Positive Leadership: Lead!

Positive Leadership: Lead!

Positive Leadership: Reaching for the Top

Positive Leadership: Reaching for the Top

Positive Leadership: Wisdom

Positive Leadership: Wisdom

Positive Leadership: The Importance of Trying

Positive Leadership: The Importance of Trying

Positive Leadership: Using Your Time More Efficiently

Here are three ways to get going and sustain an action-orientation to your own productivity:

Choose smaller verbs. One of the reasons that people don't do things as they think of them (especially entrepreneurs and senior leaders) is because of their skill at ‘Visionary Thinking’. Because they CAN think big, they do. Chunk your objectives into smaller markers along your path to success.

Find, create, utilise and assess the extra time you have each day. Arrive to an off-site meeting somewhere early? Other people running late? Maybe you get a last-minute cancellation of an appointment you had scheduled. What can you do during that time? Get ready for 15-minute blocks of time throughout the day. Why 15 minutes? That window is long enough to actually "do" something and short enough to find!

Focus on what has happened. Regularly through the day (before lunch, and before you go home), take a moment and mentally check off what is complete. All too often there is so much going on, and so much you can think of that is UNDONE, you tend to forget how much is finished. This is your chance to recharge – as acknowledging completion is a quick way to get back on track.

Too often, long-range goals fall into the “important but not urgent” category of day-to-day workflow management. We put off doing the most important things while making start-and-stop progress. When this happens, the urgent – latest and loudest – clamours for our attention. 

Work smart, maximise short windows of time, and mark something as complete…it’s the best way to beat procrastination!

Positive Leadership: Using Your Time More Efficiently

Positive Leadership: #gostanford Pre-Game Speech

Good luck to the Stanford Men's Basketball team in tonight's NIT final.

With pre-game speeches like this they should be in good shape!

Positive Leadership: #gostanford Pre-Game Speech

Positive Leadership: 'Trying Too Hard'

Have you ever had anyone tell you that you were trying too hard to succeed? What is it about trying too hard that just doesn’t seem to work?

Now, don’t misunderstand what we are saying. We are not saying that it is a mistake to put your energy into something, or that you shouldn’t try at all. But we are saying that there’s a point at which we can try too hard, and when that happens we tend to get in our own way.

Why do you suppose that is? Here’s what we think. All of us have a self-concept or self-image – our idea of what we are like. And, we don’t have to think about behaving like the person we know ourselves to be. It is something we do easily and effortlessly.

For example, if you see yourself as an outgoing person, you don’t need to work at being outgoing, correct? It just happens naturally. And, if you see yourself as shy, you don’t have to be reminded to be shy when you are in a group.

But what happens when you try to behave in a way that contradicts your self-image? “That’s not like me,” you think, even if it’s a positive change. And, you go back to behaving like the “real” you as soon as possible.

Now, it’s a fact that all meaningful and lasting change starts on the inside and works its way out. So if you want to be different than the way you are now, first work on changing your self-concept. You can use affirmations and visualisations to help you do it, and once you change the inside, you don’t have to “try” to behave differently. It will happen naturally, all by itself.

Positive Leadership: 'Trying Too Hard'

Positive Leadership: Efficient v Effective

Have you ever thought about the difference between efficiency and effectiveness? 

They both sound good, but we believe one is far better. Most businesses want to run an efficient operation, and spend a lot of time and energy trying to get there. But it is equally, if not more, important to make your business effective.

Efficiency means doing things with a minimum of effort – low input for high output. In other words, efficiency means doing things right. But what things? A very important question! You see, effectiveness is doing the right things right, and that is what you want to aim for. You can be as efficient as you like at doing the wrong things.

You can practice the wrong technique or the wrong moves until you have them down perfectly. Then, you are going to wonder and worry about why your business is failing, why your customers aren’t coming back, why sales are down and profits are dropping, even though everything is working like a well-oiled machine.

When you visualise yourself or your business, don’t just see yourself doing things right. See yourself doing the right things right. And remember that sometimes the right thing, even if done imperfectly, is far better than a flawless performance of the wrong thing. This holds true for everyone, not just those of you in business. It makes just as much sense for athletes, homemakers, teachers and students – anyone who really cares about excellence.

It’s great to be efficient, but effectiveness is what you really want.

Positive Leadership: Efficient v Effective

Positive Leadership: A Video Every Leader Will Benefit From Watching

In one of the most memorable races in Olympic history Derek Redmond of Great Britain finishes his 400m Semi-Final crying on the shoulder of his father. Powerful. Utterly Olympic.

