Saturday, August 21, 2004

"One chance is all you need."

--Jesse Owens

"If you can't accept losing, you can't win,"

--Vince Lombardi

Friday, August 20, 2004

" A leader is the wave pushed ahead by the ship."

--Tolstoy

Lead today...

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
--Theodore Roosevelt

Leaders are like eagles ... You find them one at a time.

Man’s desire to emulate the eagle was so great that when he created his flying machines they inherited many of the creature’s sensibilities. Dispassionate mastery over life and death, their incredible speed and strength, their keen eyesight and terrible efficiency suggests nobility, power, and freedom. This sense of their grace and authority is reflected in the heraldry of nations from the eagle of the Roman legion to the seal of the American Republic.

Thursday, August 19, 2004

Servant Leadership...

Servant leadership is an approach to leadership development, advanced by such authors as Robert Greenleaf and Peter Block, that emphasizes the leader's role as steward of the resources (human, financial and otherwise) provided by the organization.

I reading Greenleaf's new biography, which is terrific.

Situational Leadership...

Situational leadership theories presume that different leadership styles are better in different situations, and that leaders must be flexible enough to adapt their style to the situation they are in.

Perhaps the most important example is Paul Hersey and Kenneth H. Blanchard's "life-cycle" theory, which posits that leadership style should depend on the "maturity" (i.e., self motivation and initiative) of subordinates.

Relatively "immature" subordinates require autocratic leadership; subordinates intermediate in maturity do best with a more democratic approach, and very "mature" subordinates do not need any explicit leadership at all.

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Leading just a step ahead...

"Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them."

--John Maxwell

Leaders and Meaningful Work

"Good leaders make people feel that they're at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens people feel centered and that gives their work meaning." --Warren Bennis

On Leadership...

"Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men." --Lao Tzu

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Your Leadership Budget

"Control is not leadership; management is not leadership; leadership is leadership. If you seek to lead, invest at least 60% of your time in leading yourself—your own purpose, ethics, principles, motivation, conduct. Invest at least 25% leading those with authority over you and 15% leading your peers." -- Dee Hock, Founder and CEO Emeritus, Visa

Leader as Facilitator: Getting the Mind Ready First

Facilitating a group is one of the highest forms of service one can provide. Preparing yourself to do this work before it happens however, can be overlooked in light of all that goes into preparing content and processes.

Spending just a few minutes prior to going into a group to clarify your intent, motivations, and how you'll deal internally with what comes up can truly transform your experience in a positive way.

Practicing the process of awakening service in your facilitation may afford you the following benefits:

* Transforms your work into the opportunity for learning and awakening.
* Reduces negative emotions such as anxiety, worry, and depression.
* Increases satisfaction and happiness.
* Reduces burnout.
* Reduces power games.
* Reduces possibility of being manipulated. You can only be manipulated if you're attached. You can only be of as much help to people as you don't need anything from them.
* Increases flow and effectiveness.

More here.

Monday, August 16, 2004

One to Bear in Mind

"If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall in the ditch."
-- Jesus Christ

The Transformational Mind

Great minds have purposes; others have wishes.

--Washington Irving

Sunday, August 15, 2004

Next Gen Nonprofit Leadership

This is a hot topic across America. I run into this issue everywhere. How do you develop, keep, and attract young leaders. Click here for some great ideas on this important issue.