Positive Leadership: A Happy July 4th to all our American Friends!
Showing posts with label Celebration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celebration. Show all posts
Thursday, July 04, 2013
Friday, December 14, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Positive Leadership: Celebrate!
You have probably heard something similar to, “Live each day
to the fullest, because you never know what tomorrow may bring.” Like all sage
offerings, there is an element of truth involved here.
For a lot of us, we take the days of our lives for granted.
The years go swirling past in a rush of things to do, places to see, and dreams
to fulfil. We work diligently, raise our families, and try to measure up to our
own – or someone else’s – definition of success. For some of us, we put our
heads down, shoulder to the wheel (so to speak) and forget to look up.
Not “looking up” is unfortunate. We need to take the time to
savour the experiences of each day, good or not so good, because these
experiences inform who and what we are. If we don’t look up, we miss the simple
joy of a quiet summer evening. We miss that look of wonder on a child’s face,
the first time they discover rainbows in a puddle.
In short, we miss the opportunity to be grateful. Why are the drivers for appreciating life and
having gratitude missing from many people's lives? We should not have to experience ‘misery’ to
boost our insights into the value of life.
Do yourself a favour this weekend. Begin a new habit. Before
the end of each day, stop and soak in the experiences of the day. Let the smile
come to your face as you remember the happy and the funny. Plan out what you
will do “the next time” for those moments that didn’t come out so well. And be
grateful for the time you’ve had to make a difference in the lives of others.
Celebrate today, and face tomorrow with the expectation that
something great will happen!
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Preparing for the New Year
As we slowly approach the end of another year, there is once again a discernible feeling of anticipation for what the upcoming year will bring. In many ways, this is quite natural and expected since, like a present wrapped in shiny paper, the start of a New Year often stirs a sense of optimism that better times and new opportunities for recovery, growth and development await us just around the corner.
While leaders use the end of the year to focus on developing plans for what they need to achieve in the New Year, it’s also important that they not lose sight of the lessons learned over the course of the previous one. Indeed, the successes and failures incurred over the past twelve months can provide a wealth of insights that can help leaders chart a clearer path towards their organisation’s goals, provided that they take the time to reflect and review on what came out of these past outcomes.
With this in mind, here are ten questions leaders can ask to reflect and assess both their own performance and that of their employees, and how they can ensure that their team remains focused and driven toward reaching their shared goals:
1. What goals did we succeed in reaching this past year?
2. What goals did we fail to achieve and why? What obstacles did we encounter and how can I help my team overcome them now that we’re aware of these challenges that stand in our way?
3. How many failures did we encounter and did we really learn anything from them? Is there a risk that we’ll repeat them or have we properly addressed and resolved the issues behind our failure?
4. How can I encourage my employees to be more open to failure? To stepping forward with new ideas for us to test and explore without fearing that the outcome might be not what we hoped for?
5. What unexpected opportunities came up and what did we learn from them? How did my response shape the reactions of those I lead?
6. How consistent was my message to my team? Did I respond to misunderstandings by listening to what was being said and clarifying what I meant?
7. How much time did I spend outside of my office, watching how my team operates and listening to what’s going on around them? How can I make myself more aware of the challenges they face and how it impacts our goals?
8. Did I provide my team with enough opportunities for growth and development? What other measures can I use to improve the coaching/mentoring I offer to my team?
9. What events/moments during the past year opened my eyes to new ideas, insights or opportunities for growth? What can I do to learn more and explore these untapped outlets for growth?
10. Who did I often turn to for support, guidance and calls to action? Can they continue to help me as I move forward? And how can I help them succeed with their goals?
Naturally, there are other questions we can ask ourselves that can help us with assessing what we’ve done and where we can go next. But by asking ourselves these questions listed above, leaders can ensure that their focus is directed on building on their team’s accomplishments, as well as on what they’ve learned through their experiences over the course of the year, both key factors to creating a realistic guide for where we want – and can – grow in the coming year.
With such a guide at their disposal, leaders stand to benefit from not only from having a clear sense of direction of where they need to lead their team over the coming months, but also a keen appreciation for where they’ve been and the lessons learned along the way.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Making Memories this Christmas
Of course, the Christmas season is not defined by the material gifts we give and receive but by the gift of love we share and the memories that we create together. Through the years presents are lost and become outdated but special memories are something that last forever. So this Christmas holiday season we encourage you to become Memory Makers:
1. Make Memories for Yourself - During this Christmas season say to yourself, "When I look back what do I want to remember about this time? Do I want to remember myself as a stressed out, unhappy, angry person or do I want to remember the joy I felt, the connections I made, the gifts of the heart I have given and the special moments I have shared."
2. Make Memories for Your Children - If you have children and you are feeling stressed about all the things you have to do, stop for a moment and ask yourself, "20 years from now what do I want my children to remember? What memories do I want to define their childhood?" Then create them. It's not about the presents.
3. Start a Tradition - It's never too late to start a new tradition. Traditions connect one generation to the next and they make life more meaningful. Tell a story, read a specific book, go to church, go Christmas caroling, make a certain meal, bake a specific dessert, volunteer, sponsor a family in need. Start a tradition and let it create memories every year.
4. Give Meaningful Gifts - In a world of so much stuff and maxed out credit cards... buy less this year, yet give more. Give more by giving gifts that have meaning. So whether it's a special book, a picture, a poem, a painting, or a symbol of your love, give a gift with meaning and it will create a memory forever.
5. ________________How do you make memories?
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