This take on Redmond's historic Olympic run gets the goose bumps going, but also drives home some valuable leadership lessons. We're all subject to disappointment and failure, but leaders are defined and remembered for how they react in times of crisis. Similarly, the people we surround ourselves with are often the keys to our achievements, helping us through when the going gets tough. When your time comes, how will you react, and who will help you through the finish line?

Positive Leadership: A Video Every Leader Will Benefit From Watching

See the Opening and 'Go For It'!

"I would rather be ashes than dust!

I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.

I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

The function of man is to live, not to exist.

I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them.

I shall use my time."

— Jack London

See the Opening and 'Go For It'!

"Self-Made People"

Do you know anyone who is a self-made man or woman - a self-made person?

From time to time, we hear someone describe him- or herself as "self-made." What they usually mean is that they weren't born to wealthy, successful parents, or that they managed to succeed in spite of great odds.

However, in the final analysis, all of us are self-made people. Of course, some of us get off to an easier start, and some of us are fortunate enough to have had parents or others who helped us recognise and use our talents.

But success is not a matter of luck, or talent, or of being gifted. More than anything else, success is a matter of belief and persistence.

If you don't believe you can succeed, no amount of talent or money or good parenting will help you. And if you do believe it and refuse to give up no matter how hard the struggle, no obstacle, no setback, no disadvantage will stop you.

George Bernard Shaw said it perfectly: "People are always blaming circumstances for what they are. But the people who get on in this world are those who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, they make them."

So take charge of your life by taking accountability for being who you are! 

"Self-Made People"

Insights on Coaching Olympic Athletes

This is an interesting reflection from Dr Paul Schempp of the University of Georgia:

‘I recently invited US Olympic Swim Coach, Jack Bauerle, to share his insights and experiences on coaching with one of my classes at the University of Georgia. In addition to coaching our US Women’s Swim team at the Beijing Olympics, as the head swim coach here at Georgia Jack’s teams have won 4 NCAA National Championships and a host of other honours and championships. In his 30 years of coaching elite athletes, he has not only amassed an amazing record of success, but has also built a wealth of knowledge, skill and experience in coaching.

As Jack spoke, several themes permeated his message. The first and one that resonated with our research on experts was his conclusion when describing an athlete’s accomplishment. He would, for example, detail the training regiment and personal struggles a particular athlete overcame to claim an Olympic medal. And regardless of the athlete or the accomplishment, he concluded the same way: “No one worked harder.” He never said “No one was more talented” or “No one was luckier.” He said: “No one worked harder.”

Former Dallas Cowboys star, Roger Staubach, put it another way: “There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.”

Jack is as enthusiastic and focused on his coaching when he walks into our building for a pre-season practice in early summer as he is eight months later as he prepares his teams for the National Championships. Jack knows that every practice counts—from the first to the last. As a coach, it is all about preparing your athletes, and then letting them do what they do best.

In Beijing, Jack did not directly witness a single one of his athletes win a medal. And his athletes won more medals than any other Women’s Olympic Swim Team in the history of the Games. Why? Because while each swimmer was in the water fighting their way to victory, Jack was in another part of the venue preparing the next athlete for their competition. The second theme I heard in Jack’s remarks was we can only expect great results when we have given our best efforts to being as prepared as we can be to succeed.

As we closed the lecture, I asked Jack if he had any advice for these students who were in the early stages in shaping a career. This is where the third and final theme became clear. He told the students to “follow your passion, not a paycheck.” The famed football coach, Joe Gibbs, said “People who enjoy doing what they do invariably do it well.” Jack loves what he does, and does it unquestionably well. But more importantly, people who follow their passion are happy in what they do. And at the end of the day, isn’t happy where we all want to be? Thanks Jack.’

Insights on Coaching Olympic Athletes

Hard Work

Hard work is one of the values of Positive Leadership.

‘Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.’ Vince Lombardi

Here is a reference material which speaks to this value:

Hard Work

Commitment is a Key to Success

There is no question about it: Commitment is a key to success whether it's in business, personal and professional growth, or sports.

What made Larry Bird one of the best players in basketball? He was considered slow, and many thought he could not jump. Sometimes it almost looked like he was playing in slow motion. But Larry Bird succeeded as a player because he was totally dedicated to success. He practiced more, played harder, and had more mental toughness than most of his competitors. He got more out of his talents than almost anyone did.

