Leading from the Gut January 15, 2010
Posted by Donna K. Woolam in leadership.Tags: guts, leadership, leaving, quit
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WHO are you as a leader?
WHAT is the vision you have concerning leadership?
HOW is that vision communicated by action?
WHEN do you stand, and when do you bow out?
Leadership is a highly personal ‘personality’ trait.
With training and desire ANYONE can become a leader that other’s follow. It is critical though that you have a vision of who you want to be as a leader and then GO THAT DIRECTION.
People are full of opinions on how you should behave, how you should act and what you should do. HOWEVER, if it doesn’t ring true in your GUT…it probably isn’t for you.
All of us become emotionally attached to ‘our thing’ no matter how hard we try to be objective. Be honest in your assessment of the advice or direction that people are giving you. Are you resistant because it is ‘your pet’ or are you resistant because it just isn’t the fit for you?
Recently, in another realm of my life, I had to make a decision to either try and be a leader for something the way someone else wanted me to be — or bow out. After months of searching, I decided to bow out.
When YOU are the one responsible for results, activity and performance and when YOU are the one who can control the activities — you’ve got to STAND for what you believe.
When OTHERS control the activities, you sometimes have to bow out. Not because you aren’t invested in the group or activity — but because conflict is the only result of 2 heads trying to be the leader. When you can balance, it is a great place to be to learn new techniques and get a new point of view. But when it is obvious that ‘it just isn’t going to fit’, why cause further heartache? There is probably someone else that should be in the position you are not happy being.
Does that mean you should QUIT at the first sign of conflict?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
It simply means that YOU KNOW what is right for you. BE your own MANAGER…be your own LEADER. Give yourself some great advice. Stand or bow out.
Leadership takes GUTS.
January 14, 2010
Posted by Donna K. Woolam in Uncategorized.add a comment
I’ve updated my website! www.livingatmybest.com
January 8, 2010
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Don’t be afraid to MANAGE. Check out my newest blog post. http://wp.me/pDfP4-E
Don’t Be Afraid to “Manage” January 8, 2010
Posted by Donna K. Woolam in John G Miller, leadership, Manager.add a comment
I’m reading a great book, “Outstanding! 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional” by John G Miller.
One of the chapters deals with ‘managers’ vs ‘leaders’.
We’ve come to think as managers as something less than a leader, but it takes great people skills (management) to be an outstanding leader.
As you are considering your Legacy Leadership goals, remember that communication, listening, praise, correction, training, coaching, one on one time and respect — the things that make you a great leader — are people management skills.
All you MANAGERS out there — be PROUD of WHO YOU ARE! Teach others to do what you do and you have created LEGACY LEADERSHIP.
Thanks John G Miller!
January 6, 2010
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Live the Life of Your Dream on PURPOSE! Make a choice for the path you life is taking. Don’t be DRIVE — Be the DRIVER.
Life isn’t a Cliche’ January 4, 2010
Posted by Donna K. Woolam in leadership.2 comments
Okay, it is January so EVERYONE is blogging about Goal Setting and taglines for the new year.
Typical, good leadership stuff, I agree.
Goals are CRITICAL. A plan for where you want to end up December 31, 2010 is VITAL.
But, maybe you’re like me and sometimes you feel like you’ve ‘heard it all.’
Now those who know, say that if you aren’t doing, you really haven’t heard.
Again, I agree.
I think though, we become desensitized to all of the ‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail’ messages. At least I know I have most of the time.
I get newsletters that have goal setting headlines and it’s ‘oh yeah, that again.”
It came to me that, perhaps the reason I have such a hard time coming up with a ‘tagline’ is that life isn’t a series of headings and clichés.
What is right for me isn’t right for you.
Maybe you’ve been choosing to win, been dreaming big and don’t need to begin again.
Maybe you need to do all of those things.
One of the most difficult things to do is to take the time to look at your own business and life and decide a few things:
- What have I done well in the past year?
- What have I not done well in the past year?
- What am I willing to do to have what I say I want in the next year?
- What am I not willing to do and am I going to be content with the results of not doing it?
Why is this difficult?
Simply because human nature is to just float along instead of making changes.
Goal-setting doesn’t mean a thing if we aren’t willing to do what has to be done.
We will never do anything to change our world and destination as long as the ‘pain’ of staying where we are isn’t too tough to take.
You have to get a little Popeye the Sailor Man in you…”I’ve had all I can stand and I can’t stands no more!” Until that happens, we can make charts and graphs and talk to all of our life coaches and business partners until we are blue in the face — and we’ll keep the same ol’ – same ol’ life.
The first question is, “do you really want to change?”
The second is, “are your really ready to do something about it?”
Until you can say YES to both, there’s no need to set any goals.
Radical – huh!
January 4, 2010
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Hi there! Just letting you know I’ve updated my blog! http://ping.fm/hiZWU Life isn’t a cliche!
Donna K. Woolam
