, they repeat stagnant, and often irrelevant ideas, and often find it impossible to ... either prepared or qualified, or both. This often causes a situation where a "leader" does not commit enough time or energy that is necessary to see an idea imagined and envisioned, become a reality. 4. If organizations wish to reverse the prevalent trend of unimaginative and/ or insufficiently motivated leaders, they must emphasize leadership identification, qualification and training. Organizations that do that end up eventually with better qualified and committed leadership. Jamie Paolinetti wrote, "Limitations live only in our minds. But, if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless." Organizations desiring to excel need leaders with imagination, vision and commitment!
Tags: leaders need commitment | insufficiently motivated leaders | effective leadership | training | vision |

... , especially if the individual with the opposing view appears truly passionate about his vision and beliefs. When a leader discusses his vision on a small group or one to one basis, what he says is almost never as important as to how passionately he states his belief. Beware however, that there is sometimes a fine line between being passionate and obnoxious and overbearing, so leaders should be advised to control their passion so as to exhibit its valuable side and why it drives you, while avoiding condescending behavior, etc. Those leaders who are truly passionate, and can get that passion across to others, so ... and cliches rarely engage anyone's imagination for any significant or long lasting period of time, and rarely do leaders who are simply using this as a tactic have lasting success. While motivating others is essential to being effective, it is only when others can experience a leader's zeal and passion that they become moved to action. Motivating others only has a real impact when that motivation leads someone to following a leader's vision, and that generally only occurs when the vision and sentiments are real and genuine. When one thinks of a leader's passion, it is important to understand ...
Tags: effective leaders | motivating others | passion across | truly passionate | leadership |