The same was true with Tom Watson, the great golfer. Tom was nothing special at Stanford, considered just another kid on the team. But his coach still talks about him, saying, "I never saw anyone practice more."

You see, the difference in physical skills between athletes doesn't tell you much. It's the quality of their commitment that separates the good players from the great. People who are committed to success are willing to do whatever it takes, as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. Everything they do reflects their commitment. 

Ask yourself the following questions and think about your answers: "How strong is your commitment - to your career, your relationships, your personal growth? How much of your time and energy do you give these things? Do the results you get reflect your level of commitment?"

Now, how do you feel about those answers? 

Commitment is a Key to Success

Patriots Addressing Leadership Questions

Vince Wilfork is an NFL player with the New England Patriots. He recently signed a 5 year $40 million contract extension. At the time of the new contract announcement, Wilfork made it clear that he would play his part in addressing the leadership questions which have surrounded the New England franchise in the last year.

He said he would have no trouble taking care of the “bad seeds” in the New England locker room, and demanding accountability from his teammates.

“As players, we’re going to have to start in the offseason training, and basically, everybody is going to have to be accountable,” Wilfork said. “If you’re on the field, you have to give me 100. You have to give me 100 percent. Always. We have to weed out the bad seeds, point blank. If you can’t give me what I’m giving you on the field, I don’t need you on the field with me. Point blank. That’s how you win."

“You got to build trust. Show me that I can trust you. I have no problem, if a guy’s not giving me that, I have no problem telling that guy I don’t need him on the field, and I have no problem going to tell Bill (Belichick, the coach) I don’t want him on the field. That’s point blank.”

Just this past week, at least 40 players were in attendance at Gillette Stadium for the Patriots’ first day of voluntary offseason workouts, which is a great attendance figure. These camps are typically attended by younger players, and veteran absences aren’t out of the ordinary. Yet, after what Wilfork said about wanting to help the team improve its leadership, it comes across as a positive sign that he was among the large group of players who showed up to Gillette. Players often rave about how these offseason workouts go a long way toward the team-building process.

The words and actions of Wilfork will do a lot to help reinforce the positive locker room infrastructure that existed when the Patriots won three Super Bowls in four seasons.

Patriots Addressing Leadership Questions

The True Test of Leadership

An excerpt from the Address of President-Elect John F. Kennedy Delivered to a Joint Convention of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, The State House, Boston, January 9, 1961:

'For of those to whom much is given, much is required. And when at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each one of us--recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state--our success or failure, in whatever office we may hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions:

First, were we truly men of courage--with the courage to stand up to one's enemies--and the courage to stand up, when necessary, to one's associates--the courage to resist public pressure, as well as private greed?

Secondly, were we truly men of judgment--with perceptive judgment of the future as well as the past--of our own mistakes as well as the mistakes of others--with enough wisdom to know that we did not know, and enough candor to admit it?

Third, were we truly men of integrity--men who never ran out on either the principles in which they believed or the people who believed in them--men who believed in us--men whom neither financial gain nor political ambition could ever divert from the fulfillment of our sacred trust?

Finally, were we truly men of dedication--with an honor mortgaged to no single individual or group, and compromised by no private obligation or aim, but devoted solely to serving the public good and the national interest.'

The True Test of Leadership

Determination

Determination is one of the values of Positive Leadership.

Here is the story of Jim Abbott, a man who has battled the odds his entire life. Despite being born with only one hand he was the 15th baseball player to ever make a professional debut in the Major Leagues. His baseball achievements include the Sullivan Award (best amateur athlete in the United States), male athlete of the year for the 1988 Olympic Games and many awards at the University of Michigan, including the Jesse Owens Athlete of the year.

He is an inspiration to all that meet him or have followed his career. More than his no-hitter, his 13 strike out game, a seven game winning streak, overcoming an eleven game losing streak, Jim Abbott became a great baseball player and a great person. He learned to overcome adversity and be an inspiration to those around him.

Determination

You've Got to Work Hard to Win

Hard Work is one of the values of Positive Leadership:

You've Got to Work Hard to Win

Determination

One of the values of Positive Leadership is Determination. These athletes embody the spirit that 'impossible is nothing':

Determination

Hard Work

Hard Work is one of the key values of Positive Leadership. Here is what Roger Federer has to say about being at your best every day.

Hard Work