Subscribe to List View Past IssuesRSS translate   facebook facebook Like 0 Comment 0Share twitter
Leadership From the Inside Out
Well, it's 2012, a new year.  Many people decide to make resolutions for the new year, things they want to do, like exercise (health club memberships go way up in January although many people don't follow through and actually USE them for long), lose weight, etc.  Dorie Clark, who writes a blog for Harvard Business Review, takes another approach.  She recently went on a month long vacation and fretted about how she could be away for that long.  What she learned was surprising.  Rather than make resolutions about what she "should DO", she discovered five things she could "stop doing". She shares her story in a blog post called "Five Things You Should Stop Doing in 2012".

They are:
  • Responding like a trained monkey
  • Mindless traditions
  • Reading annoying things
  • Work that's not worth it
  • Making things more complicated than they should be
All of those five things resonated with me and I discovered I have some work to do!

What would you like to stop doing in 2012?

To read the blog, click here.
 
Warmly, Pat

Thoughts for Leaders


Leadership From the Inside Out

There are many books on leadership on the market.  Some authors approach the subject of leadership from an external perspective. They define leadership as qualities, traits and skills. Other authors approach the subject from an internal perspective. In his book Leadership from the Inside Out, (to read a review or order, click here), Kevin Cashman takes the second approach and defines leadership as a reflection of what lies inside the heart of the leader.  He says that leadership is "process, an intimate expression of who we are.  It is our being in action."  Cashman reminds us immediately that "we are the CEOs of our own lives" and we are on an ongoing journey to express and unravel our inner selves to make a positive impact in the work we do and within the world we live.

Leadership from the Inside Out is intended to be a journey of self-discovery. In the first chapter Cashman begins to explore three essential questions to enhance our leadership effectiveness. He presents these as
1) How authentic are we as a leader?
2) How deep and broad is our self-expression? and
3) How much value are we creating?

In this book, Cashman tells the story of working with an executive who said that he had his purpose all worked out.  When asked to describe his purpose, he confidently said, “To make a difference.”  He was a bit disappointed when Cashman said, “Well, that’s a start, but a drug dealer makes a difference, too – it just happens to be a life damaging one.”  Struggling, he said, “You know what I meant.”  Cashman responded, “No, I don’t know what you meant - That’s the point, your meaning is absent from your purpose. 

My own copy of this book is covered with notes, full of book marks and well used. I'd highly recommend it, not just for reference but as a guide on your own leadership journey.
 
Some questions to ponder as you begin the new year:

How authentic are you as a leader?
How do you make a difference in your organization? 




 Connect on Facebook
 Connect on LinkedIn
 Follow on Twitter

Quote of the Month

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
 
~ Maria Robinson



 

Pat Mathews

Contact

For more information about the leadership coaching and consulting services I offer, please visit my web site and contact me!

Order from Amazon

If you shop for books, CDs or other products online you can access Amazon.com through Mathews Associates. You will enjoy the same savings, service and products that Amazon.com is known for while helping Mathews Associates gain greater visibility as an Amazon affiliate. Simply visit http://patmathews.com or click the image above to begin shopping.

Thinking about getting a coach?

Contact me for a complimentary session. We accept Visa and MasterCard for products and coaching services.



©2012 Mathews Associates, All rights reserved.
Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp